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I 


'I 


Scanned  from  the  collections  of 
The  Library  of  Congress 


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

Motion  Picture  and  Television  Reading  Room 

www.loc.gov/rr/mopic 

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


MOTION  PICTURE 

ERALD 


REVIEWS 

(In  Product  Digest) 

Song  of  Russia 
Tender  Comrade 
The  Heavenly  Body 
Three  Russian  Girls 
The  Courageous  Mr.  Penn 
Sing  a  Jingle 
Candlelight  in  Algeria 
Smart  Guy 
Swingfime  Johnny 

Billy  the  Kid  in 

Cattle  Stampede 

Suspected  Person 


KEEPING 
the  FAITH 


em 

em 
em 

em 
em 


If  through  all  his  days  a  man  in 
business  tells  the  truth  as  he  sees 
it,  keeps  his  word  as  he  gives  it, 
works  for  his  industry,  for  its 
own  sake  along  with  his,  he  gets 
what  is  known  as  a  good  reputa- 
tion. 

It  is  like  that,  too,  with  journals 
of  business.  Publications  that 
matter  have  the  attributes  of 
personality. 

Motion  Picture  Herald  is  happy 
in  the  consciousness  of,  and  re- 
sponsibility to,  a  good  name. 


VOL  154.  NO.  I 


JANUARY  !,  1944 


(//,,<    jl  York  City.  U.S.A..  under  the  act  oi  Murck  i,   5879.  Puh- 

Avenue,  Ruckefeller  Center,  Ncttl  York  20,  N.   Y.    Snhscriplion  price,-:: 


;,(.!,. ,ij       .second  cla.ts  matter,  January  12,  1931,  at  I'.r 

Ushcd  weekly  by  Quigley  Publishin//  Co.,  Inc.,  at  1270  Si.rth   ,   -         ,  „      ,  .  ,  ■  ^• 

a  year  in  the  Americas,  $10.00  a  year  Foreign.   Single  copy,  25  cents.    Al!  contents  copynght  1944  by  Qwgley  Publuntny  Company. 


'Our  Tuo  Big  Jobs  in  January: 

Fourth  War  Loan  and  March  of  Dimes' 


I, 


wishes  you  and  yours  a 
New  Year  of  Health,  Success 
and  Victory  in  1944! 


In  The  Best  W/ 


Film  Daily  says  there  is  no  mistaking 
the  destination  of  Destination  Tokyo  \ 
It's  the  proverbial  pot  of  gold!  Big  and 
solid!  Motion  Picture 
Daily  says  boxoffice 
business  of  impressive 
size  is  the  unquestion- 


ed destination 
of  this  new 


package  of 
excitement 
and  wallop 
from  Warners. 


Our  Two  Big  Jobs  in  January: 
Fourth  War  Loan  and  March  of  Dimes- 


iNER  Tradition 


FILM  DAILY 


Hollywood  Reporter  says  it  is  a  truly 
chartered  dead-center  smash!  A  thriller 

of  thrillers! . . .  Daily 
Variety  says  it  scales 
the  heights  of  suspense 
and  is  packed  with 
action  to  the  hilt! 


mo 


as  Captain  of  'The  Copper  Jin' 

i  GARR 

as  Wolf,  Torpedoman  1st  Class ,  in 


SUNATION  TOKVO 


with 


JL 


E 


Produced  by   JERRY  WALD 
Directed  by  DELMER   DAVES  Screen  Ploy  by  Delmer  Daves  and  Albert  Mallz  •  from  an  Originol  Siory  by  Sieve  Fisher  *  Music  by  franz  Waxman 


HEAVEM  CAN  WAIT 


WINTERTIME 
SWEET  ROSIE  O'GRADY 
GUADALCANAt  DIARY 


LIFEBOAT 
THE  LODGER 


THE  SULLIVANS 
JANE  EYRE 


BUFFALO  BILL 


THE  PURPLE  HEART 

THE  EVE  OF  ST.  MARK 
PIN  UP  GIRL 


OUR  TWO  BIG  JOeS  IN  JANUARY,  FOURTH  WAR  LOAN  AND  MARCH  OF  DIMES 


MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD 


COLVIN  BROWN,  Publisher 

MARTIN     QU IGLEY 
President  and  Editor-in-Chief 

TERRY  RAMSAYE,  Editor 

Vol.  154,  No.  1  . 

OP 

January  1,  1944 

REPORT  ON  WAR 

WHAT  are  the  Army  and  Navy  doing  about  and 
with  the  motion  picture?  We  know  now  and  today 
that,  with  Americans  in  hectic  conflict  on  fronts 
around  the  world,  nothing  even  remotely  approxi- 
mating a  competent  screen  report  is  being  rendered  to  the 
public.  There  is,  in  consequence,  more  than  a  question  about 
what  the  cameras  are  recording  for  tomorrow,  for  record  and 
the  service  of  military  research  in  the  future. 

The  written  word  may  wait,  but  the  camera  always  has  to 
be  there  when'it  happens. 

Well-made  motion  pictures  from  the  battle  fronts,  and  many 
other  areas,  too,  could  contribute  to  the  efficiency  of  the  war 
machine  now.  The  motion  picture  can  be  an  instrument  of 
evolving  strategy  for  war  just  as  it  has  been  for  football.  The 
camera  has  long  been  an  implement  of  the  better  coaches. 
The  lessons  in  action  on  the  screen  are  beyond  words. 

The  American  people,  right  now  about  to  meet  another 
big  War  Loan  Drive,  could  be  well  served  by  war  report  on 
the  screen  commensurate  with  the  story  to  be  told.  And  the 
archive  responsibility  is  plain. 

THAT  word  "archive"  brings  to  mind,  too,  the  decided 
consciousness  of  the  importance  of  records  in  the  mind 
of  President  Roosevelt,  who  has  set  up  special  arrange- 
ments at  Hyde  Park  to  preserve  for  the  future  many  significant 
documents,  and  his  decided  interest,  too,  in  motion  pictures. 
There  has  long  been  afoot  a  project  of  White  House  origin, 
or  encouragement,  for  the  establishment  of  a  National  Film 
Archive.  It  may  perhaps  have  to  wait  for  further  attention 
until  the  pressures  of  war  have  relaxed.  It  will  perhaps  then  be 
decided  if  the  film  archive  is  to  be  a  part  of  the  National 
Archives  or  of  the  Congressional  Library.  The  Library  and  the 
librarian,  Mr.  Archibald  MacLeish,  are  fond  of  film.  The 
National  Archive,  however,  has,  at  least  until  recently,  been 
considerably  controlled  by  an  opinion  that  archives  can  exist 
only  on  paper.  Maybe  that  is  a  horse-and-buggy  opinion. 

If  there  is  to  be  either  record  or  report,  there  is  still  time 
for  something  to  be  done  about  it.  We  have  assurances  from 
high  military  authority  that  there  is  a  lot  of  war  ahead. 

The  indications  available  to  the  external  observer  would 
indicate  that  what  the  war  machine  needs  about  now  is  a 
producer-in-chief  who  might  approach  the  total  problem  with 
the  perspective  won  by  experience.  Reporting  and  recording 
the  war  for  the  screen  is  the  biggest  production  job  in  the 
world,  and  could  be  the  biggest  achievement  of  the  motion 
picture.  It  does  not  look  very  much  like  that  yet. 

yyLONG  with  that  knowledge  in  leadership  and  direction 
A  \     there  would  have  to  be  authority  of  an  order  which 
f     \  does  not  appear  to  have  been  bestowed  upon  any 
motion  picture  personage  in  the  service. 

Military  procedure  traditionally  and  ever  involves  the  fol- 
lowing of  "channels".  Plans  and  projects  pass  from  desk  to 
desk,  up  and  up,  and  anywhere  along  the  line  can  meet  with 


revision  and  delays  extraordinary.  The  Army  and  Navy  have 
always  had  quite  a  time  adjusting  to  new  devices,  new  policies. 
They  have  had  tedious  problems  with  aviation  and  with  radio 
and  radar.  It  appears  so  with  the  motion  picture,  too.  It  is 
to  the  military  folk  a  new  Implement. 

Many  able  motion  picture  technicians,  with  all  kinds  of 
abilities,  are  now  in  the  service.  But  these  men.  It  would 
appear,  are  without  centralized  direction.  They  are  not  told 
what  to  picture,  how  much  and  when,  and  what  it  has  to  fit 
into.  It  reminds  one  of  that  old  Hollywood  phrase:  "Shooting 
off  the  cuff".  What  comes  back  may  be  film,  but  it  is  also  a 
miscellany,  considerably  irrelevant,  so  far  as  we  have  seen. 

MILITARY  film  experience  was  had  in  the  First  World 
War.  The  motion  picture  was  even  then  a  highly 
competent  Instrument  of  record.  Many  cameramen 
were  sent  to  the  fronts.  Your  editor,  in  the  service  of  the 
United  States  Treasury  Department's  war  loan  campaigns, 
examined  every  foot  of  U.  S.  military  film  after  the*  Armistice 
and  with  difficulty  found  enough  usable,  competent  negative 
to  make  up  a  five-reel  release  out  of  the  whole  war. 

After  the  war,  the  Army  made  some  gestures  toward  acqui- 
sition of  motion  picture  personnel.  .General  Salzman,  then  chief 
signal  officer,  selected  a  number  of  men  in  important  produc- 
tion positions,  including  Cecil  B.  DeMille,  Jesse  L.  Lasky,  Earle 
Hammons,  Albert  Warner,  Hal  Roach  and  Emanuel  Cohen. 
Interest  in  military  affairs  waned  in  the  I920's  and  mostly  the 
motion  picture  men  dropped  their  commissions.  Today  two  of 
that  group  are  in  the  service,  Lt.  Col.  Cohen  and  Major  Roach. 

Then,  a  while  before  this  new  war  started,  a  few  officers  from 
the  Signal  Corps  were  sent  to  Hollywood  to  study  motion  pic- 
tures and  picture  making.  They  doubtless  acquired  information 
from  the  technicians  they  talked  to  and  from  the  observation 
of  studios  at  work.  But  they  did  not  and  could  not  acquire 
experience  in  production  command.  That  is  perhaps  one  reason 
why  the  Army  does  not  now  have  either  an  over-all  production 
command  or  an  over-all  program  and  procedure. 

JUST  incidentally,  that  is  why,  too,  that  a  highly  important 
official  picture,  intended  to  report  to  the  public,  has  been 
waiting  "in  preparation"  these  several  months.  Many 
thousands  of  feet  of  film  were  made,  but  somebody  forgot  to 
have  the  fighting  part  of  the  war  photographed. 

Notable  work  has  been  done  and  Is  being  done  by  motion 
picture  personages  now  in  the  service,  under  various  commis- 
sions and  assignments.  But  no  motion  picture  authority  of 
experience  is  in  general  charge  of  pictures  for  the  war.  The 
program  is  still  off  the  cuff. 

The  war-makers  could  also  do  with  a  policy.  The  Office  of 
War  Information,  so  far  as  we  can  see,  has  been  vastly  more 
concerned  with  telling  Hollywood  how  to  make  pictures  about 
the  war  than  it  has  with  getting  us  some  pictures  of  the  war 
out  where  it  is  being  fought.  Also,  the  industry  is  confronted 
with  those  whimsical  divergences  among  the  spokesmen.  Some 
want  the  war  pictures  filled  with  cheer  and  triumph.  Others 
cry  for  blood,  guts  and  travail — in  the  theatre. 

— Terry  Ramsaye 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January     I,  1944 


THIS  WEEK 


IN  THE  NEWS 


For  the  Time  Being 

"RELUCTANTLY,"  the  executive  board 
of  Local  244,  the  lATSE  operators  union 
in  Newark,  announced  Friday  that  it  had 
accepted  the  resignation  of  Louis  Kaufman, 
its  business  agent  for  26  years.  Kaufman 
quit,  the  board  said,  pending  his  appeal  from 
a  conviction  by  a  Federal  jury  in  New  York 
last  week  of  participation  in  the  $2,000,000 
extortion  plot  managed  by  Willie  Bioff  and 
George  E.  Browne.  He  felt  the  outcome  of 
the  trial  might  possibly  cause  embarrass- 
ment to  the  local,  the  directors  said. 

Andrew  Gehring,  Kaufman's  assistant, 
was  named  business  agent  "temporarily." 
The  job  pays  $250  per  week,  plus  expenses. 
Only  a  week  ago  Kaufman  had  been  re- 
elected to  another  seven-year  term  as  busi- 
ness agent,  defeating  Gustave  Benner. 

Asked  about  reports  that  the  union  might 
continue  to  pay  a  salary  to  Kaufman,  Mr. 
Gehring  said  he  was  "surprised  that  you 
ask  such  a  question.  You  know  we  couldn't 
do  that."  At  least  a  part  of  Kaufman's  legal 
expenses  have  been  underwritten  by  the 
union,  however. 

Along  with  six  "boys  from  Chicago"  who 
were  convicted  with  him  of  behind  the 
scenes  manipulation  in  the  Bioff-Browne 
deals,  Kaufman  was  to  face  sentence  from 
Judge  John  Bright  on  Thursday.  The  prison- 
ers had  been  continued  in  bail  over  Christ- 
mas. They  face  maximum  sentences  of  10 
years  in  jail  and  fines  up  to  $10,000. 

There  were  indications,  meanwhile,  that 
the  extortion  case  was  still  interesting  to 
the  Federal  Bureau  of  Investigation.  Boris 
Kostelanetz,  special  Assistant  Attorney  Gen- 
eral in  charge  of  the  case,  also  indicated 
that  he  expected  1944  to  be  a  busy  year. 


Blue  Partners 

TIME,  Inc.,  proprietor  of  the  magazines 
Time,  Life,  Fortune  and  Architectural 
Forum,  bought  itself  a  12j^  per  cent  inter- 
est in  the  Blue  Network  on  Tuesday.  For 
approximately  $1,000,000  the  publishing 
house  headed  by  Henry  R.  Luce  added  ma- 
jor network  affiliation  to  its  interests  in  the 
communications  field. 

Edward  J.  Noble,  chairman  of  the  Blue 
Network  board,  announced  that  Roy  E.  Lar- 
sen,  president  of  Time,  Inc.,  had  been  elect- 
ed a  director  of  the  Blue.  In  addition  to 
the  Time  purchase,  a  $1,000,000  share  in 
American  Broadcasting  System,  Inc.,  the 
network's  parent  company,  was  sold  to 
Chester  J.  La  Roche,  advertising  executive, 
and  smaller  blocks  of  stock  were  acquired 
by  Mark  Woods,  president,  and  Edgar  Ko- 
bak,  who  is  executive  vice-president  of  the 
network. 

News  from  Time  bureaus  in  this  country 
and  abroad  will  be  made  available  to  the 
Blue  under  the  deal  and  Mr.  Noble  ex- 
pressed confidence  that  Time  would  make 
other  "major  contributions"  to  the  Blue's 
programs.    He  said  Time's  field  staff  would 


NEWSREELS  show  war  as  it  actually  is, 
editors  insist  Page  13 

SCREEN  backbone  of  recreation  for  the 
services,  OWI  reports  Page  14 

INDUSTRY  war  films  play  every  house  in 
U.S.,  WAC  report  shows        Page  17 

MORGENTHAU  praises  campaign  of  in- 
dustry for  War  Loan  drive         Page  18 

1943  boom  year  as  trade  stresses  war 
effort — the  year's  headlines       Page  27 


MAJOR  companies  agree  on  latest  draft  of 
Consent  Decree  revision  Page  34 

FILM  stock  values  rise  for  year  to  new  high, 
$750,535,246  Page  36 

STOCK  trading  for  the  year  detailed  in 
financial  tabulation  Page  37 

BRITISH  exhibitors  select  Miss  Garson  and 
Formby  in  annual  poll  Page  41 

PRODUCTION  budget  for  the  year  in  Eng- 
land set  at  $  1 6,000,000  Page  44 


SERVICE  DEPARTMEN 

TS 

Hollywood  Scene 

Page  47 

What  the  Picture  Did  for  Me 

Page  54 

In  the  Newsreels 

Page  40 

IN  PRODUCT  DIGEST  SECTION 

Letters  from  Readers 

Page  50 

Showmen's  Reviews 

Page  1693 

Managers'  Round  Table 

Page  57 

Advance  Synopses 

Page  1695 

Obituaries 

Page  66 

Short  Subjects 

Page  1697 

Picture  Grosses 

Page  51 

Short  Subjects  Chart 

Page  1698 

Shorts  on  Broadway 

Page  56 

The  Release  Chart 

Page  1700 

be  enlarged  to  aid  their  radio  coverage. 
The  magazine's  radio  department  developed 
the  "March  of  Time  on  the  Air"  style  of 
dramatized  news  and  has  produced  experi- 
mental news  and  Spanish  language  instruc- 
tion programs  over  WQXR,  an  affiliated 
New  York  radio  station. 

Mr.  La  Roche,  who  formerly  headed  the 
Young  and  Rubicam  agency,  played  a  large 
part  in  the  development  of  radio  advertising 
patterns.  He  is  currently  head  of  the  War 
Advertising  Council  and  will  continue  this 
coordination  of  advertising's  war  work  while 
serving  as  a  Blue  director  and  chairman  of 
the  executive  committee. 

Mr.  Noble,  entrepreneur  of  Life  Saver 
candies,  and  former  Under  Secretary  of 
Commerce,  retains  control  of  the  network. 

"However,  I  have  in  mind,  at  some  later 
date  when  I  have  obtained  fuller  knowledge 
of  the  enterprise  and  can  measure  the  risk 
involved  in  equity  ownership,  to  invite  par- 
ticipation by  other  management  officials,  fel- 
low members  in  affiliated  stations  and  pos- 
sibly the  public.  In  all  probability,  such 
shares  would  be  offered  by  the  company 
and  not  by  any  of  the  present  stockholders," 
he  said. 


Millennial 

REFUNDS  and  especially  gifts  from  utili- 
ties being  in  a  class  with  those  from  Govern- 
ments, this  is  big  news.  It  comes  from 
British  Columbia,  Canada.  The  board  of 
British  Columbia,  in  Vancouver,  has  voted 
one  month's  free  electric  power  to  users  on 
the  mainland,  which  includes  the  Vancouver 
area,  and  two  months'  on  Vancouver  Island, 
which  includes  Victoria.  The  gift,  made 
because  of  extra  profits,  will  benefit  theatre 
owners  greatly. 


Quiet,  Please 


Con  trihu  lions 

PAUL  WEITING  has  closed  his  Varsity 
theatre  at  Dubuque,  Iowa,  for  the  duration 
and  has  gone  to  work  in  a  nearby  war  fac- 
tory. 

Archie  Herzoff  and  Dave  Arlen  of  the 
B  &  K  Chicago  publicity  department  are 
making  tank  parts,  working  five  hours  a 
night  on  part  time  jobs. 


A  PIN  dropping  in  the  motion  picture  of- 
fices of  the  American  Arbitration  Associa- 
tion would  have  created  quite  a  crash  this 
week.  If  an  exhibitor  had  dropped  in  with 
a  new  case  the  uproar  would  have  been 
almost  unbearable.  The  AAA  home  office 
and  the  31  field  tribunals  were  languishing 
in  the  longest  spell  of  doldrums  since  the 
Consent  Decree  was  approved.  Not  a  case 
had  been  filed  in  over  five  weeks.  There 
were  no  awards,  hearings  or  decisions  dur- 
ing the  week.  Exhibitors,  it  appeared,  were 
sitting  tight,  waiting  to  see  what  changes  in 
arbitration  a  revised  Consent  Decree  might 
bring.  The  AAA,  administrator  of  the  decree 
arbitration  provisions,  meanwhile  renewed 
leases  on  film  offices  in  Cleveland,  Seattle, 
Washington  and  Cincinnati.  The  Appeal 
Board  at  New  York  was  permitted  to  stay 
on  in  its  spacious  Rockefeller  Center  suite 
until  the  distributors  and  Department  of 
Justice  settled  its  future  which  is  expected 
in  the  near  future. 


January    1,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


9 


Miracle  at  Loew's 

TWO  crutches  turned  up  in  the  lost  and 
found  department  of  Loew's  Metropolitan 
theatre  in  Brooklyn,  U.  S.  A.,  the  week  be- 
fore Christmas.    There  were  no  claimants. 

"Damnedest  thing  I  ever  saw  in  25  years 
of  show  business.  I'm  baffled,"  commented 
Ben  Simon,  the  manager. 

Then  the  publicity  department  came  along 
and  pointed  out  that  the  MGM  musical, 
"Thousands  Cheer,"  had  been  sending  the 
customers  home  wreathed  in  smiles  and  feel- 
ing very  chipper.  Maybe  some  grandpa 
tossed  his  crutches  away  to  dance  in  the 
aisles,  suggested  Eddie  Dowden,  in  a  boost 
for  the  picture.  But  Mr.  Simon  at  the 
Metropolitan  still  had  a  pair  of  crutches  in 
his  office,  and  a  worried  look. 


Christmas  Spenders 

FROM  every  amusement  center  of  the  coun- 
try this  week  came  reports  of  record  crowds 
storming  theatre  box  offices.  In  New  York, 
scores  of  extra  police  were  required  to  hold 
patrons  in  order  at  various  Broadway  thea- 
tres. The  Radio  City  Music  Hall,  with 
"Madame  Curie"  scored  a  high  on  Christ- 
mas Day  of  24,295  paid  admissions ;  and  for 
the  four  days  starting  last  Thursday,  it 
garnered  $71,000.  The  Roxy  theatre,  near- 
by, did  almost  as  well,  with  "The  Gang's 
All  Here"  and  Jimmy  Dorsey  and  band  on 
stage.  Other  Broadway  houses  reported 
similar  grosses.  The  staid  Music  Hall  add- 
ed one  filip  to  its  attempts  to  accommodate 
the  huge  crowds:  it  opened  its  doors  at 
eight  o'clock  each  morning,  the  week  begin- 
ning Christmas  Day. 


Lights 

TOM  FARNUM,  manager  of  the  Riviera, 
Rochester,  N.  Y.,  has  his  own,  and  unique, 
extra  lighting  plant.  When  an  explosion  at 
a  nearby  utility  darkened  his  house  one  night 
recently,  Tom  put  to  work  his  own  system. 
He  drove  his  car  to  the  entrance,  opened 
the  doors  from  lobby  to  auditorium,  turned 
on  his  headlights.  They  struck  the  screen, 
reflected  back  to  the  audience.  For' one  hour, 
the  audience  remained  seated,  entertained  by 
community  Christmas  carol  singing. 


Road  Show 

ROAD  show  exploitation  methods  are  being 
used  by  the  Army  to  show  its  film,  "War 
Department  Report"  to  industrial  and  civic 
leaders  in  key  centers  and  to  persuade  them 
that  they  should  book  the  picture  for  special 
showings  in  war  plants.  Last  week  the 
official  report  on  production  was  shown  at 
the  Lincoln  theatre,  Trenton.  Theatre  men 
in  Albany,  New  Haven  and  other  New 
England,  New  York  and  New  Jersey  towns 


are  being  contacted  by  Army  representatives 
and  asked  to  donate  their  theatres  for  special 
morning  screenings  for  civic  leaders.  The 
picture  is  designed  for  non-theatrical  dis- 
tribution and  there  is  no  intention  to  book  it 
regularly  in  theatres,  according  to  industrial 
incentive  officers  of  the  Third  Service  Com- 
mand's Special  Service  branch,  in  charge  of 
the  picture's  screenings. 


Shanghaied 

COMPETITION  by  various  women's  war 
service  agencies  to  sponsor  star  appearances 
before  service  men  in  San  Francisco  got  so 
keen  that  the  Army  and  the  Navy  had  to 
step  in.  One  group  had  lined  up  a  star  visit 
to  several  hospitals.  Half  an  hour  ahead  of 
time  a  rival  group  of  ladies  showed  up 
with  a  car  and  chauffeur  and  whisked  the 
Hollywood  entertainer  to  another  hospital. 
To  assure  that  excessive  demands  are  not 
made  on  talent,  and  to  coordinate  hospital 
and  camp  shows  there  the  Army,  Navy, 
Coast  Guard  and  Marines  this  week  an- 
nounced formation  of  an  Armed  Forces  En- 
tertainment Committee.  All  appearances  will 
be  cleared  through  the  committee  and  talent 
unions  or  industry  groups  such  as  the  War 
Activities  Committee.  Hit  or  miss  grabbing 
of  talent  for  appearances  is  out. 


Payments 

FLOYD  B.  ODLUM,  chairman  of  the  board 
of  directors  of  Radio-Keith-Orpheum  Corp., 
announced  at  the  home  office  Wednesday  that 
the  board,  at  a  meeting  held  the  day  before, 
had  taken  action  to  declare  payment  of  (a) 
all  accumulated  dividends  accrued  prior  to 
Nov.  1,  1943,  amounting  to  $15.50  per  share  ; 
and  (b)  the  regular  dividend  of  $1.50  per 
share  for  the  current  quarter  on  the  6  per 
cent  preferred  stock  of  the  corporation.  Both 
dividends  are  payable  Feb.  1,  1944,  to  stock- 
holders of  record  at  the  close  of  business  on 
Jan.  20,  1944. 


Twice  A  Day 

TWICE  a  day,  on  the  average,  or  63  times 
during  the  month  of  December  Paramount 
Pictures  got  in  a  boost  over  the  national  ra- 
dio networks  for  its  stars  or  pictures,  ac- 
cording to  the  score  kept  by  Robert  Gillham, 
director  of  advertising  and  publicity.  He  re- 
ported that  it  set  a  record  for  the  guest  ap- 
pearance of  Paramount  stars  and  for  the 
radio  dramatization  of  company  screen 
stories.  At  least  29  of  the  company  stars 
and  feature  players  were  heard  in  broad- 
casts during  December,  with  several  appear- 
ing in  two  or  more  shows.  The  company 
also  exploits  regular  weekly  network  appear- 
ances by  Bob  Hope,  Bing  Crosby,  Dick 
Powell,  William  Bendix,  Johnnie  Johnston 
and  Betty  Rhodes. 


Now  in  Business 

DANIEL  BERTRAND,  so  the  word 
comes  from  Washington,  has  taken  over  the 
management  of  the  United  States  Corpora- 
tion, an  institution  which  serves  corporation 
counsel  and  other  lawyers  through  contact 
with  Government  offices  and  sources. 
Among  its  clients  is  Twentieth  Century-Fox 
Film  Corporation  in  New  York. 

Mr.  Bertrand,  scholarly,  incisive  and 
questioning,  has  been  an  important  but  stu- 
diously inconspicuous  figure  in  the  affairs  of 
the  motion  picture,  from  the  side  of  the 
Government,  ever  since  the  inception  of  the 
current  administration  and  such  manifesta- 
tions as  the  "Blue  Eagle"  of  the  National 
Recovery  Administration,  with  its  motion 
picture  code.  He  has  been  the  unsigned 
author  of  many  documents  of  relevancy, 
from  then  to  now,  including  reports  to  as- 
sorted and  sundry  Congressional  and  Sena- 
torial committees  and  the  Temporary  Na- 
tional Economic  Committee.  He  has  been 
the  while  friend,  pal  and  housemate  with 
Leon  Henderson  of  fame  in  many  bureau 
connections,  last  in  the  Federal  service  with 
the  Office  of  Price  Administration.  When 
Mr.  Henderson  became  a  figure  of  industry, 
and  commercial,  O'Sullivan's  heels,  it  was 
certain  that  Mr.  Bertrand  would  also.  He 
has  notable  skill  in  assembling  facts  and 
setting  them  down  end  to  end,  whatever 
the  end.  — TR. 


Post-Morley 

THE  Rialto,  Hoboken,  N.  J.,  has  been  sold 
by  that  city  to  Patsy  De  Menza,  who  was 
leasing  it.  • 

The  news  brings  many  memories  to  New 
Yorkers.  The  theatre  was  once  a  beer  gar- 
den, in  the  days  when  folks  crossed  the 
Hudson  to  drink  that  substance  in  its  prop- 
er settings,  and  to  the  gutturals  of  a  German 
band.  Then  it  was  a  house  of  revivals  of 
famed  melodramas,  including  "The  Black 
Crook"  and  "After  Dark— or  Neither  Maid, 
Wife,  nor  Widow."  That  was  its  Christo- 
pher Morley  phase. 

Mr.  De  Menza  has  been  presenting  Italian 
shows. 


Apples 

WHO  are  the  most  cooperative  stars  ? 

The  Women's  Press  Club  of  Hollywood 
says  Ann  Sheridan  and  Bob  Hope  are.  The 
Club  last  week  formally  presented  the  two 
their  awards :  little  gold  apples. 

In  New  York,  the  Film  Critics  Associa- 
tion chose  their  "bests"  of  1943:  "Watch  on 
the  Rhine"  as  the  best  picture ;  Paul  Lukas, 
as  the  best  male  performer  ;  Ida  Lupino,  the 
best  female  performer ;  George  Stevens,  the 
best  director. 


MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD,  published  every  Saturday  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  City,  20.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100;  Cable  address  "Quigpubco, 
New  York."  Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Terry  Ramsaye,  Editor;  James  D.  Ivers,  News  Editor; 
Ray  Gallagher,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Avenue,  Chicago,  5;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Building,  Hollywood,  28,  William  R.  Weaver, 
editor;  Toronto  Bureau,  242  Millwood  Road,  Toronto,  Ontario,  Canada,  W.  M.  Gladish,  correspondent;  Montreal  Bureau,  265  Vitre  St.,  West,  Montreal,  Canada,  Pat  Donovan, 
correspondent;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Square,  London  W  I,  Hope  Williams  Burnup,  manoger;  coble  Quigpubco  London;  Melbourne  Bureau,  The  Regent  Theatre,  191  Collins 
St.,  Melbourne,  Austrolia,  Cliff  Holt,  correspondent;  Sydney  Bureau,  17  Archbold  Rd.,  Roseville,  Sydney,  N.S.W.,  Austrolio,  Lin  Endeon,  correspondent;  Mexico  City  Bureau, 
Dr.  Carmono  y  Voile  6,  Mexico  City,  Luis  Becerra  Cells,  correspondent;  Buenos  Aires  Bureau,  J.  E.  Uriburi  126,  Buenos  Aires,  Argentina,  Ndtalio  Bruski,  correspondent;  Rio  de 
Janeiro  Bureau,  R.  Sao  Jose,  61,  C.  Postal  834,  Rio  de  Janeiro,  Brazil,  Alfredo  C.  Mochodo,  correspondent;  Montevideo  Bureau,  P.  O.  Box  664,  Montevideo,  Uruguay,  Paul  Bodo, 
correspondent;  cable  Argus  Montevideo.  Member  Audit  Bureau  of  Circulations.  All  contents  copyright  1944  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company.  Address  all  correspondence  to  the 
New  York  Office.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Better  TR'eotres,  Motion  Picture  Doily,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  and  Fame. 


10 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January     I,  1944 


THIS  WEEK 


the  Camera  reports: 


PARAMOUNT  wins  the  Herald  picture  contest  for  topical 

art.    First  New  Year  stunt  to  the  Herald  picture  desk  was  this 

publicity  conception  of  Betty  Hutton. 


By  Staff  Pholograpller 

AT  THE  WAC  distributors'  committee  luncheon  Tuesday,  in 
New  York.   (See  page  17.)   Seated,  Leo  McCarthy,  PRC;  E.  T. 
Somersall,  Universal;  Walter  Titus,  Republic;  Tom  Connors, 
20th-Fox;  Arthur  Mayer,  WAC;  Ned  E.  Depinet,  RKO;  William 
F.  Rodgers,  MGM;  Ed  Morey,  Monogram;  Herman  Gluckman, 
WAC;  A.  W.  Schwalberg,  Warners;  Benjamin  Kalmenson, 
Warners;  Charles  Reagan,  Paramount.  Standing,  Carl  Leserman, 
UA;  Henderson  Richey,  MGM;  Francis  Harm'on,  WAC; 
Robert  Mochrie,  RKO. 


ON  CHRISTMAS  EVE  afternoon,  New  York 
home  offices  "opened  house"  and  gave 
parties.   Above,  at  the  20th-Fox  party,  are 
Tom  Connors,  Spyros  Skouras,  and  Wendell 
Willkie;  below,  at  the  Paramount  affair, 
Robert  Gillham,  Corporal  Rudy  Montgelas, 
and  John  Hertz,  Jr.,  of  Buchanan  Co. 


ARRIVAL.  Benedict  Bogeaus,  producer,  center,  is  escorted 
from  the  train,   in   New  York,   by  Edward   Peskay,  Eastern 
representative,  and  Paul  Lazarus,  UA  advertising  chief. 


January    I,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


"MY  BRITISH  BUDDY"— Irving 
Berlin,  at  the  left,  sings  his  song  in 
London  for  insertion  in  the  Warner 
film,  "This  Is  the  Army."  Mr. 
Berlin  was  In  that  city  in  connection 
with  the  prior  opening  of  the 
stage  "This  Is  the  Army,"  and  for 
consultations  on  the  film's  run. 


TRADE  SCREENING.  At  RKO's  New  York  showing  of 
"Higher  and  Higher":  Charles  Moses,  Moses  circuit;  Sam 
Goodman  and  Jack  Springer,  Century  circuit;  Jack  Hattem, 
Interboro  circuit;  Bob  Wolff,  RKO  district  manager;  John 
Benas,  Skouras  circuit. 


CHRISTMAS  SMOKES,  on  the  desk  of 
Mrs.  J.  J.  Parker,  president  of  the  circuit 
of  that  name  in  Portland,  Oregon.  They 
were  sent  by  newspaper  readers,  who 
read  about  the  benefit  at  the  Broadway 
theatre  for  soldiers  in  the  Barnes  General 
Hospital.  Admissions  comprised  four 
packages  of  cigarettes  per  person. 
With  Mrs.  Parker,  above,  are  M.  J.  Frey, 
of  the  Oregonian,  and  Lt.  J.  S.  Faulkner. 


JACK  BELASCO,  left,  manager 
of  the  Woods  theatre  on 
Chicago's  Dearborn  Street,  is 
given  credit  along  Film  Row  in  that 
city  for  doubling  the  gross  at 
that  house.  Modernization  of 
physical  equipment,  careful 
booking  and  solving  the  manpower 
problem  by  treating  the  help  as 
part  of  the  family  is  responsible 
for  the  increase,  he  says. 


THEATRE,  record  and  radio  executives  were  host  to 
singer  Frank  Sinatra  recently  in  Pittsburgh,  where  he 
appeared  at  the  Stanley.  Above,  grouped  around  M.  A. 
Silver,  Warner  zone  manager,  are  Mannie  Sachs, 
Columbia  Records;  Harry  Mayer,  Joe  Feldman,  Mr. 
Sinatra,  and  John  Dugan,  CBS. 


12 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January     I,  1944 


ONE  of  the  high  spots  from  what  Para- 
mounts  says  is  the  high  spot  of  Preston 
Sturges'  career  as  writer  and  director, 
"The  Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek". 
William  Demarest,  as  Officer  Kocken- 
locker,  is  getting  the  worst  of  It  from  his 
two  daughters,  Betty  Hutton  and  Diana 
Lynn,  while  keeping  a  firm  hold  on  the 
bewildered  Eddie  Bracken.  Upon  view- 
ing rushes  of  the  film,  studio  officials 
decided  to  build  Miss  Lynn. 


A  FIVE-YEAR  contract  was  signed  with 
20th-Fox  last  week  by  Murray  Silver- 
stone,  below,  who  has  been  associated 
with  the  company  since  April,  and  Is  a 
vice-president  In  charge  of  foreign  dis- 
tribution. Mr.  Silverstone  was  formerly 
chief  of  world  wide  operations  for 
United  Artists,  and  has  been  in  the  in- 
dustry 22  years. 


NEW  PRESIDENT  of  Altec  Service 
Corporation  is  George  L.  Carrington, 
above,  succeeding  M.  L.  Conrow,  who 
died  two  weeks  ago.  Mr.  Carrington  is 
a  founder  of  Altec,  and  has  been  vice- 
president  and  general  manager  since  its 
formation  In  1937.  Before  then  he  was 
with  Western  Electrlc's  Erpi  division,  and 
the  Southwestern  Bell  Telephone  Com- 
pany, hie  took  over  his  new  duties  im- 
mediately upon  being  named  to  the  post. 


VISITOR,  below.  Ray  Courtney,  former 
manager  of  three  theatres  in  James 
Stiles'  South  Perth  Theatres  circuit,  Aus- 
tralia, dropped  into  the  RKO  New  York 
offices  Monday  for  a  chat  about  film 
affairs  and  directions  in  the  big  city. 
He  is  a  pilot  officer  of  the  Royal  Aus- 
tralian Air  Force. 


ESCORT.  Mrs.  Darryl  F.  Zanuck  is 
escorted  at  the  Christmas  Night  opening 
of  20th-Fox's  "Song  of  Bernadette"  at 
the  Carthay  Circle,  Hollywood,  by 
Joseph  M.  Schenck,  production  chief. 
The  picture's  New  York  home  will  be  the 
RIvoli,  where  It  will  open  late  in  Janu- 
ary, succeeding  "For  Whom  the  Bell 
Tolls",  the  present  tenant.  It  stars  Jen- 
nifer Jones,  daughter  of  Texas  exhibitor 
Phil  Isley. 


January    I,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


13 


NEWSREELS  SHOW  THE  WAR 
AS  IT  IS,  EDITORS  INSIST 


Deny  Softening  of  Material 
and  Cite  Byrnes*  Letter 
Praising  Tarawa  Films 

Newsreels  are  showing  the  public  just  as 
much  war  as  the  cameras  record  and  the 
military  censors  release,  editors  declared 
this  week. 

They  denied  charges  by  "a  high  Wash- 
ington official"  that  the  newsreels  had  soft- 
ened war  reports  by  self-censorship  of  scenes 
depicting  American  dead  and  wounded, 
action  under  fire,  and  other  grim  battlefront 
realities. 

This  criticism  of  newsreels  appeared  in 
the  New  York  Times,  and  other  papers  and 
wire  services  on  December  23.  It  was  ac- 
companied by  the  observation  of  a  "high  of- 
ficial" that  American  public  opinion  was 
too  soft,  and  unprepared  for  casualty  lists 
that  might  exceed  500,000  when  the  inva- 
sion of  Europe  began. 

Byrnes  Praised  Handling 
Of  Tarawa  Material 

The  day  before,  James  F.  Byrnes,  Direc- 
tor of  the  Office  of  War  Mobilization  and 
executive  assistant  to  the  President,  had  in- 
vited several  regular  White  House  corre- 
spondents to  luncheon.  It  appeared  that  he 
had  given  them  permission  to  use  his  ofif- 
the-record  comments  and  predictions  with- 
out naming  the  source.  This  brought  sharp 
criticism  from  Elmer  Davis,  Director  of 
War  Information,  and  an  official  OWI  pro- 
nouncement that  no  one  was  authorized  to 
speculate  anonymously  on  what  our  inva- 
sion losses  might  be. 

Pathe  News  and  RKO  the  same  week  re- 
ceived a  letter  from  Mr.  Byrnes  praising 
the  handling  of  the  Tarawa  films  by  news- 
reels. 

"Just  a  note  to  say  that  whoever 
arranged  the  newsreel  with  the  Ta- 
rawa landing  scenes  did  a  wonderful 
job.  I  have  seen  the  films  in  pos- 
session of  the  Navy  and  I  think  it 
is  a  most  remarkable  photographic 
achievement.  The  photographer  is 
certainly  entitled  to  recognition," 
Mr.  Byrnes  wrote  the  company. 

Theatre  and  newsreel  men  pointed  out 
that  the  newsreels  for  over  a  year  had  led 
the  struggle  to  persuade  official  censorship 
to  permit  more  complete  war  coverage.  Un- 
til recently,  they  pointed  out,  Army  and 
Navy  censors  would  not  pass  any  footage 
which  showed  American  dead  or  wounded. 

Theatre  operators,  representing  major 
circuits,  independents  and  the  specialized 
newsreel  outlets  also  defended  the  job  of 
war  information  which  has  been,  performed 
by  the  theatres  through  the  newsreels.  In 
no  instance,  executives  said,  have  they  re- 
ceived widespread  public  complaint  that  the 
newsreels  were  too  grim  or  horrible. 

All  industry  groups  expressed  hurt  sur- 
prise at  the  press  criticisms,  quoting  the 
"high  official." 

"The  unvarnished  truth  of  the  cost  of 
victory  must  be  presented  if  the  people  are 


to  realize  that  war  is  not  all  victory,  with 
no  losses,"  the  Times  declared.  It  quoted 
a  "high  official"  who  "pictured  President 
Roosevelt  as  agreeing"  with  the  point  of 
view  that  the  realities  of  the  battlefront 
should  be  brought  home  to  the  people. 

The  high  officials,  "close  to  the  White 
House,"  according  to  the  Times,  cited  the 
newsreel  releases  of  the  Marine  Corps  pic- 
tures of  the  battle  of  Tarawa  as  an  example 
of  industry  censorship.  He  charged  that 
closeups  of  bodies,  wounded  and  battle  ac- 
tion had  been  deleted  by  newsreels  from  the 
official  release. 

No  Footage  Eliminated  as 
Being  Too  Sombre 

Walton  Ament,  president  of  Pathe  News, 
and  chairman  of  the  newsreel  pool  for  over- 
seas coverage,  said  Tuesday  that  the  reels 
had  eliminated  absolutely  no  footage  on  the 
ground  that  it  was  too  sombre.  Editing  is 
solely  on  the  basis  of  length,  pictorial  qual- 
ity, and  the  amount  of  the  official  release 
needed  to  tell  the  story. 

The  first  Tarawa  pictures  were  received 
from  Don  Senick,  Fox  Movietone  repre- 
sentative of  the  pool,  in  time  for  the  De- 
cember 10  edition  of  the  newsreels.  They 
amounted  to  about  800  feet,  which  all  reels 
used  almost  in  entirety,  Mr.  Ament  report- 
ed. The  following  week  official  Marine 
Corps  pictures  taken  by  Sergeant  Norman 
Hatch  were  released  to  the  reels.  Almost 
2,100  feet  out  of  3,000  were  used  in  the  two 
semi-weekly  installments.  Additionally  the 
reels  have  taken  several  hundred  feet,  in 
black  and  white,  from  color  pictures  filmed 
under  the  direction  of  Captain  Louis  Hay- 
ward. 

Monday,  the  War  Activities  Committee 
disclosed  that  its  Hollywood  branch,  after 
seeing  the  color  films  of  the  Tarawa  action 
brought  back  by  Captain  Hayward,  had 
promised  to  distribute  them  to  theatres. 
They  will  be  released  in  a  two-reel  Tech- 
nicolor version  early  in  February,  at  about 
the  time  the  Fourth  War  Loan  drive  gets 
under  way. 

Universal  exchanges  will  route  the  pic- 
tures to  theatres  without  rental  charge. 
Originally  filmed  in  16mm  Kodachrome,  the 
pictures  are  now  being  edited  under  Marine 
supervision  at  the  Warner  studios  in  Hol- 
lywood. A  commentary  will  be  added  and 
the  pictures  blown  up  to  35mm  Technicolor. 

WAC  Voluntarily  Offered 
To  Distribute  Films 

Francis  Harmon,  executive  vice-chairman 
of  the  WAC,  said  that  the  Committee  vol- 
untarily had  suggested  distribution  of  the 
pictures,  a  few  hours  after  they  had  been 
shown  to  Hollywood  members.  He  flatly 
denied  that  there  had  been  any  official  pres- 
sure from  Washington  to  show  the  pictures 
in  theatres,  and  he  added  that  there  would 
be  no  "censorship"  of  sombre  contents  in 
the  official  camera  record  of  the  historic 
battle. 

In  Washington  Brigadier  General  R.  L. 
Denig,  in  command  of  the  Marine  Corps 


public  relations,  thanked  the  industry  for  its 
cooperation  and  said  that  only  a  few  scenes 
would  be  eliminated  from  the  version  shown 
to  officials.  These  contain  material  involv- 
ing security,  or  are  repetitious,  it  was  said. 

Managers  Lack  Authority 
To  Cut  Newsreels 

Executives  of  newsreel  theatre  circuits 
were  unanimous  at  New  York  this  week  in 
their  praise  of  the  Tarawa  installments. 
The  pictures  were  among  the  best  camera 
reports  from  any  battle  front,  they  declared, 
reporting  substantial  business  increases  at 
both  Broadway  and  out-of-town  houses. 

Circuit  officials  and  the  managers  of  the 
Broadway  first  runs  said  that  they  also  had 
shown  the  complete  Tarawa  pictures  and 
had  received  no  complaints.  Loew,  RKO, 
Skouras  and  Warner  circuit  officials  said 
that  there  was  no  editing  of  the  newsreels 
in  their  theatres,  other  than  occasional  omis- 
sions from  crowded  shows,  to  save  screen 
time. 

One  circuit  official  pointed  out  that  the 
newsreels  seldom  contained  pictures  which 
had  not  been  shown  as  stills  in  the  daily  pa- 
pers or  picture  magazines.  He  further 
pointed  out  that  many  printed  pictures  and 
stories  were  far  grimmer  and  more  graphic 
than  any  screen  material  yet  shown. 

A  direct  relation  between  War  Bond  sales 
and  the  quality  of  newsreel  material  was 
cited  by  Norman  Elson,  general  manager  of 
the  Trans-Lux  theatres,  and  by  Stewart 
Martin,  Newsreel  Theatres,  Inc.,  executive. 
They  reported-  that  following  "the  exhibition 
of  pictures  such  as  the  Tarawa  landing,  Ital- 
ion  campaign  or  Sicilian  operations  interest 
in  their  theatre  Bond  booths,  blood  donor 
registration  and  other  war  drives  showed 
an  immediate  increase. 

Relations  Between  Censors 
And  Newsreels  Improved 

The  news  theatre  operators  said  the  chief 
problem  until  recently  had  been  to  obtain 
sufficiently  interesting  war  material.  Rela- 
tions between  newsreels  and  official  censors 
had  shown  constant  improvement,  they  not- 
ed, and  said  that  recent  reports  from  the 
battle  line  or  other  important  war  sectors 
such  as  the  Cairo  and  Teheran  conferences 
had  been  of  good  quality  and  public  inter- 
est. 

To  their  word  of  praise,  however,  they 
added  a  plea  for  greater  diversity  of  mate- 
rial from  the  home  front.  Newsreel  editors, 
pointing  out  that  their  war  material,  from 
the  pool  or  official  release,  often  runs  to  90 
per  cent  of  a  week's  footage,  said  they  were 
handicapped  in  providing  a  diversity  of  fea- 
ture, sports  and  human  interest  clips. 

Reels  are  limited  to  an  average  of  about 
750  feet  per  issue  and  there  is  no  likelihood 
of  increased  allotments  to  permit  more  room 
for  copy  to  balance  the  war  diet,  they  said. 
Harold  Hopper,  chief  of  the  film  branch  of 
the  War  Production  Board,  has  set  news- 
reel  quotas  for  the  first  three  months  of 
1944  at  the  same  levels  as  the  last  quarterly 
allotment  of  1943. 


14 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January     I,  1944 


Screen  Backbone  of 
Service  Recreation 


OWI  Report  on  Activity  for 
Morale  Cites  Film  Value 
in  Remote  Outposts 

Washington  Bureau 

Motion  pictures,  declared  unanimously  by 
Army  and  Navy  recreation  ofificers  to  be  by 
far  the  most  popular  form  of  entertainment 
in  all  the  uniformed  services,  are  the  back- 
bone of  the  Government's  effort  to  make  life 
more  bearable  for  the  men  in  the  lonely  out- 
posts around  the  world. 

This  was  disclosed  this  week  by  the  Of- 
fice of  War  Information  in  a  report  on  what 
is  being  done  for  the  morale  of  the  men 
scattered  in  small  groups  in  all  parts  of  the 
world,  almost  from  one  pole  to  the  other. 

"While  nothing  can  take  the  place  of 
home — or  mail  from  home — the  Army  and 
Navy  are  doing  everything  possible  to  re- 
lieve the  monotony  at  outposts  beyond  the 
fringes  of  civilization,"  OWI  found  after 
surveying  the  situation. 

Recreation  Comes  to  Men 
Even  in  Tough  Spots 

Motion  pictures,  radio,  music  and  amateur 
theatricals  are  all  used  to  the  greatest  pos- 
sible extent;  sports  equipment  and  books 
are  provided,  and  there  are  educational 
courses  by  mail.  This  is  true  even  on 
Ascension  Island,  the  loneliest  and  toughest 
spot  where  Americans  are  stationed — a  bar- 
ren isle  about  the  size  of  Manhattan,  so 
stony  that  a  pair  of  Army  shoes  can  be  cut 
to  pieces  in  six  days,  a  place  where  a  con- 
stant wind  blows  volcanic  dust  and  where 
water  to  drink  must  be  distilled  from  the 
sea. 

Other  outposts  are  almost  as  bad  but, 
OWI  found,  those  which  are  too  small  or 
too  remote  from  the  beaten  path  to  get  at 
least  two  or  three  new  films  a  week  are 
very  rare  indeed. 

As  a  compensating  factor,  it  is  not  un- 
usual for  smash  hits  to  have  their  world 
premieres,  not  in  Hollywood  or  on  Broad- 
way, but  in  some  isolated  Army  or  Navy 
post.  "Stage  Door  Canteen"  and  "This  Is 
the  Army"  were  among  the  films  seen  by 
thousands  of  service  men  in  the  wilds  of 
the  world  before  they  were  released  to  any 
first  run  theatre  in  this  country. 

Planes  Used  to  Distribute 
Films  to  Outposts 

The  OWI  has  pointed  out  that  the  film 
industry  makes  available  to  the  Army  16mm 
prints,  which  are  flown  from  San  Francisco 
to  Australia  and  New  Caledonia,  and  are 
distributed  to  South  and  Southwest  Pacific 
outposts,  usually  by  plane.  The  Army  also 
purchases  the  regular  35mm  films  to  place 
on  exhibition  at  post  theatres  in  Army 
camps  throughout  the  country. 

To  carry  pictures  to  all  American  men 
in  service,  the  Navy  leases  about  300  new 
titles  a  year,  and  while  the  number  leased 
by  the  Army  is  not  announced,  it  has  facili- 


ties in  various  areas  for  making  necessary 
additional  prints. 

"It  is  not  unusual  for  an  outpost  on  some 
island,  the  very  name  of  which  was  unknown 
to  its  present  inhabitants  before  the  war,  to 
show  two  or  three  new  films  each  week,"  the 
report  commented.  "The  men  get  so  hungry 
for  movies  they  will  sit  through  a  drenching 
South  Pacific  rain  to  see  a  good  show." 

Each  week  prints  of  three  different  films 
are  flown  to  Alaska  from  the  West  Coast  in 
sufficient  numbers  for  all  outposts  through- 
out the  interior  of  Alaska  and  the  Aleutians 
to  get  their  quota  of  motion  picture  enter- 
tainment. 

Schedule  of  Daily  Shows 
In  Aleutian  Islands 

The  greatest  problem  for  both  the  Army 
and  Navy,  OWI  found,  was  not  films  but 
projectors.  Small  outposts  are  so  numer- 
ous that  it  is  sometimes  difficult  to  obtain 
enough  projectors  to  go  around,  even  the 
16mm  projectors  which  are  mostly  used  for 
small  groups.  Both  services  have  corps  of 
specialists  constantly  making  the  rounds, 
giving  instructions  on  the  operation  of  pro- 
jectors, furnishing  new  ones  wherever  pos- 
sible and  repairing  those  that  have  broken 
down. 

According  to  Lieut.  Colonel  H.  W.  Clark 
of  the  Army  Special  Service  Division,  who 
recently  completed  a  10,000-mile  tour  of  is- 
land outposts,  every  island  on  the  Aleutian 
chain  has  at  least  one  projection  machine 
and  an  adequate  supply  of  films,  distributed 
through  a  regular  circuit.  The  task  force 
occupying  Kiska  was  equipped  with  films 
and  projectors  only  a  few  hours  after  land- 
ing. Colonel  Clark  said.  On  Kiska,  Adak 
and  other  islands  where  troops  are  stationed, 
there  is  a  schedule  of  daily  screenings  of 
16mm  film.  The  Colonel  reported  that  even 
on  Attn,  outermost  island  in  the  chain,  for 
the  past  five  months  films  have  been  shown 
in  tents,  Quonset  huts  and  other  improvised 
theatres. 

"Progressive  Shows"  Put  On 
Aboard  Battle  Wagons 

From  the  South  Pacific  theatre  of  opera- 
tions, Lieut.  General  Millard  F.  Harmon 
writes :  "The  relaxation  provided  by  motion 
pictures  is  one  of  the  greatest  morale-build- 
ing factors  in  this  area  where  entertain- 
ment, other  than  that  provided  by  the  mem- 
bers of  the  armed  forces,  is  seldom  avail- 
able. At  the  present  time  the  majority  of 
troops  in  the  South  Pacific  are  able  to 
enjoy  three  motion  pictures  weekly." 

On  board  ship,  it  was  the  Navy's  peace- 
time custom  to  show  films  "topside."  That 
is  now  impossible  because  of  blackouts  and 
not  only  do  few  ships  have  space  enough 
to  accommodate  all  the  men  inside  at  one 
point  but  it  is  inadvisable  to  concentrate 
too  many  men  in  one  part  of  the  ship,  par- 
ticularly in  battle  zones. 

Accordingly,  the  difficulty  has  been  solved, 
so  far  as  the  limited  supply  of  projectors 
permits,  by  putting  on  "progressive  shows" 
in  the  larger  ships.  The  men  are  assembled 


in  small  groups  in  various  parts  of  the 
ship,  and  as  soon  as  a  reel  is  finished  in 
one  part  it  is  rushed  to  another  for  a  repeat 
run. 

No  attempt  is  made  to  supply  pictures  to 
the  small  ships,  but  the  men  on  most  of 
them  usually  get  ashore  more  often  and  are 
able  to  see  films  wherever  they  happen  to  be. 

Tricks  of  show  business  are  being  taught 
showman  soldiers  who  produce  entertain- 
ment within  the  camps.  The  teachers  are 
Hollywood  experts.  The  work  was  started 
at  an  Army  Special  Service  conference  held 
at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  late  in  November.  Brian 
Aherne  headed  the  seminar  on  acting;  L. 
Wolfe  Gilbert  conducted  the  song  writing 
panel ;  George  Jessel  discussed  the  master 
of  ceremonies  technique ;  Arch  Oboler  taught 
radio  production,  and  Conrad  Thibault  help- 
ed the  singers.  A  similar  conference  is 
scheduled  for  Salt  Lake  City  for  Special 
Service  Officers  of  the  Ninth  Command. 


6'Day  Week  May- 
Help  Theatres 

Box  offices  of  theatres  along  the  Pacific 
Coast  may  find  a  considerable  increase  in  ticket 
sales  as  result  of  a  trend  towards  the  return  of 
a  six-day  week  for  war  workers. 

Recently  the  Maritime  Commission  gave  its 
approval  to  the  recomrriendation  of  Henry  J. 
Kaiser,  shipbuilder,  that  his  many  yards  along 
the  coast  return  to  a  six-day  week,  in  line  with 
the  trend  of  many  heavy  war  manufacturing 
industries. 

Last  week  the  War  Production  Board  ap- 
proved a  move  to  cut  the  seven-day  week  by 
one  day  for  copper  miners  in  Montana  and 
Arizona. 

In  communities  where  workers  have  been 
employed  on  fulltime  and  overtime  shifts,  thea- 
tres have  been  suffering  box  office  slumps. 
Treasury  officials  have  pointed  out  that  spending 
money  for  recreation  likely  will  continue  to  be 
plentiful  despite  the  shorter  work  week.  The 
monetary  peak  is  expected  to  be  maintained 
through  1944.  WPB  officials  have  predicted 
that  the  war  production  peak  will  not  be  passed 
until  this  coming  summer. 

Irene  Kuhn  Is  Named  NBC 
Information  Assistant 

Irene  Kuhn  has  been  appointed  assistant 
director  of  the  National  Broadcasting  Company 
department  of  information.  She  had  been  man- 
ager of  program  promotion.  Miss  Kuhn  joined 
NBC  in  1940, "  in  the  press  department.  She 
had  been  a  newspaper  woman,  foreign  cor- 
respondent and  special  writer.  She  worked,  in 
New  York,  for  the  Mirror,  News,  World- 
Telegram  and  Quigley  Publications.  She  was 
a  founder  of  the  Overseas  Press  Club,  and 
has  written  an  autobiography,  "Assigned  to 
Adventure." 


Theatres  Give  Bonus 

Theatres  of  Fall  River,  Mass.,  in  accordance 
with  a  custom  of  many  years  standing,  last 
week  gave  Christmas  bonuses  equivalent  to  one 
week's  pay  to  employees.  The  theatres  making 
the  Christmas  gestures  were  the  Interstate  Em- 
pire, Durfee  and  Center ;  and  the  Capital,  Park 
and  Strand  theatres  operated  by  Nathan  Ya-  f 
mins  of  Newton,  Mass.,  formerly  of  Fall  River. 


MGM  Handles  MOI  Short 

A  two-reel  film,  "Danger  Area,"  made  by 
the  British  Ministry  of  Information,  dealing 
with  the  handling  and  manufacture  of  high  ex- 
plosives, is  being  distributed  by  Metro-Gold- 
wyn- Mayer. 


Make  an  enlargement 
of  your  floor  pi 
for  lobby  displ 


LOCAL  BOY 
GETS  HIS 
NAME  IN 
YOUR  LOBBYl 

Every  Seat  a  Bond  Sale 
in  honor  of  a  lad  in  the 
Service! 

* 

It's  a  sure-fire  showman- 
ship stunt! 

SEE  FULL  DETAILS  IN  THE 
BIG  CAMPAIGN  BOOK! 


A  BOND  FOI^ 
EVERY  SEAT! 

The  idea  behind  the  new  War  Loan  Drive  has 
excited  the  imagination  of  showmen  throughj 
out  the  nation.  A  big  job  to  be  done  —  and  this 
idea  will  do  it!  No  time  to  lose!  Our  attack 
begins  January  1 5th.  Our  lads  are  doing  theii 
share  for  us !  Let's  all  back  the  attack !  ' 

4th  WAR  LOAN 

War  Activities  Committee  of  the  Motion  Picture  Industry,  1501  Broaduigy,  New  York  City 


THEY  NEED  US! 

It  does  a  fellow's  heart  good  to  see  the  pledges  come  pouring  in  for 
the  1944  MARCH.  OF  DIMES  DRIVE  January  24th  to  30th,  Let's  not 
be  afraid  to  be  proud.  This  is  an  industry  of  swell  gents!  Exhibitors 
have  plenty  to  do  — there's  a  4th  War  Loan  Drive  on  in  January  too. 
But  kids  are  something  else.  The  pitiful  sight  of  these  helpless 
children  is  something  that  no  film  man  can  resist.  Just  a  little  help 
from  you  means  a  chance  in  life  for  them.  And  American  audiences 
are  quick  to  open  up  their  hearts  and  purses  to  fight  Infantile 
Paralysis.  How  they'll  respond  to  the  beautiful  trailer  Greer  Garson 
has  made!  Any  pledges  still  to  come?  Let's  get  going.  The  excellent 
campaign  book  is  in  the  mails  to  you.  Make  it  more  in  '44  because 
they  need  us  more  than  ever  now! 


January     I,     1944  MOTION    PICTURE    HERALD  17 

INDUSTRY  WAR  FILMS  PLAY 
EVERY  U.  S.  HOUSE:  WAC 


Rodgers  Issues  Report  as 
Depinet  Succeeds  Him  in 
Distribution  Post 

The  record  of  distributor  contributions  to 
the  war  service  program  of  the  industry 
was  reviewed  Tuesday  in  a  final  report  by 
William  F.  Rodgers,  retiring  chairman  of 
the  distributors'  division  of  the  War  Ac- 
tivities Committee. 

Mr.  Rodgers  listed  accomplishments  of  the 
division  during  1943  and  outlined  recom- 
mendations for  an  expanded  1944  program 
to  the  committee  at  a  luncheon  at  the  Hotel 
Astor,  New  York. 

Ned  E.  Depinet,  president  of  RKO  Radio 
Pictures,  Inc.,  was  announced  as  Mr. 
Rodgers'  successor  as  division  chairman  at 
the  luncheon.  Mr.  Rodgers,  who  is  vice- 
president  and  general  sales  manager  of 
Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer,  has  served  as  the 
distributor  chairman  since  the  inception  of 
the  War  Activities  Committee. 

Reports  Large  Increase 
In  Film  Bookings 

Circulation  of  war  information  films  dur- 
ing 1943  increased  from  an  average  of 
about  12,500  bookings  to  15,900  playdates 
out  of  16,400  theatres,  Mr.  Rodgers  re- 
ported. Openings  and  closings  and  part  time 
operation  accounted  for  the  difference  be- 
tween pledges  and  playdates,  he  said.  Im- 
provemtnt  of  the  system  for  distributing 
Government  information  films  to  exhibitors 
without  charge,  and  better  understanding  of 
their  responsibilities  to  the  war  aid  program 
on  the  part  of  every  one  in  distribution 
also  were  cited  by  Mr.  Rodgers. 

He  made  five  recommendations  for  the 
1944  program  on  the  basisiof  the  committee's 
experience  to  date.  They  were : 

1.  Changes  in  the  exchange  area  chairmen. 
Mr.  Rodgers  pointed  out  that  many  had 
held  the  post  for  more  than  a  year,  often 
neglecting  their  own  jobs  for  the  war  work. 
He  said  it  was  only  fair  that  others  should 
assume  the  burden  of  the  work,  reporting 
that  there  had  been  many  requests  from 
home  office  asking  rotation  of  the  field  re- 
sponsibilities. 

Meeting  of  Distribution 
Chairmen  Recommended 

2.  The  announced  schedule  of  a  War 
Bulletin  and  one  full  length  subject  each 
month  should  be  maintained.  The  Office  of 
War  Information  and  the  producers  of 
pictures  should  be  impressed  with  the  im- 
portance of  maintaining  a  regular  flow  of 
product  to  pledge  theatres. 

3.  A  meeting  of  distribution  chairmen  was 
recommended  by  Mr.  Rodgers,  in  either 
three  regional  conferences  or  a  central  ses- 
sion at  Chicago.  Here  the  importance  of 
accurate  WAC  booking  records  should  be 
stressed  and  uniform  maintenance  pro- 
cedure worked  out. 

4.  Closer  contact  between  local  distribu- 


NED  E.  DEPINET 


tion  and  exhibition  chairmen  should  be 
maintained. 

5.  Reaffirmation  of  cooperation  is  required 
from  circuits,  Mr.  Rodgers  said  that  some 
circuits  had  felt  that  occasibnal  representa- 
tion, as  against  bookings  for  every  subject 
for  every  theatre,  was  sufficient  participa- 
tion in  the  WAC  program. 

"It  must  be  brought  home  to  those  engaged 
in  sales  and  distribution  that  on  many  oc- 
casions during  the  past  year  instances  arose 
underlining  the  cold  fact  that,  had  it  not 
been  for  the  War  Activities  of  the  motion 
picture  industry,  service  to  theatres  could 
have  practically  ceased,"  Mr.  Rodgers  said. 

Aid  to  Government  Depends 
On  Trade  Functioning 

"There  is  a  question  in  my  mind  as  to 
whether  we  have  yet  proven  to  the  Gov- 
ernment and  to  the  public  the  necessity  of 
motion  pictures  as  essential  to  the  war  ef- 
fort," Mr.  Rodgers  continued.  "It  is  dif- 
ficult to  convey  to  those  who  know  little 
about  our  business  that  unless  production 
continues,  theatres  remain  open  to  exhibit 
amusement  films  and  distribution  facilities 
are  maintained  to  serve  theatres  the  whole 
structure  of  aid  to  the  Government  Avill 
collapse." 

"The  distributors  and  all  their  personnel 
must  realize  that  their  Number  One  job  is 
war  service,"  Mr.  Rodgers'  report  continued, 
"Any  member  of  the  industry  who  does  not 
put  first  his  service  to  the  war,  and  second, 
the  continued  maintenance  of  his  work  as 
part  of  the  service  machinery,  is  handicap- 
ping entire  industry  in  its  manifestations 
of  service  to  the  Government." 

Mr.  Rodgers  referred  to  the  manifold 
activities  and  the  results  obtained  by  the 
distributors  who  have  placed  their  facilities 
at  the  disposal  of  the  war  effort. 

Tabulating  the  work  of  the  distribution 


division  during  1942-43  Mr.  Rodgers  re- 
ported the  following  circulation  figures: 


Pictures  distributed  for  OWI  64 
Bookings  of  50  WAC  titles* .  .  593,764 
Average  circulation  per  sub- 
ject  .■   11,873 

Highest  circulation  attained  15,957 

"America  Speaks"  subjects.  ...  19 

Total  circulation   174,106 

Average  bookings   9,163 

Highest  circulation  attained  13,817 

Feature  length  subjects   4 

Total  circulation   32,012 

Average  bookings   8,003 

Highest  circulation  attained  12,848 

Distribution  of  Film  Bulletins  6 

Total  circulation    101,064 

Average  per  subject   16,844 

Distribution  of  orientation 
films  to  U.  S.  Army  per- 
sonnel   17 

Scrap  drives  (free  film)   1,755 

Bonds  sold  in  theatres  $319,618,721 

Total  amount  of  Bond  sales.  .1,909,889,196 

Additional  drives    4 


*Includes  at  least  12  on  which  circula- 
tion has  only  begun. 

The  division  paid  tribute  to  Mr.  Rodgers 
and  his  assistant  Henderson  Richey  in  a 
resolution  passed  at  the  luncheon  praising 
"the  excellence  of  their  performances."  Mr. 
Rodgers  said  that  his  retirement  as  chairman 
did  not  mean  a  cessation  of  his  WAC  work. 

Mr.  Depinet,  in  accepting  the  chairman- 
ship from  Mr.  Rodgers  said  that  the  Fourth 
War  Loan  would  be  the  first  item  on  his 
agenda. 

"It  is  a  staggering  job  and  the  distribu- 
tion end  of  the  industry  is  in  a  position  to 
do  much  to  make  the  goal  of  a  Bond  for 
every  seat  possible"  Mr.  Depinet  said.  "I 
am  certain  that  the  organization  built  up 
by  Bill  Rodgers  with  the  aid  of  Henderson 
Richey,  will  continue  to  function  on  its 
customary  expert  manner." 

Mr.  Depinet  named  Leon  J.  Bamberger, 
sales  promotion  manager  at  RKO,  his  as- 
sistant in  the  WAC  work. 

Other  distribution  executives  attending 
the  meeting  included  Tom  Connors,  Ben 
Kalmenson,  Al  Schwalberg,  Edward  Morey, 
Walter  Titus,  Charles  Reagan,  Max  Weis- 
feldt,  Leo  McCarthy,  Carl  Leserman,  Robert 
Mochrie,  E.  T.  Gomersall  and  Francis  S. 
Harmon,  Arthur  L.  Mayer  and  Herman 
did  not  mean  a  cessation  of  his  work  for  the 
WAC.  ^ 


MGM  Sets  Tradeshow 

The  New  York  tradeshows  of  MGM's  "A 
Guy  Named  Joe"  and  "Broadway  Rhythm" 
will  be  held  January  18.  Both  pictures  will  be 
shown  morning  and  afternoon.  All  other  ex- 
change centers,  as  previously  announced,  will 
screen  these  pictures  January  17. 


Fox  Joins  Chicago  Combine 

The  Fox  theatre,  Chicago,  has  joined  the 
Allied  booking  and  buying  circuit,  making  fiO 
in  that  combination. 


18 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January     I,  1944 


Morgenthau  Praises 
Loan  Campaign 


New  Ship  to  be  Named  for 
Carole  Lombard;  Event 
to  Commemorate  Drive 

In  the  third  regional  meeting  of  the  in- 
dustry's war  loan  leaders  at  San  Francisco 
last  Thursday,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury 
Henry  Morgenthau,  Jr,  praised  the  indus- 
try for  past  and  current  activities  in  a  tele- 
gram to  Charles  P.  Skouras,  the  industry's 
leader  in  the  drive,  and  the  assembled  ex- 
hibitors. 

The  telegram  read:  "Mr.  Gamble  has  ad- 
vised me  of  the  highly  successful  meetings 
which  you  have  held  with  motion  picture 
industry  leaders  from  the  east  and  middle 
west  at  Washington  and  Chicago.  Looking 
over  your  well  conceived  campaign  mate- 
rial it  appears  to  me  that  the  industry  is  or- 
ganizing as  never  before  to  play  a  major 
role  in  our  important  Fourth  War  Loan. 
Please  convey  on  my  behalf  the  Treasury's 
keen  interest  and  appreciation  for  what  the 
people  you  have  assembled  are  contemplat- 
ing.   My  best  wishes  to  you  all." 

Skouras  Voices  Appreciation 
Of  Morgenthau  Wire 

In  reply,  Mr.  Skouras  telegraphed:  "The 
entire  motion  picture  industry  joins  me  in 
extending  sincere  thanks  for  your  telegrams 
commenting  on  our  plans  and  efforts  in 
the  Fourth  War  Loan.  I  wish  to  assure 
you  that  our  aims  in  the  forthcoming  drive 
are  greater  than  ever  before  and  if  the  en- 
thusiasm generated  and  activities  already  set 
in  motion  by  the  thousands  upon  thousands 
of  members  of  our  industry  are  any  indica- 
tion, our  Fourth  War  Loan  goal  of  'A  Bond 
for  Every  Seat'  will  be  fully  realized.  Your 
recognition  of  our  efforts  is  keenly  appre- 
ciated and  deeply  felt  by  us  all." 

On  January  6  or  7 — which  of  the  two  dates 
is  yet  to  be  determined — the  S.S.  Carole 
Lombard,  a  ship  named  in  honor  of  the  ac- 
tress, a  reminder  to  all  the  nations  of  the 
seas  she  sails  of  the  industry's  contribution 
to  the  war  effort,  will  be  launched  in  a 
ceremony  conducted  by  Louis  B.  Mayer  and 
involving  all  studios,  guilds,  Hollywood 
Victory  Committee,  Academy  of  Motion 
Picture  Arts  and  Sciences.  The  launching 
will  take  place  at  the  California  shipyards. 

Louis  B.  Mayer  To  Handle 
Launching  Ceremony 

Mr.  Skouras  was  named  by  Ted  Gamble, 
director  of  the  War  Finance  Division  of  the 
Treasury  Department,  to  take  charge  of  the 
event.  Because  he  will  be  busy  traveling 
in  the  interest  of  the  War  Loan  drive,  Mr. 
Skouras  invited  Louis  B.  Mayer  to  take 
charge  of  the  ceremony. 

The  Treasury  Department  announced  that 
John  Carmody,  member  of  the  United  States 
Maritime  Commission,  will  go  on  from 
Washington  to  Los  Angeles  to  attend  the 
launching. 

In  connection  with  the  launching  of  the 
S.S.  Carole  Lombard,  Mr.  Skouras  said:  "I 


am  deeply  grateful  to  the  Treasury  Depart- 
ment for  their  thoughtfulness  in  naming  this 
ship  after  one  of  the  most  beloved  and  tal- 
ented stars  who  ever  graced  the  screen. 
Miss  Lombard  is  truly  a  martyr  to  the  cause 
for  which  we  are  all  buying  and  selling 
Bonds.  ...  In  fact,  those  of  us  active  in  the 
motion  picture  industry  plan  for  the  Fourth 
War  Loan  feel  that  Miss  Lombard's  activi- 
ties in  this  field  are  symbolic  of  such  work 
which  is  so  generously  being  carried  out 
by  other  personalities  of  the  industry." 

Pledge  100  Per  Cent  Backing 
Of  Campaign  Slogan 

At  the  pre-campaign  exhibitor  meeting 
last  Thursday  in  San  Francisco,  California 
exhibitors,  representing  circuits  and  inde- 
pendents throughout  the  state,  pledged  100 
per  cent  fulfillment  of  the  industry's  War 
Loan  goal  of>  "A  Bond  for  Every  Seat." 
Speakers  at  the  meeting  included  Mr.  Skou- 
ras, B.  V.  Sturdivant,  national  campaign 
director;  A.  J.  Krappman  and  Fred  Stein, 
assistant  campaign  directors;  and  Roy 
Cooper,  Northern  California  chair-man. 

Mr.  Skouras  announced  that  the  wirmers 
of  the  right  to  be  included  in  the  "Honored 
Hundred"  competition  would  comprise  the 
industry's  advisory  committee  in  the  Fifth 
War  Loan,  tentatively  scheduled  for  next 
summer.  Mr.  Skouras  and  his  staff  are  now 
in  Los  Angeles  clearing  up  eleventh  hour 
details  before  leaving  for  New  York  and 
the  industry's  headquarters. 

Borough  and  County  chairmen  in  New 
York  met  last  week  in  the  office  of  Edward 
L.  Alperson,  chairman,  and  decided  upon 
special  local  prizes  for  managers  in  the 
Metropolitan  New  York  area.  The  awards 
will  go  to  the  three  managers  who,  after 
reaching  their  quotas  of  a  Bond  for  every 
seat,  sell  the  greatest  number  of  Bonds. 
Prizes  will  be  in  Bonds  of  denominations  of 
$100,  $75  and  $50.  The  various  boroughs 
and  counties  are  to  be  divided  into  districts 
by  the  chairmen,  and  captains  appointed. 

Distributors  Offer  Pictures 
For  Bond  Premieres 

Harry  Brandt,  chairman  of  the  Borough 
of  Manhattan  Committee,  conferred  last 
week  with  representatives  of  the  various 
circuits  named  capitains  to  assist  him  in  the 
theatre  drive.  They  are:  Paul  Sherman, 
Stanley  Epstein,  James  Zabin,  William  Jan- 
ecks,  Charles  Steiner,  Lee  Koken,  Irving 
Lesser,  Eric  Van  Dyck,  Grace  Niles,  Sam 
Taub  and  Marty  Rosen. 

On  Wednesday,  officials  announced  that 
all  distributors  had  agreed  to  supply  for 
one  War  Bond  premiere  performance  any 
picture  under  contract  up  to  30  days  prior 
to  the  availability  date.  A  waiver  from  the 
exhibitor  having  prior  clearance  is  neces- 
sary. The  arrangement  is  expected  to  result 
in  2,500  Bond  premiere. 

The  distributors  also  have  agreed  to  fur- 
nish any  picture  for  a  repeat  showing  for 
any  morning,  matinee  or  midnight  special 
show,  an  offer  which  it  is  expected  will 
bring  an  additional  3,000  Bond  events. 


March  of  Dimes 
Heads  to  Confer 

Exhibitors,  film  exchange  representatives 
from  Texas,  New  Mexico  and  Oklahoma,  and 
officials  of  the  National  Foundation  for  Infan- 
tile Paralysis  will  meet  January  10  in  Dallas 
to  formulate  March  of  Dimes  drive  plans,  fol- 
lowing the  five-state  conference  in  Atlanta  next 
Tuesday.  The  Dallas  meeting  was  called  by 
the  Texas  state  chairman,  R.  J.  O'Donnell  and 
Julius  Gordon.  A  national  committee  "flying 
squadron"  composed  of  Harry  Brandt,  E'dward 
A.  Alperson,  Oscar  A.  Doob  and  Arthur  Mayer 
will  fly  to  Dallas  for  the  meeting. 

There  are  1,705  theatres  in  the  Texas-New 
Mexico-Oklahoma  area.  The  area  collected 
$33,164  in  the  1943  March  of  Dimes  drive,  and 
the  aim  is  to  increase  that  total  by  50  per  cent 
in  the  1944  campaign. 

Milas  L.  Hurley,  state  chairman  for  New 
Mexico,  and  L.  C.  Griffith,  who  holds  the  same 
post  in  Oklahoma,  will  address  the  meeting. 
Mr.  Griffith  will  tell  of  the  ravages  of  the 
infantile  paralysis  epidemic  in  Oklahoma  during 
1943,  and  pay  tribute  to  the  work  done  by  the 
National  Foundation  in  aid  of  the  local  groups 
fighting  the  disease. 

The  Women's  Division  of  the  National  Foun- 
dation plans  to  make  available  thousands  of 
women  to  cooperate  with  local  film  houses  in 
the  collections  during  the  drive.  The  Founda- 
tion headquarters  has  sent  special  bulletins  to 
women  chairmen  in  every  county  in  the  country, 
calling  for  volunteers. 

Motion  Picture  Committee  chairmen  through- 
out the  nation  are  being  urged  to  contact  local 
women's  chairmen  and  arrange  for  volunteers 
wherever  theatre  staffs  are  not  adequate  to  cope 
with  the  details. 

Warners  Will  Release 
Two  in  January 

Two  "top"  productions  will*  be  released  by 
Warners  in  January,  Ben  Kalmenson,  general 
sales  manager,  announced  in  New  York  last 
Friday.  The  pictures  are  "Destination,  Tokyo" 
and  "The  Desert  Song,"  the  first  January  1,  the 
second  January  29. 

Warners  has  decided  to  increase  its  French 
dialogue  films  from  the  originally  scheduled  IS 
to  18.  The  pictures  will  play  in  Quebec.  "All 
This  and  Heaven,  Too,"  had  a  successful  run 
at  the  Capitol,  Quebec.  "The  Sea  Hawk"  will 
play  there  starting  January  21 ;  "They  Drive  By 
Night,"  February  18;  "Strawberry  Blonde," 
March  17. 


Dianna  Skouras  Engaged 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spyros  P.  Skouras  of  Rye, 
N.  Y.,  have  announced  the  engagement  of 
their  daughter,  Dianna  Athanasia,  to  Dr.  George 
Anderson  Fowler,  son  of  Mrs.  George  Fowler. 
Miss  Skouras  attended  the  Convent  of  the 
Sacred  Heart  in  Rye  and  Rosemary  Hall  in 
Greenwich.  Her  father  is  president  of  Twen- 
tieth Century-Fox  Film  Corporation  and  the 
Greek  War  Relief  Association. 


New  Broadway  House  Opens 

The  newly  christened  Manhattan  theatre  on 
Broadway  opened  Tuesday  with  Warners'  "A 
Midsummer  Night's  Dream,"  originally  re- 
leased in  1935  with  a  cast  including  James  Cag- 
ney,  Olivia  de  Havilland  and  Mickey  Rooney. 
The  house  is  operated  by  the  Brandt  Circuit. 


"Star"  On  Continuous  Basis 

"The  North  Star,"  which  is  in  its  eighth 
week  at  the  New  Victoria,  Broadway,  New 
York,  has  shifted  to  a  continuous  showing  pol- 
icy. It  had  been  on  that  basis  at  the  RKO 
Palace,  also  on  Broadway. 


€1^1 


Paramount 


CONTINUES  ITS  INDUSTRY-PACING, 
WHAT-THE-PUBLIC-WANTS  PROGRAM 
OF  DEMILITARIZED  ENTERTAINMENTS 


WITH 


'44ave  I  Got" 
a  Surprise  fer  you 


-and  for  Eddie, 
my  6F  Miracle  Man 


and  my  plsfo/ 
packin'  papa  - 


—  and  all  t/ie 
Little  Kocken/ocker5 


and  McGini/ 
and  -Hie  "Boss 


with  Diana  Lynn  •  William 
Demarest-  Porter  Hall  and 
'McGinty'  and  'The  Boss' 
Written  and  Directed  by 
PRESTON  STURGES 


and  ihe  whole 
darn  USM'' 


It  Couldn't  Happen  To  Anybody— But  It  Happened  To 

EDDIE  BRACKEN  and  BETTY 


And  It  Rocked  The  World  With  Laughter! 


There's  no  Morgan  in  if— 
There's  no  Creek  in  it— 
But  there  IS  a  MIRACLE- 
and  what  a  miracle  .  .  . 
No  fair  telling  what  it  is 
...It'll  be  the  most  talked- 
obout  secret  in  thie  world  1 


The  Surprize  Laugh  Hit  Of  All  Time,  From 

MIRACULOUS  Preston  STURGES 

Even  Funnier  Than  "Eve"  — Greater  Than  "McGinty"! 


®ur  (&mxmXtt\  you  never  have  played 

—YOU  never  IV/a  PLAY— A  FUNNIER  PICTURE  THAN 
THIS.  FOUR  LAUGHS  A  MINUTE  ON  THE  LAUGH-METER! 


Starring 


PAULETTE  GODDARD 
FRED  MacMURRAY 

-and  it  never  stops  till  this  glamorous  secretary- 
turned-cook,  and  her  big-business  boss  turned 
butler,  have  Washington  completely  y^^^less! 


when  they  pose  as  a  hired  couple  to 
get  the  only  vacant  rooms  in  town! 


wi.h  EDWARD  ARNOLD 

as  a  footloose  footman 

And  RONALD  YOUNG 

as  a  henpecked  wolf 

and  Hilary  Brooke,  Anne 
Revere,  Clarence  Kolb, 
Isabel  Randolph  and 
Porter  Hall  •  Directed  by 
SIDNEY  LANFIELD 

Screen  Play  by  Darrell 
Ware  and  Karl  Tunberg 


0^  SPito^  c£ a  ^£<me 


3 


From  The  Most  Popular  Mystery  Romance 

Since  "Rebecca,"  Paramount  Has  Made 
A  Superbly  Beautiful  And  Thrilling  Picture 


Of  a  Strangely  Haunting  Love 


Paramount  Picture 

Starring 


MILLAND  •  RUTH  HUSSEYI 

With  CORNELIA  OTIS  SKINNER  •  Directed  b  II 

Screen  Play  by  Dodie  Smith  and  Frank  Parfl 


IT'S  A  SUPERN^rt//?^! 

A  menacing  mansion  on  a  storm-swept 
coast — and  eerie  evils  that  reach  out 
to  crush  a  lovely  child  as  vengeance 
for  her  mother  s  secret  love  .  .  .  Pre- 
view audiences  scream  with  excitement  I 


THE  BEST-SELLER 
READ  BY  3  MILLION 
IN  LIBERTY  MAGAZINE 
AND  BOOK  FORM 


mm  CRISP 

VIS  ALLEN 


Ihtroduohg 

e  exciting  beauty  of  Paramount's  new  star 


whose  first  love  is  shadowed 
by  the  spectres  of  the  pastl 


Be  Sure  To  See  PARAMOUNT'S  MIRACLE  FIVE  At  Your  Exchange, 


January     I,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


27 


1943  BOOM  YEAR  AS  TRADE 
STRESSES  WAR  EFFORT 


IN  the  second  year  of  war,  the  motion  picture  industry  adjusted 
to  the  pressures  of  wartime  economy  while  carrying  on  unceas- 
ing activity  in  the  war  cause.  Problems  of  industry  operation, 
including  raw  stock  restrictions,  manpower,  material  and  equip- 
ment shortages,  continued  to  engage  the  full  time  attention  of 
producers  and  exhibitors. 

All-out  participation  in  the  war  effort  through  voluntary 
services  in  War  Bond  drives,  production  of  war  training  and  war 
propaganda  films  and  presentation  of  filrhs  gratis  to  the  armed 
forces  overseas  was  not  abated  in  the  second  war  year  but  accel- 
erated. The  industry  sold  nearly  $2,000,000,000  of  War  Bonds 
in  the  Third  War  Loan  drive  in  April,  representing  an  eighth  of 
the  nation's  total,  and  is  now  making  plans  for  the  Fourth  War 
Loan  campaign.  March  of  Dimes,  Red  Cross,  United  Nations 
and  other  drives  also  were  assisted  materially  by  industry  par- 
ticipation. 

Significant  in  a  year  marked  with  headline  war  news,  was  the 
return  to  Europe  of  American  motion  pictures.  Following  the 
Allied  advances  in  Sicily  and  Italy  this  summer  and  autumn, 
Hollywood  films  were  shown  In  Italian  theatres  for  the  first  time 
in  many  years.  Plans  for  distribution  of  American  films  In  other 
European  countries  as  soon  as  military  operations  p.ermit  were 
made  during  the  year  by  the  major  companies  and  the  OWI 
overseas  film  division.  The  emergence  of  England  as  a  for- 
midable competitor  for  world  markets  in  the  post-war  period 
has  been  Indicated. 

Three  years  of  experimental  regulation  of  motion  picture  trade 
practices  by  the  Consent  Decree,  which  temporarily  settled  the 
Government's  anti-trust  prosecution  of  the  major  distributors, 
came  to  an  end  November  20.  None  of  the  restrictions  of  the 
Decree  were  removed  and  it  remained  In  force,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  blocks-of-five  and  other  selling  provisions  which 
specifically  expired  on  September  I,  1942,  pending  discussions 
between  the  Government  and  the  consenting  companies  as  to 
the  future  course.  Distributor  proposals  for  a  new  decree,  which 
were  rejected  by  the  Department  of  Justice,  are  now  being 
revised.  It  Is  expected  that  a  new  draft,  which  will  be  submitted 
to  Assistant  Attorney  General  Tom  C.  Clark  shortly,  will  meet 
the  Government's  requirements  for  a  new  decree. 

During  the  year,  exhibitor  protests  Influenced  a  drop  In  the 
production  of  war  films  and  spurred  the  increase  of  purely  enter- 
tainment features,  particularly  musicals  and  Technicolor  spec- 
tacles. Box  office  grosses  continued  to  rise,  and  longer  hold- 
overs and  extended  playing  time  for  top  productions  benefited 
exhibitors  as  well  as  distributors.  This  brought  about  changes 
in  the  national  release  pattern  and  new  emphasis  on  regional 
selling,  exploitation,  advertising  and  general  field  publicity. 


The  most  Important  legislation  affecting  the  industry  during 
the  year  was  the  tax  bill  providing  an  admission  tax  of  one  cent 
on  each  five  cents.  Exhibitor  protest,  which  was  responsible  for 
reducing  the  tax  from  two  cents  on  each  ten  cents  to  one  on 
five,  is  expected  to  prompt  new  study  of  the  ticket  rate  when 
the  tax  bill  comes  up  for  consideration  this  month  in  the  Senate. 
The  $25,000  salary  ceiling  order  was  killed  by  Congress  early 
in  the  year. 

Litigation  arising  out  of  trade  practices  and  Industry  opera- 
tion was  a  significant  development  In  the  twelve-month  period. 
In  March,  the  Crescent  Amusement  Company  at  Nashville  was 
found  guilty  of  maintaining  a  monopoly.  The  distributors  were 
not  convicted.  The  court  decree  dissolved  the  Crescent  partner- 
ship and  voided  film  franchises.  Crescent  Is  appealing  the  case 
to  the  U.  S.  Supreme  Court.  Charges  of  monopoly  also  were 
pressed  by  the  Government  against  the  Griffith  Amusement 
Company  in  Oklahoma  City.  A  trial  date  Is  expected  to  be  set 
this  month  following  a  pre-trial  conference  held  by  Judge  Edgar 
S.  Vaught  of  Federal  District  Court  in  Oklahoma. 

Seven  Chicago  gangsters  indicted,  following  the  Browne-Bioff 
conviction,  after  an  I  I -week  trial,  were  found  guilty  at  New  York 
of  extorting  more  than  $2,000,000  from  the  industry.  The  greater 
part  of  the  Government's  case  against  the  "boys  from  Chicago" 
hinged  upon  the  testimony  of  Willie  Bioff  and  George  Browne, 
former  lATSE  leaders  now  serving  Federal  sentences.  Numerous 
Industry  executives  were  called  to  testify  during  the  trial. 

A  suit  filed  by  RKO  against  the  March  of  Time  to  forbid 
Time  from  releasing  a  Frank  Sinatra  sequence  In  one  of  the  MOT 
Issues,  was  decided  In  favor  of  RKO.  During  the  summer,  Charles 
Chaplin  filed  suit  against  David  O.  Selznick  over  his  transfer  to 
Twentieth  Century-Fox  of  properties  scheduled  for  United  Artists 
release. 

Prior  to  the  stockholders'  approval,  court  approval  was  ob- 
tained for  Twentieth  Century-Fox  to  buy  the  remaining  stock  of 
the  company  from  the  Chase  National  Bank  and  for  the  merger 
plan  developed  by  Universal. 

Early  in  the  year,  the  U.  S.  Supreme  Court  sustained  the 
decision  on  the  American  Federation  of  Musicians'  ban  on 
recording.  The  high  court  also  ruled  that  the  Federal  Com- 
munications Commission  could  supervise  radio  contracts. 

Financially,  the  industry  never  has  been  in  a  better  position, 
despite  the  loss  of  Its  foreign  markets.  Increased  earning  power 
of  millions  of  war  workers,  the  need  for  entertainment  to  ease 
war  pressures  and  improved  product  are  expected  to  bring  1943 
net  profits  for  producing  companies  and  theatres  to  the  highest 
levels  of  any  year.  Headlines  from  the  Herald  follow. 


January  2 

Terry  Ramsaye  reports  on  production  poli- 
cies, double  bills  and  footage  under  study  by 
Government  war  bureaus.  George  Formby 
leads  in  the  Money-Makers  Poll  of  British 
Stars.  Mickey  Rooney  leads  in  International 
Money-Makers  Poll.  George  W.  Alger  named 
chairman  arbitration  appeal  board.  Canadian 
industry  organizes  under  closer  regulation. 
Film  stock  value  rises  to  $644,512,787  in  1942. 
Argentine  envoy  obtains  film  supply  from  U. 
S.  Maurice  Kann  named  vice-president  of 
Quigley  Publishing  Company. 

January  9 

War  changing  patterns  of  1943  sales  prac- 
tice. Paramount  rental  plan  keyed  to  national 
gross.  OWI  outlines  voluntary  propaganda  re- 
quirement. WPB  sets  film  schedules,  saving 
400,000,000  feet.   British  study  revision  of  quota 


legislation.  $285,000  budget  set  for  motion  pic- 
ture arbitration  year. 

January  16 

Emphasize  comedy,  music  in  new  product 
trend;  multiple  star  films  are  new  Hollywood 
cycle.  Exhibitors  hit  by  driving  ban,  shortage 
of  oil.  Salary  limit  faces  court  test.  Congress 
fight.  Majors  plan  recapture  of  foreign  mar- 
gets.    Adolph  Zukor  celebrates  70th  birthday. 

January  23 

Western,  in  new  dress,  get  more  bookings ; 
producers  plan  larger  budgets.  Companies  ex- 
tending employee  benefits;  salary-escrow  plan 
proposed  by  Screen  Actors  Guild.  Newsreels 
asked  to  push  sales,  exploitation.  Industry 
leaders  weigh  institutional  drive.  Film  con- 
tainer shortage  cited  in  plea  for  conservation. 
Producers  purchase  543  stories  during  1942. 


January  30 

1942  admission  tax  is  $146,372,271.  Eastern 
fuel  oil  crisis  is  blow  to  exhibition.  Producers 
seek  clarification  of  salary  ceiling  order ;  Holly- 
wood at  impasse  on  48-hour  week  issue.  Arbi- 
tration cases  down  43  per  cent  in  second  year. 
Difficult  year  forecast  for  British  exhibitor. 
U.  S.  again  asks  writ  ending  Petrillo  ban. 

February  6 

Holdover  playing  time  is  up  100  per  cent 
this  season.  Studios  cut  war  themes  to  25  per 
cent  of  product.  Distributors  go  to  radio  with 
more  advertising  money.  Occupational  defer- 
ment lifted  by  War  Manpower  Commission; 
Congress  attacks  salary  ceiling.  William  F. 
Rodgers  asks  for  seat  on  war  council  for  exhi- 
bitors.   Axis  threatens  U.  S.  market  in  Tur- 

(.Continued  on  following  page) 


28 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January     I,  1944 


PUSH  REVISION  OF  DECREE 


(.Continued  from  preceding  page) 

key.  Charles  Francis  Coe  of  MPPDA  an- 
nounces public  relations  program. 

February  13 

Dr.  AttilHo  H.  Giannini,  banker  and  financial 
adviser  to  industry,  dies.  Elmer  Davis,  chief 
of  the  OWI,  Lowell  Mellett,  head  of  OWI  film 
division,  meet  with  industry  leaders  to  thrash 
out  problems  of  war  time.  John  Grierson,  head 
of  National  Film  Board  in  Canada,  named 
chief  of  War  Information  Board. 

February  20 

Industry  leaders  meeting  in  Hollywood  an- 
swer training  film  attacks  and  pledge  intensified 
war  ef¥ort.  Signal  Corps  defends  "Hollywood 
officers"  at  Senate  hearing.  New  unity  proposal 
offered  industry  by  William  F.  Rodgers,  Ed- 
ward Kuykendall.  Soviet  Union  seeks  new  con- 
tact with  U.  S.  industry ;  Russian  envoy  ap- 
pointed. West  Coast  labor  council  bid  stirs 
controversy.  Salary  ceiling  order  doomed  in 
Congress  revolt,  tj.  S.  Supreme  Court  sus- 
tains decision  for  AFM  on  writ  against  record- 
ing ban. 

February  27 

Industry  plans  for  post-war  boom  in  tele- 
vision. R.  J.  O'Donnell  elected  chief  barker 
of  the  National  Variety  Clubs.  Industry  lead- 
ers reiterate  faith  in  Production  Code.  British 
exhibitors  fight  Sunday  restrictions.  Mexican 
industry  sets  up  academy. 

March  b 

Judges  name  Quigley  Award  winners  in  1942 
showmanship.  Lowell  Mellett,  chief  of  motion 
picture  bureau  of  OWI,  makes  "faith"  award 
at  Academy  dinners,  "Mrs.  Miniver"  voted  best 
picture. 

March  13 

War  Manpower  Commission  rules  exhibition 
not  an  essential  industry  but  not  quite  non-es- 
sential. More  big  pictures  get  special  atten- 
tion for  single  selling  or  as  keys  to  blocks. 
War  limits  choice  of  books  and  plays  for  pro- 
duction as  set  limitations  put  new  demands  on 
material.  OWI  plans  overseas  film  program 
to  tell  the  world  how  people  in  the  U.  S.  live 
and  work.  Crescent  Amusement  Company  loses 
trust  suit;  found  guilty  of  maintaining  monop- 
oly ;  distributors  not  convicted. 

March  20 

Admission  prices  break  upward  10  per  cent 
as  exhibitors  face  rising  costs.  Feature  re- 
leases down  15  per  cent  from  last  year.  U.  S. 
and  Skouras  circuit  plan  "living  newspaper" 
show  in  film  theatres.  Motion  Picture 
Herald  presents  new  service  for  exhibitors, 
"Picture  Grosses."  USO  expands  camp  shows 
overseas.  Argentine  industry  faces  raw  stock 
shortage.  Name  bands  invade  first  run  houses. 
Congress  repeals  salary  limit. 

March  27 

Distributors'  counsel  say  action  on  Consent 
Decree  must  come  from  Department  of  Justice ; 
exhibitor  groups  favor  changes  in  decree.  In- 
dependent studios  face  rising  negative  costs. 
Majors  turn  to  boom  in  South  America;  big 
grosses  attributed  to  better  product,  Good 
Neighbor  policy.  Government  indicts  eight 
Chicago  gangsters  in  extortion  trial.  Move  to 
extend  Spanish  market  aided  by  U.  S. ;  ISO 
American  films  earmarked  for  Spain..  WPB 
raises  film  quota  for  second  quarter ;  increases 
supply  five  per  cent,  sets  limit  on  use  by  news- 
reels.    British  raw  film  stock  cut  25  per  cent. 

April  3 

lATSE  seeks  essential  raiting  for  exhibition, 
asks  WMC  to  defer  all  key  men  on  theatre 


Obituaries,  1943 

The  personnel  of  the  industry  was  depleted  in  1943  by  the  passing  of  many  individuals 
whose  background  and  contribution  had  given  them  the  status  of  leaders  and  made  their 
passing  a  loss  to  industry  progress.  An  alphabetical  list  of  executives,  stars,  exhibitors, 
technicians,  writers  and  others  of  the  motion  picture  or  related  fields,  who  died  during 
the  year  just  ended,  follows:  { 


Alexander  A.  Aarons 
Francis  E.  Aarons 
John  Anderson 
Paul  Anent 

Benjamin  Bache,  Sr. 
David  G.  Bacon 
Reginald  Barlow 
Randolph  Bartlett 
Nicholas  Basil 
Lt.  Col.  H.  Clay  Bate 
Harry  Baur 
Fred  Bayliss 
Ira  G.  Becksted 
Jacob  Beilin 
Stephen  V.  Benet 
Ben  Bernie 
Harry  E.  Billings 
Raymond  Blank 
Edward  Blondell 
Sidney  Bloomfield 
Alvero  G.  Bonnev 
Ensign  Bonyszewski 
Wade  Boteler 
Charles  Bowser 
W.  Clifford  Bozeman 
William  M.  Brandt 
H.  M.  Brooks 
Joseph  F.  Brown 
Arthur  Byron 

Frank  Campeau 
Harrison  Carter 
William  E.  Cassidy 
Spencer  Charters 
Lesser  Cohen 
Leon  W.  Conrow 
John  Considine 
Walter  Coulter 
Fay  Courtney 
Sada  Cowan 
Mrs.  Jesse  Crawford 
Frank  Crumit 

Israel  Davis 

Terrill  De  Lapp 

George  E.  Deming 

Jack  Dillon 

Phil  Dunas 

Lt.  H.  H.  Dunham 


Lucius  R.  Eastman 
Joseph  Engel 
Morris  Epstein 

Arthur  Farnsworth 
Fred  D.  Felt 
Aubrey  Flanagan 
Maximilian  Foster 
Dwight  Frye 

Joseph  H.  Gallagher 
Dr.  A.  H.  Giannini 

Frank  Gillmore 
Joseph  Glick 
Elinor  Glyn 
Sgt.  A.  T.  Goldsmith 
Ken  Goldsmith 
Rupert  Griffith  • 
Andrew  C.  Gutenberg 

"Hap"  Hadley 
Robert  T.  Haines 
Herbert  E.  Hancock 
Lorenz  Hart 
Charles  E.  Hatcher 
John  H.  Herziger 
Fred  C.  Hinds 
Mrs.  Karl  Hoblitzelle 
James  P.  Hogan 
Ben  Holmes 
Herbert  Holtz 
Edward  P.  Howard 
G.  A.  Hunt  , 

Louis  Israel 

Jerome  H.  Jackson 
William  M.  Jenkins 
John  M.  Joy 
Harvey  Judell 

Capt.  James  Kelley 

Joyce  Kennedy 
Lawrence  A.  Kirk- 
land 

Major  Eric  Knight 
Ernest  Koenig 
William  Koenig 
Frank  L.  Koppelber- 

ger 


Arthur  Lee 
Joseph  M.  Levenson 
Isaac  Libson 
David  H.  Lindley 
Henry  Loew 
Cecelia  (Cissie)  Lof- 
tus 

Montague  Love 
Arthur  Lucas 
John  Ludwig 

Charles  Mackin 
Edmund  Mantell 
Clarence  Margon 
Tully  Marshall 
Merwin  Mattes 
Capt.  David  A.  May 
Edward  P.  McCarthy 
William  A.  McDon- 
nell 

Charles  J.  McGurk 
Marvin  H.  Mclntyre 
John  F.  McMahon 
Dr.  W.  D.  McNary 
Leo  Meehan 
Harry  Metzger 
John  Peere  Miles 
Corp.  T.  Milke 
G.  N.  Montgomery 
Alfred  P.  Morell 
Sidney  Munter 
William  Murray 

Owen  Nares 
N.  L.  Nathanson 
Clyde  E.  Noble 

Hugh  O'Connell 
Gene  C.  Oliver 
James  O'Loughlin 
Ole  Olsen 
William  H.  Osborne 
Lynn  Overman 

Maj.  H.  F.  Parker 
Robert  W.  Paul 
J.  Eugene  Pearce 
George  W.  Piantadosi 
Mark  Pizor 


Charles  Ray 
Max  Reinhardt 
Frank  H.  Richardson 
George  Ringer 
Clarence  M.  Robson 
Elmer  Rogers 
Herman  A.  Rohs 
Mrs.  Pat  Rooney 
Orlando  P.  Rose 
Harry  Ryan 
Samuel  Schoenstadt 
John  du  Casse 

Schulze 
Samuel  Schurman 
August  Sfelig 
Jeremiah  Shea 
John  Patrick  Shea 
N.  J.  Shea 
Robert  Sheehan 
Thanos  Skouras 
Howard  L.  Small 
William  E.  Smith 
William  Stein 
Charles  E.  Sullivan 
Frederick  A.  Sulzer 

H.  M.  Thomas 
Oliver  Traggardh 

Major  W.  S.  Van 

Dyke 
Conrad  Veidt 
Bayard  Veiller 
Leonard  Vogel 

J.  Wilfred  Wagner 
Corliss  P.  Walker 
George  M.  Watters 
Harvey  C.  Weaver 
Louis  Weitzenkorn 
Claudine  West 
George  Whiting 
Alexander  Woollcott 
Charles  M.  Woolf 
Edgar  Allan  Woolf 

Arthur  Young 
Carl  F.  Zittel 


staffs.  War  boom  in  book  sales  benefits  exhi- 
bitors. British  urge  "lend-lease"  plan  on  quota 
films.  Tom  Clark  is  appointed  as  new  Assistant 
Attorney  General  in  charge  of  anti-trust  divi- 
sion. Republic  plans  to  expand  foreign  mar- 
ket. Industry  committee  reports  collections  of 
$1,625,000  for  United  Nations  Week  in  Janu- 
ary. 

April  10 

Majors  increase  radio,  newspaper  advertising 
budgets.  British  aid  newsreel  coverage  of  AEF. 
$275,000  collected  at  New  York  rally  paces  in- 
dustry Red  Cross  drive. 

April  17 

New  decrees  edge  industry  closer  to  crisis  on 
price  control ;  new  draft  rulings  hit  screen  man- 
power. War  gives  new  impetus  to  short  sub- 
jects.   Will  H.  Hays,  in  21st  annual  report. 


tells  MPPDA  board  how  screen  serves  in  war 
cause.  Industry  rallies  around  the  Second  War 
Loan  Drive.  Army  film  unit  seeks  better  dis- 
tribution; Brigadier  General  William  H.  Har- 
ris named  chief  of  Army  Pictorial  Service. 
Stock  trading  by  film  company  officers  drops 
sharply  in  1942. 

April  24 

WMC  freezes  production  employees  in  jobs. 
16mm  field  expands  to  big  business  status;  U.  S., 
Hollywood  and  educators  eye  16mm  films  as 
outlet  for  propaganda  and  entertainment.  ECA 
sells  entire  holdings  in  RKO  for  $6,978,306. 

May  I 

Senate  Judiciary  Committee  plans  to  weed 
out  meddlers  in  U.  S.  films.    WMC  tightens 
policy  on  industry  manpower.    Decree  revision 
(Continued  on  page  30) 


FLASH ! 


M-G-M's 


MADAME 
CURIE" 


Sets  Radio  City  Music  Hall 

RECORD ! 

Biggest  Xmas  Day 
in  the  entire  11  Year 
history  of  the  house! 

(Held  over  and  over  and  over  and  over,  etc.) 

"Our  Two  Bi^  fobs  in  January:    Fourth  War  Loan  and  March  of  Dimes." 


30 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    I,  1944 


MAP  WORLD  MARKET  PLANS 


{Continued  from  page  28) 
may  add  to  arbitration  scope.  U.  S.  admis- 
sion tax  receipts  chart  course  of  grosses.  First 
Capra  orientation  film,  "Prelude  to  War,"  re- 
leased to  theatres  via  War  Activities  Commit- 
tee. Republic  announces  plans  for  68  films  to 
cost  $16,000,000.  William  Goetz  resigns  post 
at  20th  Century-Fox.  Charles  Koerner,  in 
charge  of  production  for  RKO  Radio,  gets  new 
seven-year  contract. 

May  8 

Exhibitors  protest  flood  of  war  films,  ask 
entertainment.  MPTOA  board  condemns  de- 
cree sales  methods.  British  Government  and 
industry  turn  eyes  to  post-war  market.  Society 
of  Motion  Picture  Engineers  holds  spring  con- 
vention in  New  York,  hear  how  Army  uses 
films.  Majors  plan  special  promotion  for  30 
summer  releases.  Summer  resort  theatre  busi- 
ness faces  blackout. 

May  15 

Fewer  pictures  for  1943-44  despite  big  back- 
logs ;  companies  indicate  reduction  in  releases. 
Joseph  M.  Schenck  given  seven-year  contract 
as  executive  production  chief  for  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox. Exhibitors  tell  U.  S.  how  Con- 
sent Decree  fails.  WPB  studies  double  bills 
and  raw  stock;  Government  bureaus  reluctant 
to  get  into  issues  of  trade  practices.  U.  S. 
Supreme  Court  says  FCC  can  rule  radio  deals ; 
says  Congress  gave  commission  power.  Na- 
tional War  Fund  organized  to  unify  all  charity 
and  war  drives.  New  taxes  in  England  raise 
tickets  33  per  cent. 

May  22 

U.  S.  court  decree  dissolves  Crescent  part- 
nership and  voids  film  franchise.  Columbia 
announces  44  for  new  season;  PRC  sets  42. 
Permanent  16mm  theatres  new  outlet  for 
product  of  major  distributors.  Radio  networks 
comply  with  FCC  regulations,  alter  contracts 
with  affiliates,  plan  no  new  court  action.  WPB 
relaxes  film  order  on  "C"  producers.  Harry 
M.  Warner  says  public  not  overfed  with  war 
pictures.  U.  S.  sends  125  films  to  South 
America  in  two  years,  CIAA  reports.  E.  T. 
Gomersall  promoted  to  assistant  general  sales 
manager  at  Universal. 

May  29 

Martin  Quigley  writes  on  "The  Screen — 
Content  and  Function."  Crescent  decree  may 
force  revision  of  franchises  and  sales  policy 
changes.  Distributors  post-war  plans  include 
more  foreign  films  for  tJ.  S.  distribution;  "seat 
at  the  peace  table"  for  industry  is  proposed  by 
John  Hicks  of  Paramount.  Laudy  Lawrence 
represents  OWI  overseas  film  division  in  Al- 
giers. Ban  on  driving  cuts  suburban  gross. 
Hilary  A.  St.  George  Saunders,  staff  aide  to 
Lord  Louis  Mountbatten,  tells  industry  leaders 
in  Hollywood  to  make  films  for  post-war  world. 
N.  L.  Nathanson,  Canadian  industry  leader, 
dies. 

June  5 

War  Activities  Committee  plans  free  weekly 
war  shorts  with  OWL  Exhibitors  study  re- 
vival of  block  sales  law.  ;  Crescent  and  part- 
ners ask  relief  from  dissolution  order.  MGM 
promises  liberal  reallocation  policy.  Film  car- 
riers get  top  priority  for  gasoline  in  limited 
ration  areas  under  ODT  order  citing  industry's 
war  effort.  Floyd  Odium,  president  of  Atlas 
Corporation,  elected  chairman  of  the  RKO 
board ;  N.  Peter  Rathvon,  president  of  RKO ; 
Ned  E.  Depinet,  president  of  RKO  Radio  Pic- 
tures. Majors  bolster  stake  in  post-war  tele- 
vision. 

June  12 

Companies  offer  95  films  for  summer  release. 


Majors  to  sell  in  blocks  with  Consent  Decree 
big  "if" ;  expect  no  departure  from  present  sales 
formula.  British,  Russia  race  U.  S.  for  Mid- 
dle East  field.  British  charge  U.  S.  delays  war 
films,  cite  breakdown  between  Army  film  au- 
thorities and  English  units.  Leslie  Howard, 
screen  and  stage  actor,  missing  in  airplane 
crash  at  sea.  Paramount  to  retire  debt  of  $16,- 
634,000.  Army  to  supply  "G.  I.  Movies,"  16mm 
programs  for  soldiers. 

June  19 

J.  Arthur  Rank  interests  challenge  position 
of  U.  S.  industry  in  England.  Playdates  of 
top  product  for  1943  up  30  per  cent;  holdover 
time  increases.  Universal  to  release  55  films 
next  season.  Congress  slices  CIAA  budget 
66  per  cent.  20th  Century-Fox  stockholders 
vote  on  purchase  of  Chase  National  Bank  in- 
terest. Value  of  film  securities  rises  by  $171,- 
668,537.  WMC  limits  job  deferment  for  18- 
25  groups.  Monogram  plans  schedule  for 
1943-44,  higher  budgets  set;  PRC  plans  40. 
Howard  Black,  vice-president  of  Time,  Inc., 
to  take  charge  of  March  of  Time  sales  and 
distribution.  New  Zealand  frees  U.  S.  film 
revenue.  Col.  Darryl  F.  Zanuck  put  on  in- 
active list  by  War  Department. 

June  26 

Minnesota,  New  York  and  New  England 
exhibitor  units  lead  fight  on  rentals,  seek  legis- 
lative controls.  Columbia  plans  44  features. 
Industry  presents  $1,000,000  check  to  President 
Roosevelt,  half  of  amount  raised  in  theatres, 
for  the  March  of  Dimes  drive. 

July  3 

Senate  vote  slashes  OWI  film  bureau  to 
$50,000,  eliminates  production  program,  reduces 
service  to  liaison  office.  Circuit  heads  see  man- 
power crisis  past.  Library  of  Congress  selects 
104  films  for  permanent  collection.  Federal 
Trade  Commission  finds  monopoly  in  advertis- 
ing film  fields.  Studios  begin  cycle  of  films  on 
juvenile  delinquency.  20th  Century-Fox  moves 
to  buy  remaining  stock  from  Chase  National 
Bank;  Universal  stockholders  vote  approval 
for  merger  plan. 

July  10 

Company  lawyers  map  strategy  for  Consent 
Decree  expiration  in  November.  MGM  execu- 
tives take  to  field  to  discuss  rental  adjustments. 
Warner  Bros,  list  31  features  on  "flexible" 
schedule.  Hollywood  launches  $40,000,000  Bond 
drive  June  30th.  Canada  plans  shows  for  all 
factories.  Warner  Bros,  set  financing  of  $23,- 
000,000.  WMC  shifts  studios  to  48-hour  week ; 
map  plan  for  workers  to  take  part  time  jobs. 
$1,000,000  studio  planned  in  Mexico,  financed 
by  syndicate.  "Gone  With  the  Wind"  grosses 
$1,000,000  in  fourth  year;  estimated  aggregate 
gross,  $31,000,000  in  domestic  distribution. 

July  17 

First  run  holdovers  jam  subsequent  bookings, 
shift  release  pattern.  Theatre  candy  sales  in- 
crease 35  per  cent  but  costs  rise.  RKO  to 
offer  40  features  for  new  season.  Monogram 
resumes  own  production  of  films.  "For  Whom 
the  Bell  Tolls"  opens  in  New  York.  OWI 
domestic  film  bureau  ends  July  15 ;  Lowell 
Mellett  resigns.  British  Government  bars  ex- 
pansion by  J.  Arthur  Rank. 

July  24 

Trade  show  absenteeism  may  kill  decree  or- 
der; majors  study  exhibitor  attendance  as  basis 
for  decree  discussion.  Paramount  to  release 
30  films  on  "flexible"  program.  U.  S.  goes  to 
Supreme  Court  with  Crescent  appeal.  New 
producing  unit  formed  by  David  Loew  and  Ar- 
thur Lyons.  Arthur  Lucas,  head  of  Lucas  & 
Jenkins  circuit,  dies. 


July  31 

New  WPB  division.  Office  of  Civilian  Re- 
quirements, to  control  theatres.  Minimum  of 
438  features  planned  for  1943-44  dispells  short- 
age fears.  L.  C.  Griffith  named  to  head  Third 
War  Loan  drive.  Industry  to  fill  war  film  gap 
left  by  OWI ;  26  bulletins  to  be  released  bi- 
weekly through  newsreels.  Special  benefits 
for  Army  Emergency  Relief  launch  Warners. 
"This  Is  the  Army";  rentals  at  50-50  with 
profits  to  relief  agency ;  premiere  terms  70-30. 
Tom  C.  Clark,  Assistant  Attorney  General, 
goes  to  Hollywood  to  study  theatre  divorce- 
ment. Distributors  ask  WMC  exemption  for 
branch  staffs;  seek  relief  on  48-hour  week  or- 
der in  Los  Angeles  area.  Charles  Chaplin 
sues  David  O.  Selznick  over  20th  Century-Fox 
deal. 

August  7 

Exhibitor  leaders  say  scrap  or  revise  decree; 
ask  arbitration  changes,  return  to  full  season 
sales  and  theatre  divorcement.  WMC  rules 
theatre  staffs  need  not  take  war  jobs;  says 
they  will  retain  deferred  status ;  father  draft  to 
start  October  1.  Hollywood  product  follows 
invading  Army  into  Sicily;  40  titles  set  for 
next  advance.  Edward  J.  Noble  purchases 
Blue  Network  for  $8,000,000.  Department  of 
Justice  lawyers  start  field  study  of  exhibitor 
complains  on  decree ;  Allies  States  Association 
plans  decree  action. 

August  14 

20th  Century-Fox  plans  39  for  1943-44;  Wil- 
liam J.  Kupper  named  general  sales  manager. 
British  exhibitors  launch  attack  on  film  grading. 

August  21 

Show  windo.w  for  Russian  product  opens  on 
Broadway.  British  launch  drive  for  world  mar- 
kets ;  J.  Arthur  Rank  prime  mover  in  long- 
range  planning  with  Government  backing. 
PCCITO  and  Allied  States  Association  plan 
questionnaires  to  get  exhibition  reaction  on 
Consent  Decree.  New  WMC  rule  threatens 
added  manpower  drain. 

August  28 

Louis  de  Rochement  becomes  feature  pro- 
ducer for  20th  Century-Fox.  Canada  bans 
70-30  terms  on  "For  Whom  the  Bell  Tolls." 
PRC  purchases  coast  studio. 

September  4 

Exhibitors  name  "Stars  of  Tomorrow" ;  Wil- 
liam Bendix  leads.  WMC  rules  theatres  non- 
essential. Company  heads  meet  with  Assistant 
Attorney  General  Tom  C.  Clark  in  Washing- 
ton to  discuss  decree  future.  Brendan  Bracken, 
head  of  the  British  Ministry  of  Information, 
cites  film  value  for  war  messages.  OPA  eases 
fuel  situation  for  theatres.  Martin  Quigley, 
Jr.,  reports  on  theatre  exhibition  in  Ireland 
under  strict  war  censorship. 

September  I  I 

Industry  launches  Third  War  Loan  Drive ; 
cavalcade  of  stars  tours  15  cities.  Studios 
swing  toward  more  escapist  films;  110  musicals 
on  production  schedules  for  the  season;  49 
films  in  Technicolor  planned.  William  Bendix 
leads  in  Canadian  "Stars  of  Tomorrow"  poll. 
Industry  leaders  study  visual  education  field. 
Visual  education  dealers  study  distribution  of 
OWI  subjects.  OWI  overseas  film  unit  dis- 
closes product  plans.  U.  S.  and  majors  agree 
to  revise  decree. 

September  18 

Exhibitor  .speaks  his  mind  on  trade  practices. 
Majors  offer  reissues  in  dual  package  forms.  Film 

{Continued  on  page  32) 


CHRISTMAS 


HELD 
OVER! 


"Our  Tun  Big 
Jobs  in  January: 

Fourth  War 
Loan  and  March 
of  Dimes!" 


Sure,  the  holidays  go  on  and  on  when  the  Friendly  M-G-M  Lion  helps 
celebrate.  On  New  York's  Broadway  and  on  every  Main  Stem  it's  M-G-M 
that's  selected  to  entertain  the  holiday  crowds! 


M^G^i's  *  ^miciTY 

UV^^  HALL 
...c       ^  11^  i-tS  HISTORY  I 
BIGGEST  XMi^^^^^^^^ 


Mo  in  i^f^ 

"A 


If 


on  B'<-^|^""' 

NovY-at  ^To^oR  WEiE^li^'- 
aft^ri  10  ASTOR  ^  i^^I  WlffNC 

"THOUSANDS 


fV^#N.COLOR 


Yep,  they're  all  in  M-G-M's  new  group  "Vitamin  12" — Pep  and  Profits! 


32 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    1,  1944 


SCREEN  SPURS  BOND  DRIVES 


'  {Continued  from  page  30) 

advertising  aimed  at  record  expenditure.  Ameri- 
can films  return  to  Italy  behind  the  Army. 
Russia  appoints  new  film  emissary  to  U.  S. 
■Cagney  Productions,  Inc.,  headed  by  James  and 
William  Cagney,  set  five-year  deal  with  United 
Artists.  New  OWI  bureau  in  Los  Angeles 
opened ;  Ulric  Bell  director. 

Sepfember  25 

Releases  down  25  per  cent  for  first  three 
months  of  new  season.  Boston  independents 
urge  standard  contracts  and  stabilized  blocks. 
Samuel  Eckman,  MGM  British  head,  says  more 
Government  interest  in  film  industry  needed 
in  U.  S.  Cavalcade  of  stars  passes  $1,000,- 
000,000  in  War  Bond  sales  on  tour.  WPB 
pledges  adequate  supply  of  replacement  parts 
for  dealers.  Exhibitor  letters  to  Motion  Pic- 
ture Herald  ask  for  end  of  war  films,  more 
entertainment.  Frank  H.  Richardson,  author 
of  "Bluebook  of  Projection,"  dies. 

October  2 

Stanton  Griffis  heads  OWI  film  bureau.  In- 
dustry concludes  Bond  drive,  nets  $2,000,- 
000,000,  representing  an  eighth  of  the  nation's 
total  goal.  British  exhibitors  seek  relief  from 
quota  act.  Writers  Congress  opens  in  Los 
Angeles,  sponsored  by  the  University  of  Cali- 
fornia ;  branded  as  "Communist  dominated." 

Ocfaber  9 

Proposed  30  per  cent  admission  tax  stirs 
industry ;  exhibitors  rally  to  fight  increase.  U. 
S.  forbids  circuit  expansion  pending  decree  ac- 
tion. Darryl  Zanuck  tells  Writers  Congress 
Hollywood  should  make  more  pictures  which 
have  purpose  and  significance ;  Congress  re- 
solves to  seek  establishment  of  a  Federal  de- 
partment of  arts  and  letters.  Four  thousand 
Hollywood  extras  in  Screen  Actors  Guild  seek 
independence. 

October  16 

Allied  says  Consent  Decree  fails  of  purpose ; 
advises  Clark  on  questionnaire  replies  from  385 
exhibitors.  Studios  shelve  67  story  properties 
of  113  bought;  concentrate  on  timeless  ma- 
terial. Treasury  E)epartment  reports  highest 
salaries  for  1941-42 ;  Louis  B.  Mayer  leads 
with  $949,765.  OWI  studies  juvenile  delin- 
quency and  theatre  vandalism  problem.  Con- 
gressional investigation  of  Government  film 
propaganda,  proposed  by  Rep.  Walter  C. 
Ploeser,  called  off.  Willie  Bioff,  convicted  ex- 
tortionist, testifies  for  the  Government  in  the 
trial  against  the  "boys  from  Chicago."  Aubrey 
Flanagan,  London  editor  of  Motion  Picture 
Herald,  dies. 

October  23 

"Valour; — Without  Policies,"  an  editorial  by 
Martin  Quigley  on  Samuel  Goldwyn's  "The 
North  Star."  Exhibitors  use  short  subjects 
to  supplant  dual  bills.  Society  of  Motion  Pic- 
ture Engineers  weighs  television's  impact  on 
industry.  Department  of  Commerce  official 
foresees  fight  for  post-war  film  market.  Dim- 
out  rules  in  Los  Angeles  area  eased. 

October  30 

Seven  companies  offering  reissues  and  re- 
vivals ;  exhibitor  demands  i^d  to  releases. 
Majors  resume  decree  discussion  with  Clark. 
U.  S.,  British  Government  film  agents  promote 
Soviet  ties ;  MOI  AND  OWI  officials  in  Mos- 
cow for  conferences.  George  E.  Browne,  ex- 
president  of  the  lATSE,  convicted  extortion- 
ist, testifies  in. trial  of  "boys  from  Chicago." 

November  6 

Clark  rejects  majors'  new  decree  proposals; 


specifies  trade  practice  reforms  Government 
wants  in  new  decree.  Wartime  dimout  along 
the  east  and  west  coasts  lifted.  House  Ways 
and  Means  Committee  recommends  admission 
tax  of  20  per  cent  after  hearing  industry  pro- 
tests. Crescent  Amusement  Company  asks 
Supreme  Court  ruling  on  anti-trust  conviction. 
Film  ads  gain  despite  cuts  in  newsprint.  Ed- 
ward Golden,  producer,  urges  industry  to  fight 
detractors. 

November  13 

War  booming  market  for  independent  prod- 
uct; product  jam  gives  opportunity  to  smaller 

companies.  Robert  Riskin,  head  of  OWI  over- 
seas film  division  lauds  Hollywood  aid  to  Gov- 
ernment unit.  Social  agencies  push  drive  to 
halt  vandalism.  Hearings  on  White- Wheeler 
bill  to  amend  the  Commnuications  Act  open  in 
Washington.  House  of  Representatives  ap- 
proves $5,000,000  for  OWI  overseas  program. 
National  War  Fund  drive  of  industry  launched 
in  New  York. 

November  20 

James  Petrillo,  AFM  president,  eyes  Holly- 
wood next  for  assessment,  as  radio  fight  pends. 
Army  reports  to  industry  on  overseas  films. 
WPB  and  OCR  relax  restrictions  on  theatres 
and  studios.  Majors  submit  new  proposals  to 
Clark  as  answer  to  Government's  objections; 
PCCITO  urges  resumption  of  Government 
suit,  tells  Clark  divorcement  only  source  of  re- 
lief. Seventy  per  cent  of  season's  product 
is  released  or  in  work.  United  Artists  to 
finance  four  Mexican  pictures.  Hearings  in 
the  anti-trust  suit  of  William  Goldman,  circuit 
head,  open  in  Philadelphia. 

November  27 

Exhibitors  win  clearance  cuts  averaging  15 
days ;  theatres  favored  in  53  per  cent  of  awards 
with  79  out  of  98  houses  singly  owned.  Three- 
year  period  of  the  Consent  Decree  ends  Novem- 
ber 20th ;  Government  holds  fate  of  decree. 

December  4 

Clark  seeks  concessions  on  cancellation,  cir- 
cut  control  and  arbitration.  Local  need  rating 
gives  theatres  manpower  relief.  State  Depart- 
ment plans  education  by  film.  Senator  Butler 
scores  "waste"  in  film  program  of  CIAA. 
Charles  Skouras  heads  film  drive  in  Fourth 
War  Loan,  scheduled  January  18-February  15. 
Rupert  Griffith,  circuit  owner,  dies. 

December  1 1 

Exhibitors  buying  sites  for  post-war  build- 
ing ;  population  shifts  basis  of  purchases.  Ex- 
hibitors find  reissues  profitable  in  wartime.  Bob 
Hope  named  "Champion  of  Champions"  in  Mo- 
tion  Picture  Daily-Fame  poll.  Majors  pushing 
top  product  in  South  America ;  aim  to  offset 
Mexican  and  Argentine  competition.  Chicago 
union  leaders  quit  under  fire.  U.  S.  rules  stars 
in  uniform  may  make  films.  Censors  in  Ire- 
land concentrate  on  keeping  neutral,  reports 
Martin  Quigley,  Jr.  Senate  sub-committee 
studies  problems  of  juvenile  delinquency  at 
hearings. 

December  18 

Office  of  Civilian  Requirements  asks  industry 
to  build  new  theatres  in  war  plant  areas ;  sees 
need  of  100  houses  in  year.  Exhibitors  wage 
last  ditch  fight  against  tax  rise.  Distributors 
confident  of  agreement  on  decree;  see  no  ob- 
stacle to  final  settlement  of  anti-trust  action. 
British  pursue  "unity"  trade  practice  formula. 
Majors  increase  use  of  radio  in  film  exploita- 
tion. Joseph  M.  Schenck,  Twentieth  Century- 
Fox    production    executive,    and  Westbrook 


Pegler,  columnist,  testify  in  extortion  trial. 
Court  forbids  Sinatra  song  in  March  of  Time 
in  suit  filed  by  RKO  Radio.  Marvin  H.  Mc- 
Intyre,  aide  to  President  Roosevelt,  dies. 

December  25 

Betty  Grable  wins  top  honors  in  the  Money- 
Making  Stars  of  1943  HERALD-Fawe  poll ;  Roy 
Rogers  leads  in  Western  poll.  Senate  Finance 
Committee  votes  tax  of  one  cent  on  five ; 
MPTOA  warns  of  future  taxes.  Hollywood 
eyes  television  as  post-war  customer.  Majors 
weigh  final  demands  of  Clark;  decree  negotia- 
tions postponed  until  after  holiday  period.  U.  S. 
brief  cites  Griffith  charges.  Jury  finds  defend- 
ants in  extortion  trial  guilty  of  conspiracy  to 
extort  more  than  |2,000,000  from  film  indus- 
try. Sir  Alexander  Korda,  MGM  British  pro- 
duction head,  plans  10-year  program  to  cost 
$140,000,000.  RKO  Radio  plans  retirement  fund 
for  employees. 

"Li-feboaf"  Premiere 
At  Astor  January  1 1 

"Lifeboat,"  20th  Century-Fox's  dramatization 
of  the  original  story  by  John  Steinbeck,  will 
have  its  premiere  at  the  Astor  theatre,  New 
York,  January  11.  Following  the  premiere  the 
picture  will  be  presented  on  a  continuous  per- 
formance policy.  The  cast  includes  Tallulah 
Bankhead,  Mary  Anderson,  Canada  Lee,  Wil- 
liam Bendix  and  others.  Alfred  Hitchcock  di- 
rected. 

"Lifeboat,"  to  be  released  generally  January 
21,  and  "The  Lodger,"  to  be  released  January 
7,  will  be  the  only  two  features  from  Twen- 
tieth Century-Fox  in  January,  Tom  Connors, 
distribution  vice-president,  announced  Tuesday. 
"The  Lodger,"  based  on  a  mystery  story  by 
Mrs.  Belloc  Lowndes,  stars  Merle  Oberon, 
George  Sanders,  Laird  Cregar  and  Sir  Cedric 
Hardwicke. 

Legislatures  in  Eight  States 
To  Convene  This  Year 

While  the  new  year  of  1944  is  still  young, 
seven  state  legislatures  will  convene,  while  the 
solons  of  Louisiana  are  scheduled  for  a  meet- 
ing in  the  spring.  Only  special  sessions  will 
bring  the  legislators  of  the  other  40  states  to- 
gether this  year.  The  seven  state  legislatures 
scheduled  to  convene  this  month  are  New  York, 
New  Jersey,  Rhode  Island,  South  Carolina, 
Mississippi,  Virginia  and  Kentucky. 

RKO  House  Organ  Devoted 
To  Employees  in  Service 

The  Christmas  number  of  RKO's  Salute, 
house  organ  devoted  to  former  employees  now 
in  service,  had  64  pages,  and  was  printed  on 
coated  stock  with  the  cover  in  seasonal  colors. 
It  carried  greetings  to  1,500  persons  in  service 
from  N.  Peter  Rathvon,  RKO  president;  Ne3 
E.  Depinet,  RKO  Radio  president;  Charles 
Koerner,  vice-president  in  charge  of  production, 
and  Edward  Alperson,  general  manager  of  thea- 
tres. 


Moss  To  Be  Industry  Guest 

Paul  Moss,  New  York  City  License  Commis- 
sioner, will  be  guest  of  honor  at  a  luncheon  at 
the  Hotel  Astor,  January  12.  The  luncheon, 
sponsored  by  the  amusement  industry  on  behalf 
of  the  Federation  of  Jewish  Charities,  will  be 
arranged  by  David  Weinstock  of  Raymond 
Theatres,  and  Leo  Brecher  of  Brecher 
Theatres. 


Kathryn  Grayson  •  Gene  Kelly  ♦  Mary  Astor  •  John  Boles  •  Ben  Blue  •  Frances  RafFerty  •  Mary  Elliott  •  Frank  Jenks 
Frank  Sully  •  Dick  Simmons  •  Ben  Lessy  •  Mickey  Rooney  •  Judy  Garland  •  Red  Skelton  •  Eleanor  Powell  •  Ann  Sothern 
Lucille  Ball  •  Virginia  O'Brien  •  Frank  Morgan  •  Lena  Horne  •  Marsha  Hunt  •  Marilyn  Maxwell  •  Donna  Reed 
Margaret  O'Brien  •  June  Allyson  •  Gloria  DeHaven  •  John  Conte  •  Sara  Haden  •  Don  Loper  •  Maxine  Barrat 
Kay  Kyser  •  Bob  Crosby  •  Benny  Carter  •  Jose  Iturbi  •  Original  Screen  Play  by  Paul  Jarrico  and  Richard  Collins 
Based  on  their  story  "Private  Miss  Jones"  ♦  Directed  by  George  Sidney  •  Produced  by  Joseph  Pasternak 


"Our  Two  Big  Jobs  in  January:  Fourth  War  Loan  and  March  of  Dimes!' 


34 

Columbia  Shows 
$482,000  Profit 
For  13  Weeks 

Columbia  Pictures  for  the  13  weeks  ending 
September  25,  1943,  showed  a  net  profit  of 
$482,000  as  compared  to  $312,000  for  the  corre- 
sponding period  of  1942,  Harry  Cohn,  Colum- 
bia president,  announced  in  New  York  Monday. 

The  operating  profit  for  the  period  was 
$1,545,000  as  compared  to  $989,000  for  the  cor- 
responding period  of  the  previous  year.  The 
estimated  provision  for  Federal  taxes,  including 
excess  profits  tax,  for  the  13  weeks  was  given 
as  $1,063,000  against  $677,000  for  the  period 
in  1942. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  stockholders  on 
January  18,  a  proposal  is  to  be  submitted  call- 
ing for  a  33  1/3  per  cent  increase  in  the  salaries 
of  Harry  Cohn,  president,  and  Jack  Cohn, 
executive  vice-president  of  Columbia,  retroac- 
tive to  July  1,  1943,  and  for  a  period  of  two 
years. 

The  new  employment  contract  for  Harry 
Cohn  provides  for  a  weekly  salary  of  $3,500  and 
a  weekly  expense  allowance  of  $300.  Jack 
Cdhn's  corresponding  contract  calls  for  a  $2,000 
salary  and  $200  weekly  expense  allowance.  The 
contracts  are  also  subject  to  approval  by  the 
salary  stabilization  unit  of  the  Treasury  De- 
partment. These  are  the  stipulations  of  the 
contracts  for  both  men  at  the  time  of  the  annual 
stockholders  meeting  in  1939  when  Harry  and 
Jack  Cohn  took  voluntary  reductions  in  their 
salaries.  They  are  at  present  receiving  $2,500 
and  $1,500  respectively,  the  differences  in  the 
current  and  new  contracts  representing  the  re- 
ductions of  1939. 

The  new  contracts,  it  will  be  brought  out,  are 
being  proposed  to  insure  continuity  of  manage- 
ment. The  stockholders  also  will  be  asked  to 
elect  seven  directors  for  the  coming  year,  and 
approve  and  confirm  the  issuance  to  Abe 
Schneider,  vice-president  and  treasurer,  of  an 
option  for  7,880  shares  of  common  stock  at 
$7,625. 


New  Trustees  Named  for 
Mark  Twain's  Estate 

Successor  trustees  for  the  estate  of  the  late 
Samuel  L.  Clemens  (Mark  Twain)  were  ap- 
pointed in  Connecticut  last  week.  They  are  the 
Hanover  Bank  and  Trust  Company  of  New 
York  and  Thomas  G.  Chamberlain,  of  the  law 
firm  of  Chamberlain,  Clark,  Buchner  and  Willi, 
55  Liberty  Street,  New  York.  Prior  trustees 
to  the  estate  under  the  will  of  the  American 
author,  were  Charles  L.  Lark  and  Jarvis 
Langdon. 

Although  much  of  the  writing  of  Mark  Twain 
was  in  the  public  domain,  according  to  Mr. 
Chamberlain  some  of  his  work  was  protected 
by  copyright.  Recently,  Warner  Bros,  completed 
the  film,  "Adventures  of  Mark  Twain,"  which 
was  produced  by  Jesse  L.  Lasky  and  which 
stars  Fredric  March. 

The  Broadway  musical  comedy,  "Connecticut 
Yankee"  which  had  a  successful  run  in  1927, 
and  which  was  based  on  Mark  Twain's  "A 
Connecticut  Yankee  in  King  Arthur's  Court," 
recently  was  revived  by  its  authors  Richard 
Rodgers  and  the  late  Lorenz  Hart. 


Remodel  Loew-Poli  Theatres 

Three  theatres  in  the  Loew-Poli  circuit  in 
Connecticut  are  being  remodeled.  The  Loew- 
Poli  in  Springfield  is  getting  an  additional 
250  seats,  requiring  the  stage  to  be  torn  out. 
New  wall  brackets  are  being  installed  in  the 
College  in  that  city,  while  at  the  Palace  in 
Meriden,  damask  wall  covering  is  being  in- 
stalled. 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


Draft  of  Decree 

Attorneys  for  the  five  major  distributors 
this  week  were  reported  to  have  their  final 
draft  of  proposals  for  a  revised  Consent 
Decree  "well  in  hand".  Meeting  before 
the  Christmas  holiday,  and  during  the  past 
week,  counsel  and  executives  of  Paramount, 
Loew's,  RKO,  Warners,  and  Twentieth  Cen- 
tury-Fox are  understood  to  have  agreed 
among  themselves  on  the  main  points  of 
the  latest  draft  of  the  decree  provisions. 

The  new  draft  is  said  to  have  covered 
the  points  on  circuit  affiliation,  arbitration 
and  sales  practice  raised  by  Tom  C.  Clark, 
Assistant  Attorney  General,  in  a  manner 
which  the  distributors  feel  will  meet  Gov- 


Deny  Plea  for  Shelter  to 
Protect  Waiting  Patrons 

Conditions  in  Canada,  appear  to  be  running  to 
the  wartime  pattern.  In  Moncton,  New  Bruns- 
wick, the  lines  before  the  Kent  theatre  are 
growing  longer,  and  the  house  requested  per- 
mission of  the  City  Council  to  erect  a  shelter  to 
protect  the .  waiting  customers  against  the  ele- 
ments. Last  winter  the  Council  gave  the  theatre 
permission,  but  this  year  reversed  itself  with  the 
explanation  that  a  shelter  sufficiently  large  to 
ward  off  snow,  rain,  sleet  and  wind  would  con- 
gest traffic.    The  lines  are  nightly  affairs. 

In  Yarmouth,  Nova  Scotia,  the  Capital  the- 
atre was  without  a  pinch  hitter  for  the  regular 
booth  man  when  it  came  time  for  vacation.  For 
the  past  three  years  booth  help  in  Nova  Scotia 
has  been  scarce,  so  Mr.  E.  Hatfield,  manager 
of  the  Capital  and  one  of  the  youngest  mana- 
gers in  Canada,  studied  projection,  passed  his 
examination  as  a  projectionist,  and  took  over 
during  the  two  weeks  the  regular  booth  man 
was  away. 

Walsh  Is  Elected  by 
Washington  Salesmen 

Joseph  B.  Walsh,  Columbia  salesman,  has 
been  reelected  president  of  the  Motion  Picture 
Salesmen's  Club  of  Washington  for  1944.  Other 
officers  elected  were  Fred  Klein,  first  vice-presi- 
dent ;  Harley  Davidson,  second  vice-president ; 
Phil  Bobys,  secretary-treasurer.  Mr.  Walsh 
was  presented  a  wrist  watch  as  a  token  of  ap- 
preciation for  the  work  he  had  done.  The  club 
will  start  its  1944  season  with  its  third  annual 
dinner  dance  at  the  Indian  Springs  Golf  and 
Country  Club,  January  29.  The  committee  in 
charge  includes  Phil  Bobys,  Jerry  Price  and 
Vincent  Dougherty. 

McNamee  President  of 
Philadelphia  Club 

Frank  L.  McNamee,  regional  director  of 
the  War  Labor  Board  in  Philadelphia  and  one- 
time RKO  branch  manager  here,  was  elected 
chief  barker  of  the  Philadelphia  Variety  Club 
for  1944.  Clinton  Wier  was  elected  first  as- 
sistant, and  Jack  Greenberg  second  asistant, 
with  Al  Davis  as  property  master,  and  William 
A.  MacAvoy  as  dough  guy.  Mr.  MacAvoy 
and  Ted  Schlanger  were  elected  delegates  to 
the  national  convention,  with  Mike  Felt  and 
Irving  Charlop,  as  alternates. 

Floyd  Henry  Safe 

Navy  Lieutenant  Floyd  Henry,  formerly 
Paramount  manager  for  the  Philippines,  has 
informed  his  company  he  is  a  prisoner  of  the 
Japanese. 


January    I,  1944 


Reyision 

ernment  objections  to  their  earlier  pro- 
posals. Mr.  Clark  suggested  changes  at  his 
last  meeting  with  Joseph  C.  Hazen,  dis- 
tributors' representative,  on  December  15. 

Distributors  will  be  ready  to  take  their 
new  decree  proposal  to  Washington  next 
week,  it  was  Indicated.  They  are  awaiting 
word  from  Mr.  Clark  setting  a  date  for 
new  conferences  with  Mr.  Hazen,  and 
possibly  other  distribution  attorneys  and 
executives. 

If  company  decree  suggestions  are 
acceptable,  Mr.  Clark  has  said,  he  will 
then  begin  new  meetings  with  exhibitor 
representatives  to  obtain  their  comments. 


Sees  Sufficient 
Tubes  in  1944 

Exhibitors  may  be  assured  they  will  be  able 
to  obtain  enough  vacuum  tubes  during  1944  to 
satisfy  all  their  needs,  according  to  John  Eber- 
son,  theatre  architect,  now  serving  as  consultant 
to  the  recreation  division  of  the  Office  of  Civil- 
ian Requirements  in  Washington. 

Mr.  Eberson  said  last  week  there  were  sev- 
eral factors  in  the  improved  situation,  but  that 
he  could  not  disclose  them  outside  of  saying 
that  production  methods  were  better. 

He  added  that  a  major  problem  in  the  tube 
situation  of  1944  would  be  the  necessity  of  pro- 
viding not  only  the  tubes  of  new  military 
equipment  but  replacements  for  such  equip- 
ment now  in  use  for  some  while.  But  he  re- 
marked that  the  film  industry's  requirements 
were  only  one  per  cent  of  a  total  output  of  mil- 
lions of  tubes,  and  that  therefore  the  authori- 
ties might  be  expected  to  grant  the  industry's 
demands,  he  intimated. 

Golden  Productions  Is 
Chartered  with  Others 

Edward  A.  Golden  Productions,  Inc.,  heads 
the  list  of  seven  motiqp  picture  enterprises  re- 
cently receiving  papers  of  incorporation  from 
the  Secretary  of  State  of  New  York  at  Albany. 
Golden  Productions  has  authorized  capital 
stock  of  $20,000  in  $100  par  value  shares,  with 
directors  listed  as  Edward  A.  Golden,  Robert 
S.  Golden  and  Herman  J.  Weisman. 

Other  companies  chartered  were:  Tri-Min 
Films,  inc.,  Manhattan,  by  A.  Allen  Saunders, 
Harold  J.  Binney  and  Genevieve  Bromfield ; 
Shelly  Theatres,  Inc.,  Bronx,  by  Adele  Horo- 
witz, Sophie  Bard  and  Stella  Dyke ;  Eastern 
Theatres,  Inc.,  by  Peter  A.  Lewis,  Florence 
Abramson  and  Frieda  Klein ;  Machat  Theatres, 
Inc.,  by  Michael  L.  Machat,  George  S.  Edmon- 
son and  Albert  Lavenburg;  Continental  Play 
Company,  Inc.,  by  Rose  Kaplan,  Ethel  Fein- 
berg  and  Hans  Harnik. 

Films,  Inc.,  and  Phon-Films  Distributing 
Company,  Inc,.  formed  a  consolidation  into 
Films,  Inc.,  with  capital  stock  authorized 
amounting  to  $242,000,  with  2,250  shares  of 
preferred  at  $100  each  and  17,000  shares  of 
common  stock  valued  at  $1  each. 


Lavery  Buys  Boston  Theatre 

William  Lavery,  of  Theatre  Amusenient 
Company,  has  purchased  the  Bowdoin  Square 
theatre,  one  of  Boston's  first  motion  picture 
theatres.  The  Bowdoin  is  located  near  North 
Station. 


Distributors  Agree  on  Latest 


DAY,  DATE  AND  HOURS  OF  SCREENING 


Will 

Dl  A^C 

(A)  A  GUY  NAMED  JOE 

(B)  BROADWAY  RHYTHM 

ALBANY 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

1052  Broadway 

MON.  1/17 

8  P.M. 

ATLANTA 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

197  Walton  St.,  N.W. 

MON.  1/17 

10:30  A.M. 

BOSTON 

M-G-M  Screen  Room 

46  Church  St. 

MON.  1/17 

10  A.M.  &  2:15  P.M. 

BUFFALO 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

290  Franklin  St. 

MON.  1/17 

7:45  P.M. 

CHARLOTTE 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

308  South  Church  St. 

MON.  1/17 

1:30  P.M. 

CHICAGO 

H.  C.  Igel's  Screen  Room 

1301  S.  Wabash  Ave. 

MON.  1/17 

1  P.M. 

CINCINNATI 

RKO  Screen  Room 

16  East  Sixth  Street 

MON.  1/17 

7  P.M. 

CLEVELAND 

20th-rox  Screen  Room 

2219  Payne  Avenue 

MON.  1/17 

1  P.M. 

DALLAS 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

1803  Wood  Street 

MON.  1/17 

(B)  10:30  A.M. 
(A)  2:30  P.M. 

DENVER 

Paramount  Screen  Room 

2100  Stout  Street 

MON.  1/17 

2  P.M. 

DES  MOINES 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

1300  High  Street 

MON.  1/17 

1  P.M. 

DETROIT 

Max  Blumenthal's  Sc.  Rm. 

2310  Cass  Avenue 

MON.  1/17 

1.30  P.M. 

■  k.  ■      ■  A  k.  1  A  r> 1  lO 

INDIANAPOLIS 

20th-rox  Screen  Room 

ooz   k.l_     III*            Cl^  A 

326  No.  Illinois  otreet 

MON.  1/17 

10  A.M. 

KANSAS  CITY 

Vogue  Theatre 

3444  Broadway 

MON.  1/17 

1  P.M. 

LOS  ANGELES 

Boulevard  Theatre 

161 J  W.  Washington  Blvd. 

MON.  1/17 

(B)  10:30  A.M. 
(A)  2:30  P.M. 

MEMPHIS 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

151  Vance  Avenue 

MON.  1/17 

3  P.M. 

MILWAUKEE 

Warner  Screen  Room 

212  W.  Wisconsin  Ave. 

MON.  1/17 

1:30  P.M. 

MINNEAPOLIS 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

1015  Currie  Avenue 

MUN.  1/1/ 

1  P.M. 

NEV/  HAVEN 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

40  Whiting  St. 

MON.  1/17 

10  A.M. 

NEW  ORLcANo 

zOth-rox  ocreen  Koom 

oourn  LiDerry 

1  /T7 

MvJN.  1/1/ 

1:30  P.M. 

NEW  YORK  / 
NEW  JERSEY ) 

M-G-M  Screen  Room 

630  Ninth  Avenue 

TUES.  1/18 

9:30  A.M. 
&  1:30  P.M. 

OKLA'MA  CITY 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

10  North  Lee  Street 

MON.  1/17 

(A) 
(B) 

10  A.M. 
1  P.M. 

OMAHA 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

1502  Davenport 

MON.  1/17 

1.15  P.M. 

PHILADELPHIA 

M-G-M  Screen  Room 

1233  Summer  Street 

MON.  1/17 

(B) 

, 

11  A.M. 
2  P.M. 

PITTSBURGH 

20th- Fox  Screen  Room 

1 71  5  Blvd.  of  Allies 

MON.  1/17 

1  P.M. 

PORTLAND 

B.  F.  Shearer  Screen  Rm. 

1947  N.W.  Kearney  St. 

MON.  1/17 

7  P.M. 

ST.  LOUIS 

S'Renco  Screen  Room 

3143  Olive  St. 

MON.  1/17 

1  P.M. 

SALT  LAKE  CITY 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

216  East  First  St.,  South 

MON.  1/17 

1  P.M. 

S.  FRANCISCO 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

245  Hyde  Street 

MON.  1/17 

1:30  P.M. 

SEATTLE 

Jewel  Box  Preview  Theatre 

2318  Second  Avenue 

MON.  1/17 

1  P.M. 

WASH.,  D.  C. 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

932  New  Jersey,  N.W. 

MON.  1/17 

1  P.M. 

"A  Guy  Named  Joe" — Spencer  Tracy,  Irene  Dunne 
Broadway  Rhythm"  {In  Technicolor)  with  big  cast  of  Screen  and  Radio  stars 


36 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January     I,  1944 


FILM  STOCK  VALUE  RISES  TO 
$750,535,246  IN  1943 


Increased  $145,724,132; 
Lively  Demand  Brought 
Best  Prices  in  Years 

by  THE  ANALYST 

Stocks  and  bonds  of  motion  picture  com- 
panies advanced  sharply  in  1943  and  the 
market  value  of  film  shares  listed  on  the 
New  York  Stock  Exchange  soared  $145,- 
724,132  to  a  total  of  $750,535,246,  compared 
with  $604,811,114  at  the  end  of  1942. 

Several  motion  picture  stocks  reached 
their  best  prices  in  a  number  of  years  as  a 
result  of  a  lively  demand  stimulated  by  fav- 
orable earnings  reports  and  dividend  actions, 
continued  strengthening  of  the  financial 
structures  of  leading  film  units  and  firm  es- 
tablishment of  the  motion  picture  as  the 
nation's  No.  1  entertainment  medium  during 
the  stress  of  wartime. 

Film  Stocks  Less  Affected 
By  Adverse  Influences 

Picture  stocks  appeared  less  affected  by 
adverse  influences  on  the  general  list,  which 
tapered  off  somewhat  after  a  rally  that 
reached  a  peak  during  July.  As  a  result 
of  this  independent  strength,  gains  in  film 
shares  were  relatively  greater  for  the  year 
than  those  in  most  other  sections  of  the  mar- 
ket, which  reacted  to  uncertainties  over  con- 
version of  industry  to  a  peace  time  basis  and 
to  serious  labor  troubles  at  the  year  end. 

Many  outside  factors  rebounded  to  the 
benefit  of  the  film  industry.  The  country's 
industrial  production  jumped  to  new  record 
levels  in  1943  as  the  Allied  offensive  spread 
all  over  the  world.  The  national  income 
soared  to  an  estimated  $145,000,000,000  for 
the  year  and  employment  hit  new  record 
highs,  touching  a  peak  of  64,600,000  per- 
sons in  September. 

Travel  restrictions  and  gasoline  ration- 
ing kept  most  of  the  beneficiaries  of  in- 
creased purchasing  power  at  home  and  re- 
acted to  the  advantage  of  motion  picture 
box  offices.  Federal  ladmission  tax  collec- 
tions for  the  first  10  months  of  1943  hit  a 
new  high  of  $136,293,040,  of  which  $122,- 
407,360  was  obtained  from  motion  picture 
theatres.  This  indicated  an  approximate  to- 
tal attendance  for  the  10  months  of  4,073,- 
545,233,  and  a  weekly  attendance  of  94,- 
733,612. 

Admission  Tax  Revenue 
Readied  New  High 

Motion  picture  company  earnings  report- 
ed during  the  year  consequently  were  uni- 
versally higher,  despite  the  deduction  of 
record  taxes. 

Thus,  many  of  the  same  factors  which 
sent  film  shares  up  in  1942  prevailed  during 
1943,  but  indicative  of  increased  Wall  Street 
interest  in  the  industry's  securities  was  a 
big  jump  in  turnover  of  film  stocks  during 
the  last  year.  This  was  particularly  evident 
in  such  stocks  as  Paramount,  of  which  1,- 
677,650  shares  were  traded  during  1943, 
against  644,000  shares  in  1942 ;  Radio-Keith- 


Orpheum,  with  a  1943  turnover  of  1,643,800 
shares,  against  120,600  shares  in  1942; 
Warner  Brothers,  1,902,100  shares,  against 
724,400,  and  Consolidated  Film  Industries, 
163,700  shares,  against  13,900. 

Outstanding  among  earning  reports  dur- 
ing the  year  was  that  of  RKO,  showing  a 
net  income  of  $5,008,075  for  the  39  weeks 
ended  October  2,  1943,  compared  with  a 
deficit  of  $389,853  for  the  39  weeks  ended 
October  3,  1942. 

Companies  in  Improved 
Financial  Condition 

RKO's  earnings  were  equal  to  $40.33  a 
share  on  the  preferred  stock,  which  showed 
a  deficit  of  $3.04  in  the  1942  period,  and 
$1.55  a  share  on  common,  against  a  deficit 
of  34  cents  a  share.  The  preferred  showed 
the  biggest  gain  of  any  film  issue  on  the 
board,  touching  a  high  of  about  100  and 
finishing  the  year  43  points  higher  above 
96 j^^.  RKO  common  gained  more  than  four 
points  to  around  eight. 

Loew's  declared  an  extra  dividend  of  $1.50 
a  share  on  the  common  stock,  in  addition  to 
the  regular  quarterly  dividend  of  50  cents, 
payable  December  31  to  stockholders  of 
record  December  17.  The  stock  touched  a 
high  of  above  64  and  finished  the  year  more 
than  12  points  higher  at  58j4. 

Reduction  of  outstanding  bank  loans  and 
favorable  earnings  reports  brought  favorable 
trading  community  attention  to  Paramount, 
which  gained  seven  points  to  around  24. 
On  September  30,  the  company  reported  to 
the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission 
that  it  had  prepaid  $1,000,000  promissory 
notes  to  the  First  National  '  Bank  of  Chi- 
cago, leaving  $2,500,000  outstanding;  $750,- 
000  to  the  Manufacturers  Trust  Co.,  leaving 
$1,975,000,  and  $250,000  to  the  Bankers 
Trust  Company,  leaving  $625,000.  The 
company  reported  net  income  for  the  nine 
months  ended  October  2,  1943,  at  $11,655,- 
000,  equal  to  $3.11  a  share,  compared  with 
$9,278,000,  or  $3  a  share  in  the  nine  months 
ended  October  3,  1942. 

RKO  Earnings  Equivalent 
To  $89.53  Per  Share 

Warner  Brothers  was  a  heavily  traded 
stock,  with  interest  buoyed  by  Wall  Street 
estimates  that  the  company's  net  profit  for 
the  fiscal  year  ended  August  31  would  ap- 
proximate $7,500,000,  which  would  equal 
more  than  $2  a  share  on  the  common  stock, 
highest  per  share  earnings  by  the  company 
since  the  boom  year  of  1929. 

Even  after  deducting  $250,000  for  post- 
war contingencies,  Keith-Albee-Orpheum 
Corporation  showed  increased  net  income 
for  the  39  weeks  ended  October  2,  1943,  re- 
porting $1,217,541,  after  the  deduction,  com- 
pared with  $1,074,258  in  the  corresponding 
period  of  the  preceding  year.  The  earnings 
were  equal  to  $89.53  a  share  on  the  pre- 
ferred stock,  against  $71.62  in  the  1942  pe- 
riod and  the  stock  finished  the  year  six 
points  higher. 

General  Precision  stock  rose  more  than 
five  points  for  the  year,  with  the  company 


reporting  a  net  income  of  $1,097,276  for  the 
nine  months  ended  September  30,  1943,  com- 
pared with  $817,764  in  the  1942  period.  The 
per  share  earnings  were  $1.87,  against  $1.40. 

Consolidated  Film  Industries  declared  a 
dividend  of  $2  on  the  preferred  stock  on  ac- 
count of  arrears,  payable  December  21  to 
stockholders  of  record  December  6.  After 
this  payment,  accumulations  totaled  $12  a 
share.  The  issue  gained  more  than  nine 
points  to  around  17.  Consolidated  Film  com- 
mon, which  at  the  year's  low,  sold  at  50 
cents  a  share,  finished  around  three,  for  a 
gain  of  more  than  two  points.  The  com- 
pany's net  income  for  the  nine  months  ended 
March  31,  1943,  was  reported  at  $715,282, 
against  $397,696  in  the  corresponding  period 
of  1942. 

Some  of  the  outstanding  gains  in  market 
value  during  1943  were  made  by  Eastman 
Kodak,  up  $34,664,182;  Loew's,  up  $20,821,- 
412-;  Paramount,  up  $30,581,489;  RKO,  up 
$11,700,475;  Twentieth  Century-Fox,  up 
$13,935,960,  and  Warner  Brothers,  up  $14,- 
804,360. 

Editors  and  Models  Will 
Vie  on  "Sexes"  Program 

Three  trade  paper  editors  and  three  Harry 
Conover  agency  models  will  be  the  contestants 
in  the  "Battle  of  the  Sexes"  program  over  the 
Blue  Network  next  Wednesday  evening,  8:30 
to  9  P.M.  for  the  Eastern  territory,  and  11:30 
to  12  P.M.  for  the  West  Coast. 

Universal  arranged  the  program,  advertising 
its  short  subject,  "Magazine  Model." 

The  trade  paper  editors  are  Terry  Ramsaye, 
Motion  Picture  Herald;  William  Formby, 
Boxoffice;  and  Chester  Bahn,  Film  Daily.  Mas- 
ter of  ceremonies  will  be  Jay  C.  Flippen. 

The  program  wil  be  broadcast  from  the  net- 
work's New  York  key  station,  WJZ. 


Clark  Succeeds  Allen 
As  OWI  News  Head 

Dowsley  Clark,  midwestern  newspaper  man, 
was  to  succeed  Charles  Allen  in  the  Office  of 
War  Information,  on  Saturday.  The  position 
is  that  of  chief  of  the  news  bureau.  Mr.  Clark 
has  been  on  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota  newspa- 
pers. He  was  managing  editor  of  the  Min- 
neapolis Tribune.  Since  1941  he  has  been  OWI 
regional  director  in  that  city  and  in  Chicago. 


McGee  Names  Successors 

Patrick  McGee,  formerly  in  charge  of  J.  H. 
Cooper  Enterprises  in  Denver,  prior  to  his 
induction  into  the  Army,  announced  that  film 
buying  has  been  divided  among  George  Hen- 
ger,  manager  of  Lincoln  City ;  Kenneth  Mead, 
Pueblo  City  manager  and  supervisor  of  Gree- 
ley and  Grand  Junction ;  Isaac  Hoig  of  Colo- 
rado Spring,  and  Ed  Kidwell,  in  Oklahoma 
City. 


WLB  Rejects  Bonus  Plan 

The  War  Labor  Board  ruled  against  permit- 
ting Loew's,  Inc.,  to  include  employees  earning 
up  to  $50  in  receiving  its  holiday  bonus.  The 
bonus  plan  of  last  year  was  limited  to  employ- 
ees receiving  $40.  The  new  plan  would  have 
included  another  325  workers.  The  Board  ruled 
there  would  be  no  deviation  from  last  year's 
bonus  plan. 


January    I,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


37 


MOTION  PICTURE  STOCKS  IN  1943 

High  and  Low  in  Stock  and  Bond  Trading  for  5  Year  Period 


(Closing  Prices  for  1943  in  All  Tables  Are  As  of  December  24) 


NEW  YORK  STOCK  EXCHANGE 


-1943- 


Stock  and  Dividend 

Columia  Pitures  ('A A)  

Columbia  Pictures  pfd  (2^)  

Consolidated  Film   

Consol.  Film  pfd.  (lb)  

Eastman  Kodak  (5)  

Eastman  Kodak  pfd.  (6)  

Gen.  Precision  (1)  

Keith-Albee-Orph.  pfd.  (7)  

Loew's,  Inc.  {2c)  

Paramount  (1.60)   

Radio-Keith-Oroh   

Radio-Keith  pfd.  (5b)  

20th  Century-Fox  (2A)  

20th  Cent.-F.  pfd.  (.I'A)  

20th  Cent.-F.  pr.  pfd.  (4'/^)  

Warner  Brothers   

A — So  far  this  year;  b — Accumulated;  c — Including  extras. 


Sales 

Net 

,  1942- 

^ 

Higb 

Low 

Close 

Change 

High 

Low 

176,800 

1954 

9 

16% 

+  6/2 

im 

SVs 

13,500 

41 

30H 

m 

+  6/2 

35 

24 

163,700 

'A 

3 

+2  19/32 

H 

H 

141,200 

m 

16^ 

+  9% 

9 

7 

99,700 

170 

163/2 

+14 

15154 

108 

2,500 

184 

173 

180 

+  154 

180 

170 

586,087 

24'/$ 

13^ 

19'A 

+  SVa. 

1454 

1054 

380 

115 

103^ 

10954 

+  6 

103 

9354 

286,300 

64^ 

42J4 

58'/4 

+12/2 

4654 

37 

1,677,650 

30 

2354 

+  7 

1754 

im 

1,643,800 

1054 

3/2 

7H 

+  454 

m 

2 

?9  SRO 

997^ 

54'^ 

96!4 

+43 

5454 

1,172,220  • 

24H 

12^ 

22/8 

+  8 

16 

m 

263,200 

34H 

25 

2854 

+  2/2 

2654 

1954 

10,220 

101 

99 

9934 

not  listed 

1,902,100 

15H 

7H 

12 

+  4 

854 

4% 

High 

m 

28/ 

154 

11 

145/ 
182/ 

1654 
121/ 

395^ 

165^ 
354 

S554 
9fi 

24 


-1941- 


65^ 


Low 

4y4 
2154 

7 

12054 

160 
9Vi 
95 
28 
10 
2 

38/ 
5 

16/ 
254 


High 

8/ 

26 
1/8 

10/ 
16654 
180 

135i 
109 

375/a 


-194»- 


Low 

35^ 
1454 
/ 
554 
117 
155 
754 
95 
2054 
454 

35^  2% 
not  listed 
1354  5 
25%  14 

454  2 


High 

14 

30/ 
2/8 

1254 


-1939  


183/ 
15/ 

10054 
54/ 
145i 
2^8 

26% 
3454 


Low 

754 
15/ 

754 
1385^ 
155/ 
85i 
85 
30/ 
65^ 
154 

im 

vm, 

3/ 


A — So  far  this  year. 


NEW  YORK  CURB  EXCHANGE 


Stock  and  Dividend  Sales  High 

Monogram  Pictures    312,700  4 

Radio-Keith-Orph.  opt.  war   1,401,100  25^ 

Sentry  Safety  Control   11,500  54 

Technicolor  (/A)    351,950 

Trans-Lux  (.lOA)    282,800  4f4 

Universal  Pictures  (lA)    7,200  19^4 

Universal  Pic.  v.t.c.  (lA)   83,600  19J4 


1943 


Low 

% 
7/32 
3/16 

16 

9H 


Close 

3/ 

154 
7/16 
1254 

4% 
17J4 
17J4 


Net 
Change 

+  m 
+1 1/6 

+9/32 
+  5Vi 
+  2/ 
-2054 
not  listed 
1942 


-1942- 


High  Low 

154  / 
not  listed 
5/16  }i 

VA  54 
44  25 


High 

1/8 

/ 

11 
1 

30/ 


-1941- 


Bonds  on  Stock  Exchange 


Low 

% 

/ 

6/8 

USA 


 194ft  , 

High  Low 

1  54 


1/ 
1654 

1554 


3/16 
8/ 

4 


r-  1939  

High  Low 

3/  1 


9/16 
2254 


9nA 

1 

6 


Bood  and  Maturity 

Paramount-Bway.  3s  '55  ct. 


1943 


Net 


Sciles        High        Low        Close  Change 

$516,000  86  68  86  +1854 


High 

71 


-1942- 


Low 

58H 


High 

$0/ 


-1941- 


Low 

52 


High 

52/ 


-1940- 


Low 

40 


High 

57/ 


-1939- 


Low 

4554 


Comparision  of  Valuation  of  Stock  Issues,  1942-43 


Shares  Close 

Stock  Outstanding  1942  Valuation 

Columbia  Pic   366,268                  1(%  $3,754,249 

Columbia  pfd   75,000  3254  2,458,250 

Consolidated  Film    524,973  13/32  213,270 

Consol.  Film  pfd   400,000                   754  3,100,000 

Eastman  Kodak    2,476,013  149/  370,163,943 

Eastman  pfd   61,657  17854  11,021,288 

Gen.  Precision    586,087  1454  8,351,739 

Keith-Alb. -Orph.  pfd   63,586  103/  6,581,151 

Loew's,  Inc   1,665,713  46  76,622,798 

Paramount    2,465,927  1654  27,984,277 

Radio-Keith-Orph   2,753,053                   3/  9.635,685 

Radio-Keith  pfd   128,170  53/  6,857,145 

20th  Cent.-Fox   1,741,995  1454  24.605,679 

20th-Cent.-F.  pfd   917,420  26  23,852,920 

Warner  Brothers    3,701,090                   8  29,608,720 

$604,811,114 


Close 
1943 

1654 
3954 
3 

\(>Vi 

163/ 

180 
19/ 

109/ 
58/ 
2354 
754 
9654 
225i 
28/ 
12 


Valuation 

$6,135,289 
2,943,750 
1,574,919 
6,750,000 
404,828,125 
11,098,260 
11,428,696 
6,960,477 
97,444,210 
58,565,766 
21,336,160 
12,358,405 
38,541,639 
26,146,470 
44,413,080 

$750,535,246 


+  6/ 

+  6/ 
+2  19/32 
+  9Vi. 
+14 
+  1/ 
+  5/ 
+  6 

+12/8 

+  7 
+  45^ 
+43 
+  8 
+  2/ 
+  4 


-Net  Change- 


+  $2,381,040 


+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 

+ 
+ 
+ 


485,500 
1,361,649 
3,650,000 
34,664,182 
76,972 
3,076,957 
379,326 
+  20,821,412 
+  30,581,489 
+  11,700,475 
+  5,511,260 
+  13,935,960 
+  2,293,550 
+  14,804,360 

+$145,724,132 


20th  Century-Fox 
is  very  happy 
to  inform 
the  industry 
that  following 
its  brilliant  opening 
and  unprecedented 
press  reception 


is  now  making 
history  at  the 
Carthay  Circle  and 
United  Artists  Theatres 
in  Hollywood 
where  it  has  broken 
every  opening  day 
record  and 
continues  to  break 
records  daily. 


20th  Century  Fox  presents  Franz  Werfel's'THE  SONG  OF  BERNADETTE"  with  Jennifer  Jones  •  William  Eythe  •  Charles  Bickford  •  Vincent  Price  •  Lee  J.  ( 


»s  one  .     py  ana  w 

of  o\\  ^^w^^^' of  the  term. 


i/y 


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Cooper  •  Directed  by  HENRY  KING  •  Produced  by  WILLIAM  PERLBERG  •  Wiinam  Goetz  in  charge  of  Production  .  Screen  Play  by  George  Seaton 


OUR  TWO  BIG  JOBS  IN  JANUARY  fOUPTH  WAR  tOAN  AND  MARCH  OF  OIMP' 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 

IN  NEWSREELS 


40 


Warners  Cancel 
"Canteen Film 
In  SAG  Dispute 

"Hollywood  Canteen,"  Warner  Brothers  pic- 
ture that  went  before  the  cameras  November 
15  and  was  withdrawn  December  7,  has  been 
cancelled  as  a  production  as  result  of  a  salary 
ruling  announced  by  the  Screen  Actors  Guild. 
Late  last  week  following  a  board  meeting  the 
SAG  gave  its  answer  to  the  company's  explana- 
tion of  its  action,  stating  that  the  film  as  pro- 
posed by  Warners  "attempts  to  do  several  con- 
flicting things,  and  the  result  adversely  affects 
actors,  wages,  working  conditions,  and,  in  the 
Guild's  opinion,  the  industry." 

According  to  the  company  the  Guild  did  not 
announce  its  salary  ruling  until  December  7, 
and  there  was  no  previous  notice  or  intima- 
tion from  the  guild  of  such  action,  although  the 
picture  had  been  in  preparation  and  production 
for  over  four  months  prior  to  November  15. 

The  studio  pointed  out  that  the  Guild's  rul- 
ing required  that  an  actor  or  actress  be  paid 
full  salary  for  appearance  in  the  film,  or  their 
guarantee  per  picture  no  matter  how  limited 
the  services  required.  "This,"  said  the  com- 
pany, "meant  that  the  sum  of  $150,000  would 
have  to  be  paid  to  some  actors  for  one  hour's 
work.  It  was  considered  doubtful  whether  the 
Wage  Stabilization  Board  of  the  Treasury  De- 
partment would  approve  such  sums." 

The  Guild,  in  its  statement,  listed  four  objec- 
tives: 1.  Give  patriotic  or  charitable  charac- 
ter to  the  picture  by  paying  $250,000  for  use  of 
the  title  and  further  giving  the  Canteen  40  per 
cent  after  25  per.  cent  distribution  cost.  2. 
Assure  substantial  commercial  profit  for  War- 
ners by  charging  25  per  cent  distribution  cost 
and  retaining  60  per  cent  net  profit  in  addition 
to  box  office  profit  at  its  theatres.  3.  Use  all 
Warner  players  in  dramatic  parts  but  present 
cross-section  of  name  stars  in  brief  appearances 
at  cut-rate  compensation.  Warner  Isudget  for 
talent  of  outside  stars  represented  about  half 
the  salary  of  one,  not  10,  stars.  4.  Begin  pro- 
duction without  signing  non- Warner  stars  and 
without  consulting  industry  or  Guild,  relying 
on  patriotic  character  of  picture  to  force  stars 
to  appear. 

The  company,  at  time  of  going  to  press,  had 
not  answered  the  Guild's  list  of  four  "objec- 
tives." 

S+effes  Sees  Exhibitor 
Merger  in  Northwest 

W.  A.  "Al"  Steffes,  veteran  independent 
exhibitor  leader  of  Minneapolis  and  the  North- 
west, at  a  meeting  late  last  week  of  a  dozen 
prominent  independent  exhibitors  in  Minne- 
apolis, voiced  his  belief  in  the  possible  merger 
of  the  two  independent  theatre  owners'  organ- 
izations of  the  Minneapolis  area,  with  the  new 
organization  Mr.  Stefifes  is  forming.  Mr. 
StefTes  recently  recovered  from  a  lengthy  ill- 
ness and  promptly  emerged  from  retirement. 
He  said  that  conferences  with  Don  Guttman, 
head  of  North-Central  Allied  and  E.  L.  Peas- 
lee,  head  of  Northwest  Allied,  had  brought 
approval  of  the  new  organization.  Mr.  Gutt- 
man's  organization  represents  largely  independ- 
ents of  the  Twin  Cities. 


Cleveland  Exhibitors  to  Elect 

The  Cleveland  Motion  Picture  Exhibitors 
Association  will  hold  its  annual  meeting  to 
elect  officers  January  13.  That  date  will  mark 
the  closing  of  Ernest  Schwartz'  10th  year  as 
president  of  the  organization.  Albert  E.  Ptak 
.has  served  seven  years  as  vice-president,  and 
George  W.  Erdmann,  has  been  secretary  for 
the  past  17  years.  No  change  of  slate  is  ex- 
pected. 


MOVIETONE  NEWS— Vol.  26,  No.  35— Bitter  fight- 
ing on  Russian  front.  .  .  .  U.  S.  bombers  blast  Japs. 
.  .  .  Churchill  honored  on  birthday.  .  .  .  Fourth  War 
Loan  drive  of  industry.  .  .  .  Captain  Richard  Bong 
downs  21  Jap  planes.  .  .  .  Pin-up  girls  in  New 
Guinea.  .  .  .  Christmas  cheer  in  Italy.  .  .  .  Lew 
Lehr  newsette. 

MOVIETONE  NEWS— VoL  26,  No.  34— President  out- 
lines plan  for  victory  in  Christmas  message.  .  .  . 
Yanks  clean  up  Makin  Island.  .  .  .  Hotel  fire  takes 
loll  in  N.  Y.  .  .  .  Curtis  Helldiver.  .  .  .  Spectacular 
ice  show  in  Chicago. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY— VoL  15,  No.  231— Yanks  rule 
Pacific  sky.  .  .  .  1943  ends.  .  .  .  New  Year  message 
to  home  front.  .  .  .  Reds  trap  Nazis  by  land  and 
sea  at  Novorossisk.  .  .  .  Latest  films  of  Churchill. 

.  .  .  Christmas  service  an  interlude  at  front. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY— VoL  15,  No.  232— Roosevelt 
victory  report.  .  .  .  Yanks  smash  Japs  on  Makin. 
.  .  .  Nazi  battleship  sunk  by  British.  .  .  .  Fire  trag- 
ery  as  year  ends.  .  .  .  Stars  bring  New  Year  cheer 
to  service  men. 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS— No.  34— Winter  drive  opens  in 
Russia.  .  .  .  Churchill  back  on  job.  .  .  .  Fire  wrecks 
homb  plant  in  Dallas.  .  .  Sea  lion  shows  in  San 
Antonio.  .  .  .  Interlude  in  Italy.  .  .  .  Yank  airmen 
blast  Japs. 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS— No.  35— Makin  Island  cleanup. 
...  17  die  in  N.  Y.  blaze.  .  .  .  Whole  family  joins 
Navy.  .  .  .  Reunion  at  Hyde  Park.  .  .  .  Roosevelt 
reports. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS— Vol.  15,  No.  36— Russians  re- 
take Novorossisk.  .  .  Troops  overseas  celebrate 
Christmas.  .  .  .  American  B-25's  smash  Japs. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS— Vol.  15,  No.  37— Roosevelt  in 

Christmas  Eve  talk.  .  .  .  Yanks  gain  on  Makin.  .  .  . 
Raid  hits  Marshall  Islands.  .  .  .  Stars  begin  USO 
tour  of  camps. 

w 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREEL— Vol.    16,   Now   253— B  25 

bombers  soften  up  enemy  in  New  Guinea.  .  .  .  Reds 
recapture  Novorossisk.  .  .  .  Christmas  with  Yanks 
in  Italy.  .  .  Fair  trade  in  Algiers.  .  .  .  Roosevelt 
summons  union  heads  to  avert  strike.  .  .  .  Brazil 
gives  blood  for  her  armed  forces. _  .  .  .  Australian 
beauties  save  the  day.  .  .  .  Churchill's  birthday. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREEL— VoL  16,  No.  254-Roose- 
velt  names  Eisenhower.  .  .  .  Hotel  blaze  in  mid- 
town  Manhattan.  .  .  .  This  chap  is  4-F.  .  .  .  Artistic 
airmen.  .  .  .  Glamour  on  ice.  .  .  .  Pick  peaches  in 
Florida.  .  .  .  Pacific  victory. 

ALL  AMERICAN  NEWS— Vol.  2,  No.  62— Roosevelt 
visits  troops  in  Sicily.  .  .  .  Negro  inventor  perfects 
non-electric  battery  charger.  .  .  .  Chicago  Cliristmas 
party  for  service  men.  .  .  .  Only  Negro  woman 
judge.  .  .  .  Negro  engineers  on  Munda. 


Dunlap,  Jr.,  Appointed  RCA 
Ad  and  Pulicity  Director 

Orrin  E.  Dunlap,  Jr.,  former  manager  of 
the  Radio  Corporation  of  America's  depart- 
ment of  information,  has  been  appointed  direc- 
tor of  advertising  and  publicity  for  RCA,  it 
was  announced  last  week  by  David  Sarnofif, 
president  of  RCA.  The  promotion  is  effective 
January  1.  Mr.  Dunlap  has  been  associated 
with  radio  since  1912,  when  he  built  a  wireless 
station  at  Niagara  Falls,  N.  Y.  In  1917  he 
was  chief  operator  of  the  Marconi  Wireless 
Telegraph  Company.  He  was  also  active  in 
radio  during  the  first  World  War. 


Testimonial  Dinner  to  Be 
Held  for  Seletsky 

Friends  and  associates  will  give  a  testimonial 
dinner  to  Samuel  Seletsky,  to  be  held  Tanuarv 
10  at  the  Hotel  Taft,  Boston.  Mr.  Seletsky 
recently  was  promoted  to  manager  of  the  Re- 
public New  York  branch.  Barney  Pitkin, 
RKO  manager,  is  chairman  of  the  committee 
in  charge.  Harry  F.  Shaw,  Loew-Poli  division 
manager,  will  be  toastmaster.  Ben  Simon,  of 
20th  Century-Fox,  will  be  treasurer. 


Loew's  Book  "Jeannie" 

"Jeannie,"  produced  by  Marcel  Hellman  in 
England,  and  released  in  this  country  by  Eng- 
lish Films,  Inc.,  has  been  booked  for  the  enitre 
Loew  circuit  in  the  United  States.  The  book- 
ings will  begin  early  this  month  at  the  Metro- 
politan theatre,  Brooklyn,  New  York. 


January     I,  1944 

Sarnoff  Predicts 
Delays  Ahead 
In  Television 

Radio's  wartime  program  of  research  and 
])roduction  has  blazed  the  path  for  many  revo- 
lutionary contributions  to  entertainment  after 
the  war,  according  to  David  Sarnoff,  president 
of  the  Radio  Corporation  •  of  America.  In  a 
year-end  review  he  disclosed  that  radio  manu- 
facturing, exclusively  military,  was  a  $250,000,- 
000  a  month  industry  compared  with  $30,000,- 
000  per  month  a  year  ago.  ^ 

"A  multitude  of  new  post-war  products, 
processes  and  services"  were  envisaged  by  Mr. 
Sarnoff  as  an  outcome  of  wartime  radio  and 
industrial  research. 

Motion  pictures  in  three  dimensional  color ; 
extensive  home  and  theatre  television ;  a  wider 
use  of  educational  and  industrial  films ;  new  and 
more  durable  synthetic,  plastic  film  raw  stock; 
improved  photographic  technique  and  equipment 
and  greatly  superior  sound  recording  and  repro- 
ducing methods  were  among  his  prediction. 

"Television  is  a  post-war  development  of 
great  promise  and  popular  appeal,"  Mr.  S&rnoff 
said,  but  warned  that  it  would  not  be  an  over- 
night transformation. 

"It  will  require  from  three  to  six  months  to 
get  the  machinery  in  operation  to  resume  the 
manufacture  of  civilian  broadcast  receivers.  It 
may  require  a  year  after  approval  of  standards 
and  full  authorization  of  commercialization  of 
television  broadcasting  by  the  Federal  Com- 
munications Commission  before  television  sets 
are  available  within  the  price  range  from  $200 
to  $300. 

"Production  of  television  receivers  is  not  the 
only  task.  Television  transmitters  must  be 
erected.  Interesting  programs  must  be  planned. 
Automatic  radio  relay  stations  must  be  built 
to  link  key  cities  into  a  network.  That  is  no 
one-year  job,"  he  said. 

NBC  Changes  Television 
Broadcast  Schedule 

The  National  Broadcasting  Company's  tele- 
vision station  in  New  York,  WNBT,  has 
changed  its  program  schedule  to  two  weekly 
periods  of  two  hours  each  on  Saturday  and 
Monday  evenings.  Hitherto  the  station  has 
filled  its  weekly  minimum  of  four  hours  of 
broadcasting  with  films  and  fire  guard  training 
programs  on  Monday. 

Under  the  new  schedule,  sporting  events,  or 
other  public  spectacles  will  be  picked  up  on 
Saturday  from  Madison  Square  Garden.  Mon- 
day programs  will  be  devoted  to  short  and 
feature  film  transmissions  from  8  to  10  P.  M. 
The  company  uses  free  Government  and  indus- 
trial film  and  dated  features  and  short  subjects 
rented  from  independent  distributors. 

C.  L.  Menser,  vice-president  in  charge  of  NBC 
programs,  announced  the  television  changes. 

Wexo  Named  RKO  Circuit 
Division  Manager 

Edward  L.  Alperson,  general  manager  of 
RKO  Theatres,  has  promoted  Sigurd  Wexo, 
formerly  of  the  Midway  theatre  in  Forest  Hills, 
Long  Island,  to  division  manager  in  the  zone 
supervised  by  Louis  Goldberg.  In  a  revision  of 
territory,  Mr.  Goldberg's  zone  will  be  divided 
as  follows:  Under  division  manager  John 
Hearns,  the  Palace,  81st  Street,  S8th  Street, 
23rd  Street,  Colonial,  Jefferson,  Albee,  Bush- 
wick,  Orpheum,  Madison,  Greenpoint  and  Re- 
public ;  under  Mr.  Wexo,  the  Strand  and  Co- 
lumbia at  Far  Rockaway ;  Keith's  Flushing  and 
Richmond  Hill ;  Alden,  Jamaica ;  Midway,  For- 
est Hills ;  Prospect,  Shore  Road,  Dyker,  Til- 
you  and  Kenmore  theatres. 


January     I,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


41 


BRITISH  EXHIBITORS  SELECT 
CREER  CARSON  AND  FORMBY 


Actress  International  Poll 
Winner;  Comedian  Best 
British  Money-Maker 

by  LONDON  BUREAU 

The  exhibitors  of  England  have  voted 
Greer  Garson  the  leading  Money-Making 
star  of  1943  in  the  poll  conducted  by  Mo- 
tion Picture  Herald  on  behalf  of  Fame. 
Miss  Garson  wsls  voted  sixth  among  the  first 
10  by  the  exhibitors  of  the  United  States. 

At  the  same  time  the  British  showmen 
selected  George  Formby,  comedian  and 
perennial  favorite  of  the  English  film  pa- 
tron, leading  Money-Making  star  among 
British  players,  and  Gene  Autry,  now  a 
sergeant  in  the  U.  S.  Army  Air  Force,  as 
leading  Western  player  of  1943. 

Betty  Grable,  who  scored  first  among  ex- 
hibitors of  the  United  States,  was  voted  into 
no  better  than  fifth  position  in  the  British 
poll,  indicative  of  a  difference  in  film  taste 
of  the  peoples  of  the  two  countries,  as  re- 
flected in  the  selection  of  the  exhibitors  who 
determine  those  tastes  at  the  box  offices  of 
the  nation's  theatres. 

Miss  Garson  Portrayed 
Role  of  English  Woman 

Miss  Garson,  British  in  origin,  achieved 
her  most  notable  successes  of  the  year  in  the 
portrayal  of  such  roles  as  that  of  "Mrs. 
Miniver,"  the  indomitable  English  woman 
who  faces  war  and  death  without  flinching. 

Following  closely  the  pattern  of  the 
American  poll,  the  International  ranking  by 
British  exhibitoi;s  finds  Bing  Crosby  in  sec- 
ond place,  the  unquenchable  Bud  Abbott  and 
Lou  Costello,  third;  Bob  Hope,  fourth,  and 
Betty  Grable,  fifth.  It  may  be  assumed  that 
^  the  relegation  of  Mickey  Rooney  from  first 
to  sixth  position  is  due  as  much  to  the  fact 
that  Master  Rooney  is  becoming  Mr. 
Rooney  as  to  any  other  single  factor.  The 
same  might  well  be  said  of  Deanna  Durbin, 
who  failed  to  reach  the  first  10  this  year. 

Dorothy  Lamour,  she  of  the  sarong  and 
the  "Road"  pictures,  has  been  voted  into 
seventh  position  by  the  British  showmen, 
while  Bette  Davis  is  eighth,  and"  Tyrone 
Power  and  James  Cagney  are  ninth  and 
tenth,  in  that  order,  to  complete  the  list  of 
the  top  10. 

Formhy's  Selection  Was 
By  Overwhelming  Vote 

Formby's  victory  at  the  top  of  the  heap 
among  British  players  was  overwhelming, 
attesting  once  again  to  the  tight  hold  the 
North-country  performer  has  on  the  tastes 
of  the  British  patron,  either  in  London  thea- 
tres or  the  smallest  house. 

The  British  picture-goers  paid  tribute  to 
the  artistry  and  matchless  skill  of  the  late 
Leslie  Howard  in  selecting  him  for  the 
second  position  among  British  players. 

In  third  place  is  Noel  Coward,  largely 
unknown  as  a  screen  player  to  the  large 
group  of  English  film  patrons,  but  racing 


Winners  in  England 


INTERNATIONAL 

BRITISH 

WESTERN 

1. 

Greer  Garson 

1. 

George  Formby 

1. 

Gene  Autry 

2. 

Bing  Crosby 

2. 

Leslie  Howard 

2. 

Roy  Roqers 

3. 

Abbott  &  Costello 

3. 

Noel  Coward 

3. 

William  Boyd 

4. 

Bob  Hope 

4. 

Eric  Portman 

4. 

Johnny  Mack  Brown 

5. 

Betty  Grable 

5. 

Robert  Donat 

5. 

Randolph  Scott 

6. 

Mickey  Rooney 

6. 

Arthur  Lucan 

6. 

Charles  Starrett 

7. 

Dorothy  Lamour 

7. 

Margaret  Lockwood 

7. 

John  Wayne 

8. 

Bette  Davis 

8. 

Anton  Walbrook 

8. 

Buck  Jones 

9. 

Tyrone  Power 

9. 

Arthur  Askey 

9. 

James  Craig 

10. 

James  Cagney 

10. 

John  Mills 

10. 

Dick  Foran 

to  prominence  in  the  eminently  successful 
"In  Which  We  Serve."  Reaching  the  point 
foreseen  for  him  some  time  ago,  Eric  Port- 
man  has  achieved  high  ranking,  fourth  in 
the  poll. 

Robert  Donat,  always  a  favorite,  and  also 
well  liked  on  the  American  side  of  the  water, 
continues  his  perennial  hold  on  the  tastes 
of  the  British,  whose  representatives,  the 
theatre  men,  placed  him  in  fifth  position. 

The  British  public,  whose  wishes  are 
herein  recorded,  indirectly,  displayed  no 
overwhelming  fancy  in  this  listing  for  come- 
dians, other  than  the  inevitable  Formby. 
However,  two  others,  known  as  comedians 
in  all  their  work  for  the  screen,  were  given 
places  of  distinction  in  the  top  10.  Arthur 
Lucan,  notable  for  years  in  vaudeville  and 
radio,  as  well  as  on  the  screen,  for  his 
kindly  character,  "Old  Mother  Reilly,"  was 
voted  into  sixth  position,  while  Arthur  As- 
key, another  radio  discovery  of  recent  years, 
is  found  in  ninth  place. 

Margaret  Lockwood  Places 
Seventh,  Only  Woman 

Margaret  Lockwood,  seventh,  is  the  only 
woman  in  the  list  of  British  elect.  There 
can  be  little  question  that  her  position  was 
richly  won  by  reason  of  her  performances  in 
two  films  particularly,  "The  Men  in  Grey" 
and  "Dear  Octopus." 

Anton  Walbrook,  Austrian-born,  but 
more  English  now  than  the  English,  con- 
tinues his  progress  toward  high  estate, 
achieving  eighth  place,  while  the  youthful 
John  Mills,  appearing  for  the  first  time  in 
this  group  of  distinguished  exponents  of  the 
fine  art  of  box  office,  has  been  selected  for 
tenth  position. 

The  appearance  of  so  many  of  these  play- 
ers in  films  which  may  be  characterized  most 
specifically  as  "war  pictures,"  tends  to  nulli- 
fy the  belief  that  the  British  public  is  tired 
of  war  films  as  such,  and  want  no  more  of 
them.  Quality,  in  essence,  seems  to  be  the 
more  accurate  answer  to  the  question. 

The  results  of  the  voting  by  British  show- 


men among  Western  players  are  similar  to 
the  American  list.  Whereas  the  American 
exhibitors  voted  Roy  Rogers  first,  the  Brit- 
ish, despite  Autry's  lack  of  appearances  save 
in  reissues  in  1943,  voted  him  first,  with 
Rogers  second. 

William  Boyd,  who  personified  Hopalong 
Cassidy  on  the  screen,  took  third  place,  with 
Johnny  Mack  Brown  in  fourth.  Randolph 
Scott,  strangely  enough,  is  found  in  fifth 
place  among  Western  players,  although  in 
the  United  States  he  is  not  generally  con- 
sidered a  Western  player.  However,  his 
appearance  in  many  films  of  an  action  na- 
ture, often  with  settings  in  the  old  West  of 
the  United  States,  unquestionably  accounted 
for  the  ranking. 

Following  him  were  such  perennial  West- 
ern players  as  Charles  Starrett,  sixth;  John 
Wayne,  seventh,  who  falls  also  into  some- 
what the  same  category  as  Scott;  the  late 
Buck  Jones,  eighth;  James  Craig,  ninth, 
and  Dick  Foran,  tenth. 


Famous  Players  Canadian 
Has  727  On  Honor  Roll 

A  total  of  727  employees  of  Famous  Play- 
ers Canadian  Corporation,  associated  with  Para- 
mount, are  in  the  armed  forces,  John  J.  Fitz- 
gibbons,  president  of  the  company,  announced 
this  week.  Eight  of  those  on  the  honor  roll 
have  been  killed,  nine  are  missing,  eight  are 
prisoners  of  war,  and  three  have  been  wounded. 

Pilot  Officer  L.  M.  Cavanaugh,  RCAC,  for- 
merly at  the  Palace  theatre,  Calgary,  has  been 
awarded  the  Distinguished  Flying  Cross. 

Of  the  727  in  the  armed  forces,  13  are 
women,  and  of  the  rest,  322  are  in  the  Royal 
Canadian  Air  Force,  285  in  the  Canadian  Army, 
lis  in  the  Royal  Canadian  Navy,  and  five  in 
the  U.  S.  Air  Corps. 


Film  Classics  Forms  Subsidiary 

Film  Classics,  Inc.,  has  formed  a  subsidiary 
called  Beacon  Films  to  handle  16mm  versions 
of  its  35mm  subjects.  The  new  company's 
catalogue  is  expected  to  include  750  short  sub- 
jects and  85  features. 


This  is  JACK  LONDON 

with  the  woman  he  stole  from  the  lawless  oyster  pirates! 


This  is  JACK  LONDON 

who  followed  adventure  thru  the  Klondike's  golden  age! 


...an 


This  is  JACK  LONDON 

the  first  American  to  know  the  horror  of  a  Jap  detention  camp! 


This  is  JACK  LONDON 

whose  romantic  life  was  crowned  by  a  great  romantic  love! 


This  is  JACK  LONDON 

whose  fist  was  as  punchy  as  his  pen! 


44 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January     1,  1944 


BRITISH  PLAN  PRODUCTIOK 
BUDGET  OF  $16,000,000 


Ambitious  Studio  Schedule 
Is  New  High  in  England 
in  Fifth  Year  of  War 

by  PETER  BURNUP 

in  London 

Contrasting  significantly  with  the  dis- 
tress into  which  this  country's  production 
industry  was  cast  in  the  last  war;  coming, 
too,  as  an  ironic  commentary  on  the  loud 
cries  of  woe  lately  heard  here,  is  the  fact 
that  in  the  fifth  year  of  Britain's  war  no 
less  than  £4,000,000  (approximately  ($16,- 
000,000)  will  be  spent  here  on  film  produc- 
tion. 

That  is  an  all-time  high  for  Britam. 

Sir  Alexander  Korda  of  MGM  London 
Films,  Ltd.,  has  set  his  budget  for  £1,200,- 
000.  The  plans  of  Filippo  Del  Giudice  of 
Two  Cities  account  for  more  than  that  sum. 
Gabriel  Pascal  is  far  advanced  in  his  pre- 
paration of  another  of  his  Bernard  Shaw 
efforts,  "Caesar  and  Cleopatra."  Michael 
Balcon,  Paul  Soskin,  Gainsborough,  the 
Michael  Powell-Emeric  Pressburger  com- 
bination, others  of  like  standing,  have  en- 
tered into  contracts  for  production.  It  is 
likely  that  this  country's  studio  space  will 
be  overwhelmed. 

Present  Undertakings 
On  Sound  Basis 

Moreover,  it  is  to  be  remarked  that  close 
examination  of  the  various  projects  and 
their  respective  financial  backgrounds  leads 
to  the  conclusion  that  they  have  a  sound- 
ness not  invariably  characteristic  of  British 
production.  Those  pathetic  adventures  of 
the  catch-penny  gold  rush  here  of  the  late 
twenties  and  early  thirties  brought  distress 
and  disrepute  in  their  train. 

Mammoth  promotions  unrelated  to  any 
economic  security,  without  realism  in  their 
fiscal  makeup,  had  their  inevitable  conse- 
quences in  the  Bankruptcy  Court ;  and  made 
the  industry,  moreover,  fall  to  a  new  low 
in  conservative  investment  circles. 

The  projects  now  under  review  certainly 
should  escape  that  plague  of  ignominy  and 
disaster.  They,  at  least,  have  the  character- 
istic of  shrewd  soundness  in  their  concep- 
tion, proved  skill  in  their  production,  as- 
sured markets  for  the  wares  now  in  their 
making. 

Critics  See  Groups  Ready 
For  Battle  of  Control 

There  are  critics  here  claiming  to  see 
monetary  scheming  in  the  back  of  this  rush 
of  activity.  There  is  apparent  justification 
for  the  view  that  a  battle  of  the  Titans  is 
impending.    The  lineup  is  manifest  to  all. 

On  the  one  hand,  the  considerable  Rank 
interests;  still,  it  is  alleged — and  despite 
Board  of  Trade  pledges  that  monopolistic 
control  will  not  be  tolerated — growing  in 
influence.  The  British  and  Dominions  Film 
Corporation,  old  established  production 
company,  has  announced  that  it  has  en- 


gaged in  bargaining  negotiations  with  "im- 
portant interests  in  the  film  industry."  Those 
"important  interests,"  it  is  authoritatively 
understood,  are  the  Rank  combine. 

Then  there  is  the  MGM  unit,  now  com- 
mitted to  an  immense  and  long-term  spend- 
ing program  here.  Moreover,  biding  his 
time,  is  Warners'  Max  Milder,  who  has  al- 
ready publicly  declared  his  intention  of 
fashioning  A.B.C.'s  Elstree  studios  into  the 
most  modern  plant  in  Europe,  as  soon  as 
the  Government  demobilizes  them  from  war- 
time duties. 

Times  Article  Opened  Way 
For  Sharp  Controversy 

Clearly,  the  shape  and  pattern  of  "battle" 
is  here ;  but  "battle"  from  whose  outcome 
nothing  but  good  may  be  anticipated  for  the 
native  production  industry. 

Here  is  the  occasion  for  reporting  objec- 
tively the  root  causes  of  considerable  and, 
on  occasion,  excessively  embittered  contro- 
versy, arising  from  an  amiable  pronounce- 
ment in  London's  semi-official  Times,  con- 
cerning Anglo-American  post-war  commer- 
cial relations.  The  Times  laid  down,  pre- 
sumably with  Governmental  inspiration,  the 
postulates  of  those  relations. 

"British  economic  policy  in  its  interna- 
tional aspects  cannot  be  framed,"  said  the 
newspaper,  "without  regard  to  the  question 
whether  British  goods,  or  the  goods  of  coun- 
tries buying  from  Britain,  will  find  an  open 
and  receptive  market  in  the  United  States 
after  the  war."  An  innocuous  declaration, 
it  seemed,  but  sufficient  to  provoke  a  vehe- 
ment protest  from  Michael  Balcon,  earnest 
and  successful  producer  for  many  years  of 
pictures  for  the  home  market. 

Claimed  He  Was  Denied 
Open  American  Market 

"An  open  and  receptive  market  in  Ameri- 
ca," declared  Mr.  Balcon,  was  precisely  what 
his  pictures  had  been  denied;  implying  that 
the  denial  had  been  occasioned  by  some 
sinister  plan  pf  the  American  producer. 
"During  the  past  four  years,"  said  Mr.  Bal- 
con, "a  minimum  of  £50,000,000  has  been 
earned  by  American  film  companies  in  the 
,  British  market.  .  .  .  What  money  during  the 
same  period  of  time  have  British  films 
earned  in  the  American  market?  Possibly, 
at  the  most  optimistic  estimate,  two  per 
cent  of  the  American  earnings." 

Mr.  Balcon  was  followed  in  the  columns 
of  the  Times  by  Nicholas  Davenport,  well- 
known  publicist  and  economic  adviser  to  Sir 
Alexander  Korda,  and  by  Sir  Alexander 
himself,  both  bearing  witness  to  the  fact 
that  the  Korda  pictures  had  met  with  grati- 
fying success  in  the  United  States  to  the 
stockholders'  personal  satisfaction. 

The  acid  test,  charged  Sir  Alexander,  of 
success  on  America's  screens  was  quality 
in  ideas,  production  and  presentation.  If 
other  person's  productions  over  there,  he 
implied,  had  failed  it  was  because  quality 
was  lacking. 

The  debate  continued  with  rising  acerbity. 
Morris  Ernst,  Mr.  Del  Giudice's  envoy  in 


the  United  States,  intervened  with  the  not 
particularly  welcome  exposition  of  the  es- 
sential link  between  Hollywood  producing 
interests  and  theatre  ownership  in  key 
cities.  It  has  been  carried  on  in  the  de- 
liberations of  the  British  Film  Producers 
Association  and  in  those  of  the  Films  Coun- 
cil, body  instituted  by  the  Quota  Act  for 
the  advice  and  guidance  of  the  Board  of 
Trade.  It  is,  at  this  time  of  writing,  being 
considered  by  the  Board  of  Trade's  own 
officials. 


Rank  Plans  10-15 
Films  for  U.S. 

With  the  arrival  in  this  country  last  week  of 
Dr.  Alexander  Galperson,  representing  J.  Ar- 
thur Rank's  Two  Cities  Films,  it  became  known 
that  Mr.  Rank's  program  for  American  dis- 
tribution of  his  product  will  run  to  from  10 
to  IS  British  films  annually. 

Dr.  Galperson  is  seeking  immediate  distribu- 
tion channels  here  for  Two  Cities'  "Demi-Para- 
dise" starring  Laurence  Olivier  in  a  Russian 
background;  "The  Lamp  Still  Burns,"  having 
to  do  with  nursing  during  the  London  blitz ; 
"The  Gentle  Sex,"  "Flemish  Farm,"  and  Noel 
Coward's  Technicolor  production,  "This  Happy 
Breed." 

"In  Which  We  Serve,"  Noel  Coward's  pro- 
duction for  Twin  Cities,  was  handled  by  United 
Artists. 

Recently  in  an  interview,  Morris  Ernst,  New 
York  attorney  and  Mr.  Rank's  representative 
in  this  country,  mentioned  the  possibilities  of 
a  deal  with  one  of  several  companies,  which 
might  result  in  Mr.  Rank  purchasing  part  in- 
terest. The  companies  mentioned  were  Univer- 
sal, Columbia  and  Monogram,  either  of  which 
might  be  used  as  outlets  for  Mr.  Rank's  prod- 
uct, with  or  without  purchase  of  interest.  He 
already  holds  a  sizable  interest  in  Universal. 

Another  report  has  it  that  Harrington  Gaines, 
another  emissary  of  Mr.  Rank,  expected  shortly 
in  New  York  from  London,  will  make  ap- 
praisals of  a  number  of  companies  that  have 
invited  Mr.  Rank's  investments. 


3,004  Former  Warner 
Employees  in  Service 

Induction  of  400  additional  Warner  Bros,  em- 
ployees into  the  armed  forces  in  the  past  two 
months  has  brought  the  total  in  service  to  3,- 
004,  compared  with  2,604  on  October  13,  while 
casualties  (killed  or  missing  in  action)  have 
risen  from  14  to  17,  according  to  the  latest 
tabulation  by  the  service  men's  bureau  main- 
tained at  the  home  office  under  supervision  of 
Ralph  W.  Budd,  personnel  director. 

The  total  now  in  service  represents  20  per 
cent  of  Warners'  pre-war  personnel,  and  losses 
among  U.  S.  exchanges  average  about  nine  for 
each  branch. 

From  the  studio  there  are  now  705  on  active 
duty,  with  five  casualties  to  date.  Home  office 
has  220  in  the  service  and  one  casualty;  1,768 
have  gone  from  Warner  Theatres,  with  eight 
casualties ;  256  from  U.  S.  exchanges,  with  two 
casualties ;  18  from  Canadian  exchanges,  with 
one  casualty,  and  37  from  Ace  Laboratory, 
warehouse  and  other  departments. 


tVE 


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(f  -the  Town 


46 

National  Board 
Names '  'Ox-Bow ' ' 
Best  1943  Film 

The  National  Board  of  Review  of  Motion 
Pictures  has  selected  "The  Ox-Bow  Incident" 
as  tlie  best  dramatic  picture  of  1943,  and  "Des- 
ert Victory"  as  the  best  documentary,  in  its 
18th  annual  selection. 

Heading  a  list  of  three  directors  for  the  out- 
standing direction  of  the  year  was  William  A. 
Wellman,  director  of  "The  Ox-Bow  Incident." 
Tay  Garnett  for  "Bataan"  and  "The  Cross  of 
Lorraine,"  and  Michael  Curtiz  for  "Casablan- 
ca" and  "This  Is  the  Army,"  were  the  other 
two  directors  named,  in  that  order. 

Paul  Lukas,  for  his  role  in  "Watch  on  the 
Rhine,"  won  the  acting  honors.  Following 
Mr.  Lukas  and  in  the  order  named  were :  Hen- 
ry Morgan,  Sir  Cedric  Hardwicke,  Gracie 
Fields,  Katina  Paxinou  and  Teresa  Wright. 

The  nine  best  drama  films  following  after 
"The  Ox-Bow  Incident,"  in  order  of  prefer- 
ence, were:  "Watch  on  the  Rhine,"  "Air 
Force,"  "Holy  Matrimony,"  "The  Hard  Way," 
"Casablanca,"  "Lassie  Come  Home,"  'Bataan," 
"The  Moon  Is  Down,"  "The  Next  of  Kin." 

Following  "Desert  Victory"  were:  "Battle  of 
Russia,"  "Prelude  to  War,"  "Saludos  Amigos" 
and  "Silent  Village." 

The  pictures  chosen  by  the  reviewing  com- 
mittees as  the  rriost  popular  films  of  the  year 
were,  in  order  named:  "Watch  on  the  Rhine," 
"The  Human  Comedy,"  "Lassie  Come  Home," 
"This  Is  the  Army,"  "For  Whom  the  Bell 
Tolls,"  "So  Proudly  We  Hail,"  "Holy  Matri- 
mony," "Heaven  Can  Wait,"  "Casablanca"  and 
"The  North  Star." 

"This  Is  the  Army"  has  been  voted  the  leader 
among  the  10  best  pictures  of  1943,  by  the 
Young  Reviewers  of  the  National  Board  of 
Review  of  Motion  Pictures  and  the  national 
4-Star  Clubs,  the  Board's  junior  field  groups. 
In  addition  to  the  picture  mentioned,  and  in 
order  of  preference,  the  other  films  named  were 
"So  Proudly  We  Hail,"  "Stage  Door  Canteen," 
"For  Whom  the  Bell  Tolls,"  "The  Human 
Comedy,"  "Bataan,"  "Lassie  Come  Home," 
"Watch  on  the  Rhine,"  "Random  Harvest," 
"My  Friend  Flicka." 

"Random  Harvest"  Best 
In  Rural  Patron  Poll 

Results  of  the  first  rural  motion  picture  poll, 
among  350,000  farm  and  small  town  patrons, 
indicate  that  rural  audiences  demand  as  high 
quality  in  their  films  as  city  audiences,  accord- 
ing to  the  Country  Gentleman,  which  conducted 
the  vote. 

"Random  Harvest,"  headed  the  list  of  10 
best,  followed  in  order  by:  "My  Friend 
Flicka,"  "For  Me  and  My  Gal,"  "Stage  Door 
Canteen,"  "Pride  of  the  Yankees,"  "Yankee 
Doodle  Dandy,"  'So  Proudly  We  Hail,"  "Casa- 
blanca," "Andy  Hardy's  Double  Life"  and 
"Dixie." 

Among  the  favorite  stars  are  the  following : 
Judy  Garland,  Greer  Garson,  Bette  Davis, 
Spencer  Tracy,  Robert  Young,  and  in  West- 
erns, Roy  Rogers. 

Rate  "Aleutians"  Picture 
Among  Year's  Ten  Best 

-  The'  United  States  Government  film,  "Report 
from  the  Aleutians,"  distributed  through  the 
War  Activities  Committee,  has  been  selected  as 
one  of  the  10  best  films  of  the  year  by  film 
critics  Bosley  Crowther  of  the  New  York 
Times,  and  Alton  Cook  of  the  World-Telegram. 
The  film  is  in  Technicolor,  a  picture  of  the  life 
of  service  men  in  that  area.  The  picture  was 
made  by  the  U.  S.  Army  Signal  Corps. 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 

Sentencing  of  Zevin  Is 
Delayed  to  January  3 

The  sentencing  of  Isidore  Zevin,  former  sec- 
retary to  George  E.  Browne,  convicted  ex-presi- 
dent of  the  lASTE,  was  postponed  Monday  in 
New  York  Federal  Court  until  January  3. 
Zevin  pleaded  guilty  to  an  indictment  charging 
perjury  on  nine  counts,  committed  when  he 
swore  falsely  to  the  Federal  grand  jury  inves- 
tigating the  whereabouts  of  the  $1,500,000  spe- 
cial slush  fund  collected  from  42,000  members 
of  the  lATSE. 

Zevin  swore  that  the  fund  was  used  to  pay 
salaries  and  expenses  of  officers,  but  according 
to  Boris  Kostelanetz,  special  Assistant  U.  S. 
Attorney,  the  fund  was  used  exclusively  by 
Browne,  Biofif  and  the  "boys  from  Chicago" 
who  were  found  guilty  last  week  of  extortion. 

Zevin  faces  sentences  up  to  60  years  and 
fines  totaling  $42,000.  He  was  named  as  .  a 
confederate  in  the  recent  indictment  in  which 
the  seven  defendants  were  found  guilty. 

Cincinnati  Variety  Club 
Officers  Inducted 

Approximately  150  members  and  guests  at- 
tended the  installation  dinner  of  the  Cincinnati 
Variety  Club,  in  the  club's  -quarters,  last  week, 
at  which  were  inducted  Maurice  White,  chief 
barker ;  Harry  David,  first  assistant,  and  Ar- 
thur Frudebfeld,  second  assistant ;  Allan  S. 
Moritz,  dough  guy,  and  Saul  M.  Greenberg, 
property  master.  The  crew,  in  addition  to  the 
officers,  consists  of:  Harold  Bernstein,  Mike 
Greenberg,  Ralph  Kinsler,  Noah  Schecter,  A. 
L.  Weinstein,  H.  J.  Wessel  and  F.  W.  Huss 
and  William  Onie,  retiring  and  past  chief  bark- 
ers, respectively.  Mr.  Huss  and  Peter  Niland, 
retiring  dough  guy,  were  presented  wrist 
watches. 

Allen  Is  Elected  to  Head 
Washington  Variety  Club 

John  Allen,  Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer  branch 
manager,  has  been  elected  chief  barker  of  the 
Washington  Variety  Club.  Other  officers  elected 
were  Fred  Kogod,  first  assistant  barker ;  Ed 
Fontaine,  second  assistant  barker ;  Sam  Galanty, 
dough  boy ;  Jake  Flax,  property  master.  Elected 
to  the  board  of  governors,  in  addition  to  the 
officers,  were:  Carter  Barron,  Nate  Golden, 
Rudolph  Berger,  George  Crouch,  Leon  Bach- 
man,  Wade  Pearson.  Serving  on  the  board  as 
previous  chief  barkers  are:  Sam  Wheeler, 
Vincent  Dougherty,  Hardie  Meakin,  Sidney 
Lust  and  Abe  Lichtman. 

Two  Nova  Scotia  Houses 
Are  Purchased 

Two  theatre  sales  recently  have  been  made  in 
Nova  Scotia.  A.  I.  Garson,  of  St.  John,  N.  B., 
has  purchased  the  majority  interest  in  the  Ox- 
ford at  Halifax.  This  house  is  under  lease  to 
Famous  Players  Canadian  Corporation.  Mr. 
Garson  owns  the  Garrick  in  Halifax.  He  oper- 
ates the  Kent,  at  Moncton,  N.  B.,  himself.  The 
Oxford  is  Halifax's  newest  theatre  and  seats 
686.  At  New  Glasgow,  N.  S.,  N.  W.  Mason 
has  sold  his  majority  interest  in  the  Academy 
and  Roseland  to  B.  &  L.  Theatres,  St.  John,  the 
Academy  seating  650  and  the  Roseland,  900. 


Alter  Theatre  Policy 

Harry  F.  Shaw,  Loew-Poli  division  manager, 
has  announced  a  new  policy  at  the  Lyric  thea- 
tre, Bridgeport,  Conn.,  formerly  a  weekend 
vaudeville  house.  Two  feature  films  will  run 
Thursday-Friday-Saturday,  with  an  additional 
merchant-sponsored  Amateur  Nite  Fridays.  Ad- 
mission is  40  cents  top,  28  cents  matinees  and 
11  cents  for  children.  Sunday  stage  shows  will 
continue,  at  60  cents  top.  Legitimate  shows 
will  be  presented  early  in  the  week,  under  the 
management  of  Al  Shay.  Harry  Rose  of  the 
Globe  has  moved  to  the  Lyric,  and  Al  Do- 
mian  to  the  Globe. 


January    I,  1944 

Lyons  Seeking 
Screen  Rights 
To  Two  Plays 

Arthur  Lyons,  who  with  David  Loew  heads 
Producing  Artists,  Inc.,  announced  on  Tuesday 
in  New  York  that  he  was  negotiating  for  film 
rights  to  the  stage  shows,  "Oklahoma"  and 
"One  Touch  of  Venus." 

Mr.  Lyons  also  said  he  might  make  "Car- 
men," and  that  he  was  to  talk  with  the  Alien 
Property  Custodian  this  week  on  foreign  rights 
to  the  libretto.  Most  of  the  property,  he  said, 
was  in  the  public  domain. 

"We  have  an  idea  what  to  do  with  it,"  he 
said :  "We  have  a  'treatment' ;  we  intend  to 
modernize  it.  I  think  that  times  are  such  that 
it  may  be  an  interesting  experiment." 

The  four  pictures  which  the  company  has  an- 
nounced will  be  made  on  a  minimum  budget  of 
$1,000,000  each,  Mr.  Lyons  asserted.  The  pic- 
tures are  "Love  Is  Where  You  Find  It,"  "High 
Spirits,"  "Singing  City,"  and  "The  Blackbird- 
er."    Release  will  be  through  United  Artists. 

Mr.  Lyons  reiterated  the  advantages  of  the 
"profit-sharing"  plan  by  which  actors  and  other 
participants  in  the  new  productions  will  invest 
their  talent  and  share  the  gains. 

Several  Theatre  Deals 
Closed  in  Philadelphia 

A  number  of  theatre  transactions  in  the  Phil- 
adelphia area  have  been  reported.  Al  Fisher, 
operator  of  the  Keswick  theatre,  sold  his  Edge- 
more  theatre  at  nearby  Edgemore,  Del.,  to  Fred 
Faulkner,  who  operates  a  grsup  of  theatres  in 
northern  New  Jersey  recently  linked  with  the 
Brandt  circuit  in  New  York. 

Edward  and  Sidney  Kapner  sold  the  Upsal 
theatre  in  Philadelphia  to  William  Fishman  and 
M.  Foxman,  who  also  operate  the  Vogue  thea- 
tre there.  Murray  Diamond,  premium  distribu- 
tor, purchased  the  Palace  theatre,  Atlantic  City, 
N.  J.,  from  Sam  Tannenbaum.  The  old  Globe 
theatre,  now  a  commercial  property,  was  sold 
by  the  Warner  theatre  circuit  to  D.  Schultz, 
Inc. 

Although  lacking  official  confirmation,  it  is 
reported  that  the  Erny  and  Nolen  interests  sold 
the  Erlen  and  Renel  theatres  to  an  undisclosed 
buyer  for  $535,000. 

In  Allentown,  Pa.,  George  Kurlansik,  who 
owns  the  Transit  theatre,  sold  his  Park  theatre 
in  that  city  to  the  Emashowski  interests. 


Ohio  Censor  Cuts  Nine  Films 
Of  148  Seen  in  Month 

The  Ohio  censors  ordered  eliminations  in  nine 
films  or  13  reels  out  of  a  total  of  148  films,  rep- 
resenting 414  reels,  examined  in  October.  Com- 
paratively, for  the  five-week  period  in  Septem- 
ber, there  were  eliminations  ordered  in  18  films 
or  19  reels,  after  examination  of  201  films  or 
578  reels. 


Two  Companies  Formed 

In  Albany,  N.  Y.,  Thomas  J.  Curran,  Secre- 
tary of  State,  has  issued  papers  of  incorporation 
to  two  film  companies :  Francam,  Inc.,  Manhat- 
tan, by  Justus  Goldman,  H.  G.  Kosch  and  Her- 
man H.  Sternstein,  New  York,  and  Federal 
Amusements  Corporation,  Manhattan,  Milton 
Kail,  Sharon  Gould  and  Doris  Feinsilver,  New 
York. 


McGinley  Heads  Club 

L.  J.  McGinley,  head  of  the  Indianapolis 
Universal  office,  has  been  elected  chief  barker 
of  the  Indianapolis  Variety  Club. 


Januaryl,1944  MOTIONPICTUREHERALD  4? 

THE  HOLLYWOOD  SCENE 


from  HOLLYWOOD  BUREAU 

Odets  Will  Be  RKO  Director 


A  deal  involving  the  sale  of  his  unfinished 
play,  "An  Errand  for  Uncle,"  having  fallen 
through  with  Warner  Brothers,  Clifford 
Odets  will  make  his  debut  as  a  director  on 
the  RKO  lot.  The  writer  will  direct  "None 
But  the  Lonely  Heart,"  which  he  has  adapt- 
ed to  the  screen.  It  is  a  recent  novel  by 
Richard  Llewellyn.  Gary  Grant  will  head 
the  cast,  and  Odet's  adaptation  will  go  be- 
fore the  cameras  January  31. 

Robert  Watson,  one-time  Broadway 
comedian,  who  recently  finished  working  be- 
fore Paramount  cameras  in  the  role  of  Adolf 
Hitler  in  the  production,  "The  Hitler 
Gang,"  has  been  awarded  a  term  contract  by 
the  studio.  The  studio  also  has  named  Cath- 
erine Craig,  whose  husband  is  Lieut.  Robert 
Preston,  to  portray  Louella  O.  Parsons,  film 
columnist,  in  the  musical,  "Incendiary 
Blonde,"  based  on  the  life  of  Texas  Guinan. 
As  Miss  Parsons,  Miss  Craig  appears  in  a 
scene  in  which  the  late  Queen  of  the 
Sprawling  Twenties  entertained  the  column- 
ist. 

Columbia  To  Put  Seven 
In  Work  in  January 

The  current  Frank  Borzage  production 
that  has  been  hopping  titles — from  "To- 
morrow's Harvest"  to  "Give  Us  This  Day" 
— now  has  the  definite  title  of  "Till  We 
Meet  Again,"  Paramount  promises.  -  Ray 
Milland  and  Barbara  Britton  are  being 
starred. 

Columbia  will  place  seven  productions  be- 
fore the  cameras  in  January,  a  record  for 
that  company. 

At  Twentieth  Century-Fox,  Charles  But- 
terworth  and  Roland  Drew  have  been  named 
to  principal  roles  in  "Murder  in  Bermuda." 

"Tarzan's  Desert  Mystery,"  a  current 
RKO  film,  has  the  son  of  a  former  Broad- 
way matinee  idol  and  silent  picture  star,  co- 
starring  with  Johnny  Weissmuller,  Johnny 
Sheffield.  His  father  was  Reginald  Shef- 
field. Sheffield  the  younger  made  his  first 
film  in  1939  as  the  son  of  the  jungle  lord  in 
"Tarzan  Finds  an  Heir." 

Mischa  Auer  collapsed  at  his  home  last 
Sunday  and  is  now  at  Cedars  of  Lebanon 
Hospital,  where  examinations  are  being  per- 
formed in  an  effort  to  determine  the  cause 
of  the  collapse.  He  has  been  working  in 
"Up  in  Mabel's  Room."  Director  Allan 
Dwan  is  shooting  around  Auer. 

Esther  Williams  Advanced 
Toward  Stardom 

Esther  Williams,  former  Olympic  swim- 
ming star,  is  being  advanced  towards  Hol- 
lywood stardom  with  a  dramatic  role  in  the 
new  Joseph  Pasternak  production  for  MGM, 
"Thrill  of  a  Romance,"  to  follow  her  cur- 
rent work  before  the  cameras  opposite  Red 
Skelton  in  "Mr.  Co-Ed."  Richard  Thorpe 
will  direct  the  new  film.  Miss  Williams 
made  her  screen  debut  in  "Andy  Hardy's 
Blonde  Trouble,"  and  appears  in  the  current 
release,  "A  Guy  Named  Joe." 

Jackie  Moran,  the  19-year-old,  who  start- 


Production  Hiatus 

What  with  two  non-working  weekends  conning  up,  studios  generally  deferred  the  start 
of  new  pictures  during  the  pre-Chrlstmas  week.  Completion  of  eight  and  abandon- 
ment of  Warners'  "Hollywood  Canteen",  offset  by  the  start  of  but  two  new  prop- 
erties, brought  the  shooting  index  down  to  43  in  a  strictly  technical  recession  likely 
to  be  counteracted  within  the  fortnight. 

Twentieth  Century-Fox  was  the  sole  exception  to  the  pre-holiday  rule,  starting  two 
pictures.  "Murder  In  Bermuda",  presenting  Preston  Foster,  Ann  Rutherford  and  Jean 
Howard,  is  under  production  of  William  Girard,  with  Benjamin  Stoloff  directing.  "I 
Married  a  Soldier"  is  being  produced  and  directed  by  Otto  Preminger.  It  presents 
Jeanne  Crain,  Frank  Latimore,  Billie  Burke  and  Eugene  Pallette. 

The  status  at  the  weekend: 


COMPLETED 

Paramount 
Rainbow  Island 
Gambler's  Choice 

RKO  Radio 

Are  These  Our 

Children? 
Seven  Days  Ashore 
Action  in  Arabia 

Republic 

Outlaw  Busters 

Universal 

Weird  Woman 
Has  Anybody  Here 
Seen  Kelly? 

}^arners 

Hollywood  Canteen 
(Abandoned) 


STARTED 

Twentieth  Century-Fox 

I  Married  a  Sailor 
Murder  in  Bermuda 

SHOOTING 

Columbia 

Heroes  of  the 
Sagebrush 
Jam  Session 
At  Night  We  Dream 
Address  Unknown 
Once  Upon  a  Time 
Two-Man  Submarine 

MGM 

Meet  Me  in  St.  Louis 
Seventh  Cross 
Three  Men  in  White 
Dragon  Seed 
Kismet 
Mr.  Co-Ed 


Monogram 

Block  Busters 

Partners  of  the  Trail 

Sonora  Kid 

(Formerly  "The 
Roaring  West") 

Johnny  Doesn't  Live 

Here  Any  More 

Paramount 

And  Now  Tomorrow 
Road  to  Utopia 
National  Barn  Dance 
Incendiary  Blonde 
Till  We  Meet  Again 
Hitler  Gang 
I  Love  a  Soldier 

RKO  Radio 

Marine  Raiders 
Show  Business 

Republic 
Laramie  Trail 


Twentieth  Century-Fox 
Wilson 
Purple  Heart 
Greenwich  Village 
Home  in  Indiana 

UA 

Song  of  the  Open 
Road  (Rogers) 
Up  in  Mabel's  Room 

(Small) 
Since  You  Went  Away 

(Vanguard) 

Universal 

Merry  Monohans 
Christmas  Holiday 

Warners 

Cinderella  Jones 
Make  Your  Own  Bed 
Mask  of  Dimitrios 
Mr.  Skeffington 
My  Reputation 
Horn  Blows  at 
Midnight 


ed  in  pictures  when  he  was  12  and  last 
year  got  off  to  a  comeback  in  a  Henry  Aid- 
rich  picture  for  Paramount,  has  been  named 
to  the  leading  romantic  role  opposite  Bonita 
Granville  and  Jane  Powell  in  Charles  R. 
Rogers'  forthcoming  United  Artists  musical, 
"Song  of  the  Open  Road."  Comedy  for  the 
picture  will  be  supplied  by  Edgar  Bergan 
and  Charlie  McCarthy  and  W.  C.  Fields. 

Paramount  has  purchased  Miles  Connol- 
ly's original  story,  "Make  Way  for  O'Sul- 
livan."  Joseph  Sistrom  will  produce.  Pres- 
ton Sturgis  and  Paramount  executives  have 
failed  to  agree  on  the  terms  for  a  new  con- 
tract, so  the  writer-director  will  leave  the 
studio  after  five  years'  association. 

Frank  Sully  and  Robert  Williams  have 
been  named  to  roles  in  "Pilebuck,"  Colum- 
bia picture  starring  Pat  O'Brien.  Lynn 
Bari  has  been  signed  to  play  the  lead  in 
Damon  Runyon's  initial  production  for 
Twentieth  Century-Fox,  "When  Irish  Eyes 
Are  Smiling." 

George  Barbier,  who  has  worked  before 
cameras  and  behind  footlights  for  60  of  his 
77  years,  will  portray  a  retired  public  re- 
lations counsellor  in  Andrew  Stone's  forth- 
coming musical,  "Sensations  of  1944,"  for 


United  Artists.  The  oldtimer  recently  com- 
pleted an  assignment  in  "Week  End  Pass" 
at  Universal,  and  was  until  recently  under 
contract  to  Twentieth  Century-Fox. 

John  Loder  has  joined  the  cast  of  Jules 
Levey's  screen  version  of  Eugene  O'Neill's 
"The  Hairy  Ape."  He  will  play  the  ship's 
engineer.  Others  in  top  roles  are  William 
Bendix,  Susan  Hayward  and  Roman  Bohnen. 
The  cameras  started  turning  on  the  pro- 
duction this  last  Monday,  with  casting  for 
minor  roles  still  in  progress. 

Marjorie  Reynolds  has  been  named  to 
the  cast  of  Paramount's  "Bring  on  the 
Girls"  by  Buddy  De  Sylva,  executive  pro- 
ducer. She  will  play  the  "other  woman." 
The  picture  stars  Veronica  Lake,  Sonny 
Tufts  and  Eddie  Bracken,  and  goes  into 
production  January  7  under  the  direction  of 
Sidney  Lanfield. 

On  January  31,  "Practically  Yours"  will 
go  before  Paramount's  cameras  with  Fred 
MacMurray  again  teaming  with  Paulette 
Goddard.  Their  co-starring  comedy, 
"Standing  Room  Only,"  is  due  to  be  re- 
leased son.  Miss  Goddard  is  currently 
working  with  Sonny  Tufts  in  Mark  Sand- 
rich's  "I  Love  a  Soldier." 


IS  AMONG  THE 


WITH  D  STARS 

IN  THE  FIRST  TEN 

ItOY  ROGERS 
GENE  AUTRY^ 
WILD  BILL  ELLIOTT 
PON  ^RED"  8ARRY 
THE  3  MESOUITEERS 
SMILEY  8URNETTE 


50 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January 


1  944 


LETTERS    FROM    READERS  Houses  in  Iowa 

Share  in  Boom 


SUGGESTS  IMMEDIATE 
PROTEST  ON  TAX 

To  THE  Editor  of  the  Herald  : 

As  you  know,  an  additional  10  per  cent  tax 
is  about  to  be  placed  on  the  motion  picture  thea- 
tres, and  I  can't  help  but  feel  that  we  are  being 
singled  out  and  penalized  unjustly. 

In  fact,  I'd  like  to  be  a  cartoonist  and  picture 
a  school  room  with  one  student  representing 
motion  picture  theatres  with  stacks  of  books  on 
his  desk  and  the  back  of  each  book  to  represent 
an  achievement  as  follows:  "$287,725,867  paid 
in  admission  taxes ;  another  book  to  read  "Bil- 
lions in  Bonds  sold,"  "Trainloads  of  scrap  col- 
lected," "All  approved  propaganda  films  ex- 
ploited gratis,"  "Collections  for  Infantile 
Paralysis,"  "Red  Cross,"  "United  Nations," 
"Greek  War  Relief"  and  the  many  other  activi- 
ties, each  represented  by  a  book  piled  on  that 
student's  desk.  Then  have  Senator  George  to 
represent  the  stern  school  teacher  with  a  switch 
behind  his  back  tagged  "additional  10  per  cent 
tax,"  while  telling  the  student,  "Yes— you  mas- 
tered each  of  those  studies,  but  you  can  do 
more ;  come  here,  I  have  a  surprise  for  you." 
And  next  to  the  diligent  student,  I'd  like  a  pop 
bottle  student,  to  represent  the  soft  drink  indus- 
try, and  have  that  pupil  say,  "That's  funny; 
I  didn't  have  to  participate  in  any  of  those 
activities.  He  helped  me  to  be  classed  as  a 
food." 

Understand,  I'm  not  seeking  publicity,  and 
possibly  my  method  of  approach  is  wrong,  but 
I  feel  sitting  still  and  not  telling  the  truth 
will  find  us  burdened  beyond  our  limits  and 
once  the  law  is  amended  it's  too  late  to  yell. — 
—HUGH  G.  MARTIN, 

Martin  Theatres,  Cohunbtis,  Ga. 


URGES  FIGHT  ON  TAX 
THROUGH  PATRONS 

To  THE  Editor  of  the  Herald: 

It  would  appear  that  emphasis  for  the  removal 
of  the  new  admission  tax  has  been  placed  on 
the  exhibitor  or  the  producer  groups.  This  has 
been  a  mistake  and  has  resulted  in  failure,  for 
the  reason  that  Congress  and  the  tax  advocates 
claim  they  are  taxing  the  "industry" — the  finan- 
cial interests,  the  investors,  the  exhibitors.  The 
public,  aware  of  the  success  of  some  of  the  film 
companies  and  exhibitor  circuits,  is  accepting 
the  new  tax  as  a  tax  on  the  "industry." 

Under  this  condition  the  tax  will  not  be  re- 
moved. But  the  tax  can  be  removed  if  proper- 
ly placed  before  the  public  as  a  consumer  sales 
tax. 

Every  motion  picture  theatre  in  the  entire 
country  should  immediately  put  on  an  aggressive 
campaign,  on  the  screen,  from  the  stage,  in  the 
press,  informing  the  patrons  that  the  tax  of 
necessity  will  be  added  to  the  admission  charge 
— prepare  a  long  petition  to  be  signed  in  the 
lobby,  or  slips,  protesting  the  tax  and  asking 
the  Senators  and  the  Congressmen  of  that  dis- 
trict to  vote  against  the  movie  tax.  Post  the 
names  of  these  men  in  the  lobby  and  request  pa- 
trons to  also  wire  or  write  their  protests. 

Proposes  Fan  League 
To  Fight  Levy 

There  should  be  organized  in  every  Congres- 
sional district  a  Movie  Fan  League — perhaps  a 
national  league— which  would  be  direct  ap- 
proach and  through  the  press  demand  removal 
of  the  tax. 

Now  is  the  time  to  fight  this  tax  on  the  con- 
sumer-of-entertainment,  and  "entertainment" 
has  been  pronounced  by  the  President  and 
others  as  of  the  highest  importance — for  if  per- 
mitted now  it  will  likely  never  be  removed,  and 
if  this  goes  over  with  little  complaint  from  the 
public  why  cannot  the  .consumer-entertainment 
tax  be  further  increased? 

While  Washington  has  strongly  opposed  a 


general  sales  tax.  Congress  is  permitting  a  uni- 
versal sales  tax  on  motion  picture  patrons — uni- 
versal in  that  every  member  of  the  family, 
children  as  well  as  adults,  are  patrons  of  movies, 
so  here  is  the  opportunity  for  a  particular  con- 
sumer-mass to  organize  against  the  inauguration 
and  establishment  of  tax  on  "mental  occupa- 
tion." 

A  sales  tax  is  a  tax  on  an  article  of  com- 
merce, but  here  it  is  a  tax  on  entertainment, 
and  it  is  a  new  form  of  tax  which  the  public 
should  at  once  stamp  out.  A  movement  to  block 
a  consumer  sales  tax  on  entertainment  should 
prove  acceptable  to  the  news  room  of  every 
newspaper,  daily  and  weekly,  in  the  country, 
and  in  fact  should  receive  the  backing  of  news- 
papers and  newspaper  groups  generally,  for  this 
expansion  of  a  taxing  power  to  establish  an 
admission  tax  for  a  spectator  to  see  a  screen 
entertainment  might  embrace  a  subscription  tax 
on  a  reader  to  read  a  newspaper. 

Since  the  day  of  John  Milton  the  "press"  has 
opposed  certain  government  taxes  and  it  seems 
to  me  that  the  "screen"  should  now  fight  this 
consumer  tax.  But  the  only  way  to  defeat  it  is 
by  action  by  the  public.  The  office  holder  will 
respond  to  his  public  when  all  else  fails. 

The  appeal  to  the  movie  public  of  America 
should  point  to  the  fact  that  Congress,  while 
taxing  millions  of  theatre  patrons  every  day 
in  the  year,  refused  to  add  a  tax  on  the  wagers 
of  a  few  thousand  gamblers  at  the  race  tracks 
near  the  metropolitan  areas  in  15  states.  This 
desire  to  tax  rural  and  midwest  patrons  and  let 
the  city  race-goer  escape  should  be  brought  to 
the  attention  of  all  Congressmen. 

If  every  movie  house  exhibitor  would  organ- 
ize a  "fan  drive"  to  block  the  tax  it  can  be 
blocked ! 

It  is  a  dangerous  type  of  tax,  as  well  as  a 
consumer  tax,  and  the  movie  industry,  from  the 
largest  producer  to  the  smallest  patron  and 
the  movie  press,  should  build  up  a  public  de- 
mand to  kill  it. — 

—OWEN  MOORE, 

Woodstock  Toivn  Hall  Theatre, 
Woodstock,  Yt. 


Dismiss  "Oklahoma"  Suit 
Against  Republic 

The  suit  charging  unlawful  use  of  the  title, 
"Oklahoma,"  brought  by  the  Theatre  Guild, 
Oscar  Hammerstein,  2nd,  and  Richard  Rodgers^ 
producer,  author  and  composer,  respectively,  of 
the  musical  play,  "Oklahoma,"  against  Republic 
Pictures  Corporation,  was  dismissed  by  Federal 
Judge  Samuel  Mandelbaum  in  New  York  last 
week. 

The  plaintiff  had  sought  to  stop  Republic 
from  releasing  a  picture  titled  "In  Old  Okla- 
homa," based  on  a  story  by  Thomson  Burtis, 
called  "War  of  the  Wildcats." 

According  to  the  agreement  entered  between 
both  parties.  Republic  agrees  that  it  will  with- 
draw the  title  after  January  1,  1945,  in  this 
country,  after  April  1,  1945,  in  Canada,  and 
after  January  1,  1946,  in  foreign  countries. 

Republic  Pictures  Corporation  announced,  in 
connection  with  the  Theatre  Guild  settlement 
on  the  "In  Old  Oklahoma"  title,  that  published 
reports  stating  that  "Republic  also  agrees  not 
to  use  the  word  'Oklahoma'  in  any  other  film" 
are  not  correct.  Republic  denied  that  it  was 
party  to  such  a  stipulation. 


PGA  Signs  Steiner 

Ralph  Steiner,  producer  of  documentary 
films,  and  a  wrfter  and  lecturer,  has  been  signed 
as  a  director  by  the  Producers  Corporation 
of  America.  He  leaves  New  York  for  the 
Coast  January  7,  for  his  first  assignment,  "The 
Gilded  Age,"  which  Harry  Joe  Brown  is  to 
produce. 


The  exhibitors  of  Iowa,  especially  those  with 
first  run  houses  and  those  located  in  small 
towns  where  gas  rationing  has  kept  the  citizens 
from  straying,  appear  to  be  sharing  in  the  boom 
that  has  swept  the  state  the  past  year  as  result 
of  increased  employment  and  higher  wages. 

In  larger  towns  where  war  plants  have  given 
added  impetus  to  the  general  boom,  the  first 
run  houses  have  shown  the  greatest  increase 
in  business,  but  at  the  apparent  expense  of  sub- 
urban theatres  where  no  upward  trend  has 
been  noticeable.  The  theory  in  back  of  this 
spread  has  it  that  the  people  with  the  ready 
money  are  being  attracted  to  the  heart  of  the 
town  wherein  not  only  theatres  but  night  clubs 
and  other  forms  of  amusement  can  be  found. 

Figures  reflect  the  reported  prosperity.  An 
average  of  1,164  places  of  amusement  did  a 
total  business  of  $15,611,405  in  the  year  April 
1,  1942,  to  March  31,  1943,  as  shown  in  the 
two  per  cent  sales  tax  report.  Figures  for  the 
comparable  period  of  the  previous  year  show 
an  average  of  1,288  places  doing  a  total  busi- 
ness of  $14,391,200.  There  was,  however,  a 
decrease  in  the  number  of  places  of  amusement 
for  the  two  corresponding  periods,  from  1,411 
to  1,093. 


MGM  Auditors  Will  Meet 
In  New  York  Next  Week 

The  annual  meeting  of  MGM  traveling  audi- 
tors and  bookers,  student  auditors  and  bookers 
will  be  held  at  the  Astor  Hotel,  New  York, 
during  the  week  of  January  3.  Charles  K. 
Stern,  assistant  treasurer  of  Loew's  and  Alan 
F.  Cummings,  in  charge  of  MGM  exchange 
operations,  will  conduct  the  meetings.  Harold 
J.  Cleary  of  Loew's  theatre  department  will 
discuss  theatre  operations. 

The  general  theme  of  the  meeting  will  be  to 
get  better  acquainted  with  problems  in  all  sec- 
tions of  the  country,  and  discussion  of  ways  and 
means  of  carrying  on  efficiently  during  the 
present  emergency. 

In  addition  to  Mr.  Stern,  Mr.  Cummings  and 
Mr.  Cleary,  those  attending  will  include  Parke 
D.  Agnew,  John  J.  Ash,  F.  W.  N.  Beckett, 
Oliver  Broughton,  Thomas  F.  Grady,  William 
Marsh,  Arthur  Sterling,  and  Edward  Urschel, 
traveling  auditors  and  bookers ;  Arthur  Sklar, 
Charles  Bell,  Carl  Gentzel,  Albert  Golden, 
Willard  Gillilan,  and  Bennett  Goldstein,  stu- 
dent auditors  and  bookers ;  Mrs.  Ann  L. 
Berger,  Dorothy  Donaldson,  Roberta  Elston, 
Jeanne  Harris  and  Henrietta  Klein. 

James  Eastwood,  branch  auditor  for  Regal 
Films  Corporation,  will  be  the  MGM  repre- 
sentative from  the  Canadian  office.  The  meet- 
ing will  last  about  five  days. 


MGM  Shifts  Exchange 
District  Supervisors 

Effective  January  1,  two  district  managers 
are  supervising  MGM  sales  in  three  exchange 
areas  formerly  comprising  Harris  P.  Wolf- 
berg's  district.  John  P.  Byrne,  formerly  of 
the  Detroit,  Buffalo,  Bittsburgh,  and  Cleveland 
areas,  will  handle  Cincinnati  and  Indianapolis. 
St.  Louis  will  come  under  the  district  super- 
vision of  Burtus  Bishop,  Jr.,  in  addition  to  Kan- 
sas City,  Oklahoma  City  and  Dallas. 


lushewltz  Leaves  lATSE 

Moe  lushewitz,  former  press  representative 
of  the  International  Alliance  of  Theatrical 
Stage  Employees  in  New  York,  has  resigned  to 
join  the  editorial  staff  of  The  Advance,  publi- 
cation of  the  Amalgamated  Clothing  Workers 
of  America.  Mr.  lushewitz  is  not  expected  to 
be  replaced  by  Local  306  and  other  lATSE 
locals  for  whom  he  acted  as  press  contact. 


January     I,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


51 


PICTURE 
CROSSES 


A  ■statistical  compilation  and 
comparison  of  Box-Office  Per- 
formance in  first-run  theatres 


Figures  directly  below  picture  title  compare  dollar  gross  with  average  gross  and  show  relative  percentage  of  all  engagennents  tabulated. 

Figures  opposite  theatre  names  represent  percentage  of  tabulated  grosses  to  average  weekly  business  based  on  the  six  months'  period 
ending  October  31,  1943. 

SYMBOLS:  (DB)  Double  Bill — associate  feature  title;  (SA)  Stage  Attraction;  (MO)  Move-Over  Run;  (AA)  Advance  Admission. 


CORVETTE  K-225  (Univ.) 

Final  Reports: 
Total  Gross  Tabulated 
Comparative  Average  Gross 
Over-all  Performances 


$387,100 
361,600 
106.1% 


BALTIMORE— Keith's,  1st  week   137.5% 

BALTIMORE— Keith^s,  2ml  week   95.8% 

BUFFALO— Lafayette   141.7% 

(DB)  Gals  Incorporated  (Univ.) 

CHICAGO— Palace   100.0% 

(DB)  She's  For  Me  (Univ.) 

CHICAGO— Grand,  MO.  1st  week   .....  73.1% 

(DB)  She's  For  Me  (Univ.) 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Grand,  1st  week  ....  134.1% 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Grand,  2nd  week  ....  92.2% 

CLEVELAND'-RKO  Palace   101.9% 

INDIANAPOLIS^Indiana   56.6% 

(DB)  Fired  Wife  (Univ.) 

KANSAS  aTY— Esquire   130.0% 

KANSAS  CITY— Uptown   125.0% 

LOS  ANGELES— Egyptian,  1st  week  ....  79.1% 

(DB)  Something  About  a  Soldier  (Col.) 

LOS  ANGELES— Ejsryptian,  2nd  week  ....  66.6% 

(DB)  Something  About  a  Soldier  (Col.) 

LOS  ANGELES— Los  Angeles,  1st  week  .    .    .  110.0% 

(DB)  Something  About  a  Soldier  (Col.) 
LOS  ANGELES— Los  Angeles,  2nd  week  .    .    .  100% 

(DB)  Something  About  a  Soldier  (Col.) 

LOS  ANGELES— Ritz,  1st  week   93.7% 

(DB)  Something  About  a  Soldier  (Col.) 

LOS  ANGELES— Ritz,  2nd  week   78.1% 

(DB)  Something  About  a  Soldier  (Col.) 

MONTREAL— Palace,  1st  week   136.8% 

M'ONTREAL-P'alace,  2nd  week   105.2% 

NEW  HAVEN— Paramount   117.6% 

(DB)  Gals,  Incorporated  (Univ.) 

NEW  YORJC— Criterion,  1st  week   185.1% 

NEW  YORK— Criterion,  2nd  week   132,2% 

NEW  YORK— Oiterion,  3rd  week   95,2% 

NEW  YORK— Criterion,  4th  week   79.3% 

PHILADELPHIA.— Stanley   91,8% 

PHILADELPHIA— Keith's,  MO,  1st  week   ,   ,  71.7% 

PITTSBURGH— Fulton,  1st  week   142,8% 

PITTSBURGH— Fulton,  2nd  week   77,8% 

SEATTLE— Orpheum    157.9% 

TORONTO-Uptown,  1st  week   125,5% 

TORONTO— Uptown,  2nd  week   80.0% 

• 

NORTHERN  PURSUIT  (WB) 

Final  Reports: 

Total  Gross  Tabulated  $520,100 
Comparative  Average  Gross  514,800 
Over-all  Performance  101.0% 


BALTIMORE— Stanley    106.5% 

BOSTON— Metropolitan                                  .  82.6% 

(DB)  Footlight  Glamour  (Col.) 

CHICAGO^hicago   86.6% 

(SA)  Danny  O'Neil 

CINCINNATI— C:apjtol,  1st  week    138.4% 

CINCINNATI— Capitol,  2nd  week   92.3% 

DENVER.— Denver   150.0% 

(DB)  Hi  Ya  Sailor  (Univ.) 

DENVER— Esquire   160.0% 

(DB)  Hi  Ya  Sailor  (Univ.) 

DENVER— Aladdin,  MO,  1st  week   100.0% 

(DB)  Hi  Ya  SaUor  (Univ.) 

DENVER— Rialto,  MO,  2nd  week   125,0% 

(DB)  Hi  Ya  Sailor  (Univ.) 

INDIANAPOLIS— Indiana   103.4% 

(DB)  Hi  Ya  Sailor  (Univ.) 

INDIANAPOLIS— Lyric,  MO,  1st  week   .   .    .  90.0% 

(DB)  Hi  Ya  Sailor  (Univ.) 

KANSAS  aTY— Newman,  1st  week   ....  !27.2% 

KANSAS  CITY— Newman,  2nd  week    ....  100.0% 

LOS  ANGELES— Warner's  Downtown.    .    .   .  120.0% 

LOS  ANGELES— Warner's  Hollywood     .    .   .  117.7% 

LOS  ANGELES— Warner's  Wiltern   104.8% 

MINNEAPOLIS— Orpheum   95.8% 

MINNEAPOLIS— Lyric,  MO.  1st  week    .    .    .  92.3% 


NEW  HAVEN— Roger  Sherman   62.5% 

(DB)  Always  a  Bridesmaid  (Univ.) 

NEW  YORK— Strand   143.5% 

(SA)  Glen  Gray's  Orch.,  Willie  Howard 

NEW  YORK— Strand,  2nd  week   88.5% 

(SA)  Glen  Gray's  Orch.,  Willie  Howard 

NEW  YORK— Strand,  3rd  week   78.9% 

(SA)  Glen  Gray's  Orch.,  Willie  Howard 

NEW  YORK— Strand,  4th  week   71.5% 

(SA)  Glen  Gray's  Orch.,  Wilhe  Howard 

PHILADELPHIA— Mastbaum   110.4% 

PITTSBURGH— Penn   77.3% 

SAN  FRANCISCO— Fox   123.0% 

(DB)  Campus  Rhythm  (Mono.) 

SAN  FRANCISCO— State,  MO,  1st  week  .    .    .  131.8% 

(DB)  Campus  Rhythm  (Mono.) 

SEATTLE— Paramount,  1st  week   145.6% 

SEATTLE— Paramount,  2nd  week   77,6% 

(DB)  Gildersleeve  on  Broadway  (RKO) 

ST,  LOUIS— Fox   126.5% 

(DB)  The  Seventh  Victim  (RKO) 

ST.  LOUIS— Shubert,  MO,  1st  week    ....  100.0% 

(DB)  In  Old  Oklahoma  (Rep.) 

• 

HAPPY  LAND  (20»h-Fox) 

Intermediate  Reports: 

Total  Gross  Tabulated  $306,600 
Comparative  Average  Gross  314,100 
Over-all  Performance  97.6% 


BALTIMORE— New,  1st  week   100.0% 

BALTIMORE— New,  2nd  week   95.0% 

BALTIMORE^New,  3rd  week    87,6% 

BOSTON— Paramount   116.0% 

(DB)  Dancing  Masters  (20th-Fox) 

BOSTON— Fenway   83.0% 

(DB)  Dancing  Masters  (20th-Fox) 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Capitol   100.0% 

CINaNNATT— RKO  Lyric,  MO.  Ist  week    .   .  100.0% 

CLEVELAND— Palace   115.0% 

(SA)  Milt  Britton's  Band,  Bert  Wheeler,  others 

DENVER— Denver    116.0% 

(DB)  Crime  Doctor's  Strangest  Case  (Col.) 

DENVER— Esquire    79.7% 

(DB)  Crime  Doctor's  Strangest  Case  (Col.) 

KANSAS  CITY— Esquire   103.4% 

KANSAS  CITY— Uptown   100.0% 

NEW   HAVEN— Loew's   Poll   70.0% 

(DB)  Crime  Doctor's  Strangest  Case  (Col.) 

NEW  YORK— Roxy,  1st  week   88.5% 

(SA)  Frank  Fay,  Irini  Baronova,  Di  Gatanos 

NEW  YORK— Roxy,  2nd  week   71.1% 

(SA)  Frank  Fay,  Irini  Baronova,  Di  Gatanos 

OMAHA— Paramount    100.0% 

OMAHA— Omaha,  MO,  1st  week   98.7% 

SEATTLE— Fifth  Ave   102.6% 

(DB)  Dancing  Masters  (20th-Fox) 

ST.  LO'UIS—Fox   94.9% 

(DB)  Mystery  Broadcast  (Rep.) 

ST.  LOUIS— Shubert,  MO,  1st  week   83,3% 

(DB)  True  to  Life  (Para.) 

WASHINGTON— Capitol   95.6% 

(SA)  Ina  Ray  Hutton's  Orchestra 

• 


DANCING  MASTERS  (20th-Fox) 

First  Reports: 
Total  Gross  Tabulated 
Comparative  Average  Gross 
Over-all  Performance 


$76,000 
66,000 
115.1% 


BALTIMORE— Mayfair   93.2% 

INDIANAPOLIS— Circle   127.2% 

(SA)  Johnny  Long's  Orchestra 

KANSAS  aTY— Tower   90.0% 

(DB)  Alaska  Highway  (Para.) 

PHILADELPHIA— Earle   112.1% 

(SA)  Vaudeville 

SAN  FRANaSCO— Warfleld   126.3% 

(SA)  Vaudeville 


FLESH  AND  FANTASY  (Univ.) 

Intermediate  Reports: 

Total  Gross  Tabulated 
Comparative  Average  Gross 
Over-all  Performance 


$406,100 
346.450 
117.2% 


BOSTON— Memorial   95.8% 

(DB)  She's  For  Me  (Univ.) 

CHICAGO^Palace   110.0% 

(DB)  Moonlight  in  Vermont  (Univ.) 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Albee   135.8% 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Capitol,  MO,  1st  week   ,  110,7% 

CLEVELAND— Warner's  Hippodrome  ....  102.8% 

CLEVELAND— Allen.  MO'.  1st  week   ....  58.8% 

DENVER— Denver   139.2% 

(DB)  So's  Your  Uncle  (Univ.) 

DENVER— Esquire   95.7% 

(DB)  So's  Your  Uncle  (Univ.) 

DENVER— Aladdin,  MO,  1st  week   83,3% 

(DB)  So's  Your  Uncle  (Univ.) 

LOS  ANGELES— Carthay  Circle  133.5% 

(DB)  Mystery  Broadcast  (Rep.) 

LOS  ANGELES— Chinese    108.3% 

(DB)  Mystery  Broadcast  (Rep.) 

LOS  ANGELES— Loew's  State   120.1% 

(DB)  Mystery  Broadcast  (Rep.) 

LOS  ANGELES— Uptown    100.0% 

(DB)  Mystery  Broadcast  (Rep.) 

NEW  HAVEN— Paramount   88.2% 

(DB)  She's  For  Me  (Univ.) 

NEW  YORK— Criterion,  1st  week   211.6% 

NEW  YORK— Criterion,  2nd  week   168,3% 

NEW  YORK— Criterion,  3rd  week   121,5% 

NEW  YORK— Criterion,  4th  week   95.2% 

PHILADELPHIA— Boyd,  1st  week   118.4% 

PHILADELPHIA— Boyd,  2nd  week   81,0% 

PHILADELPHIA- Karlton,  MO,  1st  week     ,  180,5% 

ST.  LOUIS^Ambassador,  1st  week     ....  116.0% 

(DB)  Campus  Rhythm  (Mono.) 

ST.  LOUIS^Ambassador,  2nd  week   72.0% 

(DB)  The  Eagle  (UA) 

• 

WHISTLING  IN  BROOKLYN  (MGM) 

First  Reports: 

Total  Gross  Tabulated  $105,700 
Comparative  Average  Gross  I  14,700 
Over-all  Performance  92.1% 


BALTIMORE— Century    106.0% 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Palace   86.9% 

LOS  ANGELES— Carthay  Circle   95.7% 

(DB)  The  Man  From  Down  TJnder  (MGM) 

LOS  ANGELES— Chinese    76.9% 

(DB)  The  Man  From  Down  Under  (MGM) 

LOS  ANGELES— Loew's  State   91.3% 

(DB)  The  Man  From  Down  Under  (MGM) 

LOS  ANGELES^Uptown   75.0% 

(DB)  The  Man  From  Down  Under  (MGM) 

NEW  HAVEN— Loew's  Poli   75.2% 

(DB)  There's  Something  About  a  Soldier  (Col.) 

WASHINGTON— Loew's  Capitol   109.0% 

(SA)  Vaudeville 


HIS  BUTLER'S  SISTER  (Univ.) 

First  Reports: 

Total  Gross  Tabulated 
Comparative  Average  Gross 
Over-all  Performance 


$83,700 
84,900 
98.5% 


CINONNATI- RKO  Palace   105.0% 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Shubert,  MO,  1st  week   .  100.0% 

CINCINNATI— Keith's,  MO,  2nd  week    .    .    .  80.0% 

CLEVELAND— Warner's  Hippodrome     .   .    .  97.2% 

INDIANAPOLIS— Indiana    86.9% 

(DB)  Unknown  Guest  (Mono.) 

INDIANAPOLIS— Lyric,  MO,  1st  week  .   .   .  125.0% 

(DB)  Unknown  Guest  (Mono.) 

PHILADELPHIA— Fox    102.2% 

PITTSBURGH— Harris   118.2% 


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MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January     I,  1944 


// 


WHAT  THE 

PICTCRE  DID  FOB  ME 


W 


Columbia 


•  BOV  FROM  STALINGRAD:  Bobby  Samarzich, 
Conrad  Binyon — Interesting  and  well  acted.  Too  bad 
it  is  war  that  inspired  it.  No  special  box  office 
strength.  Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Dec.  3,  4. — Mrs. 
Helen  L.  Irwin,  Palace  Theatre,  Penacook,  N.  H. 
General  patronage. 

TEXAS:  William  Holden,  Glenn  Ford — A  swell 
Western  no  small  town  can  afford  to  miss.  Just 
what  we  like  and  it  packs  them  in.  Played  Friday, 
Saturday,  Dec.  10,  11. — K.  John,  Legion  Theatre,  Bien- 
fait,  Sask.,  Canada.    Small  town  patronage. 


Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 


AIR  RAID  WARDENS:  Laurel  and  Hardy- 
Doubled  this  with  "Omaha  Trail."  It  was  a  natural 
for  our  location  and  all  voted  it  one  of  Laurel  and 
Hardy's  best.  Above  average  business.  Played 
Monday,  Tuesday,  Nov.  29,  30. — K.  John,  Legion  Thea- 
tre, Bienfait,  Sask.,  Canada.    Small  town  patronage. 

ANDY  HARDY'S  DOUBLE  LIFE:  Mickey  Rooney, 
Lewis  Stone — This  is  as  good  as  any  of  the  Hardy 
series  and  drew  well.  Esther  Williams  is  stunning 
and  so  is  Ann  Rutherford.  Andy  gets  into  a  little 
more  trouble  than  usual.  Played  Thursday-Saturday, 
Dec.  2-4.— G.  R.  Miller,  Vogue  Theatre,  Wynyard, 
Sask.,  Canada.    Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

BATAAN:  Robert  Taylor,  Thomas  Mitchell— An  eye 
opener  to  people  that  do  not  stop  to  realize  that  there 
is  a  war  on,  showing  in  some  small  measure  what 
our  fighting  men  have  to  go  through,  and  more  espe- 
cially the  civilian  population  in  some  parts  of  the 
world.  Good  show.  Played  Saturday,  Dec.  4. — ^A.  L, 
Dove,  Bengough  Theatre,  Bengough,  Sask.,  Canada. 
Rural  and  small  town  patronage. 

BATAAN:  Robert  Taylor,  Thomas  Mitchell— Better 
than  average  war  picture.  Flayed  Sunday,  Monday, 
Dec.  5,  6. — Willard  Moore,  Lido  Theatre,  Providence, 
Ky. 

BEST  FOOT  FORWARD:  Lucille  Ball,  William 
Gaxton — A  super  duper  that  failed  to  jell.  The  picture 
is  elaborate  in  setting  and  color,  but  that  certain 
something  was  missing. — A.  E.  Hancock,  Columbia 
Theatre,  Columbia  City,  Ind. 

BIG  STORE:  Marx  Brothers— Not  so  hot  for  our 
audience.  Did  average  business.  Played  Monday, 
Tuesday,  Nov.  8,  9. — K.  John,  Legion  Theatre,  Bien- 
fait, Sask.,  Canada.    Small  town  patronage. 

CAIRO;  Jeannette  MacDonald,  Robert  Young— Just 
something  MGM  whipped  up  after  supper  one  night. 
A  waste  of  good  stars  and  celluloid.  Played  Monday, 
Tuesday,  Nov.  15,  16.— G.  R.  Miller,  Vogue  Theatre, 
Wynyard,  Sask.,  Canada.  Small  town  and  rural  pat- 
ronage. 

HARRIGAN'S  KID:  Bobby  Readick,  William  Gar- 

gan — Just  another  subject;  a  lower  half  of  a  double 
bill.  One  of  MGM's  poorest.  Some  good  shots  of 
horses  running.  Would  recommend  this  only  for  a 
double  bill.  Played  Thursday,  Dec.  9.— A.  L.  Dove, 
Bengough  Theatre,  Bengough,  Sask.,  Canada.  Rural 
and  small  town  patronage. 

H,  M.  PULHAM,  ESQ.:  Robert  Young,  Hedy  La- 
marr— Kept  pushing  this  back  until  winter,  but  con- 
trary to  my  expectation  it  drew  better  than  average. 
A  good  picture;  not  much  action,  but  it  seemed  to 
please  everyone.  Played  Monday,  Tuesday,  Nov.  22, 
23.— G.  R.  Miller,  Vogue  Theatre,  Wynyard,  Sask., 
Canada.    Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

HUMAN  COMEDY,  THE:  Mickey  Rooney,  Frank 
Morgan — A  slice  of  hfe  and  excellent  entertainment. 
Business  was  not  big,  however.  Played  Sunday,  Mon- 
day, Nov.  28,  29.— Mrs.  Helen  L.  Irwin,  Palace  Thea- 
tre, Penaeook,  N.  H.    General  patronage. 

I  DOOD  IT:  Red  Skelton,  Eleanor  Powell— The  best 
Red  Skelton  picture  we're  run  to  date.  Very  good 
entertainment  and  O.K.  business.  Played  Sunday, 
Monday,  Dec.  5,  6.— Mrs.  Helen  L.  Irwin,  Palace 
Theatre,  Penacook,  N.  H.     General  patronage. 

OMAHA  TRAIL:  James  Craig,  Dean  Jagger— A 
dandy  Western  which  is  bound  to  please.  Doubled 
with  a  Laurel  and  Hardy  to  above  average  business. 
Played  Monday,  Tuesday,  Nov.  29,  30.— K.  John,  Le- 
gion Theatre,  Bienfait,  Sask.,  Canada.  Small  town 
patronage. 


.  .  .  the  original  exhibitors'  reports  deportment,  established  October  14,  1916. 
In  it  theotremen  serve  one  another  with  information  about  the  box-office  per* 
formance  of  product  —  providing  a  service  of  the  exhibitor  for  the  exhibitor. 
ADDRESS  REPORTS:  What  the  Picture  Did  for  Me,  Motion  Picture  Herald, 
Rockefeller  Center.  New  York  20,  N.  Y. 


PILOT  NO.  5:  Franchot  Tone,  Marsha  Hunt— Not 
the  best  for  the  weekend  double  bill  and  not  suited 
for  any  of  our  other  dates.  Business  off.  Played 
Friday,  Saturday,  Dec.  10,  11.— A.  C.  Edwards,  Wine- 
ma  "rheatre,  Scotia,  Calif.  Small  lumber  town  pat- 
ronage. 

PRESENTING  LILY  MARS:  Judy  Garland,  Van 
Heflin — Good  picture  and  well  played  by  both  stars. 
Played  Sunday,  Monday,  Nov.  14,  IS. — Willard  Moore, 
Lido  Theatre,  Providence,  Ky. 

RIO  RITA:  Abbott  and  Costello— This  pair  will  do 
business  if  not  run  too  often.  Too  much  sameness  and 
have  a  tendency  to  make  people  nervous  with  the 
bickering  of  Abbott.  Not  the  draw  they  used  to  be. 
No  kick  on  the  business  done  with  this  one. — R.  P. 
Kiefer,  Kiefer's  Circuit  Theatre,  Hardisty,  Alberta, 
Canada.    Village  and  rural  patronage. 

SHIP  AHOY:  Eleanor  Powell,  Red  Skelton— Quite 
satisfactory.  Business  average.  The  show  pleased. — 
R.  P.  Kiefer,  Kiefer's  Circuit,  Hardisty,  Alberta, 
Canada.    Village  and  rural  patronage. 

WHISTLING  IN  DIXIE:  Red  Skelton,  Ann  Ruth- 
erford— This  is  not  supposed  to  be  a  color  picture, 
but  if  I'm  not  mistaken  Leo  the  Lion's  face  was  red. 
Skip  it  and  play  a  Western.  Played  Monday,  Tues- 
day, Nov.  29,  30.— G.  R.  Miller,  Vogue  Theatre,  Wyn- 
yard, Sask.,  Canada.    Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 


Paramount 


DIXIE:  Bing  Crosby,  Dorothy  Lamour— This  is  one 
of  the  best  pictures  I  have  seen  for  a  long  time. 
Played  Sunday-Tuesday,  Dec.  12-14.— Willard  Moore, 
Lido  Theatre,  Providence,  Ky. 

HOLIDAY  INN:  Bing  Crosby,  Fred  Astaire— Dandy 
singing  and  dancing  in  this  show.  Crosby's  "White 
Christmas"  surely  pleased  all.  Average  business. 
Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Dec.  3,  4. — K.  John,  Legion 
Theatre,  Bienfait,  Sask.,  Canada.    Small  town  patron- 


MAJOR  AND  THE  MINOR,  THE:  Ginger  Rogers, 
Ray  Milland — Best  picture  with  Ginger  Rogers  in 
many  moons,  and  pleased.  Business  not  big,  but 
O.K.— P.  R.  Kiefer,  Kiefer's  Circuit,  Hardisty,  Al- 
berta, Canada.    Village  and  rural  patronage. 

MY  FAVORITE  BLONDE:  Bob  Hope,  Madeleine 
Carroll— This  was  much  enjoyed  by  our  audience. 
Good  yarn  and  the  many  wisecracks  of  Bob  Hope  got 
the  laughs.  O.K.  Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Nov.  5, 
6. — K.  John,  Legion  Theatre,  Bienfait,  Sask.,  Canada. 
Small  town  patronage. 

REAP  THE  WILD  WIND:  Paulette  Goddard,  Ray 
Milland— De  Mille  has  a  pull  with  the  exhibitor  and  the 
public.  Business  excellent. — P.  R.  Kiefer,  Kiefer's 
Circuit,  Hardisty,  Alberta,  Canada.  Village  and  rural 
patronage. 


Republic 


HEADIN'  FOR  GOD'S  COUNTRY:  William  Lun- 
digan,  Virginia  Dale — Not  very  good  on  any  count, 
except  for  the  title.  Played  Tuesday,  Nov.  30. — Mrs. 
Helen  L.  Irwin,  Palace  Theatre,  Penacook,  N.  H. 
General  patronage. 

MOUNTAIN  RHYTHM:  Weaver  Bros.  &  Elviry 
— Had  a  bad  break  on  this  one;  the  weather  was  bad. 
Played  Thursday,  Friday,  Dec.  9,  10. — Willard  Moore, 
Lido  Theatre,  Providence,  Ky. 

OLD  BARN  DANCE:  Gene  Autry— This  Gene  Au- 
try  reissue  did  more  business  than  a  lot  of  the  new 
Westerns.  Hope  he  makes  some  new  ones  soon. 
Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Dec.  17,  18.— E.  M.  Frei- 
burger.  Paramount  Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla.  Small  town 
patronage. 


STARDUST  ON  THE  SAGE:  Gene  Autry— Autry 
still  a  draw  and  liked.  Business  good. — R.  R.  Kiefer, 
Kiefer  Circuit,  Hardisty,  Alberta,  Canada, 

SOMEONE  TO  REMEMBER:  Mabel  Paige,  John 
Craven— This  pleased  our  Prize  Night  audience  in 
great  style.  It's  a  dandy  if  you  can  get  'em  in  to 
see  it.  Played  Wednesday,  Dec.  8. — Mrs.  Helen  L. 
Irwin,  Palace  Theatre,  Penacook,  N.  H.  General  pat- 
ronage. 


RKO 


BALL  OF  FIRE:  Barbara  Stanwyck,  Gary  Cooper 
— ^A  different  story  and  good  acting,  but  poor  sound 
recording.  Played  Sunday -Tuesday,  iNov.  7-9. — Robert 
E.  Fleeter,  Burton  Theatre,  Flint,  Mich.  City  and 
suburban  patronage. 

PRIDE  OF  THE  YANKEES:  Gary  Cooper,  Teresa 
Wright — Exceptionally  well  liked.  Romance  fine. 
Business  a  little  above  average. — K.  P.  Kiefer,  Kief- 
er's Circuit,  Hardisty,  Alberta,  Canada.  Village  and 
rural  patronage. 

SEVEN  MILES  FROM  ALCATRAZ:  James  Craig, 
Bonita  Granville— tjood  action  weekend  picture.  We 
double  billed  it.  Busmess  below  par;  too  many  peo- 
ple sick.  Played  Wednesday,  Thursday,  Dec.  15,  18. — 
Harland  Rankin,  Flaza  Theatre,  Tilbury,  Out.,  Canada. 

SO  THIS  IS  WASHINGTON:  Lura  and  Abner— 
This  is  as  poor  as  they  can  come,  and  I  will  never 
cease  to  wonder  why  the  public  supports  them.  From 
the  reaction  to  the  picture — which  was  not  favorable — 
I  think  that  eventually  even  tne  Lum  and  Abner  fans 
will  get  enough.  I  know  that  some  were  disillusioned 
for  they  said  so. — A.  E.  Hancock,  Columbia  Theatre, 
Columbia  City,  Ind. 

SQUADRON  LEADER  X:  Eric  Portmau,  Beatrice 
Varley — This  failed  to  stimulate  much  response  from 
our  patrons.  Those  who  came  went  home  in  silence. 
No  comments,  favorable  or  otherwise.  Played  Tues- 
day, Dec.  7. — Mrs.  Helen  L.  Irwin,  Palace  Theatre, 
Penacook,  N.  H.    General  patronage. 

SYNCOPATION:  Adolphe  Menjou,  Jackie  Cooper— 
This  was  a  good  picture  we  picked  up  hoping  to  do  a 
little  business,  but  failed.  Played  Sunday,  Dec.  12. — 
Harland  Rankin,  Plaza  Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont.,  Can- 
ada. 

THEY  GOT  ME  COVERED:  Bob  Hope,  Dorothy 
Lamour — I  could  not  lift  a  mortgage  with  Hope. 
Average  business  to  average  satisfaction. — P.  R.  Kief- 
er, Kiefer's  Circuit,  Hardisty,  Alberta,  Canada.  Vil- 
lage and  rural  patronage. 

THEY  GOT  ME  COVERED:  Bob  Hope,  Dorothy 
Lamour — Good  drawing  power  plus  good  entertainment 
value.  A  pleasant  relief  from  war  pictures.  Played 
Thursday -Saturday,  Nov.  18-20.— Robert  E.  Fleeter, 
Burton  Theatre,  Flint,  Mich.  City  and  suburban 
patronage. 


Twentieth  Century- Fox 

CONEY  ISLAND:  Betty  Grable,  George  Montgom- 
ery— Swell  picture,  but  who  wouldn't  want  to  see 
Betty  Grable?  Played  Sunday,  Monday,  Nov.  28,  29. 
— Willard  Moore,  Lido  Theatre,  Providence,  Ky. 

FOR  ME  AND  MY  GAL:  Judy  Garland,  George 
Murphy — They  sure  went  for  this  one;  we  would  have 
been  disappointed  if  they  hadn't.  Swell  show.  Played 
Monday,  Tuesday,  Nov.  22,  23.— K.  John,  Legion  "Thea- 
tre, Bienfait,  Sask.,  Canada.  Small  town  patronage. 
{Continued  on  opposite  page) 


January    I,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


55 


{Continued  from  opposite  page) 
LIFE  BEGINS  AT  8:30:  Monty  Woolley,  Ida  Lu- 
pino — This  picture  could  in  no  way  compare  with 
"Pied  Piper,"  but  the  superb  acting  of  Woolley  res- 
cued it  from  mediocrity.  Business  poor.  Played  Sun- 
day, Monday,  Dec.  S,  6. — A.  C.  Edwards,  Winema 
Theatre,  Scotia,  Calif.    Small  lumber  town  patronage. 

OVER  MY  DEAD  BODY:  Milton  Berle,  Mary  Beth 
Hughes — This  was  just  too,  too  silly  for  even  juve- 
nile consumption.  Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Dec.  10, 
11.— A.  C.  Edwards,  Winema  Theatre,  Scotia,  Calif. 
Small  limiber  town  patronage. 

PARIS  AFTER  DARK:  George  Sanders,  Brenda 
Marshall — Another  underground  and  spy  picture,  of 
which  the  public  already  has  had  too  much.  Busi- 
ness poor.  Played  Tuesday,  Dec.  14. — E.  M.  Frei- 
burger.  Paramount  Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla.  Small 
town  patronage. 

THIS  ABOVE  AIX:  Tyrone  Power,  Joan  Fon- 
taine—Many liked  this  better  than  "Mrs.  Miniver." 

We  did  good  business  and  had  a  pleased  audience. 
Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Nov.  19,  20.— K.  John,  Le- 
gion Theatre,  Bienfait,  Sask.,  Canada.  Small  town 
patronage. 

WINTERTIME:  Sonja  Henie,  Ja<:k  Oakie— Good 
picture  and  good  business.  The  scene  where  Cesar 
Romero  ran  around  in  a  snowstorm  in  his  long  handled 
underwear  was  corny  and  was  dragged  out  too  long, 
but  the  rest  of  the  picture  was  O.K.  Flayed  Sunday, 
Monday,  Dec.  12,  13. — E.  M.  Freiburger,  Paramount 
Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla.     Small  town  patronage. 


United  Artists 


IN  WHICH  WE  SERVE:  Noel  Coward,  Bernard 
Miles — This  is  a  grand  picture  from  every  angle  for 
those  who  can  take  their  English  accent.  For  some 
reason  or  other  I  did  not  have  quite  an  average 
crowd.  Play  it  by  all  means.  Played  Thursday- 
Saturday,  Nov.  18-20.— G.  R.  Miller,  Vogue  Theatre, 
Wynyard,  Sask.,  Canada.  Small  town  and  rural  pat- 
ronage. 

MISS  POLLY:  Zasu  Pitts,  Slim  Summerville— 
Played  this  with  "Whistling  in  Dixie."  Glad  I  had 
something  for  my  patrons.  Played  Monday,  Tues- 
day, Nov.  29,  30.— G.  R.  Miller,  Vogue  Theatre,  Wyn- 
yard, Sask.,  Canada.    Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

YANKS  AHOY:  Joe  Sawyer,  William  Tracy— This 


is  a.  very  funny  comedy  and  the  kind  of  picture  cur 
audience  liked.  A  welcome  relief  from  heavy  war 
dramas.  All  of  this  series  is  good.  Hal  Roach  has 
the  makings  of  a  great  comedy  team  in  Sawyer  and 
Tracy.  Played  Sunday,  Monday,  Dec.  12,  13.— A.  H. 
Kaufman,  Fountain  Theatre,  Terre  Haute.  Ind.  Fam- 
ily patronage. 


Universal 


HIT  THE  ICE:  Abbott  and  Costello— Their  best 
picture.  It  kept  the  patrons  rolling  in  the  aisles. 
Played  Thursday,  Friday,  Nov.  25,  26.— Willard 
Moore,  Lido  Theatre,  Providence,  Ky. 

IT  AIN'T  HAY:  Abbott  and  Costello— These  days 
people  seem  to  want  something  to  laugh  at,  even  if  it 
is  corny.  These  two  boys  still  draw  crowds,  so  who 
am  I  to  kick?  Played  Thursday-Saturday,  Nov.  2S- 
27.— G.  R.  Miller,  Vogue  Theatre,  Wynyard,  Sask., 
Canada.    Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

JOHNNY  DOUGHBOY:  Jane  Withers,  Henry  Wil- 
coxon — Poor  weekend  business.  Fairly  good  picture; 
business  hurt  due  to  flu  epidemic.  Played  Wednesday, 
Thursday,  Dec.  15,  16. — Harland  Rankin,  Plaza  Thea- 
tre, Tilbury,  Out.,  Canada. 

SHADOW  OF  A  DOUBT:  Joseph  Gotten,  Teresa 
Wright — This  is  a  gripping  picture  and  very  well 
played,  but  it  is  not  everyone's  idea  of  a  night's  enter- 
tainment. Gotten  is  superb;  in  fact,  all  the  cast  does 
a  remarkable  job.  Played  Thursday-Saturday,  Nov. 
11-13.— G.  R.  Miller,  Vogue  Theatre,  Wynyard,  Sask., 
Canada.    Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

WE'VE  NEVER  BEEN  UCKED:  Richard  Quine, 
Noah  Beery,  Jr. — With  a  trailer  that  plugged  only  the 
war  angle  of  this  more-school-than-war-picture,  we 
failed  to  gross  what  the  picture  deserved.  Swell  en- 
tertainment masquerading  under  a  bad  title.  Played 
Wednesday,  Thursday,  Dec.  1,  2. — Mrs.  Helen  L.  Irwin, 
Palace  Theatre,  Penacook,  N.  H.    General  patronage. 

WHITE  SAVAGE:  Maria  Montez,  Jon  Hall,  Sabu 
— Beautiful  Technicolor,  but  bad  weather  and  influenza 
gave  us  poor  box  office  returns.  Played  Monday, 
Tuesday,  Dec.  13,  14.— Harland  Rankin,  Plaza  Thea- 
tre, Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 

WHITE  SAVAGE:  Maria  Montez,  Jon  Hall— Re- 
markable color  and  photography.  Story  O.K.  and 
acting   fair;    well   worth   buying;    has   good  drawing 


power  with  proper  exploiting.  Played  Sunday-Tues- 
day, Nov.  14-16.— Robert  E.  Floeter,  Burton  Theatre, 
Flint,  Mich.    City  and  suburban  patronage. 


Warner  Bros. 

ACROSS  THE  PACIFIC:  Humphrey  Bogart,  Mary 
Astor — Some  expected  something  different,  but  enjoyed 
the  picture  anyhow.  Greenstreet  and  Bogart  will 
always  draw  with  our  audiences.  Average  busi- 
ness. Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Nov.  26,  27.— K.  John 
Legion  Theatre,  Bienfait,  Sask.,  Canada.  Small  town 
patronage. 

AIR  FORCE:  Jules  Garfield,  Gig  Young— Truly  a 
top  picture  this  season.  Clever  photography  shots  plus 
good  continuity  make  this  the  best  war  feature  to 
date.  Played  Thursday-Saturday,  Nov.  11-13.— Robert 
E.  Floeter,  Burton  Theatre,  Flint,  Mich.,  City  and 
surburban  patronage. 

CAPTAINS  OF  THE  CLOUDS:  James  Cagney, 
Dennis  Morgan,  Alan  Hale — Not  a  top  grosser,  but 
very  satisfactory  as  a  picture  and  as  regards  busi- 
ness.— P.  R.  Kiefer,  Kiefer's  Circuit,  Hardisty,  Al- 
berta, Canada.     Village  and  rural  patronage. 

CASABLANCA:  Humphrey  Bogart,  Ingrid  Berg- 
man— Here  is  the  type  of  plot  that  fits  the  talents  of 
Humphrey  Bogart  like  a  glove.  Before  this  picture 
came  here  we  all  knew  that  Bogart  was  a  great  star, 
so  his  portrayal,  though  very  much  enjoyed  and  ap- 
preciated, was  not  at  all  a  surprise.  'That  came  with 
our  first  view  of  Ingrid  Bergman.  With  a  minimum 
of  the  usual  mechanics  of  acting,  she  does  more  and 
better  acting  than  it  has  been  our  pleasure  to  behold 
in  a  long  time.  We  like  her.  Played  Saturday,  Nov. 
27. — J.  A.  Reynolds,  Director  of  Education  and  Recre- 
ation, New  Jersey  State  Prison,  Trenton,  N.  J. 

CONSTANT  NYMPH.  THE:  Joan  Fontaine. 
Charles  Boyer— This  picture  is  not  the  type  for  small 
town  patronage.  Played  Thursday,  Friday,  Dec.  16, 
17. — Willard  Moore,  Lido  Theatre,  Providence,  Ky. 

CONSTANT  NYMPH,  THE:  Joan  Fontaine, 
Charles  Boyer — The  women  came  out  for  this  love 
story,  but  the  men  stayed  at  home.  Business  was 
poor  on  this  well-made  production.  Played  Wednes- 
day, Thursday,  Dec.  IS,  16. — E.  M.  Freiburger,  Para- 
mount Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla.    Small  town  patronage. 

DESPERATE    JOURNEY:    Errol    Flynn,  Ronald 

{Continued  on  following  pape) 


Romance  Is  A  Frenzy  In 
A  World  Gone  Mad 
With  War. 


56 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    I,  1944 


(Continued  from  preceding  page) 
Reasan— Like  most  of  Warners'  pictures,  this  pleased 
our  audience.  Plenty  of  action  and  good  acting.  Just 
the  thing  for  a  small  town.  Played  Friday,  Saturday, 
Nov.  12,  13. — K.  John,  Legion  Theatre,  Bienfait,  Sask., 
Canada.    Small  town  patronage. 

MISSION  TO  MOSCOW:  Walter  Huston,  Ann 
Harding — Excellent.  Although  our  Sunday  business 
was  considerably  off,  we  didn't  expect  it  to  be  other- 
wise. In  our  own  personal  opinion,  this  was  the 
outstanding  picture  of  1943.  Played  Sunday,  Monday, 
Dec.  12,  13.— A.  C.  Edwards,  Winema  Theatre,  Sco- 
tia, Calif.    Small  lumber  town  patronage. 

NOW  VOYAGER:  Bette  Davis,  Paul  Henreid— 
Audience  reaction  excellent,  but  business  not  so  good. 
We  played  it  too  new. — R.  P.  Kiefer,  Kiefer's  Circuit, 
Hardisty,  Alberta,  Canada.  Village  and  rural  pat- 
ronage. 

OKLAHOMA  KID,  THE:  James  Cagney,  Humph- 
rey Bogart — As  good  as  ever.  Many  didn't  remember 
it  was  an  old  picture.  Fair  gross.  Played  Friday, 
Saturday,  Dec.  3,  4. — Mrs.  Helen  L.  Irwin,  Palace 
Theatre,  Penacook,  N.  H.    General  patronage. 

YANKEE  DOODLE  DANDY:  James  Cagney,  Joan 
Leslie — Seen  from  the  point  of  view  of  a  musical  ex- 
travaganza, this  production  is  a  hit.  Viewed  as  the 
biography  of  one  of  America's  famous  men,  it's  still 
a  hit.  James  Cagney  brings  George  M.  Cohan  to 
life  for  the  millions  of  old  timers  who  were  enter- 
tained by  him  in  his  heyday,  and  for  millions  of 
youngsters  who  learn  to  appreciate  his  artistry 
through  the  medium  of  this  picture.  The  part  of 
Mary  is  beautifully  portrayed  by  Joan  Leslie,  and 
Walter  Huston's  enactment  of  the  role  of  George's 
father  is  a  masterpiece.  Played  Thursday,  Nov.  25. — 
J.  A.  Reynolds,  Director  of  Education  and  Recrea- 
tion, New  Jersey  State  Prison,  Trenton,  N.  J. 

Short  Features 
Columbia 

DIZZY  DETECTIVES:  All  Star  Comedies— Patrons 
really  enjoy  and  ask  for  more  of  these  slapstick  two- 
reel  subjects.  More  of  these  and  less  cheap  program 
picture  flops  is  my  contention. — Robert  E.  Floeter, 
Burton  Theatre,  Flint,  Mich. 

SHEP  FIELDS  AND  HIS  ORCHESTRA;  Famous 
Bands — The  rise  and  fall  of  "rippling  rhythm."  No 
matter  what  brand  of  orchestra  he  features,  he  gives 
out  with  excellent  music. — J.  A.  Reynolds,  Director 
of  Education  and  Recreation,  New  Jersey  State  Pris- 
on, Trenton,  N.  J. 

Paramount 

MARDI  GRAS:  Musical  Parade— Swell  two-reel 
musical  in  color. — E.  M.  Freiburger,  Paramount  Thea- 
tre, Dewey,  Okla. 

OZARK  SPORTSMEN:  SportUghts— Good  sport 
reel. — E.  M.  Freiburger,  Paramoimt  Theatre,  Dewey, 
Okla. 

POPULAR  SCIENCE  NO.  1:  Popular  Science— Good 
science  reel  in  color. — E.  M.  Freiburger,  Paramount 
Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla. 

THE  TRUCK  THAT  FLEW:  Madcap  Models— Ex- 
cellent and  very  entertaining. — Mrs.  Helen  L.  Irwin, 
Palace  Tbeatre,  Penacook,  N.  H. 

RKO 

BARNYARD  GOLF:  Sportscope— Good  sport  reel. 
— E.  M.  Freiburger,  Paramount  Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla. 


BLACK  MARKETING:  Victory  Film— Reveals  the 
underhanded,  unpatriotic  methods  of  business  created 
by  the  greedy  American  citizens — ourselves  1 — Robert 
E.  Ploeter,  Burton  Theatre,  Flint,  Mich. 

FLYING  JALOPY:  Walt  Disney  Cartoons— Good 
color  cartoon  from  Disney. — E.  M.  Freiburger,  Para- 
mount Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla. 

HARRIS  IN  THE  SPRING:  Headliner  Revivals— 
This  reissue  is  still  good  and  pleased  generally. — Mrs. 
Helen  L.  Irwin,  Palace  Theatre,  Penacook,  N.  H. 

OIL  IS  BLOOD:  Victory  Specials— Another  victory 
reel  with  little  entertainment. — E.  M.  Freiburger, 
Paramount  Thaetre,   Dewey,  Okla. 

RADIO  RUNAROUND:  Leon  Errol— A  good  two- 
reel  comedy.— Mrs.  Helen  L.  Irwin,  Palace  Theatre, 
Penacook,  N.  H. 


Twentieth  Century- Fox 

ALL  OUT  FOR  "V":  Terry  toons— Most  timely  and 
instructive.— Harland  Rankin,  Plaza  Theatre,  Tilbury, 
Ont.,  Canada. 

MOPPING  UP:  Special— Very  good;  nice  film  fare. 
—Harland  Rankin,  Plaza  Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont.,  Can- 
ada. 

MORMON  TRAILS:  Magic  Carpet— An  excellent 
color  travelogue. — Mrs.  Helen  L.  Irwin,  Palace  Thea- 
tre, Penacook,  N.  H. 

STRANGE  EMPIRE:  Magic  Carpet— O.K.  travel- 
ogue on  India.— Mrs.  Helen  U  Irwin.  Palace  Thea- 
tre, Penacook,  N.  H. 

WHEN  WINTER  CALLS:  Sports  Reviews— Just 
had  a  big  snowfall;  very  timely.— Harland  Rankin, 
Plaza  Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 


Universal 

CANINE  COMMANDOS:  Color  Cartune— Should 
please  in  any  spot.— Mrs.  Helen  L.  Irwin,  Palace 
Theatre,  Penacook,  N.  H. 

JIVIN'  JAM  SESSIONS:  Musicals— Greatly  en- 
joyed by  my  patrons,  with  several  requesting  more 
of  this  type  of  short.— Robert  E.  Floeter,  Burton 
Theatre,  Flint,  Mich. 

RUSSIAN  REVELS:  Musicals— The  type  of  short 
that  causes  patrons  to  leave  either  for  the  front  door 
or  the  rest  rooms.— Robert  E.  Floeter,  Burton  Thea- 
tre, Flint,  Mich. 

SWING  THAT  BAND:  Musicals— Very  refreshing. 
Enjoyed  by  everyone.— Harland  Rankin,  Plaza  Thea- 
tre, Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 


Vitaphone 

U.  S.  SERVICE  BANDS:  Melody  Master  Bands— 
An  excellent  assembly  of  cuts  from  the  big  service 
bands  features  in  recent  shorts.  Adds  dignity  and 
quality  to  any  show.— Mrs.  Helen  L.  Irwin,  Palace 
Theatre,  Penacook,  N.  H. 


Boston  Limits  Decorations 

In  a  strict  enforcement  of  Boston  fire  regula- 
tions, resulting  from  the  Cocoanut  Grove  fire 
last  year,  no  Christmas  trees  were  allowed  in 
theatre  lobbies  this  year.  Decorations  were 
confined  to  marquee  lights  and  wreathes  of  non- 
inflammable  material. 


SHORT  PRODUCT 
PLAYING  BROADWAY 

Week  of  December  27 

ASTOR 

What's  Buzzin',  Buzzard?  ....  MGM 

Water  Wisdom  •.  .  .MGM 

Feature:  Cry  Havoc  MGM 

CAPITOL 

Destination  Island  X  Paramount 

Grand  Canyon   MGM 

My  Tomato   MGM 

Feature:  A  Guy  Named  Joe.  MGM 

CRITERION 

Meatless  Tuesday  Univecsal 

Farmer  Gene  Sarazen  Universal 

Brothers  in  Blood  WAC 

Feature:  Crazy  House  Universal 

GLOBE 

Inky  and  the  Minabird  Vitaphone 

Feature:  Tarzan's  Desert  Mys- 
tery  RKO  Radio 

HOLLYWOOD 

Into  the  Clouds  Vitaphone 

Puss  'n  Booty  Vitaphone 

Destination  Island  X  Paramount 

Feature:  Desert  Song  Warner  Bros. 

PARAMOUNT 

Mermaids  On  Parade  Paramount 

Jasper  Goes  Fishing  Paramount 

Feature:  Ridin'  High  Paramount 

RIALTO 

Pluto  at  the  Zoo  RKO  Radio 

Superman,  Secret  Agent.  ..  Paramount 
Popeye  Happy  Birthdays.  . .  Paramount 
Feature:  The  Ghost  Ship.  ...  Universal 

RIVOLI 

Destination  Island  X  Paramount 

Feature:  For  Whom  the  Bell 

Tolls  Paramount 

ROXY 

Yokel  Duck  Makes  Good ...  20th  Cent.-Fox 

Champions  Carry  On  20th  Cen+.-Fox 

Feature:  The  Gang's  All  Hfre.20th  Cent.-Fox 

STRAND 

Task  Force  Vitaphone 

Desert  Playground   Vitaphone 

Feature:  Northern  Pursuit.  .  .Warner  Bros. 


Decency  Legion  Reviews 
Eight  New  Pictures 

The  National  Legion  of  Decency  this  week 
reviewed  eight  pictures.  "Moonlight  in  Ver- 
mont" and  "Oklahoma  Raiders"  were  designat- 
ed in  Class  A,  Section  One — unobjectionable 
for  general  patronage.  Into  Section  Two  of  the 
same  class,  films  regarded  as  unobjectionable 
for  adults,  went  four  pictures :  "Calling  Doctor 
Death,"  "Guy  Named  Joe,"  "The  Lodger"  and 
"Higher  and  Higher."  In  the  opinion  of  the 
Legion,  "Career  Girl"  and  "Klondike  Kate" 
are  objectionable  in  part,  and  were  placed  in 
Class  B. 


Fall  River  House  Burns 

The  Capitol  theatre  in  Fall  River,  Mass., 
was  damaged  last  week  by  fire  originating  in 
the  adjacent  Moore  Building.  An  audience  at- 
tending the  afternoon  performance  left  the  thea- 
tre without  incident. 


Verdayne  Jap  Prisoner 

Paul  Verdayne,  Paramount's  manager  in 
Singapore,  is  "well"  in  a  Japanese  prison  camp, 
he  has  informed  his  wife  by  letter  delivered 
through  the  Red  Cross.  He  added  that  he.  had 
lost  "quite  a  lot  of  weight." 


Season's  Greetings  to  my  friends — the  Exhibitors 
and  Press.  Thanks  for  your  enthusiastic  approval. 

"Best  light  comedy  of  the  year."— TIME 

A  Marcel  Hellman  Production 
BREAKING  ALL  RECORDS  IN 


NEW  YORK 
WASHINGTON 


SAN  FRANCISCO 
HOLLYWOOD 


PHILADELPHIA 
BALTIMORE 


Distributed  by 

ENGLISH  FILMS,  INC.     729  Seventh  Ave.,  New  York 


January    I,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


57 


MANAGERS* 

ROUND 

<iAn  international  association  of  showmen  meeting  zveekly 
in  MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD  for  mutual  aid  and  progress 


CHESTER  FRIEDMAN.  Editor 


GERTRUDE  MERRIAM.  Associate  Editor 


OP 


The  Round  Table 


There  have  been  frequent  requests  of  late  for  information 
concerning  membership  in  the  Round  Table.  A  few  of  these 
letters  refer  to  dues,  initiation  fees  and  responsibilities  regard- 
ing the  Quigley  Competitions. 

Some  of  the  new  members  seem  confused  with  membership 
and  obligations,  so  that  it  is  perhaps  fitting  to  reiterate,  on 
this  New  Year's  Day,  the  ambitions  and  purposes  of  the 
Round  Table  and  to  clarify  the  Quigley  Awards  for  the  new- 
comers. 

The  Round  Table  is  sponsored  by  Motion  Picture  Herald 
to  provide  showmen,  all  over  the  world,  with  a  forum  wherein 
they  may  express  their  ideas  and  opinions,  with  especial 
emphasis  on  advertising  and  exploiting  of  pictures. 

Membership  in  the  organization  is  open  to  managers, 
assistant  managers  and  publicity  men  who  are  directly  con- 
cerned with  exploitation  in  theatres  showing  motion  pictures. 

There  are  no  initiatPon  fees  ...  no  dues  .  .  .  nor  are  there 
any  assessments.  Your  membership  certificate  In  the  world's 
foremost  organization  costs  you  nothing.  A  one-cent  postcard, 
mailed  to  this  address,  will  bring  you  an  application  form  by 
return  mail. 

Your  obligation  to  the  Round  Table  is  entirely  a  voluntary 
one  and  consists  of  forwarding  for  publication  any  or  all  pro- 
motions which  are  executed  in  your  theatre.  Thus  Is  provided 
the  interchange  of  ideas  which  is  helpful  to  other  members 
and  to  yourself  by  token  of  their  contributions. 

Promotions  should  be  accompanied  by  photos  or  snapshots, 
tearsheets  and  copies  of  heralds,  novelties,  etc.  Even  an  idea 
that  you  may  consider  old  or  of  little  consequence  can  some- 
times be  of  great  importance  to  some  other  member  who  may 
dress  up  the  device,  give  it  a  new  angle  or  adapt  it  to  some 
other  attraction. 

AAA 

The  Quigley  Competitions 

The  Quigley  Awards  were  instituted  in  1934  as  a  means  of 
giving  recognition  for  unusual  achievement  in  the  field-of  show- 
manship. The  Awards  are  made  by  a  board  of  judges  com- 
posed of  executives  and  advertising  heads  of  the  film  com- 
panies, circuit  heads  and  operators,  all  of  whom  are  well 
qualified  by  virtue  of  their  positions  in  the  industry. 

All  contributions  received  for  publication  make  the  con- 


tributors eligible  in  fortnightly  competition.  At  the  end  of 
each  three-month  period,  a  Quarterly  winner  is  selected  by 
the  judges  on  the  basis  of  consistency  and  effort.  Each  Quar- 
terly winner  is  awarded  a  Silver  Plaque,  and  a  Scroll  of  Honor 
is  presented  to  each  of  the  seven  runners-up.  Certificates  of 
honor  are  awarded  to  other  entries  of  merit. 

After  the  end  of  each  year,  the  judges  gather  and  from  the 
campaigns  submitted  during  the  entire  year  a  Grand  Awards 
winner,  who  has  taken  honors  in  the  Quarterly  Awards,  is  picked 
to  receive  a  Silver  Grand  Awards  Plaque.  The  runner-up 
receives  a  Bronze  Grand  Awards  Plaque. 

AAA 

War  Showmanship  Award 

Last  year,  a  special  War  Showmanship  Award  was  instituted 
and  given  to  the  showman  whose  exploitation  was  considered 
to  have  made  the  greatest  contribution  to  the  war  effort. 
These  promotions  may  include  any  showmanship  activities 
directly  connected  with  the  prosecution  of  the  war. 

The  competitions  for  the  1944  Quigley  Awards  and  the  War 
Showmanship  Award  are  officially  open  as  of  this  date.  Your 
participation  is  invited. 

AAA 

Showmen  at  Work 

Here  is  another  instance  where  an  alert  manager  turned  a 
local  situation  to  the  advantage  of  the  theatre. 

John  Newkirk,  of  the  Beachcliffe  theatre,  in  Cleveland, 
unable  to  purchase  something  he  wanted,  found  a  neighbor 
who  had  the  article  but  in  turn  wanted  something  Newkirk 
had  and  wasn't  using. 

The  enterprising  showman  immediately  instituted  a  "Swap 
Board"  in  the  theatre  lobby  and  invited  his  patrons  to  take 
advantage  of  the  opportunity  to  rid  themselves  of  unneeded 
articles  for  something  more  useful. 

The  board  carries  a  headline  streamer  reading:  "When  you 
think  of  things,  think  of  the  Beachcliffe  theatre".  Newkirk  adds, 
"That's  just  what  they  do". 

A  minimum  of  a  dozen  listings  are  received  every  day. 
Because  of  its  personal  nature,  the  board  is  a  great  attraction 
and  the  lobby  is  one  of  the  most  popular  spots  in  town,  plus 
the  fact  that  the  device  is  obviously  a  great  goodwill  builder. 

—CHESTER  FRIEDMAN 


'  5 


58 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    I,  1944 


BALLYHOOS  AND  LOBBIES 


Manager  Boyd  Fry  had  this  bewhiskered 
ballplayer  ballyhoo  "Whistling  in  Dixie,"  at 
the  Grand,  Atlanta. 


John  S.  Kurk,  replacing  Max  Phillips  who 
was  called  to  Canada's  Army, 
acknowledged  the  'popularity  of  the 
former  manager  of  the  Regent,  in  Sud- 
bury, Ont.,  on  the  marquee. 


Pboto  by  Conner-Geddes 


Louis  E.  Mayer's  unique  lobby  panels  to  advertise  "Crazy  Show,"  his  coming 
stage  attraction,  at  the  RKO  Palace,  in  Cleveland. 


Cutout  letters 
with  tinsel,  and 
enlargements  of 
the  stars,  fea- 
tured this  attrac- 
tive lobby  dis- 
play, by  Sam  Gil- 
mari,  manager  of 
Loew's  Regent 
theatre,  in  Har- 
risburg,  Pa. 


Harold  E.  Rice  set  up  a  real  attention  getter  for  "In  Old 
Oklahoma,"  in  the  lobby  of  the  Paramount,  Denver,  with 
this  old-time  saloon  and  dancehall. 


Red  King,  publicity  director  for  the  RKO  theatre,  Boston, 
borrowed  pictures  of  famous  ships  to  augment  display 
for  "Corvette  K-225,"  at  Keith's  Memorial. 


January    I,  1944 


MANAGERS'    ROUND  TABLE 


59 


Arnold  Gates,  manager  of  Loew's  Stillman,  Cleveland, 
put  the  OK  in  his  sidewalk  sign  for  "In  Old  Oklahoma." 


Here's  a  good  marquee  teaser  devised  by  manager  William  Murray 
at  the  Rialto,  Atlanta,  for  "What  a  Woman."  The  face  and  head 
was  covered  on  the  star  cutout.  Stunt  included  arrangement  with 
schoolgirls  sneaking  to  marquee  to  peek  and  their  rescue  by  police. 
Resulting  excitement  garnered  coverage  by  local  newspapers. 


Maym  Gould  tied  "Desert  Victory"  to  her  Bond  campaign,  at 
the  Shadyslde  theatre,  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 


Equipment  bor- 
rowed by  Jack 
Matlack,  publici- 
ty director  for  J. 
J.  Parker  the- 
atres, Portland, 
Ore.,  and  Air- 
WAC  recruiting 
was  tied  to  "Vic- 
tory Through  Air- 
power"  display  at 
Mayfair  theatre. 


By  Commercial  Studio 


The  Odeon  thea- 
tre, Leicester  Sq., 
London,  utilized 
life-size  figures  of 
the  stars  to  ex- 
ploit "Sky's  the 
beneath 
marquee. 

expansive 
which  pho- 
to does  not  fully 
illustrate. 


Limit 
the 
Note 
front 


H.  Campbell  Photos 

Song  sheets  provided  neat  display  for 
"Thousands  Cheer,"  at  Loew's,  Rochester, 
N.  Y.,  for  Les  Pollock. 


60 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January     I,  1944 


Boyle  Active 
With  Newspaper^ 
Radio  Tieups 


The  Selling  Approach 

ON  NEW  PRODUCT 

{The  material  below  reflects  press  books  now  in  preparation  and  represents  the  point  of 
view  of  the  distributors'  exploiteers  about  the  selling  points  and  special  merit  of  these  pictures.^ 


THE  DESERT  SONG  (Warner  Bros.):  Four 
popular  song  hits  in  this  musical  will  lead 
the  way  to  the  usual  tieups  and  appeal  to 
lovers  of  semi-classical  songs.  The  sheet 
music  was  published  by  Harms  and  record- 
ings have  been  made  by  RCA  Victor. 
They  include:  "The  Riff  Song",  "One 
Alone",  "Romance"  and  the  title  song. 
So  after  music  clubs,  schools,  orchestras, 
juke  boxes,  etc.  A  radio  audition  contest 
is  in  order  and  newspapers  may  go  for  a 
contest  based  on  readers'  letters  compar- 
ing classical,  operetta  and  jive  music. 
Arrange  a  contest  in  the  lobby  offering 
free  tickets  to  anyone  guessing  correctly 
the  weight  of  a  pile  of  white  sand.  For  a 
street  ballyhoo,  use  a  mounted  man  in  a 
flashy  Arab  costume.  Dress  the  doorman 
in  costume  as  an  advance  plug.  Display 
ads  look  particularly  attractive  and  llthos 
are  excellent  for  lobby  and -marquee  cut- 
outs. Don't  overlook  the  popularity  of  the 
stars. 


Earl  Ca  rroll  Girls  Entertain 
Soldiers  at  Theatre  Party 

Jack  Matlack  of  the  Parker  theatres,  in 
Portland,  Ore.,  reports  on  a  promotional 
event  staged  by  Herbert  Royster,  manager 
of  the  Mayfair  theatre,  which  was  tied 
directly  to  the  George  A.  White's  Service- 
men's Center  in  that  city.  Since  Royster 
was  playing  the  Earl  Carroll  Vanities  at  his 
theatre  he  arranged  for  the  girls  to  enter- 
tain the  soldiers  at  a  special  party.  Out  of 
the  several  hundred  servicemen  visiting 
there,  the  girls  picked  the  one  they  would 
rather  have  sitting  in  the  front  row  at  their 
performance.  Each  of  the  boys  so  chosen 
was  presented  with  a  ticket  to  attend  the 
show  and  the  papers  came  through  with 
stories  and  art  on  the  event. 


Pin-Up  Program  Show 
Arranged  by  Galligan 

What  he  chose  to  call  a  world's  premiere 
"pin-up"  program  was  arranged  by  Bill  Gal- 
ligan at  the  Commercial,  in  Chicago.  His 
newspaper  ads  carried  copy  reading :  "Here's 
a  new  kind  of  show.  A  pin-up  program 
featuring  the  servicemen's  two  favorite  pin- 
up girls,  each  in  a  technicolor  picture.  Mu- 
sic, romance  and  no  war.  Betty  Grable  and 
Harry  James'  Band  in  'Springtime  in  the 
Rockies'  and  Dorothy  Lamour  and  Richard 
Denning  in  'Beyond  the  Blue  Horizon.' " 


Distributes  War  Maps 
For  "Ravaged  Earth" 

Charles  Ramb,  manager  of  Warners'  Cap- 
itol theatre,  Philadelphia,  promoted  an  un- 
usual  "Strategy   Contest"   in  conjunction 


RIDING  HIGH  (Parannount):  This  musical 
has  a  western  background,  so  that  several 
angles  are  obvious  for  exploitation.  Try  to 
locate  a  chuck  wagon  for  outside  ballyhoo. 
If  two  are  available,  try  to  arrange  a  race 
between  them.  Use  a  display  of  western 
paraphernalia,  saddles,  rope,  etc.,  in  the 
lobby.  For  a  novelty  throwaway,  use  imita- 
tion dollar  bills  with  theatre  imprint,  etc. 
Lithos  will  make  attractive  cutouts  and 
your  artist  may  be  able  to  caricature  the 
stars'  faces  on  a  totem  pole.  Radio  co-op 
is  evident  through  a  contest  featuring  re- 
cordings from  the  picture's  song  hits,  with 
guest  tickets  to  listeners  who  identify  the 
songs  correctly.  Play  up  the  swell  cast  and 
the  Technicolor.  Music  heard  In  the  pic- 
ture has  been  published  by  Paramount 
Music  Corp.  and  features:  "You're  in  the 
Rainbow",  "Whistling  in  the  Light",  "Willie 
the  Wolf  of  the  West",  "He  Loved  Me 
'Til  the  All-Clear  Came",  "Injun  Gal,  Heap 
Hep"  and  "Get  Your  Man". 


with  the  local  premiere  of  "Ravaged  Earth." 
Maps  outlining  the  Pacific  war  theatre  were 
distributed  to  patrons  with  free  theatre 
tickets  awarded  for  the  best  letters  of  100 
words  or  less  outlining  strategy  that  could 
be  used  to  smash  the  Japs.  In  addition  to 
exciting  lobby  and  street  displays,  Ramb 
passed  out  daily  reminders  to  patrons — two 
things  to  do  today — "See  'Ravaged  Earth' 
at  the  Capitol  Theatre — And  Buy  a  Bond." 


Largest  Family  Invited 
To  "Gang's  All  Here" 

Lou  Cohen  of  the  Loew's  Poli  in  Hart- 
ford, Conn.,  successfully  organized  a  contest 
tie-up  for  his  forthcoming  film,  "The  Gang's 
All  Here."  A  newspaper  invitation  was 
issued,  asking  for  the  submission  of  the  name 
of  the  largest  family  in  Hartford  to  be  the 
guest  of  the  management  for  a  showing  of 
the  film.  A  family  included  a  mother,  a 
father,  sisters,  and  brothers  only;  cousins, 
aunts,  uncles,  etc.,  were  not  eligible. 


Hosts  Football  Squad 

Lester  Stallman,  manager  of  Schad's  As- 
tor  theatre,  Reading,  Pa.,  entertained  the 
entire  football  squad  of  the  Reading  High 
School  at  the  opening  of  "The  Iron  Ma- 
jor." High-mark  of  the  ceremonies  was  the 
award  of  a  football  trophy,  presented  by  the 
theatre,  to  the  outstanding  player  on  the  lo- 
cal football  team. 


Press  Interviews  Plug  "Major" 

Interviews  with  football  coaches  and  offi- 
cials through  press  and  radio  w^ere  promoted 
by  Charles  Bierbauer,  manager  of  the  Colo- 
nial theatre,  Allentown,  Pa.,  in  connection 
with  the  showing  of  "The  Iron  Major." 


Joseph  S.  Boyle,  manager  of  Loew's  Poli- 
Broadway,  in  Norwich,  Conn.,  effected  a 
tieup  witli  radio  station  WNLC  at  New 
London,  covering  several  phases  of  publicity 
for  "The  Iron  Major"  in  advance  of  play- 
dates. 

The  tieup  covered  a  dramatization  of  the 
story  and  round  table  discussions  followed 
by  announcements  of  the  picture,  theatre, 
etc.  The  principal,  coach  and  football  team 
of  tlie  Norwich  Free  Academy,  were  guests 
at  a  special  performance. 

Joe  also  landed  a  classified  hidden  name 
contest  with  the  Btilletin  and  Record  witli 
theatre  credits.  At  the  opening  matinee, 
childrdh  were  admitted  free  in  return  for 
games  which  were  presented  to  wounded 
servicemen  at  a  local  Veteran's  Hospital. 
Newspaper  coverage  on  this  latter  phase  of 
the  campaign  was  extensive. 

An  attractive  display  was  set  up  in  the 
lobby  two  weeks  in  advance  and  40  by  60's 
were  spotted  at  the  local  hotel  and  news- 
stand. 

In  conjunction  with  the  showing  of 
"Sweet  Rosie  O'Grady,"  Joe  landed  some 
fine  co-op  ads  with  local  merchants  and 
duplicated  the  feat  when  the  theatre  played 
"Girl  Crazy."  To  help  publicize  the  show- 
ing of  "Guadalcanal  Diary,"  he  arranged  an 
ad  contest  in  the  classified  section  of  the 
local  daily  and  for  an  advance  plug  for  the 
engagement  of  "Happy  Land"  letters  were 
sent  to  all  druggists  in  the  city  outlining  the 
story  and  explaining  the  significance  of  the 
picture. 

Window  Cards,  24-Sheets 
Used  by  Groom  in  Memphis 

A  sparkling  campaign,  highlighted  by  ju- 
dicious use  of  window  cards  and  sniping  was 
recently  put  over  by  manager  Arthur 
Groom,  at  Loew's  State  theatre,  in  Mem- 
phis, for  his  engagement  of  "Girl  Crazy". 

Two  hundred  cards  and  twenty-five  24- 
sheets  were  spotted  in  conspicuous  loca- 
tions. 10,000  napkins  with  copy  plugging 
the  picture  were  distributed  to  all  down- 
town eateries  and  drive-ins  in  the  city.  2,000 
cards  with  imprint  reading,  "If  you're  Girl 
Crazy,  call  8-1464,"  were  distributed  and 
those  curious  enough  to  call  were  answered 
by  the  theatre  cashier,  who  plugged  the  pic- 
ture, playdates,  etc. 

Several  window  tieups  were  arranged  by 
Groom,  and  stories  and  art  were  planted  in 
the  Memphis  Daily  News. 

When  "I  Dood  It"  played  there  recently, 
Arthur  distributed  5,000  cards,  each  bearing 
one  letter  from  the  title.  Anyone  who  se- 
cured a  full  set  of  letters  to  spell  out  the 
title  was  awarded  a  guest  ticket  to  the  show. 
For  the  same  picture,  200  window  streamers 
were  pasted  in  cigar  stores,  etc.,  by  the 
Raleigh  Cigarette  people. 

To  exploit  the  booking  of  "A  Lady  Takes 
a  Chance,"  63  spot  announcements  were 
used  over  station  WHBQ  and  station  WMC 
selected  the  picture  as  the  hit  of  the  week 
on  its  local  Novelty  Hour  broadcast. 


January    I,    1944  MANAGERS'    ROUND  TABLE 


61 


Publicity  and 
Exploitation 
Sell  Sinatra 


Bunchez'  Recent  Promotions 
Include  Varied  Tieups 


Here  is  how  Gertrude  Bunchez  obtained  some  free  advertising  for  "Jack  Landon"  recently 
in  Baltimore.  All  delivery  trucks  for  Crown  Cola  carried  these  posters  while  the  picture 
was  playing  at  Loew's  Century  theatre. 


In  advance  of  the  engagement  of  "1 
Dood  It,"  at  Loew's  Century  theatre,  Balti- 
more, publicist  Gertrude  Bunchez  broke 
the  local  Sunday  American  with  four- 
column  by  16-inch  color  art  on  Eleanor 
Powell,  who  is  starred  in  the  picture. 

The  News  Post  and  the  American  both 
came  through  with  some  fine  photo  and 
story  breaks,  and  the  weekly  publications 
also  devoted  free  space  to  the  attraction. 

Five  daily  spot  announcements  were  used 
over  Station  WCAO  for  six  days.  A  spe- 
cial 15-minute  broadcast  was  promoted 
from  the  station  at  no  cost  to  the  theatre. 

Music  shop  tieups  were  effected  and 
several  window  displays  obtained.  Lobby 
of  the  theatre  had  several  displays  well  in 
advance  of  playdates. 

When  the  theatre  played  "The  Adven- 
tures of  Tartu,"  recently,  the  newspapers 


Issues  Hard  Tickets 
For  War  Loan  Drive 

Charles  Boshart,  manager  of  the  Garfield 
theatre,  in  Alhambra,  Cal.,  recently  success- 
fully concluded  his  Bond  Drive  premiere  for 
which  he  issued  hard  tickets.  Various  stars 
attended  the  show,  which  brought  art  and 
front  page  stories  in  the  local  dailies.  Linda 
Darnell,  who  also  attended  rewarded  male 
Bond  purchasers  with  kisses.  The  Band 
from  Camp  Santa  Anita  entertained  the 
audience  during  the  Bond  show. 


Giase's  Flash  Display  Aids 
'■For  Whom  the  Bell  Tolls" 

Paul  E.  Glase,  manager  of  the  Embassy 
theatre,  Reading,  Pa.,  arranged  for  a  huge 
flash  with  large  pictures  of  all  principals  in 


and  radio  station  again  came  through  with 
good  publicity  breaks.  Announcement 
cards  were  placed  in  leading  hotels  and 
several  defense  plants  announced  the  pic- 
ture over  their  public  address  systems  dur- 
ing the  noon  lunch  period.  On  opening 
night  young  women  dressed  in  colorful  cos- 
tumes and  the  vice-consul  of  Czecho- 
slovakia attended  the  performance. 

To  exploit  the  showing  of  "Lassie  Come 
Home,"  Gertrude  tied  up  with  the  Balti- 
more News  Co.,  and  had  the  news  trucks 
bannered  advertising  the  attraction.  Tie- 
ups  also  were  made  with  local  schools, 
with  notices  posted  on  bulletin  boards,  and 
with  the  Baltimore  Kennel  Club,  which 
presented  some  of  the  exceptional  breeds 
on  the  stage.  A  recruiting  booth  was  set 
up  in  the  lobby  for  Dogs  for  Defense  with 
servicemen  in  attendance. 


"For  Whom  the  Bell  Tolls"  filling  the  lobby 
from  the  floor  to  ceiling.  In  many  downtown 
stores,  wherever  room  vacancies  and  other 
conditions  permitted,  he  had  giant  displays. 
In  addition,  Glase  tied  up  with  bookstores, 
which  featured  the  Hemingway  book.  Trail- 
ers were  used  in  all  the  Wilmer  &  Vincent 
theatres  in  the  city  two  or  more  weeks  in 
advance,  with  increased  newspaper  display 
and  radio  spots. 

Bierbauer  Ties  Up  Bookstores 

Charles  Bierbauer,  manager  of  the 
Colonial  theatre,  Allentown,  Pa.,  arranged 
for  bookstores  in  the  city  to  feature  window 
displays  built  around  the  theme  of  "Books 
to  Make  You  Happy"  in  a  major  tie-in  for 
"Is  Everybody  Happy."  Stills  from  the  pic- 
ture and  credit  cards  rounded  out  the  win- 
dow displays. 


Red  King,  publicity  director  for  the  RKO 
theatres  in  Boston,  hit  every  possible  means 
of  advertising  the  engagement  of  Frank 
Sinatra,  at  the  RKO  Boston,  recently. 

The  campaign  got  under  way  weeks  in 
advance  of  the  star's  booking  with  trailers, 
lobby  displays,  radio  announcements,  read- 
ers in  all  suburban  papers  and  art  and  story 
breaks  in  all  the  Boston  papers. 

Juke  boxes  played  records  of  Sinatra's 
hits  and  carried  cards  announcing  the  en- 
gagement at  the  theatre.  10,000  souvenir 
booklets  were  distributed  to  high  school  stu- 
dents. 100  one-sheets  and  100  window  cards 
were  spotted  at  key  locations  about  the  city. 
Fifty  Sinatra  albums  from  Columbia  Record 
Co.  were  awarded  in  the  theatre  lobby  on  a 
lucky  drawing.  20,000  photos  of  the  star 
were  given  away. 

A  street  banner,  flags  and  pennants  gave 
the  exterior  of  the  theatre  a  festive  air. 
150  subway  and  elevated  stands  were  cov- 
ered and  drugstores  and  taverns  displayed 
sundae  and  cocktail  streamers.  A  sound 
truck  was  used  currently  to  exploit  the  at- 
traction. Record  programs  were  used  on 
several  radio  stations  with  contests  worked 
in  to  stimulate  added  interest. 

A  veritable  barrage  of  publicity  breaks 
was  given  to  the  star's  appearance  by  all 
the  Boston  papers,  with  the  Globe  devoting 
a  special  feature  to  the  event  by  sending  a 
psychiatrist  to  the  theatre  to  study  the  audi- 
ence reaction. 

Merchandise  Prizes  for 
Talent  Quest  Winners 

Joe  Samartano  and  his  assistant,  Sam 
Horwitz,  inaugurated  a  weekly  Amateur 
Show  with  prizes  promoted  from  local  mer- 
chants at  the  Loew  Poli-Palace,  in  Meriden, 
Conn. 

To  publicize  the  weekly  feature,  an  ex- 
tensive advertising  campaign  was  undertak- 
en. Screen  and  lobby  announcements  were 
made ;  all  ads  were  underlined  for  two  weeks 
in  advance;  readers  were  planted  in  the 
local  daily  calling  for  applicants;  a  bazooka 
player  was  engaged  as  a  street  ballyhoo  and 
a  front  page  story  broke  in  the  Meriden 
Journal. 

Several  window  tieups  were  secured  with 
photos  of  contestants  and  3,000  heralds  ad- 
vertising the  contest  were  distributed  about 
town. 

For  the  showing  of  "For  Whom  the  Bell 
Tolls",  recently,  both  Joe  and  Sam  made 
some  fine  cooperative  ads  with  local  adver- 
tisers. A  large  ribbon  streamer  was  run 
across  the  top  of  the  entertainment  pages 
in  both  newspapers  on  opening  day;  bus 
cards  were  utilized,  and  2,000  book  marks 
were  distributed  to  high  school  students  at 
the  schools. 

To  publicize  the  engagement  of  "Har- 
vest Melody,"  window  cards  were  spotted 
in  50  choice  locations;  three-sheets  were 
posted  in  empty  store  windows:  a  sandwich 
man  was  employed  and  music  shop  windows 
carried  displays  of  stills  from  the  picture 
with  theatre  name,  dates,  etc. 


62 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    I,  1944 


KING  REPEATS;  WINS  FOURTH 
QUARTER  QUICLEY  AWARD 


Women  Figure  in  Voting; 
Scrolls  and  Citation 
Awards  to  45  Showmen 

Duplicating  his  honors  In  the  Third  Quar- 
ter of  the  Quigley  Awards  for  1943,  James 
"Red"  King  of  the  RKO  Keith  Memorial 
theatre,  in  Boston,  came  through  again  as 
the  top  man  in  the  Fourth  Quarter  in  a 
closely  contested  vote.  Thus,  "Red"  be- 
comes the  first  man  to  win  twice  during 
1943. 

King's  theatre  experience  has  centered 
around  Boston.  He  joined  RKO  in  1928, 
as  an  usher  at  the  Keith  Memorial  theatre; 
later  he  became  an  elevator  operator  at 
the  RKO  Boston  and  then  assisted  in  the 
presentation  of  stage  shows  at  that  house. 
A  few  years  ago,  "Red"  became  assistant 
to  Jack  Granara  of  the  Keith  Memorial 
and  later  succeeded  him  when  he  was 
inducted  into  the  Army. 

Following  closely  on  the  heels  of  King 
was  Jack  Matlack  at  the  Broadway  theatre, 
in  Portland,  Ore.,  another  previous  Quar- 
terly winner.  The  judges  studied  the  cam- 
paigns with  keen  Interest. 

The  following  contestants  for  the  Quigley 
Awards,  listed  alphabetically,  were  voted 
Scrolls  of  Honor  by  the  judges  for  the 
excellence  of  their  pronnotions  in  the 
Fourth  Quarter: 

Gertrude  Bunchez,  Loew's  Valencia,  Balti- 
more, Md. 

William    Galligan,    Commercial  theatre, 

Chicago,  111. 
Arthur  Groom,   Loew's  State,  Memphis, 

Tenn. 

Jack  Matlack,  Broadway  theatre,  Portland, 
Ore. 

Louis  E.  Mayer,  Palace  theatre,  Cleveland, 
Ohio. 

Rita  Morton,  RKO  Albee  theatre,  Provi- 
dence, R.  I. 

Joe  Samartano,  Loew's  Poli  Palace,  Meri- 
den.  Conn. 

All  the  material  of  these  seven  runners- 
up,  together  with  that  of  King's  and  pre- 
vious Quarterly  winners,  will  be  made  avail- 
able to  the  judges  at  the  Quigley  Grand 
Awards  luncheon  at  a  later  date  to  deter- 
mine the  two  top  winners  for  the  year. 

The  judges  for  the  Fourth  Quarter  were: 
Russell  Emde,  RKO  Theatres  zone  manager; 
Hank  LInet,  executive  assistant  advertising 
manager  for  Universal  Pictures,  and  Alec 
Moss,  advertising  manager,  Paramount 
Pictures. 

Of  more  than  passing  Interest  Is  the 
prominent  position  the  women"  are  taking 
in  the  Awards,  with  Gertrude  Bunchez, 
Rita  Morton,  Mildred  FItzgibbons  and 
Mollie  Stickles  taking  honors  in  the  Fourth 
Quarter. 


By  Stair  I'tiuiuKiiiplier 

The  Fourth  Quarter  Quigley  Aivards  judges  look  over  the  campaigns.  In  the  usual 
feft  to  right  are:  Hank  Linet,  executive  assistant  advertising  manager,  Universal  Pictures; 
H.  R.  Emde,  RKO  Theatres  zone  manager,  and  Alec  Moss,  advertising  manager.  Par- 
amount Pictures. 

Fouith  Quarter  Citation  Winners 

The  following  contestants  for  the  Quigley  Award,  having  submitted  entries  of  merit, 
will  receive  sheepskin  citations.  The  list  includes  some  past  Award  winners  and  many 
newcomers  In  the  competition. 


ELMER  ADAMS,  JR. 
Yucca,  Midland,  Tex. 

RUSSELL  A.  BOVIM 

Loew's  Ohio,  Columbus,  Ohio 

JOSEPH  BOYLE 
Broadway,  Norwich,  Conn. 

LEW  BREYER 

Strand,  Holyoke,  Mass. 

LIGE  BRIEN 

Kenyon,  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

LESLIE  V.  CAMPBELL 
Strand.  Trail,  B.  C. 

LOUIS  CHARNINSKY 
Capitol,  Dallas,  Tex. 

LOU  A.  COHEN 
Poli,  Hartford,  Conn. 

RODNEY  COLLIER 
Stanley,  Baltimore,  Md.  ^ 

CLAYTON  CORNELL 
Strand,  Amsterdam,  N.  Y. 

DAVID  DALLAS 
Wareham,  Manhattan,  Kan. 

TOM  DELBRIDGE 
Vendome,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

BERT  DETWILER 
Latrobe,  Latrobe,  Pa. 


D.  M.  DILLENBECK 
Rialto,  Bushnell,  III. 

WILLIAM  ELDER 
Loew's,  Indianapolis,  Ind. 

DICK  FELDMAN 
Keith's,  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

MILDRED  FITZGIBBONS 
Roosevelt,  Flushing,  L.  I. 

SAM  FITZSIMMONS 
Rialto,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

ARNOLD  GATES 
Stillman,  Cleveland,  Ohio 

SAM  GILMAN 
Loew's,  Harrisburg,  Pa. 

AL  HATOFF 

Park.  Brooklyn.  N.  Y. 

J.  D.  HILLHOUSE 
Martini,  Houston,  Tex. 

BILL  HOYLE 

Lincoln.  Washington.  D.  C. 

BILL  JOHNSON 
Malco.  Memphis,  Tenn. 

ELLIOTT  JOHNSON 
Malco.  Memphis,  Tenn. 

MEL  JOLLEY 

Marks.  Oshawa.  Ont..  Canada 


SIDNEY  J.  KLEPER 
Bijou,  New  Haven,  Conn. 

JOE  LONGO 
Loew's,  Boston,  Mass. 

LESTER  POLLOCK 
Loew's,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

MAX  PHILLIPS 

Regent.  Sudbury,  Ont.,  Canada 

JAMES  REDMOND 
Rivoli,  Falls  City,  Neb. 

H.  W.  REISINGER 
State,  Dayton,  Ohio 

MORRIS  ROSENTHAL 
Majestic,  Bridgeport,  Conn. 

MATT  SAUNDERS 
Poli,  Bridgeport,  Conn. 

LOUIS  L.  SIMONS 

Park,  Windsor,  Ont.,  Canada 

MOLLIE  STICKLES 
Strand,  Waterbury.  Conn. 

CHARLES  B.  TAYLOR 
Shea's,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

TED  TESCHNER 
Valentine.  Toledo.  Ohio 

DICK  WALSH 

Cataract.  Niagara  Falls,  N.  Y. 


January    I,  1944 


MANAGERS'    ROUND  TABLE 


63 


NOVELTY  DISPLAY  ADS 


S<iitf  SioM  SatMnddt^  to  ei.iH.  25*  fiiU^.  tax  t»  f  fi.ttt. 


James  R.  Nairn,  advertising  head  for  Famous  Players  Canadian 
theatres,  is  responsible  for  the  attractive  holdover  ad  on 
"Sahara,"  above,  used  at  Shea's,  Toronto. 


Vic  Gauntlett,  ad- 
vertising director 
for  the  Evergreen 
circuit,  Seattle,  cre- 
ated the  display  ad 
at  right. 


STAftTlNG  TOMORROWS 


Fitlion  Fe>tur»  .  .  .  fl\        \»  "tWB 

ANDl   LAUGHS!    HOWLS  I 

They're  heavy  on  their  feet  .  . 
and    light    in    the    head  \  I 

^lAUREUHARDY 


TRUDr  MAnSHtLL    •    ROBERT  BAILEf 
Margaret  DumonI   •   Allan  Lana 


•      COME  ON  THE  RUN  .  .  .  AND  JOIN  TUE  FUN! 

Monday  -  Tuesday  -  Wednesday 


(  JfMMY  00fiS£r  ' 
AMO  HIS  ORCff 


— Last  Showings  Tooie'Iil — 
Ataxic  IU)sciibIoom  in  "HEKti 
COIMtt?  ItET  LV,  ■  aho  "IIOB- 
INHOOD  OF  THE  RANOE" 
Last  performance  at  9.30 


Another  Canadian,  Ralph  Tiede,  man- 
ager of  the  Community  theatre, 
Welland,  Ont.,  made  this  fine  layout, 
selling  two  reissues. 


CONT,  SHOW  SAT.  AND  SUN. 


nnniii 


RICHARD  ARLEN 
WENDY  BARRIE 

'Submarine  Alert' 

 Co-hit  

Fun!    Song-s!  Laffs! 

Spotlight  Scandals 

Extra  

POPEYE  CARTOON 
Chap.  4  "BATMAN" 
LATEST  NEWS 


FRI. 

and 

Sat. 

Dec. 

10  -  11 


Coming!  "WINTERTIME' 


An  attractive  layout  using  type  and 
rules,  executed  by  Sam  Fitzsimmons, 
manager  of  the  Rialto,  Rochester, 
N.  Y. 


The  Schine  theatres,  Sloversville,  N.  Y., 
are  using  special  ads  for  "In  Old 
Oklahoma,"  prepared  by  Seymour 
Morris,  publicity  director  for  the  circuit. 


64  MOTIONPICTUREHERALD  Januaryl,l944 


PERSONALS  ON  SHOWMEN 


ROY  SULLENDER,  manager  of  Warner's 
Palace,  in  Philadelphia,  transfers  to  the  Up- 
town to  replace  Ben  Blumberg,  who  went 
into  the  Army. 

RUSSELL  GACKENBACKER,  relief 
manager  in  Wilmington,  Del.,  has  been 
named  manager  of  the  Grand  theatre. 

ORA  PARKS  has  been  named  manager  of 
the  Times  theatre,  Anderson,  Ind. 

DAVIS  ALEXANDER  is  now  managing 
the  Strand,  Des  Moines,  Iowa. 

KENNETH  BOLES  has  been  appointed  as 
manager  of  the  Paramount,  Marion,  Ind. 

J.  C.  JENSEN  is  manager  at  the  Rialto, 
in  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa. 

WILLIAM  L.  GERST  has  been  named 
manager  of  the  Senate  theatre,  in  Harris- 
burg,  Pa. 

ROBERT  SALTERS  is  managing  the 
Royal  theatre,  Detroit. 

ROY  SULLENDER,  manager  of  Warner's 
Palace,  in  Philadelphia,  transfers  to  the  Up- 
town to  replace  Ben  Blumberg,  who  went 
into  the  Army. 

RUSSELL  GACKENBACKER,  relief 
manager  in  Wilmington,  Del.,  has  been 
named  manager  of  the  Grand  theatre. 

HERBERT  MARK,  formerly  manager  of 
the  President  theatre,  Bronx,  N.  Y.,  has 
been  honorably  discharged  from  the  Army 
after  thirteen  months  of  service. 

ROBERT  L.  LIPPERT  has  purchased  the 
Egyptian  theatre,  in  San  Francisco,  and 
will  rename  it  the  Studio. 

TOMMY  BALDRIDGE  is  now  handling 
publicity  and  exploitation  for  United  Art- 
ists, in  St.  Louis. 

WILLIAM  H.  WHYTE  has  purchased  the 
Star  theatre,  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  from  Wil- 
liam C.  Karrer. 

BLANCHE  LESPERANCE  has  been 
named  manager  of  the  Alger  theatre,  in 
Detroit. 

SALLY  DUROCHIE  has  been  appointed 
assistant  manager  of  the  Madison,  in  De- 
troit, for  United  Detroit  Theatres,  and  Mar- 
guerite Bartlow  goes  in  as  assistant  at  the 
United  Artists. 

SID  DECKLER  has  been  made  manager 
of  Warner's  Belmar,  in  Pittsburgh. 

SALLY  HAGUE  has  taken  over  as  man- 
ager of  the  Strand,  in  Parkersburg,  West 
Va. 

DAVIS  ALEXANDER  is  managing  the 
Strand,  in  Des  Moines,  having  succeeded 
William  Beckley,  resigned. 

MRS.  RAN  HALL  is  managing  the  Azled 
theatre  in  Van  Alystyne,  Tex. 


HAPPY  BIRTHDAY 


December  26fh 
E.  L.  Leffler 
Noel  Roake 
Frank  Randolph 
Bernard  Murphy 
Howard  S.  Case 
Charles  S.  Roth 

27th 

Fred  Frechette 
William  L.  Herron 

G.  S.  Cooker 
R.  E.  Maynard 
Robert  Daly 

28th 

Ed  C.  Schmadeka 
Walter  Van  Camp 
Kenneth  C.  McMahon 
Lew  Harris 
Anna  Bell  Ward 

H.  F.  Borreson 
Boyd  F.  Scott 
James  Carey 

29th 

Bud  Lawler 
Ralph  Larned 
B.  Edelstein 
Joseph  Beck 
Walter  E.  Cohen 


December  30th 

George  Crisman 
Martha  Deutsch 
Larry  E.  New 

31st 

Ralph  Allan 
J.  A.  Greer 
William  Collins 
Eli  J.  Saul 
George  R.  Wilson 
Oscar  L.  Gray 
Austin  T.  Moon 
Stanley  Stern 

January  I  st 

Miller  Merlweather 
George  O.  Johnson 
Max  Chimes 
Ben  Geldsaler 
Lynn  Reynolds 
Max  Mink 
J.  J.  Rosenfield 
Charles  Numerofsky 
Lee  E.  Churchin 
Charles  D.  Hulbert 
Joseph  B.  Alderman 
Chris  Hadfield 
Leonard  Derene 
P.  E.  McCoy 


Feldman  Managed  Theatre 
At  Tender  Age  of  Seventeen 

Samuel  Feldman  was  born  in  Winchester, 
Mass.,  on  September  16,  1923.  He  started 
as  assistant  manager  at  the  Paradise,  in 
Millbury,  Mass.,  and  after  six  months  was 
promoted  to  manager,  doing  his  own  book- 
ing and  buying.  That,  Sam  says,  was  at 
the  age  of  seventeen.  Since  then,  he  had 
travelled  around  Massachusetts,  managing 
theatres  for  Graphic  Theatre  Circuit.  He 
is  now  managing  the  Hollis  theatre,  in 
Framingham,  an  E.  M.  Loew  house. 


Exploiteer  Earl  Hunt  offered  patrons  of  the 
Paramount,  in  Seattle,  a  pin-up  photo  of 
Betty  Grable  for  friends  in  service  who  are 
stationed  in  Ireland  as  a  lobby  stunt  for 
"Sweet  Rosie  CyGrady." 


BARRY  BURKE,  former  city  manager  for 
Interstate  Theatres,  in  Corsicana,  Tex.,  has 
been  named  city  manager,  in  Fort  Worth, 
succeeding  Frank  Weatherford,  who  has 
been  inducted  into  the  Army.  Burke  is  re- 
placed by  Paul  Hudgins. 

WILLIAM  STUDDERT,  manager  of  the 
B  &  K  Tower  theatre,  in  Chicago,  has  been 
inducted  into  the  Navy  and  is  assigned  to 
the  Great  Lakes  Naval  Training  station. 

CHUCK  LARNARD,  former  manager  of 
Schine's  Appalachian  theatre,  in  Appalachia, 
Va.,  is  now  an  Ensign  in  the  U.  S.  Navy. 

WALTER  KINIRY  is  the  new  manager 
of  the  Rialto  theatre,  in  Lancaster,  N.  H. 

HERB  GORDON  of  the  Forum  theatre,  in 
Philadelphia,  visited  the  Round  Table  of- 
fices this  week. 

HOWARD  POLLARD  will  take  over  the 
Reinbeck  theatre,  at  Reinbeck,  Iowa,  from 
William  Guthrie. 

ROGER  DEMIS,  formerly  with  Associated 
Theatres,  of  Providence,  R.  I.,  and  now  in 
Iran,  has  announced  his  engagement  to  Miss 
Jean  Smith,  of  Providence. 

HARRY  STEVENS,  former  assistant  man- 
ager of  the  Orpheum  theatre,  in  Wilkes- 
Barre,  Penna.,  has  been  promoted  to  man- 
ager of  Hart.  He  succeeds  Curtis  Homick, 
recently  named  manager  of  the  Carlisle 
Strand.  Peter  J.  Bednick  replaces  Stevens 
at  the  Orpheum. 

HELEN  MC  LAUGHLIN  with  the  Pal- 
ace theatre,  in  Meriden,  Conn.,  since  1929, 
has  become  manager  of  the  Capitol. 

H.  BUERMELE  has  been  appointed  office 
manager  of  the  United  Artists  Exchange,  in 
Detroit,  Mich. 

DON  ABLES  has  been  named  assistant 
manager  at  Loew's  State,  in  Cleveland.  He 
succeeds  Harry  Winer,  recently  called  to  the 
New  York  area. 

V.  B.  GRAY  has  been  appointed  Paramount 
advertising  representative  for  the  Atlanta 
district. 

FRED  GLASS,  Fox  West  Coast  district 
manager  at  Denver,  has  been  shifted  to  Cali- 
fornia to  manage  the  San  Joaquin  Valley 
district,  succeeding  N.  O.  Turner,  resigned. 

WARD  FARRAR,  formerly  manager  of 
Loew's  Palace,  in  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  and 
later  an  exploiteer  for  20th-Fox,  is  now  a 
Chief  Warrant  Officer,  with  the  8th  AF 
Service  Command,  in  the  South  Pacific. 

JAMES  TRIPPE  is  now  managing  the 
Capitol  theatre,  in  Oneida,  Tenn.,  succeed- 
ing B.  W.  Ellis. 

NORMAN  ROLFE,  manager  of  the  Webb 
Playhouse  theatre,  in  Hartford,  Conn.,  is 
now  stationed  in  Cross  City,  Fla.,  where  he 
is  in  the  Army  managing  the  Post  theatre. 


From  Theatres 


of  Peace 


Wherever  our  armed  forces  fight  today ,  they  fight  with 
increased  efficiency  because  of  SOUND  equipment. 

SOUND  helps  them  on  defense  and  attack  .  .  , 
in  a  variety  of  ways  that  will  make  interest- 
ing post-war  reading.    Thanks  to  intensive 
development  work  by  scientists  and  research 


men,  the  part  played  by  SOUND  is  one  of  ever- 
increasing  importance. 

Naturally  the  engineers  at  Bell  Telephone  Lab- 
oratories and  Western  Electric  are  contribut- 
ing their  knowledge  and  skill  to  help  bring 
Victory  sooner. 


Electrical  Research  Products  Dwisiott 

OF 

Westertt  Electric  Cotttpany 

INCORPORATED  "  ' 

195  BROADWAY,  NEW  YORK,  N.  Y. 


SPEED  THE  DAY  OF  VICTORY  BY  BUYING  WAR  BONDS-MORE  WAR  BONDS- AND  STILL  MORE!  * 


66  MOTIONPICTUREHERALD 

CLASSIFIED  ADVERTISING 

Ten  cents  per  word,  money-order  or  check  with  copy.  Count  initials,  box  number  and  ad- 
dress. Minimum  insertion,  $1.  Four  insertions,  for  the  price  of  three.  Contract  rates  on 
application.  No  borders  or  cuts.  Forms  close  Mondays  at  5  P.  M.  Publisher  reserves 
the  right  to  reject  any  copy.  Film  and  trailer  advertising  not  accepted.  Classi-  .^^^| 
fied  advertising  not  subject  to  agency  commission.  Address  copy  and  checks:  FwlH 
MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD,  Classified  Dept.,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  (20)  WBSt 


HELP  WANTED 


WANTED  OTERATORS,  SALARY  $30  TO  $45 
depending  on  qualifications  and  willingness  to  assume 
additional  responsibilities.  Ideal  winter  climate.  Living 
conditions  moderate.  Write  or  wire  R.  N.  SMITH 
THEATRES,  Mission,  Tex. 


POSITIONS  WANTED 


PROJECTIONIST.  2'/,  YEARS'  EXPERIENCE. 
4F  draft.    References  given.    BOX  344,  Rochester,  Ind. 


BUSINESS  BOOSTERS 


BINGO  CARDS,  DIE  CUT.  1  TO  100  OR  1  TO  75, 
$2.00  per  thousand,  $18.50  for  10,000.  S.  KLOUS,  care 
of  MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD. 


BOOKS 


COMPLETELY  REVISED  7TH  EDITION  OF 
Richardson's  Bluebook  of  Projection  with  treatise  or 
Television  and  complete  Sound  Trouble -Shooting 
Charts,  as  well  as  host  of  additional  up-to-the-minute 
text  on  sound  and  projection  equipment.  Order  Now  I 
$7.25  postpaid.  QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP.  Rockefeller 
Center,  New  York  (20). 


SOUND  TROUBLE  SHOOTING  CHARTS.  A 
handy  tool  in  the  booth.  Gives  the  answers  to  all 
questions  regarding  trouble  shooting  on  every  type  of 
sound  equipment.  $1.00  postpaid.  QUIGLEY  BOOK- 
SHOP, Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  (20). 


MOTION  PICrrURE  SOUND  ENGINEERING- 
547  pages;  illustrated;  covers  every  practical  method 
and  process  in  present-day  sound  engineering.  Leading 
en^^ineers  explain  every  detail  of  apparatus  and  its  ar- 
rangement, with  diagrams,  tables,  charts  and  graphs. 
This  mainial  comes  straight  from  the  workshups  of  tin. 
studios  in  Holl>wood.  It  is  indispensable  to  everyone 
working  with  '^ounH  eouinment.  Pricp  $6.50  nostmid 
QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York 
(20). 


NEW  567  PAGE  BOOK  ON  AIR  CONDITIONING 
by  Charles  A.  Fuller,  authority  on  the  subject.  Avail- 
able for  theatre  owners  contemplating  engineering 
changes.  Book  is  cloth  bound  with  index  and  charts 
and  covers  every  branch  of  the  industry  as  well  as 
todes  and  ordinances  regulating  installation.  Order 
now  at  $4.00  a  copy  postpaid.  QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP. 
Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  (20). 


BOOKKEEPING  SYSTEM 


THEATRE  MANAGEMENT  RECORD  AND  TAX 
Register.  This  new  accounting  system  is  the  finest 
book  of  its  kind  ever  made  available  to  an  exhibitor. 
In  addition  to  being  complete  in  every  respect,  it  is 
simple — so  much  so  that  it  is  not  necessary  to  have 
had  bookkeeping  experience  in  order  to  keep  an  ac- 
curate, complete  and  an  up-to-minute  record  of  the 
business  of  your  theatre.  TVie  introductory  price  i.« 
only  $2.00  postpaid.  QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP,  Rocke- 
feller Center,  New  York  (20). 


Cincinnati  Cinenna  Club  Seeks 
National  Organization 

The  Cinema  Club  of  Cincinnati,  whose  mem- 
bership is  limited  to  fihn  and  accessory  sales- 
men, will  attempt  to  enroll  new  chapters  in 
other  cities,  it  was  learned  last  week.  Saul  M. 
Greenberg,  counsel  and  secretary,  is  said  to  be 
ready  to  receive  communications  from  other 
such  units,  and  from  salesmen  interested  in 
forming  units. 


NEW  EQUIPMENT 


COMPLETE  NEW  SOUND  EQUIPMENT,  RO- 
tary  stabilizer,  high  fidelity,  powerful  amplifier,  stage 
and  monitor  speakers,  $850.  BODELSON,  10-38  Jackson 
Ave.,  Long  Island  City. 


BOX  OFFICE  BOWL  HEATERS,  $9.50;  VICTORY 
carpet,  all  colors,  $2.49  sq.  yrd. ;  pickup  pans  with  han- 
dle, $1.27;  colored  lamps,  15/25  watt,  20c;  40/60  watt, 
23c;  rechargeable  flashlight  batteries,  $2.20;  collapsible 
36"  X  48"  beaded  screens,  $11.50;  rectifier  bulbs,  15 
ampere  Gordos,  $6.95;  6  ampere  Westinghouse,  $3.95; 
Nodraft  speaking  tubes,  $5.75;  Suprex  carbon  savers, 
98c.  Winter  Sale  Bulletin  ready.  S.  O.  S.  CINEMA 
SUPPLY  CORP.,  New  York.  18. 


USED  EQUIPMENT 


ROCKOLA  12  RECORD  JUKE  BOX  WITH  REC- 
ords,  $77.50;  Peerless  condenser  lenses,  $3.95;  reflectors, 
50%  discount;  aluminum  marquee  letters,  fit  Adler, 
Wagner,  etc.,  9"  standard,  95c;  9"  deluxe,  $1.25;  12" 
deluxe,  $1.75;  16"  deluxe,  $3.95;  30  ampere  rectifiers 
with  tubes,  $99.50.  Winter  Bargain  Bulletin  ready  — 
sret  yours.  S.  O.  S.  CINEMA  SUPPLY  CORP.,  New 
York  18. 


358  AMERICAN  SEATING  BALL  BEARING  54" 
heavy  Keystone  inserted  panel  backs,  reupholstered 
box  spring  cushion  chairs,  $3.50  each;  230  American 
ball  bearing  fully  upholstered  padded  red  figured  vel- 
our  backs,  red  leatherette  box  spring  cushions,  good  as 
is,  $4.50  each.  S.  O.  S.  CINEMA  SUPPLY  CORP.. 
New  York  18. 


STUDIO  EQUIPMENT 


HOLLYWOOD  16MM.  RECORDING  CAMERA, 
double  system;  400'  magazine;  synchronous  motor; 
A.C.  power  pack;  high  fidelity  volume  indicator  am- 
plifier; dynamic  microphone;  Berndt-Maurer  type  Gal- 
vanometer; cables,  etc.  Worth  $1,500.  Special,  $795. 
Bell  &  Howell  5  way  sound  printer,  $2,2,S0.  Reduction 
printers,  from  $750.  Send  for  Laboratory  and  Record- 
ing lists.  S.  O.  S.  CINEMA  SUPPLY  CORP.,  New 
York  18. 


TRAINING  SCHOOLS 


THEATRE  EMPLOYEES:  TRAIN  FOR  BETTER 
position.    Learn  modem  theatre  management  and  ad- 
vertising.   Big  opportunities  for  trained  men.  Estab- 
lished since  1927.    Write  now  for  free  catalog.  THE 
ATRE  MANAGERS  SCHOOL,  Elmira,  New  York 


POPCORN 


MORE  VOLUME  GUARANTEED  WHEN  USING 
our  popcorn  and  seasoning.  POPCORN  CORP.,  100 
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POPCORN  MACHINES 


SALE  GOOD  BURCH,  ALSO  BOOTH  MODEL 
POP  KLINKEL,  Albion.  Mich. 


WANTED  TO  BUY 


WANTED— PIPE  ORGAN  IN  EXCELLENT  CON- 
dition,  state  complete  details  and  information.  A.  HEF- 
FERAN,  H  &  M  Theatres,  Coopersville,  Mich. 


Compie+es  Film  for  CIAA 

Allen  Luey,  director  of  the  Emerson  Yorke 
Studio,  has  completed  production  of  "Nursing 
the  Americas,"  which  the  Yorke  Studio  did  in 
Spanish  and  Portuguese  for  the  Office  of  the 
Coordinator  of  Inter-American  Affairs. 


Show  "Song"  January  3 

Warners'  "The  Desert  Song"  will  be  nation- 
ally tradeshown  January  3. 


January     I,  1944 

OBITUARIES 

Jack  Loew,  Boston 
Exhibitor,  Dies 

Jack  Loew,  37,  operator  of  the  Gaycty  thea- 
tre in  Boston  and  brother  of  Elias  M.  Loew, 
New  England  circuit  owner,  died  at  his  home 
in  that  city  December  26.  He  underwent  an 
operation  for  a  stomach  ailment  a  short  time 
before  his  death.  Mr.  Loew  was  an  active 
member  of  the  Boston  Variety  Club  and  was 
widely  known  among  Boston  exhibitors. 

Gustav  Von  Seyffertitz, 
Silent  Film  Actor 

Funeral  services  were  held  Tuesday  in  Holly- 
wood for  Gustav  Von  •  Seyfifertitz,  veteran 
motion  picture  actor  who  .died  Christmas  Day 
at  the  Motion  Picture  Country  Home.  He  was 
80  years  old.  Born  in  Vienna,  Mr.  Von 
Seyffertitz  was  associated  with  D.  W.  Griffith 
and  Mary  Pickford  at  the  Biograph  Studio 
in  Fort  Lee,  N.  J.  After  that  early  begin- 
ning he  appeared  in  supporting  roles  in  hun- 
dreds of  pictures  until  his  retirement  a  few 
years  ago. 


Leonard  Hopkins 

Leonard  Hopkins,  47,  former  screen  and 
stage  actor,  died  December  22  in  Queens,  Long 
Island.  He  appeared  in  films  with  Vitagraph. 
At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  a  salesman  at 
a  local  men's  shop. 


Percy  Hennus 

Percy  Hemus,  65,  screen,  stage  and  radio  \actor, 
died  of  a  heart  attack  December  22  in  New 
York,  just  before  he  was  scheduled  to  go  on 
the  air  in  a  National  Broadcasting  Company 
serial. 


Edward  M.  Marsh 

Edward  M.  Marsh,  67,  former  assistant  man- 
ager at  the  Berwyn  theatre,  Chicago,  and  the 
Bijou  theatre,  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  died  Decem- 
ber 19. 

Agfa  Ansco  Drops  Agfa, 
Now  Sinnply  Ansco 

Starting  the  first  day  of  1944,  Agfa  Ansco, 
one  of  the  nation's  oldest  manufacturers  of 
photographic  materials,  became  Ansco.  The 
dropping  of  the  Agfa  from  the  name  of  the 
company  was  made  known  early  this  week  in  a 
joint  announcement  made  by  George  W.  Bur- 
pee, president  of  General  Aniline  and  Film 
Corporation,  the  parent  organization,  and  Ans- 
co's  general  manager,  G.  Harrison  Echols. 

Ownership  and  management  of  Ansco  were 
assumed  by  the  United  States  Government 
shortly  after  this  nation's  entrance  into  the  war, 
and  the  changing  of  the  name  of  the  company 
is  the  final  step  in  a  reorganization  of  the  com- 
pany. The  company  was  originally  known  by 
the  name  it  now  has,  and  as  the  organization 
is  not  in  anyway  associated  with  any  other  com- 
pany whose  products  carry  the  name  "Agfa," 
it  was  decided  to  revert  to  the  original  name 
of  Ansco. 

The  company,  established  more  than  a  cen- 
tury ago,  now  is  devoting  the  greater  part  of 
its  production  to  the  government  and  war  in- 
dustries, and  recentl}'  started  construction  of 
a  11,000,000  addition  to  its  film  p'ant. 


McDonald  Honored 

RKO  theatre  managers  from  the  lower 
Bronx  and  Manhattan,  New  York,  last  week 
tendered  a  party  to  Charles  McDonald,  former 
manager  of  that  territory.  Mr.  McDonald  has 
been  advanced  to  special  home  office  duties  un- 
der general  manager  Edward  Alperson. 


January    I,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


In  This  Week: 


SHOWMEN'S  REVIEWS 


ADVANCE  SYNOPSES 


SHORT  SUBJECTS  CHART 


THE  RELEASE  CHART 


Song  of  Russia 

( Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  ) 
"Mrs.  Miniver"  in  Russia 

Entertainment  with  the  E  underscored  by  the 
box  office  appeal  of  Robert  Taylor  and  MGM's 
rising  youngster,  Susan  Peters,  in  a  thorough- 
ly appealing  love  story,  boosts  this  contribution 
to  the  understanding  of  Russia  into  the  prime 
bracket  of  box  office  values. 

Producer  Joseph  Pasternak  keeps  his  sights 
trained  on  the  human  interest  story.  The  back- 
ground, Russia  just  before  the  Nazi  invasion, 
tells  much  about  the  people  of  the  USSR  and 
that  burning  love  of  homeland  which  has  sus- 
tained their  fight.  Audiences  are  bound  to  take 
away  new  appreciation  of  an  ally.  But,  as  with 
"Mrs.  Miniver,"  the  war  and  messages  never 
overshadow  entertainment  story  values. 

Robert  Taylor  is  a  famed  American  sym- 
phony conductor  who  tours  Russia.  Miss 
Peters,  as  Nadya,  comes  to  Moscow  and  begs 
him  to  play  at  the  music  festival  in  her  little 
village,  Tschaikowskye.  Every  resident,  in  his 
love  of  music,  is  a  prodigy,  she  assures  him. 
With  romantic  gayety  the  simple  Russian  girl 
and  famed  American  see  Moscow  together.  Love 
blossoms,  and  Taylor  follows  Nadya  to  her  vil- 
lage, meets  her  family,  and  marries  her.  She 
makes  her  debut  as  his  piano  soloist  the  day 
the  Nazis  strike.  Their  idyll  is  shattered.  Nadya 
returns  to  her  village  to  fight  beside  her  fam- 
ily. Taylor  continues  his  tour,  to  aid  morale. 

The  Germans  sweep  forward,  and  Nadya 
burns  her  home  and  grain  and  joins  the  wood- 
land guerillas.  After  a  suspenseful  search  Tay- 
lor finds  her  and  pleads  for  permission  to  fight 
beside  his  wife.  But  the  Russian  leaders  send 
them  to  America,  to  tell  through  their  music, 
the  need  for  aid. 

Performances  by  Taylor,  Robert  Benchley  as 
his  manager,  and  by  Miss  Peters  are  top  calibre. 
She  is  rapidly  fulfilling  the  promise  of  stardom 
detected  by  exhibitors  when  they  voted  her 
third  place  in  Motion  Picture  Herald-Fame's 
"Stars  of  Tomorrow"  poll  last  September. 
There  are  equally  distinguished  supporting  in- 
terpretations of  many  Russian  characters  of 
lesser  importance. 

Gregory  RatofT's  sure  direction  combines 
drama,  background  and  appealing  humanity.  He 
adds  a  touch  of  humor  himself,  in  a  minor  peas- 
ant role. 

A  musical  score  drawing  heavily  on  Tschai- 
kowsky,  but  not  overlooking  Shostakovitch  and 
the  modern  Russian  composers  provides  dis- 
tinguished accompaniment.  It  should  prove  a 
useful  exploitation  point.  Herbert  Stothart  did 
the  arrangement.  Jerome  Kern  and  E.  Y. 
Harburg  wrote  a  thematic  serenade  to  the 
motherland,  "And  Russia  Is  Her  Name."  Al- 
bert Coates,  British  conductor,  the  California 
Junior  Symphony  and  David  Lichine's  dance 
direction  add  to  the  artistry. 

Without  being  pretentious  MGM  has  con- 
trived an  outstanding  combination  of  tribute 


Reviews 


This  department  deals  with 
new  product  from  the  point  of 
view  of  the  exhibitor  who  is 
to  purvey  it  to  his  own  public. 


and  entertainment.  It  should  prove  pleasing 
to  all  sectors. 

Previewed  at  the  home  office.  Reviewer's  Rat- 
ing: Excellent. — John  Stuart,  Jr. 

Release  date,  Block  2.  Running  time,  107  min.  Gen- 
eral audience  classification. 

John  Meredith  Robert  Taylor 

Nadya  Stepanova  Susan  Peters 

Boris   John  Hodiak 

Robert  Benchley,  Felix  Bressart,  Michael  Chekhov, 
Darryl  Hickman,  Jacqueline  White. 

Tender  Comrade 

(RKO  Radio) 

The  Women  at  Home 

This  is  a  performance  piece  for  Ginger  Rogers, 
telling  the  story  of  a  girl  who  married  in  the 
carefree  years  before  the  war,  who  watched  her 
husband  leave  for  service  overseas  and  who 
finally  faced  the  reality  of  bringing  up  their  son 
alone.  It  is  an  even  mixture  of  comedy  and 
pathos,  providing  a  fine,  personal  triumph  for 
the  star  and  insuring  the  satisfaction  of  her 
countless  admirers. 

But  it  is  also  another  presentation  of  one  of 
the  inevitable  tragedies  of  the  present  war  which 
soon  may  be  found  quite  as  objectionable  by 
patrons  as  was  the  mass  horror  of  earlier  war 
films. 

The  picture  open^  on  the  last  furlough  of 
Robert  Ryan  and  closes  after  his  wife  has  re- 
ceived word  of  his  death.  The  interim  is  made 
up  of  "Jo's"  maleless  life  working  in  an  air- 
craft factory  and  living  with  four  women  in 
similar  circumstances,  with  a  few  flashbacks  to 
her  courtship  and  marriage  as  things  recall 
them  to  her  mind. 

Even  aside  from  Miss  Rogers,  performances 
are  the  thing.  Kim  Hunter,  whose  first  top- 
budget  production  this  is,  plays  the  young  war 
bride  with  a  glowing  sweetness  that  is  irresis- 
tible. Ruth  Hussey  has  some  excellent  scenes 
as  the  rebel  of  the  household,  Mady  Christians 
is  good  as  the  refugee  housekeeper  and  Patricia 
Collinge  gives  strength  to  the  role  of  the  woman 
with  both  husband  and  son  in  service.  Robert 
Ryan  holds  up  the  male  side  admirably,  with  a 
slight  assist  from  Richard  Martin. 

It  is,  however,  a  film  of  and  for  women,  mir- 
roring them  in  their  amusing  weaknesses  and 
unexpected  strengths.    The  characters  are  all 


recognizable  persons  with  a  consequent  sharp- 
enmg  of  comedy  and  tragedy  alike. 

Edward  Dmytryk  directed  Dalton  Trumbo's 
story  with  impressive  sensitivity,  and  produc- 
tion by  David  Hempstead  is  intelligent. 

Previewed  in  the  Normandie  theatre  where 
an  invited  audience,  largely  feminine,  delighted 
m  the  humor  and  was  plainly  moved  by  the  final 
scenes.  Reviewer's  Rating :  Good.—E.  A.  Cun- 
ningham. 

Release  date,  not  set.  Running  time,  101  min.  PCA 
No.  9586.    General  audience  classification. 

i?  ;  Ginger  Rogers 

^hris   Robert  Ryan 

Barbara  Ruth  Hussey 

Patricia  Collmge,  Mady  Christians,  Kim  Hunter,  Jane 
Darwell,  Mary  Forbes,  Richard  Martin. 

The  Heavenly  Body 

r  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  ) 
Light  Fare  for  Winter  Nights 

Not  Hedy  Lamarr,  who  plays  William  Pow- 
ell's wife,  but  a  comet  appears  in  the  title  role, 
the  while  Miss  Lamarr  and  Mr.  Powell  spar 
in  defense  of  conjugal  bliss  at  odds  with  a  pro- 
fessor's wholly  scientific  mind  and  his  wife's 
slightly  daffy  delving  into  the  occult. 

Powell,  the  scientist,  is  a  professor  of  astron- 
omy who  neglects  his  sparkling  wife  for  the  stars 
and  planets  that  sparkle  above.  He  has  calcu- 
lated a  comet  will  make  its  debut  at  a  precise 
moment  in  the  skies,  and  will  end  in  a  collision 
with  the  moon.  Meanwhile  his  wife  is  intro- 
duced to  an  astrologer  of  the  field  of  charts 
designed  to  tell  the  future  of  all  those  knowing 
the  exact  time  of  their  birth. 

Mrs.  Sibyll  of  the  weekly  charts,  played  by 
Fay  Bainter,  informs  Miss  Lamarr  that  among 
other  things  her  second  husband,  whom  she  de- 
scribes in  detail,  will  enter  her  life  within  a  cer- 
tain period  of  time.  He  does,  twenty  minutes 
before  the  last  day  of  the  period  is  up,  and  in 
the  person  of  an  air  raid  warden  home  on  leave 
from  foreign  service  as  a  war  correspondent. 

The  triangle  established,  the  plot  goes  wholly 
farcical,  some  times  gay,  and  at  all  times  striv- 
ing to  be  gay.  Astronomers  from  all  over  the 
world  have  come  to  Powell's  observatory  to 
view  the  collision  of  his  comet  and  the  moon, 
but  Powell  has  his  mind  on  another  meeting. 

Powell,  with  a  purloined  weekly  chart,  in- 
forms his  wife  he  is  about  to  meet  with  either 
a  terrible  accident  or  illness,  threatens  Mrs. 
Sibyll  with  maltreatment  if  she  does  not  back 
him  up,  and  almost  succeeds  in  regaining  his 
wife's  love.  A  Russian  sequel  that  has  little  to 
do  with  the  plot  is  dragged  in  by  the  heels, 
burlesqued  sequences  are  piled  upon  each  other, 
and  in  the  end  Hedy  Lamarr  regains  her  senses, 
and  James  Craig  goes  back  to  air  wardening. 

Two  writers  noted  for  their  dialogue,  Mi- 
chael Arlen  and  Walter  Reisch,  combined  their 
talents  to  turn  out  the  screenplay,  but  their  tal- 
ents were  on  at  least  half-holidays.  The  pic- 
ture does  not  come  ofT  the  assembly  line  an 
article  quite  tailor-made  for  either  of  the  co- 

Product  Digest  Section    1 693 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    I,  1944 


stars.  Alexander  Hall  directed,  and  failed  to 
keep  the  tempo  at  an  even  pace.  Arthur  Horn- 
blow,  Jr.,  produced. 

Seen  at  the  home  office  projection  room.  Re- 
viewer's Rating:  Fair. — Bert  Hicks 

Release  date.  Block  2.  Running  time,  93  min. 
PCA  No.  9491.    General  audience  classification. 

William  S.  Whitley  William  Powell 

Vicky  Whitley  Hedy  Lamarr 

Lloyd  X.  Hunter  James  Craig 

Fay  Bainter,  Henry  O'Neill,  Spring  Byington,  Robert 
Sully,  Morris  Ankrum,  Franco  Corsaro. 

Three  Russian  Girls 

(U  A-Rabinovitch) 
More  About  Russia 

Apart  from  the  nicely-photographed  setting — 
Leningrad  and  thereabouts  in  the  year  1941 — 
and  some  pleasant  incidental  singing  by  a  group 
of  Russian  soldiers,  citizens  and  nurses,  this 
Gregor  Rabinovitch  production  in  which  Anna 
Sten  returns  to  screen  activity  contains  little 
to  command  attention. 

The  screenplay  by  Abem  Kandel  and  Dan 
James  furnishes  nothing  of  consequence  in  the 
nature  of  a  story,  consisting  mainly  of  details 
of  training,  the  service  of  a  group  of  Russian 
nurses,  and  the  performers  lack  dialogue  which 
would  lend  distinction  to  the  characterization. 

There  is  an  American  aspect  to  the  tale,  pro- 
vided by  an  American  flyer  who  tells  the  Rus- 
sians he  figures  the  United  States  will  get  into 
the  war  eventually,  but  it  is  not  utilized  effec- 
tively to  focus  interest  on  a  narrative  which 
concerns  too  many  people,  too  lightly. 

Some  battle  scenes  near  the  close  of  the  film 
have  values  of  their  own,  but  pertain  only  inci- 
dentally to  the  fictional  side  of  the  proceedings. 

Direction  by  Fedor  Ozep  and  Henry  Kesler, 
excellent  in  itself,  was  no  match  for  the  dearth 
of  interest  in  the  script. 

Previewed  at  the  Egyptian  theatre  to  a  mid- 
week audience  which  displayed  scant  interest 
and  some  impoliteness.  Reviewer's  Rating: 
Fair. — William  R.  Weaver. 

Release  date,  January  4,  1944.  Running  time,  79 
min.    PCA  No.  9751.    General  audience  classification. 

Natasha    Anna  Sten 

John  Hill    Kent  Smith 

Mimy  Forsaythe,  Alexander  Granach,  Cathy  Frye, 
Paul  Guilfoyle,  Kane  Richmond,  Manart  Kippen,  Jack 
Gardner,  Marcia  Lenack,  Mary  Herriot. 

The  Courageous  Mr.  Penn 

(J.  H.  H  off  berg) 
William  Penn  Succeeds 

Considerable  money  appears  to  have  been 
spent  upon  this  film.  There  is  a  homey  solidity 
and  assurance  about  the  settings,  and  the  num- 
erous extras.  However,  because  it  is  so  avid- 
ly biographical,  it  tends  to  be  a  slow,  patient 
study  of  one  man's  fortitude,  and  an  expression 
of  his  winning  personality.  In  other  words,  it 
lacks  pace;  however,  that  may  be  balanced  by 
a  tender  love  story,  that  of  Penn  and  his  wife. 

Its  possibilities  for  exploitation  among  the 
literati,  "art"  house  crowd,  and  among  re- 
ligious groups,  are  somewhat  vitiated  by  the 
liberties  it  has  taken  with  Perm's  life.  It  is 
"movie  history"  again. 

The  picture  shows  Penn,  portrayed  by  Clif- 
ford Evans,  the  dissatisfied  son  of  an  English 
admiral.  He  is  sated  by  the  luxury  of  his  life, 
and  not  at  all  attracted  by  the  vision  of  a  mili- 
tary career.  He  sees  selfishness  and  cruelty  all 
around,  and  an  ignorance  of  the  message  of  the 
Lord.  He  becomes  a  Quaker,  stands  trial,  is 
jailed,  is  freed  by  Charles  II,  made  wise  and 
whimsical  on  the  screen,  wins  the  hand  of  De- 
borah Kerr,  likewise  noble-born,  and  becomes 
a  Quaker  leader.  From  the  king  he  wins  the 
grant  of  land  in  America,  where  his  people  may 
worship  in  their  own  way ;  and  with  his  people 
he  carves  Philadelphia  from  the  wilderness. 
He  returns  to  find  his  wife  dying.  When  she 
dies,  it  is  a  severe  blow,  but  he  recovers,  and 
leads  again  the  Quakers  of  the  new  and  old 
worlds  who  depend  upon  him. 

The  picture  was  made  in  Great  Britain  by 

1 694  Product  Digest  Section 


REPUBLIC  PLANS  EIGHT 
AUTRY  REISSUES 

Continuing  its  program  of  releas- 
ing Gene  Autry  Westerns  of  past 
years  while  the  star  serves  in  the 
U.  S.  Air  Force,  Republic  Pictures 
announces  a  schedule  of  eight  for 
1944.  The  films,  which  will  be  re- 
leased at  six-week  intervals,  are:  "Red 
River  Valley",  January  15th;  "The  Big 
Show",  March  1st;  "Oh,  Susanna", 
April  15th;  "Melody  Trail",  June  1st; 
"Comin'  Round  the  Mountain",  July 
15th;  "Ride,  Ranger,  Ride",  Septem- 
ber 1st;  "Git  Along,  Little  Dogies", 
October  15th,  and  "Rootin",  Tootin" 
Rhythm",  December  1st. 


Richard  Vernon,  who  produced  "The  Invaders" 
several  seasons  ago.  The  musical  accompaniment 
which  nowhere  is  obtrusive,  is  by  the  London 
Symphony  Orchestra.  Miss  Kerr  and  Mr. 
Evans  are  convincing;,  especially  in  their 
love  scenes.  A  depiction  of  Penn's  trial,  in 
which  the  jury  is  forced  to  go  to  jail  by  cor- 
rupt English  judges,  because  they  acquit  the 
great  Quaker,  is  a  highlight. 

Seen  at  the  55th  Street  Playhouse,  New 
York.  Reviewer's  Rating :  Fair. — Floyd  Elbert 
Stone. 

Release  date,  Dec.  22,  1943.  Running  time,  78  mins. 
General  audience  classification. 

William   Penn   Clifford  Evans 

Gulielma   Deborah  Kerr 

Dennis  Arundell,  Aubrey  Mallalieu,  D.  J.  Williams, 
O.  B.  Clarence,  James  Harcourt,  Charles  Carson. 

Suspected  Person 

(PRC  Pictures) 

Action  Thriller 

This  British-made  picture,  released  in  this 
country  by  PRC  Pictures,  has  the  benefit  of 
excellent  acting  and  thoughtful  direction.  In 
some  houses  it  could  well  carry  the  program ; 
in  any  theatre  it  should  serve  well  on  a  double 
feature  bill. 

The  story  in  the  telling  does  not  sound  as 
good  as  it  plays.  It  has  to  do  with  three  gang- 
sters who  rob  a  bank  in  New  York.  One, 
Eddie  Sands,  disappears  with  the  plunder,  $50,- 
000.  The  other  two  catch  up  with  the  double- 
crosser,  who  claims  Jim  Raynor,  a  London  re- 
porter visiting  Gotham,  has  the  money  and  is 
headed  back  to  England.  Whereupon  the  two 
thugs  kill  their  one-time  colleague  and  set  out 
to  follow  Raynor. 

Raynor  has  gone  to  stay  at  his  sister  Joan's 
apartment  in  London.  He  meets  Carol,  a  night 
club  singer  there.  It  appears  Jim  really  does 
have  the  money ;  so  he  has  not  only  the  gang- 
sters but  Scotland  Yard  trailing  him.  Inspector 
Thompson  rents  a  room  in  Joan's  house,  in- 
creasing both  action  and  romance. 

The  thugs  threaten  Raynor,  who  sends  the 
dollar  bills  to  himself  in  care  of  general  deliv- 
ery in  Holyhead.  When  he  calls  for  his  pack- 
age at  the  post  office  Inspector  Thompson  is 
on  hand  to  intervene.  They  open  the  package 
and  find  it  stuffed  with  paper,  confounding  both 
men. 

Meanwhile,  the  gangsters  kidnap  Carol  and, 
in  an  effort  to  save  her,  Jim  walks  into  the 
gangsters'  trap.  But  he  still  hasn't  the  money, 
which  is  in  the  possession  of  his  sister  Joan. 
Carol  and  Jim  are  rescued,  and  at  the  fadeout 
it  is  apparent  that  love,  with  both  couples,  has 
taken  its  proper  course. 

Seen  at  the  New  York  theatre.  Reviewer's 
Rating:  Good. — B.  H. 

Release  date,  November  29,  1943.  Running,  78  min. 
General  audience  classification. 

Jim  Raynor   Clifford  Evans 

Joan  Raynor   Patricia  Roc 

David  Farrar,  Anne  Firth,  Robert  Beatty,  Eric  Claver- 
ing,  Leslie  Perrins,  Eliot  Makeham. 


Candlelight  in  Algeria 

(British  Aviation  •  British  Lion) 
Adventure  Drama 

Here  is  a  modest,  efficiently-made  offering 
which  should  appeal  to  the  modest  showman. 

The  scene  is  that  almost  legendary  Algiers 
whence  had  fled  at  France's  capitulation  all  the 
allegedly  gallant — but  not  so  brave — Parisians ; 
officers  and  stray  woman,  crafty  vendors  of 
state  secrets.  This  was  the  Algiers  where  the 
German  Armistice  Commission  had  made  its 
headquarters. 

You  see  the  Algiers  of  that  time,  on  the 
screen,  with  an  urgent  exactness.  But  you  see 
it  in  the  midst  of  a  hurly-burly  story  of  young 
love  (reinforced  with  love  of  country)  match- 
ing itself  in  ultimate  triumph  against  the  cun- 
ning, callous  machinations  of  the  Nazi  machine. 

Carla  Lehmann,  up-and-coming  English  ac- 
tress, essays  the  hazardous  job  of  portraying  a 
young  woman  from  Kansas.  James  Mason, 
also  English,  and  on  the  way  up,  has  -the  easier 
task  of  playing  the  young  British  officer  who 
must  preserve  that  well-known  disdain  of  death 
and  danger.  Walter  Rilla,  one  of  Herbert  Wil- 
cox's screen  finds,  contributes  a  brilliant  study 
of  German  evil. 

The  production  is  swift  moving.  The  picture 
— despite  the  clumsy  endeavor  of  its  promoters 
to  link  it  with  the  astonishing  feat  of  those 
gallant  officers  beached  by  submarine  to  recon- 
noitre the  Allied  landings  in  North  Africa — 
convinces  in  its  earnestness.  Its  thrills  never 
falter.  The  swift  crescendo  of  its  story  never 
halts. 

It  is  a  sure  bet  in  British  cinemas,  and  may  be 
commended  also  to  showmen  in  America. 

George  King  directed  this  Dorothy  Hope 
story. 

Trade  shown  at  the  Rialto  Cinema,  London. 
Reviewer's  Rating :  Good. — Peter  Burnup. 

Release  date,  not  set.  Running  time,  85  mins.  Gen- 
eral audience  classification. 

Alan   Thurston   James  Mason 

Susan  Ann  Foster   Carla  Lehmann 

Von  Alven   Raymond  Lovell 

Maritza   Enid   Stamp -Taylor 

Doktor  Muller   Walter  Rilla 

Yvette   Pamela  Stirling 

Lea  Seidl,  Hella  Kurty,  Leslie  Bradley,  MacDonald 
Parke,  Michel  Morel,  Albert  Whelan,  Meinhart  Maur, 
Paul  Bonifas,  Harold  Berens,  Richard  George,  Bart 
Norman,  John  Slater,  Berkeley  Schultz,  Jacques  Me- 
tadier,  Graham  Penley,  Richard  Mollainas,  Cecile 
Chevreau,  Cot  D'Ordan,  Paul  Sheridan. 


Sing  a  Jingle 

(Universal) 
Defense  Plant  Musical 

The  splendid  baritone  voice  of  Allan  Jones 
is  the  top  attraction  of  "Sing  a  Jingle."  It  is 
generously  used  to  lift  the  film  above  its  routine 
story  and  patterned  comedy  to  a  satisfactory 
level  of  musical  entertainment. 

The  plot  concerns  a  radio  favorite  who  enters 
a  defense  plant  incognito,  sings  at  the  bond 
rally,  falls  for  the  boss'  daughter  and  disposes 
of  all  attendant  complications  in  short  order. 
There  is  ample  room  in  it  for  several  modest 
production  numbers  and  more  than  a  little  slap- 
stick humor. 

Betty  Kean  and  Gus  Schilling  help  to  main- 
tain the  spirit  of  gaiety  which  Edward  C.  Lilley 
frequently  achieves  in  production  and  direction. 
June  Vincent  makes  an  attractive  romantic  foil 
for  Jones,  looking  more  than  a  little  like  Veron- 
ica Lake.  And  a  newcomer  among  the  younger 
set,  Dicky  Love,  does  a  standout  acrobatic  tap 
number. 

John  Grey,  Eugene  Conrad,  Lee  Sands  and 
Fred  Rath  all  contributed  toward  the  screenplay, 
without  distinguishing  themselves  in  the  under- 
taking. 

Seen  in  the  home  office  projection  room.  Re- 
viewer's Rating:  Fair. — E.  A.  C. 

Release  date,  January  7,  1944.  Running  time,  62  min. 
PCA  No.  9712.    General  audience  classification. 

Steve  Roberts  Allan  Jones 

Muriel  Crane  June  Vincent 

Edward  Norris,  Gus  Schilling,  Betty  Kean,  Samuel  S. 
Hinds,  Jerome  Cowan,  Joan  Castle,  Dicky  Love,  Vivian 
Austin,  lyorin  Raker,  William  NewaJI. 


January     I,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


Smart  Guy 

(Monogram) 
Gambler's  Debt 

The  gambler's  debt  to  society  is  to  stand  trial 
for  manslaughter.  It  is  a  tough  debt  to  pay  be- 
cause the  gambler  is  innocent.  But  he  is  a 
gambler  and  a  gangster,  and  a  character  better 
known  to  the  screen  of  a  decade  ago. 

Rick  Vallin,  who  is  23  years  old  and  Russian 
born  and  a  good  actor,  plays  "Johnny  Reagen," 
the  gaipbler.  He  heads  a  string  of  gambling 
houses  that  fall  prey  to  a  crusading  district  at- 
torney. He  is  within  the  law,  albeit  in  the  eyes 
of  the  law  a  reflection  upon  the  community.  A 
gambling  drunk  falls,  cracks  his  neck  and  dies 
in  one  of  the  houses,  and  the  district  attorney 
charges  Reagen  with  manslaughter. 

While  out  on  bail,  Reagen's  press  agent,  in 
the  person  of  Jack  La  Rue,  transforms  the 
gambler  into  a  philanthropist  in  an  effort  to 
swing  public  opinion  in  his  favor,  and  Reagen's 
attorney  has  his  client  adopt  a  small  boy.  The 
boy  reforms  the  gambler  while  Reagen's  "moll" 
gives  clandestine  attention  to  the  press  agent. 
Reagen  expels  his  blonde  and  press  agent  from 
his  home  and  in  so  doing  sacrifices  the  only 
witness  to  the  fact  that  he  is  innocent  of  the 
manslaughter  charge. 

The  gambler  jumps  his  bail,  and  in  the  com- 
pany of  the  boy  hides  out  in  an  isolated  country 
inn  run  by  a  genuinely  entrancing  blonde, 
Wanda  McKay.  Mr.  Reagen  falls  in  love  with 
the  innkeeper,  his  love  is  requited,  and  he  closes 
the  story  by  proving  his  love  for  boy,  girl  and 
society,  giving  himself  up  to  a  posse  led  by  the 
district  attorney  and  returning  to  pay  his  debt. 

John  T.  Coyle  produced,  and  Lambert  Hillyer 
directed. 

Seen  at  the  New  York  theatre.  Reviewer's 
Rating:  Mediocre.— B.  H. 

Release  date,  Dec.  17,  1943.  Running  time,  63  min. 
PCA  ISio.  9652.     General  audience  classification. 

Johnny  Reagen  Rick  Vallin 

Bobby   Bobby  Larson. 

Veda  Ann  Borg,  Wanda  McKay,  Jack  La  Rue,  Mary 
Gordon,  Paul  McVey.  Addison  Richards,  Roy  Darmour, 
Jon  Dawson. 

Billy  the  Kid  in 
Cattle  Stampede 

(PRC  Pictures) 
Western 

Billy  the  Kid  still  rides  the  range.  In  this, 
the  latest  of  the  series,  he  is,  as  usual,  confront- 
ed with  the  handicap  of  being  regarded  as  an 
oiitlaw  when  he  is  really  a  hero.  Some  boys 
with  an  eye  to  the  rewards  being  offered  for 
his  capture  are  on  the  way  to  cashing  in  when 
Billy  and  his  pal  are  warned  by  Ed  Dawson. 
The  guns  of  the  posse  blast  Ed  off  his  horse ; 
but  Billy  risks  being  captured  and  rides  into 
town  to  return  with  a  doctor. 

There-  is  a  range  war  in  progress  and  when 
Billy  and  Fuzzy  come  upon  a  dead  Dawson 
hand,  Mary,  Ed's  sister  and  daughter  of  the 
ranch  owner,  covers  them  with  a  pistol,  think- 
ing they  shot  her  father's  employee.  Billy  sat- 
isfies_  Mary  it  was  an  optical  illusion  and  the 
two  join  the  range  war  on  the  side  of  the  Daw- 
sons. 

Billy  and  Fuzzy  contrive  to  expose  the  out- 
laws, bringing  peace  once  again  to  the  cattle 
ranges. 

Fights  and  brawls  are  difficult  to  film.  In 
this  picture  they  are  numerous,  and  virtually 
every  hand-to-hand  combat  appears  on  the 
screen  as  unreal  as  the  story.  Sam  Newfield, 
directing,  was  obviously  hurried  by  the  produc- 
tion schedule. 

Seen  at  the  New  York  theatre.  Reidewer'.<: 
Rating:  Mediocre. — B.  H. 

Release  date,  August  16,  1943.  Running  time,  58 
mm.    PCA  No.  9446.    General  audience  classification. 

Billy   the  Kid   Buster  Crabbe 

Fuzzy  Jones   Al  St.  John 

Frances  Gladwin,  Charles  King,  Ed  Cassidy,  Hansel 
Werner,  Ray  Bennett,  Frank  Ellis,  Steve  Clark, 
Roy  Brent,  John  Ulliott,  Bud  Buster. 


Swingtime  Johnny 

(Universal) 

The  War  and  Music 

Wherein  the  Andrews  Sisters  and  Harriet 
Hilliard,  along  with  Mitch  Ayers  and  his  band, 
take  their  respective  swingtime  talents  to  a  war 
plant  for  the  duration. 

There  is  not  much  plot.  Having  entered  the 
plant  the  Andrews  trio  become  workers  in  over- 
alls, but  are  never  seen  working.  Miss  Hilliard 
becomes  secretary  to  the  head  of  the  company 
and  provides  the  love  interest  by  falling  in  love 
with  her  boss.  The  boss,  played  by  Peter  Cook- 
son,  is  a  stuffed  shirt  who,  through  the  combined 
efforts  of  the  four  girls  and  the  members  of  the 
orchestra,  becomes  malleable  to  matters  of  jive, 
and  the  heart  of  his  secretary. 

Some  saboteurs  on  the  board  of  directors  try 


to  take  over  the  plant  in  the  interest  of  mone- 
tary and  not  military  gains,  but  Miss  Hilliard 
sees  through  their  nefarious  doings  and  saves 
the  plant  for  her  boss  and  her  boss  for  herself. 
All  this  is  done  to  the  intermittent  accompani- 
ment of  musical  numbers  by  the  Andrews  Sis- 
ters, and  one  or  two  by  Miss  Hilliard  herself 
in  engaging  style. 

The  attempts  at  humor  are  feeble,  but  the 
presence  of  Harriet  Hilliard  establishes  the 
value  of  the  picture  for  other  than  fans  of  the 
trio  of  sisters. 

Seen  at  Locw's  State  in  the  company  of  an 
afternoon  audience  that  appeared  unimpressed. 
Reviewer's  Rating:  Mediocre. — B.  H. 

Release  date,  February  18,  1944.  Running  time,  60 
min.     PCA  No.  9771.     General  audience  classification. 

The  Andrews  Sisters  Themselves 

Linda  Lane  Harriet  Hilliard 

Peter  Cookson,  Matt  Willis,  Bill  Phillips,  Tim  Ryan, 
Mitch  Ayers  and  his  orchestra. 


ADVANCE  SYNOPSES 

and  information 


THE  DAY  WILL  COME 
(Columbia) 

PRODUCER:  Sam  Bischoff.  DIRECTOR: 
Andre  De  Toth.  PLAYERS:  Marsha  Hunt, 
Alexander  Knox,  Henry  Travers,  Eric  Rolf, 
Richard  Hale,  Trevor  Bardette,  Richard 
Crane,  Elvin  Fields,  Ray  Teal,  Art  Smith, 
Rex  Williams,  Shirley  Mills,  William  Ruhl, 
Caryl  Lincoln,  John  Marton,  Eileen  Cogh- 
lan,  Victor  Travers,  Anne  Parks. 

POSTWAR  DRAMA.  A  former  Polish 
school  teacher,  who  returned  to  Poland  from 
Nazi  Germany  with  the  invasion  forces  and 
became  a  gauleiter,  is  brought  to  trial  in  Po- 
land at  the  end  of  the  war  together  with  other 
Nazi  criminals.  He  had  ruined  the  girl  with 
whom  he  was  formerly  in  love  in  his  school 
teaching  days  and  committed  numerous  other 
crimes  against  the  Polish  citizens.  The  trial 
and  punishment  of  the  Nazi  criminals  brings 
the  picture  to  an  end. 

ADDRESS  UNKNOWN 
(Sam  Wood-Columbia) 

PRODUCER-DIRECTOR:  WilUam  Cam- 
eron Menzies.  PLAYERS:  Paul  Lukas, 
Mady  Christians,  K.  T.  Stevens,  Peter  Van 
Eyck,  Morris  Carnovsky,  Charles  Halton, 
Erwin  Kaiser,  Dale  Cornell,  Peter  New- 
meyer,  Larry  Joe  Olson,  Gary  Gray. 

DRAMA.  Partners  in  a  San  Francisco  art 
gallery  split,  one  of  them  returning  to  Germany 
where  he  becomes  a  Nazi.  He's  indirectly  re- 
sponsible for  the  killing  of  his  former  partner's 
daughter  by  Storm  Troopers  after  she  has  been 
banned  from  the  stage  in  Berlin  because  she  is 
Jewish.  The  partner  in  this  country  writes  in- 
criminating letters  which  finally  put  the  Nazi 
in  trouble  with  Hitler's  Gestapo.  The  last  letter 
is  returned,  marked  "Address  Unknown." 

UP  IN  MABEL'S  ROOM 
(U.A.-Edward  Small) 

PRODUCER:  Edward  Small.  DIRECTOR: 
Allan  Dwan.  PLAYERS:  Marjorie  Rey- 
nolds, Dennis  O'Keefe,  Gail  Patrick,  Mischa 
.  Auer,  Lee  Bowman,  Binnie  Barnes,  Char- 
lotte Greenwood,  John  Hubbard. 

FARCE.  This  picture  is  based  on  the  stage 
play  of  the  same  title.  It  deals  with  the  troubles 
of  a  young  newlywed,  who  has  explained 
everything  to  his  bride  that  happened  before  his 
marriage  with  the  exception  of  a  gift  of  in- 
scribed lingerie  to  another  woman  two  years 
previously.  In  an  effort  to  save  facing  his 
jealous  bride  with  the  truth  he  tries  to  recover 
the  lingerie  with  hilarious  complications  ensuing. 


CHRISTMAS  HOLIDAY 
(Universal) 

PRODUCER:  Felix  Jackson.  DIRECTOR: 
Robert  Siodmak.  PLAYERS:  Deanna  Dur- 
bin.  Gene  Kelly,  Dean  Harens,  Gale  Sonder- 
gaard. 

DRAMA  WITH  MUSIC.  Miss  Durbin 
plays  the  part  of  a  night  club  entertainer  in 
New  Orleans  whose  husband  is  in  prison.  She 
meets  a  young  officer  grounded  there  enroute 
to  San  Francisco  for  the  holidays.  When  she 
misses  her  bus  and  cannot  find  a  hotel  room, 
he  takes  her  to  his  suite,  where  she  spends 
Christmas  Eve.  The  next  day,  Christmas,  she 
tells  him  the  story  of  her  life.  Her  husband 
breaks  out  of  prison  and  comes  to  the  night 
club,  where  he's  killed  by  officers.  The  boy 
leaves  for  service  with  Deanna  bidding  him  a 
friendly  goodbye,  with  just  a  hint  that  after  the 
war  he  may  look  her  up. 

SONG  OF  THE  OPEN  ROAD  » 
(U.A.-Charles  Rogers) 

PRODUCER:  Charles  R.  Rogers.  DIREC- 
TOR: S.  Sylvan  Simon.  PLAYERS:  Edgar 
Bergen,  Charlie  McCarthy,  Bonita  Granville, 
Rose  Hobart,  Regis  Toomey,  W.  C.  Fields, 
Reginald  Denny  Jane  Powell,  Peggy  O'Neill, 
Pat  Starling,  Jeanne  Newport,  Sammy  Kaye 
and  his  band.  Chuck  Faulkner  and  band,  and 
others. 

COMEDY  WITH  MUSIC.  A  teen-aged 
Hollywood  star  disguises  herself  and  runs  away 
to  join  a  group  of  youths  helping  the  war  ef- 
fort by  harvesting  crops.  She's  a  failure  at 
farm  work,  but  when  she  reveals  her  true  iden- 
tity and  brings  Hollywood  stars  to  entertain  at 
a  ranch  whose  crop  is  threatened  by  storms,  she 
manages  to  attract  hundreds  of  persons  from 
the  countryside  who  pitch  in  and  save  the  crop. 

MY  REPUTATION 
(Warners) 

PRODUCER:  Henry  Blanke.  DIREC- 
TOR: Curtis  Bernhardt.  PLAYERS:  Bar- 
bara Stanwyck,  George  Brent,  Lucille  Wat- 
son, Warner  Anderson,  Robert  Shayne, 
Leona  Maricie,  Esther  Dale,  Mary  Servoss. 

DRAMA.  This  story  deals  with  the  strug- 
gles of  a  young  widow,  whose  husband  was 
killed  in  the  present  war,  to  readjust  her  life 
and  raise  her  two  sons.  At  the  same  time  she 
must  fight  the  domination  of  her  mother  who 
attempts  to  dictate  the  manner  in  which  she  is 
to  live  and  recover  from  the  blow  dealt  her  by 
the  war. 

Product  Digest  Section   1 695 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    I,  1944 


ADVANCE  SYNOPSES 

and  information 


THE  GHOST  THAT  WALKS  ALONE 
(Columbia) 

PRODUCER:  Jack  Fier.  DIRECTOR: 
Lew  Landers.  PLAYERS:  Arthur  Lake, 
Lynn  Roberts,  Janis  Carter,  Frank  Sully, 
Robert  Williams,  Matt  Willis,  Barbara 
Brown,  Warren  Ashe,  John  Tyrrell,  Jack 
Lee,  Paul  Hurst,  Arthur  Space. 

MYSTERY-COMEDY.  Arthur  Lake,  who 
is  sound  effects  man  on  a  radio  program,  picks 
the  time  when  the  sponsor  is  about  to  discard 
the  show  to  marry  a  member  of  the  cast.  When 
he  and  his  bride  leave  on  their  honeymoon,  the 
entire  cast  joins  them  to  rehearse  the  show  with 
new  material  in  hopes  of  saving  it  from  disas- 
ter. At  the  honeymoon  lodge  the  bridegroom 
prepares  to  retire  on  his  wedding  night  only  to 
find  the  show's  producer  in  the  next  bed,  mur- 
dered. Trying  to  solve  the  murder,  rehearse 
the  new  show,  and  have  a  honeymoon  at  the 
same  time  keeps  the  bridegroom  in  a  dither 
until  finally,  with,  the  help  of  two  others  in  the 
cast,  he  solves  the  murder. 


HAIL  THE  CONQUERING  HERO 
(Paramount) 

PRODUCER:  Paramount.  DIRECTOR: 
Preston  Sturges.  PLAYERS:  Eddie  Brack- 
en, Ella  Raines,  Franklin  Pangborn,  William 
Demarest,  Jimmy  Dundee,  Freddie  Steele, 
Georgia  Caine,  Esther  Howard. 

MARINE  SAGA.  The  son  of  a  U.  S. 
Marine  Corps  hero  of  the  last  war  goes  away 
with  lots  of  home-town  fanfare.  He's  given  a 
medical  discharge  by  the  Marine  Corps  doctors 
after  a  big  buildup  back  home  and  faces  the 
prospect  of  an  embarrassing  return  home.  In 
the  meantime,  word  of  his  return  reaches  home 
and  the  whole  town  prepares  to  give  him  a 
hero's  welcome.  He's  the  man  of  the  hour  to 
those  who  know  nothing  of  his  discharge.  He 
meets  a  couple  of  real  Marine  heroes  on  the 
train  just  back  from  Guadalcanal,  and  takes 
them  home  with  him.  They  take  over  the  play 
and  tell  the  home  folks  all  about  the  big  do- 
ings on  Guadacanal.  Everything  turns  out  all 
right  without  the  home-town  boy  having  to  face 
disgrace. 


TIMBER  QUEEN 
(Paramount) 

PRODUCERS:  William  Pine  and  William 
Thomas.  DIRECTOR:  Frank  McDonald. 
PLAYERS:  Dick  Arlen,  Mary  Beth  Hughes, 
June  Havoc,  Sheldon  Leonard,  George  E. 
Stone,  Duck  Purcell,  Tony  Hughes,  Edmund 
MacDonald,  Bille  Haade,  Clancy  Cooper, 
Dewey  Robinson,  Horace  McMahon,  Jimmy 
Ames. 

COMEDY  DRAMA.  A  flyer  returns  from 
the  South  Pacific  to  seek  the  widow  of  his  dead 
pal.  He  finds  her  a  singer  in  a  night  club  and 
soon  finds  the  pal  left  her  with  nothing  but  a 
huge  mortgage  on  rich  timber  land.  He  and 
Mary  Beth  Hughes,  the  widow,  plot  to  finance 
the  logging  of  the  land  with  the  $10,000  gam- 
bling bankroll  of  the  club  and  pay  off  the  mort- 
gage with  logs.  Complications  end  with  Dick 
flying  to  bomb  out  a  dam  thrown  into  the 
logging  stream.  He  crash  lands  at  the  end 
right  into  Mary  Beth  Hughes'  arms. 


TWO  SISTERS  AND  A  SAILOR 
(M-G-M) 

PRODUCER:  Joseph  Pasternak.  DIREC- 
TOR: Richard  Thorpe.  PLAYERS:  June 
Allyson,  Gloria  DeHaven,  Jimmy  Durante, 
Van  Johnson,  Ben  Blue,  Harry  James  and 
Orchestra,  Xavier  Cugat  and  orchestra, 
Carlos  Ramirez,  Donald  Meek. 

COMEDY  WITH  MUSIC.  Two  sisters 
open  up  their  home  as  a  canteen  for  service- 
men, one  of  them  a  young  sailor  whom  both 
like  very  much  but  feel  shouldn't  spend  his 
money.  Unknown  to  them  he  is  very  wealthy 
but  having  a  hard  time  to  decide  which  one  of 
the  girls  he  likes  most.  He  gives  them  a  ware- 
house to  be  turned  into  a  big  canteen  when 
along  comes  a  soldier  who  falls  in  love  with 
one  of  the  sisters.  When  the  sailor  realizes  one 
of  the  girls  is  in  love  with  .someone  else  he 
awakens  to  the  fact  he's  really  in  love  with 
the  other.  All  hands  are  happy. 


MARINE  RAIDERS 
(RKO  Radio) 

PRODUCER:  Robert  Fellows.  DIREC- 
TOR: Harold  Schuster.  PLAYERS:  Pat 
O'Brien,  Robert  Ryan,  Ruth  Hussey,  Frank 
McHugh,  Barton  MacLane,  Richard  Mar- 
tin, Barbara  Hale,  Russell  Wade,  Tommy 
Bryson,  Richard  Davies,  Don  Dillaway,  Ed- 
mund Glover,  Robert  Anderson,  Joseph  Vi- 
tale,  Michael  St.  Angel,  James  Jordan,  Steve 
Winston,  Lawrence  Tiemey,  Robert  Dane. 

WAR  DRAMA.  This  is  a  story  of  the 
Marines,  the  way  they  train,  fight  and  live  with 
a  romance  injected  to  give  it  additional  lift, 
dramatic  possibilities  and  love  interest.  The 
Marines  are  first  seen  in  battle  in  the  South 
Pacific.  Brother  officers,  who  are  buddies,  fall 
out  when  one  of  them  falls  in  love  with  a  girl 
while  they  are  in  Australia  recuperating  from 
wounds.  The  elder  one,  thinking  such  sudden 
love  won't  work,  has  the  other  ordered  home. 
Returning  to  the  States,  they  are  assigned  to 
training  new  Marine  Raider  outfits  but  are 
estranged.  In  the  end,  the  younger  man's  love 
proves  out,  his  superior  officer  pal  realizes  the 
girl  is  a  fine  woman,  and  all  is  warm  friendship 
once  again. 


RIDERS  OF  THE  DEADLINE 
(U.  A.  -  Sherman) 

PRODUCER:  Harry  Sherman.  DIREC- 
TOR: Leslie  Eslander.  PLAYERS:  WiUiam 
Boyd,  Andy  Clyde,  Jimmy  Rogers,  Richard 
Crane,  Frances  Woodward,  Herbert  Raw- 
linson. 

HOPPY  UNCOVERS  RACKETEERS. 
In  order  to  get  a  ranger  friend  out  of  a  jam, 
Hopalong  Cassidy  pretends  tq  be  a  criminal 
and  is  outlawed  from  the  Rangers.  He  joins 
the  real  thieves,  who  have  framed  and  killed  his 
friend.  Then  he  uncovers  all  the  corrupt  poli- 
tics at  peril  of  his  life  and  at  risk  of  being  sus- 
pected himself.  After  a  situation  calling  for 
gunplay,  Hoppy  brings  to  justice  the  respectable 
banker  of  the  town,  the  leader  of  the  gang  and 
the  instigator  of  all  the  skullduggery  and  the 
smuggling.  The  picture  marks  the  second  ap- 
pearance for  Sherman  of  Jimmy  Rogers,  son 
of  the  late  Will,  as  Hopalong's  side-kick. 


HENRY  ALDRICH.  BOY  SCOUT 
(Paramount) 

PRODUCER:  Walter  MacEwen.  DIREC- 
TOR: Hugh  Bennett.  PLAYERS:  Jimmy 
Lydon,  Charlie  Smith,  Joan  Mortimer,  John 
Litel,  Olive  Blakeney,  Darryl  Hickman. 

ALDRICH  SERIES  AGAIN.  Henry  Aid- 
rich  is  the  leader  of  a  Boy  Scout  troop  striving 
to  win  first  place  in  competitive  tests.  His 
father,  anxious  to  locate  a  big  factory  in  Cen- 
terville,  persuades  him  to  take  into  the  troop 
the  willful  son  of  the  manufacturer  and  then 
Henry's  troubles  begin.  On  an  overnight  hike 
Henry's  compass  proves  to  be  wrong  and  they 
all  get  lost.  It's  blamed  on  the  manufacturer's 
son,  but  finally  proved  that  someone  else  tam- 
pered with  the  compass.  Henry's  troop  wim 
out. 

BEAUTIFUL  BUT  BROKE 
(Columbia) 

PRODUCER:  Irving  Briskin.  DIRECTOR: 
Charles  Barton.  PLAYERS:  Joan  Davis, 
Jane  Frazee,  John  Hubbard,  Bob  Haymes, 
Judy  Clark,  Grace  Hayle,  Isabel  Withers. 

COMEDY  WITH  MUSIC.  Joan  Davis  is 
left  a  defunct  artists'  agency  by  her  boss  who 
has  joined  the  marines.  She  gets  a  girl  band 
to  tour  the  country,  but  they  are  stranded  in  a 
small  town  when  Joan  loses  her  purse  with  all 
funds  and  tickets.  Unable  to  remain  at  the 
hotel,  they  find  what  appears  to  be  an  empty 
house.  It's  on  a  munitions  plant  proving 
grounds  as  they  learn  when  rudely  awakened 
the  next  morning  by  exploding  shells.  Per- 
suaded by  the  engineer  in  charge  to  give  a 
benefit  for  a  war  worker  nursery,  they  dis- 
cover they  are  also  expected  to  operate  it. 

MY  BEST  GAL 
(Republic) 

PRODUCER:  Harry  Grey.  DIRECTOR: 
Anthony  Mann.  PLAYERS:  Jane  Withers, 
Jimmy  Lydon,  Frank  Craven,  Fortimio  Bon- 
anova.  Franklin  Pangborn. 

ROMANTIC  COMEDY  WITH  MUSIC. 
Kitty  O'Hara,  although  descended  from  a  long 
line  of  troupers  and  possessed  of  a  lovely  voice, 
has  no  aspirations  for  a  theatrical  career.  This 
dismays  her  grandfather,  an  old  trouper,  with 
whom  she  makes  her  home.  But  blood  tells  in 
the  end,  and  Kitty  steps  in  to  help  put  across 
a  musical  show  written  by  the  boy  she  loves. 

SAILOR'S  HOLIDAY 
(Columbia) 

PRODUCER:  WaUace  MacDonald.  DI- 
RECTOR: William  Berke.  PLAYERS: 
Arthur  Lake,  Jane  Lawrence,  Bob  Hasmies, 
Shelley  Winter,  Lewis  Wilson.  Edmund 
MacDonald,  Herbert  Rawlinson. 

COMEDY.  Story  deals  with  two  merchant 
seaman  on  thirty  hours'  leave  in  Hollywood. 
One  is  in  love  with  a  sidewalk  photographic 
shop  model  who  poses  with  servicemen  and 
the  other  has  fallen  for  the  stand-in  to  a  famous 
film  star.  They  visit  a  studio,  become  involved 
and  entangled  in  a  production,  holding  up  work 
on  the  set.  They  get  switched  around  on  the 
love  affair,  but  finally  get  things  straightened 
out.  Each  one  marries  the  right  girl  before 
putting  to  s^^, 


1 696  Product  Digest  Sectiqn 


\ 


RENOWN  PICTURES  CORPORATION  LTD. 


(Managing  Director:  J.  GEORGE  MINTER,  A.L.A.A.) 


Ill  A.  WARDOUR  STREET 


LONDON.  W.  1. 


THE  REVIVAL  SPECIALISTS  OF  THE  UNITED  KINGDOM 

WHO  PRODUCE  THE  RESULTS 


1943  REVIVAL  PROGRAMME  INCLUDED  ^ 


Hal  Roach 


KING  SOLOMON'S  MINES 
GOOD  MORNING  BOYS 
GREAT  BARRIER 
SABOTAGE 
O.H.M.S. 

OKAY  FOR  SOUND 
TAKE  MY  TIP 
HIS  LORDSHIP 


OUR  TOWN 
Ernst  Lubitsch's 

THAT  UNCERTAIN  FEELING 


TOPPER  TAKES  A  TRIP 
THERJE  GOES  MY  HEART 
CAPTAIN  FURY 
CHUMP  AT  OXFORD 


Herbert  Wilcox  Prod  mctiom— QUEEN  VICTORIA 


—POT  C  GOLD 


One  thing  the  war  did  . . .  It  brought  a  lot  of  old  customers  back  . .  .  who  had  stopped 
coming  to  your  theatre . . .  The  family  jaloppy  was  gasless ...  or  it  needed  new  tires . . . 
or  was  dead  for  the  duration  ...  So  former  golf  addicts  switched  to  films  .  .  .  Workers 
with  big  bankrolls  started  doing  likewise  . . .  Fathers  who  formerly  delegated  ma  and 
the  kids  to  do  all  the  picture-going  ...  for  the  family . . .  took  their  place  at  the  head  of 
the  delegation  . . .  The  war  started  it . . .  Now  what  are  you  going  to  do  about  it?  .  .  . 
Hang  on  to  it?  . . .  Fight  for  it?  . . .  Or  throw  it  away?  ...  We  have  the  stufF  to  help  you 
hang  on  to  it . . .  You  put  it  on  your  billboards ...  in  their  hands  ...  in  their  EARS  . . . 
under  their  doorways  ...  in  their  EYES  . . .  about  every  place  they  can  look  . . .  They 
can't  get  away  from  it .  .  .  and  you  .  .  .  We  can  PROVE  it. 


nnTionni 


Q^een  service 

\^pnic  BHarofTHimousnar 


OTION  PICTURE 

lit  RAID 


EVIEWS 


{In  Product  Digest) 

The  Miracle  of 

Morgan's  Creek 

The  Lodger 

Standing  Room  Only 

Queen 

Uninvited 

Cowboy  in  the  Clouds 

California  Joe 

Henry  Aldrich,  Boy  Scout 

Riders  of  the  Deadline 


—  in 


miimiL 


Service 


PRODUCT  DIGEST 

Advance  data.  Reviews  on 
all  pictures,  Release  Chart 


PICTURE  CROSSES 

Report  on  the  pace-making 
engagements  of  better  pictures 


WHAT  the  PICTURE  DID  for  ME' 

Exhibitors  speak  their  minds 
about  box  office  results 

MANAGERS'  ROUND  TABLE 

Where  Showmen  hold  weekly 
experience  meeting  and  report 


dtm 


Things  to  Think  About  for  the  Post-Wor  Theatre 


VOL  154,  NO.  2 


in  tl 


Entered  as 
weekly  by  <J 
in  the  Amerieui, 


),>ri,  l,l/.v,  L'  .'i.A.,  uiidii  I'' 
■  liter,  \'ew  York  20,  A'.  )'. 

^^  l  i'.. 'i/,-,'   104-1-         Oi'i,i'.  ^'  ' 


JANUARY  8.  1944 


'K  prices:  $5.00  a  year 


I 


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iVv^^'^  tVve  \^  vJ^^\  V^g^^  jTt^e 


-pie 


P.S.  The  reason  is  that 
M-G-M's  "MADAME 
CURIE"  is  playing 
in  4  Los  Angeles 
Theatres,  and  it's  a 
leading  contender  for 
the  Academy  Award. 


a9 


ties;  . -^sn't J'^e»t:!;<,et  I'^To'aV^^  o^^  dotv'\/rG»V 


1  ^^'^  V 


Joe  ^ 


v\vet 


M-G-M  presents  Spencer  Tracy  •  Irene  Dunne  in  Victor  Fleming's  Production  of  "A  Guy  Named  Joe"  with  Van 
Johnson  •  Ward  Bond  •  James  Gleason  •  Lionel  Barrymore  •  Barry  Nelson  •  Esther  Williams  •  Screen  Play  by  Dalton 
Trumbo  •  Adaptation  by  Frederick  Hazlitt  Brennan  •  Directed  by  Victor  Fleming  •  Produced  by  Everett  Riskin 


■Our  Two  Big  Jobs  in  January:    Fourth  War  Loan  and  March  of  Dimes!!L 


I 


WANT  SINCERELY  TO  EXPRESS  OUR  APPRECIATION  TO  ALL  THE 
MOTION  PICTURE  CRITICS  OF  NEW  YORK;  FOR  THEIR  SELECTION  OF 

"WATCH  ON  THE  RHINE" 

AS  THE  BEST  PICTURE  OF  THE  YEAR 

c 

WE  FEEL  THAT  THIS  CHOICE  IS  NOT  ONLY  RECOGNITION  OF  A 
FINE  ENTERTAINMENT,  BUT  IS  ALSO  RECOGNITION  OF  THIS  COM- 
PANY'S CONVICTION  THAT  OUR  INDUSTRY  HAS  A  VERY  REAL 
OBLIGATION.  TO  PRODUCE  THE  KIND  OF  PICTURES  THAT  WILL, 
WITHIN  THE  STRICT  LIMITS  OF  ENTERTAINMENT,  HELP  TO  AD- 
VANCE THE  FREEDOMS  WHICH  ALL  DECENT  MEN  HOLD  DEAR. 

THEIR  FURTHER  CHOICE  OF 

IDA  LUPINO 

AS   THE  BEST  ACTRESS  OF  THE  YEAR 

FOR  HER  PERFORMANCE  IN  "THE  HARD  WAY",  AND  OF 

PAUL  LUKAS 

AS    THE  BEST  ACTOR  OF  THE  YEAR 

FOR  HIS  PERFORMANCE  IN  "WATCH  ON  THE  RHINE",  MAkInG  THIS 
YEAR'S  AWARDS  ALMOST  WHOLLY  A  WARNER  BROS.  "PARTY",  HAS 
MADE  ALL  OF  US  HAPPY,  PROUD  AND  MORE  DETERMINED  THAN 
EVER  TO  KEEP  WARNER  BROS.  OUT  IN  FRONT. 

^-f     Executive  Producer 


Screen  1 


i^uN  iAi£  •  ioi  mm  ■  mm  wct^ 

Directed,  by  DELMER  OAVES  Produced  by 

er  Daves  and  Albert  Maltz  •  From  an  Original  Story  by  Steve  Fisher  •  Music  by  Fronz  Woxman 


^ 


A  GREAT  LIVING  AMERICAN! 

leneran!  Connally  Resolution! 

Countless  articles  liUe  Raymond 
CI  appers  reprin  ted  bel  ow ;  Wliat 
greater  tribute  could  Ije  paid  to 
Woodrow  VTilso  n  an  d  the  / 
power  of  all  lie  fouglit  for  on  tliis, 
tlie  87tli  anniversary  of  liis  Ijirtii! 


.„.na. ......     ^  . 


and, 


Stood  tI,    "'n  as 

°       a,vax  ^"3' 


no,v  /  ^Ofld  "'"^^  tod.    .  Oid 

Jeasf      '^^  -^^  am       ^orp    r  ^'  and 

cot''  "^d  J         see^Vf  the  p^^^".  ^Ae 
-^aS'"'^2-^"^S^^ 


Reprintetf  by  courtesy  of 
Scripps  Howafd  Newspapers  - 


DARRYL  F.  ZANUCK'S  TECHNICOLOR  PRODUCTION  OF  "WILSON"  FOR  20th  CENTURY-FOX 
IS  BEING  DIRECTED  BY  HENRY  KING  AND  WRITTEN  BY  LAMAR  TROTTI 


1^ 


This  advertisement  appeared  in  full-page  size  in  all  Washington,  D.  C, 
newspapers ...  on  the  occasion  of  Wilson's  Birthday,  Decennber  28,  1943. 


MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD 


COLVIN  BROWN,  PitbUsher 

MART  IN  QUIGLEY 
President  and  Editor-in-Chief 

TERRY  RAIASAYB,  Editor 

Vol.  154,  No.  2 

January  8,  1944 

THE  PECLER  APPROACH 

MR.  WESTBROOK  PEGLER,  self-assigning  reporter  and 
militant  colunnnist,  has  made  some  significant  contri- 
butions to  journalism.  He  had  an  important  hand  in 
the  bringing  of  Willie  Bioff  to  justice,  and  related  attentions  to 
the  Federal  prosecution  and  conviction  of  co-conspirators  and 
extortionists  preying  upon  the  motion  picture  companies. 

The  inquiry  which  brought  Bioff  to  bar  was  sharply  pointed, 
rifle-shot  reporting.  It  was  particularized,  specific. 

But  now  Mr.  Pegler  in  a  current  column  is  seized  of  a  perfect 
Donald  Duck  sort  of  irate  frenzy  and  fires  broadcast  with  a 
scatter-gun  at  the  whole  of  the  industry  and  all  of  its  people. 

The  importance  of  Mr.  Pegler's  position  and  his  responsibility 
and  repute  would  seem  to  require  of  him  poise  and  a  very  real 
devotion  to  his  considerably  avowed  attitude  of  concern  for 
accuracy  and  fair  play. 

Twice,  in  trials  in  the  Federal  courts,  juries  have  held  that 
the  gangster  defendants  were  guilty  of  extortion,  and  yet 
Mr.  Pegler  reverses  the  processes  of  law  and  renders  a  personal 
verdict  of  bribery,  because  it  appears  that  better  fits  his  con- 
cept. He  obviously  has  limned  for  himself  an  over-all  picture 
in  sharp  black  and  white,  mostly  black,  which  depicts  for  him 
all  that  there  is  to  be  recorded  in  the  total  scene.  Those  things 
are  so  which  he  would  have  so,  and  there  is  nothing  else  that 
can  be  so.  That  is  not,  one  must  Insist,  the  exercise  of  the 
process  of  reporting,  which  is  assumed  to  be  concerned  with 
facts,  be  they  what  they  may.  There  is  a  quality  of  selfishness, 
an  obtuseness  about  this  personal  verdict  unbecoming  a  white 
knight  professing  to  be  armed  in  the  cause  of  justice  and 
decency. 

Loose  and  sweeping  generalization,  spurning  facts  In  the 
way  of  preconceived  patterns,  are  the  practices  of  mad, 
intolerant  crusaders.  This  Is  the  order  of  intemperance  which 
creates  new  injustices  while  Inveighing  against  old  ones.  That 
is  disservice  of  society. 

AAA 

ESQUIRE  CASE 

WE  are  presently  to  see  an  adjudication  of  the  ques- 
tion of  the  admissibility  of  the  magazine,  Esquire, 
to  the  privilege  of  second-class  mail  rates. 
Reports  and  discussions  In  the  daily  press  tend  toward  con- 
fusions concerning  the  issue. 

Inevitably,  both  headlines  and  copy  enjoy  a  focus  on  the 
"Varga  Girl".  If  you  happen  not  to  have  met  her  In  print.  It 
is  to  be  explained  that  she  Is  a  slightly  clad  beauty,  as  lithesome 
and  looksome  in  her  contours  as  the  artist,  Mr.  Alberto  Varga, 
a  broad-minded  Peruvian,  can  contrive.  She  is  well  designed 
to  remind  a  young  man  of  something  he  would  like  to  do.  She 
has  no  reference  to  a  stained  glass  window  or  an  "Ode  to  a 
Grecian  Urn".  She  keynotes  a  policy  which  has  tinted  the  out- 
look of  Esquire.  The  exact  shade  is  a  ripe  nubile-pink. 

Subsequent  to  the  issuance  of  a  show-cause  order  from  the 
Postmaster  General,  Mr.  Frank  C.  Walker,  there  was  a  hearing 
by  a  board  of  three  officers  of  the  Post  Office  Department. 


Most  of  what  was  heard  from  the  ensuing  sessions  bore  on  the 
question  of  material  alleged  to  be  "of  an  obscene,  lewd  and 
lascivious  character".  Resulting  reports  found  two  of  the  hear- 
ing officers  voting  not  guilty,  with  the  third  dissenting. 

That,  however.  Is  not  the  only  Issue.  The  show-cause  order 
Included  citation  of  the  Fourth  Condition  of  the  statute  describ- 
ing the  second-class  mailing  privilege.  That  condition  stipulates 
that  the  publication  "must  be  originated  and  published  for 
the  dissemination  of  information  of  a  public  character,  or 
devoted  to  literature,  the  sciences,  arts,  or  some  special 
Industry.  ..." 

But  the  Postmaster  General  the  while  does  not  view  Esquire 
as  devoted  to  social  service,  arts,  sciences  or  industry,  and 
under  the  Fourth  Condition  has  revoked  the  second-class  privi- 
lege for  the  magazine,  effective  February  28.  He  the  while 
points  out  that  there  Is  time  for  an  indicated  attention  by  the 
courts,  and  by  the  Congress. 

The  procedure  in  no  event  bars  Esquire  from  the  mails, 
under  other  classification,  and  it  makes  no  findings  on  the 
moral  character  of  the  publication.  It  would,  however,  promise 
to  Increase  the  distribution  cost  for  Esquire  by  about  a  half 
a  million  dollars  a  year.  If  by  mail. 

THE  fact  Is  that  the  second-class  rate  Is  a  subsidy,  paid  by 
the  nation,  to  the  business  of  publication  In  the  service  of 
society  and  commerce.  Second-class  matter  does  not  pay 
its  way  In  postage.  By  reason  of  its  contribution  to  the  circu- 
lation of  the  media,  the  special  rate  Is  a  subsidy  also  to  all 
American  business  which  advertises  In  print. 

The  statute  appears  to  make  clear  that  the  second-class  mail- 
ing provision  is  decidedly  a  privilege,  despite  the  fact  that 
there  have  been  many  contentions  that  It  is  a  right  and  a  right 
to  be  enjoyed  by  most  anyone  periodically  putting  something 
to  press. 

The  Fourth  Condition  assumes  a  judgment  of  admissibility. 
Preceding  rulings  and  adjudications  add  up  to  a  conflicting 
tangle.  Mr.  Walker,  both  as  official  and  citizen,  is  In  sound 
position  with  a  demand  for  adjudication  or  legislation  which 
shall  have  a  positive  meaning  expressive  of  the  will  of  the 
people  of  the  Republic. 

AAA 

COME  next  week  and  a  Thursday,  January  13,  Mr.  W.  Ray 
Johnston  will  be  marking,  and  doubtless  celebrating,  the 
thirtieth  anniversary  of  his  coming  to  the  motion  picture. 
He  entered  through  the  main  gate  to  the  Thanhouser  studio 
up  in  New  Rochelle,  which  at  that  time  was  really  "forty-five 
minutes  from  Broadway".  Now,  In  Hollywood,  he  is  president 
of  Monogram  Pictures  Corporation  and,  by  reason  of  con- 
tinuous attention  to  this  business  of  motion  pictures,  is  a  lot 
better  known  to  a  somewhat  bigger  industry. 

AAA 

At  the  hour  of  twelve,  midnight,  January  I,  the  National 
Youth  Administration  ceased  to  exist,  by  reason  of  an  act  of 
Congress.  It  turned  in  300  tons  of  old  records,  to  be  sold, 
says  the  Associated  Press,  for  waste  paper. 

— Terry  Ramsaye 


8 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    8,  1944 


THIS  WEEK  IN  THE  NEWS 


Eagles^  Oak  Leaves 

PROMOTIONS  for  their  services  in  tiie 
Army's  application  of  the  motion  picture  to 
war  were  received  by  two  of  Hollywood's 
leading  men  in  uniform  this  week.  Frank 
Capra,  producer  of  the  "Why  We  Fight" 
series  for  the  Special  Services  branch,  was 
promoted  to  a  full  Colonel  and  Major  Hal 
Roach  was  made  a  Lieutenant  Colonel  in 
the  Air  Corps.  Colonel  Roach,  who  has  been 
an  adviser  on  films  to  the  War  Department 
since  the  last  war,  has  been  transferred  from 
the  Air  Corps  training  film  section  at 
Wright  Field  to  Washington,  where  it  is 
reported  he  will  have  direction  over  the 
corps  combat  cameramen.  Both  men  have 
been  in  uniform  since  before  Pearl  Harbor, 
Colonel  Capra  rising  from  the  rank  of  Ma- 
jor. Not  long  ago  Harry  Hopkins  told  one 
of  his  White  House  luncheon  guests  that 
he  believed  "Capra  should  boss  all  the  pic- 
tures for  the  Army."  He  had  just  seen 
"Battle  for  Russia"  produced  by  Colonels 
Capra  and  Anatole  Litvak. 


Apprecia  Hon 

THANK  you's  were  graciously  passed 
along  to  the  trade  press  this  week  by  Wil- 
liam F.  Rodgers,  general  sales  manager  of 
MGM,  and  retiring  chairman  of  the  War 
Activities  Committee  distributor  division, 
for  their  assistance  in  WAC  campaigns  dur- 
ing 1943.  He  expressed  appreciation  for 
"many  cooperations." 

"The  improvements  in  the  distribution  of 
war  films,  a  record  of  which  the  industry 
may  well  be  proud,  the  showings  on  Bond 
premieres  and  the  various  drives  would  not 
have  been  possible  had  it  not  been  for  the 
fullness  of  your  cooperation  and  the  desired 
publicity  and  intelligent  reporting  of  these 
activities  which  you  gave,"  he  wrote  Mo- 
tion Picture  Herald. 


Store  Sales 

ACCORDING  to  the  monthly  survey  made 
and  announced  this  week  by  the  New  York 
Times,  sales  of  New  York  and  Brooklyn 
department  stores  declined  approximately 
one  per  cent  in  December,  as  compared  to 
the  same  month  of  1942.  It  is  the  first 
December  decrease  registered  since  1939. 
The  decline  is  attributed  to  the  huge  volume 
of  advance  gift  buying  done  in  November. 
The  increase  in  sales  for  November  was  20 
per  cent  over  the  same  month  for  1942.  In 
1942  Christmas  came  on  Friday,  giving  the 
department  stores  an  added  day  of  business 
this  Christmas  week. 

Twelve  stores  were  covered  in  the  survey, 
one  showing  an  increase  of  6.5  per  cent, 
one  a  decrease  of  eight  per  cent,  another 
a  decrease  of  three  per  cent,  and  10  stores 
showing  increases  varying  in  figures  below 
the  top  figure  of  6.5  per  cent. 

There  was  evidence  of  buyers  anticipating 


EXHIBITORS  ask  more  music,  more  comedy 
and  less  war  Page  12 

WAR  Production  Board  sets  conditions  for 
new  theatres  Page  13 

INVASION    plans    spur  British-American 
post-war  deals  Page  39 

ON  THE  MARCH  —  Red  Kann  discusses 
WAC  distributor  report  Page  43 

HOPPER  urges  film  industry  be  given  seat 
at  peace  table  Page  44 


higher  excise  levies,  with  liquors,  furs, 
jewelry  and  toiletries  departments  showing 
a  brisk  business.  Other  departments  likewise 
afifected  were  women's  fur  trimmed  coats, 
fabrics  and  sportswear.  Those  departments 
showing  a  decrease  in  business  were  mainly : 
toy,  radio,  furniture,  shoe,  men's  furnishings 
and  men's  wear,  and  housewares.  A  scarcity 
of  merchandise  in  most  of  these  lines  was  an 
important  factor,  the  Times  reported. 


Mayer  to  Army 

ARTHUR  MAYER,  owner  of  the  Rialto 
theatre,  New  York,  and  for  the  past  two 
years  executive  vice-chairman  of  the  War 
Activities  Committee,  may  take  a  War  De- 
partment post,  Washington  observers  re- 
ported Tuesday.  Army  officials  refused  to 
disclose  what  type  of  position  it  would  be, 
asserting  it  had  not  been  decided  as  yet.  The 
understanding  in  the  capital  is  that  Mr. 
Mayer  will  act  in  a  technical  capacity. 


Nazi  Theatres  Blitzed 

INDICATION  of  the  amount  of  damage 
in  lives,  property  and  morale  as  a  result 
of  the  Allied  air  raids  over  Germany  was 
seen  this  week  in  a  British  radio  report 
which  said  that  the  Deutsche  Allgemeine 
Zeitung,  German  newspaper,  disclosed  near- 
ly all  of  Berlin's  theatres  and  music  halls 
had  been  closed  down. 

For  entertainment  and  relaxation,  the  Ger- 
man people  still  have  Hitler's  reports  on  the 
Germany  Army's  "victories"  on  the  Eastern 
front;  the  Nazi  propaganda  radio  programs 
and  the  Nazi-controlled  press,  including  the 
comic  strips. 


INDUSTRY  maps  final  plans  for  launching 
new  War  Loan  drive  Page  45 

NEW  Consent  Decree  draft  ready;  await 
word  from  Tom  Clark  Page  46 

CONGRESS  is  expected  to  act  quickly  on 
new  admission  tax  Page  56 

DETAILS  of  RKO  pension  and  retirement 
fund  plan  are  announced  Page  58 

PLEDGES  received  assure  March  of  Dimes 
goal  of  $10,000,000  Page  62 


Hero 

THE  staff  of  RKO's  23rd  Street  house  has 
been  cast  in  gloom.  Their  one-time  manager, 
Staff  Sgt.  James  J.  O'Donnell  was  killed 
in  action  in  a  recent  air  raid  over  Bremen. 
Just  last  July  the  RKO  staff  was  rejoicing 
at  the  news  in  the  daily  New  York  news- 
papers. The  story  of  the  heroism  of  Ser- 
geant O'Donnell  was  being  told  in  print. 
Seated  behind  a  turret  gun  of  a  Flying 
Fortress,  the  Sergeant  had  knocked  a  Focke- 
Wulf  out  of  the  air  and  sent  it  crashing 
into  the  English  Channel.  Sergeant  O'Don- 
nell rose  from  an  usher  in  one  RKO  house, 
the  Jefferson  on  14th  Street,  to  become 
manager  of  the  23rd  Street  theatre.  He  was 
28  years  of  age  when  he  plunged  to  his 
death  over  Bremen.  He  was  with  the  RKO 
organization  for  13  years.  His  death  in  ac- 
tion was  made  known  by  the  War  Depart- 
ment Tuesday. 


Stream  lin  ing 

THE  American  Weekly,  a  Hearst  publica- 
tion claiming  22,500,000  readers  and  a  list 
of  advertisers  including  film  distributors,  has 
altered  its  format  to  conform  with  the  times, 
shrinking  somewhat  in  width  and  length  and 
broadening  out  in  thickness.  The  publishers 
refer  to  the  new  format  as  being  streamlined. 
There  is  also  evidence  that  the  American 
Weekly  is  going  in  for  better  Hollywood 
coverage,  what  with  their  having  sent  the 
Sunday  supplement's  film  editor  John  U. 
Sturdevant,  to  the  film  capital  "to  dig  up 
some  striking  features  through  being  on  the 
ground  that  we  would  otherwise  miss."  Mr. 
Strudevant  will  remain  in  Hollywood  in- 
definitely. 


SERVICE  DEPARTMEN 

Hollywood  Scene 

Page  55 

In  the  Newsreels 

Page  67 

Managers'  Round  Table 

Page  75 

Picture  Grosses 

Page  74 

Shorts  on  Broadway 

Page  72 

TS 

What  the  Picture  Did  for  Me      Page  70 

IN  PRODUCT  DIGEST  SECTION 

Showmen's  Reviews  Page  1705 

Release  Chart  by  Companies  Page  1707 
The  Release  Chart  Page  1708 


January    8,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


9 


New  Year 

WITH  business  during  the  week  from 
Christmas  to  New  Year's  uniformly  good  in 
the  nation's  theatres,  many  reported  over 
the  weekend  the  greatest  New  Year's  busi- 
ness in  their  history.  The  Radio  City  Music 
Hall,  New  York,  was  one  of  these.  In  the 
holiday  week,  it  registered  a  gross  of 
$132,000,  its  all-time  record.  The  picture 
there,  now  in  its  fourth  week,  is  "Madame 
Curie." 

Other  theatres  of  New  York's  Broadway 
sector  report  similar  high  receipts.  The  Roxy 
in  the  seven  days  beginning  Christmas  Day, 
recorded  201,593  admissions.  The  picture 
was  "The  Gang's  All  Here."  The  Strand, 
with  "Destination  Tokyo,"  collected  on  New 
Year's  Eve  $1,500  more  than  it  did  last 
year  with  "Yankee  Doodle  Dandy,"  its 
previous  record  breaker. 

From  London,  Warners  cabled  Tuesday 
that  its  "This  is  the  Army"  at  the  Warner 
theatre  in  that  city  broke  all  records  over  the 
weekend.  Police  helped  handle  the  crowds. 
Many  patrons  were  turned  away. 


Italia  News 

ITALIAN-AMERICAN  film  audiences  are 
to  have  a  special  screen  report  on  the 
progress  of  Allied  Armies  in  the  liberation 
of  their  homeland.  A  full  length  docu- 
mentary based  on  newsreels  and  official  films 
from  the  Italian  front  had  its  premiere  Sun- 
day at  the  World  theatre  in  New  York. 
Titled  "L'ltalia  Non  Muore  Mai"  ("Italy 
Will  Never  Die")  it  was  produced  by  A. 
Battistoni  under  the  banner  of  Vesuvius 
Films.  He  was  hopeful  that  it  would  re- 
vive the  once  booming  Italian  language  film 
business  in  cities  with  large  Italo-American 
populations.  And  there  were  hopes,  too, 
that  it  would  be  sent  back  to  Italy  by  the 
OWI  as  the  first  Italian  language  film  in 
many  years  to  bear  a  "Made  in  U.S.A." 
label. 


Spy  Story 

TWO  peddlers  of  Nazi  motion  pictures  in 
the  U.  S.  were  among  the  33  persons  in- 
dicted for  sedition  by  a  Federal  Grand  Jury 
in  Washington  on  Monday.  They  are 
Frank  K.  Ferenz,  who  owned  and  operated 
the  Continental  theatre,  Los  Angeles,  show 
window  for  Nazi  screen  propaganda,  and 
Ernst  Eisele,  Sr.,  of  Staten  Island,  N.  Y., 
variously  connected  with  Ufa  Films,  Inc., 
subsidized  distributor  for  the  "new  order's" 
pictures  in  the  U.  S.  before  Pearl  Harbor. 
Attorney  General  Francis  Biddle  charges 
them  with  conspiring  against  the  United 
States  Government  in  behalf  of  the  Third 
Reich. 

Eisele,  in  addition  to  his  Ufa  connections, 
was  president  of  the  B.  Westermann  Com- 


pany, Inc.,  operators  of  a  plushy  German 
bookstore  in  48th  Street,  just  off  New 
York's  Fifth  Avenue.  The  FBI  shut  up 
the  shop  on  December  8,  1941.  Eisele,  Sr., 
was  charged  with  "aiding  and  abetting  the 
Westermann  company  in  its  failure  to  regis- 
ter as  an  agent  of  a  foreign  principal."  Herr 
Eisele  had  been  an  executive  of  Ufa  before 
the  Nazis  came  to  power  in  1932.  His 
son,  Ernst,  Jr.,  was  an  officer  of  Ufa. 

In  the  summer  of  1941,  when  President 
Roosevelt  ordered  the  Treasury  to  freeze 
German  and  Italian  funds  in  the  U.  S 
Motion  Picture  Herald  learned  that  a 
portion  of  the  Ufa  funds  was  transferred 
from  a  New  York  bank  to  the  account  of 
Eisele,  Sr.  This  information  was  given  by 
the  Herald  to  the  Treasury  officials  in  New 
York. 

Nitze  was  grabbed  by  the  FBI  the  day 
after  Pearl  Harbor  and  after  internment  at 
Ellis  Island  and  White  Sulphur  Springs 
went  back  to  Germany  in  a  diplomatic  ex- 
change. Before  Pearl  Harbor  young  Eis- 
ele's  appearances  at  the  Ufa  office  in  Rocke- 
feller Center  were  frequent.  Nitze  would 
never  explain  his  exact  duties  with  the 
company.  He  tried  to  give  Herald  report- 
ers the  impression  that  Eisele,  Jr.,  was  "just 
a  bookkeeper."  Junior  is  now  in  the  ranks 
of  the  U.  S.  Army. 

Ferenz,  who  was  also  active  in  the  Friends 
of  Progress,  showed  Nazi  pictures  exclu- 
sively in  his  Los  Angeles  theatre  before 
Pearl  Harbor.  Two  and  a  half  years  ago 
he  was  a  member  of  the  reception  committee 
which*  greeted  Senator  Burton  K.  Wheeler 
when  he  came  to  Hollywood  on  the  eve  of 
the  Senate  investigation  of  anti-Nazi  propa- 
ganda in  the  films.  Ferenz,  who  guided  the 
Senator  about  the  studios,  is  now  in  jail  for 
violation  of  the  California  state  anti-sub- 
version laws. 


No  Sale 

PUBLIC-wise  Joseph  M.  Patterson,  pub- 
lisher of  the  New  York  Daily  News  (cir- 
culation, 1,950,000),  and  an  avid  moviegoer, 
has  tried  his  hand  at  turning  out  a  screen- 
play. He  wrote  an  outline  for  a  scenario 
based  on  the  Civil  War,  in  collaboration 
with  Bob  Sullivan,  one  of  the  ace  feature 
writers  on  his  Sunday  stafif,  and  sent  it  to 
Samuel  Goldwyn.  "But  there's  no  news 
story,"  Mr.  Patterson  commented  when 
asked  about  his  Hollywood  bid,  "Goldwyn 
rejected  it." 


Acquisition 

J.  MYER  and  Louis  Schine  of  the  Schine 
circuit  and  their  associates  of  Gloversville, 
N.  Y.,  have  added  an  hotel  to  their  theatrical 
holdings.  The  group  purchased  the  Roney 
Plaza  Hotel  in  Miami  Beach,  Fla.,  for 
$1,601,000. 


More  Sinatra 

UNHERALDED,  Frank  Sinatra  stepped 
off  the  train  in  Los  Angeles  enroute  to 
RKO  Studios,  and  was  met  by  but  a  hand- 
ful of  reporters  and  studio  guards.  Mrs. 
Sinatra  is  remaining  in  the  east  awaiting 
the  arrival  of  a  new  young  Sinatra,  and 
when  a  girl  reporter  brought  the  matter 
up  Frank  cried:  "I  hope  it's  a  boy." 

His  debut  picture  "Higher  and  Higher" 
recently  had  its  North  African  premiere. 
One  Warrant  Officer  James  Gordon  of 
Brooklyn  is  reported  to  have  commented, 
"So  that's  him,"  whereupon  a  WAC  Cor- 
poral, Barbara  Wright,  shushed,  "Shush, 
he's  singing." 

In  Hollywood  RKO  representatives  an- 
nounced that  their  crooner-swooner  would 
go  before  cameras  for  his  next  picture  im- 
mediately. 


Back  to  Metal 

THE  War  Production  Board  on  Tuesday 
authorized  a  resumption  of  the  production 
of  metal  motion  picture  film  containers,  the 
manufacture  of  which  was  halted  last  year 
so  far  as  civilian  use  was  concerned.  In- 
creasing the  amount  of  plate  metal  allocated 
for  containers  this  year  by  350,000  tons 
over  the  permitted  1943  use,  the  WPB  paved 
the  way  for  use  of  metal  containers  for  22 
items  for  which  they  were  prohibited  last 
year.  The  production  of  film  containers  will 
be  limited  to  that  in  1940. 


You  Say  It 

JUST  as  Pepsi-Cola  hits  the  spot — Warner 
Brothers  a  bard  has  got. 

In  a  tieup  with  the  Canadian  Silk  Prod- 
ucts, Ltd.,  sponsors  of  the  "Hollywood  High- 
lights" broadcast  five  times  weekly  over  13 
Dominion  stations,  a  poet  has  been  let  loose 
to  jingle  listeners  with  rhymed  commercials 
concerning  Warner  stars'  and  product.  One 
example  follows : 

She's  as  gay  as  her  role  in  "Princess 
O'Rourke," 

She's  a  favorite  from  Maine  to  Bolivia. 

Young  Miss  de  Havilland,  she's  formally 
called 

But — she'd  rather  be  known  as  "Olivia." 


Gasless  Buggy  Hazards 

THE  SHORTAGE  of  gasoline  has  resulted 
in  painful  injuries  for  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel 
Weiss  of  the  Stamford  and  Avon  theatres, 
Stamford,  Conn.  The  Weisses  have  been 
using  a  horse  and  buggy  for  transportation 
to  their  theatres  to  save  petrol.  Last  week 
their  horse  bolted,  threw  the  exhibitor  pair 
from  their  buggy.  They  are  recuperating  at 
their  home  from  the  injuries  sustained. 


MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD,  published  every  Saturday  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  City,  20.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100;  Coble  address  "Quigpubco, 
New  York."  Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Terry  Ramsaye,  Editor;  Jannes  D.  Ivers,  News  Editor; 
y.oy  Gallagher,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Avenue,  Chicago,  5;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Building,  Hollywood,  28,  William  R.  Weaver, 
editor;  Toronto  Bureau,  242  Millwood  Rood,  Toronto,  Ontario,  Canada,  W.  M.  Glodish,  correspondent;  Montreal  Bureau,  265  Vitre  St.,  West,  Montreol,  Canada,  Pot  Donovan, 
correspondent;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Square,  London  W  I,  Hope  Williams  Burnup,  manager;  cable  Quigpubco  London;  Melbourne  Bureau,  The  Regent  Theatre,  191  Collins 
St.,  Melbourne,  Australia,  Cliff  Holt,  correspondent;  Sydney  Bureau,  17  Archbold  Rd.,  Roseville,  Sydney,  N.S.W.,  Australia,  Lin  Endean,  correspondent;  Mexico  City  Bureau, 
Dr.  Carmono  y  Voile  6,  Mexico  City,  Luis  Becerra  Cells,  correspondent;  Buenos  Aires  Bureau,  J.  E.  Uriburi  126,  Buenos  Aires,  Argentina,  Notalio  Bruski,  correspondent;  Rio  de 
Janeiro  Bureau,  R.  Sao  Jose,  61,  C.  Postal  834,  Rio  de  Janeiro,  Brazil,  Alfredo  C.  Machodo,  correspondent;  Montevideo  Bureau,  P.  O.  Box  664,  Montevideo,  Uruguay,  Paul  Bodo, 
correspondent;  cable  Argus  Montevideo.  Member  Audit  Bureau  of  Circulations.  All  contents  copyright  1944  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Address  all  correspondence  to  the 
New  York  Office.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Better  TR%atres,  Motion  Picture  Daily,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  and  Fame. 


10 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    8,  1944 


tmm 


THIS  WEEK 


the  Camera  reports: 


DIRECTORS  of  four  of  the  War  Loan  drives  meet  at  the 
Palmer  House,  Chicago:  J.  Whipple,  H.  Swift,  J.  McNair, 
Norman  Collins,  J.  L.  Porter,  and  Winfield  Ellis. 


HIS  54TH  BIRTHDAY  was  observed  by 
Sam  Dembow,  Paramount  executive, 
Tuesday,  at  the  annual  New  York  party, 
left,  given  him  by  his  brother,  George.  This 
year,  it  was  at  the  21  Club.   From  left 
to  right  are  Leonard  Soldenson,  George 
and  Sam  Dembow,  Ned  Depinet,  and 
Major  Leslie  Thompson.  Others  present 
were  Neil  Agnew,  Tom  Connors,  William 
Rodgers,  M.  H.  Aylesworth,  John  Flynn, 
James  Mulvey,  Robert  O'Donnell, 
Herman  Robbins,  Joseph  Vogel,  Martin 
Quigley,  Red  Kann,  Carl  Leserman, 
and  Joseph  Bernhard. 


By  Staff  Photographer 


ALTON  COOK,  motion  picture  editor  of 
the  New  York  World  Telegram,  has  been 
elected  chairman  of  the  New  York 
Film  Critics. 


FOURTH  WAR  LOAN  meeting,  at  Pittsburgh's  WAC 
headquarters.  Standing  are  John  H.  Harris,  John  J. 
Maloney,  M.  A.  Rosenberg,  and  Joseph  Feldman.  Seated 
are  Senator  Frank  Harris,  M.  A.  Silver,  and  Robert  H. 
McClintick.  The  group  will  head  various  committees  during 
the  drive. 


STARTING  their  40-day  tour  of  RKO  exchanges  for  the  Ned 
Depinet  Drive,  Charles  Boasberg,  third  from  left,  and  Harry  Git- 
tleson,  right,  are  bid  luck  in  New  York  by  Mr.  Depinet,  RKO  Radio 
Pictures  president,  and  Robert  Mochrie,  general  sales  manager. 


January    8,  1944 


MOTION    PICTU  RE  HERALD 


MARK  TWAIN,  and  his  children.  The 
domestic  scene  at  the  right  is  from  "The 
Adventures  of  Mark  Twain,"  Warner  pro- 
duction now  in  work.  The  portrayer  of 
Samuel  Clemens,  whose  pseudonym  was 
Twain,  is  Fredric  March.  Alexis  Smith  plays 
opposite  Mr.  March  in  this  biography  of 
a  great  American  figure.  The  picture  prob- 
ably will  be  released  in  late  March  or  early 
April,  and  Warners  have  announced  it  will 
be  roadshown  first  in  selected  spots. 


HONOR.  John  Farrow,  above,  right,  author  and  director,  receives 
the  national  Catholic  literary  award  for  1943,  from  Archbishop  John 
Cantwell,  at  Loyola  University,  Los  Angeles,  in  the  presence  of  his 
wife,  Maureen  O'Sullivan.  Mr.  Farrow  wrote  "Pageant  of  the  Popes". 


"ONE  MAN  BOND  DRIVE."  Harry  Hecht,  Passaic.  N.  J., 
theatre  owner,  who  has  sold  more  than  $2,000,000 
worth  of  War  Bonds  poses  in  reminder  of  the  coming 
Fourth  War  Loan.  The  picture  was  made  at  a  meeting 
last  week  of  50  northern  New  Jersey  exhibitors,  at  the 
Newark  Athletic  Club.  Plans  for  the  campaign  were 
discussed,  under  WAC  auspices,  and  Mr.  Hecht  pledged 
sale  of  a  Bond  for  every  seat  in  Passaic  County. 


STORY  CONFERENCE  on  "The  Hairy  Ape".  With 
producer  Jules  Levey,  left,  are  Alfred  Santell,  direc- 
tor, Susan  Hayward  and  William  Bendix. 


12 


MOTION    PICTURE    H  ERALD 


January    8,  1944 


Exhibitors  Ask  More  Music, 
More  Comedy,  Less  War 


THE  EXHIBITORS  of  the  nation,  invited  by  Motion  Picture  Herald  to  express  them- 
selves freely  about  the  business,  while  voting  in  the  recent  poll  for  the  Money-Mak- 
ing Stars  of  1943,  again  in  large  measure  insist  that  their  patrons  want  entertainment 
in  the  theatre,  and  not  war  pictures.  Comedies  and  musicals  are  wanted,  they  say. 
Objection  also  is  made  to  the  operation  of  the  Consent  Decree  in  its  efFects  on  exhi- 
bition. As  in  previous  expressions  of  opinion,  many  showmen  still  seek  an  end  to  double 
features,  but  several  point  out  that  there  are  too  few  top  films  being  released  to  make 
this  possible.  Short  subjects  receive  attention,  several  exhibitors  citing  their  improve- 
ment and  value,  others  asking  that  they  be  given  more  attention  by  producers,  particu- 
larly with  respect  to  story  values.   Here  the  exhibitors  express  themselves: 


DECATUR,  ALABAMA 

Make  only  about  seven  big  war  pictures,  and 
that's  all.  More  super-musicals  and  super-West- 
erns. Musicals,  Westerns  and  horror  shows  are 
the  ones  that  draw  them  in. 

PRATT  CITY.  ALA. 

The  picture-going  public  here  is  tired  of 
the  "Heil  Hitler"  type  of  pictures  and  also 
too  many  war  pictures.  And  for  Heaven's  sake, 
don't  make  any  with  the  nationwide  coal  strike 
as  a  background,  as  we  are  in  middle  of  it  here 
and  feeling  it  plenty. — G.  P.  Bannisa,  Pratt 
Theatre. 

PHOENIX,  ARIZONA 

There  should  be  less  of  the  war  made  into 
pictures  and  more  of  such  stars  as  Alice  Faye, 
Jack  Oakie,  Betty  Grable,  Harry  James,  etc. 
Help  the  public  forget  the  war  when  they  attend 
the  movies. 

PARAGOULD,  ARKANSAS 

Fewer  war  features — bigger  and  better  out- 
door and  semi-musicals. 

LOS  ANGELES 

There  is  a  definite  call  for  comedy,  mysteries 
and  suspense  vehicles  with  top  stars.  Musicals 
are  O.K.,  but  become  shopworn  unless  held  for 
release  at  opportune  times. — Seeling -Feather- 
stone,  Inc. 

MARYSVILLE,  CALIFORNIA 

We  have  a  large  cantonment  here.  Soldiers 
are  very  forceful  in  their  criticism  of  too  many 
war  pictures.  Civilians  also  stay  away  from 
the  theatre  when  war  dramas  are  shown.  Now 
is  the  time  for  top  musicals,  rollicking  comedies, 
and  good  straight  drama  with  no  war  theme  or 
background.    Everyone  is  sick  of  war  pictures. 

PASO  ROBLES,  CAL. 

This  year's  balloting  will  not  reflect  the  true 
box  office  value  of  the  players.  War  themes 
and  other  associate  topics  have  proved  unpopu- 
lar at  the  box  office  because  they  are  war ;  and 
with  a  dearth  of  musicals  it  was  only  natural 
that  the  lighter  stuff  would  prove  of  most 
money  value  to  the  exhibitor.  In  peace  time, 
the  ballot  which  we  have  marked  would  not 
include  more  than  50  per  cent  of  those  nomi- 
nated. Take  the  finest  actors  or  actresses  and 
put  them  in  a  war  story,  unless  it  is  a  "Random 
Harvest,"  and  the  box  office  will  not  reflect 
their  true  worth. — T  &  D  Theatre. 

SAN  FRANCISCO 

Why  can't  something  definite  be  done  about 
the  vicious  evils  of  the  Consent  Decree?  Origi- 
nally framed,  I  believe,  to  help  the  exhibitor,  it 
now  succeeds  in  doing  anything  but  help  him, 
when  the  film  companies  (one  or  two  in  par- 


ticular) persist  in  hiking  the  terms  on  each  suc- 
ceeding group  or  block  of  film  instead  of  estab- 
lishing a  price  for  certain  pictures  in  certain 
groups  at  the  beginning  of  the  film  year  and 
maintaining  same  throughout. — R.  B.  Lloyd, 
Aaron  Goldberg  Theatres. 

SAN  FRANCISCO 

Hasten  the  day  when  the  only  war  pictures 
are  of  the  Revolutionary  and  Civil  War  periods. 
They  are  far  enough  away  to  have  no  direct 
emotional  connection  with  present  day  movie- 
goers. 

SAN  JOSE,  CAL 

The  Consent  Decree  "Blocks  of  Five"  buying 
is  the  bunk,  at  least  for  the  small  exhibitor. 

COLORADO  SPRINGS,  COLORADO 

In  the  past  two  months  it  seems  the  produc- 
ers have  had  all  the  brains  drafted  along  with 
their  men.  Stories  very  weak  and  unbelievable. 
Then  the  distributors  come  along  and  want  ad- 
vance admissions.  Try  as  exhibitors  will  they 
cannot  offset  some  of  the  bad  thinking  used  by 
distributors  and  producers.  Now  is  the  time  for 
us  to  build  patrons,  but  on  the  contrary,  we  are 
driving  the  public  away. 

WASHINGTON.  D.  C. 

More  comedies  and  musicals.  Less  war  films. 
Find  another  Rooney,  Garbo  and  Will  Rogers. 
More  newcomers  like  Alan  Ladd  and  Sonny 
Tufts. 

JACKSONVILLE,  FLORIDA 

Make  less  war  pictures !  Give  us  more  musi- 
cal comedies  with  Hope,  Hutton,  Crosby,  Skel- 
ton,  Faye,  Grable,  Ameche. 

JACKSONVILLE,  FLA. 

Why  do  the  producers  insist  on  not  permit- 
ting a  star  to  do  what  he  or  she  is  best  suited 
to  do.  For  example:  why  didn't  Gracie  Fields 
sing  in  "Holy  Matrimony"?  Same  thing  hap- 
pens always  and  the  public  always  wants  to 
know  why. 

MIAMI,  FLA. 

Jean  Arthur  is  our  greatest  comedienne ;  Alice 


What  you  are  doing  now  is 
wonderful.  Companies  can  see 
who  are  the  money-makers  and 
therefore  make  more  and  bet- 
ter pictures  with  them.  Same 
goes  for  the  shorts. 

— Ralph  Raspa,  State  Theatre, 
Rivesville,  W.  Ya. 


Faye  our  biggest  musical  star.  Give  us  more 
of  both ! 

MIAMI,  FLA. 

Too  few  "A"  pictures.  "Specials"  should  go 
with  film  contract. 

CHICAGO 

We  want  fewer  war  pictures,  but  let's  not 
go  overboard  on  musicals  either.  Mixing  them 
up  is  still  the  best  entertainment  formula.  Plenty 
of  roorn  for  comedies,  dramas,  action  and  out- 
door pictures  and  some  left  for  sophisticated 
drawing  room  vehicles  (if  done  by  Lubitsch  or 
Mitchell  Leisen). 

TERRE  HAUTE,  INDIANA 

Too  many  run-of-the-mill  war  pictures.  Good 
ones  still  make  money,  especially  those  that  are 
not  too  heavy.   Musicals  are  doing  the  business. 

BATTLE  CREEK,  IOWA 

Why  do  we  have  to  pay  film  exchanges  their 
regular  short  subject  prices  for  Government 
shorts?  They  contain  nothing  but  dull  propa- 
ganda that  has  been  repeated  so  many  times 
that_  it  has  become  nothing  short  of  an  ordeal 
to  sit  through  one  of  them.  The  latest  crop  is 
a  mess  of  British-made  propaganda  shorts 
which  are  the  worst  of  all.  I  am  paying  the  film 
exchanges  regular  shorts  prices  for  them.  They 
should  pay  the  exhibitors  to  run  them.  I  am 
practically  forced  to  use  these  subjects  in  spite 
of  the  fact  that  patrons  have  been  completely 
fed  up_  with  them  for  nearly  a  year.  Our  re- 
ward is — they  are  now  getting  ready  to  sock 
us  for  more  admission  taxes. 

GREENVILLE,  KENTUCKY 

Stars  cannot  deliver  entertainment  without 
good  stories  and  production  behind  them — too 
many  producers  depend  on  star  names  only. — 
F.  N.  Pittman,  Mgr.,  Palace  Theatre. 

PRESQUE  ISLE,  MAINE 

Most  cartoons  are  well  liked  here.  It  seemed 
to  us  as  though  with  film  being  rationed  a  good 
many  "B"  pictures  could  have  remained  in 
Hollywood  with  no  loss  to  the  public. — W.  H. 

Luthie,  State  Theatre. 

CAMBRIDGE,  MASSACHUSEHS 

There  will  never  be  enough  good  features  for 
the  subsequent  runs  to  get  off  the  double  feature 
programs  as  long  as  the  companies  put  out  as 
few  top  pictures  as  they  did  in  1942-43.  And 
there  are  too  many  reissues. 

CAMP  EDWARDS,  MASS. 

There  have  been  entirely  too  many  pictures  of 
the  "B  Minus"  variety.  Perhaps,  we  in  the 
service  expect  too  much,  but  it  seems  to  me  that 
with  a  shortage  of  raw  film  stock,  the  industry 
would  concentrate  only  on  pictures  that  would 
attract  the  public.  I  have  noticed  many  men 
leaving  the  theatre  before  the  picture  was  half 
through.  Many  highly  publicized  pictures  have 
been  a  terrible  disappointment  to  us.  All  in  all, 
the  industry  is  doing  a  wonderful  job  on  morale 
building.— 6'/5'£f*  W.  C.  McDonald,  ,  Theatre 
Manager. 

PLYMOUTH.  MASS. 

Patrons  are  more  discriminating  as  to  details. 
For  example :  a  scene  in  "Johnny  Come  Lately" 
shows  Venetian  blinds  in  the  police  station.  They 
(Continued  on  page  14) 


January    8,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


13 


WPB  SETS  CONDIT^NS 
FOR  NEW  THEATRES 


Tells  Exhibitors  How  to 
Get  Building  Permit  in 
War  Crowded  Areas 


by 


FRANCIS  L  BURT 

in  Washington 

Detailed  instructions  for  the  handling  of 
applications  to  construct  new  theatres  in 
war  centers  will  be  transmitted  shortly  to 
the  regional  offices  of  the  War  Production 
Board. 

A  request  from  the  Office  of  Civilian  Re- 
quirements to  build  new  theatres  to  provide 
recreation  in  overcrowded  war  production 
areas  was  reported  in  Motion  Pictuure 
Herald  on  December  18.  George  R.  Mc- 
Murphey,  head  of  the  entertainment  section 
of  the  OCR,  estimated  that  100  new  thea- 
tres would  be  needed  in  the  next  year  or 
two. 

Prepared  by  John  Eberson,  theatre  archi- 
tect and  consultant  to  the  recreation  section 
of  the  OCR,  the  WPB  instructions  will  lay 
down  the  standards  for  determining  whether 
a  proposed  new  theatre  meets  the  basic  re- 
quirements that  it  be  constructed  only  in  an 
area  in  need  of  additional  recreation  facili- 
ties and  that  the  applicant  have  the  seats 
and  booth  equipment  which  now  cannot  be 
procured  from  manufacturers. 

Need  Eleven  Seats 
Per  100  Population 

Roughly,  it  is  estimated  that  there  should 
be  about  11  seats  for  each  100  population  in 
a  war  community.  That  is,  a  community  of 
5,000  population  should  have  at  least  a  600- 
seat  house,  while  one  of  50,000  should  have 
six  theatres  with  a  total  of  5,400  seats,  ac- 
cording to  Government  studies. 

On  the  other  hand,  it  is  recognized  that 
not  all  communities  now  having  less  than 
the  minimum  facilities  appear  advantageous 
to  an  exhibitor  as  a  long-term  proposition. 
Consideration  is  being  given  to  meeting  the 
needs  of  such  areas  in  some  other  way,  pos- 
sibly by  the  construction  of  temporary  thea- 
tres under  the  Lanham  Act  authorizing  the 
Government  construction  of  needed  war 
facilities. 

A  considerable  number  of  likely-looking 
spots,  however,  have  been  discovered  by  the 
industry  itself,  it  is  indicated  by  the  num- 
ber of  applications  which  already  have  been 
filed.  The  OCR  also  is  looking  for  situa- 
tions where  new  theatres  are  indicated,  and 
will  acquaint  the  industry  with  such  in- 
formation as  fast  as  it  is  developed. 

OCR  Hopes  to  Resume 
Equipment  Manufacture 

A  further  step  in  OCR  programs  is  the 
resumption  on  a  h^mited  scale  of  the  produc- 
tion of  projectiotT%J(t'"-nent  and  seats.  But 
it  is  admitted  &vt  this  cannot  come  for 
many  months. 

While  applications  itr  construction  proj- 
ects costing  not  more  than  $25,000  are  to  be 
processed  in  the  WPB  field  offices,  very  few 
theatre  jobs  will  come  in  that  category  and, 


CIRCUITS  REPORT 
ADEQUATE  SUPPLIES 

Construction  of  new  theatres  in 
war  plant  areas  will  not  cause  any 
serious  disruption  in  the  supply  of 
the  replacement  and  maintenance 
equipment  needed  to  keep  houses 
operating,  according  to  circuit  pur- 
chasing officials  and  screen  supply 
houses.  All  of  the  affiliated  circuits 
and  most  independent  chains  and 
leading  single  operations  have  been 
able  to  meet  minimum  needs  through 
the  repair  priorities  granted  by  the 
WPB.  Additionally,  many  circuits 
have  adequate  supplies  of  reserve 
projectors,  seats  and  carpeting  to 
keep  theatres  in  presentable  con- 
dition. 

Purchasing  men  said  that  the 
demands  which  100  or  more  new 
houses  would  make  on  existing  stocks 
should  not  cause  hardship  to  theatres 
now  in  operation. 

Reseating,  new  carpeting,  interior 
redecoration  and  replacement  of 
sound  and  projection  apparatus  will 
be  their  most  important  post-war 
needs,  in  about  that  order,  accord- 
ing to  circuit  buying  agents. 


for  the  average  exhibitor  planning  a  new 
house,  the  field  offices  will  be  his  initial 
liaison  with  Washington. 

The  first  step  to  be  taken  by  an  exhibi- 
tor, the  instructions  will  set  forth,  is  to 
secure,  fill  out  and  file  with  the  regional 
office  an  application  on  WPB  Form  617 
(formerly  PD-200).  With  this  form  and 
the  criteria  laid  down,  the  field  offices  will 
be  able  to  furnish  Washington  with  com- 
plete local  information  on  which  to  make  a 
determination. 

Among  the  requirements  which  the 
applicant  for  a  new  theatre  must  assure 
the  OCR  are  his  experience  in  the  suc- 
cessful operation  of  theatres  and  his 
ability  to  complete  construction  prompt- 
ly. It  will  be  necessary  to  prove  that  the 
applicant 

1.  Owns  or  has  leased  the  necessary 
property. 

2.  Has  plans  already  drawn  or  can  pro- 
cure them  promptly. 

3.  Local  construction  permits  have  been 
obtained  or  are  assured. 

4.  A  contractor  and/or  labor  are  avail- 
able. 

5.  Power,  water,  sewer  and  other  neces- 
sary connections  are  accessible  and 
service  is  assured. 

6.  Projection,  sound  equipment  and 
seats  are  on  hand. 

Finally,  it  was  said,  assurance  from  local 
war   industries   and  the   War  Manpower 


Commission  that  the  proposed  theatre  is 
needed  to  prevent  labor  turnover,  increase 
efficency  of  labor,  etc.,  should  imply  assur- 
ance of  their  cooperation  in  securing  suffi- 
cient labor  for  operation  of  the  house. 

With  the  application  on  Form  WPB-617, 
the  applicant  must  submit  a  map  of  the  com- 
munity, showing  the  location  of  the  proposed 
facility,  the  area  which  it  would  serve,  the 
location  of  housing  projects  constructed 
since  1941,  the  location  of  important  in- 
dustrial plants  employing  substantial  num- 
bers of  residents  in  the  area  to  be  served, 
the  location  of  the  nearest  stores  or  shop- 
ping areas,  and  bus  routes  in  the  area. 

In  providing  both  the  information  and 
maps  required,  it  was  assured,  the  full  coop- 
eration of  experts  in  the  WPB  regional  of- 
fices will  be  extended  to  exhibitors. 

"Expansion  of  recreation  services  in  war 
impact  areas  is  permissible  within  reason 
where  it  can  be  demonstrated  that  such  ex- 
pansion is  in  the  interest  of  the  war. 

Camp,  Factory  Cities 
Get  Theatres  First 

"Present  facilities  in  areas  where  there 
has  been  no  increase  of  population  are  gen- 
erally assumed  to  be  adequate  and  con- 
struction is  permissible  there  only  to  replace 
theatres  destroyed  by  fire,  etc.,  or  under 
very  exceptional  circumstances.  Where  there 
has  been  a  loss  in  population,  some  reduc- 
tion in  facilities  may  be  expected;  applica- 
tions for  replacements  must  be  judged  on 
their  merits." 

Highest  on  the  list  for  new  theatres  are 
communities  which  are  hosts  to  large  num- 
bers of  service  men  or  women  and  those  in 
which  substantial  quantities  or  products  or 
materials  for  military  or  essential  civilian 
use  are  produced.  It  is  emphasized  that  the 
provision  of  adequate  recreation  facilities 
may  serve  to  reduce  labor  turnover  in  such 
communities. 

The  composition,  as  well  as  the  amount 
of  population,  also  is  to  be  taken  into  con- 
sideration since,  if  the  increase  is  biracial 
and  community  standards  demand  it,  two 
smaller  houses  might  be  required  but  one 
large  theatre  might  not  be  justified. 

Definite  Theatre  Shortage 
Must  Be  Proved 

The  adequacy  of  existing  theatre  facilities 
is  an  important  criterion.  Applications  are 
not  to  be  approved  for  construction  of  new 
facilities,  even  when  the  amount  of  equip- 
ment and  materials  is  small,  unless  there  is 
a  definite  shortage  of  theatre  service. 

"Other  things  being  equal,"  the  instruc- 
tions caution,  "an  application  should  be  ap- 
proved when  the  total  amount  of  facilities 
(existing  facilities  plus  the  proposed  facil- 
ity) would  still  be  less  than  the  total  needed 
under  war-time  standards. 

"More  caution  must  be  exercised  in  cases 
where  the  proposed  facility  will  bring  the 
total  service  capacity  up  to  approximately 
an  adequate  amount.  Some  such  cases  should 
be  approved,  but  not  all." 


14 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    8,  1944 


"Now  is'/>^p  time  for  us  to  build  film  patrons" 


(Continued  from  page  12) 
are  very  modern  in  design.    The  locale  of  the 
story  was  laid  in  the  early  part  of  this  century. 
A  modern  bicycle  also  appeared  in  "Union  Paci- 
fic."   Patrons  like  to  see  details  more  accurate. 

ANN  ARBOR.  MICHIGAN 

Generally  speaking,  most  cartoon  product  has 
slipped  badly.  In  feature  product,  the  "B"  re- 
leases are  away  down.  There  have  been  good 
"A"  films,  but  the  rest  of  the  programs  have 
been  actually  brutal.  Patrons  starting  to 
squawk,  though  still  coming  in  droves.  Good 
product  would  hold  them  after  gas  rationing. 

GREAT  FALLS.  MINNESOTA 

We  get  requests  almost  every  week  to  bring 
back  Rin  Tin  Tin  pictures.  Why  doesn't  some 
film  company  get  hold  of  a  good  dog  star  and 
produce  some  big  budget  outdoor  action  pictures 
such  as  the  Rin  Tin  Tin  pictures  used  to  be. 
We  need  more  good  family  pictures  of  the  type 
that  starred  Will  Rogers,  Shirley  Temple, 
Douglas  Fairbanks  and  Tom  Mix. 

HINCKLEY.  MINN. 

Wish  they  would  make  more  shows  like 
"Flicka"  and  "Crash  Dive"  and  not  so  many  like 
"Stormy  Weather"  and  "We've  Never  Been 
Licked."  We  need  at  least  one  name  star  in  a 
picture  for  it  to  go  over. 

COLUMBIA.  MISSISSIPPI 

Too  many  war  films.  Need  more  entertain- 
ment in  pictures. — W.  J.  Ilsley,  Marion  &  Col- 
umbia Theatres. 

TUTWILER,  MISS. 

All  companies  will  do  well  to  eliminate  war 
pictures  from  their  product.  Fifty  per  cent  of 
my  patrons  walk  away  from  a  war  picture  now. 
— R.  J.  Mahon,  Tutrovansum  Theatre. 

COLUMBIA,  MISSOURI 

The  insistence  of  the  movie  makers  on  cram- 
ming war  stories  down  the  public  throat  is 
driving  said  public  to  seek  other  forms  of  enter- 
tainment. Why,  oh,  why  do  they  continue  when 
the  press  and  public  cry  so  loudly  against  war 
pictures  ? 

CONWAY.  NEW  HAMPSHIRE 

Abolish  double  features,  small  pictures,  Con- 
sent Decree,  preferred  playing  time,  excessive 
rentals.  Less  percentage  pictures.  Distributors 
should  distribute — ^let  exhibitors  handle  theatres. 
Keep  away  from  Federal  supervision. 

ALBION.  NEW  YORK 

While  star  value  helps,  it  depends  on  each-  in- 
dividual picture  quality  for  draw. — C.  V.  Mar- 
tina, Rialto  Theatre. 

BROOKLYN,  N.  Y. 

Removal  of  excess  dialogue  in  all  productions. 
Make  features  that  are  enjoyable  to  all.  Too 
much  gab  from  class  stories  which  are  missing 
their  mark  at  the  box  office.  The  lift  of  an  eye- 
brow sometimes  means  more  than  10  pages  of 
dialogue. — Park  Theatre,  4322-5th  Ave. 

FLUSHING.  N.  Y. 

Three  cheers  for  (yes,  of  all  things)  the  short 
and  to  the  point  (wartime)  trailers,  which 
should  be  kept  at  their  present  footage  after 
the  war. 

ROCHESTER.  N.  Y. 

Stars  have  value  provided  good  story  and 
well-made  picture  backs  the  star.  We  believe 
the  time  has  come  when  the  public  is  a  greater 
"expert"  than  the  showman.    If  the  picture  is 


Business  is  swell  .  .  .  the  de- 
cree is  bad  .  .  .  arbitration  isn't 
perfect  yet.  Pictures  are  the 
best  ever  in  20  years,  and  any- 
one who  complains  about  the 
price  of  film  should  do  it  to 
the  exchange  managers  and  not 
to  the  Attorney  General. 

—New  Paltz,  N.  Y. 


well  done,  well  planned,  well  produced  and  has 
a  good  story,  the  public  recognizes  the  fact 
quick.  You  can't  fool  them  any  more  with 
"just  star"  or  an  over-advertised  picture  and 
expect  them  to  believe  it  and  flock  in.  They 
will  not. 

ANGIER.  NORTH  CAROLINA 

This  has  been  a  rather  unusual  year  at  the 
box  office — a  year  in  which  many  precedents 
were  set.  The  well-made  picture  with  a  sound 
plot  has  grossed  much  better  than  the  pictures 
with  star  names  and  no  story.  For  instance, 
"My  Friend  Flicka,"  which  had  no  outstanding 
names  in  the  cast,  clicked  very  nicely.  On  the 
other  hand,  we  found  that  "Thank  Your  Lucky 
Stars"  and  "Forever  and  a  Day,"  both  packed 
with  stars,  drew  only  fair  at  the  box  office.  War 
pictures  have  handicapped  a  number  of  top- 
ranking  stars.  But  on  the  other  hand,  they  have 
helped  some  of  the  old  timers  like  Wallace 
Beery  and  Edward  G.  Robinson. — Cecil  G. 
IVimtead,  Piquant  Theatre. 

PLYMOUTH,  N.  C. 

May  there  be  fewer  war  films  and  more  good 
comedy-dramas  and  musicals.— 5"/!^/>  Brinkley, 
Plymouth  Theatre. 

WYNDMERE,  NORTH  DAKOTA 

We  could  use  two  or  three  series  of  good  20- 
minute  shorts  with  live  casts.  For  instance, 
about  six  subjects  like  Warners'  "Vaudeville 
Days,"  or  a  series  of  something  like  their  "West- 
ern Jamboree."  Seems  a  good  idea  would  be 
a  series  based  on  material  similar  to  the  Blon- 
dies  or  Aldrich  family ;  also,  a  series  of  outdoor 
life  of  good  old  America — like  a  color  short 
story  of  Grand  Canyon  or  many  other  colorful 
western  episdes.  Such  subjects  would  be  much 
better  than  cheap  simple  second  features.  I 
think  it  would  raise  the  entertainment  stand- 
ard.— E.  G.  Gannon. 

OKLAHOMA  CITY 

The  serials  cause  our  adult  patrons  to  com- 
plain ;  only  the  children  like  them.  The  patrons 
do  not  enjoy  all-star  musicals.  Less  war  pic- 
tures, please.  More  pictures  like  "The  More 
the  Merrier,"  "Shadow  of  a  Doubt,"  "Hers  to 
Hold"  and  "Phantom  of  the  Opera." 

TULSA,  OKLAHOMA 

Titles  mean  a  lot  on  the  marquee.  Some  of 
them  are  so  terrible  that  they  drive  away  many 
patrons,  and  other  titles  appeal  only  to  certain 
classes. — L.  A.  Chatham,  Griffith  Southwestern 
Theatres,  Inc. 

ALLENTOWN.  PENNSYLVANIA 

Make  title  conform  to  story  of  picture.  Do 
not  have  ad  mats  or  ad  paper  contain  scenes  not 
in  picture  as  finally  released. 

NEW  OXFORD.  PA. 

Too  many  of  the  best  'drawing  stars  do  not 
make  enough  pictures.   We  cannot  exist  on  the 


one-picture-a-year  star.  We  and  the  public 
want  a  half-dozen. 

PHILADELPHIA 

Don't  miscast  actors ;  if  they  can  sing,  don't 
make  them  dance,  and  if  they  can  dance,  don't 
make  them  sing.  There  are  too  many  poor 
quality  pictures  that  are  made  expressly  for 
double  features.  Choose  actors  for  liieir  ability 
and  fitness  for  the  particular  role. — R.  Popper, 
5136  N.  10th  St. 

SPANGLER,  PA. 

Gas  rationing  destroyed  Western  patronage. 
War,  Roosevelt,  Russian,  English  and  Interna- 
tionalism propaganda  on  fair  way  to  destroy  re- 
maining patronage.  The  movies  cannot  popular- 
ize an  unpopular  war.  That  takes  bayonets. 
People  no  longer  complain.  They  just  stay 
away ;  they  have  become  stolidly  resentful. 

COLEMAN,  TEXAS 

Still  need  more  good  two-reel  comedies. 

EASTLAND,  TEX.  ' 

The  value  of  short  subjects  is  increasing  day 
by  day,  and  the  short  subject  field  is  improving 
— giving  the  patrons  what  they  want  to  see,  not 
what  the  company  wants  them  to  see. 

VICTORIA,  TEX. 

War  pictures  not  popular.  Need  more  com- 
edies and  good  musicals ;  more  "escapist"  enter- 
tainment. 

WHITEWRIGHT.  TEX. 

Too  many  war  pictures  and  the  Westerns  are 
getting  sissy. 

WINK.  TEX. 

Our  patrons  have  been  very  receptive  to  the 
pictures  we've  shown  during  the  last  year,  and 
are  of  the  opinion  that  the  quality  has  improved. 
On  every  hand,  however,  particularly  from 
women,  come  comments  such  as,  "When  are  you . 
going  to  show  something  besides  war  pictures?" 
Considering  the  fact  that  practically  every  wo- 
man has  someone  dear  to  her  in  the  service,  you 
can  understand  their  not  enjoying  films  which 
show  in  gruesome  detail  the  many  ways  in  which 
their  loved  ones  can  die  or  be  tortured.  Most 
men  like  action  film  fare,  however,  making  it  a 
very  nice  problem  trying  to  satisfy  both  sexes. 

BLACKSBURG.  VIRGINIA 

This  is  a  little  off  the  beam,  but  for  heaven's 
sake  will  they  stop  the  double  features. 

RANDOLPH,  VERMONT 

The  "percentage"  picture  is  the  essence  of 
monopoly.  It  is  pushing  the  small,  independent 
situation  to  the  wall.  If  Clark  really  is  sincere 
in  trying  to  stop  the  grinding  of  the  little  fellow 
by  the  big  fellow,  let  him  look  thoroughly  into 
percentage  selling. 

HUNDRED.  WEST  VIRGINIA 

Not  enough  comedy  pictures  and  comedy  short 
subjects  being  made  now. — L.  C.  Schenimann, 
Box  15. 

MILWAUKEE.  WISCONSIN 

Film  cost  is  getting  to  be  murderous. 

MILWAUKEE,  WIS.    .  ,  ^ 

Aside  from  the  cartoon'^;'  ihorts  have  been 
lacking  in  ingenuity.  It  is  mainly  a  case  of  "the 
same  old  stuff."  6rigir\ility  is  needed  badly  in 
production  and  story  nfaterial.  These  comments 
are  directed  toward  comedies  particularly. — Eu- 
gene Arnstein,  Hollywood  Theatre. 


his  is  not  a  'V^'oducr  announcement  for 
1944^^,  for  among  all  companies  United  Artists 

alone  knows  no  formal  selling  season.  Rather, 

i 

this  is  a  report  from  the  company  and  its  pro- 

i 

ducers  setting  forth  facts  on  productions  you 
will  receive  during  the  next  months  .  .  facts 
on  pictures  finished,  pictures  cutting,  pictures 

ready  to  roll.  I 

'  -  I 
'  I 

C^or  today  United  Artists  is  making  that  sort 
of  progress  that  will  soon  entitle  it  to  its  rightful 
place  at  the  head  of  the  industry.  It  is  our  firm 
belief  that  this  can  best  be  achieved  by  con- 
sistency of  product,  consistency  of  both  quality 
and  release.  Toward  this  we  are  striving.  .  .  . 


t  is  not  necessary  for  us  to  make  promises 


mm 


or  claims.  We  are  able  to  let  the  facts  speak. 
You  will  find  no  factory- made,  production- 
line  pictures  among  these  releases.  Each  is 
hand-tailored  by  its  creator- producer,  made 
to  the  best  of  his  ability  for  the  best  box- 
office  results  possible. 


nd  we  will  conti|iue  to  sell  these  pic- 
tures as  they  are  mcffile  —  individually.  The 

i 

values  of  each  production  will  be  carefully 
assayed  and  it  will  be  sold  accordingly. 
Here,  then,  is  the  report  from  United  Artists 


—  to  you. 


1 


\ 


ST  SINCE  "GONE 


("Winner  1940 


D  A V I D  0 J 


PANORAMA  OF 

f 


1^ 


■I' 


WITH  THE  WIND  "  AND  "REBECCA"! 

Jalional  Critics  Poll  -Academy  Award,  Best  Picture  of  The  Year")  ("Winner  1941  Notional  Critics  Poll  — 

Academy  Award,  Best  Picture  of  The  Year") 

SELZNICITS 

WENT  AWAY 

THE  HOME  FRONT 

CLAUDETTE        JOSEPH       JENNIFER  SHIRLEY 

COLB[RI*m*JONEMEMPLE 

MONTY  LIONEL  ROBERT 

WOOLLEY  *  BARRyMORE  *  WALKER 

Suggested  by  ffje  hooV  of  Margaref  Buell  Wilder 

Directed  by  JOfIN  CrOMWELL 

PRODUCED    BY  VANGUARD  FILMS  INC. 


SEL@4ICK 
NTPRNATIONAL 
PICTURE 


READY  NOW!  and  witKl 
plenty  of  ^Jack"  in  it! 


MICHAEL  SUSAN 


SAMUEL  BRONSTON  presents  O'SHEA  •  HAYWARD 

JACK  LONDON 


with 


OSA  MASSEN  •  HARRY  DAVENPORT  -  FRANK  CRAVEN 
VIRGINIA  MAYO.  RALPH  MORGAN  •  LOUISE  BEAVERS 

Screenplay  by  ERNEST  PASCAL  Directed  by  ALFRED  SANTELL 


Produced  by 

SAMUEL  BRONSTON 


......  ANNA  STEM  • 

wiib  Mimi  Forsjfthe  *  Alexander  Granach 
Cathy  Frye  •  Paul  fiuiifoyie  -  Kani  iichmond 


Adapcxiioo  by  Maurice  Clark  and  Victor  Trivas 
Baseol  upon  photoplay  "The  Girl  From  Leningrad" 
Sirecn  plav   by  Aben  Kandcl  and  Dan  )amei 

A  GREGOR  RABiNOYITCK  Producoo. 

Associate  Producer  EUGENE  FRENKE 

I> i rc-c I ctl  by  FimIoc  O/cp  and  Henry  Kc-ilt  r 


Produced  by 


^|>Rc|fuqTl]!|s 


v\^^     ,  ^^    ^^^^    r-^o^  c\^^ 


They're  whispering  about  it.,, 
talking  about  it ...  shouting 
about  it.  It's  that  different  — 

STRANGE  and  DIFFERENT! 


People  are  talking  about 


Starring 


Claire  TREVOR 
Albert  DEKKER 


with 


Barry  Sullivan  •  Henry  Hull  •  Porter  Hall 
Percey  Kilbride  •  Clem  Bevans 

DiracKd  by 

GEORGE  ARCHAINBAUD 
Screen  Play  by  AEneas  MacKenzie 


\ 


Produced  by 


HARRY  SHERMAN 


1P 


III 


I  II 


I** 


to 


to«^»^<^ 


A  R&WUNO  y.  LEE  PridictitR 

Starring 

Lynil  Bari  •  Akim  Tamtroff  •  Fraflcis  Lederei 

Witt  Nazimova  •  Louis  Calhern  •  Blanche  Yurka  •  DniaM  VMsl 

Directed  by  ROWLAND  V.  LEE  •  Screenplay  ly  HOWARD  ESTAIIOOKl 

Adaptation  by  Howard  Estabrook  and  Heraai  WiissMi 

From 

THORNTON 

WI  L  DER'S 
Pulitzer  Prize- 
winning  Novel 


Produced  by 


BENEDICT  BOGEAUS 

J  . 


be 


beoA- 


1-0',,,  ■  ^^/^f  o  ^^'^/v 


O/- 


o 


D 


Qhl 


Produced  by 


ERNEST  COSSART 


SHELLEY  WINTER-JOHNNY  (Scat)  DAVIS-OTTO  KRUGER 
"PERCY  KILBRIDE  •  CHESTER  CONKLIN  -  FRITZ  FELD 

:  tn.  C  A  R  M  E  N  A  M  AYA  fSSp"/N? 

!:I  Produced  and  Directed  by 

HARRY  JOE  BROWN 


■1  Screen  Adaptation  by  Thomas  Lennon 

Screenplay  by  David  Eoehm  and  Rowland  Leigh 
Additional  Musical  Numbers  by  Jule  Styne  and  Sammy  Cahn, 
\  Forman  Brown,  Werner  R.  Heyman,  Franz  Steininger 


Produced  by 


w  joe  ^'"f  %el» 


PRODUCER'S  CORPORATION 
OF  AMERICA 


1 


■  -r  .  <■.  .i,"^    J  -,L 


coming  up!  •  #  # 


■1 


Most  bid -for  Broadway  hit  in  years 

.  .  .  because  it  was  a  solid  two -season  sell-out 
that  the  whole  country  talked  abotit! 


1' 


presents 


OF 


starring 


ELEANOR  POWELL 


with 


DENNIS  O'KEEFE 
1 C.  FIELDS 
SOPHIE  TUCKER 
Nlil  FORSYIHE 
HUBERI  CASTLE 
DOROTHY  DONNEGAN 
PALLENBERG  BEARS 
MEL  HALL 
CHRISTIANI  BROS. 


CAB  CALLOWfty 

AND  HIS  BAND 


AND  HIS  BAND 


Produced  by 

^[|E\^Slbl^ 


I 


Produced  by 


CHARLES  R.  ROGERS 


Its  impact  rang  across  the  world 
...and  won  it  the  NOBEL  PRIZE! 


CO 


,  o'  "lite" 


Produced  by 


lULES  LEVEY 


WESTERN 

UNION 


TESTS  OF  BENDIX  AS  STOKE-HOLE  HERO 
SENSATIONAL.  ALL  THE  RAVES  HE'S 
GOTTEN  UP  TO  NOW  WILL  PALE  BY 
COMPARISON,  COMPLETED  SCRIPT  PACKS 
TERRIFIC  HEART  INTEREST  AND  ACTION, 
SHOOTING  STARTS  DECEMBER  27TH. 

JULES  LEVEY. 


OF  LOVE  THAT  HID  BEHIND  AN  UNSOLVED  CRIME! 


'   I  s    OF  ^9'^^'-   I  PRODUCE 


Produced  by 

g|lu  J  pj^Dic^ 


SOL  LESSER 

who  this  year  gave  you 


will  present  as  his  next  production 


The  top  story  of 

our  soldiers-told 
by  the  war's  top 
story-teller! 


m 


V 


fi 


Produced  by 

LESTER  COWAN" 


r 


"Truly  amai!ing- 
The  must  of  the  seoson 


—  N.  Y.  WORID  TEIECR 


1" 

1 


All  ^lom 


MARJORIE 


starring 


DENNIS 


REyNOLDS  *  O'KEEP 

GAIL  MISCH>! 

PATRICK  *  AOE 

CHARLOTTE 

GREENWOOD 


LEE 


wifh 

JOHN 


JANET 


BOWMAN  *  HUBBARD  ^  LAMBEI 

Produced  by 

^SMALl 


and 

BINNIE 

BARNES 


tromberg 

whose  record  of  28  Box-Office  Champions  has  won  him  Fame's  title  of 

THE  INDUSTRY'S  NUMBER  1  PRODUCER 

announces  as  his  next  production , . . 


{by  arrangement  with  20th  Century-Fox  Film  Corp.) 


with  a  notable  cast 


Screenplay  by 
ELLIOT  PAUL 

Based  on  the  Broadway 
Hit  which  the  New  York 
Critics  called  "The  Year's 
Most  Unusual  Play" 


My 


Produced  by 


liNT^STfon^BM; 
J  m  \ 


for  Now  — 

and  for  the  Future! 


January    8,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


39 


INVASION  PLANS  SPUR 
POSTWAR  FILM  DEALS 


Rank,  Two  Cities  Agents 
Cross  Atlantic  to  Seek 
U.  S,  Outlets,  Talent 

Plans  across  the  sea  for  the  post  war  roles 
of  the  British  and  American  film  industries 
reached  a  new  high  point  of  activity  last 
week,  spurred  by  signs  of  early  invasion  and 
prophecies  of  the  1944  defeat  of  Germany. 

Two  way  traffic  of  industry  officials  cross- 
ing the  Atlantic  by  sea  and  air  reached  a 
wartime  peak  as  they  hurried  east  and  west- 
ward prepared  to  negotiate  distribution  and 
production  deals  which  would  set  the  pattern 
for  future  competition.  Most  of  them  trav- 
eled with  official  priorities. 

Barrington  Gain,  one  of  the  financial  ad- 
visers to  J.  Arthur  Rank,  British  producer- 
distributor,  and  a  director  of  General  Film 
Distributors,  one  of  the  Rank  companies, 
arrived  in  New  York  last  week  "to  study 
American  distribution  methods."  He  sought 
also  to  work  out  some  deal  whereby  an 
American  distributor  will  release  annually 
in  the  U.  S.  a  number  of  films  produced 
under  the  Rank  banner,  and  to  promote  Mr. 
Rank's  objective  of  seeing  American  and 
British  distributors  establish  a  joint  distri- 
bution organization  to  release  films  in  occu- 
pied countries  as  soon  as  they  are  freed  fol- 
lowing Allied  advances. 

American  Executives 
Off  to  England 

From  England  two  weeks  ago  came  Dr. 
Alexander  Galperson,  assistant  managing 
director  of  Two  Cities  Films,  Ltd.,  an  im- 
portant producing  company  which  is  not 
controlled  by  the  Rank  interests  but  whose 
productions  frequently  are  financed  by  Mr. 
Rank. 

Dr.  Galperson  is  in  the  United  States  to 
arrange  distribution  deals  for  Two  Cities' 
product  and  he  indicated  he  would  survey 
the  American  market  generally  with  a  view 
to  keying  future  pictures  to  the  screen  tastes 
of  the  American  public. 

In  Montreal  Monday,  awaiting  transportation 
to  England,  were  Arthur  Kelly,  vice-president 
in  charge  of  foreign  distribution  for  United 
Artists,  and  Al  Lichtman,  vice-president  of 
Loew's.  Phil  Reisman,  vice-president  in  charge 
of  foreign  distribution  for  RKO-Radio,  was  ex- 
pected to  leave  for  England  some  time  this 
week. 

Production  in  England  Will 
Hit  Peak  After  War 

With  the  British  Government  backing  pro- 
ducers in  formulating  their  world-market  plans, 
and  with  American  distributors,  including 
MOM,  Paramount,  RKO-Radio,  Twentieth 
Century-Fox  and  Warner  Bros,  making  pic- 
tures in  England  to  comply  with  the  quota 
law,  production  activity  in  Britain  will  reach 
an  unprecedented  height  immediately  after  the 
war. 

MGM's  British  production  head.  Sir  Alex- 
ander Korda,  already  has  announced  an  ambi- 
tions 10-year  schedule  at  a  cost  of  $140,000,000. 
He  plans  to  make  12  to  16  films  a  year  at 
$1,000,000  each,  and  has  announced  that  the 


BARRINGTON  GAIN 


first  four  films  to  be  made  at  the  Denham 
studios  will  have  a  total  budget  of  $5,000,000. 

Sir  Alexander's  leasing  of  the  Amalgamated 
Studios  at  Elstree  from  the  British  Govern- 
ment, brought  vociferous  protests  from  British 
producers  last  week  and  particularly  from  the 
Screen  Writers  Association.  Charges  were 
made  that  the  British  Board  of  Trade  was  en- 
couraging "monopolistic  Hollywood  activity"  in 
facilitating  release  of  Elstree  to  MGM. 

The  studio  has  eight  large  sound  stages  and 
is  now  being  used  to  produce  war  films.  Pro- 
ducers also  protested  the  granting  of  a  15 
months'  tenancy  to  Korda  at  the  Denham  stu- 
dios, controlled  by  Mr.  Rank,  while  British  ap- 
plicants for  the  space,  long  awaiting  facilities, 
were  ignored. 

Deny  Rank  Plans  to 
Finance  Hollywood 

During  an  interview  in  New  York  Tuesday, 
Air.  Gain  emphatically  denied  that  Mr.  Rank 
is  contemplating  the  financing  of  films  made  in 
Hollywood  by  independent  producers.  He  said 
the  British  industry  leader  is  concerned  only 
with  seeing  "if  something  can't  be  done  to 
obtain  better  distribution  for  British  films,  in- 
cluding those  made  outside  the  Rank  organiza- 
tion, than  has  been  done  in  the  past." 

"Mr.  Rank,"  he  added,  also  "is  extremely 
anxious  that  British  and  American  interests 
work  in  cooperation.  He  particularly  wants  to 
get  sorne  scheme  going  whereby  British  and 
American  distributors  can  work  together  in 
distributing  pictures  as  soon  as  the  occupied 
countries  in  Europe  are  freed." 

The  Rank  representative  has  full  authority  to 
conclude  distribution  deals  with  U.  S.  company 
heads  but,  Mr.  Gain  said,  "I  have  nothing 
whatever  to  do  with  the  selling  of  individual 
pictures,"  indicating  that  the  producer  prefers 
to  make  a  blanket  deal  for  release  of  as  many 
as  IS  to  20  films  annually,  rather  than  contract 
for  distribution  of  single  films  from  time  to 
time,  as  has  been  the  established  method  plus 
far. 

That  the  British  producer-distributor  may 
buy  into  an  American  distributing  company  "if 
it  seemed  the  only  favorable  way  of  accomplish- 
ing what  he  wants,"  was  admitted  by  Mr.  Gain, 
who  also  indicated  that  Mr.  Rank  is  seeking 


staff  Photos 


ALEXANDER  GALPERSON 

the  services  of  establi.shed  Hollywood  writers 
and  others  who  can  guide  British  films  produc- 
tion with  an  eye  to  the  American  market. 

A  complete  survey  of  this  market  from  the 
production,  distribution  and  exhibition  phases 
is  the  objective  of  Mr.  Gain  during  his  planned 
two-month  stay  in  the  U.  S.  He  expects  to 
visit  Hollywood  for  two  or  three  weeks  shortly 
and  will  return  to  New  York  for  another  week 
or  ten  days  before  returning  to  England. 

Discuss  Loew,  20th-Fox 
Interest  in  Gaumont 

While  in  New  York,  Mr.  Rank's  representa- 
tive will  confer  with  officials  of  all  the  major 
companies  and  with  a  number  of  independents. 
He  plans  to  have  conferences  with  executives 
of  Twentieth  Century-Fox  and  Loew's,  part- 
ners in  the  49  per  cent  holding  of  the  voting 
shares  in  Metropolis  and  Bradford  Trust,  con- 
trolling combine  of  Gaumont-British.  Mr.  Rank 
holds  51  per  cent  of  the  voting  shares  and  the 
two  majors  also  have  a  large  block  of  other 
shares. 

Mr.  Gain  refused  to  confirm  the  report  that 
the  British  producer  is  seeking  purchase  of  the 
20th  Century-Fox-Loew  interest.  He  refused 
to  comment  on  the  report  that  a  proposed  re- 
organization of  Gaumont-British  or  a  merger 
has  been  broached  to  Mr.  Rank  by  representa- 
tives of  the  two  cornpanies  within  recent 
months,  but  indicated  that  both  American  ma- 
jors have  been  "dissatisfied"  with  their  interest 
in  Metropolis-Bradford  Trust.  He  reported, 
however,  that  Gaumont-British  paid  a  6  per 
cent  dividend  in  November,  1942,  and  again  in 
November,  1943. 

If  Mr.  Rank  considers  it  advantageous,  it  is 
possible  that  he  might  purchase  first-run  the- 
atres as  show  windows  for  his  product  in  New 
York  and  key  cities  in  the  U.  S.  and  other 
countries,  Mr.  Gain  said.  He  will  study  the 
Canadian  and  South  American  markets  for  the 
Rank  interest  while  in  America. 

Mr.  Rank's  overtures  for  an  Anglo- American 
distribution  organization  to  release  films  in  oc- 
cupied European  countries  when  military  con- 
ditions permit,  was  viewed  by  some  observers 
as  the  result  of  American  film  distribution  in 
North  Africa.  It  was  indicated  that  the  British 

(Continued  on  following  page,  column  1) 


40 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    8,  1944 


Invasion  Spurs 
Post'  War  Deals 
With  British 

{Continued  from  preceding  page) 
producer  was  able  to  get  his  pictures  exhibited 
in  the  territory  while  British  and  American 
Government  officials  controlled  film  distribution, 
but  when  the  Office  of  War  Information  turned 
back  to  the  American  majors  the  handling  of 
Hollywood  films  through  their  ordinary  com- 
mercial channels,  the  British  films  lost  out. 

As  emissary  for  Two  Ciijes  Films,  headed 
by  Filipo  Del  Guidice  and  Major  Arthur  Sas- 
soon,  Dr.  Galperson  is  meeting  with  the  presi- 
dents of  the  distributing  companies  to  arrange 
distribution  deals  for  Two  Cities'  product.  The 
British  company  produced  nine  films  in  1943, 
including  "In  Which  We  Serve."  It  plans  to 
make  between  10  and  12  this  year,  five  of  which 
already  are  in  production.  Budgets  for  the 
films"  average  between  $500,000  and  $1,600,000 
each. 

The  Two  Cities  official  was  emphatic  m  his 
belief  that  "quality  films  only"  will  be  the  de- 
termining factor  in  the  postwar  world  market. 
Dr.  Galperson  took  issue  with  British  producer 
Michael  Balcon,  who  recently  charged  that 
American  distributors  were  preventing  distri- 
bution of  English-made  films  in  the  U.  S.  Dr. 
Galperson  said  that  one  reason  English  pic- 
tures haven't  been  widely  distributed  in  the 
U.  S.  was  because  the  British  have  not  known 
how  to  make  films  for  this  market. 

Dr.  Galperson  also  plans  to  sign  up  experi- 
enced Holhnvood  writers  to  aid  Two  Cities 
production  and  to  prevent  inclusion  in  British 
films  of  colloquialisms  of  speech  foreign  to 
American  audiences. 

An  important  production  which  will  be  made 
by  the  company  this  year  is  "Army  of  Shad- 
ows," written  by  Josef  Kissel,  which  deals 
with  the  underground  movement  iji  France. 
Both  the  author  and  William  Sassoon,  Two 
Cities'  producer,  are  now  in  Hollywood  trying 
to  arrange  for  French  stars  Charles  Boyer, 
Jean  Gabin,  Pierre  Aumont  and  Michele  Mor- 
gan to  go  to  England  to  make  the  picture  as 
their  contribution  to  the  Free  French  cause. 
The  film  will  be  made  with  the  full  support  of 
the  French  National  Committee  of  Liberation, 
Dr.  Galperson  said. 

The  Two  Cities  official  plans  to  go  to  Holly- 
wood before  returning  to  England.  The  visit 
will  be  "unofficial,"  he  said. 


"Fighting  Seabees"  Premiere 
At  All  Seabee  Camps 

"The  Fighting  Seabees,"  Republic's  picture 
starring  John  Wayne  and  Susan  Hayward,  will 
receive  simultaneous  world  premieres  at  all  Sea- 
Bee  camps  in  the  United  States  on  January 
14.  Premiere  showings  are  to  be  held  in  rr»any 
camps  with  the  cooperation  of  the  Bureau  of 
Yards  and  Docks  of  the  Navy  Department. 

"Stagecoach"  To  Be 
Reissued  by  U.  A. 

Walter  Wanger's  production  of  "Stage- 
coach," released  through  United  Artists  in  the 
1938-39  season,  will  be  reissued,  it  was  an- 
nounced this  week  by  the  company.  The  pic- 
ture, co-starring  Claire  Trevor  and  John 
Wayne,  and  directed  by  John  Ford,  will  carry 
new  poster  accessories. 


Shopenn  Joins  United  Artists 

Bert  Shopenn,  former  Loew's  publicity  man, 
and  recently  assistant  manager  of  the  Astor 
theatre.  New  York,  has  joined  the  United  Art- 
ists exploitation  staff. 


MGM's  Next  Exhibitors' 
Luncheon  January  18th 

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  will  hold  its  next  ex- 
liibitors'  luncheon  January  18,  in  the  Congres- 
sional Room  of  the  Statler  Hotel,  Washington, 
D.  C,  when  William  F.  Rodgers,  sales  man- 
ager, will  be  the  host  to  all  exhibitors  in  the 
exchange  area. 

Among  the  government  and  industry  figures 
to  attend  will  be  Frank  C.  Walker,  U.  S.  Post- 
master General ;  Lowell  Mellett,  administrative 
assistant  to  President  Roosevelt ;  Stanton  Grif- 
fis,  chief  of  the  motion  picture  bureau  of  the 
domestic  branch  of  OWI ;  Abram  F.  Myers, 
Allied  general  counsel ;  William  S.  Crockett, 
president  of  MPTO  of  Virginia ;  Frank  Hor- 
nig,  president  of  MPTO  of  Maryland ;  A. 
Julian  Brylawski,  MPTOA  executive  of  Wash- 
ington, and  Abe  Tolkins,  president  of  ITOA  of 
the  District  of  Columbia. 

Western  Electric  Leases  Two 
Buildings  for  War  Work 

The  Western  Electric  Company,  manufactur- 
er of  telephone  equipment  and  presently  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  communications 
equipment  for  the  armed  forces,  has  leased  200,- 
000  square  feet  of  floor  space  in  two  industrial 
buildings  in  Lincoln,  Nebraska.  Completion  of 
the  project  will  be  made  as  soon  as  possible, 
probably  beginning  partial  operations  early  next 
year,  it  was  announced. 

Warners  Checking  Service 
Appoints  3  Supervisors 

R.  P.  Hagen,  manager  of  the  picture  checking 
service  for  Warner  Brothers,  has  appointed 
three  new  field  supervisors.  N.  S.  MarinofiF 
replaces  H.  B.  Paul  in  charge  of  Denver  and 
Salt  Lake  City  territories ;  Ben  Taylor  succeeds 
A.  A.  Gorrel  as  supervisor  for  the  Los  Angeles 
and  San  Francisco  field,  and  Leo  Rothenberg 
takes  over  the  Pittsburgh  area  formerly  super- 
vised by  Sam  Ehrlich. 

Petti,  Assistant  to  Cowdin, 
Inducted,  Given  Party 

Anthony  Petti,  assistant  secretary  of  Uni- 
versal and  assistant  to  J.  Cheever  Cowdin,  was 
inducted  into  the  Army  December  30.  Mr. 
Petti  was  given  a  farewell  party  by  Charles 
D.  Prutzman,  Universal  vice-president  and  gen- 
eral counsel,  attended  by  Mr.  Cowdin,  J.  J. 
O'Connor,  Samuel  Machnovitch,  Adolph  Schi- 
mel,  Joseph  Seidelman  and  other  executives. 

Studios  Adopt  Academy 
Sound  Program 

The  Research  Council  of  the  Academy  of 
Motion  Picture  Arts  and  Sciences  has  devised 
new  practices  for  pre-  and  post-sound  recording 
equalization  for  studio  use.  Ten  studios  ap- 
proving the  practice  so  far  include  Columbia, 
MGM,  Paramount,  Republic,  RKO  Radio, 
Samuel  Goldwyn,  20th  Century-Fox,  Universal 
and  Warner  Brothers. 


12-Reel  Picture  Shows 
Championship  Bouts 

Jack  Rieger  and  G.  J.  Jaffee,  New  York 
attorney,  have  produced  a  12-reel  film  dealing 
with  championship  boxing  bouts.  Martin  Lew- 
is and  Irwin  Lesser,  independents,  will  release 
the  film  nationally  January  3.  Nat  Fleisher, 
editor  of  the  magazine.  Ring,  is  the  principal 
commentator. 


Doane  Named  Censor  Head 

R.  L.  Doane  has  been  named  chairman  of  the 
Nova  Scotia  Board  of  Censors,  replacing  C. 
H.  Bennet,  who  died  recently.  Mr.  Doane  was 
a  former  ernployee  of  the  Provincial  Govern- 
ment and  also  served  on  the  Halifax  scfiool 
board. 


Art  kino  Plans 
Wide  A  dvertising 
On  Features 

Extensive  distribution,  advertising  and  ex- 
ploitation plans  are  under  way  at  Artkino  Pic- 
tures, Inc.,  distributors  of  Soviet  films  in  the 
U.  S.,  for  the  dubbed  English  versions  of  Rus- 
sian product  the  company  is  planning  to  make 
this  year.  The  first  dubbed  film,  "No  Greater 
Love,"  will  open  at  the  Victoria  Theatre,  New 
York,  following  the  run  of  the  Goldwyn-RKO 
production  "North  Star."  The  premiere  is  be- 
ing sponsored  by  the  American  Women's  Vol- 
untary Service  and  is  scheduled  for  late  this 
month. 

According  to  Nicholas  Napoli,  president  of 
Artkino,  at  least  six  of  the  18  or  more  Russian 
pictures  destined  for  release  in  the  U.  S.  this 
year  will  be  dubbed  with  English  voices.  He 
believes  this  production  operation  of  Artkino 
will  break  down  the  language  barrier  which 
prevented  Soviet  films  from  getting  wider  dis- 
tribution. The  company  is  endeavoring  to  build 
up  a  distribution  organization  for  the  product 
and  plans  to  advertise  the  more  worthwhile 
productions  in  the  trade  press,  with  coincident 
exploitation  and  publicity. 

"We  don't  want  to  compete  with  independent 
companies,"  Mr.  Napoli  said,  "but  we  feel  that 
with  this  new  presentation  of  the  Russian-made 
motion  picture  we  can  reach  considerably 
larger  audiences.  A  good  picture,"  he  said, 
"doesn't  have  to  be  sold.  Exhibitors  will  come 
to  you  for  it  if  they  think  it  will  do  business 
for  them." 

One  of  the  Russian  films  which  probably 
will  be  dubbed  by  Artkino  is  Sergei  Eisen- 
stein's  recently  completed  "Ivan  the  Terrible." 
Others  may  be  "Two  Fighters,"  "Moscow 
Skies,"  "General  Kutuzov"  and  "One  Family." 

Soviet  film  producers  already  have  dubbed 
MGM's  "Edison  the  Man"  into  30  different 
languages,  as  well  as  the  Disney-RKO  film 
"Der  Fuehrer's  Face."  They  expect  to  dub 
other  American  films  which  were  purchased 
last  year  by  Leonid  Antonov,  former  Soviet 
film  representative  who  is  now  in  London,  and 
by  Mikhail  Kolotosov,  his  successor. 

A  two-reel  film  about  Iran  made  in  Russia 
and  climaxed  by  scenes  of  the  Teheran  meeting 
last  month  of  Roosevelt,  Churchill  and  Stalin, 
will  be  shown  at  the  Victoria  theatre  when  "No 
Greater  Love"  opens.  Titled  "Iran,  Where  the 
Big  Three  Met,"  the  picture  was  photographed 
by  a  special  Soviet  production  unit  with  the  co- 
operation of  the  Iranian  Government.  Artkino 
will  distribute  the  short. 

Chicago  Council  Names 
"Human  Comedy"  Best 

The  Better  Films  Council  of  Chicago  has 
selected  as  the  IQ  best  films  of  1943  the  follow- 
ing in  their  rated  order:  "The  Human  Come- 
dy," "So  Proudly  We  Hail,"  "My  Friend 
Flicka,"  "Stage  Door  Canteen,"  "Casablanca," 
"Random  Harvest,"  "Coney  Island,"  "Holy 
Matrimony,"  "Heaven  Can  Wait,"  and  "For 
Whom  the  Bell  Tolls." 


Named  to  Park  Board 

Paul  Wykoff,  formerly  connected  with  the 
Switow  Enterprises  of  Louisville,  Ky.,  has  been 
appointed  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Park 
Commissioners  of  Anderson,  Ind.  Mr.  Wykoff 
has  been  active  in  civic  and  club  affairs. 


Woman  Is  OfRce  Manager 

Sudie  Elizabeth  Mitchell  has  been  named 
office  manager  of  MGM's  exchange  in  Mem- 
phis, succeeding  Pitt  Hellis  Holmes,  recently 
inducted  into  the  Navy.  Mrs.  Mitchell  has 
been  with  MGM  since  1927. 


60-1 


No 

greater 

honor 

than 

to  be 

among 

the 

Industry's 


HONORED  HUNDRED 

of  the  4th  WAR  LOAN! 


-ONE  HUNDRED  NAMES^ 


WJiTL  FAMOgS 

IN  thU  industry. 

HOW  ABOUT  y6U! 


Use  the  fighting  Campaign 
Book !  Full  details  on  pages 
6  and  7. 


Be  one  of  the  honored  100  Showmen 
who  will  sell  the  most  "E"  Bonds  in 
ratio  to  the  number  of  seats  in  their 
theatres!  Be  one  of  the  men  to  go  to 
Washington,  to  become  famous  in 
the  trade,  to  be  honored  at  func- 
tions with  presentation  of  Treasury 
citation,  of  special  medallion,  and 
to  be  named  on  National  5th  War 
Loan  Committee!  It's  the  greatest 
honor  of  all  for  the  industry's  sol- 
diers of  the  home  front! 


■»/  f-titf  KArktinn  Pirtiirp  InrluMtYM.  Km  Fir/iilduja.yj.  l**]pAiJ  Ynrh  f^ifv 


Thousands  of  pledges  have  been  received  for  the  1944  MARCH  OF 
DIMES  DRIVE.  Each  day  brings  more.  They  mean  just  one  thing. 
The  exhibitors  of  America  are  not  forgetting  the  fight  on  Infantile 
Paralysis  during  the  week  of  January  24th  to  30th.  This  fight  for 
the  life  and  happiness  of  stricken  children  is  something  that  comes 
close  to  all  of  us  and  to  our  public.  They  will  spare  a  dime  for  it 
when  you  champion  this  cause  with  sincere  Showmanship.  They  will 
contribute  when  Greer  Garson  appeals  to  them  in  the  beautiful 
trailer.  Here's  a  promise  to  a  kid  on  crutches:  When  a  feller  needs 
a  friend  —  depend  on  the  sporting  heart  of  America's  theatre  men. 


January    8,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


43 


ON  THE  3£ARCH 


by  RED  KANH 


NEW  YORK 

AS  he  stepped  down  from  his  year-old  post  as  chairman  of 
the  distributors'  division  of  the  War  Activities  Committee, 
William  F.  Rodgers  issued  a  report.  It  was  in  length.  It 
included  a  wide  assortment  of  statistics  about  industry  perform- 
ance in  connection  with  the  war.  It  made  five  recommendations, 
nature  already  published,  on  how  the  distributors'  group  might 
re-style  its  future  operations  and  enhance  the  scope  of  its  activi- 
ties. 

Behind  that  report,  however,  is  a  drama  of  heart-warming  pro- 
portions. Its  characters  bulk  hundreds  who  gave  extra  time  with- 
out extra  pay  to  keep  the  essentials  of  a  nation-wide  machinery 
rolling.  Those  hundreds  embrace  inspectors,  shipping  clerks, 
bookers,  salesmen,  branch  and  district  managers.  And,  of  course, 
it  ought  to  be  unrequired  to  observe,  the  impressive  total  reaches 
limitlessly  beyond  to  include  the  many  thousands  of  theatremen 
who  long  ago  pledged  their  screens  and  have  remained  stead- 
fastly by  their  pledges. 

It  is  a  combination  effort  etched  lastingly  well  on  the  indus- 
try's scroll  of  accomplishments. 

For  this  has  been  no  supper  show  job.  The  conveniences  of 
incalculable  individuals  have  been  interrupted  and,  in  many  in- 
stances, set  aside  completely  by  the  demands  of  the  task.  It  is 
only  the  conveniences  of  the  minority  which  have  remained  un- 
disturbed. With  them,  the  business  of  getting  Government  mes- 
sages over  to  the  home  front  continues  to  be  a  supper  show  job. 
Those  whose  head  this  sort  of  cap  fits  are  the  usuals,  always 
around,  who  promise  their  worlds,  deliver  tiny  chinks  of  it  and 
figure  someone  else  will  do  the  job. 

Too  Much,  Too  Often 

BUT,  whether  through  indifference  or  carelessness,  it  is  not 
someone  else's  job  to  do.  To  much  is  taken  for  granted 
about  the  position  of  this  industry  in  war  times  anyway. 
Too  often  there  is  too  much  24-sheeting  about  what  the  business 
is  doing  for  the  war.  Too  infrequently  is  there  anything  said 
about  what  the  war  is  doing  for  the  industry. 

For  assorted  reasons,  all  of  them  long  since  recorded,  the  war 
has  endowed  the  business  with  a  prosperity  such  as  it  has  never 
known.  Bad  spots?  Of  course.  New  problems  arising  from 
extended  runs  and  their  effect  on  product  availabilities  beyond 
the  first  runs?  Certainly. 

But  the  admission  level  is  up  since  other  commodity  prices  are 
up.  Grosses  are  up,  and  how  they  are  up,  because  the  public  has 
plenty  of  money  and  fewer  places  to  spend  it  and  because  Holly- 
wood today  is  kicking  in  what  is  perhaps  the  best  overall  deliv- 
ery in  its  hill-and-dale  history. 

It  is  extremely  comfortable  to  take  all  of  this  for  granted.  It 
is  also  dangerously  lazy.  We  proceed  on  an  entirely  false  premise 
if  we  assume  what  we  have  now  is  only  what  we  are  privileged 
to  have.  A  long  line  of  basic  American  industries,  no  doubt,  had 
as  much  right  to  calculate  the  same  way.  Yet  today  automobile 
manufacturers  are  not  making  cars  and  radio  manufacturers  are 
not  making  radios.   Etc.,  etc. 

We  in  the  film  business  are  functioning  under  handicaps  of 
manpower,  theatre  equipment,  travel  inconveniences.  But  raw 
stock  is  plentiful,  the  studios  are  increasingly  lavish,  theatres  are 
bulging,  private  enterprise  operates  as  private  enterprise  and 
profits  are  dazzling.  The  goose  of  the  proverb  surely  never  hung 
higher. 

i 

Some  of  the  Reasons  Why 

IT  hangs  there  on  several  counts,  however.  Washington  is 
thoroughly  aware  of  what  a  high-speed  method  of  communica- 
tion is  motion  pictures.  It  understands  the  tremendous  values 
of  eye-and-ear  appeal  capable  of  reaching  almost  the  total  popula- 
tion in  a  handful  of  weeks.  It  appreciates  how  essential  the  exist- 
ing structure  is  on  the  home  front.  Because  this  is  an  undeniable 
fact,  the  industry  finds  its  normal  channels  of  production,  distribu- 


tion and  exhibition  kept  ice-free  and  as  unobstructed  as  anyone 
has  the  right  to  expect  while  a  war  rages. 

The  parallelling  fact,  of  course,  recognizes  that  16,400  pledged 
theatres  cannot  stay  in  business  and  hold  their  audiences  with 
programs  made  up  of  OWI  shorts  and  occasional  war  documen- 
taries. There  must  be  something  further,  and  there  is.  That's 
where  business-as-usual  happily  enters. 

The  War  Activities  Committee  evidently  thought  it  important 
enough  to  convey  the  drift  of  things  to  exhibitors  as  early  as  a 
year  ago.  "You  are  to  be  complimented  for  so  early  recognizing 
the  fact  that  the  main  justification  for  continuing  in  business  as 
usual — and  generally  it  is  a  pretty  good  business — is  that  the  gov- 
ernment looks  upon  your  theatre  as  a  vital  outlet  for  dissemina- 
tion of  information  in  pictures  which  they  feel  are  so  important 
to  the  war  effort  that  an  expensive  staff  is  kept  busy  producing 
them." 

It  is  extremely  interesting  and  probably  not  at  all  accidental 
that  Rodgers  sounds  the  identical  note  almost  a  year  later.  His 
is  an  argument  turned  in  the  direction  of  the  industry.  He  cau- 
tions unnamed  ones,  presumably  in  governmeiat  service,  to  ap- 
preciate the  need  of  keeping  the  pathways  unencumbered  if  war 
aid  to  the  Government  is  not  to  collapse. 

"The  importance  of  war  activities  in  the  distribution 
branch  of  the  business  ca/nnot  be  minimized.  Rather,  it  must 
be  brought  home  to  those  engaged  in  sales  and  distribution 
that  on  many  occasions  during  the  past  year  instances  arose 
underlining  the  cold  fact  that,  had  it  not  been  for  the  War 
Activities  of  the  Motion  Picture  Industry,  service  to  theatres 
could  have  practically  ceased,"  he  notes. 

"There  is  a  question  in  my  mind  as  to  whether  we  have 
yet  proven  to  the  Government  and  to  the  public  the  necessity 
of  motion  pictures  as  essential  to  the  war  effort.  It  is  difficult 
to  convey  to  those  who  know  little  about  our  business  that, 
unless  production  continues,  theatres  remain  open  to  exhibit 
amusement  films  and  distribution  facilities  are  maintained  to 
serve  theatres,  the  whole  structure  of  aid  to  the  Government 
will  collapse. 

"Any  disruption  of  the  distribution  machinery  to  service 
theatres  with  a  continuous  flow  of  motion  pictures  will  bring 
about  chaos. 

"On  the  other  hand,  the  distributors  and  all  their  personnel 
must  realize  that  its  Number  One  job  is  war  service.  Any 
member  of  the  industry  who  does  not  put  first  his  service  to 
the  war,  and  second,  the  continued  maintenance  of  his  work 
as  a  part  of  the  service  machinery  is  handicapping  the  entire 
industry  in  its  manifestations  of  service  to  the  Government." 


It  Was  An  Early  Pattern 

HEN  the  war  was  still  very  young,  it  became  apparent 
that  the  status  of  the  industry,  and  the  measure  of  con- 
sideration and  cooperation  it  might  expect  from  the  Gov- 
ernment, was  to  be  evaluated  by  the  extent  of  its  contribution  to. 
the  cause.  It  was  evident  as  early  as  those  dark  and  uncertain 
days  that  mere  continuance  of  the  profit-and-loss  routine  of  turn- 
ing out  entertainment  films  because  they  maintained  or  bolstered 
morale  would  not  be  enough  regardless  of  arguments  riding 
hard  to  the  rescue. 

Important,  yes;  helpful,  by  all  and  every  means.  But  not 
enough.  After  all,  a  drive  in  the  country  can  help  morale,  too, 
but  proportionately  few  are  riding. 

As  foregone  as  it  was  for  the  Government  to  harness  the  in- 
dustry to  war  purposes,  so  was  it  implicit  in  the  industry's  reali- 
zation of  its  potentialities  and  its  responsibilities  to  volunteer. 
Today  its  stars  are  doing  much.  Its  studios  are  doing  much.  Its 
distribution  and  its  exhibition  are  doing  much. 

Some  do  what  they  do  with  eagerness  and  boundless  energy. 
Others  act  with  reluctance  and  under  pressure.  All  do  it  for  the 
war.  The  cold  and  unglittering  truth,  however,  is  they  do  it  for 
themselves  at  the  same  time. 


44 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    8,  1944 


Urges  Industry  Voice  ^f^ban  Sees 

^  Screen  Adapted 

At  Peace  Conference  to  worid  Need 


Hopper  Sees  Opportunity 
to  Gain  Free  World  Mar- 
ket for  U.S,  Pictures 

The  motion  picture  industry  had  better 
organize  itself  into  a  united  front  now  if  it 
is  to  represent  its  interests  successfully  at 
the  peace  conference  and  to  gain  free  access 
to  the  world's  film  markets  once  again,  Har- 
old Hopper,  chief  of  the  motion  picture  sec- 
tion of  the  War  Production  Board,  advised 
Sunday  in  a  prepared  statement  released  in 
Washington  to  the  trade  and  to  the  news- 
papers. 

No  diversities  of  opinion  or  conflict  of 
personal  interests  must  bar  united  film  in- 
dustry action  at  postwar  economic  and  world 
trade  conferences,  he  said.  If  the  screen  is 
to  achieve  the  goal  of  world  wide  exhibition 
of  Hollywood's  product  it  must  organize 
now,  he  warned. 

Mr.  Hopper,  who  has  supervised  alloca- 
tion of  film  raw  stock  as  a  dollar-a-year  in- 
dustry member  of  the  WPB,  issued  his 
statement  after  a  visit  to  Hollywood.  While 
there  he  was  reported  to  have  conferred 
with  producers  and  former  business  associ- 
ates on  the  post-war  role  of  American  screen 
product. 

Hopper  Forecasts  End 
Of  War  in  1944 

For  20  years  a  film  executive,  Mr.  Hop- 
per, prior  to  his  entry  into  Government 
service  a  year  and  a  half  ago,  was  presi- 
dent of  the  Cinema  Mercantile  Company, 
which  furnished  production  sets  in  Holly- 
wood. He  also  headed  the  Fidelity  Securi- 
ties Corporation,  a  production  financing 
firm,  and  was  associated  with  Majestic  Pic- 
tures and  other  independent  producers. 

"The  year  just  beginning  will  in  all  proba- 
bility see  the  end  of  the  war,  at  least  in 
Europe,"  Mr.  Hopper  predicted.  "Not  the 
least  of  the  many  major  problems  that  will 
have  to  be  dealt  with  by  Allied  statesmen 
in  arranging  the  peace  will  be  the  inter- 
change of  motion  picture  films  as  a  part  of 
world  commerce. 

"An  opportunity  of  the  greatest  impor- 
tance av^iaits  the  American  motion  picture 
industry  in  connection  with  the  delibera- 
tions over  the  peace  treaty.  Here  will  be 
the  chance  to  nullify  or  reduce  all  or  most 
of  the  restrictive  measures  that  have  been 
taken  by  foreign  countries  against  Ameri- 
can films,"  he  said. 

"Countries  have  laid  down  embargoes 
against  Hollywood  product  because  of  their 
inability  to  offer  superior  pictures  or  those 
equally  as  good.  The  writing  of  the  peace 
treaty  will  provide  a  means  for  removing 
these  restrictions  and  embargoes.  If  the 
industry  sees  that  its  case  is  properly  pre- 
sented a  way  will  be  opened  for  greater  ac- 
cess to  world  markets  than-  ever  before. 

"Allied  nations  must  be  made  to  realize 
the  far  reaching  importance  of  the  motion 


picture  as  a  vehicle  of  peace,"  Mr.  Hopper 
asserted. 

"What  the  motion  picture  industry  is  ca- 
pable of  accomplishing  from  the  standpoint 
of  education  and  propaganda  is  beyond  the 
limits  of  any  other  agency.  It  can  be  used 
as  a  powerful  instrument  for  educating  the 
people  of  the  world  in  the  ways  of  peace,  in 
persuading  them  to  accept  the  program  for 
maintaining  world  peace  which  the  Presi- 
dent outlined  in  his  Christmas  Eve  speech," 
he  added. 

The  statesmen  who  write  the  peace  treaty 
will  have  the  facilities  for  giving  the  film 
its  rightful  place  in  the  post-war  world, 
Mr.  Hopper  said. 

"Hollywood  asks  no  favors  in  the  terms 
to  be  written.  All  it  asks  is  that  its  prod- 
ucts be  allowed  to  go  in  free  competition 
with  those  of  any  other  country,  unhamp- 
ered by  legislation,  tax  penalties,  and  em- 
bargoes which  have  been  imposed  in  the 
past,"  Mr.  Hopper  said. 

"Hollywood  should  not  wait  until  the 
victory  to  be  laying  its  plans  for  the  proper 
presentation  of  its  case.  Its  program  should 
be  thought  out  and  ready,"  the  WPB  offi- 
cial said. 

"Already  certain  U.  S.  Government  agen- 
cies are  giving  consideration  to  the  prob- 
lems of  world  peace  and  world  trade  as  they 
relate  to  the  motion  picture  industry,  which 
over  the  years  has  proved  itself  to  be  the 
greatest  salesman  of  American  goods  of 
any  method  yet  devised. 

"Hollywood  should  be  cooperating  with 
these  Government  agencies  and  should  be 
prepared  to  offer  every  immediate  assist- 
ance. It  should  maintain  adequate  repre- 
sentatives in  Washington  to  cooperate  in 
and  follow  all  developments  in  relation  to 
tl^e  post-war  situation,"  he  said. 

"Unless  the  industry  is  alive  to  the  needs 
of  the  hour  it  will  miss  an  opportunity  to 
advance  itself  and  will  find  the  post-war 
world  plagued  with  the  same  old  restrictions 
and  embargoes  that  prevented  the  industry 
from  exploiting  foreign  markets  in  the  pe- 
riod before  the  war.  Leaders  in  the  indus- 
try would  do  well  to  ponder  the  situation," 
Mr.  Hopper  advised. 


Churches  To  Test  Bingo 
Law  in  Cincinnati 

Although  Bingo  now  is  legal  in  Ohio  when 
conducted  for  religious,  charitable  or  education- 
al purposes,  the  Council  of  Churches,  in  Cincin- 
nati, is  taking  steps  to  test  the  constitutionality 
of  the  law  recently  passed  permitting  the  games. 
Bingo  provides  heavy  opposition  to  Cincinnati 
theatres. 


New  responsibilities  will  face  the  industry  in 
the  postwar  world,  but  films  will  not  face  the 
many  great  problems  of  conversion  to  peacetime 
activity  which  are  ahead  for  many  American 
industries,  Barney  Balaban,  president  of  Para- 
mount Pictures,  said  this  week. 

He  pointed  out  that  in  its  war  service  the 
screen  has  shown  its  capacity  to  assume  and 
fulfill  many  important  responsibilities. 

"Although  the  basic  mission  of  the  photo- 
play is  and  always  will  be  to  provide  enter- 
tainment, it  is  our  duty  and  our  obligation  to 
make  this  entertainment  truly  representative  of 
American  life,  American  morals  and  American 
ideals"  in  the  postwar  world,  Mr.  Balaban  de- 
clared. 

The  screen  will  be  in  a  fortunate  position  to 
adapt  itself  to  the  postwar  world,  according  to 
Mr.  Balaban. 

"The  business  of  making  motion  picture  en- 
tertainment is  of  necessity  a  matter  of  almost 
day-to-day  planning  in  order  to  meet  the  ever- 
shifting  trends  of  public  demand.  The  industry 
is  accustomed  to  rapid  changes  and  is  always 
ready  to  meet  the  need  for  a  new  type  of 
product,"  Mr.  Balaban  said.  "I  am  confident 
that  our  writers  and  production  brains  will 
meet  new  challenges  as  they  have  met  all 
changes  in  world  thinking  in  the  past  25  years. 

"Secondly,  the  industry  faces  no  problem  of 
retooling  or  over-expansion,"  Paramount's 
president  pointed  out.  "Although  the  vrar  ex- 
panded other  industries,  it  brought  restriction 
to  films  and  there  has  been  no  over-building  of 
theatres,"  he  said.  "Technical  improvements,  de- 
veloped in  war,  will  be  most  beneficial  when 
applied  to  films  under  peacetime  conditions,"  he 
said.  Mr.  Balaban  cited  television  as  an  ex- 
ample. 

"While  we  have  been  making  pictures  for 
wartime  aiidiences  we  have  been  building  a 
backlog  of  ideas  for  films  to  be  produced  when 
peace  comes,"  Mr.  Balaban  continued. 

He  predicted  an  expansion  of  world  markets 
after  the  war  which  would  provide  increased 
employment  for  actors,  production  technicians 
and  distribution  forces. 

Sales  representatives  abroad  will  have  to  be 
business  ambassadors  who  will  represent  Amer- 
ica at  its  best,  Mr.  Balaban  said.  "They  must 
be  men  of  vision  and  understanding,  of  exem- 
plary character,  and  keenly  sympathetic  to  the 
problems  of  the  people  among  whom  they  will 
live  and  work.  Our  motion  pictures  must  be 
equally  representative  of  the  highest  American 
ideals,"  he  said. 


Maguire  Joins  Filmaclc 

Irving  Mack,  general  sales  manager  of  the 
Filmack  Trailer  Company,  Chicago,  has  ap- 
pointed Neil  Maguire,  artist  in  the  motion  pic- 
ture field,  as  production  manager.  Mr.  Maguire 
formerly  was  with  Filmack  and  more  recently 
with  the  Advance  Trailer  Company  and  Na- 
tional Screen.  For  the  past  10  years  he  has 
been  in  Hollywood  producing  and  directing 
short  subjects. 


Simons  Heads  Boston 
Salesnnen's  Club 

Sol  Simons  of  Columbia  has  been  elected 
president  of  the  Boston  Salesmen's  Club.  Other 
officers  are:  Maynard  Sickals,  Capitol  Theatre 
Supply  Company,  vice-president ;  Harry  Rosen- 
blatt, MGM,  treasurer ;  Tom  O'Brien,  Colum- 
bia, sergeant-at-arms,  and  Mack  Farber,  secre- 
tary. 


Fitzgerald  Joins  Warners 

John  Fitzgerald,  newspaperman  and  news- 
reel  editor,  has  rejoined  the  eastern  publicity 
staff  at  Warner  Bros,  this  week  as  general 
news  editor.  In  addition  to  his  former  asso- 
ciation with  the  Warner  publicity  department, 
Mr.  Fitzgerald  at  one  time  was  a  member  of 
the  Steve  Hannagan  publicity  organization. 


Adamson  Acquires  House 

The  Adamson  Theatre  Circuit  of  Portland, 
Ore.,  has  opened  the  Liberty  theatre  in  Van- 
couver, Wash.  The  circuit  operates  houses  in 
Albanv,  Ore.,  and  Vancouver,  Wash. 


January    8,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


45 


INDUSTRY  MOBILIZED  FOR 
FOURTH  WAR  LOAN  DRIVE 


Leaders  Map  Tactics  in 
"Bond  For  Every  Seat" 
War  Loan  Campaign 

Industry  recruiting  for  the  Big  Push — the 
Fourth  War  Loan  Drive — from  January  18 
to  February  IS  was' in  full  swing  this  week 
with  the  national  high  command,  division 
generals,  exchange  area  captains  and  ex- 
hibition lieutenants  in  every  city  conferring 
on  tactics  for  the  drive  toward  the  objective 
of  a  War  Bond  for  every  seat  in  every  the- 
atre in  America. 

The  opening  of  the  drive  will  be  made  of- 
ficially at  noon  January  18  when  in  every 
state,  in  Alaska  and  Hawaii,  church  bells, 
sirens  and  factory  whistles  will  ring  out  to 
call  American  Bond  buyers. 

Regional  and  district  meetings  had  been 
held  or  were  scheduled  for  an  early  date  to 
"brief"  all  exhibitors,  exchange  salesmen, 
publicity  experts  and  theatre  staffs  on  the 
campaign  strategy  and  the  target  of  $5,500,- 
000,000  worth  of  Bond  sales  through  the  na- 
tion's theatres. 

Star,  Radio  Tours 
Reach  22  Cities 

Charles  P.  Skouras,  general  of  the  indus- 
try's drive,  arrived  in  New  York  on  Wed- 
nesday to  check  in  at  the  national  headquar- 
ters in  the  War  Activities  Committee  offices 
at  the  Paramount  Building.  With  him  were 
B.  V.  Sturdivant,  national  campaign  di- 
rector, who  moved  in  on  Monday,  Frank  H. 
"Rick"  Ricketson,  vice  chairman  of  the  drive 
and  Andy  Krappmann,  assistant  campaign 
director. 

Mr.  Skouras  flew  to  New  York  immediate- 
ly following  a  meeting  in  Hollywood  with 
leaders  of  the  radio  industry  and  radio  agen- 
cies, where  plans  were  made  for  the  appear- 
ance of  the  foremost  radio  stars  and  pro- 
grams in  cities  throughout  the  country  in 
connection  with  the  drive. 

Radio  will  provide  shows  for  San  Fran- 
cisco, Portland,  Salt  Lake  City,  Kansas 
City,  Seattle,  Milwaukee,  Pittsburgh,  Cin- 
cinnati, New  Orleans  and  Denver.  Motion 
picture  talent  will  appear  in  12  other  major 
cities  yet  to  be  named. 

Industry  Sales  Committee 
Members  are  Appointed 

Three  typical  regional  meetings  under  the 
leadership  of  J.  Myer  Schine,  Upper  New 
York  chairman,  were  held  this  week,  in  Al- 
bany on  Wednesday,  in  Syracuse  on  Thurs- 
day and  in  Buffalo  on  Friday.  The  up- 
State  area  has  been  broken  down  into  28 
zones,  with  each  zone  having  a  chairman 
and  a  co-chairman  to  supervise  the  activi- 
ties. The  meetings,  each  a  luncheon,  were 
attended  by  the  zone  heads  who  in  turn  plan 
similar  meetings  within  their  own  zones  to 
complete  plans  for  the  sale  of  Bonds. 

Dan  Michalove,  New  York  chairman  in 
charge  of  industry  sales,  on  Monday  an- 
nounced his  organization  has  been  set-up. 
naming  several  co-chairmen  and  appointing 


MAIL  ENTRY  BLANKS 
FOR  "HONORED  100" 

Entry  blanks  for  the  "Honored 
Hundred"  contest  of  the  Fourth  War 
Loan  for  exhibitors  throughout  the 
nation  have  been  mailed  by  the  War 
Activities  Committee  to  all  theatres 
holding  WAC  pledges.  Robert  Selig 
is  contest  manager.  The  blank  reads: 
"Enroll  my  name  in  the  'Honored 
Hundred'  contest  of  the  Motion  Pic- 
ture Industry.  I  will  sell  at  least  'a 
bond  for  every  seat',  that  1  may  make 
a  greater  patriotic  contribution  to 
the  success  of  the  4th  War  Loan 
Campaign."  The  winners  will  receive 
all-expense  trips  to  Washington, 
D.  C,  and  special  honors. 


Charles  Moss  and  Jack  Pegler  to  his  staff. 

The  co-chairmen  who  will  be  in  charge 
of  home  office  sales  are:  Joseph  Vogel  at 
Loew's,  Harry  Goldberg  at  Warner  Broth- 
ers, George  Dembow  at  National  Screen 
Service,  John  Farmer  at  RKO,  John  O'Con- 
nor at  Universal,  H.  Schneider  and  Floyd 
Weber  at  Columbia,  Harry  Buckley  at 
United  Artists,  Robert  Savini  for  the  inde- 
pendent companies  and  exchanges,  and  Jo- 
seph Hornstein  for  equipment  companies. 

Mr.  Michalove  also  announced  that  sales 
among  employees  of  Twentieth  Century-Fox 
home  ofiice  will  be  handled  by  the  Family 
club,  an  organization  of  employees  formed 
into  committees  and  groups  for  that  pur- 
pose. William  C.  Gehring,  Western  Sales 
Manager,  is  the  president. 

100  Exhibitors  Attend 
Hartford  Rally 

On  Tuesday  some  100  exhibitors  and  dis- 
tributors of  Connecticut  gathered  at  the 
Hotel  Taft  in  New  Haven  for  a  luncheon 
meeting  attended  by  New  Haven's  mayor, 
John  W.  Murphy.  Among  those  who  spoke 
were  S.  H.  Fabian,  chairman  of  the  theatres 
division  of  the  WAC,  and  Ed  Schreiber, 
WAC  publicity  director. 

Mayor  Murphy  said,  "It  will  be  a  record 
that  no  group  has  made  a  greater  contribu- 
tion toward  winning  the  war  than  the  motion 
picture  industry."  He  pledged  his  fullest 
cooperation  with  the  industry  in  the  coming 
campaign.  State  Chairman  Harry  Shaw 
and  his  associate,  I.  J.  Hofifman,  spoke  for 
the  exhibitors,  promising  they  would  do 
everything  possible  to  reach  the  goal. 

Frank  McNair,  chairman  of  the  Chicago 
and  Cook  County  War  Finance  Committee, 
has  selected  his  executive  board,  and  has 
announced  that  Tom  E.  Hough  will  serve  as 
operating  director  and  David  Dillman  as  his 
assistant.  William  Hollander  and  Archie 
Herzofif  of  Balaban  and  Katz,  will  be  ad- 
visers on  all  tie-ups  between  the  civilian 
organizations  and  theatres. 

At  a  dinner  last  week  at  the  Palmer  House, 


Mr.  McNair  told  some  200  chairmen  of  the 
volunteer  sales  organization  that  the  quota 
for  Chicago  and  Cook  County  was  $721,- 
818,400.  The  state  quota  as  announced  by 
Harold  Swift,  chairman  of  the  Illinois  WFC, 
is  $905,000,000  of  the  national  quota  of  14 
million  dollars  in  sales.  Of  the  county  total, 
the  quota  for  "E"  Bonds  has  been  set  at 
$130,901,300. 

In  the  New  York  area  Queens  County 
Chairman  Fred  Schwartz  and  his  district 
captains  met  on  Monday  morning  at  the 
Treasury  Department  offices  in  Long  Island 
City,  and  worked  on  the  details  of  their  cam- 
paign plans. 

On  next  Monday  in  Dallas  members  of 
the  WAC  and  the  Variety  Club  of  Texas 
will  play  co-hosts  at  a  luncheon  for  Texas 
exhibitors  and  distributors.  The  luncheon 
will  be  held  on  the  roof  garden  of  the 
Adolphus  Hotel,  and  among  those  present 
will  be  officials  of  the  March  of  Dimes 
drive.  Also  among  those  invited  to  attend 
are  the  War  Loan  state  chairmen  of  a  num- 
ber of  southern  and  southwestern  states,  and 
civic  leaders  of  Dallas. 

Hungarian  Short  Is 
Available  for  Drive 

Last  week  New  York  was  the  scene  of  the 
first  foreign  language  short  ever  made  to 
assist  the  Treasury  in  a  War  Loan,  a  Hun- 
garian film  of  the  launching  of  the  Liberty 
ship  S.  S.  Louis  Kossuth.  It  was  produced 
by  Danubia  Pictures,  Inc.,  and  will  be  shown 
throughout  the  country  in  connection  with 
the  drive. 

Brooklyn  theatre  managers,  publicity  men 
and  circuit  heads  who  were  appointed  as 
captains  and  co-captains  to  supervise  Bond  , 
sales,  met  last  week  at  the  Albee  theatre  in 
downtown  Brooklyn,  with  Louis  Goldberg 
acting  as  chairman  in  the  absence  of  Sam 
Rinzler.  They  directed  their  plans  and  dis- 
cussions towards  the  sale  of  "E"  Bonds. 

General  Chairman  Edward  L.  Alperson  of 
the  Metropolitan  New  York  area  last  week 
announced  that  the  borough  chairmen  have 
selected  their  districted  captains. 

Morris  Kinzler,  account  executive  of  the 
Kayton-Spiero  advertising  agency  has  been 
named  advertising  counselor  for  the  Trade 
Relations  Divisions  of  the  industry's  Fourth 
War  Loan  Committee. 

Balaban  &  Kafz  Donates 
Buiidmg  to  Red  Cross 

Balaban  &  Katz,  Chicago,  has  presented  the 
four-story  Hoyburn  Theatre  Building,  Evan- 
ston.  111.,  valued  at  $30,000,  to  the  Red  Cross. 
The  building  formerly  housed  the  850-seat 
Hoyburn  theatre.  The  entire  building  will  be 
occupied  as  quickly  as  possible  to  extend  Red 
Cross  activities  in  the  area  between  the  north- 
ern city  limits  of  Chicago  and  Waukegan,  111. 


Named  to  Pageant  Board 

Earle  W.  Sweigert,  Paramount  district  man- 
ager in  Philadelphia,  and  William  A.  McAvoy, 
sound  executive  in  Philadelphia,  were  elected 
to  the  executive  board  of  the  Miss  America 
Beauty  Pageant  for  1944  held  annually  in  At- 
Ipntic  City,  N.  J. 


46 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    8,  1944 


Decree  Is  Completed; 
Up  to  Clark  Now 


Major  Companies  Agree  to 
Submit  Final  Draft  of 
Their  Proposals 

Distributors  were  ready  on  Wednesday  to 
make  their  bid  for  settlement  of  the  New 
York  anti-trust  case  with  a  new  set  of 
proposals  for  a  revised  Consent  Decree. 

Meeting  on  Tuesday,  company  presidents, 
lawyers  and  the  sales  managers  went  over 
the  final  draft  and  accepted  it  for  transmis- 
sion to  Tom  C.  Clark,  the  Assistant  Attorney 
General,  as  the  industry's  official  bid  for 
peace.  Copies  were  to  be  mailed  to  Mr.  Clark 
at  the  Department  of  Justice  in  Washington 
for  his  study  over  the  weekend. 

Mr.  Clark,  according  to  Washington  in- 
tormation,  was  to  arrange  a  meeting  early 
next  week  with  Joseph  Hazen,  Warner  gen- 
eral counsel,  who  has  represented  the  dis- 
tributors in  conferences  with  the  Govern- 
ment. At  midweek  it  was  not  determined 
where  the  meeting  would  be  held,  but  the 
possibility  that  Mr.  Clark  would  be  in  New 
York  early  next  week  on  other  business 
prornpted  reports  that  he  might  meet  there 
with  Mr.  Hazen  and  perhaps  hold  another 
general  conference  with  company  presidents. 

Agreement  Among 
Distributors  Seen 

All  dissents  on  minor  points  were  re- 
ported to  have  been  ironed  out  at  the  meet- 
ings on  Friday  and  the  distributors  were 
reported  in  full  agreement  on  a  decree  which 
granted  virtually  all  of  the  concessions  de- 
manded by  Mr.  Clark  when  he  rejected 
their  first  offer  in  November. 

Settlement  of  difYerences  as  to  the  extent 
of  cancellation  concessions  to  be  granted  in 
the  decree  was  understood  to  have  been 
reached  Tuesday  at  the  meeting  of  sales 
heads. 

All  companies  are  expected  to  pledge  un- 
restricted cancellation  on  a  formula  to  be 
based  in  proportion  to  average  film  rentals. 
Many  points  of  the  United  Motion  Picture 
Industry  selling  plan  cancellation  formula 
are  embodied  in  the  new  decree,  it  was  said, 
but  there  are  no  restrictions  to  a  flat  per 
centage  of  sales. 

Expect  Broad  Limits 
On  Cancellation 

Mr.  Clark  has  been  reported  to  be  insistent 
that  liberal  cancellation  rights  be  granted 
to  exhibitors  in  the  new  decree.  x\lthough 
one  or  two  sales  departments  raised  minor 
objections  these  were  disposed  of  at  the 
Tuesday  meetings  and  all  companies  agreed 
to  try  broad  cancellation  concessions.  It 
would  be  the  first  time  that  exhibitors  have 
been  generally  granted  the  right  to  cancel 
any  pictures  they  chose. 

Pledges  to  restrict  the  future  expansion 
of  affiliated  circuits,  were  also  reported  in 
the  new  decree,  in  accord  with  Mr.  Clark's 
demands. 

This  point  was  said  to  have  aroused 
considerable  concern  on  the  part  of  Loew 
representatives  who  pointed  out  that  the 


circuit  had  not  engaged  in  the  general  pro- 
grams of  expansion  undertaken  by  other  af- 
filiated circuits.  However  it  is  understood 
that  they  accepted  the  decree  proposals  as 
they  now  stand  for  the  sake  of  reaching 
unanimous  agreement. 

Arbitration  changes  were  described  as 
"quite  extensive,"  with  the  company  lawyers 
hopeful  that  the  new  decree  will  spur  re- 
newed exhibitor  interest  in  this  method  of 
settling  differences.  They  would  not  com- 
ment on  details  of  the  changed  arbitration 
setup. 

There  were  indications  however  that  clear- 
ances and  run  would  continue  to  be  the 
main  subjects  of  arbitration,  with  greatly 
simplified  provisions  and  qualifying  condi- 
tions for  some  run  complainants. 

Exhibitor  Leaders  to  Be 
Asked  for  Comment 

Indicative  of  distributor  confidence  in 
continued  arbitration  was  the  renewal  of 
leases  on  film  tribunal  offices  maintained  by 
the  American  Arbitration  Association.  The 
new  leases  were  signed  after  consultation 
with  Mr.  Hazen,  who  is  distributor  rep- 
resentative on  the  film  arbitration  adminis- 
trative committee.  The  lease  on  the  Appeal 
Board  chambers  at  New  York  was  also  re- 
newed, indicating  that  plans  reported  earlier 
to  abolish  the  board  in  favor  of  regional 
appeal  tribunals  had  been  revised. 

If  the  latest  distributor  suggestions  for  a 
new  decree  meet  the  approval  of  Mr.  Clark, 
who  heads  the  film  anti-trust  unit,  and  are 
endorsed  by  the  Attorney  General,  it  is 
expected  that  copies  will  be  sent  to  exhibitor 
leaders  for  their  study.  They  will  be  asked 
to  send  written  comments  to  the  Depart- 
ment of  Justice,  it  was  indicated,  to  be 
followed  possibly  by  further  personal  con- 
ferences with  Mr.  Clark. 

New  York  Unit  Presses 
Rental,  Reissue  Fight 

It  was  considered  unlikely  that  the  as- 
sistant attorney  general  would  summon  dis- 
tributor and  exhibitor  representatives  to 
Washington  for  a  joint  conference  on  the 
contents  of  the  new  Consent  Decree. 

In  any  case  final  approval  of  the  docu- 
ment is  expected  to  take  30  to  60  days  more. 
Mr.  Clark  is  currently  extremely  busy  with 
matters  in  the  criminal  division,  which  he 
heads,  and  has  had  to  work  in  the  film 
meetings  between  these  duties.  Currently  he 
has  been  supervising  the  sedition  indictments 
against  the  33  persons  charged  by  a  Wash- 
ington grand  jiiry  with  acting  as  Nazi 
agents  in  the  U.  S. 

New  York's  Unaffiliated  Independent  Ex- 
hibitors organization  is  pressing  its  cam- 
paign to  discuss  sales  policies  for  metro- 
politan subsequent  run  theatres  with  the 
home  office  sales  departments.  Meetings  be- 
tween a  delegation  of  independents  and  Ben 
Kalmenson,  Warner  sales  manager,  were 
reported  held  this  week. 

Jacob  Leff,  Max  Cohn,  Max  Wallach, 
Jesse  Stern  and  Julius  Charnow  have  been 


serving  on  the  committee  which  seeks  a 
revision  of  rental,  reissue  and  shorts  selling 
policies. 

Other  meetings  have  been  requested  with 
Neil  Agnew  of  Paramount;  Ned  Depinet, 
RKO ;  William  A.  Scully,  Universal  and 
A.  Montague  of  Columbia. 

Cincinnati's  Indignant  Exhibitors  Forum, 
headed  by  Willis  Vance  last  week  passed  a 
New  Year's  resolution  urging  its  members 
to  "diligently  and  forcibly  as  possible  resist 
the  distributors'  unfair  practice  of  forcing 
per  centage  engagements."  By  demanding 
high  percentage  from  theatres  not  in  a  posi- 
tion to  pay  more  than  25  per  cent  dis- 
tributors have  forced  themselves  into  an 
"unusual  type  of  partnership  in  independent 
theatre  ventures,  taking  profits  without  ab- 
sorbing any  of  the  losses"  according  to  Mr. 
Vance. 


"Bide"  Dudley  Dies; 
Wrote  on  Theatre 

Walter  Bronson  "Bide"  Dudley,  New  York 
columnist  and  radio  commentator  on  matters 
theatrical,  died  Tuesday  at  the  Polyclinic  Hos- 
jiital,  New  York,  at  the  age  of  66.  He  had 
long  been  ill. 

In  his  30  years  of  writing  and  speaking  about 
the  theatre,  Mr.  Dudley  was  estimated  to  have 
seen  more  than  3,000  plays  and  films.  Sev- 
eral of  the  shows  were  from  his  stories. 

Mr.  Dudley  began  his  career  as  a  midwest- 
ern  newspaperman.  He  then  wrote  a  humorous 
column  on  the  Denver  Post.  He  came  to  New 
York  to  join  the  drama  staff  of  the  New  York 
Telegraph,  and  then  became  drama  critic  of 
The  Evening  Jf'orld. 

His  survivors  are  his  daughter,  Doris,  now 
]\Irs.  Richard  Leahy ;  a  son,  Bronson,  actor 
and  dancer ;  two  sisters,  Mrs.  Malcolm  Mc- 
Naughton,  and  Evelyn  Dudley. 

PCCITO  Asks  "Divorcement" 
Of  Distributor  Workers 

A  demand  that  distributors  and  producers  re- 
quire from  all  employees  "at  least  once  every 
90  days"  an  oath  that  they  are  not  connected 
with  any  theatrical  enterprise  served  by  their 
employer,  was  voiced  this  week  by  the  Pacific 
Coast  Conferences  of  Independent  Theatre 
Owners.  The  demand  was  in  a  resolution,  at 
Los  Angeles,  and  it  asked  that  when  such 
theatrical  interests  are  disclosed  to  the  employ- 
ing distributor  or  producer,  the  employee  be 
discharged. 


Mills  Succeeds  Arch  Mercey 
In  OWI  Films  Post 

Taylor  Mills  has  succeeded  Arch  Mercey  as 
associate  chief  of  the  motion  picture  branch  of 
the  Office  of  War  Information's  domestic  sec- 
tion. 

Mr.  Mills,  of  Minneapolis,  has  been  adminis- 
trative analyst  in  the  U.  S.  Budget  Bureau. 
He  also  served  as  special  consultant  on  motion 
pictures  for  that  agency.  He  was  formerly  with 
Batton,  Barton,  Durstine  and  Osborn,  Inc.,  ad- 
vertising agency. 

Mr.  Mercey  is  joining  the  Coast  Guard. 

Hollywood  Canteen  May 
Ask  SAG  to  Reconsider 

The  Hollywood  Stage  Door  Canteen  is  ex- 
pected to  ask  the  Screen  Actors  Guild  board 
to  reconsider  its  recent  decision  that  players 
in  the  Warner  picturej  "Hollywood  Canteen" 
be  paid  fully.  The  decision  caused  Warners  to 
cancel  the  picture.  The  Canteen  thus  loses 
$250,000  and  a  percentage  of  the  expected 
profits,  it  is  estimated.  The  Canteen  request 
may  be  submitted  to  the  SAG  board  at  its  next 
meeting. 


Qreer  Qarson 
Walter  Tidgeon 

ADAME  CURIE 


Directed  by 


ERVYN  LeROY 


HENRY  TRAVEIiiS 


ROBERT  WALKER 


DAME  MAY  WHITTY 


ELSA  BASSERMAN 


VAN 


witii 


Produced  by 

SIDNEY  FRANKLIN 

ALBERT  BASSERMAN 
€.  AUBREY  SMITH 
VICTOR  FRANCEN 
REGINALD  OWEN 
MARGARET  O'BRIEN 


Sereew  Pl*y  hy  J>AUL  OSBORN  AND  PAUL  H.  RAMEAU 

i^sed  on  the  Book  MADAME  CURIE  By 
EVE  GURiE 


RO'GOLDWYN'MAYER  PICTURE 


v->  IS. 


,Kecon.ingAca<len.yAwa.dto.l943. 
Sidney  FranUin,  ani  tke  i.recto. 
M.rwn  LeRoy,sWein  creat.ng  a. 


Sidney  Franklin,  and  tne  director 
Mervyn  Le  Roy,  sWe  in  creat.ng  an 

unforgettaUe  picture. 

—Daily  Variety 


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^e'  "Greer    Garson's    gentle,  Jignit 

if>^  ,S<^^>'  and  wkolly-convincing  portrayal 

^•^^  ^o"^^  'Madame  Curie'  is  certain  to  ti 

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Greer 


"Greer  Garson  and       ^^^.^  ^.ct  ro. 
„i  'Hts.  Hirxvver  ta 

V     Jpioy  Vonors-  c  (,<,lle'-f, 

Academy  _EJ„„n  i'^" 

C  t\^e  truly  ^''^^"'^rfco/sb 
"One  ot  w«  ^Si^ney 

'X''''«^***®''T3oVvA  gross- 
I    essence  ^,  ...^.■rf^'^ 


■15 


FROM  RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL-ACROSS  THE 
NATION  SPREADS  THE  FAME  OF  A  GREAT 


Curtain  up! 
Your  audience 
is  waiting  for 

Qreer  Qarson 
IjOalter  "Widgeon 

in  tke  immortal 
love  story  of 

MADAME  CURIE 

directed  Ly  Mervyn  Le  Roy 
produced  ty  Sidney  Franklin. 

M-G-M 

naturally! 


Our  Two  Big  Jobs  In  January : 

Fourth  War  Loan  And  March  Of  Dimes  '. 


Januarys,    1944  MOTIONPICTUREHERALD  55 

THE  HOLLYWOOD  SCENE 


from  HOLLYWOOD  BUREAU 


Academy  Award  Vote  Rule  Issued 


The  Academy  of  Motion  Picture  Arts  and 
Sciences  issued  this  week  its  annual  brochure 
setting  forth  the  "rules  for  the  conduct  of 
the  balloting"  out  of  which  will  eventuate, 
on  March  2,  1944,  the  awardings  of  Oscars 
for  outstanding  achievement  in  the  art  and 
science  of  production  during  1943. 

There  are  to  be  22  regular  awards  this 
year,  not  inclusive  of  the  Irving  Thalberg 
special  award  and  such  other  specials  as  the 
Academy  board  of  governors  may  designate, 
and  it  may  as  well  be  remarked  here  that  at 
this  point  on  the  calendar  the  conversation 
in  the  cafes,  on  the  sets  and  wherever  else 
professionals  congregate,  is  of  a  kind  to  sug- 
gest that  "The  Song  of  Bernadette"  is  going 
to  sweep  the  field. 

All  the  features  eligible  for  the  awards 
have  been  put  on  view  now,  necessarily  be- 
fore January  1,  and  although  the  organized 
electioneering  is  yet  to  come,  it's  hard  to  get 
a  taker  for  a  bet  that  some  other  attraction 
will  take  the  best  picture  award. 

22  Principal  Awards  to 
Follow  Usual  Pattern 

The  22  principal  awards  will  be  given  for 
the  best  performances  by  an  actor  in  a  lead- 
ing role,  ditto  an  actress,  best  by  an  actor  in 
a  supporting  role,  ditto  an  actress,  best  di- 
recting achievement,  best  screenplay,  best 
original  screenplay,  best  original  story  writ- 
ten for  the  screen,  best  art  direction  in  black 
and  white,  ditto  color,  best  cinematography 
in  black  and  white,  ditto  color,  best  achieve- 
ment in  sound  recording,  in  film  editing  and 
in  special  effects. 

Three  awards  will  be  given  in  the  short 
subjects  field,  for  the  1,000-foot  class,  the 
3,000-foot  class  and  for  cartoons.  In  the 
music  field,  likewise,  three  will  be  given,  one 
for  the  best  scoring  of  a  musical  picture,  one 
for  the  best  scoring  of  a  dramatic  or  comedy 
picture,  and  one  for  the  best  original  song 
written  for  the  screen. 

Generally,  the  rules  are  equivalent  to 
those  followed  in  past  years.  By  an  amend- 
ment of  the  rules,  however,  short  subjects 
need  not  have  been  exhibited  in  Hollywood 
to  be  eligible.  The  change  in  this  regula- 
tion is  not  explained,  but  it's  no  secret  that 
business  has  been  too  good  around  Holly- 
wood for  many  short  subjects  to  get  running 
time  on  the  local  screens. 

Seven  Top  Features 
Ready  to  Go  at  MGM 

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  is  plunging  into 
the  heaviest  production  schedule  the  studio 
has  faced  since  1940  for  this  period  of  the 
season.  In  the  next  two  weeks  cameras  will 
start  turning  on  seven  major  productions. 
On  the  schedule  are :  "Thirty  Seconds  Over 
Tokyo,"  "National  Velvet,"  "Mrs.  Parking- 
ton,"  "Marriage  Is  a  Private  Affair,"  "The 
Picture  of  Dorian  Gray,"  "Anchors 
Aweigh"  and  "The  Ziegfeld  Follies." 

On  March  1  "Guest  in  the  House"  will 
go  before  the  cameras  with  Anne  Baxter  in 
the  leading  role.  Hunt  Stromberg  having  ar- 


Studio  Level  Down 


Under  the  impact  of  two  holiday  week- 
end shutdowns,  production  sagged  to  a 
total  of  37  pictures  in  shooting  stage,  the 
lowest  point  reached  in  more  than' -six 
months.  Predictions  that  the  dip  is  purely 
technical  and  will  be  offset  by  a  sharp  rise 
in  January  are  general.  Studios  started 
only  three  pictures,  while  completing  nine, 
during  the  week. 

Republic  started  "The  Man  from  'Frisco", 
with  Albert  J.  Cohen  producing  and 
Robert  Florey  directing;  Michael  O'Shea 
and  Anne  Shirley  head  the  cast. 

Twentieth  Century- Fox  launched  "Ladies 


of  Washington",  under  the  production  of 
William  Girard  and  direction  of  Louis  King, 
presenting  Trudy  Marshall,  Sheila  Ryan, 
Anthony  Quinn,  John  Philliber  and  Ronald 
Graham,  among  others. 

Producer  Seymour  Nebenzahl  started 
"Strange  Confession",  an  Angelus  produc- 
tion for  United  Artists  distribution,  pre- 
senting George  Sanders,  Linda  Darnell, 
Edward  Everett  Norton  and  others.  The 
new  production  will  be  under  the  direction 
of  Douglas  Sirk. 

The  status  of  production  at  the  week- 
end: 


COMPLETED 

Columbia 


STARTED 


Republic 

Sagebrush  Heroes  ^an  from  Frisco 

(Formerly  "Heroes  20+h  Century-Fox 

of  the  Sagebrush")  Ladies  of  Washington 

Jam  Session  UA 

Once  Upon  a  Time  Strange  Confession 

Two-Man  Submarine  (Angelus) 

Monogram  SHOOTING 

Partners  of  the  Trail 

Sonora  Kid  Colunnbia 

-  At  Night  We  Dream 

Paramount  Address  Unknown 

National  Barn  Dance  MGM 
I  Love  a  Soldier 


Republic 
Laramie  Trail 


Meet  Me  in  St.  Louis 
Seventh  Cross 
Three  Men  in  White 
Dragon  Seed 


Kismet 
Mr.  Co-Ed 
Monogram 
Block  Busters 
Johnny   Doesn't  Live 

Here 
Paramount 

And  Now  Tomorrow 
Road  to  Uptopia 
Incendiary  Blonde 
Till  We  Meet  Again 
Hitler  Gang 
RKO  Radio 
Marine  Raiders 
Show  Business 
20+h  Century-Fox 
Wilson 
Purple  Heart 
Greenwich  Village 
Home  in  Indiana 


I  Married  a  Soldier 
Murder  in  Bermuda 

UA 

Song  of  the  Open 

Road  (Rogers) 
Up  in  Mabel's  Room 

(Small) 
Since  You  Sent  Away 

(Selznick) 

Universal 

Merry  Monohans 
Christmas  Holiday 
Warners 

Cinderella  Jones 
Make  Your  Own  Bed 
Mask  of  Dimitrios 
Mr.  Skeffington 
My  Reputation 
Horn  Blows  at 
Midnight 


ranged  to  borrow  the  actress  from  Twenti- 
eth Century-Fox.  United  Artists  will  re- 
lease the  picture. 

Jennifer  Jones  has  signed  with  Selznick 
to  star  in  two  pictures  this  year,  and  one 
annually  for  the  next  four  years. 

Paramount  has  signed  Leo  Bulgakov  for  a 
character  role  in  "And  Now  Tomorrow," 
screen  adaptation  of  the  Rachel  Field  novel 
starring  Loretta  Young  and  Alan  Ladd. 
Bulgakov  played  the  role  of  the  Russian 
General  Golz  in  "For  Whom  the  Bell  Tolls." 

Paramount  has  also  signed  Charles  Brack- 
ett  to  a  new  two-year  contract  as  a  writer- 
producer. 

Columbia,  in  the  manner  of  MGM,  has 
seven  productions  coming  up  for  shooting 
in  the  near  future,  three  of  them  going 
before  the  cameras  last  Monday.  The  three 
now  in  production  are:  "Mr.  Winkle  Goes 
to  War,"  starring  Edward  G.  Robinson,  a 
Jack  Moss  production  being  directed  by  Al 
Green;  a  Kay  Kyser  musical,  being  pro- 
duced by  Sam  Bischoff,  and  at  present  un- 
titled, and  Sam  White's  "The  Girl  in  the 
Case,"  described  as  a  mystery  thriller.  Next 
week  "Pilebuck,"  having  to  do  with  sabotage 
in  the  shipyards,  and  starring  Pat  O'Brien 


and  Phil  Ryan,  along  with  "The  Whistler," 
an  idea  plucked  from  a  radio  program  of 
the  same  name,  will  go  into  production. 
"Mission  Thirty-Six,"  with  Jack  Fier  pro- 
ducing, is  scheduled  for  the  sound  stages 
January  17,  and  the  Wallace  MacDonald 
production,  "Soldiers  in  Slacks,"  January 
24. 

Monogram  has  signed  Phil  Rosen  to  di- 
rect "Murder  in  the  Fun  House,"  next  in 
the  series  of  Chinese  detective  dramas  star- 
ring Sidney  Toler.  Shooting  on  the  picture 
starts  next  Monday  with  Phillip  N.  Krasne 
and  James  S.  Burkett  as  the  producing 
team. 

"Sub-Busters,"  Columbia's  story  of  the 
role  being  played  by  the  U.  S.  Merchant 
Marine,  will  have  Chester  Morris  in  the 
lead,  with  William  Castle  directing  and  Irv- 
ing Briskin  producing. 

For  his  forthcoming  United  Artists  mu- 
sical, "Sensations  of  1944,"  Andrew  Stone 
has  signed  twenty  acts.  The  cast  will  be 
headed  by  W.  C.  Fields,  Eleanor  Powell, 
Sophie  Tucker,  Cab  Calloway's  orchestra 
and  Mimi  Forsythe.  The  latest  act  to  be 
signed  is  the  Les  Paul  Trio,  instrumentalists 
known  to  radio  listeners. 


56 


Approval  of  President  Is 
Needed  Before  Jan,  21; 
Levy  Effective  Feb,  1 

The  proposal  for  a  new  admissions  tax  of 
one  cent  on  every  five  cents  paid  at  the  box- 
office,  approved  by  the  Senate  Finance  Com- 
mittee two  weeks  ago,  and  expected  to  be 
favorably  regarded  in  the  House,  will  prob- 
ably be  acted  upon  next  week,  Washington 
circles  report. 

Because  the  levy,  and  others  in  the  general 
tax  measure,  is  to  take  effect  February  1, 
the  President's  approval  must  be  obtained 
before  January  21. 

Washington  observers  noted  this  week 
that  other  provisions  of  the  measure  will 
burden  the  film  industry,  such  as  the  in- 
creased postage,  telephone,  and  telegraph 
rates,  and  the  taxes  on  personal  transporta- 
tion. 

However,  included  in  the  measure  is  a 
stipulation  deferring  until  January  1,  1945 
the  increase  from  one  to  two  per  cent  in  the 
tax  rate  for  old  pensions.  An  attempt  to  in- 
crease the  rate  now  failed. 

Allied  Clarifies 
Children's  Tax 

The  Allied  States  Association,  in  answer 
to  inquiries  regarding  situations  in  which 
the  tax  on  children's  nine-cent  admissions 
are  levied,  this  week  refers  to  Sec.  1700  (a) 
of  the  Internal  Revenue  Code  which  now 
imposes  a  tax  of  one  cent  on  each  10  cents 
or  fraction :  "No  tax  shall  be  imposed  on  the 
amount  paid  for  the  admission  of  a  child 
under  12  years  of  age  if  the  amount  paid  is 
less  than  10  cents." 

The  above  clause  was  written  into  the  Rev- 
enue Act  of  1941,  which  repealed  the  then 
existing  exemption  of  all  admissions  under 
21  cents. 

Allied  believes  that  Secretary  of  the  Treas- 
ury Morgenthau,  as  spokesman  for  the  Ad- 
ministration, will  continue  his  efforts  to  step 
up  the  admissions  tax  to  three  cents  on  each 
10  cents  or  fraction. 

John  Golden  Joins  Fight 
Against  Admission  Tax 

John  Golden,  Broadway  theatrical  pro- 
ducer, joined  the  fight  against  admission 
taxes,  i  a  letter  to  Senator  Robert  Wag- 
ner, New  York,  and  in  his  protest  described 
the  role  in  the  war  being  played  by  theatrical 
entertainment  in  all  the  Allied  nations.  Sen- 
ator Wagner  replying  to  Mr.  Golden,  said: 
"Since  I  agree  with  you  100  per  cent  I  shall 
speak  to  Chairman  George  in  reference  to 
it.  I  am  sure  there  will  be  many  Senators 
on  the  floor  who  will  have  your  views  about 
this  tax." 

Another  written  protest  went  to  Senator 
Claude  J.  Pepper,  Florida,  from  Hugh  G. 
Martin,  of  the  Martin  theatres,  operating  in 
Georgia,  Alabama  and  Florida.  The  ex- 
hibitor cited  theatre  hardship  through  tax- 
ation. 

Mr.  Martin  warned  that,  "a  lot  of  our  the- 
atres could  not  stand  a  further  increase  in 
taxation,"  and  said  that  in  some  situations 
exhibitors  are  confronted  with  a  city  as  well 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


as  a  federal  tax,  bringing  the  total  to  more 
than  25  per  cent. 

He  listed  the  part  theatres  have  played 
in  the  war  war  effort  and  added :  "Now  here 
is  what  'burns  me  up.'  ...  I  simply  cannot 
see  the  fairness  of  letting  one  non-essential 
business  go  completely  tax  free,  a  business 
that  has  sold  no  bonds,  gathered  no  scrap, 
taken  no  collection  from  its  customers.  .  .  . 
Is  it  fair  that  our  taxes  are  to  be  doubled 
and  a  non-essential  business  allowed  to  con- 
tinue without  any  taxation?" 


Vandals  Curbed 
In  Boston 

Vandalism  has  practically  ceased  in  Boston 
theatres,  according  to  a  report  by  police  offi- 
cers to  the  new  commissioner  of  police.  Col. 
Thomas  F.  Sullivan. 

In  neighborhoods,  and  the  heavily-populated 
downtown  districts,  the  police  have  been  sta- 
tioned in  groups  and  as  individuals  to  bear 
down  on  offenders,  and  the  campaign  is  re- 
ported a  success. 

There  have  been  instances  in  the  Scollay 
Square  district  where  defacing  of  walls  has 
continued  and  there  have  also  been  isolated 
cases  in  other  districts,  but  the  destruction  of 
property,  which  had  become  alarming,  has 
ceased,  at  lea_st  temporarily,  and  Commissioner 
Sullivan  has  said  it  can  be  permanently  halted. 

The  police  found  that  vandalism  in  the  the- 
atres was  the  work  of  'teen-agers.  Parents, 
busy  in  war  work  and  thus  absent  from  home 
and  who  had  neglected  to  provide  for  their 
children  were  blamed  in  most  instances. 

Looking  toward  warm  weather.  Commis- 
sioner Sullivan  also  has  provided  for  a  com- 
plete policing  of  Boston  Common,  which  was 
at  one  time  last  year  alleged  the  worst  gather- 
ing place  in  America  for  youthful  gangs,  bent 
upon  mischief. 

In  New  Jersey  the  trend  appears  to  be  in 
the  opposite  direction,  with  a  new  wave  of 
juvenile  delinquency  resulting  in  local  govern- 
ment agencies,  civic  and  social  group  leaders, 
meeting  in  theatres  to  combat  the  trend.  The 
New  Jersey  League  for  Law  and  Order  is 
sponsoring  a  state-wide  program. 

Schoenstadt  Circuit  Adds 
Three  Theatres  to  Group 

The  Schoenstadt  Circuit  in  Chicago  now  has 
20  theatres  as  a  result  of  the  purchases  of  the 
Olympia  and  Radio  theatres  from  the  Bland 
Brothers  and  the  Crown  theatre  from  the  Crown 
Building  Corporation.  The  sale  reduced  Bland 
Brothers'  holdings  to  two  houses,  the  Oak  and 
the  Roscoe. 


Republic  Re-releases  Film 

Republic's  "Women  in  War,"  featuring  Elsie 
Janis,  Wendy  Barrie,  Patric  Knowles  and  Mae 
Clarke,  will  be  re-released  January  25.  It  has 
been  decided  to  re-release  this  film  because  of 
its  topical  appeal,  it  was  announced.  New  ad- 
vertising material  is  now  in  preparation. 


Takes  Walla  Walla  House 

Title  to  the  Keylor  Grand  theatre,  Walla 
Walla,  Wash.,  unused  for  several  years,  has 
been  transferred  to  Henry  Koepke  of  Athena, 
Ore. 


January    8,  1944 

WAC  Studying 
Trucking  Needs 
For  Carriers 

With  film  truck  fleets  suffering  increasing 
numbers  of  breakdowns  and  the  equipment  of 
over-the-road  film  carrier  lines  dangerously 
near  the  breakdown  point  film  executives  and 
carrier  officials  will  meet  at  New  York  next 
week  to  discuss  mea'ns  of  obtaining  relief  from 
the  Office  of  Defense  Transportation,  War 
Production  Board,  and  other  Government 
agencies. 

Following  a  preliminary  survey  among  ex- 
change operations  chiefs  of  the  principal  lionie 
offices  it  appeared  likely  that  requests  for  addi- 
tional equipment  will  be  made  on  a  purely  local 
basis.  The  War  Activities  Committee  trucking 
committee  will  consider  a  request  to  ODT  offi- 
cials to  designate  the  industry  as  locally  neces- 
sary. This  would  authorize  local  rationing 
boards  to  release  new  trucks,  repair  equipment 
and  supplies  sufficient  to  maintain  film  deliv- 
eries in  that  particular  area. 

The  trucking  situation  is  reported  to  be  the 
most  critical  in  the  metropolitan  New  York 
exchange  area,  where  carriers  haul  film  exclu- 
sively. In  other  areas  deliveries  are  made  by 
interstate  common  carriers  who  have  been 
granted  sufficient  relief  to  maintain  and  repair 
fleets.  Ration  restrictions  are  reported  to  have 
been  particularly  strict  in  New  York  and  in 
other  state  areas  where  film  is  the  principal 
cargo  of  the  trucking  firms. 

A  report  prepared  by  Harry  Grayson,  attor- 
ney for  13  carriers  in  the  New  York  exchange 
area,  analyzing  recent  breakdowns  and  the  an- 
nual mileage  of  restricted  routes  will  be  pre- 
sented at  the  WAC  meeting  next  week  and  to 
Washington  officials.  The  New  York  carriers 
average  between  40,000  and  100,000  miles  a 
year  per  truck,  it  is  understood,  and  have  asked 
for  sufficient  equipment  for  annual  overhauls 
and  for  several  yearly  replacements  of  trucks 
worn  beyond  repair. 

Members  of  the  committee  include  H.  M. 
Richey  of  MGM,  Mr.  Grayson,  Fred  Schwartz, 
Century  Circuit ;  Ralph  Pielow,  MGM  ex- 
change; Irving  Dollinger,  New  Jersey  exhibi- 
tor, and  Robert  Wolff,  RKO  exchange  man- 
ager. 

The  pattern  set  by  the  New  York  committee 
is  expected  to  guide  truck  and  exchange  men  in 
other  areas  in  the  local  approach  to  their  car- 
rier problems. 

Difficulties  in  Cleveland,  where  an  erroneous 
interpretation  of  ODT  orders  prohibiting  week- 
end deliveries,  threatened  a  breakdown  of  Sat- 
urday and  Sunday  delivery  service  have  been 
ironed  out.  A  directive  from  Washington  au- 
thorized carriers  to  continue  service. 


Lewis  Joins  20+h-Fox  Publicity 

Bernard  Lewis  has  joined  the  publicity  staff 
of  Twentieth  Century-Fox  as  head  of  the  Na- 
tional News  Service  E)epartment  under  Jack 
Goldstein,  publicity  manager,  Hal  Horne,  di- 
rector of  advertising  and  publicity  for  the  com- 
pany, has  announced.  Mr.  Lewis,  a  one-time 
newspaperman,  for  the  past  three  years  was  in 
the  home  office  publicity  department  of  Para- 
mount. 


Goldberg  in  PRC  Post 

Harry  Goldberg  has  been  appointed  office 
manager  of  the  PRC-Capitol  Film  Exchange 
in  Chicago,  and  will  combine  the  duties  of  his 
new  office  with  those  of  city  sales  manager, 
which  he  formerly  held. 


Boston  Theatre  Sold 

The  Mattapan  theatre  in  Boston  has  been 
sold  to  Kenneth  Furkey  by  Abraham  Zintz. 
Mr.  Forkey  plans  second  run  pictures  and  oc- 
casional vaudeville  acts  after  renovation. 


Congress  Expected  to 
Act  Quickly  on  Tax 


M-G-M  TRADE  SHOWINGS 


DAY,  DATE  AND  HOURS  OF  SCREENING 


CITY 

PLACE 

ADDRESS 

RATIONING 

ALBANY 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

1052  Broadway 

MON.  1/24 

8  P.M. 

ATLANTA 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

197  Walton  St.,  N.W. 

MON.  1/24 

70:30  A.M. 

BOSTON 

M-G-M  Screen  Room 

46  Church  St. 

MON.  1/24  10  A.M.  &  2:15  P.M. 

BUFFALO 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

290  Franklin  St. 

MON  1  /OA 

R  P  M 

\j  r  ./VI. 

CHARLOTTE 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

308  South  Church  St. 

MOM   1  /9/1 

( 

7  '?n  p  M 

CHICAGO 

H.  C.  igel's  Screen  Room 

1301  S.  Wabash  Ave. 

MON  1  /94 

1  P.M. 

CINCINNATI 

RKO  Screen  Room 

16  East  Sixth  Street 

MON   1  /94 

7  P.M. 

CLEVELAND 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

2219  Payne  Avenue 

MON.  1/24 

I  P.M. 

DALLAS 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

1803  Wood  Street 

MON.  1/24 

2:30  P.M. 

DENVER 

Paramount  Screen  Room 

2100  Stout  Street 

MON  1  /94 

2  P.M. 

DES  MOINES 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

1300  High  Street 

MON  1  /94 

I  P.M. 

DETROIT 

Max  Blumenthal's  Sc.  Rm. 

2310  Cass  Avenue 

MON  1  /74 

1:30  P.M. 

INDIANAPOLIS 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

326  No.  Illinois  Street 

10  A  M 

KANSAS  CITY 

Vogue  Theatre 

3444  Broadway 

MON.  1/24 

J  P.M. 

LOS  ANGELES 

Boulevard  Theatre 

1615  W.  Washington  Blvd. 

MON.  1/24 

10:30  A.M. 

MEMPHIS 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

151  Vance  Avenue 

MON.  1/24 

1  P.M. 

MILWAUKEE 

Warner  Screen  Room 

212  W.  Wisconsin  Ave. 

MON  1/24 

1:30  P.M. 

MINNEAPOLIS 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

1015  Currie  Avenue 

MON.  1/24 

1  P.M. 

NEVV  HAVEN 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

40  Whiting  St. 

MON.  1/24 

10  A.M. 

NEW  ORLEANS 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

200  South  Liberty 

MON.  1/24  • 

130  P.M. 

NEW  YORK  / 
NEW  JcKoti  ) 

M-G-M  Screen  Room 

630  Ninth  Avenue 

TUES.  1/25 

10:30  A.M. 
&  2:30  P.M. 

OKLA'MA  CITY 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

10  North  Lee  Street 

AAOKI    1  /OA 

7  P  M 

1    f  ./VI. 

OMAHA 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

1502. Davenport 

/uiOKI    1  /OA 

7-7'>  P  M 
1 . 1  .J  r . /VI. 

PHILADELPHIA 

M-G-M  Screen  Room 

1233  Summer  Street 

MON.  1/24 

//  A.M. 

PITTSBURGH 

20th- Fox  Screen  Room 

1715  Blvd.  of  Allies 

MON.  1/24, 

2  P.M. 

PORTLAND 

B.  F.  Shearer  Screen  Rm. 

1947  N.W.  Kearney  St. 

MON.  1/24 

1  P.M. 

ST  LOUIS 

S'Renco  Screen  Room 

3143  Olive  St. 

MON.  1/24 

1  P.M. 

C  A  1  T  1  A  l^C  /"ITV 

oALI  LANt  v_l  1  T 

^Uin  rox  ociccn 

216  East  First  St.,  South 

MON.  1/24 

1  P.M. 

S.  FRANCISCO 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

245  Hyde  Street 

MON.  1/24 

1.30  P.M. 

SEATTLE 

Jewel  Box  Preview  Theatre 

2318  Second  Avenue 

MON.  1/24 

1  P.M. 

WASH.,  D.  C. 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

932  New  Jersey,  N.W. 

MON.  1/24 

1  P.M. 

'Rationing" — Wallace  Beery,  Marjorie  Main 


58 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    8,  1944 


RKO  Employees  Get 
Retirement  Details 


other  Film  Companies 
May  Inaugurate  Similar 
Pension  Plans 

Details  of  the  pension  retirement  fund  plan 
launched  by  RKO  were  made  available  last 
Friday  to  employees  of  the  company  and  its 
affiliates.  Following  announcement  of  the 
employee-benefit  project,  by  Floyd  Odium, 
chairman  of  the  board,  several  other  film 
companies  are  reported  considering  similar 
plans.  They  include  Columbia,  Loew's  and 
Twentieth  Century-Fox. 

National  Theatres  was  the  first  motion 
picture  company  to  institute  a  retirement 
fund  for  its  employees  last  year. 

According  to  N.  Peter  Rathvon,  president 
of  Radio-Keith-Orpheum,  the  minimum 
monthly  payment  any  employee  covered  by 
the  plan  can  receive  will  be  an  amount 
which,  added  to  Federal  Social  Security  pay- 
ments, will  provide  an  income  of  $60  a 
month  so  long  as  the  employee  lives.  No 
contributions  are  to  be  made  by  employees 
to  the  cost  of  the  plan,  and  annual  payments 
will  be  made  by  the  corporation  to  a  special 
trust  fund  which  will  be  self-administered. 

Covers  All  Between 
Ages  of  30  and  65 

The  plan  covers  all  present  regular  em- 
ployees between  the  ages  of  30  and  65  if  they 
have  already  completed  three  years  of  service 
or  as  soon  as  such  service  has  been  com- 
pleted. New  employees  likewise  will  be  in- 
cluded if  they  are  between  30  and  60. 

Those  who  leave  the  company  before  they 
are  eligible  for  benefits  will  receive  _  the 
monthly  pension  to  which  they  are  entitled 
once  they  reach  the  age  of  65,  except  if  they 
.  are  discharged  for  dishonesty,  disclosing 
trade  secrets,  or  because  of  conviction  for 
felony  or  moral  turpitude. 

An  employee  who  has  received  annual 
compensation  of  $5,000  or  more  and,  who, 
within  two  years  after  termination  of  his 
employment  with  the  corporation,  has  gone 
to  work  for  a  competitor,  also  will  be  ex- 
cluded from  benefits  of  the  plan. 

Benefits  Provided  For 
Employees'  Survivors 

If  an  employee  dies  before  he  becomes 
eligible  for  retirement,  his  survivors  will 
have  insurance  protection  equal  to  a  year's 
salary,  but  not  to  exceed  $20,000.  Although 
the  plan  will  be  administered  by  trustees 
designated  by  the  company,  RKO  intends  to 
apply  for,  and  pay  the  premiums  on,  a  group 
insurance  contract  on  the  life  of  every  mem- 
ber of  the  plan,  in  order  to  provide  death 
benefits.  The  beneficiary  of  an  employee 
who  dies  after  retirement  will  receive  $1,000. 

Computation  of  the  amount  of  benefits 
after  retirement,  company  officials  pointed 
out,  will  be  based  on  length  of  service,  with 
a  credit  for  future  and  past  services  worked 
out  on  a  percentage  basis.  Upon  reaching 
65,  an  employee  will  receive  a  yearly  pen- 
sion equivalent  to  approximately  one  per  cent 
of  his  average  annual  salary  for  each  year 


of  service,  thus  giving  an  individual  with  30 
years  of  service  an  amount  equal  to  about 
30  per  cent  of  his  average  annual  compensa- 
tion. 

Another  feature  of  the  fund  plan  is  the 
granting  of  an  option  to  employees  upon 
reaching  60,  to  designate  the  method  by 
which  they  desire  to  receive  their  monthly 
payments.  Four  optional  methods  are  pro- 
vided. 

Those  reaching  65  will  be  expected  to 
retire;  but  they  may,  by  agreement,  be  per- 
mitted to  continue  working.  Employees  who 
continue  in  service  beyond  the  retirement 
age  will  receive  their  monthly  pension  pay- 
ments in  addition  to  their  regular  salaries. 

Employees  in  Armed 
Forces  Benefit 

Employees  in  the  U.  S.  armed  forces  are 
included  in  the  projected  plan  with  full 
credit  being  given  them  for  the  time  spent 
in  military  service,  if  they  return  to  RKO. 
Excluded  from  the  benefits  of  the  fund  are 
the  following :  producers,  directors,  writers, 
actors  and  actresses ;  seasonal  and  part-time 
employees  who  work  less  than  five  months 
a  year  or  less  than  20  hours  a  week;  and 
corporation  directors  who  are  not  officers  of 
RKO  or  affiliated  companies. 

One  of  the  most  extensive  bonus  plans 
worked  out  by  a  film  company  for  its  em- 
ployees who  are  in  the  armed  forces  is  that 
in  practice  at  Universal.  Although  com- 
pany officials  have  refused  to  discuss  details 
of  the  project,  it  was  learned  recently  that 
some  individual  bonus  checks  to  former 
Universal  employees  now  in  military  service 
totaled  more  than  $1,000  and  represented  in 
several  instances  from  25  to  30  per  cent  of 
the  individual's  annual  salary  earned  before 
he  was  inducted  into  the  Army. 

Universal  Bonus  Plan 
Aids  Men  in  Service 

The  Universal  plan  is  operated  on  the 
principle  that  no  family  of  an  employee  in 
the  Army  or  Navy  will  suffer  from  the 
man's  military  service  during  the  war.  Pay- 
ment is  allocated  principally  on  the  basis  of 
individual  needs  and  so  that  the  wives  or 
parents  of  the  serviceman  who  are  unable 
to  provide  for  themselves  may  be  aided  ma- 
terially. The  amount  of  the  bonus  varies 
in  each  case  investigated.  Provision  also 
has  been  made  for  all  servicemen  to  receive 
a  bonus  of  some  kind  every  year  at  Christ- 
mas. The  plan  was  instituted  by  the  com- 
pany before  Pearl  Harbor. 

A  similar  plan  was  launched  more  than  a 
year  ago  by  Warner  Bros,  to  provide  for  the 
families  of  employees  now  in  service.  The 
payments  are  on  a  monthly  basis  and  made 
only  to  employees  whose  particular  cases 
require  assistance. 


Order  Separate 
Film  Storage 

Film  vaults  and  the  censorship  theatr  on  the 
fourth  floor  of  the  Parliament  Building  in  Ot- 
tawa, Canada's  capital,  have  been  ordered  re- 
moved, and  plans  are  being  put  into  effect  for 
the  building  of  a  special  structure.  The  order 
was  made  known  Monday  in  Toronto,  and  was 
made  by  Provincial  Treasurer  L.  M.  Frost, 
who  has  jurisdiction  over  the  Ontario  Board 
of  Moving  Picture  Censors,  of  which  O.  J. 
Silverthorne  is  chairman. 

The  decision  followed  a  conference  held  by 
Mr.  Frost,  John  D.  Scott,  fire  marshal ;  W.  D. 
McPhee,  chief  inspector  of  the  motion  picture 
inspection  branch,  and  Colonel  John  A.  Cooper, 
representing  the  film  distributors.  Storing  of 
films  in  the  Parliament  Building  represented  a 
hazard  to  other  Government  offices,  it  was 
decided. 

A  general  revision  of  Ontario  regulations 
governing  film  exchanges  and  handling  of  films 
is  under  consideration,  Mr.  Frost  announced, 
adding  that  a  system  of  inspection  would  be 
centralized  with  Provincial  officers,  eliminating 
inspection  duties  of  the  municipal  police  and  fire 
departments. 


West  Coast  Gets 
40'Hour  Week 


The  regional  War  Manpower  Commission 
has  granted  the  motion  picture  industry's  appli- 
cation for  exemption  from  the  48-hour  week  in 
the  San  Francisco  area  in  all  cases  where 
workers  previously  were  not  on  a  48-hour 
schedule. 

The  exemption  applies  to  all  theatre  em- 
ployees in  the  area,  including  film  exchange  em- 
ployees, who  took  active  part  in  acquiring  the 
application  for  exemption. 

The  application  for  exemption  from  the  48- 
hour  week  was  prepared  for  the  San  Francisco 
region  by  C.  J.  Scollard,  Paramount  home 
office  executive. 


Republic  Holds  Sales 
Meeting  in  Chicago 

The  second  in  Republic's  current  series  of 
sales  conferences  was  to  be  held  January  7th 
and  8th  in  Chicago,  with  midwestern  district 
sales  manager  Edward  Walton  and  southern 
district  sales  manager  Merritt  Davis  supervis- 
ing from  these  territories.  The  discussion  was 
to  be  centered  on  details  of  the  two  million 
dollar  appropriation  for  advertising  and  public- 
ity of  quality  productions. 


Increase  Wages  to  N.  Y. 
Theatre  Ennployees 

An  increase  of  |2-a-week  has  been  granted  to 
approximately  1,200  cleaners,  porters,  matrons 
and  night  watchmen  in  about  400  theatres  in 
the  New  York  area  of  Loew,  Randforce, 
Brandt  and  other  circuits.  The  new  wage  set- 
ting is  effective  January  9,  and  has  been  ap- 
proved by  the  War  Labor  Board.  The  wage 
increase  brings  the  •  minimum  of  this  tj^pe  of 
work  up  to  $23  a  week. 


Joins  Vanguard  Films 

^Marcella  Napp,  formerly  connected  with  the 
New  York  motion  picture  department  of  Wil- 
liam Morris  Agency,  has  joined  A^anguard 
Films,  Inc.  Miss  Napp  was  in  charge  of  legiti- 
mate dramatic  plays  for  the  agency. 


Minneapolis  House 
Named  "Radio  City" 

The  Minnesota  theatre  in  Minneapolis  has 
been  rechristened  "Radio  City,"  the  house  being 
the  largest  in  the  Northwest.  Planned  to  re- 
open on  March  2,  under  the  management  of 
Minnesota  Amusement  Co.,  the  theatre  will  op- 
erate on  a  straight  picture  policy,  according  to 
John  J.  Friedl,  its  president. 


January    8,  .1944 

Sign  Sch  lager  to 
6-Year  UA  Pact 

United  Artists  has  closed  a  new  six-year 
producer  deal  with  Producers  Corporation  of 
America,  signed  this  week  by  Edward  C.  Raf- 
tery,  president  of  the  distributing  company,  and 
Sig  Schlager,  head  of  the  producing  company. 
In  the  new  pact  Producers  Corporation  will 
produce  five  pictures  every  two  years  for  a 
total  of  15  pictures. 

Prior  to  leaving  New  York  for  the  coast 
last  weekend  Mr.  Schlager  announced  that  the 
first  group  of  five  pictures  would  have  a  pro- 
duction budget  of  $5,000,000.  The  first  picture 
to  be  made  under  the  new  contract  is  to  star 
Charles  Coburn,  with  tentative  plans  calling  for 
another  co-star,  and  shooting  to  start  on  Feb- 
ruary 1.  The  second  production  will  co-star 
Nelson  Eddy  and  Constance  Bowling,  plus  a 
third  co-star  yet  to  be  named.  The  two  stars 
named  recently  wound  up  work  before  the 
cameras  in  "Knickerbocker  Holiday,"  produced 
by  PCA  and  to  be  released  by  United  Artists 
shortly. 

Mr.  Schlager  also  announced  the  closing  of 
two  new  producer  contracts,  with  Harry  Joe 
Brown,  a  renewal,  and  Al  Lewis. 

The  recently-formed  American  Film  Corpo- 
ration is  a  subsidiary  of  PCA,  Mr.  Schlager 
said,  and  is  the  first  of  a  series  of  similar  com- 
panies to  be  formed  for  producing  the  complete 
line-up.  Mr.  Schlager  will  be  managing  di- 
rector of  each  of  the  newly-formed  corporations, 
and  the  entire  product  will  be  released  through 
United  Artists. 

Engel  Becomes  UA  New 
England  Publicity  Agent 

Phil  Engel  has  been  named  United  Artists' 
New  England  publicity  representative.  He  as- 
siuned  his  new  post  this  week,  under  supervision 
of  James  Winn,  district  manager  for  Buffalo, 
Boston  and  New  Haven. 

Mr.  Engel's  headquarters  will  be  Boston, 
where  he  will  work  with  John  Dervin,  local 
branch  manager. 

Mr.  Engel  recently  resigned  from  Warners, 
after  13  years  as  Eastern  publicity  agent. 

Cinema  Lod)ge  Will  Hold 
Annual  Theatre  Party 

The  Cinema  Lodge,  B'nai  B'rith,  will  hold 
its  annual  theatre  party  Wednesday,  February 
23,  at  the  Imperial  theatre  in  New  York.  The 
performance  will  be  Michael  Todd's  "Mexican 
Hayride."  Serving  with  Miles  H.  Alben, 
chairman  of  the  committee,  are :  Max  B.  Black- 
man,  Victor  Blau,  Irving  H.  Greenfield,  Leo 
Jaffe,  Louis  Jaffe,  Ben  Pepper,  Norman  Stein- 
berg, Alfred  W.  Schwalberg,  Abel  A.  Vigard, 
David  Weinstock  and  William  Zimmerman. 

Griffis  Arrives  on  Coast 
For  WAC  Conference 

Stanton  Griffis,  chief  of  the  Motion  Picture 
Bureau  of  the  Office  of  War  Information,  ar- 
rived in  Hollywood  Monday  for  a  10-day  con- 
ference with  the  Hollywood  War  Activities 
Committee  on  short  subject  releases.  Mr.  Grif- 
fis left  New  York  accompanied  by  Al  Whitman 
of  the  OWI  and  Keith  Himebaugh  of  the  War 
Food  Administration. 

Weshner  Sets  Up  Own 
Advertising  Agency 

David  E.  Weshner,  former  United  Artists 
director  of  exploitation  and  sales  promotion, 
has  established  his  own  advertising  agency,  Da- 
vid E.  Weshner  and  Associates,  in  New  York. 
Mr.  Weshner  was  also  formerly  associated  with 
Warner  Theatres  as  Philadelphia  zone  man- 
ager. 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 

Minneapolis  Contractors 
Placed  On  Probation 

For  failure  to  obtain  proper  War  Production 
Board  authorization  for  alterations  to  the  Capi- 
tol theatre,  St.  Paul,  the  Minneapolis  contract- 
ing company  of  Svenson  and  Edstrom,  has 
been  put  on  probation  by  the  WPB.  The 
period  will  be  until  February  5,  1944.  It  was 
ordered  by  the  local  WPB  compliance  com- 
missioner after  the  company  agreed  that  here- 
after it  would  comply  fully  with  regulations, 
and  after  it  was  decided  it  had  not  deliberately 
attempted  to  impede  the  war  effort. 

Kranze  Elected  to  Head 
Cleveland  Variety  Club 

Charles  Kranze,  RKO  branch  manager,  has 
been  elected  chief  barker  of  the  Cleveland  Vari- 
ety Club  to  serve  through  the  coming  year. 
He  succeeds  Charles  Rich.  Other  officers  elect- 
ed were :  Meyer  Fine,  first  vice-barker,  and 
M.  B.  Horwitz,  second  vice-barker.  Reelected 
were  I.  J.  Schmertz,  treasurer,  and  Edwin  R. 
Bergman,  secretary. 

New  board  members  elected  are:  W.  N. 
Skirball,  Joseph  Lissauer,  Jack  Sogg,  Morrison 
Orr,  Max  Lefkowich  and  Jerome  Friedlander. 
New  board  members,  the  newly  elected  officers 
and  the  last  five  chief  barkers,  Charles  Rich, 
Lester  Zucker,  Bert  Stearn,  Nat  Lefton  and 
Nat  Wolf,  compose  the  board  of  directors. 

Ordinary  Camera  for 
Color  Films 

Dr.  Herbert  T.  Kalmus,  president  and  gen- 
eral manager  of  Technicolor,  this  week  an- 
nounced that  the  monopack  type  film,  tested 
for  color  exteriors  in  MGM's  "Lassie  Come 
Home"  and  Movietone  News'  "A  Volcano  Is 
Born,"  would  be  made  available  for  color  in- 
teriors and  exteriors  in  1944  and  1945.  By 
means  of  thjs  film  any  ordinary  black  and 
white  type  of  studio  camera  can  film  technicolor 
originals.  It  will  probably  not  be  offered  to 
the  industry  until  the  end  of  the  war. 

NBC  Youth  Program  Tied 
To  Time  Youth  Film 

Stressing  the  problems  presented  by  juvenile 
delinquency,  a  new  radio  program  series, 
"Here's  to  Youth,"  will  begin  January  15th 
on  100  National  Broadcasting  Company  out- 
lets. It  is  pointed  out  by  the  March  of  Time 
that  the  series  offers  tieups  with  that  com- 
pany's "Youth  in  Crisis"  short  subject.  In 
cooperation  with  ten  national  youth  organiza- 
tions, NBC  is  distributing  a  special  pressbook 
emphasizing  the  importance  of  the  MOT  film 
in  youth  guidance. 

J.  Walter  Thompson  Sets 
I  I  Films  for  Clients 

Eleven  pictures  are  now  in  work  for  clients 
of  the  J.  Walter  Thompson  advertising  agency. 
Six  are  in  the  shooting  stage  and  five  go  before 
the  cameras  in  January.  Pictures  now  before 
the  cameras  are:  "Flight  Log,"  for  Shell  Oil; 
"Aluminum  Extrusion,"  for  Reynolds  Metals; 
"Passport  to  Health,"  for  Sharp  &  Dohme ; 
"Metal  Bellows,"  for  the  Fulton  Sylphon  Com- 
pany; and  "California  Wine,"  for  the  California 
Wine  Institute. 

Odeon  Acquires  Seven 
Canadian  Houses 

Paul  L.  Nathanson,  owner  of  Odeon  Theatres 
of  Canada,  has  acquired  7  theatres  in  Saskatch- 
ewan, Manitoba  and  Ontario,  totaling  9  addi- 
tional houses  for  the  circuit  in  the  past  3  weeks. 
The  theatres  include  Rothstein  units  located  in 
Saskatoon,  Wilkie,  Assiniboia,  Yorkton,  all  in 
Saskatchewan,  and  at  Selkirk,  Manitoba  and 
Beardmore,  in  Ontario.  The  combined  capacity 
of  the  theatres  is  3,500. 


59 

Wide  Radio  Use 
On  "Snow White'' 

RKO  Radio  has  completed  intensive  and  ex- 
tensive plans  for  the  launching  of  Walt  Disney's 
"Snow  White  and  the  Seven  Dwarfs"  during 
February  in  the  midwest,  with  pre-opening  cam- 
paigns involving  tie-ups  with  radio  station 
WLW  of  Cincinnati,  contests,  personal  appear- 
ances, and  the  official  cooperation  of  the  states 
of  Ohio,  Kentucky,  West  Virginia  and  Indiana. 

The  governors  of  the  four  states  are  issuing 
official  proclamations  designating  the  week  of 
February  24  to  March  2  as  Snow  White  Week, 
with  or  without  the  aid  of  the  weatherman. 
The  radio  exploitation  will  consist  of  full  hour, 
half-hour,  quarter-hour  and  five-minute  pro- 
grams running  for  three  weeks  prior  to  amd 
during  the  theatre  engagements  of  the  picture. 

There  are  to  be  contests  selecting  Miss  Snow 
White  and  the  best  local  cartoonist  and  anima- 
tor in  each  of  the  more  than  fifty  areas  parti- 
cipating in  the  campaign.  Auditions  will  be 
held  in  the  theatres  or  hotels,  as  available.  The 
winners  of  each  class  in  each  of  the  four  states 
will  appear  for  the  finals  in  Indianapolis,  Cin- 
cinnati, Charleston  and  Lexington.  Two  finalists 
from  each  state  wiU  be  chosen  to  appear  on  a 
special  radio  program  over  WLW  on  February 
22,  with  Deems  Taylor  as  judge. 

The  winner  will  be  crowned  Miss  Snow 
White  at  a  special  ceremony  by  the  Variety 
Club  at  the  Netherlands  Plaza  Hotel  in  Cin- 
cinnati on  the  evening  of  February  23.  Both 
the  winning  Miss  Snow  White  and  the  winning 
cartoonist  will  be  guests  of  RKO  and  Walt 
Disney  Productions  in  Hollywood  next  sum- 
mer. Along  with  the  crowned  Snow  White  the 
original  Snow  White  will  make  personal  ap- 
pearances in  the  cities  playing  the  picture,  start- 
ing her  tour  January  25  and  continuing  for 
five  weeks. 

For  three  weeks  prior  to  the  multi-city  open- 
ing of  the  picture  on  February  24,  the  voices 
of  the  film's  leading  characters,  plus  two  groups 
of  dwarfs  and  an  animator  from  the  Disney 
studios,  will  tour  the  four  states  appearing  in 
theatres,  schools,  war  plants  and  other  places. 

Williams  Elected  Head 
Of  Cincinnati  Club 

Ross  Williams,  RKO  city  salesman,  has  been 
elected  president  of  the  Cinema  Club  of  Cin- 
cinnati, succeeding  Rudolph  Knoepfle.  •  Other 
officers  include  Robert  Burns,  first,  and  Marc 
Cummings,  second  vice-presidents.  Peter  Ni- 
land  was  reelected  secretary  and  treasurer. 
Trustees  for  the  new  year  will  be  Charles  R. 
Palmer,  Milton  Gurian,  Irving  Sochin,  Harold 
RuUman,  Emanuel  Nagel,  James  P.  Eifert  and 
Joseph  McKnight.  The  installation  dinner  has 
been  set  for  February  14. 

Yandell  Resigns  as  Blue 
Network  Vice-President 

Lunsford  P.  Yandell,  vice-president  of  the 
Blue  Network,  resigned  last  week  to  undertake 
the  management  of  the  Tanning  Products  Ex- 
port Corporation  in  Buenos  Aires.  Mr.  Yan- 
dell was  president  of  the  Mohawk  Mining  Com- 
pany before  he  was  associated  with  Todd,  Rob- 
ertsop,  Todd  Engineering  Corporation.  In 
1935,  he  joined  Radio  Corporation  of  America, 
then  becoming  a  vice-president  of  the  Blue  Net- 
work in  1942. 


Photographers'  Dance  February  4 

Milton  Berle,  Harry  Hershfield,  Ed  Sullivan, 
Danton  Walker  and  Henny  Youngman  will  al- 
ternate as  masters  of  ceremonies  at  the  fifteenth 
annual  entertainment  and  dance  of  the  Press 
Photographers  Association  of  New  York,  on 
February  4,  at  the  Waldorf-Astoria  Hotel.  The 
profits  will  go  to  the  American  Theatre  Wing, 
which  operates  the  Stage  Door  Canteens. 


THEY'RE  AT  THE  MMn 


One  o/;^1^-S/>o^...' 

"Duffy"  J^'^^'^oH'r,?,'^ 

One  of  20  „  ^■ 
o/;o7'-''«s  . . . 


10  Best  Cn  ■  of 

^«  fiest      -  One 
Oneo/JOR^^'^^^N 


I 


mmu  ID  A 


GilLLOP 


'Way  Up  At  The  Front  In  The  First 
Five  Nationwide  ''Best''  Lists  For  '43 
—And  Now  Your  Favorite  Company 
Scores  Two  More  Great  Triumphs— 


CRoSBy 


And  in 
/ ''w 's  the 


62 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    8,  1944 


Pledges  Assure 
Dimes  Goal  of 
$10,000,000 

Leaders  of  the  March  of  Dimes  drive  of 
January  24  to  30  this  week  predicted  that  the 
campaign  would  in  the  minimum  estimates 
reach  the  unofficial  goal  of  $3,000,000.  The 
March  of  Dimes  headquarters  in  the  Astor 
Hotel,  New  York,  has  announced  that  pledges 
have  been  received  from  nearly  10,000  theatres, 
by  far  in  excess  of  the  number  pledged  to  take 
active  parts  in  the  drive  at  this  point  in  1943. 

Harry  Brandt  of  the  executive  committee 

^^'•Not  only  are  more  theatres  pledging  to 
take  an  active  part  in  the  drive  with  audience 
collections  and  other  activities  than  last  year, 
but  letters  and  wires  indicate  a  tremendous 
increase  in  personal  interest.  This  is,  undoubt- 
edly, due  to  the  fact  that  during  1943  there 
were  savage  infantile  paralysis  epidernics  in 
many  sections  and  thousands  of  exhibitors 
learned,  for  the  first  time,  of  the  terrible  rav- 
ages of  this  vicious  disease." 

A  five-state  meeting  of  exhibitors  and  ex- 
change representatives  in  Atlanta,  Ga.,  Tuesday, 
gave  indication  of  nearly  100  per  cent  increase 
in  the  theatres  of  Georgia,  Alabama,  Florida, 
and  North  and  South  Carolina  areas  partici- 
pating this  year.  It  was  predicted  that  Georgia 
would  double  its  quota  of  last  year  with  collec- 
tions amounting  to  $36,000  or  more. 

The  delegates  present,  representing  1,200  of 
the  1,500  theatres  in  the  five  states,  were  in- 
formed that  all  Lucas  and  Jenkins  theatres 
would  take  collections.  They  were  addressed 
by  Governor  Arnold  of  Georgia,  who  paid  a 
high  tribute  to  the  industry. 

Some  of  the  theatres,  it  has  been  revealed, 
plan  to  jump  the  gun  with  their  collections 
launching  their  Dimes  drive  on  January  20  and 
21.  Some  exhibitors  have  suggested  to  the  ex- 
ecutive committee  that  those  theatres  holding 
over  attractions  starting  their  weeks  on  Thurs- 
day or  Friday  should  not  lose  the  first  weekend 
crowds  on  extended  run  attractions. 

Chicago  to  Pledge 
Increased  Quota 

J.  R.  Vogel,  Loew  executive,  has  instructed 
a  number  of  Loew  managers  to  start  collections 
January  20  with  the  opening  of  "Madame  Curie" 
because  the  picture  is  expected  to  run  more 
than  one  week.  E.  L.  Alperson,  RKO  theatres' 
head,  has  announced  his  "run"  houses  will  start 
their  collections  on  the  same  date.  A  number 
of  out-of-towm  Loew  theatres  will  do  likewise. 

In  Chicago  on  Friday  exhibitors  meeting  in 
conference  were  expected  to  pledge  at  least  a 
25  per  cent  increase  in  collections.  Exhibitor 
representatives  from  Oklahoma,  Arkansas  and 
Texas  will  meet  in  Dallas  next  Monday. 

A  "flying  squadron"  of  the  national  executive 
committee,  composed  of  Mr.  Brandt,  Oscar 
A.  Doob,  Mr.  Alperson  and  Arthur  Mayer,  is 
attending  the  regional  meetings  called  by  the 
various  state  chairmen.  Dr.  John  L.  Lavan, 
once  famous  shortstop  in  the  major  leagues 
and  now  research  director  of  the  National 
Foundation  for  Infantile  Paralysis,  is  accom- 
panying the  "flying  squadron." 

The  committee  is  making  its  visits  to  re- 
gional meetings  mainly  for  the  purpose  of  urg- 
ing exhibitors  who  have  not  yet  sent  in  their 
pledges  to  do  so  at  once  so  that  the  Greer 
Garson  appeal  trailer,  campaign  book,  report 
blanks,  etc.,  may  reach  them  in  time. 

The  March  of  Dimes  campaign  will  get 
under  way  in  New  York  City  on  January  18 
with  the  unveiling  in  Times  Square  by  Mayor 
LaGuardia  of  a  12-foot  all  glass  "wishing  well." 
A  large  glass  manufacturer  is  cooperating  in 
the  construction  of  the  well.  It  will  be  embel- 
lished with  lights  for  after-dark  display. 


Nine  WAC  Shorts  Complete; 
Twelve  in  Preparation 

The  report  by  John  C.  Flinn,  coordinator  for 
the  Hollywood  division  of  the  War  Activities 
Committee,  shows  that  9  shorts  are  completed, 
2  in  production,  10  in  preparation  by  different 
studios.  Columbia  is  preparing  one ;  MGM  has 
completed  2,  and  is  preparing  one ;  Paramount 
is  producing  one,  and  preparing  one ;  RKO  Ra- 
dio has  completed  3 ;  Selznick  is  preparing  2 ; 
Technicolor  is  preparing  one ;  20th  Century- 
Fox  has  completed  2,  and  is  preparing  one; 
Universal  is  preparing  one;  Wanger  is  prepar- 
ing one ;  Warner  Brothers  has  completed  2,  and 
is  preparing  2. 

MGM  and  New  Jersey  Allied 
Meet  to  Discuss  Problems 

As  a  result  of  recent  criticism  of  MGM's 
policy  on  designations  by  Allied  of  New  Jersey, 
delegates  of  the  exhibitors  headed  by  Irving 
Dollinger  met  last  week  with  W.  F.  Rodgers, 
vice-president  and  general  sales  manager  of 
Loew's.  At  the  time  of  making  public  their 
criticisms  the  New  Jersey  group  urged  other 
exhibitor  organizations  to  follow  their  example. 
Mr.  Rodgers  later  stated  that  neither  the  or- 
ganization nor  its  representatives  had  communi- 
cated directly  with  the  company,  and  extended 
an  invitation  to  them  to  do  so  whenever  they 
had  a  complaint. 


Macdonald  Leaves  CIAA  to 
Return  to  Warners 

Karl  G.  Macdonald,  executive  of  Warner 
Brothers  foreign  department,  has  returned  to 
the  home  office  after  two  years  as  assistant  di- 
rector of  the  films  division  in  the  office  of  the 
Coordinator  of  Inter-American  Affairs.  Mr. 
Macdonald  was  on  loan  to  the  CIAA.  He 
previously  worked  as  assistant  to  Robert 
Schless,  Warner  foreign  manager.  No  an- 
nouncement has  been  made  as  to  what  his  duties 
are  to  be  in  the  home  office,  nor  is  it  known 
who  is  to  replace  Mr.  Macdonald  in  the  vacated 
CIAA  post. 


Milwaukee  Overcrowding 
Ordinance  Found  Faulty 

The  case  of  the  Fox-Wisconsin  Theatres, 
Inc.,  charged  with  violations  of  a  Milwaukee 
ordinance  requiring  that  aisles  and  exits  of 
theatres  be  kept  clear,  has  been  dismissed  by 
District  Judge  Harvey  L.  Neelen.  The  case 
arose  from  a  charge  of  blocked  aisles  at  the 
Uptown  theatre.  Judge  Neelen  said  that  the 
ordinance  was  faulty  because  it  provided  for 
punishment  of  persons  and  not  of  corporations. 
No  proof  was  offered  by  the  city  that  the  man- 
agement had  placed  the  patrons  in  the  aisles 
and  exits. 


Boasberg  Starts  Tour  for 
RKO  Depinet  Sales  Drive 

Charles  Boasberg,  east  central  district  man- 
ager for  RKO  Radio,  left  for  New  Haven  last 
week  to  launch  his  first  branch  meeting  on  be- 
half of  the  1944  Ned  Depinet  Drive,  which  will 
be  under  his  supervision.  Accompanying  Mr. 
Boasberg  was  Harry  Gittleson,  assistant  to  the 
western  division  sales  manager,  who  will  assist 
as  drive  lieutenant.  Upon  completing  the  tour 
of  many  cities,  they  will  return  to  New  York 
on  February  11.  The  sales  drive,  held  annually 
as  a  billings  contest,  will  start  officially  on 
Feb.  4,  and  will  conclude  on  May  18. 

Goldberg  Forms  Exchange 

Lee  Goldberg,  who  resigned  from  PRC  in 
Cincinnati  several  years  ago  because  of  ill 
health,  will  re-enter  the  industry  in  mid- Janu- 
ary when  he  opens  an  independent  exchange 
under  the  name  of  Popular  Pictures,  with  head- 
quarters in  Hamilton,  Ohio. 


Warner  May  Hit 
New  Release  Low 
This  Season 


With  recent  releases  enjoying  a  10  to  IS  per 
cent  increase  of  extended  playing  time  over  the 
all-time  highs  of  last  autumn,  Warner  Brothers 
appears  on  the  way  to  establishing  a  record 
low  figure  for  releases  this  season.  With  but 
eight  released  to  date,  the  company's  release 
schedule  this  season  is  likely  to  run  well  under 
the  24  released  last  season,  the  record  low 
seasonal  output  of  any  large  distributor. 

Before  the  war  Warners'  total  releases  aver- 
aged between  53  to  56,  with  the  1937-38  season 
providing  an  output  of  68  pictures.  As  with 
most  other  distributors,  Warners  is  experiencing 
a  continuing  extension  of  playing  time  on  most 
pictures,  and  unlike  other  distributors,  the  com- 
pany has  a  policy  of  selling  its  feature  pictures 
individually  and  not  in  blocks. 

Warners  did  not  release  any  picture  in 
December.  On  January  1,  the  company  released 
"Destination  Tokyo,"  with  a  lapse  of  four 
weeks  following  before  the  next  release,  "Desert 
Song,"  January  29.  None  is  scheduled  for 
February. 

The  company  has  an  ample  backlog  of  films. 
There  are  14  productions  ready  for  release, 
including:  "Desert  Song,"  "Adventures  of  Mark 
Twain,"  "Saratoga  Trunk,"  "Devotion,"  "In 
Our  Time,"  "Conflict,"  "Shine  on.  Harvest 
Moon,"  "Rhapsody  in  Blue,"  "Passage  to  Mar- 
seilles," "Uncertain  Glory,"  "One  More  To- 
morrow," "The  Last  Ride,"  "Find  the  Black- 
mailer," and  "Crime  By  Night." 

"Between  Two  Worlds"  was  finished  recently 
and  is  now  being  edited.  Before  the  cameras 
are  "Make  Your  Own  Bed,"  "The  Horn  Blows 
at  Midnight,"  "Mask  of  Dimitrios,"  "Mr.  Skef- 
fington"  and  "My  Reputation."  Just  being  put 
into  production  is  "Cinderella  Jones." 

Indicative  of  the  high  sales  coverage  the 
company  is  currently  experiencing  is  the  case 
of  "Watch  on  the  Rhine,"  which  has  played 
more  than  8,000  theatres  and  is  still  in  r.elease. 

The  company  has  claimed  a  record  for  in- 
dividual bookings  with  "Casablanca."  It  is  said 
that  the  picture  has  played  more  than  14,000 
engagements,  with  repeat  bookings  in  the  past 
three  weeks  alone  running  to  more  than  700. 
The  film  has  been  in  release  10  months. 


Grants  Columbia  Motion 
In  Hillside  Action 

Federal  Judge  Samuel  Mandelbaum  last  week 
granted  Columbia  Pictures  Corporation,  its 
motion  to  file  amended  answers  to  the  Sherman 
anti-trust  suit  brought  by  the  Hillside  Amuse- 
ment Company,  operators  of  the  Mayfair 
theatre,  Hillside,  N.  J.  The  suit  seeks  triple 
damages  of  |900,000  allegedly  sustained  because 
of  acts  committed  by  Columbia  and  18  other 
film  and  theatre  company  defendants.  The  com- 
plaint charged  discrimination  against  the  thea- 
tre. A  jury  trial  is  demanded  by  the  plaintiffs. 


Variety  Club  "Denial  Day" 
Fund  Reaches  $5,000 

The  Albany  Variety  Club's  "Denial  Day" 
campaign  to  raise  funds  for  continued  operation 
of  the  Albany  Boys  Summer  Camp  has  reached 
the  $5,000  mark  with  cooperation  of  business 
places,  stores  and  theatres.  To  spur  the  drive 
trailers  were  used  in  theatres.  The  Variety 
Club  held  open  house  New  Year's  eve  at  the 
Hotel  Ten  Eyck. 


Warns  on  Curfew 

Theatres  in  Ontario  have  been  warned  to 
restrict  children  under  16  unescorted  by  an 
adult  from  theatres  except  on  Saturday  mati- 
nees and  holidavs. 


January    8,  1944 

'  'Ch  icago  Boys ' ' 
Get  10  Years^ 
$10,000  Fines 

The  "boys  from  Chicago"  received  maximum 
sentences  of  10  years  in  jail  and  fines  of  $10,000 
each  on  Friday  from  Judge  John  Bright  in 
Federal  District  Court  in  New  York.  They 
were  convicted  last  week  of  conspiracy  to  ex- 
tort more  than  $1,000,000  from  the  film  industry 
through  Willie  Bioff  and  George  E.  Browne, 
former  lATSE  leaders  now  in  jail  on  similar 
convictions. 

Louis  Kaufman,  business  agent  of  the  New- 
ark local  of  the  lATSE  operators  union  was 
sent  to  jail  for  seven  years  and  fined  $10,000 
by  Judge  Bright. 

He  had  been  a  co-defendant  with  the  Chicago 
alumni  of  the  Capone  gang  whom  the  Govern- 
ment charged  had  moved  from  beer  wars  to  the 
more  lucrative  trade  of  shaking  down  the  film 
industry  through  control  of  the  studio  and 
projection  unions. 

Appeals  were  filed  by  all  seven  defendants. 
Judge  Bright  refused,  however,  to  free  the  six 
Chicago  men  on  bail  and  remanded  them  to 
the  Federal  House  of  Detention  in  New  York. 
Kaufman  was  permitted  to  remain  at  liberty 
under  $25,000  bail. 

The  convicted  extorters  were  Louis  Com- 
pagna,  Paul  de  Lucia,  Phil  d' Andrea,  Francis 
Maritote,  Charles  Gioe,  all  of  Chicago,  and 
John  Rosselli,  Hollywood  representative  for 
the  gang. 

A  second  trial  of  the  Chicago  gangsters  on 
mail  fraud  indictments  arising  out  of  special 
assessments  levied  on  union  members  is  being 
prepared  meanwhile  by  Boris  Kostelanetz,  spe- 
cial assistant  attorney  general  who  successfully 
prosecuted  the  extortion  case.  It  was  indicated 
that  the  mail  charges  would  be  tried  early  in 
February,  with  the  trial  expected  to  be  much 
shorter  than  the  11-week  pleading  in  the  ex- 
tortion case. 

The  Government  charges  that  the  mob  si- 
phoned over  $1,500,000  from  42,000  union  mem- 
bers via  Bioff  and  Browne.  A  special  2  per 
cent  tax  was  levied  on  lATSE  wage  earners 
from  July,  1935,  to  February,  1936,  and  from 
February,  1937,  to  December,  1937,  at  the 
gang's  direction,  Mr.  Kostelanetz  charged.  The 
money  ostensibly  was  to  pay  union  organizers. 
The  ring  is  charged  with  using  the  mails  to 
collect  kickbacks  from  local  union  leaders. 

Monday  Judge  Henry  W.  Goddard  post- 
poned until  January  24  the  sentencing  at  New 
York  on  perjury  charges  of  Isadore  Zevirr, 
bookkeeper  for  the  special  fund.  He  is  ex- 
pected to  be  a  key  witness  at  the  mail  fraud 
trial. 

The  trial  of  perjury  charges  against  Harry 
Hochstein,  Chicago  politician  and  gang  asso- 
ciate, was  also  postponed  to  January  24th.  He 
is  accused,  as  was  Zevin,  of  lying  to  the  special 
grand  jury  investigating  the  case. 

Mr.  Kostelanetz  meanwhile  let  it  be  known 
that  he  is  still  very  much  engrossed  in  new 
aspects  of  the  film  extortion  case.  The  special 
grand  jury  is  still  in  session  and  has  been  re- 
ported preparing  indictments  against  new  Chi- 
cago and  Newark  gang  and  political  figures 
and  possibly  against  others  involved  in  the 
Bioff-Browne  dealings. 

Tony  Sudekum  Appointed  to 
Nashville  Housing  Post 

Tony  Sudekum,  president  of  the  Crescent 
Amusement  Company,  has  been  reappointed  to 
the  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Housing  Authority,  of 
which  he  is  chairman,  and  named  a  member 
of  the  board  of  transportation.  The  appoint- 
ment to  the  Housing  Authority  is  for  five  years. 
Mr.  Sudekum  also  served  on  the  Community 
and  War  Chest  Fund  for  1943. 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 

OWI  To  Make  Film  on 
France  for  U.  S.  Soldiers 

A  film  designed  to  prepare  American  sol- 
diers for  life  in  France  and  to  familiarize  them 
with  French  customs  will  be  made  in  England 
by  the  overseas  film  division  of  the  Office  of 
War  Information,  it  was  learned  this  week. 
Captain  Burgess  Meredith,  former  stage  and 
screen  star  who  is  now  serving  with  the  Army 
Public  Relations  Bureau  in  London,  will  ap- 
pear in  the  picture.  The  screen  lesson  will  be 
similar  to  the  recently  completed  "Welcome  to 
Britain"  made  by  the  OWI  in  cooperation  with 
the  British  Ministry  of  Information,  suggesting 
to  American  servicemen  what  not  to  do  or  say 
while  residing  in  Great  Britain. 

Jones  Reelected  Barker  of 
Illinois  Variety  Club 

The  Variety  Club  of  Illinois  elected  its  new 
board  of  directors  and  officers  at  the  annual 
election. 

John  Jones,  of  Jones,  Linick  and  Schaefer, 
was  reelected  chief  barker  by  the  new  board  of 
directors,  including  John  Balaban,  Jack  Kirsch, 
Irving  Mack,  Hal  Halperin,  W.  E.  Banford, 
Edward  Brunell,  Jack  Rose,  Tom  Flannery, 
William  Baker  and  Ben  Eisenberg.  Mr. 
Kirsch  was  named  assistant  chief  barker,  and 
Mr.  Banford  second  assistant  chief  barker. 
Mr.  Balaban  was  reelected  dough  guy,  and 
Irving  Mack  property  master. 

Mr.  Baker  and  Mr.  Brunell  were  named  as 
delegates,  with  John  Semedalis  and  Henry 
Markbreit  as  alternates.  The  club  now  has 
263  members,  of  which  three  are  in  the  service. 

Chicago  Area  Is  in  Need 
Of  Theatre  Managers 

With  reclassifications  by  Chicago  draft 
boards  of  registrants,  the  Chicago  area  is  fac- 
ing a  manpower  problem,  with  theatre  mana- 
gers in  demand  as  a  result  of  recently  vacated 
posts  remaining  unfilled.  The  situation,  ac- 
cording to  the  War  Manpower  Commission  in 
Chicago,  gives  promises  of  becoming  worse  in- 
stead of  better  in  the  early  months  of  this 
year.  The  Commission  also  stated  that  reports 
of  layoffs  and  plant  closings  have  been  over- 
emphasized, the  closings  having  been  largely 
the  result  of  changes  in  war  contracts,  and 
workers  released  have  been  quickly  absorbed 
by  other  plants. 

Fitzpatrick  Subjects  to  Be 
Shown  in  Ohio  Classroom 

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's  Ail-American  Trav- 
eltalk  series,  produced  by  James  A.  Fitzpatrick, 
will  supplement  geography  textbooks  in  Ohio 
classrooms.  The  film  subjects  will  feature 
Colorado,  Utah,  Death  Valley,  Mackinac  Is- 
land, St.  Louis,  the  Mississippi  River,  Ari- 
zona, California,  and  the  national  parks.  Ohio 
is  one  of  the  first  states  to  use  motion  pictures 
in  schools  as  a  regular  part  of  the  teaching- 
curriculum,  according  to  the  Department  of 
Education  of  Ohio. 

Donate  Toys  to  Boston 
Children's  Hospital 

Members  of  the  motion  picture  industry  and 
of  the  Boston  Variety  Club  have  donated  300 
toys  to  the  Infants  and  the  Childrens  Hospital. 
In  addition  to  the  gifts,  the  patients  were  shown 
films  dealing  with  the  cure  of  ailing  children. 
Arrangements  have  been  made  for  several 
screen  personalities  to  make  personal  appear- 
ances at  the  Boston  hospital.  Guests  who 
visited  the  hospital  were  Maurice  Wolf,  M.  J. 
Durven,  and  Ed  Callahan. 


Film  Classics  Sells  Two 

Film  Classics'  "Hara  Kiri"  and  "The  Young 
in  Heart"  have  been  booked  by  the  RKO  New 
York  metropolitan  circuit.  The  bookings  will 
begin  January  18. 


63 


Arbitration  at 
Standstill  as 
Decree  Pends 

Arbitration  of  clearance  and  some  run  com- 
plaints before  the  motion  picture  tribunals  of 
the  American  Arbitration  Association  has  come 
practically  to  a  standstill  as  exhibitors  wait  to 
see  what  action  will  be  taken  toward  revision  of 
the  Consent  Decree.  Substantial  changes  in 
the  arbitration  system  are  reported  to  be  con- 
tained in  proposals  now  under  consideration  by 
Tom  Clark,  the  Assistant  Attorney  General, 
and  the  five  consenting  distributors. 

Less  than  half  a  dozen  cases  have  been  filed 
since  the  final  deadline  rush  which  marked  the 
expiration  of  the  current  decree's  trial  period 
on  November  20.  The  last  action  was  filed  at 
Detroit  on  December  14. 

Dockets  in  the  31  field  tribunals  are  also 
nearing  a  cleared  state,  with  about  40  cases 
still  pending  bearing  or  awaiting  an  arbitra- 
tor's award.  The  Appeal  Board  has  five  cases 
under  consideration. 

Leases  on  tribunal  offices  are  being  renewed 
meanwhile  by  the  AAA  for  one-year  terms  on 
the  recommendation  of  Joseph  Hazen,  distrib- 
utor representative  on  the  administrative  com- 
mittee for  the  motion  picture  system.  Many  of 
the  leases  expired  January  1.  The  committee 
authorized  renewal  and  continued  operation 
from  contingency  funds  provided  in  the  1943 
budget.  The  committee  will  not  meet  to  set  a 
new  budget  for  1944  until  the  Department  of 
Justice  and  attorneys  for  film  companies  reach 
agreement  on  a  new  decree. 

One-year  leases  were  signed  this  week  for 
the  Appeal  Board  suite  in  the  RCA  building. 
Rockefeller  Center,  N.  Y.,  and  for  field  offices. 
In  a  few  cities  where  the  motion  picture  tribu- 
nals share  offices  with  chambers  of  commerce 
or  other  organizations  the  arrangement  is  be- 
ing continued  on  a  month-to-month  basis  pend- 
ing settlement  of  the  decree. 

Consent  awards  filed  during  the  week  mean- 
while settled  two  cases  in  Chicago  and  Detroit. 

Detroit 

Detroit's  14th  case,  a  clearance  action  by 
Irving  Belinsliy  and  Joseph  Mellon  for  the 
suburban  Clawson  theatre  agains.f  the  five  con- 
senting distributors  was  settled  before  Ferris 
D.  Stone,  arbitrator,  on  December  15.  The 
agreement  sets  a  maximum  of  13  days  clear- 
ance for  the  Royal  Oak  and  Washington  the- 
atres in  Royal  Oak  over  the  Clawson,  provided 
the  latter  does  not  uje  giveaways  or  charge 
less  than  27  cents  admission.  The  Royal  Oak 
and  Washington  agreed  to  maintain  a  36-cent 
admission. 

Chicago 

Bennis  Brothers,  operating  the  Freeport  the- 
atre, Freeport,  111.,  settled  their  clearance  dis- 
pute with  RKO  and  Warners  in  Chicago's  27th 
action.  William  McSwain,  arbitrator,  provided 
that  any  clearance  now  granted  to  the  Coro- 
nado  theatre,  Rockford,  111.,  shall  be  maintained, 
with  the  stipulation  that  it  shall  not  prevent 
the  Freeport  from  playing  28  days  after  the 
opening  of  the  first  run  in  Chicago. 

Withdrawal  of  the  28th  Chicago  case,  clear- 
ance demand  of  R.  J.  Miller  for  the  Colony 
theatre,  McHenry,  111.,  was  also  reported  at 
midweek.  He  had  named  the  five  consenting 
distributors. 


Auditors  Promoted 

Ben  Wolf  and  Alvin  Gross,  former  auditors, 
are  in  charge  of  MGM  exchange  operation  in 
Boston  and  Minneapolis,  respectively.  Mr.  Wolf 
was  previously  student  auditor  for  MGM  in 
1938,  and  Mr.  Gross  was  a  checker  for  MGM 
in  Albany. 


firs'  Jl"*"" 


BELL 


.RINGER  IN  K/CITY"  .  •  • 


.PACING  LOUISVILLE"  ^- 


OUR  FAVORITE  €OMPA]%'Y  - 


LL  TOLLS" .  .  .  "SO  PROUDLY  WE  HAIL'  .  .  .  ''LET'S  FACE  IT' 
0  TIME  FOR  LOVE"  .  .  .  ''THE  MIRACLE  OF  MORGAN'S  CREEK" 
NLY"  .  .  .  "THE  UNINVITED"  ...  and  "LADY  IN  THE  DARK" 


66 

Boston  Fire  Law 
Forces  Closing 
Of  Five  Houses 

Strict  enforcement  of  the  fire  law  resulting 
from  the  Cocoanut  Grove  disaster  last  year  has 
forced  five  Boston  theatres  to  shut  down  com- 
pletely, closed  the  second  balconies  of  six  the- 
atres, and  banned  vaudeville  until  new  safety- 
law  requirements  are  promulgated. 

The  closings  came  after  John  F.  Stokes,  city 
commissioner  of  public  safety,  said  all_  theatres 
without  sufficient  exits  and  those  considered  to 
be  over-crowded  would  be  summarily  closed. 
Commissioner  Stokes  pointed  out  that  places 
of  amusement  and  public  buiWings  would  be  the 
first  to  feel  the  effects  of  post-Cocoanut  Grove 
legislation. 

The  Bijou  Theatre,  one  of  Boston's  oldest 
movie  houses,  and  the  Normandie,  already  have 
been  closed.  The  seating  capacity  of  the  Colo- 
nial, a  legitimate  house,  was  cut  from  1,643 
persons  to  1,195,  and  the  Old  .Howard,  a  bur- 
lesque and  motion  picture  theatre,_  and  the 
Gayety,  a  combined  burlesque  and  picture  the- 
atre, had  their  second  balconies  closed.  The 
Metropolitan  Theatre,  seating  capacity  4,367, 
will  not  have  its  capacity  affected,  but  permis- 
sion to  hold  stage  shows,  vaudeville  or  grand 
opera  is  refused. 

The  seating  capacity  of  the  Boston  Garden  is 
cut  from  19,052  to  13,500.  The  Boston  Arena, 
where  the  Sportsmen's  Show  is  to  be  held,  had 
its  second  balcony  closed,  and  the  cut  in_  seating 
capacity  will  affect  the  financial  possibilities  for 
the  success  of  the  show.  The  RKO  Boston  The- 
atre, with  a  seating  capacity  of  3,800,  had  its 
capacity  cut  only  72  persons  and  can  restore 
this  by  adding  one  exit. 

The  Keith  Memorial,  the  two  Marcus  Loew 
theatres,  the  State  and  the  Orpheum,  were  not 
affected  by  the  new  ruling. 

Providing  theatres  remain  within  the  re- 
quired capacity,  standees  will  be  allowed  so 
long  as  they  do  not  interfere  with  exits.  All 
Boston  theatres  presently  open  conform  to  the 
strict  requirements  of  the  law. 

State  authorities  said  that  suburban  houses 
are  not  affected,  nor  are  theatres  outside  of 
Boston,  since  they  have  been  under  State  con- 
trol in  this  respect. 

Another  section  of  the  law,  added  for  the 
safety  of  the  public,  includes  practically  every 
gathering  place  totaling  50  or  more.  That  in- 
cludes dance  halls,  night  clubs,  restaurants, 
buildings  and  liquor  stores.  ■ 

Coe  Addresses  Group 
In  Palm  Beach 

Charles  Francis  Coe,  vice-president  of  the 
Motion  Picture  Producers  and  Distributors  of 
America,  addressed  the  Four  Arts  Society  in 
Palm  Beach  last  Tuesday,  to  an  audience  com- 
posed of  leaders  in  the  fields  of  films,  business, 
finance,  education,  religion,  and  arts.  Mr. 
Coe's  topic  was  "A  New  World  Challenges  the 
Screen."  He  was  introduced  by  John  H.  Perry, 
president  of  the  Western  Newspaper  Union. 
Mr.  Coe  is  also  scheduled  to  speak  in  Cleveland 
on  January  10 ;  Cincinnati,  January  12 ;  Chica- 
go, January  14 ;  and  Jacksonville,  Florida, 
January  17. 


Increase  Cincinnati  Prices 

Saturday,  Sunday  and  holiday  prices  at 
Keith's,  and  the  RKO  Albee,  Palace  and  Capi- 
tol theatres  in  Cincinnati,  have  been  increased 
to  40  cents  until  1  P.M.  for  all  seats,  with  a 
balcony  scale  of  50  cents,  and  lower  floor  65 
cents  from  1  P.M.  to  closing.  Children's  ad- 
mission is  25  cents.  The  previous  scale  was 
33  cents  until  1  P.M.,  and  55  cents  thereafter, 
with  the  children's  rate  17  cents. 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 

FROM  READERS 


REPORTS  ON  U.  S.  ARMY 
THEATRE  IN  AUSTRALIA 

To  THE  Editor  of  the  Herald: 

Here  is  a  rather  happy  situation  for  any  ex- 
hibitor, having  a  house  whose  nightly  attend- 
ance is  twice  that  of  New  York's  famed  Radio 
City  Music  Hall  regardless  of  the  feature  pre- 
sentation. It  might  be  added  that  the  patrons 
here  are  hardly  backward  in  showing  their  dis- 
dain of  features  they  don't  like,  although  I 
cannot  recall  this  happening  on  more  than  one 
occasion.  Pictures  are  booked  from  local  ex- 
changes through  the  Overseas  Motion  Pictures 
Service.  Product  is  classified  as  A,  B  or  C, 
ranging  in  price  levels  from  £6,  IS  and  £4  for 
service  features.  There  are  no  contracts  in- 
volved, everything  is  spot  booked,  and  shorts 
are  blocked  with  all  features. 

Approximately  314  features  are  used  annual- 
ly, six  weekly,  and  the  showman  has  to  become 
reconciled  to  the  fact  that  there  are  no  receipts 
to  be  accounted  for. 

Projection  booth  equipment  is  quite  behind 
the  times,  although  there  is  yet  to  be  a  shut- 
down here.  Used  are  Powers  heads,  Rayco- 
phone  sound  heads,  hand  fed  arcs,  and  H  &  B 
hand  fed  spot  light.  Arcs  are  drawing  40  amps 
and  give  fairly  steady  light.  Amplifier  has  35 
W  output  and  30  undistorted.  Booth  staff  con- 
sists of  three  enlisted  men,  PFC  John  W.  Cuth- 
bertson  of  Garber,  Okla.  (formerly  with  the 
Blue  Moon  theatre).  Pvt.  Richard  Youngs, 
Pulaski,  N.  Y.,  and  yours  truly,  of  St.  Albans, 
N.  Y.,  formerly  of  Warners. 

Among  the  short  product  most  in  demand 
is  (1)  Newsreels  (Universal  on  Wednesday, 
Metro-Fox  and  CineSound  is  also  supplied. 
March  of  Time  is  shown  once  monthly.  (2) 
Cartoons  Donald  Duck  and  MGM  most  popu- 
lar. (3)  MGM  short  product.  (4)  Twenti- 
eth-Fox excepting  educationals.  Sports  Re- 
view, Adventures  of  Newsreel  Cameraman. 
(5)  Columbia  community  sing  shorts.  No 
Warner  cartoons  in  color  available. 

Don't  let  anybody  kid  you ;  the  Overseas  Mo- 
tion Picture  Service  is  doing  a  fine  job  here  in 
Australia. 

Trust  that  the  New  Year  will  see  victory  ours 
and  shortly  after  I  may  be  homeward  bound. — 
r/S  M.  L.  Morptirgo,  Hq.  Co.  5,  RCD; 

C/o  Postmaster,  Sait  Francisco. 

Paramount  Meeting  To  Plan 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  Sales 

Paramount  district  sales  managers  and  field 
exploitation  men  will  gather  at  the  Hotel 
Pierre  in  New  York  City  for  a  two-day  session 
on  January  21  and  22,  and  discuss  sales  and 
exploitation  plans  for  "Lady  in  the  Dark"  and 
other  important  1944  releases,  Neil  Agnew, 
general  sales  manager,  announced  Tuesday. 

"Lady  in  the  Dark,"  a  Technicolor  film  star- 
ring Ginger  Rogers,  Ray  Milland,  Warner  Bax- 
ter and  Jon  Hall,  will  have  its  world  premiere 
in  Hollywood  on  February  9,  and  its  eastern 
premiere  at  the  New  York  Paramount  on 
February  16. 

Among  those  from  the  home  office  who  will 
attend  the  meetings  are,  besides  Mr.  Agnew : 
Charles  Reagan,  George  Smith,  High  Owen, 
G.  B.  J.  Frawley,  Robert  M.  Gillham,  Alec 
Moss,  Al  Wilkie  and  Stanley  Shuford. 


Lt.  Jack  Bernhard  Decorated 

Lieutenant  Jack  Bernhard  of  the  Army  Air 
Force,  former  Universal  producer,  has  received 
the  Oak  Leaf  Cluster  for  distinguished  service. 
Lt.  Bernhard  is  a  son  of  Joseph  Bernhard, 
Warner  Brothers  vice-president. 


Theatre  Raises  Admission 

The  Strand  theatre  in  Willimantic,  Conn., 
seating  capacity  640,  has  advanced  its  admission 
prices  from  25  cents  to  30,  tax  inclusive.  Harry 
Kenebl  is  manager. 


January    8,  1944 

Unions  Boost 
Demands  Under 
Basic  Contract 

The  new  year  brought  with  it  a  collection 
of  union  and  guild  demands  upon  the  studios 
of  Hollywood.  Eight  unions  are  preparing  new 
basic  contracts  covering  some  7,500  studio 
workers,  there  are  threats  of  Federal  interven- 
tion in  two  lATSE  union  contracts,  and  the 
Conference  of  Studio  Unions  is  demanding,  the 
immediate  opening  of  negotiations  on  contracts 
that  expired  December  31. 

Immediately  following  the  American  Federa- 
tion of  Labor  executive  meeting  in  Miami  Jan- 
uary 17,  union  signatories  of  the  basic  agree- 
ment plan  to  make  demands  for  the  tightening 
of  contract  provisions. 

On  Thursday  of  last  week  the  studio  unions, 
requesting  a  10  ner  cent  raise  in  pay  for  day- 
shift  workers,  a  20  per  cent  for  night  workers, 
and  vacations  with  pay  and  sick  leave,  sent 
demands  to  Fred  Pelton,  producers'  labor  ad- 
ministrator. Neither  the  basic  nor  the  lATSE 
union  contracts  provide  for  vacations  at  present, 
although  several  of  the  Screen  Guilds,  includ- 
ing the  publicists  and  office  employees,  have 
such  provisions. 

Sound  technicians  and  cameramen  affiliated 
with  the  lATSE  last  week  wired  Pat  Casey, 
producers'  labor  contact  now  in  New  York,  de- 
manding immediate  opening  of  the  contracts 
that  expired  with  the  ending  of  1943,  and 
warned  that  failure  to  set  a  date  would  "neces- 
sitate a  request  for  assistance  from  the  U.  S. 
Conciliation  Service." 

According  to  Al  Speed,  business  representa- 
tive of  the  International  Brotherhood  of  Elec- 
trical Workers,  the  National  Labor  Relations 
Board  is  preparing  for  a  strike  vote  by  his 
union  January  6,  indicating  he  would  advise  the 
War  Labor  Board  that  if  other  industry  craft 
unions  received  a  10  per  cent  increase,  and  his 
union  were  included,  there  would  be  no  strike 
action. 

The  executive  board  of  the  lATSE  will  hold 
its  semi-annual  meeting  at  the  Netherland  Plaza 
Hotel  in  Cincinnati  during  the  week  starting 
January  23,  and  is  expected  to  discuss  the 
local's  troubles  in  Chicago,  where  a  group  of 
members  is  suing  the  union  and  three  major 
circuits  and  Allied  States  for  alleged  conspiracy 
in  blocking  wage  rises  for  operators,  and  the 
extortionists'  prosecuting  of  the  "Boys  from 
Chicago"  recently  sentenced  in  New  York. 

File  Anti-Trust  Suit  Against 
20th-Fox  and  Circuit 

An  anti-trust  suit  against  20th  Century-Fox, 
Crenshaw  Amusement  Company,  and  Saul  Sil- 
verman, has  been  filed  in  Los  Angeles  Federal 
Court  by  the  Colorado  Corporation,  operating 
Bard's  Adams  theatre.  It  seeks  an  enjoining 
order,  and  $10,000  in  attorney  fees.  Discrimi- 
nation in  price  of  first  run  pictures,  is  alleged, 
and  an  injunction  that  20th-Fox  and  Crenshaw 
desist  from  further  .alleged  violations,  is  sought. 


"Hap"  for  "Hopp" 

The  name  of  Hap  Hadley,  artist  and  illus- 
trator long  well  known  in  the  industry,  ap- 
peared inadvertently  in  the  obituary  list  for 
1943  published  in  the  January  1  issue  of  Mo- 
tion Picture  Herald.  It  was  printed,  in 
error,  for  Samuel  Hopkins  Hadley,  writer  and 
advertising  manager,  who  died  October  11.  He 
was  known  as  "Hopp." 


Kallis  Appointed  Art  Director 

Maurice  Kallis,  who  for  the  past  year  headed 
the  Kallis  Art  Service  in  New  York,  has  been 
appointed  art  director  for  Universal  Studios. 


January    8,  1944 

Mexico  Using 
More  Musicians 

by  LUIS  BECERRA  CELIS 

in    Mexico  City 

Mexican  pictures  are  employing  more  musi- 
cians than  ever  before  and  are  paying  them 
much  more.  The  films  now  use  a  daily  average 
of  70  to  80  musicians,  each  of  whom  receives 
$1.85  an  hour,  very  high  pay  for  this  country, 
and  work  an  average  of  three  hours  a  day  each. 
When  musicians  were  first  used  in  Mexican 
films,  the  pay  was  only  60  cents  an  hour  and 
the  musician  was  lucky  if  he  got  a  couple  of 
hours  of  such  work  a  week. 

While  delighted  with  their  new  high  pay, 
the  musicians  are  grumbling  about  the  30  per 
cent  discount  their  union  makes  in  these  wages 
and  threaten  to  throw  out  the  officers  unless 
this  is  reduced. 

V 

The  picture  writers  and  adapters'  union.  Sec- 
tion No.  45  of  the  National  Cinematographic 
Industry  Workers  Union,  is  to  turn  producer 
and,  for  the  first  time  in  Mexico,  make  a  picture 
vvhicfi'  will  have  more  than  one  director.  This 
production  will  be  handled  by  six  of  Mexico's 
best  directors.  Its  script  will  be  the  product 
of  the  combined  efforts  of  what  the  union  con- 
siders to  be  its  half  dozen  best  members.  The 
head  supervisor  will  be  Alfonso  Fernandez  Bus- 
tamente,  the  union's  secretary  general.  Leading 
players  are  being  enlisted  for  this  experimental 
picture,  proceeds  of  which  are  to  go  to  film 
charities. 

V 

"Gone  With  the  Wind"  is  still  being  exhibited 
here  to  good  business.  It  is  now  the  feature  at 
the  Cine  Princesa,  a  new  downtown  subsequent 
run  theatre,  at  a  30-cent  top. 

South  American  Grosses  Up 
Despite  War  Problems 

Theatre  business  throughout  Central  and 
South  America  has  increased  considerably  since 
the  war  and  bookings  of  Hollywood  filrns  are 
continuing  to  rise,  Joseph  A.  McConville,  vice- 
president  of  Columbia,  reported  in  New  York 
Monday.  Mr.  McConville  just  returned  from  a 
tour  of  South  America  and  announced  that  the 
company  would  open  an  exchange  early  this 
year  in  Montevideo,  Uruguay. 

The  censorship  difficulties  in  many  South 
American  countries  is  mounting,  he  said,  indi- 
cating that  recent  political  moves  already  have 
had  an  eff^ect  on  Hollywood  films.  Columbia  is 
havinf?  trouble  getting  approval  to  distribute 
"Appointment  in  Berlin"  in  some  countries,  par- 
ticularly Argentina.  "The  Invaders"  also  met 
strong  censor  bans.  Films  with  anti-Axis 
themes,  he  said,  are  receiving  strict  attention 
from  Government  authorities. 

Theatre  construction  is  on  the  upgrade  in 
Panama,  Chile,  Brazil  and  Argentina,  with 
equipment  coming  principally  from  the  United 
States,  Mr.  McConville  said.  The  manpower 
problem  is  acute  with  more  and  more  people 
leaving  non-essential  work  to  take  jobs  in  war 
industries  or  to  go  into  military  service.  Box- 
office  grosses  were  especially  strong  in  coun- 
tries like  Panama  and  Trinidad  where  U.  S. 
armed  forces  are  stationed. 


Add  3  Warner  Shorts*^ 

Three  new  short  subjects  have  been  added  to 
Gordon  HolHngshead's  1944  schedule  at  War- 
ner Brothers.  They  include :  "The  Life  and 
Music  of  Stephen  Foster,"  written  by  Jack 
Scholl ;  "The  Trial  in  Tom  Belcher's  Store," 
based  on  the  O.  Henry  story,  and  "Don't  Sell 
'Em  Short." 


MOTION    PICTURE  HEI^ALD 


IN  NEWSREELS 


MOVIETONE  NEWS— Vol.  26,  No.  35— Allies  advance 
in  Italj'  despite  nuid.  .  .  .  Jap  bomber  driven  off. 
.  .  .  American  troops  take  Jap  base.  .  .  .  U.  S. 
bombers  blast  New  Britain.  Rabaul,  and  Tokyo.  .  .  . 
Capt.  Jimmie  Stewart  commands  squadron  bombing 
Germany.  .  .  .  Azores  used  to  fight  U-Boats.  .  .  . 
Horse  racing.  .  .  .  Chicafjo  Bears  defeat  Washing- 
ton Redskins,  41-21.  .  .  .  Lew  Lehr  newsette. 

MOVIETONE  NEWS— Vol.  26,  No.  36  — Jap  planes 
shot  out  of  sky.  .  .  .  Atlantic  convoy  battle.  .  .  . 
Pushing  Nazis  in  Italy.  .  .  .  Fighting  on  muddy 
road  to  Rome.  .  .  .  Visit  to  Holy  Land.  .  .  .  L.  S. 
U,  vs.  Texas  A  and  M.  .  .  .  Georgia  Tech  vs.  Tulsa. 
.  .  .  U.  S.  C.  vs.  Washington  Huskies. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY— Vol.  15,  No..  ZSS-Flood  and 
mud  slow  Allies  in  Italy.  .  .  .  Yanks  take  Jap  base 
in  New  Britain.  .  .  .  Bomber  command.  .  .  .  Capt. 
Jimmie  Stewart  leads  air  squadron.  .  .  .  Azores  now 
air  base  in  war  on  U -Boats.  .  .  .  Chicago  Bears 
win, 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY— Vol.  15,  No.  234--U.  S.  car- 
riers smash  Jap  sky  attack.  .  .  .  Mud  for  Yanks  in 
Italy.  .  .  .  New  role  for  Robert  Taylor.  .  .  .  Your 
copper  penny  is  back.  .  .  .  Three  bowl  thrillers,  Pasa- 
dena, Miami,  and  New  Orleans. 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS— No.  36  — Chicago  Bears  beat 
Washington  Redskins.  .  .  .  Spider  hits  the  buUs-eye. 
.  .  .  FDR  orders  no  rail  strike.  .  .  .  Stimson  tells 
of  railroads'  importance  to  war  efTort.  .  .  .  Mud  in 
Italy. 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS— No.  37— Our  third  year  at 
war.  .  .  .  1943 — year  of  climax.  .  .  .  Invasion  pre- 
view. .  .  .  1944 — year  of  challenge. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS— Vol.  15,  No.  38— New  Britain 
offensive.  ..  .  British  in  Azores.  .  .  .  Allies  over- 
come mud  in  Italy.  .  .  .  Chicago  Bears  win  pro 
championship. 

RKO  PATHEl  NEWS— Vol.  15,  No.  39^U.  S.  Carrier 
downs  Jap  torpedo  planes.  .  .  .  Post-war  plane.  .  .  . 
Allied  soldiers  view  Holy  Land.  .  .  .  New  Year's 
football  game  roundup. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREEL  — Vol.  16,  No.  255— New 

Britain  gets  "hell  from  the  skies".  .  .  .  Americans 
invade  Arawe.  .  .  .  Fifth  army  fights  through  mud. 
.  .  .  Capt.  Jimmie  Stewart  speaks  fo  rthe  bombing 
crew.  .  .  .  Azores  occupied  by  Britain.  .  .  .  Count 
Carlo  Sforza  reveals  Italian  feelings.  .  .  .  Up-to-date 
art.  .  .  .  Bears  win  pro  title. 

UNIVERSAL  NEV/SREEL— Vol.  16,  No.  256— Yanks 
bag  Jap  planes.  .  .  .  Turkeys  gobbled  up  in  Italy. 
.  .  .  American  nurses  show  courage  in  Italy.  .  .  . 
Largest  concrete  ship.  .  .  .  Mummers  is  the  word. 
.  .  .  Fifth  army  fed  up  with  "canned  Willie".  .  .  . 
Orange  Bowl.  .  .  .  Sugar  Bowl.  .  .  .  Rose  Bowl. 

ALL  AMERICAN  NEWS— Vol.  2,  No.  63— Red  Cross 
chapters  renew  efforts.  .  .  .  Students  prepare  for 
good  jobs.  .  .  .  Negro  named  N.  Y.  Athletic  Com- 
missioner. .  .  .  Fighting  French  Negro  troops  train 
in  U.  S.  A.  .  .  .  Chandler  Owen  warns  on  optimism 
on  war. 


Air  Express  Sets  New 
Records  in  1943 

Ending  its  16th  year  of  service  in  1943,  the 
Air  Express  Division  of  the  Railway  Express 
Agency  set  new  records  for  number  of  ship- 
ments, weight  and  gross  revenue,  it  was  re- 
ported. 

Widely  used  by  the  film  industry,  the  air  ex- 
press cargo  during  the  past  12  months  com- 
prised shipments  of  essential  war  materials, 
while  commercial  and  non-priority  traffic  vvas 
carried  on  a  space-available  basis.  Figures  in- 
dicate that  approximately  14,000  tons  of  air 
express  cargo  were  flown  over  the  18  domestic 
airlines  in  1943,  compared  with  10,850  in  1942. 

An  average  of  45  tons  daily  was  flown  over 
the  45,000-mile  domestic  airline  network.  The 
new  drug,  penicillin,  often  was  flown  by  air  in 
urgent  cases,  and  will  continue  to  receive  No. 
1  priority  in  emergency  cases,  it  was  said. 


New  Zealand  Theatre  to 
Reopen  in  February 

The  Regent  theatre,  in  Wellington,  New 
Zealand,  destroyed  in  an  earthquake  in  1942, 
is  being  reconstructed  and  is  expected  to  reopen 
in  February.  The  house  is  owned  by  the  J.  G. 
Williamson  Picture  Corp.,  New  Zealand  circuit. 
Shortages  of  manpower  and  material  might 
have  possible  delay  in  the  reconstruction  of  the 
theatre,  it  was  learned. 


67 


Salesmen  to  Get 
Full  Commission 

Members  of  the  film  industry  compensated 
entirely  or  in  part  by  commissions,  over-riding 
commissions  or  percentages  of  company  profit 
may  be  paid  all  that  is  due  them  on  1944  busi- 
ness, regardless  of  the  fact  that  the  dollar  total 
may  exceed  that  of  the  base  year  under  the 
salary  stabilization  program. 

The  policy  to  be  followed  in  1944  was  laid 
down  in  a  year-end  decision  by  Stabilization 
Director  Fred  M.  Vinson  in  a  letter  to  the 
Commissioner  of  Internal  Revenue  in  resjjonse 
to  a  request  on  a  ruling  on  the  basis  to  be 
used  in  regulating  commission  and  similar  earn- 
ings. The  letter  pointed  out  that  the  rate  of 
commission  cannot  be  increased  or  decreased. 

Mr.  Vinson's  ruling  was  in  line  with  the 
policy  previously  adopted  by  the  Internal  Rev- 
enue Bureau  of  permitting  the  payment,  without 
formality  of  approval,  of  all  commissions  and 
percentages  earned  during  1943  where  there 
had  been  no  change  in  the  rate  paid  in  1942. 
This  policy  reversed  a  previous  position  de- 
signed to  limit  total  commission  earnings  to 
those  of  the  previous  year. 

The  director's  action  extends  the  principles 
now  followed  with  respect  to  salesmen's  com- 
missions to  officers  and  executives  who  are 
paid  compensation  based  on  a  percentage  of  the 
sales  of  others. 


Auditors  and  Bookers 
Of  MGM  Hold  Meeting 

The  annual  meeting  of  MGM's  auditors,  book- 
ers, student  auditors  and  bookers  was  held  on 
Monday  at  the  Hotel  Astor,  New  York,  with 
Charles  K.  Stern,  assistant  treasurer,  and  Alan 
F.  Cimmings,  in  charge  of  exchange  operations, 
conducting  the  morning  session,  and  Edward 
Urschel  taking  over  in  the  afternoon. 

Discussion  centered  around  the  simplification 
of  branch  operations  and  the  elimination  of 
unnecessary  duties  due  to  the  shortage  of  man- 
power. Harold  J.  Cleary,  of  Loew's  Theatre 
department,  was  to  have  dscussed  theatre  opera- 
tions the  following  day. 

The  sessions  which  were  to  continue  until 
Friday  were  to  be  attended  by  Charles  Fogel, 
assistant  to  J.  S.  MacLeod,  Parke  D.  Agnew, 
John  J.  Ash,  F.  W.  N.  Beckett,  Oliver  Brough- 
ton,  Thomas  F.  Grady,  William  Marsh,  Arthur 
Sterling,  Arthur  Sklar,  Charles  Bell,  Carl 
Gentzel,  Albert  Golden,  William  Gillilan,  Ben- 
nett Goldstein,  Mrs.  Anna  L.  Berger,  Dorothy 
Donaldson,  Roberta  Elston,  Jeanne  Harris, 
Henrietta  Klein  and  James  Eastwood. 

Gelber  Wins  lATSE 
Local  Election 

Herman  Gelber,  with  a  vote  of  1,219,  has 
been  reelected  president  of  the  New  York 
lATSE  Projectionists  Local  306  for  a  second 
term  of  two  years,  succeeding  over  his  oppo- 
nent. Jack  Winick,  who  held  307  votes. 

Harry  E.  Storin  was  elected  vice-president ; 
Nathaniel  Doragoff  was  reelected  recording  sec- 
retary ;  Charles  Beckman  was  reelected  finan- 
cial secretary ;  James  Ambrosio  was  reelected 
treasurer  ;  Frank  E.  Miller  was  elected  sergeant- 
at-arms,  succeding  Joseph  Bender  •  Morris 
Kravitz  was  reelected  New  York  business 
agent,  and  Benjamin  Scher  was  elected  busi- 
ness agent  for  Brooklyn,  replacing  Jack  Teit- 
ler. 

Charles  E.  Eichhorn  and  Sam  Kaplan,  former 
officers  of  the  union,  were  elected  to  the  execu- 
tive board.  The  newly  elected  officers  were  to 
be  inducted  Wednesday. 


Fire  Destroys  Theatre 

The  Stevensville  theatre,  Hamilton,  Mont., 
was  destroyed  by  fire  last  week  with  a  loss  of 
$30,000. 


he  Most  Fantastic,  Most 
xciting  Serial  Ever  Made! 


^^^^^^  /**^*^ 


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,1  King  Features  Syndicat 
,arf©0n  Character  Created  by 
h^^mlk  and  Ray  Moore! 


NOW  BOOKING  ] 

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70 


MOTION    PICTU  RE  HERALD 


January    8,  1944 


// 


WHAT  THE 

PICTURE  DID  FOR  ME 


W 


Columbia 


CHANCE  OF  A  UFETIME,  THE:  Chester  Mor- 
ris, Jeanne  Bates — These  "Boston  Blackie"  type  films 
always  go  well  for  me  on  a  weekend  double  bill,  and 
I  believe  this  was  the  best  one  for  some  time.  My 
patrons  seemed  to  enjoy  it.  Its  simple  plot  could  be 
followed  by  anybody  and  it  pleased  those  Western 
fans  who  came  to  see  the  Western.  Played  Friday, 
Saturday,  Dec.  17,  18.— Charles  A.  Brooks,  Ritz  The- 
atre, Marshfield,  Mo.  Small  town  and  rural  patron- 
age. 

DANGEROUS  BLONDES:  Evelyn  Keyes,  Edmund 
Lowe — A  good  comedy,  but  no  business.  Played  Fri- 
day, Saturday,  Dec.  10,  11. — Mrs.  Helen  L.  Irwin, 
Palace  Theatre,  Penacook,  N.  H.     General  patronage. 

DESTROYER:  Edward  G.  Robinson,  Glenn  Ford- 
Very  nice  little  picture.  Very  interesting.  Business 
very  good.  Played  Monday,  Tuesday,  Dec.  6,  7. — J. 
H.  Bustin,  Imperial  Theatre,  Windsor,  N.  S.,  Canada. 
Small  town  patronage. 

FRONTIER  FURY:  Charles  Starrett,  Arthur  Hun- 
nicutt — This  Western  was  liked  by  all  who  came  to  see 
it.  But  for  bad  weather  business  probably  would  have 
been  better.  Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Dec.  10,  11. — 
J.  H.  Bustin,  Imperial  Theatre,  Windsor,  N.  S.,  Can- 
ada.   Small  town  patronage. 

IS  EVERBODY  HAPPY?:  Ted  Lewis,  Nan  Wynn 
— Did  not  go  over  so  well.  Played  Friday,  Dec.  3. — 
F.  A.  Falle,  F/S,  Theatre  No.  1,  B  &  G  School,  Jarvis, 
Ont.,  Canada. 

( 

MY  KINGDOM  FOR  A  COOK:  Charles  Coburn, 
Isobel  Elsom — Tliis  little  picture  sure  does  top  "More 
the  Merrier."  Plenty  of  laughs  and  a  nice  little  story. 
Business  good.  Played  Monday,  Tuesday,  Dec.  13,  14. 
— J.  H.  Bustin,  Imperial  Theatre,  Windsor,  N.  S., 
Canada.     Small  town  patronage.  ^ 

ONLY  ANGELS  HAVE  WINGS:  Jean  Arthur, 
Cary  Grant — A  good  picture,  but  we  ran  two  revivals 
one  after  the  other:  a  small  crowd.  Played  Sunday, 
Dec.  12.— F.  A.  Falle.  F/S,  Theatre  No.  1,  B  &  G 
School,  Jarvis,  Ont.,  Canada. 

PARDON  MY  GUN:  Charles  Starrett,  Alma  Cai- 
roll — Average  Western,  average  business.  No  com- 
ment, but  had  no  criticism  of  it.  Charles  Starrett 
isn't  anything  extra  to  my  Western  fans.  Played 
Friday,  Saturday,  Dec.  17,  18. — Charles  A.  Brooks, 
Ritz  Theatre,  Marshfield,  Mo.  Small  town  and  rural 
patronage. 

REVEILLE  WITH  BEVERLY:  Ann  Miller.  Wil- 
liam Wright — Here's  a  picture  that  was  a  pleasant 
surprise.  It's  packed  with  snappy  entertainment  and 
big  name  bands.  Ann  Miller's  dancing  is  excellent, 
and  the  radio  rogues  were  never  better.  Good  for 
any  situation.  Played  Sunday,  Dec.  19. — W.  R.  Pyle, 
Dreamland  Theatre,  Rockglen.  Sask.,  Canada.  Rural, 
small  town  and  airport  patronage. 


Me+ro-Goldwyn-Mayer 

I 

ADVENTURES  OF  TARTU:  Robert  Donat.  Valerie 
Hobscm — A  wonderful  picture  plaved  to  a  full  house. 
Played  Monday,  Dec.  13.— F.  A.  'Falle,  F/S,  Theatre 
No.  1,  B  &  G  School,  Jarvis,  Ont.,  Canada. 

BABES  ON  BROADWAY:  Mickey  Rooney,  Judy 

Garland — Rooney  and  Garland  clever  with  ability. 
Rooney  overacts,  which  is  the  fault  of  the  director. 
Judy  Garland  is  getting  better.  Rooney  is  loosing 
his  drawing  power.  The  audience  is  tired  by  the  time 
the  show  reaches  the  last  half-hour,  which  is  the  best 
part  of  the  picture.  The  audience  was  on  its  feet 
before  the  end.  which  is  a  bad  sign. — R.  R.  Kiefer, 
Kiefer's  Circuit,  Hardisty,  Alta.,  Canada. 

BEST  FOOT  FORWARD:  Lucille  Ball,  William 
Gaxton —  Just  a  mediocre  musical.  Well  done  Tech- 
nicolor scenes.  It  pleased,  but  got  no  raves.  Played 
Sunday,  Dec.  S.— W.  R.  Pyle.  Dreamland  Theatre. 
Rockglen.  Sask.,  Canada.  Rural,  small  town  and  air- 
port patronage. 

ru  BARRY  WAS  A  LADY:  Red  Skelton,  Lucille 
Ball — A  complete  waste  of  time  and  money.  A  good 
director  could  have  done  wonders  with  this  talent  and 
colour  film.  Would  not  recommend  this  for  any  kind 
of  spot.  Played  Thursdav.  Dec.  16. — A.  L.  Dove. 
Bengough  Theatre,  Bengough,  Sask.,  Canada.  Rural 
and  small  town  patronage. 

HARRIGAN'S  KID:  Bobby  Readick.  William  G=ir- 
gan — This  was  an  interesting  racing  picture.  Suitable 


.  .  .  the  original  exiiibitors*  reports  department,  establitlieci  October  14,  1916. 
In  it  tlieatremen  serve  one  anotlier  with  information  about  the  box-office  per- 
formance of  product  —  providing  a  service  of  the  exhibitor  for  the  exhibitor. 
ADDRESS  REPORTS:  What  the  Picture  Did  for  Me,  Motion  Picture  Herald, 
Rockefeller  Center.  New  York  20,  N.  Y. 


for  weekend  double  bill.  Played  Friday,  Saturday, 
Dec.  17,  18.— A.  C.  Edwards,  Winema  Theatre,  Scotia. 
Calif.     Small  lumber  patronage. 

HONKY  TONK:  Clark  Gable,  Lana  Turner— Not 
satisfactory  and  business  poor. — R.  R.  Kieier,  Kiefer'i 
Circuit,  Hardisty,  Alta.,  Canada. 

I  DOOD  IT:  Red  Skelton,  Eleanor  Powell— Business 
was  as  good  as  could  be  expected  so  near  to  Christmas. 
There  were  several  times  during  the  picture  when  the 
audience  was  nearly  rolhng  in  the  aisles.  Played  Sun- 
day, Monday,  Dec.  19,  20. — A.  C.  Edwards,  Winema 
Theatre,  Scotia,  Calif.    Small  lumber  town  patronage. 

MRS.  MINIVER:  Greer  Garson,  Weaker  Pidgeon— 
The  season's  top  grosser  and  Metro  deserves  full 
credit  for  taking  no  advantage  of  this  fact. — R.  R. 
Kiefer,  Kiefer's  Circuit,  Hardisty,  Alta.,  Canada. 

NAUGHTY  MARIETTA:  Jeanette  MacDonaJd, 
Nelson  Eddy — A  revival  and  a  very  good  picture. 
Played  Friday,  Dec.  10.— F.  A.  Falle,  F/S,  Theatre 
No.  1,  B  &  G  School,  Jarvis,  Ont.,  Canada. 

SLIGHTLY  DANGEROUS:   Lana  Turner,  Robert 

Young — Here  was  a  natural  for  my  town.  This  was 
just  what  the  doctor  ordered.  Well  received,  many 
favorable  comments.  Business  only  fair  due  to  Christ- 
mas holidays.  Played  Tuesday-Thursday,  Dec.  21-23. 
—Charles  A.  Brooks,  Ritz  Theatre,  Marshfield,  Mo. 
Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

WOMAN  OF  THE  YEAR:  Katharine  Hepburn, 
Spencer  Tracy — Not  satisfactory  and  business  poor. — 
R.  R.  Kiefer,  Kiefer's  Circuit,  Hardisty,  Alta.,  Canada. 


Monogram 


APE  MAN,  THE:  Bela  Lugosi,  Wallace  Ford— If 
you  want  an  empty  house,  play  this  picture.  The 
story,  acting  and  recording  are  poor.  Played  Wednes- 
day, hursday,  Dec.  8,  9.— J.  H.  Bustin.  Imperial  The- 
atre, Windsor,  N.  S.,  Canada.    Small  town  patronage. 


Paramount 


FIVE  GRAVES  TO  CAIRO:  Franchot  Tone,  Anne 
Baxter — Satisfactory  picture  to  satisfactory  business. 
A  war  picture  which  is  not  gruesome,  but  interest- 
ing.— R.  R.  Kiefer,  Kiefer's  Circuit,  Hardisty,  Alta., 
Canada. 

HAPPY  GO  LUCKY;  Mary  Martin,  Dick  Powell- 
Fair  musical.  If  they  never  came  any  worse,  it 
would  be  a  blessing  and  if  they  never  came  any  bet- 
ter, we  couldn't  stay  in  business. — R.  R.  Kiefer,  Kief- 
er's Circuit,  Hardisty,  Alta.,  Canada. 

HENRY  ALDRICH  GETS  GLAMOUR:  Jimmy  Ly- 
don,  Charlie  Smith — The  local  senior  class  used  this 
for  a  benefit  and  had  splendid  success.  Excellent  en- 
tertainment that  received  much  good  comment.  Plaved 
Thursday,  Dec.  9.— Mrs.  Helen  L.  Irwin,  Palace  The- 
atre, Penacook,  N.  H.    General  patronage. 

HENRY  ALDRICH  GETS  GLAMOUR:  Jimmy  Ly- 

don.  Charlie  Smith — Aldrich  pictures  do  satisfactory 
business  and  please. — R.  R.  Kiefer,  Kiefer's  Circuit. 
Hardisty,  Alta.,  Canada. 

SALUTE  FOR  THREE:  Macdonald  Carey.  Betty 
Rhodes — Although  played  on  a  double  bill,  this  pic- 
ture would  have  stood  a  single  bill  very  nicely.  It's 
well  made,  well  directed.  The  acting  is  very  good  and 
it  will  give  satisfaction  to  a  small  town  audience. 
Played  Friday.  Saturday.  Dec.  24.  2S.— Charles  A. 
Brooks.  Ritz  Theatre,  Marshfield,  Mo.  Small  town 
and  rural  patronage. 

SO  PROUDLY  WE  HAIL:  Claudette  Colbert.  Pau1- 
ette  Goddard — Excellent  show,  well  nroduced  and 
acted.  Did  well  for  a  war  picture  and  was  erioyed 
bv  almost  all.  A  little  ghastly  in  carts.  Paj-ed  Tues- 
day. Wednesday.  Dec.  21.  2?.— J.  C.  Lindsay.  Carolina 
Theatre,  Bennettsville,  S.  C.     Small  town  patronage. 


SUBMARINE  ALERT:  Richard  Arlen,  Wendy  Bar- 
rie — Confusing  story  and  not  good  enough  to  merit 
filming.  No  draw.  Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Dec.  10, 
11. — Mrs.  Helen  L.  Irwin,  Palace  Theatre,  Penacook, 
N.  H.     General  patronage. 


Republic 


MAN  FROM  MUSIC  MOUNTAIN:  Roy  Rogers- 
Doubled  with  "Salute  for  Three"  and  had  one  of  the 
best  Friday -Saturday  double  bills  I  have  played  in 
some  time.  This  Western  was  very  good;  many  fa- 
vorable comments.  Played  Dec.  24,  25. — Charles  A. 
Brooks,  Ritz  Theatre,  Marshfield,  Mo.  Small  town 
and  rural  patronage. 


RKO 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  ROOKIE:  Wally  Brown, 
Alan  Carney — Excellent  comedy  feature  which  pleased 
all.  More  chuckles  than  I  have  heard  in  months,  and 
the  farmers  showed  their  appreciation  with  plenty  of 
hearty  belly  laughs.  Played  with  "Prairie  Thimder" 
which  was  very  weak  for  a  Western. — B.  R.  Johnson, 
Roxy  Theatre,  Nipawin,  Sask.,  Canada.  Rural  patron- 
age. 

BOMBARDIER:  Pat  O'Brien,  Randolph  Scott,  Anne 
Shirley — Good  picture  which  was  enjoyed  by  the  few 
who  came  to  see  it,  but  the  title  scared  them  away. 
— B.  R.  Johnson,  Roxy  Theatre,  Nipawin,  Sask.,  Can- 
ada.    Rural  patronage. 

FALLEN  SPARROW,  THE:  Maureen  O'Hara,  John 
Garfield — Another  interesting  picture.  Well  staged  and 
a  good  entertainer.  Played  Wednesday,  Dec.  8. — F.  A. 
Falle,  F/S,  Theatre  No.  1,  B  &  G  School,  Jarvis,  Ont., 
Canada. 

IRON  MAJOR,  THE:  Pat  O'Brien,  Ruth  Warwick— 
A  grand  picture.  Full  house  and  no  complaints. 
Plaved  Sunday,  Dec.  26.— F.  A.  Falle,  F/S,  Theatre 
No.  1,  B  &  G  School,  Jarvis,  Ont.,  Canada. 

Twentieth  Century- Fox 

CHETNIKS:  Philip  Dom,  Anna  Sten— Very  good 
picture.  Well  worth  seeing.  Lots  of  action  in  this 
one. — Marina  Theatre,  St.  Andrews,  N.  E.  Small  town 
patronage. 

CHINA  GIRL:  Gene  Tiemey,  George  Montgomery 
— Another  war  picture,  but  good  in  spots.  The  ending 
sort  of  spoiled  it. — Marina  Theatre,  St.  Andrews,  N. 
B.    Small  town  patronage. 

HOLY  MATRIMONY:  Gracie  Fields,  Monty  Wool- 
ley — Excellent  entertainment  for  any  situation  and  ex- 
ceptional for  English  airmen.  Played  Sunday.  Dec. 
12.— W.  R.  Pyle,  Dreamland  Theatre,  Rockglen,  Sask.. 
Canada.     Rural,  small  town  and  airport  patronage. 

ICELAND;  Sonja  Henie,  JTohn  Payne — A  honey  of  a 
show.  It  sure  packed  them  in.  Lots  of  laughs  in  this 
one.  It  has  about  everything  to  make  a  picture  worth 
seeing. — Marina  Theatre,  St.  Andrews,  N.  B.  Small 
town  patronage. 

UFE  BEGINS  AT  8:30:  Monty  Woolley,  Ida  Lu- 
pino — Very  good  show.  Monty  sure  is  good  in  this 
one;  also  Ida  Lupino.  She  plays  her  part  well.  Play 
this  one  any  day  of  the  week. — Marina  Theatre,  St. 
Andrews,  N.  B.    Small  town  patronage. 

MY  FRIEND  FLICKA:  Roddy  McDowall,  Preston 
Foster — Swell  little  picture.  A  very  good  story  and 
well  liked  by  all.  Very  good  for  children. — Marina 
Theatre,  St.  Andrews,  N.  B.    Small  town  patronage. 

MY  FRIEND  FUCKA;  Roddy  McDowall.  Preston 
Foster — \Vhatever  comment  we  might  offer  concernins' 
this  superb  nicture  would  be  like  an  attempt  to  gild 
the  lily.  Business  was  outstanding  and  everyone 
went  away  shouting  _  its  praise.  Plaved  Wednesday, 
{Continued  on  paqe  72) 


TARZAN  BREAKS  OPENING 
RECORD  ON  BROADWAY! 


OUR  TWO  BIG  JOBS  IN  JANUARY:  FOURTH  WAR  LOAN  AND  MARCH  OF  DIMES 


i 


72 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    8,  1944 


(Continued  from  page  70) 

Tliursduy,  Dec.  15,  16.— A.  C.  Edwards,  Winema  The- 
atre, Scstia,  Calif,    bmall  lumber  town  patronage. 

PARIS  AFTER  DARK:  George  Sanders,  Brand;. 
Marshall — Thoroughly  enjoyed  by  "the  men  who  saw  u 
and  classed  as  a  very  good  picture.  Played  Friday, 
Dec.  24.— F.  A.  Falle,  F/S,  Theatre  No.  1,  B  &  I. 
School,  Jarvis,  Ont.,  Canada. 

STORMY  WEATHER:  Bill  Robinson,  Lena  Horne— 
This  was  an  appropriate  title  for  me  on  these  nights 
as  the  thermometer  went  almost  to  zero  every  night. 
As  a  result,  business  was  terrible;  but  the  picture  is 
a  dandy  and  I  still  think  I  would  have  gotten  a  nice 
run  on  it  otherwise.  It's  sure  full  of  entcrtainmen. 
that  the  young  folks  like.  Played  Tuesday-Thursday. 
Dec.  14-16.— Charles  A.  Brooks,  Ritz  Theatre,  Marsh- 
ticld.  Wo.     Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

TIME  TO  KILL:  Lloyd  Nolan,  Heather  Angel- 
This  Mike  Shayne  series  is  growing  in  popularity  witli 
our  patrons.  They  move  fast,  have  plenty  of  comed.\ 
and  are  O.K.  for  weekend  double  bills.  Played  Friday, 
Saturday,  Dec.  17,  18.— A.  C.  Edwards,  Winema  The- 
atre, Scotia,  Calif.    Small  lumber  town  patronage. 

YOUNG  MR.  PITT,  THE:  Robert  Donat,  Robert 

Morley — Very  good  acting  in  this  one,  but  a  little 
draggy  in  spots.  O.K.  if  you  like  historical  pictures; 
most  of  our  crowd  didn't. — Marina  Theatre,  St.  An- 
drews, N.  B.     Small  town  patronage. 


United  Artists 

HANGMEN  ALSO  DIE:  Brian  Donlevy,  Walter 
Brennan— Another  war  picture.  A  good  one,  if  you  like 
war  pictures,  but  people  here  are  getting  tired  of 
them.- Marina  Theatre,  St.  Andrews,  N.  B.  Small  town 
patronage. 

LADY  OF  BURLESQUE:  Barbara  Stanwyck,  Mi- 
chael O'Shea— Very  good  thriller.  Swell  acting  by 
Barbara  Stanwyck.  Lx)ts  of  comedy  also  in  this  one. 
Just  what  the  public  wants.  Not  for  children.— Marina 
Theatre,  St.  Andrews,  N.  B.    Small  town  patronage. 

STAGE  DOOR  CANTEEN:  Stage  and  Screen  Stars 
—Without  a  doubt,  a  great  picture.  Not  a  cornplaint 
from  anyone  and  it  seems  they  all  want  to  see  it  over 
and  over.  Don't  pass  it  up.  Played  Saturday,  Dec. 
18.— W.  R.  Pyle,  Dreamland  Theatre,  Rockglen,  Sask., 
Canada.     Rural,  small  town  and  airport  patronage. 


Universal 

CORVETTE  K  22S:  Randolph  Scott,  James  Brown— 
A  war  picture,  but  a  good  one.  All  seemed  to  en- 
joy the  show  very  much.  Played  Wednesday,  Dec.  1. 
— F.  A.  Falle,  F/S,  Theatre  No.  1,  B  &  G  School, 
Jarvis,  Ont.,  Canada. 

FLESH  AND  FANTASY:  Charles  Boyer,  Barbara 
Stanwyck— Only  a  fair  show.  No  high  points  on  it. 
Played  Sunday,  Dec.  S.— F.  A.  Falle,  F/  S,  Theatre 
No.  1,  B  &  G  School,  Jarvis,  Ont.,  Canada. 

HIT  THE  ICE:  Abbott  and  Costello— My  patrotis 
like  this  team.  This,  in  my  opinion,  was  one  of  their 
better  features  and  was  well  received  by  my  patrons. 
They  really  enjoy  the  comedy  of  Lou  Costello.  Played 
Sunday,  Monday,  Dec.  12,  13.— Charles  A.  Brooks. 
Ritz  'Theatre,  Marshfield,  Mo.  Small  town  and  rural 
patronage. 

Warner  Bros. 

KINGS  ROW:  Ronald  Reagan,  Ann  Sheridan- 
Old.  Seemed  to  interest  both  women  and  men.  Fair 
draw.  No  complaint  as  regards  business. — R.  R.  Kief- 
er,  Kiefer's  Circuit,  Hardisty,  Alta.,  Canada. 

ONE  FOOT  IN  HEAVEN:  Fredric  March,  Martha 
Scott — A  most  satisfactory  picture.  Business  not  big 
but  satisfactory.— R.  R.  Kiefer,  Kiefer's  Circuit.  Hard- 
isty, Alta.,  Canada. 

THANK  YOUR  LUCKY  STARS:  Warner  Stars 
Revue — ^If  Warner  Bros,  had  cut  out  the  Bette  Davis, 
Errol  Flynn,  John  Garfield,  Humphrey  Bogart  num- 
bers, this  might  have  represented  a  fair  "B"  oflEer- 
ing.  As  issued,  it  is  very  tiresome.  To  add  to  the 
misery  they  stick  it  in  as  a  "special,"  which  is  merely 
adding  insult  to  injury. — B.  R.  Johnson,  Roxy  Theatre. 
Nipawin,  Sask.,  Canada.    Rural  patronage. 

THIS  IS  THE  ARMY:  Joan  Leslie,  George  Mur 
phy.    Stage    Cast— A    remarkable    picture.  Beautiful 
color  and  very  entertaining.    Played  Monday,  Dec.  6. 
— F.  A.  Falle,  F/S,  Theatre  No.  1,  B  &  G  School. 
Jarvis.  Ont.,  Canada. 


Short  Features 
Columbia 

FIT  TO  FIGHT:  World  of  Sports— Just  a  fair  sports 
short;  have  seen  better. — J.  H.  Bustin,  Imperial  The- 
atre, Windsor,  N.  S.,  Canada. 

I  CAN  HARDLY  WAIT:  All  Star  Comedies— As 
foolish  as  they  are.  I  have  a  lot  of  customers  that 


SHORT  PRODUCT 
PLAYING  BROADWAY 

Week  of  jaiiiiary  8 

ASTOR 

Vv'ha+'s  Buzzin',  Buzzard?.  .  .  .  MSM 

Water  Wisdom  MGM 

Feature:  Cry  Havoc  MGM 

CAPITOL 

No  Exception   20th  Cent. -Fox 

Grand  Canyon   MGM 

My  Tomato   MGM 

Feature:  A  Guy  'Named  Joe  MGM 

CRITERION 

Baby  Puss   MGM 

No  Exception   20th  Cent. -Fox 

Feature:  His  Butler's  Sister  Universal 

GLOBE 

Inky  and  the  Minabird  Vitaphone 

Feature:  Tarzari's  Desert  Mys- 
tery  RKO  Radio 

HOLLYWOOD 

Into  the  Clouds  Vitaphone 

Puss  'n'  Booty  Vitaphone 

No  Exception   20th  Cent. -Fox 

Voice  ThatThrilled  the  World. Vitaphone 
Feature:  Desert  Song  Warner  Bros. 

PARAMOUNT 

No  Exception   20th  Cent.-Fox 

Popular  Science,  No.  I  Paramount 

Feature:  Kidin'  High  Paramount 

RIALTO 

Pluto  at  the  Zoo  RKO  Radio 

Superman,  Secret  Agent  .  .  .  Paramount 

Happy  Birthdaze   Paramount 

Feature:  The  Ghost  Ship   .  Universal 

RIVOLI 

No  Exception   20th  Cent.-Fox 

Feature:  For  Whom  the  Bell 

Tolls  Paramount 

ROXY 

Yokel  Duck  Makes  Good  ..  .20th  Cent.-Fox 

Champions  Carry  On  20th  Cent.-Fox 

Feature:  The  Gang's  All  Here.20\'n  Cent.-Fox 

STRAND 

Bees  A'Buzzin'   Vitaphone 

No  Exception   20th  Cent.-Fox 

Feature:  Destination  Tokyo    Warner  Bros. 


really  enjoy  the  Three  Stooges.  This  is  about  an 
average  offering  from  this  trio. — Charles  A.  Brooks, 
Ritz  Theatre,  Marshfield,  Mo. 

YOU  DEAR  BOY:  All  Star  Comedies— I^ts  of 
laughs  in  this  short  and  that  is  what  our  patrons 
want. — J.  H.  Bustin.  Imperial  Theatre,  Windsor,  N.S., 
Canada. 

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 

PLAN  FOR  DESTRUCTION:  Two- Reel  Specials- 
Another  super  two-reel  subject  from  Metro.  Play  it. 
— W.  R.  Pyle,  Dreamland  Theatre,  Rockglen,  Sask., 
Canada. 

VICTORY  VITTLES:  Pete  Smith  Specialties— A 
Pete  Smith  in  Technicolor  that  really  went  over  big.— 
W.  R.  Pyle,  Dreamland  Theatre.  Rockglen,  Sask.. 
Canada. 

WINGS  UP:  Victory  Film— This  reel  is  very  en- 
tertaining. Clark  Gable  is  the  narrator  and  it  keeps 
moving  in  fine  shape  to  oflfer  some  very  good  enter- 
tainment.— Charles  A.  Brooks,  Ritz  Theatre,  Marsh- 
field, Mo. 

<*Paramount 

RATIONED  RHYTHM:  Headliners— Play  it.    It  is 


rather  novel  and  ray  patrons  liked  it  very  much. — 
Charles  A.   Brooks,  Ritz  Theatre,   Marshfield,  Mo. 


United  Artists 

RIGHT  OF  WAY:  Victory  Film— I  had  previously 
played  this  one  and  they  rebooked  me  with  it.  This 
reel  isn't  as  entertaining  as  many  of  these  subjects 
are,  but  explains  the  transportation  problem  very  well. 
—Charles  A.  Brooks,  Ritz  Theatre,  Marshfield,  Mo. 


Universal 

CONFUSION  IN  INDIA:  Variety  Views— Just  fair. 
— J.  H.  Bustin,  Imperial  Theatre,  Windsor,  N.S.. 
Canada. 

BOOGIE  WOOGIE  MAN:  Swing  Symphonies— A 
good  cartoon  that  pleased. — Charles  A.  Brooks,  Kit? 
Theatre,  Marshfield,  Mo. 

SOUTH  SEA  RHYTHMS:  Musicals— One  of  the 
best  two-reel  musicals.  My  patrons  go  for  these 
musicals. — J.  H.  Bustin,  Imperial  Theatre,  Windsor. 
N..S.,  Canada. 


Vitaphone 

FIGHTNG  ENGINEERS:  Technicolor  Special— Nice 
little  short.  The  Technicolor  is  beautiful. — J.  H. 
Bustin,  Imperial  Theatre,  Windsor,  N.S.,  Canada. 

LITTLE  ISLES  OF  FREEDOM:  Broadway  Brevi 
ties — Wasn't  much  to  this  short.    O.K.  for  a  filler. — 
J.  H.  Bustin,  Imperial  Theatre,  Windsor,  N.S.,  Can- 
ada. 

PIGS  IN  A  POLKA:  -Merrie  Melodies  Cartoons-  A 
dandy  cartoon.  The  older  people  chuckle  along  with 
the  kids  when  they  see  it.  It  is  well  done  and  is 
worth  playing. — Charles  A.  Brooks,  Ritz  Theatre, 
Marshfield,  Mo. 

WACKI-KI  WABBIT:  Merrie  Melodies  Cartoons- 
It  is  pretty  hard  to  beat  these  Bugs  Bunny  Cartoons. 
Liked  by  all.— J.  H.  Bustin,  Imperial  Theatre,  Windsor, 
N.S.,  Canada. 

Nanne  Connnnittee  for 
Paul  Moss  Luncheon 

Names  of  members  of  the  committee  for  the 
amusement  industry's  luncheon  for  New  York 
License  Commissioner  Paul  Moss,  next 
Wednesday  at  the  Hotel  Astor,  that  city,  were 
disclosed  this  week.  The  luncheon  is  the  high- 
light in  the  fun  campaign  of  the  amusement 
industry  section  of  the  New  York  and  Brook- 
lyn federations  for  Jewish  charities. 

On  the  exhibitors'  committee  are  Harry 
Brandt,  William  Brandt,  Max  A.  Cohen,  Simon 
H.  Fabian,  Louis  Frisch,  Sam  Goodman,  Jack 
Hattem,  Arthur  L.  Mayer,  Charles  Moses,  H. 
Rachmil,  Wajter  Reade,  Sr.,  Sam  Rinzler,  Ed- 
ward H.  Rugoff,  R.  Sanders,  Fred  J.  Schwarz, 
Edward  Seider,  Ben  Sherman,  Spyros  Skouras, 
Joe  Springer  and  Samuel  Strausberg. 

Benjamin  S.  Moss  is  chairman  of  the  motion 
picture  accessories  committee. 

National  Decency  Legion 
Classifies  Four  Films 

Of  four  pictures  reviewed  by  the  National 
Legion  of  Decency  this  week,  three  were  placed 
in  the  Class  A,  section  two  classification,  "un- 
objectionable for  adults,"  and  one  in  the  Class 
A,  section  one,  "unobjectionable  for  general  pat-' 
ronage." 

The  three  are  Universal's  "Gung  Ho," 
MGM's  "Heavenly  Body,"  and  United  Artists' 
"Voice  in  the  Wind."  The  other  is  Columbia's 
"The  Racket  Man." 


Broadway  Play  Opens  Soon  , 

"Sadie  Thompson,"  the  musical  version  of 
the  Somerset  Maugham-John  Colton-Clemence 
Randolph  play,  "Rain,"  is  nearing  the  rehearsal 
stage,  according  to  A.  P.  Waxman,  producer. 
The  book  and  lyrics  were  written  by  Howard 
Dietz,  vice-president  of  Loew's,  Inc.,  and  the 
music  by  Vernon  Duke,  who  recently  received 
an  honorable  discharge  from  the  Coast  Guard. 


Named  UA  Salesman 

Ralph  Forman,  formerly  office  manager  of 
the  Detroit  United  Artists  exchange,  has  been 
appointed  to  the  sales  staff. 


WAYNE  *  HAYWARD 


with  DENNIS  OlEEFEand 

WILLIAM  FRAWLEY  •  LEONID  KINSKEY 
J.  M.  KERRIGAN  •  GRANT  WITHERS 


Edward  Lodwig  —  Director 
Second  Unit  Directed  by  Howord  lydecl«er 
Screenploy  by  Borden  Chose  and  Aeneas  Moc  Kenzie  -  Original  Story  by  Borden  Chose 

Associate  Producer  —  Albert  J.  Cohen 


74 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    8,  1944 


PICTURE 
CROSSES 


A  statistical  compilation  and 
comparison  of  Box-Office  Per- 
formance in  first  run  theatres 


Figures  directly  below  picture  title  compare  dollar  gross  with  average  gross  and  show  relative  percentage  of  all  engagennents  tabulated. 

Figures  opposite  theatre  nannes  represent  percentage  of  tabulated  grosses  to  average  weekly  business  based  on  the  six  month's  period 
ending  October  31,  1943. 

SYMBOLS:  (DB)  Double  Bill— associate  feature  title;  (SA)  Stage  Attraction;  (MO)  Move-Over  Run;  (AA)  Advance  Admission. 


OLD  ACQUAINTANCE  (WB) 

Final  Reports: 
Total  Gross  Tabulated 
Comparative  Average  Gross 
Over-all  Performance 


$745,700 
643,800 
115.8% 


BALTIMORE— Stanley,  1st  week  

BALTIMORE— Stanley,  2nd  week  

BALTIMORE— Stanley,  3rd  week  

BUFFALO— Buffalo  

(DB)  Yanks  Ahoy  (UA) 

CHICAGO— State  Lake,  1st  week  

CHICAGO— State  Lake,  2nd  week  

CHICAGO— State  Lake,  3rd  week  

CHICAGO^State  Lake,  4th  week  

CLNCINNATI— RKO  Grand,  1st  week  .  .  . 
aNCINNATI— RKO  Grand,  2nd  week  .  .  . 
CINCINNATI— Keith's,  MO,  1st  week  .... 

INDIANAPOLIS-Circle  

LOS  ANGELES— Warner's  Downtown, 

1st  week  

LOS  ANGELES— Warner's  Downtown, 

2nd  week  

LOS  ANGELES— Warner's  Downtown, 

3rd  week  

LOS  ANGELES— Warner's  Hollywood,  1st  week 
LOS  ANGELES— Warner's  Hollywood, 

2nd  week  

LOS  ANGELES— Warner's  Hollywood,  3rd  week 
LOS  ANGELES— Warner's  Wiltern,  1st  week 
LOS  ANGELES— Warner's  Wiltern,  2nd  week 
LOS  ANGELES— Warner's  Wiltern,  3rd  week 

MINNEAPOLIS— Century   

NEW  YORK— Hollywood,  Ist  week* 
NEW  YORK— Hollywood,  2nd  week 
NEW  YORK— Hollywood,  3rd  week  . 
NEW  YORK— Hollywood,  4th  week  . 
NEW  YORK— Hollywood,  5th  week 
PHILADELPHIA— Mastbaura,  1st  week 
PHILADELPHIA— Mastbaum,  2nd  week 
PHILADELPHIA— Mastbaum,  3rd  week 

PITTSBURGH— Penn  

PITTSBURGH— Warner's,  MO,  1st  week 
PITTSBURGH— Ritz,  MO,  2nd  week  . 
PROVIDENCE— Majestic,  1st  week  .  . 
PROVIDENCE— Majestic,  2nd  week  .  . 
PROVIDENCE— Carlton,  MO,  1st  week 
SAN  FRANCISCO— Paramount  .  .  . 
ST.  LOUIS — Ambassador,  1st  week   .  . 

(DB)  Hi  Ya,  Sailor  (Univ.) 
ST.  LOUTS— Ambassador,  2nd  week  .  . 

(DB)  Hi  Ya,  Sailor  (Univ.) 
WASHINGTON— Earle,  1st  week     .  . 

(SA)  Vaudeville 
WASHINGTON— Earle,  2nd  week    .  . 

(SA)  Vaudeville 


118.5% 

97.5% 
68.0% 
113.6% 

159,2% 

141.6% 
115.0% 

88.4% 
192.3% 
115.0% 

90.0% 
100.0% 

175.0% 

108.0% 


,  84.4% 
186.6% 

112.0% 

88.1% 
181.6% 
114.0% 

81.6% 
133.3% 
179.1% 
136.9% 
116.5% 
115.2% 
81.1% 
114.4% 
77.2% 
78.1% 
87.0% 
108.6% 
89.2% 
116.6% 
95.8% 
89.7% 
136.9% 
132.0% 

99.5% 

146.2% 

98.5% 


'Advanced  admissions,  road  show,  premiere  only. 

LASSIE  COME  HOME  (MOM) 

Final  Reports: 
Total  Gross  Tabulated 
Comparative  Average  Gross 
Over-all  Performance 


$836,800 
774,800 
112.8% 


BALTIMORE— Century    90.97o 

BUFFALO-Great  Lakes,  1st  week   91.4% 

(DB)  Paris  After  Dark  (20th-Fox) 

BUFFALO-Great  Lakes,  2nd  week    ....  90.8% 

(DB)  Paris  After  Dark  (20th-Fo.x) 

CHICAGO— United    Artists.    1st    week   .    .   .  109.3% 

CHICAGO— United  Artists,  2nd  week  ....  88.5% 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Grand   125.0% 

CLEVELAND— Loew's  State   114.2% 

CLEVELAND— Loew's  Stillman,  MO.  1st  week  126.:^% 

CLEVELAND— Loew's  Stillman,  MO,  2nd  week  84.2% 

DENVER— Orpheum   130.7% 

(DB)  Dr.  Gillespie's  Criminal  Case  (MGM) 

DENVER— Broadway,  MO,  1st  week   ....  125.0% 

(DB)  Dr.  Gillespie's  Criminal  Case  (MGM) 

INDIANAPOLIS— Loew's   122.7% 

(B)  Is  Everybody  Happy?  (Col.) 

KANSAS  CITY— Midland   131.2% 

(DB)  Young-  Ideas  (MGM) 


LOS  ANGELES— Carthay  Circle   128.5% 

(UB)  Young  Ideas  (MGM) 

LOS  ANGELES— Cniinese    101.3% 

(DB)  Young  Ideas  (MGM) 

LOS  ANGELES— Loew's  State   112.9% 

(DB)  Young  Ideas  (MGM) 
LOS  ANGELES-Uptown  110.0% 

(DB)  Young  Ideas  (MGM) 

NEW  HAVEN— Loew's  Poli   102.1% 

(DB)  Is  Everybody  Happy?  (CoL) 

NEW  HAVEN— College,  MO,  1st  week  .  .  .  156.2% 

(DB)  Is  Everybody  Happy?  iCol.) 

NEW  YORK— Music  Hall,  1st  week     ....  113.8% 

(SA)  Radio  City  Music  Hall  Stage  Presentatian 

NEW  YORK— Music  Hall,  2nd  week   ....  111.8% 

(SA)  Radio  City  Music  Hall  Stage  Presentation 

NEW  YORK— Music  Hall,  3rd  week   .....  98.1% 

(SA)  Radio  City  Music  Hall  Stage  Presentation 

NEW  YORK— Music  Hall,  4th  week   ....  103.5% 

(SA)  Radio  City  Music  Hall  Stage  Presentation 

PHILADELPHIA— Boyd   86.8% 

PHILADELPHIA— Keith's,  MO,  1st  week  .  .  I«a3% 

PITTSBURGH^Penn   89.2% 

PITTSBURGH— Warner's,  MO,  1st  week   .    .  86.9% 

PITTSBURGH— Ritz,  MO,  2nd  week  ....  125.0% 

PROVIDENCE— Loew's  State   129.0% 

ST.  LOUIS— Loew's  State   130.1% 

(DB)  Victory  Through  Air  Power  (UA-Disney) 

TORONTO— Loew's,  1st  week   137.0% 

TORONTO— Loew's,  2nd  week   95.3% 

TORONTO-Loew's,    3rd    week   76.8% 

WASHINGTON— Palace,  1st  week   113.6% 

WASHINGTON— Palace,  2nd  week   119.3% 


TRUE  TO  LIFE  (Para.) 

Final  Reports: 
Total  Gross  Tabulated 
Comparative  Average  Gross 
Over-all  Performance 


$594,000 
564,800 
105.1% 


BALTIMORE— Keith's   125.0% 

BOSTON— MetropoUtan   93.2% 

(DB)  Pistol  Packin'  Mama  (Rep.) 

BUFFALO-Buffalo   75.9% 

(DB)  Adventure  in  Iraq  (WB) 

CHICAGO— Chicago,  1st  week   137.7% 

(SA)  Hour  of  (3iarm 

CHICAGO— Chicago,  2nd  week   117.7% 

(SA)  Hour  of  CSiarm 

CHICAGO— Apollo,  MO,  1st  week   84.9% 

(DB)  Battle  of  Russia  (20th-Fox) 

CTNCINNATT— RKO  Albee    154.3% 

(SA)  Ina  Ray  Hutton  and  others 

CLEVELAND— Loew's  State   60.0% 

DENVER— Denham   94.0% 

KANSAS  CITY— Newman,  1st  week   ....  127.2% 

KANSAS  CITY— Newman,  2d  week   109.0% 

LOS  ANGELES— Paramount  Downtown, 

1st  week   143.7% 

(DB)  Submarine  Alert  (Para.) 
LOS  ANGELES — Paramount  Downtown, 

2nd  week   100.0% 

(DB)  Submarine  Alert  (Para.) 
LOS  ANGELES— Paramount  Hollywood, 

1st  week    103.7% 

(DB)  Submarine  Alert  (Para.) 
LOS  ANGELES— Paramount  Hollywood, 

2nd  week   74.0% 

(DB)  Submarine  Alert  (Para.) 

MINNEAPOLIS— State,  1st  week   108.3% 

MINNEAPOLIS— State,  2nd  week   112.5% 

MINNEAPOLIS— Lyric,  MO,  1st  week   .    .   .  107.6% 

MINNEAPOLIS— Lyric,  MO,  2nd  week   .   .   .  98.0% 

NEW  HAVEN— Paramount   72.5% 

(DB)  Alaska  Highway  (Para.) 

NEW  YORK— Paramount,  1st  week   ....  111.4% 

(SA)  Tony  Pastor's  Orch.,  Inkspots 

NEW  YORK— Paramount,  2nd  week   ....  90.3% 

(SA1  ToDv  Pastor's  Orch.,  Inkspots 

OMAHA— Orpheum                                         .  79.5% 

(DB)  Is  Evpi-vbodv  Happy  (Col.) 

PHILADELPHIA— Fox   121.3% 

PITTSBURGH— Fenn   74.4% 

PITTSBURGH— Ritz,  MO,   1st  week  ....  71.4% 

PROVIDENCE— Strand,  1st  week   105.0% 

(DB)  Submarine  Alert  (Para.) 

PROVIDENCE— Strand,  2nd  week   61.0% 

(DB)  Submarine  Alert  (Para.) 

T0RONT0--Imperial   101.5% 


CRAZY  HOUSE  (Univ.) 

Intermediate  Reports: 
Total  Gross  Tabulated 
Comparative  Average  Gross 
Over-all  Performance 


$239,100 
242.900 
98.4% 


BALTIMORE— Keith's  83.3% 

BOSTON— RKO  Boston  98.5% 

(SA)  Richard  Hfmber's  Orchestra 
CHICXA.GO— Palace  Iia0% 

(DB)  The  Falcon  and  the  Coeds  (RKO) 
CHICAGO— Grand,  MO,  1st  week  101.0% 

(DB)  The  Falcon  and  the  Coeds  (RKO) 
DENVER— Denver   162.5% 

(DB)  Paris  After  Dark  (20th-Fax) 
DENVER— Esquire  111.7% 

(DB)  Paris  After  Dark  (20th-Fox) 
DENVER— Aladdin,  MO,  1st  week  10aO% 

(DB)  Top  Man  (Univ.) 
INDIANAPOLIS— Indiana  78.2% 

(DB)  The  Strange  Death  of  Adolph  Hitler  (Univ.) 

KANSAS  CITY— Esquire  94.8% 

KANSAS  OTY— Uptown  .........  91.6% 

LOS  ANGELES— Egyptian  83.3% 

(DB)  You're  a  Lucky  Fellow,  Mr.  Smith  (Univ.) 
LOS  ANGELES— Los  Angeles  84.6% 

(DB)  You're  a  Lucky  Fellow,  Mr.  Smith  (Univ.) 
LOS   ANGELAS— Ritz   93.7% 

(DB)  You're  a  Lucky  Fellow,  Mr.  Smith  (Univ.) 
NEW  HAVEN— Roger  Sherman  75.0% 

(DB)  Sherlock  Holmes  and  the  Secret  Weapon 
(Univ.) 

NEW  YORK— Criterion,  1st  week  111.1% 

NEW  YORK— Criterion,  2nd  week  64.9% 

PHILADELPHIA- Fox  88.2% 

PROVIDENCE^RKO  Albee  81.3% 

(DB)  The  Falcon  and  the  Coeds  (RXO) 
SEATTLE— Orpheum  115.7% 

(DB)  She's  For  Me  (Univ.) 
TORONTO— Uptown  •.   .   .    .  136.0% 


THE  GANG'S  ALL  HERE  (20th-Fox) 

First  Reports: 
Total  Gross  Tabulated  $2 14,600 

Comparative  Average  Gross  161,400 
Over-all  Performance  132.9% 


CINCINNA-n- RKO  Capitol   130.0% 

LOS  ANGELES— Chinese   122.3% 

LOS  ANGELES— Loew's  State   129.8% 

LOS  ANGELES— Uptown   103.0% 

(DB)  Ghost  Ship  (RKO) 

NEW  HAVEN— Loew's  Poli   105.5% 

NEW  YORK— Roxy   150.9% 

(SA)  Jimmy  Dorsey's  Orchestra,  Bill  Robinson 

ST.  LOUIS— Fox,  1st  week   123,4% 

(DB)  Adventure  in  Iraq  (WB) 

ST.  LOUIS— Fox,  2nd  week   113.9% 

(DB)  Adventure  in  Iraq  (WB) 

• 

RIDING  HIGH  (Para.) 

First  Reports: 

Total  Gross  Tabulated  $225,900 

Comparative  Average  Gross  184,700 

Over-all  Performance  122.3% 


CHICAGO— Chicago   126.6% 

CLEVELAND— Loew's  State   102.5% 

INDIANAPOLIS— Circle   101.8% 

LOS  ANGELES— Paramount  Hollywood   .    .   .  117.9% 

LOS  ANGELES— Paramount  Downtown  .    .    .  140.9% 

(DB)  Henry  Aldrich  Haunts  a  House  (Para.) 

MINNEAPOLIS— State   100.0% 

NEW  HAVEN— Paramount   98.5% 

(DB)  Submarine  Alert  (Para.) 

NEW  YORK— Paramount    131.1% 

(SA)  Tommy  Dorsey's  Orchestra 


January    8,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


75 


MANAGERS* 

ROUND  TABLE 


international  association  of  shozvmen  meeting  zveekly 
in  MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD  for  mutual  aid  and  progress 


CHESTER  FRtEDMAN.  EdHor 


GERTRUDE  MERRIAM,  Associate  Editor 


OP 


Long  Range  Security 

Last  week  a  pension  or  retirement  plan  was  announced  for 
RKO  employees.  The  company's  board  of  directors  has  already 
sanctioned  the  idea,  which  Is  now  subject  to  final  approval  by 
the  Treasury  Department. 

The  announcement  will  be  welcomed  by  all  employees  of 
RKO.  To  the  circuit  managers  in  the  organization  the  plan 
should  be  doubly  welcome — and  of  due  significance. 

The  occasional  outbursts  for  collective  social  benefits  which 
have  punctuated  the  last  few  years  have  in  large  measure  been 
due  to  the  fact  that  the  theatre  manager  has  had  little 
assurance  of  job  security  for  the  years  that  lie  ahead  when 
thinning  and  graying  hairs  might  make  him  less  attractive, 
although  no  less  adept. 

There  are  some  circuits  which  have  demonstrated  loyalty  to 
the  men  and  continued  their  services  even  after  their  effective- 
ness had  reached  peak.  It  has  been  a  not  uncommon  practice 
to  bounce  men  around  from  one  town  to  another,  with  little 
consideration  for  the  difficulties  involved  in  transplanting  one's 
home  and  family. 

In  the  shuffling  around,  many  managers  have  suddenly  found 
themselves  without  jobs  or  futures,  and  some  acquired  reputa- 
tions as  unreliable  because  of  too  frequent  changes. 

RKO's  decision  to  inaugurate  a  plan  of  retirement  will  cer- 
tainly make  every  position  within  that  organization  more  attrac- 
tive to  the  employee.  It  will  also  furnish  an  added  incentive 
and  a  feeling  of  security  that  is  quite  evident. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  other  circuits  will  follow  suit.  We 
believe  every  manager  could  and  would  do  a  better  job  if  he 
had  the  peace  of  mind  such  security  affords. 

AAA 


It  Can  Be  Done 


For  those  who  would  argue  that  all  theatres  should  close  on 
Christmas  Eve  because  it  Is  impossible  to  get  people  out  of 
the  house  on  that  night,  we  quote  from  a  letter  from  Ed  Har- 
rison, district  manager  for  the  E.  M.  Loew  circuit,  in  Spring- 
field, Mass.: 

"When  I  was  city  m.anager  for  Lockwood  &  Gordon,  in 
Waterville,  Me.,  a  few  years  ago,  I  laughed  at  Mr.  Gordon's 
Idea  of  a  Christmas  Eve  midnight  show.  We  packed  two 
theatres,  though — the  Opera  House  and  the  State. 

"We  ran  a  Christmas  Eve  midnight  show  right  here  in 


Springfield  this  time,  and  I  got  the  surprise  of  my  life.  We 
have  a  regular  Friday  midnight  show,  but  everyone  said  I  was 
crazy  and  no  one  would  show  up  Christmas  Eve.  I  didn't  want 
to  take  It  out  and  risk  losing  our  momentum.  We  did  mu  ch 
better  than  ever  before. 

"We  had  no  unusual  attraction;  In  fact,  It  was  one  of  the 
poorest  stage  shows  we  have  ever  had  and  the  weather  was 
sub-zero." 

Proving  once  again  that  any  manager  who  has  the  temerity 
to  say  "It  can't  be  done"  Is  usually  interrupted  by  some  enter- 
prising showman  going  ahead  and  doing  It. 

AAA 

More  Showmanship 

Carl  Rogers,  manager  of  the  Granada  theatre,  Cleveland, 
recently  turned  what  might  have  proved  an  embarrassing  Inci- 
dent into  a  double-barreled  goodwill  promotion. 

Carl  announced  that  a  trophy  would  be  presented  to  the 
winner  of  the  Thanksgiving  Day  football  game  between  two 
traditionally  rival  high  school  teams.  The  gesture  received 
some  fine  publicity,  both  in  the  schools  and  in  the  local  news 
columns.  The  trophy  was  displayed  in  advance,  at  both  schools, 
increasing  the  rivalry  and  desire  of  both  teams  to  win.  During 
the  game  the  award  was  mentioned  over  the  loudspeaker 
system  and  the  theatre  received  some  well  deserved  praise 
over  the  air  during  the  broadcast  of  the  match. 

When  the  final  whistle  blew,  however,  the  game  had  ended 
in  a  tie.  While  the  bewildered  officials  and  players  gathered 
on  the  field,  Carl  rushed  to  the  microphone  and  announced 
that  the  theatre  would  present  each  team  with  a  trophy  in 
recognition  of  the  splendid  game  they  had  played  and  the 
fine  spirit  of  sportsmanship  which  they  had  displayed. 

Carl's  trigger-quick  thinking  drew  a  sustained  burst  of 
applause  from  the  assemblage  and  letters  of  appreciation  and 
thanks  from  the  principals  of  each  school  In  behalf  of  the 
students  and  parents  of  their  respective  communities. 

AAA 

Showmen  In  some  of  the  communities  which  are  not  feeling 
the  benfits  of  the  present  business  boom  might  follow  the 
example  of  Wayne  Sweeney,  manager  of  the  Town  theatre, 
in  Omaha.  Wayne  recently  advertised  a  "Wild  West  Day" 
for  action  fans  in  his  community,  which  resulted  in  an  excellent 
day's  business.  The  entire  program  was  composed  of  "horse 
opera"  features  and  shorts.  —CHESTER  FRIEDMAN 


76 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    8,  1944 


EXPLOITING  THE  FRONT 


Unusual  exploitation  campaign  for 
"Song  of  Bernadette"  includes  use  of 
upright  24-sheets  for  New  York  premiere. 
Idea  is  original  by  Hal  Home, 
director  of  advertising  and  publicity 
for  Twentieth  Century -Fox. 


Above,  Harry  Stearn  built  a  special  Irish  front 
to  exploit  "Sweet  Rosie  O'Grady"  at  the 
Manring  theatre,  Middlesboro,  Ky. 


Les  Campbell's  attractive 
cutout  for  "Mr.  Bug  Goes 
to  Town"  at  the  Strand  the- 
atre. Trail,  B.  C,  Canada. 


Mike  Nicholas  set  up  this  display  in 
nearby  5-and-IOc  store  to  plug 
"This  Is  the  Army"  at  Century's  Kingsway, 
in  Brooklyn. 


At  the  RKO  Grand,  in  Cincinnati, 
manager  William  Hastings  blew  up  the 
front  page  of  local  newspaper  and 
incorporated    it   into   this    unique  front. 


Manager  Charles  Cottle's  front  for  "Sahara",  at  the 

Roosevelt  theatre,  Chicago,  was  a  giant  montage  of  blowups 

and  cutouts,  in  color. 


January    8,  1944 


MANAGERS'    ROUND  TABLE 


77 


SPOTLIGHT  FOCUSES  ON  1944 
QUICLEY  COMPETITIONS 


Judges'  List  Announced  as 
Awards  Get  Under  Way 
for  Eleventh  Year 

The  complete  1944  Judges'  list  for  the 
Quigley  Awards  competitions  Is  officially 
announced,  with  names  comprising  repre- 
sentative heads  in  distribution,  advertising 
and  exhibition  connected  with  the  motion 
picture  industry. 

Additional  representatives  have  been  in- 
vited to  serve  on  the  committee  this  year, 
increasing  the  number  of  Judges  to  the 
greatest  in  the  history  of  the  Awards.  On 
this  page  is  to  be  noted  the  official  listing 
of  the  1944  Judges. 

Judges  Express  Appreciation 
Of  Quigley  Awards 

Their  acceptances  and  endorsements 
published  on  the  following  pages  will  be 
followed  in  subsequent  issues  with  more  of 
the  same.  Opinions  and  expressions  of  how 
the  men  In  the  field  regard  the  Competi- 
tions will  also  be  set  forth  In  later  editions. 

Almost  without  exception,  It  Is  pleasing 
to  note  that  the  majority  of  the  Judges 
have  served  enthusiastically  in  past  years 
and,  as  It  Is  to  be  noted,  are  as  eager  to 
act  in  1944.  Three  different  Judges  will  be 
asked  to  form  the  Quarterly  Committee, 
and  from  the  entire  list  of  these  names  will 
come  the  Grand  Awards  jury. 

The  eleventh  year  of  the  Competitions 
promises  much  In  the  way  of  Interest  to 
showmen  who  aspire  to  win  recognition  for 
exceptional  work  in  the  field  of  exploita- 
tion. To  executive  heads  of  circuits  and 
to  industry  leaders  in  general,  the  year 
will  be  of  especial  interest  because  of  dif- 
ficulties and  handicaps  encountered  by 
theatremen  through  curtailment  of  previous 
available  facilities,  due  to  war  restrictions. 

Women  Take  Prominent 
Position  in  Competitions 

During  the  past  year,  women  have  been 
playing  an  increasingly  active  part  in  the 
publicity  and  advertising  scheme  of  theatre 
promotion.  This  is  evidenced  in  the  fact 
that  during  1943  at  least  a  dozen  women, 
employed  as  managers  and  publicists  in 
theatres  throughout  the  country  have  been 
active  participants  in  the  Quigley  Awards. 

To  the  old-timers  who  have  been  con- 
sistent contributors  to  the  Quigley  Awards 
during  past  years,  there  is  renewed  oppor- 
tunity to  demonstrate  effective  showman- 
ship. To  the  newcomers  and  occasional 
contributors,  contention  is  offered  with 
the  industry's  foremost  exploiteers.  Fame 
and  recognition  beckon  to  the  winners. 
Let's  go! 


List  of  1944  Judges 


EDWARD  L.  ALPERSON.  Exhibition 
HARRY  C.  ARTHUR,  JR..  Exhibition 
BARNEY  BALABAN.  Distribution 
LEON  BAMBERGER,  Distribution 
MAURICE  BERGMAN.  Advertising 
NATE  BLUMBERG,  Distribution 
MORT  BLUMENSTOCK,  Advertising 

G.  RALPH  BRANTON,  Exhibition 
JAMES  BRENNAN,  Exhibition 
O.  HENRY  BRIGGS,  Distribution 
HARRY  D.  BUCKLEY,  Distribution 
JACK  COHN,  Distribution 
TOM  J.  CONNORS,  Distribution 
JAMES  E.  COSTON,  Exhibition 
ALBERT  DEANE,  Distribution 
GEORGE  DEMBOW,  Distribution 
SAM  DEMBOW,  JR..  Distribution 
NED  E.  DEPINET,  Distribution 
HOWARD  DIETZ,  Advertising 
OSCAR  A.  DOOB,  Advertising 

S.  CHARLES  EINFELD.  Advertising 

H.  R.  EMDE,  Exhibition 
GUY  S.  EYSSELL,  Exhibition 
SI  H.  FABIAN.  Exhibition 
EDWARD  M.  FAY,  Exhibition 
WILLIAM  R.  FERGUSON.  Advertising 
W.  A.  FINNEY.  Exhibition 

J.  J.  FITZGIBBONS,  Exhibition 
JOHN  J.  FRIEDL.  Exhibition 
ARTHUR  FRUDENFELD,  Exhibition 
ROBERT  M.  GILLHAM,  Advertising 
HARRY  GOLDBERG,  Advertising 
LOUIS  GOLDBERG,  Exhibition 
GILBERT  GOLDEN,  Advertising 
LEONARD  H.  GOLDENSON,  Exhibition 
EDMUND  C.  GRAINGER.  Exhibition 
JAMES  R.  GRAINGER,  Distribution 
L.  J.  HALPER,  Exhibition 
JOHN  H.  HARRIS,  Exhibition 
WILLIAM  J.  HEINEMAN,  Distribution 
JOHN  W.  HICKS.  Distribution 

I.  J.  HOFFMAN,  Exhibition 
NAT  HOLT,  Exhibition 
HAL  HORNE,  Advertising 
EARL  HUDSON,  Exhibition 
DONALD  JACOCKS,  Exhibition 
WILLIAM  K.  JENKINS,  Exhibition 
W.  RAY  JOHNSTON,  Distribution 
CHARLES  REED  JONES.  Advertising 
JOHN  JOSEPH.  Advertising 
HARRY  M.  KALMINE,  Exhibition 
GUY  A.  KENIMER.  Exhibition 

H.  F.  KINCEY,  Exhibition 
MALCOLM  KINGSBERG,  Distribution 
STANLEY  KOLBERT,  Exhibition 
CHARLES  E.  KURTZMAN,  Exhibition 


C.  J.  LATTA,  Exhibition 
PAUL  LAZARUS,  JR.,  Advertising 
IRVING  LESSER,  Exhibition 
M.  A.  LIGHTMAN,  Exhibition 
DAVID  A.  LIPTON,  Advertising 
F.  J.  A.  McCarthy,  Distribution 
S.  BARRET  McCORMACK,  Advertising 
CHARLES  B.  McDONALD,  Exhibition 
VINCENT  R.  McFAUL,  Exhibition 
HARRY  MANDEL,  Advertising 
ALEX  MANTA,  Exhibition 
ARTHUR  L  MAYER,  Exhibition 
LOU  METZGER,  Exhibition 
DAN  MICHALOVE,  Exhibition 
CHARLES  C.  MOSKOWITZ,  Exhibition 
ABE  MONTAGUE,  Distribution 
ALEC  MOSS,  Advertising 
LEON  D.  NEHER,  Exhibition 
JOHN  NOLAN,  Exhibition 
JOHN  J.  O'CONNOR.  Distribution 
R.  J.  O'DONNELL.  Exhibition 
HUGH  OWEN,  Distribution 
LEW  PRESTON,  Exhibition 
CHARLES  RAYMOND,  Exhibition 
CHARLES  M.  REAGAN,  Distribution 
H.  M.  RICHEY.  Distribution 
FRANK  H.  RICKETSON.  Exhibition 
HERMAN  ROBBINS,  Distribution 
WILLIAM  F.  RODGERS,  Distribution 
ED  ROWLEY,  Exhibition 
HARRY  ROYSTER,  Exhibition 
EDWARD  RUGOFF,  Exhibition 
CHARLES  H.  RYAN.  Exhibition 
GEORGE  J.  SCHAEFER.  WAC 
J.  MYER  SCHINE,  Exhibition 
LOUIS  W.  SCHINE,  Exhibition 
CHARLES  SCHLAIFER.  Advertising 
TED  SCHLANGER,  Exhibition 
S.  A.  SCHWARTZ,  Exhibition 
WILLIAM  A.  SCULLY.  Distribution 
SI  SEADLER,  Advertising 
GRADWELL  SEARS,  Distribution 
JOSEPH  M.  SEIDLER,  Exhibition 
HARRY  F.  SHAW,  Exhibition 
STANLEY  SHUFORD,  Advertising 
SPYROS  SKOURAS,  Exhibition 
NATE  SPINGOLD,  Distribution 
J.  R.  SPRINGER,  Exhibition 
ARNOLD  STOLTZ,  Advertising 
HARRY  THOMAS,  Distribution 
JOSEPH  R.  VOGEL,  Exhibition 
ROBERT  WEITMAN,  Exhibition 
WILLIAM  WHITE,  Exhibition 
R.  B.  WILBY,  Exhibition 
PHILIP  A.  WILLIAMS,  Advertising 
NAT  WOLF,  Exhibition 


78 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    8,  1944 


HAPPY  TO  SERVE';  AWARDS 
ENCOURAGE  SHOWMANSHIP' 

SAY  JUDGES 


J.  J.  FITZGIBBONS 

President 

Famous  Players  Canadian,  Toronto 

I  regret  that  conditions  beyond  my  control  have  made  it 
impossible  for  me  to  take  as  active  a  part  in  these  competi- 
tions as  I  would  like.  However,  I  do  follow  the  events 
closely  and  my  opinion  is  that  as  a  medium  for  stimulating 
better  box  office  grosses  they  are  serving  a  very  useful  pur- 
pose. 

With  the  lush  business  now  being  enjoyed  through  the 
extra  money  put  into  circulation  by  war  industries,  some 
managers  might  allow  their  exploitation  efforts  to  lag,  how- 
ever, those  men  who  "keep  their  hand  in"  through  partici- 
pating in  the  Ouigley  Awards  Competitions  will  reap  great 
benefits  and  be  that  much  further  ahead  when  it  is  again 
necessar)-  to  scratch  for  business. 

MALCOLM  KINGSBERG 

Vice-President 

Rad io-Keith-Orpheum  Corporation 

I  am  very  happy  to  accept  your  invitation  to  serve  on 
your  "Committee  of  Judges  for  the  1944  Quigley  Awards. 
Your  Round  Table  together  with  your  Annual  Awards  are 
educational  as  well  as  inspirational.  The  opportunity  of 
winning  an  award  is  always  an  incentive,  and  learning  what 
others  are  doing  is  always  helpful. 

WILLIAM  A.  WHITE 

General  Manager 

Skouras  Theatres  Corporation 

I  have  your  letter  of  December  22  with  your  kind  invita- 
tion to  serve  on  the  committee  of  the  Ouigley  Awards  Com- 
petition for  1944,  which  I  hasten  to  accept. 

This  year  the  motion  picture  theatre  manager  during  war- 
time, has  taken  on  an  added  importance.  His  abilities  and 
efforts  are  to  a  vast  degree  directed  to  the  aid  of  our  Na- 
tional War  Eft'ort  on  the  home  front.  Thus,  the  Quigley 
Awards  today  have  become  more  significant,  in  that  they 
are  instrumental  in  creating  extra  impetus  on  the  part  of 
the  theatre  manager,  not  only  with  regard  to  box-ofiice 
stimuli,  but  also  as  an  important  element  in  the  National 
War  Effort. 

LEONARD  H.  GOLDENSON 

Vice-President 
Paramoimt  Pictures,  Inc. 

It  will  be  a  pleasure  to  serve  on  the  Committee  to  judge 
the  Quigley  Awards  for  the  year  1944. 

In  this  present  period  that  we  are  going  through,  I  am 
glad  the  Quigley  Awards  continue  to  give  deserving  mana- 
gers an  opportunity  to  show  their  ability  to  rise  above  other 
deserving  showmen  in  the  country. 

H.  M.  EMDE 

Zone  Manager 
RKO  Theatres 

I  will  be  glad  to  serve  as  a  Judge  on  the  Quigley  Awards 
Competitions  during  1944. 

I  think  the  Quigley  Awards  have  considerable  merit  and 
they  are  incentive  for  managers  as  well  as  publicity  men 
to  enter  into  competition  to  show  other  managers  and  pub- 
licity, men  what  is  being  done  in  other  sections  of  the 
country.  I  am  sure  we  would  not  know  about  their  efforts 
if  they  were  not  given  publicity  through  the  Round  Table 
m  the  jNIotion  Picture  Herald. 


MEMO  from  — 
S.  F.  SEADLER 


In  his  inimitable  style,  Si  Seadler,  M-G-M  advertising  manager, 
pictures  his  approval  of  the  Quigley  Awards. 


PAUL  N.  LAZARUS,  JR. 

Director  of  Advertising  and  Publicity 
United  Artists  Corporation 

Thanks  for  3'our  invitation  to  serve  as  a  judge  for  the 
Quigley  Award  Competition.  It  goes  without  saying  that  I 
shall  be  only  too  happy  to  avail  myself  of  that  privilege. 

We  all  recognize  that  with  curtailment  of  newsprint  be- 
coming more  stringent  every  day,  we  may  very  well  have  a 
new  era  of  showa-nanship  thrust  upon  us.  The  Quigley  Award 
Competition  fosters  the  very  t3'pe  of  exploitation  and  pub- 
licity thinking  which  may  prove  to  be  the  most  potent  single 
factor  in  our  business  during  the  coming  year. 

PHIL  WILLIAMS 

Director  of  Advertising  and  Publicity 
The  March  of  Time 

I  shall  be  most  happy  to  serve  on  the  Judging  Committee 
for  the  1944  Quigley  Awards. 

This  year,  more  than  ever  before,  I  know  these  awards 
have  proven  a  real  encouragement  and  inspiration  to  all  those 
showmen  striving  for  tops  in  showmanship. 


January    8,  1944 


MANAGERS'    ROUND  TABLE 


79 


''Provides  an  Incentive  for  Originality  in  Selling'' 


^^True Training  Ground'' 

During  my  mar«f  years  as  a  theatre  manager,  I  always 
spoke  of  the  Quigley  Awards  in  glowing  terms.  From  my 
friendships,  contacts  and  daily  business  with  the  men  in 
the  field,  at  present,  I  know  that  every  Award,  Placque 
and  Citation  received  means  more  to  them  than  any 
cash  award  could  emphasize. 

In  my  present  position,  I  greatly  credit  the  opportunity 
the  Quigley  Awards  gave  me  in  showing  my  wares.  I  daily 
strive  to  prove  the  sound  and  basic  training  achieved  in 
the  managerial  field.  The  very  fact  that  our  industry  is 
reaching  more  and  more  into  this  field  for  man-power  is 
proof  that  it  is  a  true  training  ground,  and  the  Quigley 
Award  is  the  searchlight  that  falls  on  those  who  are  true 
showmen.— ARNOLD  STOLTZ,  Director  of  Exploitation, 
United  Artists  Corp. 


F.  H.  RICKETSON,  JR. 

President 

Pox  Inter-Mountain  Theatres,  Den  ver 

I  shall  be  very  happy  to  serve  as  a  Judge  on  the  Quigley 
Awards  for  1944.  This  is  a  competition  which  has  stimu- 
lated fine  showmanship  within  our  industry,  and  I  am  de- 
lighted that  the  Motion  Picture  Herald  through  its  Man- 
agers' rotund  Table  desires  to  continue  the  idea  through  the 
coming  year. 

Only  a  few  weeks  ago  while  in  Hollywood  I  heard  Mr. 
Charles  Einfeld,  vice-president  of  Warner  Brothers,  state 
that  the  Quigley  Awards  had  done  much  good  in  the  in- 
dustry and  he  had  noted  with  great  pride  the  fine  enthusiasm 
among  theatre  men  for  competition  that  reflected  showman- 
ship. 

JACK  COHN 

Executive  Vice-President 
Columbia  Pictures  Corporation 

Anything  which  increases  a  man's  pride  in  his  profession, 
which  stimulates  his  creative  thought,  is  not  only  of  value 
to  the  individual  himself  but  to  the  organization  for  which 
he  works  and  to  the  industry  of  which  he  is  a  part. 

It  is  for  this  reason  the  Quigley  Awards  have  become  so 
important  an  inspirational  force  in  improving  the  showman- 
ship of  alert  theatre  managers  throughout  the  industry.  The 
ideas  brought  fourth  have  not  only  heaped  honors  on  the 
winners,  but  in  turn  have  helped  the  rank  and  file  of  theatre 
managers.  For  that  matter,  the  idea  of  the  Quigley  Awards 
was  in  itself  an  inspiration  worthy  of  the  men  who  serve 
the  Quigley  Publications. 

E.  J.  HUDSON 

President 

United  Detroit  Theatres  Corporation 

I  shall  be  glad  to  serve  as  a  Judge  on  the  Committee  for 
the  1944  Quigley  Awards  Competitions  in  accordance  with 
3'our  letter  of  December  22nd. 

These  annual  Competitions  have  become  traditional  as  an 
inspiration  to  showmen  to  draw  to  the  utmost  on  their  talent 
in  behalf  of  box  office  results  and  in  box  office  results  are 
the  present  and  the  future  of  the  Motion  Picture  Industry. 
I  am  glad  they  are  to  be  continued. 


HARRY  D.  BUCKLEY 

Vice-President 

United  Artists  Corporation 

I  believe  I  have  been  "a  member  of  the  Judging  Commit- 
tee each  year  since  the  inception  of  the  Annual  Awards 
Competition.  Throughout  that  period  of  time,  I  have  no- 
ticed the  constantly  increasing  number  of  entries  and  the 
continued  improvement  in  the  quality  of  the  campaigns  sub- 
mitted by  the  contenstants. 

In  my  opinion,  the  Quigley  Awards  Annual  Competition 
is  a  splendid  influence  in  stimulating  advertising  and  pub- 
licity men  throughout  the  Industry  to  a  greater  effort  in 
merchandising  product  and  in  that  way  makes  a  distinct 
contribution  to  the  business. 

Please  accept  mv  best  wishes  for  much  success  with  the 
1944  Contest! 

J.  J.  O'CONNOR 

Vice-President 

Universal  Pictures  Company 

Having  been  one  of  the  Judges  for  several  years,  I  can 
testify  to  the  undoubted  stimulus  that  it  gives  to  the  publicity 
men  in  the  field. 

I  have  often  noted  theatre  men  making  notes  of  many  of 
the  ideas  sent  in,  in  the  contest  for  the  Awards,  so  that 
not  only  is  the  annual  Award  a  stimulus  to  the  exploitation 
men,  but  also  it  has  its  value  in  disseminating  ideas  to  many 
of  the  most  important  exhibitors  and  advertising  men  in  the 
Industry  by  being  able  to  show  first-hand  the  work  of  the 
men  who  toil  in  the  fields. 

OSCAR  A.  DOOB 

Director  Advertising  and  Publicity 
Loew's,  Inc. 

Thanks  for  inviting  me  to  serve  again  as  a  Judge  in  the 
Quigley  Court  of  Appealing  Showmanship. 

The  Quigley  Awards  no  longer  need  comment  or  praise. 
This  plan  of  stimulating  showmanship  has  by  now  become 
a  part  of  show  business.  We  are  always  happy  when  Loew 
theatremen  and  women  show  an  interest  in  the  Quigley 
Awards,  because  that  means  they  are  striving  to  be  better 
showmen.  And  this  business  needs  good  old  showmanship 
more  today  than  it  ever  did. 

DAVID  A.  LIPTON 

Dir.  Advertising,  Publicity  and  Exploitation 
Columbia  Pictures  Corporation 

The  Quigley  Awards  have  become  a  tradition  in  the  mo- 
tion picture  industry.  They  serve  an  excellent  purpose  in 
stimulating  the  type  of  showmanship  that  results  in  better 
grosses. 

I  feel  that  the  industry  is  indebted  to  Quigley  Publications 
for  this  valuable  and  productive  annual  effort. 

LEON  NETTER 

Vice-President 

Paramount  Theatres  Service  Corporation 

Thanks  very  much  for  the  invitation  to  act  as  a  Judge 
in  the  forthcoming  Quigley  Awards  Competition.  I  shall 
be  pleased  to  do  so. 

The  Quigley  Awards  serve  as  a  real  incentive  for  origin- 
ality in  selling,  and  inspires  showmanship  of  a  type  that 
cannot  help  but  be  felt  in  bigger  and  better  box  office  re- 
sults, and  the  stimulation  of  good  will  generally. 


80 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    8,  1944 


Extensiye  Radio  Campaign  for 
"Yankee  Doodle"  in  Australia 


An  extensive  radio  campaign  was  used 
to  exploit  the  showing  of  "Yankee  Doodle 
Dandy"  at  the  Royal  theatre,  In  Adelaide, 
Australia.  The  campaign  was  arranged  by 
Harry  Wren,  director  of  the  theatre,  and 
Included  50-word  announcements  used 
eight  times  daily  for  four  days  in  advance 
of  the  picture's  run.  On  the  opening  day, 
the  announcements  were  continued,  and  a 
7'/2-minute  recording  was  utilized  three 
times,  over  each  station. 

Newspaper  blocks  (ads)  varied  In  size 
from  one  inch  single  column  to  six  Inches 
three  columns.  The  largest  blocks  were 
used  on  the  weekend  prior  to  opening  and 
for  the  three  days  preceding  the  opening 
date. 

The  foyer  of  the  theatre  was  decorated 
well  In  advance  with  large  "Yankee"  hats 


Photo  by  R.  A.  Sandeman 

sheet  tieins  from  the  picture. 


and   song   _____  , 

A  huge  80  ft.  by  10  ft.  title  cutout  in 
red,  white  and  blue  was  placed  over  the 
theatre  entrance  with  a  24-sheet  board. 

Rounding  out  the  complete  campaign 
were  a  variety  of  musical  and  orchestra 
tieups  with  window  displays  and  local 
dance  bands  featuring  songs  from  the  pic- 
ture. Radio' stations  featured  children  ses- 
sions, quiz  programs  and  community  sing- 
ing with  song  hits  from  the  picture. 

All  radio  stations  gave  the  picture  40 
daily  credit  lines  In  conjunction  with  the 
Christmas  Hamper  Appeal  for  the  Fight- 
ing Forces'  Comforts  Fund. 

The  campaign  caused  so  much  comment 
locally  that  Warner  Brothers  made  It  the 
basis  of  a  special  trade  paper  advertise- 
ment, headed  "Hats  off  to  Harry  Wren". 


Omaha's  Mayor  Proclaims 
"Salute  To  The  Marines" 

Exploitation  for  "Salute  to  the  Marines," 
at  the  Paramount  theatre,  Omaha,  resulted 
in  several  unique  tieups.  The  cooperation 
of  the  Marine  Corps  was  enlisted. 

Manager  Donald  Shane  succeeded  in  get- 
ting the  city  to  allow  posting  of  470  placards 
on  telephone  poles  with  "Omaha's  Salute  to 
the  Marines"  standing  out  in  heavy  type. 
Getting  the  same  name  tie  in  with  the  pic- 
ture, which  opened  just  after  the  168th  An- 
niversary of  the  Marines,  also  was  arranged 
on  250  street  car  cards. 

Mayor  Dan  Butler  of  Omaha,  issued  a 
proclamation  making  the  opening  day, 
"Omaha's  Salute  to  the  Marines." 

Seven  department  stores  devoted  windows 
to  displays  and  photos;  seven  more  firms 
contributed  electric  signs;  over  40  spot  an- 
nouncements were  obtained  on  the  four  radio 


stations;  all  local  orchestras  paid  tribute  by 

featuring  Marine  songs  and  excellent  cov- 
erage was  obtained  in  all  newspapers. 


Bierbauer  Promotes  Book  Windows 

When  "Is  Everybody  Happy?"  was 
hooked  into  the  Colonial  theatre,  Allentown, 
Pa.,  manager  Charles  Bierbauer  arranged 
for  a  number  of  local  book  stores  to  feature 
w  indow  displays  built  around  the  theme  of 
"Books  to  make  you  happy."  Stills  from 
the  picture  and  attractive  credit  cards 
rounded  out  the  display. 


Riccy  Gets  Spot  Announcements 

Ten  spot  announcements  on  a  local  radio 
station  were  promoted  by  W.  Riccy,  man- 
ager of  the  Stanley  theatre,  Atlantic  City, 
N.  J.,  to  get  listeners  to  submit  the  ten  best 
pictures  in  which  Humphrey  Bogart  ap- 
peared. Winners  received  a  pair  of  guest 
tickets  to  see  Bogart  in  "Sahara." 


Sinatra  Contest 
Promoted  in 
Providence 

A  Frank  Sinatra  Singing  Contest  was  in- 
cluded among  recent  promotional  activi- 
ties by  Rita  Morton,  publicist,  at  the  RKO 
Albee,  in  Providenct.  Rita  and  manager 
David  Levin  worked  out  details  of  the  cam- 
paign together. 

A  40  by  60  display,  trailer  and  applica- 
tion blanks  were  used  two  weeks  in  advance. 
A  display  and  blanks  were  also  furnished  to 
a  popular  ballroom  which  cooperated  and  a 
week's  engagement  for  the  winner  was  ar- 
ranged with  the  management  of  the  ball- 
room. 

Letters  were  sent  to  personnel  directors  of 
defense  plants  and  the  local  USO  posted  a 
notice  of  the  contest  on  the  bulletin  board. 
112  applicants  entered  the  contest,  which 
was  run  over  a  period  of  one  week. 

To  publicize  the  engagement  of  "Phantom 
of  the  Opera,"  recently,  Rita  tied  up  with 
the  music  clubs  and  instructors  at  high 
schools.  Window  tieups  were  arranged;  a 
street  ballyhoo  was  employed;  Nelson  Ed- 
dy's parents  were  guests  of  the  manage- 
ment, resulting  in  fine  publicity  breaks,  and 
spot  announcements  were  used. 

Ruth  Warrick,  star  of  "The  Iron  Major," 
made  a  personal  appearance  at  the  theatre  in 
conjunction  with  the  showing  of  that  pic- 
ture. Rita  arranged  for  Miss  Warrick  to 
attend  several  civic  functions,  with  resultant 
news  and  photo  breaks.  Many  fine  window 
displays  were  promoted  and  2,000  photos 
of  Pat  O'Brien  were  distributed  in  advance. 


Soviet  League  Tied  Up 
By  Tracy  in  Cleveland 

Gertrude  Tracy,  manager  of  Loew's  Ohio 
theatre,  Cleveland,  made  an  unusual  tieup  to 
aid  the  exploitation  of  "City  That  Stopped 
-Hitler."  She  contacted  the  Soviet  Ameri- 
can Friendship  League  and  obtained  their 
cooperation  in  distributing  20,000  heralds 
bearing  a  statement  from  the  chairman  of 
that  organizations,  endorsing  the  picture  and 
urging  the  membership  to  see  it. 

A  special  screening  was  held  and  the 
SAFL  sent  letters  to  all  directors  and  spon- 
sors. The  .  organization  i  also  provided 
young  women  in  costume  to  man  the  Bond 
booth  and  supplied  a  colorful  display  to 
further  promote  the  sale  of  War  Bonds  and 
Stamps. 

About  300  members  from  a  nearby  Mili- 
tary Police  Training  Camp  attended  the 
theatre  on  opening  night  with  the  Cleveland 
Nezvs  running  a  featured  story  on  the  event. 


Paper  Salvage  Drive 
Aids  "What  a  Woman" 

Sid  Holland,  manager  of  the  Palace  Thea- 
tre, Akron,  Ohio,  landed  a  lot  of  extra  news- 
paper publicity  for  "What  A  Woman,"  when 
he  tied  in  with  the  local  papers  and  arranged 
a  waste  paper  matinee  for  kids.  Every  boy 
or  girl  who  delivered  at  least  ten  pounds 
of  paper  were  admitted  free  to  see  the 
Rosalind  Russell-Brian  Aherne  comedy. 


WITH  CERTAINTY 


ON  MANY  FRONTS  where  vital  pictures 
are  made  without  rehearsal,  the  camera- 
men have  utmost  confidence  in  the  un- 
varying high  quality  of  Eastman  films. 
This  certainty  is  built  on  a  half  century 
of  unexcelled  performance.  Eastman 
Kodak  Company,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

J.  E.  BRULATOUR,  INC.,  Distributors 
Fort  Lee  Chicago  Hollywood 


EASTMAN  FILMS 


82 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January 


944 


99 


Newspapers  Plug 
"Jack  London 
Book  Week 


For  the  opening  of  "Jack  London"  at 
Loew's  State  tlieatre,  New  Orleans,  manager 
Rodney  Toups  put  over  several  effective  tie- 
ups  which  got  his  attraction  plenty  of  local 
attention. 

Through  a  tie-up  with  the  jMerchant 
Marine  Library  Association,  Toups  arranged 
a  Jack  London  Book  Week.  Special  re- 
ceptacles were  placed  in  the  theatre  lobby 
where  patrons  deposited  old  books  to  be 
used  by  men  of  the  merchant  marine  on  out- 
going boats."  Secretary  of  the  Merchant 
Marine  Library  Association  and  theatre 
manager  posed  for  special  pictures  in  lobby 
which  broke  in  both  the  Item  and  Picayune. 
Stunt  w'as  played  up  in  other  papers  and 
received  generous  support  of  the  public. 

Antoines,  famous  local  restaurant  noted 
for  its  oyster  specialties,  got  out  a  display 
featuring  Osa  Massen  and  billed  her  as  "The 
Oyster  Girl,"  with  full  credit  to  her  ap- 
pearance in  "Jack  London."  The  Royal 
Crown  Cola  tie-up  accounted  for  several  of 
their  delivery  trucks  carrying  special  ban- 
ners plugging  the  film's  premiere.  A  tie-up 
with  Adams  Hat  accounted  for  two  stores 
getting  out  special  window  displays. 

Streets  throughout  the  city  were  stencilled 
with  "It's  Jack  London  Week."  On  the 
radio,  twenty  spot  announcements  daily 
plugged  the  opening  through  the  co-opera- 
tion of  the  Merchant  Marine  Library  Asso- 
ciation. 


CONGRATULATIONS 


Winterton  Snares  Tieups 
For  "This  Is  the  Army" 

W.  E.  Winterton,  manager  of  Famous 
Players  Canadian  Capitol  theatre  in  Saska- 
toon, Saskatchewan,  reports  a  strong  cam- 
paign on  "This  Is  the  Army. 

The  Hudson's  Bay  Company  devoted  a 
window  next  to  the  entrance  to  their  store 
and  dressed  it  up  with  an  army  display,  us- 
ing a  3-sheet  cutout  and  stills  as  the  center 
of  attraction.  Theatre  credits  were  boldly 
displayed  and  the  window  was  allowed  to 
stand  for  three  days. 

"Wesley  Music  House"  used  full  window 
of  "This  Is  the  Army"  music. 

On  Sunday,  before  opening,  the  R.C.A. 
Victor  program  sponsored  by  a  local  mer- 
chant had  a  15-minute  program  and  called 
it  "Fifteen  Minutes  from  'This  Is  the 
Army'."  All  music  played  was  from  the 
picture.  The  program  followed  the  news 
broadcast  and  got  a  good  listening  audience. 

The  Hudson's  Bay  Company  have  a  15- 
minute  radio  program  daily  and  gave  the 
picture  two  good  plugs.  Plenty  of  co-opera- 
tion was  obtained  from  local  dailies. 


Trudell  Lands  Full-Page  Co-op 

Bill  Trudell,  manager  of  Famous  Players' 
Capitol  theatre  in  London,  Ontario,  pro- 
moted a  healthy  tie-up  page  in  the  London 
Free  Press  in  connection  with  his  recent 
playdate  of  "This  Is  the  Army."  The  page 
contained  19  commercial  ads,  and  plugged 
the  fact  that  a  generous  portion  of  the 
proceeds  goes  to  the  Canadian  Army  Show 
and  Recreation  Fund. 


January  2nd 

Frank  E.  Drachman 
Alexander  Maus 
Elmer  Field 
Ted  Hodes 
M.  Augenblick 
Peter  L.  Baffes 
Chet  McSwain 

3rd 

William  Leroy  Miller 
David  Goodman 
Dave  Jones 
Chuck  Milan 

4th 

David  M.  Bro+man 
Walter  Hinks 
Jack  Braunagel 
Jack  Lykes 
Albert  Laile,  Jr. 
Mike  Weiss 
George  Stroud 
Laura  Wernick 
Arthur  Joy 
C.  R.  Stoflet 
Gene  Yarnell 
Fred  E.  Moree 
Albert  E.  Fain 
Clarence  R.  Bosch 

5fh 

Henry  W.  Beuttel 
Robert  E.  Holmes 
Stanley  J.  Klein 
William  F.  Moody 
William  M.  Pinckard 
Raul  Barrera 
Charles  Doctor 
John  E.  Moore 

6+h 

L.  W.  Bevel 
Joseph  Josack 
M.  W.  Cowan 
Bert  C.  Wild 
Frank  L  Willis 
James  May 
Jerome  Greenberger 
James  F.  Collins 

7+h 

George  L.  Allen,  Jr. 


8th 


Claude  L.  Davis 
Eugene  Stutenroth 
William  Sholl 
Fern  Lynn 
Herman  Semel 
Harold  Bishop 
Frank  Margiotta 
William  Ryan 
Paul  Sweeney 


January  9th 

John  C.  White,  Jr. 
Frank  X.  Linn 
Claude  L.  Flater 
James  M.  Raskin 
Rene  Daigneault 
Joseph  Feeney 
Robert  F.  Black 

1 0th 

A.  E.  Abelson 
John  J.  Gildea 
W.  L.  Stratton 
Mark  T.  Kempenich 
J.  Edwin  Milstein 
C.  W.  Davis 
C.  Russell  Marsh 
Kenneth  Higgins 
Andrew  Csch 
C.  J.Hubley,  Jr. 

I  Hh 

Harry  M.  Rouda 
Lawrence  Waters 
Harry  E.  Jones 
Dave  Davidson 
Ralph  W.  Tarkington 
David  Collie 

F.  H.  Jones,  Jr. 
Merrill  F.  Hanna 
Henry  E.  Newberry 
William  Novak 
O.  C.  Lam,  Jr. 
Donald  H.  Alldritt 

13th 

Thomas  R.  Reilly 
Anton  Janssen 
Robert  Holland 

14th 

John  Revels 
Alvin  K.  Lavender 
Jules  Koenig 
Charles  Stephenson 
Spencer  Bentley 
Philip  Sigel 

Raymond  C.  Fahrenholz 
Henry  Sutton 
Conrad  Mandross 
Russell  Callen,  Sr. 

15th 

Charles  Dearth 
Roger  MacGuigan 
W.  L.  Barrett 
James  T.  Barnett 
Albert  Garfield 
W.  J.  Lindeman 
Harold  Grott 
Elmer  R.  Nimmer 


CHARLES  A.  BOSHART,  former  man- 
ager of  the  Garfield  theatre,  in  Alhambra, 
Cal.,  has  been  promoted  to  manager  the 
Injunga  theatre,  in  Injunga,  Cal. 

MURRAY  PECK,  former  manager  of  the 
Cabart  theatre,  in  Long  Beach,  Cal.,  is  now 
a  photographer  at  the  U.  S.  Naval  Station, 
in  Astoria,  L.  I. 

EDWARD  SNIDERMAN,  RKO  division 
manager  for  Bronx  and  Westchester,  has 
been  inducted  into  the  Army. 

WALTER  H.  KINIRY  has  been  trans- 
ferred from  manager  of  the  Bellows  Falls 
Opera  House,  in  Vermont,  in  the  same 
capacity  to  the  Rialto  theatre,  in  Lancaster, 
N.  H.  Both  houses  are  in  the  Interstate 
theatre  circuit. 


David  Bachner 

primitive  island.  My 
ly  predict?    We  all 


FROM  READER 

Dear  Gert: 

It  doesn't  seem  quite  like  the  Yuletide 
Season  dovv'n  belov/  the  Equator — but  the 

calendar  says  'tis  so. 
Here's  v^ishing  you 
a  joyous,  healthy 
holiday  season  and 
may  this  Nev/  Year 
bring   peace  to  all 
men.    Now  into  my 
second  year  "some- 
v/here    in  Nevv' 
Guinea"  and  still  on 
my  feet.  And,  here, 
that  is  an  achieve- 
ment.   This  will  be 
my  second  Christmas 
upon    this  strange, 
last?   Who  can  safe- 
realize  the  climax  Is 
approaching  in  Europe,  and  after  that,  the 
Pacific  will  get  the  attention  it  requires. 

I  recently  obtained  the  rank  of  sergeant, 
getting  advanced  three  grades  at  a  single 
throw  certainly  made  me  feel  grand.  Also 
note  my  new  address.  Now  in  a  signal 
aviation  company,  but  still  in  the  same  war. 

I  suppose  more  stars  will  head  this  way 
after  the  close  of  the  European  war.  Gary 
Cooper  made  the  rounds  here  recently,  but 
I  couldn't  get  over  to  see  him. 

Universal  pulled  a  good  stunt  last  week. 
Premiered  the  new  Olsen  and  Johnson 
movie  "Crazy  hlouse."  Naturally,  the  men 
wrote  home  about  it,  netting  the  flicker 
plenty  of  free  publicity.  More  producers 
should  do  this.  Makes  a  different  treat  for 
us  and  does  the  picture  no  harm.  After  all, 
the  screen  represents  our  sole  entertain- 
ment. The  Red  Cross  clubs  offer  little,  and, 
of  course  the  U.S.O.  and  Stage  Door  Can- 
teens are  only  something  we  read  about. 
Servicemen  are  toasted  at  those  places,  but 
little  do  Americans  realize  what  their 
countrymen  are  enduring  on  some  of  these 
hellish  Pacific  Islands. 

I  get  most  of  my  Warner  Cleveland 
news  from  my  sister,  who  manages  a  the- 
atre for  them.  She  has  the  Doan  theatre. 
She  tells  me  of  the  difficulties  in  the  opera- 
tion of  theatres  today.  Who  knows — per- 
haps I  have  less  headaches  on  this  bomby 
Island. 

Wish  I  could  send  you  a  portion  of  this 
sunshine.  I  imagine  shivering  New  Yorkers 
could  appreciate  It.  Your  town  still  looks 
grand  in  newsreels,  and  hope  to  see  the 
lady  with  the  torch  before  long. 

—DAVID  BACHNER,  Signal  Corps,  c/o 
Postmaster,  San  Francisco.  (Formerly  of 
Earners'  ad  department,  Cleveland.) 


FIRST,  LAST  and  flLUJflVS  -  IT'S 


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1327  S.  WABASH  my    CHICAGO  5  .  ILLINOIS 


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Edited  hy 

TERRY  RAMSAYE 


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A  QUIGLEY 
PUBLICATION 


84 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    8,  1944 


War  Showmanship  Contenders 

The  showmen  listed  below  have  contributed  and  reported  on  their  campaigns  to  aid 
the  war  effort.  Their  material  is  eligible  for  consideration  by  the  Judges  for  the  Quigley 
War  Showmanship  Award. 


DON  ALDRITT 
Miller,  Wichita,  Kans. 

HARRY  BOTWICK 
Sfrand,  Portland,  Me. 

JOSEPH  S.  BOYLE 

Loew's  Poli,  Norwich,  Conn. 

LEW  BREYER 

Strand,  Holyoke,  Mass. 

LOUIS  CHARNINSKY 
Capitol,  Dallas,  Tex. 

DAVID  DALLAS 

Griffith,  Manhattan,  Kans. 

JIM  DARBY 

Paramount,  New  Haven,  Conn. 


MILDRED  FITZGIBBONS 
Roosevelt,  Flushing,  N.  Y. 

WILLIAM  GALLIGAN 
Commercial,  Chicago,  III. 


JACK  MATLACK 
Broadway,  Portland,  Ore. 

LOUIS  E.  MAYER 
Palace,  Cleveland,  O. 


J.  M.  GOW  BEN  MINDLIN 

Capitol,  Nanaimo,  B.  C,  Canada    Valley  Stream,  ValleylStream,  N.  Y. 


LEN  HERBERT 

Centre,  London,  Ont.,  Canada 

J.  D.  HILLHOUSE 
State,  Galveston,  Tex. 

JAMES  J.  KING 

Keith  Memorial,  Boston,  Mass. 

G.  R.  LAYTON 
Phipps,  Childress,  Tex. 


CARL  ROGERS 
Granada,  Cleveland,  O. 

ROBERT  ROSEN 

Sheridan  Square,  New  York 

JOSEPH  SAMARTANO 
Palace,  Meriden,  Conn. 

WILLIAM  VORHEES 
Nortown,  Flint,  Mich. 


Littler  Organizes 
Junior  Commandos 

Recently  organized  by  Glargence  G.  Litt- 
ler at  the  Beechwood  theatre,  in  Columbus, 
Ohio,  is  a  Junior  Commando  organization 
numbering  525  strong.  Three  gratis  shows 
were  held  for  the  kids  during  the  campaign 
to  sell  Bonds  and  Stamps.  Each  Commando 
was  given  membership  card  and  large  badge 
in  addition  to  pledge  cards,  which  permitted 
them  to  solicit  Bond  sales  from  their  neigh- 
bors. 

An  honor  roll  board  of  the  boys  and  girls 
in  service  in  the  neighborhood  was  erected 
with  due  ceremony  and  two  bomb  casings 
were  planted  in  the  lobby.  Folks  were  in- 
vited to  purchase  a  Bond,  which  entitled 
them  to  sign  their  name  to  the  bomb. 


WAVE  Recruiting  Drive 
Arranged  by  Boyle 

To  aid  the  local  drive  for  Wave  enlist- 
ments in  Norwich,  Conn.,  Joseph  Boyle 
erected  a  recruiting  booth  in  the  lobby  of 
the  Poli  Broadway  theatre.  Photos  were 
taken  of  the  recruits  and  run  in  the  local 
papers  together  with  theatre  mention. 

Boyle  also  held  a  Saturday  morning  mati- 
nee to  help  the  salvage  drive.  Walter  K. 
Hjelm  of  the  State  Salvage  Drive  spoke  to 
the  kids  commending  them  on  their  efforts 
in  behalf  of  the  collection.  A  special  show 
was  arranged  for  the  kids. 


Boyle  Ties  Boy  Scouts 
To  "Happyland" 

Joe  Boyle  of  the  Loew's  Poli-Broadway 
in  Norwich,  Conn.,  held  a  Boy  Scout  con- 
test emphasizing  the  important  role  played 
by  the  Boy  Scouts  of  America  in  the  devel- 
opment of  American  youth  in  conjunction 
with  his  current  film,  "Happyland."  Local 
Boy  Scouts  were  invited  to  write  a  letter 
on  the  subject,  "Why  This  Land  is  a  Hap- 
pyland." The  award  for  the  best  entry  was 
a  copy  of  MacKinley  Kantor's  book  and 
guest  tickets  to  view  the  film  at  Loew's 
Poli-Broadway  were  given  to  runners-up. 

In  addition,  Boyle  arranged  a  classified 
"hidden  names"  contest  in  local  newspapers 


and  issued  bus  cards  which  read:  "Keep 
America  a  Happyland.  Buy  War  Bonds 
and  Stamps  for  Christmas,"  and  were  ac- 
companied by  appropriate  theatre  copy  and 
playdate. 


Fine  Newspaper  Breaks  for 
"Airways  to  Peace" 

Readers  and  art  breaks  were  accorded  to 
the  local  showing  of  "Airways  to  Peace," 
March  of  Time  subject,  by  local  papers  in 
conjunction  with  the  picture's  engagement 
at  Loew's  Poli-Palace  in  Meriden,  Conn. 

Manager  Joe  Samartano  and  his  assistant, 
Sam  Horwitz,  both  planted  special  stories 
with  featured  writers  and  sports  commenta- 
tors through  the  presence  of  a  well-known 
local  personality  who  appears  in  the  film. 

A  screening  was  arranged  for  members  of 
the  Meriden  Civil  Air  Patrol  and  the  press; 
200  postal  cards  were  mailed  to  a  select  list 
of  persons  in  town  with  a  message  and 
scenes  from  the  picture.  Hanging  banners 
were  used  out  front  and  a  special  display 
was  placed  in  the  theatre  lobby  two  weeks 
in  advance. 


Westergren  Plugs 
'Oklahoma '  With 
Tieups^  Radio 

Publicity  director  Gerald  Westegren  of 
the  Lafayette  theatre,  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  used  a 
10'  by  15'  display  piece  in  his  lobby  two 
weeks  in  advance  of  the  opening.  Thirty- 
five  cards  were  placed  on  city  taxicabs; 
four  22  by  56  banners  were  used  on  publish- 
er's trucks;  11  by  14's  were  spotted  in  the 
Greyhound  bus  terminals,  as  well  as  in  a 
local  tearoom;  250  table  place  cards  were 
planted  in  restaurants,  and  sixty-five  silk- 
screen  jumbo  window  cards  placed  in  better 
locations  throughout  Buffalo. 

Display  cards  were  featured  in  two  Wool- 
worth  stores  as  well  as  in  the  W.  T.  Grant 
and  Neisner  stores,  in  connection  with  the 
tie-up  on  the  songs  "Put  Your  Arms  Around 
Me  Honey"  and  "Red  Wing,"  both  featured 
in  the  picture. 

Westegren  planted  the  six-day  photo  strip, 
in  mat  form,  in  the  Polish  newspaper, 
Dsiennik  Dla  Wszystkich,  which  has  a  cir- 
culation of  over  50,000,  and  received  ex- 
cellent publicity  in  this  newspaper.  Both 
feature  stories  and  photos  were  planted  in 
Buffalo  newspapers. 

The  campaign  included  radio  spot  an- 
nouncements over  stations  WEBR,  WGR, 
WBNY,  WBEN,  and  WKBW.  Special 
newspaper  advertising  in  addition  to  the 
regular  theatre  budget  appeared  in  the 
Courier  Express  and  News.  Twenty-four 
sheets  were  posted  six-days  in  advance  of 
the  opening  and  were  held  throughout  the 
engagement. 


Page  One  Story  for  Newsreel 

Arthur  Groom,  manager  of  Loew's  State 
theatre,  Memphis,  landed  a  page  one  story 
with  a  three  column  art  break  through  his 
newsreel  recently.  A  scene  was  flashed 
showing  survivors  of  the  Tarawa  battle.  A 
mother  in  the  audience  recognized  her  son, 
giving  her  first  knowledge  that  he  had  not 
been  injured.  Groom  gave  the  happy  woman 
an  enlarged  photo  of  her  boy. 


TMs  attractive  window  display,  tying  "Lassie  Come  Havte" 
arranged  by  manager  Bill  Reisinger,  of  Loew's,  Dayton,  Ohio. 


to 


Photo  by  Clarence  M.  Bunting 

the  Bond  Drive,  was 


January    8,  1944 


MANAGERS'    ROUND  TABLE 


Peters  Promotes 
Radio  Plugs  for 
"Lorraine^  ^ 


Every  conceivable  exploitation  angle  was 
included  in  George  Peters'  campaign  to  ex- 
ploit the  booking  of  "Cross  of  Lorraine"  at 
Loew's  theatre,  in  Richmond,  Va. 

Punch  copy  was  used  along  with  Free 
French  flags  on  the  marquee  and  for  lobby 
and  front  displays.  Eddie  Weaver,  the 
house  organist,  featured  a  medley  of  popular 
French  songs,  which  was  dedicated  to  the 
Fighting  French  depicted  in  the  picture. 
On  opening  night  officers  of  French  organi- 
zations were  introduced  from  the  theatre 
stage. 

Free  radio  plugs  were  promoted  over 
WRNL  and  WMBC,  in  advance  of  the 
opening.  Ads  were  underlined  two  weeks 
in  advance  and  several  photo  and  publicity 
breaks  were  obtained  from  the  local  dailies. 
2,500  personal  endorsement  cards  were 
mailed  out. 

Bookshop,  School  Tieup 

Five  thousand  bookmarks  were  distribut- 
ed at  various  branches  of  the  library  and 
several  bookshop  tieups  and  window  dis- 
plays were  arranged.  Posters  were  placed 
on  local  school  bulletin  boards  advertising 
the  picture,  and  a  language  contest  was  giv- 
en in  grade  schools.  Special  permission 
was  secured  to  placard  city  owned  trash  cans 
advertising  the  picture,  theater  and  play- 
dates. 


Full-Page  Co-op  Landed  for 
Anniversary  by  Wilson 

The  fourth  anniversary  of  the  opening 
of  the  Regent  theatre,  Brockville,  Ont.,  was 
the  occasion  for  a  special  campaign  and  ar- 
rangement of  outstand**ag  ^hows  by  man- 
ager F.  H.  Wilson. 

A  cartoon  show  was  arranged,  featuring 
the  most  popular  cartoon  characters  as  an 
added  treat  for  the  kiddies  on  Thanksgiving 
Day  at  a  special  morning  show.  Free  pho- 
tographs of  Roy  Rogers,  popular  western 
star,  were  given  away  to  patrons. 

A  full  page  co-op  ad  was  obtained 
through  cooperation  with  local  merchants 
and  newspapers  came  through  with  fine  pub- 
licity and  art  breaks.  All  regular  advertis- 
ing, such  as  window  cards  and  programs, 
etc.,  carried  slugs  on  the  anniversary. 


THEATRE  MANAGEMENT  RECORD 
AND   ANNUAL  TAX  REGISTER 

■  Easy  accounting  sys+enn  that  enables 
you  to  keep  an  accurate,  complete  and  up- 
to-the-minute  record  of  the  0  Q 

^^^^  Postpaid 


business    of   your  theatre. 


QUICLEY  BOOKSHOI» 

ROCKEFELLER   CENTER.   NEW   YORK  (20) 


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AIR  EXPRESS.  Get  your  shipments  on  the  way  as  soon 
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WRITE  TODAY  for  "Vision  Unlimited"  —  an  informative  booklet  that  will 
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230  Park  Avenue,  New  York  17,  N.  Y. 


Phone  RAILWAY  EXPRESS  AGENCY,  AIR  EXPRESS  DIVISION 
Representing  the  AIRLINES  of  the  United  States 


86  MOTIONPICTUREHERALD 

CLASSIFIED  ADVERTISING 

Ten  cents  per  word,  money-order  or  check  with  copy.  Count  initials,  box  number  and  ad- 
dress. Minimum  insertion,  $1.  Four  insertions,  for  the  price  of  three.  Contract  rates  on 
application.  No  borders  or  cuts.  Forms  close  Mondays  at  5  P.  M.  Publisher  reserves 
the  right  to  reject  any  copy.  Film  and  trailer  advertising  not  accepted.  Classi-  ]^^=t 
fied  advertising  not  subject  to  agency  commission.  Address  copy  and  checks:  ^WM 
MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD,  Classified  Dept.,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  (20)  |l£i| 


WANTED  TO  BUY 


WANTED— PIPE  ORGAN  IN  EXCELLENT  CON- 
dition,  state  complete  details  and  information.  A.  HEF- 
FERAN,  H  &  M  Theatres,  Coopersville,  Mich. 


BUSINESS  BOOSTERS 


BINGO  CARDS,  DIE  CUT,  1  TO  lOO  OR  1  TO  75, 
$2.25  per  thousand,  $20.00  for  10,000.  S.  KLOUS,  care 
of  MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD. 


BOOKS 


1944  EDITION  OF  FAME  READY  SOON.  EVERY 
exhibitor  should  have  a  copy.  An  annual  i^udit  of  mo- 
tion picture  and  radio  personalities.  Limited  supply. 
Send  $1  today.  QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP,  Rockefeller 
Center,  New  York  20. 


COMPLETELY  REVISED  7TH  EDITION  OF 
Richardson's  Bluebook  of  Projection  with  treatise  on 
Television  and  complete  Sound  Trouble-Shootine 
Charts,  as  well  as  host  of  additional  up-to-the-minute 
tejtX  on  soimd  and  projection  equipment.  Order  Now! 
$7.25  postpaid.  QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP.  Rockefeller 
Ce.nter.  New  York  (20). 


SOUND  TROUBLE  SHOOTING  CHARTS.  A 
handy  tool  in  the  booth.  Gives  the  answers  to  all 
<ine*tions  regarding  trouble  shooting  on  every  type  oi 
soand  equipment.  $1.00  postpaid.  QUIGLEY  BOOK- 
SHOP, Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  (20). 


MOTION  PICrrURE  SOUND  ENGINEERING- 
547  pages;  illustrated;  covers  every  practical  method 
and  process  in  present-day  sound  engineering.  Leading 
engineers  Mcplain  every  detail  of  apparatus  and  its  ar- 
rangement, with  diagrams,  tables,  charts  and  graphs. 
This  manual  ccKnes  straight  from  the  workshops  of  the 
itndios  in  Hollywood.  It  is  indispensable  to  everyone 
working  with  sound  equipment.  Price  $6.50  postpaid. 
QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York 


NEW  5^^  PAGE  BOOK  ON  AIR  CONDITIONING, 
by  C3iarles  A,  Fuller,  authority  on  the  subject.  Avail- 
able for  theatre  owners  contemplating  engineering 
ehinges.  Book  is  cloth  bound  with  index  and  charts 
and  covers  every  branch  of  the  industry  as  well  as 
sodes  and  ordinances  regulating  installation.  OrdCT 
■ow  at  $4.00  a  copy  postpaid.  QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP. 
Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  (20). 


BOOKKEEPING  SYSTEM 


THEATRE  MANAGEMENT  RECORD  AND  TAX 
Register.  This  new  accounting  system  is  the  finest 
book  of  its  kind:  ever  made  available  to  an  exhibitor. 
In  addition  to  being  complete  in  every  respect,  it  is 
simple — so  much  so  that  it  is  not  necessary  to  have 
had  bookkeeping  experience  in  order  to  keep  an  ac- 
curate, complete  and  an  up-to-minute  record  of  the 
business  of  your  theatre.  The  introductory  price  is 
only  $2.00  postpaid.  QtHGLEY  BOOKSHOP,  Roeke- 
teUer  Onter,  New  York  (20). 


NEW  EQUIPMENT 


COMPLETE  NEW  SOUND  EQUIPMENT,  RO- 
tary  stabilizer,  high  fidelity,  powerful  amplifier,  stage 
and  monitor  speakers,  $850.  BODELSON,  10-38  Jackson 
Ave.,  Long  Island  City. 


BOX  OFFICE  BOWL  HEATERS,  $9.50;  VICTORY 
carpet,  all  colors,  $2.49  sq.  yrd. ;  pickup  pans  with  han- 
dle, $1.27;  colored  lamps,  15/25  watt,  20c;  40/60  watt, 
23c;  rechargeable  flashlight  batteries,  $2.20;  collapsible 
36"  X  48"  beaded  screens,  $11.50;  rectifier  bulbs,  IS 
ampere  Gordos,  $6.95;  6  ampere  Westinghouse,  $3.9S; 
Nodraft  speaking  tubes,  $5.75;  Suprex  carbon  savers, 
&8c.  Winter  Sale  Bulletin  ready.  S.  O.  S.  CINEMA 
SUPPLY  CORP.,  New  York.  18. 


USED  EQUIPMENT 


'ROCKOLA  12  RECORD  JUKE  BOX  WITH  REC- 
ords,  $77.50;  Peerless  condenser  lenses,  $3.95;  reflectors, 
50%  discount;  aluminum  marquee  letters,  fit  Adler, 
Wagner,  etc.,  9"  standard,  95c;  9"  deluxe,  $1.25;  12" 
deluxe,  $1.75;  16"  deluxe,  $3.95;  30  ampere  rectifiers 
with  tubes,  $99.50.  Winter  Bargain  Bulletin  ready  — 
get  yours.  S.  O.  S.  CINEMA  SUPPLY  CORP.,  New 
York  18. 


358  AMERICAN  SEATING  BALL  BEARING  H" 
heavy  Keystone  inserted  panel  backs,  reupholstered 
box  spring  cushion  chairs,  $3.50  each;  230  American 
ball  bearing  fully  upholstered  padded  red  figured  vel- 
our  backs,  red  leatherette  box  spring  cushions,  good  as 
is.  $4.50  each.  S.  O.  S.  CINEMA  SUPPLY  CORP., 
New  York  18. 


FOR  SALE— TWO  MODEL  H  MOTIOGRAPH 
machines  with  lamps.  Good  condition.  $300.  for  the 
two.  LIBERTY  THEATRE,  Franklin,  Ky. 


STUDIO  EQUIPMENT 


HOLLYWOOD  16MM.  RECORDING  CAMERA, 
double  system;  400'  magazine;  synchronous  motor; 
A.C.  power  pack;  high  fidelity  volume  indicator  am- 
plifier; dynamic  microphone;  Bemdt-Maurer  type  Gal- 
vanometer; cables,  etc.  Worth  $1,500.  Special,  $795. 
Bell  &  Howell  5  way  sound  printer,  $2,250.  Reduction 
printers,  from  $750.  Send  for  Laboratory  and  Record- 
ing lists.  S.  O.  S.  CINEMA  SUPPLY  CORP.,  New 
York  18. 


TRAINING  SCHOOLS 


THEATRE  EMPLOYEES:  TRAIN  FOR  BETTER 
position.  Learn  modem  theatre  management  and  ad- 
vertising. Big  opportunities  for  trained  men.  Estab- 
lished since  1927.  Write  now  for  free  catalog.  THE- 
ATRE MANAGERS  SCHOOL,  Elmira.  New  York. 


POPCORN 


MORE  VOLLTME  GUARANTEED  WHEN  USING 
our  popcorn  and  seascHiing.  POPCORN  CORP..  100 
N.  LaSalle  St.,  Chicago. 


Kimberley  Resigns  British 
Army  Film  Position 

Paul  Kimberley,  managing  director  of  Na- 
tional Screen  Service,  Ltd.,  London,  has  re- 
signed as  director  of  Army  Kinematography  at 
the  British  War  Office.  Mr.  Kimberley  was 
appointed  to  the  post  in  1941. 


Manages  Shearer  Branch 

Theodore  Lay  has  been  named  manager  of 
B.  F.  Shearer  Theatre  Equipment  Company  in 
Portland,  Ore.  He  succeeds  Philip  Blake,  who 
has  entered  the  Army. 


Jack  Barry  Resigns  from 
Minoco  to  Head  New  Unit 

Jack  Barry,  president  of  Minoco  Productions, 
Inc.,  producers  of  juke  box  films,  resigned  last 
week  to  take  over  the  presidency  of  Eagle 
Productions.  Eagle  operations  will  include  tele- 
vision production.  Mr.  Barry  organized  Mi- 
noco in  1941. 


Foch  President  of  World 

William  Foch,  with  Ufa  in  Berlin  prior  to 
the  war,  is  president  of  New  World  Pictures, 
Inc.    The  first  picture  is  to  be  "Lady  in  Gray." 


January    8,     19  44 

Ho  bartBosworth^ 
Actor^  Dies  at  76 

Hobart  Bosworth,  in  motion  pictures  as  di- 
rector, writer  and  actor  since  1909,  died  De- 
cember 30  in  Hollywood  of  pneumonia,  at  76. 

Mr.  Bosworth  started  his  career  in  1885.  He 
came  to  Broadway,  and  became  leading  man 
to  the  legitimate  theatre's  starred  actresses, 
such  as  Minnie  Maddern  Fiske,  Julia  Marlowe 
and  Henrietta  Crosman. 

His  film  career  included  pictures  such  as 
"The  Count  of  Monte  Cristo,"  "Behind  the 
Door,"  "Woman  of  Affairs,"  "Abraham  Lin- 
coln," "The  Crusader,"  "The  Miracle  Man." 
In  all,  until  his  retirement  in  1942,  he  had  ap- 
peared in  526  pictures. 

Mr.  Bosworth  was  married  twice.  His  first 
wife  was  Adele  Farrington.  His  second,  whom 
he  married  in  1920,  was  Cecile  Kibre,  scenarist. 

With  Mr.  Bosworth  when  he  died  was  his 
son,  George.  Mr.  Bosworth  was  a  descendant 
of  Miles  Standish. 


Winston  J.  Ray 

Winston  J.  Ray,  theatre  executive  and  civic 
leader  in  Greenville,  Alabama,  died  in  Chicago 
December  29.  Mr.  Ray  was  past  commander 
of  the  local  American  Legion  post,  in  addition 
to  his  activities  in  theatres. 


Bob  Ripa 

Bob  Ripa,  30,  USO  entertainer,  died  in  a 
plane  crash  in  the  South  Pacific,  USO-Camp 
Shows  was  informed  on  December  29.  Born 
Ejvin  H.  Hansen,  in  Denmark,  he  learned 
juggling  from  his  parents. 


Peter  Steele 

Peter  Steele,  assistant  superintendent  at 
Warner  Brothers  studio  laboratory,  died  at  his 
home  in  Hollywood  January  3  of  a  heart  ail- 
ment. An  expert  film  technician,  he  had  been 
in  the  Warner  laboratory  post  for  18  years. 


Roy  D.  McBride 

Roy  D.  McBride,  artist  with  the  International 
Circuit  for  12  years,  died  December  28  at 
Legion,  Texas,  at  the  age  of  46.  He  was  a 
veteran  of  World  War  I. 


Frank  Adams 

Frank  Adams,  former  engineer  at  the  RKO 
81st  Street,  New  York,  was  killed  in  action 
on  November  30.  Mr.  Adams  left  his  work  at 
that  theatre  to  join  the  Merchant  Marine. 


Horace  Williamson 

Horace  Williamson,  entertainer  and  owner 
of  Williamson  Entertainment  Bureau,  was 
killed  when  his  automobile  struck  a  loading 
platform  in  Cincinnati.  He  died  on  Dec.  29. 


Billy  Reeves 

Billy  Reeves,  old-time  comedian,  died  De- 
cember 29  in  North  Ixworth,  England.  He  had 
been  a  close  friend  of  Charles  Chaplin  and 
appeared  in  several  American  films. 


Rupert  Julian 

Rupert  Julian,  actor  and  director,  died  in 
Hollywood  December  27.  He  is  survived  by  his 
widow,  Elsie. 


Henry  Vogel 

Henry  Vogel,  67,  Chicago  manager,  died  De- 
cember 29  from  pneumonia.  He  had  managed 
Orchestra  Hall  for  40  years. 


Club  Plans  1944  Program 

The  Chicago  Variety  Club,  now  entering  its 
second  year,  with  Johnny  Jones  and  Jack 
Kirsch  as  barkers,  is  planning  an  elaborate 
charity  program  for  1944. 


EQUIPMENT  •  FURNISHINGS  •  DESIGN 


Planning  Now  for 
Better  Post-War 
Theatres 


age  92 


CHECKING  AKD  REPAIRING  THE 
PLUMBING  SYSTEM  Page  100 

► 

PLACING  THE  SCREEN         Page  96 


PHYSICAL  OPERATION -MAINTENANCE 


,^     M 11  .4  ^  Y 


January    8,  1944 


BETTER  THEATRES 


89 


Probably  from  the  company  that  has  been  longefet  engaged  in 
providing  plastic  materials  for  your  purpose*  ancAhas  a  highly 
practical  as  well  as  theoretical  outlook  on  the  suBuect. 

Where  plastic  surfaces  for  walls,  counters,  table  tops.\olumns. 
doors  is  concerned  that  company  is  unquestionably  Formica, 
which  in  1927  led  the  way  in  suggesting  these  apmications 
to  architects,  store  fixture  manufacturers,  and  furniturfc  makers. 
Since  then  hundreds  of  leading  architects  and  intenor  deco- 
rators have  used  the  material  successfully — according  to 
methods  of  application  developed  by  Formica — in  coHlitless 
famous  installations. 

It  was  used  in  famous  ships  such  as  the  British  steanprs. 
Queen  Mary  and  Queen  Elizabeth,  in  scores  of  modern  dauxe 
streamlined  trains,  in  great  hotels  like  the  new  Statler  in 
Washington,  in  public  buildings  like  the  annex  to  the  Library 
of  Congress,  or  the  National  Airport. 

So  when  you  want  information  about  plastics  applications> 
turn  to  the  people  who  know — who  can  give  you  practical, 
down-to-earth  information  based  on  real  experience  over  many 
years.  Ask  Formica! 

"The  Formica  Story"  is  a  new  movie  picturing  in  color  the 
qualities  of  Formica,  how  it  is  made,  how  it  is  used.  It  is  now 
available  for  meetings  of  architects  and  engineers. 


THE  FORMICA  INSULATION  COMPANY 

4654  SPRING   GROVE  AVE.,  CINCINNATI  32,  OHIO 


90. 


BETTER  THEATRES 


January    8,  1944 


KEEP  UP  THE  GOOD  WORK  WITH  YOUR 

\/[CTORY  Carbons 


E 


(XHIBITORS  and  projectionists  across  America 
are  to  be  congratulated  for  their  splendid  con- 
tribution to  the  war  effort  by  conserving  and 
recovering  much  of  the  copper  plating  of  their 
"National"  Victory  Carbons  .  .  .  copper  that 
would  have  been  completely  lost  but  for  their 
cooperation. 

Naturally  the  copper  coating  on  Victory  Car- 
bons is  as  thin  as  practicable,  because  copper  is 
a  vital  war  material.  This  calls  for  strict  main- 
tenance of  arc  current  within  the  recommended 
range,  and  careful  adjustment  of  the  carbon 
feed  ratio. 

Satisfied  theater  audiences  everywhere  are 
testimony  to  the  constant  attention  being  given 
to  the  current  and  feed  factors. 


In  addition,  tons  of  copper  drippings  and  cop- 
per plate  stripped  from  carbon  stubs  have  been 
turned  back  into  production  channels  as  your 
Government  urged. 

Your  continued  cooperation  in  saving  copper 
is  still  of  utmost  importance,  for  copper  needs 
go  right  on  expanding  as  America's  war  produc- 
tion grows.  You've  done  a  splendid  job.  Keep 
up  the  good  work! 

As  a  reminder,  check  the  table  below  for 
carbon  trim  and  current  values  specified  for 
your  equipment.  A  bulletin  describing  com- 
pletely the  operation  of  the  Victory  High  Inten- 
sity Carbons  will  be  sent  promptly  on  request. 
Write  for  it  today. 

->C  BUY  UNITED  STATES  WAR  BONDS 


The  word  "National"  is  ihe  registered  trade-mark  of  National  Carbon  Company.  Inc. 


RECOMMENDED  TRIM  AND  RANGE  OF  ARC  CURRENT  FOR  LAMPS 
USING  COPPER  COATED,  HIGH  INTENSITY,  PROJECTOR  CARBONS 


Type  of  Arc 


Arc  Current- 
Amperes 


New  Victory  Carboits — Size  and  Type 


"1  Kw"  I-igh  In'.ensity,  A.  C. 
"1  Kw"  High  Intensity,  D.  C. 

Simplified  High  Intensity,  D.  C. 

with  adjustable  feed  ratio 
Simplified  High  Intensity,  D.  C. 

with  fixed  feed  ratio 
Simplified  High  Intensity,  D.  C. 


52-66 
40-42 


42-45 


56-65 


7  mm  X  9  inch  H.I.,  A.  C.  Carbons  in  both  holders 
7  mm  X  12  inch  or  14  inch  "Suprex'*  Positive 

6  mm  X  9  inch  *'Orotip"  C  Negative 

7  mm  X  12  inch  or  14  inch  "Suprex"  Positive 

6  mm  X  9  inch  "Orotip"  C  Negative 

7  mm  X  12  inch  or  14  inch  "Suprex"  Positive 

7  mm  X  9  inch  "Orolip*'  C  Negative 

8  mm  X  12  inch  or  14  inch  "Suprex"  Positive 
7  mm  X  9  inch  "Orotip"  C  Negative 


NATIONAL  CARBON  COMPANY,  INC. 

Unit  of  Union  Carbide  and  Carbon  Corporation  ■ 

CARBON  PRODUCTS  DIVISION,  CIEVELAND  1,  OHIO 

General  Offices 
30  East  42nd  Street,  New  York  17,  N.  Y. 

Branch  Sales  Offices 
New  York,  Pittsburgh,  Chicago,  San  Francisco 


January    8.    1944  BETTER    THEATRES  91 


Published  in  every  fourth  issue  of  Motion  Picture  Herald 
GEORGE  SCHUTZ,  Editor  RAY  GALLO,  Advertising  Manager 


The  New  Rules  for  Buying 
Projection  Equipment  in  1944 


CONTROLS  of  the  War 
Production  Board  over  the  distribution  of 
projection  equipment  have  been  so  simpli- 
fied that,  so  far  as  the  exhibitor  is  con- 
cerned, they  are  practically  non-existent.  A 
theatre  owner  requiring  replacement  parts 
needs  only  go  to  his  supply  dealer  and  place 
his  order,  as  in  normal  times. 

The  dealer  is  authorized  to  furnish  him 
with  needed  equipment  and,  in  case  of  a 
fire  or  major  breakdown,  may  lend  him 
equipment  without  formality  for  as  long  as 
16  Aveeks,  while  the  exhibitor's  regular 
equipment  is  being  repaired  or  replaced. 

Nearly  all  of  the  equipment  needed  by  an 
exhibitor  is  covered  in  Limitation  Order 
L-325,  which  is  administered  by  Allen  G. 
Smith,  chief  of  the  theatre  equipment  sec- 
tion. This  order  covers: 

.  First,  complete  projectors,  projector 
mechanisms,  pedestals,  bases,  complete 
sound  S3'stems,  soundheads,  amplifiers,  loud- 
speakers, projection  arc  lamp  houses,  com- 
plete projection  arc  current  converting  de- 
vices, and  complete  portable  projectors,  for 
use  in  exhibiting  35mm.  film; 

Second,  accessories  such  as  takeup  reels, 
changeover  devices,  automatic  enclosed  re- 
winders,  hand  rewinders,  nitrate  film  stor- 
age cabinets,  steel  fireproof  booth  tables, 
and  film  splicers ;  and — 

Third,  any  parts  or  assemblies  specially 
designed  for  use  in  the  35-mm.  motion  pic- 
ture projection  equipment  and  accessories 
listed  above,  and  used  to  repair  them  when 
they  have  been  broken  down  or  are  about 
to  break  down. 

HOW  EXHIBITOR  BUYS 

WPB  control  is  exercised  at  the  points  of 
manufacture  and  distribution.  The  author- 
ity to  furnish  a  theatre  with  equipment  is 
requested,  not  by  the  exhibitor,  but  by  the 
dealer. 

The  exhibitor  files  no  applications  per- 
sonally. 

He  furnishes  the  dealer  with  information 
on  which  the  latter  bases  his  application. 

This  information  includes  the  size,  type 
and  kind,  model  number,  manufacturer's 
list  price,  and  manufacturer's  name  of  the 
equipment  needed. 

Corresponding  information,  but  without 
the  manufacturer's  list  price,  is  supplied 


on  all  similar  equipment  in  the  hands  of  the 
exhibitor,  together  with  information  as  to 
why  the  theatre's  present  equipment  is  in- 
adequate or  requires  replacement. 

Applications  are  filed  on  Form  WPB- 
3253,  and  new  equipment  may  be  sold  or 
loaned  only  on  written  permission  from  the 
War  Production  Board — with  one  impor- 
tant exception.   That  exception  is: 

A  person  does  not  need  written  permis- 
sion to  lend  new  equipment  to  a  theatre  in 
an  emergency — for  a  period  of  not  more 
than  16  weeks — while  the  theatre's  equip- 
ment is  being  repaired  or  replaced. 

At  the  end  of  the  16  weeks  the  equip- 
ment must  be  returned  by  the  theatre  un- 
less the  WPB  has  given  written  permission 
to  continue  the  loan. 

An  emerffency  is  declared  to  exist  whett 
a  theatre's  equipment  has  broken  down,  or 
is  about  to  break  doiun. 

MANUFACTURING  PROVISIONS 

To  insure  that  equipment  will  be  avail- 
able to  meet  the  minimum  essential  needs 
of  exhibitors,  the  WPB  has  given  manu- 
facturers quotas  that  may  be  distributed. 
Because  of  production  requirements,  some 
manufacturers  are  permitted  to  produce 
more  than  they  may  distribute  under  the 
quotas,  and  the  excess  must  be  held,  but 
will  be  released  if  and  when  quotas  are  re- 
vised upward. 

At  the  present  time  the  established  quotas 
are  low,  and  are  expected  to  be  kept  so,  at 
least  through  the  first  half  of  this  year,  so 
that  not  all  dealers  will  be  able  to  carry 
all  items  in  stock. 

While  not  all  of  the  present  production 
may  be  distributed,  the  excess  will  be  quick- 
ly available  when  quotas  are  raised,  thus 
eliminating  any  gap  between  the  liberaliza- 
tion of  the  quotas  and  the  actual  supply  of 
the  equipment. 

It  is  impossible  for  any  manufacturer  to 
produce  equipment  in  a  few  months.  It 
requires  nearly  three  months  to  obtain  con- 
trolled and  non-controlled  materials,  and 
with  the  present  program  on  secret  military 
equipment,  six  months  is  required  to  obtain 
some  components,  such  as  motors,  ball  bear- 
ings, zinc  die  castings,  and  electronic  parts ; 
and  some  weeks  are  required  thereafter  for 
actual  fabrication  of  the  equipment. 


Thus,  if  no  reservoir  of  equipment  were 
available,  the  raising  of  the  quotas  would 
mean  little  for  maybe  nine  months. 

To  secure  equipment  for  distribution, 
dealers  apply  on  Form  WPB-547  for  a  90- 
day  stock  of  all  accessories. 

Like  the  exhibitor,  the  dealer  is  not  re- 
quired to  file  an  application  for  permission 
to  purchase  equipment  from  a  manufacturer 
for  stock,  but  places  his  orders  in  the  usual 
manner,  giving  the  manufacturer  informa- 
tion regarding  inventory,  and  the  manufac- 
turer files  an  application  on  Form  WPB- 
3253. 

Accordingly,  under  the  terms  of  Order 
L-325,  the  customer — the  exhibitor — has  no 
contact  at  all  with  the  War  Production 
Board. 

//  the  exhibitor  needs  repair  parts  or  ac- 
cessories, the  dealer  may  sell  them  from 
stock  without  a  preference  rating. 

If  the  exhibitor  needs  equipment,  he 
places  his  order  with  the  dealer  in  the  usudl 
manner,  and  the  dealer  files  on  Form 
PVPB-3253  for  permission  to  sell  ^hat 
equipment. 

Thus  a  very  simple,  highly  efficient 
method  of  providing  exhibitors  with  the 
equipment  they  must  have  if  their  theatres 
are  to  be  kept  in  operation  has  been  devel- 
oped by  the  theatre  equipment  section. 
Under  the  policy  laid  down  in  the  order, 
no  exhibitor  will  have  to  close  because  of 
a  projection  breakdown.  If  his  projection 
room  is  destroyed  or  damaged  by  fire,  or  if 
a  major  piece  of  apparatus  goes  "haywire," 
he  can  arrange  with  his  dealer  for  the  loan 
of  equipment  with  which  to  carry  on  while 
his  own  is  being  repaired  or  replaced. 

TUBE  SUPPLY  OUTLOOK 

All  types  of  tubes  are  governed  by  Limi- 
tation Order  L265,  which  is  administered 
by  the  Radio  and  Radar  Division  of  the 
War  Production  Board.  If  there  were  an 
ample  supply  of  radio  tubes  for  civilian  uses, 
exhibitors  would  have  no  difficulty  getting 
replacement  tubes  for  their  sound  systems 
from  their  dealers,  if  they  returned  the 
old  tubes.  The  overall  supply  of  many  types 
of  tubes  is  so  low,  however,  that  all,  or 
nearly  all,  of  the  manufacturers'  output  is 
at  present  under  direct  WPB  allocation  to 
the  various  armed  forces  and  suppliers  of 
their  equipment. 

The  Office  of  Civilian  Requirements  is 
now  reported  to  be  working  on  a  plan  to 
have  a  quantity  of  replacement  tubes  made 
available  to  the  motion  picture  industry  on 
direct  allocation.  It  would  seem  that  this 
is  the  industry's  best  hope  of  getting  the 
tubes  so  vitally  needed  during  1944. 


92 


BETTER  THEATRES 


January    8,  1944 


Planning  Now  for 
A  Belter  Theatre 
After  the  War 

By  BEN  SCHLANGER 


•  Mr.  Schlanger,  theatre 
architect  and  consultant, 
a  contributing  editor  of 
Better  Theatres  on  the- 
atre design,  interrupts 
his  series  of  articles  in 
these  pages  on  theatre 
planning  methods,  to 
suggest  things  to  think 
about  for  post-war  use 


THEATRE  OPERATORS 

have  already  begun  to  think  about  the  re- 
habilitation of  their  properties,  and  the 
erection  of  new  ones,  after  the  war.  In 
1944,  which  has  been  called  the  year  of 
decision  in  Europe,  such  thinking  will  not 
only  be  expanded,  but  become  more  definite 
in  expectation  that  the  time  will  soon  ar- 
rive to  put  plans  into  execution. 

What  is  a  practical  pattern  for  this 
thinking  about  the  post-war  theatre?  Some 
exhibitors  may  anticipate  revolutionary 
changes  which  are  now  so  vague  that  they 
hardly  dare  to  do  any  planning  at  all ; 
others  do  not  even  consider  the  advances 
already  available  in  the  methods  recom- 
mended before  the  war.  Both  are  extremes 
which  1944  thinking  about  post-war  con- 
struction and  remodeling  may  better  avoid. 
It  rather  should  make  use  of  what  we  have 
already  found  out  about  the  efficiency  of 
the  motion  picture  theatre  building,  and  of 
what  we  have  tangible  reason  to  expect  in 
post-war  materials  and  devices. 

To  strike  at  the  outset  the  practical  note 
that  this  discussion  will  follow  throughout, 
let  me  say  that  there  doubtless  will  be  a 
substantial  period,  one  of  months,  follow- 
ing the  return  of  peace  before  any  radical 
changes  in  construction  methods  will  be 
available.  If  prefabrication  were  ultimately 
to  be  a  factor,  for  example,  it  would  re- 
quire perhaps  a  year  for  manufacturers  to 
develop  a  technique  and  conditions  favor- 
able for  marketing  it.  Although  the  mar- 
ket may  early  display  marked  improvements 


in  some  few  of  the  older  materials,  in  gen- 
eral the  new  things  in  both  materials  and 
design  are  likely  to  be  products  of  the 
future  itself  rather  than  of  wartime  re- 
search and  processes,  at  least  directly.  In 
the  meantime  a  better  theatre  can  be  con- 
ceived with  the  materials  now  well  known 
to  us,  and  with  the  ideas  in  theatre  en- 
gineering already  developed. 

Prefabrication 

Now  in  many  instances  materials  already 
exist  which  will  have  new  significance  for 
the  designer  after  the  war;  in  other  in- 
stances it  will  be  possible  to  use  familiar 
materials  in  new  forms  and  for  somewhat 
different  purposes  than  heretofore.  In 
thinking  along  these  lines  one  sees  the  need 
for  prefabricated  wall  sections  for  the  fin- 
ishing of  interior  surfaces,  especially  in  the 
auditorium.  Hand-trowelled  plaster  has 
been  a  common  finish ;  for  plain,  large  flat 
surfaces  this  finish  is  fairly  economical,  but 
it  becomes  costly  when  a  specified  texture, 
or  a  broken-surfaced  design  is  required  for 
lighting  provisions,  acoustical  specifications, 
and  decoration.  Trowelled  plaster  is  also 
subject  to  cracking,  shrinking  and  even 
loosening  from  its  base. 

Now  instead  of  trowelled  plaster,  large 
sheets  of  a  fireproof  material  could  be  em- 
ployed, cast  or  extruded  at  the  factory, 
with  textures  or  surface  break-ups  included 
in  the  original  material.  Such  a  prefabri- 
cated wall  surface  should  prove  economical, 
attractive  and  devoid  of  the  disadvantages 
of  plaster.  Cement,  gypsum,  asbestos  and 
many  other  materials  already  familiar  to 
us  would  be  suited  to  this  method. 


Front  Materials 


It  is  difficult  to  conceive  of  a  theatre 
front  that  would  be  better  for  using  ma- 
terials radically  different  from  precast 
granite,  colored  glass,  structural  glass  (in 
blocks,  moulded  or  pressed),  porcelain- 
enameled  metal,  and  certain  architectural 
plastics — all  of  which  we  had  before  the 


war,  though  we  may  expect  greater  dur- 
ability and  flexibility  in  some  of  them, 
notably  the  plastics  and  glass  materials, 
after  the  war.  Glass  and  plastics  are  likely 
to  come  into  greater  use  than  ever,  since 
they  permit  back  lighting  (it  is  to  be  noted 
that  a  translucent  Formica  has  already 
been  promised  for  the  post-war  market). 

Thinking  about  the  post-war  theatre 
should  be  mqre  alert  than  heretofore  to  the 
dramatic  possibilities  of  architectural  illu- 
mination. With  the  newer  facilities  of  illu- 
mination, light  can  enliven  and  augment 
the  beauty  of  material  that  lend  themselves 
to  its  effective  use. 

Let  us  think  about  printing  posters  and 
other  display  matter  on  translucent  ma- 
terial so  that  they  can  be  illuminated  from 
the  rear,  concealing  the  light  sources  at 
the  same  time  that  they  take  on  richer 
colors  and  greater  vividness.  And  there 
is  no  reason  why  such  advertising  acces- 
sories could  not  be  used  on  the  marquee 
as  well  as  at  the  vestibule  and  in  the  lobby 
and  foyer  areas. 

The  Lobby 

A  theatre  floor  plan  must  conform  to 
certain  conditions  presented  by  the  project 
for  which  it  is  laid  out,  therefore  one  can- 
not say,  in  general,  that  it  should  be  such 
and  such;  however,  it  should  in  any  case 
arrange  the  lobby  and  foyer  so  that  each 
serves  its  purpose  precisely  and  not  hap- 
hazardly. The  outer  lobby,  or  vestibule, 
may  well  be  merely  an  enclosed  space, 
relatively  small,  serving  merely  as  a  weather 
lock  and  noise  barrier.  It  should  be  finished 
in  the  most  durable  surfaces.  Hardwood 
is  suitable  for  such  finishing,  and  it  is 
easily  maintained  by  the  occasional  applica- 
tion of  wax;  plastics  also  meet  the  require- 
ments Avell. 

This  is  a  good  time  to  investigate  also 
the  provisions  for  selling  tickets.  The 
island  ticket  booth,  a  little  cage  often  set 
at  the  sidewalk,  may  always  have  its  place ; 
but  perhaps  the  motion  picture  business 
has  taken  it  too  much  for  granted.  In  many 
situations  it  would  be  better,  in  my  opinion, 


January    8,  1944 


BETTER  THEATRES 


93 


not  to  think  of  the  ticket  selling  structure 
as  a  booth,  but  rather  as  a  part  of  the 
building,  integrated  with  it,  a  commodious 
room  in  which  the  patron  purchases  his 
ticket  in  attractive  surroundings  rather  out 
on  the  street,  sheltered  from  weather  that 
may  be  disagreeable. 

Then  there  is  the  matter  of  entrance  and 
front  exit  doors.  The  one  function  should 
be  differentiated  from  the  other,  in  the 
treatment  as  well  as  location  of  the  doors 
for  each.  The  main  entrance  doors  (one 
pair)  preferably  should  enter  into  the  foyer 
space ;  exit  doors,  on  the  other  hand,  may 
open  directly  on  the  street  along  the  front 
face  of  the  building  as  well  as  elsewhere. 

Foyer  Planning 

Foyer  and  lounge  areas  serve  a  double 
purpose;  it  is  in  them  that  the  specific 
charm  of  the  theatre  is  created,  and  they 
also  provide  the  necessary  space  for  wait- 
ing patrons,  meeting  companion  patrons, 
and  other  traffic  conditions.  They  should 
also  be  well  thought  out  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  the  growing  custom  of  dispensing 
refreshments  in  theatres.  We  were  just 
getting  into  that  when  the  war  stopped 
construction. 

The  foyer  and  lounge  space  serves  the 
environmental  factors  in  theatre  operation. 
Decoration,  architectural  furbelows — these 
are  wasted  on  patrons  in  the  motion  picture 
auditorium,  and  sometimes  they  interfere 
with  the  primary  function  of  the  audi- 
torium, where  "the  play  is  the  thing."  But 
in  the  foyer  and  lounge  we  have  our 
chance  to  provide  a  prelude  to  the  make- 
believe  of  the  screen,  to  start  the  patron  in 
his  retreat  from  the  prosaic  world  of 
reality,  and  to  distinguish  the  theatre,  ap- 
pealingly,  from  other  recreational  environ- 
ments. 

In  giving  the  foyer  and  the  lounge  their 
special  atmosphere  carpeting  and  illumina- 
tion will  certainly  continue  to  be  major 
devices.  For  the  walls,  in  addition  to  the 
many  familiar  materials,  one  may  use  pre- 
pared decorative  veneers  of  metallized  or 
painted  fabrics.  In  any  case,  all  surfaces 
should  be  washable.  And  coming  attrac- 
tion displays  can  be  incorporated  into  the 
entire  scheme  architecturally  and  decora- 
tively,  treated  to  attract  the  eyes,  and 
placed  where  sight  of  them  is  natural. 

Standee  Space 

The  area  behind  the  last  row  of  seating 
also  may  bear  such  relationship  to  the  audi- 
torium proper  that  it  also  may  be  quite 
decorative;  however,  this  space  has  a  much 
lower  level  of  illumination  than  a  foyer, 
so  that  much  of  the  detailed  ornamentation 
of  value  in  the  latter  would  be  wasted  in 
the  standee  space.  This  has  often  been  the 
case,  so  now  we  ought  to  think  about  creat- 
ing the  treatment  of  the  standee  area 
around  its  peculiar  lighting  requirements, 
making  the  efiFect  of  the  subdued  lighting 
an  element  of  the  design.  The  scheme 
should  also  regard  this  space  purely  as  one 


providing  a  physical  transition  from  foyer 
to  seating — there  should  be  no  other  activi- 
ties here,  nothing  to  stop  unnecessarily  the 
flow  of  traflic  between  the  aisles  and  the 
foyer. 

Toilet  Rooms 

We  should  certainly  be  thinking  in  our 
planning  about  improvement  of  the  toilet 
rooms.  And  to  do  this  we  need  to  know 
about  nothing  that  was  not  available  before 
the  war.  Too  much  planning  in  the  past 
failed  to  take  note  of  advances  in  equip- 
ment and  materials  to  such  accomodations. 
Often  a  theatre  which  makes  a  fine  im- 
pression in  its  front  architecture  and  in- 
terior treatment,  loses  that  valuable  effect 
when  the  public  goes  into  its  toilet  rooms, 
not  necessarily  because  of  uncleanliness, 
but  because  they  remind  patrons  of  similar 
facilities  in,  say,  a  railroad  station.  Often, 
too,  the  plan,  materials  and  fixtures  make 
maintenance  more  difficult  and  costly  than 
it  has  to  be. 

All  flushing  devices  should  have  foot 
valve  controls,  and  it  is  highly  desirable  to 
have  the  water  supply  of  the  lavatories  con- 
trolled in  the  same  manner.  It  seems  to 
me  that  here  as  much  as  anywhere  in  the 
theatre  photoelectric  cell  control  of  doors 
would  be  effective.  Wall  surfaces  should 
be  water-repellent  and  resistant  to  stain 
throughout — with  the  materials  already  de- 
veloped for  these  purposes  there  is  no 
reason  for  such  finishes  to  be  confined  to 
the  lower  half  of  the  walls. 

Women's  lounges  have  often  been  done 
elaborately  in  the  larger  theatres,  but  they 
are  important  enough,  in  the  impression  a 
theatre  makes,  to  be  commodious  (accord- 
ing to  the  scale  of  the  theatre)  and  taste- 
fully appointed  in  every  house  located 
where  women  appreciate  such  things  (as 
where  do  they  not,  these  days?).  And  in 
the  post-war  theatre,  mechanical  ventila- 
tion of  toilet  rooms  should  be  mandatory. 

Projection  Rooms 

Every  theatre  that  is  much  more  than  a 
mere  local  accomodation  should  have  a 
projection  room  at  least  10  feet  high,  with 
all  of  this  height  available  to  the  wall  fac- 
ing the  screen  for  projection  and  observa- 
tion ports.  In  our  planning  now  we  should 
consider  the  use  of  a  light  steel  frame  and 
plaster  blocks  for  construction  of  this  front 
wall  so  that  new  openings  may  be  readily 
made  in  it  for  new  types  of  projection 
equipment. 

Wherever  possible,  the  projection  space 
should  stretch  across  the  entire  width  of  the 
auditorium ;  at  least  it  should  be  30  feet 
wide.  The  depth  of  the  room  ought  not  to 
be  under  12  feet.  Such  dimensions  not  only 
allow  for  the  proper  disposition  of  the  film 
projectors  and  accessory  equipment,  but  for 
television  receiving  and  projection  appara- 
tus, which  belong  in  such  a  room  rather 
than  at  the  front  of  a  balcony  or  a  similar 
intrusive  and  inconvenient  location.  As 
television  develops,  it  doubtless  will  become 


feasible  to  place  the  theatre  equipment  a 
substantial  distance  from  the  screen.  We 
should  not  expect,  however,'  that  a  plan 
placing  a  thousand  and  more  seats  on  one 
floor  will  soon  be  adapted  to  television 
unless  rear  projection  could  be  effectively 
employed.  From  the  point  of  view  of 
construction  economics,  and  I  think  from 
that  of  operating  convenience  also,  projec- 
tion from  the  rear  of  the  auditorium  bet- 
ter serves  the  purposes  of  the  majority  of 
theatres. 

In  planning  the  projection  room  we 
should  also  bear  in  mind  the  convenience 
of  a  floor  made  of  removable  panels  which 
give  access  to  a  space  below  through  which 
the  wiring  is  run.  This  would  provide 
not  only  for  servicing,  but  for  rapid,  rela- 
tively inexpensive  revision  or  additions  re- 
quired by  changes  in  equipment. 

In  the  Auditorium 

The  visual  and  acoustical  considerations 
in  the  planning  of  the  auditorium  (the 
viewing  space)  of  a  motion  picture  thea- 
tre have  always  needed  greater  attention 
than  they  got.  We  should  be  thinking  of 
this  enclosure  mainly  as  an  instrument  of 
the  motion  picture  mechanism,  capable  of 
delivering  to  the  viewer  a  faithful  repro- 
duction of  the  film  creation.  It  is  necessary 
to  change  our  approach  to  the  design  of 
this  element,  from  the  assumption  that -it 
presents  a  decorative  problem,  to  the  idea 
that  it  offers  a  functional  problem.  This 
latter  attitude  by  no  means  precludes  the 
attainment  of  an  environmental  effect  com- 
patible to  the  purpose. 

The  main  source  of  light  in  a  motion 
picture  auditorium,  for  the  greatest  periods 
of  time  in  which  the  space  is  occupied  by 
the  public,  is  the  illuminated  screen.  The 
screen  light  therefore  should  be  our  guide 
to  what  forms  and  textures  the  interior 
surfaces  should  take  on.  In  addition,  this 
light  should  be  so  controlled  that  there 
shall  not  be  any  annoying  reflections. 

Likewise,  every  form  and  texture  of  the 
walls  and  ceiling  is  capable  of  either 
improving  or  destroying  the  acoustical 
quality  of  the  auditorium. 

Let  us  think  about  the  auditorium  as  a 
skeleton  structural  frame  (many  excellent 
and  efficient  types  have  developed  in  the 
past  few  years)  with  a  light  masonry  cur- 
tain wall  (non-structural)  on  the  outside 
of  the  skeleton  frame  to  keep  the  weather 
out,  and  then  create  an  air  space  between 
the  outer  shell  and  a  thin  diaphramatic 
shell  forming  the  inside  surfaces.  The  air 
space  serves  both  for  sound  and  weather 
insulation  as  well  as  for  the  running  of 
ducts  and  the  creation  of  space  for  air- 
conditioning  purposes.  The  inside  dia- 
phramatic shell  could  be  supported  on  a 
very  light  steel  framework,  architecturally 
referred  to  as  furring,  with  the  finish  mate- 
rial preferably  made  up  of  cast  or  extruded 
sheets  of  fireproof  material,  which  could 
be  bolted  to  the  light  furring. 

The  acoustical,  lighting  and  decorative 
requirements  would  cause  these  interior 
{Continued  on  page  108) 


94 


BETTER  THEATRES 


January    8,  1944 


Exhibitors  of  America  have  many  du- 
ties to  perform  these  war  days.  You 
build  unity  and  morale  through  motion 
picture  presentations— and  you  promote 
and  support  the  various  government 
drives  that  are  initiated  to  spur  war 
production  and  civilian  defense. 

RCA  Service,  like  exhibitors,  is  carry- 
ing on  important  war  duties:  RCA  en- 
gineers are  rendering  scheduled  service 
to  projection  room  equipment  in  thou- 
'  sands  of  theatres  to  "Keep  'em  Run- 
ning"—and  other  RCA  Service  groups 
are  installing  military  equipment  and 
instructing  personnel,  in  this  country 
and  at  the  battlefronts. 

The  RCA  Service  organization  is  to- 
day more  than  nation-wide 
...  it  is  world-wide  . . .  serv- 
ing the  home  front  and 
battlefronts  too! 


RCA  SERVICE  CO.,  INC. 

RADIO  CORPORATION  OF  AMERICA 

Subsidiary 

Camden,  N.  J. 


Save  Those  Extra  Copper  Drippings 


The 


LIGHT  on  your 

SCREEN 


By  CHARLES  E.  SHULTZ 

Member  SMPE  .  .  .  Honorary  Life  Member  LOCAL  365,  lATSE  &  MPMO 


When  Framer  Throws 
Shutter  Out  of  Time 

L.  T.  NiCKELL,  projec- 
tionist of  Sikeston,  Mo.,  asks  the  follow- 
ing question  concerning  loss  in  shutter  tim- 
ing when  the  picture  is  framed : 

"I  am  having  some  trouble  and  I 
thought  I  would  drop  you  a  line  and  may- 
be you  could  help  me.  My  trouble  is  that 
when  I  frame  my  picture  with  the  framer 
it  seems  to  throw  my  shutter  out  of  time. 
I  have  tried  everything  I  know,  but  I  can't 
seem  to  find  the  trouble.  I  am  using  Super- 
Simplex  with  rear  shutters.  There  may  be 
two  or  three  different  things  causing  the 
trouble,  but  if  you  give  me  some  ideas  may- 
be it  will  help  me." 

I  regret  that  the  information  contained 
in  this  inquiry  is  not  complete  enough  to 
give  me  an  opportunity  to  put  my  finger 
definitely  on  the  cause  of  the  trouble,  but 
there  are  certain  conditions  which  result 
in  the  loss  of  shutter  timing  which  you 
describe,  and  their  correction  may  clear  up 
your  trouble  or  effect  at  least  a  definite 
improvement. 

If  the  difficulty  occurs  only  at  the  time 
that  the  actual  operation  of  framing  is  tak- 
ing place,  and  the  travel  ghost  disappears 
as  soon  as  the  picture  is  in  frame,  and  the 
motion  of  the  framing  control  has  stopped, 
the  trouble  is  probably  due  to  a  worn  train 
which  results  in  ( 1 )  excessive  backlash,  or 
(2)  sluggish  response  of  the  framing  slide 
assembly. 

1.  If  the  condition  is  the  result  of  back- 
lash from  a  worn  gear  train  the  only  rem- 
edy is  to  replace  the  worn  gears. 

2.  If  the  trouble  is  the  result  of  slug- 
gish response  of  the  framing  slide  assem- 
bly, try  a  little  lubrication  on  shaft 
S-1082-G,  and  gear  G-116-G,  which  are 
shown  in  the  accompanying  schematic 
drawing.  It  is  advisable  to  use  Simplex 
framing  gear  lubricant  on  this  shaft  twice 
a  week  to  prevent  any  danger  of  sluggish 
action  from  this  source. 

If  the  picture  remains  out  of  time  after 
framing,  the  condition  is  probably  caused 
by  binding  in  the  framing  slide  assembly. 
This  binding  action  will  make  it  impos- 
sible for  the  framing  mechanism  to  follow 
the  action  of  the  cam  which  turns  the  in- 
termittent  when   the   framing  handle  is 


turned,  and  the  synchronization  between 
the  intermittent  and  shutter  gears  will  be 
lost.  Here's  the  way  to  find  out  whether 
this  is  the  case : 

1.  Start  the  projector  and  let  it  run. 

2.  Open  the  non-operating  side  of  the 
head  and  find  a  position  where  you  can 
watch  the  gears  shown  in  the  drawing. 

3.  Turn  the  framing  handle  all  the  way 
in  each  direction  and  notice  whether  gear 
G-116-G  moves  all  the  way  from  one  end 


5  -lOaX- &__SHAFT 

6  116  6  GEAft 


Framing  shaft  and  gear. 


of  shaft  S-1082-G  to  the  other  end.  Be 
sure  to  notice  whether  or  not  it  moves  in 
perfect  synchronism  with  the  movement  of 
the  framing  cam  of  the  intermittent. 

If  the  gear  fails  to  move  all  the  way 
or  doesn't  keep  up  with  the  movement  of 
the  intermittent,  a  further  check  should  be 
made  to  determine  the  cause  of  the  binding 
of  the  framing  slide  assembly. 

It  will  generally  be  found  that  lubrica- 
tion at  the  points  described  will  ease  this 
condition,  and  if  the  gear  train  isn't  too 
worn,  you  will  probably  find  that  your 
trouble  will  be  greatly  helped  or  elimi- 
nated. 

Positioning  the  Screen 
For  Maximum  Effect  

ALVIN  SLOAN,  general 
manager  of  the  St.  Cloud  Amusement  Cor- 
poration of  Washington,  N.  J.,  writes  as 
follows : 

"I  enjoy  reading  your  'Light  On  Your 


96 


BETTER  THEATRES 


January    8,  1944 


Accuracy  that 
Counts  on  all 
Fronts 


Bausch  &  Lomb  Oil 
Immersion  Objective 
—97X-N.A.  1.25. 


At  first  glanee  there  would  seem  to  be  little 
relationship  between  an  intricate,  ten-foot  long 
height  finder  and  a  microscope  objective  with 
lenses  of  less  than  one  millimeter  in  radius. 
Yet  both  are  the  products  of  the  same  eyes, 
the  same  facilities,  the  same  standards  of  accu- 
racy, the  same  experience.  Both  are  aiding  in 
America's  war  effort.  Both  are  products  of 
Bausch  &  Lomb. 

The  lens  computing  and  grinding  skills  that 
for  years  have  produced  the  minute,  exceed- 
ingly accurate  lens  components  of  the  micro- 
scope objective  are  today  also  being  employed 
in  the  production  of  height-finders  and  gunfire 
control  instruments  that  are  helping  America's 
armed  forces  to  win  an  earlier  Victory. 

This  quantity  production  of  precision  optical 
instruments,  pioneered  and  fostered  by  Bausch 
&  Lomb  through  years  of  peace,  has  become  a 
highly  valued  asset  to 
an  America  at  war. 
Here  again,  because  of  its 
wartime  accomplishments, 
Bausch  &  Lomb  will  be 
able  to  extend  its  optical 
services  to  peacetime  pur- 
suits when  Victory  is  won. 


For  Bausch  &•  Lomb 
Instruments  essential 
to   Victory — priorities 
govern  delivery 
schedules. 


BAUSCH  &  LOMB 

OPTICAL  COMPANY,  ROCHESTER,  N.  Y. 
ESTABLISHED  1853 

AN  AMERICAN  SCIENTIFIC  INSTITUTION  PRODUCING  OP- 
TICAL GLASS  AND  INSTRUMENTS  FOR  MILITARY  USE,  EDU- 
CATION, RESEARCH,  INDUSTRY  AND  EYESIGHT  CORRECTION 


PERFORMER 

•T 


FILM 

RE WINDER 

Sold  thruTHEATRE  SUPPLY  DEALERS 

  Exdusjvelv   


KEEP  POSTED!  .  .  . 

For  Post-war  Preparedness 


Screen'  columns  and  have  found  them  to 
be  very  interesting  and  informative.  In 
the  current  issue  you  answer  a  question 
sent  in  by  Projectionist  Lawrence  Bowman 
of  Marion,  Ohio,  and  your  answer  raises 
some  other  questions  in  my  mind.  You  tell 
Mr.  Bowman  to  determine  the  best  angle 
at  which  to  place  his  screen  by  using  a 
mirror  to  see  in  what  direction  the  screen  . 
will  reflect  the  most  light.  This  answer 
assumes  that  the  screen  will  have  the  same 
reflection  characteristics  as  a  mirror,  as  far 
as  the  direction  of  reflected  light  is  con- 
cerned, and  this  assumption  is  unwarranted 


the  theatre),  regardless  of  the  angle  at 
which  the  screen  is  set. 

"You  mention  only  the  amount  of  light 
in  your  answer  to  Mr.  Bowman's  ques- 
tion, but  isn't  distortion  another  important 
factor?  Inasmuch  as  any  tilting  of  the  screen 
to  eliminate  projection  angle  distortion  must 
necessarily  increase  the  amount  of  distor- 
tion caused  by  the  fact  that  the  patron 
does  not  look  at  a  screen  set  at  right  an- 
gles to  his  sight  line,  it  seems  to  me  that 
the  tilt  would  have  little,  if  any,  effect  on 
the  amount  of  distortion  to  the  patron.  A 
tilt  would,  of  course,  eliminate  distortion 


FIGURE 


lOO  FEET  FROM  THE  CENTER  OF  THE  SCREEN  TO  THE 
CENTER  OF  LEMS  IN  EACH  CASE 


3.7S"E.F.  L£MS  WITH  STANDARD  .8iS'  SOUND  APERTURE 
A-  0°  PROJECTION  ANGLE       6=  30°  PROJECTION  AN&LE 


—  —  jOO.32' 


l0O.32;_  — 


-006' 


PROPORTIONS  OF  IMAGE  OF 
STANDARD  APERTURE  WHEN 
PROJECTED  FROM  POINT  A. 


-Xi.r 


PROPORTIONS  OF  IMAOE  OF 
STANDARD  APERTURE  WHEN 
PROJECTED  FROM  POINT  B. 


if  my  experience  with  different  types  of 
screens  has  caused  me  to  reach  correct  con- 
clusions. 

"I  was  of  the  opinion  that  the  only 
screens  which  would  reflect  in  the  same 
direction  as  a  mirror  were  of  the  silver 
type.  The  beaded  type  does  just  the  op- 
posite, reflecting  almost  all  of  the  light 
right  back  to  the  source  of  light,  so  un- 
less the  theatre  is  narrow  and  has  little  or 
no  projection  angle,  the  projectionist  will 
always  see  a  brighter  picture  than  anybody 
in  the  audience  no  matter  at  what  angle 
you  place  the  screen.  The  flat  white  type 
diffuses  the  light  equally  in  all  directions, 
so  all  parts  of  any  theatre  receive  equal 
light  (in  no  case  as  much  as  the  other  types 
of  screens  deliver  to  a  particular  part  of 


to  the  projectionist  and  to  patrons  in  the 
balcony  if  the  theatre  has  a  balcony." 

Thanks  for  your  observations  concerning 
the  various  types  of  screens  and  the  results 
cf  tilting  a  screen  as  suggested  in  the  No- 
vember 13  issue  of  Better  Theatres. 
You  offer  several  points  which  will,  I  am 
sure,  be  of  interest  to  other  projectionists 
and  exhibitors. 

My  suggestion  for  using  a  small  flat 
mirror  at  the  center  of  the  screen  for  de- 
termining the  proper  angular  setting  was 
offered  as  an  improved  procedure  to  replace 
the  string  method  which  is  often  employed 
for  this  purpose. 

I  did  not  intend  to  convey  the  impres- 
sion that  all  projection  screens  have  the 
directional  characteristics  of  a  flat  silvered 


January    8,  1944 


BETTER  THEATRES 


97 


It's  32  Years  Since 

Beck,  inventor  of  the  high  intensity  arc,  applied  for 
his  first  patent,  which  was  the  forerunner  of  the 
high  intensity  projection  arc  in  common  use  today. 

It's  26  Years  Since 

Sunlight  Arc  Corporation  produced  the  first  con- 
denser type  high  intensity  projection  lamp  in 
America. 

It's  21  Years  Since 

The  first  low  intensity  projection  arc  lamps,  oper- 
ating on  the  reflector  type  principle,  were  intro- 
duced in  America. 


It's  17  Years  Since 

Charles  Fox  designed  and  RoUaway  Mfg.  Co.  pro- 
duced the  first  commercial  high  intensity  arc  lamp 
operating  on  the  reflector  type  principle.  This  is 
the  lamp  which  came  to  be  known  as  the  Hi-Lo. 

It's  11  Years  Since 

A  copper  coated  modification  of  Beck's  high  in- 
tensity carbon  was  first  marketed  by  National 
Carbon  Company,  Inc.,  under  the  trade  name  of 
Suprex,  and  also  eleven  years  since  projection  lamps 
which  employed  these  carbons  in  an  arc  were 
offered  by  The  Strong  Electric  Corporation. 

It  Will  Be  Only  a  Short  Time 

until  Strong  will  again  be  first  to  offer  the  latest 
type  projection  arc  lamps  for  America's  theatres. 


The  STRONG  ELECTRIC  Corporation 


87  City  Park  Avenue 


Toledo  2,  Ohio 


THE  WORLD'S  LARGEST  MANUFACTURERS  OF 
PROJECTION  ARC  LAMPS 


HASTEN  THE  RETURN  OF  PEACE— BUY  MORE  WAR  BONDS  NOW 


98 


BETTER    TH  EATRES 


January    8,  1944 


WENZEL 
Precision 
Replacement 

Parts 

'Till  Victory  is  won, 
and  our  new  projec- 
tors will  again  be 
available. 

Send  for  our  catalog 
WC II  mentioning 
name  of  dealer  who 
serves  you. 


Keep  your  present 
equipment  operat- 
ing smootlily  with 


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glass  mirror  as  they  most  certainly  do  not. 
The  purpose  of  the  mirror  test  is  to  pro- 
vide an  accurate  means  of  practical  test  for 
the  angle  of  reflection  of  the  screen  which 
automatically  takes  into  consideration  the 
angle  of  incidence  and  angle  of  reflection. 
The  methods  suggested  accomplish  this 
purpose. 

Before  going  into  a  discussion  of  the  re- 
sults of  various  angular  positions  of  the 
screen,  however,  let's  take  up  the  points 


coated  with  magnesium  oxide.  Such  sur- 
faces are  used  as  a  standard  of  comparison 
with  other  reflecting  materials  in  tables 
and  graphs  showing  the  reflectivity  of  ma- 
terials. In  such  comparisons  magnesium 
oxide  is  considered  as  100%. 

Various  kinds  of  diffuse  screens  differ 
in  their  ability  to  distribute  the  reflected 
light,  but  none  are  as  efficient  as  magnesium 
oxide  in  this  respect. 

If  we  consider  magnesium  oxide  as  a 


Figure  2 


which  you  offered  regarding  the  reflection 
characteristics  of  the  three  types  of  screens. 

You  are  correct  in  assuming  that  the 
silver  screen  has  much  the  same  character- 
istics as  the  silvered  mirror,  but  it  is  not 
as  directional  as  the  mirror  itself.  The  sil- 
ver type  screen  is  highly  eflRcient  within 
a  narrow  angle  and  it  is  very  important 
that  it  be  set  to  direct  light  toward  the 
seating  areas  that  are  most  often  occupied. 

The  beaded  screen  has  the  characteristic 
to  which  you  refer,  that  is,  it  reflects  more 
light  back  along  the  light  beam  than  in 
any  other  direction.  This  is  probably  due 
to  the  fact  that  the  surface  is  composed  of 
a  great  number  of  spherical  glass  balls. 
Each  Ball  presents  a  convex  reflecting  sur- 
face to  the  light  beam  which  directs  the 
light  back  to  the  source.  Because  of  this 
characteristic  the  beaded  screen  is  unsuited 
for  any  theatre  in  which  there  is  a  heavy 
projection  angle  or  a  wide  viewing  angle 
on  either  side  of  the  screen. 

The  most  commonly  used  type  of  screen 
is  the  flat  white  diffusing  type.  You  are 
not  quite  right  in  assuming  that  this  type 
of  screen  reflects  light  equally  in  all  direc- 
tions, for  no  reflecting  surface  has  this 
property. 

The  most  uniform  distribution  of  re- 
flected   light   is   obtained    from  surfaces 


standard  in  the  following  discussion  it  may 
be  assumed  that  we  have  selected  a  sur- 
face having  as  nearly  perfect  powers  of 
distribution  as  that  obtainable  and  that 
all  other  diffuse  reflecting  surface  will  have 
lower  powers  of  light  distribution. 

At  an  angle  of  45°  the  magnesium  oxide 
screen  reflects  10%  less  light  than  at  a 
point  perpendicular  to  the  surface  and  at 
60°  it  reflects  about  16%  less  light.  We  can 
not  correctly  say,  therefore,  that  diffuse 
screens  reflect  light  equally  in  all  direc- 
tions and  we  can  further  assume  that 
screens  used  in  theatres  will  have  lower 
powers  of  distribution  than  magnesium 
oxide  surfaces. 

Now  let's  tackle  that  question  about  dis- 
tortion and  screen  angles :  In  order  to  re- 
duce this  study  of  the  affects  of  screen 
angles  and  distortion  to  a  practical  con- 
sideration of  the  facts  as  they  will  actually 
occur  in  theatrical  projection,  we  will  con- 
sider a  case  with  standard  equipment  and 
ordinary  operating  conditions.  In  order  to 
magnify  the  resulting  aflEects,  however,  we 
will  consider  unusually  steep  projection 
angle  and  large  screen  in  proportion  to  the 
length  of  throw. 

In  Figure  1  a  condition  is  shown  in 
which  a  picture  is  projected  at  a  distance 
of  100  feet  from  the  center  of  the  screen 


January    8,  1944 


BETTER  THEATRES 


99 


to  the  projection  lens  at  no  projection  angle 
and  at  30°  projection  angle. 

The  lens  is  assumed  to  have  an  equivalent 
focus  (E.  F.)  of  3.75"  which  produces  an 
image  approximately  16  feet  x  22  feet 
from  a  standard  sound  aperture  vi^hich 
measures  .6"  x  .825"  when  there  is  no 
projection  angle.  This  condition  is  shown 
by  the  broken  line  in  the  drawing. 

If  the  distance  from  the  center  of  the 
screen  to  the  lens  is  held  at  100  feet  but 
a  projection  angle  of  30°  is  encountered  (as 
shown  by  the  solid  lines  in  the  drawing) 
the  axis  of  the  light  beam  strikes  the  screen 
surface  at  an  angle  of  60°  and  the  picture 
will  be  elongated  approximately  14%  in 
the  vertical  plane.  Under  these  conditions 
the  picture  will  no  longer  retain  the  pro- 
portions of  the  standard  sound  aperture. 
The  image  will  have  appearance  of  an  in- 
verted keystone  due  to  projection  distor- 
tion because  the  top  will  be  smaller,  the 
bottom  larger  and  the  height  greater  than 
the  undistorted  image.  The  approximate 
dimensions  of  the  distorted  picture  are 
given  in  the  drawing. 

You  suggest  that  projection  distortion  of 
this  kind  is  offset  by  the  viewing  angle  of 
the  observer  in  the  audience  because  he 
sees  the  height  of  the  picture  reduced  by  a 
reverse  viewing  angle  distortion. 

This  may  be  true  for  one  selected  point, 
but  as  every  patron  views  the  picture  from 
a  different  angle,  it  can't  be  true  for  more 
than  a  very  small  area  within  the  seating 
position  of  the  andience. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  some  patrons  will 
see  the  picture  at  such  an  angle  that  the 
height  will  be  actually  reduced  to  a  value 
lower  than  the  proportions  of  the  undis- 
torted image,  while  others  will  see  an 
elongation  in  proportion  to  the  distortion 
through  projection  angle. 

In  order  to  visualize  this  condition  we 
will  assume  in  Figure  2  that  we  have  re- 
tained all  of  the  measurements  shown  for 
the  30°  projection  angle  in  Figure  1  and 
that  we  have  selected  three  points  of  ob- 
servation designated  at  A,  B,  and  C.  We 
will  assume  that  each  of  these  points  of 
observation  are  aligned  horizontally  with 
the  center  of  the  screen  because  if  these 
points  were  not  so  placed  it  would  com- 
plicate the  problem  without  helping  in  any 
way  in  this  discussion. 

When  the  screen  is  in  position  1  (Fig- 
ure 2)  which  is  assumed  to  be  the  same 
as  that  shown  in  the  preceding  drawing, 
the  axis  of  the  light  beam  forms  an  angle 
of  60°  to  the  screen  surface  and  the  pro- 
portions of  the  projected  image  are  dis- 
torted as  shown  in  Figure  1. 

If  we  assume  that  point  B  is  perpendicu- 
lar to  the  screen  surface,  no  distortion  from 
visual  angle  will  occur  at  this  point  and 
the  screen  will  appear  in  the  true  propor- 
tions as  it  is  projected.  This  will  then 
give  the  appearance  of  an  inverted  keystone 
which  is  elongated  about  14%  as  shown 
in  Figure  1.  The  observer  sees  an  image 
which  is  distorted  by  projection  angle  and 
there  is  no  correction  by  reverse  visual  dis- 
tortion. 

If  we  assume  point  A  is  at  an  angle  of 
{Continued  on  page  108") 


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Fully  perfected  and  patented,  this  new,  ad- 
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John  J.  Sefing  is  a  graduate  mechanical  engineer  and  has  long  specialized  in  theatre  work 

WARTIME  INSPECTION: 
9.  General  Plumbing 

NINTH  OF  A  SERIES  OF  INSPECTION  GUIDES  WITH  RECORD  FORMS 


[The  Maintenance  Inspection  Record  for 
General  Plumbing  appears  on  pages  106- 
107.  Beginning  below,  with  each  item  num- 
bered according  to  its  number  in  the  form, 
is  an  explanation  of  procedure  for  efficient 
examination  and  for  correction  of  defects. 
The  first  guide,  on  projection  and  sound 
equipment,  appeared  in  the  May  29th  is- 
sue; items  are  numbered  cumulatively  re- 
gardless of  classification  so  as  to  avoid 
confusion  in  the  use  of  the  record  forms.^ 

AN  EFFICIENT  and  Safe 
system  of  plumbing  is  a  matter  of  vital 
importance  to  the  theatre.  Unless  the 
water  supply  and  waste  disposal  installa- 
tions are  right  in  the  first  place,  then  kept 
right,  repairs  become  too  much  of  a  burden 
and  may  even  be  without  sufficient  effect  to 
assure  convenience  to  the  public  and  the 
preservation  of  sanitary  conditions. 

ITEM  93:  Water  Closet 

Make  sure  that  the  water  closet  is  mak- 
ing a  good  water-tight  seal  with  the  floor 
flanges.  It  must  be  remembered  that  this 
particular  fixture  can  easily  be  loosened  or 
even  broken  by  natural  shrinkage,  move- 
ment of  the  floor,  building  or  piping,  and 
especially  by  rough  and  long  usage.  Where 
the  water  closets  depend  upon  a  putty- 
joint,  slip-joint,  rigid-gasket  joint  or  any 
other  kind  of  rigid  connection  for  a  good 
sanitary  seal,  more  frequent  inspection 
should  be  exercised  as  general  deterioration 
sets  in  more  rapidly. 

As  a  rule,  the  above  mentioned  joints 
are  not  flexible  enough  to  withstand  ex- 
pansion or  contraction  of  the  floor,  and 
as  a  result  cannot  remain  permanently 
water-tight.  However,  do  not  use  rubber 
washers  for  the  connection  between  the 
floor  and  the  fixture;  rubber  is  very  im- 
practicable for  this  use,  even  in  an  emer- 
gency. The  best  thing  to  use  is  metal-to- 
metal  floor  flanges ;  they  are  very  durable 
and  flexible  and  will  remain  water-tight 


over  a  long  period  of  time.  Where  the 
fixture  is  badly  chipped,  cracked  or  broken 
the  fractured  part  or  parts  should  be  care- 
fully filled  in  with  good  porcelain  cement, 
or  equivalent  patented  cement,  in  order  to 
prevent  further  extension  of  the  fractures 
and  to  avoid  possible  injuries  to  patrons. 

Always  keep  the  area  in  and  around  the 
water  closet  immaculately  clean.  Any  and 
all  loose  objects — paper  or  metal — should 
be  picked  up  immediately  and  carried  away 
from  the  toilet  room.  The  waste  can  or 
basket  should  always  be  emptied  of  its  con- 
tents long  before  it  is  filled  up.  The  waste 
water  from  the  bucket  or  pail  used  in  mop- 
ping up  the  floor  should  never  be  emptied 
into  the  water  closet  or  the  accumulation 
of  dirt,  grit  and  other  larger  foreign  mat- 
ter will  eventually  block  up  the  trap  in  the 
soil  pipe.  This  precaution  should  apply 
equally  as  well  to  the  disposal  of  cigarette 
butts,  empty  cigarette  packages,  candy 
wrappers,  etc.  In  case  the  water  closet  is 
blocked  up  do  not  use  raw  lye  or  any  other 
harsh  acid  to  dislodge  the  trapped  material ; 
lye  especially  will  tend  to  eat  away  the 
finish  of  the  fixture  material  and  cause 
leaks  in  the  gasket  sealing  the  water  closet 
to  the  floor.  Also,  be  very  cautious  about 
using  any  patented  chemical  for  this  pur- 
pose unless  it  has  been  found  from  experi- 
ence not  to  be  injurious  to  the  material  of 
the  water  closet.  For  opening  up  a  blocked 
water  closet  a  hand  plunger  can  be  tried, 
and  if  this  will  not  do  the  job,  then  a 
wire  or  "snake"  especially  designed  for 
plumbers'  use  should  be  used.  In  obstinate 
cases  of  blockage  a  plumber  should  be 
called  in  as  inexperienced  hands  can  easily 
damage  the  trap,  sealing-gasket  and  even 
the  fixture  itself.  It  is  a  good  idea  to 
have  on  hand  a  plumber's  hand  plunger  and 
a  clean-out  wire  or  "snake." 

ITEM  94:  Flushometer 

This  is  the  valve  with  a  small  swivel 
handle  which,  when  depressed  by  hand,  ad- 


January 


19  44 


BETTER  THEATRES 


101 


mits  a  flow  of  water  under  pressure  to  the 
water  closet.  As  a  rule,  this  flush  valve 
stands  up  very  well  even  under  the  hard- 
est service,  but  as  with  anything  else,  it 
may  give  trouble  after  a  long  period  in 
operation  and  when  abused.  This  is  the 
way  the  flushometer  operates : 

When  the  handle  is  pressed  down  it 
raises  the  main  valve  off  its  seat,  thus  mak- 
ing a  direct  connection  from  the  flusho- 
meter to  the  water  main,  and  when  the 
handle  is  released  the  valve  closes  slowly  of 
its  own  accord  against  the  water  pressure. 
As  can  be  readily  seen,  if  this  valve  does 
not  operate  properly,  it  may  be  that  the 
pressure  is  either  too  high  or  too  low.  Also, 
it  may  be  that  some  sediment  has  worked 
itself  into  the  valve  seat,  or  the  face  of  this 
valve  is  rough  or  not  fitting  properly.  If 
the  pressure  is  at  fault,  the  two  set-screws, 
one  on  top  and  one  at  the  bottom  of  the 
valve,  should  be  adjusted  very  gradually 
with  a  heavy  screw  driver. 

Sometimes,  however,  it  may  be  found 
that  the  inside  of  the  water  feed  pipe  is 
blocked  up  considerably  with  sediment  and 
even  particles  of  rust,  which  tend  to  cut 
down  the  inside  diameter  of  the  pipe.  At 
other  times  it  may  be  found  that  the  main 
water  pressure  is  at  fault  and  the  water 
company  should  be  consulted.  And  in  un- 
usual cases  it  may  be  found  that  in  the 
original  installation  the  water  feed  pipe 
was  figured  too  small  in  diameter.  The 
pipe  feeding  water  to  the  flushometer 
should  be  at  least  one  inch,  and  the  pres- 
sure 15  to  30  pounds,  depending  of  course 
on  the  type  and  size  of  the  valve  used. 

When  the  handle  on  this  valve  is  loose, 
it  will  not  return  to  place  of  its  own 
accord,  and  there  may  be  a  leak;  the 
trouble  in  most  cases  is  that  it  has  been 
kicked  out  of  adjustment.  It  is  the  habit 
of  many  patrons,  especially  male,  to  give 
this  handle  a  violent  kick  with  the  foot 
when  they  want  to  operate  the  valve. 

To  repair  the  valve,  it  is  best  to  call  in 
a  plumber;  if  a  theatre  employe  is  to  do 
the  work  he  must  be  careful.  First,  the 
water  supply  should  be  turned  off,  then  the 
flushometer  be  taken  apart,  bit  by  bit,  all 
the  while  noting  how  it  is  taken  apart  and 
how  well  the  various  parts  fit,  also  if  any 
is  broken  or  corroded. 

In  most  cases  it  will  be  found  that  the 
swivel  ball  at  the  end  of  the  operating 
handle  is  forced  out  of  alignment  in  its 
socket,  thus  preventing  the  raising  of  the 
main  valve  off  its  seat.  A  little  sandpaper- 
ing or  filing,  then  careful  fitting  into  the 
housing  of  the  valve,  may  be  necessary. 

In  some  valves  it  may  be  found  that 
springs  or  cup-leathers  are  used  to  operate 
the  main  valve;  if  they  are  at  fault,  they 
should  be  repaired,  if  possible,  or  new  ones 
be  purchased.  When  a  leak  is  noticed  at 
the  "union"  coupling  on  the  valve  or  at  the 
connection  to  the  water  closet,  the  locking 
nut  should  be  tightened  with  a  monkey 
wrench.  In  most  cases  this  will_  remedy 
the  leak  unless  the  threads  are  stripped  or 
crossed,  in  which  case  it  will  be  impossible 
to  pull  the  two  parts  together  for  a  tight 
seal.  When  using  a  Stillson  wrench  care 
should  be  exercised  that  the  nut  or  pipe  is 


1941    1942    1943  1944 


January  1944  is  here  .  .  . 

Another  year  of  making  present  equipment 
serve.  Another  year  in  which  to  consider  ideas 
and  plan  for  "The  Day"  when  it  finally  comes. 


Meanwhile  .  .  . 

The  Transverter  considers  1944  just  another 
year  .  .  .  one  of  many  years  through  which  it 
will  gladly  continue  to  deliver  proper  current 
for  projection  arcs. 

When  "The  Great  Day"  comes  ... 

When  the  doors  are  thrown  open  for  new, 
after-the-war  equipment  plans,  then  the 
marvelous  service  which  the  Transverter  has 
been  giving  meanwhile,  will  be  a  story  well 
worth  telling. 

Fortunate  the  Theatre  that  owns  one  mean- 
while. 


CONSULT:  National  Theatre  Supply,  Division  of  NaHonal- 
Simplex-Bludworfh,  Inc.,  in  the  U.S.A.;  or  General 
Theatre  Supply  Co.  in  Canada. 


THE  HERTNER  ELECTRIC  COMPANY 

12690  ELMWOOD  AVENUE  CLEVELAND,  OHIO,  U.  S.  A. 

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BETTER  THEATRES 


January    8,  1944 


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not  chewed  or  cracked  open  by  the  mrench 
teeth  for  they  have  a  tendency  to  bite 
sharply  into  the  metal  even  under  the 
slightest  pressure  of  the  hand. 

ITEM  95:  Water  Closet  Flush  Tank 

When  this  tank  is  of  the  overhead  in- 
dividual type,  with  a  pull  chain  for  opera- 
tion, a  check  should  be  made  to  see  if  the 
lever  arm  is  adjusted  properly  to  pull  up 
the  seating  cup  at  the  bottom  of  the  tank. 
In  some  cases  where  a  leak  has  developed 
in  the  closet  it  will  be  found  that  the  rod 
that  raises  this  cup  is  bent,  or  is  operating 
at  an  angle,  thus  sticking  or  fouling  itself 
in  the  hole  of  the  guide  arm.  In  this  way 
the  seating  cup  cannot  drop  in  place  by 
gravity  or  its  own  weight  unless  the  chain 
is  jerked  several  times.  It  is  a  simple 
matter  to  straighten  out  this  rod  by  hand, 
or  to  adjust  the  guide  arm  so  that  the  rod 
falls  through  the  hole  without  rubbing  or 
binding.  The  float  ball  that  turns  "of¥  the 
water  automatically  at  a  certain  height  in 
the  tank  should  be  checked  to  see  if  it  is 
fastened  properly  and  solidly  to  the  operat- 
ing rod. 

In  some  instances  it  will  be  found  that 
this  float  ball  is  rubbing  hard  against  the 
side  of  the  tank,  thus  not  allowing  the  tank 
to  fill  up  with  water;  in  other  instances 
it  will  be  found  that  this  float  ball  is  ad- 
justed so  that  the  Avater  keeps  filling  the 
tank  until  it  flows  out  through  the  overflow 
pipe.  The  float  ball  should  be  adjusted  so 
it  turns  off  the  water  in  the  tank  when  the 
level  reaches  about  one  inch  below  the  top 
of  the  overflow  pipe.  Where  there  is  a 
continuous  dribble  of  water  into  the  water 
closet  a  new  seat  washer  in  the  water  re- 
lease cup  may  be  needed.  The  pipe  connec- 
tions at  the  tank  and  at  the  water  closet 
should  be  checked  and  tightened  occa- 
sionally to  prevent  slight  unseen  leaks  that 
in  time  will  cause  accumulation  of  rust  and 
undue  corrosion. 

In  case  the  water  closet  flush  tank  is 
directly  behind  the  bowl,  and  part  of  the 
water  closet  itself,  the  same  care  and  at- 
tention should  be  given  as  explained  above 
for  the  individual  overhead  tank.  How- 
ever, instead  of  the  pull  chain,  this  type  of 
tank  has  a  small  handle  or  plunger  on  the 
outside.  The  lock  nuts  that  hold  this  han- 
dle in  place  should  always  be  kept  tight- 
ened against  the  side  of  the  tank  in  order 
to  hold  the  operating  arm  solidly  in  place. 
When  this  operating  arm  is  loose  it  will 
have  a  tendency  to  force  the  rod  that  lifts 
the  water  release  cup  out  of  perfect  align- 
ment with  the  hole  in  the  guide  arm.  This 
condition  will  prevent  the  release  cup  from 
falling  down  in  the  seating  place  in  the 
tank  after  it  is  pulled  up  by  the  operating 
handle. 

ITEM  96:  Lavatory 

It  is  very  important  that  the  lavatory 
or  wash  basin  be  fastened  solidly  and 
rigidly  in  place  so  that,  any  abrupt  move- 
ment of  the  fixture  will  not  be  transmitted 
to  the  piping.  Some  patrons  and  especially 
mischievous  boys  have  a  habit  of  leaning  or 
pushing  roughly  against  these  fixtures  when 
using  them,,  and  if  they  are  loose,  a  terrific 


strain  is  put  on  the  piping  and  fittings. 
This  is  one  of  the  main  causes  of  leaks  and 
broken  connections  at  a  lavatory. 

If  the  lavatory  has  supporting  legs  set 
on  the  floor,  the  fastening  bolts  or  screws 
should  be  always  kept  tightened  in  place 
so  that  there  is  not  the  slightest  movement 
of  the  fixture  when  pushed  by  the  hands. 

When  the  lavatory  has  no  legs  and  is 
fastened  to  the  wall  by  means  of  small 
brackets,  the  screws  or  toggle  bolts  should 
be  kept  tightened.  If  they  become  loose 
and  cannot  be  tightened,  the  only  thing  left 
to  do  is  to  install  an  entirely  new  backing 
in  the  wall  to  which  the  fixture  can  be 
attached  rigidly. 

Whenever  it  is  necessary  to  tighten 
water  pipe  nipples,  elbows  or  unions,  make 
sure  that  only  the  smallest  Stillson  wrench 
required  to  do  the  job  is  used,  since  a  larger 
one  may  split  open  or  even  break  off  the 
pjirts  at  the  slightest  pull.  Only  a  monkey 
wrench  should  be  used  for  tightening  the 
lock  nuts,  valves  and  faucets  having  square 
sides  or  hexagon  shaped  outer  rims. 

Whenever  any  pipe  nipples,  valves,  el- 
bows or  unions  are  taken  apart,  or  new 
parts  are  to  be  installed,  always  coat  the 
threads  with  lead  paint  or  other  pipe 
thread  "dope"  before  tightening  in  place. 
By  doing  this,  leaks  will  be  prevented,  espe- 
cially if  threads  are  cut  irregularly. 

In  case  the  lavatory  is  badly  chipped  or 
Clacked,  seal  the  damaged  areas  with  por- 
celain cement  or  other  patented  sealer  to 
prevent  further  cracking  or  chipping  and 
possible  injury  to  patrons. 

Never  use  harsh  or  strong  acids  to  clean 
the  inside  of  the  bowled  surface,  as  the 
smooth  glossy  finish  may  be  permanently 
marred,  and  a  pitted  finish  not  only  is  un- 
sightly but  will  tend  to  absorb  and  hold 
stains,  residue  and  rust  from  a  leaky  faucet. 

ITEM  97:  Faucets 

When  the  faucet  is  of  the  self-closing 
type  there  are  certain  precautions  that 
should  be  observed  before  making  any  re- 
pairs or  adjustments.  As  a  rule  this  type 
of  faucet  is  durable  and  ruggedly  con- 
structed, but  with  hundreds  of  different 
patrons  handling  it  some  trouble  may  arise 
occasionally.  This  type  of  faucet  prevents 
waste  of  water,  and  when  it  is  working 
properly  it  is  almost  impossible  for  the 
patron  to  leave  it  opened;  however,  some 
patron,  having  difficulty  in  getting  suffi- 
cient water  without  plugging  the  bowl  will 
jam  the  upper  revolving  cap  roller  by  forc- 
ing a  thin  piece  of  metal,  such  as  a  knife 
point,  in  the  clearance  space.  In  this  way 
the  knob  will  stay  opened  and  perhaps  even 
be  forced  up  and  out  of  the  self-closing 
mechanism. 

In  nearly  every  case,  the  faucet  is  closed 
by  a  strong  steel  spring  which  normally  is 
in  compression  under  the  handle  or  knob 
is  idle,  but  when  the  operating  knob  is 
turned  in  the  open  position  the  spring  is 
unlocked  and  is  then  in  tension.  When  the 
knob  is  released  this  spring  coils  up  again 
in  its  normal  position,  and  by  doing  so, 
revolves  the  knob  and  the  valve  seating 
into  the  closed  position.  Accordingly,  when 
the  faucet  knob  does  not  operate  the  flow  of 


January    8,  1944 

water  properly,  the  trouble  may  be  that  the 
self-closing  mechanism  is  loose  or  jarred 
out  of  adjustment.  Also  sometimes  sedi- 
ment accumulates  inside  the  valve. 

In  taking  off  the  swivel  cap  nut,  make 
sure  that  a  Stillson  wrench  is  used,  or  a 
good  pair  of  pliers,  but  either  one  must 
be  adjusted  for  a  good  bite  in  the  knurled 
rim  before  any  turning  is  done.  Pliers  or 
a  Stillson  wrench  applied  improperly  on 
this  knurled  portion  will  shear  or  chew  off 
the  ridges,  making  any  future  adjustment 
a  difficult  task.  What's  more,  sharp  slivers 
of  metal  or  burrs  may  be  left  sticking  out 
that  will  injure  the  hand. 

When  loosening  or  tightening  any  lock 
nuts  at  and  around  the  faucet,  use  only  a 
good  monkey  wrench  on  the  flat  surfaces, 
rather  than  a  Stillson  wrench  or  pliers  that 
will  marr  or  leave  unsightly  teeth  marks 
on  the  surface  finish. 

A  leaky  faucet  should  be  repaired  as 
soon  as  possible  as  hot  only  will  water  be 
wasted,  but  in  time  a  heavy  rust  stain  will 
imbed  itself  on  the  lavatory  basin  that  will 
be  difficult  to  remove.  In  most  cases  a 
leaky  faucet  is  the  result  of  an  improper 
or  deteriorated  washer  inside  the  housing. 
A  faulty  seat  washer  will  also  cause  un- 
earthly sounds  when  the  faucet  is  turned 
on.  When  replacing  this  washer,  use  only 
a  good  grade  of  fibre  or  composition 
washer,  especially  in  hot  water  lines,  rather 
than  rubber,  which  deteriorates  rapidly 
under  hard  service.  However,  make  sure 
that  the  washer  fits  exactly  the  round  cup 
both  in  diameter  and  thickness  at  the  bot- 
tom of  the  faucet  handle  stem.  If  the 
vi^asher  is  of  the  right  size,  drive  it  in 
solidly  with  a  screw  driver  by  tightening 
hard  on  the  fastening  screw.  Before  set- 
ting the  faucet  stem  in  place,  make  certain 
that  all  rust,  dirt  or  other  sediment  is 
cleaned  out  from  the  wall  and  seating  sur- 
faces, threads,  etc. 

ITEM  98:  Urinals 

The  part  of  a  urinal  that  can  give  the 
most  trouble  is  the  drain.  Paper  towels,  nut 
shells,  empty  cigarette  packages,  cigarette 
and  cigar  butts,  gum,  etc.,  are  ever-threaten- 
ing causes  of  blockage.  Accordingly,  the 
drain  should  be  cleaned  of  all  refuse  at  least 
twice  daily  and  kept  constantly  in  good  con- 
dition to  prevent  the  infiltration  of  heavy 
foreign  material  to  the  trap  in  the  soil  pipe. 
All  small  pieces  of  cake  type  deodorant 
should  be  removed  and  immediately  replaced 
with  larger  cakes,  for  the  small  cakes  have  a 
way  of  going  through  the  strainer  on  the 
drain  and  in  time  this  accumulation  will 
completely  block  the  drain  pipe. 

Where  the  body  of  the  urinal  is  cracked 
or  badly  pitted,  such  defects  .should  be  filled 
in  with  porcelain  cement  to  prevent  further 
fracture  and  possible  injury  to  patrons. 

A  serious  fault  with  many  urinals  is  that 
in  the  original  installation  the  drain  and 
especially  the  bottom  flanged  lips  were  not 
depressed  correctly  below  the  level  of  the 
floor. 

Where  the  urinals  have  flushometers  at 
the  top,  the  flush  valves  should  be  accorded 
the  same  care  and  attention  as  specified  in 


BETTER    THEATRES  103 

Photograph  from  "KNICKERBOCKER  HOLIDAY"  as  produced  by  United  Artists 


1944  HERALDS  NEW  TRIUMPHS 


IN  FEATURES  AND  SHORTS 


"KNICKERBOCKER 
HOLIDAY"  is  one  of  scores  of 
top-flight  productions  that  will 
challenge  the  projectionist's 
skill — and  put  to  supreme  test 
the  finest,  sturdiest  and  most 
faithful  of  projector  and  sound- 
system  manufacturer's  me- 
chanical, electrical  and  optical 
achievements.  DeVRY  enters  the  New 
Year  still  100%  dedicated  to  the  War 
Effort,  building  performance-proved  Pre- 
cision   Projectors    and    High  Fidelity 


ORCHIDS  TO  .  .  . 

Producer-Direc- 
tor:  Harry  Joe 
Brown  .  .  .  Camera- 
man: Phil  Tanura 
Soundman: 
Ben  Winkler. 


Sound-Systems  for  the  Armed 
Forces  .  .  .  also  electronic  de- 
vices that  help  perfect  the  aim 
at  Berlin  and  Tokio.  DeVRY 
enters  1944  justly  proud  of  its 
Army-Navy  "E"  with  Star, 
designating  continued  excel- 
lence in  the  production  of  mo- 
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— eager  to  best  past  records — confident 
that  by  so  doing  it  does  its  share  to  speed 
the  Peace.  DeVRY  CORPORATION, 
1111  Armitage  Ave.,  Chicago  14,  Illinois. 


BOX    OFFICE    BOOSTERS    FOR  JANUARY 


Jack  London — UA  .  .  .  The  Heat's  On — COL  .  .  .  Ladies  Courageous — UNIV 
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BUY  MORE  U.  S.  WAR  BONDS! 


Lifeboat— 20TH-FOX  .  . 
Destination  Tolcyo — WAR 
Where  Are  Your  Children- 


.Star  awarded  for  contin- 
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QUICLEY  BOOKSHOP 

Rockefeller  Center,  New  York 


S.O.S.  Timely  Specials 

Victory  Carpet  s.  $2.49 

Quality  hair  floor  covering.  Assorted  colors. 
In  20-yard  rolls,  9  ft.  wide. 

_;:;^^o'^'"::^  Leather  Link  Lobby 
Matting  -  «  $1.55 

Fine  Quality  Leatherette 

Assorted  colors  $1.41  yd.;  Red  $1.S2  yd. 


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104 


BETTER  THEATRES 


January    8,  1944 


1 


rn  BE  ASKED  TO  BUY 

•  •  •  ^         to  have  a  staKe 
men  .  •  • 

est  country.     ^          — ^ 

.^Ther^s  -  Branch  Near  You" 

( ^'^rynfei^l  Projection 
which,  come        d^<^t0fj  Arc  Lamps 

Victory         (r^r  If* 
^\\\  have  VWy 


(AFTER  VICTORY} 


•       •  • 


I  We'll  Be  Seeing  You  A.  V. 

I    •   •   •  —  This  is  everybody's  War.  F&Y's  present  duty  is  to  be  of  all  out  service 

to  the  emergency. 

—  The  F&Y  organization,  while  now  geared  exclusively  to  the  war  effort, 

will  be  intact  to  service  you  after  Victory. 

•   •   •  —  F&Y's  future  duty  is  to  continue  serving  its  loyal 

clientele  and  their  friends. 

In  the  Meantime  ...  — 
Keep  'Em  Smiling  !  Buy  War  Bond*  I 

THE   F  6l  Y   BUILDING  SERVICE 

328  E.  TOWN  STREET  COLUMBUS.  OHIO 


I 

I 

I 
I 


^11 


im 


Coming  Up  —  The  Fourth  War  Loan  Drive! 
Keeping    Up  —  Salvaging   those   Carbon  Drippings! 


Item  94;  and  if  they  have  overhead  flush 
tanks  w^ith  pull  chains,  the  maintenance 
should  follow  the  same  procedure  suggested 
in  Item  95. 

ITEM  99:  Slop  Sink 

The  slop  sink  is  very  often  neglected 
and  left  in  an  unsanitary  condition,  espe- 
cially w^hen  it  is  the  custom  to  wash  out 
the  mops  in  the  sink  or  pour  the  dirty 
water  from  the  bucket  into  it.  This  dirty 
deposit  is  very  hard  to  remove  from  the 
finish  of  the  sink,  and  if  left  there  over 
a  period  of  days,  requiring  strong  scouring 
powder  or  acid  for  cleaning,  the  glossy  sur- 
face can  be  marred  or  pitted. 

It  is  better  to  dump  the  dirty  water  in 
the  mop  bucket  into  some  sewer  drain  in- 
stead of  in  the  slop  sink.  The  mops,  when 
very  dirty,  should  be  washed  out  in  the 
mop  bucket  with  clean  water.  Maintenance 
time  and  effort  is  reduced  by  keeping  the 
sink  and  the  immediate  area  around  it  spic 
and  span,  and  the  mops  and  buckets,  soaps 
and  cleaning  material  stored  and  arranged 
in  neat  order  when  not  in  use. 

ITEM  100:  Fountain,  Water  Cooler 

In  servicing  and  checking  the  drinking 
fountain  there  are  many  little  things  that 
should  be  looked  after,  although  for  any 
major  repairs  or  troubles  a  regular  foun- 
tain service  man  should  be  called  in.  Of 
first  importance,  in  general,  is  cleanliness, 
both  in  and  outside  of  the  fountain.  The 
screen  or  strainer  on  top  can  easily  and 
quickly  be  filled  up  with  popcorn,  nut 
shells,  bits  of  candy,  gum,  etc.,  if  left  un- 
attended, resulting  in  an  overflow  of  the 
waste  water,  which  indicate  that  the  drain 
piping  or  trap  is  clogged  up  with  some  for- 
eign material. 

The  pressure  of  the  water  should  be 
checked  as  in  some  cases  it  is  either  too 
low  or  too  high.  When  too  low  the  patron 
must  get  very  close  to  the  nozzle  to  drink, 
and  when  too  high  the  water  squirts  into 
his  face,  over  his  clothes  and  on  the  carpet. 
When  any  adjustments  must  be  done  at 
the  nozzle,  the  set  screw  should  be  turned 
slowly  with  the  water  on  until  the  desired 
pressure  or  flow  is  obtained.  Where  the 
adjustment  must  be  done  inside  the  foun- 
tain, extreme  care  should  be  taken  that 
other  settings  are  not  disturbed  and  that 
the  manufacturer's  instruction  sheet  is 
strictly  followed.  If  the  "on  and  off"  knob 
is  at  fault,  practically  the  same  procedure 
should  be  followed  as  explained  in  the  oper- 
ation of  the  self-closing  faucet  or  the  lava- 
tory. 

When  an  auxiliary  water  purifier  tank 
is  used  with  the  fountain,  it  should  be 
checked  regularly  by  the  fountain  service 
man  to  make  sure  that  it  is  in  good  oper- 
ating condition.  The  motor  should  be 
kept  clean,  with  all  electrical  wiring  and 
connection  making  good  electrical  contact. 
There  should  be  no  restriction  of  the  flow 
of  air  to  the  fountain  inner  parts.  The 
vacuum  cleaner  can  be  put  to  good  use  to 
suck  out  the  accumulation  of  fuzz,  dirt, 
etc.,  from  within  the  housing.  The  manu- 
facturer's maintenance  and  operating  in- 
struction chart  should  be  always  on  hand 


January    8,  1944 


BETTER  THEATRES 


105 


and  consulted  before  making  any  adjust- 
ments or  minor  repairs.  Such  equipment 
is  not  fair  game  for  the  novice. 

ITEM  101:  Traps 

This  is  a  U-shaped  pipe  located  under, 
and  connected  to,  the  main  pipe  system  of 
every  lavatory  fixture  for  the  purpose  of  a 
water  seal.  This  trap  is  shaped  so  that  an 
amount  of  water  sufficient  to  close  the  pas- 
sage and  prevent  the  leakage  of  air  will 
stand  in  it  at  all  times ;  this  prevents  sewer 
gas  from  passing  through  the  drain  piping 
to  the  fixture  and  into  the  room  in  which 
the  fixture  is  located. 

While  this  trap  will  prevent  the  free 
passage  of  waste  water  and  even  solid  ma- 
terial, it  does  occasionally  get  blocked  up 
under  careless  and  hard  usage.  In  such  a 
case  the  trap  screw  located  at  the  bottom 
of  the  trap  should  be  turned  off  carefully, 
the  heavy  material  removed,  then  clean 
water  allowed  to  run  through  to  flush  the 
inside.  When  turning  on  this  trap  screw 
make  sure  that  it  goes  on  easily  by  hand 
(a  few  turns)  before  applying  a  wrench 
to  it,  otherwise  the  threads  may  be  crossed 
and  a  permanent  leak  will  result.  It  must 
be  remembered  that  a  leaky  trap  will  al- 
low the  water  seal  in  it  to  escape  and 
sewer-gas  will  find  free  passage  to  the 
room  from  the  sewer. 

Another  thing  that  will  allow  passage 
of  sewer-gas  to  the  room  is  a  defective  or 
clogged-up  vent  pipe.  This  is  the  pipe  that 
connects  to  the  upper  bend  of  the  trap  and 
runs  to  the  outside  air  upon  the  roof.  In 
some  cases  it  has  been  found  that  this  vent 
pipe  has  been  purposely  blocked-up  by  mis- 
chievous boys  getting  upon  the  roof  and 
dropping  stones,  balls,  etc.,  into  it.  Now 
when  water  rushes  down  the  drain  pipe 
in  the  fixture  it  forms  a  suction,  and  if  the 
trap  is  air-tight,  this  created  suction  is 
enough  to  prevent  sufficient  water  remain- 
ing in  the  trap  to  form  a  seal,  thus  leaving 
an  opening  for  the  easy  passage  of  sewer- 
gas  to  the  room.  Accordingly,  a  vent  pipe 
properly  connected  to  the  trap  and  clear 
on  the  inside  will  stop  this  suction  and  the 
water  in  the  trap  will  not  fall  below  the 
level  of  the  top  of  the  U-shaped  pipe. 
These  traps  may  be  in  the  shape  of  an  S,  a 
Y,  or  a  bag,  but  the  purpose  is  the  same  in 
each  case,  and  the  care  suggested  for  the 
U-shaped  trap  should  be  given  the  others. 
Also,  traps  are  located  under  the  water 
closets,  urinals,  slop  sinks,  etc. ;  they  may 
be  of  brass,  cast-iron  and  even  lead ;  because 
of  the  possibility  of  lead,  caution  should  be 
used  in  poking  heavy  iron  rods,  wires,  etc., 
into  them  to  relieve  blockage. 

ITEM  102:  Valves 

As  a  rule,  valves  w^ill  give  hardly  any 
tiouble  even  when  in  long  usage  as  they 
are  either  turned  on  or  oflF  for  long  periods 
of  time;  however,  they  should  be  checked 
occasionally  as  the  gasket  or  washer  in  the 
seating  vt^ill  deteriorate  in  time,  causing 
small  leaks.  Where  leaks  are  present,  an 
accumulation  of  rust  and  corrosion  will 
appear,  requiring  removal  of  the  valves  by 
{Continued  on  page  108) 


IF  ALADDIN 
WERE  ON 
OUR  STAFF... 

WE  would  call  on  him  to  conjure  up  new  projection  and  sound 
equipment  and  many  other  items  which  would  make  it  easier 
for  you  to  keep  your  theatres  operating  efficiently  in  '44. 

While  we  can't  do  this,  we  can  give  you  the  assurance  that  your 
National  branch  will  offer  you  every  assistance  in  securing  the  equip- 
ment you  need  to  keep  your  show  on. 

As  we  enter  a  new  year,  we  are  more  than  ever  aware  of  our  re- 
sponsibility to  support  you  in  continuing  to  carry  on  a  great  job — 
maintaining  American  morale. 

N  AT  I  O  N  A  L 


T  H  E  A  T  R  E         U  P  P 


Divtston  of  National  •  Simplex  •  Biudworth, Inc. 


AIR-FLO 
STEREOPTON 


•  Forced-Air  Cooled 

•  Takes  Up  to  1000 
Watt  Lamps 

•  Choice  of  Lenses 

•  Adjustable  Bellows 


Pre  -  Focus  Socket 
Aligns  Filament  on 
Optical  Axis 
Built-in  Tilting  De- 
vice 

Sturdy,  All  -  Steel 
Welded  Structure 


This  Equipment  'Available  Now  on 
Proper  Priority  to 

Educational  Institutions  .  .  .  Army  and 
Navy  .  .  .  Maritime  bases  .  .  .  Lend-Lease 
.  .  .  War  Industries  .  .  .  Government 
Agencies. 


Developed  to  meet  today's  needs  in  training 
centers  and  schools.  Cooler-operating  .  .  .  for 
long  projection  distances.  Shows  standard  stere- 
opticon  slides.  Has  powerful  but  quiet  high 
speed  motor.  Asbestos  wired  and  fully  en- 
closed. Three  ground  and  polished  lens  fur- 
nished. 30"  long  over-all.  Conveniently  portable. 


ColdE  Manufacturing  Co. 


Dept.  D.  1220  W.  Madison  St. 
CHICAGO    7,  ILLINOIS 


Am  rn  "third  dimension" 

AULtK  MULTIPLE  SIZE 
SILHOUETTE  LETTERS 

and  Exciusive 
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ADLER  SILHOUETTE  LETTER  CO. 

2909  Indiana  Ave.,  Cliicago   1451  B'way.  N.  Y.  C. 


r-f  PATCH-O-SEAT  \"\ 


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Choice  of  Black,  Brown.  Blue,  Red,  Green  or  Ivory 
SOLD  EVERYWHERE  BY  DEALERS 
I  SQUARE 

I  $6.00  Per  Kit  F.O.B.  Chicago 

I      FENSIN  SEATING   COMPANY         62   E.    13th  St. 


106 


BETTER  THEATRES 


January    8.    I  944 


THEATRE 

LOCATION 


MAINTENANCE  INSPECTION  RECORD-i 


ITEM  INSPECTED 


DATE 
INSPECTED 


DEFECTIVE   PART  (UNIT 

OR  material)  inspected 


AMOUNT 
IN  SAME 
CONDITION 


TOTAL  AMT 
IN  USE  OR. 
ON  HAND 


LOCATION 
(as  NECeSSARv) 


MAKE 


PART  OG 
STYLE  NO. 


INSTAL- 
LATION 
DATE 


ORIOI 

P  R  I' 


93.  Water  Closet 


94.  Flushometer 


95.  Water  Closet 
Flush  Tank 


96.  Lavatory 

(Wash  Basin) 


97.  Faucets 


98.  Urinals 


99.  Slop  Sink 


100.  Fountain, 

Water  Cooler 


101.  Traps 


102.  Valves 


103.  General 
Piping 


January    8,  1944 

eneral  Plumbing 


BETTER  THEATRES 


107 


MANAGER 


INSPECTED  BY 


NATURE    OF  DEFECT 

CORi?ECTION(check) 

DATE 

OP 

Correction 

SUGGESTIONS  FOP  POST-WAR  PEPLACEMEMTorREVISION 

REPLACE 

REPAIR. 

108 


BETTER  THEATRES 


January    8,  1944 


{Continued  from  page  105) 
force  or  the  use  of  penetrating  oil  before 
the  valve  can  be  operated. 

ITEM  103:  General  Piping 

All  the  piping  should  be  checked  every 
so  often  to  see  if  any  leaks  are  present  at 
the  elbows,  couplings,  unions  and  in  the 
pipe  itself.  As  is  well  known,  this  piping 
can  be  injured  by  such  things  as  contrac- 
tion and  expansion  due  to  heat  and  cold, 
shrinkage,  settling  of  the  building,  loosened 
or  defective  pipe  hangers,  chemical  reaction 
between  the  metal  and  the  ground  "fill" 
and  the  portion  of  the  building  they  pass 
through,  and  even  by  corrosion  caused  by 
electrical  grounds  or  leaks. 

It  is  well  to  have  all  hot  water  pipes, 
circulation  pipes,  and  hot  water  tanks  in- 
sulated to  prevent  loss  of  heat  and  conse- 
quent over-consumption  of  coal  or  oil. 

All  joints  in  soil  and  waste  piping  should 
be  gas-tight,  especially  where  they  run  ex- 
posed in  pipe  trenches  or  in  the  basement 
under  the  auditorium.  Standard  practice  in 
making  these  joints  gas-tight  is  to  tamp 
oakum  around  the  joint  area,  then  pour  in 
molten  lead,  after  which  the  joint  is  caulked 
tight  by  using  a  hammer  and  caulking 
chisel.  Use  12  ounces  of  fine  soft  pig  lead 
for  each  inch  of  pipe  diameter. 

All  metallic  gutters  and  rain  leaders 
should  be  checked  to  see  if  they  are  free 
and  clear  so  that  the  rain  water  does  not 
flow  on  the  sidewalk  or  adjoining  building 
but  straight  to  the  sewer.  All  inside  lead- 
ers should  have  their  roof  connections  gas- 
tight  and  water-tight  and  the  running 
traps  in  good  condition  to  prevent  freezing. 

PLANNING  FOR  BETTER 
POST-WAR  THEATRES 

{Continued  from  page  93) 

surfaces  forming  the  inner  shell  to  have  a 
broken  and  irregular  form.  For  economic 
reasons,  the  outer  shell  should  be  a  simple 
form,  as  close  to  a  rectangle  as  is  possible. 
The  space  devoted  to  reconciling  the  differ- 
ence between  the  inner  and  outer  forms 
is  not  by  any  means  wasted,  considering 
the  use  it  is  put  to  for  air-conditioning  and 
insulating  purposes.  The  planning  would 
specify  the  amount  and  the  spacing  of  the 
light  framing  supports  for  the  inner  shell 
to  control  and  improve  the  sound  response 
from  these  surfaces. 

At  the  screen  end  of  the  auditorium  it 
would  be  well  to  have  a  clear  open  span 
with  no  structural  columns  or  narrowing 
masonry  walls  approaching  the  screen.  This 
thought  is  given  with  a  view  of  allowing 
for  expanded  screen  or  screen  surroundings 
which  may  be  developed  in  the  future  to 
increase  the  realism  of  the  presentation. 

The  form  of  the  seating  provisions  has 
been  given  considerable  study  and  the  bene- 
fits of  this  study  should  be  felt  in  the  post- 
war work.  A  recommended  row  spacing 
of  at  least  34  inches  back-to-back  is  advis- 
able, and  chairs  should  be  manufactured  in 
19-,  20-,  21-,  and  22-inch  widths  to  allow 
for  efficient  staggering  arrangements.  The 


20-to  21-inch  widths  would  predom.inate, 
and  the  19-and  22-inch  widths  would  be 
used  for  manipulating  the  chair  positions 
to  create  a  stagger  while  effecting  an  even 
aisle  line. 

The  stadium  type  of  layout,  with  the 
main  floor  standee  area  under  the  front 
portion  of  the  stadium,  should  become  very 
popular  for  theatres  of  medium  capacities. 
Balcony  overhangs  will  of  course  be  re- 
quired for  plots  restricted  in  size.  However, 
an  eight-row  overhang  should  be  considered 
as  maximum.  (Single  floor  seating  becomes 
advisable  only  where  the  plot  and  construc- 
tion costs  permit  the  necessary  spreading  of 
the  plan  to  accommodate  the  auditorium 
and  the  auxiliary  spaces  required.) 

POSITIONING  THE  SCREEN 
FOR  MAXIMUM  EFFECT 

{Continued  from  page  99) 

75°  to  the  screen  surface,  there  will  be  a 
visual  distortion  as  well  as  projection  dis- 
tortion. At  this  point  the  picture  will 
appear  elongated  only  about  3^%  above 
the  standard  undistorted  proportions  as  the 
re\'erse  visual  distortion  has  compensated 
for  some  of  the  projection  distortion. 

If  a  small  mirror  is  placed  against  the 
screen  surface,  it  will  be  found  to  cast  a 
spot  of  light  to  point  C  which  is  at  the 
same  angle  to  the  screen  surface  as  the 
axis  of  the  light  beam.  An  observer  at 
point  C  will  see  the  image  so  distorted 
from  reverse  viewing  angle  that  it  will 
appear  only  about  84%  as  high  as  the 
standard  image  proportions.  In  this  posi- 
tion the  visual  angle  is  such  that  the  obser- 
ver sees  the  picture  more  shortened  by 
visual  distortion  than  it  is  elongated  by 
projection  distortion. 

It  is  evident  that  the  use  of  the  mirror 
shows  that  the  screen  is  not  at  the  correct 
setting  for  best  projection  conditions  for 
the  light  is  100%  at  C.  As  C  is  not  the 
point  where  the  largest  number  of  persons 
are  usually  seated  this  is  evidence  of  im- 
proper screen  angle  and  it  also  means  that 
the  light  will  appear  less  brilliant  at  other 
points  in  the  theatre  than  it  does  at  C. 
At  point  A,  for  instance  it  will  appear 
about  10%  less  brilliant. 

Now  let's  set  the  screen  by  means  of  the 
mirror  method  and  note  the  results.  Under 
conditions  such  as  those  shown  in  Figure  2, 
ic  is  evident  that  some  compromise  must 
be  made  between  the  seating  areas  on  two 
floors,  so  if  we  tilt  the  screen  back  until 
the  spot  of  light  from  the  mirror  falls  at 
point  B  we  will  have  a  position  mid-way 
between  the  upper  and  lower  seating  areas. 
If  we  tilt  the  screen  back  15°,  the  surface 
will  be  in  position  2  as  shown  in  Figure  2. 

The  projected  image  is  now  elongated 
only  35^%  instead  of  14%  as  it  was  when 
the  screen  was  in  position  1,  and  it  will  be 
found  very  much  easier  to  obtain  sharp 
focus  over  the  entire  screen  surface  than 
before. 

An  observer  at  point  A  now  has  a  view- 
ing angle  perpendicular  to  the  screen  sur- 
face and  sees  the  image  in  its  true  pro- 
jected proportions.    The  picture  appears 


elongated  3>^%  just  as  it  did  before  but 
is  approximately  8%  brighter. 

At  point  B  the  image  appears  to  be  98% 
as  high  as  the  standard  proportions  instead 
of  elongated  14%  as  it  was  before.  The 
reverse  visual  angle  has  almost  perfectly 
offset  the  distortion  from  the  projection 
angle  in  this  point. 

At  point  C  the  picture  appears  more  dis- 
torted than  before  because  of  the  steeper 
visual  angle  and  will  seem  to  the  observer 
to  be  only  60%  as  high  as  the  standard  pro- 
portions, and  about  4%  less  brilliant  than 
before. 

We  see,  therefore,  that  tilting  the  screen 
has  effected  an  improvement  in  brightness 
or  distortion  at  viewing  positions  where 
the  seats  are  most  often  used,  and  brought 
about  a  worse  condition  at  point  C,  which 
is  seldom  occupied  and  thus  of  less  impor- 
tance. 

One  very  important  improvement  is  ac- 
complished and  that  is  the  ability  to  prop- 
erly focus  the  picture.  Visual  angle  does 
not  compensate  for  bad  focus. 

If  a  screen  is  tilted  back  there  is  the  dis- 
advantage that  it  will  require  more  fre- 
quent cleaning  and  replacement  than  that 
required  for  a  screen  in  vertical  position, 
but  the  improvement  in  projection,  distor- 
tion and  focus  more  than  offsets  this  dis- 
advantage. 

This  discussion  will  serve  to  demonstrate 
the  simple  utility  of  the  mirror  method  of 
screen  setting. 

• 

Index  of  ADVERTISERS 
in     BETTER  THEATRES 


Page 

Adler  Silhouette  Letter  Co   105 

American  Pop  Corn  Co   102 

Artkraft  Sign  Co.,  The   102 

Automatic  Devices  Co   102 

Baldor  Electric  Co   102 

Bausch  &  Lomb  Optical  Co   96 

Continental  Electric  Co   98 

Dayton  Safety  Ladder  Co   101 

DeVry  Corp   103 

Droll  Theatre  Supply  Co   100 

F&Y  Building  Service,  The   10+ 

Fensin  Seating  Co   105 

Forest  Mfg.  Corp   98 

Formica  Insulation  Co.,  The   89 

Goldberg  Bros   94,  96 

GoldE  Mfg.  Co   105 

Griswold  Machine  Works   99 

Hertner  Electric  Co.,  The   101 

LaVezzi  Machine  Works   100 

Motiograph   95. 

National  Carbon  Co.,  Inc   90 

National  Theatre  Supply,  Div.  of  National- 

Simplex-Bludworth,  Inc  104,  105 

Projection  Optics  Co.,  Inc   101 

RCA  Theatre  Service  Co   94 

RCA  Theatre  Equipment  Div.  of  Radio 

Corp.  of  America   88 

S.  O.  S.  Cinema  Supply  Corp   103 

Strong  Electric  Corp.,  The   97 

Union  Carbide  &  Carbon  Corp   90 

Wenzel  Projector  Co.,  The   98 


January    8,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


In  This  Week: 


SHOWMEN'S  REVIEWS 


RELEASE  CHART 

BY  COMPANIES 


THE  RELEASE  CHART 


/ 

—  - 

The  Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek 

(Paramount) 
Psychoillogical  Slapstick 

Preston  Sturges  here  crowns  his  dual  career  as  writer-director  with  certainly  the 
maddest  picture  he  has  ever  made  and  probably  one  of  the  funniest  the  screen  has 
ever  seen.    Hysterical  laughter  echoing  across  town  after  its  first  showing  will  be  all 

the  exploitation  the  exhibitor  needs.  After  that  he  will  need  to  buy  some  extra  tapes 
and  watch  capacity  audiences  enjoy  themselves. 

It  is  difficult  to  tell  whether  Sturges,  the  to  reveal  the  miracle  without  spoiling  the  effect, 

director,  or  Sturges,  the  writer,  had  most  Exhibitors,  thus,  should  be  at  pains  to  inform 

to  do  with  the  picture's  success.    The  story  their  patrons  of  starting  times  to  insure  their 

deals  with  standard  elements  of  drama  and  seeing  the  picture  from  the  beginning.  Like- 

r      1  J           J    •  •      J-     ii     r        «T-    i  Wise,  the  comedy  elements  are  concerned  so 

of  melodrama,  deriving  directly  from    East  intimately  with  the  facts  of  life  that  the  general 

Lynne  ^or  even    Neither  Maid,  Wife,  Nor  attendance  of  small  fry  is  to  be  discouraged! 

Widow."  ^  drop-in  audience  at  a  late  projection  room 

There  is  the  shy,  stumbling  small  town  boy  screening  was  screaming^  with  laughter  at  the 

overwhelmingly  in  love  with  the  lightheaded  end  of  the  picture.    Reviewer's  Rating:  Excel- 

small  town  girl  with  the  violent  father  and  lent— 'i awes  D.  Ivers. 

the  understanding  small  sister.     The  girl  gets  Release  date, ,  Block  3.    Running  time,  99  min.  FCA 

in  trouble  in  the  time  honored  fashion  of  No.  8940    Adult  audience  classification.  ^.^^ 

,  J  ii  •  -ii  ,  1        Norval  Jones  Jlxidie  ijracken 

rnelOdrama — this   time   with    an   unknown   sol-       Trudy  Kockenlocker  Betty  Button 

dier — and    the    boy    is    called    upon    to    rescue       Emily  Kockenlocker  Diana  Lynn 

hpr  o-nnrl   namp       FTp  fai'lc  nttcrlir  nr^m        Officer  Kockenlocker  William  Demarest 

1  *  f    1            a                     Utterly.      bo  com-  p^^^^^           ^^^^^  Parnell,  Alan  Bridge,  Julius  Tan- 

pletely  that  he  flees  the  town  wanted  by  mill-  nen,  Victor  Potel,  Almira  Sessions,  Esther  Howard,  J. 

tary,    state    and    federal    authorities    for    im-  Farrell  McDonald,   Frank   Moran,   Connie  Tompkins, 

personating  a  soldier,  impairing  the  morals  of  <^eorgia  Came, 
a  minor,  abduction,  forgery,  and  bank  robbery. 

Only  a  miracle  could  resolve  the  tangled  TriQ    L OClQSr 

threads  of  the  story — and  a  miracle  does,  one  so  '  UVi^Vjy 

basic  and  totally  zany  that  not  only  the  picture  (Twentieth  Century-Fox) 

but  the  audience  dissolves  into  hysteria.  ,     _         r  i    i  ±L  d- 

The  comedy  does  not  derive  from  the  bur-  "he  Case  ot  Jack  the  Kipper 
lesquing  of  any  of  the  melodramatic  elements.  This  is  a  thriller  compounded  of  murky  Lon- 
Never  have  any  of  them  been  presented  singly  don  streets,  shrill  screams  at  night  and  a  mania- 
more  straightforwardly  or  more  delicately.  But  cal  murderer.    It  has  been  produced  by  Robert 
in  sum  they  are  a  riot.  Bassler  on  a  lavish  scale  with  excellent  atmo- 

There  is  a  tough  sergeant  of  military  police  sphere  and  a  fine  cast,  and  should  strike  fre- 

in  the  picture  who  remarks  at  odd  moments,  "It's  quent  terror  in  the  hearts  of  the  horror  fans, 

psychoillogical."    That's  it !  But  it  just  misses  the  sustained  suspense  or 

Not  a  little  of  the  total  effect  is  achieved  by  semblance  of  reality  which  characterize  the  top 

remarkable  characterizations  by  Betty  Hutton  productions  in  the  field. 

and  Eddie  Bracken  as  the  boy  and  girl  and  The  novel  by  Mrs.  Marie  Belloc  Lowndes, 

William  Demarest  and  Diana  Lynn  as  the  father  long  a  classic  study  in  murder,  has  been  adapt- 

and  sister.     Here  again  the  genius  of  Mr.  ed  for  the  screen  by  Barre  Lyndon.  Laird 

Sturges  is  evident  in  perfectly  paced  and  timed  Cregar  plays  "Jack  the_  Ripper" — and  no  at- 

direction.     In  fact,  despite  the  obviously  tal-  tempt  is  made  to  disguise  this  fact  from  the 

ented  material  on  which  he  drew,  Mr.  Sturges  beginning- — who  roams  London's  Whitechapel 

makes  this  very  nearly  a  one-man  picture.    He  district  at  night,  slashing  the  throats  of  women 

even  wrote  the  song  "Bell  in  the  Bay"  with  and  eluding  the  cordon  of  police.    His  is  an  in- 

which  Miss  Hutton  introduces  herself  riotously  tense   portrayal,   based   on   recurring  insanity 

at  the  start.    One  pleasant  touch  is  the  rein-  and  overwhelming  fear,  which  carries  the  major 

troduction  of  Brian  Donlevy  and  Akim  TamiroflF  burden  of  the  film. 

in  their  characters  as  "The  Great  McGinty"  Supporting  him  are  Merle  Oberon,  Sir  Ced- 

and  "The  Boss."  ric  Hardwicke  and  Sara  Allgood,  as  the  family 

More  sober  critics  might  auarrel  with  sev-  in  whose  house  he  takes  lodgings,  and  George 

eral   aspects   of   the   production,    including   a  Sanders,  in  a  slight  role  as  the  Scotland  Yard 

blithe  disregard  for  logical  story  development.  Inspector.    All  raise  the  level  of  basically  stock 

particularly  the  unknown  and  almost  forgotten  characters  to  a  new  standard  of  excellence, 

soldier.     But  there  will  be  none  among  the  Miss   Oberon   plays   a   music-hall  _  entertainer 

paying  customers.  with  much  charm,  and  Hardwicke  gives  distinc- 

In  the  nature  of  the  story  it  is  not  practical  tion  to  the  role  of  a  retired  stock  clerk.  His 


bland  acceptance  of  the  mysterious  stranger  in 
spite  of  Miss  Allgood's  increasing  suspicions 
permits  the  murderer  to  roam  at  will  until  the 
final,  desperate  chase  backstage. 

John  Brahm  has  directed  with  emphasis  on 
horror  rather  than  mystery,  achieving  several 
superbly  chilling  moments  and  maintaining  a 
sense  of  imminent  disaster  throughout. 

Seen  in  the  home  office  projection  room.  Re- 
viewer's Rating  :  Good. — E.  A.  Cunningham. 

Release  date,  January  7,  1944.  Running  time,  84 
min.    PCA  No.  9597.    General  audience  classification. 

The   Lodger   Laird  Cregar 

Kitty   Merle  Oberon 

Robert  Burton   Sir  Cedric  Hardwicke 

John   Warwick   George  Sanders 

Sara  Allgood.  Aubrey  Mather,  Queenie  Leonard, 
Doris  Lloyd,  David  Clyde,  Helena  Pickard,  Lumsden 
Hare,  Frederick  Worlock,  Olaf  Hytten,  Colin  Camp- 
bell, Harold  De  Becker,  Anita  Bolster, /Billy  Bevan. 

The  Uninvited 

(Paramount) 
Ghost  Story,  Adult 

Not  to  be  confused  in  any  respect  with  the 
penny-shocker  type  of  B-calibre  melodrama  via 
which  the  horror-film  clientele  commonly  re- 
ceives its  shudder  quota,  this  is  a  distinguished 
telling  of  a  tall  tale  about  a  ghost  that  lingers 
on  in  the  scene  of  its  living,  intent  upon  induc- 
ing destruction  of  a  child  despised  in  life.  It 
is  a  straight-faced  telling  of  the  tale,  inclusive 
of  the  photographing  of  the  ghost,  and  there  is 
little  humor  in  it.  It  contains,  however,  much 
bitterness  and  evil-in-retrospect.  Whether  su- 
perb production,  direction,  writing  and  perform- 
ance counterbalance  these  circumstances  suffi- 
ciently to  warrant  expectation  of  substantial 
grosses  is  a  matter  of  conjecture  pending  ex- 
hibition trial. 

The  Dodie  Smith-Frank  Partos  script,  based 
on  a  Dorothy  Macardle  novel,  is  an  impressive 
example  of  craftsmanship.  It  introduces  Ray 
Milland  and  Ruth  Hussey  as  Londoners,  broth- 
er and  sister,  who  buy  an  otherwise  charming 
country  place  rumored  tenanted  of  nights  by 
one  or  more  ghosts.  Scoffing  at  first,  they  learn 
by  experience  and  investigation  that  two  wom- 
en who  lived  with  one  man  in  the  house  a  gen- 
eration back  are  staying  on  after  death,  one  de- 
termined to  destroy  and  one  to  protect  his 
daughter.  By  devices  which  only  a  clever 
script,  skilled  direction  and  a  crafty  camera 
could  make  momentarily  credible,  the  new  ten- 
ants put  their  ghostly  predecessors  to  rout  and 
satisfy  enough  equations  to  appease  believers  in 
ghosts. 

Production  by  Charles  Brackett  and  direc- 
tion by  Lewis  Allen  are  of  the  best.  Just  why 
they  or  anybody  should  decide  that  the  world 
needs  at  this  point  to  be  regaled  with  a  picture 
which  treats  of  a  vengeful  ghost  as  real,  and 
possessed  of  power  to  implement  its  revenge, 
the  picture  does  not  reveal. 

Previewed  at  the  Paramount  theatre,  in 
downtown  Los  Angeles,  where  a  Monday  night 
audience  attracted  by  "Riding  High"  fried  to 

Product  Digest  Section    1 705 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    8,  1944 


find  in  the  previewed  film  the  cues  for  laughter 
usually  spotted  in  chiller-dillers  and,  jailing  to 
find  them,  laughed  uneasily  in  some  wrong 
places  and  then  related  into  absorbed  attention. 
Reviewer's  Rating :  Goorf— William  R.  Weaver. 

Release  date,  Block  3.  Running  time,  97  min.  PCA 
No.  9337.    Adult  audience  classification. 

Roderick  Fitzgerald   Ray  Milland 

Pamela  Fitzgerald   Ruth  Hussey 

Donald  Crisp,  Cornelia  Otis  Skinner,  Dorothy  Stick- 
ncy,  Barbara  Everest,  Alan  Napier,  Gail  Russell. 

Standing  Room  Only 

(Paramount) 
Washington  Comedy 

The  desperate  struggle  to  maintain  oneself 
while  awaiting  a  government  contract  is  the 
nub  of  the  joke  in  this  comedy  of  wartime 
Washington.  Fred  MacMurray  and  Paulette 
Goddard  are  the  resourceful  victims  who  carry 
the  fun  as  far  as  the  lines  and  situations  will 
allow,  with  the  competent  help  of  Edward  Ar- 
nold and  Roland  Young. 

They  hire  out  as  a  "couple,"  although  they 
are  really  a  business  executive  and  his  very  new 
secretary,  for  the  sake  of  a  temporary  roof 
over  their  heads.  They  manage,  of  course,  to 
arrange  a  deal  while  spilling  the  soup  and  gen- 
erally taking  gross  advantage  of  the  shortage 
of  household  help. 

The  skilled  hand  of  Paul  Jones,  listed  as 
associate  producer,  can  be  detected  in  many 
scenes,  from  the  opening,  when  the  secretary- 
to-be  is  unsuccessfully  attaching  ears  to  don- 
keys, to  the  close  when  business  is  finally 
broached  for  the  lack  of  a  pair  of  pants.  The 
screenplay  by  Darrell  Ware  and  Karl  Tunberg, 
from  a  story  by  Al  Martin,  provides  some  witty 
dialogue,  and  Sidney  Lanfield  has  directed  it 
with  a  lightness  that  matches  the  plot. 

Edward  Arnold,  as  president  of  MacMurray's 
company,  really  hits  his  stride  posing  as  former 
houseman  for  the  Duke  of  Belgrave.  Roland 
Young  plays  another  harried  husband,  running 
the  house  while  his  wife  organizes  a  women's 
auxiliary  for  parachute  troops. 

In  spite  of  the  lack  of  novelty  in  the  story,  the 
film  should  prove  amusing  as  romantic  comedy 
to  the  vast  majority  of  customers. 

Seen  in  the  home  office  projection  room.  Re- 
viewer's Rating:  Good. — E.  A.  C. 

Release  date,  Block  3.  Running  time,  83  min.  PCA 
No.  9510.     General  audience  classification. 

Lee  Stevens   Fred  MacMurray 

Jane  Rogers   Paulette  Goddard 

Edward  Arnold,  Hillary  Brooke,  Roland  Young, 
Anne  Revere,  Clarence  Kolb,  Isobel  Randolph,  Porter 
Hall,  Marie  McDonald,  Josephine  Whittell,  Veda  Ann 
Borg. 


Timber  Queen 

(  Paramount 
Melodrama 

Fortified  by  a  story  that  keeps  know-it-alls 
guessing  as  to  what's  coming,  this  Pine- 
Thomas  melodrama  rates  high  among  the  action 
films  emanating  from  this  sector  of  Para- 
ount's  production  front  to  date.  There  is  war 
and  gangsterism  in  the  tale,  both  handled  with 
discretion,  but  the  conquest  of  the  forest  is  the 
principal  source  of  suspense  and  there's  adroit 
overstaying  humor  which  profits  the  whole. 

Richard  Arlen,  appearing  in  his  last  film  for 
this  organization,  portrays  an  Army  pilot  who, 
on  receiving  his  medical  discharge,  sets  out  to 
right  the  wrong  done  the  widow  of  his  dead 
buddy  by  his  business  partner.  In  the  struggle 
which  ensues  with  the  speedy  delivery  of  lum- 
ber from  uncut  forest  as  the  objective,  he  en- 
lists the  aid  of  gangsters  who  turn  loggers  to 
expedite  the  enterprise.  The  situations  and  in- 
cidents which  follow  make  full  use  of  both  for- 
est and  nightclub  setting  and  procedure,  the 
pilot  furnishing  a  final  thrill  by  bombing  the 
dam  utilized  by  his  adversary  to  thwart  the 
efforts  of  the  honest  faction. 

Standouts  in  the  supporting  cast  are  Sheldon 
Leonard,  George  E.  Stone,  June  Havoc,  they 


and  others  responding  alertly  to  Frank  Mc- 
Donald's direction  of  Maxwell  Shane-Edward 
T.  Lowe  script. 

Previewed  at  the  studio.  Reviewer's  Rating : 
Good.—W.  R.  W. 

Release  date.  Block  3.  Running  time,  66  min. 
PCA  No.   9670.     General  audience  classification. 

Russ   Richard  Arlen 

Elaine   Mary  Beth  Hughes 

Lil   June  Havoc 

Sheldon  Leonard,  George  E.  Stone,  Dick  Purcell, 
Tony  Hughes,  Edmund  MacDonald,  Bill  Haade,  Qan- 
cy  Cooper,  Dewey  Robinson,  Horace  McM'ahon,  Jim- 
my Ames. 

Cowboy  in  the  Clouds 

(  Columbia  ) 
Westerns  Go  Modern 

In  this  latest  of  the  Charles  Starrett  series. 
Producer  Jack  Fier  has  provided  everything  to 
give  it  action,  drama,  just  the  right  touch  of 
love  interest,  and  some  hair-raising  flying  stunts 
to  rescue  a  Civilian  Air  Patrol  pilot  and  mur- 
derer from  a  forest  fire.  Benjamin  Kline 
handled  the  direction  reins  for  everything  pos- 
sible from  a  novel  type  of  western  script. 

The  story  deals  with  the  efforts  of  the  CAP 
to  get  under  way  in  a  cattle  raising  state  and 
the  efforts  of  wealthy  cattlemen  to  stop  them 
in  the  mistaken  belief  that  they  are  a  hare- 
brained bunch  and  should  leave  the  flying  to 
the  regular  service  branches. 

A  prominent  rancher's  daughter,  played  by 
Julie  Duncan,  joins  the  outfit.  When  a  murder 
is  committed  and  the  blame  placed  on  Starrett, 
and  the  cattleman  learns  his  daughter  is  in  the 
midst  of  a  forest  fire,  he  has  a  change  of  heart. 
Starrett  flies  to  the  rescue,  returning  the  girl 
and  the  real  murderer,  who  had  hidden  in  her 
CAP  plane. 

Dub  Taylor  provides  the  comedy,  with  Jimmy 
Wakeley  and  His  Saddle  Pals.  The  Jesters 
handle  the  musical  and  vocal  entertainment 
values.  John  Tyrrell  is  the  effectively  angry 
and  obstinate  menace. 

Seen  at  Hitching  Post  Theatre,  Hollywood. 
Reviewer's  Rating :  Good.- — ^Jack  Cartwright. 

Release  date,  Dec.  23,  1943.  Running  time,  54  min. 
PCA  No'.  9553.  General  audience  classification. 
Charles  Starrett.  Dub  Taylor,  Julie  Duncan,  Jimmy 
Wakeley  and  His  Saddle  Pals,  The  Jesters,  John 
Tyrrell. 

Henry  Aldrich,  Boy  Scout 

(  Paramount ) 
Scoutcraft  Demonstration 

Humor,  keystone  of  the  Aldrich  series  until 
now,  is  subordinated  this  time  to  earnestness 
and  accuracy  in  the  presentation  of  the  prin- 
ciples and  practices  of  the  boy  scouts'  organiza- 
tion. These  are  dealt  with  at  length  and  in 
detail  by  permanent  members  of  the  series  cast 
plus  numerous  additions,  notably  including  Dar- 
ryl Hickman  as  a  dissident  juvenile  rehabilitat- 
ed ultimately  by  his  scout  companions. 

The  result  of  the  modification  toward  serious- 
ness is  that  the  film  is  interesting  primarily  to 
scouts  and  parents  of  scouts,  considerably  less  to 
others  in  general. 

Muriel  Roy  Bolton's  script,  from  Agnes 
Christine  Johnston's  story,  tells  in  leisurely 
fashion  how  Henry  and  Dizzy  manage  by  ap- 
plication of  scoutcraft  to  reform  the  incorrigible 
son  of  a  capitalist  who,  therefore,  decides  to 
establish  a  plastics  factory  in  their  town  instead 
of  elsewhere.  The  proceedings  include  train- 
ing, drilling  and  competition,  terminating  in  the 
mederately  thrilling  rescue  of  a  boy  who  has 
fallen  over  a  cliff. 

Direction  by  Michel  Drake  and  production  by 
Walter  MacEwen  conform  to  the  documentary- 
like quality  of  the  script. 

Previetved  at  the  studio.  Reviewer' s  Rating : 
Fair.—W.  R.  W. 

Release  date.  Block  3.  Running  time,  66  min.  PCA 
No.   9614.     General  audience  classification. 

Henry  Aldrich   Jimmy  Lydon 

Dizzy   Stevens   Charley  Smith 

John  Litel,  Olive  Blakeney.  Joan  Mortimer.  Minor 
Watson,  Darryl  Hickman,  David  Holt. 


California  Joe 

(  Republic  ) 
Barry  Saves  Union 

This  newest  of  the  Don  "Red"  Barry  series 
from  the  anvil  of  Producer  Eddy  White,  with 
Spencer  Bennett  handling  the  direction,  pre- 
sents Barry  as  a  Union  army  officer  detached 
for  intelligence  work  in  an  effort  to  save  Cali- 
fornia for  the  north.  It  packs  plenty  of  action 
in  good  western  style,  together  with  comedy, 
drama,  and  a  plot  of  substance. 

Barry,  his  pal  Wally  Vernon,  and  Carey 
Frost  pose  as  California  miners  with  Barry 
using  the  title  name.  They  find  a  Confederate, 
who  is  even  a  traitor  to  his  adopted  South, 
and  an  ex-governor  of  California  plotting  to 
seize  California  for  an  Empire  of  the  Pacific, 
and  for  the  South. 

Discovering  the  leak  in  the  telegraph  lines, 
which  enables  the  ex-governor  to  send  con- 
fusing orders  to  Union  garrisons  in  the  name 
of  a  high  officer,  they  patch  it  up  with  some  fast 
gunplay,  send  out  Plan  D  orders  signed  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  and  arrest  any  of  the  conspirators 
left  alive  after  the  gunfight. 

Barry's  proving  the  fact  that  her  brother  was 
a  traitor,  even  to  her  beloved  South,  makes 
Helen  Talbot  realize  the  enormity  of  his  crime. 
She  handles  the  role  capably.  Twinkle  Watts 
has  some  very  good  moments  as  the  daughter 
of  the  slain  telegraph  operator. 

Seen  at  Hitching  Post  Theatre,  Hollywood. 
Reviewer's  Rating :  Good. — ^J.  C. 

Release  date,  Dec.  28,  1943.  Running  time,  55  min. 
PCA.  No.  9790.  General  audience  classification. 
Don  "Red"  Barry,  Helen  Talbot,  Wally  Veraoo, 
Carey  Frost,  Twinkle  Watts,  Brian  O'Hara,  LeRoy 
Mason,  Edward  Earle,  Charles  King,  Pearce  Lydon, 
Edmund  Cobb,  Curley  Dresden,  Robert  Kortman,  Carl 
Hackett. 

The  Racket  Man 

(  Columbia) 
Presenting  Tom  Neal 

To  a  tale  now  familiar,  that  of  the  Irish  boys 
from  New  York  tenements,  one  of  whom  be- 
comes a  cop,  the  other  a  gangster,  handsome 
Tom  Neal  shoves,  postures,  and  grins  his  way 
through  a  role  which  at  least  serves  to  put  him 
before  the  public  in  a  more  prominent  manner 
than  previously.  The  picture  has  pace  and  sus- 
pense, shooting  and  love  interest,  a  moral  and 
some  tears,  and  it  is  well  mounted  and  co- 
herently directed. 

Neal  is  the  gangster,  a  clean  one,  but  still 
outside  the  law.  Hugh  Beaumont  is  the  cop. 
They  are  friends,  even  in  their  love  for  Jeanne 
Bates,  with  whom  they  were  raised  in  the  slums. 
Neal  is  drafted,  and  rebels  at  first  in  the  Army. 
Anthony  Caruso,  a  loyal  and  understanding 
Italian-American  sergeant,  who  chooses  demo- 
tion rather  than  confessing  he  had  fought  with 
Neal,  sets  Neal's  example.  When  Caruso  is  killed 
overseas,  Neal,  still  in  this  country,  becomes 
an  "Army  man."  And  when  the  FBI  turns  him 
into  a  civilian  "discharged  from  the  Army,"  to 
track  down  his  former  associates,  Neal  does 
so  in  Army  traditions,  braving  the  wrath  of 
friend  Beaumont,  and  the  girl.  He  puts  the  fin- 
ger on  one  black  market  after  another,  and 
finally  on  his  former  partner,  Douglas  Fow- 
ley,  who  shoots  him,  in  turn  dying  under  po- 
liceman Beaumont's  fire.  His  spine  shattered, 
heart  failing,  Neal  in  his  last  moments  is  told 
by  Beaumont  and  Miss  Bates  that  they  realize 
what  a  hero  he's  been. 

Paul  Yawitz  and  Howard  Green  have  fash- 
ioned exciting  action  in  the  pulp  magazine  fash- 
ion, from  a  story  by  Casey  Robinson.  D.  Ross 
Lederman  directed,  under  Producer  Wallace 
MacDonald. 

Seen  in  a  New  York  projection  room.  Re- 
viewer's Rating :  Good. — Floyd  Elbert  5'tone. 

Release  date,  Jan.  21,  1944.  Running  time,  55  min. 
PCA  No.  9789.    General  audience  classification. 

Matt  Benson  Tom  Neal 

Irish  Duflfy  Hugh  Beaumont 

Phyllis  Lake  Jeanne  Bates 

Larry  Parks,  Douglas  Fowley,  Lewis  Wilson,  Clarence 
Muse,  Mary  Gordon,  Anthony  Caruso. 


1 706  Product  Digest  Section 


January    8,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


RELEASE  CHART 

By  Companies 


COLUMBIA 

IIV,  J!*"..^''         Raisers  Sep.  I6,M3 

5031  Doushboys  In  Ireland  Oct.    7  -43 

5003  Sahara    Oct    14  Mi 

5034  Chance  of  a  Lifetime. .  .i '.i  i  . Oct!  26 '43 
^SiS  L*-,^*'^'?.''"''^  Happy?  Oct.  28, -43 

5202  Silver  City  Raiders   Nov    4  -43 

Sf'"™  0'  ^he  Vampire  Nov.' 11. '43 

5017  There's  Something  About  a 

Soldier    Nov  sn  ^aa 

5009  Tho  Heat'.  On  !.  ::;De?: 

5021  Crima  Doctor't  Strangest 

Case    Dfie    A  i^o 

5029  Klondike    Kate  .:::::  Dec  I6'43 

fS??  of  the  Biues  Dec.  23. '43 

5203  Cowboy  in  the  Clouds  Dec  23  '43 

5005  What  a  Woman!  .  .  .  .    Dec  28 '43 

  Hey   Rookie    jan  7''44 

5036  The  Racket  IVIan   jan   2I  '44 

  Beautiful  but  Broke  Jan.  28''44 

 Tho  Vigilantes  Ride   Feb.   3 '44 

  Nine  Girls   Feb.  I7i'44 

 Cover  Girl   Not  Set 

  Wyoming   Hurricane   Not  Set 

....  The  Last  Horseman  Not  Sot 

....  Riding  West  Not  Set 

 Cowboy  from  Lonesome  River. Not  Set 

  Cyclone  Prairie  Ranger  Not  Set 

....  Roundup  for  Victory  Not  Set 

  None  Shall    Escape  Not  Set 

r^'if  --A--:  Not  Set 

 Cowboy  Canteen   Not  Set 

....  The  Ghost  that  Walks  Alone.  .Not  Set 

...  Empire  of  the  West  Not  Set 

....  Address  Unknown   Not  Set 

....  Jam  Session   Not  Sot 

. ...  Sailor's  Holiday   Not  Set 

 At  Night  Wo  Dream  Not  Set 

 Two-IVIan  Submarine   Not  Set 

  Heroes  of  the  Sagebrush  Not  Set 


MGM 


o  .                 Bloc*  I 
fjl  Salute  to  tho  Marines  Sep..'43 

402  Above  Suspicion   Sep. '43 

403  I   Dood   It   Sep  '43 

404  Swing  Shift  lUaisie  '.'.0^  "'i3 

405  Best  Foot  Forward   Oct  '43 

408  Adventures  of  Tartu   Oct  '43 

S""-  Gillespie's  Criminal  Case. . .  .■nov.";'43 

408  Young  Ideas    Nov  '43 

409  Girl  Crazy   Nov  '43 

410  Lassie  Come  Homo  D«c!/43 

1  i        J?.*"  "o*"  Uniler  Dec.,'43 

412  Whistling  io  Brooklyn  Dec.,'43 

Block  2 

413  Thousands  Cheer    jan  '43 

414  The  Cross  of  Lorraine  .Jan  '44 

jll  i-»st  Ansel   Jan:,'44 

416  A  Guy  Named  Joe   Feb  '44 

4(7  Cry  "Havoc"    'Feb'''44 

418  Rationing    Peb  '44 

419  Broadway  Rhythm    IVIar'  '44 

420  See  Here,  Private  Hargrove  '.Mar., '44 

421  The  Heavenly  Body   Mar  '44 

422  Song  of  Russia   'Apr"'44 

423  Swing  Fever    Apr"'44 

490  Madame  Curie   ..Apr.','44 

....  America   Not  Set 

....  The  White  Cliffs  Not  Set 

  Meet  the  People  Not  Set 

 Andy  Hardy'i  Blonde  Trouble.Not  Set 

....  Mr.  Co-ed   Not  Set 

....  Gaslight   Not  Set 

 The  Cantervllle  Ghost  Not  Set 

....  Kismet   Not  Set 

 Two  Sisters  and  a  Sailor  Not  Set 

....  Dragon  Seed   Not  Set 

 Three  Men  In  White  Not  Set 

. ...  Seventh  Cross   Not  Set 

  Meet  Me  in  St.  Louis  Not  Set 


MONOGRAM 

....  Melody  Parade   Aug.  27 '43 

 Spotlight  Scandals   Sep.  24, '43 

 The    Unknown    Guest  Oct.  22,'43 

 The  Texas  Kid   Nov.  26,'43 

  Death  Valley  Rangers  Deo.  3,'43 

....  Mr.  Muggs  Steps  Out  Dec.  I0,'43 

  Women  in  Bondage  Jan.  I0,'44 

  Where  Are  Your  Children?. . .Jan.  17, '44 

....  Westward  Bound   Jan.  I7,'44 

 The  Sultan's  Daughter  Jan.  24,'44 

  Raiders  of  tho  Border  Jan.  31, '44 

 Sweethearts  of  tho  U.S.A  Feb.  7,'44 

 Charlie  Chan  In  the  Secret 

Service   Feb.  14, '44 

 Voodoo  Man   Feb.  21, '44 

  Million   Dollar  Kid  Feb.  28,'44 

  Lady  Let't  Dance  Mar.  7,'44 


PARAMOUNT 

Block  I 

4301  Let's  Face  It  

4302  The  Good  Fellows  

4303  True  ta  Life  

4304  Tornado   

4305  Hostagaa   


For  Stars,  Running  Time,  Review  and  other  Service 
Data  references,  turn  to  the  alphabetical  Release  Chart 
starting  on  page  1708. 

Complete  listing  of  1942-43  Features,  by  company,  in 
order  of  release,  may  be  found  on  pages  1508  and  1509  of 
the  Product  Digest  Section  in  the  August  28,  1943  issue 
of  Motion  Picture  Herald. 


i^o.          Title  Date 
4331  City  that  St^pfd'^'mtler  

4306  HenrjJ  Aldrlch^Haunts  a 

House   

4307  Riding  High   

4308  Minesweeper   

4309  No  Time  for  Love..'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.:,',,,'/, 

..  Block  3 

4311  Henry  Aldrich  Boy  Scout  

4312  Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek..  . 

4313  Timber  Queen    '  " 

4314  Standing   Room  Only..!! 

4315  The   Uninvited   !!!!.'!!!"!! 

,7,<,  r  SPECIAL 

1338  For  Whom  the  Beil  Tolls  

  Triumph  Over  Pain  Not  Set 

....  Lady  In  the  Dark  Not  Set 

....  Henry  Aldrich  Plays  Cupid..  .Not  Set 

 The  Hour  Before  the  Dawn..  Not  Set 

  And  the  Angels  Sing  Not  Set 

....  Henry  Aldrlch's  Little  Secret.  Not  Set 

  Frenchmen's  Creek   Not  Set 

....  Ministry  of  Fear  Not  Set 

....  The  Story  of  Dr.  Wassell. . .  .Not  Set 

  Hall  the  Conquering  Hero  Not  Set 

....  Going  My  Way   Not  Set 

  Our  Hearts  Were  Young  and 

Ti,   Not  Sot 

....  Tho  Navy  Way  Not  Set 

  The  Man  in  Half-Moon  Street.Not  Set 

  Double   indemnity   Not  Set 

  I  Love  a  Soldier  Not  Set 

  'Till   We   Meet   Again  Not  Set 

 The  Hitler  Gang   Not  Set 

  Incendiary  Blonde   Not  Set 

•  ••  I,^!;?       ^'8   Not  Set 

  National   Barn  Dance  Not  Set 

  You  Can't  Ration  Love  Not  Set 

  Gambler's  Choice   Not  Set 

  Road  to  Utopia  Not  Set 

  And  Now  Tomorrow  Not  Set 


PRC  PICTURES 

405  Submarine  Base   July  20,'43 

401  Isle  of  Forgotten  Sins  Aug.  15, '43 

411  Danger!  Women  at  Work  Aug.  23,'43 

459  Blazing  Frontier   Sep.    I, '43 

406  Tiger   Fangi   Sep.  10, '43 

412  The  Girl  from  Monterrey  Oct.    4, '43 

451  Return  of  the  Rangers  Oct.  26, '43 

460  Devil  Riders   Nov.  5,'43 

452  Boss  of   Rawhide  Nov.  20,'43 

402  Harvest  Melody   Nov.  22, '43 

407  Jive  Junction   Dec.  20,'43 

461  Tho  Drifter   Dec.  20,'43 

453  Gunsmoke  Mesa   Jan.  3,'44 

  Career  Girl   Jan.   1 1, '44 

  Nabonga   Jan.  25,'44 


RKO 


Block  I 

401  Tho  Fallen  Sparrow  

402  Adventures  of  a  Rookie  

403  The  Seventh  Victim  

404  So  This  Is  Washington.... 

405  A  Lady  Takes  a  Chance  

Block  2 

406  The  Iron  Ma/or  

407  Gangway  for  Tomorrow  

408  Government  Girl   

409  Gildersleeve  on  Broadway... 

410  The  Falcon  and  the  Coeds.. 

SPECIAL  • 
451  The  North  Star  


Block  3 

411  Around  the  World  

412  The  Ghost  Ship  

413  Tarzan's  Desert  Mystery. 

414  Rookies  In  Burma  

415  Higher  and  Higher  


^r?''-  ^.  ,  Release 

No.  Title  Date 

 Show  Business    Not  Set 

....  Glldersleeve's   Ghost   Not  Set 

....  The  Falcon  Out  West  Not  Set 

....  Are  These  Our  Children?. ...  Not  Set 

  Marine  Raldert   Not  Set 

 Seven  Days  Ashore  Not  Set 

  Up  In  Arms   Not  Set 


REPUBLIC 

IS!  Sonera  July    I, '43 

IV,  mV^^u^.'^^'i'  ""^  Tloer....July  29, '43 
l^i  Express  Aug.  15, '43 

302  Hoosier  Holiday   Sep   13 '43 

S!^?!!'' J^l  Frontier.... Sep.  I8,''43 

III  Manhunt  Sep.  25, '43 

363  Man  from  the  Rio  Grande. .  .Oct.  18, '43 

303  Hero  Comes   Elmer  Nov.  15 '43 

In?  f »"   Robbery  Nov.  20;'43 

im  The  Deerslayer    Nov  22  '43 

304  Mystery  Broadcast   .Nov.'  23/43 

305  Drums  of  Fu  Manchu  Nov.  27,'43 

Ini  fnTi"^   ni?  C Nov.  29,'43 

307  In  Old  Oklahoma  Dec.   6 '43 

310  Pistol   Packin'   Mama  Dec.  I5,''43 

352  Raiders  of  Sunset  Pass  Dec.  20,'43 

365  California  Joe    Dec  28  '43 

309  Whispering  Footsteps   Dee!  3o!'43 

308  0,  My  Darling  Clementine. ..  Dee.  31. '43 

353  Pride  of  the  Plains  Jan.    5, '44 

341  Hands  Across  the  Border  Jan.  5,'44 

Rootin',  Tootin'  Rhythm(R) .  .Jan.  15, '44 

  Casanova  in  Burlesque  Not  Set 

  The   Fighting  SeeBees  Not  Set 

  Three  Little  Sisters  Not  Set 

  Mojave  Firebrand   Not  Set 

  The   Monster's  Castle  Not  Set 

....  My  Best  Gal.  Not  Set 

  Rosio  the   Riveter  Not  Set 

....  Beneath  Western  Skies  Not  Set 

  Cowboy  and  the  Senorlta  Not  Set 

  Man  from  Frisco  Not  Set 

  The  Outlaw  Buster   Not  Set 

  The  Laramie  Trail   Not  Set 


20TH.FOX 


'43 
'43 
'43 
'43 
'43 
'43 
'43 
'43 
'43 
43 
'43 
'43 
'43 
'43 
•43 
'43 
44 
•44 


...  Days  of  Glory  Not  Set 

. . .  Tender  Comrade   Not  Set 

. ..  Dangerous  Journey   Not  Set 

...  The  Curse  of  the  Cat  People.  .Not  Set 

. ..  Danger  in  Damascus  Not  Set 


401  Bomber's  Moon   Auo  8 

402  Heaven  Can  Wilt  Aug.  is! 

in?  i'.*'*.„'"*"''""'ny   Aug.  27, 

404  Claudia   sep.  3 

405  Wintertime    Sep  17 

408  Sweet   Rosie  O'Grady   Oct  l' 

409  Paris  After  Dark  Oct.  15,' 

406  In  Old  Chicago  (R)  Oct.  29, 

407  Banjo  on  My  Knee  (R)  Oct.  29 

412  Guadalcanal  Diary   Nov.  5 

414  The  Battle  of  Russia  Nov.  5, 

413  Dancing  Masters   Nov  19 

410  The  Rains  Came  (R)  Nov.  26* 

411  Under  Two  Flags  (R)  Nov.  26, 

415  Happy  Land   Dec.  3, 

416  The  Gang's  All  Here  Dec.  24, 

417  The  Lodger    jan  7 

...  Lifeboat   Jan.  2l' 

...  Jane  Eyre   Not  Set 

...  Roger  Touhy,  Last  of  the 

Gangsters   Not  Set 

...  The  Song  of  Bernadette  Not  Set 

•■•  5,"*'^.',"  II".  Not  Set 

...  Pin  Up  Girl  Not  Set 

...  Tampico   Not  Set 

...  The  Sullivans   Not  Set 

...  The  Eve  of  St.  Mark  Not  Set 

...  Home  in  Indiana  Not  Set 

...  The  Purple  Heart  Not  Set 

...  Four  Jills  In  a  Jeep  Not  Set 

...  Greenwich  Village   Not  Set 

•  ■•  Wilson   Not  Set 

...  1  Married  a  Sailor  Not  Set 

...  Murder  in  Beruda  Not  Set 


UNITED  ARTISTS 

...  Yanks  Ahoy   July  |,'43 

...  That  Nazty  Nuisance  Aug.  6 '43 

...  Victory  Through  Air  Power... Aug.  I3,'43 

...  HI    Diddle   Diddle  Aug  20 '43 

...  Johnny  Come  Lately  Sep.    3 '43 

...  The  Kansan   Sep.  10, '43 


No.  Title  Date 

•  ■  faj-  20  Oct.     I. '43 

  False  Colors    Nov    5  '43 

  Riders  of  the  Deadline  Dec'  3''43 

  Jack  London   Dee.  24 '43 

  Woman  of  the  Town  Deo.  3l!'43 

  Three   Russian  Girls  Jan.  14  '44 

  Knickerbocker  Holiday   Jan.  28  '44 

....  Bridge  of  San  Luis  Rey  Feb.  Il,'44 

  It  Happened  Tomorrow  Feb.  25, '44 

  Voice  In  the  Wind  Mar.  10, '44 

  Song  of  the  Open  Road  Mar.  24, '44 

  Up  in  Mabel's  Room  Apr.   7, '44 

 Texas  Masquerade   Net  Sat 

 Thundering  Hoofs    Not  Set 

 Since  Yob  Went  Away  Not  Set 

  Lumber  Jack   Not  Set 


UNIVERSAL 

8017  Fired    Wife    Sm    S  '43 

2SSo  ftrange  Death  of  Adolf  HltlenSep!  10/43 

8028  Larceny  with  Music  Sep.  |»  '43 

8024  Sherlock  Helmet  Faces  Deatb.Sep.  17  '« 
8009  Top   Men    Sea    17  '4.1 

8081  Arizona  Trail   ..  .  .^p  24 '43 

22??  Always  a   Bridesmaid  Sep.  14! '43 

8007  Corvette  K-225   Oct  1/43 

8005  Crazy  House    Oet     ■ '« 

8035  Hi  Ya  Sailor   OeL  I8''« 

8033  You're  a  Lucky  Fellow, 

Mr.  Smith   Oet   22  '43 

Bn^i  c'"*"  .^"i  Fantasy  o,t.  29;'43 

S2i2  Draeula  Nov.   5. '43 

8082  Frontier  Law   M„,   5  .Ji 

8038  The   Mad   Ghoul   Nov   12 '43 

8030  Never  a  Dull  Moment  '.'.Nov.  ts'.'AS 

TAS*?  S.'^f  Nov!  28 '« 

8042  So's  Your  Unc  e  Dee.   S '43 

8041  She's  for  Me   Dm   10 '43 

8026  Calling  Dr.  Death  .  .  Dec.  17 '43 

8025  Moonlight  in  Vermont  Dec.  24 '43 

md  ^ns'a'iindiv.'.'.'.'.'.'.v.'.v.'.v.' j?r  v-i' 

ono,-  i^'.'  Baba  and  tho  40  Thieves. Jan.  14/44 
8U2I  Spider  Woman   jan    21  '44 

8083  Marshal  of  Gunsmoke  Jan.  2li'44 

....  Phantom  Lady    jan   28  '44 

B020  Swingtime  Johnny    Feb    4' '44 

 The  Impostor   Feb.  ir'44 

  Weekend  Pass   Feb.  18. '44 

....  Chip  Off  the  Old  Block  Feb.  25,'44 

  Moonlight  and  Cactus  Not  Set 

 The  Mummy's  Ghost  Not  Set 

....  Ladies  Courageous    lyiot  Set 

Vl'?J^  ^^'Lh'J''  Not  Set 

  Oklahoma  Raiders   Not  Set 

 Three  Cheers  for  tho  Boys  Not  Set 

....  Gypsy  Wildcat   Not  Set 

  Patrick  the   Great  Net  Set 

  Her  Primitive  Man  Not  Set 

  Cobra  Woman   Not  Set 

■  cn'^^./'i''  F'nsers  Not  Set 

....  S^lfhtly  Terrlfle   Not  Set 

....  Weird   Woman   Not  Set 

  The   Merry  Monahans  Not  Set 

  Has  Anybody  Here  Seen 

Kelly?   Not  Set 

 Christmas  Holiday   Not  Set 


WARNER  BROS. 

ISi  "  the  Rhine  Sep.   4, '43 

330  Oklahoma    Kid    (R)  Sep.  II  '43 

302  Murder  en  the  Waterfront  Sep.  18/43 

303  Thank  Your  Lucky  Stars  Sep.  25.'43 

331  Song  of  the  Saddle  (R)  Oct.  2.'43 

«i  ^[^'".^  ■'■Sunder   (R)  Oct.  2, '43 

333  Cherokee  Strip  (R)  Oct.  2 '43 

334  Empty  Holster.  (R)  oTt.  i'43 

335  Guns  of  the  Pecos  (R)  Oct  i'43 

336  Land  Beyond  the  Law  (R)...Oct.  2. '43 

304  Adventure  in   Iraq  Oct.  9  '43 

305  Princess  O'Rourke   Oct.  23 '43 

IKS  uL!!?..  •'"'^Blackmailer  Nov.  8, '43 

30/  Northern  Pursuit                    Nov  13  '43 

308  Old  Acquaintance   !!]Nov.'  27' '43 

327  Crime  School   (R)   Dee    4 '43 

328  Girls  on  Probation  (R)  Dm  4/43 

309  Destination,  Tokyo  Ja"    |  '44 

310  The  Desert  Song   jan.  29,''44 

....  Adventures  of  Mark  Twain. .  .Not  Set 

  Arsenic  and  Old  Lace  Not  Set 

  The  Desert  Song  Not  Set 

  Crime  by  Night  Not  Set 

....  Devoton    .   NrtSet 

■  ••  I''i.,'-»'t.,Ride  Not  Set 

 Saratoga  Trunk   Not  Set 

•  •     'n  Our  Time  Net  Set 

....  Conflict    Not  Set 

 Shine  pn.   Harvest  Moon. ..  .'Net  Set 

  Rhapsody  In  Blue  Not  Set 

  Passage  to  Marseille  Not  Set 

  Uncertain  Glory    Not  Set'" 

  Mr.  Skefnington   Not  Set 

....  The  Horn  Blows  at  Midnight. Not  Set 

  One  More  Tomorrow  Net  Set 

....  Between  Two  Worlds  Not  Set 

■  ■  ■  ■  -nJl  m""!*"!"   Not  Set 

 The  Mask  of  DImitrios  Not  Set 

....  Make  Your  Own   Bed  Not  Set 

. ...  Cinderella  Jones   Not  Set 


Product  Digest  Section    \  707 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    8.  1944 


THE  RELEASE  CHART 

Index  to  Reviews,  Advance  Synopses  and 
Service  Data  in  PRODUCT  DIGEST  SECTION 

(*)  before  the  title  indicates  1942-43  product.  All  page  numbers  on  this  chart  refer  to  pages  in  the 
Release  dates  and  running  time  are  furnished  as  soon  as  avail-    PRODUCT  DIGEST  SECTION  of  MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD, 

able   Advance  dates  are  tentative  and  subject  to  change.  Short  Subjects  Chart  with  Synopsis  Index  can  be  found  on 

Consult  Service  Data  in  the  PRODUCT  DIGEST  SECTION  for    pages  1698-1699. 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating,  Audience  Classification  and  Managers'  Feature  Product  Including  Coming  Attractions,  listed  by  Corn- 
Round  Table  Exploitation.  pany,  in  order  of  release,  on  page  1707. 

r- REVIEWED-^ 

M.  P.       Product  Advance  SenHct 

Prod.  RmIim»  R»niant         Herald       Digat  Synopth  Data 

Titlt                             Company     Number  Stan  £W»  Thnt  lime         Page         Page  Page 

ABOVE  Suspicion                  M©M        402  Joan  Crawford-Frod  MacMurray  Sept.,'43  90m       May   I, '43       1546       1081  1575 

Address  Unknown                        Col   Paul  Lukas-Mady  Christians  Not  Set    1695 

Adventure  ifl  Iraq                        WB        304  John  Loder-Ruth  Ford  Oct.  9, "43  64m      Sept.  25.'43       1553  1530 

Adventure!  of  a  Rookie              RKO        402  Wally  Brown-Alan  Carney  Block  I. '43-44  64m      Aug.2i,'43       1547       1471  1617 

Adventure!  of  Mark  Twain           WB       ....  Fredric  March-Alexii  SmHh  il®* 

Adventures  of  Tartu                 M©M        406  Robert  Donat-Valerie  Hobson  Oct.,  43  103m      Aug.  7,'43       1546    1655 

Ali  Baba  and  40  Thieves  Icolor)   Univ   Jon. Hall-Maria  Montei  Jan.  I4.'44    1457 

Always  a  Bridesmaid                  Univ.       8023  Andrews  Sisters-Patric  Knowles  Sept.  24, 43  62m      Oct.  2,'43       1566  1192   

America  (color)                       MGM    Brian  Donl«vy-Ann  Richards  Not  S«t    1457   

And  the  Angels  Sing                 Para   Fred  MacMurray-Dorothy  Lamour  NotSct    1555   

Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble    MSM       ....  Mickey  Rooney-Lewit  Stone  Not  Set    1456 

Arizona  Trail                            Univ.       8081  Tex  RiHer-Funy  Knight  Sept.  24, 43  57m    1545   

Around  the  World                     RKO        411  K«y  Kyser-Joan  Davis-Mischa  Auer  Blocks  81m      Nov.27,'43       1645  1457   

BANJO   on  My  Knee 

(Reissue)                          20th-Fox        407  Barbara  Stanwyck-Joel  McCrea  Oct. 29,'43  95m       Dec.  5.'36  1585   

Bar  20                                   UA  William  Boyd-Andy  Clyde  Orf.  I.'43         55m       July  24.'43  1559   

•  Bataan                                  MGM        328  Robert  Taylor-Tbomas  Mitchell  Jufle-Aug..'43  1 14m      May29,'43       1337  1127  1507 

Battle  of  Russia                    20th-Fox        414  Documentary  Nov.  S,;43  80m      Nov.  6.'43  1615   

Beautiful  but  Broke                      Col   Joan  Davis-Jane  Frazee  Jan.  25, 44    1696   

•  Behind  the  Risinq  Sun  RKO  334  Margo-Tom  Neal-Robert  Ryan  Block  7  87m  July  I7.'43  1425  1362  1655 
Best  Foot  Forward  (color)  MGM  405  Lucille  Ball-William  Gaxton  Oct..'43  94m  July3.'43  1532  1191  1617 
Between  Two  Worlds                    WB    John  Garfield-Paul  Henreid  Not  Set  ....    1646  .... 

(formerly  Outward  Bound) 

Beyond  the  Last  Frontier             Rep.        351  Eddie  Dew-Smiley  Burne«e  Sept.  18,43  55m      S«pt.  11,43  1529   

e  Billy  the  Kid  in  Cattle  Stampede    PRC        362  Buster  Cr«bbe-Al  St.  John  Aug.  I6,'43  58m       Jan.   I,'44       1695  1531 

Black  Hills  Express                     Rep.        362  Don  Barry- Wally  Vernon  Aug.  I5,'43  55m      Aug.  7,'43       1546  1457  

•  Black  Market  Rustlers              Mono   The  Range  Busters  Aug.27,'43  58m      Sept.  4,'43       1522  1391 

Blazing  Frontier                         PRC        459  Buster  Crabbe-AI  St.  John  Sept.  I, '43  59m    1531   

•  Blazing  Guns                         Mono   Hoot  Gibson-Ken  Maynard  Oct8.'43  55m      Sept.  I8,'43       1542  1509 

Bombers  Moon                    20th-Fox        401  George  Montgomery-Annabella  Aug.  6,'43  70m       July  I0,'43       1532  1305   

Boss  of  Rawhide                        PRC        452  Dave  O'Brien-Jim  Newill  Nov.20,'43    1599 

Bridge  of  San  Luis  Rey,  The           UA  Lynn  Bari-Louis  Calhern  Feb.  Il,'44    1636 

Broadway  Rhythm  (color)          MGM        419  George  Murphy-Ginny  Simms  Mar.,  44    1616 

Buffalo  Bill  (color)                20th-Fox       ...  Maureen  O'Hara-Joel  McCroa  Not  Set    1531 

•  Bullets  and  Saddles                  Mono   Range  Busters  Oct.29.'43  52m       Oct.  9.'43       1673  1531 

CALIFORNIA  Joe                 Rep.        365  Don  Barry-Helen  Talbot  Dec.  28,'43  55m       Jan.  8."44       1706  1675 

Calling  Dr.  Death                      Univ.       8026  Lon  Chaney-Patricia  Morison  Dec.  I7,'43  63m       Dec.  I8,'43       1673  1635   

•  Campus  Rhythm                       Mono   Gale  Storm-Robert  Lowery    *  Nov.  I9.'43  63m       Oct.  9.'43       1574  1545   

Candlelight  in  Algeria  (Br.)     Br.  Lion    James  Mason-Caria  Lehmann  Not  Set  85m       Jan.   I,'44  1694   

Cantervillo  Ghost,  The              MGM  Charles  Laughton-Margaret  O'Brien  Not  Set    1635   

Canyon  City                             Rep.        364  Don  Barry-Helen  Talbot  Nov.29,'43  54m      Nov.  I3,'43       1626  1599 

Career  Girl                                PRC    Frances  Langford-Craig  Wood  Jan.  Il,'44  66m       Dec.  I8,'43       1674  1634   

Chance  of  a  Lifetime,  The           CoL       5034  Chester  Morris-Jeanne  Bates  Oct.26,'43  66m       Oct.  1 6, '43       1586  1545 

Charlie  Chan  in  Secret  Service  Mono   Sidney  Toler-Gwen  Kenyon  Feb.  I4,'44  64m    1599   

Casanova  in  Burlesque                 Rep   Joe  E.  Brown-June  Havoc  Not  Set  ....    ....  1676  .... 

Cherokee  Strip  (Reissue)              WB        333  Dick  Foran  Oct.2.'43  56m     

Chip  Off  the  Old  Block             Univ   Donald  O'Connor-Peggy  Ryan  Feb.  25.'44   

Christmas  Holiday                      Univ   Deanna  Durbin-Geno  Kelly  Not  Set    1695   

City  That  Stopped  Hitler           Para.      4331  Russian  Documentary  Sept.  4,'43  58m      Sept.  4,'43       1521    1655 

Claudia                              20th-Fox        404  Dorothy  McGuiro-Robert  Young  Sept.  3,'43  91m      Aug.  2I,'43       1558    1655 

Cobra  Woman  (color)               Univ   Jon  Hall-Maria  Montez  Not  Set    1457  1655 

Conflict                                   WB  Humphrey  Bogart-AUxis  Smith  NotSat    1456   

Corvette  K-225                          Univ.       8007  Randolph  ScoH-James  Brown  Oct.   I.'43  99m       Oct.  2.'43       1565  1240  1655 

Courageous  Mr.  Penn  (Br.)    Hoffberg    Clifford  Evans-Deborah  Kerr  Dec.22,'43  78m       Jan.   I,'44  1694   

Cover  Girl,  The  (color)                 Col   Rita  Hayworth-JInx  Falkenberq  Not  Set  1416 

Cowboy  in  the  Clouds                 Col.       5203  Charles  Starrett-Julie  Duncan  •     Dec.23,'43  54m       Jan.  8,'44       1706  1636   

Crazy  House                            Univ.       8005  Olsen  and  Johnson  Oct.  8,'43  80m       Oct.  23,'43       1595  1531  1655 

Crime  by  Night                        WB       ...  Jane  Wyman-Jerome  Cowan  Not  Set    1091  ... 

Crime  Doctor's  Strangest  Case     CoL       502!  Warner  Baxter-Lynn  Merrkk  Dec.  9,'43  69m    1654   

Crime  School  (Reissue)                 WB        327  Humphrey  Bogart-Dead  End  Kids  Dec.  4,'43  86m       May  7,'38  1626   

Cross  of  Lorraine,  The              MGM         414  Pierre  Aumont-Gene  Kelly  Jan. ,'44  90m       Nov.  I3,'43       1625  1457   

Cry  "Havoc"                           MGM         417  Margaret  Sullavan-Ann  Sothern  Feb.,'44  97m       Nov.  6,'43       1614  1555   

Curly                                       Col   Cary  Grant-Janet  Blair  Not  Sot    1616   

DANCING  Masters,  The      20th-Fox        413  Laurel  and  Hardy  Nov.  I9,'43  63m      Oct.30.'43       1605  1555 

•  Dangerous  Blondes                     Col.       4016  Evelyn  Key»«-Edmund  Lowe  Sept.23,'43  80m      Oct.23,'43       1594  1509 

I  708    Product  Digest  Section 


January    8,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


l$tte  Company 

Dangerous  Journey  RKO 

Oangerl  Women  at  Work  PRC 

Day  After  Day  (Russian)  Artkino 

Days  of  Glory  RKO 
Dear  Octopus  (British)  Gains.-Gen'l 

Death  Valley  Manhunt  Rep. 

Death  Valley  Rangers  Mono. 
Demi  Paradise  (Br.)      Two  Cities-GFD 

Deerslayer,  The  Rep. 

Desert  Song,  The  (color)  WB 

Destination,  Tokyo  WB 

•  Destroyer  Col. 
Devil  Riders,  The  PRC 

•  Dixie  (color)  Para. 
Double  Indemnity  Para. 
Doughboys  in  Ireland  Col. 
Dragon  Seed  MGM 
Drifter,  The  PRC 
Dr.  Gillespie's  Criminal  Case  MGM 
Dr.  Paul  Joseph  Goebbels  Frank 
Drums  of  Fu  Manchu  Rep. 

•  DuBarry  Was  a  Lady  (color)  MGM 

EMPTY  Holsters  (Reissue)  WB 

Eve  of  St.  Mark  20th-Fox 

•FALCON  in  Danger,  The  RKO 

Falcon  and  the  Coeds,  The  RKO 

Fallen  Sparrow,  The  RKO 

False  Colors  UA 

•  Fighting  Valley  PRC 
Fighting  Seabees,  The  Rep. 
Rnd  the  Blackmailer  WB 
Fired  Wife  Univ. 
Flesh  and  Fantasy  Univ. 
Follow  the  Leader  Mono. 

•Footlight  Glamour  Col. 
For  Whom  the  Bell  Tolls  (color)  Para. 

Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep  20th-Fox 

Frenchman's  Creek  (color)  Para. 

•  Frontier  Bad  Men  Univ. 
Frontier  Law  Univ. 
Fugitive  from  Sonora  R«p. 

GANG'S  All  Here  (color)  20th-Fox 

Gangway  for  Tomorrow  RKO 

Ghost  Ship,  The  RKO 
Ghost  That  Walks  Alone,  The  Col. 

Gildersleeve  on  Broadway  RKO 

Girl  Craiy  MGM 

Girl  from  Monterrey,  The  PRC 

Girls  on  Probation  (Reissue)  WB 

Good  Fellows,  The  Para. 

Government  Girl  RKO 
Great  Mr.  Handel,  The  (color) 

(British)  Midfilm 

Greenwich  Village  20th-Fox 

Guadalcanal  Diary  20th-Fox 

Gung  Ho  Univ. 

Gunsmoke  Mesa  PRC 

Guns  of  the  Pecos  (Reissue)  WB 

Guy  Named  Joe,  A  MGM 

Gypsy  Wildcat  Univ. 

HAIL  the  C  onquering  Hero  Para. 

Hail  to  the  Rangers  Col. 

Hands  Across  the  Border  Rep. 

Happy  Land  20th-Fox 

•  Harrigan's  Kid  MGM 
Harvest  Melody  PRC 

•  Headin'  for  God's  Country  Rep. 
Heat's  On,  The  Col. 
Heaven  Can  Wait  (color)  20th-Fox 
Heavenly  Body,  The  MGM 
Henry  Aldrich,  Boy  Scout  Para. 
Henry  Aldrich  Haunts  a  House  Para. 
Henry  Aldrich  Plays  Cupid  Para. 

•  Henry  Aldrich  Swings  It  Para. 
Here  Comes  Elmer  Rep. 

•  Here  Comes  Kelly  Mono. 

•  Hers  to  Hold  Univ. 
Her  Primitive  Man  Univ. 
Hey,  Rookie  Col. 
Hi  Diddle  Diddle  UA 
Higher  and  Higher  RKO 
His  Butler's  Sister  Univ. 


Prod.  Release  Running 

Number                Stan  Date  Time 

....  Elsa  Lanchester-Gordon  Oliver  Not  Set  .... 

411  Patsy  Kelly-Mary  Brian  Aug.23,'43  59m 

....  Documentary  Nov.  I5,'43  62m 

....  Tamara  Toumanova-Gregory  Peck  Not  Set  ... 

...  Margaret  Lockwood-Michael  Wilding  Not  Set  8^m 

375  Bill  Elliott-Gabby  Hayes  Sept.  25,'43  55m 

  Hoot  Gibson-Ken  Maynard  Dec.  3,'43  57m 

....  Laurence  Olivier-Penelope  Ward  Not  Set  I  15m 

306  Bruce  Kellogg-Jean  Parker  Nov.  22,'43  67m 

310  Dennis  Morgan-Irene  Manning  Jan.  29, '44  94m 

309  Gary  Grant-John  Garfield  Jan.   I, '44  135m 

4003  Edw.  G.  Robinson-Marguerite  Chapman   Sept.2,'43  99m 

460  Buster  Crabbe-AI  St.  John  Nov.  5,'43  58m 
4230  Bing  Crosby-Dorothy  Lamour  Block  6  89m 

....  Barbara  Stanwyck-Fred  MacMurray  Not  Set  .... 

5031  Kenny  Baker-Jeff  Donnell  Oct.  7, '43 

....  Katharine  Hepburn-Walter  Huston  Not  Set 

461  Buster  Crabbe-AI  St.  John  Dec.  20,'43 
407  Lionel  Barrymore-Van  Johnson  Nov.,'43 

....  Paul  Andor-Claudia  Drake-Donald  Woods  Not  Set 

305  Henry  Brandon-William  Royle  Nov.27.'43 

333  Lucille  Ball-Red  Skelton  June-Aug.,'43 


^  REVIEWED 
M.  P.  Product 
Herald  Digest 


Issw 


July  I7,'43 
Nov.  20.'43 


Sept. 
Aug. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Nov. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Aug. 


I8,'43 
28.'43 
I8,'43 
I8,'43 
6,'43 
I8.'43 
25,'43 
2 1, '43 


61m       Oct.  9,'43 


334  Dick  Foran  Oet.  2.'43  62m   

....  Michael  O'Shea-Anne  Baxter  Not  Set  ....   

332  Tom  Conway-Jean  Brooks  Block?  70m  July  I7,'43 

410  Tom  Conway-Jean  Brooks  Block  2  69m  Nov.  6,'43 

401  Maureen  O'Hara-John  Garfield  Block  I. '43-44  94m  Aug.  2I,'43 

William  Boyd  Nov.  5,'43  65m  Nov.  6,'43 

355  Dave  O'Brien-Jim  Newill  Aug.   I, '43  59m  Dec.  I8,'43 

....  John  Wayne-Susan  Hayward  Not  Set  ....   

306  Faye  Emerson-Jerome  Cowan  Nov.  6,'43  55m  Oct.  23, '43 

8017  Robert  Paige-Louise  Allbritton  Sept.  3.'43  73m  Sept.  4. '43 

8062  Charles  Boyer-Barbara  Stanv/yck  Oct.  29,'43  94m  Sept.  I8,'43 

East  Side  Kids  Not  Set   

4020  Penny  Singleton-Arthur  Lake  Sept.  30.'43  70m  Oct.  9,'43 

4338  Gary  Cooper-lngrld  Bergman  Special  168m  July  I7,'43 

....  Kay  Francis-Carole  Landls  Not  Set  ....   

....  Joan  Fontaine-Arturo  de  Cordova  Not  Set  ....   

7011  Diana  Barrymore-Robert  Paige  Aug.  6,'43  77m  Aug.  7,'43 

8082  Russell  Hayden-Jennifer  Holt  Nov.  5,'43   

361  Don  Barry-Lynn  Merrick  July   I, '43  57m  July  I0,'43 

416  Alice  Faye-Carmen  Miranda  Dec.  24, '43  103m  Dec.  4,'43 

407  Margo-Robert  Ryan-John  Carradine  Block  2  69m  Nov.  6,'43 
412  Richard  Dix-Edith  Barrett  Block  3  69m  Dec.  1 1. '43 
....  Arthur  Lake-  Lynn  Roberts  Feb.  I0,'44   

409  Harold  Peary-Billio  Burke  Block  2  65m  Oct.23,'43 

409  Mickey  Rooney-Judy  Garland  Nov.,'43  99m  Aug.  7,'43 

412  Armlda-Edgar  Kennedy  Oct.  4,'43  59m  Sept.  25,'43 

328  Jane  Bryan-Ronald  Reagan  Dec.  4, '43  63m  Oct.  29.'38 

4302  Cecil  Kellaway-Helen  Walker  Block  I, '43-44  70m  Aug.  I4,'43 

408  Olivia  de  Havilland-Sonny  Tufts  Block  2  93m  Nov.  6,'43 


Page 

1426 
1634 

1542 
1558 
1674 
1673 
1615 
1673 
1685 
1496 


June26,'43  1385 


1574 


1426 
1615 
1547 
1614 
1674 

1594 
152! 
1541 

1573 
1546 


1470 
1532 

1653 
1614 

1666 

1595 
1558 
1554 
1626 
1559 
1614 


Advance  Service 

Synopsis  Date 

Page  Page 

1636 


1636 

1402 
1555 


1599 
872 
1530 
1 162 
1566 
1091 
1646 
1545 

  1675 

  1606 

89m       May  8,'43       1546  1192 

  1599 

68m  Nov.  I3,'43  1626  1606 
lOlm       May  8,'43       1301  1019 


1636 

1362 
1599 
1182 
1431 
1391 
1616 


1058 
1606 
1531 
855 
1676 
1416 
1375 
1606 
1375 

1530 
1566 
1646 
1696 
1566 
1 191 
1509 

1 191 
1416 


Wilfred  Lawson-Elizabeth  Allan 

Sept.  9,'43 

89m 

Sept.  I8,'43 

1542 

Don  Ameche-Carmen  Miranda 

Not  Set 

1676 

4i2 

Preston  Foster-Lloyd  Nolan 

Nov.  5,'43 

93m 

Oct.  30,'43 

1605 

1457 

Randolph  Scott-Grace  McDonald 

Dec.  31, '43 

88m 

Dec.  25,'43 

1686 

1599 

453 

Dave  O'Brien-Jim  Newill 

Jan.  3.'44 

1635 

335 

Dick  Foran 

Oct.  2,'43 

56m 

416 

Spencer  Tracy-Irene  Dunne 

Feb.,'44 

120m 

Dec.  25,'43 

1686 

1431 

Maria  Montez-Jon  Hall 

Not  Set 

1675 

Eddie  Bracken-Ella  Raines 

Not  Set 

1696 

5261 

Charles  Starrett 

Sept.  I6,'43 

57m 

Nov.  27.'43 

1646 

1055 

341 

Roy  Rogers-Ruth  Terry 

Jan.  5,'44 

73m 

Dec.  II, '43 

1665 

1545 

415 

Don  Ameche-Frances  Dee 

Dec.  3, '43 

75m 

Nov.  I3,'43 

1625 

1555 

329 

Bobby  Readick-William  Gargan 

June-Aug.,'43 

80m 

Mar.  I3,'43 

1202 

1191 

402 

Rosemary  Lane-Johnny  Downs 

Nov.  22,'43 

70m 

Oct.  9,'43 

1574 

1545 

224 

William  Lundigan-Virginia  Dale 

Aug.  26,'43 

78m 

July  31, '43 

1455 

1339 

5009 

Mao  West-Victor  Moore 

Dec.  2,'43 

79m 

Dec.  4,'43 

1653 

1555 

402 

Don  Ameche-Gene  Tierney 

Aug.  I3,'43 

1 12m 

July  24.'43 

1578 

1240 

421 

'  William  Powell-Hedy  Lamar 

Mar.,'44 

93  m 

Jan.  I,'44 

1693 

1555 

431 1 

Jimmy  Lydon-Charlie  Smith 

Block  3 

66m 

Jan.  8,'44 

1706 

1696 

4306 

Jimmy  Lydon-Charlie  Smith 

Block  2 

72  m 

Nov.  6. "43 

1614 

1566 

Jimmy  Lydon-Charlie  Smith 

Not  Set 

1431 

42i26 

Jimmy  Lydon-Charlie  Sntith 

Block  6 

65m 

June  26.'43 

1386 

1104 

303 

Al  Pearce-Dale  Evans 

Nov.  I5,'43 

74m 

Oct.  I6,'43 

1585 

Eddie  Ouf'^n-Joan  Woodbury 

Sept.  10, '43 

64m 

July  31. '43 

1456 

1391 

7006 

Deanna  Durbin-Joseph  Coften 

July  I6,'43 

94m 

July  I7,'43 

1425 

1375 

Louise  Allbritton-Robert  Paige 

Not  Set 

1675 

« 

Ann  Miller-Larry  Parks 

Jan.  7,'44 

1654 

Martha  Scott-Adolphe  Menjou 

Aug.  20.'43 

71m 

July  3 1  ,'43 

1559 

1375 

415 

Michele  Morqan-Frank  Sinatra 

Block  3 

90m 

Dec.  1 1.'43 

1665 

1616 

8004 

Deanna  Durbin-Franchot  Tone 

Nov.  26.'43 

93m 

Nov.  I3.'43 

1625 

1555 

61 

575 


1617 


1655 
1655 


655 


1617 


1617 


1617 


Product  Digest  Section    \  709 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    8,  1944 


-  HEVIEWBD  - 


'Titlt 

Hitler  Gang,  The 

•  Hitler's  Madman 
Hi  Ya  Sailor 
Holy  Matrimony 
Home  in  Indiana 
Hoosier  Holiday 
Hostages 

Hour  Before  the  Dawn, 

•  Human  Comedy,  The 


(color) 


The 


era*.  <lrl»«. 

Comfanj     Nmmbtf               6*«ri  D«l* 

Para   Robert  Watson-Victor  Varconi  Not  Sot 

MGM         334  Patricia  Morison-John  Carradin*  June-Ang.,'43 

Univ.       8035  Donald  Woods-Elyse  Knox  Oct.  I5,'43 

20th-Fox        403  Monty  Woolloy-Sracie  Fieldt  Aug.  27,'43 

20th-Fox    Walter  Brennan-Lon  McAllister  Not  Set 

Rep.         302  Dale  Evans-Georg*  Byron  Sept.  I3,'43 

Para.       4305  Luise  Rainer- William  Bendix  Block  1/43-44 

Para.       ....  Veronica  Lake-Franchot  Tone  Not  Set 

MGM         380  Mickey  Rooney-Frank  Morgan  Juna-Auc|.,'43 


M.  P. 

K.»nn$nf  Herald 
Tim*  liiut 

85  m  JunVi2.''43 

63m  Oct.  9.'43 

87m  Aug.  28/43 

72m  Aug.28,'43 

88m  Aug. 14/43 

II 5m  Mar.  6,*43 


Produil  Ai/i«m< 


Digeit 

1574 
1547 

1547 
1579 

1190 


Synupiu 
P««« 

1675 
1351 
1531 
1431 
1634 

1277 
1555 
1019 


Sr  r  i/ft  * 
0»tm 
P««» 

1617 
1655 


1432 


I  DOOD  It  MGM 

I  Love  a  Soldier  Para. 

Impostor,  The  Univ. 

Incendiary  Blonde  Para. 
In  Old  Chicago  (Reissue)  20th-Fox 

•  In  Old  Monterey  (Reissue)  Rep. 

In  Old  Oklahoma  Rep. 

In  Our  Time  WB 

Iron  Major,  The  RKO 

Is  Everybody  Happy?  Col. 

Isle  of  Forgotten  Sins  PRC 
It  Happened  in  Gibraltar  (Fr.)  Vigor 

It  Happened  Tomorrow  UA 

JACK    London  UA 

Jane  Eyre  20th-Fox 

Jeannie  (British)  English 

Jive  Junction  PRC 

Johnny  Coma  Lately  UA 

KANSAN.The  UA 

Kismet  (color)  MGM 
Klondike  Kate  Col. 
Knickerbocker  Holiday  UA 

LAD  from  Our  Town  Artkino 
Ladies  Courageous  Univ. 

(formerly  When  Ladies  Fly) 
Lady  in  the  Dark  (color)  Para. 
Lady,  Let's  Dance  Mono. 
Lady  Takes  a  Chance,  A  RKO 
Lamp  Still  Burns,  The  (British) 

Two  Cities-Gen'l 
Land  Beyond  the  Law  (Reissue)  WB 
Larceny  with  Music  Univ. 
Lassie  Come  Home  (color)  MGM 
Last  Ride,  The  WB 
*Law  Rides  Again,  The  Mono. 
Let's  Face  It  Para. 
Lifeboat  20th-Fox 
Lodger,  The  20th-Fox 
*Lone  Rider  in  Law  of  the  Saddle  PRC 
*Lone  Rider  In  Raiders  Re  J  Gap  PRC 
•Lone  Star  Trail,  The  Univ. 
Lost  Angel  MGM 
Love  in  Jalisco  (Mex.]  Clasa-Mohme 


MADAME  Curie 
Mad  Ghoul,  The 
Man  from  Down  Under,  The 

•  Man  from  Music  Mountain 
Man  from  the  Rio  Grande,  The 
Marine  Raiders 
Marshal  of  Gunsmoke 
Meet  the  People 
Melody  Parade 

•  Mexican  Spitfire's  Blessed  Event  RKO 
Million  Dollar  Kid  Mono. 
Millions  Like  Us  (British)  Galns.-Gen'l 
Minesweeper 
Ministry  of  Fear 
Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek,  The 
Moonlight  In  Vermont 
Mr.  Co-ed  (color) 
Mr.  Muggs  Steps  Out 
Mr.  Skefflngton 
Murder  on  the  Waterfront 
My  Best  Gal 

•My  Kingdom  for  a  Cook 

My  Reputation 

Mystery  Broadcast 
•Mystery  of  the  13th  Guest 


MGM 
Univ. 

MGM 
Rep. 
Rep. 
RKO 
Univ. 

MGM 

Mono. 


Para. 
Para. 

Para. 
Univ. 
MGM 
Mono. 
WB 
WB 
Rep. 
CoL 
WB 
Rep. 
Mono. 


NABONSA 

(formerly  Jungle  Terror) 
•Nearly  Eighteen 


403 


406 
2306 
307 

406 
5016 
401 


407 


5029 


405 


336 
8028 
410 


4301 

417 
367 
368 
7077 

415 


490 
8038 
411 
257 
363 

8083 


333 


4308 

4312 
8025 


302 

46io 

304 


Red  Skelton-Eleanor  Powell 
Paulette  Goddard-Sonny  Tufts 
Jean  Gabin-Allyn  Joslyn 
Betty  Hutton-Arturo  de  Cordova 
Alice  Faye-Tyrone  Power-Don  Ameche 
Gene  Autry 

John  Wayne-Martha  Scott 

Ida  Luplno-Paul  Henreid 

Pat  O'Brien-Ruth  Warrick 

Ted  Lewis-Nan  Wynn 

John  Carradlne-Gale  Sondergaard 

Erich  von  Strohelm-VIvIane  Romance 

Dick  Powell-Linda  Darnell 

Michael  O'Shea-Susan  Hayward 
Orson  Welles-Joan  Fontaine 
Barbara  Mullen-Michael  Redgrave 
Dickie  Moore-Tina  Thayer 
James  Cagnay-Grace  George 

Richard  Dix-Jan*  Wy«H 

Ronald  Colman-Marlene  Dietrich 
Ann  Savage-Tom  Neal-Glenda  Farrell 
Nelson  Eddy-Charles  Coburn 

Russian  Feature 

Loretta  Young-Geraldine  Fitzgerald 


PRC 

Mono. 

1710    Product  Digest  Section 


Ginger  Rogers-Ray  Milland 
Belita-James  Ellison 
Jean  Arthur-John  Wayne 

Rosamund  John-Stewart  Granger 
Dick  Foran 

Allan  Jones-Kitty  Carlisle 
Roddy  McDowall-Edmund  Gwenn 
Richard  Travis-Eleanor  Parker 
Ken  Maynard-Hoot  Gibson 
Bob  Hope-Betty  Hutton 
Taliulah  Bankhead-Canada  Lee 
Laird  Cregar-Merle  Oberon 
Bob  Livingston-Al  St.  John 
Bob  Livlngston-Al  St.  John 
Johnny  Mack  Brown-Tex  Rltter 
Margaret  O'Brien-James  Craig 
Jorge  Negrete-Maria  Elena  Marquei 

Greer  Garson-Walter  Pidgeon 
Evelyn  Ankers-David  Bruce 
Charles  Laughton-Binnie  Barnes 
Roy  Rogers 

Don  Barry-Twinkle  Watts 
Pat  O'Brien-Ruth  Hussey 
Tex  Ritter-Russell  Hayden 
Dick  Powell-Lucille  Ball 
Mary  Beth  Hughes-Eddie  Quillan 
Lupe  Velez-Leon  Errot 
East  Side  Kids 
Eric  Portman-Patricla  Roc 
Richard  Arlen-Jean  Parker 
Ray  MIlland-Marjorle  Reynolds 
Eddie  Bracken-Betty  Hutton 
Gloria  Jean-Fay  Helm 
Red  Skelton-Esther  Williams 
East  Side  Kids 
Bette  Davis-Claude  Rains 
John  Loder-Ruth  Ford 
Jane  Withers-Jimmy  Lydon 
Charles  Coburn-lsobel  Elsom 
Barbara  Stanwyck-George  Brent 
Nils  Asther-Ruth  Terry 
Dick  Purcell-Helen  Parrlsh 

Buster  Crabbe-Fifi  Dorsay 
Gale  Storm-Bill  Henry 


Not  Set 
Dec.  16/43 
Jan.  28/44 

Oct.  6/43 

Not  Set 

Not  Set 

March  7/44 
Block  I, '43-44 

Not  Set 
Oct.  2/43 
Sept.  10/43 

Dec.,'43 

Not  Set 
Aug.  6, '43 
Block  1/43-44 
Jan.2l.'44 
Jan.  7,'44 
Aug.  28.'43 
Sept.  30/43 
Aug.  6/43 

Jan.,'44 
Aug.  6/43 

Special 
Nov.  12/43 

Dec..'43 
Oct.  30.'43 
Oct.  I8.'43 

Not  Set 
Jan.  2 1, '44 

Not  Set 
Aug.  27'.43 
Block  7 
Feb.  28,'44 

Not  Set 
Block  2 

Not  Set 
Block  3 
Dec.  24/43 

Not  Set 
Dec.  I0.'43 

Not  Set 
Sept.  18/43 

Not  Set 
Aug.  3 1, '43 

Not  Set 
Nov.  23/43 
Nov.  5/43 

Jan.  25.'44 
Nov.  12/43 


Sept./43 

102m 

July  31, '43 

1579 

1192 

1655 

Not  Set 

1675 

Feb.  1 1/44 

1616 

Not  Set 

1675 

Oct.  29/43 

94m 

Jan.  8/38 

i542 

Sept.  1/43 

74m 

Aug.  I2,'39 

1494 

Dec.  6/43 

102m 

Oct.  23,'43 

1593 

1655 

Not  Set 

1416 

Block  2 

85m 

Oct.  23,'43 

1593 

1555 

1655 

Oct.  28/43 

73  m 

Nov.  27,'43 

1646 

1545 

1655 

Aug.  15/43 

82m 

July  3,'43 

1532 

1339 

1617 

Nov.  15/43 

93m 

Nov.  27/43 

1646 

Feb.  25/44 

1675 

Dec.  24, '43 

94m 

Nov.  27/43 

1645 

1554 

Not  Sat 

1240 

1655 

Oct.  1/43 

85m 

Aug.  23/41 

i594 

Dec.  20/43 

62m 

Nov.  20/43 

1633 

1606 

Sept.  3/43 

97m 

Aug.  28/43 

1559 

1375 

1655 

Sept.  10/43 

79m 

June  19/43 

1547 

1182 

65m      Oct.  I6,'43  1586 


73  m 
63  m 

Aug.  7,*43 
July  I7,'43 

1559 
1426 

103  m 
68m 

Oct.  23,'43 
Nov.  6,'43 

1595 
1615 

99m 
62m 

Jan.  8,'44 
Dec.  25,'43 

1705 
1686 

63m 

Dec.  25,'43 

1686 

48  m 

July  31, '43 

1579 

82m 

Oct.  23.'43 

1593 

62  m 
60m 

Oct.  23,'43 
Oct.  I6,'43 

1594 
1586 

1635 
1636 
1 635 


1616 

1091 
1599 


86m 

Aug.  21. '43 

1547 

1240 

90m 

Nov.  20,'43 

1633 

55m 

64m 

Sept.  11/43 

1530 

issi 

90m 

Aug.  21. '43 

1546 

1240 

1115 

58m 

Aug.  21, '43 

i496 

1339 

76m 

Aug.  7.'43 

1559 

1277 

1616 

84m 

Jan.  8,'44 

1705 

1636 

57m 

1509 

54m 

58m 

June  I9,'43 

1373 

i6i9 

92m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1613 

1555 

I28m 

Aug.  21, '43 

1496 

124m 

Nov.  20,'43 

1633 

1416 

65m 

Oct.  23, '43 

1594 

1586 

103m 

Aug.  7,'43 

1547 

71m 

Sept.  25,'43 

1554 

1402 

55m 

Oct.  2,'43 

1566 

61m       Oct.  30/43 


1605 


1696 
1676 
1456 
1339 
1402 
1676 

1606 
1616 
1079 
1635 
1635 
1555 
1654 

1696 
1391 
1695 
1586 


1634 
1545 


1655 


1655 


1655 


January    8,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


REVIEWED 


TUU 

Never  a  Dull  Moment 
Nine  Girls 
•  Nobody'*  Darling 

None  Shall  Escape 

(formerly  The  Day  Wi 
Northern  Pursuit 
North  Star,  The 
No  Time  for  Love 


Comptnj 

Univ. 
Col. 
Rep. 
Col. 

Come) 

WB 

RKO-Goldwyn 
Para. 


OKLAHOMA  Kid  ^Reissue)  WB 

Old  Acquaintance  WB 

•  Old  Barn  Dance,  The  (Reissue)  Rep. 

O  My  Darling  Clementine  Rep. 

One  More  Tomorrow  WB 
(formerly  Animal  Kingdom) 

•  Outlaws  of  Stampede  Past  Mono. 
Overland  Mail  Robbery  Rep. 


PARIS  After  Dark 
Passage  to  Marseille 

•  Passport  to  Suez 
Patrick  the  Great 

•  Petticoat  Larceny 
Phantom  Lady 

•  Phantom  of  the  Opera 

•  Pilot  No.  5 

Pin  Up  Girl  (color) 
Pistol  Packin'  Mama 
Prairie  Thunder  (Reissue 
•Presenting  Lily  Mars 
Pride  of  the  Plains 
Princess  O'Rourke 
Purple  Heart,  The 


20th-Fox 
WB 
Col. 
Univ. 
RKO 
Univ. 
(color)  Univ. 
MGM 
20th-Foii 
Rep. 

)  WB 
MGM 
Rep. 
WB 
20th-Fox 


RACKET  Man,  The  Col. 

Raiders  of  the  Border  Mono. 

Raiders  of  Sunset  Pass  Rep. 

Rainbow  Island  (color)  Para. 

Rains  Came,  The  (Reissue)  20th-Fox 

•  Random  Harvest  MGM 
Rationing  MGM 
Return  of  the  Ape  Man  Mono. 
Return  of  the  Rangers  PRC 
Return  of  the  Vampire  Col. 

•  Revenge  of  the  Zombies  Mono. 
Rhapsody  in  Blue  WB 
Riders  of  the  Deadline  UA 
Riding  High  (color)  Para. 
Roger  Touhy,  Gangster  20th-Fox 
Rookies  In  Burma  RKO 
Rootin',  Tootin' Rhythm  (Reissue)  ^Rep. 

SAHARA  Col. 

Sailor's  Holiday  Col. 

Saint  Meets  Tiger,  The  Rep. 

Salute  to  the  Marines  (color)  MGM 

Saratoga  Trunk  WB 

•  Scream  in  the  Dark,  A  Rep. 
See  Here,  Private  Hargrove  MGM 
Seventh  Victim,  The  RKO 
Sherlock  Holmes  Faces  Death  Univ. 
She's  For  Me  Univ. 
Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon  WB 
Show  Business  RKO 
Silver  City  Raiders  Col. 

•  Silver  Spurs  Rep. 
Since  You  Went  Away  UA 
Sing  a  Jingle  Univ. 

•  Six-Gun  Gospel  Mono. 

•  Sky's  the  Limit,  The  RKO 
•Sleepy  Lagoon  Rep. 

•  Smart  Guy  Mono. 

•  Someone  to  Remember  Rep 
•So  Proudly  We  Hail  Para. 

So  This  Is  Washington  RKO 

Son  of  Dracula  Univ. 
Song  of  Bernadette,  The  20th-Fox 

Song  of  Russia  MGM 
Song  of  the  Marimba  Clasa-Mohme 

Song  of  the  Open  Road  UA 

Song  of  the  Saddle  (Reissue)  WB 

So'*  Your  Uncle  Univ. 

Spider  Woman  Univ. 

Spotlight  Scandals  Mono. 

•Stage  Door  Canteen  UA 

Standing  Room  Only  Para. 

Story  of  Dr.  Wassell  (color)  Para. 
Strange  Death  of  Adolf  Hitler  Univ. 


trod 

N*mb»y  Bttn 

8030  Riti  Bros.-Francei  Langford 

'  ■  '  Ann  Harding-Evelyn  Keyes 

227  Mary  Lee-Gladys  George 

•  Marsha  Hunt-Alexander  Knox 

307  Errol  Flynn-Julie  Bishop 
451  Walter  Huston-Anne  Baxter 

4309  Claudette  Colbert-Fred  MacMurray 

330  James  Cagney-Humphrey  Bogart 

308  Bette  Davis-Miriam  Hopkins 
2307  Gene  Autry 

308  Frank  Albertson-Lorna  Gray 

.  -  ■  ■  Ann  Sheridan-Olivia  de  Havilland 

-  ■  Johnny  Mack  Brown-Raymond  Hatton 

376  Bill  Elliott-Anne  JefFreyi 


409  George  Sanders-Brenda  Marshall  Oct.  t5,'43 
'  •  ■  '  Humphrey  Bogart-MIchele  Morgan  Not  Set 
4023        Warren  William-Ann  Savage  Aug.  r9,'43 

Donald  O'Connor-Peggy  Ry«i*  Not  Set 

33 1  Ruth  Warrick-Joan  Carrol!  Block  7 

•  •••  Ella  Raines-Franchot  Ton*  Jan.  28, '44 
7061         Nelson  Eddy-Susanna  Foster  Aug.  27,'43 

332  Franchot  Tone-Marsha  Hunt  June-Aug.,'43 

'  • '          Betty  Grable-Joe  E.  Brown  Not  Set 

310        Ruth  Terry-Bob  Livingston  Dec.  I5,'43 

332        Dick  Foran  Oct.  2.'43 

330  Judy  Garland-Van  Hoflin  June-Aug.,'43 
353  Robert  Livingston-Smiley  Burnette  Jan.  5, '44 
305        Olivia  de  Havllland-Robert  Cummings   Oct.  23,'43 

Dana  Andrews-Richard  Conte  Not  Set 

5036        Tom  Neal-Jeanne  Bates  Jan.  2 1, '44 

•  ■           Johnny  Mack  Brown  Jan.  3 1, '44 
352        John  Paul  Revere-Smlley  Burnette  Dec.  20, '43 

....         Dorothy  Lamour-Eddie  Bracken  Not  Set 

410  Myrna  Loy-Tyrone  Power  Nov.  26. '43 
370  Ronald  Colman-Greer  Garson  June-Aug.,'43 
418        Wallace  Beery-Marjorle  Main  Feb. ,'44 

....         Bela  Lugosl-John  Carradlne  Not  Set 

451        Dave  O'Brien-Jim  Newill  Oct.  26,'43 

5024        Bela  Lugosi-MIchael  Duane  Nov.  M, '43 

John  Carradlne-Veda  Ann  Borg  Sept.  I7,'43 

....        Joan  Leslie-Robert  Alda  Not  Set 

William  Boyd  Dec.  3,'43 

4307        Dorothy  Lamour-DIck  Powell  Block  2 

Preston  Foster-Lois  Andrews  Not  Set 

414        Alan  Carney-Wally  Brown  Block  3 

....        Gene  Autry  Jan.  1 5, '44 

5003        Humphrey  Bogart-Bruce  Bennett  Oct.  I4,'43 

....        Arthur  Lake-Jane  Lawrence  Feb.  24, '44 

301        Hugh  Sinclair-Jean  Gillie  July  29,'43 

40!        Wallace  Beery-Fay  Bainter  Sept., '43 

Gary  Cooper-lngrid  Bergman  Not  Set 

229        Robert  Lowery-Marle  McDonald  Oct.  f5,'43 

420        Robert  Walter-Donna  Reed  Mar.,'44 

403  Tom  Conway-Kim  Hunter  Block  I, '43-44 
8024        Basil  Rathbone-Nigel  Bruce  Sept.  I7,'43 

8041  David  Bruce-Grace  McDonald  Dec.  10, '43 
....  Ann  Sheridan-Dennis  Morgan  Not  Set 
....  Eddie  Cantor-George  Murphy  Not  Set 
5202  Russell  Hayden-Bob  Wills  Nov.  4,'43 
256         Roy  Roger*  Aug.  I2,'43 

Colbert-Temple-Woolley-Cotten  Not  Set 

8034        Allan  Jones-June  Vincent  Jan.  7, '44 

Johnny  Mack  Brown-Raymond  Hatton     Sept.  3, '43 

335         Fred  Astaire-Joan  Leslie  Block  7 

228         Judy  Canova-Dennlt  Day  Sept.  5,'43 

Rick  Vallin-Wanda  McKo«  "^^c.  I7.'43 

225         Mabel  Paige-John  Craven  Aug.  2^'43 

4228         Claudette  Colbert-Paulette  Goddard  Block  6 

404  Lum  'n'  Abner-MIIdred  Cole*  Bloc&  9  ,'$3-44 
8013        Louise  AHbritton-Lon  Chaney  Nov.  5, '43 

Jennifer  Jones-Charles  BIckford  Not  Set 

422        Robert  Taylor-Susan  Peters  Apr.,'44 

...  Mexican  Feature  Aug.  20,'43 
....        Edgar  Bergen-"CharlIe"-Bonita  Granville  Mar.  24,'44 

331  Dick  Foran  Oct.  2,'43 

8042  Donald  Woods-Elyse  Knox  Dec.  3,'43 

8021  Basil  Rathbone-NIgel  Bruce  Jan.  2 1, '44 
BItly  Gilbert-Frank  Fay  Sept.  24,'43 
Stage  and  Screen  Start  Special 

4314        Paulette  Goddard-Fred  MacMurray  Block  3 

Gary  Cooper-Laraine  Day  Not  Set 

8022  Ludwlg  Donath-Gale  Sondergaard  Sept.  I0,'43 


M.P. 

Product 

AdvMCI 

Servlc§ 

Herald 

Digett 

Synopth 

Dat0 

DtU 

Thin 

Part 

Paee 

Nov.  I9,'43 

60m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1615 

135! 

Feb.  I7,'44 

1676 

Aug.  27.'43 

71m 

Aug.  14, '43 

1481 

1431 

INOT  oet 

1  AOC 

1  ovo 

INOV.  1  3,  no 

o^  ». 
Yom 

vjct.  ii,  4J 

1  coo 

14/1 

1  099 

Special 

1  Ubm 

VJCT.  1  0,  4  J 

1  900 

1  one 

Block  2 

83  m 

Nov.  I3,'43 

1625 

855 

Sept.  II, '43 

80m 

Mar.  I8,'39 

1482 

Nov.  27.'43 

1  iOm 

Nov.  6,'43 

1613 

1192 

Oct.  I5,'43 

60m 

Jan.  I5,'38 

1574 

Dec.  31, '43 

68m 

Dec.  4,'43 

1653 

i636 

Not  Set 

1431 

Oct.  I5,'43 

S5m 

Oct.  2.'43 

1566 

1402 

Nov.  20.'43 

55m 

Oct.  23.'43 

1594 

85m  Oct.  9,'43  1573 

71  m  Oct.23,'43  1595 

61m  julyl7,'43  1426 

91m  Aug.  2  i, "43  1493 

70m  Apr.  I0,'43  1250 

64m  Dec.  ii,'43  1666 

55m   

104m  May   I, '43  1289 

56m  Dec.  4,'43  1653 

94m  Sept.25,'43  1553 

65m  Jan.  8, '44  1706 

57m  Dec.  25,'43  1686 

95m  Sept.  9,'39  1574 

126m  Nov.  28,'42  1029 

57m  Oct.  i6,*43  1585 

70m   

61m  Aug.  7,'43  1471 

70m   

89m  Nov.  6,'43  1613 

62m  Dec.  1 1, "43  1666 

97m  Oct.  2.'43  1565 

70m  Aug.  7,'43  1558 

lOlm  July3l.'43  1579 

55m  Oct.  30,'43  1605 

71m  Aug.  2 1, '43  1558 

68m  Sept.  1 1. '43  1529 

60m  Dec.  1 1, '43  1665 

55  m  Nov.27,'43  1646 

68m  July24,'43  1442 

62  m  Jan.  i,'44  1694 
55m  Sept.  4,'43  1521 
89m  Julyl7,'43  1425 
65m  Aug.  2 1, '43  1496 

63  m  Jan.  I, '44  1695 
80m  Aug.  7,'43  1470 

!26m  June26,'43  1385 

64m  Aug.  2 1, '43  1558 

80m  Nov.  I3,'43  1626 

165m  Dec.25,'43  1685 

107m  Jan.   I, '44  1693 

13 Im  Sept.  II, '43  1530 


59m 

64m 
63  m 
73m 
132m 
83m 

72  m 


Apr.  1 1, '36 

Dec.  4,'43 

July  24.'43 
May  I5.'43 
Jan.  8,'44 


1482 
1654 

i579 
1313 
1706 


1545 
1616 
1457 
1675 
1240 
1675 
1192 
971 
1531 
1654 

962 

962 
1654 

1676 

1457 
1654 

796 
1616 
1606 
1545 
1599 
1391 
1530 
1696 
1431 
1362 
1646 


1305 
1696 

1057 
1431 
1531 
1616 
1471 

1635 
1457 
1675 

1351 
1635 
1654 
1391 
1162 
1391 
1599 
1276 
1104 
1471 
1241 
1416 
1416 

1695 

1635 
1675 
1351 
1115 
1616 
1530 


1655 
1432 


1432 
655 


280 


1655 


1655 


1617 


1655 


1617 


Sept.  4,'43  1522 


Product  Digest  Section  1711 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    8,  1944 


REVIEWED 


Till, 

•Submarine  Alert 

Submarine  Base 

Sulllvans,  The 

Sultan's  Daughter,  The 
•  Suspected  Person  (British) 

Sweet  Rosie  O'Grady  (color) 

Sweethearts  of  the  U.  S.  A. 

Swing  Fever 

Swing  Out  the  Blues 

Swing  Shift  Maisle 

Swingtime  Johnny 


TAMPICO  20th-Fox 

Tarian's  Desert  Mystery  RKO 
Tender  Comrade  RKO 
Texas  Kid,  The  Mono. 
Thank  Your  Lucky  Stars  WB 
That  Naity  Nuisance  UA 
There's  Something  About  a  Soldier  Col. 
They  Met  in  the  Dark  (British) 

Hellman-Gen'l 


M.  P. 

?TOd*Ct 

Advtnct 

frod. 

R  »nninr 

Htrali 

Digett 

Synopili 

Comptn-) 

N%mb*t 

Dstt 

Timt 

Page 

Par* 

4229 

D  1  ^  1%  A              A  Pi  A  PI            A  w%n\t     R  A  Pi*  J  A 

(MCnflru  Mrion-wonay  Damo 

DIUCK  O 

o/  m 

lima  9A  '4^ 

juno  zo, 

1 

1  003 

IT) 

PRC 

405 

jonn  uiToi*/Mfin  Daxior 

65rn 

lulu  in  '43 

1  >;^7 

1 

20th-Fox 

&V  1  II    I  wA 

rtnno   DaXTor *  1  iiuiTias  iviiitiioii 

Not  Set 

1  u  JO 

1^0  no* 

Ann            r  1  A_i^n  A  plac  RiiTTaru/nrTn 

AMin  >^orio~wnarma  uuiTorwor in 

J.n  24  '44 

o^m 

Dnr    1  fi  '43 

1 

PRC 

315 

Cli'ffnrn   tvj*  ns-PfltriciA  Roc 

Nov.  29,'43 

78m 

Jan.  I,'44 

1694 

20th-Fox 

408 

Betty  Grable-Robert  Young 

Oct.  I.'43 

76m 

Sept.  25'.'43 

1553 

1305 

Mono. 

Una  Merkel-Donald  Novis 

Feb.  7.'44 

1586 

MGM 

423 

Kay  Kyser-Marilyn  Maxwell 

Apr.,'44 

81m 

Nov.  I3,'43 

1626 

1241 

Col. 

5020 

Bob  Haymes-Lynn  Merrick 

Dec.  23/43 

1636 

MGM 

404 

Ann  Sothern-James  Craig 

Oct..'43 

86m 

May  8.'43 

1546 

1191 

Univ. 

Andrews  Sisters-Harriet  Milliard 

Feb.  4,'44 

60m 

Jan.  {.'44 

1695 

1676 

Dstt 


413 

303 
5017 


•This  Is  the  Army  (color) 

WB 

This  is  the  Life 

Univ. 

(formerly  Angela) 

Thousands  Cheer  (color) 

MGM 

413 

Three  Cheers  for  the  Boys 

Univ. 

Three  Russian  Girls 

UA 

Tiger  Fangs 

PRC 

406 

Till  We  Meet  Again 

Para. 

Timber  Queen 

Para. 

4313 

Top  Man 

Univ. 

8009 

Tornado 

Para. 

4304 

•Trail  of  Terror 

PRC 

356 

Triumph  Over  Pain 

Para. 

(formerly  Great  Without  Glory) 

True  to  Life 

Para. 

4303 

•  Tumbling  Tumbleweeds  (Reissue)  Rep. 

2308 

Two  Sisters  and  a  Sailor 

MGM 

UNCERTAIN  Glory 

WB 

•  Underdog,  The 

PRC 

316 

Under  Two  Flags  (Reissue) 

20th-Fox 

411 

Uninvited,  The 

Para. 

43 15 

Unknown  Guest 

Mono. 

.... 

Up  Jn  Arms  (color)  RKO-Goldwyn 

Up  in  Mabel's  Room 

UA 

VICTORY  Through 

Air  Power  (color) 

UA-Disney 

Vigilantes  Ride,  The 

Col. 

(formerly  Deadline  Guns] 

Voice  in  the  Wind 

UA 

Voodoo  Man,  The 

Mono. 

•WAGON  Tracks  West 

Rep. 

2314 

Watch  on  the  Rhine 

WB 

301 

Weekend  Pass 

Univ. 

•  West  Side  Kid 

Rep. 

226 

Westward  Bound 

Mono. 

•  We've  Never  Been  Licked 

Univ. 

7064 

•What  a  Man 

Mono. 

What  a  Woman! 

Col. 

5005 

Where  Are  Your  Children? 

Mono. 

Whispering  Footsteps 

Rep. 

309 

Whistling  in  Brooklyn 

MGM 

412 

White  Cliffs.  The 

MGM 

Wilson 

20th-Fox 

Wintertime 

20th-Fox 

405 

Woman  of  the  Town,  The 

UA 

Women  in  Bondage 

Mono. 

Wyoming  Hurricane 

Col. 

YANKS  Ahoy 

UA-Roach 

Yellow  Canary  (British)  Wilcox-RKO 

•  Youngest  Profession,  The 

MGM 

331 

Young  Ideas 

MGM 

408 

You're  a  Lucky  Fellow,  Mr.  Smith  Univ. 

8033 

Lynn  Bari-Edward  G.  Robinson  Not  Set 

Johnny  Weissmuller-Nancy  Kelly  Block  3 

Ginger  Rogers-Robert  Ryan  Not  Set 

Johnny  Mack  Brown  Nov.  26,'43 

Warner  Stars  Ravue  S«pt.25,'43 

Bobby  Watson-Joe  Devlin  Aug.  6,'43 

Evelyn  Keyes-Tom  Neal  Nov.  30,'43 

James  'Mason-Joyce  Howard  Not  Set 
Joan  Leslie-George  Murphy-Stage  Cast  Aug.  1 4, '43 

Susanna  Foster-Donald  O'Connor  Not  Set 


Kathryn  Grayson-Gene  Kelly 
Stage  and  Screen  Entertainers 
Anna  Sten-Kent  Smith 
Frank  Buck-Duncan  Renaldo 
Ray  Milland-Maureen  O'Hara 
Dick  Arlen-Mary  Beth  Hughes 
Donald  O'Connor-Peggy  Ryan 
Chester  Morris-Nancy  Kelly 
Dave  O'Brien-Jim  Newlll 
Joel  McCrea-Betty  Field 

Mary  Martin-Franchot  Tone 
Gene  Autry-Luclle  Browne 
Jimmy  Durante-Van  Johnson 

Errol  Fiynn-Paul  Lukas 

Barton  MacLane-Charlotte  Wynters 

Ronald  Colman-Claudette  Colbert 

Ray  Milland-Ruth  Hussey 

Victor  Jory-Pamala  Blake 

Danny  Kave-Dinah  Shore 

Marjorle  Reynolds-Dennis  O'Keefe 


Disney  Aviation  Feature 

Russell  Hayden-Shlrley  Patterson 

Francis  Lederer-SIgrid  Gurie 
Bela  Lugosl-John  Carradine 

Bill  Elliott-Gabby  Hayei 
Bette  Davis-Paul  Lukas 

Martha  O'DriscolI-Noah  Beery,  Jr. 
Donald  Barry-Dale  Evans 
Ken  Maynard-Hoot  Gibson 
Richard  Quine-Noah  Beery,  Jr. 
Johnny  Downs-Wanda  McKay 
Rosalind  Russell-Brian  Aherne 
Jackie  Cooper-Patricia  Morison 
John  Hubbard-Rita  Quigley 
Red  Skelton-Ann  Rutherford 
Irene  Dunne-Roddy  McDowell 
Alexander  Knox-Charles  Coburn 
Sonja  Henie-Jack  Oakle 
Albert  Dekker-Claire  Trevor 
Gail  Patrick-Nancy  Kelly 
Russell  Hayden-Bob  Wills 

Joe  Sawyer-William  Tracy 
Anna  Neagle-RIchard  Greene 
Virginia  Weidler-E.  Arnold  &  Guests 
Mary  Astor-Herbert  Marshall 
Allan  Jones-Evelyn  Ankers 


Jan.,'44 
Not  Set 
Jan.  I4.'44 
Sept.  i0,'43 
Not  Set 
Block  3 
Sept.  I7,'43 
Block  I, '43-44 
Sept.  f4,'43 
Not  Set 

Block  (.'43-44 
Dec.   I, '43 
Not  Set 

Not  Set 
Oct.  I0.'43 
Nov.  26/43 
Blocks 
Oct.  22/43 

Not  Set 
Apr.  7,'44 


Aug.  13  '43 

Feb.  3,'44 

Mar.  I0,'44 
Feb.  21/44 


70m 
lOlm 

56m 
127m 

43  m 

75m 


Dec.  1 1  /43 
Jan.  I, '44 
Nov.  27/43 
Aug.  2 1. '43 
June  I2,'43 
Dec.  I8,'43 


65  m 
99m 
97m 
65  m 


Oct.  9,'43 
May  9.'36 
Jan.  8,'44 
Aug.  28.'43 


1666 
1693 
1645 
1559 
1546 
1674 


104m  Sept.  4/43  1522 

II  4m  July  31/43  1453 

126m  Sept.  t8.'43  1541 

79  m  Jan.   i/44  1694 

58m  Sept.  25/43  1554 

66m  Jan.  8,'44  1706 

83m  Sept.  I8,'43  1541 

80m  Aug.  I4.'43  1579 

63m    .... 

94m  Aug.  14/43  1578 

57m   


1574 
1574 

1705 
1559 


65m        July  I0.'43  1537 


1636 
1362 
1635 
1545 
1058 
1019 
1545 


1276 
1416 

1079 
1635 
1457 
1531 
1676 
1696 
1456 
1457 

912 

1079 
1696 

1636 

1509 

1416 

1457 

1695 


1375 
1081 

1654 
1676 


1655 


1617 


1617 


1575 


1617 


1617 


Aug.  19/43 

55m 

July  31. '43 

1455 

1391 

Sept.  4,'43 

1 14m 

July  31. '43 

1579 

986 

1617 

Feb.  18/44 

1676 

Aug  23/43 

1351 

Jan.  17/44 

1599 

July  30/43 

r04m 

Aug.  7,'43 

1469 

1 1 15 

1617 

Jan.  31. "44 

73m 

Dec.  1 1.'43 

1666 

Dec.  28,'43 

93m 

Dec.  1 1.'43 

1665 

1635 

Jan.  I7.'44 

72  m 

Nov.  27.'43 

1645 

1606 

Dec.  30,'43 

1636 

Dec..'43 

87  m 

Oct.  2,'43 

i565 

1431 

Not  Set 

1586 

Not  Set 

1676 

Sept.  I7.'43 

82  m 

Sept.  II. '43 

1529 

1431 

1655 

Dec.  3 1  .'43 

88m 

Dec.  I8.'43 

1673 

1531 

Jan.  I0,'44 

72m 

Nov.  20.'43 

1634 

1554 

Not  Set 

1079 

July  l,'43 

58m 

Mar.  I3.'43 

1532 

1019 

Not  Set 

98m 

Nov.  20,'43 

1634 

June-Aug..'43 

81m 

Mar.  6.'43 

1189 

1081 

1575 

Nov.,'43 

77m 

July  31. '43 

1578 

1240 

Oct.  22/43 

64m 

Oct.  9.'43 

1573 

1531 

Feature  Product,  including  Coming  Attractions,  listed  Company  by  Company,  in 
Order  of  Release  on  page  1707, 


1712   Product  Digest  Section 


A  PLEDGE  FOR '44 

from  the 
Distributors  of  Simple k:  Equipment 


'At  As  distributors  of  Simplex  Equipment,  we  have  always  had  a 
keen  sense  of  responsibility  to  you  who  have  made  our  business 
possible. 

-A"  We  are  proud  that  we  have  been  able  to  play  an  important 
part  in  helping  you  "Keep  the  Show  on"  under  the  difficulties  of 
war-time  operation. 

In  1944,  we  are  confident  that  constantly  improving  condi- 
tions will  enable  us  to  serve  you  even  more  efficiently  than  we 
have  in  the  past.  You  may  rest  assured  that  in  all  emergencies 
we  will  stand  by  you  to  the  limit  of  our  ability. 

*  We  look  forward,  in  this  new  year,  to  the  opportunity  of  con- 
tinuing to  work  together  in  Peace  and  prosperity. 


President 
National  Theatre  Supply 


with  TOM  NEAL 
JEANNE  BATES  •  HUGH  BEAUMONT 
LARRY  PARKS  .DOUGLAS  FOWLEY 

Based  on  a  Story  by  Casey  Robinson 
Screen  Play  by  Paul  Yawitz  and  Howard  J.  Green 
Directed  by  D.  ROSS  LEDERMAN  •  Produced  by  WALLACE,  MACDONALO 


a  bond 


seatf 


FOURTH  WAR 
LOAN  DRIVE 


VOL.  154,  NO.  3 


Entered  as  second-class  matter,  January  12,  1931,  at  tlie  Post  Office,  at  New  York  City,  U.  S.  A.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.  Published 
iweckly  by  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.,  at  1270  Si.vth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  20,  N.  Y.    Subscription  prices:  $5.00  a  year  in  the 
Americas,   $10.00  a  year  Foreign.    Single  copy,   25   cents.    All  contents    copyright  1944  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company. 


JANUARY  15,  1944 


r^^?^^^^^^?^^*^  ^^^^ 


THIS  ADVERTISEMENT  CONTRIBUTED  BY  20th  CENTURY- FOX 


MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD 


COLVIN  BROWN,  Publisher 

MARTIN  QUIGLEY 

President  and  Editor-in-Chief 

TERRY  RAMSAYE,  Editor 

Vol.  154,  No.  3 

OP 

January  15,  1944 

TO  THE  PEOPLE 

MORE  earnestly  and  more  urgently  than  ever, 
the  motion  picture  is  once  again  enlisted  in 
the  cause  of  the  great  war — the  Fourth  War 
Loan  Drive.  All  of  the  reasons  and  pressures 
of  necessity  which  obtained  before  are  compelling 
now.  Our  war  is  well  on  its  way,  but  it  is  yet  to  be 
won;  also,  if  is  farther  from  being  won  than  is  indi- 
cated in  the  trend  of  popular  hope  and  thought. 

Once  again  it  is  a  "people's  loan",  invitation  to  the 
common  man,  the  man  in  the  street  and  the  man  in 
the  factory — the  woman,  too — to  "back  the  attack" 
in  bonds  which  are  insurance  for  today,  savings  and 
dividends  for  tomorrow. 

In  token  of  this  direct  approach  to  the  whole 
people,  the  industry's  slogan  for  the  Fourth  War  Loan 
Drive  is  "Sell  a  bond  for  every  seat".  There  are  more 
than  eleven  million  motion  picture  theatre  seats. 

The  immediacy  of  the  address  to  the  public  is  given 
emphasis  in  the  guiding  personnel:  Mr.  Charles  P. 
Skouras,  national  chairman;  Mr.  B.  V.  Sturdivant,  cam- 
paign director;  Mr.  F.  H.  Ricketson,  Jr.,  vice-chair- 
man, and  that  array  of  showmen  of  the  War  Activities 
Committee,  all  importantly  experienced  in  contact 
with  and  service  of  the  people. 

C|  Recognition  is  voiced  in  a  letter  from  Mr.  Henry 
Morgenthau,  Jr.,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  to 
Mr.  Skouras,  in  which  it  is  observed: 

"...  As  hosts  to  the  world's  largest  audience,  pro- 
ducers, distributors  and  exhibitors  alike  have  an 
important  task  to  perform.  The  industry  is  vital  to 
the  success  of  the  Fourth  War  Loan  Drive — doubly 
vital  because  of  the  dual  function  performed  in  both 
selling  the  idea  of  bond  buying  from  the  screen  and 
actually  selling  bonds  in  the  theatres  .  .  .  The 
movies  will  do  their  job.  They  always  have." 

Now,  once  again  let  us  observe  that  it  is  the  assign- 
ment of  the  motion  picture  theatre  to  make  the 
appeal  personal  to  the  individual  customers — personal 
and  emotional.  The  reasons  are  obvious,  but  con- 
siderably abstract,  for  many.  The  response,  as  always, 
will  be  controlled  by  the  degrees  of  feeling. 

The  news  in  every  morning's  paper  is  urgent  argu- 
ment for  bond  buying.  Every  community  which  has 
a  theatre  has  its  enlisted  patriots  and  heroes.  Their 


names  and  their  adventures  of  war  are  materials  of 
this  loan  drive  campaign. 

CI  Despite  some  of  the  murmurings  that  have  been 
heard  in  Washington,  it  has  been  amply  demonstrated 
that  the  people  of  the  United  States  know  there  is  a 
war.  Also,  the  current  news  from  Washington,  where 
members  of  the  Congress  have  been  returning  from 
sojourns  at  home,  indicates  that  they  have  been  hear- 
ing a  lot  from  the  people  about  a  lot  of  things. 

While  the  showmen  of  the  land  are  engaged  in  this 
drive,  it  will  be  appropriate  to  give  currency  to  that 
observation  from  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury:  "The 
movies  will  do  their  job.  They  always  have". 

This  industry  and  every  showman  in  it  has  a  stake 
in  the  maintenance  of  the  institution  of  the  free  screen 
and  the  motion  picture  as  free  enterprise.  We  can  do 
with  the  broadest  possible  realization  of  the  status  of 
the  screen  with  the  citizenry. 

€1  The  motion  picture  has  won  its  capacity  for 
service  on  such  occasions  as  this  by  reason  of  its  con- 
tinuous service  of  the  whole  people,  because  it  has, 
in  fact,  been  substantially  created  by  the  people  it 
serves,  in  that  typical  and  basic  American  process  of 
patronage  and  preferences  which  have  made  most 
of  our  great  industries. 

It  is  worth  saying  again  that  in  this  period,  when  the 
motion  picture's  place  in  the  national  and  world 
economy  is  so  much  under  discussion  and  debate,  is 
precisely  the  time  when  it  will  be  doing  well  to  be 
engaged  in  works  that  shall  tend  to  help  it  keep  its 
franchise. 

The  activities  of  showmen  and  the  use  of  the  the- 
atres as  a  focus  of  activity  and  attention  in  the 
Fourth  War  Loan  Drive  are  further  contribution  to 
the  standing  of  the  industry. 

Q  The  new  war  loan,  incidentally,  with  its  call  for 
billions,  is  a  step  in  the  process  of  preventing,  or 
delaying,  the  curse  of  inflation.  Chief  among  the 
causes  of  inflation  is  the  presence  of  too  much  loose 
money  in  the  pockets  of  impetuous  buyers.  The  war 
bonds  are  decidedly  suitable  merchandise  for  those 
folks  who  feel  better  when  they  are  spending — and  it 
means  they  will  have  more  to  spend  in  possibly  leaner 
years  ahead.  That  can  help  the  box  office  then,  too. 

The  part  played  by  the  motion  picture  in  this  war 
will  be  something  ever  to  be  remembered. 

— Terry  Ramsaye 


8 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January     15,  1944 


THIS  WEEK  IN  THE  NEWS 


FOURTH    WAR    LOAN  CAMPAIGN. 
Special  Section  Pages  10-38 

Bond-per-Seat  selling  plan  for  all  the- 
atres Page  10 

Industry    launches    Bond    drive  across 
nation  Page  I  I 

Leaders  of  War  Activities  Committee 
drive  at  work  Page  12 

State  Chairmen  who  are  in  charge  of 
drive  locally  Page  14 

Membership  of  advisory  and  public  re- 
lations committees  Page  17 


Nation  to  honor  champion  bond-selling 
showmen  Page  18 

Managers'  Round  Table,  Special  War 
Bond  Section  Page  23 

Seats  named  for  heroes  of  battles  will 
sell  extra  Bonds  Page  32 

Total  of  2,500  Bond  Premieres  to  boost 
sales  at  theatres  Page  37 

EXHIBITORS  face  new  shift  of  population 
when  war  ends  Page  41 

THEATRES  getting  behind  national  March 


of  Dimes  campaign 


SERVICE  DEPARTMENTS 


Hollywood  Scene 
In  the  Newsreels 
Obituaries 


Page  62     Picture  Grosses 

Page  68     Shorts  on  Broadway 

Page  70    What  the  Picture  Did  for  Me 


IN  PRODUCT  DIGEST  SECTION 

Showmen's  Reviews  Page  1713     Short  Subjects 

Advance  Synopses  Page  1715     Service  Data 


Short  Subjects  Chart 


Page  1716    The  Release  Chart 


Page  44 

Page  69 
Page  66 
Page  64 

Page  1718 
Page  1719 
Page  1720 


1,000th  Insignia 

ON  Monday,  Walt  Disney  completed  his 
1,000th  insignia  for  the  armed  forces.  It 
is  for  the  21st  Field  Hospital,  New  York. 
The  first  Disney  insignia  was  for  the 
"Fighting  Seven"  Naval  Air  Squadron,  in 
1939. 

Units  of  allied  nations  have  many  Disney 
insignias.  Lord  Louis  Mountbatten,  Allied 
commander  in  the  Far  East,  and  formerly 
captain  of  the  aircraft  carrier  Ilhistrious, 
had  Mr.  Disney  create  an  emblem  for  the 
ship :  Donald  Duck,  as  an  heroic  admiral 
astride  the  Illustrious. 

The  insignia,  handled  by  a  five-man  art 
department,  given  free  to  the  armed  services, 
and  officially  recognized  by  them,  are  esti- 
mated to  have  cost  the  Disney  organization 
$25,000  in  the  past  year  alone. 


WINCHELL'S 
BLUNDERBUSS 

Walter  Winchell,  a  former  vaudeville 
performer  more  recently  engaged  In  the 
conduct  of  a  gossip  and  chatter  column  de- 
voted to  the  affairs  of  Fifty-second  street, 
for  tlie  lay  press,  tends  to  take  in  more 
territory,  including  the  United  States.  In 
his  column  in  the  New  York  Mirror  of  last 
Tuesday,  under  his  assignment  to  save  the 
nation,  he  launched  into  an  assault  extra- 
ordinary on  the  newsreels. 

"The  axe-grinders  have  moved  into  the 
newsreels  .  .  .  most  of  the  footage  is  de- 
voted to  cartoons,  fashions,  freak  kodackery 
and  comedy  atrocious  enough  to  give 
radio  a  swelled  head  .  .  .  most  of  the  spiel- 
age  is  slanted  like  a  Grand  Central  ramp, 
but  remains  gutless  —  implications  and 
mealy-mouthism  .  .  .  morale  weakening 
reels.  .  .  . 

Mr.  Winchell  writes  with  violent  freedom 
out  of  the  abundance  of  his  spectacular 
ignorance.  It  is  clear  that  he  does  not  know 
about  newsreels.  It  might  be  assumed  that 
his  intemperate  expression  Is  based  on  his 
personal  reaction  to  pictures  which  he  may 
have  seen  on  some  screens  In  association 
with  newsreels.  The  newsreels  do  not  con- 
tain material  of  the  categories  he  describes. 
The  newsreels  are  about  85  to  90  per  cent 
devoted  to  war  subjects,  made  up  of  film 
censored  and  cleared  by  the  Government. 
In  the  present  state  of  the  nation  it  would 
be  not  only  unthinkable  but  also  Impossible 
for  the  newsreels  to  give  expression  to  what 
Mr.  Winchell  says  Is  their  subversive  con- 
tent. Yet  he  ventures  to  smear  the  industry 
from  his  desk  in  the  journalistic  basement. 
The  first  requirement  of  any  competent 
journalism  is  reportorial  experience  and 
ability.  Opinion  without  fact  Is  bombast, 
piffle  and  prattle.  It  can  also  be  poisonous. 

— T.R. 


Toscanini  Exported 

ARTURO  TOSCANINI  once  rejected  an 
offer  of  $250,000  to  appear  in  a  picture  in 
Hollywood.  Last  week,  for  the  Office  of 
War  Information,  the  noted  orchestra  con- 
ductor appeared  in  a  film  for  the  first  time. 
And  received  no  monetary  compensation. 

The  picture,  30  minutes  long,  features 
also  the  NBC  Symphony  Orchestra,  the 
Westminster  Choir,  and  tenor  Jan  Peerce. 
Mr.  Toscanini  does  not  speak;  he  conducts 
Verdi's  "Hymn  of  the  Nations,"  and  over- 
ture to  "The  Force  of  Destiny." 

The  picture,  made  by  the  OWI  overseas 
film  division,  is  to  be  shown  only  overseas. 


Censored 

ARMY  public  relations  officers  censored  the 
repl}'  when  reporters  last  week  asked  actor 
Fredric  March  what  soldiers  had  had  to  say 
about  strikes  during  his  14- week  tour  of  the 
fighting  fronts  in  behalf  of  the  USO  Camp 
Shows.  Mr.  March,  and  Sammy  Walsh,  a 
comedian,  were  being  interviewed  at  USO 
headquarters  in  New  York  on  their  experi- 
ences on  the  33,000-mile  tour. 

Mr.  March  in  reply  to  a  reporter's  ques- 
tion about  soldiers  and  strikes  said  that  the 
fighting  men  had  a  very  definite  opinion 
and  he  told  what  that  opinion  was.  Then 
the  Army  press  officer  stepped  in. 

"That  will  have  to  be  stricken  from  the 
record.   It  can't  be  printed  as  it  is  a  political 


matter  and  therefore  not  for  publication," 
he  ordered.  Actors  and  entertainers  sent 
overseas  are  supposed  to  act  and  entertain 
and  keep  their  eyes  and  mouths  shut,  it  was 
intimated. 

Troops  overseas  are  almost  as  anxious 
for  films  as  they  are  for  food,  Mr.  March 
reported.  "Our  boys  overseas  get  a  thrill 
in  seeing  films  before  the  home  folks  do. 
They  are  getting  more  and  better  films 
now,"  Mr.  March  said.  He  reported  a  de- 
side  for  moi^e  newsreels  from  other  theatres 
of  war  and  plenty  of  comedies. 

USO  was  unhappy  about  the  whole  af- 
fair. The  Army  ban,  it  said,  took  the 
headlines  away  from  Mr.  March's  report 
that  soldiers  are  as  anxious  as  ever  for 
entertainment,  desiring  the  serious  as  well 
as  the  comic.  The  New  York  press  mean- 
while clamored  for  an  explanation  by  the 
Army  for  its  censorship,  insisting  that  no 
security  issues  were  involved. 


Comfort 

PARAPHRASING  the  Fourth  War  Loan 
slogan,  New  York  State  Assemblyman  Ed- 
gar F.  Moran's  appears  to  be:  "A  seat  for 
every  motion  picture  house  doorman."  He 
has  introduced  a  bill  in  the  legislature 
amending  the  labor  law  to  provide  that  in 
New  York  City  exhibitors  shall  provide  a 
seat  for  the  doorman  taking  tickets,  who 
shall  be  allowed  to  use  the  seat  to  an  ex- 
tent reasonable  for  health. 


January    15,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


9 


Post 'War  UA 

TELEVISION  will  be  a  major  post-war 
concern  of  United  Artists.  The  company 
announced  Monday  that  Arthur  W.  Kelly, 
vice-president  and  a  member  of  the  board  of 
directors,  had  resigned  his  supervision  of 
foreign  sales  to  take  charge  of  UA's  "inter- 
national television  interests."  With  its  ros- 
ter of  independent  producers  and  talent,  the 
company  expects  to  be  "an  important  factor 
in  the  development  of  television." 

Mr.  Kelly  is  now  in  London  and  has  con- 
ferred there  with  Sir  Maurice  Bonham  Car- 
ter, chairman  of  Scophony,  Ltd.  Mr.  Kelly 
has  studied  the  use  of  Scophony  television 
before  the  war  in  two  theatres  of  the  Odeon 
circuit.    UA  owns  25  per  cent  of  Odeon. 

J.  Arthur  Rank,  British  film  magnate, 
wlio  is  chairman  of  Odeon  Theatres,  Ltd., 
was  reported  also  to  have  talked  with  Mr. 
Kelly.  There  have  been  frequent  reports  of 
a  UA-Rank  post-war  partnership  not  only 
in  films  but  in  the  development  of  new  en- 
tertainment media.  There  have  been  dis- 
cussions between  Mr.  Rank  and  Scophony 
in  England.  Officials  of  Scophony  Corpora- 
tion of  America  and  Edward  Raftery,  presi- 
dent of  UA,  have  talked  about  joint  televi- 
sion ventures  here. 


De  Mille  Marriage 

THE  son  of  Cecil  B.  De  Mille,  Pfc.  Rich- 
ard De  Mille  of  the  motion  picture  branch 
of  the  Army  Air  Forces,  produced  and 
starred  last  week  in  a  romance  of  his  own. 
|The  director  of  the  production  was  the  Rev- 
erend Philip  A.  Easley,  pastor  of  St.  Ste- 
phen's Episcopal  Church,  and  the  leading 
lady  co-starring  with  Mr.  De  Mille  was 
Miss  Rosaline  Jane  Shaffer,  screen  and  bal- 
let dancer.  The  wedding  took  place  at  the 
home  of  the  bride's  parents  in  Los  Angeles. 
The  bride  is  24  and  the  groom  22  years  of 
age.  The  couple  left  for  a  honeymoon  at 
the  Paradise  Ranch  in  the  Tujunga  Moun- 
tains. 


Re-Pay  Off 

"THE  BOYS  from  Chicago"  were  on  the 
other  end  of  a  payoff  last  week.  Six  of  the 
gangsters  convicted  in  New  York  Federal 
court,  December  last,  of  extorting  more  than 
a  million  dollars  from  the  film  industry  via 
Will'ie  Bioff,  et  al,  paid  fines  of  $10,000 
each  on  Thursday. 

Rather  than  submit  to  a  Federal  examina- 
tion of  their  assets  the .  prisoners  paid  up 
quickly,  Martin  Klein,  assistant  U.  S.  at- 
torney, reported.  The  "boys"  who  paid  off 
were  Louis  Compagna,  Phil  D'Andrea, 
Charles  Gioe,  Francis  Maritote,  Paul  De 
Lucia  and  John  Rosselli.  They  had  no  ap- 
parent difficulty  in  raising  the  money.  They 
had  been  represented  by  high  priced  coun- 


LONDON  EDITOR 

Peter  Burnup,  special  writer  and 
war  correspondent  of  "News  of  the 
World",  London,  has  been  appointed 
London  Editor  of  Quigley  Publica- 
tions, succeeding  the  late  Aubrey 
Flanagan. 

Mr.  Burnup  studied  at  Winchester 
Durham  University  and  also  made 
post-graduate  studies  at  Oxford  Uni- 
versity. His  initial  journalistic  assign- 
ment was  as  a  member  of  the  edi- 
torial staff  of  "The  Manchester 
Guardian".  Subsequently  he  came 
to  London  and  joined  the  Hulton 
newspaper  group.  He  served  in  the 
British  Army  from  1914  to  1918  and. 
following  demobilization,  joined  the 
Northcliffe  Press  as  film  critic  of 
"The  Sunday  Dispatch"  and  "The 
Daily  Mail".  Subsequently  he  was 
editor  of  "Era"  and  member  of  sev- 
eral committees  engaged  in  prepara- 
tion of  the  Film  Quota  Act  of  1938. 
He  has  been  associated  with  "News 
of  the  World"  since  1939. 

Mr.  Burnup  is  the  husband  of  Hope 
Burnup,  manager  of  the  London 
Bureau  of  Quigley  Publications. 


sel,  and  during  their  11-week  trial  lived 
most  comfortably  at  midtown  New  York 
hotels. 

It  will  take  longer  for  them  to  pay  their 
10-year  jail  sentences.  Currently  they  are 
in  custody  at  New  York  awaiting  a  second 
trial  on  February  7  of  mail  fraud  charges. 

Louis  Kaufman,  former  business  agent  of 
Local  244,  lATSE,  in  Newark,  who  also 
was  fined  $10,000  and  sentenced  to  seven 
years  in  prison,  is  seeking  a  stay  of  judg- 
ment. If  the  motion  is  granted  he  will  not 
have  to  pay  his  fine  until  the  case  is  re- 
viewed by  the  U.  S.  Circuit  Court  of  Ap. 
peals. 


Flu  Masks 

TO  combat  further  drastic  action  in  the 
war  upon  the  flu  epidemic  in  Detroit,  Sol 
Krim,  owner  of  the  Krim  theatre,  is  issuing 
flu  masks  to  patrons  at  a  special  desk  in  the 
lobby.  The  masks  are  simple  cloth  designed 
to  cover  the  nose  and  mouth,  a  devise  used 
widely  in  the  great  flu  plague  of  1918  and 
1919.  Mr.  Krim  is  in  hopes  that  the  example 
he  has  set  will  be  followed  by  other  ex- 
hibitors of  Detroit  in  an  effort  to  ward  off 
any  municipal  edict  forbidding  public  as- 
semblies. 


Affairs  of  State 

THE  Department  of  State  is  discussing 
with  industry  leaders  the  creation  of  a  mo- 
tion picture  division  at  Washington  to  give 
greater  attention  to  the  increasing  impor- 
tance of  the  screen  in  current  and  post-war 
international  commercial  and  political  re- 
lations. 

Breckinridge  Long,  Assistant  Secretary  of 
State,  has  been  directed  by  Secretary  Hull 
to  organize  the  new  division,  it  was  re- 
ported from  Washington.  On  Thursday 
Department  officials,  and  possibly  Mr.  Long 
himself,  were  scheduled  to  meet  with  com- 
pany presidents  and  foreign  managers  at 
the  offices  of  the  Motion  Picture  Producers 
and  Distributors  of  America,  Inc.,  in  New 
York,  to  discuss  the  scope  and  program  of 
the  new  film  division. 

The  work  previously  handled  in  several 
department  divisions  would  probably  be 
centered  in  the  new  division,  possibly  head- 
ed by  an  industry  executive,  it  was  report- 
ed. This  will  include  commercial  matters, 
formerly  channelled  through  Thomas  Burke 
of  the  Division  of  International  Communica- 
tions and  matters  relative  to  the  cultural 
and  propaganda  mission  of  the  motion  pic- 
ture, hitherto  in  the  domain  of  Charles 
Thomson  and  John  Begg  in  the  Division 
of  Cutural  Relations. 

The  decision  to  give  special  State  De- 
partment recognition  and  assistance  in  the 
international  field  was  reached  after  con- 
ferences between  Mr.  Hull  and  Mr.  Long 
and  Will  H.  Hays,  president  of  the 
MPPDA.  On  December  4  Motion  Pic- 
ture Herald  reported  that  the  plans  were 
maturing  in  the  Department  for  a  long  range 
film  program,  probably  to  be  handled 
through  a  special  division. 


Free  Showings 

"THEATRE  executives  were  dumfounded" 
in  Sydney,  Australia,  last  October  when  city 
authorities  presented  free  screenings  in  the 
Town  Hall  of  two  of  the  U.  S.  Army's 
Capra-produced  "Why  We  Fight"  series, 
according  to  The  Film  Weekly,  reaching 
New  York  this  week. 

City  theatre  managements  found  "some- 
thing very  ironic  in  the  free  public  screening 
at  the  Town  Hall"  the  trade  paper  reported, 
"particularly  as  an  offer  was  made  to  screen 
both  features  at  early  morning  sessions  and 
free  of  charge  as  required  by  the  conditions 
imposed  by  the  U.  S.  Army." 

Blaming  the  public  showings  on  city  offi- 
cials the  paper  pointed  out  that  morning  ex- 
hibitions in  theatres  would  have  attracted 
many  times  more  persons  than  saw  the  pic- 
tures at  eight  shows  in  the  bleak  city  audi- 
torium. The  showings  did  not  help  theatres 
in  their  publicity  for  the  Commonwealth's 
Liberty  Loan,  The  Film'  Weekly  commented. 


MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD,  published  every  Saturday  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  City,  20.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100;  Cable  address  "Quigpubco, 
New  York."  Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Terry  Ramsaye,  Editor;  Jome}  D.  Ivers,  News  Editor; 
r.ay  Gallagher,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Avenue,  Chicago,  5;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Building,  Hollywood,  28,  William  R.  Weaver, 
editor;  Toronto  Bureau,  242  Millwood  Road,  Toronto,  Ontario,  Canada,  W.  M.  Gladish,  correspondent;  Montreal  Bureau,  265  Vitre  St.,  West,  Montreal,  Canada,  Pat  Donovan, 
correspondent;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Square,  London  W  I,  Hope  Williams  Burnup,  manager;  cable  Quigpxbco  London;  Melbourne  Bureau,  The  Regent  Theatre,  191  Collins 
St.,  Melbou^rne,  Australia,  Cliff  Holt,  correspondent;  Sydney  Bureau,  17  Archbold  Rd.,  Roseville,  Sydney,  N.S.W.,  Australia,  Lin  Endean,  correspondent;  Mexico  City  Bureau, 
Dr.  Cormona  y  Valle  6,  Mexico  City,  Luis  Becerra  Cells,  correspondent;  Buenos  Aires  Bureau,  J.  E.  Uriburi  126,  Buenos  Aires,  Argentina,  Natalio  Bruski,  correspondent;  Rio  de 
Janeiro  Bureau,  R.  Sao  Jose,  61,  C.  Postal  834,  Rio  de  Janeiro,  Brazil,  Alfredo  C.  Machodo,  correspondent;  Montevideo  Bureau,  P.  O.  Box  664,  Montevideo,  Uruguay,  Paul  Bodo, 
correspondent;  coble  Argus  Montevideo.  Member  Audit  Bureau  of  Circulations.  All  contents  copyright  1944  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company.  Address  all  correspondence  to  the 
New  York  Office.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Better  TF^otres,  Motion  Picture  Daity,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  and  Fame. 


10 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January     15,  1944 


BOND-PER-SEAT  PLAN 


5) 
5) 

«) 

•) 


IE  War  Activities  Committee  suggests  to  exhibitors:  "Urge  can  then  "buy"  a  seat  in  his  own  name.  The  exhibitor  can  choose 
your  patrons  to  'buy'  seats  in  honor  of  some  serviceman,  his  own  special  day — or  days.  But  the  campaign  is  launched 
with  the  serviceman's  name  then  painted  on  the  seat  chart",  on  the  opening  day  of  the  drive,  and  WAC  suggests  exhibitors 
Above,  is  a  picture  of  the  seat  chart  and  how  it  works.  The  invite  the  mayor  of  the  city  to  the  theatre  on  that  day  and  have 
seating  arrangement  of  your  theatre  can  be  photographically  him  purchase  the  first  seat  from  the  stage.  Along  with  photo- 
enlarged  and  placed  in  the  lobby.  As  a  seat  is  "sold"  on  the  graphs  of  him  viewing  seating  chart  in  the  lobby.  And  local 
purchase  of  an  "E"  Bond,  the  seat  is  blanked  out.  The  Bond  industries,  they  explain,  can  make  wholesale  "purchases"  of  whole 
buyer,  after  making  his  purchase  in  the  name  of  a  serviceman,  rows  or  even,  sections.   The  plan  is  explained  on  page  32. 


January    15,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


INDUSTRY  LAUNCHES  BOND 
DRIVE  ACROSS  NATION 


Goal  of  $5,500,000,000  Is 
Set  for  Exhibitor  Com- 
mittees in  Campaign 

From  the  eastern  seaboard  to  Hawaii, 
from  the  Gulf  coast  to  Alaska,  the  whole 
of  the  industry  from  usher  to  theatre  man- 
ager, from  messenger  to  studio  head  and 
from  office  boy  to  president  is  massed,  poised 
for  the  invasion  of  the  Land  of  Inflation  and 
the  capture  of  five  and  one-half  billion  dol- 
lars in  "E"  Bonds,  on  this  eve  of  the  open- 
ing of  the  drive  of  the  Fourth  War  Loan. 

The  goal  the  industry  has  set  for  itself 
in  this  national  drive  for  the  sale  of  "E" 
Bonds  running  from  next  Tuesday  through 
February  15,  represents  more  than  one-third 
of  the  U.  S.  Treasury's  goal  of  $14,000,000,- 
000.  To  realize  the  objective,  the  com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  film  forces  Charles 
P.  Skouras  and  his  staff  have  introduced 
secret  weapons  in  the  form  of  selling  innova- 
tions, and  the  over-all  slogan :  "A  Bond  for 
Every  Seat." 

Sirens  and  Bells  To  Herald 
Opening  of  Campaign 

At  noon  on  Tuesday  throughout  the  na- 
tion, Alaska  and  Hawaii,  ringing  church 
bells  and  wailing  sirens  will  announce  to  the 
populace  the  opening  of  the  drive.  In  an 
eleventh  hour  pre-opening  statement,  Mr. 
Skouras  proclaimed: 

"A  Bond  for  every  seat  in  every  theatre 
in  America.  This  is  the  uncompromising 
challenge  we  of  the  motion  picture  industry 
have  made  to  ourselves.  This  is  the  respons- 
ibility each  and  every  one  of  us  has  under- 
taken as  our  share  of  the  Fourth  War  Loan 
campaign.  A  Bond  for  every  seat  means 
eleven  and  one  half  million  Bonds,  the  most 
ambitious  Bond  selling  program  on  record." 

For  this,  "the  most  ambitious  Bond  selling 
program  on  record,"  Mr.  Skouras,  his  two 
chief  lieutenants,  F.  H.  Ricketson,  Jr.,  vice- 
chairman,  and  B.  V.  Sturdivant,  campaign 
director,  the  various  sub-committees  and  the 
State  Chairmen,  have  built  a  pattern  for 
offense  including  such  innovations  as  the 
"Honored  Hundred"  contest  wherein  show- 
manship will  be  the  all-expenses-paid  road 
to  Washington,  D.  C,  for  101  exhibitors, 
special  local  contests,  exploitation  stunts 
such  as  the  blown-up  seating  charts  for 
theatre  lobbies,  plus  all  the  means  and  meth- 
ods that  contributed  mightily  to  past  War 
Loan  successes. 

Cites  Need  of  Bombers  in 
Assault  on  Tarawa 

Mr.  Ricketson  in  a  statement  brought  war 
realism  into  the  drive.  "A  returning  officer 
from  Tarawa  stated  that  in  that  historic 
hour  when  victory  or  defeat  hung  in  the 
balance,  sufficient  Liberator  bombers  would 
have  blasted  those  five-foot  thick  pill  boxes 


THE  SECRETAWV  OF  THE  TREASUWV 
W  <»M  INOTON 


January  8,  1944 


Dear  Mr;  Skouras: 

America  once  more  looks  to  the  Llotlon  Picture 
Industry.    As  hosts  to  the  world's  largest  audience/ 
producers,  distributors  and  exhibitors  alike  have  an 
important  task  to  perform, 

!i:he  Industry  is  vital  to  the  success  of  the 
Fourth  \'lar  Loan  Drive  -  doubly  vital  because  of  the 
dual  function  performed  in  both  selling  the  idea  of 
bond-buying  from  the  screen  and  actually  selling  bonds 
In  the  theatres. 

"A  Bond  For  Every  Seat"  is  a  high  goal  for 
which  to  shoot.    I  am  told  that  there  are  11-^  tuillion 
movie  seats  and  the  sale  of  more  than  lli-  million  bonds 
will  be  a  lengthy  stride  toward  Victory. 

No  more  difficult  a  task  has  an  industry 
ever  undertaken,  and  yet  It  la  with  confidence  in  your 
aucoesa  that  I  appeal  to  you.    The  movlea  will  do  their 
joh.    They  always  have. 


Sincerely, 


;.:r.  Charles  p.  skouraa 

National  Chairman 

Fourth  V»ar  I.oan  Drive  of  the 

V»ar  Activities  Coimalttee 
Motion  Picture  Industry 
1501  Broadway 
Kew  York,  K.  1'. 


and  saved  the  lives  of  a  thousand  Marines. 
Not  a  pleasant  thought,"  Mr.  Ricketson  re- 
minds, "but  a  hard  fact."  He  explains  that 
"An  over-subscribed  War  Bond  campaign  is 
the  one  way  we  can  assure  ourselves  that 
the  fighting  tools  will  be  in  the  hands  of 
our  fighting  men." 

Mr.  Sturdivant  remarked  that  in  a  com- 
paratively short  period  "civilization  has 
observed  the  motion  picture  industry  de- 
velop swiftly,"  and  ofifers  the  reminder  that 


"There  are  those  who  diligently  seek  an 
opportunity  to  charge  that  showmen  of 
America  have  failed"  to  develop  with  the 
industry.  That  "new  masters"  of  the  in- 
dustry "should  be  found."  He  warns:  "The 
responsibility  of  every  person  directly  or 
even  remotely  connected  with  motion  pic- 
tures is  great.  Results  in  the  Fourth  War 
Loan  campaign  will  mean  much  in  determin- 
ing whether  we  have  attained  the  stature  of 

(Continued  on  page  38) 


12  MOTION    PICTURE    HERALD  January    15,  1944 

"ALL  SEATS  AT  THE  FRONT" 


LEADERS,  at  left.  Charles  P.  Skouras,  the  film  Industry's 
national  chairman  for  the  Fourth  War  Loan,  and  assistants 
Frank  ("Rick")  Ricketson  and  B.  V.  Sturdivant. 


Leon  J.  Bamberger,  Ben  Amsterdam,  Robert 
Mochrie  and  William  White,  in  Washington,  D.  C. 


Henry  Pines,  David  Bershon,  O.  N.,  Srere,  in  Los  Angeles. 


John  Balaban,  Mr.  Skouras  and  Jack  Kirsch,  in  Chicago. 


January     15,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


13 


g%  TO  THIS  APPEAL,  this 
week,  sprang  every  theatre 
man.  Exhibition,  center  of  each 
community  in  service  as  in  enter- 
tainment, answered  the  film  in- 
dustry's need  to  serve  the  Fourth 
War  Loan.  On  these  pages  are 
campaign  leaders.  Conferring 
with  drive  committees  in  Los  An- 
geles, New  York,  Washington  and 
other  places,  they  found  theatres 
mobilizing  for  the  new  effort. 


John  C.  Flinn  and  Henry  Sins- 
berg,  in  Hollywood. 


Charles  P.  Skouras,  Ted  Gannble,  B.  V.  Sturdlvant,  Frank 
("Rick")  Ricketson,  Fred  Stein,  Andy  Krappman,  Seymour 
Reiser  and  Si  H.  Fabian,  before  departing  from  Los  Angeles 
on  their  eastern  tour. 


Herman  Robbins,  Joseph  R.  Vogel  and 
M.  A.  Silver,  in  Washington,   D.  C. 


Dan  Michalove,  William  K.  Jenkins,  Claude  F.  Lee,  in  Washington.        F.  H.  Ricketson,  H.  J.  Fitzgerald,  E.  C.  Rhoden,  in  Chicago. 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January     15,  1944 


NATION'S  SHOWMEN  LEADING 


TO  BRING  the  message  that  it  is  necessary  now  to  buy  more  Bonds  is 
the  job  of  salesmen — salesmen  whom  the  Treasury  Department  has  found 
among  the  best.  These  are  the  nation's  showmen  who  in  previous  drives,  by 
their  loyalty  and  skill,  have  reached  the  public  in  a  personal  fashion.  On 
these  three  pages  are  the  faces  of  men  who  lead  the  showmen  of  each 
state  as  chairmen  for  the  War  Activities  Committee.  Missing  from  the 
pictorial  roster  are  Lewis  H.  Black,  Delaware;  H.  E.  Jameyson,  Kansas; 
Connie  Russell,  Maine;  George  Tucker,  New  Mexico. 


R.  H.  Kennedy 

ALABAMA 


Harry  Nace 

ARIZONA 


M.  S.  McCord 

ARKANSAS 


Dave  Bershon 

CALIFORNIA  (South) 


Roy  Cooper 

CALIFORNIA  (North) 


R.  J.  Garland 

COLORADO 


Harry  F.  Shaw 

CONNECTICUT 


J.  L.  Cartwright 

FLORIDA 


W.  K.  Jenkins 

GEORGIA 


Frank  Larson 

IDAHO 


Jules  J.  Rubens 
ILLINOIS 


Don  C.  Rossiter 

INDIANA 


A.  H.  Blank 

IOWA 


Fred  J.  Dolle 
KENTUCKY 


E.  V.  Richards 

LOUISIANA 


Frank  A.  Hornig 

MARYLAND 


January    15,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


15 


GREATEST  WAR  BOND  DRIVE 


Sam  Pinanski 

MASSACHUSETTS 


t  ! 


E.  C.  Beatty 

MICHIGAN 


John  J.  Friedl 

MINNESOTA 


Arthur  Lehmann 

MISSISSIPPI 


Harry  C.  Arthur 

MISSOURI  (East) 


Elmer  C.  Rhoden 

MISSOURI  (West) 


J.  A.  English 

MONTANA 


William  Miskell 

NEBRASKA 


E.  J.  Fahey 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE 


Ben  Amsterdam 

NEW  JERSEY  (South) 


H.  H.  Lowenstein 

NEW  JERSEY  (North) 


N.  Dow  Thompson 

NEVADA 


E.  L  Alperson  Sam  Rinzler 

New  York  (Metropolitan)     NEW  YORK  (Brooklyn) 


Fred  Schwartz 

NEW  YORK  (Queens) 


Russell  Emde 

NEW  YORK  (Bronx) 


Lou  Goldberg  Harry  Brandt 

NEW  YORK  (Richmond)     ^New  York  (Manhattan) 


|4th  War  Loan  Drive 


J.  Myer  Schine 

NEW  YORK  (Upstate) 


H.  F.  Kincey 

NORTH  CAROLINA 


16 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January  15,^1944 


PACING  STATE  CAMPAIGNS 


Mike  Cooper 

NORTH  DAKOTA 


William  Skirbali 

OHIO  (Cleveland) 


Arthur  Frudenfeld 

OHIO  (Cincinnati) 


C.  B.  Akers 

OKLAHOMA 


Mrs.  J.  J.  Parker 

OREGON 


Jay  Emanuel 

PENNSYLVANIA  (East) 


Moe  A.  Silver 

PENNSYLVANIA  (West) 


E.  M.  Fay 

RHODE  ISLAND 


Warren  Irwin 

SOUTH  CAROLINA 


Frecf  Larkin 

SOUTH  DAKOTA 


Tony  Sudekum 

TENNESSEE 


R.  J.  O'Donnell 

TEXAS 


Samuel  Gillette 

UTAH 


Frank  Vennett 

VERMONT 


William  F.  Crockett 

VIRGINIA 


Carter  Barron 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 


Frank  Newman,  Sr. 

•WASHINGTON 


Nikitas  D.  Dipson 

WEST  VIRGINIA 


Harold  J.  Fitzgerald 

WISCONSIN 


Thomas  Berta 

WYOMING 


January     15,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


17 


SPECIAL  GROUP  CHAIRMEN 


REGIONAL  ADVISERS  ARE 
"BOTTLENECK  BREAKERS" 

LOUIS   ANSELL,    Ansell    Brothers   Theatres,  3616 
Olive  Street,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

JOHN    BALABAN,    Baiaban    and    Katz,  Chicago 
Theatre  Building,  Chicago,  III. 

BARNEY  BALABAN,  Paramount  Pictures  Inc.,  1501 
Broadway,  New  York  18,  N.  Y. 

TRACY  BARHAM,  Capitol  Theatre  Building,  Salt 
Lake  City,  Utah. 

CARTER   T.    BARRON,    Loew's    Capitol  Theatre, 
Washington,  D.  C. 

JOSEPH  BERNHARD,  Warner  Bros.  Pictures,  Inc., 
321  West  44th  Street,  New  York  19,  N.  Y. 

NATE  J.  BLUMBERG,  Universal  Pictures  Co.,  Inc., 
1250  Sixth  Avenue,  New  York  20,  N.  Y. 

JOSEPH    BLUMENFELD,    25    Taylor    Street,  San 
Francisco,  Calif. 

JAMES    CAGNEY,    Screen    Actors'    Guild,  7046 
Hollywood    Boulevard,    Hollywood,  Calif. 

THOMAS  J.  CONNORS,  20th  Century-Fox  Film 
Corp.,  444  West  56th  Street,  New  York  19,  N.  Y. 

JAMES  E.  COSTON,  Warner  Bros.  Pictures,  Inc., 
1307   South  Wabash  Avenue,   Chicago,  III. 

NED  E.  DEPINET,  RKO  Radio  Pictures,  Inc.,  1270 
Sixth  Avenue,  New  York  20,  N.  Y. 

ALBERT  J.  FINKE.  Evergreen  Theatre  Corp.,  303 
Orpheum  Theatre  Building,  Portland  5,  Ore. 

Y.  FRANK  FREEMAN,  Paramount  Pictures  Inc., 
5451  Marathon  Street,  Hollywood,  Calif. 

HENRY  GINSBERG,  Paramount  Pictures  Inc.,  5451 
Marathon   St.,   Hollywood,  Calif. 

LEONARD  H.  GOLDENSON,  Paramount  Pictures 
Inc.,  1501  Broadway.  New  York  18,  N.  Y. 

L.  C.  GRIFFITH,  Griffith  Amusement  Company, 
IIV2  North  Lee  Avenue,  Oklahoma  City,  Okla. 

JOHN  H.  HARRIS,  National  Variety  Clubs,  711 
Clark  Building,  Pittsburgh,  Penna. 

KARL  HOBLITZELLE,  Majestic  Theatre  Building, 
Dallas,  Tex. 

I.  J.  HOFFMAN.  Warner  Brothers  Pictures,  Inc., 
70  CoJIege  Avenue,  New  Haven,  Conn. 

EARL  J.  HUDSON,  United  Detroit  Theatres.  Stroh 
Building,  Detroit,  Mich. 

DAVID  M.  IDZAL,  Fox  Theatre,  Detroit,  Mich. 

HARRY  KATZ,  Monarch  Theatres,  1270  Sixth  Ave- 
nue, New  York  20,  N.  Y. 

EDWARD  L.  KUYKENDALL,  Motion  Picture  Thea- 
tre Owners  of  America,  Princess  Theatre,  Colum- 
bus, Miss. 

ABE  LASTFOGEL.  USO  Camp  Shows,  Inc.,  8  West 
40th  Street,  New  York,  N.  Y. 

M.  A.  LIGHTMAN,  Maico  Theatres,  Inc.,  138  South 

Main  Street,  Memphis  2,  Tenn. 
SIDNEY  B.  LUST,   I  Thomas  Circle,  Washington, 

D.  C. 

LOUIS  B.  MAYER,  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  Studio, 
Culver  City,  Calif. 

ABE  MONTAGUE,  Columbia  Pictures  Corp.,  729 
Seventh  Avenue,  New  York  19,  N.  Y. 

MARTIN  J.  MULLIN,  M.  and  P.  Theatres,  60 
Scollay  Square,  Boston,  Mass. 

RODNEY  PANTAGES,  Hollywood  Pantages  Thea- 


tre Corp.,  6233  Hollywood  Boulevard,  Holly- 
wood, Calif. 

JOHN    J.    PAYETTE,   Warner    Brothers  Theatres, 
Earl  Theatre  Building,  Washington,  D.  C. 

ROBERT  H.  POOLE,  1914  South  Vermont  Avenue, 
Los  Angeles  7,  Calif. 

WILLIAM  F.  RODGERS,  Loew's  Inc.,  1540  Broad- 
way, New  York  19,  N.  Y. 

M.  A.  ROSENBERG,  Parkway  Theatre,  McKees 
Rock,  Penna. 

EDDIE  RUBIN,  Welworth  Amusement  Co.,  Pantages 
Theatre,  Minneapolis,  Minn. 

JOSEPH  M.  SCHENCK,  20th  Century-Fox  Film 
Corp.,  Box  900,  Beverly  Hills,  Calif. 

NICHOLAS  M.  SCHENCK,  Loew's  Inc.,  1540 
Broadway,  New  York  19,  N.  Y. 

GRADWELL  L.  SEARS,  United  Artists  Corp.,  729 
Seventh  Avenue,  New  York  19,  N.  Y. 

EDWIN  SILVERMAN,  Essaness  Theatres,  540  North 
Michigan  Avenue,  Chicago,  III. 

MARTIN  G.  SMITH,  519  Main  Street,  Toledo,  O. 

KENNETH  THOMSON,  William  Morris  Agency, 
202  North  Canon  Drive,  Beverly  Hills,  Calif. 

J.  R.  VOGEL,  Loew's  Inc.,  1540  Broadway,  New 
York  19,  N.  Y. 

RICHARD  WALSH,  International  Alliance  of 
Theatrical  Stage  Employees,  630  Fifth  Avenue, 
New  York,  N.  Y. 

JACK  L.  WARNER,  Warner  Bros.  Pictures,  Inc., 
Burbank,  Calif. 


PUBLICITY  EXPERTS  TO 
AID  STATE  LEADERS 

ALABAMA 

RICHARD   KENNEDY,   Alabama   Theatre  BIdg., 
Birmingham. 

ARIZONA 

A.  G.  PICKETT,  Orpheum  Theatre,  Phoenix. 

ARKANSAS 

ED    ROWLEY,    Jr.,    Robb    &    Dowley  Theatres, 
Little  Rock. 

CALIFORNIA  (Southern) 

MORT  GOODMAN,  Room  410,  6434  Hollywood 
Blvd.,  Hollywood  28. 

CALIFORNIA  (Northern) 

FAY  S.  REEDER,  Fox  West  Coast  Theatres,  988 
Market  Street,  San  Francisco  2. 

COLORADO 

HAROLD  RICE,  Paramount  Theatre,  Denver. 

CONNECTICUT 

LOU  BROWN,  Loew's  Poli  Theatre,  New  Haven. 

DELAWARE 

EDGAR  DOBB,  Loew's  Aldine  Theatre,  Wilming- 
ton. 

FLORIDA 

J.  L.  CARTWRIGHT,  Tampa  Theatre,  Tampa. 

GEORGIA 

WILLIAM  BRADY,  Paramount  Theatre,  Atlanta. 
IDAHO 

NEVIN  McCORD,  Ada  Theatre,  Boise. 


ILLINOIS 

WILLIAM  HOLLANDER,  Baiaban  &  Kati  Thea- 
tres, Chicago  Theatres  Building,  Chicago. 

INDIANA 

WILLIAM  ELDER,  Loew's  Theatre,  Indianapolis. 
IOWA 

DALE  McFARLAND,  Tri-States  Theatre  Corpora- 
tion, Des  Moines. 

KANSAS 

MEL  MILLER,  Advertising  Manager,  Fox  Theatre, 
Topeka. 

KENTUCKY 

CLIFF  BEUCHEL,  Mary  Anderson  Theatre,  Louis- 
ville. 

LOUISIANA 

MAURICE  BARR,  Tudor  Theatre  Building,  New 
Orleans. 

MAINE 

CONNIE  RUSSELL,  Opera  House,  Bangor. 

MARYLAND 

FRANK  HORNIG,  Home  Theatre,  Baltimore. 

MASSACHUSETTS 

HARRY   BROWNING,   M.   &   P.  Theatres,  60 
Scollay  Square,  Boston. 

MICHIGAN 

ALICE  GORHAM,  War  Activities  Committee, 
United  Detroit  Theatres,  Stroh  BIdg.,  Detroit. 

MINNESOTA 

CHARLES  WINCHELL,    Minnesota  Amusement 
Co.,  17  North  6th  Street,  Minneapolis. 

MISSISSIPPI 

CLARENCE  GREENBLATT,  Paramount  Theatre, 
Jackson. 

MISSOURI 

LES  KAUFMAN,  Fox  Theatre,  St.  Louis. 

MONTANA 

A.  M.  RUSSELL,  Ellen  Theatre,  Boieman. 

NEBRASKA 

TED  EMERSON,  Omaha  Theatre  BIdg..  Omaha. 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE 

EDWARD  FAHEY,  Palace  Theatre,  Manchester 

NEW  JERSEY  (Southern) 

JOE  MURDOCK,  Stanley  Theatre,  Camden. 

NEW  JERSEY  (Northern) 

ROBERT  PASKOW,  17  Academy  St.,  Newark. 

NEW  MEXICO 

GEORGE  TUCKER,  Kimo  Theatre,  Albuquerque. 

NEW  YORK  (Metropolitan) 

HARRY  MANDEL,   RKO  Theatres,    1270  Sixth 
Avenue. 

NEW  YORK  (Upstate) 

SEYMOUR   MORRIS,   Schine   Enterprises,  Inc., 
Glcversville. 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

ROY  SMART,  Wilby-Kincey  Service  Corp.,  120 
East  Third  Street,  Charlotte. 

NORTH  DAKOTA 

MIKE  COOPER,  Fork  Theatre,  Grand  Forks. 

(.Continued  on  page  38,  column  3) 


4l-h  War  LocmW>rive 


18 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January     15,  1944 


NATION  TO  HAIL  CHAMPION 
BOND-SELLING  SHOWMEN 


Fold  and  tear  on  dotted  line  below. 


^^HONORED  HUNDRED''  Contest  Certification 

Theater  Manager:  Be  sure  tkat  this  stub  is  signed  by  the  issuing  agent,*  detached  and 
retained  by  you  until  the  end  of  the  contest,  then  mailed  to  your  War  Activities 
Committee  State  Chairman  with  your  final  report. 

This  application  is  for  E  Bonds       Purchased  by    

(Number)  (Name  of  individual) 


Sold  by   -  --   Total  amount  of  purchase,  $  

(Name  of  theater)  (Maturity  value) 

Attested  by  -  -       Date  ,  

(Signature  of  issuing  agent)  (Must  be  from  midnight  Jonuory  17  through 

February  15  to  be  counted  in  contest) 

♦Theaters  that  have  qualified  as  issuing  agents  may  attest  their  own  applications. 

U.  S.  COVERNHENT  PRINTING  OFFICE  :  1944  10 — 37993-1 


THIS  special  certificate  is  attached  to  the  bottom  of  the  13,000,000  special  Bond- 
application  blanks  printed  by  the  Treasury  for  this  campaign.  The  application  other- 
wise is  the  same  as  those  regularly  used.  Managers  are  to  detach  and  keep  these  blanks, 
sending  them  all  in  at  the  end  of  the  campaign  for  credit  in  the  contest. 


Rules  of  "Honored  Hun- 
dred" Contest  Give  Equal 
Chance  to  All  Managers 

In  this  Fourth  War  Loan's  greatest  inno- 
vation the  exhibitors  of  the  48  states,  Alas- 
ka, Havi'aii  and  the  District  of  Columbia 
will  match  their  showmanship  skill  in  the 
industry's  search  for  the  "Honored  Hun- 
dred," the  five  score  men  and  one  who  sell 
the  most  "E"  Bonds  in  ratio  to  the  number 
of  seats  in  their  theatres. 

The  101  honored  exhibitors  will  be  award- 
ed a  trip  to  Washington,  D.  C,  with  all  ex- 
penses paid,  the  District  of  Columbia  win- 
ner being  more  honored  than  traveled.  In 
the  capital  they  confer  with  Secretary 
of  the  Treasury  Henry  Morgenthau,  Jr.,  and 
offer  suggestions  in  planning  and  conduct- 
ing the  industry's  role  in  the  succeeding 
War  Loan,  the  Fifth,  tentatively  scheduled 
for  this  coming  summer.  During  their  stay 
in  Washington  the  "Honored  Hundred"  of 
the  nation  will  meet  with  industry  and  gov- 
ernment leaders,  and  be  crowned  champions. 

Every  Exhibitor  Has 
Equal  Opportunity 

Every  exhibitor,  whether  he  operates  a 
300-seat  house  in  a  hamlet  or  a  plush-plus 
theatre  in  a  metropolitan  center,  is  not  only 
eligible  to  compete,  but  has  an  equal  chance 
of  being  named  one  of  the  101  champions, 
one  of  the  cream  of  the  showmen  crop. 

On  this  page  is  a  reproduction  of  the 
exhibitor's  report  blank.  On  Wednesday  of 
this  week,  into  the  War  Activities  Com- 
mittee headquarters  in  New  York,  came  the 
first  of  the  anticipated  flood  of  filled-in  en- 
try blanks.  The  name  on  the  entry  blank 
was  that  of  William  K.  Saxton,  the  theatre 
was  Loew's  Century,  and  the  address  was 
18  West  Lexington  Street,  and  the  city, 
Baltimore. 

Winners  of  the  contest,  the  first  of  its 
kind  in  showmanship  history,  will  be  deter- 
mined in  this  manner: 

If  a  theatre  has  500  seats  and  sells  500 
"E"  Bonds,  the  showman  has  a  percentage 
of  100.  Should  the  same  theatre  sell  550 
"E"  Bonds,  the  manager  earns  a  percentage 
of  110. 

Size  of  Theatre  Does  Not 
Determine  Final  Rating 

By  the  same  token,  if  a  theatre  has  2,- 
000  seats  and  sells  an  equal  number  of  "E" 
Bonds,  the  manager  of  the  house  has  a  per- 
centage of  100.  And  to  continue  in  the  same 
mathematical  line,  if  the  house  produces  a 
sale  of  2,200  Bonds,  the  exhibitor  gets  a 
final  rating  of  110. 

Evident,  then,  is  the  fact  that  the  size  of 
the  theatre  does  not  in  any  way  determine 


the  final  rating.  It  is  simply  a  matter  of  the 
number  of  "E"  Bonds  sold  in  ratio  to  the 
number  of  seats. 

A  champion  will  be  selected  from  each 
of  the  48  states,  from  Alaska,  Hawaii  and 
the  District  of  Columbia.  These  will  be  the 
51  exhibitors  who  sell  the  greatest  number 
of  "E"  Bonds  in  relation  to  the  number  of 
seats  in  their  theatres,  from  midnight,  Janu- 
ary 17  to  midnight,  February  16. 

Only  the  Bond  sales  of  contestants  who 
have  filled  in  the  entry  blank  will  be  recog- 
nized. A  theatre  need  not  be  an  issuing 
agent  in  order  to  be  an  entry.  The  Bond 
may  be  issued  elsewhere ;  the  theatre  need 
only  obtain  the  application. 

In  precisely  the  same  manner  and  by  the 
same  rules  the  champions  of  the  cities  will 
be  named.  There  will  be  10  from  cities 
under  5,000,  10  from  cities  between  5,000 
and  10,000,  10  from  cities  between  10,000 
and  25,000,  10  from  cities  between  25,000 
and  100,000,  and  10  champions  from  cities 
with  populations  in  excess  of  100,000. 

Each  Champion  to  Get 
Illuminated  Scroll 

The  state  winners  will  be  determined  by 
the  calculations  of  the  state  chairmen  and 
the  State  War  Finance  Chairmen,  assisted 
by  certified  public  accountants.  Their  selec- 
tions will  be  sent  to  WAC  headquarters  in 
New  York  for  a  final  audit,  as  well  as  for  a 
selection  of  the  winners. 

Upon  the  naming  of  the  winners,  WAC 
will  arrange  for  first  class  transportation 
to  Washington,  and  will  submit  a  list  of  the 
winners  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury, 
who  will  send  a  personal  letter  to  each. 

WAC  also  will  handle  the  necessary  de- 


tails of  the  recognition  of  the  Honored 
Hundred  (and  one)  in  the  industry  press. 

Each  champion  will  receive  a  tribute 
scroll  on  illuminated  parchment  which  he 
can  frame  and  hang  in  his  office.  It  will 
be  signed  by  the  chairman  of  the  Fourth 
War  Loan,  the  head  of  the  WAC  Theatres 
Division  and  leaders  in  production  and  dis- 
tribution. 

Each  champion  also  will  receive  a  medal- 
lion, with  his  name  engraved  on  it.  All  the 
members  of  the  winners'  theatre  staffs  will 
receive  "E"  buttons. 

'  Range  in  Value  from  $25 
Bonds  to  $5,000  Notes 

WAC  will  arrange  with  the  state  chair- 
men to  present  the  scroll,  medallion  and  "E" 
buttons  at  formal  ceremonies  in  the  cities 
of  the  winners,  with  the  mayor  or  the  gov- 
ernor or  other  civic  dignitaries  taking  part. 

The  names  of  the  Honored  Hundred  (and 
one)  are  to  be  featured  in  the  WAC  report 
to  be  published  when  the  campaign  has 
closed. 

Here  is  a  description  of  the  "E"  Bonds 
that  bomb  Berlin,  buy  beachheads  and  bay- 
onets, the  Bonds  that  "make  today's  battle 
tomorrow's  victory,"  the  Bonds  exhibitors 
must  sell  to  win  a  place  in  the  Honored 
Hundred:  They  range  in  price  from  $18.75, 
with  a  maturity  value  of  $25  to  the  $3,750 
Bond  which,  in  10  years,  will  return  $5,000 
to  its  buyer. 

Charles  P.  Skouras,  the  industry's  na- 
tional chairman,  has  warned  exhibitors  not 
to  sell  four  $25  Bonds  to  a  purchaser  re- 
questing a  $100  Bond.  He  explained  that 
this  would  be  "out  of  step  with  the  Home 
Front  campaign  for  victory". 


cvAiHX.   t\     M  tit  \v    CO  file /tile  01  as  tliev 
ty-  choose  to  come  into  the  world  family  o 
democratic  nations. 
No  power  on  earth  can  prevent  our  destroying 
the  German  armies  by  land,  their  U-boats  by  sea, 
and  their  war  plants  from  the  air.  Our  attacks 
will  be  relentless  and  increasing. 
Emerging  from  these  friendly  conferences  we 
look  with  confidence  to  the  day  when  all  the 
peoples  of  the  world  may  live  free  lives  untouched 
by  tyranny  and  according  to  their  varying  desires 
and  their  own  consciences. 

We  came  here  with  hope  and  determination.  We 
leave  here  friends  in  fact,  in  spirit,  and  in  purpose. 
Signed  at  Teheran,  Dec.  1,  1943. 

ROOSEVELT,  STALIN,  CHURCHILL. 


January    15,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


23 


MANAGERS* 

ROUND  TABLE 


<uin  international  association  of  showmen  meeting  zveekly 
in  MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD  for  mutual  aid  and  progress 

GERTRUDE  MERRIAM,  Associate  Editor 


CHESTER  FRIEDMAN,  Editor 


OP 


Round  Tablers 
Show  How  to 

'Keep  ^em  Buying^ ^ 


THE  Fourth  War  Loan  Drive  is  under 
way.  Theatremen  in  every  part  of  the 
country  are  putting  their  energy  into  a 
herculean  effort  to  break  all  previous 
records  for  Bond  sales. 

There  is  present  the  added  incentive 
of  personal  distinction  made  possible  by 
climbing  into  the  ranks  of  the  industry's 
Honored  Hundred  Managers  through 
oictsfanding  results. 

The  fact  that  the  theatremen  are  to  be  so  honored  is  recognition  of  the  splendid 
achievements  by  the  men  in  the  field  in  previous  drives. 

Here  is  an  opportunity  for  the  showman  to  display  his  particular  ability  to  organize 
and  follow  through.  The  winners  must  surely  be  those  whose  plans  and  ideas  are  care- 
fully conceived  and  thoroughly  thought  out  before  being  put  to  work.  It  is  therefore 
appropriate  and  urgent  that  those  activities  which  are  undertaken  be  well  within  the  scope 
of  the  manager  and  his  staff  to  assure  success. 

Past  accomplishments  indicate  that  old  ideas,  ideas  that  have  been  tested  and  proved 
effective,  are  the  most  dependable.  To  provide  showmen  with  additional  devices  with 
which  to  plan  their  campaign  for  the  forthcoming  Drive,  which  may  be  used  out- 
right or  adapted  to  conform  with  local  requirements,  we  present  on  this  and  following 
pages  the  promotions  of  various  Round  Tablers  in  furtherance  of  past  War  Loan  Drives. 

Your  promotions  in  behalf  of  the  Fourth  War  Bond  Drive  are 
eligible  for  competition  in  the  Quigley  War  Showmanship  Award  contest 
conducted  by  this  publication. 

The  industry  expects  you  to  do  your  part,  and  included  with  that  responsibility  is 
your  obligation  to  send  in  any  unusual  devices  or  complete  campaigns  that  may  aid 
some  other  manager  to  ''Keep  'em  Buying".  — CHESTER  FRIEDMAN 

IN  arranging  picture  premieres  in  con- 
junction with  the  Drive,  exhibitors 
should  contact  the  local  Motion  Picture 
Committee  of  the  WAG  to  arrange  the  at- 
tractions and  playdates.  No  admission  is 
charged  to  the  general  public;  tickets  are 
issued  free  upon  purchase  of  a  War  Bond. 

If  Hollywood  stars  are  available,  be  sure 
the  press  is  informed  so  that  the  premiere 
will  receive  the  full  benefit  of  all  publicity 
angles. 

George  Planck  staged  a  Bond  premiere  at 
the  Palace  theatre,  Marion,  Ohio,  for  the 
Third  War  Loan  Drive.  Twentieth  Gen- 
tury-Fox  stars  engaged  in  filming  "Home  in 


Indiana,"  nearby,  attended  the  performance, 
addressing  the  audience  and  autographing 
books.  More  than  $750,000  was  realized 
from  the  total  sale  of  Stamps  and  Bonds 
from  this  promotion. 

Mack  Shapiro,  manager  of  the  Harbor, 
in  Brooklyn,  induced  Bill  Stern,  famous 
sports  announcer,  to  attend  the  theatre's 
Bond  rally,  which  garnered  excellent  pub- 
licity stories  in  the  news  and  sports  sections 
of  local  papers. 

At  the  Yucca  theatre.  Midland,  Texas, 
Elmer  Adams,  Jr.,  arranged  a  parade  pre- 
ceding the  premiere  with  units  of  the  Mid- 
land Army  Air  Force  Bombardier  School 


participating.  The  school  band  and  students 
provided  entertainment;  bombardiers  who 
had  returned  from  active  service  addressed 
the  audience.  For  days  in  advance  of  the 
event,  newspapers  devoted  space  to  the  pre- 
miere and  the  theatre  was  decorated  for  the 
occasion. 

Gity  officials  and  dignitaries  attended  the 
Bond  premiere  at  the  Schine  Golonial  thea- 
tre, in  Norwich,  N.  Y.,  also  resulting  in 
fine  publicity  breaks.  Manager  Louis 
Marcks  was  authorized  by  the  heads  of  his 
circuit  to  purchase  a  $10,000  Bond  to  open 
the  ceremonies. 

At  the  Schine  theatre  in  Corning,  N.  Y., 
a  stage  rally  was  held,  which  was  concluded 
by  showing  16mm  films  of  draftees  leaving 
for  induction.  An  off-stage  voice  appealed 
to  the  audience  to  back  up  the  boys  by  pur- 
chasing extra  Bonds  before  leaving  the 
theatre. 

Bomb  City  With  Bonds 


In  Pittsburgh 


Through  a  tieup  sponsored  by  the  local 
Chamber  of  Commerce  with  several  com- 
mittees doing  the  job  and  Lige  Brien  of 
the  Kenyon,  in  Pittsburgh,  in  on  the  promo- 
tion and  publicity  angles,  a  Bond  bombing 
campaign  was  arranged.  Twenty  G.A.P. 
planes  flew  over  the  district,  dropping  350 
paper  parachutes  to  which  were  attached  an 
order  on  one  of  the  cooperating  merchants 
for  anything  from  $2  in  War  Stamps  to  a 
$25  Series  E  War  Bond. 

The  merchants  were  approached  for  the 
money  with  which  the  Chamber  purchased 
the  Bonds  and  Stamps.  Then  certificates 
were  made  out  with  amount  values  printed 
on  them  and  the  merchant's  name.  The  per- 
son catching  one  of  the  parachutes  pre- 
sented the  certificate  to  the  respective  mer- 
chant in  exchange  for  Bonds  or  Samps. 

The  stunt  was  widely  publicized  in  the 
papers  and  through  wide  use  of  posters,  with 

(Continued  on  following  page) 


24 


MANAGERS'    ROUND  TABLE 


I 

January    15,  1944 


C  ROUND  TABLERS'  PROMOTIONS 


(Continued  from  preceding  page) 

three  stores  advertising  the  Bond  Bombing 
on  a  different  day  for  three  days  prior  to 
the  event.  Mr.  Brien  reported  that  those 
entitled  to  Stamps  received  them  from  the 
merchants  already  pasted  in  the  books  to  en- 
courage holders  to  complete  the  books. 

Novel  Stunts  Used 
With  Bond  Booths 

Many  trick  devices  have  been  used  by 
managers  to  stimulate  the  sale  of  Stamps 
and  Bonds  at  the  theatre  Bond  booths  dur- 
ing previous  drives. 

Walter  Nichols,  manager  of  the  Strand, 
Tecumseh,  Mich.,  constructed  five  extra 
booths  in  the  shape  of  Uncle  Sam's  hat 
which  were  spotted  around  town  and 
manned  by  high  school  students.  He  also 
obtained  a  show  from  nearby  Fort  Custer 
which  was  presented  on  the  stage  the  night 
of  his  Bond  premiere. 

Thomas  James,  owner  of  the  Comet  thea- 
tre, in  St.  Louis,  constructed  a  special  side- 
walk booth  which  was  manned  entirely  by 
Negro  members  of  an  AWVS  unit. 

Sid  Scott,  manager  of  the  Capitol,  Sid- 
bury,  Ont.,  built  a  large  board  directly  be- 
hind his  lobby  booth  featuring  pictures  of 
all  local  servicemen,  which  was  captioned : 
"These  are  our  Buddies.  Back  them  up. 
Buy  War  Bonds  and  Stamps." 

At  the  North  Main  thjeatre,  Houston, 
manager  Bill  Johnson  had  an  eye-arresting 
display  in  the  form  of  a  thermometer  next 
to  the  Bond  booth.  The  Drive  quota  figures 
were  printed  above  with  the  words :  "Let's 
Break  It."  As  the  sale  of  Bonds  mounted, 
they  were  recorded  alongside  the  mercury. 
Effective  war  posters  also  were  planted. 

To  promote  the  sale  of  Bonds  and  Stamps 
at  Loew's  Sheridan  theatre,  New  York,  Bob 
Rosen  has  used  some  ingenious  ideas.  He 
borrowed  a  machine  and  gun  arrangement 
with  Hitler  as  the  target  and  offered  free 
shots  with  every  Stamp  purchase.  Bob's 
booth  is  manned  by  members  of  the  AWVS 
every  day  from  11  A.M.  to  midnight. 

Manager  Morris  Schramm  constructed  a 
novel  Bond  booth  for  the  Tivoli  theatre,  in 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  The  booth  was  built  in  the 
shape  of  a  tank,  from  old  beaver  board  and 
lumber.  "Buy  War  Bonds"  copy  was  used 
on  all  sides,  an  American  flag  was  dis- 
played and  the  center  of  the  booth  was 
opened  to  allow  room  for  members  of  the 
AWVS  to  occupy  while  selling  Bonds. 

Street  Promotions 


Widely  Used 


Street  promotions  have  proved  effective 
media  for  Bond  sales.  During  the  Third 
War  Loan  Drive,  Paul  Binstock  of  the 
Sheepshead  theatre,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  ar- 
ranged a  street  cavalcade  with  units  of  the 
Maritime  Service  Training  School,  located 
at  Sheepshead  Bay.    The  service  band  and 


Manager  Russell  Bovim  and  publicity  director  Fred  Oestreicher  of  Loew's  Ohio 
theatre,  Columbus,  originated  the  above  device,  showing  daily  progress  made  in  sell- 
ing a  Bond  for  every  seat.  The  idea  has  been  adopted  generally  for  the  Fourth  Loan 
Drive  by  the  Loew  theatres  in  the  New  York  metropolitan  area.  Bovim  also  per- 
iiiiffed  Bond  purchasers  to  drive  a  rivet  in  a  wing  section  of  a  borrowed  plane. 


talent  recruited  from  among  the  trainees 
were  placed  in  open  trucks  which  parked 
on  busy  corners  and  entertained.  A  loud- 
speaker arrangement  was  included  and  be- 
tween acts  Paul  and  officers  of  the  school 
addressed  the  listeners  and  solicited  sales. 

George  Limerick,  city  manager  for  the 
Griffith  theatres,  Enid,  Okla.,  found  that  on 
the  night  of  the  premiere  arranged  at  the 
Aztec  theatre  the  tremendous  crowd  could 
not  be  accommodated  inside.  He  staged  an 
outdoor  rally  for  the  overflow  patrons.  The 
premiere  yielded  $200,000  in  Bond  sales, 
while  the  outdoor  rally  brought  more  than 
four  times  that  total. 

Extra,  Sales  Realized 
In  Kiddie  Promotions 

Many  showmen  have  placed  particular 
emphasis  on  kiddie  promotions.  W.  B. 
Small  arranged  a  patriotic  pageant  at  the 
Victoria  theatre,  New  Smyrna  Beach,  Fla. 
School  officials  cooperated  and  admission 
was  free  to  any  child  who  purchased  a 
Stamp  or  Bond.  The  children  paraded  to 
the  theatre  escorted  by  bands.  Several 
blocks  were  roped  off  to  assure  their  safe- 
ty. Mr.  Small  also  organized  Bond  sales- 
men, who  made  a  door-to-door  canvass  sell- 
ing Bonds  for  a  premier  performance. 
U.  S.  Coast  Guard  units  participated,  pro- 
viding music  and  entertainment. 

Generous  newspaper  coverage  was  landed 
by  Robert  Anthony,  manager  at  Schine's  Pi- 


qua,  Piqua,  Ohio,  when  he  held  a  special 
matinee  for  kids,  who  were  admitted  on  the 
purchase  of  a  War  Stamp.  Tickets  were 
made  available  at  the  local  Y.W.C.A. 

In  conjunction  with  the  drive  to  raise 
funds  to  build  the  carrier,  "Shangri-La," 
Mildred  Fitzgibbons,  manager  of  the 
Roosevelt,  Flushing,  N.  Y.,  distributed  her- 
alds inviting  children  to  join  the  "Shangri- 
La  War  Stamp  Club."  The  children  were 
organized  into  groups  and  to  the  boy  and 
girl  selling  the  greatest  number  of  Stamps 
and  Bonds,  prizes  were  awarded.  A  $50 
Bond  went  to  the  winner;  a  $25  bond  was 
awarded  to  the  runnerup. 

To  further  attract  the  kids  and  encourage 
their  purchases,  she  featured  a  special  lob- 
by display  with  a  cutout  of  Hitler  and  Tojo 
on  a  punching  bag.  Each  child  was  per- 
mitted to  smack  Tojo  for  every  purchase. 

Cliff  Loth,  manager  of  the  Uptown  thea- 
tre, New  York,  tied  in  with  a  local  high 
school  to  raise  funds  through  the  purchase 
of  War  Bonds  with  which  to  purchase  an 
Army  jeep.  Bond  booths  were  set  up  in 
the  school  and  manned  by  students.  A  quota 
of  $3,000  was  oversubscribed. 

Boy  Scouts  were  enlisted  to  aid  the  drive 
in  Nanaimo,  B.  C,  Canada,  by  Mel  Gow, 
manager  of  the  Capitol.  The  Scouts  sten- 
cilled sidewalks  throughout  the  city  with 
winged  shaped  "V"s,  captioned,  "Speed  the 
Victory."  Children  were  contacted  for  the 
purpose  of  pledging  their  support  in  the 
sale  of  Bonds  and  Stamps. 

Mr.  Gow  also  arranged  a  special  show  at 

{Continued  on  following  page) 


January    15,  1944 


MANAGERS'    ROUND  TABLE 


25 


LEND  EXPERIENCE  FOR  DRIVE 


{Continued  from  opposite  page) 

local  schools  with  the  cooperation  of  the 
city  superintendent.  Other  promotions  by 
him  included  arrangements  to  have  the  Roy- 
al Canadian  Navy  Band  visit  the  city  and 
entertain  at  rallies  and  demonstrations.  He 
also  obtained  a  display  of  Army  equipment 
at  a  nearby  sports  field  with  special  manoeu- 
vers  by  Army  units. 

To  stimulate  the  sale  of  extra  Bonds  and 
Stamps  in  New  Haven,  Conn.,  Sid  Kleper 
of  the  Bijou  theatre,  worked  out  a  novel 
contest  between  two  American  Legion  posts, 
which  was  well  publicized  by  the  local  pa- 
pers. Sid  offered  a  silver  loving  cup  to 
the  post  which  sold  the  greatest  number  of 
Bonds  during  a  specified  period.  Another 
cup  was  offered  to  the  individual  who  sold 
the  largest  amount.  Each  post  conducted  a 
rally  at  the  theatre,  and  the  results  were 
gratifying. 

Dinners,  Luncheons 
Sell  Extra  Bonds 

Plate  dinners  seem  to  have  come  in  for 
their  share  of  success  in  stimulating  the 
sale  of  Bonds,  with  Harry  Black  and  Edgar 
Goth  of  the  Fabian  theatres,  in  Staten  Is- 
land, holding  a  $40  per  plate  dinner.  The 
local  newspaper  cooperated  with  a  front 
page  story  on  the  ai¥air.  The  restaurant  at 
which  the  dinner  was  held  came  through 
with  a  full  page  ad  to  advertise  it  and  pro- 
mote the  sale  of  Bonds.  The  $40  which  each 
guest  paid  represented  the  purchase  price 
of  a  $50  Bond,  plus  the  cost  of  the  dinner. 

In  Elkhart,  Ind.,  in  behalf  of  the  Indiana- 
Illinois  circuit,  Howard  Sexton,  city  man- 
ager, and  Wayne  Sweeney  of  the  La  Porte 
theatre,  in  La  Porte,  enlisted  the  aid  of  the 
Chamber  of  Commerce  in  connection  with 
a  dinner,  admission  being  a  $1,000  Bond. 

Through  the  efforts  of  Harry  K.  Hecht 
of  the  Hecht  Theatres,  Passaic,  N.  J.,  a 
War  Bond  dinner  was  held,  to  which  100 
diners,  each  of  whom  were  to  purchase  a 
$1,000  Bond,  were  invited.  This  made  a 
total  of  $100,000,  the  cost  of  an  Army  bomb- 
er to  be  presented  in  the  name  of  the  City 
of  Passaic.  Enough  Bonds  were  purchased 
to  more  than  cover  the  cost  of  two  bombers. 


"Honor''  Nights  Prove 
Highly  Successful 

Among  the  theatremen  who  concentrated 
on  "War  Mothers'"  Night,  was  Frank 
Murphy  of  Loew's,  in  Syracuse,  and  now 
in  the  Army.  Frank  arranged  to  honor 
various  local  mothers  who  had  sons  in  the 
service.  Bonds  were  purchased  in  the  names 
of  the  boys.  So  successful  was  this  stunt 
that  the  idea  was  extended  to  a  "War  Sweet- 
hearts' Night." 

Another  Round  Tabler  to  honor  mothers 
was  Boyd  Scott,  city  manager  for  Griffith, 


in  Holdenville,  Okla.  Boyd  held  a  "War 
Mothers'  Night"  with  80  mothers  repre- 
senting 108  men  in  the  service.  Through  a 
tieup  with  a  local  florist,  each  mother  was 
presented  with  a  rose  and  the  local  bank 
donated  and  presented  a  $25  Bond  to  the 
mother  present  who  had  the  most  sons  in 
the  service.  A  week  later  War  Wives  were 
honored. 

Manager  Eddie  Douglas  and  Eddie  Dow- 
den  of  the  Loew  home  office  publicity  de- 
partment, arranged  a  rally  at  the  Valencia 
theatre,  Jamaica,  N.  Y.,  to  honor  publicist 
Teddy  Arnow  on  the  occasion  of  his  induc- 
tion into  the  Army,  with  excellent  results. 

At  the  RKO  Albee,  Providence,  R.  I.,  a 
Bond  rally  was  addressed  by  Chief  Special- 
ist William  Morton  of  the  Navy,  who  was 
formerly  publicity  director  for  that  thea- 
tre.   A  total  of  $30,000  in  Bonds  was  sold. 

Clayton  Cornell,  formerly  of  the  Pontiac 


theatre,  Saranac  Lake,  N.  Y.,  garnered  a 
wealth  of  publicity  for  his  Bond  drive  by 
selling  the  first  War  Bond  to  President 
Manuel  Quezon  of  the  Philippines. 

Auction  Nights  Tried 
With  Fine  Result 

A  variety  of  auctions  have  been  staged 
in  conjunction  with  Bond  rallies.  At  the 
Roosevelt,  Flushing,  N.  Y.,  Mildred  Fitz- 
gibbons  promoted  10  turkeys  which  were 
offered  to  the  highest  Bond  bidders  in  the 
audience,  resulting  in  the  sale  of  $30,000 
in  Bonds. 

At  the  Markay  theatre,  Jackson,  Ohio, 
Bill  Heiss  installed  a  Hammond  organ  for 
his  Bond  premiere,  which  was  hooked  to 

(Continued  on  following  page) 


4th  War  Loan  Drive 


26 


MANAGERS'    ROUND  TABLE 


January    15,  1944 


Auctions  Help 
To  Stimulate 
Bond  Sales 

(Continued  from  precedinfl  page) 

three  tone  cabinets  located  in  different  parts 
of  the  theatre.  The  audience  was  asked  to 
participate  in  a  unique  auction,  wherein  pa- 
trons requested  the  organist  to  play  any 
number  desired,  popular  or  classical.  The 
idea  was  to  catch  the  organist.  If  he  was 
unable  to  play  the  requested  number,  the 
theatre  bought  $5  worth  of  Stamps;  if  he 
did  play  the  number,  the  party  purchased  a 
Bond  in  the  amount  the  auctioneer  called 
for  in  the  bidding.  The  audience  joined  in 
singing  the  songs. 

Julius  Lamm  conducted  a  Bond  auction 
at  the  Warner  Uptown  theatre,  in  Cleve- 
land. Sixty-two  merchants  participated, 
each  contributing  an  article  costing  no  less 
than  $5,  with  some  valued  as  high  as  $50. 
One  of  the  highlights  of  the  evening  was 
the  auctioning  of  12  pairs  of  Nylon  hose, 
which  brought  a  total  of  $25,000  in_  War 
Bonds.  The  occasion  was  publicized  in  ad- 
vance by  newspapers  and  local  radio  broad- 
casts; a  jeep  toured  the  city  With  a  public 
address  system  announcing  the  auction  at 
the  theatre.  The  merchandise  for  the  auc- 
tion was  displayed  in  advance. 

Ray  Parker  is  another  Round  Tabler  who 
promoted  an  auction  night  to  stimulate  Bond 
sales.  Local  merchants  donated  the  prizes, 
which  were  auctioned  to  the  largest  pur- 
chasers of  Bonds  from  the  stage  of  the  Ava- 
lon  theatre,  St.  Louis.  A  professional  auc- 
tioneer donated  his  services  and  one  prize 
alone,  a  combination  radio,  went  for  Bonds 
valued  at  $3,300. 

Citizens  of  Foreign 
Extraction  Help 

Many  showmen  have  arranged  for  women 
of  United  Nations  extraction  to  handle  lob- 
by booths  attired  in  the  costumes  of  their 
native  countries.  Paul  P.  Matuszewski  had 
young  ladies  in  Polish  costume  take  over 
the  sale  of  Stamps  at  the  Cathedral  theatre. 
New  Castle,  Pa. 

The  Loew  and  RKO  theatres  in  New 
York  have  had  numerous  arrangements 
whereby  Czechoslovakian,  French,  Polish, 
Danish  and  other  organizations  provided 
women  to  man  booths  and  provide  enter- 
tainment. 

Jack  Sanson  of  the  State,  Manchester, 
Conn.,  covered  the  top  of  his  Bond  booth 
with  a  banner  reading,  "Fireworks  for  Sale 
— Made  for  Japan."  The  lower  part  of  the 
booth  was  captioned,  "Buy  Stamps  and 
Bonds  to  Blow  Up  Japan." 

Max  Cooper,  manager  of  the  Glen  Cove 
theatre,  Glen  Cove,  N.  Y.,  offered  a  Belgian 
police  puppy  to  the  child  selling  the  most 
Stamps  and  Bonds  during  the  "Shangri- 
La"  drive. 

The  Fabian  Staten  Island  theatres,  New 


York,  held  a  "Flying  Fortress  Bond  Pre- 
miere" at  four  theatres.  A  stage  and  screen 
show  was  provided  at  the  performance,  the 
purpose  of  which  was  to  sell  enough  Bonds 
with  which  to  purchase  a  "Fort."  The  event 
was  heralded  by  the  newspapers  with  unpre- 
cedented publicity.  A  30-page  program  was 
prepared,  featuring  photos  of  Staten  Island 
residents  who  are  serving  in  the  armed 
forces. 

H.  G.  Suthert,  manager  of  the  California 
theatre,  Glendale,  Cal.,  offered  a  pass  to  the 
theatre  to  any  newsboy  selling  a  War  Bond. 
To  tliose  who  sold  four  Bonds  a  one-month 
pass  was  issued. 

Among  Frank  Murphy's  outstanding 
ideas  at  Loew's  State,  in  Syracuse,  was  the 
special  front  he  built  to  stimulate  Bond 
sales.  A  giant  sign  read:  "Big  sale  today! 
$25  War  Bonds  for  Only  $18.75."  The 
same  copy  was  featured  in  theatre  ads,  her- 
alds, etc. 

Patrons  Autograph 
Demolition  Bomb 

Borrowed  from  nearby  Selfridge  Field 
and  planted  in  the  lobby  of  the  Senate  thea- 
tre, in  Detroit,  by  John  F.  Pival  was  a  500- 
pound  demolition  bomb,  which  attracted  con- 
siderable attention  and  brought  announce- 
ments from  various  radio  stations,  since 
anyone  purchasing  a  Bond  at  the  theatre 
on  "Bond  Day"  was  entitled  to  autograph 
the  bomb.  Mr.  Pival  reported  that  by  the 
end  of  the  day,  the  bomb  was  covered  with 
signatures. 

For  the  opening  shot  in  Canada's  Third 
Victory  Loan,  Famous  Players  donated  the 
use  of  the  Tivoli  theatre,  in  Hamilton,  On- 
tario, for  the  joint  broadcast  over  CBC, 
emanating  from  the  stage,  with  Walter  Pid- 
geon  as  guest  star.  Jack  Purves,  manager, 
reported  that  a  battery  of  telephones  were 
set  up  and,  pledges  to  buy  Bonds  were  taken 
and  acknowledged  over  the  air.  A  total  of 
$290,000  was  sold. 

When  Homer  Garvin,  manager  of  the 
Capitol  theatre,  Juneau,  Alaska,  was  placed 
in  charge  of  publicity  there  for  the  Third 


War  Loan  Drive,  he  arranged  for  special 
Bond  booths  to  be  manned  by  30  organiza- 
tions in  the  c-ity.  Posters  were  displayed 
in  stores,  and  trailers  shown  on  the  screens. 
Newspapers  cooperated  with  stories  during 
the  entire  drive,  and  ministers  and  teachers 
were  enlisted  to  make  speeches. 

Parade  Staged  With 
Army  Cooperation 

The  campaign  opened  with  a  parade  con- 
sisting of  units  of  the  Army  Coast  Guard, 
school  children  and  others.  A  rally  was 
staged  at  one  of  the  theatres,  at  which  en- 
tertainment was  furnished  by  members  of 
the  armed  forces.  Tents  were  set  up  in  va- 
cant lots  and  Army  equipment  was  displayed 
to  the  general  public  by  officers  and  men 
who  explained  their  uses  and  effects. 

For  the  opening  gun  of  their  Bond  Drive, 
Harry  L.  Nace,  head  of  the  Richards-Nace 
theatres,  in  Phoenix,  and  chairman  of  the 
Arizona  drive,  planned  a  mile  and  a  half 
parade  from  the  nearby  Luke  Field  to  the 
theatre.  Permission  was  granted  from 
Washington  for  three  Army  planes  to  fly 
over  the  city  dropping  heralds.  In  large 
red  type  across  the  top  was  copy  reading: 
"This  could  have  been  a  bomb  from  an 
enemy  plane,  blasting,  smashing,  tearing  you 
and  your  wife  and  children  and  your  home 
into  little  pieces.  We  shoud  be  glad  that  it 
is  our  privilege  to  invest  in  more  and  more 
War  Bonds  to  help  build  thousands  and 
thousands  more  of  those  planes  to  prevent 
the  home  fires  from  being  started  by  incen- 
diary bombs,"  etc. 

Also  listed  on  the  herald  was  information 
to  the  effect  that  a  special  show  would  be 
held  at  the  Orpheum  theatre,  admission  be- 
ing the  purchase  by  adults  of  a  Bond  or 
War  Stamp  for  boys  and  girls  under  16. 

Measuring  some  ten  feet  in  length  by 
three  in  width,  was  the  lobbv  board  used  bv 
Chris  Chamales  at  the  Roxy  theatre,  in  Del- 
phi, Ind.,  to  further  the  sale  of  Bonds  and 
Stamps.  The  board,  decorated  with  stars 
and  stripes,  also  featured  the  n,ames  of  all 
Stamp  and  Bond  buyers. 


ENTER  YOUR  BOND  CAMPAIGN 
FOR  QP  AWARD  COMPETITION 

► Your  activities  in  behalf  of  the  Fourth  War  Loan  Drive  offer  oppor- 
tunity to  make  entry  for  the 

Annual  Quigley  Award  For  War  Showmanship 


► 
► 


The  earlier  entries  are  received,  the  better — that  they  may  become 
available  to  other  members  and  readers  of  the  Round  Table. 

Exceptional  performance  may  be  assured  exceptional  attention. 

Send  your  campaigns  for  the  Fourth  War  Loan  Drive  to  the  Round 
Table. 


J 


January    15,  1944 


MANAGERS'    ROUND  TABLE 


31 


CI  PROMOTE  LOCAL  VICTORY  SQUARE 


A  VICTORY  Square,  such  as  the  one  spon- 
sored by  the  Treasury  Dept.  in  New  York 
for  the  Third  War  Loan  Drive,  would  be 
an  effective  undertaking  in  any  city  where 
showmen  can  pool  their  resources. 

A  project  such  as  this  would  entail  the 
cooperation  of  patriotic  merchants  and  civic 
authorities.  The  New  York  enterprise  was 
headed  by  Major  Leslie  E.  Thompson,  chair- 
man of  the  committee,  with  Harry  Mac- 
Donald  in  the  capacity  of  general  manager, 
and  Harry  Rice  handling  the  publicity  and 
advertising. 

A  former  circus  location  was  obtained 
in  the  heart  of  the  city,  which  lent  itself, 
with  its  big  canvas  tent,  very  admirably  to 
the  purpose.  Around  the  outside  of  the 
tent,  exhibitions  were  set  up  by  the  various 
branches  of  the  armed  services  and  manned 
by  Army  and  Navy  personnel. 

Several  Service  Branches 
Display  Equipment 

•The  exhibits  included  displays  of  captured 
enemy  equipment,  tanks,  tank  destroyers,  a 
camouflage  show.  Signal  Corps  parapher- 
nalia and  a  wrecked  Flying  Fortress  from 
the  Army.  Soldier  details  were  assigned 
and  a  military  band  provided  music  daily  at 
the  main  entrance. 

The  Navy  had  booths  set  up  with  its  own 
devices  and  equipment  including  a  complete 
Corsair  fighter  plane.  The  Marine  Corps 
also  was  represented  as  well  as  the  women's 
branches  of  the  armed  service. 

Surrounding  the  entire  project  were  ele- 
vated display  boards  depicting  actual  war 
scenes.  The  individual  boards  measured  10 
feet  by  16  feet  and  added  to  touch  of  atmo- 
sphere to  the  scene.  The  entire  area  sur- 
rounding the  block  was  decorated  with  pen- 
nants and  burgees  carrying  the  drive  slogan. 
At  night  giant  floodlights  illuminated  the 
scene. 

In  the  center  of  the  main  entrance  a  giant 
thermometer  was  erected  to  a  height  of  al- 
most three  stories.  The  city's  goal  for  the 
drive  and  the  daily  progress  were  recorded. 
Several  booths  were  built  at  the  entrances 
to  facilitate  the  sale  of  Bonds  and  Stamps 
for  those  desiring  entrance  to  the  exhibit. 

Admission  to  the  main  tent  was  solely  by 
purchase  of  a  War  Bond  and  people  who 
bought  Bonds  at  the  local  theatres  were 
given  free  admission  tickets  to  the  enter- 
prise. 

Industry,  Organizations 
Lend  Added  Support 

During  the  drive  a  special  night  was  set 
aside  to  honor  employees  of  specific  indus- 
tries, patriotic  organizations  representing 
the  United  Nations,  the  Red  Cross,  Boy 
Scouts  and  other  representative  organiza- 
tions which  indicated  additional  support. 
On  the  night  designated  to  a  particular 
organization,  members  of  that  group  manned 
the  booths  and  sold  Bonds.  Subscriptions 
were  also  solicited  inside  the  tent. 

Rallies,  auctions  and  many  activities  were 


Above,  a  camouflage  exhibit  provided  by  the 
Engineers  Corps  of  the  Army  Air  Force 
which  attracted  thousands  of  interested 
spectators.  Right,  inside  the  big  tent  enter- 
tainment was  provided  for  the  Bond  pur- 
chasers. C.P.O.  Jimmy  Greer,  well-known 
west  coast  orchestra  leader,  conducts,  as  two 
coast  guardsmen  perform  acrobatics. 


arranged  to  amuse  and  entertain  the  audi- 
ence within  the  tent,  where  a  huge  stage 
with  portable  lighting  and  sound  equipment 
was  built. 

Entertainment  was  provided  by  perform- 
ers recruited  from  theatres,  cabarets  and 
night  spots,  and  talent  garnered  from  the 
ranks  of  Army  and  Navy  personnel.  Army 
and  Navy  bands  furnished  music. 

Heroes,  returned  from  active  service  on 
the  battle  fronts,  described  their  experiences 
and  added  their  pleas  to  purchase  more 
Bonds  to  those  made  by  civic  officials,  who 
also  addressed  the  audiences. 

The  arrangement  of  continuous  activities 
which  was  provided  drew  nightly  throngs 
of  people  to  the  great  attraction  and  Bond 
sales  soared  into  hundreds  of  thousands  of 
dollars. 


with  "V  for  Victory"  copy  and  leading  from 
the  front  doors  to  the  booth.  A  card  along- 
side a  large  lamp  carried  copy  reading: 
"Never  let  the  light  of  freedom  go  out.  Buy 
War  Bonds." 


Kiddies  Pledge  to  Buy 
Stamps  in  Iowa 

To  aid  in  the  sale  of  War  Stamps  in  his 
locality,  H.  S.  Twedt  at  the  Lido  theatre, 
in  Manly,  Iowa,  hit  on  the  idea  of  enlisting 
the  support  of  schools  in  his  billing  territory 
to  sell  Stamps  for  him.  So  enthusiastic  were 
the  children  in  pushing  the  project  that  they 
pledged  themselves  to  help  sell  Stamps  dur- 
ing the  entire  year. 


Certificates  Issued  to 
Each  Bond  Buyer  , 

Richard  Peffley,  city  manager  for  the 
Kentucky  and  State  theatres  in  Danville, 
Ky.,  issued  certificates  to  each  purchaser 
of  a  Bond  at  his  theatre.  Folks  were  asked 
to  display  them  in  their  places  of  business 
or  homes.  The  copy  on  the  certificate  read : 
"This  is  to  certify  that  John  Doe  has  pur- 
chased a  $1,000  Bond,  in  memory  of  Pvt. 
John  Smith,  who  is  in  the  United  States 
Marines  and  is  giving  his  all  in  this  war  to 
make  this  country  a  safer  place  to  live  in. 
Buy  a  Bond  to  Honor  Every  Mother's  Son 
in  the  Service.  Courtesy  Kentucky  Thea- 
tre, Danville,  Ky. 


Footsteps  Lead  to  Theatre 
Bond  Booth 

One  of  the  War  Bond  Booths  set  up  in 
the  lobby  of  the  Fox  Rosemary  theatre  in 
Ocean  Park,  Cal.,  by  Dave  Martin,  man- 
ager, featured  footsteps  cut  out  of  cardboard 


Circuits  Offer  Prizes 
To  Managers 

Many  of  the  circuits  throughout  the  coun- 
try are  offering  War  Bonds  as  prizes  to 
th'eatremen  submitting  the  best  campaigns 
on  the  Drive,  with  others  making  awards 
for  managers  rolling  up  the  greatest  volume 
of  Bond  sales. 

All  RKO  theatres  in  the  New  York  me- 
tropolitan area  will  participate  in  a  novel 
Baby  Beauty  Bond  contest,  with  $5,000  in 
Bonds  to  be  awarded  to  winning  babies. 

The  plan  is  a  city-wide  attempt  to  stimu- 
late War  Bond  sales  in  the  theatres  and 
has  been  outlined  in  manual  form  by  Harry 
Mandel,  publicity  director  for  the  circuit. 

Photos  of  contestants  must  be  entered  be- 
fore January  23rd ;  100  votes  are  given  each 
person  buying  a  $25  Bond;  the  contest 
closes  on  the  last  day  of  the  Drive,  with 
winners  selected  on  the  basis  of  those  col- 
lecting the  most  votes.  A  newspaper  and 
radio  campaign  has  been  planned  along  with 
the  regular  media  of  trailers,  lobby  dis- 
plays, contest  application  forms  and  ballots. 


32 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    15,  1944 


SEATS  NAMED  FOR  HEROES 
WILL  SELL  EXTRA  BONDS 


Showmen  To  Stage  Special 
One-Day  Drives  JJnder 
Committee  Plans 


A  salute  to  a  service  man. 

In  another  Fourth  War  Loan  innovation 
the  motion  picture  theatres  will  offer  the 
people  of  the  nation  the  opportunity  to 
"Back  Your  Hero"  by  buying  "A  Bond  in 
his  Honor." 

On  page  10  there  appears  a  reproduction 
of  a  theatre  floor  plan.  It  is  the  guide  being 
offered  theatre  managers  by  the  War  Ac- 
tivities Committee.  The  exhibitors  are 
urged  to  display  in  the  lobby  a  blown-up 
chart  showing  the  theatre's  seating  arrange- 
ment. 

Upon  the  "purchase"  of  a  seat  the  service 
man's  name  is  painted  on  the  chart.  The 
theatre  manager  blanks  out  each  seat  on  the 
chart  as  it  is  "sold,"  thereby  providing  a 
unique  "thermometer"  or  "Bondometer,"  a 
graph  registering  the  progress  of  the  cam- 
paign. 

Suggested  Exhibitors 
Display  Two  Charts 

It  is  also  suggested  the  exhibitor  display 
two  charts  so  that  when  a  patron  takes  a 
seat  in  the  name  of  a  service  men  he  can 
then  "buy"  another  in  his  own  name,  with 
his  name  placed  on  the  other  chart. 

This  plan  is  in  keeping  with  and  a  guide 
to  the  industry's  proposition  that  a  Bond 
should  be  and  will  be  sold  for  every  theatre 
seat. 

The  War  Activities  Committee  suggests 
that  the  Mayor  of  the  city  be  invited  to 
launch  the  ejdiibitor's  selling  efforts  with  an 
appearance  on  the  stage  on  the  opening  day 
of  the  drive,  at  which  time  he  purchases  a 
seat,  perhaps  in  the  name  of  his  son  or  a 
near  relative  in  the  service. 

The  War  Activities  Committee  is  also  re- 
minding exhibitors  that  every  town  and 
city  offers  the  possibilities  of  selling  seats  in 
wholesale  lots,  to  various  service  and  civic 
clubs  and  manufacturing  plants,  all  of  them 
with  members  in  the  armed  forces,  in  whose 
honor  seats  may  be  "purchased." 

A  Gilded  Chair  Is  One 
Exploitation  Stunt 

The  WAC  also  is  advising  theatre  man- 
agers to  get  their  blown-up  seating  charts 
on  exhibition  in  the  lobby  well  before  Janu- 
ary 18,  opening  day  of  the  War  Loan  drive. 

Mort  Goodman,  Southern  California  Pub- 
lic Relations  Chairman  for  the  drive,  has 
come  up  with  an  exploitation  stunt  which 
he  has  placed  at  the  disposal  of  all  participat- 
ing exhibitors.  He  suggests  the  theatre 
manager  obtain  an  old,  now  unused  theatre 
seat,  pretty  it  up  with  coats  of  gilt,  build 


Press^  Radio  and  Merchants 
Will  Aid  Theatre  Drive 


THE  Allied  armies  of  the  industry's 
drive  through  to  its  avowed  goal  of 
a  Bond  for  every  seat  in  this  Fourth 
War  Loan  will  be  the  press,  radio,  retail 
merchants,  outdoor  advertising  and  free 
trailers. 

On  the  screens  in  trailers  will  be  seen  a 
quartette  of  Hollywood  stars.  In  a  War 
Activities  Committee  film  bulletin  to  be 
attached  to  the  January  6  issue  of  news- 
reels  of  all  five  newsreel  companies,  Ann 
Sothern  will  appear  through  250  feet  of 
film  in  her  "Maisie"  role,  explaining  the 
importance  and  necessity  of  the  Fourth 
War  Loan.  Bob  Hope,  Ginger  Rogers, 
James  Cagney  and  Edward  Arnold  will 
appear  in  approximately  125  feet  of  film, 
trailers  free  to  all  participating  theatres 
from  any  National  Screen  Service  exchange. 

Release  dates  have  been  announced  for 
three  of  the  offerings:  Ginger  Rogers, 
"Finds  a  Bargain",  January  18;  Ann 
Sothern,  "Box  Office  Maisie",  January  27, 
and  Bob  Hope,  "This  is  Bob  .  .  .  Fourth 
War  Loan  .  .  .  Hope",  February  6.  Charles 
P.  Skouras,  the  industry's  national  chairman, 
has  announced  that  State  Chairmen  will 
make  a  survey  of  their  territories  to  deter- 
mine exactly  how  many  additional  trailers 
will  be  required  to  reach  all  of  the  16,000 
theatres. 

The  general  plan  is  to  run  each  trailer 
about  nine  days,  thereby  precluding  the 
likelihood  of  boring  an  audience  with  a 
trailer  they  have  seen  before.  Stills,  and 
copy  selling  the  Fourth  War  Loan  and  the 
theatre's  participation  in  it,  are  being 
made  available  in  one  mat,  free  from 
National  Screen  exchanges. 

National  Screen  has  prepared  a  special 


assortment  of  mats  for  exhibitors,  designed 
to  fit  practically  every  situation.  They  are 
as  follows:  A  composite  ad  mat  containing 
an  assortment  of  eleven  different  ad  slugs; 
composite  scene  mat,  with  one-column 
heads  of  Bob  Hope,  Ginger  Rogers,  Ann 
Sothern,  James  Cagney  and  Edward 
Arnold;  mat  "A"  which  is  a  "Portrait  of  a 
Guy"  and  is  eight  columns  wide  by  half 
page  deep;  mat  "B",  headed  "They're  All 
Backing  the  Attack";  mat  "C",  topped  off 
with  "Is  This  Worth  $100?"  and  is  four 
columns;  mat  "D",  reading  "This  One's 
On  You",  a  full  page,  eight  columns,  and 
mat  "E",  pegged  on  "So  You  Stand  Up 
When  They  Play",  a  six-column  spread. 

At  the  close  of  the  drive  the  WAC  will 
issue  a  special  report,  naming  every  exhib- 
itor in  the  country,  his  theatre  and  the 
number  of  Bonds  he  sold  in  proportion  to 
his  seats.  Also  to  be  included  will  be  a 
comprehensive  review  of  all  industry  activ- 
ities through  the  drive.  Exhibitors  will  make 
their  reports  to  the  WAC  state  chairmen. 

The  Treasury's  War  Finance  Committee 
will  provide  red,  white  and  blue  shields  for 
Bond  buyers  to  all  exhibitors  requesting 
them. 

Frank  E.  Tripp,  chairman  of  the  Allied 
Newspaper  Council,  has  assured  the  indus- 
try, as  well  as  the  Treasury  Department, 
that  the  newspapers  of  the  nation  "are 
glad  to  cooperate  ...  to  assure  the  suc- 
cess of  this  vital  campaign". 

Neville  Miller  of  the  National  Associa- 
tion of  Broadcasters  has  stated  that  radio 
will  join  with  the  screen  in  a  cooperative 
effort  "to  exceed  the  goal  set  by  the 
Treasury  Department  for  the  Fourth  War 
Loan". 


an  inexpensive  pedestal,  place  the  seat  on 
the  pedestal  and  the  pedestal,  with  an  ap- 
propriate plaque,  in  the  city's  main  public 
square.  The  gilded  seat,  says  Mr.  Goodman, 
should  be  unveiled  by  a  city  official,  prefer- 
ably the  mayor,  in  a  ceremony  dramatizing 
the  slogan,  "A  Bond  for  Every  Seat." 

Opening  day  of  the  drive  in  the  New 
York  area  will  also  be  "Free  Movie  Day," 
Edward  L.  Alperson,  metropolitan  chair- 


man, announced  on  Monday.  As  was  the 
case  in  the  Third  War  Loan,  admission  will 
be  by  the  purchase  of  a  Bond.  Each  theatre 
is  to  have  a  house  chart  at  the  box  office, 
showing  the  prices  of  the  various  seats  ac- 
cording to  the  location.  It  also  was  an- 
nounced that  War  Bond  auctions  are  being 
planned  in  various  theatres.  At  the  auctions 
merchandise  of  various  descriptions  will  be 
sold  to  the  highest  bidder  in  Bonds. 


WAR  LOAN 


mth 


BONDS 


Make  it  better  than  "a  bond  for 
every  seat". .  and  keep  America  *s 
theatres  foremost  in  the  fight! 


This  advertisement  contributed  by  RKO  RADIO  PICTURES,  Inc. 


PURCHASED 
HELPS  BRING 
OUR  BOYS 
BACK  SOONER ! 


. .  .  AND  WE  WONT  FORGET 
THE  MARCH  OF  DIMES 


January    15,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


37 


2,500  BOND  PREMIERES  TO 
BOOST  SALES  AT  THEATRES 


Distributors  Repeat  Offer 
of  Free  Features  for  Ex- 
hibitors' Special  Shows 

In  the  neighborhood  of  one-tenth  of  the 
industry's  $5,500,000,000  goal  for  the  Fourth 
War  Loan  may  be  realized  in  War  Bond 
Premieres,  although  drive  officials  axe  mak- 
ing no  efifort  as  yet  to  hit  upon  a  definitive 
estimate.  Ned  E.  Depinet,  who  is  in  charge 
of  distribution  activities,  has  his  eye  on  a 
2,500  Bond  Premiere  figure  as  compared  to 
1,733  in  last  September's  drive.  But  even 
if  this  total  number  of  premieres  is  realized, 
it  does  not  necessarily  follow  that  total  sales 
will  break  the  half  billion  mark  as  compared 
to  the  Third  War  Loan's  total  sales  of  $329,- 
047,346.  The  aim  of  the  forthcoming  drive 
is  to  sell  "E"  Bonds  with  the  result  that  the 
number  of  Bonds  sold  may  almost  double 
without  anywhere  near  doubling  the  total 
sales  figure. 

Distributors'  Staffs  to  Aid 
In  "Free  Movie  Day" 

Charles  Skouras,  who  is  heading  the  in- 
dustry's participation  in  the  campaign,  has 
announced  that  distributors  have  agreed  to 
supply  one  picture  for  one  War  Bond  pre- 
miere only,  any  film  under  contract  up  to 
30  days  prior  to  availability  date,  providing 
any  exhibitor  having  a  prior  clearance  does 
not  object. 

The  distributors  also  have  agreed  to  fur- 
nish any  picture  for  repeat  showing  for  any 
morning,  matinee  or  midnight  show,  but  no 
special  effort  is  being  made  to  promote  spe- 
cial premieres  in  this  category,  leaders  of 
the  drive  appearing  to  favor  a  "Free  Movie 
Day"  for  those  exhibitors  not  participating 
in  regular  Bond  premieres. 

The  distributors,  according  to  Mr.  Skou- 
ras, have  endorsed  "Free  Movie  Day"  and 
have  instructed  all  sales  staffs  to  work  with 
exhibitors  in  promoting  these  special  shows. 

To  Contact  Important 
Community  Figures 

Here  is  the  manner  in  which  exhibitors 
will  stage  their  Bond  premieres  in  the  forth- 
coming drive. 

First,  arrangements  are  made  with  the 
local  War  Finance  Committee  to  appoint  a 
special  working  committee  to  handle  the  sale 
of  "E"  Bonds  and  allocations  of  seats.  The 
"price"  scale  will  run  from  a  $25  "E"  Bond 
for  a  seat  in  the  balcony,  to  a  $1,000  "E" 
Bond  for  an  orchestra  seat,  with  special  loge 
seats  up  to  $5,000,  depending  upon  the  size 
of  the  town  and  the  house.  In  some  cases  a 
set  of  special  reserved  seat  tickets  will  be 
printed,  carrying  the  denominations  of  the 
"E"  Bonds  purchased. 

A  special  committee  will  be  appointed  at  a 


Ask  Artists  and  Projectionists 
To  Contribute  Their  Time 

THE  National  Campaign  Committee  has  made  special  pleas  to  the  theatre 
artists  and  the  projectionists  throughout  continental  America  and  Alaska  and 
Hawaii,  organizing  their  respective  and  collective  talents  for  the  first  time  in 
any  War  Loan  drive. 

The  artists  are  being  called  upon  to  throw  their  creative  abilities  into  the  poster 
and  display  promotions  of  War  Bond  premieres,  into  the  developing  of  lobby 
fronts  and  Bond  booths,  and  they  are  being  asked  to  submit  plans  and  designs  for 
the  smaller  theatres  that  do  not  employ  artists. 

In  a  special  message  to  the  projectionists,  the  National  Committee  has  thanked 
them  for  their  past  efforts  and  cooperation  and  has  added  an  appeal  that  they 
give  special  attention  during  the  Fourth  War  Loan  drive  to  the  projecting  of  trailers 
efficiently  and  continuously. 

The  Committee  also  has  released  a  request  of  exhibitors  that  they  call  meetings 
of  both  their  projectionists  and  artists  and  Impress  upon  them  the  necessity  of 
their  all-out  cooperation  with  the  theatres'  management  In  the  all-out  effort  to  sell 
a  Bond  for  every  seat. 

A  bulletin  Is  currently  In  preparation,  a  collection  of  plans  and  designs  submitted 
by  artists  of  the  Industry,  which  will  be  mailed  to  all  showmen. 


general  meeting  of  the  exhibitors'  city-wide 
staff,  the  committee  members  contacting 
leading  figures  of  the  city  or  community, 
explaining  to  them  that  the  only  way  of  ob- 
taining seats  to  the  Bond  premieres  is 
through  the  purchase  of  "E"  Bonds.  The 
tickets  will  be  distributed  from  one  source, 
in  most  cases  the  local  headquarters  of  the 
War  Finance  staff. 

The  preliminaries  having  been  dispensed 
with,  the  exhibitor  will  put  his  showman- 
ship abilities  into  high  gear.  Bond  booths 
will  be  placed  in  lobbies  and  properly 
dressed,  and  the  entire  theatre  staff  instructed 
on  the  details  of  the  campaign.  From  that 
point  on  it  will  be  a  matter  of  exploitation 
and  promotion. 

The  War  Activities  Committee  has 
warned  all  exhibitors  not  to  paper  their 
houses  at  Bond  premieres,  to  provide  free 
admission  to  no  one  except  the  working 
press. 

Can  Obtain  Free  Trailer 
From  National  Screen 

Exhibitors,  upon  completing  arrangements 
to  stage  a  Bond  premiere,  can  obtain  a 
free  trailer  from  the  National  Screen  Serv- 
ice Exchange.  It  will  be  short,  somewhere 
around  100  feet,  but  to  it  can  be  added  a  few 
feet  of  film  naming  the  date  of  the  premiere, 
the  name  of  the  attraction  and  the  admis- 
sion scale  in  "E"  Bonds. 

In  many  situations  it  is  expected  pre- 


mieres will  be  held  in  connection  with  spe- 
cial Bond  rallies,  and  special  war  fund  rais-. 
ing  rallies.  A  number  of  theatres  are  plan- 
ning stage  spectacles  in  connection  with 
their  Bond  premieres.  Drawing  a  leaf  from 
the  success  story  of  the  Third  War  Loan 
Bond  premieres,  many  exhibitors  are  invit- 
ing veterans  of  both  the  current  and  last 
World  War.  The  veterans  along  with  the 
mayor  of  the  city  and  civic  leaders  will 
make  short  talks  from  the  stage. 

All  Major  Circuits  Expected 
To  Close  Premiere  Deals 

Virtually  all  the  major  circuits  are  ex- 
pected to  close  deals  for  premieres.  In 
most  cases  the  circuits  will  arrange  playing 
dates  according  to  local  situations  rather 
than  spring  simultaneous  premieres  in  all 
houses  at  once. 

In  order  that  all  exhibitors  will  be  pre- 
pared to  sell  Bonds  simultaneously  on  the 
opening  day  of  the  drive,  13,453,250  special 
Bond  application  blanks  for  use  only  in  the 
industry  rolled  off  the  presses  of  the  Gov- 
ernment Printing  Office  in  Chicago.  The 
U.  S.  Treasury  Department  is  shipping  the 
blanks,  an  initial  allotment,  to  every  man- 
ager of  a  motion  picture  theatre  in  the  conti- 
nental United  States,  Alaska  and  Hawaii. 
Claude  Lee,  the  industry's  liaison  man  with 
the  U.  S.  Treasury,  made  arrangements  to 
eliminate  all  red  tape  so  that  the  exhibitors 
will  be  sure  to  get  the  blanks  in  time. 


j^th  War  Loan  Drive 


38 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January     15,  1944 


EXHIBITORS  HEAD  CAMPAIGN 


(Continued  from  page  11) 

this  medium  which  we  control ;  whether  we 
are  capable  of  occupying  that  high  position 
which  has  been  entrusted  to  us.  Results  will 
tell  the  story !" 

In  a  statement  to  the  industry,  Theodore 
R.  Gamble,  national  director  of  the  Treas- 
ury's War  Finance  Division,  added  realiza- 
tion to  the  industry's  slogan  "A  Bond  for 
Every  Seat"  and  computed  the  sale  of  "ap- 
proximately eleven  million  Bonds,"  adding: 
"The  Treasury  Department  heartily  appre- 
ciates the  ingenuity  and  skill  with  which 
you  are  approaching  this  problem." 

In  a  dispatch  to  Mr.  Skouras,  Mr.  Gamble 
said:  "We  are  eagerly  looking  forward  to 
meeting  in  Washington  the  'Honored  Hun- 
dred' ...  we  at  the  Treasury  will  not  forget 
that  they  come  as  representatives  of  all  (ex- 
hibitors)." 

Depinet  Details  Procedure 
For  Bond  Premieres 

On  Monday  of  this  week  Mr.  Skouras,  in 
a  special  statement  to  exhibitors,  announced 
that  "all  Bonds  sold  by  theatres  since  Janu- 
ary 1  and  through  February  29  will  be 
credited  toward  the  motion  picture  indus- 
try's patriotic  effort  in  behalf  of  the  Fourth 
War  Loan."  However,  he  added  by  way  of 
warning  that  only  those  Bonds  sold  between 
midnight  January  17  through  February  15 
and  supported  by  special  Treasury  Depart- 
ment Bond  applications,  will  be  counted  in 
the  judging  of  the  Honored  Hundred  contest. 

Regarding  the  Bond  premieres,  Ned  E. 
Depinet,  national  chairman  of  the  distribu- 
tors' committee,  said  on  Monday :  "A  reissue 
will  be  considered  the  same  as  a  new  picture 
in  respect  to  a  Bond  premiere.  The  exhibi- 
tor must  have  the  picture  under  contract 
and  cannot  play  it  more  than  30  days  in 
advance  of  its  availability  for  booking  at  his 
theatre.  Also,  any  exchange  furnishing  a 
feature  to  a  theatre  gratis  for  a  War  Bond 
premiere  or  at  rental  for  a  Free  Movie  Day, 
must  secure  a  prompt  report  from  that  thea- 
tre as  to  the  number  of  Bonds  sold  and  the 
total  amount  thereof,  which  must  go  immedi- 
ately to  the  local  distribution  chairman." 

Stars  To  Cover  Country 
In  Personal  Appearances 

The  National  Screen  Service  exchanges 
are  making  available  to  exhibitors  a  special 
red,  white  and  blue  shield  as  the  official  em- 
blem of  the  Fourth  War  Loan  Drive  of  the 
Motion  Picture  Industry.  It  is  a  15-foot 
Technicolor  trailer.  It  is  to  be  sent  exhibi- 
tors showing  the  special  War  Loan  trailers 
starring  Ginger  Rogers,  Ann  Sothern,  Bob 
Hope  and  others. 

Because  the  selection  of  the  winners  of  the 
Honored  Hundred  contest  will  be  based 
upon  the  number  of  Bonds  sold  in  ratio  to 
the  number  of  seats,  Robert  Selig,  in  charge 
of  the  contest,  is  checking  with  all  State 
Chairmen  on  seating  capacity. 

Out  of  Hollywood  as  in  the  past  War 


Loans,  there  are  to  come  the  stars  of  the 
studios  to  make  their  way  to  the  major  cities 
and  industrial  centers  of  the  nation.  There 
are  to  be  10  pairs  comprising  10  teams. 
They  are  to  appear  at  industrial  plants  and 
public  rallies.  Another  group  of  stars  is 
being  assigned  to  nine  Bond  Battalions,  one 
for  each  Army  Service  Command  area  in 
the  country.  There  will  be  two  to  each 
battalion  accompanied  by  a  group  of  war 
veterans.  Routed  by  the  Treasury  Depart- 
ment, they  will  travel  in  Army  transport 
planes  and  will  cover  more  than  100  cities 
in  one-day  stands. 

Ship  Launching  Held 
As  a  Drive  Feature 

The  launching  of  the  S.S.  Carole  Lombard, 
the  441 -foot  Liberty  ship  at  Calship,  San 
Pedro,  Cal.,  a  pre-drive  feature  scheduled 
for  this  Saturday,  is  sponsored  by  Irene 
Dunne.  Every  section  of  the  industry  is  to 
be  represented  at  the  launching.  Louis  B. 
Mayer  is  in  charge. 

Late  last  week  Mr.  Skouras  added  a  warn- 
ing note  to  the  release  of  the  rules  and  regu- 
lations governing  the  Honored  Hundred 
contest.  He  explained  that  the  aim  of  a 
Bond  for  every  seat  and  the  concentration 
on  the  sale  of  "E"  Bonds  in  the  contest 
"does  not  mean  that  'F'  and  'G'  Bond  sales 
should  not  be  solicited,  nor  turned  down. 
The  Treasury  still  is  interested  in  the  dollar 
value  of  all  Bonds.  No  publicity,  however, 
should  be  given  to  'fabulous'  figures  of  Bond 
sales." 

Mr.  Depinet,  Dan  Michalove  and  Henry 
Ginsberg  are  serving  as  a  trio  of  chairmen 
in  charge  of  "Within  the  Industry  Sales." 
They  have  named  representatives  in  each  of 
the  exchange  cities. 

Radio  Shows  To  Feature 
War  Bond  Rallies 

Plans  were  under  way  this  week  to  shift 
some  of  the  more  popular  radio  shows  to 
War  Loan  rallies  for  broadcasts,  with  visits 
to  war  plants,  service  clubs,  etc.  The  tenta- 
tive plans  call  for  visits  to  10  cities.  Also, 
the  Holljrwood  Victory  Committee  has  se- 
lected 12  stars  to  make  a  series  of  15-minute 
transcript  broadcasts  to  be  distributed 
through  900  independent  radio  stations  with 
War  Loan  messages.  The  series  is  titled 
"Treasury  Star  Parade." 

In  the  New  York  metropolitan  area  the 
committee,  headed  by  Edward  L.  Alperson, 
has  announced  a  set  of  awards  in  addition 
to  the  national  awards  of  the  Honored  Hun- 
dred contest.  There  will  be  three  prizes  to 
exhibitors  in  War  Bonds  of  $100  denomina- 
tion, $75  and  $50.  The  captain  whose  thea- 
tres collectively  sell  the  greatest  number  of 
Bonds  over  the  quota,  provided  all  theatres 
attain  at  a  minimum  the  quota,  will  be 
awarded  a  $100  Bond. 

RKO  Theatres,  throughout  Greater  New 
York  and  Westchester,  will  stage  Baby 
Beauty    Bond    contests,    with    Bonds  as 


awards.  Loew's  Theatres,  in  a  plan  based 
upon  a  Third  War  Loan  innovation  origin- 
ating with  the  War  Savings  Staff  and  Thea- 
tre Committee  of  White  Plains,  N.  Y.,  will 
promote  the  sale  of  Bonds  in  the  names  of 
men  and  women  in  the  services. 


Publicity  Men 
Aid  Leaders 

(Continued  from  page  17) 

OHIO 

RUSS  BOVIM,  Loew's  Ohio  Theatre.  Columbus. 
OKLAHOMA 

ROBERT   BUSCH,    Uptown  Theatre.  Oklahoma 
City. 

OREGON 

M.  M.  MESHER,  Evergreen  Theatre  Corporation, 
Orpheum  Theatre  Building,  Portland. 

PENNSYLVANIA  (Eastern)' 

JAMES  ASHCRAFT,  M-G-M.  1233  Summer  St.. 
Philadelphia. 

PENNSYLVANIA  (Western) 

JAMES  TOTMAN,  Warner  Bros.  Circuit.  2216 
Clark  Building,  Pittsburgh. 

SOUTH  CAROLINA 

SAM  SUGGE,  Palmetto  Theatre,  Columbia. 

SOUTH  DAKOTA 

FRED  LARKIN,  State  Theatre,  Sioux  Falls. 

TENNESSEE 

CHARLES  AMOS,  Crescent  Amusements,  Inc^ 
Nashville. 

TEXAS 

ROBERT  KELLY,  300  Majestic  Building,  Dallas. 
UTAH 

HELEN  GARRITY.  Intermountain  Theatres.  Capi- 
tol Theatre  Building,  Salt  Lake  City. 

VERMONT 

FRANK  A.  VENNETT,  Paramount  Theatre.  Rut- 
land. 

VIRGINIA 

GEORGE  PETERS,  Loew's  State  Theatre.  Rich- 
mond. 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 

FRANK  LaFALCE,  Warner  Bros.  Circuit.  Earia 
Theatre  Building. 

WASHINGTON 

VIC  GAUNTLETT,  Evergreen  Theatres,  669  Skin- 
ner Theatre  Building,  Seattle. 

WEST  VIRGINIA 

CECIL  TIPTON,  Orpheum  Theatre,  Huntington. 

WISCONSIN 

ED   HICKEY,   Fox  Wisconsin  Amusement  Co., 
Varsity  Theatre  Building,  Milwaukee. 

WYOMING 

JACK  McGEE,  Lincoln  Theatre,  Chevenna. 


it 

1943  saw  94%  of  our  product  go  to 
the  war  effort,  but  1944  will  find 
us  backing  the  Fourth  War  Loan  . . . 
100%  and  more,  If  that's  possible. 

it 
it 
il 

it 
i; 

Walt  Disney  Productions 


40 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    15,  1944 


Boston  Looms 
As  Post'  War 
Building  Center 


Screen  Must  Fight  Public 
Apathy,  Warns  Griffis 


PRODUCERS  AND  WRITERS  "need  not  bother  to  try  to  entertain  when  they  are 
presenting  war  information",  Stanton  Griffis,  director  of  the  Office  of  War  Infor- 
mation's filnn  division,  told  a  special  gathering  of  studio  executives  at  a  luncheon 
at  Perrlno's,  Hollywood,  last  week.  Mr.  Griffis  warned  of  a  long  war,  and  said  the 
film  Industry's  duty  was  to  "correct  the  apathy  toward  the  war"  which  he  saw 
evidenced  by  patronage  of  black  markets  and  rumors  the  war  would  end  In  three 
months.  Above,  at  the  luncheon,  are  Colonel  Jason  Joy,  Harry  M.  Warner, 
Y.  Frank  Freeman,  Mr.  GrIffIs,  Loyd  Wright,  Walter  Wanger  and  Ulric  Bell. 


Barrows  Reelected  President 
Of  Boston  Operators"  Union 

Thad  Barrows  has  been  reelected  for  the  27th 
consecutive  term  as  president  of  the  Boston  pro- 
jectionists, Local  182.  Other  officers  elected 
were  James  F.  Burke,  business  agent ;  Bernard 
McGaffigan,  vice-president ;  Joseph  Rosen,  trea- 
surer, and  Albert  Moulton,  financial  secretary. 
Members  of  the  board  of  governors  are  Walter 
Diehl,  Joseph  Nuzzolo  and  Harold  Kaitz.  Joseph 
Ritchie  is  sergeant-at-arms,  and  Louis  Piro- 
vano  delegate  to  the  international  convention. 

Form  New  Publicity  Unit 
For  "Lady  in  the  Dark" 

John  Woolfenden  and  Idwal  Jones  have  been 
assigned  to  a  new  unit  of  Paramount  Pictures 
studio  publicity,  under  the  direction  of  George 
Brown,  to  promote  the  premiere  of  "Lady  in 
the  Dark"  at  the  Hollywood  Paramount  thea- 
tre, February  9.  Rufus  Blair  will  handle  out- 
of-town  publicity.  Others  engaged  in  the  pro- 
motion are  William  Blowitz,  Harry  Niemeyer, 
Fenton  Gresser,  Lindsay  Durand,  Virginia 
Bliss,  Sam  Vorzimer,  Martin  Lewis  and  Mau- 
rice Zimm. 


Making  Fifth  Navy  Short 

Leon  Schlesinger,  producer  of  the  "Merrie 
Melodies"  and  "Looney  Tunes"  cartoons  for 
Warner  Brothers,  conferred  in  Washington  last 
week  with  officials  of  the  Bureau  of  Aeronautics 
on  a  short  subject  he  is  to  make  for  the  Bureau. 


Begin  Vaudeville  Policy 

Wilmer  &  Vincent's  State  theatre,  .A.llen- 
town.  Pa.,  reopened  with  the  new  year  with  a 
stage  policy.  Vaudeville  shows  are  presented 
on  Mondays,  Tuesdays  and  Wednesdays  with 
a  double-feature  policy  prevailing  for  the  re- 
mainder of  the  week. 


Pennsylvania  Houses  Aid 
Waste  Fat  Cannpaign 

Nine  theatres  in  the  eastern  Pennsylvania 
area  in  and  around  Lancaster  cooperated  with 
the  Lancaster  Salvage  Committee  in  staging 
a  Free  Movie  Day  to  help  the  waste  fat  cam- 
paign. One  pound  of  waste  fat  admitted  both 
children  and  adults  and  public  attention  was 
brought  to  the  plan  through  cooperative  news- 
paper advertisements  sponsored  by  manufac- 
turers, retailers,  merchants  and  miscellaneous 
groups.  The  cooperating  theatres  included  the 
Grand  and  Strand  in  Lancaster ;  Joy,  Mt.  Joy ; 
Main,  Ephrata ;  Lititz,  Lititz ;  Moose,  Eliza- 
bethtown;  Auditorium,  Manheim. 

MacLeish  To  Write  NBC 
Program  on  Literature 

Archibald  MacLeish,  Librarian  of  Congress, 
poet  and  author,  has  been  engaged  by  the  Na- 
tional Broadcasting  Company  to  write  a  story 
of  the  literature  of  the  Americas  for  a  nfew 
series  on  the  network's  Inter-American  Uni- 
versity program.  NBC  promised  that  the 
script,s,  written  by  Mr.  MacLeish  as  a  private 
venture,  would  be  "an  event  of  some  significance 
in  both  the  radio  and  literary  worlds." 


Screen  Canadian  Shorts 

The  National  Film  Board  of  Canada  screened 
six  short  subjects  made  by  the  Canadian  Gov- 
ernment on  Thursday  at  the  Department  of  the 
Interior  Auditorium  in  Washington.  The  sub- 
jects are:  "Up  from  the  Ranks,"  "Thirteen 
Platoon" ;  "Sicily,  Key  to  Victory,"  "The  Labor 
Front,"  "Train  Busters"  and  "Dollar  Dance." 


Bridgeport  Limits  Advertising 

Theatres  in  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  have  been  in- 
formed that  newspapers  will  not  accept  Saturday 
afternoon  or  Monday  morning  advertising  be- 
cause of  the  limitation  of  newsprint. 


Boston  looms  as  an  important  post-war  center 
of  theatre  construction  and  renovation,  accord- 
ing to  reports  from  that  territory,  following  the 
recent  Motion  Picture  Herald  nationwide 
survey  which  indicated  current  real  estate  pur- 
chases for  potential  theatre  sites  and  contem- 
plated property  purchases  on  the  basis  of  popu- 
lation shifts  in  the  nation  since  the  war. 

Real  estate  dealers  in  Boston,  while  reluctant 
to  admit  any  definite  land  sales  for  the  erection 
of  new  theatres  following  the  war,  said  that 
there  were  many  deals  in  the  making  and  that 
immediately  after  the  news  of  peace  things  will 
start  humming  in  the  Boston  territory. 

One  of  the  largest  realtors  in  the  city  sard 
that  within  30  days  after  peace  has  been  de- 
clared there  would  be  a  deal  announced  for  a 
new  $2,000,000  house  fully  equipped  for  televi- 
sion. "While  my  client  does  not  wish  to  be 
known  at  this  time,"  he  said,  "I  am  prepared 
to  say  that  he  will  spend  a  great  deal  of  money 
on  a  completely  new  type  of  theatre,  equipped 
for  television,  and  that  he  believes  visual  broad- 
casting must  be  provided  for  in  the  case  of  all 
new  contracts  for  theatre  construction." 

Members  of  the  Associated  General  Contrac- 
tors of  Massachusetts,  an  organization  compris- 
ing leading  contractors,  are  planning  now  on 
many  of  the  post-war  theatre  contracts,  it  was 
learned.  Some  of  the  members  have  expressed 
the  belief  that  not  less  than  $10,000,000  will  be 
spent  in  the  immediate  Boston  territory  as  soon 
as  the  war  is  over. 

Recently,  a  deal  which  transferred  owner- 
ship of  a  prominent  downtown  corner  property 
to  theatre  interests  was  concluded  and  although 
no  construction  will  be  done  for  the  present, 
it  was  learned  that  plans  already  are  being 
drawn  for  the  erection  of  a  large  theatre  when 
the  war  is  over,  at  the  corner  of  Hajrward 
Place  in  downtown  Boston. 

According  to  report,  the  Mattapan  theatre, 
which  was  purchased  recently  by  Kenneth  For- 
key,  probably  will  be  almost  entirely  rebuilt 
after  the  war.  The  deal  for  the  purchase  of  the 
Somerville  apparently  has  been  halted  tem- 
porarily, but  Wilbur  Peterson,  the  owner,  is 
said  to  be  ready  to  sell  and  there  are  other  ex- 
hibitor interests  now  seeking  the  house. 

The  Normandie,  in  the  heart  of  downtown 
Boston,  flanked  on  either  side  by  the  Paranwunt 
and  the  Keith  Memorial,  has  been  sold  to  Gor- 
kin  and  Associates  and  while  it  will  continue 
under  the  Libermann  direction  for  some  time, 
plans  are  under  way  for  its  complete  modern- 
ization. 


Frank  J.  Howard,  Fornner 
Exhibitor,  Dies 

Frank  J.  Howard,  85,  one  of  the  first  exhibi- 
tors to  show  pictures  for  admission  fees,  died 
in  Boston  in  the  Massachusetts  Osteopathic 
Hospital  Monday  after  a  brief  illness. 

Mr.  Howard  in  1897  presented  42  feet  of  film 
of  "The  Great  Corbett  Fight,"  using  a  bed 
sheet  as  a  screen  and  an  Edison  Kinetoscope,  at 
his  shooting  gallery  on  Boylston  Street  in  Bos- 
ton. Later  he  founded  a  film  exchange  and 
rented  films  to  vaudeville  houses  as  an  added 
attraction.  He  became  an  exhibitor  in  an  as- 
sociation with  Nathan  Gordon,  and  was  presi- 
dent of  the  company  which  built  the  famous 
Olympia  Theatres  in  Boston,  Lynn,  Gloucester 
and  New  Haven.  At  the  time  of  his  death 
he  was  president  of  the  Princess  Theatre  Com- 
pany, which  operated  theatres  in  Wakefield  and 
Middleton. 

Surviving  Mr.  Howard  are  a  widow,  Mrs. 
Alice  Lowd  Howard ;  a  daughter.  Ensign  Fran- 
ces Howard  O'Brien  of  the  Waves,  and  an 
adopted  son,  James  D.  Howard. 


January    15,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


41 


EXHIBITORS  FACE  NEW  SHIFT 
OF  POPULATION  AFTER  WAR 


Study  of  137  Key  Areas  by 
Census  Bureau  Shows 
South  and  West  Gaining 

by  FRANCIS  L.  BURT 

in  Washington 

Exhibitors  affected  by  population  shifts  in 
the  U.  S.  since  the  war  began  can  anticipate 
another  major  migration  of  population  after 
the  war  in  the  reshuffling  of  important  in- 
dustry and  community  areas  for  post-war 
reconstruction,  according  to  Dr.  Philip  M. 
Hauser,  assistant  director  of  the  U.  S.  Cen- 
sus Bureau. 

On  the  basis  of  a  study  made  by  the  bureau 
of  137  key  areas  in  the  country,  census 
officials  predict  a  permanent  redistribution 
of  population  which  will  make  the  south  and 
west  stronger  and  the  north  weaker. 

Motion  Picture  Herald  on  December 
11  surveyed  the  real  estate  purchases  for 
potential  post-war  theatre  construction  on 
the  basis  of  the  wartime  population  shifts  in 
31  exchange  areas  and  forecast  regrouping 
of  consumer  market  areas  in  the  south  and 
west. 

Civilian  Population  Down 
As  a  Result  of  War 

Oh  December  18,  the  Herald  reported 
plans  made  by  the  Office  of  Civilian  Require- 
ments to  encourage  immediate  construction 
of  at  least  100  needed  theatres  in  war  in- 
dustry centers  to  increase  production  effi- 
ciency where  the  increased  population  could 
not  be  serviced  by  existing  exhibition  facili- 
ties. Detailed  instructions  for  the  handling 
of  applicants  to  build  the  new  film  houses 
were  to  be  transmitted  shortly  to  regional 
offices  of  the  War  Production  Board,  as 
reported  in  the  Herald  last  week. 

In  Washington  this  week.  Dr.  Hauser 
pointed  out  that  as  a  result  of  the  war,  while 
the  total  population  of  the  country  has  in- 
creased, the  civilian  population  has  been 
reduced  by  the  number  of  men  entering  the 
armed  forces.  The  decline  in  civilian  popu- 
lation is  estimated  about  2.4  per  cent.  While 
it  might  be  expected  that  the  decrease  would 
be  uniform  throughout  the  country,  such  has 
not  been  the  case  and  the  north,  for  example, 
has  decreased  in  civilian  population  by  4.1 
per  cent,  while  the  south  shows  a  decrease 
of  only  1.6  per  cent  and  the  west  has  an 
increase  of  5.1  per  cent. 

Study  Probable  Future  of 
Metropolitan  Areas 

The  interest  of  the  industry,  therefore, 
lies  in  the  prospects  for  the  war  centers  to 
retain  a  large  part  of  their  increased  popu- 
lation and  the  ability  of  non-war  communi- 
ties to  regain  what  they  have  lost. 

Of  the  137  areas  studied,  60  are  seen  as 
having  a  good  chance  of  retaining  their  war- 
time growth;  11  as  likely  to  lose  their  war- 
time increases  unless  special  efforts  are  made 
to  convert  wartime  to  peacetime  pursuits ; 
33  which  have  had  little  or  no  population 


increase  during  the  war  and  have  good 
prospects  of  post-war  recovery,  and  33  which 
gained  little  or  actually  lost  population  have 
little  prospect  of  xecouping  their  losses. 

These  areas,  Dr.  Hauser  said,  contained 
almost  half  of  the  population  of  the  country. 
On  the  whole,  they  gained  population  dur- 
ing the  war  at  a  rate  exceeding  their  loss 
of  population  to  the  armed  forces  at  the 
expense  of  the  other  areas  of  the  nation. 

The  concentration  of  war  activities  is 
even  more  strikingly  evidenced,  however, 
Dr.  Hauser  pointed  out,  by  the  fact  that 
only  81  of  these  metropolitan  areas  showed 
a  gain  in  civilian  population,  while  56 
showed  a  loss. 

In  surveying  the  possibilities  for  the  post- 
war period,  the  Census  Bureau  has  analyzed 
the  prospects  for  each  area  and  has  classified 
the  communities  according  to  the  chances 
it  sees  for  their  population  trend.  To  the 
exhibitor — and  there  are  estimates  that  he 
must  be  so  located  that  there  are  nine  or  10 
possible  patrons  for  every  seat  in  his  house, 
at  the  minimum — the  bureau's  findings  are  of 
interest. 

GROUP  I 

(Areas  which  have  grown  most  rapidly  since 
1940  and  in  the  preceding  period  and  which, 
therefore,  on  the  basis  of  past  growth  alone,  are 
adjudged  to  have  superior  prospects  of  retaining 
wartime  increases.) 

Aflanta,  Ga.  Miami,  Fla. 

Charleston,  S.  C.  Mobile,  Ala. 

Columbia,  S.  C.  Phoenix,  Ariz. 

Columbus,  Ga.  San  An-tonio,  Tex. 

Corpus  Christie,  Tex.  San  Diego,  Cal. 

Dallas,  Tex.  Tampa,  Fla. 

Galveston,  Tex.  St.  Petersburg,  Fla. 

Houston,  Tex.  Washington,  D.  C. 

Jacksonville,  Fla.  Alexandria,  Va. 

GROUP  2 

{Areas  which  grew  at  above  average  rates 

during  the  course  of  the  war  and  in  the  pre- 
ceding period  which  have  excellent  prospects  of 
retaining  their  wartime  growth.) 

Amarlllo,  Tex.  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Augusta,  Ga.  New  Orleans,  La. 

Baltimore,  Md.  Norfollt-Portsmouth- 

Beaumont-Poft  Arthur,  Newport  News,  Va. 

Tex.  Oklahoma  City,  Okla. 

Charleston,  W.  Va.  Portland.  Me. 

Denver,  Colo.  Richmond,  Va. 

Detroit,  Mich.  Sacramento,  Cal. 

Durham,  N.  C.  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Evansvllle,  Ky.  San  Francisco-Oakland, 

Fort  Worth,  Tex.  Cal. 

Indianapolis,  Ind.  San  Jose,  Cal. 

Jackson,  Miss.  Savannah,  Ga. 

Little  Rock,  Ark.  Seattle,  Wash. 

Los  Angeles,  Cal.  Spokane,  Wash. 

Macon,  Ga.  Stockton,  Cal. 

Madison,  Wis.  Tacoma,  Wash. 

Memphis,  Tenn.  Wilmington,  Del. 
Montgomery,  Ala. 

GROUP  3 

(Areas  which  grew  at  above  average  rates 
during  the  course  of  the  war,  with  moderate 
increase  in  the  preceding  period,  are  seen  to 
have  good  prospects  for  retaining  their  wartime 
population  increases.) 

Birmingham,  Ala.  Cincinnati,  Ohio 

Bridgeport,  Conn.  Columbus,  Ohio 

Canton,  Ohio  Hamilton-MIddletown, 

Ohio 


St.  Louis,  Mo. 
Springfield,  Ohio 


Hartford-New  Britain, 

Conn. 
Pueblo,  Colo. 

GROUP  4 

(Areas  which  have  grown  most  rapidly  since 
the  war  but  at  a  substantially  lower  relative  rate 
in  the  preceding  decade,  and  whose  wartime 
growth  is  expected,  therefore,  to  be  transient 
unless  special  effort  is  made  after  the  war  to 
develop  peace-time  industry  which  will  retain 
their  poptdations.) 

Akron,  Ohio  Portland,  Ore. 

Dayton,  O.  Rockford,  III. 

El  Paso,  Tex,  Tulsa.  Okla. 

Erie.  Pa.  Waco,  Tex. 

Kansas  City.  Mo.-Kan.        Wichita,  Kan. 
Louisville.  Ky. 

GROUP  5 

(Areas  which  have  lost  population  or  in- 
creased relatively  little  during  the  course  of  the 
war  but  which  grew  at  above  average  rates  be- 
tween 1930  and  1940,  and  in  most  cases  between 
1920  nd  1930.  These  have  good  chances  for  a 
post-war  comeback.) 

Ashevllle,  N.  C.  Kalamazoo.  Mich. 

Austin,  Tex.  Khoxvllle,  Tenn. 

BInghamton,  N.  Y.  Lansing,  Mich. 

Cedar  Rapids,  la.  MInneapolis-St.  Paul, 

Charlotte,  N.  C.  Minn. 
Chatanooga,  Tenn.  Peoria,  III. 

Davenport,  la.-RocIc  Shreveport,  La. 

Island,  III.  Springfield,  Mo. 

Des  Moines,  la.  V/aterloo,  la. 

Fresno.  Cal.  Winston-Salem,  N.  C. 

GROUP  6 

(Fair  prospects  are  seen  for  these  areas  which 
have  lost  population  or  increased  relatively  little 
during  the  course  of  the  war  and  between  1930 
and  1940,  but  which  grew  at  relatively  rapid 
rates  betzveen  1920  and  1930.) 
Atlantic  City,  N.  J.  Milwaukee,  Wis. 

Chicago,  III.  New  York-northeastern 

Cleveland,  Ohio  New  Jersey 

Decatur,  III.  Roanoke,  Va. 

Flint,  Mich.  South  Bend,  Ind. 

Fort  Wayne,  Ind.  Toledo,  Ohio 

Grand  Rapids,  Mich.         Topeka,  Kans. 
Huntington,  W.  Va.-         Youngstown.  Ohio 

Ashland,  Ky. 

GROUP  7 

(Areas  which  lost  p'opulation  or  grew  rela- 
tively little  during  the  war  and  in  each  of  the 
two  preceding  periods  of  observation  and  which, 
therefore,  cannot  be  expected  to  grow  rapidly  or 
even  recoup  their  losses  in  the  post-war  period.) 
Albany-Schenectady-  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

Troy,  N.  Y.  Providence,  R.  I. 

Allentown-Bethlehem-  Racine-Kenosha,  Wis. 

Easton,  Pa.  Reading,  Pa. 

Altoona.  Pa.  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

Boston,  Mass.  Saginaw-Bay  City,  Mich. 

Buffalo-Niagara,  N.  Y.  St.  Joseph,  Mo. 

Duluth,  MInn.-Superior,  Scranton-Wilkes  Barre. 

Wis.  Pa. 

Fall  River-New  Bedford,  Sioux  City,  la. 

Mass.  Springfield,  III. 

Harrisburg,  Pa.  Sprlngfield-HoJyoke, 

Johnstown,  Pa.  Mass. 

Lancaster,  Pa.  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

Lincoln,  Nebr.  Terre  Haute,  Ind. 

Manchester,  N.  H.  Trenton,  N.  J. 

New  Haven,  Conn.  Utica-Rome,  N.  Y. 

Omaha,  Neb. -Council  Wheeling,  W.  Va. 

Bluffs,  la.  Worcester,  Mass. 

Philadelphia.  Pa.  York,  Pa. 


5  ADVERTISEMENT^^TOO,  IS  BY  WARNER  BROS  .  IN  THE  INTEREST  OF  THE  4TH  WAR  LOAN 

(AND  COUNT  US  IN  ON    THE  MARCH  OF  DIMES  U 


u.  s. 

SIGNAL 
CORPS 


44 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    15,  1944 


Oppose  Changes 
For  Television 


Theatres  Get  Behind 
Dimes  Campaign 


Thousands  Pledge  Aid  to 
Drive  During  Week  of 
January  24  to  SO 

While  the  film  industry's  guns  are  con- 
centrated on  the  home  front  objective  of  the 
Fourth  War  Loan  drive  which  begins  next, 
week,  not  a  little  of  its  ammunition  is  being 
trained  on  another  important  target,  the 
1944  March  of  Dimes  campaign,  which  has 
enlisted  the  pledged  cooperation  of  exhibi- 
tor's in  48  states.  During  the  week  of  Janu- 
ary 24-30,  nationwide  theatre  collections 
will  help  to  reach  the  industry's  goal  of 
$3,000,000  to  aid  the  victims  of  the  dread 
infantile  paralysis. 

Nicholas  M.  Schenck,  who  heads  the  in- 
dustry's March  of  Dimes  campaign  for  the 
third  successive  year,  paid  tribute  to  theatre 
men  who  are  participating  in  the  two  drives. 
"I  know  of  no  other  industry  so  crowded 
with  big  hearted  men  and  women,"  he  said, 
"who  are  so  willing  to  undertake  a  double 
job  for  their  country." 

Pledges  Pouring  In  from 
Thousands  of  Theatres 

National  co-chairman  of  the  Dimes  cam- 
paign, Harry  Brandt,  upon  his  return  to 
New  York  Monday  with  the  executive  com- 
mittee's "Flying  Squadron,"  after  a  plane 
tour  of  the  south  and  mid-west,  reported 
that  exhibitor  pledges  were  flooding  drive 
headquarters.  Among  the  thousands  of 
pledges,  he  said,  are  1,200  from  theatres 
which  never  before  participated  in  the  Dimes 
campaign. 

With  the  south  now  enlisted  to  take  thea- 
tre collections  at  every  performance  during 
the  week  of  the  drive,  it  is  estimated  that 
at  least  $250,000  will  be  added  to  the  south- 
ern theatres'  collections,  as  compared  with 
last  year.  R.  J.  O'Donnell,  Interstate  circuit 
executive,  at  a  meeting  in  Dallas  last  week, 
announced  that  he  expected  Texas'  contribu- 
tion to  the  1944  March  of  Dimes  would 
reach  $100,000,  at  least  eight  times  that  of 
last  year's  total  of  $12,000. 

Other  estimates  of  increased  southern  to- 
tals came  from  E.  V.  Richards  of  Louisiana, 
who  said  exhibitors  of  that  state  expect  to 
double  last  year's  efforts ;  Arthur  Lehman, 
state  chairman  for  Mississippi,  who  pre- 
dicted a  triple  return  from  his  state  and 
L.  C.  Griffith's  who  pledged  at  least  a  25 
per  cent  increase  from  Oklahoma.  In 
Georgia,  with  Lucas  and  Jenkins  pledging 
1944  participation  exhibitors  expected  to 
jump  from  last  year's  $18,000  to  over 
$36,000. 

Says  Pennsylvania  Exhibitors 
Pledge  100  Per  Cent  Support 

The  "Flying  Squadron,"  which  returned 
with  Mr.  Brandt  from  several  March  of 
Dimes  meetings  in  Atlanta,  New  Orleans, 
Chicago  and  Dallas,  included  Oscar  A. 
Doob,  Edward  L.  Alperson  and  Dr.  John 
L.  Lavan,  research  director  of  the  National 
Foundation  for  Infantile  Paralysis.  Tom 
Connors,    Twentieth    Century-Fox  official 


PRESIDENT  LAUDS  TRADE 
FOR  DIMES  EFFORT 

In  a  letter  to  the  national  commit- 
tee of  the  1944  March  of  Dimes  cam- 
paign, President  Roosevelt  praised 
the  effort  of  the  industry  in  fulfilling 
the  drive  slogan,  "Make  It  More 
In  '44". 

His  letter,  which  was  received  at 
headquarters  Monday,  said  in  part: 
"With  the  magnificent  performance 
of  your  group  last  year  very  vividly 
in  my  mind,  I  am  confident  that  you 
and  your  co-workers  will  live  up  to 
the  campaign  slogan  you  have  chosen 
for  the  motion  picture  drive — 'More 
In  1944". 

"I  convey  my  deep  appreciation 
to  you  and  every  one  of  the  thou- 
sands of  motion  picture  men  and 
women  who  serve  so  well  In  this 
cause," 


who  addressed  a  drive  meeting  in  Philadel- 
phia Monday,  said  the  Pennsylvania  ex- 
hibitors pledged  100  per  cent  support. 

In  the  Chicago  area,  it  was  estimated 
that  there  would  be  a  25  per  cent  increase 
in  collections.  John  Friedl  in  Minneapolis 
made  a  similar  prediction. 

This  year,  it  is  planned  by  many  theatres 
to  squeeze  in  an  extra  collection  even  at  the 
lightly-attended  "supper  shows."  It  was 
pointed  out  that  if  10,000  film  houses  work 
in  a  third  or  fourth  daily  collection  and  pick 
up  only  a  few  dollars  at  each  collection,  it 
would  amount  to  several  hundred  thousand 
dollars.  To  assist  exhibitors  operating  un- 
der manpower  shortages,  the  women's  divi- 
sion of  the  National  Foundation  will  have 
available  volunteers  in  every  county  in  case 
they  are  needed  to  help  make  collections. 

Radio  will  play  an  important  part  in  the 
campaign  this  year  and  will  be  utilized  to 
give  the  1944  March  of  Dimes  the  widest 
publicity  through  spot  announcements  and 
program  attention. 

Approximately  15,000  prints  of  the  appeal 
trailer,  starring  Greer  Garson,  are  to  be  sent 
to  theatres  as  quickly  as  their  pledges  are 
received.  Shooting  of  the  trailer  was  com- 
pleted last  week  at  the  MGM  studio,  under 
Frank  Whitbeck's  direction.  National  Screen 
Service  is  preparing  the  prints.  Genevieve 
and  Tommy,  two  of  the  child  polio  victims 
who  appeared  in  the  1943  trailer  and  who 
are  now  almost  completely  recovered,  are  in 
the  appeal  film  of  the  1944  drive. 


Wilson  Acquires  Two  Films 

Maurice  Wilson,  formerly  of  Grand  National 
Film  Corporation,  England,  and  now  operating 
as  an  independent  distributor,  has  purchased 
from  Film  Classics  the  reissue  rights  for  the 
United  Kingdom  of  "Beauhunks"  and  "Sons  of 
the  Desert,"  both  starring  Laurel  and  Hardy. 


Proposed  shifts  in  television  channels  to 
higher  frequencies  from  their  present  position 
in  the  broadcast  wave  band  would  seriously  de- 
lay the  post-war  commercial  development  of 
television,  according  to  Paul  Raibourn,  Para- 
mount executive  in  charge  of  television,  and 
president  of  the  company's  affiliated  station, 
W6XYZ,  in  Hollywood. 

Technical  problems  encountered  at  present 
frequencies,  such  as  the  reception  of  multiple 
images,  would  be  greatly  increased  at  the  high- 
er frequencies,  he  said.  Mr.  Raibourn  cited 
measurements  of  reception  conditions  from  tele- 
vision and  frequency  modulation  stations  in  the 
New  York  area  which  were  reported  to  the  In- 
stitute of  Radio  Engineers  in  December  by  Al- 
len B.  Du  Mont  and  T.  T.  Goldsmith,  Jr. 

In  general  the  survey  indicated  that  recep- 
tion is  excellent,  and  the  three  television  sta- 
tions in  New  York  are  ready  to  deliver  excel- 
lent commercial  service  at  present  standards,  Mr. 
Raibourn  said.  Multiple  signals  are  the  worst 
reception  problem  at  present,  and  these  multi- 
path  distortions  by  tall  buildings,  hills  and 
bridges  become  rapidly  worse  as  frequencies 
increase,  he  said. 

"If  standards  remain  established  at  present 
or  lower  frequency  levels  for  a  time  sufficiently 
long  to  allow  television  engineers  to  overcome 
certain  objectionable  qualities  inherent  even  in 
the  present  frequencies,  the  day  of  good  re- 
ception and  programs  may  soon  be  here,"  he 
said. 

"During  the  present  war,  scientists  have  un- 
covered a  wealth  of  information  about  higher 
frequencies.  This  has  led  many  to  the  belief 
that  all  television  problems  can  be  solved  at 
these  high  frequencies  since  many  broad  chan- 
nels would  be  available.  However,  the  wOrk 
in  connection  with  the  war  has  been  almost 
exclusively  confined  to  point  to  point  transmis- 
sion and  reflection.  The  problems  in  television 
broadcasting  where  signals  must  go  out  in  all 
directions  and  be  satisfactorily  received  at  all 
reasonable  distances,  are  quite  different,"  Mr. 
Raibourn  said. 

To  Exploit  "Gung  Ho" 
On  Radio  Programs 

Maurice  A.  Bergman,  eastern  advertising  and 
publicity  director  for  Universal  Pictures,  has 
announced  the  company's  plans  for  the  adver- 
tising and  publicizing  of  Walter  Wanger's  pro- 
duction, "Gung  Hoi"  The  highlights  of  the 
campaign  include  reference  on  the  Kate  Smith 
program  January  21  and  January  18  it  will  be 
featured  on  the  "Report  to  the  Nation"  pro- 
gram. In  New  York,  Chinatown  will  partici- 
pate by  honoring  the  meaning  of  "Gung  Ho!" 
Local  campaigns  are  being  organized  in  many 
of  the  key  cities  throughout  the  country  along 
similar  lines,  it  was  announced. 

Film  Classics  Sales 
Reach  New  High 

Irvin  Shapiro,  general  manager  of  Film  Clas- 
sics, said  last  week  that  Film  Classics  sales  for 
1943  had  tripled  the  quota  set  at  the  beginning 
of  the  year.  The  company  starts  its  new  season 
with  an  RKO  circuit  deal  for  "Hara  Kiri," 
starring  Charles  Boyer,  and  "The  Young  in 
Heart."  with  Paulette  Goddard,  Merle  Oberon 
and  Douglas  Fairbanks,  Jr.  Other  1944  Film 
Classics  releases  include,  "Dancing  Pirate," 
"Becky  Sharp,"  "Little  Lord  Fauntleroy"  and 
"Pack  Up  Your  Troubles." 


Wilschke  Altec  Manager 

E.  O.  Wilschke,  formerly  Philadelphia  dis- 
trict manager  of  Altec  Service  Corporation,  has 
been  appointed  plant  manager  of  the  McKinley 
Avenue  plant  of  Altec  Lansing  Corporation, 
Philadelphia. 


THE  GOAL  OF  THE 
MOTIOH  PICTURE 

INDUSTRY 

A  BOND  FOR  EVERY  SEAT 


*  Approximate  number  of  theatre  seats  in  tiie  United  States 


LET'S  ALL  BACK  THE  AHACK 

And  We  Won't  Fornet  The  Manh  Of  Dimes 


FREE  TO  BOND  BUYERS 

The  Treasury's  War  Finance  Committee  is  printing  millions  of  duplicatetj 
of  these  shields,  in  red,  white  and  blue,  which  will  be  given  to  bond^ 
buyers.  You  can  get  all  you  want  from  your  local  War  Finance  Com- 
mittee man... Get  'em.  Your  patrons  will  want  'em! , 


Tliis  space  contributed  by  Columbia  Pictures  Corp. 


January     15,  1944 

Must  Protect 
Prior  Clearance^ 
Board  Decrees 


Theatres  on  a  prior  run  are  entitled  to  pro- 
tection of  their  clearance  rights  over  subsequent 
run  theatres  even  though  they  do  not  play  pic- 
tures immediately  upon  availability,  the  Appeal 
Board  of  the  motion  picture  arbitration  system 
ruled  in  its  86th  decision.  Clearance  must  be 
calculated  from  the  end  of  the  run  in  the  prior 
theatre,  the  board  said. 

The  ruling  modified  the  award  of  Charles  J. 
Tobin,  Albany  arbitrator,  who  set  the  clearance 
of  Utica  theatres  over  the  Schine  Liberty  at 
Herkimer,  N.  Y.,  at  seven  days  to  be  calculated 
"from  the  date  that  pictures  are  released  or 
made  available  to  the  Utica  theatres." 

The  appeal  judges  found  no  evidence  of  undue 
playing  delay  by  the  Stanley,  Avon  and  Olympic 
theatres  in  Utica  and  said  that  to  calculate 
Herkimer  clearance  from  the  day  of  availability 
would  destroy  the  priority  of  Utica  run.  It 
noted  that  many  pictures  play  Utica  for  seven 
days  or  longer. 

The  board  also  found  that  there  was  no  com- 
petitive basis  for  granting  the  Stanley  theatre 
14  days'  clearance  over  the  Liberty  and  set  its 
margin  at  seven  days,  the  same  as  that  given 
the  Avon  and  Olympic. 

While  recognizing  that  undue  delay  in  book- 
ing pictures  might  require  a  curtailment  of 
normal  clearance  in  order  to  protect  succeeding 
exhibitors,  the  board  noted  that  it  had  "never 
indicated  that  a  theatre  entitled  to  clearance 
must  commence  playing  a  picture  on  the  very 
first  day  on  which  it  has  been  released  or  made 
available  in  order  to  enjoy  the  full  benefit  of 
the  clearance  to  which  it  is  entitled." 

The  first  arbitration  complaint  of  1944  was 
filed  at  New  Haven  on  January  7  by  Mrs. 
Miriam  W.  Hess,  operator  of  the  Groton  the- 
atre, Groton,  asking  for  reduction  in  clearance 
after  New  London  first  runs  from  45  and  30 
days  to  14  to  seven.  Named  are  the  five  con- 
senting companies,  M  &  P  Operating  Company, 
operator  of  the  Garde,  and  the  Warner  circuit, 
operator  of  the  Capitol,  New  London  first  run, 
and  the  newly  reopened  Victory  theatre,  for- 
merly the  second  run  Crown  in  New  London. 

The  Groton  was  served  by  20th  Century-Fox 
45  days  after  the  Capitol  when  the  Crown  was 
operating  second  run,  and  by  MGM,  Warners 
and  Paramount  14  days  after  the  Crown.  Dur- 
ing the  dark  period  before  the  Crown  reopened 
as  the  Victory,  MGM,  20th-Fox  and  Paramount 
served  Groton  45  days  after  first  run  and  RKO 
and  Warners  30  days  after  New  London  first 
run. 

Mrs.  Hess  asks  that  the  reopening  of  the 
intervening  second  run  Victory  the  New  London 
margins  be  declared  unreasonable  and  pictures 
granted  first  run  in  Groton  seven  to  14  days 
after  New  London,  or  not  later  than  21  days 
after  national  release  date.  It  is  the  tribunal's 
eighth  case. 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


49 


Scott  Joins  Columbia 

Columbia  Pictures  has  announced  that  Neil 
Scott  of  Interstate  United  Newspapers,  publish- 
ers representative,  will  act  as  a  consultant  and 
advisor  for  the  Negro  press  in  connection  with 
Columbia  public  relations.  Mr.  Scott  was  for- 
merly a  labor  columnist  with  the  Pittsburgh 
Courier,  Negro  newspaper,  and  at  one  time  was 
on  the  stage. 


Appoint  Jacobs  20th-Fox  Booker 

Evan  Jacobs,  20th  Century-Fox  salesman  in 
Des  Moines,  has  been  appointed  head  booker  and 
city  salesman,  replacing  James  Davidson,  who 
has  been  transferred  to  the  Cleveland  branch. 
Jacob  Schlank  has  been  appointed  salesman  in 
Des  Moines. 


On  the  cover  of  this  issue  of  LIFE  is  a  picture  of 
Lester  Townes  (Bob)  Hope.  Judged  on  the  basis 
of  movie,  radio  and  personal  appearances,  he  is  the 
No.  1  comedian  in  tlie  U.S.  Motion  Picture  Herald,  a 
trade  paper,  rated  him  t943's  biggest  box-office  draw 
among  the  nation's  funnymen.  The  Crossley  survey, 
which  determines  the  size  of  radio  performers'  audi- 
ences, ranks  him  as  tops  in  his  fiel4> 


Soundies  Acquires  Minoco 
Studios  in  New  York 

Soundies  Distributing  Corporation,  with 
main  offices  in  Chicago,  this  week  announced 
it  had  taken  over  the  Minoco  studios  in  the 
Bronx,  N.  Y.  Gordon  B.  Mills,  president  of 
Soundies,  said  his  company  now  would  operate 
the  property  as  a  sound  motion  picture  service 
studio,  under  the  direction  of  John  T.  Doran. 
Jack  Barry,  former  president  of  Minoco,  who 
resigned  recently,  now  heads  Eagle  Productions, 
Inc.  William  F.  Crouch,  production  and  pro- 
motion manager  for  Soundies,  will  establish 
headquarters  in  New  York  shortly  and  will  be- 
come executive  producer  in  charge  of  studio 
production.  The  company  will  make  commer- 
cial and  educational  films,  in  addition  to  musical 
shorts. 


Canadian  Distributors 
Elect  Devaney 

Leo  M.  Devaney,  Canadian  division  sales 
manager  for  RKO  Radio,  has  been  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  Canadian  Motion  Picture  Distribu- 
tors Association  for  1944.  Mr.  Devaney  succeeds 
the  late  James  P.  O'Loghlin.  At  the  same  time, 
Col.  John  A.  Cooper  was  reelected  chairman  of 
the  board  of  directors.  The  new  CMPDA  head 
has  been  in  Canada  since  1930  when  he  came 
to  take  charge  of  the  RKO  Canadian  Theatres. 
For  the  past  twelve  years  he  has  been  head  of 
the  company's  Canadian  distribution.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Canadian  Motion  Picture  War 
Services  Committee  and  of  the  Canadian  Motion 
Picture  Pioneers. 


Sweigert  Red  Cross  Chairman 

Earle  W.  Sweigert,  Paramount  district  man- 
ager in  Philadelphia,  was  appointed  as  local 
industry  chairman  for  the  Red  Cross  Drive  to 
be  held  in  March.  Samuel  D.  Schwartz,  real 
estate  head  for  the  Warner  circuit  in  Philadel- 
phia, was  appointed  executive  director  of  the 
local  motion  picture  committee  for  the  March  of 
Dimes,  which  will  open  in  all  theatres  on  Janu- 
ary 24.  Ted  Schlanger  and  Sidney  E.  Samuel- 
son  are  the  co-chairmen  for  eastern  Pennsyl- 
vania. 


Dietz  Reports  on 
Metro  Aid  in 
Small  Towns 


Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's  plan  for  providing 
exploitation  advice  and  operating  recommenda- 
tions to  small  town  exhibitors  whose  business 
has  been  adversely  affected  by  wartime  condi- 
tions already  is  resulting  in  substantial  im- 
provements in  the  areas  visited  by  company 
field  representatives,  according  to  Howard 
Dietz,  director  of  advertising,  publicity  and  ex- 
ploitation. He  recently  announced  that  the  com- 
pany planned  to  spend  $125,000  to  aid  small 
town  exhibitors. 

Visits  by  experienced  exploitation  field  men 
in  a  number  of  midwestern  towns,  have  been 
followed  by  increased  business  for  the  theatres 
involved,  and  for  all  distributors,  the  MGM 
executive  said.  Their  work  will  be  extended  to 
all  exchange  areas. 

Advertising  and  exploitation  methods  cur- 
rently in  use,  programming,  and  the  general 
operation  of  the  theatres  are  studied  by  the 
visiting  field  men.  After  discussion  of  the  par- 
ticular local  problems  they  recommend  ways 
of  more  effective  exploitation  and  picture  mer- 
chandising. Mr.  Dietz  reported  that  exhibi- 
tors have  received  the  suggestions  with  appre- 
ciation. 

"Wherever  our  men  have  visited  theatres  af- 
fected by  the  war,  we  have  found  there  was 
something  we  could  do  to  help,"  he  said. 
"Nothing  has  been  overlooked  by  our  repre- 
sentatives and  our  suggestions  have  met  with 
immediate  response." 

William  R.  Ferguson,  exploitation  manager,. 
Mr.  Dietz,  and  sales  department  representatives 
are  supervising  the  aid  to  small  town  exhibi- 
tors, setting  up  itineraries  which  will  carry  field- 
men  to  the  areas  most  urgently  in  need  of  as- 
sistance. C.  E.  Carrier,  home  office  exploita- 
tion representative,  has  been  visiting  theatres 
in  Ohio,  Michigan  and  other  mid-west  states 
recently.  It  is  expected  that  tours  in  the 
Southeastern  and  New  England  sections  will 
follow. 

With  special  assistance  from  the  home 
office  advertising,  publicity  and  exploitation 
staffs,  the  field  agents  and  theatre  men  en- 
deavor to  establish  regular  theatre  habits  among 
patrons.  Once  this  is  achieved  a  program  of 
exploitation  ideas  intended  to  keep  the  public 
interested  in  programs  booked  for  his  theatre  is 
laid  out  for  the  exhibitor. 

Concurrent  with  the  campaign  to  aid  small 
town  theatre  operators,  MGM  has  routed  its 
Show  Builder  trailer  of  exploitation  aids  to 
every  town  visited  by  the  special  home  office 
agents.  The  Show  Builder  moved  to  Ohio 
last  week  after  six  weeks  in  Michigan. 

It  will  go  to  Charlotte  for  the  convention  of 
the  Motion  Picture  Theatre  Owners  of  North 
and  South  Carolina  on  January  16  and  17  and 
then  spend  six  weeks  in  the  Carolina  territory. 
Ken  Prickett  is  in  charge  of  the  trailer. 


Columbia  Plans  Premiere  in 
3 1  New  England  Theatres 

Columbia  Pictures  announces  its  plan  to 
pre-release  throughout  New  England  "None 
Shall  Escape,"  dealing  with  the  post-war  trials 
of  the  Nazi  war  criminals.  The  premiere  in 
31  New  England  theatres  will  be  held  on 
January  19.  The  film  will  have  its  national  re- 
lease on  February  3.  It  was  directed  by  Andre 
De  Toth  and  features  Marsha  Hunt  and  Alex- 
ander Knox. 


Small  Appoints  Cooper 

Ben  Cooper  has  been  appointed  eastern  pub- 
licity representative  for  Edward  Small  Produc- 
tions. He  will  shortly  tour  key  cities  for  "The 
Life  of  Rudolph  Valentino." 


50 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    15,  1944' 


End  of  Decree  Negotiations 
Due  in  New  York  Monday 


The  end  of  the  six  months  of  negotiation 
between  the  Department  of  Justice  and 
the  five  major  distributors  over  the  new 
Consent  Decree  may  come  on  Monday, 
in  New  York. 

Tom  C.  Clark,  Assistant  Attorney  Gen- 
eral in  charge  of  the  motion  picture  anti- 
trust case,  is  to  meet  with  company  presi- 
dents and  attorneys  then  for  discussion  of 
the  final  draft  of  their  proposals.  It  was 
sent  to  Washington  by  mail  in  printed  form 
on  Monday,  but  had  not  been  received  by 
the  Department  of  Justice  up  to  Tuesday 
evening. 

Joseph  Hazen,  Warner  vice-president 
and  counsel,  and  contact  for  all  companies 
in  the  decree  discussions,  arranged  the 
Monday  meeting  in  a  telephone  con- 
versation with  Mr.  Clark  this  week.  He 
requested  that  the  contents  of  the  docu- 
ment be  held  confidential  until  final  action 
was  taken.  It  was  not  made  clear  whether 
the  distributors  meant  until  approval  by 
the  court  in  New  York  or  until  after  Mon- 
day's meeting. 


Shipments  by  Air 
Show  Increase 

The  Air  Express  Division  of  the  Railway  Ex- 
press Agency  in  a  recent  survey  learned  that 
one  of  New  York's  major  film  brokers  i§.  for- 
warding on  the  average  of  300  shipments  a 
week  to  Latin  American  countries.  The  survey 
gives  a  decided  accent  to  the  fact  that  shipments 
of  film  by  air  have  increased  considerably  since 
the  United  States  entered  the  war.  Films  are 
also  being  flown  to  Russia,  India,  England, 
Italy,  and  to  all  the  Allied  countries.  Those 
destined  for  places  beyond  the  Western  Hemis- 
phere, the  war  restricted  limits  of  commercial 
transport  planes,  are  being  transported  by  Air 
Transport  Command  planes. 

The  Express  Agency  also  announced  that 
both  the  Office  of  War  Information  and  the 
Coordinator  of  Inter-American  Affairs  are 
shipping  their  films  by  air  to  Central  America, 
and  to  points  even  further  away,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  getting  them  to  exhibitors  as  quickly  as 
possible. 

The  American-made  pictures,  weighing  from 
one  to  300  pounds  per  shipment,  and  designed 
for  exhibition  overseas,  must  be  inspected  by  a 
representative  of  the  U.  S.  Customs  after  being 
passed  by  the  Boards  of  Review.  Following 
inspection,  they  are  sealed  and  packed  for  their 
trip  by  either  rail-air  or  direct  air  express  to 
their  destinations. 

The  survey  indicated  that  the  industry  today 
ships  most  of  its  films  to  exhibitors  in  Mexico, 
Central  and  South  America  by  coordinated  rail- 
air  or  direct  air  express. 


Heads  Variefy  Club 

James  H.  Arthur,  president  and  legal  counsel 
of  Fanchon  and  Marco  Theatres,  St.  Louis,  was 
elected  chief  barker  of  the  St.  Louis  Variety 
Club  at  a  luncheon  last  week.  Mr.  Arthur  suc- 
ceeds Harry  Crawford. 


While  Mr.  Clark  had  no  comment,  pend- 
ing a  study  of  the  proposals,  it  was  pointed 
out  in  other  quarters  that  the  submission 
of  an  agreement  in  printed  form  indicated 
the  belief,  on  the  part  of  distributors  at 
any  rate,  that  an  accord  had  been  reached 
on  all  points,  including  those  on  which  the 
Government  had  demanded  greater  con- 
cessions than  the  distributors  originally 
were  willing  to  make. 

It  was  learned  in  New  York  that  the  dis- 
tributors' printer  was  holding  the  decree 
type  in  his  forms  in  case  of  revisions  or  a 
demand  for  extra  copies. 

If  the  decree  is  found  acceptable  to  the 
Department  attorneys,  Mr.  Clark's  next 
step,  before  offering  it  to  Federal  Court 
in  New  York,  will  be  to  seek  the  reaction 
of  exhibitor  leaders  and  to  discuss  it  with 
Attorney  General  Francis  Biddle.  It  is  re- 
ported that  Wendell  Berge,  now  head  of 
the  anti-trust  division,  will  also  sit  in  on  the 
conferences  to  insure  that  the  document 
conforms  with  current  Government  trust 
policies. 


Curfew  Ordinance  Is 
Passed  in  Fall  River 

Viewed  as  an  effort  to  curb  juvenile  delin- 
quency, which  increased  nearly  SO  per  cent  in 
1943,  the  City  Council  of  Fall  River,  Mass., 
has  passed  an  ordinance  which  requires  children 
under  16  years  of  age  to  be  off  the  streets  at 
9  :45  P.M.  unless  they  have  legitimate  business. 

The  curfew  order,  which  received  the  en- 
dorsement of  theatre  managers,  was  proposed  by 
the  Police  Department. 

It  provides  that  children  under  16  years  of 
age  may  be  on  the  street  if  accompanied  by  an 
adult  or  if  they  have  written  permission  from 
their  parents  or  guardians.  Otherwise,  they 
will  be  taken  to  a  police  station  and  will  be  de- 
tained until  their  parents  call  for  them.  Sound- 
ing of  sirens  throughout  the  city  at  9 :45  every 
night  will  be  the  warning  for  the  children. 


ASCAP  1943  Royalties  Are 
Estimated  at  $5,100,000 

The  royalty  payments  to  be  distributed  to 
members  of  the  American  Society  of  Com- 
posers, Authors  and  Publishers  for  the  fourth 
quarter  of  1943  are  expected  to  total  $1,420,000, 
the  largest  single  quarter  payment  since  1940. 
The  estimated  royalty  sum  of  $5,100,000  for 
1943  is  higher  than  1942  and  $500,000  under  the 
total  for  1940.  Payments  are  obtained  from 
fijm  and  stage  theatres,  radio  stations,  night 
clubs,  dance  halls,  and  places  where  music  is 
presented  for  profit. 

Photographers  Seek  "Queen" 

Photographers  of  New  York  newspapers  are 
seeking  a  girl  to  be  chosen  as  a  typical  volun- 
teer hostess  at  the  New  York  Canteen,  to  crown 
her  "Queen  of  the  1944  Press  Photographers 
Ball."  The  girl  selected  will  make  a  personal 
appearance  at  the  15th  annual  entertainment  and 
dance  sponsored  by  the  Press  Photographers 
Association  of  New  York,  February  4  at  the 
Waldorf-Astoria  Hotel. 


Columbia  Holds 
Sales  Meeting 
In  New  York 

A  three-day  sales  meeting  of  division  and 
branch  managers  will  be  held  by  Columbia 
Pictures  February  1,  2  and  3  at  the  Hotel  War- 
wick, New  York,  with  A.  Montague,  general 
sales  manager,  presiding,  it  was  announced  last 
week.  Branch  and  division  managers  from  all 
territories  except  the  western  division  are  ex- 
pected to  attend. 

The  sessions  will  be  devoted  to  sales  and 
promotion  plans  for  the  company's  forthcoming 
productions,  including  "Cover  Girl,"  "Once 
Upon  a  Time,"  "None  Shall  Escape,"  "Address 
Unknown,"  "Mr.  Winkle  Goes  to  War"  and 
"Pilebuck." 

Heading  the  mid-eastern  division  will  be  dis- 
trict manager  Sam  Galanty,  and  the  following 
branch  managers :  A.  S.  Moritz,  Cincinnati ; 
Lester  Zucker,  Cleveland ;  A.  H.  Levy,  Pitts- 
burgh, and  Ben  Caplon,  Washington. 

The  southern  division's  representatives  will 
be  headed  by  district  manager  Sam  Moscow, 
and  will  include  the  following  branch  man- 
agers :  R.  J.  Ingram,  Atlanta ;  Joseph  Gins, 
Charlotte;  J.  B.  Underwood,  Dallas;  J.  J. 
Rogers,  Memphis ;  Huston  Duvall,  New  Or- 
leans, and  C.  A.  Gibbs,  Oklahoma  City. 

The  central  division  will  be  represented  by 
district  manager  Carl  Shalit  and  the  following 
branch  managers:  W.  Guy  Craig,  Indianapolis; 
B.  C.  Marcus,  Kansas  City ;  and  C.  D.  Hill,  St. 
Louis. 

The  New  York  division  will  be  represented 
by  district  manager  Nat  Cohn,  and  branch 
managers  Irving  Wormser  and  Saul  Trauner; 
H.  E.  Weiner,  manager  of  the  Philadelphia 
branch ;  and  the  branch  managers  of  New  En- 
gland and  mid-Western  territories ;  Joe  Miller, 
Albany;  I.  H.  Rogovin,  Boston;  Phil  Fox, 
Buffalo;  B.  J.  Lourie,  Chicago;  M.  H.  Evidon, 
Des  Mdines;  O.  J.  Ruby,  Milwaukee;  H.  J. 
Chapman,  Minneapolis ;  T.  F.  O'Toole,  New 
Haven ;  J.  H.  Jacobs,  Omaha.  Lou  Rosenfeld 
will  represent  Canada. 

Lew  Preston  Is  Given  | 
Testimonial  Dinner 

Lew  Preston,  supervisor  for  the  Interboro 
Circuit  theatres,  in  Bay  Ridge,  Brooklyn,  was 
tendered  a  testimonial  dinner  on  Monday  night 
by  managers  and  associates  in  the  industry. 
Bert  King,  publicist  with  the  Fabian  circuit, 
was  toastmaster.  Those  present  included :  Mike 
Weschner,  Al  Hatoff,  Mack  Shapiro,  Joe  Klein, 
Mike  Wexelblatt,  M.  J.  Neary,  Miriam  Bullick, 
Max  Schoenberg,  Izzy  Miller,  Joe  Weiss,  Sadie 
Goldberg,  Joe  Rittenberg,  Julius  Czeisler,  Jack 
Rialo,  Pvt.  James  Pisapia,  former  manager  of 
the  Harbor  theatre,  and  now  with  the  Air 
Force  "Winged  Victory"  show,  and  Chester 
Friedman. 

Purchases  Two  Chicago 
Legitimate  Houses 

Harris  and  Selwyn  Theatres,  Inc.,  has  pur- 
chased the  "twin"  theatres  in  Chicago's  Loop 
for  $500,000.  The  two  theatres,  seating  1,200 
and  1,050,  have  been  sold  by  the  United  States 
Trust  Company  of  New  York.  The  theatres 
opened  in  1922  under  the  names  of  their  origi- 
nal builders,  Sam  H.  Harris  and  the  Selwyns. 


Condon  Harmon's  Aide  % 

Robert  Condon  has  been  named  assistant  to 
Francis  Harmon,  WAC  executive  vice-chair- 
man. Before  entering  the  Army,  from  which  he 
recently  received  a  medical  discharge,  Mr.  Con- 
don was  with  Time  Magazine  and  Twentieth 
Century-Fox. 


January    15,  1944 

Schenck  Sells 
3,000  Shares  of 
Loew  Common 

,  Less  than  5,500  shares  were  represented  in 
the  trades  of  film  company  officers  and  direc- 
tors in  the  stocks  of  their  own  corporations  in 
November,  it  is  disclosed  by  the  monthly  sum- 
mary of  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commis- 
sion, issued  over  last  weekend  in  Philadelphia. 

Trading  was  reported  in  the  securities  of  a 
half-dozen  companies  but  the  bulk  of  the  stock 
changing  hands  was  reported  in  three  of  them, 
the  largest  total  being  in  a  series  of  sales  by 
which  Nicholas  M.  Schenck,  president  disposed 
of  3,000  shares  of  Loew's,  Inc.,  common  stock, 
reducing  his^  interest  to  7,517  shares.  This  was 
the  first  transaction  reported  by  Mr.  Schenck 
since  last  May,  when  he  purchased  2,500  shares 
of  common. 

The  next  largest  deal  was  the  purchase  of 
1,000  shares  of  Trans-Lux  Corporation  common 
stock  by  James  K.  Ellis,  giving  him  an  inter- 
est of  1,400  shares,  while  500  shares  of  the 
same  class  were  sold  bv  Robert  L.  Daine,  re- 
ducing his  interest  to  1,500  shares. 

Jack  Cohn,  vice-president  of  Columbia  Pic- 
tures, was  shown  to  have  made  three  purchases 
for  trusts,  100  shares  of  common  for  the  Joseph 
Cohn  Trust,  thereby  increased  to  2,604  shares, 
200  shares  for  the  Robert  Cohn  Trust,  in- 
creased to  3,802  shares,  and  200  shares  as  the 
initial  Columbia  holding  for  a  Jeannette  Cohn 
Trust.  In  the  same  company,  Abraham  Schnei- 
der, treasurer,  disposed  of  80  shares  of  common 
stock  by  gift,  leaving  him  with  1,784  shares. 

The  other  transactions  reported  were  for 
relatively  small  blocks  of  stock,  W.  Ray  Johns- 
ton, Monogram  Pictures  president,  purchasing 
200  shares  of  common  stock,  giving  him  a  total 
of  15,771  shares ;  Stanton  Griffis,  chairman  of 
the  executive  committee  of  Paramount,  now  on 
leave,  purchased  120  shares  of  common  stock, 
giving  him  an  even  6,000  shares,  and  Loew's, 
Inc.,  acquired  one  share  of  Loew's  Boston  The- 
atres common  stock,  increasing  its  portfolio 
to  120,059  shares. 

Two  large  blocks  of  Columbia  Broadcasting 
System  class  A  common  stock  changed  hands 
in  November,  Isaac  D.  Levy,  director,  report- 
ing the  sale  of  1,100  shares  to  reduce  his  inter- 
est to  37,778  shares,  and  Leon  Levy,  director, 
selling  14,500  shares  to  leave  him  with  14,246 
shares. 

Reports  on  the  holdings  of  persons  becom- 
ing officers  or  directors  of  registered  corpora- 
tions showed  that  Sam  Wolf,  Los  Angeles, 
held  3,417  shares  of  Monogram  Pictures  com- 
mon stock  when  he  became  an  officer  of  that 
company  October  20.  Charles  Warren  Sharpe, 
New  York,  held  no  securities  in  Columbia  Pic- 
tures when  he  joined  its  boaud  of  directors. 


Goetz  Buys  Bristow  Novel 

•William  Goetz,  president  of  International 
Pictures,  has  purchased  the  rights  to  Gwen 
Bristow's  novel,  "Tomorrow  Is  Forever."  Mr. 
Goetz  produced  "The  Song  of  Bernadette"  for 
20th  Century-Fox. 


Frasers  Going  West 

George  Fraser,  feature  writer  for  Columbia 
Pictures,  and  his  wife,  Paula  Weiss  Fraser, 
Paramount  pressbook  publicity  writer,  have  re- 
resigned  and  will  leave  for  Hollywood  January 
28,  when  their  resignations  are  effective. 


Addresses  Yale  Group 

Herbert  Fischer,  manager  of  the  Earle  The- 
atre, Jackson  Heights,  L.  I.,  addressed  students 
of  the  Drama  School  at  Yale  last  week.  Mr. 
Fischer's  topic  was  "Drama  Productions  and 
Motion  Pictures  in  German." 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


Zukor  Celebrates 
71st  Birthday 


HIS  71  years  were  observed  by  pioneer 
motion  picture  man  Adolph  Zukor,  Fri- 
day, January  7,  in  the  company  of  his  long- 
time associates.  Twenty-three  executives 
of  Paramount  honored  their  board  chair- 
man that  day,  his  birthday,  at  luncheon  in 
the  Hotel  Astor,  New  York  City.  Among 
them  were  Nell  Agnew,  who  was  toast- 
master,  John  Hicks,  Jr.,  Austin  Keough, 
Leonard  Goldenson,  A.  J.  Richard,  Frank 
Meyer  and  Sam  Dembow. 

Disney  Net  for 
Year  $431,536 

Production  of  war  training  films  by  Walt 
Disney  Productions,  Inc.,  for  the  fiscal  year 
ended  October  2,  1943,  was  reflected  in  the 
financial  statement  issued  this  week,  showing 
net  income  of  $681,536  before  provisions  for 
losses  on  inventory  and  a  net  profit  of  $431,536 
after  such  provisions.  The  latter  figure  com- 
pares with  a  loss  of  $191,069  during  the  preced- 
ing year. 

The  company  announced  that  94  per  cent  of 
the  total  film  footage  completed  during  the  year 
was  produced  for  the  Army,  Navy  and  other 
Governmental  agencies  on  a  non-profit  basis, 
with  only  six  per  cent  devoted  to  commercial 
production,  only  nine  single-reel  subjects  com- 
pared to  the  previous  annual  output  of  18  to  20. 
Only  one  feature,  "Victory  Through  Air  Pow- 
er," was  released  during  the  period  included  in 
the  financial  statement. 

A  27^4  per  cent  loss  of  personnel  to  the 
armed  forces  was  suffered  by  the  studio  during 
the  year. 

The  net  income  of  $681,536  compares  with 
$308,930  in  the  preceding  fiscal  year.  After 
provision  of  $250,000  had  been  made  for  addi- 
tional possible  losses  on  the  company's  inven- 
tories, the  net  income  amounted  to  $431,536  com- 
pared to  a  loss  of  $191,069  after  deduction  of  a 
similar  provision  of  $500,000  during  the  preced- 
ing fiscal  period. 

Current  and  working  assets  at  the  close  of  the 
year  amounted  to  $4,916,635,  while  current  lia- 
bilities were  $2,428,454. 


55 

Warners  Report 
Year  Net  Profit 
Of  $8,238,483 

Warner  Bros.  Pictures,  Inc.,  and  subsidiary 
companies  last  week  reported  an  operating  profit 
of  $8,238,483  for  the  year  ending  August  31, 
1943,  after  deducting  losses  of  $4,537,222  arising 
from  the  sale  or  other  disposal  of  fixed  assets 
and  after  provision  for  Federal  income  and  ex- 
cess profits  taxes  of  $13,890,000.  The  real  estate 
on  which  losses  were  sustained  were  properties 
acquired  for  new  theatre  construction  which 
subsequently  were  abandoned. 

The  profit  compares  with  an  operating  profit 
of  $8,554,512  for  the  previous  year  after  Federal 
income  and  excess  profits  taxes  of  $8,250,000. 
Gross  income,  after  eliminating  intercompany 
transactions,  was  $131,825,540,  as  compared  with 
$119,271,544  for  the  preceding  year.  The  op- 
erating profit  is  equivalent,  after  provision  for 
the  current  year's  dividend  on  the  preferred 
stock,  to  $2.12  per  share  on  the  outstanding 
common  stock,  as  compared  with  $2.20  per 
share  last  year. 

According  to  the  company,  in  view  of  the 
removal  of  revenue  limitations  on  remittances 
to  distributors  during  the  past  year  by  England 
and  Australia,  and  inasmuch  as  Warners  previ- 
ously had  written  off  its  net  investment  in  enemy 
controlled  countries,  no  provision  for  contin- 
gencies in  respect  of  foreign  assets  was  required 
for  the  past  year.  For  the  fiscal  period  ending 
August  31,  1942,  a  provision  of  $825,000  had 
been  made  in  connection  with  such  assets. 


Fox  West  Coast  Shifts 
San  Francisco  Policy 

Change  in  the  downtown  policy  of  the  Fox 
West  Coast  circuit  in  San  Francisco  has  trans- 
formed the  2,306-seat  State  theatre  from  a  sec- 
ond run  house  to  a  moveover  for  the  Fox, 
seating  5,000,  and  the  Paramount  and  Warfield. 
The  St.  Francis  is  the  circuit's  other  downtown 
moveover,  and,  along  with  the  State,  will  oper- 
ate all  night.  The  shift  takes  the  Alcazar, 
several  blocks  from  Market  Street,  off  the 
moveover  Hst  and  gives  it  the  second  run  bills 
formerly  played  at  the  State. 

Three  Features  on  20th-Fox 
January  Release  List 

Tom  Connors,  vice-president  in  charge  of  dis- 
tribution of  20th  Century-Fox  Film  Corporation, 
announced  that  the  company's  January  feature 
releases.  Block  number  6,  would  include  "The 
Lodger,"  with  Merle  Oberon,  George  Sanders, 
Laird  Cregar  and  Sir  Cedric  Hardwicke,  Janu- 
ary 7 ;  "Uncensored,"  with  a  British  cast,  Janu- 
ary 21,  and  "Lifeboat,"  with  Tallulah  Bank- 
head,  Mary  Anderson,  William  Bendix  and 
Henry  Hull,  January  28. 

"Lifeboat"  and  "Uncensored"  will  be  trade 
shown  January  20  at  all  Twentieth-Fox  ex- 
changes. 


Steele  In  PC  A  Post 

Joseph  H.  Steele  has  been  given  a  new  con- 
tract and  appointed  executive  assistant  to  the 
president  of  Producers  Corporation  of  America, 
headed  by  Sig  Schlager.  Mr.  Steele  had  been 
a  personal  aide  and  before  that,  publicity  head 
for  David  O.  Selznick,  and  a  Paramount,  MGM 
and  RKO  production  executive. 


Newsreel  Depicts  Year's  War 

Paramount  News  last  week  released  a  news- 
reel  called  "Our  Third  Year  at  War,"  edited 
by  A.  J.  Richard  and  narrated  by  Hanson  W. 
Baldwin.  The  film  summarizes  the  motion  pic- 
ture story  on  the  world's  battlefields  and  an 
analysis  of  the  Nazi  invasion  of  Europe. 


HANKS 


fo 


or 


e 


IU'LL  Do  The  Same  For  You- 


PARAMOUNT  Will  Help  Sell  A  Bond  For  Every  Seat- A  Billion 
For  Each  Victory,..  A  ?td  IVe' II  Be  Marchin;^  In  The  March  Of  Dimes  ^  Too 


58 


Roosevelt  Plea 
Spurs  Attention 
To  Manpower 

Industry  attention  to  the  growing  problems 
of  the  manpower  shortage,  recently  made  more 
acute  by  the  drafting  of  fathers,  reached  a  high 
point  Tuesday  following  President  Roosevelt's 
annual  message  to  Congress  in  which  he  strong- 
ly recommended  the  passage  of  a  National  Serv- 
ice Law  which  would  "prevent  strikes  and,  with 
certain  appropriate  exceptions,  will  make  avail- 
able for  war  production  or  for  any  other  essen- 
tial services  every  able-bodied  adult  in  this  na- 
tion." The  President  said  that  for  three  years 
lie  had  hesitated  to  urge  such  legislation  and 
added,  "Today,  however,  I  am  con\nnced  of  its 
necessity." 

Sliortly  after  England's  entry  in  the  war  in 
1939,  Parliament  passed  a  national  service  act 
which  took  out  of  civilian  life  and  non-essential 
industry  every  man  and  woman  over  the  age 
of  18.  Canada,  Australia  and  New  Zealand  also 
enacted  national  service  legislation. 

In  further  explaining  his  reasons  for  urging 
total  mobilization,  President  Roosevelt  told  CQn-" 
gress,  "Although  I  believe  that  we  and-  our 
Allies  can  win  the  war  without  such  a  rneasure, 
I  am  certain  that  nothing  less  than  total  mobil- 
ization of  all  our  resources  of  manpower  and 
capital  will  guarantee  an  earlier  victory,  and 
reduce  the  toll  of  suffering  and  sorrow  and 
blood.  .  .  .  National  service  is  the  most  demo- 
cratic way  to  wage  a  war,"  he  said.  "Like  Se- 
lective Service  for  the  armed  forces,  it  rests  on 
the  obligation  of  each  citizen  to  serve  his  nation 
to  his  utmost  where  he  is  best  qualified." 

Father  Draft  Is  Making 
Inroads  on  Industry 

The  nationwide  drafting  of  fathers,  meanwhile, 
continues  to  make  inroads  in  the  industry,  par- 
ticularly in  key  field  sales  personnel.  All  ranks 
are  now  affected,  including  branch  managers, 
office  managers,  salesmen,  bookers,  auditors  and 
others.  To  cope  with  the  situation,  sales  execu- 
tives are  adopting  numerous  emergency  methods, 
such  as  promoting  available  personnel,  training 
new  personnel  and  consolidating  sales  territo- 
ries to  meet  the  growing  shortages. 

According  to  Lester  Brown,  Chicago  area  di- 
rector of  the  War  Manpower  Commission,  man- 
power needs  are  still  acute.  His  office  has  been 
tabulating  figures  received  from  employers  in 
the  WMC's  bi-monthly  survey  of  labor  market 
conditions,  indicating  the  shortage  in  Chicago  is 
still  critical  and  may  grow  worse. 

"A  good  many  people  have  been  misled  by 
the  recent  story  of  2,500  workers  laid  off  at  the 
Buick  plant  in  Chicago,"  he  said.  "Some  men 
who  left  non-essential  jobs  to  work  in  war  fac- 
tories have  begun  to  think  the  victory  is  won 
and  the  time  has  come  to  go  back  to  the  secur- 
ity of  their  work. 

"Demand  for  more  help  is  still  terrific  in 
nearly  all  industries,"  the  WMC  official  said, 
"despite  stories  you  may  hear  of  cutbacks.  The 
workers  laid  off  at  Buick  were  absorbed  im- 
mediately. We  will  have  to  speed  up  recruiting 
of  men  and  women  from  unclassified  activities 
of  all  kinds,"  he  warned. 

An  announcement  this  week  from  the  Selec- 
tive Service  System  said  that  in  the  future 
Army,  Navy,  or  other  Government  agency  rep- 
resentatives in  industries  and  plans  may  be 
asked,  where  production  urgency  requires,  to 
make  joint  certification  with  employers  as  to  the 
necessity  of  workers  in  such  plants. 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 

Pa  ramount  District  Session 
Delayed  to  February  3 

The  scheduled  meeting  of  Paramount  district 
sales  managers  and  field  exploitation  men  an- 
nounced by  Neil  Agnew  for  January  21  and  22 
has  been  postponed  to  a  three-day  session  on 
February  3,  4  and  S,  Mr.  Agnew  announced 
this  week. 

The  change  was  made  in  order  that  the  as- 
sembled field  men  may  have  an  opportunity  to 
screen  and  discuss  sales  plans  for  Cecil  B.  De 
Mille's  Technicolor  production,  "The  Story  of 
Dr.  Wassell,"  starring  Gary  Cooper.  The  meet- 
ing will  be  held  at  the  Hotel  Pierre  in  New 
York.  Another  Technicolor  production,  "Lady 
in  the  Dark,"  with  Ginger  Rogers,  Ray  Mil- 
land,  Warner  Baxter  and  Jon  Hall,  will  be 
viewed  and  discussed  in  connection  with  sales 
and  merchandising  plans. 

The  film  will  be  trade  shown  at  Paramount 
exchanges  on  February  3,  and  will  open  at  the 
New  York  Paramount  following  its  world  pre- 
miere in  Hollywood,  Mr.  Agnew  said.  "The 
Story  of  Dr.  Wassell"  will  not  be  ready  for 
screening  before  the  February  3-5  sales  gath- 
ering. 


January     15,  1944 


Canada  Relaxes 
Accessory  Ban 

The  prohibition  of  the  use  of  poster  and  ad- 
vertising accessories  by  theatres  has  been  eased 
by  the  Canadian  Government  administrator  of 
printing  and  publishing  industries,  it  was  an- 
nounced last  week.  The  Government  is  issu- 
ing a  permit  for  the  display  of  posters  from 
one  to  24-sheets  on  stands  that  have  previously 
been  located. 

No  new  billboard  locations  will  be  permitted 
by  theatres,  however,  and  no  poster  or  window 
cards  are  to  be  printed  in  Canada,  although 
accessories  can  be  imported  from  the  United 
States  for  billboards  available  before  curtail- 
ment, but  under  Washington  restrictions. 

Exhibitors  will  be  permitted  to  use  photo- 
graphic stills  when  available,  if  no  new  printing 
matter  is  involved.  Theatres  will  be  allowed  to 
continue  printing  monthly  theatre  schedules 
since  they  have  been  classified  as  periodicals, 
and  therefore  permitted  for  mailing  and  theatre 
distribution. 


Warner  Man  Missing 

Lieutenant  Sidney  Edelstein,  formerly  of  Mort 
Blumenstock's  eastern  advertising  staff  at  the 
Warner  New  York  office,  is  reported  missing  in 
action  in  the  European  area. 


"Radio  City"  Enterprise  Is 
Planned  for  Minneapolis 

Linking  of  a  radio  station  and  theatre  in  an 
enterprise  to  be  known  as  "Radio  City"  has 
been  announced  for  Minneapolis,  with  formal 
opening  set  for  March  2. 

The  enterprise  will  be  situated  in  the  Minne- 
sota theatre  building,  Station  KSTP,  of  50,000 
watts,  moving  its  Minneapolis  quarters  into  the 
second  floor  of  the  commercial  section  of  the 
building. 

KSTP  has  begun  installation  of  three  studios 
to  make  up  the  largest  such  installation  for  any 
individual  station  west  of  Chicago.  The  recep- 
tion quarters  will  be  situated  on  the  theatre  mez- 
zanine. The  theatre  will  be  equipped  for  radio 
broadcasting. 

The  Minnesota  theatre,  4,000-seat  house  long 
dark,  will  be  renamed  the  Radio  City  Theatre 
and  is  being  renovated  for  operation  under  a 
first  run  picture  policy,  with  added  attractions 
as  they  become  available. 

Plans  were  announced  by  John  J.  Friedl, 
president  of  Minnesota  Amusement  Company^ 
and  Stanley  Hubbard,  president  of  KSTP. 

Caplon  Now  Branch  Manager, 

Ben  Caplon,  salesman  in  the  Washington 
branch,  has  been  promoted  to  branch  manager 
for  Columbia,  effective  January  31.  Mr.  Caplon 
has  been  an  employee  of  Columbia  for  12  years. 


President  Asks 
New  Tax  Bill^ 
More  Revenue 


President  Roosevelt's  demand  for  a  "realistic 
lax  law"  in  his  message  to  Congress  Tuesday 
appeared  likely  to  send  the  now  pending  tax 
bill,  with  its  one  cent  on  each  five  cents  admis- 
sion rate,  back  to  the  House  for  either  revision 
upward  or  for  replacement  by  a  new  measure. 

"A  realistic  tax  law  which  will  tax  all  unrea- 
sonable profits,  both  individual  and  corporate, 
and  reduce  the  ultimate  cost  of  the  war  to  our 
sons  and  daughters"  was  demanded  by  the  Pres- 
ident. "The  tax  bill  now  under  consideration  by 
Congress  does  not  begin  to  meet  this  test." 

With  the  current  tax  bill  leading  the  agenda 
of  the  reconvened  Senate,  it  was  indicated  that 
administration  leaders  would  fight  for  upward 
revision.  The  Treasury  estimated  that  it  cur- 
rently provides  only  one-fifth  of  the  $10,500,- 
000,000  needed  revenues. 

Industry  attention  to  the  Senate  tax  debate 
will  focus  on  the  Senate  Finance  Committee's 
provision  for  a  one-cent  levy  on  each  five  cents. 
The  House  approved  a  rate  of  two  cents  on 
each  ten  cents  of  admission.  Originally  the 
Treasury  had  sought  to  treble  current  rates  to 
three  cents  on  each  10,  or  approximately  30  per 
cent  of  the  ticket  price. 

The  film  levies  were  not  expected  to  be  spe- 
cifically singled  out  for  revision.  Possibility  of 
revision  was  seen,  however,  in  the  pledges  of 
administration  leaders  in  Congress  to  fight  for 
a  drastically  increased  general  tax  law. 

The  President  also  asked  reenactment  of  the 
Stabilization  Act  of  1942  to  extend  salary  ceil- 
ings and  other  limitations  beyond  June  30,  when 
they  are  due  to  expire. 

Texas  Theatre  Owners,  Inc.,  in  an  appeal  to 
members  of  Congress  and  other  exhibitor 
groups  this  week  proposed  that  a  special  tax 
provision  for  tlieatres  in  towns  of  less  than 
5,000  population  be  inserted  in  the  pending  or 
iny  revised  revenue  bill. 

Henry  Reeve,  president  of  the  Texas  theatre 
group,  expressed  disappointment  in  the  one  cent 
on  five  rate,  declaring  that  although  it  was  pref- 
erable to  the  House  schedule  it  failed  to  aid 
small-town  theatres  charging  less  than  35  cents 
admission.  The  tax  rate  will  place  an  unduly 
heavy  burden  on  them,  he  warned. 

"In  towns  of  less  than  5,000  population  the 
admission  to  all  places  of  amusement  shall  be 
two  cents  for  each  15  cents  of  admission  or 
major  fraction  thereof,"  Mr.  Reeve's  plan  said. 

Ohio  State  Collections 
Increased  in  1943 

Collection  of  $2,175,795  in  Ohio  admission 
taxes  for  1943  is  reported  by  Don  H.  Ebright, 
State  Treasurer,  at  Columbus,  an  all-time  high 
since  the  tax  of  three  per  cent  on  grosses  be- 
came effective.  Collections  apply  to  all  types  of 
amusements.  No  figures  are  available  for  thea- 
tres only.  Censorship  fees  for  the  year  were 
$172,995. 

Comparatively,  admission  tax  collections  in 
1942  were  $1,939,668  and  censorship  fees  $188,- 
608.  In  1941  the  figures  were  $1,820,004  in  ad- 
mission taxes  and  $194,624  in  censorship  fees, 
while  the  1940  collections  were  $1,694,120  taxes 
and  $190,710  fees. 


Colunnbia  Plans  Boxing  Reel 

Columbia  Pictures,  with  the  cooperation  of 
Madison  Square  Garden  and  the  New  York 
Daily  News,  will  make  a  sports  reel  dealing 
with  the  amateur  boxing  bouts  held  annually 
at  the  Garden  under  the  auspices  of  the  News. 
The  reel  yvill  be  under  the  direction  of  Harry 
Foster,  with  commentary  by  Bill  Stern,  and 
technical  assistance  by  Bill  Murtah.  The  short 
is  scheduled  as  a  February  release. 


January     15,  1944 

Da ff  Sees  Good 
Pictures  Key  to 
Latin  America 

"So  long  as  we  produce  good  pictures,  we 
have  nothing  to  worry  about  in  Latin  America." 

This  opinion  was  given  the  trade  press  last 
week,  in  the  New  York  oiSce  of  Universal,  by 
Alfred  Daff,  its  foreign  sales  supervisor,  who 
had  returned  from  three  nionths  in  Latin 
America. 

Mr.  Daff  sees  no  question  of  "choice"  before 
the  Latin  American  public,  in  English  and 
Spanish  language  pictures.  Each  has  its  own 
field,  and  good  pictures  will  always  draw,  what- 
ever the  language,  in  Mr.  Daff's  opinion. 

The  Latin  public  prefers  titles  in  English, 
rather  than  dubbed  Spanish  voices,  Mr.  Daff 
found  in  his  tour.  Even  without  understanding 
the  message,  they  have  come  to  like  hearing 
the  voices  of  their  favorite  actors. 

From  the  viewpoint  of  hemispheric  goodwill, 
the  continuation  of  Hollywood  pictures  in  the 
English  language  is  beneficial,  Mr.  Daff  noted, 
because  it  increasingly  helps  promote  the  knowl- 
edge of  English.  Persons  of  surprisingly  varied 
circumstances,  many  without  the  opportunity  or 
ability  to  obtain  an  orderly  education  in  En- 
glish, are  able  to  use  English  phrases,  he 
pointed  out. 

Universal's  newsreel  has  been  "successful," 
Mr.  DaflE  reported.  It  was  introduced  to  the 
Latin-Americans  only  a  year  ago.  Its  imme- 
diate and  increasing  popularity  is  because  the 
Latins  are  extremely  "news-minded,"  according 
to  Mr.  DaflF. 

The  Universal  executive  also  reported  thea- 
tre construction  in  Mexico  City,  Santiago  and 
Rio  de  Janeiro.  In  the  first,  four  are  being 
built,  among  them  The  Opera,  which  will  be 
one  of  the  world's  largest.  In  the  second,  three 
are  planned.  In  Rio  de  Janeiro,  the  Palacio 
has  been  so  remodeled  that  it  may  be  regarded 
as  new,  he  said. 

Mr.  Daff  added  sales  representatives  to  his 
staflFs  in  Latin  America  while  there. 

Missouri  Court  Drops 
Nick,  Weston  Charges 

State  indictments  for  extortion  against  John 
P.  Nick  and  Clyde  Weston,  former  heads  of 
the  St.  Louis  operators  local.  No.  142,  have 
been  dropped  in  St.  Louis  on  the  grounds  that 
they  had  not  been  brought  to  trial  within  four 
terms  of  the  court.  Dropping  of  the  state 
charges  increases  their  chances  for  parole  from 
Federal  prison. 

The  union  bosses  were  sentenced  to  five  years 
in  Federal  prison  in  January,  1942,  for  violat- 
ing the  anti-racket  statutes.  They  became  eligi- 
ble for  parole  in  September  but  applications 
were  rejected  because  of  the  pending  state 
charges.  They  may  now  file  their  new  parole 
requests. 

Heineman  Tours  United  States 
And  Canada  for  Goldwyn 

William  J.  Heineman,  general  sales  manager 
for  Samuel  Goldwyn,  left  January  7  for  a  three- 
month  tour  of  the  United  States  and  Canada. 
This  is  Mr.  Heineman's  first  extended  kev  city 
business  trip  since  taking  over  his  post  with 
Goldwyn.  It  is  expected  that  he  will  cover  40 
American  and  Canadian  cities  to  confer  with 
exchange  heads  and  exhibitors. 


Rogers  on  Two  Wanger  Films 

Budd  Rogers  will  represent  Walter  Wanger 
Productions  on  two  pictures,  according  to  an 
announcement  made  by  Universal  Pictures.  Mr. 
Rogers  will  serve  as  representative  on  Wan- 
ger's  "Gung  Ho"  and  "Ladies  Courageous." 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


staff  Photographer 

ALFRED  DAFF 


Studio  Strike  Is 
Seen  Averted 

The  500  studio  workers  who  are  members  of 
Local  40,  International  Brotherhood  of  Electri- 
cal Workers,  will  not  strike  for  two  or  three 
months,  if  at  all.  This  was  determined  by  appeal 
to  the  War  Labor  Board  for  a  hearing  over 
the  union's  dispute  with  the  producers  on  alleged 
failure  to  grant  an  automatic  wage  increase  of 
10  per  cent,  like  that  granted  the  machinists 
in  1942. 

The  workers  last  week  voted  for  a  strike. 
Such  a  strike  would  close  the  studios.  In  so 
doing,  it  would  halt  production  of  films  in 
which  the  Government  are  interested. 

Al  Speede,  IBEW  agent,  said  he  would  pre- 
sent the  WLB  a  letter  dated  February,  1943, 
from  Fred  Pelton,  producers'  representative, 
which  he  asserts  recognizes  the  producers' 
agreement  to  give  the  IBEW  any  wage  increase 
given  any  union  outside  the  studio  basic  pact. 

Seattle  film  exchange  employees,  members  of 
Local  B-21,  have  warned  distributors  they  will 
walk  out  Friday. 

PRC  Franchise  Holders 
Conclude  Meetings 

Franchise  owners  of  PRC  concluded  a  series 
of  special  meetings  in  New  York  Monday.  The 
problems  relating  to  their  own  exchanges,  apart 
from  those  concerning  PRC  were  discussed. 

The  committee  appointed  to  deal  with  the 
home  office  on  the  problems  included  Nat 
Lefton,  Cleveland,  chairman ;  Henri  Elman, 
Chicago ;  Ike  Katz,  Chicago,  and  George  Gill, 
Washington. 

Others  who  attended  the  meetings,  which 
started  last  Friday  were,  Andy  Dietz,  St.  Louis  ; 
Ben  Marcus,  Milwaukee ;  Joe  Bohn,  Indianap- 
olis ;  Harry  Katz,  Charlotte ;  Lou  and  Milton 
Lefton,  Pittsburgh ;  Harry  Goldman,  Boston ; 
Phil  SHman,  New  Orleans ;  Sam  Decker,  Los 
Angeles ;  Abbott  Swartz,  Minneapolis ;  E.  B. 
Walker  and  Harry  McKenna,  Oklahoma  City, 
and  William  Flemion,  Detroit. 


Altec  Promotes  Quinn 

R.  A.  Quinn  has  been  named  branch  manager 
of  the  Los  Angeles  office  of  Altec  Service  Cor- 
poration. Mr.  Quinn  has  been  with  Altec  for 
six  years  and  formerly  was  associated  with 
Electrical  Research  Products. 


Parks  Joins  Cowan 

Jackson  Parks,  formerly  on  Mary  Pickford's 
publicity  staff,  has  joined  the  Lester  Cowan 
production  unit  as  publicity  representative. 


59 

U.S.  Post-War 
Market  Plans  to 
Aid  Industry 

Pledging  "intensified  effort"  for  immediate 
and  postwar  development  of  foreign  markets  on 
the  part  of  the  Bureau  of  Foreign  and  Domestic 
Commerce  of  the  U.  S.  Department  of  Com- 
merce, Amos  E.  Taylor,  director,  last  week  also 
expressed  awareness  of  the  "difficulties  that  have 
beset  exporters  and  importers  since  Pearl  Har- 
bor," including  film  distributors. 

In  an  article  in  Foreign  Commerce  Weekly, 
official  publication  of  the  bureau,  Mr.  Taylor 
discussed  the  potential  value  to  all  industry  in 
the  Government's  current  postwar  planning  for 
U.  S.  re-entry  into  foreign  markets. 

"Appreciable  advances  will  be  made  in  our 
projections  into  the  postwar  outlook  for  inter- 
national commerce.  These  estimates,"  he  said, 
"are  designed  to  help  private  enterprise  plan 
more  intelligently  for  what  we  consider  a  prime 
necessity  to  a  lasting  peace — a  robust  and  ex- 
panding American  foreign  trade.  They  will  be 
made  in  answer  to  growing  requests  by  both 
business  men  and  Government  for  basic  data  on 
which  to  formulate  individual  reconversion  pro- 
grams." 

One  of  the  bureau's  studies,  it  was  said,  gave 
conclusive  proof  that  a  more  stable  and  ample 
flow  of  dollars  will  be  a  necessity  in  future 
transactions  of  U.  S.  companies  with  those  in 
other  countries. 

Although  wartime  restrictions  have  prevented 
the  bureau's  detailed  release  to  private  enter- 
prise of  much  current  foreign  trade  informa- 
tion, "foreign  traders  are  assured,  however, 
that  the  material  is  being  kept  up  to  date  so  far 
as  it  is  humanly  possible  and  that  there  will  be 
no  delay  in  reporting  it  whenever  conditions 
permit,"  Mr.  Taylor  added.  Special  reports 
which  will  be  released  to  American  business 
men  as  soon  as  they  are  completed,  include : 
prospects  for  foreign  trade  of  the  British  Empire 
after  the  war ;  currency  systems  of  countries  in 
South  America ;  imports  into  Far  Easternt. coun- 
tries, particularly  areas  outside  Japan's  p'resent 
control,  and  other  subjects.  The  prospects  are 
that  if  domestic  economy  functions  at  capacity 
levels,  British  imports  in  the  hyopthetical  post- 
war year  will  total  about  $6,300,000,000  and  ex- 
ports about  $7,000,000,000. 

Much  attention  has  been  given  to  the  motion 
picture  industry  by  bureau  officials  in  the  last 
two  years  in  studying  the  postwar  role  of  films 
as  an  important  aid  to  peace  and  the  continu- 
ance of  peace.  During  recent  months,  Nathan 
Golden,  bureau  executive  and  film  consultant, 
urged  the  industry  to  plan  now  for  postwar 
world  markets. 


Levey  Action  Against 
Monogram  Settled 

The  $500,000  breach  of  contract  suit  filed 
in  New  York  by  Arthur  Levey  against  Mono- 
gram;  Pathe,  Ltd.,  London,  England;  W.  Ray 
Johnston,  president  of  Monogram,  and  William 
Gell,  in  charge  of  English  distribution  for 
Pathe,  has  been  settled,  it  was  learned  last 
week.  Mr.  Levey  alleged  that  under  a  1936 
contract  with  Monogram,  he  was  to  receive 
five  per  cent  on  all  Monogram  films  distributed 
by  Pathe  in  England.  He  charged  the  defend- 
ants deprived  him  of  commissions  after  1941 
as  the  result  of  a  conspiracy  between  them 
which  resulted  in  a  new  contract. 


Arrested  in  Bankruptcy 

Roger  Stanley  Barnett,  president  of  Color 
Classics,  Inc.,  New  York,  was  arrested  Janu- 
ary 6  on  a  charge  of  concealing  $10,000  from 
a  bankruptcy  trustee.  He  was  arrested  while 
working  on  a  short  subject  in  Riverdale,  N.  Y. 


62  MOTIONPICTUREHERALD  Januaryl5,l94  4 

THE  HOLLYWOOMP  SCENE 


from  HOLLYWOOD  BUREAU 


No  Apathy,  But  Some  Taking  of  Stock 


The  report,  on  your  right,  marking  the 
decline  of  the  production  level  to  a  nine- 
months'  low,  is  not  to  be  taken,  at  least  for 
the  present  as  indicating  an  apathy  on  the 
part  of  producers  toward  the  state  of  emer- 
gency which  continues  to  prevail  in  the 
world  of  men  and  commerce. 

On  the  other  hand,  it  does  indicate  beyond 
question  that  some  or  all  producers  are  tak- 
ing stock  of  conditions  and  prospects  of  con- 
ditions-to-come, resisting  the  while  the  in- 
fluence of  their  recent  and  war-born  eager- 
ness to  leap  into  production  with  all  the 
story  properties  on  hand. 

Announcements  from  all  quarters  have 
designated  January  as  a  peak-production 
month,  and  it  is  early  to  conclude  that  it 
will  not  become  that  before  February  rolls 
around.  Yet  these  would  not  be  the  first 
studio  announcements  to  fail  of  fulfillment, 
nor,  in  all  logic,  the  last,  for  such  is  the 
way  of  a  studio  with  an  announcement  of 
intent. 

Probable  End  of  Stock  Ration 
Affects  Studio  Plans 

Certain  developments  not  shouted  loudly 
in  the  headlines  are  of  a  kind  to  give  a  stu- 
dio executive  something  like  justification 
for,  shall  we  say,  taking  it  easy.  Some  of 
these  developments  are  more  promissory 
than  present,  and  some  of  them  require  that 
a  creditor  of  their  genuineness  rely  upon 
that  which  he  hears  instead  of  upon  that 
which  he  reads  under  official  imprint. 

The  development  of  principal  importance 
to  producers  in  their  slacking  of  pace — if 
it  turns  out  to  be  that — is  the  disclosure  by 
the  War  Production  Board's  Harold  Hop- 
per that  film  stock,  rationed  to  studios  on 
the '"basis  of  allowing  each  plant  as  much 
footage  in  any  given  quarter  as  it  utilized 
in  the  preceding  one,  is  expected  to  be  freed 
of  this  quota  restriction  within  the  next  six 
months  or  earlier.  (Although  nobody  went 
around  saying  so,  it  was  in  the  evidence  of 
the  circumstance  heretofore  that  producers 
were  not  disposed  to  diminish  film  stock 
consumption,  which  means  production,  in 
any  quarter,  lest  they  discover  themselves 
faced  with  impossibility  of  getting  a  suf- 
ficient supply  for  their  need  in  the  quarter  to 
follow). 

Slow  Production  Pace 
Apt  to  Continue 

The  development  of  secondary  and  con- 
siderably more  nebulous  importance  in  the 
matter  is  the  mushrooming  of  reports 
around  Hollywood,  to  be  heard  on  every 
street  corner  and  in  every  restaurant  or 
barber  shop  without  eavesdropping,  to  the 
effect  that  the  war  plants  are  not  only  no 
longer  advertising  for  workers — a  fact  veri- 
fiable by  reference  to  newspaper  want  ad 
columns — but  are  steadily  decreasing  their 
employment  totals,  along  with  which  reports 
go  the  explanation,  also  unofficial,  that  tech- 
niques have  been  improved  to  the  point 


Studios  at  9-Month  Low 


Although  declarations  of  intent  to  step 
up  production  continue  to  emanate  from 
virtually  all  studios,  production  sagged  last 
week  to  its  lowest  level  since  March  18, 
1943,  when,  as  now,  only  36  pictures  were 
in  the  shooting  stage.  Qualified  spokesmen 
say  the  tapering-off  is  significant  of  noth- 
ing more  than  after-effects  of  the  holiday 
interruptions. 

Andrew  Stone's  "Sensations  of  1944"  is 
the  standout  among  the  six  new  pictures 
undertaken  during  the  week.  Mr.  Stone  is 
producing  and  directing,  with  James  Nas- 
ser functioning  as  executive  producer,  the 
film  presents  Eleanor  Powell,  Dennis 
O'Keefe,  Miml  Forsythe,  W.  C.  Fields, 
Pat  hienning  and  many  others. 

Warners  started  "Janle,"  which  Alex 
Gottlieb  is  producing,  with  Michael  Curtiz 
directing.  Joyce  Reynolds,  Robert  Hutton, 


Edward  Arnold,  Dick  Erdman,  Ann  Harding,, 
Robert  Benchley  and  Hattie  McDanlel  are- 
among  the  players  participating. 

Republic  launched  two  pictures.  "Out- 
laws of  Santa  Fe"  Is  a  Don  "Red"  Barry 
western,  Eddie  White  producing  and' 
Howard  Bretherton  directing.  "The  Cow- 
boy and  the  Senorita"  Is  a  Roy  Rogers 
number  with  Joe  Kane  directing  for  pro- 
ducer Grey. 

PRC  also  started  two.  "Lady  In  the 
Death  House"  Is  a  Jack  Schwarz  produc- 
tion, directed  by  Steve  Sekely,  presenting 
Lionel  Atwill,  Jean  Parker,  Douglas  Fowley, 
and  Marcia  Mae  Jones.  "Buster  Crabbe 
No.  4"  Is  the  temporary  title  of  the  current 
undertaking  In  that  series,  SIgmund  Neufeld 
producing,  and  Sam  Newfleld  directing. 

The  status  of  the  studios  at  the  weekend: 


COMPLETED 

MGM 

Three  Men  in  White 

Kismet 

Mr.  Co-Ed 

Monogram 

Block  Busters 
Johnny  Doesn't  Live 
Here 

20fh-Fox 

Purple  Heart 

UA 

Up  in  Mabel's  Room 
(Small) 


STARTED 
PRC 

Lady    in  the 


Death 


m 

House 
Buster  Crabbe  No.  4 


Republic 

Outlaws  of  Santa  Fe 
Cowboy  and  the 
Senorita 

UA 

Sensations     of  1944 
(Stone) 

Warners 

Janie 

SHOOTING 

Columbia 

At  Night  We  Dream 
Address  Unknown 

MGM 

Meet  Me  in  St.  Louis 
Seventh  Cross 
Dragon  Seed 


Paramount 

And  Now  Tomorrow 
Road  to  Utopia 
Incendiary  Blonde 
Till  We  Meet  Again 
Hitler  Gang 

RKO  Radio 

Marine  Raiders 
Show  Business 

Republic 

Man  from  Frisco 
20fh-Fox 

Ladies  of  Washington 
Wilson 

Greenwich  Village 
Home  in  Indiana 
I  Married  a  Soldier 
Bermuda  Mystery 


UA 

S  t  r  ange  Confession 

(Angelus) 
Song    of    the  Open 

Road  (Rogers) 
Since    You  Went 

Away  (Vanguard) 


Universal 

Merry  Monohans 
Christmas  Holiday 

Warners 

Cinderella  Jones 
Make  Your  Own  Bed 
Mask  of  Dimitrios 
Mr.  Skeffington 
My  Reputation 
Horn  Blows  at  Mid- 
night 


where  one  good  man  now  does  the  work 
formerly  done  by  three  or  four  who  were  not 
so  good,  and  that  therefore,  although  more 
planes  are  being  produced,  fewer  people  are 
producing  them. 

As  in  the  matter  of  the  film  stock  quotas, 
nobody's  been  going  around  declaring  that 
production  levels  have  been  kept  high  in 
order  to  keep  the  working  crews  from  drift- 
ing irretrievably  into  warplant  employment, 
but  the  evidence  has  been  visible  enough  in 
that  circumstance  also. 

Some  other  things,  such  as  the  renewed 
flow  of  demands  from  the  crafts  for  in- 
creased wage  scales,  shortened  time  tables, 
and  so  forth,  plus  the  virtually  general  over- 
stocking of  completed-film  backlogs,  are 
marginal  considerations  matching  in  with 


the  two  principal  ones  previously  noted 
above. 

No,  there  is  no  apathy  rampant  in  Hol- 
lywood, and  no  discernible  intent  to  shirk 
the  responsibilties  accruing  from  the  state 
of  emergency,  but  there  is  some  taking  of 
stock  going  on,  some  canvassing  of  the  pros- 
pects, some  thinking  ahead  and,  perhaps, 
just  a  trace  of  confidence  that  the  floodtide 
of  theatre  patronage  accountable  for  the 
backing-up  of  the  product  flow,  accountable 
in  turn  for  the  Seeming  practicability  of  a 
siesta  on  the  shooting  stage  front,  is  des- 
tined to  continue  indefinitely  or  thereabouts. 

Walter  Brennan's  daughter,  Ruth,  is  be- 
ginning a  screen  career  of  her  own.  She 
has  a  small  part  in  "Since  You  Went  Away," 
,  the  David  O.  Selznick  production  for  U.  A. 


l-f  /     .  .:  llSf 
11  i        •  8fl! 

GET  BEHIND  THE  FOURTH  WAR  BOND  DRIVE! 

REPUBLIC  PICTURES  CORPORATION 


64 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January     15,  1944 


// 


WHAT  THE 

PICTURE  mn  FOR  ME 


w 


Columbia 


HEAT'S  ON,  THE:  Mae  West,  William  Gaxton— 
This  picture  was  one  of  the  worst  of  the  season. 
Several  walked  out.  Had  some  very  good  music. 
Played  Wednesday,  Dec.  15.— F.  A.  Falle,  F-S,  Thea- 
tre No.  1,  B  &  G  School,  Jarvis,  Ont.,  Canada. 

OVERLAND  TO  DEADWOOD:  Charles  Starrett, 
Russell  Hayden — For  Western  fans.  Seemed  O.  K. 
Business  fair.  Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Dec.  24,  25. 
— Harlan  Rankin,  Plaza  Theatre,  Tilbury,  Out.,  Can- 
ada. 

SAHARA:  Humphrey  Bogart,  Bruce  Bennett— This 
is  one  of  Bogart's  best  pictures  for  1943.  It  was 
liked  by  everyone,  with  action  aplenty  for  young  and 
old.  This  picture  brought  out  people  that  I  had  never 
seen  in  the  theatre.  Played  Wednesday -Friday,  Dec. 
29-31.— D.  L.  Craddock,  Grand  Theatre,  Leaksville, 
N.  C    Small  town  patronage. 

TWO  SENORITAS  FROM  CHICAGO:  Jinx  Falk- 
enburg,  Joan  Davis — Nice  program  picture  that  did 
fair  business.  Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Dec.  24,  25. 
—Harlan  Rankin,  Plaza  Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont.,  Can- 
ada. 


.  .  .  fh«  original  exhibitors'  reports  department,  established  October  14,  If  14. 
In  it  theatremen  serve  one  another  with  information  about  the  box«offiee  per- 
formance of  product  —  providing  a  service  of  the  exhibitor  for  the  exhibitor. 
ADDRESS  REPORTS:  What  the  Picture  Did  for  Me,  Motion  Picture  Herald. 
Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  20,  N.  Y. 


Wednesday,  Thursday,  Dec.  22,  23.— A.  C.  Exlwards, 
Winema  Theatre,  Scotia,  Calif.  Small  lumber  town 
patronage. 

YOUNGEST  PROFESSION  THE:  Virginia  Weid- 
ler,  Edward  Arnold  and  guests — If  you  want  a  picture 

to  make  people  forget  their  troubles,  by  all  means 
play  this  one  to  your  fullest  playing  time.  Good 
story,  good  stars,  good  acting  for  everyone.  Played 
Monday.  Dec.  27. — Frank  D.  Fowler,  Princess  Theatre, 
Mocksville  N.  C.      Rural  patronage. 


Paramount 


Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 

ABOVE  SUSPICION;  Fred  MacMurray,  Joan 
Crawford — Fair  picture  that  did  less  than  average 
business.  Played  Wednesday,  Thursday,  Dec.  1,  2. — 
S.  L.  George,  Moimtain  Home  Theatre,  Mountain 
Home,  Idaho.    Small  town  and  soldier  patronage. 

BATAAN:  Robert  Taylor,  Thomas  Mitchell— Here's 
a  war  picture  that  really  was  good,  but  the  at- 
tendance was  terribly  low.  The  war  pictures  are 
pushing  ofiF  the  business  slowly  but  surely.  Played 
Sunday-Tuesday,  Dec.  19-21.— O.  E.  Simon,  Roxy 
Theatre,  Menno,  S.   D.     Small  town  patronage. 

BEST   FOOT  FORWARD:    Lucille   Ball,  William 
Gaxton— Weak  cast  failed  to  put  this  picture  over. 
Lucille  Ball  is  not  popular  with  our  customers,  and       f,.  • 
the  others  in  the  cast  were  unknown.    Color  and  a  RSDUDlIC 
few  good  numbers  make  it  fair  entertainment.  Played  ' 
Friday,  Saturday,  Dec.  24,  25.— S.  L.  George,  Moun- 
tain Home  Theatre,  Mountain  Home,  Idaho.  Small 
town  and  soldier  patronage. 

HARRIGAN'S  KID:  Bobby  Readick,  William  Gar- 
gan— Well  liked  by  those  present.  There  should  have 
been  more  of  them,  however.  Played  Saturday,  Nov. 
27.— Mrs.  Helen  L.  Irwin,  Palace  Theatre,  Penacook, 
N.  H.    General  patronage. 

I  DOOp  IT:  Red  Skelton,  Eleanor  Powell— Not  as 
good  as  his  previous  pictures.  They  are  costing  more 
all  the  time  and  it  looks  like  the  pictures  are  made 
cheaper.  Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Dec.  17,  18.— 
F..  R.  Crist,  Crist  Theatre,  LoveUnd,  Ohio.  Rural 
and  small  town  patronage. 

I  DOOD  IT:  Red  Skelton,  Eleanor  Powell— Typical 
Skelton  farce.  Business  fair.— Jonas  F.  Thomas,  Mt. 
Lookout  Theatre,  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  General  patronage. 

MAN  FROM  DOWN  UNDER,  *rHE:  Charles 
Laughton,  Bmnie  Barnes— Another  swell  picture.  Full 
house  and  everyone  enjoyed  it.  Played  Monday,  Dec. 
W.—F.  A.  Falle,  F-S,  Theatre  No.  1,  B  &  G  School, 
Jarvis,  Ont.,  Canada. 

SALUTE    TO   THE    MARINES:    Wallace  Beery, 
Fay  Bamter— Beery  always  does  business,  but  I  didn't 
thmk  It  was  up  to  his  standard.    Played  Friday,  Sat- 
R-  Crist,  Crist  Theatre,  Love- 
land,  Ohio.    Rural  and  small  town  patronage. 

TENNESSEE  JOHNSON:  Van  Heflin,  Ruth  Hus- 
sey— Here  s  a  swell  historical  picture  that  is  really  in- 
teresting. It  also  has  a  good  cast.  Played  Sunday, 
Monday,  Dec.  12,  13.-0.  E.  Simon.  Roxy  Theatre, 
Menno,  S.  D.    Small  town  patronage. 

YOUNGEST  PROFESSION,  THE:  Virginia  Weid- 
ler,  Edward  Arnold  and  Guests— This  picture  was  not 
as  good  as  it  was  talked  up  to  be.  But  it  did  good 
business.  Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Dec.  24,  25.-0 
E.  Simon,  Roxy  Theatre,  Menno,  S.  D.  Small  town 
patronage. 

YOUNGEST  PROFESSION,  THE:  Virginia  Weid- 
ler,  Edward  Arnold  and  Guests— Playing  this  so  close 
to  Christmas  prevented  any  accurate  idea  regarding 
the  picture's  drawing  power.  But  it  failed  to  register 
with  the  few  patrons  who  turned  out  to  see  it.  Played 


CITY  THAT  STOPPED  HITLER:  Russian  Docu- 
mentary— People  are  tired  of  war  pictures  so  I  wast- 
ed a  date  to  play  this  to  accommodate  the  exchange. 
I  must  have  bought  it  in  a  weak  moment.  Played 
Tuesday,  Dec.  28. — E.  M.  Freiburger,  Paramount 
Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla.    Small  town  patronage. 

DIXIE:  Bing  Crosby,  Dorothy  Lamour- Paramount 
hands  you  the  same  old  line  about  being  the  biggest 
thing  in  musicals  and  then  turns  out  to  be  the  same 
as  ever.  In  this  picture,  the  print  was  bad,  soimd  bad. 
Bing  Crosby  also  bad.  Played  Thursday,  Friday,  Dec. 
16,  17. — Frank  D.  Fowler,  Princess  Theatre,  Mocks- 
ville, N.  C.    Rural  patronage. 

RULERS  OF  THE  SEA:  Margaret  Lockwood, 
Douglas  Fairbanks — Although  a  little  late,  we  did  nice 
business.  Very  good  picture.  Played  Sunday,  Dec. 
19.— Harlan  Rankin,  Plaza  Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont., 
Canada. 


ICE-CAP ADES  REVUE:  Ellen  Drew,  Richard  Den- 
ning— An  old  one,  but  it  had  lots  of  entertainment  in 
it.  No  checker  and  did  not  have  to  mortgage  any- 
thing to  get  it.  Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Dec.  24, 
25.— F.  R.  Crist,  Crist  Theatre,  Loveland,  Ohio.  Rural 
and  small  town  patronage. 

NOBODY'S  DARLING:  Mary  Lee,  Gladys  George 
— Not  much.  Heard  very  few  comments  and  they 
were  indifferent.  Too  weak  for  a  single  bill.  Busi- 
ness much  below  normal.  Played  Wednesday,  Thurs- 
day, Dec.  15,  16. — S.  L.  George,  Mountain  Home 
Theatre,  Mountain  Home,  Idaho.  Small  town  and 
soldier  patronage. 

O  MY  DARLING  CLEMENTINE:  Frank  Albert- 
son,  Lorna  Gray — If  you  have  a  theatre  in  the  moun- 
tains and  want  a  jackpot  picture,  by  all  means  play 
this  one.  Good  music  of  its  kind;  a  little  corny,  but 
they  like  it.  Played  Thursday,  Friday,  Dec.  23,  24. 
— Frank  D.  Fowler,  Princess  Theatre,  Mocksville,  N. 
C.    Rural  patronage. 

PISTOL  PACKIN'  MAMA:  Ruth  Terry,  Bob  Liv- 
ingston— Corny,  yes,  but  a  swell  picture  for  a  small 
town.  Business  was  very  good  and  all  were  pleased. 
Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Dec.  31,  Jan.  1.— E.  M'. 
Freiburger,  Paramount  Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla.  Small 
town  patronage. 


RKO 


FALLEN  SPARROW,  THE:  Maureen  O'Hara, 
John  Garfield — This  picture  was  a  disappointment  as 
patrons  said  they  could  not  understand  it.  Business 
was  just  averag:e.  Played  Sunday,  Monday,  Dec.  26, 
27. — E.  M.  Freiburger,  Paramount  Theatre,  Dewey, 
Okla.     Small  town  patronage. 

FALLEN  SPARROW,  THE:  Maureen  O'Hara, 
John  Garfield — Not  a  bad  picture.  Had  a  lot  of  loose 
ends  to  start  with,  but  they  came  together  all  right 
at  the  end.  Customers  seemed  to  enjoy  it  and  it  did 
average  business.  Comments  favorable.  Played 
Wednesday,  Thursday,  Dec.  22,  23.— S.  L.  George, 
Mountain  Home  Theatre,  Mountain  Home,  Idaho. 
Small  town  and  soldier  patronage. 

FALLEN    SPARROW,    THE:    Maureen  O'Hara, 


John  Garfield — Just  a  fair  picture.  It's  a  double  bill 
picture  for  most  theatres.  Business  below  normal. — 
Jonas  F.  Thomas,  Mt.  Lookout  Theatre,  Cincinnati, 
Ohio.    General  patronage. 

GILDERSLEEVE  ON  BROADWAY:  Harold  Peary 
Billie  Burke — A  very  good  picture  which  made  the  au- 
dience roar  with  laughter.  Played  Friday,  Dec  24. — 
D.  L.  Craddock,  Grand  Theatre,  Leaksville,  N.  C. 
Small  town  patronage. 

HUNCHBACK  OF  NOTRE  DAME,  THE:  Char|es 
Laughton,  Maureen  O'Hara — I  picked  up  this  old  pic- 
ture and  did  a  nice  business  on  it.  It  had  never  been 
here,  and  the  print  was  good.  Played  Wednesday, 
Thursday,  Dec.  22,  23. — K  M.  Freiburger,  Paramount 
Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla.    Small  town  patronage. 

LADY  TAKES  A  CHANCE,  A:  Jean  Arthur,  John 
Wayne — A  real  good  comedy  with  a  Western  back- 
ground. Business  was  good.  Played  Wednesday, 
Thursday,  Dec.  29,  30.— E.  M.  Freiburger,  Paramount 
Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla.    Small  town  patronage. 

PETTICOAT  I-ARCENY:  Ruth  Warrick,  Joan 
Carroll — Just  a  program  picture,  but  business  was 
good;  probably  because  the  little  star's  mother,  FVeda 
Brown,  graduated  from  high  school  here._  Played 
Tuesday,  Dec.  21. — E.  M.  Freiburger,  Paramount 
Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla.    Small  town  patronage. 

SKY'S  THE  LIMIT,  THE:  Fred  Astaire,  Joan  Les- 
lie— Astaire  is  through  as  a  top  star.  This  picture  is 
very  weak.  Business  below  normal. — Jonas  E.  Thomas, 
Mt.  Lookout  Theatre,  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  General  pat- 
ronage. 


Twentieth  Century- Fox 

CHETNIKS:  Philip  Dom,  Virginia  Gilmore— This 
was  quite  satisfactory  for  a  weekend  double  bill. 
Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Dec.  24,  25.— A.  C.  Edwards. 
Winema  Theatre,  Scotia,  Calif.  Small  lumber  town 
patronage. 

CLAUDIA:  Dorothy  M'cGuire,  Robert  Young— Top 
allocation  when  it  should  have  been  on  the  bottom. 
People  walked  out  on  this  and  asked  for  their  money 
back.  Played  Sunday,  Monday,  Dec.  26,  27.— F.  R. 
Crist,  Crist  Theatre,  Loveland,  Ohio.  Rural  and  small 
town  patronage. 

CLAUDIA:  Dorothy  M'cGuire,  Robert  Young— Con- 
sider this  one  of  the  poorest  pictures  we  have  ever 
shown.  Audience  reaction  very  poor  and  business  the 
same.  Did  not  find  a  single  person  that  liked  this  fea- 
ture. Played  Sunday-Tuesday,  Dec.  19-21.  —  S.  L. 
George,  Mountain  Home  Theatre,  Mountain  Home, 
Idaho.    Small  town  and  soldier  patronage. 

CONEY  ISLAND:  Betty  Grable,  George  Montgom- 
ery— Just  what  our  audience  ordered.  Good  entertain- 
ment. Played  Sunday,  Monday,  Nov.  7,  8.— H.  Gold- 
son,  Plaza  Theatre,  Chicago,  111.  Neighborhood  pat- 
ronage. 

CRASH  DIVE:  Tyrone  Power,  Anne  Baxter— This 
picture  did  excellent  business  at  the  box  office,  which 
is  all  we  are  really  interested  in.  The  photography 
was  breath-taking.  Many  favorable  comments.  Played 
Sunday,  Dec.  26,  27.— A.  C.  Edwards,  Winema  Thea- 
tre, Scotia,  Calif.    Small  lumber  town  patronage. 

HEAVEN  CAN  WAIT:  Don  Ameche,  Gene  Tiemey 
— The  older  folks  enjoyed  this  very  much.  Rather  an 
unusual  comedy  and  not  strong  at  the  box  office. 
Played  Sunday-Tuesday,  Dec.  5-7.  —  S.  L.  George, 
Mountain  Home  Theatre,  Mountain  Home,  Idaho. 
Small  town  and  soldier  patronage. 

HOLY  MATRIMONY:  Monty  WooUey,  Gracie 
Fields — Good  comedy,  well  done.  Business  O.  K.— Jonas 
F.  Thomas,  Mt.  Lookout  Theatre,  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 
General  patronage. 

SWEET  ROSIE  O'GRADY:  Betty  Grable,  Robert 
Young  —  Packed  house.  A  grand  picture.  Played 
Wednesday,  Dec.  22.— F.  A.  Falle,  F/S,  Theatre  No.  1, 
B  &  G  School,  Jarvis,  Ont.,  Canada. 

(ConttJtued  on  page  66) 


NANCY 

KELLY 


66 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January     15,  1944- 


CCoiitiiied  from  page  64) 
SWEET  ROSIE  CGRADY:  Betty  Gtable.  Robert 
Young — Business  good.    Grable  always  a  big  hit  here. 
—Jonas  F.  Thomas,  Mt.  Lookout  Theatre,  Cincinnati, 
Ohio.    General  patronage. 


United  Artists 


HANGMEN  ALSO  DIE:   Brian   Donlevy,  Walter 

Brennan— Can't  seem  to  take  in  peanuts  with  this 
type  of  picture.  Our  patrons  are  fed  up  with  anything 
pertaining  to  war.  Played  Tuesday-Thursday,  Nov. 
2-4.— H.  Goldson,  Plaza  Theatre,  Chicago,  111.  Neigh- 
borhood patronage. 

JOHNNY  COME  LATELY:  James  Cagney.  Grace 
George — Picture  did  very  low  gross  here  due  to  pre-  . 
holiday  slump,  cold  weather  and  flu  epidemic.  The 
picture  is  good  entertainment  but  is  not  a  top  bracket 
picture  where  most  of  us  bought  it. — Jonas  F.  Thomas, 
Mt.  Lookout  Tlieatre,  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  General  pat- 
ronage. 

LADY  OF  BURLESQUE:  Barbara  Stanwyck, 
Michael  O'Shea— What  a  flop!  Pass  this  one  up  if 
you  have  a  selective  deal.  It's  not  a  picture  for  Bar- 
bara Stanwyck.  Played  Monday,  'Tuesday,  Dec,  Z), 
21.— Harlan  Rankin,  Plaza  Theatre,  Tilbury,  Out.. 
Canada. 

VICTORY  THROUGH  AIR  POWER:  Disney  Avia- 
tion Feature — People  went  away  saying  it  was  the 
worst  thing  they  ever  saw,  and  they  didn't  wait  till  it 
was  finished  to  leave.  Played  Wednesday,  Thursday, 
Dec.  15,  16.— F.  R.  Crist,  Crist  Theatre,  Loveland, 
Ohio.    Rural  and  small  town  patronage. 


Uni 


iversal 


CRAZY  HOUSE:  Olsen  and  Johnson— Good  slapstick 
comedy.  Business  O.  K.  due  to  Olsen  and  Johnson 
stage  show  playing  downtown  the  preceding  week. — 
Jonas  F.  Thomas,  Mt.  Lookout  Theatre,  Cincinnati, 
Ohio.    General  patronage. 

FIRED  WIFE:  Robert  Paige,  Louise  Allbritton— 
This  didn't  seem  to  jell.  There  were  some  instances 
where  the  audience  found  it  very  funny,  but  the  favor- 
able reactions  were  verj*  scarce.  Plaved  Fridav,  Sat- 
urday, Dec.  24,  25.— A.  C.  Edwards,  Winema  "Theatre, 
Scotia,  Calif.    Small  liunber  town  patronage. 

FLESH  AND  FANTASY:  Charies  Boyer,  Barbara 
Stauwj-ck — One  of  the  poorest  pictures  of  the  year. 
Played  Sunday,  Monday,  Dec.  12,  13.— F.  R.  Crist. 
Crist  Theatre,  Loveland,  Ohio.  Rural  and  small  town 
patronage. 

FLESH  AND  FANTASY:  Charles  Boyer  and  Bar- 
bara Stanwyck — A  different  type  of  production.  Very 
well  done.  Business  off  due  to  holiday  slump. — Jonas 
F.  Thomas,  Mt.  Lookout  Theatre,  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 
General  patronage. 

HERS  TO  HOLD:  Deamia  Durbin,  Joseph  Gotten- 
Well  liked  by  most  everybody,  but  Miss  Durbin  is 
not  too  popular  with  our  customers.  Business  about 
normal.  Played  Sunday-Tuesday,  Dec.  12-14.— S.  L. 
George,  Mountain  Home  Theatre,  Moimtain  Home. 
Idaho.    Small  town  and  soldier  patronage. 

NEVER  A  DULL  MOMENT:  Ritz  Bros.  —  Good 
small  budget  musical,  but  not  big  enough  for  Sunday 
date.  Business  was  average.  Played  Friday,  Satur- 
day, Dec.  24,  23. — E.  M.  Freiburger.  Paramount  Thea- 
tre, Dewej',  Okla.    Small  town  patronage. 

PHANTOM  OF  THE  OPERA:  Nelson  Eddy,  Su- 
sanna Foster — We  are  still  on  this  engagement.  The 
women  think  it  wonderful,  and  the  men  seem  to  be 
able  to  stand  it.  Comments  generally  favorable,  al- 
though we  have  the  usual  men  who  object  to  this  type 
of  singing.  Business  average  so  far.  Plaj'ed  Sunday- 
Tuesday,  Dec.  26-28. — S.  L.  George,  Mountain  Home 
Theatre,  Jlountain  Home,  Idaho.  Small  town  and 
soldier  patronage. 


Warner  Bros. 


ACTION  IN  THE  NORTH  ATLANTIC:  Humphrey 
Bogart,  Raymond  Massey — Well  received.  Plenty  of 
action  and  interest  throughout.  Played  Sunday,  Mon- 
day, Nov.  14,  15. — H.  Goldson,  Plaza  Theatre,  Chicago, 
HI.    Neighborhood  patronage. 

BACKGROUND  TO  DANGER:  George  Raft,  Sidney 
Greenstreet — This  is  hard  boiled  stuff.  Good  story  and 
good  acting  by  evers'one  concerned.  Played  Tuesday, 
Dec.  14. — Frank  D.  Fowler,  Princess  Theatre,  Mocks - 
ville.  N.  C.    Rural  patronage. 


SHORT  PRODUCT 
PLAYING  BROADWAY 

Week  of  January  10 

CAPITOL 

A  Kiss  for  Hitler  MGM 

No  Exceptions  20th  Cent.-Fox 

Feahire:  A  Guy  learned  Joe.  .  MSM 

CRITERION 

Baby  Puss   MSM 

The  Price  of  Rendova  MSM 

Feature:  His  Butler's  Sister.  .  .  Universal 

GLOBE 

Inky  and  the  Minabird  Vitaphone 

The  Price  of  Rendova  MSM 

Feature:  Tarzan's  Desert  Mys- 
tery  RKO 

HOLLYWOOD 

Inside  the  Clouds  Vitaphone 

Puss  'n'  Booty  Vitaphone 

The  Price  of  Rendova  MSM 

Voice  That  Thrilled  the  World. Vitaphone 
Feature:  Desert  Song  V/arner  Bros. 

PARAMOUNT 

The  Price  of  Rendova  MSM 

Feature:  Ridin'  High  Paramount 

RIALTO 

Pluto  and  the  Zoo  RKO 

Superman,  Secret  Agent.  . .  .  Paramount 

Happy  Birthdaze  Paramount 

Feature:  The  Ghost  Ship.  ...  Universal 

RIVOU 

The  Price  of  Rendova  MSM 

Feature:  For  Mfrhom  the  Bell 

Tolls  Paramount 

ROXY 

Yokel  Duck  Makes  Sood.  ..  20th  Cent.-Fox 

Champions  Carry  On  20th  Cent.-Fox 

Feature:  The  Gang's  All  Here. 20th  Cent.-Fox 

STRAND 

Bees  A-Buzzin'  Vitaphone 

The  Price  of  Rendova  MSM 

Little  Red  Riding  Rabbit.  ..  Vitaphone 
Feature:  Destination  ToAj'o ..  Warner  Bros. 


CONSTANT  NYMPH,  THE:  Joan  Fontaine,  Charles 
Boyer— Ivot  for  the  regular  nm-of-the-miU  movie  fan. 
Class  audience  only.  Played  Sunday,  Monday,  Oct. 
ol.  lNov.  1.— H.  Goldson,  Plaza  Theatre,  Chicago,  lU 
rseighborhood  patronage. 

NORTHERN  PURSUIT:  Errol  Flynn.  Julie  Bishop 
A  grand  picture.  Played  to  a  full  house  and  had  no 
complaints.  Played  Friday,  Dec  17.— F.  A.  Falle,  F/S 
Theatre  Ao.  1,  B  &  G  School,  Jarvis.  Ont..  Canada.' 

THANK  YOUR  LUCKY  STARS:  Warner  Stars 
Kevue^-This  picture  was  too  long  and  had  too  much 
stuff  in  It.  Eddie  Cantor  was  O.  K.  and  so  were 
some  of  the  others,  but  the  specialties  by  Errol  Flynn 
and  Bette  Davis  were  out  of  place  and  a  waste  of 
film.  Warners  just  tried  too  hard  to  make  a  big  one. 
Business  was  fair.  Played  Sunday,  Jlonday,  Dec  19, 
E-  M.  Freiburger,  Paramount  Theatre,  Dewey, 
Okla.    Small  town  patronage. 

WATCH  ON  THE  RHINE:  Paul  Lukas,  Bette 
Davis— Well  made  and  well  acted,  but  I  don't  have 
enough  Bette  Davis  fans  to  give  me  a  real  good  run 
on  a  picture  like  this  one.   Did  a  nice  business  Snndar 

night,  but  Monday  night  was  terrible.  Mv  patrons  uke 
something  a  little  lighter.  Played  Tuesd'av-Thursdav, 
Dec.  21-23.— Charles  A  Brooks,  Ritz  Theatre,  Marsh- 
field,  Mo.    Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 


Short  Features 


.olum 


bic 


HE  CAN'T  MAKE  IT  STICK:  Color  Elapsodies- 
We  got  stuck  with  this  one.— H.  Goldson,  Plaza  Thea- 
tre, Chicago,  Til. 

NURSERY  CRIMES:  Phantasies  Cartoons  —  Great 
for  the  kiddies.— H.  Goldson,  Plaza  Theatre,  Chicago, 


Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 

UNINVITED  PEST,  THE:  Technicolor  Cartoons- 
Very  good.— H.  Goldson,  Plaza  Theatre,  Chicago,  111. 

WAR  DOGS:  Technicolor  Cartoons— Just  fair.— H 
Goldson,  Plaza  Theatre,  Chicago,  111. 

Paramount 

DAY  OF  BATTLE:  Victory  FUm  -  Entertaining 
Victory  reel.— E.  M'.  Freiburger,  Paramount  Theatre, 
Dewey,  Okla. 

LITTLE  BROADCAST,  THE:  Madcap  Models- 
Nice  picture.  Helped  our  program.— Harlan  Rankin, 
Plaza  Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 

SPEAKING  OF  ANIMALS  AND  THEIR  FAMI- 
LIEIS:  Speaking  of  Animals— Interesting  and  instruc- 
tive.—Harlan  Rankin,  Plaza  Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont., 
Canada. 

TRUCK  THAT  FLEW,  THE:  Madcap  Models— 
Fairly  good.— H.  Goldson,  Plaza  Theatre,  Chicago,  111. 

Twentieth  Century- Fox 

ALADDIN'S  LAMP:  Terrytoons— Good  color  car- 
toon which  pleased  the  kids. — E.  M.  Freiburger,  Para- 
mount Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla. 

YOUTH  IN  CRISIS:  March  of  Time— Entertainingr 
March  of  Time  dealing  with  juvenile  delinquency. — E. 
M.  Freiburger,  Paramount  Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla. 


RKO 

FLYING  JALOPY:  Walt  Disney  Cartoons— Very 
good.  Helped  our  program. — Harlan  Rankin,  Plaza 
Theatre,  Tilbury,  Out.,  Canada. 

HOW  TO  SWIM:  Walt  Disney  Cartoons— A  few- 
laughs. — ^H.  Goldson,  Plaza  Theatre,  Chicago,  111. 


Universal 


MEATLESS  TUESDAY:  Color  Cartune— Good  color 
cartoon.  —  E.  M.  Freiburger,  Paramount  'Theatre, 
Dewey,  Okla, 

WIZARD  OF  AUTOS:  Person -Oddities— Entertain- 
ing reel  from  the  Oddity  series. — E.  M.  Freiburger, 
Paramount  Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla. 


Vitaphone 


CROSS  COUNTRY  DETOURS:  Merrie  Melodies— 
This  brand  new  Merry  Melody  is  very  good. — E.  M, 
Freiburger,  Paramoimt  Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla. 


Serial 
Republic 

MASKED  MARVEL:  Serial— This  new  serial  from 
Republic  is  starting  off  with  a  bang. — K.  M.  Frei- 
burger, Paramount  Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla, 


"The  Song  of  Bernadette" 
To  Open  January  25 

Twentieth  Century-Fox's  "The  Song  of  Ber- 
nadette" will  have  its  eastern  premiere  Janu- 
ary 25  at  the  Rivoli  theatre  in  New  York.  An 
advertising  campaign  which  will  make  use  of 
everj-  medium  of  publicity,  is  now  being  con- 
ducted under  Hal  Home,  20th-Fox  advertising 
and  publicity  director.  Arthur  Silverstone, 
20th-Fox  foreign  department  executive,  left 
New  York  Monday  for  London,  with  a  print 
of  the  picture. 


Legion  Reviews  Three; 
Puts  One  in  Class  "B" 

Of  three  pictures  reviewed  by  the  National 
Legion  of  Decency  this  week,  one,  "Casanova 
in  Burlesque,"  was  classified  "B,"  objectionable 
in  part  The  other  two,  "AH  Baba  and  the  40 
Thieves"  and  "In  Our_  Time,"  received  an  "A" 
classification,  unobjectionable  for  general  pat- 
ronage. 


Warners  Set  Trade  Show 

Warner  Brothers  will  hold  its  national  trade 
showing  of  "In  Our  Time,"  starring  Ida  Lu- 
pine and  Paul  Henreid,  January  31. 


January     15,  1944 

Boston  Houses 
Comply  With 
New  Fire  Law 


Thirty  Boston  theatres  brought  under  the  lash 
of  the  Public  Safety  Commission  recently,  have 
so  far  complied  with  the  new  Cocoanut  Grove 
law  that  they  have  been  given  full  approval  of 
the  authorities  again. 

All  of  these  theatres  had  failed,  in  the  opinion 
of  the  Safety  Commission^  to  provide  sufficient 
exits,  in  many  cases  were  ordered  to  dispense 
with  stage  shows,  close  second  balconies  and 
•make  other  drastic  changes.  Only  one  legitimate 
theatre  was  affected,  although  public  amuse- 
ment halls  and  motion  picture  theatres  had  been 
brought  under  the  ban. 

The  Metropolitan,  which  had  been  ordered  not 
to  use  stage  shows  or  the  Metropolitan  Grand 
Opera,  was  first  to  make  the  required  changes 
and  did  it  so  quickly  that  the  announcement  was 
made  that  the  grand  opera  season  will  be  held 
there  this  spring  as  it  has  for  the  past  three 
or  four  years  since  it  moved  downtown  from 
the  Boston  Opera  House.  The  Colonial  theatre, 
one  of  the  oldest  and  must  substantially  built  of 
the  legitimate  theatres,  vvas  forced  to  close  its 
second  balcony,  and  temporarily  will  permit  that 
order  to  stand. 

The  Boston  Arena,  which  had  its  attendance 
capacity  cut  from  10,000  to  2,400,  has  had  the 
mark  brought  up  to  7,700  in  time  for  the  Sports- 
men's Show  to  be  held  there  this  week.  Boston 
Garden  has  its  capacity  cut  to  13,500  for  all 
events.  The  Mechanics  Building  originally  cut 
to  3,500,  has  had  the  mark  restored  to  6,100 
by  cutting  new  exits. 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 

Coe  Addresses  Civic  Group 
On  Industry  War  Aid 

About  550  guests  heard  Charles  Francis  Coe, 
vice-president  of  the  Motion  Picture  Producers 
and  Distributors  of  America,  describe  the  in- 
dustry's war  effort  in  an  industry-civic  con- 
ference in  Cleveland  last  Monday.  The  greater 
part  of  Mr.  Coe's  speech  was  devoted  to  the  in- 
dustry's post-war  program,  and  what  the  screen 
is  doing  to  help  win  the  war. 

Mr.  Coe  was  to  have  addressed  the  Cincin- 
nati Advertisers  Club  at  the  Hotel  Gibson  on 
"The  Screen  and  Freedom"  on  Wednesday  of 
this  week,  and  on  Friday  was  scheduled  to 
speak  on  "What  the  Motion  Picture  Is  Doing 
to  Help  Win  the  War,"  to  members  of  the 
Executive  Club  in  Chicago. 


67 


W.  J.  German  on 
Universal  Board 


J.  Cheever  Cowdin,  chairman  of  the  board  of 
directors  of  Universal  Pictures,  Tuesday  an- 
nounced the  election  of  Clifford  P.  Work  and 
William  J.  German  to  the  company's  board  of 
directors. 

Mr.  Work  has  been  vice-president  and  gen- 
eral manager  of  Universal's  coast  studios  since 
May,  1938.  He  previously  was  associated  with 
RKO  Theatres  as  division  director  of  the  west- 
ern theatre  group. 

Mr.  German  is  vice-president  of  Jules  Brula- 
tour.  Inc.,  distributors  of  Eastman  Kodak  film. 

The  other  members  of  the  board  of  Universal 
are :  N.  J.  Blumberg,  Paul  G.  Brown,  Daniel  C. 
Collins,  J.  Cheever  Cowdin,  Preston  Davie,  John 
J.  O'Connor,  Ottavio  Prochet,  Charles  D.  Prutz- 
man,  J.  Arthur  Rank,  Budd  Rogers,  Daniel  M. 
SheafFer,  Willis  H.  Taylor,  Jr. 


Warners  Sues 
Actors  Guild  on 
"Canteen''  Halt 


Warner  Bros,  filed  suit  against  the  Screen 
Actors'  Guild  Tuesday  in  Los  Angeles,  charg- 
ing- the  union  with  "attempted  boycott"  in  con- 
nection with  the  company's  production  plans  for 
"HoUjrwood  Canteen,"  seeking  damages  in  ex- 
cess of  $500,000,  and  an  injunction  restricting 
the  guild  from  violating  the  basic  agreement 
between  studios  and  organized  talent. 

The  suit  culminated  a  four-week  controversy 
between  the  company  and  the  SAG  following 
Warners  abandonment  of  the  scheduled  produc- 
tion, based  on  the  Hollywood  Canteen,  and  its 
refusal  to  accede  to  SAG  demands.  The  guild 
refused  to  permit  several  players  to  appear  in 
the  film  under  salary  scales  and  charged  that 
the  studio  sought  to  employ  10  non- Warner 
stars  for  "Hollywood  Canteen"  at  $2,500  each. 

Warners  denied  the  charge  and  said  the  com- 
pany had  budgeted  the  picture  at  $1,550,000, 
of  which  $179,066  was  allocated  for  outside 
talent  other  than  bands  and  incidental  enter- 
tainers. Describing  some  of  the  SAG  asser- 
tions as  "petulant  and  untrue"  and  others  as 
"improper  and  irrational,"  the  studio  reaffirmed 
its  stand  that  the  actor  has  a  right  to  set  his 
own  price. 

The  SAG  contended  that  it  would  not  "per- 
mit price  slashing  and  felt  confident  that  if 
other  guilds  and  unions  analyze  the  problem  in 
terms  of  what  it  really  is — an  SAG-employer 
controversy — they  would  support  SAG's  stand." 

Last  week  the  guild  invited  directors  of  the 
Hollywood  Canteen  to  send  a  special  committee 
to  the  SAG  board  meeting. 


NOTICE  OF  TRADE  SHOWINGS 


2o* 

CENTURV-FOX  ; 


FOR  THE  BENEFIT  OF  EXHIBITORS  GENERALLY 


January  20th-"UNCENSORED"  10:30  A.  M.     "LIFE  BOAT"-  2:30  P.  M. 


ALBANY,  1052  Broadway 
ATLANTA,  197  Walton  St.,  N.  W. 
BOSTON,  105  Broadway 
BUFFALO,  290  Franklin  Street 
CHARLOTTE,  308  South  Church  Street 
CHICAGO,  1260  South  Wabash  Avenue 
CINCINNATI,  1638  Central  Parkway 
CLEVELAND,  2219  Payne  Avenue 
DALLAS,  1801  Wood  Street 
DENVER,  2101  Champa  Street 
DES  MOINES,  1300  High  Street  * 


(20lh  Century-Fox  Projection  Room,  unless  otherwise  specified) 
DETROIT,  2211  Cass  Avenue 
INDIANAPOLIS,  326  North  Illinois  Street 
KANSAS  CITY,  1720  Wyandotte  Street 
LOS  ANGELES,  2019  South  Vermont  Ave. 
MEMPHIS,  151  Vance  Avenue 
MILWAUKEE,  1016  North  8th  Street 
MINNEAPOLIS,  1015  Currie  Avenue,  N. 
NEW  HAVEN,  40  Whiting  Street 
NEW  ORLEANS,  200  South  Liberty  Street 
NEW  YORK  CITY,  345  West  44th  Street 
OKLAHOMA  CITY,  10  North  Lee  Avenue 


OMAHA,  1502  Davenport  Street 

PHILADELPHIA,  302  North  13th  Street 

PITTSBURGH,  1715  Boulevard  of  Allies 

PORTLAND,  Star  Film  Exchange 
925  N.W.  19th  St. 

ST.  LOUIS,  Srenco  Screening  Room 
3143  Olive  St. 

SALT  LAKE  CITY,  216  East  1st  South  Street 

SAN  FRANCISCO,  245  Hyde  Street 

SEATTLE,  2421  Second  Avenue 

WASHINGTON,  932  N.  J.  Ave,,  N.  W. 


*At  DES  MOINES  only  "LIFEBOAT"  12:45  P.M. 


68 

Republic  Holds 
Sales  Meeting 

Salesmen  of  Republic  Pictures  from  the  mid- 
western  and  soutliern  districts  gathered  in  Chi- 
cago last  week  for  a  two-day  meeting.  The  ses- 
sions were  held  at  the  Drake  Hotel  on  Friday 
and  Saturday.  James  R.  Grainger,  president, 
presided  at  the  second  of  the  sales  conferences. 
Promotional  plans  for  "The  Fighting  SeaBees," 
a  Republic  release  starring  John  Wayne,  Susan 
Hayward  and  Dennis  O'Keefe  were  discussed, 
featuring  both  sessions. 

It  was  announced  that  through  the  cooperation 
of  the  Bureau  of  Yards  and  Docks,  U.S.N.,  sim- 
ultaneous receptions  and  previews  of  the  picture 
are  to  be  held  in  New  York  and  Hollywood, 
with  members  of  the  United  States  Naval  Con- 
struction Battalions,  popularly  known  as  Sea- 
Bees,  as  honored  guests  at  receptions  on  Jan- 
uary 17. 

In  New  York  26  SeaBees  will  be  on  hand  for 
an  afternoon  reception  at  the  Hotel  Astor,  while 
in  Los  Angeles  six  SeaBees  will  be  the  guests 
at  a  reception  at  the  Ambassador  Hotel. 

Mr.  Grainger  announced  additional  openings 
of  the  picture,  including  pre-release  engagements 
at  the  Hollywood  and  Paramount  theatres  in 
Hollywood  and  Los  Angeles,  respectively,  day 
and  date,  January  27. 

It  was  announced  that  in  keeping  with  Her- 
bert J.  Yates'  company  policy  of  backing  major 
productions  with  extensive  advertising  and  pub- 
licity campaigns,  Republic  had  appropriated  $2,- 
000,000  for  such  promotion,  $350,000  of  which 
is  to  go  into  the  promotion  of  "The  Fighting 
SeaBees."  Other  major  releases  discussed  in- 
cluded "Atlantic  City,"  "Brazil,"  "Gay  Blades" 
and  "Earl  Carroll's  Vanities." 


Donovan  Produces  for  CIAA 

Frank  P.  Donovan,  former  producer  of  RKO 
Pathe  short  subjects,  has  formed  a  new  organi- 
zation, Frank  Donovan  Associates,  to  produce 
documentary  and  industrial  short  subjects. 
Offices  are  in  the  General  Motors  Building, 
New  York.  "Johnny  Jones,  USA,"  a  story  of 
the  typical  American  boy,  will  be  produced  by 
Mr.  Donovan  for  the  Coordinator  of  Inter- 
American  Affairs. 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 

Seadler  Elected  Head  of 
Eastern  Publicity  Unit 

Si  Seadler,  MGM  advertising  manager,  was 
elected  chairman  of  the  motion  picture  indus- 
try's western  division  public  information  com- 
mittee for  a  period  of  six  months  at  last  week's 
meeting  in  New  York.  Mr.  Seadler  succeeds 
Maurice  Bergman,  Universal  eastern  advertis- 
ing and  publicity  director.  The  first  meeting 
with  Mr.  Seadler  presiding  was  held  Thursday 
witli  representatives  of  the  Special  Services 
Division  of  the  Army  and  publicity  heads  of 
film  company  foreign  departments.  The  dis; 
cussion  concerned  film  distribution  to  the  armed 
forces  overseas. 


Wilson  in  Siegel 
Republic  Post 

Allen  Wilson,  former  general  manager  of  Re- 
public studios,  has  been  appointed  vice-president 
in  charge  of  studio  operations  for  the  company, 
it  was  announced  Tuesday  by  Herbert  J.  Yates, 
Sr.  Mr.  Wilson  succeeeds  M.  J.  Siegel,  presi- 
dent of  Republic  Productions,  Inc.,  and  produc- 
tion chief  for  Republic  since  1937,  who  resigned 
Monday.  Mr.  Siegel  will  take  over  an  executive 
post  at  the  MGM  studios  on  February  15. 

According  to  the  announcement,  Republic's 
new  studio  chief  Will  have  four  key  men  super- 
vising the  various  departments.  Howard  J. 
Sheehan  was  named  to  assist  Mr.  Wilson. 
Charles  Lootens,  who  formerly  headed  the  main- 
tenance department,  will  be  manager  of  the  pro- 
duction department.  Afmand  Schaefer  has  been 
appointed  supervising  producer  of  features,  in- 
cluding the  Roy  Rogers'  specials,  and  William 
J.  O'Sullivan  will  be  supervising  producer  of 
Westerns  and  serials. 

Mr.  Siegel  entered  the  industry  in  1920,  when, 
at  19,  he  became  affiliated  with  the  Selznick 
Picture  Company.  He  later  joined  Consolidated 
Film  Industries  and  became  vice-president  of  the 
company,  which  post  he  retained  until  1936. 
During  his  affiliation  with  Consolidated,  he  also 
served  as  president  of  the  American  Record 
Company,  a  subsidiary.  Mr.  Siegel  participated 
in  the  formation  of  Republic  Pictures  and  served 
as  vice-president  of  Republic  Productions  until 
1937,  when  he  became  president. 


January    15,  1944 

IN  NEWSREELS 


MOVIETONE  NEWS— VoL  26,  No.  37— The  war  is  not 

yet  won.  .  .  .  Minute  Men  for  the  4th  War  Loan 
drive.  .  .  .  Jap  planes  shot  down  on  American  posi- 
tions. .  .  .  Reds  hurl  Nazis  back  across  Polish  border. 
.  .  .  Lew  Lehr  newsette. 

MOVIETONE  NEWS— VoL  26,  No.  38— Action  in 
Pacific,  Russia,  Italy.  .  .  .  Home  from  the  war. 
.  .  .  Hero  of  the  week.  Colonel  Kearby.  .  .  Com- 
manders of  our  armed  forces,  General  Eisenhower, 
General  Marshall.  ...  50  million  ration  tokens  a  day. 
.  .  .  Winter  sports. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY— Vol.  15,  No.  23S^aptured  film 
from  inside  Germany.  .  .  .  Reds  take  Bryansk  as 
Nazis  fall  back.  .  .  .  Japs  hit  b  \ck  at  new  American 
base    Arawe.  .  .  .  Call    for    Minute  Men. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY— VoL  15,  No.  ZJC-Eisenhower 
on  Italian  front  as  Yanks  blast  road  to  Rome.  .  .  . 
Timoshenko  sees  Nazis  on  run.  .  .  .  Latest  Bougain- 
ville films.  .  .  .  Reds  visit  General  Montgomery.  .  .  . 
Wounded  Americans  home  from  war  zone.  .  .  . 
Robert  Taylor  in  new  role. 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS— No.  38— Russia  pushes  on.  .  .  . 
Squirrel  world  fashion  notes.  .  .  .  Yanks  beat  off 
attack  in  South  Pacific.  .  .  .  Home  front  shows 
Germany  pictures.  .  .  .  Fourth  War  Loan. 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS— No.  39-Footbairs  men  of  the 
year.  .  .  .  Ski  aces.  .  .  .  Wounded  Yanks  return. 
.  .  .  Bougainville  offensive.  .  .  .  General  Marshall 
in  Hawaii.  .  .  Admiral  Halsey  in  Italy. 

RKO  PATHE  NE^yS— Vol.  15,  No.  4»-Captured  Nazi 
films.  .  .  .  Al  Smith  aids  War  Loan  drive.  .  .  .  Red 

army  retakes  Bryansk. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS— VoL  IS,  No.  41— Air  war  with 

Bougainville  Japs.  .  .  .  Gen.  Marshall  visits  HawaiL 
....  Synthetic  rubber  process.  .  .  .  U.  S.  ships 
bring  wounded  home.  .  .  .  5th  army  fights  before 
Cassino.  .  .  .  Open  infantile  paralysis  drive. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREEL  — VoL  17,  No.  2S7  — Jap 

counter-attacks  at  Arawe  repulsed.  .  .  .  Fall  of 
Bryansk.  .  .  .  Birds  at  Madison  Square  Garden. 
....  Captured  Nazi  films.  .  .  .  U.  S.  Army  boats 
smash  through.  .  .  .  All  Smith  celebrates  70th  birth- 
day. .  .  .  Nazi  secret  weapon. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREEL^VoL  17,  No.  258— Allies 

battle  on  road  to  Rome.  .  .  .  Our  wounded  come 
back.  .  .  .  Tokens  for  rationing.  .  .  .  General 
Marshall  in  Hawaii.  .  .  .  Diamonds  for  war.  .  .  . 
South  Pacific  war  front.  .  .  .  World  of  sports. 

ALL  AMERICAN  NEWS  — VoL  2,  No.  64  — Troops 
demonstrate  chemical  warfare.  .  .  .  Negroes  get 
civic  posts.  .  .  .  Floor  show  on  skates.  .  .  .  Cleveland 
puts  women  on  police  force.  .  .  .  20,000  jam  vulcan 
bowl.  .  .  .  Captured  Nazi  films. 


Grants  Bill  of  Particulars 
In  Rosyl  Trust  Suit 

Federal  Judge  Francis  G.  Caffey  in  New 
York  last  week  granted  the  motions  of  18 
defendants  in  the  Sherman  anti-trust  action 
brought  by  the  Rosyl  Amusement  Corporation, 
operator  of  the  Cameo  theatre,  Jersey  City,  for 
a  bill  of  particulars. 

The  suit,  for  triple  damages,  alleges  that  the 
defendants,  major  distributors  and  some  ex- 
hibitors, conspired  to  create  a  monopoly  by  re- 
straining trade  in  Jersey  City,  Union  City, 
North  Bergen  and  Hoboken. 

The  theatre  circuit  defendants  are  Skouras, 
Loew's,  Stanley  and  Rosewelt  Realty  Com- 
pany. In  addition  to  circuit  operators.  Twen- 
tieth Century-Fox,  Paramount,  MGM,  United 
Artists,  Columbia,  Republic,  Warner  Brothers, 
Monogram  and  other  distributors  were  named. 

WAC  Announces  Release 
Dates  of  New  Filnns 

The  War  Activities  Committee  Tuesday  in 
New  York  announced  that  a  film  bulletin,  "Help 
Save  Fighting  Fuel,"  will  be  attached  to  all 
newsreels  issued  January  20.  It  was  made  by 
Pathe.  The  War  Information  Film,  "At  His 
Side",  will  be  released  January  27.  It  was  made 
for  the  Red  Cross  by  the  March  of  Time. 


Ceike  Contributes  Paintings 

Alfred  Ceike,  of  the  Warner  New  York  art 
department,  has  contributed  10  paintings  to  the 
Russian  War  Relief,  which  is  exhibiting  them 
at  its  Greenwich  Village  branch. 


WE  CAN 

MAKE  VICTORY 

THIS  SEASON'S  PRODUCT 

"Let's  All  Back  The  Attack 


BUY  WAR  BONDS 
4th  WAR  LOAN 


-A  BOND  FOR  EVERY  SEAT- 


PRC 
PICTURES,  INC. 


January    15,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


69 


PICTURE 
CROSSES 


A  statistical  compilation  and 
comparison  of  Box-Office  Per- 
formance in  first  run  theatres 


Figures  directly  below  picture  title  compare  dollar  gross  with  average  gross  and  show  relative  percentage  of  all  engagements  tabulated. 

Figures  opposite  theatre  names  represent  percentage  of  tabulated  grosses  to  average  weekly  business  based  on  the  six  months'  period 
ending  October  31,  1943. 

SYMBOLS:  (DB)  Double  Bill— associate  feature  title;  (SA)  Stage  Attraction;  (MO)  Move-Over  Run;  (AA)  Advance  Admission. 


CRAZY  HOUSE  (Univ.) 

Final  Reports: 

Total  Gross  Tabulated  $320,100 

Comparative  Average  Gross  296,700 

Over-all  Performance  I07.8yo 

BALTIMORE— Keith's   83  3% 

BOSTON-RKO  Boston  .    93 '5% 

(SA)  Richard  Himber's  Orchestra 

CHICAGO-Palace   uo.0% 

r^S^^l         Falcon  and  the  Coeds  (RKO) 

CHICAGO — Grand,  MO,  1st  week   ....       101  0% 

(DB)  The  Falcon  and  the  Coeds  (RKO) 
CLEVELAND-RKO  Palace   146  1% 

(SA)  Vaudeville 

DENVER— Denver   162  5% 

r.i^^L^^'iS  I^ark  (20th-Fox) 

DENVER— Esquire   HI  7% 

(BB)  Paris  After  Dark  (20th-Fox) 

^?^^^~''^ad<^'°'  MO,  1st  week  100.0% 

(DB)  Top  Man  (Univ.) 

INDIANAPOUS-Indiana   78  2% 

ITA^Q^JH-^'^^^^'  °f  ^^"^^^  Hitler  (Univ.) 

KAJNbAS  CITY— Esquire   94  8% 

KANSAS  CITY-Uptown  '   '  916% 

^9-Sri^^°^,'^^^^'i^"  •  83:3%- 

rA?^L^°°'*  *  Lacky  FeUow,  Mr.  Smith  (Univ.) 
LOS  ANGELES-Los  Angeles  ......        84  6% 

r  X?^^  You're  a  Lucky  Fellow,  Mr.  Smith  (Univ.) 
LOS  ANGELES-Ritz      .   .   .   .  .      .  .        93  7% 

(DB)  You're  a  Lucky  Fellow,  Mr.  Smith  (Univ.) 
MINNEAPOLIS-Orpheum  .  '   .  ^i58.3% 

<SA)  Vaudeville 
NEW  HAVEN-Roger  Sherman  75.0% 

(DB)  Sherlock  Hohnes  and  the  Secret  Weapon 
(Univ.) 

SfJX  week  111.1% 

NEW  YORK— Criterion,  2nd  week   64  9% 

PHILADELPHK^-Fot     .  ....  ^2% 

PROVIDENCR-RKO  Albee   . 

_  (DB)  The  Falcon  and  the  Coeds  (RKO) 
SEATTLE^-Ortdieum   115  7% 

(DB)  She's  For  Me  CUniv.) 
ST.  LOUIS— Fox  151.9% 

(DB)  Hands  Across  the  Border  (Rep.) 
TORONTO^Uptown  136.0% 


HIS  BUTLER'S  SISTER  (Univ.) 

Intermediate  Reports: 
Total  Gross  Tabulated  $226,200 
Comparative  Average  Gross  201,300 
Over-all  Performance  112.3% 


CTNCINNATI- RKO  Palace   1050% 

^S^-^n-^^O'  Shubert.  MO.  1st  week  .  100.0% 

CnNCTNNATI- Keith's,  MO.  2nd  week    ...  800% 

CLEVELAN1>-Wamer's  ffippodrome     .   .   .  97.2% 

CLEVELAND-Allen,  MO.  1st  week    ....  117.6% 

CLEVELAND--Wamer's  Lake,  MO,  2nd  week  152.7% 

INDIANAPOLIS-Indiana    86.9% 

(DB)  Unknown  Guest  (Mono.) 

INDIANAPOLIS— Lyric,  MO.  1st  week  .   .   .  125.0% 

(DB)  Unknown  Guest  (Mono.) 

KANSAS  CTTY-Esquire  .   1293% 

KANSAS  CTTY-Uptown   141  6% 

NEW  HAVEN— Roger  Sherman   132!8% 

(DB)  Never  a  Dull  Moment  (Univ.) 

PHILADELPHIA— Fox,  1st  week     .....  102.2% 

PHILADELPHIA— Fox,  2nd  week   100.0% 

PITTSBURGH-Harris,  1st  week   118.2% 

PITTSBWRGH— Harris,  2nd  week   96.7% 

SAN  FRANCn^SCO-Orpheum,  1st  week    .   .  134.6% 

(DB)  Never  a  Dull  Moment  (Univ.) 

SAN  FRANCISCO-Orpheum,  2nd  week   .   .   .  102.3% 

(DB)  Never  a  Dull  Moment  (Univ.) 

SAN  FRANCISCO-Orpheum,  3rd  week     .   .  98.4% 

(DB)  Never  a  Dull  Moment  (Univ.) 

ST.  LOUIS— Ambassador   152.0% 

(DB)  Never  a  Dull  Moment  (Univ.) 

TORONTO-Uptown   1691% 


THOUSANDS  CHEER  (MCM) 

Intermediate  Reports: 

Total  Gross  Tabulated 
Comparative  Average  Gross 
Over-all  Performance 


$609,500 
415,100 
146.8% 


BALTIMORE— Century   130.3% 

BUFFALO— Buffalo   121.9% 

CHICACK)— State  Lake,  1st  week   154.8% 

(3IICAGO— State  Lake,  2nd  week   159.2% 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Palace   108.6% 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Shubert,  MO,  1st  week  .  130.0% 

CLEVELAND^Loew's  State   133.3% 

INDIANAPOLIS— Loew's   145.4% 

KANSAS  OTY- Midland   163.0% 

MINNEAPOLIS— State   125.0% 

NEW  YORK— Astor,  1st  week   155.0% 

NEW  YORK— Astor,  2nd  week   139.0% 

NEW  YORK— Astor,  3rd  week   149.7% 

NEW  YORK— Astor,  4th  week    133.6% 

NEW  YORK— Astor,  5th  week   118.1% 

NEW  YORK— Astor,  6th  week   133.6% 

NEW  YORK— Astor,  7th  week   112.2% 

NEW  YORK— Astor,  8th  week   118.1% 

NEW  YORK— Astor,  9th  week   106.9% 

NEW  YORK— Astor,  10th  week   112.5% 

PHILADELPHIA— Stanley   191.8% 

PITTSBURGH— Penn   110.1% 

SAN  FRANCISCO— Fox   126.5% 

ST.  LOUIS- Loew's  State   156.2% 


RIDING  HIGH  (Para.) 

Intermediate  Reports: 
Total  Gross  Tabulated 
Comparative  Average  Gross 
Over-all  Performance 


$397,500 
284,500 
139.7% 


CHICAGO-(niicago,  1st  week   126.6% 

CHICA(iO— Chicago,  2nd  week   131.1% 

CLEVELAND^Loew's  State   102.5% 

CLEVELANIX-Loew's  StUlman,  MO,  1st  week  131.5% 

INDIANAPOLIS^Circle   101.8% 

INDIANAPOLIS— Lyric,  MO,  1st  week  .   .   .  135.7% 

KANSAS  CTTY— Newman   127.2% 

LOS  ANGELES— Paramount  Hollywood  .   .   .  117.97<, 

LOS  ANGELES— Paramount  Downtown  .   .    .  140.9% 

(DB)  Henry  Aldrich  Haunts  a  House  (Para.) 

MINNEAPOLIS— State   100.0% 

MINNEAPOLIS— World,  MO,  1st  week  .   .   .  100.0% 

NEW  HAVEN— Paramount   98.5% 

(DB)  Submarine  Alert  (Para.) 

NEW  YORK— Paramount      ........  131.1% 

eSA)  Tommy  Dorsey's  Orchestra 

SAN  FRANCiSCO^Paramount   111.4% 

(DB)  Whispering  Footsteps  (Rep.) 

TORONTO— Imperial   155.5% 

• 

DESTINATION  TOKYO  (WB) 

First  Reports: 
Total  Gross  Tabulated  $  1 85,300 

Comparative  Average  Gross  109,700 
Over-all  Performance  168.9% 


BALTIMORE— Stanley   130.1% 

BUFFALO— Great  Lakes    139.0% 

INDIANAPOLIS-Indiana    125.2% 

LOS  ANGELES— Warner's  Downtown     .   .   .  163.1% 

LOS  ANGELES— Warner's  Hollywood     .   .   .  227.3% 

LOS  ANGELES— Warner's  Wiltern    ....  194.4% 

PHILADELPHIA— Mastbaum   195.0% 


THE  GANG'S  ALL  HERE  (20fh-Fox) 

Intermediate  Reports: 

Total  Gross  Tabulated  $322,900 
Comparative  Average  Gross  239,400 

134.8% 


Over-all  Performance 


BALTIMORE— New   113.4% 

CINaNNATI— RKO  Capital,  1st  week   .   .   .  130.0% 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Capital,  2nd  week   .  •.   .  107.6% 

INDIANAPOLIS— Circle   120.0% 

KANSAS  CITY— Esquire   137.8% 

KANSAS  CITY-Uptown   166.6% 

LOS  ANGELES— Chinese   122.3% 

LOS  ANGELES— Loew's  State   129.8% 

LOS  ANGELES— Uptown   103.0% 

NEW  HAVEN— Loew's  Poli   105.3% 

(DB)  Ghost  Ship  (RKO) 

NEW  YORK— Roxy   150.9% 

(SA)  Jimmy  Dorsey's  Orchestra,  Bill  Robinson 

OHAMA— Paramount    189.8% 

PHILADELPHIA— Fox   162.9% 

SAN  FRANCISCO— St.  Francis   135.3% 

(DB)  Mystery  of  the  13th  Guest  (Mono.) 

ST.  LOUIS— Fox,  1st  week                             .  123.4% 

(DB)  Adventure  in  Iraq  (WB) 

ST.  LOUIS— Fox,  2nd  week   113.9% 

(DB)  Adventure  in  Iraq  (WB) 

ST.  LOUIS— Shubert,  MO,  1st  week    ....  100.0% 

(DB)  Corvette  K-225  (Univ.) 


HIGHER  AND  HIGHER  (RKO) 

First  Reports: 

Total  Gross  Tabulated  $  1 35, 1 00 

Comparative  Average  Gross  100,700 

134.1% 


o    Over-all  Performance 


BUFFALO-Twentieth  Century   176.4% 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Palace   126.8% 

CLEVELAND^-Wamer's  Hippodrome,  1st  week  114.2% 

CLEVELAND— Warner's  Hippodrome,  2nd  week  111.4% 

KANSAS  (n:TY— Orpheum   180.0% 

(DB)  Gangway  for  Tomorrow  (RKO) 

OMAHA— Brandeis   2ia9% 

(DB)  Gangway  for  Tomorrow  (RKO) 

SAN  FRANCISCO-Golden  Gate    112.2% 


GOVERNMENT  GIRL  (RKO) 

First  Reports: 

Total  Gross  Tabulated  $136,600 
Comparative  Average  Gross  j  16,600 

117.1% 


Over-all  Performance 


BALTIMORE— Hippodrome   119.0% 

(SA)  Vaudeville 

INDIANAPOLIS— Circle   81.8% 

(DB)  The  Falcon  and  the  Coeds  (RKO) 

NEW   HAVEN— Roger  Sherman   98.4% 

(DB)  Victory  Through  Air  Power  (UA) 

OMAHA— Brandeis   183.6% 

(DB)  Rookies  in  Burma  (RKO) 

PHILADELPHIA— Aldine.  1st  week   140.7% 

PHILADELPHIA— Aldine,  2nd  week  ....  152.4% 

SAN  FRANCISCO-Golden  Gate,  1st  week     .  112.2% 

SAN  FRANCISCO-Golden  Gate,  2nd  week    .  91.8% 

ST.  LOUIS— Missouri   150.6% 

(DB)  The  Falcon  and  the  C^oeds  (RKO) 


January     15,  1944 

OBITUARIES 


70  MOTIONPICTUREHERALD 

CLASSIFIED  ADVERTISING 

Ten  cents  per  word,  money-order  or  check  with  copy.  Count  initials,  box  number  and  ad- 
dress. Minimum  Insertion,  $1.  Four  insertions,  for  the  price  of  three.  Contract  rates  on 
application.  No  borders  or  cuts.  Forms  close  Mondays  at  5  P.  M.  Publisher  reserves 
the  right  to  reject  any  copy.  Film  and  trailer  advertising  not  accepted.  Classi-  i^^s 
fied  advertising  not  subject  to  agency  commission.  Address  copy  and  checks: 
MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD,  Classified  Dept..  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  (20)  miSi 

HELP  WANTED  I  NEW  EQUJPMENT 


WANTED:  MANAGER  FOR  THEATRE  CATER- 
mg  to  colored  trade.  WOMETCO  THEATRES,  Box 
2440,  Miami  31,  Fla. 


WANTED:    COMBINATION  OPERATOR  AND 

assistant    manager    for    theatre  catering    to  colored 

trade.  WOMETCO  THEATRES,  Box  2440,  Miami  31, 
Fla. 


THEATRES 


450  SEAT  THEATRE  WITH  COLORED  BALCONY, 
located  in  suburb  of  Birmingham,  Alabama.  Modern 
equipment;  including  pop  corn  machine  and  safe. 
Draft  call  requires  quick  sale.  $6,750  cash.  JACK 
CALLAWAY,  Ensley,  Ala.  Phone  6-5762. 


WANTED  TO  BUY 


WANTED— PIPE  ORGAN  IN  EXCELLENT  CON- 
dition,  state  complete  details  and  information.  A.  HEF- 
FERAN,  H  &  M  Theatres,  Coopftrsville,  Mich. 


BUSINESS  BOOSTERS 


BINGO  CARDS,  DIE  CUT,  1  TO  100  OR  1  TO  75, 
$2.25  per  thousand,  $20.00  for  10,000.  S.  KLOUS,  care 
of  MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD. 


BOOKS 


1944  EDITION  OF  FAME  READY  SOON.  EVERY 
exhibitor  should  have  a  copy.  An  annual  audit  of  mo- 
tion picture  and  radio  personalities.  Limited  supply. 
Send  $1  today.  QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP,  Rockefeller 
Center,  New  York  20. 


COMPLETELY  REVISED  7TH  EDITION  OF 
Richardson's  Bluebook  of  Projection  with  treatise  on 
Television  and  complete  Sound  Trouble-ShootinK 
Charts,  as  well  as  host  of  additional  up-to-the-minute 
text  on  sound  and  projection  equipment.  Order  Now  I 
$7.25  postpaid.  QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP.  Rockefeller 
Center,  New  York  (20). 


SOUND  TROUBLE  SHOOTING  CHARTS.  A 
handy  tool  in  the  booth.  Gives  the  answers  to  all 
questions  regarding  trouble  shooting  on  every  type  of 
sound  equipment.  $1.00  postpaid.  QUIGLEY  BOOK- 
SHOP, Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  (20). 


MOTION  PICTURE  SOUND  ENGINEERIN(J^ 
547  pages;  illustrated;  covers  every  practical  method 
and  process  in  present-day  sound  enKineering.  Leading 
engineers  explain  every  detail  of  apparatus  and  its  ar- 
rangement, with  diagrams,  tables,  charts  and  graphs. 
This  manual  comes  straight  from  the  workshops  of  the 
studios  in  Hollywood.  It  is  indispensable  to  everyone 
working  with  sound  equipment.  Price  $6.50  postpaid. 
QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York 
(20). 


NEW  567  PAGE  BOOK  ON  AIR  CONDITIONING, 
by  (Charles  A.  Fuller,  authority  on  the  subject.  Avail- 
able for  theatre  owners  contemplating  engineering 
changes.  Book  is  cloth  boimd  with  index  and  charts 
and  covers  every  branch  of  the  industry  as  well  as 
todes  and  ordinances  regulating  installation.  Order 
now  at  $4.00  a  copy  postpaid.  QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP. 
Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  (20). 


BOOKKEEPING  SYSTEM 


THEATRE  MANAGEMENT  RECORD  AND  TAX 
Register.  This  new  accounting  system  is  the  finest 
book  of  its  kind  ever  made  available  to  an  exhibitor. 
In  addition  to  being  complete  in  every  respect,  it  is 
simple — so  much  so  that  it  is  not  necessary  to  have 
had  bookkeeping  experience  in  order  to  keep  an  ac- 
curate, complete  and  an  up-to-minute  record  of  the 
business  of  your  theatre.  The  introductory  price  is 
only  $2.00  postpaid.  QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP,  Rocke- 
feller Center,  New  York  (20). 


Paramount  Shifts  Lewellen 

_W.  C.  Lewellen,  Paramount  southwestern  dis- 
trict advertising  representative,  has  been  as- 
signed to  the  studio  to  handle  exploitation  of 
important  pictures. 


COMPLETE  NEW  SOUND  EQOTPMENT,  RO- 
tary  stabilizer,  high  fidelity,  powerful  amplifier,  stage 
and  monitor  speakers,  $850.  BODELSON,  10-38  Jackson 
Ave.,  Long  Island  City. 


BOX  OFFICE  BOWL  HEATERS,  $9.50;  VICTrORY 
carpet,  all  colors,  $2.49  sq.  yrd. ;  pickup  pans  with  han- 
dle, $1.27;  colored  lamps,  15/25  watt,  20c;  40/60  watt, 
23c;  rechargeable  flashlight  batteries,  $2.20;  collapsible 
36"  X  48"  beaded  screens,  $11.50;  rectifier  bulbs,  15 
ampere  Gordos,  $6.95;  6  ampere  Westinghouse,  $3.95; 
Nodraft  speaking  tubes,  $5.75;  Suprex  carbon  savers, 
98c.  Winter  Sale  Bulletin  ready.  S.  O.  S.  CINEMA 
SUPPLY  CORP..  New  York.  18. 


NEW  PAIR  LATEST  TYPE  HOLMES,  2000  FOOT 
magazines,  constant  speed  1740  rpm  motors,  amplifier, 
speaker.  BOB  JENNINGS,  Brookfield  Center,  Conn. 


USED  EQUIPMENT 


ROCKOLA  12  RECORD  JUKE  BOX  WITH  REC- 
ords,  $77.30;  Peerless  condenser  lenses,  $3.95;  reflectors, 
50%^  discount;  aluminum  marquee  letters,  fit  Adler, 
Wagner,  etc.,  9"  standard,  95c;  9"  deluxe,  $1.23;  12" 
deluxe,  $1,75;  16"  deluxe,  $3.95;  30  ampere  rectifiers 
with  tubes,  $99.50.  Winter  Bargain  Bulletin  ready  — 
eet  yours.  S.  O.  S.  CINEMA  SUPPLY  CORP.,  New 
York  J8. 


358  AMERICAN  SEATING  BALL  BEARING  H" 
heavy  Keystone  inserted  panel  backs,  reupholstered 
box  spring  cushion  chairs,  $3.50  each;  230  American 
ball  bearing  fully  upholstered  padded  red  figured  vel- 
our  backs,  red  leatherette  box  spring  cushions,  good  as 
Is,  $4.50  each.  S.  O.  S.  CINEMA  SUPPLY  CORP., 
New  York  18. 


LARGE  EXHAUST  FAN  20-25  HORSEPOWER 
motor,  suitable  for  theatre,  auditorium  or  factory. 
Also  Moller  3 -manual  pipe  organ,  excellent  condition. 
MRS.  MARY  CHECK,  438  S.  Brown  St.,  Lewistown, 
Pa. 


CLOSING  AND  SELLING  COMPLETE  THEATRE 
equipment,  two  machines,  225  seats,  Al  condition, 
$1,000.  ART  KELSO,  Orland,  Ind. 


STUDIO  EQUIPMENT 


HOLLYWOOD  16MM.  RECORDING  CAMERA, 
double  system;  400'  magazine;  synchronous  motor; 
A.C.  power  pack;  high  fidelity  volume  indicator  am- 
plifier; dynamic  microphone;  Bemdt-Maurer  type  Gal- 
vanometer; cables,  etc.  Worth  $1,500.  Special,  $795. 
Bell  &  Howell  5  way  sound  printer,  $2,250.  Reduction 
printers,  from  $750.  Send  for  Laboratory  and  Record- 
ing lists.  S.  O.  S.  CINEMA  SUPPLY  CORP.,  New 
York  18. 


TRAINING  SCHOOLS 


THEATRE  EMPLOYEES:  TRAIN  FOR  BETTER 
position.  Learn  modem  theatre  management  and  ad- 
vertising. Big  opportunities  for  trained  men.  Estab- 
lished since  1927.  Write  now  for  free  catalog.  THE- 
ATRE MANAGERS  SCHOOL,  Elmira,  New  York. 


POPCORN 


MORE  VOLUME  GUARANTEED  WHEN  USING 
our  popcorn  and  seasoning.  POPCORN  CORP.,  100 
N.  LaSalle  St.,  (^licago. 


Keyser  Visits  Cuba 

G.  R.  Keyser,  foreign  advertising  and  pub- 
licity manager  for  Warner  Brothers,  left  last 
Monday  for  a  two-week  trip  to  the  company's 
branch  office  in  Havana. 


William  J.  Carroll, 
Exhibitor,  Dies  at  67 

William  J.    Carroll,    67,    theatre  operator, 

and  active  in  the  industry  for  30  years,  died 

in  Jackson,  Mich.,  January  3.    Mr.  Carroll  was 

one  of  the  oldest  exhibitors  in  Michigan. 


Charles  A.  Sandblom 

Charles  A.  Sandblom,  65,  architect,  who  de- 
signed interiors  for  William  Fox  Theatres, 
died  in  New  York  January  8.  Mr.  Sandblom, 
who  was  born  in  Sweden,  came  to  the  United 
States  and  specialized  in  theatre  architecture. 


William  J.  Smith 

William  J.  Smith,  one  time  manager  of  Loew's 
.Stillman  and  recently  manacrer  of  the  Ridge  the- 
atre, Cleveland,  died  on  Januarv  2.  A  son, 
Thomas,  and  a  daughter,  Alice,  survive. 


Mrs.  Robert  North 

Mrs.  Robert  North,  wife  of  the  Republic 
producer,  died  in  Hollywood  January  8,  follow- 
ing a  long  illness.  Mrs.  North  leaves,  besides 
her  husband,  a  son  and  a  daughter. 


John  L.  Black 

John  L.  Black,  81,  musician  and  vaudeville 
entertainer,  died  at  his  home  in  Hamilton,  Ohio, 
January  4.  Mr.  Black  wrote  the  famous  song, 
''Dardanella"  and  other  popular  tunes. 


Reported  Lost  in  Action 

Russell  Suchy^  former  doorman  at  Warners' 
Hippodrome,  Cleveland,  has  been  reported  lost 
in  the  battle  of  Bougainville.  He  was  20  years 
old. 

New  York  Truckers  Are 
Seeking  Equipment 

Distributors  and  film  carriers  meeting  Tues- 
day as  a  special  sub-committee  of  the  War 
Activities  Committee,  agreed  to  seek  relief  from 
a  pressing  shortage  of  film  trucking  equipment 
on  the  ground  that  the  supplying  of  films  to 
theatres  is  a  locally  essential  activity.  As- 
sistance from  the  Office  of  Defense  Transporta- 
tion and  Federal  rationing  authorities  will  be 
sought  on  the  basis  of  the  needs  in  each  ex- 
change area. 

Reports  prepared  by  Harry  Grayson,  car- 
rier's attorney,  showed  that  one  of  the  43  trucks 
in  the  New  York  fleet  had  run  over  400,000 
miles.  Almost  all  of  the  equipment  had  several 
hundred  thousand  miles  on  the  speedometer 
and  the  carriers  reported  that  in  view  of  the 
difficulties  of  repair  and  parts  replacement  a 
general  breakdown  was  dangerously  near. 

Between  10  and  15  new  trucks  are  urgently 
needed,  it  is  reported.  An  appeal  will  be  pre- 
pared to  Federal  authorities.  At  the  Tuesday 
meeting  were  Henderson  Richey,  MGM ;  Fred 
Schwartz,  Century  Circuit ;  Irving  Dollinger, 
New  Jersey  Allied;  Robert  Wolff  and  Ralph 
Pielow,  representing  the  exchanges,  and  Mor- 
ris Lane,  president  of  the  New  York  truckers 
association. 

Pielow  Named  President  of 
Film  Board  of  Trade 

Election  of  officers  of  the  New  York  Film 
Board  of  Trade  was  held  Wednesday  at  the 
home  of  Louis  Nizer,  general  counsel  and  ex- 
ecutive secretary.  Those  elected  were  Ralph 
Pielow,  president,  succeeding  Henry  Randel ; 
Clarence  Eiseman,  first  vice-president,  succeed- 
ing Mr.  Pielow;  Jack  Ellis,  second  vice-presi- 
dent, replacing  Joe  J.  Lee;  Ray  Moon,  treasur- 
er, replacing  Ben  Abner.  Robert  J.  Fannon 
was  reelected  secretary,  and  Joseph  Felder  re- 
placed Leo  Jacobi  as  sergeant-at-arms. 


January    15,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


In  This  Week: 


SHOWMEN'S  REVIEWS 


ADVANCE  SYNOPSES 


SHORT  SUBJECTS  CHART 


SERVICE  DATA 


^  THE  RELEASE  CHART 


Lifeboat 


(Twentieth  Century -Fox) 
Personal  Drama  Adrift 

Limiting  his  stage  to  the  length  and  breadth 
of  a  lifeboat  adrift  on  the  Atlantic,  Kenneth 
Macgowan  has  produced  a  film  of  unusual 
quality  and  frequent  dramatic  intensity.  The 
principals  are  eight  survivors  of  a  torpedoed 
freighter  and  one  from  the  U-boat  which  sent 
her  down.  These  and  the  changing  sea  come 
to  life  as  disaster,  fear,  thirst  and  death  are 
built  up  swiftly  under  the  careful  direction 
of  Alfred  Hitchcock. 

An  excellent  opening  shows  the  last  wail  of 
the  sinking  ship,  a  trail  of  debris  and  finally  a 
lone  lifeboat  carrying  the  luggage,  typewriter 
and  elegant  person  of  an  unperturbed  interna- 
tional correspondent.  Largely  without  her  help, 
it  is  peopled  by  three  crewmen,  a  volunteer 
nurse,  a  munitions  manufacturer,  a  woman 
whose  child  has  died  in  the  water,  a  Negro 
steward  and  the  submarine  captain.  Their  re- 
actions are  confused,  hysterical  or  phlegmatic, 
according  to  their  backgrounds  and  tempera- 
ment. Only  the  German — whose  life  is  spared 
after  the  crew  votes  for  his  death,  the  civilians 
for  "humanity"  and  the  Negro  doesn't  vote  at 
all — remains  calm  and  purposeful. 

It  is  he  who  amputates  the  leg  of  the  in- 
jured sailor  with  a  pocket  knife,  who  steadies 
the  boat  in  the  storm  and  who  finally  takes 
command  while  the  others,  exhausted  and 
without  provisions,  accept  their  lot  as  his  pris- 
oners. Only  after  the  needless  death  of  the 
sailor  and  the  discovery  that  the  German's 
superhuman  strength  is  the  result  of  secret 
supplies,  do  they  rise  against  him  and  throw 
him  over  the  side.  They  meet  the  supply  ship 
toward  which  he  was  rowing  in  time  to  see  her 
shelled  and  sunk. 

Woven  into  this  pattern  are  snatches  of  the 
life  stories  of  the  survivors,  two  romances  and 
two  deaths.  There  is  an  attempt  to  mirror  the 
world's  reaction  to  barbarous  war  in  the  con- 
flict within  the  lifeboat.  But  the  reactions  of 
the  individuals  to  their  situation  and  each  other 
provide  the  successful  and  often  gripping  dra- 
matic interest. 

The  name  of  Hitchcock  may  be  the  biggest 
selling  point  for  film  audiences,  although  Wil- 
liam Bendix  is  featured  as  the  injured  sailor, 
once  again  a  rooter  for  the  Dodgers.  But  the 
presence  of  Tallulah  Bankhead  will  draw  many 
who  know  her  glamorous  stage  personality  by 
experience  or  hearsay.  Two  screen  newcomers, 
John  Hodiak  and  Mary  Anderson,  show  them- 
selves to  be  unusually  attractive  and  talented 
performers,  while  the  veterans  like  Walter  Sle- 
zak, Henry  Hull  and  Hume  Cronyn,  give  ex- 
cellent portrayals.  Canada  Lee,  also  from  the 
stage,  plays  the  steward  with  a  fine  appreciation 
of  the  contrast  made  by  the  resourceful,  God- 
fearing man,  ignored  by  his  companions  and 
hating  violence. 

The  original  story  by  John  Steinbeck  and  the 
screenplay  by  Jo  Swerling  do  not  quite  succeed 
in  making  their  point  clear.    Ending  on  the  note 


Reviews 


This  department  deals  with 
new  product  from  the  point  of 
view  of  the  exhibitor  who  is 
to  purvey  it  to  his  own  public. 


of  "What  can  be  done  with  the  German  peo- 
ple?" the  film  loses  force.  It  succeeds  in  hold- 
ing interest,  however,  and  achieves  some  reality 
in  part  because  of  its  experimental  nature  and 
more  particularly  by  the  excellence  of  its  cast. 

Seen  in  the  home  office  projection  room.  Re- 
viewer's Rating :  Good. — E.  A.  Cunningham. 

Release  date,  January  28,  1944.  Running  time,  98  mins. 
PCA  No.  9598.    General  audience  classification. 

Connie    Porter   Tallulah  Bankhead 

Gus   William  Bendix 

The  German   Walter  Slezak 

Alice   Mary  Anderson 

Kovac   John  Hodiak 

Ritterhouse   Henry  Hull 

Mrs.  Higgins   Heather  Angel 

Stanley  Garrett  Hume  Cronyn 

Joe   Canada  Lee 

Ali  Baba  and  the  40  Thieves 

(Universal) 
Technicolored  Escapism 

"Ali  Baba  and  the  Forty  Thieves"  follows  af- 
ter Universal's  "Arabian  Nights"  and  "White 
Savage"  in  the  format  of  fable-plus-fantasy  with 
scarcely  a  variation  as  to  style,  quality  or  mar- 
ketability. Sabu  is  absent  from  this  number, 
replaced  in  a  manner  of  speaking  by  Turhan 
Bey,  but  Maria  Montez  is  again  the  damsel  in 
distress  and  Jon  Hall  the  hero  who  rescues  her. 
Again  the  objective  is  to  provide  escapism  and 
nothing  more,  and  this  is  accomplished. 

Again,  too,  the  screen  is  filled  with  colorful 
settings  in  which  brilliantly  costumed  actors 
disport  themselves,  struggle,  suffer,  escape,  ven- 
ture and  dare,  uttering  lines  of  dialogue  which, 
often  as  not,  overtax  both  credulity  and  the  skill 
of  the  performers.  It  is  in  this  department  that 
Edmund  L.  Hartman,  who  dredged  up  the 
plausible  and  actionful  story  from  the  depths  of 
"A  Thousand  and  One  Nights,"  lets  down  his 
players  and  his  customers,  occasionally  to  the 
embarrassment  of  all  concerned.  But  that's  a 
report  for  the  minority,  a  detail  of  small  con- 
sequence to  the  majority  whose  eyes  are  kept 
too  busy  absorbing  Technicolor  and  pulchritude 
to  give  attention  to  the  evidence  of  their  ears. 

This  third  in  the  series,  which  is  not  specifi- 
cally a  series  but  rather  a  sequence  of  sub- 
jectively related  units,  was  produced  by  Paul 
Malvern  and  directed  by  Arthur  Lubin,  both 
craftsmen  bestowing  upon  the  project  the  maxi- 
mum professional  concentration. 

Apart  from   the   principals,   Andy  Devine 


stands  out,  getting  more  laughs  than  his  lines 
justify  by  sheer  force  of  personality,  while  Kurt 
Katch  registers  no  less  conspicuously.  But  on 
the  other  side  of  the  balance  sheet  is  the  Mongol 
Khan,  whose  mishandling  of  speeches  that 
would  have  taxed  the  artistry  of  a  Barrymore 
made  the  preview  audience  laugh  a  couple  of 
times  when  it  wasn't  supposed  to. 

Previewed  at  the  Pantages  theatre  in  Holly- 
zuood,  where  a  Thursday  night  audience  took 
the  offering  in  the  spirit  in  which  it  was  tend- 
ered. Reviewer's  Rating  :  Good. — William  R. 
Weaver. 

Release  date,  January  14,  1944.  Running  time,  87 
min.    PCA  No.  9665.    General  audience  classification. 

Amara  Maria  Montez 

Ali   Jon  Hall 

Jemail  Turhan  Bey 

Andy  Devine,  Scotty  Beckett,  Kurt  Katch,  Frank 
Puglia,  Moroni  Olsen,  Fortunio  Bunonova,  Harry 
Cording,  Ramsay  Ames,  Noel  Cravet,  Crispin  Martin, 
Belle   Mitchell,   Yvette  Duguay. 


None  Shall  Escape 

(  Columbia  ) 

First  Post-war  Picture 

First  to  cross  the  preview  line  with  a  pic- 
ture purporting  to  depict  the  post-war  world, 
Columbia  proffers  here  the  envisionment  of  a 
war-guilt  trial  such  as  is  contemplated  for  in- 
dividuals brought  to  account  by  the  United  Na- 
tions after  peace  has  come.  The  scene  is  War- 
saw, the  accused  is  a  Nazi  officer  responsible 
for  much  that  happened  in  Poland,  and  the  jury 
is  made  up  of  representatives  of  all  the  United 
Nations. 

As  producer,  Samuel  Bischoff,  after  using 
this  setting  as  the  device  for  depicting  Nazi 
criminality  with  more  candor  and  less  reserve 
than  has  been  done  before,  stops  short  of  pass- 
ing judgment  and  pronouncing  sentence.  He 
concludes  the  film  with  two  stretches  of  word- 
age,  in  one  of  which  the  accused  Nazi  promises 
the  tribunal  that  Nazism  shall  rise  again  and 
triumph.  In  the  other,  which  follows  imme- 
diately and  had  better  not  be  lopped  off  in  ex- 
hibition, the  chief  magistrate  faces  the  camera 
and  places  the  case  in  the  audience's  lap. 

Witnesses  who  testify  against  the  Nazi  trace 
his  record  of  bestiality  from  the  close  of  World 
War  One  through  the  years  of  peace  and  World 
War  Two,  specifically  covering  rapes,  murders, 
deceptions,  acts  of  treason,  assorted  (jrutalities, 
committed  in  1919,  1923,  1939  and  thereafter. 
As  written  by  Lester  Cole,  from  a  story  by 
Alfred  Neuman  and  Joseph  Thaw,  these  flash- 
backs transcend  previous  presentations  of  simi- 
lar material  in  frankness  and  forcefulness  of 
treatment. 

Andre  De  Toth  directed  steadily.  Burth 
Kelly  functioned  as  associate  producer.  Alex- 
ander Knox  and  Marsha  Hunt  head  a  balanced 
cast. 

Interesting  to  the  trade  as  the  first  try  at  de- 
picting post-war  events,  the  film  does  not  finish 
what  it  starts.    Meanwhile  it  dwells  long  on 

Product  Digest  Section  1713 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    15,    I  944 


sordid  material  which  takes  it  out  of  the  realm 
of  suitability  for  juveniles. 

Previewed  at  the  Ambassador  Hotel  theatre 
to  the  press  and  members  of  the  Friends  of 
Poland  Society,  the  film  dreis/  some  applause  at 
intervals  during  the  screening.  Reviewer's  Rat- 
ing: Fair.—W.  R.  W. 

Release  date,  February  3,  1944.  Running  time,  85 
mins.    PCA  No.  9641.    Adult  audience  classification. 

Maria  Pacierkowska   Marsha  Hunt 

Wilhelra  Grimm   Alexander  Knox 

Father  Warecki   Henry  Travers 

Karl  Grimm   Erik  Rolf 

Richard  Crane,  Dorothy  Morris,  Richard  Hale,  Ruth 
Nelson,   Kurt   Kreuger,   Shirley    Mills,    Elvin  Field, 

Charlie  Chan  in  the 
Secret  Service 

(Monogram) 
Series  Renewed 

Again  presenting  Sidney  Toler  as  Earl  Derr 
Biggers'  Chinese  criminologist,  the  series  ob- 
tained by  Monogram  from  Twentieth  Century- 
Fox  continues  now  without  perceptible  varia- 
tion from  style  or  standard.  Showmen  who  ex- 
ploit the  attraction  as  the  return  of  the  favorite 
will  be  well  within  the  facts. 

In  this  adventure,  written  by  George  Calla- 
han, Chan  is  brought  into  the  case  of  a 
murdered  inventor  whose  passing  has  occurred 
while  his  house  is  full  of  plausible  guests  who 
pass  in  review  as  logical  suspects  while  Mantan 
Moreland  provides  comedy  relief.  The  solution 
of  the  mystery  occurs  in  due  time,  with  satis- 
factory explanation,  and  there's  just  a  touch  of 
patriotic  flavor  in  the  background  circumstances. 

The  production,  by  Philip  N.  Krasne  and 
James  S.  Burkett,  and  direction  by  Phil  Rosen 
measure  up  to  the  responsibilities  snugly. 

Previewed  at  the  Orpheum  theatre,  Los  An- 
geles, where  the  audience  manifested  by  laughs 
in  the  right  places  its  endorsement  of  the  offer- 
ing. Reviewer's  Rating :  Good. — W.  R.  W. 

Release  date,  February  14,  1944.  Running  time,  65 
min.    PCA  No.  9647.    General  audience  classification. 

Chan   Sidney  Toler 

Inez   Gwen  Kenyon 

Birmingham   Mantan  Moreland 

Marianne  Quon,  Arthur  Loft,  Lelah  Tyler,  Benson 
Fong,  Gene  Stutenroth,  Eddie  Chandler. 


Spider  Woman 

(Universal) 

Sherlock  Holmes  Wins  Again 

Basil  Rathbone  as  Sherlock  Holmes,  and  Ni- 
gel Bruce  as  Dr.  Watson  push  their  expert 
portrayals  to  new  heights  in  this  number,  best 
of  the  series,  in  part  because  the  screenplay  by 
Bertram  Millhauser  provides  solid  material  with 
which  to  work  and  in  part  because  Gale  Son- 
dergaard's  performance  as  "the  spider  woman" 
of  the  title  is  of  quality  and  merit  matching 
theirs.  Whether  billed  as  the  studio  suggests, 
which  is  as  above,  or  as  "Sherlock  Holmes  and 
the  Spider  Woman,"  an  optional  title  available 
to  exhibitors  whose  audiences  have  been  fol- 
lowing the  series  with  enthusiasm,  the  film 
stacks  up  as  tops  in  its  field. 

The  tale  at  bottom  is  an  account  of  killings 
arranged  to  resemble  suicides  in  order  that  the 
woman  responsible  for  them  may  collect  life 
insurance  payments  accruing  from  the  deaths  of 
her  victims.  As  written  by  Millhauser  and  di- 
rected with  skill  and  conviction  by  producer- 
director  Roy  William  Neill,  however,  the  story 
follows  none  of  the  worn  grooves  and  stays 
within  the  confines  of  plausibility,  if  not  logic, 
at  all  times. 

The  place  is  London,  the  period  is  now,  but 
there  is  no  way  or  reference  to  war  in  the  film. 

Previewed  at  the  studio.  Reviewer's  Rating : 
Good.—W.  R.  W. 

Release  date,  January  21,  1944.  Running  time,  63 
mins.    PCA  No.  7430.    General  audience  classification. 

Sherlock  Holmes   Basil  Rathbone 

Dr.  Watson   Nigel  Bruce 

Spider  Woman   Gale  Sondergaard 

Dennis  Howey,  Vernon  Downing,  Alec  Craig,  Ar- 
thur Hohl,  Mary  Gordon. 

1714  Product  Digest  Section 


20TH-FOX  SCHEDULES 
BRITISH  FILM 

"Uncensored",  a  story  of  the 
underground  movement  in  Belgium, 
which  was  filmed  in  England  under 
the  direction  of  Anthony  Asquith,  will 
be  released  in  this  country  on  Janu- 
ary 21st  by  Twentieth  Century-Fox. 
Eric  Portman  heads  the  cast  which 
includes  Phyllis  Calvert,  Frederick  Cul- 
ley,  Raymond  Lovell,  Griffith  Jones 
and  Peter  Glenville.  The  review  in 
Motion  Picture  Herald,  issue  of 
August  I,  1942,  said  in  part:  "It  is 
an  exciting  and  inspiring  theme,  with 
the  ultimate  result  making  as  much 
appeal  on  lines  of  melodramatic  ex- 
citement as  on  patriotic  fervor". 


Westward  Bound 

(Monogram) 
Land  Grab  Stymied 

The  Trail  Blazers,  Ken  Maynard,  Hoot  Gib- 
son and  Bob  Steele,  ride  once  more  to  the  res- 
cue of  oppressed  ranchers  in  "Westward 
Bound,"  produced  and  directed  by  Robert  Tan- 
sey.  Through  use  of  Gibson's  roping  skill, 
and  a  decided  increase  in  riding  tricks  to  step 
things  up,  Tansey  delivers  a  formula  plot  West- 
erns with  an  upswing  of  action  and  comedy. 

The  trio  arrives  on  the  scene  in  Montana  Ter- 
ritory just  as  an  unscrupulous  secretary  to  the 
land  commissioner,  a  crooked  banker,  and  their 
henchmen  are  about  to  drive  the  ranchers  from 
the  land.  The  crooks  plot  to  seize  the  land 
before  Montana  is  voted  statehood.  They  trap 
the  culprits  when  Maynard  is  made  marshal  of 
the  town,  but  have  to  shoot  and  fight  it  out  be- 
fore bringing  all  of  them  to  book,  with  Gibson 
using  dynamite  to  round  up  the  band.  The 
script  is  by  Elizabeth  Beecher  and  Francis 
Kavanaugh  from  an  original  by  the  latter  and 
Robert  Emmet. 

Reviewed  at  the  Hitching  Post  theatre,  Hol- 
lywood. Reviewer's  Rating  :  Good. — Jack 
Cartweight. 

Release  date,  January  17,  1944.  Running  time,  59 
mms.    PCA  No.  9729.    General  audience  classification. 

Ken  Maynard,  Hoot  Gibson,  Bob  Steele,  Betty 
Miles,  John  Bridges,  Harry  Woods,  Karl  Hackett, 
Weldon  Heyburn,  Hal  Price,  Roy  Brent,  Frank  Ellis. 

Raiders  of  the  Border 

(Monogram) 
Rustlers  Thwarted 

Johnny  Mack  Brown,  as  U.  S.  Marshal  Ne- 
vada, together  with  Raymond  Hatton  as  Sandy, 
his  officer  pal,  again  ride  to  the  rescue  of  op- 
pressed ranchers  suffering  from  depredations  of 
cattle  rustlers  along  the  border. 

The  picture,  produced  by  Scott  R.  Dunlap 
with  John  P.  McCarthy  directing  from  a  script 
by  Jess  Bowers,  has  more  punch  to  its  riding 
scenes,  chases  and  fights  than  some  of  the  recent 
Westerns,  but  the  plot  follows  formula. 

When  Nevada  and  Sandy  discover  rustlers 
have  killed  a  trading  post  freight  driver,  Sandy 
takes  his  place.  Operating  the  post  is  a  girl, 
Ellen  Hall,  in  love  with  a  young  rancher  whose 
foreman  she  suspects.  Nevada  ties  the  foreman 
in  with  the  rustlers,  captures  him,  and  he  and 
Sandy  take  the  rest  of  the  gang  prisoners.  They 
leave  the  girFand  her  rancher  sweetheart  facing 
a  brighter  future. 

Seen  at  Hitching  Post  theatre,  Hollywood. 
Reviewer's  Rating  :  Good. — ^J.  C. 

Release  date,  Jan.  31,  1944.  Running  time,  53  min. 
PCA  No.  9780.    General  audience  classification. 

Nevada  Johnny  Mack  Brown 

Sandy   Raymond  Hatton 

Craig  Woods,  Ellen  Hall,  Bob  Thompson,  Raphael 
Bennett,  Edmund  Cobb,  Ernie  Adams,  Dick  Alexander. 


Riders  of  the  Deadline 

(UA-Sherman) 
Hopalong  Cassidy 

Some  excellent  scenic  effects  and  the  pres- 
ence of  William  Boyd  make  this  otherwise  av- 
erage Western  passable  for  non-Western  fans 
and  acceptable  for  the  avid  followers  of  the 
doings  of  Hopalong  Cassidy.  It  is  short  on 
humor  and  love  interest  and  long  on  flying 
horses'  hoofs  and  the  usual  Western  conflicts 
involving  villain  and  hero. 

Mr.  Boyd  rides  the  ranges  once  again  in  the 
interest  of  law  and  order,  this  time  as  a  Texas 
Ranger  who  makes  an  ostensible  break  with 
his  outfit  and  his  captain,  whom  he  openly  slaps 
in  the  face,  and  joins  the  villains'  camp  as  a 
one-time  Ranger  in  bad  repute.  This  situation 
is  an  old  one  to  cinemaland,  and  the  results 
are  invariably  the  same.  Hopalong  tinmasks  the 
"solid  citizen" — in  this  case  the  town  banker — • 
behind  the  riders  opposing  law  and  order,  a 
band  engaged  in  the  smuggling  of  guns  into 
Mexico. 

The  ubiquitous  mortgage  is  on  hand  for  the 
villains  to  use  as  a  tool  against  a  girl  and  her 
brother.  But  Hopalong  and  his  two  pals,  played 
by  Andy  Clyde  and  Jimmy  Rogers,  save  the 
ranch  for  the  girl  after  the  brother  has  been 
murdered.  Confessions  of  multiple  perfidies 
come  as  usual  with  dying  gasps. 

The  direction  by  Lesley  Selander  makes  the 
most  of  the  screenplay  by  Bennett  Cohen. 

Seen  at  the  New  York  theatre,  New  York. 
Reviewer's  Rating :  Fair. — Bert  Hicks. 

Release  date,  December  3,  1943.  Running  time,  70 
min.    PCA  No.  9502.    General  audience  classification. 

Hopalong  Cassidy  WiUiam  Boyd 

California  Carlson  Andy  Clyde 

Jimmy   Jimmy  Rogers 

Richard  Crane,  William  Halligan,  Frances  Wood- 
ward, Tony  Ward,  Bob  Mitchum,  Jim  Bannon,  Hugh 
Prosser,  Herb  Rawlinson. 

Death  Rides  the  Plains 

(PRC  Pictures) 
For  Western  Fans 

The  title  could  almost  serve  as  a  thumb-nail 
synopsis  of  this  Western.  A  gang  of  despera- 
does advertise  a  ranch  for  sale  at  bargain  rates 
calling  for  cash.  The  prospective  buyers  ride 
the  plains  to  what  they  erroneously  believe  to 
be  a  rendezvous  with  the  seller,  but  invariably 
end  up  in  a  rendezvous  with  death.  It  is 
simply  a  racket  macabre.  The  pistol  shooting 
villains  waylay  the  riders  and  lift  their  bank- 
rolls, but  only  after  killing  them. 

But  comes  the  victim  who  is  left  for  dead 
when  he  is  not  dead,  and  enter  the  Lone  Rider, 
masquerading  as  a  bandit,  who  preserves  the 
live  specimen  of  perfidy  on  the  plains,  doctor- 
ing his  wounds  in  an  isolated  cabin.  Rocky 
Cameron  is  the  Lone  Rider,  and  Rocky,  who 
is  not  really  a  Lone  Rider,  because  he  has  as 
a  constant  companion  Fuzzy  Jones,  sets  out  to 
protect  would-be  ranch  buyers  from  the  murder- 
ous thieves.  He  succeeds,  but  not  without  con- 
siderable difficulty.  The  victim  has  a  daughter, 
Virginia,  who  suspects  Rocky  of  being  the 
villain.  And  then  as  the  story  enters  its  de- 
nouement Rocky  and  Fuzzy  expose  the  guilty 
Ben  Gowdey  and  his  henchmen,  and  all  those  on 
the  side  of  law  and  order  and  who  still  survive, 
live  happily  ever  after. 

In  short  it  is  a  case  of  death  riding  the  plains 
with  the  conventional  ending.  Fuzzy,  played 
by  Al  St.  John,  provides  some  good  slapsdck 
humor.  Above  all,  Ray  Bennett  in  the  role 
of  Gowdey  is  to  be  commended  for  his  work. 
He  is  an  actor  of  exceptional  abilities. 

Sam  Newfield  directed,  and  Sigmund  Neufeld 
produced. 

Seen  at  the  New  York  theatre.  Reviewer's 
Rating:  Fair. — B.  H. 

Release  date.  May  7,  1943.  Running  time,  55  mins. 
PCA  No.  9250.    General  audience  classification. 

Rocky   Cameron   Bob  Livingston 

Fuzzy  Jones   AI  (Fuzzy)  St.  John 

Nica  Doret,  Ray  Bennett,  I.  Stanford  JoUey,  George 
Chesebro,  John  Elliott,  Kermit  Maynard,  Slim  Whit- 
aker,  Karl  Hackett. 


January    15,     1944  MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 

ADVANCE  SYNOPSES 

and  information 


ROAD  TO  UTOPIA 
(Paramount) 

PRODUCER:  Paul  Jones.  DIRECTOR: 
Hal  Walker.  PLAYERS:  Bing  Crosby, 
Bob  Hope,  Dorothy  Lamour,  Hillary  Brooke, 
Jack  LaRue,  Robert  Barrat,  Nestor  Paiva. 

COMEDY-DRAMA.  This,  reportedly  the  last 
of  the  "Road"  pictures  for  Crosby,  Hope  and 
Lamour,  deals  with  the  story  of  a  girl  left  a 
fabulous  gold  mine.  Two  confidence  men  ob- 
tain the  map  of  the  mine  in  Alaska.  Crosby 
and  Hope  come  by  it  through  a  series  of  mis- 
adventures, and  she  suspects  they  are  the  ones 
who  stole  it.  Each  of  them  has  a  half  of  the 
map,  which  they  tore  in  half  to  be  sure  neither 
would  double-cross  the  other.  She  makes  a  play 
for  first  one  and  then  the  other,  finally  marries 
Hope  but  cannot  forget  Crosby. 

THE  SEVENTH  CROSS 
(M-G-M) 

PRODUCER:  Pandro  S.  Berman.  DIREC- 
TOR: Fred  Zinnemann.  PLAYERS:  Spen- 
cer Tracy,  Signe  Hasso,  Hume  Cronyn, 
Steve  Geray,  Herbert  Rudley,  Kurt  Katch, 
Jessica  Tandy. 

WAR  DRAMA.  A  story  of  the  escape  from 
a  Nazi  concentration  camp,  before  Hitler's 
hordes  marched  on  Poland,  by  seven  anti-Nazi 
Germans.  The  chase  of  the  seven  through  most 
of  Europe  by  the  Gestapo  results  in  the  capture 
of  six,  all  of  whom  are  put  to  death  on  crosses. 
The  seventh  cross  awaits  the  capture  of  the 
seventh  Nazi-hater.  Assisted  by  a  German  girl 
with  whom  he  had  been  in  love  in  Germany's 
better  days,  he  escapes  into  Holland,  with  the 
implication  left  in  the  story  that  they  will  meet 
again. 

THE  CURSE  OF  THE  CAT  PEOPLE 
(RKO  Radio) 

PRODUCER:  Val  Lewton.  DIRECTOR: 
Mark  Robson.  PLAYERS:  Simone  Simon, 
Kent  Smith,  Jane  Randolph,  Julia  Dean, 
Ann  Carter,  Elizabeth  Russell. 

HORROR  DRAMA.  In  "The  Cat  People," 
Kent  Smith's  wife,  Simone  Simon,  who  be- 
lieved she  might  turn  into  a  cat,  is  killed,  and 
in  this  one  he  weds  Jane  Randolph,  the  secre- 
tary in  the  former  picture,  with  whom  he  had 
fallen  in  love.  They  have  a  child  remarkably 
like  Simone  who  displays  unusual  fairy  tale 
ideas.  She  receives  a  wishing  ring  from  a  de- 
ranged actress  and  wishes  for  a  friend.  The 
friend  comes — Simone  Simon's  ghost — and  she 
is  happy  until  Simone  learns  she's  drawing  fur- 
ther away  from  her  parents,  so  she  disappears. 
The  child  becomes  more  normal,  and  the  end 
has  a  surprise  twist. 

THE  HORN  BLOWS  AT  MIDNIGHT 
(Warners) 

PRODUCER:  Mark  Hellinger.  DIREC- 
TOR: Raoul  Walsh.  PLAYERS:  Jack 
Benny,  Alexis  Smith,  Reginald  Gardiner, 
Guy  Kibbee,  Franklin  Pangborn,  Ethel  Grif- 
fies,  AUyn  Joslyn,  John  Alexander,  Isobel 
Elsom,  Mike  Mazurk^, 

FARCE:  Jack  Bed'^^®'^  'ays  the  part  of  an 
angel  whom  "The  Big  i>  "  sends  down  to 
earth  on  a  special  mission.  Fib ;  i  his  place  play- 
ing the  trombone  in  a  heavenly  band  he's  as- 
signed to  see  that  the  earth  is  destroyed  because 
of  its  corruption.  Several  other  fallen  angels, 
who  have  preceded  him  on  the  same  mission 


try  to  dissuade  him.  When  everything  is  set, 
he's  to  blow  a  blast  upon  his  trombone  at  mid- 
night and  the  earth  will  disintegrate.  Alexis 
Smith  plays  his  heavenly  girl  friend  but  Jack 
is  the  irrepressible  inter-planetary  playboy. 

CHIP  OFF  THE  OLD  BLOCK 
(Universal) 

ASSOCIATE  PRODUCER:  Bernard  Bur- 
ton. DIRECTOR:  Charles  Lament.  PLAY- 
ERS: Donald  O'Connor,  Ann  Blyth,  Helen 
Broderick,  Peggy  Ryan,  Walter  Catlett, 
Arthur  Treacher,  Helen  Vinson. 

COMEDY  WITH  MUSIC.  For  two  gen- 
erations the  seafaring  men  of  the  Corrigan 
family  have  been  bad  medicine  for  the  actresses 
of  the  Marlowe  family.  Grandfather  Corrigan 
jilted  musical  comedy  star  Glory  Marlowe  at 
the  turn  of  the  century.  Later  his  son,  Jud, 
had  a  hectic  love  affair  with  Glory  the  second, 
also  an  actress,  and  the  wedding  was  called  off. 
Finally  Don  Corrigan  falls  for  Glory  the  third, 
with  his  courtship  complicated  by  family  opposi- 
tion and  other  entanglements.  He  finally 
straightens  it  all  out,  puts  Glory  over  on  the 
stage,  and  besides  winning  his  girl  he  brings 
his  father  and  Glory's  mother  together  again. 

AT  NIGHT  WE  DREAM 

(Columbia) 

PRODUCER:  Lou  Edeknan.  DIRECTOR: 
Charles  Vidor.  PLAYERS:  Merle  Oberon, 
Paul  Muni,  Cornel  Wilde,  Howard  Freeman, 
Nina  Foch,  George  Coulouris,  George 
Macready,  Ivan  Triesault,  Maurice  Tauzin, 
Sig  Arno,  Dawn  Bender,  Joan  Frank. 

MUSICAL  DRAMA.  This  _  is  the  _  story 
filmed  in  Technicolor  of  Frederic  Chopin,  his 
music  teacher,  Joseph  Eisner,  and  Chopin's 
great  love.  Miss  George  Sand.  It  traces  the 
life  of  Chopin  from  the  1830's  when  the  Czar 
invaded  Poland  and  the  composer's  part  in  the 
revolutionary  group  in  that  country.  It  hinges 
on  the  struggle  of  his  teacher  to  persuade  him 
to  help  his  revolutionary  friends  and  Miss  Sand 
to  keep  him  to  herself.  She  takes  Chopin  away 
for  a  love  interlude,  but  the  teacher  finally 
wins  out  when  he  shows  how  some  of  his  former 
friends  are  being  mistreated  by  the  Russians. 
Chopin  leaves  his  love  and  tours  Europe  giving 
concerts  to  raise  money  to  aid  the  revolu- 
tionaries. 

AND  NOW  TOMORROW 
(Paramount) 

PRODUCER:  Fred  Kohlmar.  DIREC- 
TOR: Irving  PicheL  PLAYERS:  Loretta 
Young,  Alan  Ladd,  Susan  Hayward,  Barry 
Sullivan,  Cecil  Kellaway,  Beulah  Bondi, 
Grant  Mitchell 

DRAMA.  Two  sisters  in  a  New  England 
town  have  been  left  the  mill  which  supports  the 
community.  Loretta  Young,  engaged  to  Barry 
Sullivan,  loses  her  hearing  through  illness.  The 
other  sister,  Susan  Hayward,  returns  from 
abroad  and  falls  in  love  with  Sullivan.  Miss 
Young  seeks  medical  aid  to  cure  her  deafness 
and  is  about  to  give  up  hope  when  a  doctor  in 
Canada  puts  her  in  touch  with  Alan  Ladd,  who 
is  bitter  against  the  mill  owner  family  for 
wrongs  done  to  his  father.  He  finally  agrees  to 
help  the  girl  with  a  new  method  of  treating 
deafness  he  has  devised,  and  cures  her.  During 
the  treatments  they  fall  in  love  with  each 
other. 


MEET  ME  IN  ST.  LOUIS 
(M-G-M) 

PRODUCER:  Arthur  Freed.  DIREC- 
TOR: Vincente  Minnelli.  PLAYERS: 
Judy  Garland,  Margaret  O'Brien,  Joan  Car- 
roll, Gloria  de  Haven,  Mary  Astor,  Tom 
Drake,  Leon  Ames,  Lucille  Bremer,  Tommy 
Batten,  Hank  Daniels,  Harry  Davenport, 
Hugh  Marlowe,  Robert  SuUy. 

DRAMA  WITH  MUSIC.  This  is  a  nostal- 
gic story  of  a  St.  Louis  family  back  in  the  days 
of  the  centeninal  celebration  marking  the 
Louisiana  Purchase,  with  the  song  "Meet  Me 
in  St.  Louis"  as  the  theme  of  the  picture.  It 
concerns  the  romance  of  the  eldest  daughter, 
Judy,  and  the  boy  next  door,  and  her  father's 
desire  to  go  to  New  York,  which  she  fears  will 
wreck  her  romance. 

OUTLAW'S  ROUNDUP 
(PRC) 

PRODUCER:  Alexander-Stem.  DIREC- 
TOR: Harry  Eraser.  PLAYERS:  Dave 
O'Brien,  Jim  Newill,  Guy  Wilkerson. 

WESTERN  DRAMA.  In  order  to  capture 
a  band  of  cutthroats  hiding  in  Devil's  Gulch, 
the  Texas  Rangers  plant  a  story  of  the  escape 
from  prison  of  their  mysterious  leader  whom 
none  of  the  gang  had  ever  seen  without  a 
mask.  Tex  poses  as  the  bandit  leader  and  gains 
the  confidence  of  the  outlaws,  but  the  bandit 
leader  actually  escapes,  comes  to  Devil's  Gulch 
and  proves  his  identity.  Tex  is  made  prison- 
er, a  cache  of  stolen  gold  is  dug  up,  but  just 
as  the  band  prepares  to  kill  Tex  the  Sheriff 
and  Tex's  pals  ride  to  the  rescue. 

MAKE  YOUR  OWN  BED 
(Warners) 

PRODUCER:  Alex  GottUeb.  DIRECTOR: 
Peter  Godfrey.  PLAYERS:  Jack  Carson, 
Jane  Wyman,  Irene  Manning,  Alan  Hale, 
Faye  Emerson,  George  Tobias,  Ricardo 
Cortez,  Robert  Shajme,  Kurt  Katch,  Monte 
Blue,  Marjorie  Hoshelle,  Lynne  Baggett. 

COMEDY.  A  couple  residing  in  the  coun- 
try are  unable  to  obtain  servants,  due  to  the 
war  and  attendant  manpower  shortage,  with 
most  servants  having  taken  jobs  in  defense  in- 
dustries. They  decide  to  solve  the  problem  by 
employing  a  couple  of  detectives  to  pose  as 
butler  and  maid  to  solve  a  fabricated  crime. 
Carson  and  Miss  Wyman  play  the  detectives, 
find  some  old  love  letters  of  their  mistress  and 
discover  she  is  in  a  serious  predicament,  from 
which  they  extricate  her. 

MEN  ON  HER  MIND 
(PRC) 

PRODUCER:  Alfred  Stem.  DIRECTOR: 
WaUace  Fox.  PLAYERS:  Mary  Beth 
Hughes,  Edward  Norris,  Alan  Edwards,  Ted 
North,  Luis  .Albemi,  Kay  Linaker,  Claire 
Rochelle. 

DRAMA.  Lily  Durrell  looks  back  upon  her 
life  after  a  successful  radio  debut.  The  film 
traces  her  struggles  from  childhood  in  an  or- 
phanage through  a  series  of  adventures  and  mis- 
adventures in  which  three  different  men  fall  in 
love  with  her.  She  is  offered  wealth  and  position 
on  one  hand  and  love  of  a  struggling  professor 
of  music  on  the  other.  After  thinking  over  the 
steps  which  have  led  to  her  success  she  decides 
on  the  latter  and  goes  to  him. 


Product  Digest  Section  1715 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    15,  1944 


SHORT  SUBJECTS  CHART 

index  to  reviews,  synopses 


COLUMBIA 

Prod.  Rel.  P.D. 

No.  Titit  Date  Page 

ALL  STAR  COMEDIEe 
(Avtrag*  17  Mln.) 
M3«    H*r«  Oomei  Mr.  Ztrk. ..  .7-23-43  1415 
(Laagdtii) 

4408    Highar  thM  ■  Kits  7-30-43  1472 

1043-44 

5425  Shot  In  the  Eieap*  8-6-43  1535 

(Gilbert  &  Nazarro) 

5461    I  Can  Hardly  Walt  8-13-43  1535 

(Stooges) 

5426  Fanner  far  a  Day  8-20-43  1535 

(Clyde) 

5427  Quack  Service   9-3-43  1534 

(Una  Merkel) 

5409  PItchIn'  In  the  Kitchen. .9-10-43  1543 

(Herbert) 

5402  Dizzy.  Pllote   9-24-43  1576 

(Stoogei) 

5421    A  Rookie's  Cookie  10-8-43  1598 

(Brendel) 

5428  Garden  of  Eatin'  10-22-43  1637 

(Summervllle) 

5429  You  Dear  Boy  11-4-43  1637 

(Vera  Vague) 

5403  Phony  Express   1 1- 18-43  1637 

(Stooges) 

5430  He  Was  Only  Feudin'. ...  12-3-43  1677 

(Clyde) 

5410  Who's  Hugh?   12-17-43  1697 

(Herbert) 

5404  A  Gem  of  a  Jam  12-30-43  1697 

(Stooges) 

5431  To  Heir  Is  Human  1-14-44   

(Langdon) 

5432  Dr.  Feel  My  Pulse  1-21-44  .... 

(Vague) 

5405  Crash  Goes  the  Hash  2-5-44   

(Stooges) 

5433  Bachelor  Daze   2-17-44   

(Summerville) 

5434  His  Tale  Is  Told  3-4-44  .... 

(Clyde) 

COLOR  RHAPSODIES 

(Average  7  Minutes) 

4510  He  Can't  Make  It  Stick.  .7-23-43  1415 

4511  A  Hunting  We  Won't  Go  . 8-23-43  1472 

IS43-44 

5501  The  Rocky  Ruin  to  Ruin .  10-22-43  1535 

5502  Imagination   11-19-43  1659 

5503  The    Herring  Murder 

Mystery   1-20-44   

PHANTASIES  CARTOONS 
(Average  9  Min.) 

4710  The  Fly  in  the  Ointment.  .7-23-43  1415 

4711  Dizzy   Newsreel   8-27-43  1472 

1943-44 

5701  Nursery  Crimes   10-8-43  1698 

5702  The  Cocky  Bantam  11-12-43  1637 

5703  The  Playful  Pest  12-3-43  1677 

5704  Polly  Wants  •   Doctor. ...  1-6-44   

5705  Magic  Strength   2-4-44   

5706  Lionel  Lion   3-3-44   

FOX  &  CROW 
(8  Minutes) 

5751  Room  and  Bored  9-30-43  1576 

5752  Way  Down  Yonder  In  the 

Corn   i  1-25-43  1659 

5753  The  Dream  Kids  2-25-44  .... 

FILM  VODVIL 
(10  Minutes) 

5951    No.  I  Mousia    Powell  9-i0-43  1607 


For  information  on  short  subjects  turn  to  the  Product 
Digest  Section  pages  indicated  by  the  numbers  which 
follow  the  titles  and  release  dates  in  the  listing.  Product 
Digest  pages  are  numbered  consecutively  and  are  sepa- 
rate from  Motion  Picture  Herald  page  numbers.  For 
1942-43  shoj't  subject  releases,  prior  to  July,  1943,  see 
pages  1510,  1511  and  1512. 


Prod. 

No. 


Title 


Rel. 
Date 


P.D. 
Page 


5952  No.  2  Cootie   Williams. ...  I0-S-4S  1598 

5953  No.  3  Featuring  Zeb 

Carver   11-19-43  1637 

5954  No.  4  This  is  Ft.  Dix. ...  1-7-44  .... 

COMMUNITY  SING  (Series  7) 
(9  Minutes) 

5651  No.  I  On  a  Wing  and 

a  Prayer   7-29-43  1472 

5652  No.  2  Delta  Rhythm  Boys. 8-27-43  1535 

5653  No.  3  Patriotic  Songs. ..  .9-24-43  1543 
6634    No.  4  Baby  Smiles  at  Me.  10-22-43  1637 

5655  No.  6  Whistlin'  In 

Wyomin'   11-25-43  .... 

5656  No.  6  Pistol  Packin' 

Mama   12-10-43  1697 

5657  No.  7  Christmas  Carols. .  12-24-43  1697 

5658  No.  8  Aiouette   1-28-44  1718 

PANORAMICS 
(Average  9  Minutes) 

3901    Birds  on  the  Wing  8-26-43  1536 

5902  Babies  by  Bannister  10-1-43  1676 

5903  Camera    Digest   1-14-44   

SCREEN  SNAPSHOTS  (Series  22) 
(10  Minutes) 

5851  No.  i   8-15-43  1534 

5852  No.  2   9-17-43  1543 

5853  No.  3   10-15-43  1597 

5854  No.  4   11-19-43  1637 

5855  No.  5   12-17-43  1659 

5856  No.  6   1-14-44   

5857  No.  7   2-18-14   

WORLD   OF  SPORTS 
(10  Minutes) 
4809    Sweeping  Oars   7-29-43  1472 


1943-44 

5801 

Kings  of  Basketball.  .  . , 

.8-27-43 

IS35 

5802 

IS7S 

5803 

Champ  of  Champions  

.10-29-43 

1637 

5804 

Ten   Pin  Aces  

.11-26-43 

1659 

5805 

12-24-43 

1718 

5806 

Follow  Through   

..2-18-44 

5807 

Golden  Gloves   

..3-17-44 

Li'L  ABNER 

5601 

Amoozin'  but  Confoozin' 

. .  1  -28-44 

M-G-M 


TWO    REEL  SPECIALS 
(Average  20  Minutes) 

A-403   Shoe  Shine  Boy  12-25-43  1718 

FITZPATRICK   TRAVELTALKS  (Color) 
(0  Minutes) 

T-420   Seenie  Oregon   6-26-43  1387 

T-421    Glimpses  of  Mexico  8-21-43  IS35 

T-422    Over  the  Andes  9-25-43  1598 

1943-44 

T-5II   Thru  the  Colorado 

Rockies   10-23-43  1637 


Prod.                                 Rel.  P.D. 

No.          Title                  Date  Page 

T-512    Grand  Canyon — Pride  of 

Creation   11-27-43  1677 

T-513   Salt  Lake  Diversions. ..  12-25-43  1697 

T-514    Day  in  Death  Valley. ...  1-22-44   

PETE  SMITH  SPECIALTIES 
(Average  9  Minutes) 

S-460   Seventh  Column   7-31-43  1472 

S-470   Scrap   Happy   9-4-43  1535 

S-471    Fixin'  Tricks   9-18-43  1597 

S-472    Football  Thrills  of  1942.. 9-25-43  iSOS 

S-473    Tips  on  Trips  11-13-43  1659 

S-474    Water  Wisdom   11-27-43  1697 

1943-44 

S-551    Practical   Joker   1-8-44   

PASSING  PARADE 

(Average  10  Minutes) 

K-485   Trifle*  That  Win  Wars.  .7-17-43  1430 

K-486    Forgotten  Treasure   ....7-24-43  1460 

K-487    Nursery  Rhyme  Mysteries. 7-31-43  1460 

K-48S   Storm   10-23-43  1598 

K-489   To  My  Unborn  Son. ...  10-30-43  1637 

K-490   This  Is  Tomorrow  11-27-43  1659 

MINIATURES 

(10  Minutes) 

M-439   Journey  to  Yesterday. .  .7-17-43  1460 

M-440    Ode  to  Victory  7-31-43  1512 

1943-44 

M-58(    My  Tomato   12-4-43  1697 

M-582    Kid  in  Upper  Four. ...  12-25-43  1718 

M-583    No  News  is  Good  News.  12- 18-43  1697 

OUR    GANG  COMEDIES 
(Average  10  Minutes) 

C-496    Election  Daze   7-31-43  1835 

C-497    Little  Miss  Pinkerton. .  .9-18-43  1698 

C-498   Thrao  Smart  Guys  10-23-43  1837 

TECHNICOLOR  CARTOONS 
(Average  8  Minutes) 

W-450   The  Uninvited  Pest  7-17-43  1442 

W-451    One  Ham's  Family  8-14-43  1535 

W-452   War  Dogs   10-9-43  I59S 

W-453   Stork's  Holiday   10-23-43  1598 

W-454   What's  Buzzin' 

Buzzard   11-27-43  1659 

W-455    Baby  Puss   12-25-43  1697 

SPECIAL  RELEASE 

X-460    These  Are  the  Men  9-1-43  1496 


PARAMOUNT 


UNUSUAL   OCCUPATIONS  (Color) 
(Average  10  Minutes) 
L2-6    No.  6    9-17-43  1576 

1943-44 

L3-I    No.   I   11-12-43  1659 

L3-2    No.   2   1-7-44  .... 

SUPERMAN   COLOR  CARTOONS 
(Average  8  Minutes) 
W2-5   Superman,  Secret  Agent.  .7-30-43  1430 


Prod.  Rel.  P.D 

No.  Title  Date  Page 

HEADLINERS 
(Average  10  Minutes) 

A2-I0  Sing,    Helen,    Sing  8-6-43  1512 

A2-1I  Three  Bears  in  a  Boat.  .8-20-43  1535 

A2- 12. Yours  Truly   9-3-43  1576 

A2-I3  Down  with   Everything ..  .9-24-43  1617 

MADCAP    MODELS  (Color) 
(Average   7  Minutes) 

U2-6    The  Truck  That  Flow  8-6-43  I43U 

1943-44 

U3-I    Jasper  Goes  Fishing  10-8-43  1543 

U3-2    Goodnight  Rusty   12-3-43  1659 

U3-3    Package  for  Jasper  1-21-44   

POPEYE  THE  SAILOR 
(Average  7  Minutes) 

E2-I0  Happy  BIrthdaze   7-16-43  IS3S 

E2-I1  Wood   Peekin'   8-6-43  1535 

E2- 12  Cartoons  Ain't  Human..    .9-3-43  r543 

1943-44 

E3-I  Her  Honor  the  Mare.. .  1 1-26-43  1658 
E3.2    Marry  Go  Round  12-31-43  .. 

POPULAR   SCIENCE  (Color) 

(10  Minutes) 
J2-6    No.  6   8-13-43  I50B 


1943-44 


J3-I 
J3-2 


No.  I 
No.  2 


 10-15-43  1637 

 12-10-43  1677 


SPEAKING  OF  ANIMALS 
(Average  9  Minutes) 
Y2-5   Speaking  of  Animals  in 

the  Garden   8-20-43  1643 

Y2-6   Speaking  of  Animals  In 

the  Desert   t-24-43  ISI7 

1943-44 

Y3-1    Tails  of  the  Border  12-17-43  1677 

Y3-2    in  Winter  Quarters  1-28-44   

SPORTLIGHTS 
(Average  ID  Minutes) 

R2-9   Where  Cactus  Grows  7-30-43  1430 

R2-I0  All  Sails  Set  9-10-43  1506 


1943-44 

R3-1  Mermaids  on  Parade. 
R3-2    Ozark  Sportsmen  . . . 

R3-3    G.  1.  Fun  

R3-4  Swimcapades   


...10-22-43  1637 

...11-19-43  1637 

...12-24-43  1677 

....1-14-44  .... 


MUSICAL  PARADE 
(20  Minutes) 

FF3-I    MardI  Qras   10-1-43  ISOe 

FF3-2    Caribbean    Romance  12-17.43  1659 

FF3-3    Lucky  Cowboy   2-11-44   


LITTLE  LULU 

D3-I    Eggs   Don't  Bounce  1-28-44 

D3-2    Hullaba-iulu   2-25-44 


NOVELTOON 

P3-I  No  Mutton  fer  Nuttin' ..  II -26-43  1677 
P3-2    Hen  Pecked  Rooster  2-18-44   


RKO  . 


V!-  DISNEY   CARTOONS  (Color) 

/'  (7  Minutes) 

34.106  Victory   Vehicles   7-30-43  1430 

34.107  Reason  and  Emotion  8-27-43  1535 


1716  Product  Digest  Section 


January    15,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


Prod.  Rel.  PJ). 

No.  Title  Date  Pagi 

34.108  Figaro  and  Cleo  I0-I5-43  1597 

34.109  The  Old  Army  Game. ..  1 1-5-43  1637 

34.110  Home  Defense   11-26-43  I65S 

34.111  Chicken    Little   12-17-43  1718 

SPORTSCOPE 
(Average  9  Minutes) 

34.310  RMlng    Royalty   7-21-43  1374 

34.311  Cloud  Chasers   6-18-43  1415 

34.312  Champion  Maker   7-16-43  1472 

34.313  Barnyard  Golf   8-13-43  1576 

IM3-44 

44.301  Field  Trial  Champions.  .9-10-43  1598 

44.302  Joe  KIrkwood   10-8-43  1596 

44.303  Stars  and   Strikes  11-5-43  1659 

44.304  Mountain  Anglers   12-3-43  1677 

HEADLINER  REVIVALS 
(Avorags  19  Minutes) 

43.201  Harris  In  the  Sprlno..  . 9-10-43  1543 

43.202  Rhythm  on  the 

Rampage   tO-8-43  1576 

43.203  Romancing  Along   11-5-43  1658 

43.204  Music  Will  Tell  12-3-43  1677 

EDQAR  KENNEDY 
(Average  17  MIn.) 

43.401  Not  on  My  Account  9-17-43  1598 

43.402  Unlucky  Dog   11-12-43  1637 

LEON  ERROL 
(Average  17  Minutes) 

43.701  Seeing  Nellie  Home  B-3-43  1598 

43.702  Cutle  on  Duty  1.0-29-43  1637 

43.703  Wedtima  Stories   12-24-43  1598 

VICTORY  SPECIALS 
34,204    Oil   Is  Blood  0-23-43  1617 

FLICKER  FLASH  BACKS 
(Average  9  Minutes) 

44.201  No.  I   9-3-43  1535 

44.202  No.  2   10-1-43  1576 

44.203  No.  S   10-29-43  1606 

44.204  No.  4   11-26-43  1659 

44.205  No.  5   12-24-43  1677 

«4,206  No.  6   1-21-44  1718 

THIS  IS  AMERICA 
(Average  10  MIn.) 

33.110  Broadway  DIm-Out   7-30-43  1472 

33.111  Arctic  Passage   8-28-43  1522 

33.112  Age  of  Flight  10-1-43  1576 

33.113  Children  of  Mars  10-21-43  1606 

1943-44 

43.101  Sailors  All   11-19-43  1654 

43.102  Letter  to  a  Hero  12-17-43  1677 

43.103  New  Prisons— New  Men  1-14-44  1718 


20TH  CENTURY-FOX 

MOVIETONE  ADVENTURES  (Color) 
(Average  9  Minutes) 

4251  Flying  Gunners   9-24-43  1543 

4252  Snowland  Sentinels   ll-iS-43  1543 

4253  Leathernecks  on  Parade. .. i-14-44  1718 


(Black  and  White) 
4201    Sails  Aloft   3-31-44  1659 

MAGIC  CARPET  (Color) 
(9  Minutes) 

4151  Mormon  Trails   8-20-43  1534 

4152  Coast  of  Strategy  IO-IS-43  1543 

4156    Kingdom   of   Treasure  12-3-43  1658 

4134    A  Volcano  Is  Born  12-24-43  1718 

4155    Realm   of   Royalty  2-4-44  1718 

4153  Steamboat  on  the  River. .  .3- 10-44  1659 

SPORTS  REVIEWS 

(Averaee  9  MIn.) 

4301  Dog  Sense   B-3-43  1543 

4302  Sport  Stars  in  War  10-29-43  1576 


Prod. 
No. 


Titli 


Ret.  P.D 
Datt  Paat 


Prod. 

No. 


Titlt 


Rel.  P.D. 
Date  Page 


TERRYTOONS  (Technicolor) 
(7  Minirtes) 

4501  Mighty  Mease  Rides  Agala  8-6-43  1635 

4502  Camouflage   1-27-43  1534 

4503  Somewhere  In  Egypt  9-17-43  IS43 

4504  Down  with   Cats  10-7-43  1543 

4505  Aladdin's  Lamp  10-22-43  1576 

4506  Lion  and  the  Moust  11-12-43  1637 

4507  Yokel  Duck  Makes  Good .  1 1 -26-43  1650 

4508  The   Hopeful   Donkey  12-17-43  1658 

4510  The  Helicopter   1-21-44  1697 

4509  The  Butcher  of  Seville  1-7-44  1658 

4511  Wreck  af  the  Hesperus.. .  .2-1 1-44  1658 


MARCH  OF  TIME 

(Average   18  Minutes) 

V9-i2  Bill  Jack  vs.  Adolf  Hltlar.7-I6-4S  1430 
Vg-13  And  Then  Japan  8-13-43  1472 

1043-44 

VIO-I    Airways  to  Peace  9-10-43  1543 

V  i  0-2   Portugal— Europe's 

Crossroads   10-8-43  1060 

VIO-3    Youth  la  Crisis  11-6-43  1600 

VIO-4   Naval  Log  of  Victory. ..  12-3-43  I6S8 

ViO-5    Upbeat  in  Music  12-31-43  1697 

DRIBBLE    PIfSS  PARADE 
(0  Minutes) 
4901    Fuss  and   Feather*  IO-2t-4*  1617 

AMERICA  SPEAKS 
3852    Women  In  Blue  7-16-43  1535 


UNITED  ARTISTS 


WORLD  IN  ACTION 
(21  Minutes) 
War  for  Men's  Mioda... .0-13-43  1912 
The  Labor  Front  11-19-43  1658 

(12  Minutes) 
Raid   Report   11-12-43  1718 


UNIVERSAL 


7248 


COLOR  CARTUNE 
(Average  7  MIn.) 
Ration  Bond   7-16-43 


1943-44 

8L37    Meatless  Tuesday   12-20-43 


1512 


1658 


1943-44 


8354  Wings  in  Record  Time. .  12-27-43  1697 

8355  Amazing  Metropolis   1-17-44   

8356  Magazine  Model   1-24-44   

8357  Animal  Tricks   2-21-44   


MUSICALS 
(Average  15  MIn.) 

7131  Smoke  Rings   7-28-43  1472 

7132  South  Sea  Rhythms  8-25-43  1472 

1943-44 

8121  Hit  Tune  Serenade  9-29-43  IS43 

8122  8we«t  Jam   10-27-43  1698 

8123  Choo-Choo  Swing   11-24-43  1658 

8124  Radio  Melodies   12-29-43  1658 

8125  New  Orleans  Blues  1-26-44  1718 

8126  Sweet  Swing   2-23-44  .... 


VITAPHONE 


TECHNICOLOR  SPECIALS 

(Average   19  Minutes) 
8005    Mountain    Fighters   8-7.43  1460 

1943-44 

9001  Woman  at  War  10-2-43  1543 

9002  Behind  the  Bl|  Top. . . .  I  i-27-43  1658 

9003  Task   Force   12-11-43  1677 

FEATURETTES 
(20  Minutes) 

9101  Voice  That  Thrilled  the 

World   10-16-43  1698 

9102  Over  the  Wail   12-25-43  1718 

SPORTS  PARADE 
(Average  10  Minutes) 

8412  Snow    SporU   7-24-43  1460 

8413  Dude  Ranch  Buskaroo*. ..  .0-14-43  1643 


9501 
9502 

9503 
9504 


8510 


1943-44 

Tropical  Sportland   10-0-43  1697 

Desert  Playground   11-13-43  1598 

Into  the  Clouds  1-1-44  1718 

Baa  Baa  Blacksheep  1-22-44   

MELODY  MASTER  BANDS 
(10  Minutes) 
U.  8.  Service  Bands  7-24-43  1442 


Prod.  Rtl.  P.D. 

No.  Titlt  Date  Page 

8721  Fin-n-Catty   10-23-43  1535 

8722  Falling  Hare   I0-80-4S  IW7 

8723  Inki  and  the  Minah  Bird. 1 1-13-43  1637 

8724  An  Itch  in  Time  12-4-43  1658 

8725  Little  Red  Riding 

Rabbitt   i-i-44  1659 

8726  What's  Cookin',    Doc7        1-8-44  1659 

1943-44 

9701  Meatless  Fly-Day  1-29-44   

9702  Tom  Turk  &  Daffy  2-12-44  .... 

SANTE   FE   TRAIL  WESTERNS 
(Average  20  Minutes) 

9107  Oklahoma  Outlaws   9-4-43  1543 

9108  Wagon  Wheels  West  10-30-43  1698 

9109  Gun  to  Gun  1-8-44   

VITAPHONE  VARIETIES 
(Average  0  Minutes) 

9401  Our  Alaskan  Frontltr  11-13-43  1637 

9402  Bees  A'Buzzia'   0-18-43  1506 

9403  Hunting  the  Devil  Cat. ..  12-18-43  1718 


OFFICIAL   U.  S.   VICTORY  FILMS 
(Distributed  by  Various  Major  Exchanges) 

Wings  Up   1315 

Mission  Accomplished    1329 

Message  from  Malta   1307 

War  Town    U87 

Black  Marketing    IS3S 

Glamour  Girls  of  1943   1557 

Last  Will  and  Testament  of  Tom  Smith  1576 

Day  of  Battle   1017 

Suggestion  Box    1017 

Chief  Nelly  Reports  to  the  Nation   I65» 

Brothers  in  Blood   1650 

Family  Fued    1650 

Food  and  Magic   1659 

Destination:  island  X   1697 

BRITISH   MINISTRY  OF  INFORMATION 

Silent  Village    I4IS 

In  the  Drink   1496 

Those  Are  the  Men   1496 

The  Last  Hazard   1400 

Common  Cause    1534 

Women  of  Britain   1534 

I  Was  a  Fireman   1677 

Before  the  Raid   1697 

Danger  Area    1718 

MISCELLANEOUS 
War  In  the  Mediterranean 

(English  Films)    1415 

Trade  Horizons  (Scheftei)   1677 

Avengers  Over  Europe   1697 

(Telenews) 


SWING  SYMPHONIES 
(Average  7  MIn.) 
7235    Pass  the  Biscuit*  Mlrandy.0-23-43  1812 

1943-44 

8231    Boogie  Woogle  Man  9-27-43  1557 

R332    Greatest  Man  in  Siam   1718 

PERSON— ODDITIES 
(Average  9  Mia.) 

7382  Western  Cowgirl   7-19-43  1472 

7383  Cactus  Artist   8-23-43  1472 

1943-44 

8371  Wizard  of  Autos   9-20-43  1567 

8372  Farmer  Gene  Sarazen  10-25-43  1597 

8373  Fannie  Hurst  and  Her 

Pets   11-22-43  1637 

8374  World's  Youngest  Aviator.  12-20-43  .... 

8375  Mrs.  Lowell  Thomas  Fur 

Farmer   1-31-44   

8376  The   Barefoot  Judge  2-28-44   

VARIETY  VIEWS 
(9  Minutes) 

7362  Any  Chicken  Today?  7-26-43  1612 

7363  Yukon  Outpost   8-30-43  1512 

8351  Who's  Next   9-27-43  1535 

8352  l-A    Dogs   10-18-43  1557 

8353  Mister  Chimp  Raises 

Rain   11-29-43  1658 


1943-44 

9601  Hit  Parade  of  the  Gay 

Nineties   9-18-43  1598 

9602  Sweetheart  Serenade   10-23-43  1598 

9603  Cavalcade  of  the  Dance. .  1 1-20-43  1698 

9604  Freddie  Fisher  and  his 

Band   12-18-43  1688 

9605  Ted  Weems  and  His 

Merchant  Marin*  Band ..  i -29-44   


LOONEY  TUNES  CARTOONS 

(Average  7  Minutes) 

8610  Scrap  Happy  Daffy  8-21-43  1535 

8611  Porky  Pig's   Feet  7-17-43  1460 

8612  Daffy  the  Commando  11-20-43  1658 

8613  Puss  'N  Booty  12-11-43  1658 

BLUE    RIBBON    MERRIE  MELODIES 
(Average  7  Minutes) 

9301  A  Feud  There  Was  9-11-43  1543 

9302  Early  Worm  Gets  the  Bird  10-2-43  1576 

9303  My  Little  Buckaroo  11-6-43  1637 

9304  Fighting  691/2   12-4-43  1677 

9305  Cross  Country  Detours  1-15-44  .... 

MERRIE  MELODIES  CARTOONS  (Color) 
(Average  7  Minutes) 

8717  Tin   Pan  Alley  Cats  7-17-43  1466 

8718  WackikI  Wabbit   7-3-43  1460 

8719  Hiss  and  Make  Up  9-11-43  1460 

8720  Corny  Concert*   9-2S-43  1635 


SERIALS 
COLUMBIA 


1943-44 


5120   Th*  Batmaa   7-16-43  1415 

(15  episodes) 

5160  The  Phantom   .12-24-43  1697 

(15  *pls*d*s) 


REPUBLIC 

284  Secret  Servlee  In  Darkest 

Africa   7-24-43  1365 

(16  episodes) 

1943-44 

381  The  Masked  Marvel  11-6-43  1576 

(12  episodes) 

382  Captain  America   1-29-44  1718 

(15  episodes) 


UNIVERSAL 


1943-44 

8681-93    Don  Wlnslow  of  the 

Coast  Guard   7-6-43  1227 

(13  episodes) 
8781-93    Adventures  of  th* 

Flying  CadeU   0-7-43  1557 

(IS  episodes) 


Product  Digest  Section  1717 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


SHORT  SUBJECTS 

reviews  and  synopses 


January    15,  1944 


FLICKER  FLASHBACKS.  NO.  6 
(RKO-Pathe) 

44206 

Those  who  saw  D.  W.  Griffith  in  "The 
Eagle's  Nest"  in  an  earlier  issue  of  this  series 
will  be  able  to  follow  his  career  in  a  later 
opus,  "At  the  Crossroads  of  Life."  He  is  the 
smooth  suitor  of  a  young  woman  who  has 
taken  to  the  stage  against  the  stern  precepts  of 
her  father.  The  second  feature  is  a  William  S. 
Hart  thriller,  "The  Fugitive,"  in  which  Bill 
runs  afoul  of  the  law  and  meets  an  untimely 
end  at  the  hands  of  the  Indians. 
Release  date,  January  21,  1944  minutes 

CHICKEN  LITTLE  (RKO) 

Disney  Cartoon  (34,111) 

Disney  has  taken  the  old  story  of  the  rumor 
that  the  sky  had  fallen  and  its  spread  through 
the  barnyard,  added  a  good  dose  of  "Mein 
Kampf"  and  turned  out  a  fable  of  very  modern 
politics.  Mr.  Fox  starts  the  rumor,  choosing 
Chicken  Little  as  the  weakest  link  in  tne  com- 
munity, and  winds  up  with  a  fine  chicken  dinner. 
Release  date,  December  17,  1943        9  minutes 

SHOE  SHINE  BOY  (MSM) 

Special  (A-403) 

This  is  a  story  with  music,  comedy  and  a  bit 
of  a  heart  throb.  Melvin  Bryant  plays  a  boy 
trying  to  earn  enough  money  to  buy  a  $2  trum- 
pet. He  lands  a  spot  in  a  cafe  with  the  help 
of  Sam  Levene  and  Walter  Catlett,  and  makes 
good.  When  a  generous  contract  is  brought  for 
his  signature,  he  turns  it  down,  explaining  that 
he  only  wanted  to  practice  to  be  a  good  bugler 
for  Uncle  Sam's  Army. 

Release  date,  December  25,  1943      15  minutes 

THE  KID  IN  UPPER  4  (MGM) 

Miniature  (M-582) 

The  "kid"  is  just  a  youngster  in  uniform  on 
a  train  going  to  an  unknown  future  and  dream- 
ing of  a  still  familiar  past.  The  camera  goes 
back  to  his  family,  the  young  people  with  whom 
he  grew  up  and  the  girj  who's  waiting  for  him. 
The  central  character  is  played  by  Tommy 
Batten. 

Release  date,  December  25,  1943     IOV2  minutes 

CAPTAIN  AMERICA  (Rep.) 

Chapter  Play  (382) 

The  character  of  a  crusading  district  attorney, 
who  becomes  the  adventuring  "Captain  Ameri- 
ca" to  gather  evidence  for  his  difficult  cases,  has 
been  transplanted  from  the  comic  feature  to  the 
screen  in  Republic's  latest  serial.  Dick  Purcell 
plays  the  dual  role,  assisted  by  Lorna  Gray, 
with  Lionel  Atwill,  Charles  Trowbridge,  Russell 
Hicks,  Georpe  J.  Lewis  and  John  Davidson  in 
the  supporting  cast. 

The  case  combines  Eastern  mystery  and  mod- 
ern racket-busting,  as  an  archaeologist  sets  out 
to  kill  the  surviving  members  of  his  expedition 
by  means  of  the  poison  known  as  "The  Purple 
Death."  He  has  also  acquired  the  "Thunder 
Bolt,"  a  death-dealing  machine,  and  gains  ac- 
cess to  a  Life  Restoring  machine.  His  identity  is 
in  doubt  for  some  time,  but  evidence  pointing 
to  his  guilt  piles  up  with  each  episode  until 
the  District  Attorney  is  convinced  and  closes  in. 

John  English  and  Elmer  Clifton  directed  the 
serial,  with  W.  J.  O'Sullivan  listed  as  associate 
producer.  Royal  Cole,  Ronald  Davidson,  Basil 
Dickey,  Jesse  Duffy,  Harry  Eraser,  Grant  Nel- 
son and  Joseph  Poland  all  had  a  hand  in  the 
screenplay. 

Release  date,  January  29,  1944  15  episodes 
1718  Product  Digest  Section 


Reviews  and  synopses  of  short 
subjects  printed  in  Product  Digest 
are  indexed  in  the  Short  Subjects 
Chart,    Product    Digest  Section, 

pages  1716-1717. 


DANGER  AREA 

British  Ministry  of  Information 

This  is  a  brief  pictorial  report  of  the  produc- 
tion of  new  explosives  for  war  in  a  British 
factory.  It  follows  an  order  from  the  British 
Admiralty  from  its  receipt,  through  the  un- 
ceasing 24-hour  schedule,  to  delivery.  M-G-M 
is  distributing  the  subject. 

10  minutes 

NEW  ORLEANS  BLUES  (Univ.) 

Musical  (6125) 

The  music  of  Louis  Prima's  orchestra,  the 
singing  of  Ray  Eberle  and  a  collection  of  torch 
ballads  are  the  ingredients.  Numbers  include 
"All  or  Nothing  at  All,"  "Black  Magic,"  "So, 
Good  Night"  and  "Way  Down  Yonder  in  New 
Orleans." 

Release  date,  January  26,  1944      IS  minutes 

GREATEST  MAN  IN  SIAM  (Univ.) 

Siving  Symphony  (8232) 

This  is  the  fable  of  the  wealthy  king  and  his 
beautiful  and  marriageable  daughter  brought  up 
to  date.    The  winner  of  the  maiden's  affections 
is  the  hottest  trumpet  player  in  town. 
Release  date,  not  set  7  minutes 

REALM  OF  ROYALTY  (20tli-Fox) 

Magic  Carpet  (4155) 

These  are  further  pictures,  filmed  in  Cine- 
color,  brought  back  by  the  Thaw  expedition 
into  India.  The  scenes  are  colorful  ones  of 
great  riches  in  the  palaces  of  the  local  rulers, 
and  industry  and  poverty  among  the  subjects. 
Lowell  Thomas  is  again  the  commentator. 
Release  date,  February  4,  1943  9  minutes 

COMMUNITY  SING.  NO.  8  (Col.) 

5658 

Songs  of  this  war  and  last  are  combined  in 
this  feature  as  Don  Baker  at  the  organ  and  the 
Song  Spinners  lead  the  way  in  "Alouette,"  "It's 
a  Long  Way  to  Tipperary,"  "Let's  Make  a  Job 
of  It  Now,"  "Bless  'Em  All"  and  "I've  Got 
Sixpence." 

Release  date,  January  28,  1944  9  minutes 

WINGED  TARGETS  (Col.) 

World  of  Sports  (4809) 

Along  the  border  between  California  and  Ore- 
gon a  camera  crew  stopped  to  catch  the  flight 
of  birds  migrating  to  Southern  California.  There 
are  great  numbers  of  ducks  and  geese,  to  whet 
the  appetite  of  the  hunter  and  provide  photo- 
graphic shots  of  great  beauty. 
Release  date,  December  24,  1943       10  minutes 

A  VOLCANO  IS  BORN  (20th-Fox) 

Magic  Carpet  (4154) 

This  is  another  view  of  Mexico  dealing  with 
its  coastal  people  and  their  way  of  life.  The 
climax  of  the  reel  is  an  unusual  spectacle — the 
emergence  of  a  volcano — filmed  in  Technicolor 
for  the  first  time.  Lowell  Thomas  reads  the 
commentary. 

Release  date,  December  24,  1943        9  minutes 


OVER  THE  WALL  (WB) 

Featurette  (9102) 

The  two-reel  featurette,  adapted  from  a  story 
by  Matt  Taylor,  tells  of  a  penitentiary  chaplain 
and  an  unrepentant  criminal.  The  chaplain  has 
never  managed  much  of  a  talk  with  Benny,  but 
he  knows  where  to  look  when  the  man  breaks 
jail.  Both  of  them  make  their  pretenses  and 
the  convict  is  returned  and  smuggled  in.  Dane 
Clark,  Tom  Tully,  Clarence  Muse  and  William 
B.  Davidson  are  in  the  cast. 
Release  date,  December  25,  1943      20  minutes 

INTO  THE  CLOUDS  (WB) 

Sports  Parade  (9503) 

The  Quartermaster  Corps  tests  equipment  for 
the  men  of  the  Ski  Patrol  on  Mount  McKinley. 
Dog  teams  haul  it  up  the  mountain  to  the  point 
where  the  cold  becomes  too  intense.  From  there 
on  the  men  proceed  alone,  testing  nets  and  in- 
struments, safety  devices  and  lotions.  Some 
climb  to  the  top  of  the  peak  for  a  view  of  the 
surrounding  country. 

Release  date,  January  1,  1944  10  minutes 

HUNTING  THE  DEVIL  CAT  (WB) 

Vitapkone  Varieties  (9403) 

Howard  Hill  goes  after  jaguar,  cougar  and 
black  bear  with  his  bow  and  arrow.  The  "devil 
cat"  of  the  title  is  the  jaguar  who  wins  out  over 
the  other  two.  He  is  taken  alive  by  lasso,  and 
the  bear  is  caught  and  caged.  But  there  is  a 
final  demonstration  of  the  Hill  technique  in  the 
bagging  of  another  jaguar  single-handed  with 
a  few  well-placed  shots. 

Release  date,  December  18,  1943      10  minutes 

LEATHERNECKS  ON  PARADE  (20th-Fox) 

Movietone  Adventures  (4253) 

This  is  a  view  of  Marine  "boot"  training 
taken  at  the  San  Diego  base  in  California.  It 
follows  the  recruit  through  from  his  first  timid 
days  to  his  mastery  of  fighting  techniques  while 
the  familiar  Marine  Hymn  is  played  in  the 
background. 

Release  date,  January  14,  1944  9]^  minutes 
RAID  REPORT  (UA) 

British  Ministry  of  Information 

The  large  part  photography  plays  in  deter- 
mining the  success  of  bombing  raids  is  the 
timely  subject  of  this  short  produced  by  the 
IBritish  Ministry  of  Information  and  distributed 
here  by  United  Artists.  The  air  assaults  on 
Hamburg,  Cologne  and  Genoa  are  reviewed  and 
photographs  matched  with  shots  of  the  same 
territory  before  the  raid. 

Release  date,  November  12,  1943      12  minutes 

NEW  PRISONS— NEW  MEN  (RKO-Pathe) 

This  Is  America 

This  series  renews  its  interest  in  the  cause 
of  social  welfare  with  a  survey  of  the  modern 
prison.  Taking  as  its  example  the  large  and 
well-equipped  Southern  Michigan  State  Prison, 
it  follows  the  rehabilitation  work  provided  for 
two  new  inmates.  The  younger  man  receives 
academic  and  vocational  training  after  aptitude 
tests  have  proven  his  ability  to  profit  by  them, 
and  is  finally  paroled  to  take  a  place  in  society 
for  which  he  has  been  adequately  fitted.  The 
farmer  is  taught  modern  agricultural  methods 
while  cultivating  a  state  farm.  Frederic  Ullman, 
Jr.,  has  produced  another  instructive  short  with 
a  fairly  wide  appeal,  although  the  nature  of  the 
subject  precluded  a  more  dramatic  presentation. 
Release  date,  January  14,  1944         17  minutes 


January    15,    1944  MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 

SERVICE  DATA 

on  features 


Battle  of  Russia  (20th-Fox) 

Audience  Classification — General 

Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-2 

Round  Table  Exploitation— Dec.  18,  '43,  p.  64. 

Corvette  K-225  (Univ.) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-1 
Picture  Gross,  Overall  Performance — 106.1% 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Nov.  13,  '43,  p.  54 ; 
Dec.  11,  '43,  p.  50;  Jan.  1,  '44,  p.  58. 

Crazy  House  (Univ.) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-1 
Picture  Gross,  Overall  Performance  107.8% 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Nov..  27,  '43,  p.  68 ; 
Dec.  11,  '43,  p.  50;  Dec.  25,  '43,  p.  67. 

The  Cross  of  Lorraine  (M-G-M) 

Audience  Classification — General 

Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  B 

Round  Table  Exploitation— Jan.  8,  '44,  p.  85. 

The  Desert  Song  (WB) 

Audience  Classification — General 

Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  B 

Round  Table  Exploitation— Jan.  1,  '44,  p.  60. 

Destination,  Tokyo  (WB) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating— Class  A-1 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Dec.  4,  '43,  p.  56 ; 
Dec.  11,  '43,  p.  50. 

The  Fallen  Sparrow  (RKO) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-2 
Round  Table  Exploitation — Dec.  4,  '43,  p.  56. 

Flesh  and  Fantasy  (Univ.) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — -Class  A-2 
Round  Table  Exploitation— -Nov.  20,  '43,  p.  62; 
Dec.  4,  '43;  p.  54;  Dec.  18,  '43,  p.  60. 

For  Whom  the  Bell  Tolls  (Para.) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  B 
Picture  Gross,  Overall  Performance— 167.1% 
Round  Table  Exploitation — Sept.  25,  '43,  p.  54 ; 

Oct.  16,  '43,  p.  54;  Dec.  11,  '43,  p.  51;  Dec. 

18,  '43,  p.  63;  Dec.  25,  '43,  p.  69. 

The  Gang's  All  Here  (20th-Fox) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-2 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Dec.  18,  '43,  p.  63 ; 
•  Jan.  1,  '44,  p.  60. 

Girl  Crazy  (M-G-M) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-1 
Picture  Gross,  Overall  Performance — 119.5% 
Round  Table  Exploitation — Jan.  1,  '44,  p.  58. 

Government  Girl  (RKO) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-2 
Round  Table  Exploitation — Dec.  18,  '43,  p.  63. 

Guadalcanal  Diary  (20th-Fox) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-1 
Picture  Gross,  Overall  Performance — 129.5% 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Nov.  14,  '43,  p.  54; 
Dec.  11,  '43,  p.  51 ;  Dec.  18,  '43,  p.  62,  63. 


References  to  Round  Table  Exploi- 
tation, Picture  Gross  final  percent- 
ages, and  Legion  of  Decency  ratings 
with  audience  classifications  are 
listed  in  this  department. 

Index  to  Service  Data  may  be  found 
in  the  Release  Chart,  starting  on 
page  1720. 


Happy  Land  (20th-Fox) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating— Class  A-1 
Round  Table  Exploitation — Dec.  18,  '43,  p.  65 ; 
Dec.  25,  '43,  p.  69;  Jan.  8,  '44,  p.  84. 

The  HeaVs  On  (Col.) 

Audience  Classification — Adult 

Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  B 

Round  Table  Exploitation — Dec.  11,  '43,  p.  52. 

/  Dood  It  (M-G-M) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-2 
Picture  Gross,  Overall  Performance — -107.2% 
Round  Table  Exploitation — Nov.  27,  '43,  p.  66. 

In  Old  Oklahoma  (Rep.) 

Audience  Classification — General 

Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-2 

Round  Table  Exploitation— Nov.  20,  '43,  p.  60, 

61;  Dec.  4,  '43,  p.  54;  Dec.  11,  '43,  p.  51; 

Dec.  25,  '43,  p.  69;  Jan.  1,  '44,  p.  58,  59. 

The  Iron  Major  (RKO) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-1 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Nov.  20,  '43,  p.  62 ; 
Nov.  27,  '43,  p.  63,  68;  Dec.  4,  '43,  p.  56. 

Jack  London  (UA) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-2 
Round  Table  Exploitation — Dec.  11,  '43,  p.  52; 
Jan.  1,  '44,  p.  61 ;  Jan.  8,  '44,  p.  82. 

Johnny  Come  Lately  (UA) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-2 
Picture  Gross,  Overall  Performance — 104.5%. 
Round  Table  Exploitation — Sept.  18,  '43,  p.  71 ; 
Oct.  9,  '43,  p.  48;  Oct.  16,  '43,  p.  58;  Nov.  6, 
'43,  p.  79 ;  Nov.  13,  '43,  p.  54,  56 ;  Dec.  4,  '43, 
p.  55,  56 ;  Dec.  25,  '43,  p.  69. 

Lassie  Come  Home  (M-G-M) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-1 
Picture  Gross,  Overall  Performance — 112.8% 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Nov.  20,  '43,  p.  58: 
Dec.  18,  '43,  p.  60,  64;  Dec.  25,  '43,  p.  69. 

My  Kingdom  for  a  Cook  (Col.) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-2 
Round  Table  Exploitation — Sept.  11,  '43,  p.  46; 
Dec.  11,  '43,  p.  52;  Dec.  18,  '43,  p.  62. 


LEGION  of  DECENCY  Ratings 

class  A-1  Unobjectionable 

Class  A-2  Unobjectionable  for  Adults 

Class  B  Objectionable  in  Part 

Class  C  Condemned 


Northern  Pursuit  (WB) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-1 
Picture  Gross,  Overall  Performance — 101% 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Nov.  6,  '43,  p.  79; 
Dec.  11,  '43,  p.  54;  Dec.  25,  '43,  p.  68. 

Old  Acquaintance  (WB) 

Audience  Classification — General 

Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  B 

Picture  Gross,  Overall  Performance — 115.8% 

Phantom  of  the  Opera  (Univ.) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-2 
Picture  Gross,  Overall  Performance — 127% 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Oct.  9,  '43,  p.  46; 
Oct.  30,  '43,  p.  64 ;  Dec.  25,  '43,  p.  67. 

Riding  High  ( Para.) 

Audience  Classification — General 

Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  B 

Round  Table  Exploitation — Jan.  1,  '44,  p.  60. 

Sahara  (Col.) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-1 
Picture  Gross,  Overall  Performance — 121.3% 
Round  Table  Exploitation — Oct.  23,  '43,  p.  57; 

Nov.  6,  '43,  p.  79;  Nov.  13,  '43,  p.  52;  Nov. 

20,  '43,  p.  59 ;  Nov.  27,  '43,  p.  65,  66 ;  Dec.  4, 

'43,  p.  55;  Dec.  11,  '43,  p.  51;  Dec.  18,  '43, 

p.  64;  Dec.  25,  '43,  p.  67,  73. 

Sweet  Rosie  O'Grady  (20th-Fox) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-2 
Picture  Gross,  Overall  Performance — 132.3% 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Oct.  9,'43 ;  p.  48; 

Nov.  13,  '43,  p.  53,  56;  Dec.  4,  '43,  p.  56; 

Dec.  11,  '43,  p.  51;  Dec.  18,  '43,  p.  60;  Jan. 

8,  '44,  p.  76. 

Thank  Your  Lucky  Stars  (WB) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-2 
Picture  Gross,  Overall  Performance — -122.2% 
Round  Table  Exploitation — Sept.  25,  '43,  p.  56; 
Dec.  11,  '43,  p.  53;  Dec.  25,  '43,  p.  66. 

Thousands  Cheer  (M-G-M) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-2 
Round  Table  Exploitation — Jan.  1,  '44,  p.  59. 

True  to  Life  (Para.) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-1 
Picture  Gross,  Overall  Performance — 105.1% 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Oct.  23,  '43,  p.  77. 

Watch  on  the  Rhine  (WB) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-2 
Picture  Gross,  Overall  Performance^ll9.5% 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Aug.  28,  '43,  p.  46 ; 
Dec.  18,  '43,  p.  60. 

What  a  Woman  ( Col.) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-2 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Jan.  1,  '44,  p.  59. 

Whistling  in  Brooklyn  (M-G-M) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-1 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Dec.  4,  '43,  p.  56; 
Jan.  1,  '44,  p.  58. 


Product  Digest  Section  1719 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    15,  1944 


THE  RELEASE  CHART 

Index  to  Reviews^  Advance  Synopses  and 
Service  Data  in  PRODUCT  DIGEST  SECTION 


(*)  before  the  title  indicates  1942-43  product. 
Release  dates  and  running  time  are  furnished  as  soon  as  avail- 
able  Advance  dates  are  tentative  and  subject  to  change. 

Consult  Service  Data  in  the  PRODUCT  DIGEST  SECTION  for 

Legion  of  Decency  Rating,  Audience  Classification  and  Managers' 
Round  Table  Exploitation. 


All  page  numbers  on  this  chart  refer  to  pages  in  the 
PRODUCT  DIGEST  SECTION  of  MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD. 

Short  Subjects  Chart  with  Synopsis  Index  can  be  found  on 
pages  I7I6-I7I7. 

Feature  Product  Including  Coming  Attractions,  listed  by  Com- 
pany, in  order  of  release,  on  page  1707. 

REVIEWED  ->> 


frod. 

TUk  Comptnj  TUtnmim 

ABOVE  Suspicion  MGM  402 

Address  Unknown  Col.  .... 

Adventure  in  Iraq  WB  304 

Adventures  of  a  Rookie  RKO  402 

Adventures  of  Mark  Twain  WB  .... 

Adventures  of  Tartu  MGM  406 

All  Baba  and  40  Thieves  (color)    Univ.  .... 

Always  a  Bridesmaid  Univ.  8023 

America  (color)  MGM  .... 

And  Now  Tomorrow  Para.  .... 

And  the  Angels  Sing  Para.  .... 

Andy  ttardy't  Blonde  Trouble    MGM  ... 

Arizona  Trail  Univ.  8081 

Around  the  World  RKO  411 

At  Night  We  Dream  Col  

BANJO  on  My  Knee 

(Reissue)  20th-Fox  407 

Bar  20  UA  .  . . . 

•  Bataan  MGM  328 
Battle  of  Russia  20th-Fox  414 
Beautiful  but  Broke  Col.  .... 

•  Behind  the  Rising  Sun  RKO  334 
Best  Foot  Forward  (color)  MGM  405 
Between  Two  Worlds  WB  .... 

(formerly  Outward  Bound) 

Beyond  the  Last  Frontier  Rep.  351 

•  Billy  the  Kid  in  Cattle  Stampede    PRC  362 
Black  Hills  Express  Rep.  362 

•  Black  Market  Rustlers  Mono  

Blazing  Frontier  PRC  459 

•  Blazing  Guns  Mono  

Bombers  Moon  20th-Fox  401 

Boss  of  Rawhide  PRC  452 

Bridge  of  San  Luis  Rey,  The  UA  . 

Broadway  Rhythm  (color)  MGM  419 

Buffalo  Bill  (color)  20th-Fox   

•  Bullets  and  Saddles  Mono.  .... 

CALIFORNIA  Joe  Rep.  365 

Calling  Dr.  Death  Univ.  8026 

•  Campus  Rhythm  Mono.  .... 
Candlelight  in  Algeria  (Br.)  Br.  Lion  .... 

Canterville  Ghost,  The  MGM   

Canyon  City  Rep.  364 

Career  Girl  PRC  .... 

Chance  of  a  Lifetime,  The  Col.  5034 

Charlie  Chan  in  Secret  Service    Mono.  .... 

Casanova  in  Burlesque  Rep.  .... 

Cherokee  Strip  (Reissue)  WB  333 

Chip  Off  the  Old  Block  Univ  

Christmas  Holiday  Univ.  .... 

City  That  Stopped  Hitler  Para.  4331 

Claudia  20th-Fox  404 

Cobra  Woman  [color)  Univ.  .... 

Conflict  WB   

Corvette  K-225  Univ.  8007 

Courageous  Mr.  Penn  (Br.)  Hoffberg  .... 

Cover  Girl,  The  (color)  Col.  .... 

Cowboy  in  the  Clouds  Col.  5203 

Crazy  House  Univ.  8005 

Crime  by  Night  WB 

Crime  Doctor's  Strangest  Case     Col.  5021 

Crime  School  (Reissue)  WB  327 

Cross  of  Lorraine,  The  MGM  414 

Cry  "Havoc"  MGM  417 

Curly  Col  

Curse  of  the  Cat  People  RKO   

I  720  Product  Digest  Section 


RtltMt 

Joan  Crawford-Fred  MacMurray  Sept.,'43 

Paul  Lukas-Mady  Christians  Not  Set 

John  Loder-Ruth  Ford  Oct.  9,'43 

Wally  Brown-Alan  Carney  Block  I, '43-44 

Fredric  March-Alexis  Smith  Not  Set 

Robert  Donat-Valerle  Hobson  Oct.,'43 

Jon. Hall-Maria  Montez  Jan.  14, '44 

Andrews  Sisters-Patric  Knowles  Sept.  24,'43 

Brian  Donlevy-Ann  Richards  Not  Set 

Loretta  Young-Alan  Ladd  Not  Set 

Fred  MacMurray-Dorothy  Lamour  Not  Sot 

Mickey  Rooney-Lowis  Stone  Not  Sot 

Tex  Ritter-Fuzzy  Knight  Sept.24,*43 

Kay  Kyser-Joan  Davis-Mischa  Auer  Block  3 

Merle  Oberon-Paul  Muni  Not  Set 


Barbara  Stanwyck-Joel  McCrea  Oct.  29,'43 

William  Boyd-Andy  Clyde  Oct.   I, '43 

Robert  Taylor-Thomas  Mitchell  June-Aug.,'43 

Documentary  Nov.  5,'43 

Joan  Davis-Jane  Frazee  Jan.25,'44 

Margo-Tom  Neat-Robert  Ryan  Block? 

Lucille  Ball-William  Gaxton  Oct.,'43 

John  Garfield-Pau!  Henreid  Not  Set 

Eddie  Dew-Smiley  Burnette  Sept.  18/43 

Buster  Crabbe-AI  St.  John  Aug.  16/43 

Don  Barry- Wally  Vernor  Aug.  15/43 

The  Range  Busters  Aug.  27,'43 

Buster  Crabbe-AI  St.  John  Sept.  I, '43 

Hoot  Gibson-K«n  Maynard  Get  8/43 

George  Montgomery-Annabolla  Aug.  6,'43 

Dave  O'Brien-Jim  Newill  Nov.20,'43 

Lynn  Bari-Louis  Calhern  Feb.  II, '44 

George  Murphy-Ginny  Simms  Mar.,'44 

Maureen  O'Hara-Joel  McCrea  Not  Sot 

Range  Busters  Oct.  29, '43 

Don  Barry-Helen  Talbot  Dec.  28,'43 

Lon  Chaney-Patricia  Morison  Dec.  I7,'43 

Gale  Storm-Robert  Lowery  Nov.  I9,'43 

James  Mason-Caria  Lehmann  Not  Set 

Charles  Laughton-Margaret  O'Brien  Not  Set 

Don  Barry-Helen  Talbot  Nov.29,'43 

Frances  Langford-Craig  Wood  Jan.  1 1, '44 

Chester  Morris-Jeanne  Bates  Oct.  26,'43 

Sidney  Toler-Gwen  Kenyon  Feb.  I4,'44 

Joe  E.  Brown-June  Havoc  Not  Set 

Dick  Foran  Oct.  2,'43 

Donald  O'Connor-Peggy  Ryan  Feb.  25,'44 

Deanna  Durbin-Gene  Kelly  Not  Set 

Russian  Documentary  Sept.  4,'43 

Dorothy  McGuire-Robert  Young  Sept.  3,'43 

Jon  Hall-Maria  Montez  Not  Sat 

Humphrey  Bogart-Alexts  Smith  Not  Set 

Randolph  Scott-James  Brown  Oct.   I, '43 

Clifford  Evans-Deborah  Kerr  Dec.  22.'43 

Rita  Hayworth-Jinx  Falkenbarg  Met  Set 

Charles  Starrett-Julio  Duncan  Dee.  23, '43 

Olsen  and  Johnson  Oct.  8,'43 

Jane  Wyman-Jerome  Cowan  Not  Set 

Warner  Baxter-Lynn  Merrick  Dec.  9,'43 

Humphrey  Bogart-Dead  End  Kids  Dec.  4/43 

Pierre  Aumont-Gene  Kelly  Jan. ,'44 

Margaret  Sullavan-Ann  Sothern  Feb.,'44 

Cary  Grant-Janet  Blair  Not  Sot 

Simone  Simon-Kent  Smith  Not  Set 


57m 
81m 


M.P. 

Product 

Advance 

R.imnt»i 

Herald 

Digest 

Synopth 

Time 

Ittue 

Page 

Page 

90m 

May  l,'43 

1546 

1081 

1695 

64  m 

Sept.  25,'43 

1553 

1530 

64m 

Aug.  21, '43 

1547 

1471 

936 

103  m 

Aug.  7,'43 

1546 

87m 

Jan.  I5,'44 

1713 

i457 

62m 

Oct.  2.'43 

1566 

1192 

Nov.27,'43  1645 


1457 

1715 
1555 
1456 
1545 
1457 
1715 


1599 
1636 
1616 
1531 


52m 

Oct. 

9,'43 

1573 

153! 

55m 

Jan. 

8,'44 

1706 

1675 

63  m 

Dec. 

I8,'43 

1673 

1635 

63m 

Oct. 

9.'43 

1574 

1545 

85m 

Jan. 

l,'44 

1694 

1635 

54  m 

Nov. 

I3.'43 

i626 

1599 

66m 

Dec. 

I8,'43 

1674 

1634 

66m 

Oct.  16. '43 

1586 

1545 

65  m 

Jan. 

I5,'44 

1714 

1599 

1676 

56m 

1715 
1695 


Service 
D»t0 
Page 
1575 


1617 


1655 


95m 

Dec.  5,'36 

1585 

55  m 

July  24,'43 

1559 

1 14m 

May  29,'43 

1337 

1 127 

1507 

80m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1615 

1719 

1696 

87  m 

July  I7,'43 

1425 

1362 

i655 

94m 

July  3,'43 

1532 

1191 

1617 

1646 

55m 

Sept.  II. '43 

1529 

58m 

Jan.  I,'44 

1695 

1531 

55m 

Aug.  7,'43 

1546 

1457 

58m 

Sept.  4,'43 

1522 

1391 

59m 

1531 

55m 

Sept.  I8,'43 

i542 

1509 

70m 

July  I0,'43 

1532 

1305 

58m 

Sept. 

4,'43 

1521 

1655 

91m 

Aug. 

21. '43 

1558 

1655 

1457 
1456 

1655 

99m 

Oct. 

2/43 

1565 

1240 

1719 

78m 

Jan. 

l.'44 

1694 

1416 

54m 

Jan. 

8,'44 

1706 

1636 

80m 

Oct.  23,'43 

1595 

1531 

1719 

1091 

69m 

1654 

86m 

May 

7,'38 

1626 

90m 

Nov. 

I3,'43 

1625 

1457 

1719 

97m 

Nov. 

6,'43 

1614 

1555 
1616 

1715 

a  n  u  a  r 


I  944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


REVIEWED 


The 


Title 

DANCING  Masters, 

•  Dangerous  Blondes 
Dangerous  Journey 
Danger!  Women  at  Work 
Day  After  Day  (Russian) 
Days  of  Glory 
Dear  Octopus  (British) 

•  Death  Rides  fhe  Plains 
Death  Valley  Manhunt 
Death  Valley  Rangers 
Demi  Paradise  (Br.) 
Deerslayer,  The 
Desert  Song,  The  (color) 
Destination,  Tokyo 

•  Destroyer 

Devil  Riders,  The 

•  Dixie  (color) 
Double  Indemnity 
Doughboys  in  Ireland 
Dragon  Seed 
Drifter,  The 

Dr.  Gillespie's  Criminal  Case 
Dr.  Paul  Joseph  Goebbels 
Drums  of  Fu  Manchu 

•  DuBarry  Was  a  Lady  (color) 

EMPTY  Holsters  (Reissue) 
Eve  of  St.  Mark 


Company 

20th-Fox 
Col. 
RKO 
PRC 

Artkino 
RKO 
Gains.-Gen'l 
PRC 
Rep. 
Mono. 
Two  Cities-GFD 
Rep. 


WB 
WB 
Col. 
PRC 
Para. 
Para. 
Col. 
MGM 
PRC 
MGM 
Frank 
Rep. 
MGM 

WB 

20th-Fox 


The 

The 


•FALCON  in  Danger, 
Falcon  and  the  Coeds, 
Fallen  Sparrow,  The 
False  Colors 

•  Fighting  Valley 
Fighting  Seabees,  The 
Find  the  Blackmailer 
Fired  Wife 
Flesh  and  Fantasy 
Follow  the  Leader 

•  Footlight  Glamour 
For  Whom  the  Bell  Tolls  (co 
Four  Jills  In  a  Jeep 
Frenchman's  Creek  (color) 
Frisco  Kid  (Reissue) 

•  Frontier  Bad  Men 
Frontier  Law 


RKO 
RKO 
RKO 
UA 
PRC 
Rep. 
WB 
Univ. 
Univ. 
Mono. 
Col. 
lor)  Para. 
20th-Fox 
Para. 

WB 
Univ. 
Univ. 


GANG'S  All  Here  (color)  20th-Fox 

Gangway  for  Tomorrow  RKO 

Ghost  Ship,  The  RKO 
Ghost  That  Walks  Alone,  The  Col. 

Gildersleeve  on  Broadway  RKO 

Girl  Crazy  MGM 

Girl  from  Monterrey,  The  PRC 

Girls  on  Probation  (Reissue)  WB 

Good  Fellows,  The  Para. 

Government  Girl  RKO 
Great  Mr.  Handel,  The  (color) 

(British)  MIdfllm 

Greenwich  Village  20th-Fox 

Guadalcanal  Diary  20th-Fox 

Gung  Ho  Univ. 

Gunsmoke  Mesa  PRC 

Guns  of  the  Pecos  (Reissue)  WB 

Guy  Named  Joe,  A  MGM 

Gypsy  Wildcat  Univ. 

HAIL  the  Conquering  Hero  Para. 

Hail  to  the  Rangers  Col. 

Hands  Across  the  Border  Rep. 

Happy  Land  20th-Fox 

•  Harrigan's  Kid  MGM 
Harvest  Melody  PRC 

•Headin'  for  God's  Country  Rep. 

Heat's  On,  The  Col. 

Heaven  Can  Wait  (color)  20th-Fox 

Heavenly  Body,  The  MGM 

Henry  Aldrich,  Boy  Scout  Para. 

Henry  Aldrich  Haunts  a  House  Para. 

Henry  Aldrich  Plays  Cupid  Para. 

•Henry  Aldrich  Swings  It  Para. 

Here  Comes  Elmer  Rep. 

•  Here  Comes  Kelly  Mono. 
•Hers  to  Hold  Univ. 

Her  Primitive  Man  Univ. 

Hey,  Rookie  Col. 

HI  Diddle  Diddle  UA 

Higher  and  Higher  RKO 


PtuU. 
Numbei 

413 
4016 

4ii 


365 
375 


306 
310 
309 

4003 
460 

4230 

503  i 

46i 
407 

305 
333 

334 


332 
410 
401 

355 

306 
8017 
8062 

4020 

4338 


325 
7011 
8082 

416 
407 

412 

409 
409 
412 
328 
4302 
408 


412 

453 
335 

416 


5201 
341 
415 

329 
402 

224 

5009 

402 
421 

431! 

4306 

4i226 
303 

7006 


415 


Keleaie 
Date 

Nov.  I9,'43 
Sept.  23.'43 
Not  Set 
Aug.  23/43 
Nov.  I5,'43 
Not  Set 
Not  Set 
May  7,'43 
Sept.  25,'43 
Dec.  3,'43 
Not  Set 
Nov.  22,'43 
Jan.  29,'44 
Jan.  {,'44 
Sept.2,'43 
Nov.  5,'43 
Block  6 
Not  Set 
Oct.  7.'43 
Not  Set 
Dec.  20,'43 
Nov.,'43 

Paul  Andor-Claudia  Drake-Donald  Woods  Not  Set 


atari 

Laurel  and  Hardy 
Evelyn  Keyes-Edmund  Lows 
Elsa  Lanchester-Gordon  Oliver 
Patsy  Kelly-Mary  Brian 

Documentary 

Tamara  Toumanova-Gragory  Peck 
Margaret  Lockwood-Miebael  Wilding 
Bob  Livingston-AI  St.  John 
Bill  EllioH-Gabby  Hayes 
Hoot  Gibson-Ken  Maynard 
Laurence  Olivier-Penelope  Ward 
Bruce  Kellogg-Jean  Parker 
Dennis  Morgan-Irene  Manning 
Cary  Grant-John  Garfield 
Edw.  G.  Robinson-Marguerite  Chapman 
Buster  Crabbe-Al  St.  John 
Bing  Crosby-Dorothy  Lamour 
Barbara  Stanwyck-Fred  MacMurray 
Kenny  Baker-Jeff  Donnell 
Katharine  Hepburn-Walter  Huston 
Buster  Crabbe-Al  St.  John 
Lionel  Barrymore-Van  Johnson 


Henry  Brandon-William  Royle  Nov.  27,'43 

Lucille  Ball-Red  Skelton  June-Aug.,'43 


Dick  Foran 

Michael  O'Shea-Anne  Baxter 

Tom  Conway-Jean  Brooks 

Tom  Conway-Jean  Broob 

Maureen  O'Hara-John  Garfield 

William  Boyd 

Dave  O'Brien-Jim  Newlll 

John  Wayne-Susan  Hayward 

Faye  Emerson-Jerome  Cowan 

Robert  Paige-Louise  Allbritton 

Charles  Boyer-Barbara  Stanvryck 

East  Side  Kids 

Penny  Singleton-Arthur  Lake 

Gary  Cooper-lngrld  Bergman 

Kay  Francis-Carole  Landis 

Joan  Fontalne-Arturo  de  Cordova 

James  Cagney-Margaret  Lindsay 

Diana  Barrymore-Robert  Paige 

Russell  Hayden-Jennlfer  Holt 

Alice  Faye-Carmen  Miranda 
Margo-Robert  Ryan-John  Carradine 
Richard  Dix-Edith  Barrett 
Arthur  Lake-Lynn  Roberts 
Harold  Peary-BIIlie  Burke 
Mickey  Rooney-Judy  Garland 
Armlda-Edgar  Kennedy 
Jane  Bryan-Ronald  Reagan 
Cecil  Kellaway-Helen  Walker 
Olivia  de  Havlliand-Sonny  Tufts 


Wilfred  Lawson-Elizabeth  Allan  Sept.  9,'43 

Don  Ameche-Carmen  Miranda  Not  Set 

Preston  Foster-Lloyd  Nolan  Nov.  5, '43 

Randolph  Scott-Grace  McDonald  Dec.  3 1, '43 

Dave  O'Brien-Jim  Newlll  Jan.  3,'44 

Dick  Foran  Oct.  2,'43 

Spencer  Tracy-Irene  Dunne  Feb., '44 

Maria  Montez-Jon  Hall  Not  Set 

Eddie  Bracken-Ella  Raines  Not  Set 

Charles  Starrett  Sept.  1 6, '43 

Roy  Rogers-Ruth  Terry  Jan.  5, '44 

Don  Ameche-Frances  Dee  Dec.  3,'43 

Bobby  Readlck-Wllllam  Gargan  June-Aug.,'43 

Rosemary  Lane-Johnny  Downs  Nov.  22, '43 

William  Lundigan-Virglnia  Dale  Aug.  26, '43 

Mae  West-Victor  Moore  Dec.  2,'43 

Don  Ameche-Gene  Tierney  Aug.  1 3, '43 

William  Powell-Hedy  Lamar  Mar.,'44 

Jimmy  Lydon-Charlie  Smith  Block  3 

Jimmy  Lydon-Charlie  Smith  Block  2 

Jimmy  Lydon-Charlie  Smith  Not  Set 

Jimmy  Lydon-Charlie  Smith  Block  6 

Al  Pearce-Dale  Evans  Nov.  I5,'43 

Eddie  Quillan-Joan  Woodbury  Sept.  I0,'43 

Deanna  Durbln-Joseph  Cotten  July  I6,'43 

Louise  Allbritton-Robert  Paige  Not  Set 

Ann  Miller-Larry  Parks  Jan.  7, '44 

Martha  Scott-Adolphe  Menjou  Aug.  20,'43 

Michele  Morgan-Frank  Sinatra  Block  3 


M.  P. 

Product 

Advance 

bervice 

Running 

Herald 

Digest 

Synopsis 

Date 

Time 

Issue 

Page 

Page 

Page 

63m 

Oct.  30, '43 

1605 

1555 

.... 

80m 

Oct.  23,'43 

1594 

1509 
1636 

59  m 

July  I7.*43 

1426 

62m 

Nov.  20.'43 

1634 

i636 

.  .  •  • 

86m 

Sept.  I8.'43 

1542 

55m 

Jan.  I5,'44 

1714 

55m 

Aug.  28,'43 

1558 

i402 

57m 

Dec.  I8,'43 

1674 

1555 

1 15m 

Dec.  I8,'43 

1673 

67m 

Nov.  6.'43 

1615 

1599 

94m 

Dec.  I8,'43 

1673 

872 

1719 

135m 

Dec.  25,'43 

1685 

1530 

1719 

99m 

Aug.  21. '43 

1496 

1162 

1617 

58m 

1566 

89m 

June  26,'43 

1385 

1091 
1646 

1575 

61m 

Oct.  9,'43 

1574 

1545 

89m 

68m 
lOlm 


May  8,'43  1546 


Nov.  I3,'43 
May  8,'43 


93m 
88m 

56m 
120m 


Oct.  30,'43 
Dec.  25,'43 


Dec.  25.'43 


71m 
90m 


July  3 1, '43 
Dec.  II, '43 


1626 
1301 


Oct.  2,'43 

62m 

Not  Set 

Block  7 

70m 

July  I7.'43 

1426 

Block  2 

69m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1615 

Block  1, '43-44 

94m 

Aug.  21, '43 

1547 

Nov.  5,'43 

65m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1614 

Aug.  I,'43 

59m 

Dec.  I8,'43 

1674 

Not  Sat 

Nov.  6,'43 

55m 

Oct.  23,'43 

1594 

Sept.  3, '43 

73m 

Sept.  4,*43 

1521 

Oct.29.'43 

94m 

Sept.  I8,'43 

1541 

Not  Set 

Sept.  30,'43 

70m 

Oct.  9,'43 

1573 

Special 

168m 

July  I7,'43 

1546 

Not  Set 

Not  Set 

Mar.  4,'44 

77  m 

Nov.  2,'35 

Aug.  6,'43 

77m 

Aug.  7.'43 

1470 

Nov.  5.'43 

cf    '  •  ' 

Dec.  24,'43 

i03m 

Dec.  4,'43 

1653 

Block  2 

69m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1614 

Block  3 

69m 

Dec.  II, '43 

1666 

Feb.  I0,'44 

Block  2 

65  m 

Oct.  23,'43 

1595 

Nov.,'43 

99m 

Aug.  7,'43 

1558 

Oct.  4,'43 

59m 

Sept.  25,'43 

1554 

Dec.  4,'43 

63m 

Oct.  29,'38 

1626 

Block  1. '43-44 

70m 

Aug.  I4,'43 

1559 

Block  2 

93m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1614 

89m      Sept.  I8,'43  1542 


1605 
1686 


1686 


57m 

Nov.  27,'43 

1646 

73m 

Dec.  1 1,'43 

1665 

75m 

Nov.  I3,'43 

1625 

80m 

Mar.  I3,'43 

1202 

70m 

Oct.  9,'43 

1574 

78m 

July  31, "43 

1455 

79m 

Dec.  4,'43 

1653 

Il2m 

July  24.'43 

1578 

93  m 

Jan.  I,'44 

1693 

66m 

Jan.  8,'44 

1706 

72m 

Nov.  6, "43 

1614 

65m 

June  26.'43 

1386 

74m 

Oct.  I6,'43 

1585 

64m 

July  3 (,'43 

1456 

94m 

July  I7,'43 

1425 

1559 
1665 


1675 
1606 
1192 
1599 
1606 
1019 


1636 

1362 
1599 
II 82 
1431 
1391 
1616 


1058 
1606 
1531 
855 
1676 
1416 

1375 
1606 

1530 
1566 
1646 
1696 
1566 
1 191 
1509 

1191 
1416 


1676 
1457 
1599 
1635 

1431 
1675 

1696 
1055 
1545 
1555 
1191 
1545 
1339 
1555 
1240 
1555 
1696 
1566 
1431 
1 104 

1391 
1375 
1675 
1654 
1375 
1616 


1617 


1719 


1719 


1719 


1719 


1719 


1719 


1719 


1719 


1719 
1617 


1617 


1617 


Product  Digest  Section 


1721 


MOTION    PICTU  RE  HERALD 


January    15,  1944 


—  REVIEWED  ■ 


TUli 

Comp0»j 

era*. 

Snmbtt 

His  Butler's  Sister 

Univ. 

8004 

Hitler  Gang,  The 

Para. 

•  Hitler's  Madman 

MGM 

334 

Hi  Ya  Sailor 

Univ. 

8035 

Holy  Matrimony 

20th-Fox 

403 

Home  in  Indiana  fcolor) 

20th-Fox 

Hoosier  Holiday 

Rep. 

302 

Horn  Blows  at  Midnight,  Th« 

>  WB 

Hostages 

Para. 

4305 

Hour  Before  the  Dawn,  The 

Para. 

•  Human  Comedy,  The 

MGM 

380 

1  DOOD  It 

MGM 

403 

1  Love  a  Soldier 

Para. 

Impostor,  The 

Univ. 

Incendiary  Blonde 

Para. 

In  Old  Chicago  (Reissue) 

20th-Fox 

•  In  Old  Monterey  (Reissue) 

Rep. 

2306 

In  Old  Oklahoma 

Rep. 

307 

In  Our  Time 

WB 

31 1 

Iron  Major,  The 

RKO 

406 

Is  Everybody  Happy? 

Col. 

5016 

Isle  of  Forgotten  Sins 

PRC 

401 

It  Happened  in  Gibraltar  (Fr.)  Vigor 

It  Happened  Tomorrow 

UA 

JACK  London 

UA 

Jane  Eyre 

20th-Fox 

Jeannie  (British) 

English 

Jive  Junction 

PRC 

407 

Johnny  Come  Lately 

UA 

KANSAN.The 

UA 

Kismet  (color) 

MGM 

Klondike  Kate 

Col. 

5029 

Knickerbocker  Holiday 

UA 

LAD   from  Our  Town            Artkino  .... 

Ladies  Courageous                     Univ.  .... 

(formerly  When  Ladies  Fly) 

Lady  In  the  Dark  (color)            Para.  .... 

Lady,  Let's  Dance                     Mono.  ... 

Lady  Takes  a  Chance,  A  RKO  405 
Lamp  Still  Burns,  The  (British) 

Two  Cities-Gen'l  .  . 

Land  Beyond  the  Law  (Reissue)    WB  336 

Larceny  with  Music                    Univ.  8028 

Lassie  Come  Home  (color)        MGM  410 

Last  Ride,  The                           WB  ,  . . . 

•  Law  Rides  Again,  The  Mono. 

Let's  Face  It  Para.  4301 
Lifeboat  20th-Fox 

Lodger,  The                          20th-Fox  417 

•  Lone  Rider  in  Law  of  the  Saddle  PRC  367 

•  Lone  Rider  In  Raiders  Red  Gap    PRC  368 

•  Lone  Star  Trail,  The                   Univ.  7077 
Lost  Angel                             MGM  415 
Love  In  Jalisco  (Mex.l  Clasa-Mohme 

MADAME  Curie                   MGM  490 

Mad  Ghoul,  The                        Univ.  8038 

Make  Your  Own  Bed  WB   

Man  from  Down  Under,  The      MGM  411 

•  Man  from  Music  Mountain           Rep.  257 
Man  from  the  Rio  Grande,  The     Rep.  363 
Marine  Raiders  RKO 
Marshal  of  Gunsmoke                  Univ.  8083 
Meet  Me  in  St.  Louis  MGM 

Meet  the  People  MGM 
Melody  Parade  Mono. 

Men  on  Her  Mind                       PRC  409 

•  Mexican  Spitfire's  Blessed  Event  RKO  333 
Million  Dollar  Kid                      Mono.  .... 
Millions  Like  Us  (British)  Gains.-Gen'l 
Minesweeper                             Para.  4308 
Ministry  of  Fear  Para. 
Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek,  The    Para.  4312 
Moonlight  in  Vermont                Univ.  8025 
Mr.  Co-ed  (color)  MGM 

Mr.  Muggs  Steps  Out  Mono. 
Mr.  Skeffington  WB 

Murder  on  the  Waterfront            WB  302 

My  Best  Gal  Rep  

•My  Kingdom  for  a  Cook             Col.  4010 
My  Reputation  WB 

Mystery  Broadcast                     Rep.  304 

•Mystery  of  the  13th  Guest  Mono  

1722  Product  Digest  Section 


Rtliau 

Deanna  Durbin-Franchot  Tone  Nov.  26,'43 

Robert  Watson-Victor  Varconi  Not  Set 

Patricia  Morlson-John  Carradine  June-Aug.,'43 

Donald  Woods-Elyse  Knox  Oct.  I5.'43 

Monty  Woolley-Gracie  Fields  Aug.  27,'43 

Walter  Brennan-Lon  McAllister  Not  Sot 

Dale  Evans-George  Byron  Sept.  I3.'43 

Jack  Benny-Alexis  Smith  Not  Set 

Lutse  Ralner-Willlam  Bendix  Blocit  I. '43-44 

Veronica  Lake-Franchot  Tone  Not  Set 

Mickey  Rooney-Frank  Morgan  June-Aug.,'43 

Red  Skelton-Eleanor  Powell  Sept.,'43 

Paulette  Goddard-Sonny  Tufts  Not  Set 

Jean  Gabin-AIlyn  Joslyn  Feb.  1 1, '44 

Betty  Hutton-Arturo  de  Cordova  Not  Set 
Alice  Faye-Tyrone  Power-Don  Ameche    Oct.  29,'43 

Gene  Autry  Sept.   I, '43 

John  Wayne-Martha  Scott  Dec.  6,'43 

Ida  Luplno-Paul  Henreid  Feb.  I9,'44 

Pat  O'Brien-Ruth  Warrick  Block  2 

Ted  Lewis-Nan  Wynn  Oct.  28,'43 

John  Carradine-Gale  Sondarqaard  Aug.  I5,'43 
Erich  von  Stroheim-Viviane  Romance       Nov.  I5,'43 

Dick  Powell-Linda  Darnell  Feb.  25,'44 

Michael  O'Shea-Susan  Hayward  Dec.  24, '43 

Orson  Welles-Joan  Fontaine  Not  Set 

Barbara  Mullon-Michaol  Redgrave  Oct.    I, '43 

Dickie  Moore-Tina  Thayer  Dec.  20,'43 

James  Caqney-Grace  Geora*  Sept.  3, '43 

Richard  Dix-Jane  Wyatt  Sept  I0.'43 

Ronald  Colman-Marlene  Dietrich  Not  Set 
Ann  Savage-Tom  Neal-Glenda  Farrell     Dec.  1 6, '43 

Nelson  Eddy-Charles  Coburn  Jan.  28,'44 

Russian  Feature  Oct.  6, '43 

Loretta  Young-Geraldlne  Fitzgerald  Not  Set 

Ginger  Rogers-Ray  Millsnd  Not  Set 

Belita-James  Ellison  March  7,'44 

Jean  Arthur-John  Wayne  Btocli  I, '43-44 

Rosamund  John-Stewart  Granger  Not  Set 

Dick  Foran  Oct.  2.'43 

Allan  Jones-Kitty  Carlisle  Sept.  I0.'43 

Roddy  McDowall-Edmund  Gwenn  Dec.,'43 

Richard  Travis-Eleanor  Parker  Not  Set 

Ken  Maynard-Hoot  Gibson  Aug.  6,'43 

Rob  Hope-Betty  HuHon  Block  I. '43-44 

Tallulah  Bankhead-William  Bendix  Jan.  28,'44 

Laird  Cregar-Merle  Oberon  Jan.  7,'44 

Bob  LIvinqston-AI  St.  John  Aug.  28,'43 

Bob  LIvinqston-AI  St.  John  Sept.  30.'43 

Johnny  Mack  Brown-Tex  Ritter  Auq.  6,'43 

Margaret  O'Brien-James  Craig  Jan. ,'44 
Jorge  Neqrete-Marla  Elena  Marques    Auq.  6,'43 

Greer  Garson-Walter  PIdgeon  Special 

Evelyn  Ankers-Davtd  Bruce  Nov.  12. '43 

Jack  Carson-Jane  Wyman  Not  Set 

Charles  Laughton-Binnie  Barnes  Dec.,'43 

Roy  Rogers  Oct.  30. '43 

Don  Barry-Twinkle  WaHs  Oct.  I8,'43 

Pat  O'Brien-Ruth  Hussey  Not  Set 

Tex  Ritter-Russell  Hayden  Jan.  21, '44 

Judy  Garland-Margaret  O'Brien  Not  Set 

Dtck  Powell-Lucille  Ball  Not  Set 

Mary  Beth  Huahes-Eddie  Oti!ll«r  Auq.  27'.43 

Mary  Beth  Hughes-Edward  Norris  Feb.  12, '44 

Lupe  Velei-Leon  Errol  Block  7 

East  Side  Kids  Feb.  28,'44 

Eric  Portman-Patrlcla  Roc  Not  Set 

Richard  Arlen-Jean  Parker  Block  2 

Ray  MIlland-Mariorie  Reynolds  Not  Set 

Eddie  Bracken-Betty  Hutton  Block  3 

Gloria  Jean-Fay  Helm  Dec.  24,'43 

Red  Skelton-Esther  Williams  Not  Set 

East  Side  Kids  Dec.  I0,'43 

Bette  Davis-Claude  Rains  Not  Set 

John  Loder-Ruth  Ford  Sept  1 8 '43 

Jane  Withers-Jimmy  Lydon  Not  Set 

Charles  Coburn-lsobel  Elsom  Auq.  3 1. '43 

Barbara  Stanwyck-George  Brent  Not  Set 

Nils  Asther-Ruth  Terry  Nov.  23,'43 

Dick  Purcell-Helen  Parrlsh  Nov.  5,'43 


85m 
62m 
97m 


124m 
65  m 

1 03  m 
71m 
55m 


M.P. 

Product 

Advance 

Servtci 

Herald 

Digeit 

SynopiU 

Dtta 

Timt 

hint 

Page 

Page 

Page 

yjm 

Nov.  1 S, 

1  £OC 

1  CKC 

.... 

1  A.7C 
10/0 

os>m 

June  1  z, 

1  Jol 

I^Ol 

loi  / 

63m 

Oct.  9.'43 

1574 

1531 

87m 

Aug.  28,'43 

1547 

1431 

1655 

1634 

72  m 

Aug.  28/43 

iS47 

1715 

88m 

Aug.  14.'43 

i579 

1277 

1555 

1 15m 

Mar.  6,'43 

1190 

1019 

1432 

102m 

July  31, '43 

1579 

1192 

1719 

94m      Nov.  27,'43 


Aug.  23,'41 
Nov.  20,'43 
Aug.  28,'43 


79m  June  19.'43 

65m  Oct.  16/43 

86  m  Aug.  2  i. '43 

90m  Nov.  20,'43 

55m   

64m  Sept.  11/43 

90m  Aug.  2 1, '43 

58  m  Aug.2i,'43 

76m  Aug.  7,'43 

96m  Jan.  I5,'44 

84m  Jan.  8,'44 

57m   

54m   

58m  June  I9,'43 

92m  Nov.  6,'43 

128m  Aug.  21, '43 


Nov.  20.'43 
Oct.  23,'43 

Aug.'  '7.''43 
Sept.  25.'43 
Oct.  2.'43 


1645 

1594 
1633 
1559 

1547 


1586 


1547 

1633 

1530 
1546 

(496 
1559 
1713 
1705 


1373 
1613 
1496 

1633 
1594 

1547 
1554 
1566 


73  m 

Aug.  7,'43 

1559 

63  m 

July  17,'43 

1426 

103  m 
68m 

Oct.  23,'43 
Nov.  6,'43 

1595 
1615 

99  m 
62m 

Jan.  8,'44 
Dec.  25,'43 

1705 
1686 

63m 

Dec.  25,'43 

1686 

48  m 

July  31. '43 

1579 

82m 

Oct.  23,'43 

1593 

62  m 
60m 

Oct.  23.'43 
Oct.  I6,'43 

1594 
1586 

1675 
1616 
1675 


94m 

Jan.  8,'38 

1542 

74m 

Aug.  I2,'39 

1494 

102m 

Oct.  23, '43 

1593 

1416 

1719 

85m 

Oct.  23, '43 

1593 

1555 

1719 

73  m 

Nov.  27,'43 

1646 

1545 

1655 

82m 

July  3/43 

1532 

1339 

1617 

93m 

Nov.  27/43 

1646 

1675 

1554 
1240 

1606 
1375 

1182 
1635 
1636 
1635 


1616 

1091 
1599 
1240 


1351 
1240 
1115 
1339 
1277 
1616 
1636 
1509 

1019 
1555 


1416 
1586 
1715 

1402 

i696 
1676 
1715 
1456 
1339 
1715 
1402 
1676 

1606 
1616 

1079 
1635 
1635 
1555 
1654 

1696 
1391 
1695 
1586 


1719 
1655 


1719 


1655 

1719 
1655 


719 


January    15,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


rtf/# 
NABONGA 

(formerly  Jungle  Terror) 

•  Nearly  Eighteen 
Never  a  Dull  Moment 
Nine  Girls 

•  Nobody's  Darling 
None  Shall  Escape 
Northern  Pursuit 
North  Star,  The 
No  Time  for  Love 


Comp*n9 
PRC 


Mono. 
Univ. 
Col. 
Rep. 
Col. 
WB 

RKO-Soldwyn 
Para. 


OKLAHOMA  Kid  [Reissue)  WB 

Old  Acquaintance  WB 

•  Old  Barn  Dance,  The  (Reissue)  Rep. 
O  My  Darling  Clementine  Rep. 
One  More  Tomorrovir  WB 

(formerly  Animal  Kingdom) 

•  Outlaws  of  Stampede  Pas*  Mono. 
Outlaw's  Roundup  PRC 
Overland  Mail  Robbery  Rap. 


PARIS  After  Dark 
Passage  to  Marseille 

•  Passport  to  Suez 
Patrick  the  Great 

•  Petticoat  Larceny 
Phantom  Lady 

•  Phantom  of  the  Opera 

•  Pilot  No.  5 

Pin  Up  Girl  (color) 
Pistol  Packin'  Mama 
Prairie  Thunder  (Reissue 

•  Presenting  Lily  Man 
Pride  of  the  Plains 
Princess  O'Rourke 
Purple  Heart,  The 


20th-Fox 
WB 
Col. 
Univ. 
RKO 
Univ. 
[color]  Untv. 
MGM 
20th-Fox 
Rep. 

)  WB 
MGM 
Rep. 
WB 
20th-Fox 


RACKET  Man.  The  Col. 

Raiders  of  the  Border  Mono. 

Raiders  of  Sunset  Pass  Rep. 

Rainbow  Island  (color)  Para. 
Rains  Came,  The  [Reissue)  2(Hh-Fox 

•  Random  Harvest  MGM 
Rationing  MGM 
Return  of  the  Ape  Man  Mono. 
Return  of  the  Rangers  PRC 
Return  of  the  Vampire  Col. 

•  Revenge  of  the  Zombies  Mono. 
Rhapsody  in  Blue  WB 
Riders  of  the  Deadline  UA 
Riding  High  (color)  Para. 
Road  to  Utopia  Para. 
Roger  Touhy,  Gangster  20th-Fox 
Rookies  in  Burma  RKO 
Rootin', Tootin'  Rhythm  (Reissue)  'Rep. 

SAHARA  Col. 

Sailor's  Holiday  Col. 
Salute  to  the  Marines  [color)  MGM 

Saratoga  Trunk  WB 

•  Scream  in  the  Dark,  A  Rep. 
See  Here,  Private  Hargrove  MGM 
Seventh  Cross,  The  MGM 
Seventh  Victim,  The  RKO 
Sherlock  Holmes  Faces  Death  Univ. 
She's  For  Me  Univ. 
SMna  On,  Harvest  Moon  WB 
Show  Business  RKO 
Silver  City  Raiders  Col. 

•Silver  Spurs  Rep. 

Since  You  Went  Away  UA 

Sing  a  Jingle  Univ. 

•Six-Gun  Gospel  Mono. 

•  Sky's  the  Limit,  The  RKO 

•  Sleepy  Lagoon  Rep. 

•  Smart  Guy  Mono. 

•  Someone  to  Remember  Rep 

•  So  Proudly  We  Hall  Para. 
So  This  Is  Washington  RKO 
Son  of  Dracula  Univ. 
Song  of  Bernadette,  The  20th-Fox 
Song  of  Russia  MGM 
Song  of  the  Marimba  Clasa-Mohme 
Song  of  the  Open  Road  UA 
Song  of  the  Saddle  [Reissue)  WB 
So't  Your  Uncle  Untv. 
Spider  Woman  Univ. 
SpotHght  Scandals  Mono. 


Nnrnbtt 


8030 

227 

307 
451 
4309 

330 
308 
2307 

308 


454 
376 

409 

4023 

331 

7061 
332 

iio 

332 
330 
353 
305 


5036 
352 

410 

370 
418 

451 

5024 


4307 
'4i4 

5003 
401 

229 

420 

403 
8024 
804! 


5202 
256 

8034 

335 
228 

225 
4228 
404 
8013 

422 


331 
8042 

8021 


Rthm 

»ltn  Dttt 

Buster  Crabbe-Fifi  Dorsay  Jan.  25,'44 

Gale  Storm-Bill  Henry  Nov.  12  -43 

Riti  Bros.-Prances  Langtord  Nov.  I9,'43 

Ann  Harding-Evelyn  Keyes  Feb.  I7,'44 

Mary  Lee-Gladys  George  Aug.  27, '43 

Marsha  Hunt-Alexander  Knox  Feb.  3, '44 

Errol  Flynn-Julie  Bishop  Nov.  1 3, '43 

Walter  Huston-Anne  Baxter  Special 

Claudette  Colbert-Fred  MacMurray  Block  2 

James  Cagney-Humphrey  Bogart  Sept.  II, '43 

Bette  Davis-Miriam  Hopkins  Nov.  27,'43 

Gene  Autry  Oct.  I5,'43 

Frank  Albertson-Lorna  Gray  Dec.  3 1, '43 

Ann  Sheridan-Olivia  de  Havilland  Not  Set 

Johnny  Mack  Brown-Raymond  Hatton    Oct.  I5,'43 

Dave  O'Brien-Jim  Newill  Feb.  I0,'44 

Bill  Elliott-Anne  JefFreys  Nov.20,'43 

George  Sanders-Brenda  Marshall  Oct.  I5,'43 

Humphrey  Bogart-Michele  Morgan  Not  Set 

Warren  William-Ann  Savage  Aug.  19, '43 

Donald  O'Connor-Peggy  Ryaf  Not  Set 

Ruth  Warrick-Joan  Carroll  Block  7 

Ella  Raines-Franchot  Tone  Jan.28,'44 

Nelson  Eddy-Susanna  Foster  Aug.  27,'43 

Franchot  Tone-Marsha  Hunt  June-Aug.,'43 

Betty  Grable-Joe  E.  Brown  Not  Set 

Ruth  Terry-Bob  Livingston  Dec.  1 5, '43 

Dick  Foran  Oct.  2.'43 

Judy  Garland-Van  Heflin  June-Aug.,'43 

Robert  Livingston-Smiley  Burnette  Jan.  5,'44 
Olivia  de  Havilland-Robert  Cummings   Oct.  23,'43 

Dana  Andrews-Richard  Conte  Not  Set 

Tom  Neai-Jeanne  Bates  Jan.  1 8, '44 

Johnny  Mack  Brown  Jan. 3 1, '44 

John  Paul  Revere-Smiiey  Burnette  Dec.  20,'43 

Dorothy  Lamour-Eddie  Bracken  Not  Set 

Myrna  Loy-Tyrone  Power  Nov.  26,'43 

Ronald  Colman-Greer  Garson  June-Aug.,'43 

Wallace  Beery-Marjorie  Main  Feb. ,'44 

Bela  Lugosi-John  Carradine  Not  Set 

Dave  O'Brien-Jim  Newill  Oct.  26,'43 

Bela  Lugosi-Michael  Duane  Nov.  II, '43 

John  Carradine-Veda  Ann  Borg  Sept.  1 7, '43 

Joan  Leslie-Robert  Aide  Not  Set 

William  Boyd  Dec.  3,'43 

Dorothy  Lamour-Dick  Powell  Block  2 

Bing  Crosby-Bob  Hope-D.  Lamour  Not  Set 

Preston  Foster-Lois  Andrews  Not  Set 

Alan  Carney-Wally  Brown  Block  3 

Gene  Autry  Jan.  1 5, '44 

Humphrey  Bogart-Bruce  Bennett  Oct.  I4,'43 

Arthur  Lake-Jane  Lawrence  Feb.  24, '44 

Wallace  Beery-Fay  Bainter  Sept.,'43 

Gary  Ceoper-lngrid  Bergman  Not  Set 

Robert  Lowary-Marie  McDonald  Oct.  I5,'43 

Robert  Walter-Donna  Reed  Mar., '44 

Spencer  Tracy-Signe  Hasso  Not  Set 

Tom  Conway-Kim  Hunter  Block  I, '43-44 

Basil  Rathbone-Nigel  Bruce  Sept.  I7,'43 

David  Bruce-Grace  McDonald  Dec.  10, '43 

Ann  Sheridan-Dennis  Morgan  Not  Set 

Eddie  Cantor-George  Murphy  Not  Set 

Russell  Hayden-Bob  Wills  Nov.  4,'43 

Roy  Roger*  Aug.  I2,'43 

Colbert-Tempie-Wooiley-Cotten  Not  Set 

Allan  Jones-June  Vincent  Jan.  7, '44 
Johnny  Mack  Brown-Raymond  Hatton    Sept.  3, '43 

Fred  Astalre-Joan  Leslie  Block  7 

Judy  Canova-Dennis  Day  Sept.  5, '43 

Rick  Vallin-Wanda  McKa»  '^c.  I7,'43 

Mabel  Paige-John  Craven  Aug.  2', '43 

Claudette  Colbert-Paulette  Goddard  Block  6 

Lum  'n'  Abner-Mildred  Cole*  Blocb  S  33-44 

Louise  Allbritton-Lon  Cheney  Nov.  5, '43 

Jennifer  Jones-Charles  Bickford  Not  Set 

Robert  Taylor-Susan  Peters  Apr.,'44 

Mexican  Feature  Aug.  20,'43 
Edgar  Bergen-"Charlie"-Bonita  Granville  Mar.24,'44 

Dick  Foran  Oct.  2,'43 

Donald  Woods-Elyse  Knox  Dec.  3,'43 

Basil  Rathbone-Nigel  Bruce  Jan. 2 1, '44 

Billy  Gilbert-Frank  Fay  Sept.  24/43 


Rmnntnt 


him 

60m 

71m 
85m 
93  m 
105m 
83m 


KEVIEWED  -^ 
M.  P.  Product 
Herald  Digest 
luu*  Page 


57m 
70m 
61m 

70m 
89m 


62m 


Oct.  30.  "43 
Nov.  6.'43 

Aug.  i4,'43 
Jan.  I5,'44 
Oct.  23,'43 
Oct.  I6,'43 
Nov.  !3,'43 


80m      Mar.  I8,'39 


Oct.  I6,'43 

Aug.  7,'43 

Jan.  I5,'44 
Nov.  6,'43 


1605 
1615 

1481 

1713 
1593 
1585 
1625 

1482 


65m 

Jan.  8,'44 

1706 

53m 

Jan.  I5,'44 

1714 

57m 

Dec.  25,'43 

1686 

95  m 

Sept.  9,'39 

1574 

126m 

Nov.  28,'42 

1029 

1585 

1471 

1714 
1613 


Dec.  1 1, '43  1666 


Advance 
Synopth 
Page 

1634 

1545 

1351 
1676 
1431 
1695 
1471 
1305 
855 


Sarrtct 
Data 

Page 


1  lOm 

Nov.  6,'43 

1613 

1 192 

60m 

Jan.  I5,'38 

1574 

68m 

Dec.  4,'43 

1653 

1636 

1431 

55m 

Oct.  2,'43 

1566 

1402 

1715 

55m 

Oct.  23,'43 

i594 

85m 

Oct.  9,'43 

1573 

1545 

1616 

7rm 

Oct.  23,'43 

1595 

1457 

1675 

61m 

July  I7.'43 

1426 

1240 

1675 

91m 

Aug.  21, '43 

1493 

1 192 

70m 

Apr.  I0,'43 

1250 

971 

1531 

64  m 

Dec.  1 1,'43 

1666 

1654 

55m 

104m 

May  l,'43 

1289 

962 

56m 

Dec.  4,'43 

1653 

94m 

Sept.  25,'43 

1553 

962 

1654 

1676 

1457 
1654 

796 
1616 
1606 
1545 
1599 
1391 
1530 
1696 
1431 
1715 
1362 
1646 


97m 

Oct.  2.'43 

1565 

1305 

1696 

lOlm 

July  31, '43 

1579 

1057 

1431 

55m 

Oct.  30,'43 

1605 

1531 

1616 

1715 

Vim 

Aug.  21, '43 

isss 

147! 

68m 

Sept.  II, '43 

1529 

60m 

Dec.  II, '43 

1665 

1635 

1457 

1675 

55m 

Nov.  27.'43 

i646 

68m 

July  24,'43 

1442 

1351 

1635 

62  m 

Jan.  I,'44 

i694 

1654 

55m 

Sept.  4,'43 

152! 

1391 

89m 

July  I7,'43 

1425 

1162 

65m 

Aug.  21. '43 

1496 

1391 

63  m 

Jan.  I,'44 

1695 

1599 

80m 

Aug.  7,'43 

1470 

1276 

126m 

June  26,'43 

1385 

1104 

64m 

Aug.  21, '43 

1558 

1471 

80m 

Nov.  I3,'43 

1626 

1241 

165m 

Dec.  25,'43 

1685 

1416 

107m 

Jan.  I,'44 

1693 

1416 

I3lm 

Sept.  It. "43 

1530 

1695 

59  m 

Apr.  II, '36 

i482 

64m 

Dec.  4,'43 

1654 

1635 

63m 

Jan.  I5,'44 

1714 

1675 

73m 

July  24,'43 

1579 

1351 

1719 


1719 
1432 


1432 
655 


Product  Digest  Section   1 723 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    15,  1944 


^  REVIEWED 


Till*  Omptnj 

'Stage  Door  Canfeen  UA 

Standing  Room  Only  Para. 

Story  of  Dr.  Wassoll  (color)  Para. 
Strange  Death  o<  Adolf  Hitler  Univ. 

^Submarine  Alert  Para. 

Sullivans,  The  20th-Fox 

Sultan's  Daughter,  The  Mono. 

•  Suspected  Person  (British)  PRC 
Sweet  Rosle  O'Grady  (color)  20th-Fox 
Sweethearts  of  the  U.  S.  A.  Mono. 
Swing  Fever  MGM 
Swing  Out  the  Blues  Col. 
Swing  Shift  Malsle  MGM 
Swingtime  Johnny  Univ. 

TAMPICO  20th-Fox 

Tarzan's  Desert  Mystery  RKO  413 

Tender  Comrada  RKO  .... 

Texas  Kid.  The  Mono  

Thanic  Your  Lucky  Stars  WB  303 

That  Naity  Nuisance  UA  .... 
There's  Something  About  a  Soldier  Col.  5017 
They  Met  in  the  Dark  (British) 

Hellman-Gen'l  .... 

•This  Is  the  Army  (color)  WB  224 

This  Is  the  Life  Univ  

(formerly  Angela) 

Thousands  Cheer  (color)  MGM  413 

Three  Cheers  for  the  Boys  Univ  

Three  Russian  Girls  UA 

Tiger  Fangs  PRC  406 

Till  We  Meet  Again  Para  

Timber  Queen  Para.  4313 

Top  Man  Univ.  8009 

Tornado  Para.  4304 

•  Trail  of  Terror  PRC  356 
Triumph  Over  Pain  Para  

(formerly  Great  Without  Glory) 

True  to  Life  Para.  4303 

•  Tumbling  Tumbleweeds  (Reissue)  Rep.  2308 
Two  Sisters  and  a  Sailor  MGM  .... 

UNCENSORED  (British)  20th-Fox  4I8 

Uncertain  Glory  WB  .... 

•  Underdog,  The  PRC  316 
Under  Two  Flags  (Reissue)  20th-Fox  411 
Uninvited,  The  Para.  4315 
Unknown  Guest  Mono.  .... 
Up  in  Arms  (color)  RKO-Goldwyn  .... 
Up  in  Mabel's  Room  UA  .... 

VICTORY  Through 
Air  Power  (color) 
Vigilantes  Ride,  The 

(formerly  Deadline  Guns) 
Voice  in  the  Wind 
Voodoo  Man,  The 

•WAGON  Tracks  West 
Watch  on  the  Rhine 
Weekend  Pass 

•  West  Side  Kid 
Westward  Bound 

•  We've  Never  Been  Licked 
•What  a  Man 

What  a  Woman! 
Where  Are  Your  Children? 
Whispering  Footsteps 
Whistling  in  Brooklyn 
White  Cliffs,  The 
Wilson 
Wintertime 

Woman  of  the  Town,  The 
Women  in  Bondage 
Wyoming  Hurricane 

YANKS  Ahoy  UA-Roach 

Yellow  Canary  (British)  Wilcox-RKO   

•Youngest  Profession,  The  MGM  331 

Young  Ideas  MGM  408 
You're  a  Lucky  Fellow,  Mr.  Smith  Univ.  8033 


UA-Disney 

Col. 

UA 

Mono. 

Rep. 

2314 

WB 

301 

Univ. 

Rep. 

226 

Mono. 

Univ. 

7064 

Mono. 

Col. 

5005 

Mono. 

Rep. 

309 

MGM 

412 

MGM 

20th-Fox 

20th-Fox 

405 

UA 

Mono. 

Col. 

M.  r. 

Product 

AdvgHCi 

rtOm* 

Knnntnt 

titrtH 

Digeit 

yynopiM 

uma 

T\m4m 

USf0 

WW* 

Itiu* 

Page 

Vagi 

Fag* 

Stage  and  Screen  Start 

Spaelal 

132m 

May  I5,'43 

1313 

\  1 15 

1617 

4314 

Paulette  Goddard-Fred  MacMurray 

Block  3 

83m 

Jan.  8,'44 

1706 

1616 

Gary  Cooper-Laraine  Day 

Not  Sat 

1530 

8022 

Ludwig  Donatk-Gale  Sondergaard 

Sept.  I0.'43 

72m 

Sept.  4,'43 

1522 

4229 

Richard  Arlen-Wendy  Barri* 

Block  6 

67m 

June  26,'43 

1385 

772 

Anne  Baxter-Thomas  Mitchell 

Not  Set 

1636 

Ann  Corlo-Charles  Butterworth 

Jan.  24,'44 

64m 

Dec.  I8,'43 

1674 

1555 

315 

Clifford  Evans-Patricia  Roc 

Nov.  29.'43 

78m 

Jan.  I,'44 

1694 

408 

Betty  Grable-Robert  Young 

Oct.  1/43 

76m 

Sept.  25,'43 

1553 

1305 

i7l9 

Una  Merkel-Donald  Novis 

Feb.  7.'44 

1586 

423 

Kay  Kyser-Marilyn  Maxwell 

Apr.,'44 

81m 

Nov.  I3,'43 

1626 

1241 

5020 

Bob  Haymes-Lynn  Merrick 

Jan.20,'44 

1636 

404 

Ann  Sothern-Jamei  Craig 

Oct.,'43 

86m 

May  8,'43 

1546 

1191 

1617 

Andrews  Sisters-Harriet  Hilliard 

Feb.  4,'44 

60m 

Jan.  I,'44 

1695 

1676 

Lynn  Bari-Edward  G.  Robinson  Not  Set 

Johnny  Weissmuller-Nancy  Kelly  Block  3 

Ginger  Rogers-Robert  Ryan  Not  Set 

Johnny  Mack  Brown  Nov.  26,'43 

Warner  Stars  Revue  Sept.  25,'43 

Bobby  Watson-Joe  Devlin  Aug.  6,'43 

Evelyn  Keyes-Tom  Neal  Nov.  30, '43 

James  Mason-Joyce  Howard  Not  Set 
Joan  Leslie-George  Murphy-Stage  Cast  Aug.  I4,'43 

Susanna  Foster-Donald  O'Connor  Not  Set 

Kathryn  Grayson-Gene  Kelly  Jan.,'44 

Stage  and  Screen  Entertainers  Not  Set 

Anna  Sten-Kent  Smith  Jan.  I4,'44 

Frank  Buck-Duncan  Renaldo  Sept.  I0,'43 

Ray  Milland-Maureen  O'Hara  Not  Set 

Dick  Arlen-Mary  Beth  Hughes  Block  3 

Donald  O'Connor-Peggy  Ryan  Sept.  I7,'43 

Chester  Morris-Nancy  Kelly  Block  I, '43-44 

Dave  O'Brien-Jim  Newill  Sept.  I4,'43 

Joel  MeCrea-Betty  Field  Not  Set 

Mary  Martin-Franchot  Tone  Block  I, '43-44 

Gene  Autry-Lucile  Browne  Dec.   I, '43 

Jimmy  Durante-Van  Johnson  Not  Set 

Eric  Portman-Phyllis  Calvert 
Errol  Flynn-Paul  Lukas 
Barton  MacLane-Charlotte  Wynters 
Ronald  Colman-Claudette  Colbert 
Ray  Milland-Ruth  Hussey 
Victor  Jory-Pamela  Blake 
Danny  Kave-Dinah  Shore 
Marjorie  Reynolds-Dennis  O'Keefe 


Disney  Aviation  Feature 
Russell  Hayden-Shirley  Patterson 

Francis  Lederer-Sigrid  Gurie  Mar.  I0,'44 

Bela  Lugosl-John  Carradine  Feb.  2 1, '44 

BUI  EIIIoH-Gabby  Hayes  Aug.  I9,'43 

Bette  Davis-Paul  Lukas  Sept.  4,'43 

Martha  O'Driscoll-Noah  Beery,  Jr.  Feb.  I8,'44 

Donald  Barry-Dale  Evans  Aug  23,'43 

Ken  Maynard-Hoot  Gibson  Jan.  I7,'44 

Richard  Quine-Noah  Beery.  Jr.  July  30,'43 

Johnny  Downs-Wanda  McKay  Jan.  31, '44 

Rosalind  Russell-Brian  Aherne  Dec.  28, '43 

Jackie  Cooper-Patricia  Morison  Jan,  I7,'44 

John  Hubbard-Rita  Quigley  Dec.  30,'43 

Red  Skelton-Ann  Rutherford  Dec.,'43 

Irene  Dunne-Roddy  McDowell  Not  Set 

Alexander  Knox-Charles  Coburn  Not  Set 

Son{a  Henle-Jaek  Oakle  Sept.  1 7, '43 

Albert  Dekker-Claire  Trevor  Dec.  3 1, '43 

Gail  Patrick-Nancy  Kelly  Jan.  I0,'44 

Russell  Hayden-Bob  Wills  Not  Set 

Joe  Sawyer- WrnTam  rracy  July   I, '43 

Anna  Neagle-Richard  Greene  Not  Set 
Virginia  Waldler-E.  Arnold  &  Guests  June-Aug.,'43 

Mary  Astor-Herbert  Marshall  Nov.,'43 

Allan  Jones-Evelyn  Ankers  Oct.  22,'43 


94m 
57m 


Aug.  I4,'43  1578 


55m       July  3 1, '43 

1 14m       July  3 1, '43 


59m  Jan.  I5,'44 

104m  Aug.  7.'43 

73m  Dec.  1 1, "43 

93m  Dec.  1 1, '43 

72m  Nov.  27,'43 

87m  Oct.  2,'43 


82m 
88m 
72m 


58m 
98m 
81m 
77m 
64m 


Sept.  1 1, '43 
Dec.  I8,'43 
Nov,  20,'43 


Mar.  I3,'43 
Nov.  20,'43 
Mar.  6,'43 
July  3 1, '43 
Oct.  9,'43 


1 455 

1579 


1714 
1469 
1666 
1665 
1645 

1565 


1529 
1673 
1634 


1532 
1634 
1189 
1578 
1573 


1636 


70m 

Dec.  II, '43 

1666 

1362 

lOlm 

Jan.  I,'44 

1693 

1635 

56m 

Nov.  27,'43 

1645 

1545 

127m 

Aug.  21, "43 

1559 

1058 

i7l9 

43m 

June  I2,'43 

1546 

1019 

75m 

Dec,  I8,'43 

1674 

1545 

104m 

Sept.  4,'43 

1522 

Il4m 

July  31, '43 

1453 

1276 

1575 

1416 


26m 

Sept.  I8,'43 

1541 

1079 

1635 

79  m 

Jan.  I,'44 

1694 

1457 

58m 

Sept.  25,'43 

1554 

153! 

1676 

66m 

Jan.  8,'44 

1706 

1696 

83m 

Sept.  I8,'43 

1541 

1456 

80m 

Aug.  I4,'43 

1579 

1457 

63  m 

912 

1079 
i696 


Jan.  21, '44 

83m 

Aug.  {,'42 

1714 

Not  Set 

1636 

Oct.  I0.'43 

65m 

Oct.  9,'43 

1574 

1509 

Nov.26.'43 

99m 

May  9.'36 

1574 

Block  3 

97m 

Jan.  8,'44 

1705 

1416 

Oct.  22/43 

65  m 

Aug.  28,'43 

1559 

Not  Set 

1457 

Apr.  7,'44 

1695 

Aug.  I3.'43 

65  m 

July  I0,'43 

1532 

1375 

Feb.  3.'44 

1081 

1654 
1676 

1391 
986 
1676 
1351 
1599 
1115 

1635 
1606 
1636 
1431 
1586 
1676 
1431 
1531 
1 554 
1079 

1019 

iosi 

1240 
1531 


1719 


1719 


1617 


1719 

1617 
1719 

1719 

1655 


1575 


Feature  Product,  including  Coming  Attractions,  listed  Company  by  Company,  in 
Order  of  Release  on  page  1707. 


I  724  Product  Digest  Section 


OFFICIAL    U.S.    NAVY  PHOTO 


SHUTTERS  AND  LENSES         llllilUlw  ^.tfllffllMMIfflllll  OPTICAL  INSTRUMENTS 

Ilex  Optical  Co.  ★  Rochester,  N,  Y. 


I 


in 


the 


WAR 


LOAN 


I' 


II 


•Mr 

YOUK 

scRViccr 


"AND  Wt  Will 


MOTIONPICTURE 

HERALD 


REVIEWS 

(In  Product  Digest) 

Broadway  Rhythm 

The  Fighting  Seabees 

The  Crime  Doctors 
StraTfgest  Case 

Swing  Out  the  Blues 


STATE  DEPARTMENT 

Post-war  plans  provide  for  screen 
as  economic  and  political  weapon 

INTERNAL  REVENUE 

Federal  agents  start  field  check  of 
theatre  records  of  taxes  on  tickets 

DEPARTMENT  OF  JUSTICE 

Clark  demands  more  concessions  on 
cancellation,  circuits,  arbitration 

LIBRARY  OF  CONGRESS 

MacLeish  seeks  funds  for  national 
film  library  as  record  of  the  times 

INTER-AMERICAN 

Plans  under  way  to  develop  a  per- 
manent South  American  program 

TREASURY  DEPARTMENT 

Bond  for  every  seat  campaign  rolls 
up  record  sales  for  opening  days 


VOL  154.  NO.  4 


JANUARY  22,  1944 


Entered  as  second-class 
weekly   by   Quitiley  1 


s  matter,  January  12,  1931,  at  the  Post  Office,  at  .Veto  York  City,  U.S.A.,  under- the  act  of.  March  i,  1879. 
ublisbing   Co.,  Inc.,   at   1270  Sixth   Avenue.    Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  20,  N.   Y.    Siibscrtptiou  frtce.'i 
$10.00  a  year  Foreign.    Single  '       All  contci't       -       '•  ^'"i  '>   


TH.iV  /ff  tke  Army 

SBLECTBO 

KIATlOlslAL. 
OF  "THE; 

fo  Bjf^t/ 


r  Two  Big  Jobs  in  January: 

zrth  War  Loan  and  March  of  Dimes 


Jack  L.  Warner,  Executing  Produee?\ 


AGAIN  ANP  A<rA»N  TM^  WOfT  OF  TM6  9EJr/ 

We've  got  a  list  of  "Bests"  as  long  as  your  arm  .  .  . 
For  Best  Acting,  for  Best  Producers,  for  Best 
Directors,  for  Best  Short  Subjects  .  .  .  just  about 
the  Best  of  everything! 


THE  LODGER  with  Sir  Cedric  Hardwicke  •  Sara  Allgood 

Aubrey  Mather  •  Queenie  Leonard  •  Doris  Lloyd  •  David  Clyde  •  Helena  Pickard 

Directed  by  JOHN  BRAHM  •  Produced  by  ROBERT  BASSLER  •  Screen  Play  by  Barre  Lyndon 


MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD 


COLVIN  BROWN,  PuMisher 


MARTIN  QUIGLEY 
President  and  Editor-in-Chief 


TERRY  RAMSAYE,  Editor 


Vol.  1 54,  No.  4 


OP 


January  22.  1944 


T'he  Government  Are- 


THE  movements  in  the  changing  pattern  of  relation  be- 
tween the  motion  picture  and  the  Government  are  in  a 
state  of  acceleration,  the  news  pages  of  this  issue  attest. 
The  ultimate  shape  of  things  to  come  is  not  yet  to  be 
defined,  but  it  is  to  be  very  much  a  new  shape. 

The  latest  of  all  developments  came  at  mid-week  with  the 
announcement  from  the  Department  of  Internal  Revenue  of 
direct  field  check-up  of  box  offices,  right  down  to  the  ticket 
stubs.  Along  with  that  is  to  be  remembered  the  passing  con- 
sideration of  a  system  requiring  the  use  of  tickets  printed  under 
Government  license.  That  was  getting  fairly  close  to  the 
handling  of  the  liquor  traffic  with  a  stamp  across  the  neck  of 
every  bottle. 

Most  imposing  of  the  developments  on  the  big  map  is  the 
arrival  of  a  state  of  negotiation  and  conversation  between  the 
Department  of  State  and  the  organized  industry.  There  appears 
to  be  in  formation  a  sort  of  special  sub-ministry  of  cinema  in 
the  department  to  deal  with  the  American  film  as  a  product 
in  world  trade  after  the  war,  obviously  recognizing  the  pictures 
as  automatic  propaganda  for  American  causes  and  merchan- 
dise. The  direction  and  approach  have  been  indicated  in  the 
only  official  publicity  release,  which  came  from  the  Motion  Pic- 
ture Producers  and  Distributors  of  America  after  a  New  York 
meeting  with  State  Department  representatives,  and  a  luncheon, 
at  the  Harvard  Club.  In  the  second  of  Its  two  economical 
paragraphs  it  said: 

"Mr.  [Francis  Co/t]  de  Wo/f  emphosized  to  the  picture 
executives  their  responsibi/ity  to  exercise  the  greatest  core 
in  the  fair  picturization  of  aii  other  na\\on%  and  their  in- 
.stitutions  and  the  fair  presentation  of  the  United  States 
and  its  people  to  the  ^or\i." 

It  would  be,  and  ever  has  been,  the  intent  of  this  industry 
to  always  do  just  that.  However,  the  incidents  of  drama  and 
dramatic  narration  have  even  in  time  past  created  some  inter- 
national issues.  It  has  often  been  observed,  incidentally,  that 
the  only  safe  villain  for  the  screen  was  an  American  with  no 
religious  ties  and  of  undefinable  ancestry.  The  availability  of 
the  Jap  and  the  Nazi  have  at  least  temporarily  relieved  that 
situation. 


ANYWAY,  the  utterance  from  Mr.  de  Wolf  suggests 
that  the  State  Department  is  having  in  mind,  for  the 
days  of  the  peace  and  Its  economic  issues,  an  order 
of  requirement  controlling  the  pictures  for  export  somewhat 
as  they  are  x:ontrolled  now  by  censorship  under  the  require- 
ments of  war.  No  picture  for  international  trade  may  contain 
anything  unpleasant  to  an  ally  In  the  war,  today — and  tomorrow 
it  probably  will  be  like  that  in  behalf  of  the  customers  in  the 
peace. 

Pertaining  to  this  aspect  of  the  international  relations  of  the 
screen,  the  American  exhibitor  probably  need  have  little  con- 
cern. For  many  years,  In  fact  all  through  the  feature  era  up 


to  this  great  war,  he  has  presented  product  generally  addressed 
at  a  world  market.  The  principal  obvious  consequence  was  the 
Importation  of  foreign  talent  for  foreign  sales  effect.  That  is 
almost  certain  to  be  seen  again,  and  perhaps  in  more  excit- 
ing pattern. 

THE  international  star  movement  Is  already  under  way.  In  a 
sort  of  reverse,  in  the  deal  by  Mr.  J.  Arthur  Rank  with 
Mr.  David  Selznick  for  the  services  of  Vivien  Leigh  who, 
despite  her  British  origin,  is  a  Hollywood  personality,  born  of 
"Gone  With  the  Wind".  It  is  to  be  presumed  that  Mr.  Rank 
wants  Miss  Leigh  rather  more  for  the  purposes  of  his  address 
to  the  American  market  than  his  home  market. 

We  have,  of  course,  as  most  always,  the  continuing  processes 
of  regulation  by  the  Government  through  the  Department  of 
Justice,  with  Mr.  Tom  Clark  of  the  Attorney  General's  corps 
this  week  again  urging  more  concessions  from  the  distributors 
In  the  new  Consent  Decree  negotiations.  That  will  be  going 
on  for  a  while  yet. 

Meanwhile,  an  interview  this  week  with  Mr.  Archibald 
MacLeish,  In  charge  of  the  Congressional  Library,  points  up  the 
Government  movement,  or  movements,  for  a  great  Federal 
Film  Library,  to  preserve  and  deal  with  films  of  both  art  and 
commerce,  and  government. 

I 

ALONG  with  this  comes  a  new  outline  of  programs  and 
projects  from  the  film  division  of  the  office  of  the 
Coordinator  of  Inter- American  Affairs,  addressed  to 
lands  below  the  Rio  Grande.  There  appears  a  question  about 
how  far  this  program  is  to  go  under  government  auspices  and, 
failing  that,  its  continuance  under  special  grants  from  the 
Rockefeller  Foundation  and  maybe  the  Field  Foundation,  which 
seems  to  be  in  process  of  being  approached.  Interesting  con- 
siderations arise  from  the  fact  that,  while  the  Department  of 
State  is  planning  a  film  division.  It  Is  to  be  observed  that  the 
CIAA  has  been  in  some  degree  a  sort  of  separate  little  State 
Department  on  Its  own  In  the  Latin  lands. 

It  is  yet  to  be  discovered  whether  or  not  the  film  adventures 
of  the  CIAA,  at  home  and  abroad,  are  to  prove  to  have  been 
explorations  in  behalf  of  a  process  of  crystallizing  an  over-all 
national  policy  with  reference  to  the  motion  picture.  There  has 
been  much  about  the  operations  which  has  suggested  a  continu- 
ing process  of  experimentation  over  a  wide  range  of  material. 

•  Lastly  In  the  catalogue  of  relations  comes  that  Fourth  War 
Loan  Drive  in  which  this  Industry  is  so  industriously  engaged 
in  advancing  the  sale  of  war  bonds  to  the  box  office  public,  and 
the  nation.  That  drive,  just  this  week  getting  under  way,  Is 
reporting  In  terms  of  large  enthusiasm  and  prospect  of  con- 
spicuous success. 

All  In  all,  the  Government  are  much  Interested  In  motion 
pictures.  — Terry  Kavtsaye 


8 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    22,  1944 


THIS  JVEEK  IN  THE  NEWS 


SCREEN  plans  mutual  aid  program  with 
State  Department  Page  14 

CLARK  again  says  no  and  distributors  re- 
vise Consent  Decree  Page  17 

MacLEISH  asks  national  film  library  as 
record  of  times  Page  1 8 

INDUSTRY  embarks  on  drive  to  sell  a  bond 
for  every  seat  Page  23 

CIAA  plans  Latin  American  cultural  ex- 
change on  permanent  basis       Page  25 

SERVIQE  DEPARTMEN 

Hollywood  Scene  Page  45 

In  the  Newsreels  Page  58 

Late  Review  Page  43 

Managers'  Round  Table  Page  49 

IN  PRODUCT  DIGEST  SECTION 

Showmen's  Reviews  Page  1725 

Short  Subjects  Page  1726 


THREE-QUARTERS  of  product  backlogs 

are  escapist  entertainment  Page  26 

INTERNAL  Revenue  Bureau  begins  check 

on  theatre  tickets  Page  30 

DELETIONS  in  films  made  by  censors  in 

four  states  show  decrease  Page  32 

PRODUCERS  sent  218  features  overseas 

during  the  year  1943  Page  38 

UNITED  STATES  to  supply  raw  stock  to 

Mexico  this  year  Page  42 

TS 

Obituaries  Page  60 

Picture  Grosses  Page  59 

Shorts  on  Broadway  Page  48 

What  the  Picture  Did  for  Me  Page  46 


Release  Chart  by  Companies  Page  1727 
The  Release  Chart  Page  1728 


Reich  Bombs  Reich 

A  LONG  line  awaited  the  opening  of  the 
Radio  City  Music  Hall  Bond  booth  Tuesday. 
The  first  in  the  line  stepped  up  and  an- 
nounced: "I  want  to  help  bomb  the  Reich." 
Asked  his  name,  he  replied:  "Reich."  He 
was  Joseph  Reich,  24,  discharged  from  the 
Army  with  a  Purple  Heart,  now  an  inspec- 
tor for  Western  Electric.  On  Wednesday, 
Charles  P.  Skouras,  who  is  heading  the  in- 
dustry's participation  in  the  Fourth  War 
Loan,  presented  Mr.  Reich  with  a  sheepskin 
certificate  commemorating  his  role  in  the 
drive,  at  the  headquarters  of  the  War 
Finance  Committee  in  New  York.  Laraine 
Day,  of  Hollywood,  was  on  hand  with  a 
kind  word  for  Joseph  Reich  and  some  un- 
kind words  for  the  German  Reich. 


The  Heat's  On 

HOT  times  are  ahead  for  theatre  operators 
and  their  patrons  this  summer,  with  the 
prospect  that  much  of  the  air  conditioning 
equipment  in  theatres  may  have  to  be  shut 
down  for  lack  of  Freon  gas. 

The  War  Production  Board  was  expected 
to  issue  an  amendment  on  Thursday  to  its 
refrigerating  gas  conservation  order  extend- 
ing until  August  31  restrictions  due  to  ex- 
pire March  31.  This  will  continue  to  pro- 
hibit delivery  of  any  Freon  to  theatres.  De- 
livery is  permitted  only  to  the  military  or 
maritime  services,  war  plants,  hospitals  or 
other  highly  essential  activities. 

There  is  no  prospect  that  the  Freon  short- 
age will  be  eased  during  the  next  nine 
months,  WPB  officials  said.  Construction 
of  new  plant  facilities  for  the  du  Pont 
kinetic  chemicals  subsidiary,  sole  producer  of 
Freon,  has  been  delayed  and  demands  from 
war  plants,  new  ship  construction  and  hospi- 
tals for  the  refrigerant  have  increased. 

Few  exhibitors  have  reserve  supplies  of 
Freon,  refrigerating  engineers  reported, 
predicting  that  many  theatres  will  join  those 
who  had  to  pull  down  the  "Air  Conditioned" 
signs  last  summer.  Their  advice  to  theatre 
men  is  to  conserve  Freon  for  super -hot  days 
and  wait  until  the  war  is  over.  There  is  no 
safe  substitute  for  the  non-toxic  refrigerant, 
according  to  engineers. 


Flattered  Lunch  Talk 

RKO  STUDIO  workers  had  better  watch 
their  noon-hour  chatter  in  the  studio  com- 
missary if  plans  for  a  radio  program  now 
under  consideration  go  through.  Fred 
Wakeman,  who  handles  the  RKO  account 
for  Foote,  Cone  and  Belding  advertising 
agency,  has  proposed  a  daily  15-minute 
broadcast  from  the  studio,  to  be  sponsored 
by  RKO. 

RKO  stars,  directors,  producers,  writers 
and  people  about  the  studio  would  be  inter- 
viewed over  the  luncheon  table,  according 
to  the  proposed  plan.  Music,  chatter  about 
forthcoming  pictures  and  RKO  personali- 


ties and  general  news  of  Hollywood  would 
make  up  a  IS-minute  program  five  days  a 
week.  Institutional  in  nature,  the  program 
would  supplement  other  radio  campaigns  for 
specific  pictures. 

An  option  has  been  taken  on  a  15-minute 
spot  at  12:15  P.M.,  Pacific  War  Time,  over 
the  Mutual  network  for  five  broadcasts  a 
week  from  the  RKO  lot.  Test  programs  are 
being  recorded  this  week  in  Hollywood  by 
Mr.  Wakeman.  Ned  Depinet,  president  of 
RKO  Radio  Pictures,  and  S.  Barret  McCor- 
mick,  director  of  advertising  and  publicity, 
will  make  the  final  decision  on  the  proposed 
program  shortly. 


Accent  on  Films 

THE  alien  who  establishes  himself  in  this 
country  and  attends  New  York  University's 
"classes  in  English  for  educated  foreigners," 
is  apt  to  lose  poise  when  he  crosses  the 
Hudson  River  for  points  West  and  South. 
The  Pennsylvania  Germanisms,  the  West 
Virginia  twangs,  the  slow,  hard  Midwestern 
tongue,  the  drawls  of  the  South  and  South- 
west— all  these  confuse  and  wrack  the  refu- 
gee, and  ruin  his  perilous  adjustment  to 
America. 

That's  New  York  University's  thought. 
So,  it  announces,  it  will  use  a  group  of  films 
from  its  Educational  Film  Institute,  to 
"help  foreigners  become  accustomed  to  a 
wide  variety  of  American  accents." 

The  films  will  also  be  used  to  "stimulate 
discussion  in  the  classroom  and  familiarize 
foreigners  .  .  .  with  American  social  prob- 
lems." 


A  Matter  of  Form 

AN  ARMY  booklet  devoted  to  the  welfare 
and  morale  of  soldiers  and  the  dissemination 
of  such  matters  of  import  as  orientation 
and  international  relations  has  uncovered 
some  hot  coals  brought  to  Newcastle.  They 
are,  says  the  War  Department  guide,  the 
Hollywood  forms  divine  as  reproduced  in 
Army  newspapers.  In  a  suggestion  ad- 
dressed to  Army  editors,  it  says : 

"Within  the  continental  limits  of  the  Unit- 
ed States,  this  general  subject  is  already 
so  handsomely  exploited  by  civilian  periodi- 
cals that  for  the  military  to  enter  the  com- 
petition would  be  like  carrying  coals  to 
Newcastle.  This  is  not  a  military  subject, 
although  it  is  frequently  a  subject  of  the 
military." 


Bottle-Neck 

ZELMA  E.  MONAHAN,  speaking  for 
labor,  informed  the  Cleveland  Federation  of 
Labor  recently  that  she  had  heard  that 
Dorothy  Lamour,  with  or  without  a  sarong, 
"was  responsible  for  the  loss  of  thousands 
of  man  hours  when  she  went  through  war 
plants  and  stopped  work."  '  Miss  Lamour, 
upon  hearing  she  has  been  charged  with  be- 
ing a  bottleneck,  exclaimed:  "A  hazard  to 
war  production,  she  calls  me.  Well,  I  like 
that !  The  next  time  Secretary  Morgenthau 
asks  me  to  go  on  another  Bond-selling  tour, 
I'm  going."  In  Cleveland,  Miss  Monahan 
told  a  reporter  she  would  apologize  to  Miss 
Lamour  by  letter. 


January    22,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


9 


Film  Tastes 

IT  was  Oscar  Wilde  who  said  that  one 
man's  poetry  is  another  man's  poison.  The 
men  of  the  armed  forces  who  are  at  the  front 
or  have  been  in  battle,  are  known  to  have  a 
decided  preference  for  film  fare  far  removed 
from  warfare,  looking  to  pictures  for  escape 
and  relaxation.  As  for  the  millions  of  G.I.'s 
in  the  training  camps,  according  to  box  of- 
fice figures  at  post  theatres,  preference  leans 
heavily  toward  war  pictures.  Of  the  10 
box  office  champions  at  Army  theatres  dur- 
ing 1943,  operated  by  the  Army  Motion  Pic- 
ture Service  in  this  country,  four  are  out- 
right war  pictures,  and  they  are  among  the 
first  five,  while  two  others  are  of  a  mili- 
tary nature,  although  the  plots  are  not  based 
upon  warfare. 

The  10  favorites  of  the  G.I.'s  from  Jan- 
uary 1,  1943,  through  December  15  last, 
were:  1.  "Guadalcanal  Diary,"  Twentieth 
Century-Fox;  2.  "Crash  Dive,"  Twentieth 
Century-Fox;  3.  "Destination  Tokyo," 
Warner  Brothers;  4.  "Air  Force,"  War- 
ner Brothers;  5.  "Sahara,"  Columbia;  6. 
"Arabian  Nights,"  Universal;  7.  "Des- 
peradoes," Columbia;  8.  "Happy  Go 
Lucky,"  Paramount;  9.  "This  Is  the 
Army,"  Warner  Brothers;  10.  "Hello, 
'Frisco,  Hello,"  Twentieth  Century-Fox. 

There  were  20  runners-up  mentioned,  ex- 
actly half  of  which  were  either  directly  or 
indirectly  concerned  with  the  war. 

For  the  last  month  of  1943,  December, 
the  following  pictures  were  seen  by  the 
greatest  number  of  G.I.'s: 

1,  "Destination  Tokyo,"  Warner  Broth- 
ers; 2.  "The  North  Star,"  RKO;  3.  "His 
Butler's  Sister,"  Universal;  4.  "Govern- 
ment Girl,"  RKO;  5.  "Lost  Angel," 
MGM. 


Stranded 

THE  March  of  Time  is  wondering  what  to' 
do  for  one  stranded  cameraman.  He  is 
James  "Jimmy"  Hodgson,  long  with  the 
company,  whose  film,  basis  of  the  subject, 
"Sweden's  Middle  Road,"  was  shipped  from 
that  country  without  trouble.  Then  the 
Germans  began  shooting  down  transport 
planes  en  route  to  England.  Mr.  Hodgson 
remains  in  Sweden. 


Sight  and  Sound 

TELEVISION  and  Frequency  Modulation 
broadcasters  met  this  week  in  their  trade 
associations  to  discuss  respective  hopes  of 
inheriting  the  post-war  airwaves. 

Nineteen  television  operators  in  Chicago 
Tuesday  formed  Television  Broadcaster's 
Association,  Inc.,  the  industry's  first  trade 
organization.  Voting  members  will  include 
operators  of  television  stations  or  holders  of 
FCC  construction  permits  or  active  applica- 


tions for  licenses.  Non-voting  affiliates  will 
include  manufacturers  or  other  groups  in- 
terested in  visual  broadcasting,  perhaps  in- 
cluding some  film  companies. 

Allen  B.  DuMont  was  elected  chairman 
of  the  organization  committee.  Other  mem- 
bers are:  O.  B.  Hanson,  National  Broad- 
casting Company;  F.  J.  Bingley,  Philco;  E. 
A.  Hayes,  Hughes  Tool  Company;  C.  W. 
Mason  of  Earl  C.  Anthony,  Inc.;  C.  W. 
Miner,  Columbia  Broadcasting  System; 
Paul  Raibourn,  Television  Productions, 
Inc.,  and  Paramount,  and  Lewis  A.  Weiss, 
of  the  Don  Lee  Broadcasting  System. 

Also  in  the  Association  are  Balaban  & 
Katz,  General  Electric,  General  Tevision 
Corp.,  Inter-Mountain  Broadcasting  Corp., 
International  Detrola,  The  Milwaukee  Jour- 
nal, Chicago  Tribune,  N.  W.  Ayer  and 
Son,  Bamberger  Broadcasting  Service, 
KFRE,  Fresno,  Calif.,  and  Midland  Broad- 
casting Company. 

Frequency  Modulation  Broadcasters,  Inc., 
will  meet  at  the  Hotel  Commodore  in  New 
York  on  January  26  and  27  to  discuss  their 
problems  and  prospects.  James  Lawrence 
Fly,  chairman,  and  E.  K.  Jett,  chief  engi- 
neer and  a  new  commissioner  of  the  Federal 
Communications  Commission,  were  top- 
billed  speakers.  The  FM  Broadcasters  trade 
associations  reports  a  membership  of  84  sta- 
tions, with  40  of  them  operating  on  regular 
commercial  schedules. 

One  of  the  newest  recruits  to  FM  is  the 
New  York  Times,  which  has  applied  to  the 
FCC  for  a  permit  to  build  a  station  after 
the  war  on  45,500  kilocycles  to  serve  8,250 
square  miles. 


Theatre  Listings 

ASIDE  from  the  news  of  the  day,  theatre 
listings  along  with  church  announcements 
and  obituaries  were  about  all  that  survived 
the  drastic  cut  of  the  Pittsburgh  Post-Ga- 
zette Sunday  edition  from  20  or  more  pages 
to  12.  This  new  Saturday  edition  is  ex- 
pected to  continue  until  newsprint  restric- 
tions can  be  eased. 


Betty  Again 

THE  Evening  Post,  New  York  tabloid,  for 
a  daily  feature  stops  pedestrians  and  asks 
a  question.  Last  Monday  they  asked  three 
men  and  two  women :  "Who  is  your  favorite 
actor?  Actress?"  The  first  man  named 
Veronica  Lake,  and  from  "Ronnie"  leaped  to 
the  classical  with  a  vote  for  Maurice  Evans. 
The  first  of  the  women  named  Alan  Ladd 
and  the  winner  of  the  Motion  Picture 
HERALD-Faw?  poll,  Betty  Grable.  Next  was 
another  man,  who  could  not  'get  beyond  Bet- 
ty Grable  to  give  a  thought  to  a  male  actor. 
The  second  woman  named  Lou  Costello  and 
Betty  Grable  and  the  last,  a  man,  named 
Ann  Sheridan  and  Bing  Crosby. 


Success  Story 

COME  September  30,  the  landlord  of  the 
Hudson  theatre,  which  houses  Broadway's 
perennial  exhibit  of  genteel  mass  murder  be- 
hind the  footlights,  "Arsenic  and  Old  Lace," 
which  Warner  Brothers  has  adapted  to  the 
screen,  will  not  be  calling  for  the  rent.  Out 
of  their  profits,  Howard  Lindsay  and  Russell 
Crouse,  the  producers,  in  association  with 
Elliot  Nugent,  actor ;  Leland  Hayward,  New 
York  and  Hollywood  agent,  and  husband  of 
Margaret  Sullavan,  and  Joseph  and  How- 
ard Cullman,  tobacco  brokers,  have  pur- 
chased the  theatre  for  $300,000.  The  present 
lessee  of  the  Hudson  is  the  Selection  Thea- 
tres Corporation,  whose  lease  expires;  Sep- 
tember 30,  when  the  new  owners  will  take 
possession. 

The  Hudson  theatre  was  opened  40  years 
ago,  on  October  19,  1903,  with  a  production 
called  "Cousin  Kate,"  starring  Ethel  Bar- 
rymore.  It  seats  1,057  persons  and  has  two 
balconies. 

The  Warner  screen  version,  completed 
these  many  months,  is  awaiting  a  release 
date. 


Extra-Mural 

T.  J.  COURTNEY,  manager  of  the  Casino, 
Halifax,  was  told  by  his  contractor  that 
work  on  the  Courtney  home  must  be  sus- 
pended because  there  were  not  enough  work- 
ers. Mr.  Courtney  appealed  to  his  staff  at 
the  Casino.  They  responded.  Each  morn- 
ing, they  helped  nail  boards,  set  pipes,  con- 
struct the  roof,  paint  the  walls,  mix  the  con_ 
Crete,  and  so  on.  Our  last  report  from  the 
scene  does  not  state  whether  Mr.  Courtney 
has  begun  living  in  his  house. 


Condemned 

BIR  HAKEIM,  French  underground  news- 
paper, was  quoted  in  newspaper  reports  last 
week  as  saying  that  the  underground  had 
sentenced  Danielle  Darrieux,  motion  picture 
actress,  to  death.  She  was  charged  with  col- 
laborating with  the  Nazis.  Her  only  Hol- 
lywood appearance  before  the  cameras  was 
in  "Rage  of  Paris."  Her  greatest  screen 
triumph  was  in  the  French  picture,  "Mayer- 
ling,"  opposite  Charles  Boyer.  She  is  26 
years  old  and  the  wife  of  Porfirio  Rubirosa, 
charge  d'affaires  of  the  San  Salvador  lega- 
tion in  Vichy,  whom  she  married  in  1941. 


Old  Man  Lydon 

JIMMY  Lydon  has  reached  his  majority, 
and  he  has  a  contract — with  Republic — ^to 
prove  it.  The  studio  appears  to  have  earned 
Jimmy's  respect  by  stipulating  in  the  con- 
tract that  the  one-time  Henry  Aldrich  of 
the  screen  will  not  be  cast  as  a  juvenile. 


MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD,  published  every  Saturday  by  Quigley  Publishing  Connpany,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  City,  20.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100;  Cable  address  "Quigpubco, 
New  York."  Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Terry  Ramsaye,  Editor;  Jomes  D.  Ivers,  News  Editor; 
Ray  Gallagher,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Avenue,  Chicago,  5;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Building,  Hollywood,  28,  William  R.  Weaver, 
editor;  Toronto  Bureau,  242  Millwood  Road,  Toronto,  Ontario,  Canada,  W.  M.  G-lodish,  correspondent;  Montreal  Bureau,  265  Vitre  St.,  West,  Montreal,  Canada,  Pat  Donovan, 
correspondent;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Square,  London  W  I,  Hope  Williams  Burnup,  manager;  Peter  Burnup,  editor;  cable  Quigpubco  London;  Melbourne  Bureau,  The  Regent 
Theatre,  191  Collins  St.,  Melbourne,  Austrolia,  Cliff  Holt,  correspondent;  Sydney  Bureau,  17  Archbold  Rd.,  Roseville,  Sydney,  N.S.W.,  Australia,  Lin  Endean.  correspondent; 
Mexico  City  Bureau,  Dr.  Carmona  y  Valle  6,  Mexico  City,  Luis  Becerra  Ceiis,  correspondent;  Buenos  Aires  Bureau,  J.  E.  Uriburi  126,  Buenos  Aires,  Argentina,  Natalio  Bruski, 
correspondent]  Rio  de  Janeiro  Bureau,  R.  Sao  Jose,  61,  C.  Postal  834,  Rio  de  Janeiro,  Brazil,  Alfredo  C.  Mochado,  correspondent;  Montevideo  Bureau,  P.  O.  Box  664,  Montevideo, 
Uruguay,  Paul  Bodo,  correspondent;  cable  Argus  Montevideo.  Member  Audit  Bureau  of  Circulations.  All  contents  copyright  1944  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company.  Address 
all  correspondence  to  the  New  York  Office.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Better  Theatres,  Motion  Picture  Daily,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  and  Fame. 


10 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    22,  1944 


THIS  WEEK 


the  Camera  reports: 


THE  FIRST  manager  to  send  his  entry  in  the 
"Honored  Hundred"  contest  of  the  film  industry's 
Fourth  War  Loan  participation,  was  William  K. 
Saxton,  above,  of  Loew's  Century,  Baltimore. 
Mr.  Saxton  has  been  with  the  company  more  than 
14  years.  His  was  the  first  entry  blank  received, 
but  it  was  and  is  being  followed  by  thousands 
more  "as   exhibitors   rally  to  the   nation's  call. 


THE  S.S.  CAROLE  LOMBARD,  a  Liberty  Ship,  was  launched 
Saturday  in  Los  Angeles  Harbor,  signalling  the  opening  of  the 
motion  picture  industry's  participation  in  the  Fourth  War  Loan. 
At  the  ceremony  above  are  Captain  Clark  Gable,  husband 
of  the  film  star  who  lost  her  life  while  on  a  Bond-selling  tour; 
Louis  B.  Mayer,  Mrs.  Walter  Lang  and  Irene  Dunne, 
who  christened  the  ship. 


DEDICATED  to  Washington's  Variety  Club  because 
that  organization  sold  so  many  Bonds,  the  Boeing 
Flying  Fortress  above  is  now  in  battle. 


THE  SIFT  16  mm  films  from  the  motion  picture  industry  to  the 
Army  overseas  are  being  seen  by  more  than  85  per  cent 
of  personnel  not  in  active  combat,  Major  John  Hubbell,  of 
the  Army's  overseas  film  service,  told  the  film  industry's  Public 
Information  Committee  last  week  In  New  York.  Above, 
David  A.  LIpton,  Major  Hubbell,  Silas  F.  Seadler, 
Major  Arthur  Loew,  Captain  Seymour  Mayer. 


January    22,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


By  Staff  Photographer 

"ONLY  THE  FOOD  that  kept  them  alive 
was  more  important  to  the  Maltese  than 
.motion  pictures,"  reports  British  Petty 
Officer  Alexander  Francis  Smith,  now  in 
New  York,  and  recently  arrived  from  Malta. 
Mr.  Smith,  whose  ship  shuttled  between 
the  island  and  Alexandria,  carrying 
supplies,  has  written  a  book,  soon  to  be 
published  In  London:  "Malta  Ferry." 
Before  the  war,  Mr.  Smith  was  an  actor, 
director,  and  motion  picture  critic  in 
Australia  and  Great  Britain. 


THE  BAYONETS  and  brutality  seen  above  are  to  be  found  fully  portrayed  In 
Columbia's  story  of  war  and  post-war  justice,  "None  Shall  Escape." 


yM 

MEETING.  Captain  W.  S.  LeFrancoIs,  left, 
author  of  the  story  upon  which  Universal's 
"Gung  Ho"  is  based,  meets  Commander  William 
Brockman,  Makin  Island  fighting  companion, 
at  a  Boston  luncheon  given  by  the  company. 


By  Staff  Photographer 

ELECTION.  Morris  Sanders  last  week  was  elected  president 
of  the  Motion  Picture  Associates,  New  York.    In  the  picture 
above,  Mr.  Sanders  poses  with  his  1944  fellow  officers. 
Seated  are  Saul  Trauner,  treasurer;  Mr.  Saunders;  Jack  Ellis, 
first  vice-president;  Matthew  Cahan,  second  vice-president. 
Standing  ere  Charles  Berliner,  chaplain;  Charles  Penser, 
financial  secretary;  Harry  Furst,  sergeant-at-arms;  Moe  Fraum, 
recording  secretary;  and  Seymour  Schussel,  trustee.  The 
officers  were  installed  Tuesday,  at  an  Astor  Hotel 
luncheon.  See  page  40. 


By  Staff  Photographer 

EXHIBITORS  of  New  York  turned  out  last  week  at  luncheon 
to  honor  Paul  Moss,  license  commissioner,  and  also  hear  an 
appeal  for  the  New  York  Jewish  Federation.  Above,  on  the 
dais:  Nate  Spingold,  Columbia;  Leo  Brecher,  exhibitor;  Mr. 
Moss;  David  Bernstein,  Loew's;  Samuel  Rinzler,  Randforce. 


12 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    22,  1944 


WINNER  in  the  Herald  Valentine's  Day  picture  contest  is  Warners,  with 
the  scene  above  starring  Joan  Leslie.  Just  incidentally,  the  scene  is  from 
the  picture,  "Rhapsody  in  Blue",  screen  biography  of  George  Gershwin. 


By  Staff  Photographer 

VISITOR.  James  Hodson,  writer  of  the  commentary 
for  "Desert  Victory"  and  for  the  forthcoming 
"Africa  Freed,"  is  visiting  this  country.  Above, 
he  is  pictured  at  a  New  York  interview. 


PRODUCERS  OF 
United  Artists'  release 
Arthur  Ripley, 
week  discussing 


By  Staff  Photographer 

Voice  in   the  Wind"  for 
Rudolph  Monter  and 
above,  were  in  New  York  this 
selling  plans  with  UA  officials. 


DURING  1944,  the  Variety  Club  Tent  13,  of  Philadelphia,  will  have 
the  above  as  officers.  Seated,  left  to  right,  are  James  P.  Clark, 
William  MacAvoy,  Clint  Weyer,  Frank  L.  McNamee,  Jack 
Greenberg,  Jack  Beresin.  Standing,  in  the  same  order,  are  Michael 
Felt,  Jay  Emanuel,  William  Clark,  Ben  Amsterdam,  Earle  W. 
Sweigert,  Harry  Blumberg,  George  Sobel,  Alfred  J.  Davis, 
and  Samuel  Gross. 


By  Staff  Photographer 

INSTALLATION.  Officers  of  New  York's  Film  Board  of 
Trade  were  installed  last  week,  at  the  home  of  Louis  Nizer, 
film  attorney.  Above,  Henry  Randel,  left,  outgoing 
president,  congratulates  Ralph  Pielow,  new  incumbent. 
Watching  are  Mr.  Nizer,  Jack  Ellis,  second  vice-president; 
Ray  Moon,  treasurer;  Robert  Fannon,  secretary;  and 
Clarence  Eiseman,  first  vice-president. 


January    22,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


13 


CONVENTION  in  Brazil.  Universal  staged  one  in  Rio  de  Janeiro  last  month, 

under  foreign  sales  director  Alfred  Daff,  and  Brazil  manager  Al  Szekler. 

At  the  table  above,  left  to  right,  are  C.  G.  Semino,  C.  H.  Streit,  M.  Schwab, 

L.  Holzmann,  F.  de  Medeiros,  R.  Gottschalk,  E.  Trucco, 

Maurice  Silverstein,  Mr.  Szekler  and  Mr.  Daff,  Walda  Calvert,  A.  Steinberg, 

E.  de  Figuefredo,  D.  Espi,  !.  Schmidt,  J.  Cardose,  N.  Costa,  and  J.  Passes. 


IN  BOSTON,  at  Columbia's  luncheon  and  screening  of  "None  Shall  Escape": 
(Left  to  right,  near  wall)  S.  Parris,  Normandie  theatre,  Boston;  W.  Alperm, 
Lieberman  circuit;  J.  Mathiew,  Scenic,  Magnet  and  Weldon  theatres. 
New  hlampshire;  Walter  Silverman,  Edward  Rosenbaum,  Bob  Greenblatt,  and 
Tom  O'Brien,  of  Columbia's  Boston  branch.   In  the  foreground  (left  to 
right),  M.  Sharaf,  Coolidge,  Brookline;  Joe  Wolf,  Columbia;  William 
Lavery,  Lafayette,  hiaverhill;  Sid  Zins,  Columbia;  Edward  Reed,  Strand, 
Providence;  Herman  Rifkin,  Rifkin  Theatres;  and  Archibald  Silverman, 
Strand,  Providence. 


Bv  Staft  Photographer 

AT  THE  OFFICERS'  installation  of  the  New  York  Exchange  Union 
F-45:  Arthur  Weinberg,  Warner  office  manager;  Joseph  Basson, 
lATSE  representative;  Jack  Finkelstein,  new  president;  James 
Brennan,  lATSE  vice-president,  and  Joseph  Davis,  Paramount. 


ALLEN  WILSON  has  been  appointed 
vice-president  in  charge  of  Republic  studio 
operations.  He  had  been  studio  general 
manager.   Mr.  Wilson  succeeds  M.  J.  Siegel, 
production  chief  since   1937,  who  will  take  an 
MGM  executive  position  February  15. 


JOSEPH  WALSH  has  been  reelected  president 
of  the  Motion  Picture  Salesmen's  Club,  of 
Washington,  D.  C,  for  his  fifth  consecutive 
term.  He  Is  with  Columbia  Pictures  in 
Washington. 


14 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    22,  1944 


SCREEN  PLANS  MUTUAL  AID 
WITH  STATE  DEPARTMENT 


Government  To  Help  Trade 
in  Post-War  Market;  Use 
Films  in  Program 

The  State  Department  has  set  up  special 
machinery  to  work  with  the  motion  picture 
industry  to  insure  adequate  Government  as- 
sistance in  the  maintenance  of  the  supremacy 
of  American  screen  product  in  the  post-war 
world  market. 

Reorganization  of  the  Department  into  12 
new  offices  was  announced  on  Saturday  by 
Cordell  Hull,  Secretary  of  State.  This  will 
integrate  the  internal  operations  of  the  De- 
partment and  enable  the  Government  to 
guide  and  use  American  business  in  post- 
war international  relations. 

Pledged  Close  Cooperation 
Of  Trade  and  Government 

Representatives  of  the  State  Department 
met  with  the  film  industry's  leaders  for 
luncheon  at  the  Harvard  Club  in  New  York 
last  Thursday  to  discuss  the  new  relation- 
ships between  the  Government  and  screen 
in  foreign  affairs.  They  pledged  closer  co- 
operation than  had  ever  existed  in  the  past 
and  indicated  clearly  the  Government's 
awareness  of  the  important  role  which  the 
screen  holds  in  the  promotion  of  internation- 
al trade  and  understanding. 

Film  matters  under  the  new  arrangement 
will  center  in  the  Office  of  Transportation 
and  .Communications.  The  Office  of  Eco- 
nomic Affairs  and  the  Office  of  Public  In- 
formation, both  new  divisions,  also  will  be 
concerned  in  lesser  degree  with  motion  pic- 
tures. 

A  division  of  telecommunications,  within 
the  Office  of  Transportation  and  Communi- 
cations, will  have  the  most  direct  contact 
with  the  screen.  It  will  have  responsibility 
for  the  initiation  and  coordination  of  policy 
and  action  in  matters  pertaining  to  interna- 
tional aspects  of  films,  radio,  telegraph  and 
cable  and  the  development  of  international 
policies  for  the  Government,  and  industries 
within  these  fields. 

Office  of  Economic  Affairs 
To  Have  Hand  in  Films 

Francis  Colt  de  Wolf  is  chief  of  the  tele- 
communications division.  In  addition  to 
supervising  division  policy  and  consulting 
with  industry  representatives  he  will  act  as 
liaison  for  the  Department  with  the  Fed- 
eral Communications  Commission,  War  and 
Navy  Departments,  Office  of  Censorship  and 
other  departments  and  agencies  concerned. 

Another  branch  of  the  department  which 
may  have  a  hand  in  motion  picture  matters 
is  the  Office  of  Economic  Affairs,  in  which 
a  division  of  conmiercial  policy  will  have 
responsibility  for  the  initiation  and  coordi- 
nation of  policy  and  action  in  all  matters 
pertaining  to  the  protection  and  promotion 
of  American  commercial  interests  in  foreign 
countries ;  the  formulation,  negotiation  and 
administration  of  commercial  treaties,  re- 
ciprocal trade  agreements,  and  other  com- 


mercial agreements ;  the  tariff,  general  trade 
and  international  commercial  policy  of  the 
United  States,  and  liaison  with  other  depart- 
ments and  agencies  interested  in  such  mat- 
ters. 

The  Division  of  Cultural  Relations  has 
been  abolished  and  its  duties  transferred  to  a 
new  Office  of  Public  Information  which, 
among  other  things,  will  handle  department 
relations  with  newsreels,  radio  and  press. 

A  motion  picture  and  radio  division  of  the 
office  will  have  responsibility  for  liaison  be- 
tween the  department  and  other  agencies, 
particularly  the  Office  of  War  Information, 
the  Coordinator  of  Inter-American  Affairs, 
War  Department  and  Office  of  Censorship, 
in  matters  involved  in  the  dissemination 
abroad,  through  motion  pictures  and  radio, 
of  information  regarding  the  war  effort. 
It  will  develop  and  execute  cultural  pro- 
grams through  those  media. 

John  M.  Begg  has  been  designated  assist- 
ant chief  of  the  division  and  temporarily 
as  acting  chief.  He  previously  handled  film 
contacts  in  the  Cultural  Relations  division. 

Will  Work  Closely  with 
Commerce  Department 

A  new  committee  on  post-war  programs 
has  been  set  up  to  assist  the  Secretary  in 
the  formulation  of  post-war  foreign  policies 
and  the  execution  of  such  policies  by  means 
of  appropriate  international  arrangements. 
This  committee  probably  will  have  much  to 
do  with  the  development  of  programs  for 
the  film  industry's  protection  abroad  after 
the  war,  under  its  general  authority  to 
formulate  the  policies  which  are  to  be  fol- 
lowed by  the  department. 

The  reorganization  is  designed  to  put  the 
department  in  a  position  where  it  can  begin 
its  post-war  work  as  soon  as  countries  now 
under  Axis  domination  are  liberated,  and 
agencies  to  deal  with  the  problems  of  the 
liberated  countries  are  provided  for  in  the 
new  setup. 

In  the  field  of  motion  pictures,  the  De- 
partment is  expected  to  work  closely  with 
the  motion  picture  unit  of  the  Department 
of  Commerce,  of  which  Nathan  D.  Golden 
is  chief.  Mr.  Golden's  office  already  has 
listed  some  of  the  major  problems  which 
the  American  film  industry  probably  will 
face  abroad  after  the  war,  in  the  solution 
of  which  the  State  Department  is  expected 
to  take  a  hand. 

Government  Aware  of  Part 
To  Be  Played  by  Screen 

Mr.  Golden's  report  was  published  in 
Motion  Picture  Herald  October  23. 

Mr.  de  Wolf  and  George  R.  Canty,  who 
is  expected  to  act  as  film  contact  under  him 
in  the  division  of  telecommunications,  ex- 
plained State  Department  plans  to  company 
presidents  and  foreign  managers  at  the 
Harvard  Club  luncheon.  They  pledged  clos- 
er cooperation  in  Washington  and  an  in- 
creasing awareness  by  Department  men  in 
foreign  posts  of  the  importance  of  the  mo- 
tion picture. 

Mr.  Canty  is  a  former  European  represen- 


tative for  Universal  and  served  as  a  De- 
partment of  Commerce  representative  in 
Germany.  Mr.  de  Wolf  formerly  was  at- 
tached to  the  division  of  international  com- 
munications. 

The  Government  is  aware  that  the  screen 
is  one  of  the  most  effective  representatives 
abroad  of  American  democratic  ideals  and 
industry,  the  officials  told  the  film  men.  The 
Government"  is  cognizant  of  the  fact  that 
films  face  the  keenest  competition  in  history 
from  British,  Russian  and  Latin  American 
film  producers,  as  well  r,-  reviving  screen 
industries  in  countries  which  are  now  held 
by  the  enemy.  It  is  aware  that  competing 
foreign  film  industries  frequently  receive 
direct  government  assistance  and  subsidy. 
Department  representatives  told  industry 
executives. 

Assure  Industry  of 
More  "Concrete"  Aid 

Assistance  from  the  Government  to  the 
motion  picture  industry  will  be  much  more 
concrete  than  at  any  time  in  the  past,  the 
State  Department  agents  said,  according  to 
executives  who  were  at  the  meeting.  Spe- 
cial training  will  be  given  to  members  of 
foreign  missions  and  there  will  be  close  con- 
sultation with  the  organized  industry.  The 
Department  has  been  studying  the  cultural, 
political  and  economic  importance  of  motion 
pictures,  and  is  ready  to  make  extensive  use 
of  the  medium. 

Among  the  executives  at  the  luncheon 
were  Will  H.  Hays,  Spyros  Skouras,  Joseph 
Hazen,  N.  Peter  Rathvon,  John  J.  O'Con- 
nor, Alfred  Daff,  John  Hicks,  David  Welt- 
ner,  Nathan  Spingold,  Joseph  Hummel,  J. 
Robert  Rubin,  Morton  Spring;  Fayette  All- 
port,  European  manager,  and  Carl  E.  Mil- 
liken,  secretary  and  foreign  manager  of  the 
MPPDA. 

MPPDA  Reports  on 
Meeting  with  Officials 

Mr.  Milliken  issued  the  following  report 
on  the  luncheon: 

"At  the  Harvard  Club  today  motion  pic- 
ture executives  lunched  with  Mr.  Francis 
Colt  de  Wolf  and  Mr.  George  R.  Canty  of 
the  State  Department.  They  discussed  the 
importance  of  freedom  of  expression  every- 
where in  the  world.  This  is  regarded  as 
one  of  the  basic  factors  in  the  maintenance 
of  future  peace. 

"Mr.  de  Wolf  emphasized  to  the  picture 
executives  their  responsibility  to  exercise 
{he  greatest  care  in  the  fair  picturization  of 
all  other  nations  and  their  institutions  and 
the  fair  presentation  of  the  United  Sates 
and  its  people  to  the  world." 


Buddy  Decorated  For  Wounds 

Lewis  Buddy,  before  the  war  director  of 
Paramount  News  in  Europe,  and  now  civilian 
director  of  the  newsreel  photographers'  pool, 
has  been  decorated  with  the  Order  of  the  Purple 
Heart  for  wounds  received  in  the  Naples  post 
office  explosion  last  October,  it  is  reported 
from  Allied  headquarters  in  Algiers. 


WITH  THIS  FIGHTING  SHIELD 

16,000  American  exhibitors  pledge  their  heart  and  hand  to  do  a 
job  worthy  of  our  lads  on  the  fighting  fronts.  A  Bond  for  every 
theatre  seat  in  the  nation  is  our  way  of  saying  "Thanks''  to  boys 
who  are  ready  to  die  for  the  land  we  love.  Day  and  night  we're 
in  this  fight!   With  everything  we've  got,  we  back  the  attack! 


War  Activities  Committee  of  the  Motion  Picture  Industry,  1501  Broadway,  'New  York  City 


YOU  ARE  HELPING 
TO  MAKE  A 
DREAM 
COME  TRUE  ! 


TOR  WARD  MARCH  OF  DIMES! 

The  Drive  Is  On! 

Let  the  smile  on  this  boy^s  face  be  your  inspiration.  This  year's 
needs  are  greater  than  ever,  and  happily  the  stirring  Greer  Garson 
trailer  is  the  best  yet!  Be  sure  to  use  it.  It  speaks  tenderly  from 
the  heart.  When  all  the  wonderful  industry  drives  are  entered  on 
the  records  let  it  be  said  that  we  remembered  our  stricken  young. 


January    22,    1944  .      MOTION    PICTURE    HERALD  17 

CLARK  SAYS  NO  AGAIN  AND 
MAJORS  RE -WORK  DECREE 


U.  S.  Delays  Schine  Case  Trial 
Pending  Decree  Settlement 


Finds  Circuit,  Arbitration, 
and  Cancellation  Rights 
Are  Inadequate 

Tom  C.  Clark,  Assistant  Attorney  General, 
looked  at  proposals  for  a  new  Consent  De- 
cree in  Washington  on  Monday,  then  sent 
the  distributors  home  again. 

He  told  them  that  their  offer  was  inade- 
quate in  a  number  of  respects. 

He  offered  one  more  opportunity  to  re- 
vise. 

After  reading  the  neatly  printed  docu- 
ment submitted  by  a  committee  of  top  offi- 
cials from  the  five  consenting  companies  he 
spent  three  hours  discussing  the  points  on 
which  he  felt  the  offer  did  not  come  up  to 
Department  of  Justice  expectations. 

The  three  provisions  to  which  Mr.  Clark 
principally  objected  were  the  sections  in- 
volving the  knotty  problems  of  cancellation, 
treatment  of  affiliated  theatres,  and  arbitra- 
tions. These  have  been  the  center  of  most  of 
the  discussion  and  delay  in  the  past  three 
months. 

Will  Have  to  Meet 
Exhibitor  Objections 

Mr.  Clark  pointed  out  that  the  companies 
still  had  not  approached  the  problems  from 
the  standpoint  of  exhibitor  objections  sub- 
mitted to  the  Government  and  relayed  earlier 
to  the  distributors.  It  was  made  clear  that 
the  Government  still  expected  major  con- 
cessions. 

The  distributors  and  their  lawyers  re- 
turned to  New  York  to  work  over  the  modi- 
fications which  the  Government  attorney  in- 
dicated would  be  necessary  before  he  was 
ready  to  accept  it  or  to  discuss  it  with  ex- 
hibitor representatives. 

Neither  side  would  grant  that  the  door 
had  been  slammed  on  further  successful  ne- 
gotiation. But  it  appeared  likely  to  consume 
still  more  time. 

In  one  of  the  longest  conferences  held 
since  meetings  last  fall  in  New  York — three 
and  one-half  hours — Mr.  Clark  and  the  com- 
pany officials  went  over  the  proposals  which 
were  not  acceptable  to  the  department.  He 
pointed  out  the  lines  along  which  they  must 
be  re-written. 

Majors  To  Submit  Amended 
Draft  This  Week 

This  was  the  first  recent  meeting  at  which 
all  companies  were  represented  by  top  offi- 
cials. Those  attending  included  Spyros 
Skouras  and  John  F.  Caskey  of  Twentieth 
Century-Fox;  N.  Peter  Hathvon,  Leslie 
Thompson  and  Ralstone  Irvine  of  RKO ;  J. 
Robert  Rubin,  Loew's;  Barney  Balaban, 
Paramount,  and  Joseph  Hazen  and  Howard 
Levinson  of  Warner  Brothers. 

Following  the  meeting,  Mr.  Clark  said  the 
companies  had  promised  to  send  an  amended 
draft  of  the  proposals  to  the  Department  at 
the  end  of  the  week.  But,  he  added,  there 
will  be  no  more  meetings  with  the  majors. 

The  next  step,  he  said,  will  be  to  submit 
to  the  exhibitors  whatever  the  distributors 


Prosecution  of  the  Government's  divorce- 
ment suit  against  the  Schine  Circuit  will  be 
suspended  until  the  Department  of  Justice 
has  worked  out  a  general  policy  on  theatre 
afRliation  with  the  five  companies  who  are 
party  to  the  Consent  Decree. 

The  Government  will  make  no  move  to 
bring  the  Schine  case  to  trial  in  Federal 
District  Court  at  Buffalo  next  May  24,  when 
the  current  two-year  moratorium  expires, 
officials  indicated  in  Washington  on  Tues- 
day. The  Department  of  Justice  and  cir- 
cuit representatives  agreed  in  recent  con- 
versations that  action  in  the  Schine  case 
should  follow  the  lines  of  policy  decided 
upon  in  connection  with  theatre  ownership 
by  the  distributors. 

A  consent  decree,  based  upon  the  ulti- 
mate decision  on  affiliated  theatre  divorce- 
ment, may  be  reached  between  the  Schine 
circuit  and  the  Department  of  Justice  as 


send  in.  If  the  exhibitors  make  a  good  case 
against  any  particular  point,  the  Depart- 
ment will  ask  the  companies  to  make  the 
necessary  changes. 

There  were  a  number  of  points  of  more 
or  less  importance  on  which  the  Department 
and  the  distributors  differed,  Mr.  Clark  said, 
but  only  three  or  four  on  which  the  whole 
decree  negotiations  depended. 

Objects  to  Pro-rated 
Cancellation  Plan 

The  question  of  cancellations,  long  the 
sore  spot  with  the  exhibitors,  had  not  been 
adequately  dealt  with,  he  indicated.  Dis- 
tributor proposals  of  substantially  the  same 
cancellation  rights  which  were  offered,  and 
rejected,  a  year  ago  in  the  United  Motion 
Picture  Industry  selling  plan  were  termed 
completely  inadequate.  Mr.  Clark  is  said  to 
feel  that  flat  percentages  of  cancellation 
should  be  offered  to  all  exhibitors,  not  pro- 
rated in  proportion  to  film  rentals. 

Nor  had  the  companies  submitted  sufficient 
guarantees  that  independents  would  be  dealt 
with  in  terms  which  would  be  comparable 
to  those  offered  their  affiliated  theatres,  it 
was  reported.  The  Government  is  said  to 
be  insisting  on  free  competitive  bargaining 
between  independents  and  affiliated  theatres. 

The  principal  arbitration  issue  is  the  Gov- 
ernment suggestion  that  appeal  boards  be  set 
up  locally.  Distributors  have  insisted  on  the 
retention  of  the  central  appeal  board  at 
New  York. 

With  the  submission  of  the  revised  draft, 
barring  changes  in  plans  necessitated  by 
failure  of  the  distributors  to  write  the  pro- 
visions along  the  lines  indicated  by  Mr. 


a  result  of  the  recent  agreement,  it  was 
indicated. 

Department  lawyers  are  understood  to 
agree  with  representations  made  last  week 
by  J.  Myer  Schine,  president  of  the  circuit, 
that  it  would  be  unfair  to  force  the  com- 
pany to  dispose  of  theatres  if  the  major 
circuits  were  not  bound  to  the  same  action. 
The  Schines  sold  six  theatres  in  accord  with 
the  moratorium  agreement,  but  informed 
the  Government  in  July  that  it  could  not 
find  buyers  for  10  other  houses. 

Tom  C.  Clark,  Assistant  Attorney  Gen- 
eral, has  several  times  said  that  he  believes 
theatre  divorcement  should  be  settled  with 
a  policy  applicable  throughout  the  industry. 
Affiliation  is  one  of  the  key  questions  in 
Consent  Decree  talks  now  in  progress. 

The  Schine  case  was  one  of  the  field 
actions  filed  at  the  time  anti-trust  suits  were 
started  against  the  major  distributors. 


Clark,  the  companies  are  expected  to  step 
out  of  the  picture  for  two  or  three  weeks, 
while  the  exhibitors  go  over  the  draft.  That 
they  will  find  many  provisions  which  are  not 
fully  acceptable  is  expected,  and  considerable 
time  probably  will  be  required  for  the  ex- 
hibitors and  Mr.  Clark  to  thrash  out  such 
matters. 

New  protest  on  the  forcing  of  percentage 
pictures  as  a  monopolistic  practice  was  made 
this  week  to  Mr.  Clark  by  F.  W.  Huss,  Jr., 
president  of  the  Greater  Cincinnati  Inde- 
pendent Exhibitors  League,  and  Willis 
Vance,  chairman  of  the  Indignant  Exhibitors 
Forum,  in  a  joint  telegram  appealing  for 
protection  of  the  independent  exhibitor. 

Lucas  &  Jenkins  Trust 
Suit  Set  for  January  24 

Trial  was  set  for  next  Monday  in  Federal 
court,  Atlanta,  on  the  $218,000  damage  suit 
filed  by  Fred  Weis,  operator  of  the  Savannah 
theatre.  Savannah,  against  Lucas  &  Jenkins 
and  the  eight  major  companies.  Mr.  Weis 
charged  he  purchased  a  piece  of  property  to 
build  a  theatre  and  that  the  southern  circuit 
bought  a  lot  in  the  same  block  and  built  a 
theatre.  He  also  charged  the  circuit  with 
tying  up  all  pictures  so  that  he  was  forced 
to  abandon  his  project. 

The  exhibitor  further  alleged  that  Lucas 
&  Jenkins,  through  its  buying  power,  had 
made  it  impossible  for  the  Savannah  theatre 
to  get  sufficient  product  in  order  to  operate. 
The  plaintiff  claimed  that  defendant  dis- 
tributors had  a  large  number  of  films  that 
were  not  shown  in  Savannah  but  that  he 
was  unable  to  book  them  for  his  theatre. 


18 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    22,  1944 


MacLeish  Asks  Film 
Library  for  Nation 


Congress  Librarian  Sees 
Need  of  Preservation  as 
Record  of  Times 

Archibald  MacLeish,  Librarian  of  Con- 
gress, wants  to  form  a  great  national  film 
library.  The  artistic  and  commercial 
classics  of  the  screen,  as  well  as  many  typi- 
cal run-of-mine  films  should  be  preserved 
in  Government  vaults  at  Washington  as  a 
record  of  the  times,  he  believes. 

A  collection  of  films,  formed  from  copy- 
right copies  filed  with  the  Library  of  Con- 
gress, would  be  of  inestimable  historic  value, 
according  to  Mr.  MacLeish. 

The  film  industry  could  insure  the  early 
establishment  of  such  a  national  library  by 
a  relatively  modest  financial  contribution, 
the  librarian  said.  But  Mr.  MacLeish  ob- 
served that  industry  executives  had  been 
cool  to  suggestions  that  they  support  such 
a  collection.  He  said  that  it  would  be  of 
great  service  to  the  industry  itself '  and 
pointed  out  that  producers  frequently  were 
unable  to  locate  prints  of  outstanding  pic- 
tures released  only  10  or  15  years  ago. 

Considers  Present  Film 
Program  Inadequate 

I  Mr.  MacLeish  discussed  the  need  for  a 
public  film  library  while  he  was  in  New 
York  last  Thursday  for  conferences  with 
the  National  Broadcasting  Company.  He 
is  writing  a  series  of  radio  programs  on 
the  literature  and  history  of  the  Americas 
for  the  network's  Inter-American  Univer- 
sity series. 

Although  the  Library  of  Congress  already 
has  started  on  a  limited  program  of  film  ac- 
quisition, Mr.  MacLeish  made  it  clear  that 
he  considered  present  arrangements  inade- 
quate. 

Last  year  the  Library  acquired  104  films. 
These  included  23  Hollywood  features,  17 
short  subjects  and  a  selection  of  newsreels 
and  documentary  releases.  The  pictures 
were  selected  for  the  Government  by  the 
Museum  of  Modern  Art  Film  Library  in 
New  York.  Prints,  turned  over  by  dis- 
tributors after  the  completion  of  distribu- 
tion, are  stored  in  the  Museum's  film  vaults 
at  New  York  until  the  Library  of  Congress 
can  obtain  storage  facilities  in  Washington. 

Three-Year  Rockefeller  Fund 
Expires  Next  Year 

Films  are  recommended  to  the  Library 
by  a  Museum  review  committee  consisting 
of  Barbara  Symmes  and  Barbara  Denning, 
film  analysts;  Norbert  Lusk,  former  editor 
of  Picture  Play,  and  Philip  Hartung,  film 
critic. 

The  current  program  is  financed  by  a 
special  grant  from  the  Rockefeller  Founda- 
tion. Amounting  to  $25,000,  the  three-year 
fund  expires  next  year. 

A  national  film  library  could  be  adequate- 
ly operated  for  $50,000  a  year,  according 
to  Mr.  MacLeish.  He  said  he  planned  to 
ask  initially  for  a  Congressional  grant  of 


staff  Photographer 


ARCHIBALD  MACLEISH 

$20,000  a  year  to  start  the  work.  Additional 
support  from  the  industry,  or  some  foun- 
dation would  enable  the  Library  to  classify 
its  existing  collection  of  films  and  to  record 
on  film  the  file  of  paper  positive  prints  of 
pictures  made  prior  to  1912.  A  large  col- 
lection of  these  copyright  records  were  dis- 
covered last  Spring  in  the  basement  of  the 
Library. 

Lack  of  film  storage  vaults  in  the  two 
Library  of  Congress  buildings  in  Washing- 
ton has  been  a  dravy^back  to  the  plans,  Mr. 
MacLeish  admitted.  He  has  urged  the  con- 
struction after  the  war  of  a  special  film 
building  with  vaults,  viewing  equipment, 
projection  rooms  and  laboratory  facilities. 
The  Library  intends  to  ask  Congress  for  an 
appropriation  for  this  purpose. 

National  Archives  Sole 
Unit  with  Facilities 

The  National  Archives  currently  is  the 
only  institution  in  Washington  with  ade- 
quate film  storage  facilities.  The  Archives, 
Mr.  MacLeish  said,  has  its  own  film  collec- 
tion, but  he  declared  it  did  not  match  the 
Library's  in  scope  or  age  and  expressed  the 
conviction  that  the  national  film  collection 
should  be  vested  in  the  Library.* 

"But  that  is  for  someone  higher  up  to 
decide,"  he  said,  asserting  that  the  "impera- 
tive need  is  to  insure  that  such  a  collection 
is  established." 

Hollywood  producers,  led  by  Walter 
Wanger,  president  of  the  Academy  of  Mo- 
tion Picture  Arts  and  Science,  have  en- 
dorsed the  formation  of  the  library  of  film 
classics,  Mr.  MacLeish  added,  and  several 
had  pledged  personal  financial  support. 

Also,  Spyros  Skouras,  president  of  Twen- 
tieth Century-Fox,  has  shown  much  inter- 
est in  the  collection  of  pictures  by  the  Lib- 
rary of  Congress,  Mr.  MacLeish  said.  The 
Fox  executive,  he  added,  had  pledged  as- 
sistance in  the  transfer  of  the  pre-1912  pa- 
per film  records. 


March  of  Dimes 
Drive  Joined  by 
lA^  Stage  Units 

The  executive  committee  of  the  March  of 
Dimes  drive,  January  24  through  30,  headed  by 
Nicholas  M.  Schenck,  has  announced  an  addi- 
tional consolidating  of  forces  including  plcms 
for  exhibitors  and  commitments  of  participa- 
tion by  the  legitimate  theatre  in  New  York 
headed  by  Lee  Shubert,  and  the  International 
Alliance  of  Theatrical  Stage  Employees. 

This  Friday  morning  exhibitors  of  the  New 
York  metropolitan  area  were  to  gather  in  the 
Belvedere  Room  of  the  Hotel  Astor  as  guests 
of  the  executive  committee,  to  discuss  plans  and 
view  a  special  demonstration  of  the  Sister 
Kenny  method  of  treating  infantile  paralysis. 

Thursday's  newsreel  releases  are  showing  a 
shot  of  Mary  Pickford  and  Mrs.  Franklin  D. 
Roosevelt,  wife  of  the  President,  in  front  of 
Loew's  Capitol  theatre  in  Washington,  opening 
the  Dimes  drive.  Mrs.  Roosevelt,  on  Monday, 
devoted  most  of  her  syndicated  column,  "My 
Day,"  to  comment  on  the  industry's  campaign 
in  behalf  of  the  infantile  paralysis  fight. 

Last  Friday  the  committee  received  a  wire 
from  Charles  Skouras  pledging  the  266  theatres 
of  Fox  West  Coast  in  northern  and  southern 
California  "to  make  forthcoming  March  of 
Dimes  campaign  great  success.  You  can  de- 
pend upon  us  to  take  audience  collections  and 
do  a  good  job." 

The  committee  also  received  a  letter  the  same 
day  from  Richard  Walsh,  international  presi- 
dent of  the  lATSE,  in  reply  to  a  plea  from  C. 
C.  Moskowitz  of  the  drive  committee  suggest- 
ing that  overtime  caused  by  the  running  of  the 
appeal  trailer  and  the  collections  be  waived. 
Said  Mr.  Walsh's  letter:  "Our  organization 
will  go  along  as  usual." 

Herman  Robbins,  chairman  of  the  film  com- 
mittee of  the  drive,  has  reported  that  10,900  ap- 
peal trailers,  in  which  Greer  Garson  stars,  have 
been  shipped  to  National  Screen  exchanges 
throughout  the  nation,  with  every  territory  re- 
ceiving its  supply  the  first  of  this  week.  He 
annoimced  that  exhibitors  who  delayed  in 
sending  in  their  pledges,  might  obtain  the  trail- 
er direct  from  their  National  Screen  exchanges. 

Jones  Reelecfed  Barker 
Of  Columbus  Club 

Newly-elected  1944  officers  of  the  Columbus, 
Ohio,  Variety  Club  are  headed  by  Bobby  Jones, 
reelected  chief  barker  for  a  second  term.  Other 
officers :  James  Hale,  first  assistant ;  Russell 
A.  Bovim,  second  assistant ;  Jacob  F.  Luft, 
treasurer  and  Fred  P.  Oestreicher,  secretary. 
Members  of  the  board  of  directors  include  Don 
Burrows,  Jack  Needham,  William  Pullin,  Jr., 
Ben  Almond,  George  Anagnost,  and  Lou  Hol- 
leb.  William  Pullin,  Sr.,  was  chosen  national 
canvassman  with  Mr.  Luft  and  Mr.  Almond  as 
national  convention  delegates  and  Mr.  Holleb 
and  Mr.  Anagnost  as  alternates. 


To  Present  Ifalian  Films 

The  Park  theatre.  New  York,  has  been  re- 
named the  Cine  Verdi-Park  theatre,  and  is 
scheduled  to  present  first  run  Italian  pictures, 
opening  with  "Hanno  Rapito  Un  Uomo"  ("We 
Captured  a  Man")  and  "La  Vita  Teresa  Con- 
falonieri"  ("The  Life  of  Teresa  Confalonieri"), 
with  English  titles. 


New  Policy  for  Playhouse 

The  55th  Street  Playhouse  in  New  York  has 
adopted  a  new  policy  of  revival  pictures,  includ- 
ing foreign  and  American  films.  The  first  pic- 
ture under  the  new  policy  was  "The  Cross  of 
Lorraine." 


JOHN 


n  20ih  cmmox  triumph 


CENTURY-FOX 


January    22 ,     I  944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


23 


IINDUSTRY  ON  WAY  TO  SELL 
BOND  FOR  EVERY  SEAT 


Campaign  Launched  with 
Broadcast  by  Military 
Leaders,  Morgenthau 

The  legion  of  industry  War  Bond  sellers, 
spurred  by  the  broadcast  words  of  Henry 
Morgenthau,  Jr.,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury, 
General  Dwight  D.  Eisenhower  and  Ad- 
miral Chester  C.  Nimitz,  translated  their 
well-laid  plans  into  action  last  Tuesday,  the 
opening  day  of  the  Fourth  War  Loan  drive, 
throwing  all  their  showmanship  resources 
into  a  national  effort  to  raise  $14,000,000,- 
000  before  February  16,  with  emphasis  on 
sales  to  individuals. 

Secretary  Morgenthau,  General  Eisenhow- 
er and  Admiral  Nimitz  made  the  opening  of 
the  drive  official  in  nationwide  broadcasts 
Monday  night,  the  General  declaring : 

"The  Fourth  War  Loan  is  a  challenge  to 
every  American;  a  spontaneous  outpouring 
of  dollars  now  assures  fighting  men  of  their 
weapons  and  equipment."  He  said  that  every 
American  soldier  "depends  on  you  at  home," 
and  reminded  his  listeners  that  "We  will 
be  fighting  on  bloody  fields.  Remember  that 
when  you  invest  your  dollars  in  War  Bonds." 

Asks  Governors'  Cooperation 
In  Citing  Winners 

Prior  to  the  opening  of  the  drive  Secre- 
tary Morgenthau  and  Charles  P.  Skouras, 
the  industry's  national  chairman,  addressed 
letters  to  the  governors  of  the  48  states  ask- 
ing their  cooperation  in  officially  citing  their 
state  winners  in  the  Honored  Hundred  con- 
test for  exhibitors,  with  special  ceremonies 
following  the  contest. 

From  War  Activities  Committee  head- 
quarters on  Tuesday  came  the  announce- 
ment that  1,227  Bond  premieres  had  been 
scheduled  up  to  opening  day,  as  compared 
to  a  Third  War  Loan  total  of  1,473. 

In  New  York  at  noon  Tuesday  Times 
Square  was  the  scene  of  an  immense  open- 
ing day  rally  highlighted  by  the  unveiling 
of  the  industry's  Fourth  War  Loan  symbol. 
Heading  the  participants  in  the  rally  were 
industry  leaders,  officials  of  the  War  Finance 
Committee  of  New  York  and  war  veterans, 
flanking  such  screen,  stage  and  radio  lumi- 
naries as  Jeanette  MacDonald,  Brian  Don- 
levy,  Lloyd  Nolan,  Laird  Cregar,  Laraine 
Day,  Tommy  Dorsey,  Jimmy  Dorsey,  Kath- 
ryn  Grayson,  Rags  Ragland  and  Bill  Rob- 
inson. A  United  States  Army  band  provided 
the  music,  and  representatives  of  most  of 
the  branches  of  the  military  services,  in- 
cluding Waves,  Wacs,  Spars  and  Marines, 
were  present. 

Flyer  Released  Suggesting 
"Uncle  Sam's  Day" 

To  check  misunderstandings  regarding  dis- 
tribution of  pictures  for  "Free  Movie  Day" 
and  premieres,  Ned  E.  Depinet,  chairman  of 
the  distributors'  committee,  in  a  pre-campaign 
statement,  warned  that  there  would  be  no  de- 
viation from  the  original  agreement  by  distribu- 
tors, emphasizing  that  "under  no  circumstances 
can  more  than  one  'Free  Movie  Day'  in  any 
one  theatre,  be  held  anywhere,"  spiking  any 


ANNOUNCE  NEW  RULES 
FOR  CONTEST 

Charles  P.  Skouras,  the  industry's 
national  chairman,  has  announced 
that  all  Bond  sales  from  January  I 
through  February  29  will  be  included 
in  the  search  for  the  winners  of  the 
Honored  Hundred  contest.  Previ- 
ously, the  rules  required  that  the 
sales  be  consummated  within  the 
dates  of  the  Fourth  War  Loan  cann- 
paign.  Robert  Selig,  in  charge  of  the 
contest,  has  requested  that  exhib- 
itors rush  their  entry  blanks  to  War 
Loan  campaign  headquarters  in  New 
York,  and  that  all  circuit  managers 
sign  individual  entry  blanks  so  there 
will  be  complete  theatre-by-theatre 
representation.  Extra  blanks  were  in- 
cluded with  a  brochure  mailed  to 
exhibitors  last  week. 


plans  for  "Free  Movie  Week"  or  "Free  Movie 
Month." 

_  In  advance  of  opening  day  the  War  Activi- 
ties Committee  released  a  flyer  for  exhibitors 
suggesting  an  "Uncle  Sam's  Day,"  which,  states 
the  flyer,  is  "the  old  Santa  Glaus-Christmas 
stunt  which  department  stores  have  been  using 
so  successfully  for  many  years — all  dressed  up 
in  a  new  suit  of  Red,  White  and  Blue!"  It 
offers  the  idea  of  ballyhooing  the  personal  ap- 
pearance of  Uncle  Sam  who  would  appear  in 
theatres  dressed  in  the  customary  attire.  The 
flyer  is  signed  by  Mr.  Skouras. 

Loew's  theatres  in  New  York  and  out  of  town 
are  concentrating  on  a  special  campaign  they 
are  titling:  "Cover  Your  Man  With  a  Bond. 
Ten  Bonds  for  Every  Local  Boy  in  the  Ser- 
vice." It  is  an  outgrowth  of  an  idea  originat- 
ing with  the  War  Savings  Staff  and  Theatre 
Committee  in  White  Plains  during  the  Third 
War  Loan.  The  plan  calls  for  volunteers  to 
sell  10  $25  Bonds  in  the  name  of  local  men  and 
women  in  the  services.  The  man  or  woman  in 
the  service  for  whom  the  Bonds  are  purchased 
is  notified  by  the  theatre  that  $250  in  Bonds 
has  been  bought  in  his  name,  which  also  has 
been  placed  on  a  special  honor  roll  display  in  the 
theatre  lobby.  On  the  first  day,  Loew's  estimated 
their  theatres  sold  3,000  Bonds  or  nearly  10 
per  cent  of  the  circuit  seats. 

Several  Theatres  Announce 
Unusual  Early  Totals 

The  "Honored  Bondsmen  of  the  Day"  series, 
introduced  by  WAC  in  connection  with  the 
Honored  Hundred  contest,  has  found  Henry 
Suchman  of  the  Ritz  theatre  in  Staten  Island, 
N.  Y.,  announcing  that  up  to  last  Saturday  ac- 
tivities out  of  the  Ritz  theatre  have  resulted 
in  $100,000  being  pledged.  Leola  Davis  has 
been  honored  for  the  Bond  booth  and  display  in 
the  foyer  of  the  Boulevard  in  Los  Angeles. 
Louis  Charninsky  in  Dallas  has  reported  that 
1,052  Bonds  await  only  his  premiere  for  the 
signing.  Randolph  Miller  of  the  Strand  the- 
atre, New  Britain,  Conn.,  received  mention  for 
his  over-all  approach  to  the  campaign. 

Richard  Feldman  of  Keith's  theatre  in  Syra- 
cuse has  received  mention  for  having  dressed 


his  entire  theatre  in  what  is  described  as  a 
"Bond  motif."  Bene  Stein  of  the  Rockne  the- 
atre, Chicago,  reports  the  theatre  is  using  a 
canopy  surrounding  it  completely  advertising 
the  War  Loan  and  that  the  cashier  sells  Stamps 
and  Bonds  enabling  people  to  buy  without  en- 
tering the  theatre.  At  H.  J.  Royster's  theatres 
in  Portland,  Ore.,  speakers  are  on  the  stage 
every  night,  and  names  of  Bond  buyers  are 
listed  on  a  special  scroll. 

In  a  merger  of  talent,  all  Broadway  picture 
houses  have  united  in  a  plan  to  present  an  all- 
star  ''Bond  a  Seat"  show  at  the  Roxy  theatre 
at  midnight  February  11,  going  into  the  early 
morning  of  Lincoln's  Birthday.  The  goal  for 
the  special  performance  is  a  Bond  for  every 
seat,  which  will  mean  the  sale  of  6,000  Bonds. 
No  film  is  to  be  presented  with  the  stage  show. 

Elaborate  Plans  Afoot 
In  San  Francisco  Drive 

In  San  Francisco  the  downtown  theatres  have 
scheduled  special  programs  and  premieres,  with 
the  subsequent  and  neighborhood  houses  plan- 
ning what  is  referred  to  as  "country  stores," 
special  music  and  extra  performances,  with  a 
Bond  of  any  denomination  providing  admission 
to  a  special  show.  The  RKO  Golden  Gate 
theatre  opened  the  special  events  with  an  all- 
vaudeville  midnight  show  Monday,  with  acts 
from  legitimate  houses  augmenting  the  theatre's 
regular  bill.  The  Orpheum  has  a  Bond  pre- 
miere scheduled  for  January  26,  and  the  Para- 
mount for  February  2.  The  Warfield  will  have 
another  all-vaudeyille  midnight  show  February 
8.  The  5,000-seat  Fox  will  have  a  special  Army 
show  in  conjunction  with  its  premiere  Febru- 
ary 14. 

The  Golden  Gate  special  show  Monday  night 
was  presented  with  the  full  cooperation  of  the 
Theatrical  Federation  of  San  Francisco,  in- 
cluding stage  hands,  operators,  actors,  musi- 
cians, ushers  and  usherettes. 

St.  Louis  theatres  ushered  in  the  drive  with  a 
free  performance  for  Bond  buyers,  and  will 
close  the  drive  February  15  with  a  special 
free  performance  to  Bond  purchasers  at  9  P.M. 
The  theatres  are  also  financing  a  full  page  ad- 
vertisement in  the  daily  newspapers  urging  sup- 
port of  the  drive,  and  each  Monday  are  using 
their  directory  ads  in  the  papers  to  make  spe- 
cial appeals  for  the  purchase  of  Bonds.  Five 
special  Bond  premieres  have  been  scheduled, 
with  the  Fox  theatre  presenting  the  first,  this 
Saturday  at  midnight. 

Salesmen  with  Loan  Kits 
Get  More  Gasoline 

In  the  Cleveland  area  exchange  salesmen  have 
been  granted  extra  rations  of  gasoline  to  call 
on  all  exhibitors  with  the  NSS  War  Loan  kits, 
and  to  obtain  their  pledges  for  premieres  and 
"Free  Movie  Days,"  as  well  as  to  offer  any 
personal  cooperation.  In  northern  Ohio  there 
have  been  14  premieres  set  to  date.  Cleveland 
will  hold  two  downtown  premieres,  one  at 
Loew's  State  January  28,  the  other  at  War- 
ners' Hippodrome  February  4.  Toledo  will  hold 
six  premieres,  four  of  them  downtown  and  two 
in  suburban  houses.  Four  premieres  have  been 
scheduled  for  Akron,  two  in  Youngstown. 

In  Boston  last  week  all  plans  for  the  drive 
were  concluded  at  a  meeting  of  exhibitors  at 
the  Hotel  Statler,  with  Mr.  Skouras,  F.  H. 
Ricketson,  Jr.,  and  B.  V.  Sturdivant,  campaign 
heads,  among  those  present.  Other  meetin'gs 
in  key  New  England  cities,  set  at  the  Boston 
conference,  followed,  and  the  general  campaign 
chart  for  the  area  was  decided  upon. 

Arkansas  opened  the  drive  stimulated  by  a 

(Continued  on  following  page,  column  1) 


24 


Trade  Presses 
Bond  Sales  as 
Drive  Opens 

{Continued  from  preceding  page) 

weekend  proclamation  from  Governor  Homer 
M.  Adkins  to  M.  S.  McCord,  the  industry's 
state  chairman,  in  which  he  commended  to  the 
people  of  the  state  the  patriotic  effort  of  the 
industry.  In  Little  Rock  and  throughout  the 
state  theatre  men  sponsored  display  ads  in 
newspapers. 

In  Southern  California  exhibitors  are  using 
mobile  units  in  a  house-to-house  Bond  canvass. 
Eighty-six  of  the  units,  automobiles  bannered 
and  fitted  up  in  great  detail,  started  their  rounds 
on  Tuesday,  and  will  cover  every  home  in 
Greater  Los  Angeles  from  San  Pedro  to  Van 
Nuys. 

On  Wednesday  in  Idaho  the  cities  of  Boise, 
Twin  Falls,  Nampa,  Caldwell,  Idaho  Falls  and 
dozens  of  other  towns  held  a  "Free  Movie  Day." 
Some  40  Bond  premieres  have  been  scheduled 
for  from  February  1  to  the  last  of  the  month. 

Denver  observed  opening  day  by  making  it 
"Free  Movie  Day,"  with  two  free  tickets  being 
given  with  every  Bond  purchased. 

In  Tampa,  Fla.,  the  city  has  donated  an  entire 
block  outside  the  courthouse  for  the  duration 
of_  the  drive,  wherein  will  be  presented  enter- 
tainment by  visiting  Hollywood  stars  and  war 
veterans.  The  city  will  also  stage  a  premiere 
and  a  "Free  Movie  Day." 

Traveling  Caravan  Is 
Visiting  Connecticut 

In  Connecticut  all-servicemen's  reviews  were 
staged  on  the  opening  of  the  drive  in  New 
Haven,  New  London  and  Hartford,  with  $1,000 
Bonds  for  admission  and  sellouts  everywhere, 
according  to  a  report  from  Harry  F.  Shaw, 
state  chairman.  The  shows  are  being  planned 
for  other  first  run  theatres  in  these  and  other 
cities  in  the  state.  A  traveling  caravan  in- 
cluding Charles  Bickford,  Jo  Carroll  Dennison, 
Miss  America  of  1942,  and  a  group  of  war  vet- 
erans, visited  Stamford,  Norwalk  and  Bridge- 
port on  Tuesday,  New  Haven  on  Wednesday, 
and  New  London  on  Thursday.  February  8 
has  been  designated  "Free  Movie  Day." 

In  _  New  York  a  gargantuan  seating  chart 
reaching  three  to  five  stories  high,  has  been 
promised  for  Times  Square,  to  serve  as  a  sym- 
bol and  a  Bondmeter.  The  WOR  Television 
Party  over  the  Dumont  Station  W2XWV  held 
a  Bond  auction  Tuesday  night. 

At  a  special  preview  of  "In  Our  Time,"  War- 
ner film,  on  the  Statue  of  Liberty  boat  at  Bed- 
loe's  Island,  it  was  announced  that  24  groups 
of  foreign  origin  had  pledged  themselves  to 
buy  more  than  $100,000,000  in  Bonds. 

San  Francisco  Population 
Up  200.000  in  2  Years 

Partial  answer  to  the  business  boom  enjoyed 
by  theatres  in  San  Francisco  is  provided  by 
the  latest  report  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce 
on  the  wartime  flow  of  population,  which  shows 
that  upwards  of  200,000  new  residents  are  in 
the  San  Francisco  area  since  Pearl  Harbor, 
that  population  within  the  city  limits  is  up 
nearly  150,000  in  the  last  two  years,  and  that 
business  for  the  city  as  a  whole  was  up  more 
than  25  per  cent  in  1943  over  1942. 


Mahan  Buys  Theatre  Building 

Roger  Mahan,  former  manager  of  the  War- 
ner exchange  in  Waterbury,  Conn.,  now  operat- 
ing the  Plaza,  has  purchased  the  building  hous- 
ing the  747-seat  Carroll  in  Waterbury.  The 
Carroll  for  the  past  10  years  has  been  under 
lease  to  Nick  Mascoli.  The  lease  is  up  in  Tune 
of  1944. 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


Twenty  stars  of  Hollywood  are  touring 
the  nation  as  Bondbardiers,  salesmen  for  the 
Fourth  War  Loan  drive.  They  made  their 
first  appearances  on  opening  day,  Tuesday, 
in  the  company  of  war  veterans.  The  players 
are  working  in  teams  of  two  in  each  of  the 
cities  designated.  The  routes  set  for  the 
Bond  Battalion  by  the  U.  S.  Treasury  De- 
partment follows: 

1ST  SERVICE  COMMAND— New  England  States. 

Stars:  Charles  Bickford,  Jo  Caroll  Dennison. 

January  18:  Stamford,  Norwalk,  Bridgeport, 
Conn.;  20:  New  London,  Conn.;  21:  Providence, 
R.  I.;  23:  Pawtucket,  R.  I.,  Worcester,  Mass.;  24: 
Holyoke,  Springfield,  Mass.;  25:  Lowell,  Lawrence, 
Mass.;  26:  Manchester,  Concord,  N.  H.;  27:  Port- 
land, Augusta,  Maine;  28:  Enroute;  29:  Mont- 
pelier,  Vt.;  30:  Burlington,  Rutia  nd,  Vermont. 

2ND  SERVICE  COMMAND— New  York,  New  Jer- 
sey, Delaware. 

Stars:  Albert  Dekker,  Helen  Walker. 

Jan.  18:  Mt.  Ve  rnon-Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.;  19: 
Albany-Troy,  N.  Y.;  20:  Schenectady,  N.  Y.;  21: 
Utica,  N.  Y.;  22:  Syracuse,  N.  Y.;  23:  Rochester, 
N.  Y.;  24:  Buffalo,  N.  Y.;  25:  Corning-Elmira, 
N.  Y.;  26:  Endicott-Binghamton,  N.  Y.;  27:  Pater- 
son,  N.  J.;  28:  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.;  29:  Trenton, 
N.  J.;  30:  Wilmington,  Dela. 

3RD  SERVICE  COMMAND— Pennsylvania,  Mary- 
land, Virginia. 

Stars:  Edgar  Buchanan,  Leslie  Brooks. 

Jan.  18:  Erie,  Pa.;  19:  New  Castle-Beaver  Falls, 
Pa.;  20:  Johnstown,  Pa.;  21:  Altoona,  Pa.;  22: 
Scranton,  Pa.;  23:  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa.;  24:  Easton, 
Bethlehem,  Pa.;  25:  Allentown,  Pa.;  26:  Reading, 
Pa.;  27:  Harrlsburg,  Pa.;  28:  York-Lancaster;  29: 
Enroute;  30:  Portsmouth-Newport  News,  Va. 

4TH  SERVICE  COMMAND— North  Carolina,  So. 
Carolina,  Georgia,  Florida,  Alabama,  Tennessee, 
Mississippi. 

Stars:  Lon  Chaney,  Jr.,  Ann  Savage. 

Jan.  18:  Memphis,  Tenn.;  19:  Nashville,  Tenn.; 
20:  Chattanooga,  Tenn.;  21:  Knoxville,  Tenn.;  22: 
Asheville,  N.  C;  23  &  24:  Greensboro-Winston- 
Salem,  N.  C.-Durham-Raleigh,  N.  C;  25:  Char- 
lotte, N.  C;  26:  Augusta,  Ga.;  27:  bavannan,  to'a.- 
Charleston,  S.  C;  28:  Jacksonville,  Fla.;  29:  At- 
lanta, Ga.;  30:  Montgomery,  Ala.;  31:  Mobile, 
Ala.;  31:  Mobile,  Ala.;  Feb.  I:  Birmingham,  Ala.; 
2:  Meridian,  Miss. -Jackson  Miss. 

5TH  SERVICE  COMMAND— Ohio,  W.  Virginia, 
Indiana,  Kentucky. 

Stars:  Charles  Ruggles,  Elaine  Shepard. 

Jan.  18:  Akron,  Ohio;  19:  Youngstown,  Ohio; 
20:  Canton,  Ohio;  21:  Wheeling,  W.  Va.;  22:  Col- 
umbus, Ohio;  23:  Springfield-Dayton,  Ohic;  24: 
Huntington-Charleston,  W.  Va.;  25:  Lexington- 
Frankfort,  Ky.;  26:  Louisville,  Ky.;  27:  Evansville, 
Ind.;  28:  Terre  Haute,  Ind.;  29:  ElUhart-South 
Bend,  Ind.;  30:  Fort  Wayne-Lima,  Ohio,  Ind.;  31: 
Toledo,  Ohio. 


McFaul  Company  Buys  Theatre, 
Buildings  in  Buffalo 

The  purchase  of  Shea's  Buffalo  and  Hippo- 
drome theatres,  a  restaurant  and  12  stores  by 
Buffalo  Theatres,  Inc.,  at  a  cost  of  $2,000,000, 
was  announced  last  weekend  by  Vincent  R. 
McFaul,  president.  The  buildings,  with  a  front- 
age measuring  approximately  1,000  feet,  were 
purchased  by  Buffalo  Theatres,  whose  stock  is 
owned  by  Mr.  McFaul,  Paramount  and  Loew's, 
Inc.,  from  the  McNaughton  Realty  Company. 


January    22,  194- 


6TH  SERVICE  COMMAND— Illinois,  Michigan, 
Wisconsin. 

Stars:  Porter  Hall,  Lois  Andrews. 

Jan.  18:  Springfield-Decatur,  III.;  19:  Peoria- 
Rock  Island-Moline,  III.;  20:  Joliet-Aurora,  lll.r 
21:  Rockford,  III.,  Beloit  and  Jamesville,  Wise; 
22:  Madison,  Wise;  23:  Waukesha-Beaver  Dam, 
Wise;  24:  Fond  du  Lac-Oshkosh,  Wise;  Jan.  25: 
Appleton-Green  Bay,  Wise;  26:  Racine-Kenosha, 
Wise;  27:  Kalamazoo,  Mich.;  28:  Grand  Rapids, 
Mich.;  29:  Bay  City-Saginaw,  Mich.;  30:  Flint, 
Mich.;  31:  Lansing,  Mich.;  Feb.  I:  Jackson-Battle 
Creek,  Mich. 

7TH  SERVICE  COMMAND— Missouri,  Ka.,.„„ 
Iowa,  Nebraska,  Minnesota,  North  Dakota,  South 
Dakota,  Wyoming,  Colorado. 

Stars:  Paul  Kelly,  Marjorie  Wordworth. 

Jan.  18:  Laramie-Cheyenne,  Wyo.;  19:  R.  Col- 
lins-Boulder, Colo.;  20:  Colorado  Springs,  Colo.; 
21:  Pueblo-Trinidad,  Colo.;  22:  Garden  City-Dodge 
City,  Kans.;  23:  Hutchinson,  Kans.;  24:  Wichita, 
Kans.;  25:  Topeka,  Kans.;  26:  St.  Joseph-Mo.;  27: 
Sedalia-Jefferson  City,  Mo.;  28:  Des  Moines,  la.; 
29:  Davenport-Cedar  Rapids,  la.;  30:  Omaha-Neb.; 
31 :  Lincoln,  Neb. 

8TH  SERVICE  COMMAND— Texas,  Oklahoma.  New 
Mexico,  Arkansas,  Louisiana. 

Stars:  Raymond  Walburn,  Lynn  Merrick. 

Jan.  18:  Albuquerque,  N.  M.;  19:  Santa  Fe, 
N.  M.;  20:  Amarillo,  Tex.;  21:  Oklahoma  City. 
Okla.;  22:  Tulsa,  Okla.;  23:  Muskogee,  Okla.;  24: 
Little  Rock,  Ark.;  25:  Texarkana,  Ark.;  26:  Shreve- 
port.  La.;  27:  Alexandria.  La. 

Dates  to  Come:  Baton  Rouge,  New  Orleans, 
Beaumont,  Port  Arthur,  Houston,  Galveston,  San 
Antonio,  Austin,  El  Paso. 

9TH  SERVICE  COMMAND— Washington,  Oregon. 
Idaho,  Montana,  Utah,  Nevada.  Northern  Cali- 
fornia. 

Stars:  Edgar  Kennedy,  Ramsey  Aimes. 

Jan.  18:  Visalia-Merced,  Cal.;  19:  Modesto- 
Stockton,  Cal.;  20:  Sacramento  (tentative),  Cal.; 
21:  Reno-Carson  City,  Nev.;  22:  Eugene,  Ore.- 
Salem,  Ore.;  24:  Hoquiam-Olympia,  Wash.;  25: 
Tacoma,  Wash.;  26:  Spokane,  Wash.;  28:  Helena, 
Mont.;  29:  LewIstown-BIIIings,  Mont.;  30:  Bozeman- 
Tungsten,  Mont.;  Feb.  2:  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah;  3: 
Provo,  Utah;  5:  Las  Vegas-Boulder,  Neva. 

lOTH  SERVICE  COMMAND— Southern  California, 

Arizona. 

Stars:  Charles  WInninger,  Fay  Bainter. 

Jan.  18:  Ontario-Riverside,  Cal.;  19:  San  Ber- 
nardino-Paim  Springs,  Cal.;  21:  Phoenix,  Ariz.;  22: 
Tucson,  Ariz.;  24:  Yuma,  Ariz.;  25:  Calexico,  Cal.; 
26:  San  Diego,  Cal.;  27:  Long  Beach,  Calif.;  28: 
San  Pedro,  Wilmington,  Cal.;  29:  Redondo-Her- 
mosa  Beach,  Cal.;  30:  Ocean  Park-Venice.  Cal.; 
31:  Alhambra-East  Los  Angeles,  Cal.;  Feb.  I:  Mon- 
rovia-Pasadena, Cal.;  2:  San  Fernando-Burbank, 
Cal. 


Two  Youths  Convicted 
Of  Theatre  Vandalism 

In  the  drive  against  vandalism  in  the  theatres, 
Donald  Bonstein,  manager  of  the  Fulton  theatre, 
Lancaster,  Pa.,  brought  charges  against  two 
youths,  who  were  sentenced  on  malicious  mis- 
chief charges  resulting  from  the  cutting  of  seats 
at  the  theatre.  One  of  the  boys,  charged  with 
larceny  as  well,  received  a  two  and  one-half  to 
five-year  sentence  in  the  penitentiary.  The  other 
one  was  given  a  suspended  sentence. 


Hollywood  Stars  Are  Named 
Bondbardiers  for  Drive 


January    22,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


25 


CIAA  PLANNING  PERMANENT 
LATIN  AMERICAN  PROGRAM 


Rockefeller  and  Alstock 
See  Need  to  Continue 
Cultural  Exchange 

Executives  of  the  motion  picture  divi- 
sion of  the  Coordinator  of  Inter-American 
Affairs  are  planning  now  to  continue  after 
the  war  their  program  of  cultural  exchange 
with  the  Latin  American  republics  via  the 
screen — either  under  Government  auspices, 
or  by  philanthropic  endowment. 

Nelson  Rockefeller,  the  coordinator; 
Francis  Alstock,  director  of  the  CIAA  film 
program,  and  the  Government  officials  who 
have  been  in  charge  of  production,  distribu- 
tion and  editing  of  the  16mm  non-theatrical 
films  are  convinced  that  the  work  must  go 
on.  They  view  the  exchange  of  films  about 
industry,  arts  and  life  in  the  United  States 
and  other  Latin  American  nations  as  an  es- 
sential ingredient  in  a  permanent  Good 
Neighbor  relationship. 

Commercial  importance  is  attached  also 
to  the  Coordinator's  film  program.  Its 
sponsors  argue  that  the  Government  sub- 
sidized export  of  non-theatrical  films  is 
building  up  new  interest  in  Holljrwood 
product  in  hitherto  undeveloped  areas  of 
the  South  and  Central  American  market. 

Mr.  Alstock  last  week  cited  increases  in 
the  CIAA  attendance  reports  as  evidence 
that  the  16mm  program  would  aid  theatrical 
film  producers  in  this  country  and  in  the 
rapidly  developing  Latin  American  studios. 
He  predicted  a  tremendous  post-war  theatre 
construction  program  there. 

A  total  of  17,781,279  persons  have  seen 
159  titles  shipped  to  Latin  America  by  the 
CIAA,  according  to  Mr.  Alstock.  There 
have  been  36,234  screenings  with  the  ap- 
proximately 13,000  prints  now  in  Latin 
America  booked  for  an  average  of  4,500 
programs  a  month.  Additionally  50  medical, 
dental  or  engineering  subjects  have  been 
sent  to  professional  groups. 

Non-ProM  Corporation 
Might  Take  Over 

In  the  United  States  10,859,091  persons 
have  attended  67,586  non-theatrical  exhibi- 
tions of  54  subjects  about  Latin  America. 
The  CIAA  has  released  8,771  16mm  prints 
to  university,  library  and  commercial  film 
repositories. 

Were  the  Government  to  decide  to  drop 
the  CIAA  film  activities  Mr.  Alstock  and 
his  staff  are  planning  to  carry  on  screen 
relations  with  Latin  America  through  a  pri- 
vate, non-profit  corporation  organized  in 
New  York.  Mr.  Rockefeller  has  approved 
the  project  and  it  is  now  under  considera- 
tion by  the  State  Department. 

Hemisphere  Films,  Inc.,  formed  by  the 
Museum  of  Modern  Art  two  years  ago  when 
it  signed  a  contract  to  edit  and  review  pic- 
tures for  the  CIAA,  is  the  medium  which 
probably  would  be  selected  for  this  work. 
A  number  of  the  Museum  trustees,  John 
Abbott,  director  of  the  Film  Library;  Mr. 
Alstock,  Mr.  Rockefeller  and  officials  of 


several  film  companies  have  been  interested 
in  Hemisphere  Films. 

Although  the  company  has  existed  "only 
on  paper"  for  two  years,  according  to  Fran- 
ces Hawkins,  secretary  of  the  Museum,  it 
was  re-chartered  last  month.  Reorganiza- 
tion of  Hemisphere  Films  and  preparations 
for  its  entry  into  the  Inter-American  picture 
field  have  been  under  the  guidance  of  Mr. 
Abbott,  director  of  the  Museum  of  Modern 
Art  Film  Library,  and  Mr.  Alstock.  Ste- 
phen C.  Clark,  chairman  of  the  Library's 
board  of  trustees,  heads  the  board  of  the 
company,  and  the  directorates  of  both  groups 
are  drawn  from  the  same  lists  of  film  execu- 
tives and  patrons  of  the  cinema  arts. 

Preliminary  Budget  Now 
Is  in  Preparation 

Hemisphere  Films  has  been  reported  seek- 
ing financial  backing  through  Mr.  Rocke- 
feller from  the  Rockefeller  Foundation,  es- 
tablished by  his  grandfather,  John  D. 
Rockefeller.  According  to  a  Foundation 
spokesman  no  grant  has  been  approved  as 
yet,  although  it  has  been  under  consideration. 

There  also  was  a  report  in  New  York 
this  week  that  Hemisphere  Films  might  seek 
financial  support  from  Marshall  Field,  pub- 
lisher of  the  Chicago  Sun,  and  PM  in  New 
York.  The  Field  Foundation,  recently  es- 
tablished by  Mr.  Field,  has  not  been  ap- 
proached directly,  however.  This  report  co- 
incided with  a  visit  to  Chicago  by  Mr.  Ab- 
bott. 

The  Hemisphere  Films  project  was  dis- 
cussed, and  reportedly  approved,  at  a  meet- 
ing of  the  Museum  trustees  last  week.  Wal- 
lace K.  Harrison,  assistant  to  Mr.  Rocke- 
feller, has  conferred 'on  it  with  Mr.  Alstock 
and  plans  are  understood  to  have  been  com- 
pleted for  Mr.  Alstock  and  key  members  of 
the  CIAA  production  and  distribution  staff 
to  continue  their  work  at  Hemisphere  Films 
in  the  event  that  the  Coordinator's  film  pro- 
gram is  curtailed  by  Congress. 

A  preliminary  budget  is  now  in  prepara- 
tion at  the  CIAA  offices  in  Washington 
for  the  1944  fiscal  year,  which  begins  July 
1.  It  is  expected  to  ask  between  $2,500,000 
and  $3,000,000. 

Mr.  Alstock  was  in  New  York  last  week 
for  the  meeting  of  the  Museum  board  and  to 
discuss  the  Hemisphere  Films,  Inc.,  organi- 
zation. 

Special  Production  Work  for 
Latin  America  Under  Way 

Despite  any  post-war  planning,  the  CIAA 
program  is  continuing  at  an  accelerated 
pace,  Mr.  Alstock  said,  noting  that  the  pro- 
duction division  had  almost  200  subjects  in 
preparation.  These  include  about  75  indus- 
try short  subjects,  government  films  from 
the  Army,  Navy  and  Marines  and  Office  of 
War  Information,  special  documentary  pro- 
duction and  more  than  50  technical  pictures 
selected  by  the  American  College  of  Sur- 
geons and  the  American  Dental  Association. 

Special  production  has  been  under  way 
for  the  CIAA  in  Latin  America  by  Julien 
Bryan,  Herbert  Knapp,  Alvin  Gordon,  Sul- 


livan Richardson  and  Willard  Van  Dyke. 
They  will  make  pictures  about  Latin  Ameri- 
ca for  exhibition  in  the  United  States.  Ad- 
ditionally half  a  dozen  subjects  are  being 
edited  from  footage  taken  in  Brazil  by  Of- 
fice of  Strategic  Services  cameramen  under 
the  direction  of  Commander  John  Ford. 
William  Murray,  cameraman  for  the  Rub- 
ber Development  Corporation,  also  has  pro- 
vided Brazilian  material. 

Subjects  shipped  to  Latin  America  dur- 
ing December  and  January  included  the 
following  titles : 

Six  Music  Masterpiece  reels :  "We  Fly 
for  China"  (produced  by  Robert  Lord), 
"Latin  American  Cadets,"  "Soldier  Steve- 
dores" (U.  S.  Army),  "Home  on  the 
Range"  (Department  of  Agriculture), 
"Right  of  Way"  (OWI),  "Farmers  at  War" 
(OWI),  "There  Shall  Be  Freedom,"  "U.  S. 
Army  Band,"  "Advanced  Baseball  Tech- 
nique," "Basketeers"  (RKO),  three  medical 
films,  and  a  picture  from  the  U.  S.  Bureau 
of  Mines. 

Currently  Operating  128 
16mm.  Projectors 

Also  copies  of  Walt  Disney's  "Winged 
Scourge,"  "Grain  that  Built  the  Hemi- 
sphere," "South  of  the  Border,"  "Winged 
Scourge,"  "Education  for  Death,"  and  "Der 
Fuehrer's  Face,"  from  the  Disney  program 
of  educational  production  for  the  CIAA. 

"Campus  Frontiers,"  "Carry  the  Fight" 
(OWI),  "Handing  It  Back"  (Navy),  "Mis- 
sion Accomplished,"  "Mexico  Builds  a 
Democracy,"  and  "Child  Health'  Care"  were 
also  sent  southward.  "Spirit  of  Nobel," 
with  additions  showing  Argentina's  winner 
of  the  Nobel  Peace  Prize  in  1936,  Carlos  S. 
Lamos,  was  also  shipped. 

Mr.  Alstock  says  that  the  CIAA  cur- 
rently is  operating  128  16mm  projectors  in 
Latin  America  and  showing  its  pictures 
through  76  mobile  units. 


Honor  Moss  at  Industry 
Charity  Luncheon 

About  450  theatre  owners  and  exhibitors  hon- 
ored Paul  Moss,  New  York  Commissioner  of 
Licenses,  at  a  luncheon  given  by  the  Theatre 
Owners  and  Allied  Fields  Committee  of  the 
amusement  division  of  the  merged  New  York 
and  Brooklyn  Federations  of  Jewish  Charities 
last  Wednesday  at  the  Hotel  Astor,  New  York. 
Commissioner  Moss  was  presented  a  scroll  by 
Harry  Brandt,  member  of  the  exhibitors  com- 
mittee. Among  the  members  of  the  industry 
present  were  David  Weinstock,  Leo  Brecher, 
Sam  Rinzler  and  Nathan  B.  Spingold. 

The  current  drive  of  the  Theatre  Owners 
and  Allied  Fields  Committee  will  continue  until 
every  member  of  the  motion  picture  industry 
has  had  an  opportunity  to  participate,  an- 
nounced Mr.  Weinstock  and  Mr.  Brecher. 

Seated  on  the  dais  were  David  Bernstein, 
co-chairman  with  Major  Albert  Warner  of  the 
amusenient  division;  Malcolm  Kingsberg,  vice- 
chairman  ;  Milton  C.  Weisman,  Max  Cohen, 
Edward  Levine,  George  Borthwick,  Herman 
Robbins,  E.  L.  Alperson,  Joseph  Bernhard, 
Mr.  Spingold,  Lou  J.  Bracker,  Julius  Joelson 
and  Spyros  Skouras. 


26 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    22,  1944 


THREE-FOURTHS  OF  STUDIO 
BACKLOGS  ARE  ESCAPIST 


Films  Can  Be  Released  at 
Any  Time;  214  Offered 
from  August  to  April 

Three-quarters  of  Hollywood's  abnor- 
mally large  backlogs  are  escapist  films  which 
can  be  released  at  any  time  this  season  or 
next  no  matter  what  political  or  military  de- 
velopments ensue.  Current  production  sched- 
ules are  top-heavy  with  musicals  in  Techni- 
color and  black-and-white,  comedies,  mys- 
tery-spy stories,  romances  and  dramas  with 
a  minimum  of  war-backgrounds  and  studded 
with  star  and  production  values. 

At  the  start  of  the  second  half  of  the  1943- 
44  season,  11  companies  have  released  or  are 
scheduled  to  release  between  now  and  April, 
214  features,  almost  50  per  cent  of  the  438' 
pictures  announced  for  the  season  and  have 
completed  or  in  work  about  150  films,  75  per 
cent  of  them  properties  whose  subject  mat- 
ter makes  it  possible  to  release  them  at  any 
time,  depending  on  market  conditions. 

Each  Studio  Has  Several 
In  War  Film  Class 

Each  studio  has  at  least  two  or  three  pic- 
tures which  definitely  fall  into  the  war  film 
category,  although  Twentieth  Century-Fox 
leads  with  eight  features  in  that  group,  just 
half  of  the  16  films  completed  or  in  production 
which  will  be  earmarked  for  the  balance  of 
this  season  or  for  the  beginning  of  1944-45. 

The  drop  in  war  films  has  kept  pace  with 
exhibitor  reports  during  the  past  year  that 
the  public  has  had  enough  of  them.  In  con- 
sequence, many  studios  which  had  scheduled 
war  features  for  release  this  season  aban- 
doned or  postponed  the  films  and  replaced 
them  with  musicals  or  light  comedies.  In 
addition,  Hollywood,  with  its  weather  eye 
on  the  future,  has  turned  for  more  serious 
topics  to  stories  emphasizing  post-war 
themes  of  significance  at  home  and  abroad. 

Analysis  Shows  Escapist 
Pictures  Dominant 

According  to  reports,  producers,  in  agree- 
ment with  officials  of  the  Office  of  War  In- 
formation, have  been  eliminating  from  back- 
ground scenes  shots  of  uniformed  men  and 
women.  This  is  a  complete  reversal  of 
OWI  suggestions  of  a  year  ago,  when 
studios  were  requested  to  develop  war  con- 
sciousness by  the  injection  of  such  back- 
ground shots. 

Analysis  of  major  company  schedules 
shows  a  preponderance  of  escapist  films 
which  can  be  presented  at  any  inter- 
val, no  matter  what  course  the  war  may 
take  or  when  the  peace  may  come.  Films 
completed  or  in  production  are  listed  by 
companies  as  follows: 

COLUMBIA 

Release  record  up  to  and  including  February 
17,  19  films.  Completed  and  ready  fop  release, 
nine  Westerns.  Also  "Cover  Girl,"  Technicolor 
musical  starring  Rita  Hayworth ;  "None  Shall 
Escape,"  post-war  theme ;  "Once  Upon  a  Time," 
and  "At  Night  We  Dream,"  romantic  drama 
co-starring    Paul    Muni   and    Merle  Oberon. 


Other  non-war  subjects:  "The  Ghost  That 
Walks  Alone,"  "Jam  Session,"  "Sailor's  Holi- 
day." Two  war  films :  "Address  Unknown," 
with  Paul  Lukas  and  Mady  Christians;  and 
"Two-Man  Submarine." 

MGM 

Release  record  up  to  and  including  April,  24 
features.  Completed  or  in  work:  "America," 
with  Brian  Donlevy  and  Ann  Richards ;  "Meet 
the  People,"  musical ;  "Mr.  Co-Ed,"  Technicolor 
comedy  with  music,  starring  Red  Skelton  ;  "Gas- 
light," mystery  drama  with  Charles  Boyer,  In- 
grid  Bergman  and  Joseph  Gotten;  "Canterville 
Ghost,"  starring  Charles  Laughton;  "Andy 
Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble,"  "Three  Men  in 
White" ;  "Kismet,"  fantasy  co-starring  Ronald 
Colman  and  Marlene  Dietrich ;  "Dragon  Seed," 
starring  Katharine  Hepburn ;  "Meet  Me  in  St. 
Louis,"  starring  Judy  Garland,  and  "Marriage 
Is  a  Private  Af¥air,"  starring  Lana  Turner. 

War  films :  "White  Cliffs,"  based  on  the  Alice 
Duer  Miller  book,  about  wartime  England; 
"Seventh  Cross,"  story  about  the  underground 
in  Germany,  starring  Spencer  Tracy  and  Signe 
Hasso ;  "Two  Sisters  and  a  Sailor,"  comedy 
featuring  Jimmy  Durante  and  Van  Johnson. 

MONOGRAM 

Released  or  scheduled  for  release  up  to  March 
7,  16  films.  Completed:  "Block  Busters"  and 
"Johnny  Doesn't  Live  Here." 

PARAMOUNT 

Sixteen  features,  including  two  specials,  re- 
leased to  date.  Among  the  25  films  completed 
or  in  production :  "And  the  Angels  Sing,"  musi- 
cal with  Fred  MacMurray,  Dorothy  Lamour, 
Betty  Hutton ;  "Triumph  Over  Pain,"  with  Joel 
McCrea  and  Betty  Field ;  "Frenchman's  Creek," 
starring  Joan  Fontaine  and  Arturo  de  Cordova; 
"Going  My  Way,"  musical  starring  Bing 
Crosby ;  "Our  Hearts  Were  Young  and  Gay," 
"Road  to  Utopia,"  comedy  co-starring  Bob 
Hope  and  Bing  Crosby ;  "And  Now  'Tomor- 
row," romantic  drama  starring  Loretta  Young 
and  Alan  Ladd. 

War  films  or  stories  with  war  backgrounds : 
"Hour  Before  Dawn,"  starring  Veronica  Lake 
and  Franchot  Tone;  "Ministry  of  Fear,"  spy 
story  with  Ray  Milland  and  Marjorie  Reynolds  ; 
"Story  of  Dr.  Wassell,"  the  Cecil  B.  DeMille 
production  co-starring  Gary  Cooper  and  La- 
raine  Day;  "Till  We  Meet  Again,"  with  Ray 
Milland,  Barbara  Britton. 

PRC  PICTURES 

Release  record  up  to  and  including  January 
25,  15.  In  production,  "Lady  in  the  Death 
House"  and  "Buster  Crabbe  No.  4." 

RKO  RADIO 

Sixteen  films  released  to  date,  including  one 
special.  Completed  or  in  work:  "Show  Busi- 
ness," musical  starring  Eddie  Cantor;  "Up  in 
Arms,"  Samuel  Goldwyn  Technicolor  musical 
starring  Danny  Kaye ;  "The  Curse  of  the  Cat 
People";  "Gildersleeve's  Ghost,"  "The  Falcon 
Out  West"  and  "Are  These  Our  Children?" 

War  films  or  stories  with  war  backgrounds : 
"Days  of  Glory,"  "Dangerous  Journey,"  "Dan- 
ger in  Damascus,"  "Marine  Raiders"  and  "Seven 
Days  Ashore." 

REPUBLIC 

Release  record  up  to  and  including  January 
15,  22  films  including  Westerns.  Completed  or 
in  work:  "Casanova  in  Burlesque,"  "Three 
Little  Sisters,"  "The  Lady  and  the  Monster," 
formerly  "The  Monster's  Castle";  "My  Best 


Gal,"  "Rosie  the  Riveter,"  "Man  from  Frisco." 
Also  five  Westerns.  "The  Fighting  Seabees" 
is  the  only  completed  film  with  a  war  theme. 

TWENTIETH  CENTURY-FOX 

Released  up  to  and  including  January  21,  18 
features.  Escapist  films  completed  or  in  work : 
"Jane  Eyre,"  co-starring  Joan  Fontaine  and 
Orson  Welles;  "Roger  Touhy,  Last  of  the 
Gangsters" ;  "The  Song  of  Bernadette,"  star- 
ring Jennifer  Jones ;  "Buffalo  Bill,"  with  Joel 
McCrea  and  Maureen  O'Hara;  "Pin  Up  Girl," 
Technicolor  musical  starring  Betty  Grable ; 
"Home  in  Indiana,"  Technicolor  outdoor  pic- 
ture ;  "Greenwich  Village,"  Technicolor  musi- 
cal ;  "Wilson,"  biography  of  Woodrow  Wilson, 
and  "Bermuda  Mystery." 

War  films  or  stories  with  war  backgrounds : 
"Tampico,"  starring  Edward  G.  Robinson  ;  "The 
Sullivans,"  "Eve  of  St.  Mark,"  "The  Purple 
Heart,"  "Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep,"  "I  Married  a 
Soldier"  and  "Ladies  of  Washington." 

UNITED  ARTISTS 

Eighteen  films  released  up  to  and  including  • 
April  7.  Completed  or  in  work,  for  which  re- 
lease dates  have  not  yet  been  set:  "Since  You 
Went  Away,"  Selznick  production ;  "Sensations 
of  1944,"  (Stone)  ;  "Strange  Confessions,"  an 
Angelus  production ;  "Texas  Masquerade"  and 
"Thundering  Hoofs." 

UNIVERSAL 

Release  record  up  to  and  including  February 
25,  31  films  including  Westerns.  Escapist  films 
completed  or  in  work:  "The  Mummy's  Ghost," 
"Ladies  Courageous,"  "This  Is  the  Life,"  "Gyp- 
sy Wildcat,"  "Patrick  the  Great,"  "Her  Primi- 
tive Man,"  "Cobra  Woman,"  "Slightly  Terrific," 
"Weird  Woman,"  "The  Merry  Monohans," 
"Has  Anybody  Here  Seen  Kelly,"  "Christmas 
Holiday"  and  "Three  Cheers  for  the  Boys." 
Also  two  Westerns,  "Moonlight  in  the  Cactus" 
and  "Oklahoma  Raiders." 

WARNER  BROS. 

Released  up  to  and  including  January  29,  19 
pictures.  Escapist  films  completed  or  in  work: 
"Adventures  of  Mark  Twain,"  the  Jesse  L. 
Lasky  production  starring  Fredric  March ;  "Ar- 
senic and  Old  Lace,"  co-starring  Gary  Grant 
and  Priscilla  Lane,  completed  more  than  a  year 
ago  and  probably  to  be  held  for  release  until 
next  season ;  "Crime  by  Night" ;  "Devotion." 
story  about  the  Bronte  sisters,  with  Olivia  de 
Havilland,  Ida  Lupino,  Nancy  Coleman,  Paul 
Henreid  and  Sydney  Greenstreet ;  "Saratoga 
Trunk,"  period  picture  based  on  the  Edna 
Ferber  novel ;  "In  Our  Time,"  with  Ida  Lupino 
and  Paul  Henreid;  "Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon," 
with  Ann  Sheridan  and  Dennis  Morgan ; 
"Rhapsody  in  Blue,"  biography  of  George 
Gershwin  with  Robert  Alda  and  Joan  Leslie. 

Also :  "Mr.  Skeffington,"  domestic  drama  with 
Bette  Davis,  Claude  Rains  and  Walter  Abel ; 
"The  Horn  Blows  at  Midnight,"  fantasy-com- 
edy with  Jack  Benny  and  Alexis  Smith ;  "One 
More  Tomorrow,"  romantic  drama  with  Ann 
Sheridan,  Alexis  Smith  and  Dennis  Morgan : 
"Between  Two  Worlds,"  remake  of  "Outward 
Bound,"  with  John  Garfield,  Paul  Henreid; 
"My  Reputation,"  drama  co-starring  Barb^i-a 
Stanwyck  and  George  Brent :  "Mask  for  Di- 
mitrios,"  mystery  drama ;  "Make  Your  Own 
Bed,"  comedy :  "Cinderella  Jones,"  comedy  co- 
starring  Joan  Leslie  and  Robert  Alda;  "Janie," 
"The  Last  Ride"  and  "Conflict." 

Pictures  with  war  backgrounds :  "Passage 
to  Marseille,"  starring  Humphrey  Bogart  and 
Michele  Morgan ;  "Uncertain  Glory,"  with 
Errol  Flynn  and  Paul  Lukas. 


"Hoivdy  Judy  I 
Our  picture 
'G/RL  CRAZY' 
15  setting  new 
hold-over 
records!  It's  a 
topper  in 
M-G-M'.s  12 
TOPPERS 


^' Yippee  Mickey!  And  M-G-M  is 
keeping  up  the  fast  pace  with 
its  new  Group  VITAMIN  12f 


MICKEY 
ROONEY 

IVDY 
GARLAND 

M-G-M^S 
GIRL  CRAZ) 


/Hh 


TOMMY  DOnSt 

AND  HIS  ORCHESTRA 


Gil  Stratton  •  Robert  E. 
Strickland  •  "Rags" 
Ragland  •  June  AUyson 
Nancy  Walker  •  Guy 
Kibbee  •  Screen  Play 
by  Fred  F.  Finklehoffe 
Based  Upon  Musical 
Play  "Girl  Crazy"  by 
Guy  Bolton  and  Jack 
McGowan  •  Music  by 
George  Gershwin 
Lyrics  by  Ira  Gershwin 
Directed  by  NORMAN 
TAUROG  •  Produced 
by  ARTHUR  FREED 


I 


LUCKY  NUMBER! 


M'G'M's  new  Group  VITAMIN  12  is  continuing  the  box-office  happiness 
of  such  12  TOPPERS  successes  as:  ''Salute  To  The  Marines,"  Best  Foot 
Forward"  "Lassie  Come  Home/'  "I  Dood  It,"  "Girl  Crazy,"  "Swingshift 
Maisie"  and 

^        M^G-M^s  "VITAMIN  IT'  Off  to  a  Flying  Start! 

"MADAME  GURIE"-Sensational  at  Music  Hall!  "A  GUY  NAMED 
JOE" -Breaks  Capitol,  N.  Y.  Records!  "THOUSANDS  CHEERS- 
ZOO  dates  launched  it  BIG!  "CRY  ^HAVOC" - S-Week  Aster 
Theatre,  Broadway  Hit!— And  that*s  just  the  beautiful  beginning! 


'Our  Tujo  Bis;  Jobs  in  January:  Fourth  War  Loan  and  March  of  Dimes!" 


BLAME  IT  ON  "A  GUY 
NAMED  JOE" 

Up  front  in  this  magazine  we  announced  that  "Song  of  Russia" 
would  have  its  World  Premiere  at  the  Capitol,  N.  Y.,  January  27th 
following  5  weeks  of  "A  Guy  Named  Joe " 

At  press  time,  yielding  to  public  demand,  we  must  postpone  "Song 
of  Russia"  until  February  3rd,  holding  "A  Guy  Named  Joe"  for  a 
sixth  week! 

It's  a  good  lesson  for  us!  We  keep  telling  you  to  hold  extra  time 
wide  open  for  the  great  M-G-M  hits  in  our  new  group  "Vitamin  12  " 
Is  our  face  red! 


M-G-M  presents  Spencer  Tracy  •  Irene  Dunne  in  Victor  Fleming's  Production  of  "A  Guy  Named  Joe"  with  Van 
Johnson  •  Ward  Bond  •  James  Gleason  •  Lionel  Barrymore  •  Barry  Nelson  •  Esther  Williams  •  Screen  Play  by  Dalton 
Trumbo  •  Adaptation  by  Frederick  Hazlitt  Brennan  •  Directed  by  Victor  Fleming  •  Produced  by  Everett  Riskin 


30  MOTIONPICTUREHERALD 


January    22,  1944 


U.  S.  Starts  Check  on 
Theatre  Tax  Records 


Internal  Revenue  Agents 
In  Field  to  Examine 
Books  on  Ticket  Sales 

Notices  were  mailed  this  week  to  Wiscon- 
sin exhibitors  by  the  Milwaukee  field  office 
of  the  Department  of  Internal  Revenue 
warning  that  a  periodic  check  was  going  to 
be  made  "on  admissions  to  your  place  of 
business." 

In  Washington  it  was  indicated  that  the 
warning  was  the  beginning  of  a  national 
scrutiny,  to  be  conducted  by  territories,  of 
admission  tax  payments. 

The  checkups  will  be  made  by  deputy  col- 
lectors' offices  in  the  field  following  general 
instructions  by  the  Internal  Revenue  De- 
partment calling  for  a  tightening  of  collec- 
tion procedure  in  the  theatre  field. 

Regional  Treasury  Official 
Outlines  Inspection  Plan 

It  was  not  indicated  whether  or  not  the 
move  was  in  any  way  related  to  an  Internal 
Revenue  proposal  now  that  theatres  be  re- 
quired to  use  tickets  produced  by  Govern- 
ment licensed  printers.  The  plan,  at  first 
considered  for  inclusion  in  the  tax  bill  now 
before  Congress,  was  rejected  Wednesday 
and  now  can  come  up  for  consideration  only 
in  the  next  revenue  bill. 

The  Wisconsin  deputy  collector's  letter  to 
exh-ibitors  read  in  part: 

"In  the  near  future,  a  periodic  check  is 
going  to  be  made  relative  to  the  admissions 
to  your  place  of  business. 

"In  order  to  make  a  complete  check,  it 
will  be  necessary  for  you  to  keep  the  stubs 
of  your  tickets  and  also  cashiers'  reports 
disclosing  opening  and  closing  numbers  of 
the  tickets  used. 

"Regulations  quoted:  'All  persons  re- 
quired to  collect  and  account  for  tax  admis- 
sions must  keep  for  possible  inspection '  by 
revenue  officers  the  portions  of  the  tickets 
taken  up  by  them,  or,  in  the  case  of  a  cabaret 
or  similar  place,  the  waiters'  checks,  for  a 
period  of  not  less  than  six  months." 

"An  appointment  will  be  made  in  sufficient 
time  in  order  that  you  can  have  all  records 
available." 

Bill  Would  Have  Set 
Licensing  System 

The  proposal  rejected  Wednesday  called  for 
the  licensing  of  ticket  manufacturers,  under 
which  they  would  be  required  to  report  full 
details  of  all  sales  made  to  theatres. 

Under  such  a  system,  the  bureau  would  know 
how  many  tickets  a  theatre  operator  obtained, 
and  would  be  able  to  check  his  activities  by 
balancing  the  tickets  he  had  on  hand  against 
those  he  had  purchased. 

The  only  regulations  now  imposed  on  tickets 
is  that  they  must  show  certain  specified  infor- 
mation, such  as  admission  price  and  tax  and 
carry  a  number. 

A  decision  by  the  bureau  to  license  printers, 
however,  would  not  solve  the  distributors'  dif- 
ficulties, since  it  is  against  the  law  to  furnish 
individual  tax  information  to  a  private  party. 

There  was  no  indication  whether  the  sug- 


gestion for  licensing  was  a  result  of  a  belief 
in  the  bureau  that  there  is  widespread  evasion 
of  the  admission  tax  or  whether  it  was  another 
of  the  schemes  which  are  always  under  con- 
sideration by  the  government  to  make  tax  col- 
lecting air-tight. 

Senate  Rejects  Move  to 
Halt  Admission  Fee 

President  Roosevelt  last  week  twice  asked 
for  higher  taxes  from  a  Congress  which  already 
had  demonstrated  unmistakably  that  it  believed 
the  bottom  of  the  tax  barrel  already  was  being 
scraped. 

His  urging  for  at  least  the  $10,500,000,000 
in  new  taxes  sought  by  the  Treasury  was  seen 
in  Washington  as  having  little  effect  on  Con- 
gressional sentiment.  This  was  evidenced  by 
the  action  of  the  Senate  in  going  ahead,  within 
an  hour  of  receiving  his  first  message,  with 
consideration  of  the  pending  tax  bill  which  will 
raise  only  about  one-fifth  the  sum  requested  by 
the  Treasury. 

Meanwhile,  by  voice  vote,  the  Senate  Tuesday 
rejected  Senator  Mead's  effort  to  prevent  an 
increase  in  admission  taxes.  After  the  action 
on  the  New  York  Senator's  proposal,  the  group 
adopted  an  amendment  offered  by  Senator 
George,  Georgia,  chairman  of  the  Senate  Fi- 
nance Committee.  This  amendment  changes 
the  committee's  proposal  of  a  tax  of  one  cent 
for  each  five  cents  "or  fraction  thereof"  to  one 
cent  for  *ach  five  cents  "or  major  fraction 
thereof." 

The  Senate  at  midweek  was  still  to  act  on 
amendments  proposed  by  Senators  Revercomb 
and  Wilson.  The  first  proposed  a  tax  of  one 
cent  on  each  ten ;  the  second,  exemption  from 
the  increased  tax,  for  theatres  in  communities 
of  less  than  10,000. 

The  plea  for  higher  taxes,  in  which  the 
Treasury  proposal  for  tripling  the  piresent  levy 
on  admissions  was  seen  as  nullified  in  part  by 
the  Treasury's  own  figures,  was  presented  in 
the  annual  budget. 

Some  Economies  Planned 
In  U.  S.  Film  Operation 

Estimates  made  just  prior  to  submission  of 
the  budget  show  that  instead  of  the  $163,500,000 
which  the  Treasury  last  year  represented  to 
House  and  Senate  tax  committees  would  be 
derived  from  the  admission  tax,  it  is  now  ex- 
pected that  $179,200,000  will  be  collected  during 
the  current  fiscal  year,  and  $183,400,000  during 
the  fiscal  year  1945.  The  latter  figure,  it  was 
indicated,  would  be  much  higher  except  for  the 
indications  that  manpower  and  liquor  shortages 
will  seriously  affect  the  cabaret  business. 

The  budget  figures  were  based  on  present  tax 
levels,  with  no  consideration  of  changes  in  the 
measure  now  pending  in  Congress,  from  which 
anywhere  from  $160,000,000  to  $185,000,000  ad- 
ditional would  be  collected  on  admissions  during 
the  fiscal  year  which  begins  July  1,  next. 

Total  Federal  expenditures  during  the  com- 
ing fiscal  year  were  set  in  the  budget  at  $99,- 
760,000,000,  of  which  $93,000,000  would  be  for 
war  purposes.  Agains  this,  at  current  rates  of 
tax,  total  revenues  of  $40,760,000,000  are  fore- 
seen, leaving  a  deficit  of  $59,000,000,000  for  the 
year,  which  would  bring  the  public  debt  to  a 
total  of  $258,000,000,000  by  June  30,  1945. 

Some  economies,  none  of  any  great  moment, 
are  indicated  in  the  motion  picture  expenditures 
of  the  Federal  Government  during  the  next  18 
months.  No  estimates  were  submitted  for  the 
most  important  expenditures — those  of  the  War 
and  Navy  Departments,  the  Office  of  War  In- 


formation, War  Production  Board,  Office  of 
Price  Administration,  Coordinator  of  Inter- 
American  Affairs  and  other  war  agencies. 
These,  it  was  explained,  were  withheld  because 
of  the  possibility  of  important  changes  in  the 
war  situation  and  will  be  sent  to  the  Capitol 
next  spring. 

The  motion  picture  section  of  the  Department 
of  Commerce  will  receive  about  the  same 
amount  of  money  as  it  now  is  spending.  The 
State  Department  will  require  the  same  anwunt 
as  this  year,  $25,700,  for  its  educational  motion 
picture  program,  and  the  Department  of  Agri- 
culture item  of  $59,500  is  the  same  as  this  year 
for  the  dissemination  of  agricultural  informa- 
tion by  films. 

Somewhat  less  activity  is  anticipated  in  the 
anti-trust  division  of  the  Department  of  Justice, 
where  a  $200,000  cut  is  contemplated  from  the 
$1,600,000  appropriated  for  the  current  year. 

Halving  the  fund  for  visual  aids  for  war 
training,  the  Office  of  Education  is  slated  to  get 
only  $1,000,000  for  that  work.  Increased  ac- 
cessions resulting  from  the  war  necessitates  an 
increase  from  $892,000  to  $1,091,000  for  the 
National  Archives. 


Urges  Publicity 
On  War  Work 

The  industry  was  advised  to  "stop  hiding  its 
light  under  a  bushel"  and  to  publicize  its  many 
wartime  services,  by  Frank  C.  Walker,  Post- 
master General  and  former  president  of  Com- 
erford  Theatres,  Inc.,  who  spoke  at  an  exhibitor 
luncheon  meeting  in  Washington  Tuesday. 
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  was  host  to  more  than 
200  exhibitors  and  Government  officials  at  the 
Hotel  Statler. 

Mr.  Walker  expressed  pride  at  his  former 
associations  with  an  industry  which  has  estab- 
lished an  outstanding  record  of  sacrifice  and 
war  service  without  cost  to  the  nation. 

William  F.  Rodgers,  vice-president  and  gen- 
eral sales  manager  of  MGM,  praised  exhibitors 
for  their  participation  in  War  Activities  Com- 
mittee work  and  pledged  his  company's  aid  to 
insure  the  continued  operation  of  small  town 
theatres  despite  war  obstacles.  He  paid  tribute 
to  the  assistance  of  Lowell  Mellett,  former 
OWI  film  director,  who  was  a  guest  at  the 
luncheon. 

Mr.  Rodgers  told  the  exhibitors  that  any 
theatre  which  failed  to  sell  a  bond  for  every 
seat  in  the  Fourth  War  Loan  would  hurt  the 
entire  industry's  record. 

Others  who  attended  were :  Frank  Homig, 
president  of  the  MPTO  of  Maryland;  A.  Ju- 
lian Brylawski,  president  of  the  ITO  of  the 
District  of  Columbia ;  John  J.  Payette,  zone 
manager,  Warner  Theatres ;  Abram  F.  Myers, 
Allied  States  Association  general  counsel; 
Stanton  Griffis,  chief  of  the  OWI  film  bu- 
reau; Ted  Gamble,  War  Finance  director;  Dis- 
trict Commissioner  J.  Russell  Young  and  Car- 
ter Barron,  Loew's  Theatres'  eastern  division 
manager. 

Marches!  Brothers  Lose 
Clearance  Complaint 

The  clearance  demand  of  the  Marchesi 
Brothers,  operating  the  Geneseo  theatre,  in 
Geneseo,  111.,  was  dismissed  last  week  by  John 
S.  Lord,  arliitrator  who  heard  this  25th  case 
in  the  Chicago  tribunal.  MGM,  Paramount 
20th  Century-Fox,  RKO,  and  the  Publix  Great 
States  Theatres  were  involved.  Mr.  Lord 
divided  costs. 

Mr.  Lord  ruled  that  the  Peerless  theatre  in 
Kewanee,  111.,  25  miles  away,  held  priority  of 
run  but  no  clearance  inasmuch  as  the  Geneseo 
followed  immediately. 

Finding  that  competition  existed  between  the 
two  theatres,  Mr.  Lord  held  that  he  was  with- 
out power  to  change  the  priority  of  run,  adding 
that  in  his  opinion  the  Peerless  was  entitled  to 
the  protection  which  this  priority  offered. 


WARNER  BROS/  TRADE  SHOWINGS  OF 


IDA  LUPINO  •  PAUL  HENREID 

in 

IN  OUR  TIME 


CITY 

PLACE  OF  SHOWING 

ADDRESS 

DAY and  DATE 

TIME 

i\lbany 

Warner  Screening  Room 

79  N.  Pearl  St. 

Mon.  1/31 

12:30  P.M. 

\tlanta 

RKO  Screening  Room 

191  Walton  St.  N.W. 

Mon.  1/31 

2:00  P.M. 

Boston 

RKO  Screening  Room 

122  Arlington  St. 

Mon.  1/31 

2:00  P.M. 

3u£Falo 

Paramount  Sc.  Room 

465  Franklin  St. 

Mon.  1/31 

2:00  P.M. 

Charlotte 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

308  S.  Church  St. 

Mon.  1/31 

10:00  A.M. 

[Chicago 

Warner  Screening  Room 

1307  So.  Wabash  Ave. 

Mon.  1/31 

1:30  P.M. 

Cincinnati 

RKO  Screening  Room 

Palace  Th.  Bldg.  E.  6th 

Mon.  1/31 

7:30  P.M. 

Cleveland 

Warner  Screening  Room 

2300  Payne  Ave. 

Mon.  1/31 

8:00  P.M. 

Dallas 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

1803  Wood  St. 

Mon.  1/31 

2:00  P.M. 

Denver 

Paramount  Sc.  Room 

2100  Stout  St. 

Mon.  1/31 

2:30  P.M. 

Des  Moines 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

1300  High  St. 

Mon.  1/31 

1:45  P.M. 

Detroit 

Film  Exchange  Bldg. 

2310  Cass  Ave. 

Mon.  1/31 

2:00  P.M. 

ndianapolis 

Paramount  Sc.  Room 

116  W.  Michigan 

Mon.  1/31 

1:00  P.M. 

Cansas  City 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

1720  Wyandotte  St. 

Mon.  1/31 

1:30  P.M. 

^os  Angeles 

Vitagraph  Sc.  Rm. 

2025  S.  Vermont  Ave. 

Mon.  1/31 

2:00  P.M. 

liemphis 

Paramount  Sc.  Room 

362  S.  Second  St. 

Mon.  1/31 

10:30  A.M. 

ililwaukee 

Warner  Th.  Sc.  Rm. 

212  W.  Wisconsin  Ave. 

Mon.  1/31 

2:00  P.M. 

i4inneapolis 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

1015  Currie  Ave. 

Mon.  1/31 

2:00  P.M. 

•Jew  Haven 

Warner  Th.  Proj.  Rm. 

70  College  St. 

Mon.  1/31 

11:00  A.M. 

«few  Orleans 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

200  S.  Liberty  St. 

Mon.  1/31 

2:00  P.M. 

«Iew  York 

Home  Office 

321  W.  44th  St. 

Mon.  1/31 

2:30  P.M. 

Dklahoma 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

10  North  Lee  Ave. 

Mon.  1/31  • 

2:00  P.M. 

Dmaha 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

1502  Davenport  St. 

Mon.  1/31 

1:30  P.M. 

Philadelphia 

Vine  St.  Sc.  Rm. 

1220  Vine  St. 

Mon.  1/31 

11:00  A.M. 

Mttsburgh 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

1715  Blvd.  of  Allies 

Mon.  1/31 

2:30  P.M. 

'ortland 

Star  Screening  Room 

925  N.W.  19th  Ave. 

Mon.  1/31 

2:00  P.M. 

iait  Lake 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

216  East  1st  South 

Mon.  1/31 

2:00  P.M. 

>an  Francisco 

Republic  Sc.  Rm. 

221  Golden  Gate  Ave. 

Mon.  1/31 

1:30  P.M. 

Seattle 

Jewel  Box.  Sc.  Rm. 

2318  Second  Ave. 

Mon.  1/31 

2:00  P.M. 

>t.  Louis 

S'renco  Sc.  Rm. 

3143  Olive  St. 

Mon.  1/31 

1:00  P.M. 

Washington 

Earle  Th.  Bldg. 

13th  &  E  Sts.  N.W. 

Mon.  1/31 

10:30  A.M. 

)ur  Two  Big  Jobs  in  January: 

''ourth  War  Loan  and  March  of  Dimes 


32 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    22,  1944 


Censor  Deletions  in 
Four  States  Drop 


Boards  Say  Entertainment 
Films  Better,  but  Watch 
War  Pictures  Closely 

Annual  reports  by  the  censors  in  four  of 
the  seven  states  maintaining  motion  picture 
censor  boards,  and  from  one  city  commis- 
sion, show  a  decrease  in  the  number  of  cuts 
in  regular  entertainment  features.  The 
screen  watchers,  however,  report  that  they 
have  had  to  give  added  attention  to  war  fea- 
tures and  documentaries  to  guard  against 
scenes  of  brutality  which  might  offend  pub- 
lic taste. 

When  the  United  States  entered  the  war, 
change  in  censorship  procedure  occurred  as 
this  country  became  a  belligerent  instead  of 
a  neutral,  according  to  Joseph  F.  Healy, 
head  of  Chicago's  censor  board.  Before 
Pearl  Harbor,  one  of  the  big  problems  was 
the  propaganda  film  which  purported  _  to 
arouse  American  audiences  for  or  against 
the  European  warring  nations.  U.  S.  neu- 
trality at  that  time,  therefore,  dictated  elimi- 
nation of  scenes  deemed  too  brutal,  too 
biased  or  of  consciously  directed  propagan- 
da, he  said.  These  same  scenes,  however, 
became  acceptable  when  America  entered 
the  war. 

Chicago  Censors  Reviewed 
5,000,000  Feet  of  Film 

Approximately  5,000,000  feet  of  film,  repre- 
senting 1,135  pictures,  were  reviewed  by  the 
Chicago  censors  last  year.  Two  films  were 
rejected  and  19  were  designated  "for  adults 
only."  Only  114  cuts  were  ordered,  "an  all- 
time  low,"  according  to  Mr.  Healy. 

Although  only  seven  states  operate  cen- 
sor boards,  mainly  through  state  depart-  • 
ments  of  education,  censorship  organizations 
function  in  such  cities  as  Boston,  Chicago, 
Washington,  Seattle,  Denver,  Des  Moines, 
Kansas  City,  Milwaukee  and  Atlanta,  either 
through  police  or  welfare  departments  of 
the  city  or  through  special  committees  ap- 
pointed by  the  mayors. 

Irwin  Esmond,  director  of  the  motion  pic- 
ture division  of  the  .Department  of  Educa- 
tion of  New  York  State,  expressed  the  opin- 
ion that  one  of  the  most  significant  changes 
in  censorship  operation  resulting  from  the 
war  was  the  reduction  of  foreign  film  im- 
ports, which  automatically  reduced  the  num- 
ber of  eliminations  customarily  ordered  in 
French,  Italian,  Russian  or  other  European 
pictures,  on  the  basis  of  "immorality." 

Job  Made  Easier  by  Drop 
In  Foreign  Imports 

"Our  job  has  been  made  more  easy,"  he 
said,  "since  the  war  brought  less  foreign 
films  to  this  country.  Hitherto,  there  were 
many  scenes  we  had  to  eliminate  and  this 
was  quite  understandable,  since  the  ideas, 
manners  and  customs  of  people  abroad  differ 
very  much  from  our  ovra  and  it  was  inevi- 
table that  certain  scenes  which  passed  in 
Europe  could  not  be  accepted  here." 

In  his  annual  report  issued  for  the  fiscal 


ARGENTINE  CENSORS 
AFFECT  40  FILMS 

Argentina's  censorship  of  American 
films  has  affected  approximately  40 
features  which  have  been  banned 
because  of  their  anti-Axis  nature  or 
withheld  from  distribution  there  by 
American  distributors  who  would  not 
submit  to  the  deletions  demanded  by 
Argentina's  military  censors.  Ac- 
cording to  home  office  foreign  de- 
partment managers,  the  censorship 
situation  in  Argentina  has  become 
increasingly  difRcult  since  the  United 
States  entered  the  war.  Two  Par- 
amount films.  "So  Proudly  We  Hall" 
and  "Five  Graves  to  Cairo",  were 
ordered  cut  in  the  interests  of  neu- 
trality, but  the  company  has  refused 
to  make  the  deletions.  Other  dis- 
tributors are  said  to  have  joined  Par- 
amount in  presenting  a  unified  stand 
against  the  current  censorship. 


year  July  1,  1941,  to  June  30,  1942,  Mr. 
Esmond  pointed  out  that  the  number  of 
eliminations  was  less  than  in  previous  years, 
due  not  only  to  the  decreased  number  of  pic- 
tures but  also  to  the  desire  on  the  part  of 
most  producers  to  conform  to  the  statutory 
provisions. 

"It  can  be  truthfully  said,"  he  added,  "that 
the  number  of  instances  where  there  seems 
to  have  been  a  conscious  intent  on  the  part 
of  the  producers  to  insert  in  their  pictures 
salacious  scenes  or  dialogue  has  been  rapid- 
ly diminishing." 

The  report  noted,  however,  "a  tendency 
on  the  part  of  a  few  distributors  and  also  a 
few  theatres  to  exploit  certain  pictures  im- 
properly by  means  of  advertising.  This  is 
not  a  general  tendency  but  applies  only  to  a 
limited  minority." 

Kenneth  Ray,  state  director  of  education 
for  Ohio,  in  his  biennial  report  on  censor- 
ship activities  last  December,  said  that  the 
war  had  brought  relaxation  of  film  censor- 
ship in  that  state  and  pointed  out  that  ap- 
proximately 75  per  cent  of  the  films  re- 
viewed in  1943  pertained  to  the  war. 

He  recommended  that  it  was  necessary 
because  of  the  war,  "to  be  unusually  cau- 
tious and  discriminatory  in  deciding  what  is 
acceptable  and  at  times  it  has  seemed  desir- 
able to  permit  showing  of  scenes  which 
might  not  have  been  approved  in  peace 
times." 

Mr.  Ray's  report  for  the  month  of  No- 
vember, 1943,  also  indicated  the  gradual 
decline  in  censor  cuts  of  Holl)wood  product. 
A  total  of  129  films  or  398  reels  were  re- 
viewed in  that  month,  from  which  elimina- 
tions were  ordered  in  14  films.  In  the  pre- 
vious month,  there  were  13  cuts  ordered 
from  414  reels  reviewed,  while  in  Novem- 


ber, 1942,  cuts  in  39  reels  of  542  reels  re- 
viewed were  ordered. 

According  to  Mrs.  Edna  R.  Carroll, 
chairman  of  the  state  board  of  film  censors 
in  Pennsylvania,  only  25  per  cent  of  the 
features  viewed  in  1943  were  war  themes, 
but  the  board,  "anticipating  that  war  psy- 
chology might  have  a  bad  effect  on  films," 
carefully  scrutinized  them  all  and  fotmd: 

"Authentic  war  plots  presented  in  fiction, 
well  cast  and  directed,  like  all  good  motion 
pictures,  were  not  difficult  to  censor.  Docu- 
mentary narratives  and  war  pictures  filmed 
on  location  were  unusually  fine  and  on  rare 
occasions  presented  some  routine  elimina- 
tions. 

Buffalo  Jurors  Recommended 
Code  to  End  Horror  Scenes 

"War  themes  used  for  exploitation  and 
propaganda  purposes,  did  give  us  specific 
problems,"  Mrs.  Carroll  said.  "Producers 
and  distributors  of  such  films  presumed  to 
present  them  for  purposes  of  patriotism. 
This,  I  violently  dispute,  but  my  criticism 
could  be  perverted  by  publicity  at  a  time 
when  nations'  hatreds  destroy  their  usual 
balance  of  good  judgment." 

Concerning  Hollywood  features  in  gen- 
eral, Mrs.  Carroll  said,  "We  have  not  found 
the  tendency  to  lurid  presentation  of  prob- 
lems created  by  the  war. 

Recommendation  was  made  in  Buffalo  last 
month  by  the  Erie  Coimty  Grand  Jurors 
Association  for  a  motion  picture  code  to 
eliminate  pictures  containing  scenes  of  ex- 
treme cruelty  and  horror  on  the  ground  that 
such  films  contribute  to  juvenile  delinquen- 
cy. Similar  objections  were  raised  against 
certain  radio  programs. 

Commenting  generally  on  the  improved 
moral  content  of  motion  pictures,  the  Mary- 
land state  censor  board  in  its  annual  report 
for  1943  noted  that  "in  our  highly  regulated 
society  today,  restrictions  have  become  com- 
monplace and  resentment  toward  intelligent 
censorship  is  fast  disappearing.  Through 
the  suggestions  of  censor  boards  and  censor 
organizations,  such  as  the  National  Board 
of  Review,  the  Hays  organizations,  the  Na- 
tional Legion  of  Decency  and  others,  all  of 
which  deserve  the  greatest  commendation, 
the  industry  admits  that  it  has  enjoyed  in- 
creased profits  since  its  products  have  be- 
come acceptable  to  ever  increasing  groups." 

Pays  Tribute  to  Industry 
For  War  Effort  Work 

Only  131  cuts  were  ordered  by  the  Mary- 
land censors  in  1943,  from  a  total  of  1,529 
films  reviewed,  including  423  features.  This 
represented  a  decrease  in  cuts  of  previous 
years. 

The  report  stressed  that  although  Holly- 
wood war  features  "obviously  are  unlikdy 
to  contain  material  to  which  statutory  ob- 
jections can  justly  be  made,"  many  scenes 
had  been  noted  "showing  the  cruelty  and 
brutality  of  the  enemy  to  which  we  would 
have  taken  exception  in  normal  times.  Nev- 
ertheless, being  cognizant  of  the  necessity 
of  conditioning  a  civilian  population  to  war, 
we  have  not  ordered  eliminations  in  many 
such  instances." 

Tribute  to  the  industry  was  paid  by  the 
board  for  "its  effective  contribution  to  the 
war  effort"  and  generally  for  its  "excellent 
productions  featuring  the  exploits  of  our 
armed  forces  in  their  campaigns  on  land, 
sea  and  air.  The  morale  of  the  entire  coun- 
try has  been  sustained  and  nourished  by 
these  prp^.entations,"  the  board  said. 


as  America's 

the  screen's  great  love  story  for  1944! 


Robert  Ryan 
Ruth  Hussey 

Patricia  Collinge 
Mady  Christians 
Kim  Hunter 
Jane  Darweil 
Richard  Martin 


Produced  by 
DAVID  HEMPSTEAD 

Directed  by 
EDWARD  DMYTRYK 


NATIONALLY 
ADVERTISED  byth 

'Showman's  Company"  in 
LIFE,  LOOK,  LIBERTY, 
WOMAN'S  HOME  COM-  * 
PAN  ION  and  FAN  Mag- 
azines with  a 

TOTAL 

CIRCULATION 
OF 

21,777,509! 


"Ginger  Rogers  in  emotiona 
yarn  geared  for  smash  box} 

office."  -  Varietal 

"Packs  box-office  kick  . . .  sure; 
fire  .  .  .  Ginger  Rogers  at  het 
best."  -  Film  Daili 

Finest  appearance  Ginger 
ogers  has  ever  made  . . .  Will 
ttain  record-breaking  box  ' 
bffice  success." 

—  Hollywood  Reportei 

I 

*Due  for  topline  biz  in  allj 
bookings  and  rates  holdovers 
for  solid  box-office." 

—  Hollywood  Variety 


"Ginger  Rogers  has  one  of  her 
est  roles  .  .  .  Holds  wide- 
^read  appeal  .  .  .  excellently 
rformed." 

—  Motion  Picture  Daily 


I 
ft 


jtti 

'  ? 

!  '% 


Comedy  and  pathos  ...  a  tri-  ? 
umph  for  the  star,  and  satis-  i 
faction  for  her  countless  ad- 
mirers."-^/o/iom  Picture  Herald4* 

.1- 

"The  woman's  picture  of  the 
year  .  .  .  Touching  love  story 
ranks  with  the  best."  |' 

—  The  Exhibitor 


A  field  day  for  women  .  .  . 
destined  for  excellent  box-  i 
office  career."  ' 

—  Showmen's  Trade  Review 


Our  two  big  jobs  in  Jinuary:  Fourth  War  Loan  and  March  of  Dimes 


anuary    22,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


37 


Wew  Distributing 
Unit  to  Meet  in 
S/.  Louis  Soon 

A  meeting  of  the  organizers  of  the  Exhibitors 
Distributing  Corporation,  who  expect  to  have 
the  new  producing-distributing  organization 
functioning  before  autumn,  will  be  held  soon,  it 
was  announced  in  St.  Louis  last  week  by  Harry 
C.  Arthur,  Jr.,  vice-president  and  general  man- 
ager of  Fanchon  &  Marco  and  one  of  the  lead- 
ing spirits  in  the  new  enterprise.  The  corpora- 
tion, which  will  be  modeled  along  the  lines  of 
the  old  First  National  Company,  has  applied 
for  a  Delaware  charter. 

Declaring  that  premature  publicity  on  the 
corporation's  plans  might  be  injurious,  Mr. 
Arthur  has  declined  to  discuss  progress,  except 
to  say  that  he  and  his  associates  already  have 
established  exhibitor  franchise  representation  in 
14  exchange  centers.  These  centers  are  under- 
stood to  represent  approximately  55  per  cent 
of  the  film  rental  returns  and  gross  revenue  of 
the  country. 

Fanchon  &  Marco  now  controls  the  franchises 
of  the  new  corporation  in  the  St.  Louis  and 
Los  Angeles  territories  and  is  negotiating  for  a 
third  key  center.  The  election  of  officers  will 
be  one  of  the  matters  on  the  agenda  at  the 
meeting  to  be  held  soon.  He  explains,  how- 
ever, that  under  no  circumstances  will  he  ac- 
cept the  presidency.  In  addition  to  being  vice- 
president  and  general  manager  of  Fanchon  & 
Marco,  he  is  president  of  the. Fanchon  &  Marco 
Service  Corporation,  the  management  organ- 
ization for  the  60  Fanchon  &  Marco  theatres 
throughout  the  country,  and  a  director  of  the 
St.  Louis  Amusement  Company. 

It  is  planned  that  the  new  corporation  will 
include  leading  theatre  operators  and  circuits 
under  the  franchise  system  used  by  the  old 
First  National  Company.  While  official  con- 
firmation is  not  obtainable,  it  is  understood  that 
included  in  the  large  circuits  interested  in  the 
new  corporation  are  several  which  are  now  affil- 
iated with  some  of  the  leading  producer-dis- 
tributors. 

The  idea  for  an  exhibitor-distributor  company 
is  said  to  have  been  suggested  by  individual 
producers  and  stars  in  Hollywood,  who  sounded 
out  several  large  circuit  operators,  including 
Mr.  Arthur,  who  accepted  the  leadership  in  pro- 
moting the  project. 

Among  those  who  are  said  to  be  interested  is 
S.  H.  Fabian,  who  operates  a  circuit  in  Brook- 
lyn, Staten  Island,  New  Jersey  and  New  York 
State.  He  is  expected  to  obtain  the  franchise 
of  the  new  organization  for  the  New  York  and 
Albany  territories. 


20th-Fox  Auditors  Hold 
Home  Office  Meeting 

The  annual  three-day  conference  of  20th 
Century-Fox  traveling  auditors  was  held  at  the 
home  office  this  week.  It  was  supervised  by 
Comptroller  W.  J.  Eadie,  Nat  Brower  and 
Maurice  Goodman.  Discussions  centered 
around  branch  operations  and  maintenance  of 
reports  and  records  between  exchanges  and 
home  office. 

Home  office  department  heads  who  discussed 
phases  of  operation  were  Jack  Sichelman,  Harry 
Fenster,  Harry  Mersay,  Morris  Caplan,  Ed- 
ward Hollander,  Joseph  Goldstein,  J.  H.  Lang, 
C.  A.  Hill,  William  Keefe,  William  Clark  and 
George  Roberts.  Company  executives  present  in- 
cluded Spyros  Skouras,  Tom  Connors,  William 
J.  Kupper,  W.  C.  Gehring,  A.  W.  Smith,  Jr.,  L. 
J.  Schlaifer  and  Sydney  Towell. 

Others  present  were  R.  L.  Long,  Mack 
Schmalzback,  William  Gunzelman,  J.  J. 
O'Leary,  A.  C.  Wilson,  T.  J.  Cleary,  G.  F. 
Cooper,  Robert  Hildreth,  Leo  Lichtenstein,  Ben 
Wolff,  Ernest  Pelson,  William  Werner,  Luke 
Stegar,  Frank  Carrol  and  William  Lafin. 


staff  Photographer 


DAVID  H.  COPLAN 

Coplan  Replaces 
Carr  for  U.A. 

David  H.  Coplan,  United  Artists  managing 
director  in  Canada,  this  week  was  appointed  to 
replace  E.  T.  "Teddy"  Carr  as  managing  direc- 
tor in  Great  Britain.  Mr.  Coplan,  in  New 
York  Tuesday,  was  to  leave  shortly  for  his 
new  post  in  London. 

He  entered  the  industry  in  1917,  with  the 
Metro  Film  Service,  Ltd.,  at  St.  John,  N.  B. 
He  since  has  served  with  Columbia  in  Detroit 
and  Montreal.  In  1942,  he  joined  UA  in  the 
Canadian  post. 

The  company  announced  this  week  that  Mr. 
Coplan  would  remain  in  London  "until  a  per- 
manent managing  director  for  Great  Britain  is 
appointed." 

Mr.  Carr  resigned  last  week. 


Schwartz  Reelected  Head 
Of  Cleveland  Exhibitors 

Ernest  Schwartz  was  reelected  president  of 
the  Cleveland  Motion  Picture  Exhibitors  As- 
sociation by  acclamation  to  serve  his  11th  term 
at  the  annual  meeting  held  January  13.  All 
previous  officers  were  reelected  as  follows :  vice- 
president,  Albert  E.  Ptak,  for  the  eighth  term; 
treasurer,  James  E.  Scoville,  for  the  second 
term,  and  George  W.  Erdmann,  secretary  for 
the  18th  year.  All  board  members  also  were 
reelected.  They  are  Meyer  Fine,  Henry  Green- 
berger,  John  D.  Kalafat,  James  E.  Scoville  and 
P.  E.  Essick. 

At  the  business  meeting  which  followed  elec- 
tion of  officers,  it  was  unanimously  voted  to 
designate  the  week  of  February  6  as  Free 
Movie  Week  at  all  independent  theatres. 

John  Lokar,  secretary  to  Mayor  Frank  J. 
Lausche,  who  attended  the  luncheon  preceding 
the  business  meeting,  thanked  the  members  in 
behalf  of  the  mayor  "for  the  magnificent  job 
you  are  doing  in  the  war  effort."  "If  the  Navy 
E  were  presented  to  movie  people,"  Mr.  Lokar 
said,  "the  Cleveland  theatre  owners  should  get 
one."  Common  Pleas  Judge  Samuel  Silbert 
also  was  a  luncheon  guest. 


Exhibitors  Plan  Dinner 

Eastern  Pennsylvania  Allied,  in  connection 
with  its  sixth  annual  meeting  in  Philadelphia 
January  25,  will  sponsor  a  restricted  industry 
dinner  for  independent  exhibitors  only  in  the 
evening  at  the  Hotel  Warwick. 


Rank  Plans  Use 
Of  Television  ; 
Talks  UA  Deal 

Television,  which  figures  prominently  in  the 
post-war  plans  of  J.  Arthur  Rank,  British  pro- 
ducer-distributor, was  the  subject  of  discussion 
between  Mr.  Rank  and  officials  of  the  National 
Broadcasting  Company,  according  to  a  report 
from  London  this  week.  The  talks  centered  on 
the  use  of  visual  broadcasting  by  the  Rank  or- 
ganization for  previews  of  British  films,  as  part 
of  the  Rank  campaign  designed  to  familiarize 
American  audiences  with  his  product. 

Last  week  it  was  reported  that  Mr.  Rank  and 
Arthur  W.  Kelly,  United  Artists  executive  who 
is  now  in  London,  had  had  several  conversa- 
tions pertaining  to  television  as  well  as  to  a 
UA-Rank  post-war  partnership  in  films.  Mr. 
Kelly  recently  resigned  his  post  as  vice-presi- 
dent in  charge  of  foreign  distribution  for  UA  to 
take  charge  of  the  company's  "international 
television  interests." 

E.  T.  Carr  also  resigned  as  managing  direc- 
tor for  UA  in  England.  He  was  expected  to 
take  a  post  with  the  Rank  enterprises.  Mr. 
Carr  said  in  London  this  week  that  there  had 
been  several  conferences  among  Mr.  Rank,  Mr. 
Kelly  and  himself  on  proposals  for  the  British 
producer  to  acquire  a  financial  interest  in  the 
American  distributing  company. 

Meanwhile,  in  Hollywood  over  the  weekend, 
David  O.  Selznick  announced  completion  of 
arrangements  for  loaning  Vivien  Leigh  to  Mr. 
Rank  for  a  star  role  in  Gabriel  Pascal's  Tech- 
nicolor production  of  the  George  Bernard  Shaw 
play,  "Caesar  and  Cleopatra."  General  Films 
Distributors,  Ltd.,  of  the  Rank  organization, 
will  distribute  the  film. 

Miss  Leigh,  whose  last  picture  in  the  U.  S. 
was  "That  Hamilton  Woman,"  released  in  1941 
by  United  Artists,  was  granted  a  leave  by  Mr. 
Selznick  more  than  a  year  ago  so  that  she  could 
return  to  England  with  her  husband,  Laurence 
Oliver.  At  the  time  of  her  departure  from  the 
U.  S.,  Miss  Leigh  said  she  intended  to  remain 
in  her  native  country  for  the  duration  of  the 
war. 

Negotiations  were  said  to  be  under  way  for 
Miss  Leigh  to  appear  in  two  additional  films 
under  the  Rank  banner.  This  is  in  line  with 
the  British  film  magnate's  announced  intention 
of  obtaining  popular  Hollywood  stars  for  pic- 
tures to  be  made  in  England  which  will  figure 
in  his  post-war  world  market  plans. 

Barrington  Gain,  financial  representative  of 
Mr.  Rank  who  has  been  in  New  York  for  sev- 
eral weeks,  and  Dr.  Alexander  Galperson,  rep- 
resenting Two  Cities  Films,  Ltd.,  left  Friday 
for  Hollywood.  Mr.  Gain  is  expected  to  line 
up  Hollywood  acting,  writing  and  producing 
talent  for  the  Rank  organization. 

Name  Parr  President  of 
Carolina  Exhibitors 

George  Parr  of  Lancaster,  S.  C,  was  named 
president  of  the  Theatre  Owners  of  North  and 
South  Carolina  at  a  meeting  in  Charlotte  Mon- 
day. A.  F.  Sams,  Jr.,  of  Statesville,  N.  C,  and 
Boyd  Brown  of  Winnsboro,  S.  C,  were  re- 
elected vice-presidents,  and  Mrs.  Pauline  Grif- 
fith of  Charlotte,  secretary-treasurer.  Direc- 
tors from  North  Carolina  are  Roy  Rowe,  O.  T. 
Kirby,  H.  Howell,  George  Carpenter,  Frank 
Beddingfield,  E.  L.  Hearne,  Thomas  Little,  H. 
F.  Kincey,  J.  Miller  and  Lyle  Wilson.-  South 
Carolina  directors  are  H.  R.  Berry,  J.  Long 
and  Ben  Strozier. 


Heads  Omaha  Variety  Club 

The  new  head  of  Omaha's  Variety  Club  will 
be  Isaac  Rubin,  Paramount  salesman.  Other 
officers  recently  elected  include:  Jess  McBride, 
first  assistant  chief  barker;  Harold  Johnson, 
second  assistant  chief  barker;  Mayer  Stern, 
dough  guy,  and  Gene  Blazier,  property  master. 


38 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    22,  1944 


Studios  Sent  218  Films 
Overseas  in  1943 


WAC  Report  Shows  Many 
Offered  Montfis  Before 
U.  S,  Release  Dates 

Hollywood's  gift  films  in  16min  to  the 
armed  forces  overseas  in  1943  totaled  218 
features,  comprising  6,142  prints  of  pictures 
produced  last  year  or  in  the  final  quarter 
of  1942,  according  to  the  annual  report  on 
the  industry's  contribution,  released  this 
week  by  Francis  S.  Harmon,  executive  vice- 
chairman  of  the  War  Activities  Committee. 

Columbia  contributed  21  features  and  643 
prints;  MGM,  40,  with  1,124  prints;  Mono- 
gram, one  film  for  which  29  prints  were 
provided;  Paramount,  19  features  and  503 
prints ;  PRC,  one  film  and  29  prints ;  RKO 
Radio,  29  features,  798  prints ;  Republic,  12 
pictures,  317  prints;  Twentieth  Century- 
Fox,  21  films,  620  prints ;  United  Artists, 
17  films,  455  prints ;  Universal,  34  films, 
1,037  prints;  Warner  Bros.,  23  pictures,  577 
prints. 

Most  Released  Month  Ahead 
Of  Regular  Schedule 

The  majority  of  the  films  were  released 
to  the  Army  one  and  two  months  in  ad- 
vance of  regular  release  to  theatres  in  the 
U.  S.  Warners'  "Arsenic  and  Old  Lace," 
which  has  not  yet  been  shown  in  American 
theatres,  was  released  to  the  Army  last 
March  and  22  prints  of  the  picture  were 
made  available  for  overseas  showings  to 
service  men.  "Jane  Eyre,"  the  Twentieth 
Century-Fox  production,  which  also  has  not 
been  seen  by  American  audiences,  was  giv- 
en to  the  Army  last  April  and  38  prints 
were  made  and  shipped  overseas.  "Swing 
Fever,"  MGM,  which  is  scheduled  for  re- 
lease in  April,  was  released  last  month  and 
"Madame  Curie,"  another  MGM  film, 
which  has  a  general  release  date  for  Feb- 
ruary, also  was  made  available  to  service 
men  overseas  in  December. 

Deliveries  are  being  made  at  the  rate  of 
56  prints  per  feature. 

Since  the  beginning  of  the  war,  the  WAC 
report  shows,  the  industry  gift  films  totals 
9,507  programs,  of  which  8,255  were  current 
film.  The  remaining  1,252  were  prints  of 
outstanding  films  of  former  years,  specifical- 
ly requested  by  the  War  Department  for 
showing  on  transports.  With  more  and 
more  service  men  going  overseas,  deliveries 
are  now  at  a  rate  of  191  prints  weekly,  with 
250  a  week  the  goal  of  the  industry,  repre- 
senting a  tremendous  increase  over  the  four 
prints  weekly  given  to  the  Army  originally. 

Delivered  Prints  of  176 
Features  in  1943 

In  his  report,  Mr.  Harmon  pointed  out  that 
the  industry  delivered  5,089  prints  of  176 
features  produced  during  1943  for  release 
in  1943-44,  and  920  prints  of  42  films  made 
in  1942  and  delivered  during  the  first  quar- 
ter of  1943.  In  addition,  there  had  been 
delivered  133  prints  of  three  features  not 
yet  generally  released.  During  1942,  272 
different  current  features  were  delivered,  all 


prcxluced  in  1942  or  the  closing  months  of 
1941,  for  a  total  of  1,436  prints. 

To  date,  13,027  short  subjects  have  been 
delivered  as  part  of  the  9,507  programs  con- 
tributed by  the  industry.  These  programs, 
in  16mm,  contain  a  feature,  one  or  two 
shorts  and  a  specially  edited  newsreel  and 
average  a  total  of  100  minutes'  rtmning  time. 
Special  Service  officers  of  the  War  Depart- 
ment select  the  titles  from  Hollywood's  en- 
tire output  of  current  features,  choosing 
those  deemed  most  entertaining  and  popular, 
the  report  further  explained. 

In  December,  the  titles  selected  included 
"Jane  Eyre,"  "Arsenic  and  Old  Lace," 
"Swing  Fever,"  "Madame  Curie,"  none  of 
which  has  been  generally  released  in  the 
U.  S.;  "The  Heat's  On,"  "Higher  and 
Higher,"  "So's  Your  Uncle,"  "Man  from 
Down  Under,"  "The  Gang's  All  Here," 
"Whistling  in  Brooklyn,"  "In  Old  Okla- 
homa" and  "True  to  Life." 

Approximately  19  Army  exchanges  have 
been  set  up  throughout  the  world  to  handle 
distribution  of  the  industry's  gift  films. 


Chicago  Union  to 
Elect  Feb.  3 

A  new  leadership  is  scheduled  in  the  Chicago 
projectionists  union.  Local  110,  following  the 
recent  ousting  of  all  officers  for  alleged  con- 
spiracy with  the  "Boys  from  Chicago,"  recently 
convicted  in  New  York  of  extorting  money 
from  motion  picture  companies. 

Members  have  nominated  several  candidates, 
including  five  for  president. 

Placed  in  the  field  to  head  the  union,  with 
elections  set  for  February  3,  were  Peter 
Bridges,  Glenn  Sweeney,  George  LeRoy,  James 
Gorman  and  Smith  King.  Other  nominations 
included  Herman  Posnier,  Frank  Galuzzo,  Dal- 
las Kephart,  John  Mulvaney,  Everett  Ryan  and 
Edward  Halliday  for  vice-president;  Ora  Bebb, 
Charles  Hall  and  Clarence  Jalas  for  secretary- 
treasurer;  Herman  Goldberg,  Roy  McCracken. 
Hugo  Krause,  Joe  Britsk,  Gene  Atkinson  and 
Harry  Regan  for  business  agent. 

In  New  York  last  week,  Federal  Judge  John 
Bright  denied  in  Federal  Court  the  motion  by 
Louis  Kaufman,  former  business  agent  for  the 
Newark  lATSE  local,  244,  for  delay  in  pay- 
ment of  the  $10,000  fine  imposed  when  he  was 
convicted  with  the  Chicago  men  and  given  a 
seven-year  sentence. 

Earthquake  Closes  All 
Argentine  Houses 

Theatres  and  all  places  of  amusement  in  Ar- 
gentina have  been  ordered  closed  because  of  the 
earthquake  that  wrecked  San  Juan  last  week- 
end. No  information  regarding  damage  to  in- 
dustry property  or  injury  to  personnel  was 
given. 


Fall  River  Theatres  Safe 

Following  an  inspection  by  state  and  munici- 
pal officials  in  Fall  River,  Mass.,  all  public 
buildings  and  theatres  have  been  declared  safe 
and  conforming  to  public  safety  rules  of  the 
state.  The  inspection  was  made  because  of  last 
year's  Cocoanut  Grove  fire. 


Newsprint  Cut 
Seen  in  1944 

The  War  Production  Board  last  week  in- 
formed American  publishers  that  the  Govern- 
ment's stockpile  had  dwindled  to  a  few  thousand 
tons  and  that  by  the  time  the  first  quarter  needs 
had  been  met  the  surplus  would  total  less  than 
18,000  tons,  and  by  the  end  of  the  second  quar- 
ter, 10,000  tons. 

A  WPB  spokesman,  following  a  closed  meet- 
ing with  the  newspaper  industry  advisory  com- 
mittee in  Washington  late  last  week,  said  that 
the  newsprint  tonnage  totals  announced  would 
have  to  suffice  for  all  tonnage  granted  to  pub- 
lishers on  "hardship"  appeals,  estimated  at  8,000 
or  9,000  tons  a  quarter,  and  for  any  emergencies 
which  might  arise. 

The  first  quarter  of  the  year  is  expected  to 
provide  but  17,953  tons  of  newsprint  for  special 
appeals  and  emergencies.  During  the  second 
quarter  the  surplus  will  come  to  only  10,602 
tons,  the  WPB  said.  A  spokesman  for  the  news- 
paper industry  said  that  newspapers  normally 
use  more  paper  in  the  second  and  fourth  quar- 
ters than  in  the  other  two. 


Broidy  Sees  Big 
Gross  on  2  Films 

Monogram  will  gross  more  on  two  of  this 
season's  productions  than  it  did  on  the  entire 
program  of  48  films  two  years  ago,  according 
to  Samuel  Broidy,  vice-president  and  general 
sales  manager.  The  pictures  are  "Where  Are 
Your  Children?",  which  opened  in  Detroit 
November  28,  and  "Women  in  Bondage,"  which 
opened  in  Milwaukee,  December  9. 

"These  films  furnish  ample  vindication  of 
Monogram's  new  policy  of  advancing  into  the 
field  of  'A'  productions  when  subject  matter 
justifies  increased  budgets.  The  two  stories 
were  recognized  as  timely  newspaper  headlines, 
with  unlimited  possibilities  of  exploitation,  war- 
ranting the  assembling  of  top-flight  casts,"  Mr. 
Broidy  said. 

Many  of  the  bookings,  he  said,  "took  us  into 
outlets  no  Monogram  picture  had  ever  played 
before.  The  company  has  been  able  to  select 
first  run  bookings  on  the  basis  of  what  eacTi 
theatre  is  prepared  to  promise  in  the  matter  of 
promotion  and  exploitation,  and  to  arrange  such 
bookings  on  a  percentage  basis  in  all  important 
situations,"  added  Mr.  Broidy. 

Deny  Appeal  of  Plagiarisnn 
Suit  Disnnissal  Verdict 

The  U.  S.  Circuit  Court  of  Appeals  last  week 
denied  Vincent  McConnor,  author  of  a  play, 
"The  Murder  Issue,"  an  appeal  from  a  dis- 
missal of  his  plagiarism  suit  against  George  S. 
Kaufman  and  Moss  Hart,  authors  of  the  com- 
edy, "The  Man  Who  Came  to  Dinner."  Attor- 
neys for  Mr.  Kaufman  and  Mr.  Hart,  and  other 
defendants  were  awarded  additional  counsel  fees 
of  $1,107. 

Other  defendants  were  Warner  Brothers  Pic- 
tures, Inc.,  producers  of  the  film  version  of  the 
play ;  the  estate  of  Sam  H.  Harris,  producers  of 
the  play  on  Broadway,  and  Random  House, 
book  publishers. 

The  plagiarism  action  was  dismissed  last  year 
by  New  York  Federal  Judge  Clarence  G.  Gal- 
ston,  after  a  short  trial.  The  court  had  awarded 
attorneys  for  successfully  defending  their  clients 
$5,198  counsel  fees. 


Warners  Buy  Story 

"Monsieur  Lambertier,"  written  by  Louis 
Verneuil,  has  been  purchased  by  Warner  Broth- 
ers as  a  co-starring  vehicle  for  Barbara  Stan- 
wyck and  Paul  Henreid,  with  Henry  Blanke  as 
producer. 


40 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    22.  1944 


"What  to  da  with  Germany 
Nizer  asks  and  answers 


THE  motion  picture  has  come  unto  a  large 
place  in  the  world  scene  of  today  of  the  war 
and  tomorrow  of  the  peace,  as  the  news 
pages  of  this  issue  of  Motion  Picture 
Her.'VLd  indicate.  It  is  therefore  with  a  spe- 
cial fitness  that  there  should  arrive  on  the 
scene  right  now  a  work  entitled  "What  to 
Do  With  Germany,"  by  a  distinguished 
member  of  the  American  institution  of  the 
motion  picture,  Louis  Nizer.'  This  book 
is  on  its  way  to  official  publication  as  of 
January  31.  One  hardly  needs  to  say  in 
these  pages  that  Mr.  Nizer  is  an  attorney 
and  counsellor  of  special  note  in  this  in- 
dustry. 

Importantly,  and  as  denoted  in  this  work, 
Mr.  Nizer  is  a  socially  minded  and  diligent 
citizen  of  the  commonwealth.  It  has  been 
notable  through  the  years  of  his  coming  up 
into  high  estate  in  this  industry  that  he  has 
ever  been  conscious  of  the  larger  purposes 
of  the  law  of  the  land,  conscious,  too,  of  the 
living,  flowing  character  of  the  law  which 
grows  beyond  statute  and  formalization  to 
keep  in  step  with  an  evolving  civilization. 

To  put  it  bluntly,  Louis  Nizer  is  among 
those  few  men,  who  while  tending  carefully 
to  the  concerns  of  his  particular  profession 
has  also  been  able  to  ask  in  the  much  larger 
sense:  "What  the  hell  is  it  all  about?"  He 
may  not  have  quite  all  the  answers  but  he 
does  have  all  tlae  questions. 

In  this  job  about  the  inevitable  finar  ques- 
tion which  must  confront  the  Allies  one  day 
— maybe  soon — he  is  the  first  to  step  out 
forthrightly  with  a  consideration  of  the 
tenable  answers. 

One  may  not  here  even  attempt  to  review 
those  pungent  and  poignant  elements  of  a 
volume  so  packed  with  the  essences  of 
scholarly  research.  In  Mr.  Nizer's  two 
hundred-and-thirteen  pages  there  is  com- 
pressed, without  pressure,  graphically,  even 


entertainingly,  a  deal  of  the  history  of  the 
European  world  and  its  arts.  There  is 
artistry  in  it.  It  could  be  read  by  anyone, 
even  if  he  were  so  remote  that  his  heart  was 
not  in  the  issues — and  whose  is  not? 

It  is  clear  that  Louis  Nizer  has  lived  with 
the  problems  for  long  and  has  achieved 
patience  and  understanding,  and  has  the 
while,  in  the  face  of  world-despair,  never 
lost  hope  in  Man.  When  you  have  read 
his  book,  whether  you  ever  heard  of  him 
before  or  not,  you  will  put  it  down  calling 
him  "friend."  His  opportunities  and  provo- 
cations for  becoming  vitriolic  and  vindictive 
were  many,  but  he  does  not.  He  could  in 
this  book  have  become  a  very  special  sort 
of  a  special  pleader.  He  does  not.  He 
pleads  for  humanity  and  civilization. 

For  our  industry  of  the  motion  picture, 
since  Mr.  Nizer  is  so  much  a  representative, 
this  is  especially  fortunate.  This  industry 
faces  world  problems,  even  as  he  does.  The 
decisions  and  answers  must  be  equally  well 
poised. 

This  is  not  a  book  review,  in  the  formal 
sense.  One  might  have  quite  a  time  with 
some  of  Mr.  Nizer's  proposals  in  detail,  and 
doubtless  some  reviewers  will.  One  might 
question,  for  instance,  the  final  practicality 
of  arrangements  for  the  execution  of  5,000 
persons  and  the  trial  of  150,000  more,  by 
the  Allies,  desirable  as  that  might  be.  But 
one  must  agree  with  his  objective  of  making- 
arrangements  so  that  the  mad  tribesmen  of 
Germany  should  never  again  put  the  world 
into  convulsions  of  strife.  He  seems  to  sug- 
gest that  the  remedy  is  to  keep  Germany  un- 
der occupation  and  surveillance  for  ten  or 
twenty  years,  or  maybe  longer.  One  would 
think  much  longer.  They  have  been,  as  Mr. 
Nizer  records,  more  than  a  thousand  years 
getting  that  way.  One  might  think  it  would 
take  about  that  long  to  cure  them  of  it.  He 


LOUIS  NIZER 


would  remove  the  leaders  and  re-educate 
them.  We  shall  have  to  wait  and  see. 
Everything  else  has  been  tried,  in  a  fashion. 

It  is  of  importance  to  record  the  impact 
which  Mr.  Nizer's  work  has  made  upon  per- 
sons who  have  been  privileged  to  examine  it 
before  publication.  They  are  among  the 
greats  of  literature  and  other  fields :  Somer- 
set Maugham,  Louis  Bromfield,  Fannie 
Hurst,  Sigrid  Undset,  James  W.  Gerard, 
Captain  Eddie  Rickenbacker,  Dr.  William 
A.  Neilson,  and  Henry  Bernstein.  They  are 
not  those  to  give  their  word  lightly,  and 
they  speak  well  of  the  job.  Mr.  Nizer's 
royalties  go  to  peace  and  charitable  move- 
ments. 

— Terry  Ramsaye 

{What  to  Do  With  Germany,  by  Louis 
Nizer.  Ziff-Davis  Publishing  Company.  213 
pages,  with  ample  bibliography!.  Cloth. 
$2.50). 


M.  P.  Associates 
Mark  25th  Year 

The  25th  anniversary  of  the  Motion  Picture 
Associates  of  New  York,  fraternal  and  benevo- 
lent organization,  was  marked  Tuesday  noon  at 
the  Astor  Hotel,  at  a  special  luncheon  which 
brought  out  approximately  600  from  the  local 
industry,  and  combined  an  officers'  installation 
with  reminders  of  the  film  industry's  participa- 
tion in  the  Fourth  War  Loan,  the  March  of 
Dimes,  Red  Cross,  and  other  causes. 

Pointing  up  that  participation,  as  guest  speak- 
ers, were  Charles  P.  Skouras,  industry  chair- 
man for  the  Fourth  War  Loan;  Louis  Nizer, 
attorney;  Arlene  Francis,  star  of  "The  Dough- 
girls,"  and  Harry  Brandt. 

James  J.  Walker  was  toastmaster,  introduc- 
ing Jack  Ellis,  retiring  president.  Mr.  Ellis 
commended  William  F.  Rodgers,  MGM  gen- 
eral sales  manager,  for  enlisting  300  new  mem- 
bers. Morris  Sanders,  new  president,  spoke 
briefly. 

Officers  installed  were  Mr.  Sanders ;  Mr. 
Ellis,  as  first  vice-president ;  Matthew  Cahan, 
second  vice-president ;  Saul  Trauner,  treasurer  ; 
Morris  Fraum,  recording  secretary ;  Charles 
Penser,  financial  secretary ;  Harry  Furst,  ser- 
geant-at-arms ;  and  Seymour  Schussel  and  Leo 
Abrams,  trustees.     (Photo  on  page  11.) 


Predict  Many  County 
Fairs  in  Pennsylvania 

Profits  made  by  county  fairs  in  Pennsylvania 
last  year  will  encourage  a  large  number  of  ex- 
hibitions in  1944,  the  Pennsylvania  State  As- 
sociation of  County  Fairs  predicted.  Charles 
W.  Swoyer,  of  Reading,  Pa.,  association  sec- 
retary, put  aggregate  profits  of  41  events  in 
1943  at  more  than  $55,000  and  said,  "People 
still  want  county  fairs.  Of  the  41  fairs  operat- 
ed in  Pennsylvania  during  1943,  only  18  were 
conducted  at  a  loss.  It  was  a  good  year  de- 
spite wartime  restrictions."  Total  1943  attend- 
ance was  placed  at  1,006,865,  compared  with 
1,571,000  the  year  before,  when  60  shows  were 
staged  and  total  profits  reached  $29,000. 

Epstein  Heads  Philadelphia 
Club's  Legion  Post 

The  Philadelphia  Variety  Club's  American 
Legion  Post,  713,  has  elected  Isadore  Epstein, 
general  manager  of  Atlantic  Theatres,  Inc., 
commander;  J.  A.  Kraker,  district  manager  of 
Ross  Federal  Service,  vice-commander;  Joseph 
Engel,  Republic  branch  manager,  vice-com- 
mander ;  Max  Levin,  adjutatnt ;  Leo  B.  Beresin, 
finance  officer,  and  John  W.  Flynn,  Warner 
circuit  district  manager,  chaplain. 

The  Variety  Club  itself,  having  cancelled  its 
annual  banquet  for  the  duration,  will  again 


launch  a  Heart  Fund  charity  drive  with  $15,000 
set  as  the  goal  to  enable  the  club  to  carry  on  its 
many  charitable  obligations.  Jack  Beresin  again 
was  elected  chairman  of  the  fund.  So  far  this 
year,  the  club  has  contributed  $5,800  to  charity, 
and  the  ladies'  auxiliary  $3,500. 


Philadelphia  Theatre 
Transfers  Announced 

Additional  real  estate  transactions   in  the 
Philadelphia  area  have  been  announced.  Isadore 
Hirst,  operator  of  the  Forepaugh's  and  the  New 
Garden  theatres,  gained  control  of  Warners' 
Auditorium  theatre  and  now  operates  all  th 
film  theatres  on  Eighth  Street  between  Rac 
and  Vine  in  what  is  known  as  the  tenderloi 
section  of  the  city. 

The  Ambassador  theatre,  key  neighborhoo 
house  in  West  Philadelphia,  was  purchase 
by  James  F.  Hickey  for  $125,000,  the  hous 
assessed  at  $73,400.  The  theatre  was  sold  b 
the  Land  Title  &  Trust  Co.  to  Irvin  A.  Wine- 
grab,  with  Mr.  Hickey  taking  title  in  a  later 
deed. 

In  Reading,  Pa.,  Harry  J.  Schad,  operate 
of  the  Astor  and  Strand  theatres,  sold  the  San 
Toy  theatre,  long  dark,  an  ornate  neighborhood 
theatre,  to  the  Neversink  Dyeing  Company. 
The  theatre  will  be  converted  into  a  warehouse, 
and  with  the  sale  of  the  theatre,  there  remains 
now  only  10  film  houses  in  the  city. 


FAME 


HE  TENTH  ANNUAL  EDITION  OF  THE  INTER- 
NATIONAL REFERENCE  AUTHORITY  ON  TALENT 
VALUES  IS  NOW  IN  CIRCULATION. 


THE  BOX  OFFICE  CHAMPIONS  OF  1943  PRE- 
SENTED WITH  COMPLETE  ANALYSIS  AND 
PERSONNEL  CREDITS.  ...  THE  MONEY  MAKING 
STARS  OF  THE  SEASON  EVALUATED  AND  RE- 
PORTED  UPON  BY  THE  EXHIBITOR  SHOWMEN 
OF  THE  WORLD.  ...  THE  STARS  OF  TOMORROW 
AS  PICKED  BY  THEATRE  MEN. 


THE  RADIO  CHAMPIONS  OF  1943  AS  POLLED 
BY  MOTION  PiaURE  DAILY  AMONG  THE  EDI- 
TORS OF  THE  DAILY  NEWSPAPERS  OF  AMERICA. 


EDITED  BY  TERRY  RAMSAYE 


QUIGLEY  PUBLICATIONS 

ROCKEFELLER      CENTER,      NEW      YORK  (20) 


42 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    22,  1944 


U.  S.  to  Supply  Mexico 
With  Stock  in  1944 


35,000,000  Feet  of  Film 
Allotted  Through  CIAA, 
to  Permit  65  Features 

by  LUIS  BECERRA  CELIS 

in  Mexico  City 

Mexican  producers  are  jubilant  over  the 
announcement  by  the  Ministry  of  the  In- 
terior, the  chief  Government  department, 
that  it  has  arranged  with  the  Cinematogra- 
phic Section  of  the  Office  of  the  Corordina- 
tor  of  Inter-American  Affairs,  which  was 
represented  here  by  its  chief,  Francis  Al- 
stock,  to  have  35,000,000  feet  of  raw  stock 
supplied  Mexico  this  year. 

This  allotment,  the  producers  say,  will 
enable  them  to  fulfill  their  1944  program, 
which  they  expect  at  least  will  equal  the 
65  features  produced  last  year. 

Great  help  was  given  by  the  United  States 
Government  in  completing  the  65-feature  to- 
tal of  1943.  Mexico's  production  was  80  in 
1942,  but  as  most  of  the  1943  productions 
were  of  generally  higher  quality,  the  return 
from  them  promised  to  be  greater  than  that 
from  previous  years. 

Organize  Mexico's  Largest 
Circuit  of  20  Theatres 

The  largest  theatre  circuit  here  has  been 
organized  and  another  big  local  circuit  is  iii 
the  offing.  The  circuit  that  has  been  organ- 
ized will  start  about  February  1  and  will 
be  run  by  the  Operadora  de  Teatros,  S.  A., 
which  has  a  capital  of  $1,000,000  and  is 
backed  by  William  Oscar  Jenkins,  the 
American  who  made  a  fortune  in  sugar  in 
Mexico ;  Theodore  Gildred,  the  National 
Bank  of  Mexico,  this  country's  largest  pri- 
vate bank,  and  the  Banco  Capitalizadora,  a 
savings  and  capitalizing  bank  here. 

The  circuit  comprises  20  theatres,  three 
first  runs  and  the  others  subsequent  run.  Its 
first  run  theatres  are  the  Cines  Palacio  and 
the  Lindavista,  now  operating  and  first  run, 
and  the  Chapultepec,  which  is  being  built. 
The  subsequent  run  theatres  are  the  Mage- 
rit,  at  present  first  run;  Teresa,  Encanto, 
Insurgentes,  Eden,  Goya,  Monumental,  Li- 
do, Tepeyac,  Rialto,  Granat,  Odeon,  Bene- 
cia  America  Roma,  Rivoli  and  Alhambra. 

The  circuit  has  contracted  with  Clasa 
Films  and  Films  Mundiales  two  of  Mexico's 
leading  producers,  for  preferred  exhibition 
of  their  pictures. 

Azcarraga  Moving  Spirit 
Of  Planned  Circuit 

Mr.  Jenkins,  some  years  ago,  became  the 
moving  spirit  in  the  building  and  operation 
of  a  theatre  circuit  in  the  Mexican  prov- 
inces. Mr.  Gildred,  also  an  American,  be- 
came an  exhibitor  here  last  year  with  the 
taking  over  of  the  Magerit  and  the  opening 
of  the  Lindavista  and  the  Lido. 

The  circuit  in  the  offing,  of  a  large  but 
unspecified  number  of  theatres,  is  being  de- 
veloped by  Emilio  Azcarraga,  who  owns  and 
operates  the  Cine  Alameda,  first  run,  and  the 


Cine  Bucareli,  subsequent  run,  as  well  as 
Mexico's  two  largest  radio  stations,  XEW 
and  XEQ,  all  here. 

Dolores  del  Rio  did  so  well  with  her  first 
picture  in  her  native  land,  "Flor  Silvestre" 
("Wild  Flower"),  that  she  won  the  awards 
of  the  Institute  of  Cinematographic  Arts 
and  Sciences  and  the  Mexican  Cinematogra- 
phic Journalists  Association  as  the  best  ac- 
tress in  Mexican  films  in  1943. 

The  Institute  chose  Jorge  Negerete,  promi- 
nent as  a  radio  singer,  who  has  performed 
on  American  networks,  as  the  year's  best 
actor  for  his  role  in  "El  Pefion  de  las  Ani- 
mas" ("The  Hill  of  the  Ringing  Bells"). 

"Dona  Barbara"  Is  Voted 
Best  Film  of  1943 

"Dofia  Barbara,"  adapted  from  the  prize- 
winning  novel  of  the  same  name  by  Romo- 
lus  Gallegos,  Venezuelan  author,  about 
cornered  the  Institute's  1943  Oscars  and 
was  also  chosen  by  the  Journalists  as  the 
best  1943  picture.  This  picture,  produced 
by  Clasa  Films,  is  now  being  exhibited  in 
Mexico  and  is  establishing  new  box  office 
records.  "Dona  Barbara"  also  won  the 
1943  award  of  the  local  municipal  govern- 
ment as  the  best  money-making  picture  of 
last  year.  This  award  was  established  in 
1942.  Fernando  de  Fuentes,  director  of 
this  film,  was  the  Institute's  choice  among 
1943  directors.  He  is  also  an  established 
producer.  Most  of  the  Institute's  honorable 
mentions  went  to  the  "Dona  Barbara" 
players. 

The  Institute  picked  Andres  Soler  as  the 
best  character  man  for  his  work  in  "Dona 
Barbara"  and  Sara  Garcia  as  the  best  char- 
acter woman  for  her  role  in  "No  Mataras" 
("Thou  Shalt  Not  Kill").  Gabriel  Figue- 
roa,  the  veteran  who  has  won  several  like 
awards,  was  chosen  by  the  Institute  as  the 
best  1943  cameraman. 

No  Award  Made  for 
Music  in  Films 

Composers  of  picture  music  were  not 
awarded  by  the  Institute  for  their  work  last 
year.  Some  critics  deplored  the  fact  that 
film  music  in  1943  was  below  par. 

The  Journalists  chose  Emilio  Tuero,  also 
a  radio  singer,  as  the  best  1943  actor  for 
his  performance  in  "Resurrection."  They 
voted  Emilio  Fernandez  the  best  director, 
Domingo  Soler  the  leading  character  man 
and  Sara  Garcia  the  best  character  woman. 
The  newsmen  chose  Gabriel  Figueroa  as 
the  year's  best  cameraman,  Rodolfo  Halfter 
the  best  films  musical  composer,  Joaquin 
Pardava  the  best  picture  comedian,  and 
Norman  Foster  the  best  adapter  for  handling 
the  third  film  version  of  "Santa"  ("Saint- 
ess"),  the  celebrated  Mexican  novel,  which 
he  directed. 

V 

Film  Row  reports  are  that  Francisco  Hor- 
maechea,  producer  of  "Cristobal  Colon" 
("Christopher  Columbus"),  biography  of 
America's  discoverer,  rejected  offers  by  sev- 
eral American  distributors  for  his  picture 


because  he  refused  to  agree  to  their  demands 
that  he  cut  out  several  parts  of  the  film 
which  they  considered  to  be  too  Spanish 
for  American  audiences. 

Mr.  Hormaechea  is  exhibiting  his  picture 
in  Mexico  to  fair  business.  It  is  said  that 
he  spent  five  years  on  research  work  on  the 
production. 

Five  leading  Mexican  producers,  Jesus  A.  and 
Adolfo  Grovas,  Fernando  de  Fuentes,  Juan  Bus- 
tillo  Ore  and  Miguel  Zacarias,  plan  to  become 
exhibitors  with  the  laying  of  the  fotmdations  for 
a  de  luxe  first  run  theatre,  the  Cosmos,  in  the 
select  Chapultepec  Park  neighborhood  here.  The 
theatre  will  seat  3,500  and  its  reported  cost  is 
$400,000. 

Jesus  A.  Grovas  is  president  of  the  National 
Cinemotographic  Industry  Charnber.  The  Cos- 
mos is  scheduled  to  open  next  November  20, 
Mexican  Revolution  Day. 

Work  is  proceeding  on  another  important  the- 
atre, as  yet  unnamed,  in  the  same  district  with 
the  winning  by  its  builder.  La  Latino  Americana 
Life  Insurance  Company,  of  a  court  order  set- 
ting aside  the  injunction  which  halted  the  work. 
The  injunction  was  granted  Silvano  Barba 
Gonzales,  ex-Governor  of  Jalisco  State,  who 
claimed  the  building  was  damaging  his  resi- 
dence. 

Screen  Potent  Force  for 
Morale,  Says  Coe 

"Motion  pictures  are  the  greatest  force  in 
the  world  for  building  morale,  both  among  our 
fighting  men  and  on  the  home  front,"  declared 
Charles  Francis  Coe,  executive  vice-president 
of  the  Motion  Picture  Producers  and  Distribu- 
tors of  America,  addressing  the  weekly  lunch- 
eon meeting  of  the  Advertisers  Club  of  Cincin- 
nati, at  the  Hotel  Gibson  Roof  Garden,  January 
12,  following  a  detailed  history  of  the  industry 
since  its  inception.  "Producers  and  exhibitors 
are  keenly  aware  of  their  responsibility  in  this 
regard,  and  are  displaying  an  unusual  patriotic 
devotion  by  giving  unflinchingly  of  their  time 
and  converting  their  facilities  to  the  further- 
ance of  the  war  effort  without  profit  to  them- 
selves. 

"Motion  pictures,  which  our  Government  has 
recognized  as  a  highly  potent  force  in  this 
emergency,  will  play  a  most  essential  part  in 
the  post-war  era.  Moreover,  they  will  present 
an  authentic  celluloid  record  of  the  dictator's 
atrocities,  as  well  as  a  record  of  the  peace  con- 
ferences which  will  shape  our  future  destiny, 
for  the  visual  enlightment  of  generations  yet 
unborn." 

Mr.  Coe,  who  was  introduced  by  Mayor 
James  Garfield  Stewart,  addressed  a  meeting  of 
exhibitors  and  others  in  the  industry  later  in 
the  day  on  the  Fourth  War  Loan  Drive.  Ap- 
proximately 400  club  members,  guests,  circuit 
heads,  exchange  men  and  exhibitors  from  the 
Cincinnati  area  attended  the  meeting,  arranged 
by  M.  F.  Allisob,  club  president,  while  industry 
participation  in  the  meeting  was  in  charge  of 
E.  V.  Dinerman  and  Noah  Schecter,  of  the 
RKO  division  advertising  and  exploitation  de- 
partments, respectively,  and  Florence  Kipp, 
RKO  division  short  subject  booker. 


Shift  Magazine  Editors 

The  Guide  Magazines  have  appointed  Doro- 
thea Lee  McEvoy,  former  editor  of  Screen 
Guide  Magazine,  executive  editor  of  Screen 
Guide  and  Stardom  Magazines.  Janet  Graves, 
former  editor  of  Stardom,  has  been  appointed 
editor  of  Screen  Guide,  and  Virginia  Williams, 
formerly  of  the  Chicago-American,  is  now  edi- 
tor of  Stardom. 


Dallas  Inducted  Into  Army 

David  Dallas,  for  15  years  manager  for  the 
Griffith  circuit,  Manhattan,  Kan.,  was  inducted 
into  the  Army  last  week.  Mr.  Dallas  has 
won  several  Quigley  citations  for  outstanding 
exploitation  and  publicity,  while  managing 
theatres  in  Texas,  Oklahoma,  Missouri  and 
Kansas. 


January    22,  1944 

Griff  is  Sets  Plan 
For  Better  Use 
Of  OWI  Films 

Washington  Bureau 

Plans  for  a  more  intensified  use  of  the  Gov- 
ernment's non-theatrical  16mm  war  information 
films  were  laid  in  Washington  Wednesday  and 
Thursday  at  a  conference  called  by  Stanton 
Griffis,  chief  of  the  bureau  of  motion  pictures 
of  the  Office  of  War  Information.  Represen- 
tatives of  24  national  civic  organizations  were 
present  and  met  with  the  National  16mm  Mo- 
tion Picture  Advisory  and  Policy  Committee  of 
the  OWI,  with  state  and  local  war  film  coordi- 
nators, war  film  distributors  and  Government 
officials. 

Earlier  in  the  week,  Mr.  Griffis  had  returned 
from  a  visit  to  Hollywood  during  which  he  was 
reported  to  have  discussed  with  industry  execu- 
tives a  proposed  recommendation  that  produc- 
tion of  all  Government-made  war  propaganda 
films  be  discontinued. 

The  Washington  meeting  was  called  by  Mr. 
Griffis,  who  presided,  and  included  screenings 
of  a  number  of  new  war  film  which  are  to  be 
made  available  for  non-theatrical  distribution. 
The  conference  also  received  reports  on  the 
film  services  and  facilities  of  the  American 
Red  Cross,  British  Information  Services,  Co- 
ordinator of  Inter-American  Afifairs,  National 
Film  Board  of  Canada,  Public  Health  Service, 
United  Nations  Information  Office  and  the 
Navy,  War,  Treasury  and  Agriculture  Depart- 
ments. 

During  the  course  of  the  general  sessions, 
brief  addresses  were  delivered  by  George  W. 
Healy,  Jr.,  director  of  the  OWI  domestic 
branch;  Colonel  K.  B.  Lawton,  chief  of  the 
Army  Pictorial  Service;  Colonel  Frank  Capra 
of  the  Army  Pictorial  Service,  and  Mr.  Griffis. 

Major  subjects  of  discussion  were  the  oppor- 
tunities and  responsibilities  of  the  national  civic 
organizations  in  the  use  of  war  films ;  how 
states  and  local  communities  can  organize  for 
most  effective  results,  and  war  films  for  war 
plants. 

In  September,  C.  R.  Reagan,  head  of  the 
OWI  non-theatrical  film  division,  and  other 
OWI  officials  met  with  16mm  distributors  to 
work  out  effective  methods  for  the  handling  of 
25,000  16mm  prints  of  some  130  films.  At  that 
time,  as  reported  in  Motion  Picture  Herald 
September  25,  1943,  the  advisory  committee 
proposed  to  the  OWI  that  all  Government  film 
subjects,  in  16mm  be  reexamined,  with  the  pro- 
vision that  dealers  could  recall  any  found  to  be 
obsolete  or  controversial.  Another  recommen- 
dation was  that  the  OWI  continue  to  provide 
supervision  and  control  for  the  prints  already 
released  but  leave  the  entire  responsibility  for 
film  selection  and  use  with  the  individual  com- 
mercial and  educational  distributors. 

Since  that  meeting  in  Washington,  Mr.  Grif- 
fis has  had  several  conferences  with  members  of 
the  advisory  committee  in  an  effort  to  work  out 
the  most  effective  distribution  methods  for  Gov- 
ernment war  shorts  in  16mm.  This  week's  meet- 
ing was  expected  to  resolve  once  and  for  all  the 
difficulties  inherent  in  the  OWI  non-theatrical 
program. 


Club  Honors  Knoepfle 

Rudolph  Knoepfle,  who  has  been  president 
of  the  Cinema  Club  of  Cincinnati  from  its 
organization  three  years  ago  until  recently  suc- 
ceeded by  Ross  Williams,  has  been  named 
president  emeritus.  Arrangements  have  been 
completed  for  the  installation  dinner  on  Feb- 
ruary 14,  with  appointment  of  the  following 
committees:  tickets,  Milton  Guarian;  door, 
Mr.  Knoepfle,  Joseph  Eifert  and  Marc  Cum- 
mings ;  entertainment,  Irving  Sochin,  Robert 
Clark  and  J.  E.  Watson. 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 

LATE  REVIEW 


Lady,  Let's  Dance 

(Monogram) 
Dancing-Skating  Spectacle 

Producer  Scott  R.  Dunlap  scaled  new  heights, 
personally  and  for  Monogram,  in  putting  to- 
gether this  second  presentation  of  the  astound- 
ing Belita's  skill  on  skates  and,  it  is  revealed 
for  the  first  time,  on  the  dance  floor.  Her  suc- 
cessful "Silver  Skates"  gave  showmen  profits 
and  promise.  This  bigger  and  better  picture 
confirms  in  triplicate  the  convictions  of  great- 
ness held  by  admirers  of  the  star's  first  work. 

Belita  is  seen  in  five  spectacular  production 
numbers,  dancing  in  earlier  ones,  skating  later 
on,  which  drew  enthusiastic  applause  from  a 
preview  audience  unapprised  what  it  was  going 
to  see.  Four  were  written  by  David  Oppenheim 
and  Ted  Grouya,  one  by  Lew  Pollack  and 
Charles  Newman,  and  all  directed  by  Dave 
Gould  in  tiptop  manner.  These  sequences  give 
the  picture  its  class  and  quality.  Between  them 
an  attenuated  tale  written  by  Peter  Milne  and 
Paul  Gerard  Smith,  from  a  story  by  Bradbury 
Scott  and  Dunlap,  is  told  with  inconsequential 
effect  save  as  contrast  to  the  essential  enter- 
tainment. 

The  chief  support  is  provided  by  James  Elli- 
son, Walter  Catlett  and  the  ice  comedians,  Frick 
and  Frack.  The  music  is  dispensed  by  the 
Henry  Busse,  Eddie  LeBaron,  Mitch  Ayres  and 
Lou  Bring  orchestras,  all  ably.  Frank  Wood- 
ruff's direction  is  smoothly  effective. 

Previewed  at  the  Paramount  Theatre,  Holly- 
wood, where  it  received  rounded  applause.  Re- 
viewer's Rating:  Good. — William  R.  Weaver. 

Release  date,  March  7,  1944.  Running  time,  88 
minutes.  PCA  No.  9769.  General  audience  classifica- 
tion. 

Belita   Belita 

Jerrv   James  Ellison 

Timber   Walter  Catlett 

Frick  and  Frack,  Lucien  Littlefield,  Maurice  St. 
Qair,  Emraett  Vogan,  Harry  Harvey,  Jack  Rice, 
Barbara  Wooddell,  Eugene  Mikeler  and  the  orchestras 
of  Henry  Busse,  Eddie  LeBaron,  Mitchell  Ayres  and 
Lou  Bring. 

Complete  Documentary  Film 
On  Sikorsky  Helicopter 

A  documentary  film  based  on  the  Sikorsky 
helicopter  has  been  completed  by  Edward  Rob- 
ert, director  of  the  film,  and  its  producer,  the 
Mary  Leonard  Pritchett  Theatrical  and  Liter- 
ary Agency,  New  York.  The  film,  titled  "The 
Sikorsky  Helicopter,"  introduces  Igor  Sikor- 
sky, who  tells  of  the  past  attempts  to  produce 
a  helicopter,  going  back  to  Leonardo  da  Vinci, 
and  Mr.  Sikorsky's  first  successful  attempts  at 
flight  are  shown.  Karl  Swenson,  radio  actor, 
is  commentator.  John  Visconti  and  George 
Weber  were  the  cameramen. 

FitzPatrick  Signs  Metro 
Contract  for  12  Films 

James  A.  FitzPatrick,  producer  of  Travel- 
talks  for  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer,  has  signed  a 
new  contract  with  the  company  for  12  Tech- 
nicolor subjects,  the  first  to  be  filmed  in  Central 
America.  Mr.  FitzPatrick  has  been  making 
Traveltalks  for  MGM  since  1931,  and  recently 
received  the  Aztec  Eagle  award  from  the  Mex- 
ican Government  for  a  series  of  eight  travel 
films  he  produced  there.  The  latest  Fitz- 
Patrick Traveltalk,  "Visiting  St.  Louis,"  will 
have  its  premiere  in  St.  Louis  February  3. 


Exceed  Drive  Quota 

First  to  exceed  its  quota  in  the  Philadelphia 
War  Chest  campaign  was  the  Film  Distributors 
and  Accessories  Group,  and  award  of  an  "E" 
pennant  was  made  to  Mrs.  Edna  R.  Carroll, 
censor  board  chairman,  who  is  in  charge  of  ^he 
division.  Quota  for  the  distributors'  group  was 
$10,000,  which  was  reached  the  first  week  of 
the  campaign. 


43 

Warner  Balance 
Sheet  Reflects 
Refinance  Plan 

The  consolidated  balance  sheet  of  Warner 
Bros.  Pictures,  Inc.,  as  of  August  31,  1943, 
released  last  weekend  following  the  recent  an- 
nouncement of  earnings  for  last  year,  reflects 
a  substantial  strengthening  of  the  company's 
financial  structure  in  the  past  year. 

The  improvements  were  brought  about  chief- 
ly by  the  refinancing  program  completed  last 
summer,  although  the  highly  successful  opera- 
tions for  the  year  also  were  a  material  aid  in 
effecting  the  stronger  company  position,  the 
balance  sheet  shows.  Outstanding  in  this  re- 
spect is  an  inventory  jump  of  more  than  $7,- 
000,000  to  an  all-time  high  of  $31,475,338,  com- 
pared with  $24,438,286  the  year  before.  Tfli 
increase  reflects  not  only  the  greater  number 
of  completed  productions  held  in  the  vaults 
awaiting  release,  but  also  higher  negative  costs. 

Amortization  of  film  costs  during  the  year, 
totaling  $25,008,728,  also  shows  an  increase  per 
film  on  the  basis  of  the  24  features  released  in 
1942-43  as  against  36  releases  the  previous  year, 
when  amortization  amounted  to  $26,221,219. 

Cash  and  U.  S.  Government  Bonds  in  the 
current  assets  column  total  $10,616,490  against 
cash  of  $9,550,223  a  year  ago.  Some  cash  was 
utilized  last  year  in  connection  with  the  re- 
financing program. 

Earned  surplus  as  of  August  31,  1943,  stood 
at  $21,918,339,  an  increase  of  $4,507,336  over 
the  previous  year. 

Of  the  company's  $181,654,773  in  combined 
assets,  $171,989,155  are  in  the  U.  S.,  $8,437,575 
in  Great  Britain  (including  an  investment  of 
$3,636,700  in  Associated  British  Pictures  Corp., 
Ltd.),  and  $1,226,043  in  other  foreign  countries, 
including  Canada.  No  provision  for  contingen- 
cies in  respect  of  foreign  assets  was  required  in 
the  past  year  because  the  company  previously 
wrote  off  its  investment  in  enemy  controlled 
countries. 

In  addition  to  redemption  of  all  preferred 
stock  at  a  cost  of  $8,910,941, .also  the  calling  of 
the  $10,139,500  in  6  per  cent  debentures  of  1948 
that  remained  outstanding,  and  retirement  of 
domestic  bank  loans  aggregating  $3,500,000,  the 
company  reduced  its  net  funded  debt  and  other 
long-term  obligations  to  $45,544,195,  compared 
with  $49,100,027  a  year  earlier.  Of  the  current 
funded  debt  $15,000,000  was  refinanced  at  con- 
siderably lower  interest  rates. 

Among  footnotes  in  the  balance  sheet  is  one 
stating  that  the  company  will  not  pay  any  cash 
dividend  nor  use  any  cash  to  purchase  any  of  its 
outstanding  stock  except  from  consolidated  net 
earnings  subsequent  to  August  31,  1943,  nor  to 
an  extent  exceeding  50  per  cent  of  such  earn- 
ings unless  they  exceed  $8,000,000  for  the  year. 
After  outstanding  bank  loans  have  been  reduced 
to  $10,000,000,  it  will  be  permissible  to  pay  75 
per  cent  of  earnings  in  dividends.  Consolidat- 
ed net  current  assets,  however,  must  be  main- 
tained above  $15,000,000  and  must  equal  at  least 
1.75  times  current  liabilities,  under  the  agr^- 
ment  relating  to  the  bank  loans  and  the  new 
debentures,  or  no  cash  dividends  are  to  be  paid. 

Terms  of  the  new  financing  also  prohibit  any 
lien  to  be  given  on  any  of  the  company's  films, 
accounts  and  notes  receivable  and  other  assets 
of  the  company  and  its  subsidiaries. 


Comerford  Shifts  Managers 

The  Comerford  Theatres,  Inc.,  Scranton,  Pa., 
has  announced  the  following  changes  in  person- 
nel :  James  Tuffy,  former  manager  of  the  Capi- 
tol, Danville,  to  manager  of  the  American, 
Pittston,  replacing  Matt  O'Keefe.  Frank  Fritz, 
Columbia,  Bloomsburg,  succeeds  Mr.  Tuffy  in 
Danville,  while  Charles  Wiergle,  former  as- 
sistant manager  of  the  Capitol  in  Milton,  has 
been  named  manager  of  the  Columbia  in  Bloom- 
burg. 


44 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


J  a 


n  u  a  r 


y    22.  1944 


OCR  Warns  on 
Violations  of 
WPB  Orders 

Washington  Bureau 

Exhibitors  who  deliberately  violate  or  evade 
War  Production  Board  orders  may  find  them- 
selves with  a  half-completed  theatre  on  their 
hands  or  facing  fines  running  into  thousands 
of  dollars,  as  a  result  of  a  campaign  about 
to  be  initiated  to  stamp  out  such  practices. 

A  warning  to  the  industry  was  sounded  this 
week  by  George  W.  McMurphy,  chief  of  the 
amusements  and  recreation  section  of  the  Office 
of  Civilian  Requirements. 

Mr.  McMurphy  has  compiled  and  analyzed 
a  substantial  number  of  violations  which  have 
been  detected  over  the  past  several  months. 
This  work  has  shown  that  while  most  of  the 
violations  have  been  due  to  ignorance  or  mis- 
interpretation of  WPB  orders,  several  have 
been  deliberate. 

Attempting  to  assist  the  industry  to  place 
new  houses  in  war  centers  where  they  are 
badly  needed,  he  said,  John  Eberson,  special 
consultant,  has  been  seriously  handicapped  by 
efforts  of  some  applicants  to  hoodwink  men  in 
the  field  offices  and  in  Washington  by  repre- 
senting that  they  propose  to  build  a  theatre 
for  a  certain  sum,  later  coming  in  with  a 
supplemental  application  for  an  additional 
amount  on  the  ground  that  the  house  cannot 
be  completed  otherwise.  Rather  than  let  the 
projects  fail,  the  OCR  has  approved  these 
additional  expenditures  in  the  past,  even  though 
inspection  of  the  construction  shows  that  the 
exhibitor  never  could  have  planned  to  limit  his 
costs  to  the  amount  originally  proposed. 

Cases  of  Violation  Face 
Suspension  Orders 

Cases  of  this  nature  hereafter  will  be  fully 
investigated,  Mr.  McMurphy  said,  and  if  a 
case  of  flagrant  violation  is  discovered  a  sus- 
pension order  may  be  issued. 

A  second  class  of  violations,  it  was  explained, 
centers  around  that  provision  of  the  Controlled 
Materials  Plan  regulations  limiting  expendi- 
tures for  maintenance,  repair  and  operation 
(MRO)  to  the  amount  expended  in  1942.  Most 
of  these  cases  are  due  to  ignorance  of  the  fact 
that,  if  an  exhibitor  cannot  maintain  his  house 
on  his  1942  expenditures  for  any  legitimate  rea- 
son— such  as  the  fact  that  no  great  amount  was 
spent  on  repair  or  maintenance  in  that  year  but 
now  is  necessary — nothing  more  formal  than  a 
letter  to  the  OCR  is  necessary  to  obtain  ap- 
proval for  additional  essential  expenditures. 

However,  Mr.  McMurphy  said,  there  have 
been  cases  where  exhibitors  have  deliberately 
violated  the  restrictions  and  other  cases  where 
authority  has  been  asked  for  unnecessary  addi- 
tional expenditures,  sometimes  for  the  purpose 
of  reducing  income  taxes,  and  a  closer  check 
hereafter  will  be  maintained  with  a  view  to  sup- 
pressing evasive  practices. 

"As  the  point  of  contact  between  the  industry 
and  WPB,"  Mr.  McMurphy  explained,  "we 
have  been  plagued  by  violations  which  make 
more  difficult  our  efforts  to  help  the  exhibitors. 
We  have  made  a  survey  and  found  that  in  many 
instances  the  violations  are  deliberate.  We  are 
determined  to  stamp  out  these  practices  and,  if 
necessary,  will  proceed  against  violators." 


Release  New  "World  in  Action" 

The  latest  World  in  Action  film,  "The  Labor 
Front,"  will  open  in  New  York  January  28, 
at  the  Trans-Lux  and  Embassy  theatres.  The 
two-reel  film,  dealing  with  the  manpower  sit- 
uation, has  been  released  by  United  Artists 
in_  Los  Angeles,  Philadelphia,  Washington, 
Minneapolis  and  other  cities.  The  issue  is  pro- 
duced by  the  National  Film  Board  of  Canada. 


ROBERT  WOLFF 

Wolff  Will  Go  to 
London  for  RKO 

Robert  Wolff,  who  has  been  branch  manager 
in  New  York  for  RKO  Radio  Pictures,  will  go 
to  London  as  managing  director  in  Great  Brit- 
ain for  that  company.  The  appointment  was 
announced  in  London  Tuesday  by  Phil  Reisman, 
foreign  sales  manager. 

Mr.  Wolff  in  addition  will  be  "personal  as- 
sistant" to  Mr.  Reisman  in  the  handling  of 
European  sales,  the  announcement  said. 

Ernest  Simon,  who  has  been  acting  managing 
director  in  Great  Britain  for  the  company,  is 
expected  to  remain  there  as  sales  manager. 

Mr.  Wolff  entered  the  industry  in  1914  as 
manager  of  the  Orient  Theatre,  New  York.  He 
then  became  a  salesman,  serving  with  K.  E.  S., 
General  Film  Company,  World  Film  Company, 
National  Screen  Service,  W.  W.  Hodkinson, 
and  Pathe.  Since  1930,  he  has  been  RKO's 
New  York  branch  manager. 


De  Stefano  Rejoins  National 
Theatre  Supply  Company 

A.  de  Stefano  has  rejoined  National  Theatre 
Supply  Company  as  manager  of  the  Kansas 
City  office,  W.  E.  Green,  president  of  National, 
has  announced.  Mr.  de  Stefano  was  formerly 
manager  of  National  Theatre's  Memphis,  Los 
Angeles  and  Dallas  branches.  J.  W.  Shreve 
will  continue  his  sales  work  in  the  Kansas 
City  territory. 


Reopen  San  Francisco  House 

After  reconditioning,  the  old  Egvptian  the- 
atre in  downtown  San  Francisco,  recently  pur- 
chased for  $250,000  from  the  Aaron  Goldberg 
estate  by  Robert  L.  Lippert,  operator  of  21 
northern  California  theatres,  has  been  reopened 
as  the  New  Studio.  Policy  will  feature  a 
9  A.M.  opening  and  a  midnight  show  daily. 


Major  Sears  Honored 

More  than  200  members  of  the  film  industry 
paid  tribute  to  Major  Dick  Sears,  newsreel 
cameraman,  in  Boston  last  week,  upon  his  re- 
ceiving an  honorable  discharge  from  the  armed 
forces.  Major  Sears  has  resumed  his  work 
with  Universal. 


Manager  Shows 
Help  Shortage 
Small  Problem 


"The  over-used  alibi  of  lack  of  service  due 
to  war  conditions  and  the  manpower  shortage 
is  now  taboo  at  the  Ken  theatre  and  every 
patriotic  manager  can  do  the  same,"  attests 
William  A.  Weinberg,  who  is  in  charge  of 
this  model  neighborhood  house  in  the  Kenwood 
and  Hyde  Park  districts  of  Chicago. 

"I  have  a  full  staff,  and  in  fact  it  is  more 
efficient  and  courteous  than  ever  before,"  em- 
phasized Mr.  Weinberg. 

"Like  every  other  theatre,  the  draft  has 
made  heavy  inroads  on  the  personnel.  But 
I  have  anticipated  the  compulsory  resignations 
and  I  inaugurated  a  school  system,  so  to  speak, 
to  train  applicants,  or  to  have  the  old  em- 
ployees taught  the  duties  of  the  next  position 
in  line,  in  ample  time  in  advance. 

"By  merely  treating  the  employees  as  friends, 
and  in  taking  a  hearty  interest  in  their  personal 
problems  and  ambitions,  I  find  them  eager  to 
give  above  average  service.  To  me,  the  ushers 
are  not  just  animated  uniforms  and  meaning- 
less names  on  the  payroll.  They  are  ambitious 
and  the  theatre  in  general  needs  the  youngsters 
today  for  the  veterans  of  tomorrow. 

"This  Victory  humanitarian  policy  has  won 
the  approval  of  neighboring  business  men  and 
patrons  in  general.  The  public  checks  a  house 
closer  than  we  realize  on  fairness  and  full 
consideration  of  employees.  I  am  glad  to  say 
that  there  has  been  an  increase  in  business  due 
directly  to  the  favorable  comment  on  how  con- 
siderate we  are  of  our  help." 

Mr.  Weinberg  and  his  wife  have  received 
medals  posthumously  for  their  son,  Lt.  Albert 
Weinberg,  who  was  killed  in  an  aerial  battle 
near  New  Guinea.  He  was  cited  twice  for 
bravery  in  action. 

In  addition  to  putting  long  hours  in  the 
management  of  the  Ken,  Mr.  Weinberg  is 
composing  a  scenario  for  a  series  of  comedies, 
and  is  writing  the  life  of  his  war  hero  son, 
for  book  publication. 


OWI  Filnr^  on  Swedes  Seen 
By  Millions  In  Sweden 

Approximately  3,000,000  Swedish  people  are 
expected  to  see  "Swedes  in  America,"'  the  short 
produced  by  the  overseas  film  division  of  the 
Office  of  War  Information,  which  opened  in 
Stockholm  in  November,  according  to  a  report 
received  this  week  from  OWI  representatives 
in  Sweden.  Through  the  cooperation  of  all 
film  distributors  in  Sweden,  it  was  expected 
that  the  documentary  would  reach  every  thea- 
tre in  the  country  by  the  end  of  January.  The 
film  is  being  distributed  in  other  countries 
throughout  the  world.  Ingrid  Bergman  ap- 
pears in  the  picture  and  also  is  the  narrator. 
Carl  Sandburg,  poet  -and  biographer,  is  shown 
briefly.  The  film  is  said  to  have  stirred  great 
enthusiasm  among  theatre  audiences  in  Sweden 
since  its  opening. 


Keller  Joins  Universal 

Harry  Keller,  former  public  relations  di- 
rector of  the  Colgate-Palmolive-Peet  Company, 
joined  the  publicity  department  of  Universal 
Pictures  last  week.  Mr.  Keller's  first  assign- 
ment will  be  on  the  Walter  Wanger  produc- 
tion, "Gung  Ho!"  He  also  will  handle  special 
radio  assignments. 


Heads  Philadelphia  Union 

Philadelphia  Film  Exchange  Employes'  Union, 
Local  B-7,  has  elected  John  Wagman,  of  War- 
ners, as  president. 


Reelect  Frawley  NYAC  Head 

Gilbert  B.  J.  Frawley,  of  Paramount  Pic- 
tures, Inc.,  was  reelected  president  of  the  New 
York  Athletic  Club  at  the  annual  meeting  of 
members  this  week.  Mr.  Frawley  has  been  a 
member  of  the  board  of  governors  of  the  club 
since  1938. 


January22.l944  MOTIONPICTUREHERALD  45 

THE  HOLLYWOOD  SCENE 


from  HOLLYWOOD  BUREAU 


Coast  Exhibitor  Accommodates  Critic 


Showmanly  courtesy  attained  a  new  zen- 
ith last  week  on  Hollywood  Boulevard  when 
a  certain  cinema  critic,  seeking  to  combine 
a  reviewing  assignment  and  a  luncheon  date 
with  minimum  waste  of  working  time,  ar- 
rived slightly  before  the  noon  opening  hour 
at  a  double  bill  theatre  and  inquired  when 
the  picture  to  be  reviewed  would  be  starting 
its  first  whirl  through  the  sprockets. 

"What  difference  does  it  make?"  the  ex- 
hibitor asked. 

"I  want  to  know  when  I've  got  to  get  back 
from  lunch  to  catch  that  one  without  sitting 
through  the  other  cluck,"  the  critic  said. 

"What  would  be  a  good  time  for  you?" 
the  showman  inquired,  and  the  critic  said 
1 :30  looked  about  right. 

"Okay,"  said  the  exhibitor,  consulting  his 
watch,  "I'll  start  the  other  cluck  in  the  mid- 
dle and  we'll  just  make  it." 

So  he  did,  and  they  did,  and  when  the 
assignment  had  been  executed  the  critic 
sought  out  the  showman  to  say,  "Thanks  a 
lot  for  the  accommodation." 

"Think  nothing  of  it,"  he  said,  "It'll  get 
me  out  of  this  booby  trap  half  an  hour  earli- 
er tonight,  and  I  can  stand  it." 

Extra  Statistics  Reflect 
December  Recession 

Statistics  pertaining  to  employment  of 
extra  players,  released  by  the  Central  Cast- 
ing Bureau,  reflect  that  year-end  production 
recession  chronicled  in  this  space  and  ended 
this  week,  it  appears,  with  an  upturn  in  the 
number  of  films  on  the  shooting  stages  of 
the  studios. 

The  Bureau's  report  shows  that  913  ex- 
tras were  employed  during  December  at 
$5.50  the  day,  20,134  at  $10.50  and  2,872  at 
$16.50,  by  the  studios,  this  employment 
representing,  with  the  figuring-in  of  over- 
time and  adjustment,  a  gross  wage  total  of 
$352,000,  which  is  some  $45,U00  less  than 
the  amount  spent  for  the  same  purposes  in 
November.  Even  this  reduced,  though  the 
December  total  is  the  greatest  recorded  in 
any  December  since  recognition  of  the 
Screen  Actors  Guild  and  establishment  of 
the  Central  Casting  Bureau  seven  years  ago. 

Employment  of  extra  players  is  not,  of 
course,  an  inflexible  or  necessarily  reliable 
yardstick  by  which  to  calculate  the  extent  or 
even  the  monetary  measure  of  activity  on 
the  production  line.  Some  very  expensive 
pictures  employ  few  extras.  The  reverse  is 
likewise  true.  In  this  instance,  however, 
the  decline  in  employment  did  parallel  a 
decline  in  the  number  of  pictures 
in  progress. 

Announce  Production 
Spurts  to  Come 

Some  of  the  reasons  for  a  tapering-off  of 
activity  at  the  year's  end  have  been  explored 
here.  Another,  not  mentioned  heretofore, 
but  possibly  considered  important  in  some 
studios,  is  the  plain  calendar  fact  that  the 
tax  assessors  make  their  rounds  of  the  plants 
about  now  and  there's  no  point  in  having 


Production  in  Rebound 


The  cross-studio  production  index  figure 
rose  from  36  to  51  at  the  start  of  a  gen- 
erally predicted  rebound  from  a  year-end 
low  accounted  for  by  the  double  holiday 
shutdowns.  Eight  pictures  went  into  the 
shooting  stage.  Three,  on  which  shooting 
was  completed,  went  to  the  cutting  rooms. 

Jules  Levey's  production  of  Eugene 
O'NelH's  "The  Hairy  Ape"  Is  the  standout 
in  the  new  crop  of  enterprises.  Al  Santell 
is  directing  William  Bendix,  Susan  Hayward, 
John  Loder  and  Dorothy  Comlngore  In  the 
picture,  which  Is  budgeted  at  a  million  and 
which  is  destined  for  United  Artists  distri- 
bution. 

Universal  launched  two  pictures.  "The 
Invisible  Man's  Revenge"  presents  Jon  hHall, 
Evelyn  Ankers,  Alan  Curtis,  John  Carradlne 
and  Sale  Sondergaard  under  Ford  Beebe's 
production  and  direction.  "The  Scarlet 
Claw,"  produced  and  directed  by  Roy 
William  Nelll,  Is  another  in  the  Basil 
Rathbone-NIgel  Bruce  folio  of  Sherlock 
Holmes  films. 

Monogram  also  started  two.  "Law  Men" 


COMPLETED 

RKO  Radio 

Show  Business 
Republic 
Outlaws  of 
Santa  Fe 

20fh-Fox 

Greenwich  Village 
STARTED 

Monogram 

Murder  in  the 
Fun  House 
Law  Men 

Paramount 

Bring  on  the  Girls 
One  Body  Too  Many 

Republic 

Jamboree 


UA 

Hairy  Ape  (Levey) 
Universal 

Invisible  Man's 

Revenge 
Scarlet  Claw 

SHOOTING 

Columbia 

At  Night  We  Dream 
Address  Unknown 

MGM 

Meet  Me  in  St.  Louis 
Seventh  Cross 
Dragon  Seed 

Paramount 

And  Now  Tomorrow 
Road  to  Utopia 
Incendiary  Blonde 
Till  We  Meet  Again 


Is  a  Johnny  Mack  Brown-Raymond  Hatton 
Western  produced  by  Scott  R.  Dunlap,  with 
Lambert  Hlllyer  directing.  "Murder  In  the 
Fun  House"  Is  the  second  of  the  studio's 
Charlie  Chan  pictures,  starring  Sidney 
Toler,  Philip  Krasne  producing,  and  Sam 
Burkett  directing. 

Paramount  put  "Bring  on  the  Girls"  into 
work.  Fred  Kolmar  is  producing  It,  with 
Sidney  Lanfleld  directing  Eddie  Bracken, 
Veronica  Lake,  Sonny  Tufts  and  Marjorie 
Reynolds  In  the  principal  roles. 

The  William  PIne-WlllIam  Thomas  or- 
ganization, releasing  its  product  through 
Paramount,  started  "One  Boy  Too  Many," 
presenting  Jack  Haley,  Jean  Parker  and 
Bela  LugosI  under  the  direction  of  Frank 
McDonald. 

Republic  started  "Jamboree,"  Armand 
Schaefer  production  directed  by  Joseph 
Santley,  presenting  Ruth  Terry,  Isabel 
Randolph,  and  including  Freddie  Fisher  and 
his  band. 

The  state  of  affairs  production-wise  at 
the  weekend: 


Hitler  Gang 
PRC 

Lady  in  the  Death 

House 
Buster  Crabbe  No.  4 

RKO  Radio 

Marine  Raiders 
Republic 

Man  from  Frisco 
Cowboy  and  the 
Senorita 

20th-Fox 

Ladies  of  Washingfon 
Wilson 

Home  in  Indiana 
I  Married  a  Soldier 
Bermuda  Mystery 

UA 

Strange  Confession 
(Angelus) 


Song  of  the  Open 
Road  (Rogers) 
Sensations  of  1944 

(Stone) 
Since  You  Went 
Away  (Vanguard) 

Universal 

Merry  Monahans 
Christmas  Holiday 

Warners 

Cinderella  Jones 
Make  Your  Own  Bed 
Mask  for  Dimitrios 

(formerly  "The 

Coffin  of 

Dimitrios") 
Mr.  Skeffington 
My  Reputation 
Horn  Blows  at 

Midnight 
Janie 


too  much  property  standing  there  in  plain 
view  of  the  gentlemen  who  do  the  can- 
vassing. 

Meanwhile,  the  studios  in  general  persist 
in  announcements  of  production  spurts  to 
come,  later  this  month  and  next.  They  per- 
sist, likewise,  in  foregoing  announcements 
about  backlogs  clogged  with  merchandise 
representing  vast  and  circumstantially  froz- 
en investments. 

A  glimpse  of  the  state  of  affairs  prevail- 
ing in  several  quarters  may  be  had  from  the 
off-record  remarks  of  a  representative  of 
one  studio  beginning  now,  by  the  evidence. 


to  take  its  time  about  executing  some  of  its 
production  commitments. 

"We've  got  25  finished  pictures  in  the 
vault,"  he  said,  "and  in  this  market  an  ex- 
hibitor who  could  pick  and  choose  from 
them  would  be  able  to  operate  his  theatre  at 
a  profit  for  a  year  with  about  10  of  them. 
The  other  15  aren't  too  bad,  either,  but 
there's  nothing  we  can  do  with  the  whole 
batch  but  sit  tight  and  wait.  A  couple  of 
them  are  available  for  outright  purchase  by 
other  companies,  but  no  company  seems  to 
want  to  buy  them.  I  think  we'll  be  having 
a  quiet  spring  and  summer." 


46 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    22,  1944 


// 


WHAT  THE 

PICTURE  DID  FOR  ME 


W 


Columbia 


APPOINTMENT  IN  BERLIN:  George  Sanders, 
Marguerite  Chapman — Another  war  feature,  but  a 
fairly  good  one.  Business  almost  normal.  Played 
Saturday,  Dec.  4.— W.  C.  Pullin,  Linden  Theatre,.  Co- 
lumbus, Ohio.    Family  patronage. 

CRIME  DOCTOR:  Warner  Baxter,  Margaret  Lind- 
say— Played  this  with  Ritz  Bros,  picture  to  nice  week- 
end business. — Harlan  Rankin,  Plaza  Theatre,  Til- 
bury, Ont.,  Canada. 

DANGEROUS  BLONDES:  Evelyn  Keyes,  Edmund 
Lowe — Picture  satisfactory  and  business  the  same 
considering  it  was  only  one  week  before  Christmas. 
Played  Saturday,  Dec.  18.— W.  C.  Pullin,  Linden  The- 
atre, Columbus,  Ohio.     Family  patronage. 

DOUGHBOYS  IN  IRELAND:  Kenny  Baker,  JefT 
Donnell — Here  is  another  that  fooled  me.  I  thought  we 
would  do  average  business  on  it,  but  it  fell  down. 
This  Kenny  Baker  is  a  good  singer,  but  not  much 
of  an  actor.  Played  Saturday,  Dec.  11. — W.  C.  Pullin, 
Linden  Theatre,  Colmbus  Ohio.    Family  patronage. 

FOOTLIGHT  GLAMOUR:  Penny  Singleton,  Arthur 
Lake — Blondie  series  is  very  popular.  The  patrons 
really  liked  it.  Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Dec.  31, 
Jan.  1.— Harlan  Rankin,  Plaza  Theatre  Tilbury,  Ont., 
Canada. 

IT'S  A  GREAT  LIFE:  Penny  Singleton,  Arthur 
Lake — Could  stand  lots  more  of  these.  A  small  town 
natural;  good  draw  at  the  box  6f?ice.  Played  Satur- 
day, Dec.  25.— Leroy  Strandberg,  Roxy  Theatre, 
Hinckley,   Minn.     Small   town  and  rural  patronage. 

THERE'S    SOMETHING   ABOUT   A  SOLDIER: 

Douglass  Drake,  Tom  Neal — Good  program  picture. 
Average  gross. — Norman  Fair,  Fair  Theatre,  Somer- 
ville,  Tenn.    Small  town  patronage. 

YOU  CAN'T  TAKE  IT  WITH  YOU:  Lionel  Bar- 
rymore,  Jean  Arthur — It's  still  one  of  the  finest  pic- 
tures ever.  New  print  and  excellent  sound.  Audi- 
ence reaction  tops.  Played  Sunday,  Jan.  2. — W.  R. 
Pyle,  R.C.A.F.  No.  25,  Assiniboia,  Sask.,  Canada. 


Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 

ABOVE  SUSPICION:  Fred  MacMurray,  Joan 
Crawford — Very  nice  midweek  business  on  this  one 
coupled  with  "Adventures  of  a  Rookie."  Joan  Craw- 
ford has  never  done  much  here,  but  the  other  feature 
pulled  the  business  up.  Played  Wednesday-Friday, 
Dec.  29-31.— W.  C.  Pullin,  Linden  Theatre  Columbus, 
Ohio.     Family  patronage. 

ADVENTURES  OF  TARTU:  Robert  Donat,  Va- 
lerie Hobson — Our  crowd  didn't  turn  out  for  this  one, 
probably  due  to  Christmas  shopping  and  extremely 
cold  weather.  Picture  is  excellent  action  drama,  well 
acted,  and  Donat  does  his  usual  swell  job.  I  liked  it 
immensely,  but  it  was  costly.  Played  Friday,  Satur- 
day, Dec.  17,  18. — Thomas  di  Lorenzo,  New  Paltz 
Theatre,  New  Paltz,  N.  Y.    Small  town  patronage. 

BATAAN:  Robert  Taylor,  Thomas  Mitchell— Did 
business,  but  I  should  have  prohibited  children. 
Startling  and  realistic,  but  too  much  so.  Fans  are 
seeking  escapist  fare  with  a  minimum  of  blood  and 
guts.  Played  Friday,  Saturday  Dec.  31  Jan.  1. — 
Henry  B.  Valleau,  Angels  Theatre,  Angels  Camp, 
Calif.    Small  town  patronage. 

DR.  GILLESPIE'S  CRIMINAL  CASE:  Lionel  Bar- 
rymore.  Van  Johnson — One  of  the  best  in  the  "Doctor" 
series  from  MGM  and  it  can't  help  but  please  any 
kind  of  audience.  Business  was  good;  doubled  with 
"Victory  Through  Air  Power,"  which  we  advertised 
heavily.  It  was  a  poor  combination.  Played  Friday, 
Saturday,  Jan.  7,  8. — Thomas  di  Lorenzo,  New  Paltz 
Theatre,  New  Paltz,  N.  Y.    Small  town  patronage. 

DR.  GILLESPIE'S  CRIMINAL  CASE:  Lionel  Bar- 
rymore  ,Van  Johnson — The  trade  papers  all  said  this 
was  the  best  of  the  Dr.  Gillespie  series,  and  the  busi- 
ness certainly  proved  it;  packed  them  in  all  day  long. 
Played  Saturday,  Jan.  1.— W.  C.  Pullin,  Linden  Thea- 
tre, Columbus,  Ohio.    Family  patronage. 

HITLER'S  MADMAN:  John  Carradine,  Patricia 
Morrison — The  sound  on  this  feature  was  terrible.  It 
was  impossible  to  adjust  the  volume  to  make  the  voices 
clear.  The  picture  was  too  gruesome,  although  con- 
taining a  terrific  indictment  of  Nazidom.  Played 
Friday,  Saturday,  Dec.  31,  Jan.  1.— A.  C.  Edwards, 
Winema  Theatre,  Scotia,  Calif.  Small  lumber  town 
patronage. 


.  .  .  the  original  exhibitors'  reports  department,  established  October  14,  1916. 
In  it  theatremen  serve  one  another  with  information  about  the  box-office  per* 
formance  of  product  —  providing  a  service  of  the  exhibitor  for  the  exhibitor. 
ADDRESS  REPORTS:  What  the  Picture  Did  for  Me,  Motion  Picture  Herald, 
Roclcefeller  Center,  New  York  20,  N.  Y. 


I  DOO'D  IT:  Red  Skelton,  Eleanor  Powell— Musical 
comedy.  Poor  gross.  This  picture  didn't  go  over 
here. — Norman  Fair,  Fair  Theatre,  Somerville,  Tenn. 
Small  town  patronage. 

LASSIE  COME  HOME:  Roddy  McDowell,  Edmund 
Gwenn — Excellent  type  of  picture  for  this  town;  did 
a  smash  business  for  this  time  of  year  in  spite  of 
unfavorable  weather.  We  can't  praise  this  too  highly. 
Sincerely  hope  that  this  little  boy  and  dog  will  be  seen 
in  more  pictures  in  1944.  Played  Sunday,  Monday, 
Dec.  26,  27.— Thomas  di  Lorenzo,  New  Paltz  Theatre, 
New  Paltz,  N.  Y.    Small  town  patronage. 

PRESENTING  LILY  MARS:  Judy  Garland,  Van 
Hefiin — A  standard  plot,  but  treated  nicely.  Pleased 
my  patrons.  Played  Sunday,  Monday,  Dec.  19,  20. — 
Henry  B.  Valleau,  Angels  Theatre  Angels  Camp, 
Calif.    Small  town  patronage. 

REUNION  IN  FRANCE:  Joan  Crawford,  John 
Wayne — This  was  enjoyed  by  my  patrons,  although  I 
played  it  late.  The  story  has  a  very  good  cast  and 
holds  the  attention  of  the  audience.  Miss  Crawford 
gives  a  very  good  performance.  Would  recommend 
this.  Played  Saturday,  Jan.  1. — A.  L.  Dove,  Ben- 
gough  Theatre,  Bengough,  Sask.,  Canada.  Rural 
and  small  town  patronage. 

SALUTE  TO  THE  MARINES:  Wallace  Beery, 
Fay  Bainter — Here  is  Wallace  Beery  at  his  best 
again,  both  on  the  screen  and  at  the  box  office.  By 
all  means,  give  this  one  a  Sunday  opening  and  pack 
your  house  like  I  did.  It's  a  natural  if  ever  there  was 
one.  Played  Sunday-Tuesday,  Nov.  28-30.— W.  C. 
Pullin,  Linden  Theatre,  Columbus,  Ohio.  Family 
patronage. 

SWING  SHIFT  MAISIE:  Ann  Sothern,  James 
Craig — Entertaining  comedy.  Average  gross. — Norman 
Fair,  Fair  Theatre,  Somerville  Tenn.  Small  town 
patronage. 

SWING  SHIFT  MAISIE:  Ann  Sothern  James 
Craig — Just  mediocre  entertainment;  not  bad  not 
good.  Played  Sunday,  Dec.  26.— W.  R.  Pyle,  R.C.A.F. 
No.  25,  Assiniboia,   Sask.,  Canada. 

THREE  HEARTS  FOR  JULIA:  Ann  Sothern, 
Melvyn  Douglas— This  flopped  flat  as  a  pancake.  Af- 
ter seeing  the  picture,  I  knew  why.  It  will  take 
more  than  M'iss  Sothern  to  bring  them  in.— Ralph 
Raspa,  State  Theatre,  Rivesville,  W.  Va.  Rural  pat- 
ronage. 

YOUNGEST  PROFESSION,  THE:  Virginia  Weid- 
ler,  Edward  Arnold  and  Guests — I  would  hate  to  put 
down  on  paper  what  my  paying  guests  remarked  on 
this  one;  for  down-to-earth  poor  entertainment,  this 
one  takes  the  Oscar.  Played  Saturday,  Dec.  25.— 
A.  L.  Dove,  Bengough  Theatre,  Bengough,  Sask., 
Canada.    Rural  and  small  town  patronage. 


Monogram 


'NEATH  BROOKLYN  BRIDGE:  East  Side  Kids 
— The  sound  in  this  print  was  very  bad;  story  fair. 
Business  poor.  Played  Wednesday,  Thursday,  Dec. 
22,  23.— J.  H.  Bustin,  Imperial  Theatre,  Windsor, 
N.  S.,  Canada.    Small  town  patronage. 

SILVER  SKATES:  Patricia  Morison,  Kenny  Baker 
—Good  musical.  Average  gross.— Norman  Fair,  Fair 
Theatre,  Somerville,  Tenn.    Small  town  patronage. 


Paramount 


HOLIDAY  INN:  Bing  Crosby,  Fred  Astaire— En- 
tertaining musical.  Average  gross  on  return  engage- 
ment.—Norman  Fair,  Fair  Theatre,  Somerville,  Tenn. 
Small  town  patronage. 

HOSTAGES:  Luise  Rainer,  William  Bendix— Anti- 
Nazi  drama.  Would  have  lost  money  if  film  had  been 
gratis. — Norman  Fair,  Fair  Theatre,  Somerville,  Tenn. 
Small  town  patronage. 

LET'S  FACE  IT:  Bob  Hope,  Betty  Hutton— Opened 


up  with  a  bang,  but  fell  off  100  per  cent  the  second 
night.  Played  Monday,  Tuesday,  Dec.  27,  28.— Har- 
lan Rankin,  Plaza  Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 

LET'S  FACE  IT:  Bob  Hope,  Betty  Hutton— Just 
as  I  expected;  Bob  Hope  never  lets  me  down  here. 
A  full  house  for  three  days  and  everyone  satisfied. 
Played  Sunday-Tuesday,  Dec.  5-7. — W.  C.  Pullin,  Lin- 
den Tlieatre,  Columbus,  Ohio.    Family  patronage. 

TRUE  TO  LIFE:  Mary  Martin,  Franchot  Tone- 
Amusing  comedy;  good  comments.  Gross  little  below 
average  because  of  bad  weather. — Norman  Fair,  Fair 
Theatre,  Somerville,  Tenn.    Small  town  patronage. 

TRUE  TO  LIFE:  Mary  Martin,  Franchot  Tone 
— A  swell  comedy  which  failed  to  do  business  here. 
Played  Sundaj,  Monday,  Dec.  19,  20.— Thomas  di 
Lorenzo,  New  Paltz  Theatre,  New  Paltz,  N.  Y.  Small 
town  patronage. 


PRC  Pictures 


CATTLE  STAMPEDE:  Buster  Crabbe,  Fuzzy 
Knight — A  good  Western  with  plenty  of  comedy  sup- 
plied by  "Fuzzy."  PRC  could  easily  build  up  "Fuz- 
zy" as  Republic  built  up  "Frog." — Ralph  Raspa, 
State  Theatre,  Rivesville,  W.  Va.    Rural  patronage. 

ISLE  OF  FORGOTTEN  SINS:  John  Carradine, 
Gale  Sondergaard — A  few  exciting  scenes  taken  under 
water,  but  the  rest  was  a  flop.  The  title  caused  a 
sensation.  Everyone  said  it  was  no  good.  Played 
Wednesday,  Thursday.  Dec.  22,  23.— D.  L.  Craddock, 
Grand  Theatre,  Leaksville,  N.  C.  Small  town  pat- 
ronage. 


Republic 


HEADIN'  FOR  GOD'S  COUNTRY:  William  Lun- 
digan,  Virginia  Dale — Nothing  special  but  my  patrons 
loved  it.  Business  excellent  on  weekend.  We  could 
use  more  of  this  outdoor  type  with  the  same  star. 
Played  Thursday-Saturday,  Dec.  23-25.— Lloyd  M. 
Mills,  Century  Theatre,  Kitshener,  Ont.,  Canada. 
General  patronage. 

LONDON  BLACKOUT  MURDERS:  John  Abbot, 
Mary  McLeod— Cast  value  nil,  but  one  of  the  best 
stories  yet;  well  done,  featured  stars  all  very  good. 
Our  audiences  really  enjoyed  it.  Republic  is  coming 
up  fast.  Played  Monday- Wednesday,  Jan.  3-5. — Lloyd 
M.  Mills,  Century  Theatre,  Kitchener,  Ont.,  Canada. 
General  patronage. 

MANTRAP,  THE:  Lloyd  Corrigan,  Dorothy  Lovett 
— Fair  mystery  story;  that's  all  I  can  say. — Ralph 
Raspa,   State  Theatre,  Rivesville,  W.  Va. 

RIDE,  TENDERFOOT,  RIDE:  Gene  Autry— If  you 
liked  the  other  Autry  pictures,  you'll  like  this  one;  so 
will  your  audience. — Ralph  Raspa,  State  Theatre, 
Rivesville,   W.   Va.     Rural  patronage. 


RKO 


BOMBARDIER:  Pat  O'Brien,  Anne  Shirley— If  all 
war  pictures  were  like  this  one,  you  would  never  hear 
a  complaint.  It  has  name  draw,  comedy  and  thrills. 
Sell  it.— Ralph  Raspa,  State  Theatre,  Rivesville,  W. 
Va.    Rural  patronage. 

LI'L  ABNER:  Granville  Owen,  Martha  O'Driscqll 
— Cast  unknown  to  me.  Audiences  still  loved  this 
picture  here.  Played  second  half  with  "Best  Foot 
Forward."  I  think  the  public  would  like  another 
Li'l  Abner  story  with  the  same  cast.  Great  for  small 
towns  or  cities.  Played  Monday-Wednesday,  Dec.  271 
29.— Lloyd  M.  Mills,  Century  Theatre,  Kitchener, 
Ont.,  Canada.    General  patronage. 

MR.  LUCKY:  Cary  Grant,  Laraine  Day— Now  I  see 
why  Grant  wanted  this  story.    One  of  the  best  come- 
dy-dramas I've  seen  in  a  long  while;  deserves  "A" 
time  any  place.    If  Cary  Grant  is  liked  in  your  dis- 
(Cmttinued  on  opposite  page) 


January    22,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


47 


(Continued  from  preceding  page) 
irict,  you  can  easily  depend  on  a  large  audience,  both 
men  and  women.— Ralph  Raspa,  State  Theatre,  Rives - 
ville,  W.  Va.    Rural  patronage. 

MY  FAVORITE  SPY:  Kay  Kyser,  Ellen  Drew— 
Although  this  picture  was  spot  booked,  we  did  nice 
business.  Played  Sunday,  Dec.  26.— Harlan  Rankin, 
Plaza  Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 

PRIDE  OF  THE  YANKEES,  THE:  Gary  Cooper, 
Teresa  Wright— This  is  one  of  the  best  produced  pic- 
tures by  RKO  I  have  seen  in  a  long  time.  Business 
excellent.  Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Dec.  24,  25.— 
J.  H.  Bustin,  Imperial  Theatre,  Windsor,  N.  S., 
Canada.    Small  town  patronage. 

PRIDE  OF  THE  YANKEES,  THE:  Gary  Cooper, 
Teresa  Wright— I  think  this  is  one  of  the  finest  base- 
ball stories  I  have  ever  seen  come  out  of  Hollywood. 
Have  had  tremendous  success  on  baseball  stories  here 
before,  but  if  someone  will  tell  me  why  this  one 
took  such  a  tremendous  nosedive  at  the  box  office,  I 
will  be  eternally  grateful.  Played  Wednesday -Friday, 
Dec.  8-10.— W.  C.  Pullin,  Linden  Theatre,  Columbus, 
Ohio.    Family  patronage. 

REPORT  FROM  THE  ALEUTIANS:  Documentary 
Film — There  were  very  few  turned  out  when  we 
played  this.  We  were  featuring  "True  to  Life."  We 
heard  mixed  comments;  some  said  "too  long";  others, 
"where  can  I  smoke  until  this  is  over?"  Some  peo- 
ple might  be  getting  bored  with  war  pictures,  even 
though  they  look  at  the  real  thing.  It's  puzzling. 
Picture  is   good.     Played  Sunday,   Monday,  Dec.  19, 

20.  — Thomas  di  Lorenzo,  New  Paltz  Theatre,  New 
Paltz,  N.  Y.    Small  town  patronage. 

SQUADRON  LEADER  X:  Eric  Portman,  Beatrice 
Varley — Not  much  action  in  this  picture.  Business 
was  very  poor.     Played  Monday,  Tuesday,  Dec.  20, 

21.  — J.  H.  Bustin,  Imperial  Theatre,  Windsor,  N.  S., 
Canada.    Small  town  patronage. 


Twentieth  Century- Fox 

BOMBERS  MOON:  George  Montgomery,  Annabella 
— good  show  that  got  by  on  Saturday  night  to  be- 
low average  business.  Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Dec. 
31,  Jan.  1.— Leroy  Strandberg,  Roxy  Theatre,  Hinck- 
ley, Minn.    Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

BOMBER'S  MOON:  George  Montgomery,  Anna- 
bella— Fair  business  on  this  feature  for  Christmas 
Day.— W.  C.  Pullia,  Linden  Theatre,  Columbus,  Ohio. 
Family  patronage. 

CLAUDIA:  Dorothy  McGuire,  Robert  Young- 
Sure  fire  entertainment.  Just  risque  enough  to  make 
it  spicy  with  a  story  that  will  please  and  provide 
lots  of  laughs.  Played  Wednesday,  Jan.  5. — W.  R. 
Pyle,  R.C.A.F.  No.  25,  Assiniboia,  Sask.,  Canada. 

CONEY  ISLAND:  Betty  Grable,  George  Montgom- 
ery— Betty  at  her  best,  which  also  means  that  busi- 
ness was  very  good.  Twentieth  Century-Fox  is  really 
due  a  lot  of  credit  for  turning  out  such  a  swell  eye- 
filling  box  office  attraction.  The  work  of  Montgom- 
ery and  Romero  was  most  effective.  Played  Sunday, 
Monday,  Jan.  2,  3. — A.  C.  Edwards,  Winema  Theatre, 
Scotia,  Calif.    Small  lumber  town  patronage. 

HE  HIRED  THE  BOSS:  Stuart  Irwin,  Evelyn 
Venable — Good  little  picture  that  failed  to  draw  the 
day  before  Christmas. — Leroy  Strandberg,  Roxy  Thea- 
tre, Hinckley,  Minn.    Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

JITTERBUGS:  Laurel  and  Hardy— We  finally  found 
a  good  spot  for  this  picture,  and  it  went  over  with  a 
bang;  doubled  it  with  "Johnny  Come  Lately"  to  good 
business  and  a  satisfied  audience.  Played  Friday, 
Saturday,  Dec.  31,  Jan.  1. — Thomas  di  Lorenzo,  New 
Paltz  Theatre,  New  Paltz,  N.  Y.  Small  town  patron- 
age. 

MARGIN  for;  ERROR:  Joan  Bennett,  Milton  Berle 
— There  was  nothing  about  this  picture  to  rave  over, 
but  it  drew  fair  business,  especially  considering  the 
midweek  dates  and  the  after  Christmas  letdown. 
Played  Wednesday,  Thursday,  Dec.  29,  30.— A.  C. 
Edwards,  Winema  Theatre,  Scotia,  Calif.  Small  lum- 
ber town  patronage. 

MEANEST  MAN  IN  THE  WORLD:  Jack  Benny, 
Priscilla  Lane — This  was  doubled  with  "Hitler's  Mad- 
man" and  proved  a  welcome  relief.  Business  was 
fair  and  there  were  quite  a  few  big  laughs.  Played 
Friday,  Saturday,  Dec.  31,  Jan.  1. — A.  C.  Edwards, 
Winema  Theatre,  Scotia,  Calif.  Small  lumber  town 
patronage. 

OX  BOW  INCIDENT,  THE:  Henry  Fonda,  Dana 
Andrews — The  men  patrons  liked  this  one,  but  the 
women  found  it  a  little  bit  too  gruesome.  Business 
off  only  about  20  per  cent  at  that.  Played  Sunday - 
Tuesday,  Nov.  28-30.— W.  C.  Pullin,  Linden  Theatre, 
Columbus,  Ohio.     Family  patronage. 

SWEET  ROSIE  O'GRADY:  Betty  Grable,  Robert 
Young — An  entertaining  picture  in  color  which  didn't 
break  any  records,  doing  just  a  fair  business.  The 
disappointment  at  the  box  office  was  hard  to  take  as 
this  picture  has  been  heralded  as  one  of  the  big 
grossers  of  the  season.  Too  much  holiday  celebration 
in  our  town,  I  guess.  Played  Sunday,  Monday,  Jan. 
2,  3. — Thomas  di  Lorenzo,  New  Paltz  Theatre,  New 
Paltz,  N.  Y.     Small  town  patronage. 

SWEET  ROSIE  O'GRADY:  Betty  Grable,  Robert 


Young — Here  is  a  feature  I  would  never  have  wasted 
in  this  spot  six  days  before  Christmas  if  I  could  have 
gotten  anything  else,  as  I  could  have  packed  them  in 
some  other  time.  However,  I  tried  all  the  other  ex- 
changes and  simply  could  not  fill  the  date  so  I  had  to 
use  this  one.  Played  Sunday -Tuesday,  Dec.  19-21. — 
W.  C.  Pullin,  Linden  Theatre,  Columbus,  Ohio.  Fam- 
ily patronage. 

WEEKEND  IN  HAVANA:  Alice  Faye,  John  Payne 
—Had  Request  Night  on  Wednesday,  Thursday,  and 
this  one  held  up  pretty  well.  Played  Dec.  29,  30. — 
Leroy  Strandberg,  Roxy  Theatre,  Hinckley,  Minn. 
Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

WINTERTIME:  Sonja  Henie,  Jack  Oakie— We  hope 
the  studio  will  get  a  better  vehicle  for  their  sweet 
skating  star  the  next  time,  as  the  squawks  were  many 
and  loud  on  the  very  poor  quality  of  this  picture. 
One  man  even  went  so  far  as  to  state  that  it  was  a 
good  thing  Sonja  Henie  was  in  the  picture,  otherwise 
it  would  have  been  impossible  to  watch  it.  Business 
poor.  Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Dec.  24,  25. — Thomas 
di  Lorenzo,  New  Paltz  Theatre,  New  Paltz,  N.  Y. 
Small  town  patronage. 

WINTERTIME:  Sonja  Henie,  Jack  Oakie— A  very 
nice  little  feature;  good  music  and  a  good  cast.  Busi- 
ness satisfactory.  Played  Sunday -Tuesday,  Dec.  26-28. 
— W.  C.  Pullin,  Linden  Theatre,  Columbus,  Ohio. 
Family  patronage. 


United  Artists 

HI  DIDDLE  DIDDLE:  Adolphe  Menjou,  Martha 
Scott — One  picture  to  skip  for  my  kind  of  location. 
This  picture  might  do  for  a  large  town,  but  it  is 
downright  silly.  Played  Sunday -Tuesday,  Dec.  12-14. 
— Leroy  Strandberg,  Roxy  Theatre,  Hinckley,  Minn. 
Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

JOHNNY  COME  LATELY:  James  Cagney,  Grace 
George — It's  hard  -to  say  what  James  Cagney  saw  in 
this  story,  as  we  couldn't  figure  it  has  made  such  a 
big  picture.  Perhaps  so  many  big  ones  are  spoiling 
us.  "Johnny  Come  Lately"  is  good  program,  but  don't 
promise  them  too  much.  Business  was  good.  Played 
Friday.  Saturday,  D'ec.  31.  Jan.  1. — Thomas  di  Lorenzo, 
New  Paltz  Theatre,  New  Paltz,  N.  Y.  Small  town 
patronage. 

JOHNNY  COME,  LATELY:  James  Cagney,  Grace 
George — Everyone  did  a  swell  job  in  the  picture.  Story 
enjoyed  by  all.  Business  good,  but  title  poor.  Adver- 
tising only  fair.  Played  Monday-Wednesday,  Nov. 
22-24— Lloyd  M.  Mills,  Century  Theatre,  Kitchener, 
Ont.,  Canada.    General  patronage. 

VICTORY  THROUGH  AIR  POWER:  Disney  Avia- 
tion Feature  —  Excellent  picture  for  any  audience. 
Played  Saturday,  Jan.  1.— W.  R.  Pyle,  R.  C.  A.  F. 
No.  25,  Assiniboia,  Sask.,  Canada. 

VICTORY  THROUGH  AIR  POWER:  Disney  Avia- 
tion Feature — A  one-hour-plus  lecture  on  aviation  and 
science.  Extremely  off-key  as  to  entertainment. 
Ballyhooed  here  for  big  opening,  but  a  complete  drop 
on  second  night.  Played  with  "Dr.  Gillespie's  Crim- 
inal Case"  to  good  business.  If  you  play  it,  use  it 
with  a  musical  or  a  fast  action  Western;  don't  play 
it  with  a  "talk-talk-talk"  picture.  Played  Friday, 
Saturday,  Jan.  7,  8. — Thomas  di  Lorenzo,  New  Paltz 
Theatre,  New  Paltz,  N.  Y.    Small  town  patronage. 


Universal 

BEHIND  THE  EIGHT  BALL:  Ritz  Bros.— Did  fair 
business  with  this  picture;  only  mediocre  draw.  Played 
Wednesday,  Thursday,  Dec.  29,  30.— Harlan  Rankin, 
Plaza  Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont.,  Conada. 

FRONTIER  BAD  MEN:  Diana  Barrymore,  Robert 
Paige — Tried  to  get  by  with  this  Western  on  Sunday - 
Tuesday,  but  couldn't  do  it.  Not  a  bad  picture. 
Played  Dec.  19-21.— Leroy  Strandberg,  Roxy  Theatre, 
Hinckley,  Minn.    Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

GALS,  INC.:  Leon  Errol,  Grace  McDonald— Grand 
little  musical  comedy  with  all  the  music,  girls  and 
comedy  expected.  This  one  fell  below  par  compared 
to  some  others,  but  if  you  get  them  in  to  see  it  you've 
nothing  to  worry  about. — Ralph  Raspa,  State  Theatre, 
Rivesville,  W.  Va.    Rural  patronage. 

HERS  TO  HOiLD:  Deanna  Durbin,  Joseph  Gotten- 
Deanna  Durbin  has  never  gotten  me  a  nickel  on  the 
screen,  so  I  figured  this  was  a  good  place  to  get  rid 
of  this  one.  Played  Wednesday,  Thursday,  Dec.  22, 
23.— W.  C.  Pullin,  Linden  Theatre,  Columbus,  Ohio. 
Family  patronage. 

HIT  THE  ICE:  Abbott  and  Costello— Only  one  pic- 
ture topped  it  and  that  was  "My  Friend  Flicka."  A 
swell  box  office  draw  and  a  good  picture.  Played  Sun- 
day-Tuesday, Dec.  26-28. — Leroy  Strandberg,  Roxy 
Theatre,  Hinckley,  Minn.  Small  town  and  rural  pat- 
ronage. 

MR.  BIG:  Gloria  Jean,  Donald  O'Connor — Very  nice 
little  prograrn  picture  that  seemed  to  please  all  who 
came  to  see  it,  which  were  very  few.  Played  Wednes- 
Hnv-Friday,  Dec.  15-17.— W.  C.  Pullin,  Linden  Theatre, 
Columbus,  Ohio.    Family  patronage. 

PHANTOM  OF  THE  OPERA:  Nelson  Eddy,  Su- 
sanna Foster — Box  office  poison  for  a  small  town.  Pic- 


ture good,  but  no  draw.  Played  Sunday-Tuesday,  Jan. 
2-4. — Leroy  Strandberg,  Roxy  Theatre,  Hinckley,  Minn. 
Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

PHANTOM  OF  THE  OPERA:  Nelson  Eddy,  Su- 
sanna Foster — On  the  old  silent  version  of  this  feature 
some  years  ago,  I  cleaned  up.  Can't  say  the  same  for 
this  one,  however.  The  Christmas  slump,  just  start- 
ing, probably  accounts  for  some  of  it.  Played  Sunday- 
Tuesday,  Dec.  12-14.— W.  C.  Pullin,  Linden  Theatre, 
Columbus,  Ohio.    Family  patronage. 

SILVER  SPURS:  Roy  Rogers— Rogers  popular  with 
Western  fans;  always  shows  us  a  nice  profit.  Not  as 
good  as  Autry  when  he  was  tops.  Played  Friday, 
Saturday,  Dec.  31,  Jan.  1. — Harlan  Rankin,  Plaza  Thea- 
tre, Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 

STRANGE  DEATH  OF  ADOLF  HITLER:  Ludwig 
Donath,  Gale  Sondergaard — My .  patrons  did  not  like 
this  picture  and  neither  did  I.  Too  many  war  pic- 
tures. Business  poor.  Played  Wednesday,  Thursday, 
Dec.  29,  30.— J.  H.  Bustin,  Imperial  Theatre,  Windsor, 
N.  S.,  Canada.    Small  town  patronage. 


Warner  Bros. 

AIR  FORCE:  John  Garfield,  Gig  Young— Excep- 
tionally well  done,  but  in  line  with  other  war  dramas 
proved  only  fair  at  the  box  office.  Few  war  epics  get 
out  of  being  classed  as  "just  another  war  picture." 
Played  Tuesday-Thursday,  Dec.  28-30.— Henry  B.  Val- 
leau.  Angels  Theatre,  Angels  Camp,  Calif.  Small  town 
patronage. 

ALWAYS  IN  MY  HEART:  Walter  Huston,  Kay 
Francis — A  very  good  repeat.  Played  it  a  year  ago 
and  brought  it  back.  Should  do  well  in  any  town, 
especially  the  small  ones. — Ralph  Raspa,  State  Thea- 
tre, Rivesville,  W.  Va.    Rural  patronage. 

JUKE  GIRL:  Ann  Sheridan,  Ronald  Reagan— Defi- 
nitely a  sleeper.  Title  very  misleading.  Could  have 
stood  on  its  own  feet.  Compared  nicely  to  "Grapes  of 
Wrath."  Played  Sunday,  Monday,  Dec.  26,  27.— Henry 
B.  Valleau,  Angels  Theatre,  Angels  Camp,  Calif.  Small 
town  patronage. 

THIS  IS  THE  ARMY:  Joan  Leslie,  George  Murphy, 
Stage  Cast — In  all  patrons'  and  my  own  opinion  the 
finest  production  of  the  year.  Played  Thursday-Sat- 
urday, Dec.  30-Jan.  1.— W.  R.  Pyle,  Dreamland  Thea- 
tre, Rockglen,  Sask.,  Canada.  Rural  and  small  town 
patronage. 


Short  Features 
Columbia 

A  HUNTING  WE  WON'T  GO:  Color  Rhapsodies- 
One  of  the  best.  Fox  and  Crow  cartoons  can  always 
be  counted  on  for  originality. — Henry  B.  Valleau,  An- 
gels Theatre,  Angels  Camp,  Calif. 

SCREEN  SNAPSHOTS,  No.  6:  Screen  Snapshots— 
Always  well  received.  Our  fans  like  them. — Harlan 
Rankin,  Plaza  Theatre,  'Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 

THREE  LITTLE  TWIRPS:  All  Star  Comedies— 
These  Stooges  have  feature  drawing  power. — Harlan 
Rankin,  Plaza  Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 


Metro-Goidwyn-Mayer 

SCENIC  OREGON:  Fitzpatrick  Traveltalks— Very 
interesting  and  beautiful  travelogue. — A.  L.  Dove, 
Bengough  Theatre,  Bengough,  Sask.,  Canada. 


Paramount 

SPEAKING  OF  ANIMALS  IN  CURRENT 
EVENTS:  Speaking  of  Animals — A  pleasant  reel  with 
a  humorous  angle;  there  is  much  reference  to  the  war, 
the  war  effort,  etc.,  in  this  one. — Thomas  di  Lorenzo, 
New  Paltz  Theatre,  New  Paltz,  N.  Y. 

THE  TRUCK  THAT  Fl-EW:  Madcap  Models— An- 
other fine  cartoon  with  the  Puppetoons.  This  is  quite 
a  fairy  tale  and  done  so  well  it  was  applauded  at  each 
show. — Thomas  di  Lorenzo,  New  Paltz  Theatre,  New 
Paltz,  N.  Y. 


RKO 

DONALD'S  GARDEN:  Walt  Disney  Cartoons— Good 
Disney  cartoon  plus  a  new  character. — Ralph  Raspa, 
State  Theatre,  Rivesville,  W.  Va. 

GEM  JAMS:  Leon  Errol — Leon  Errol  knows  how  to 
draw  laughs.— Harlan  Rankin,  Plaza  Theatre,  Tilbury, 
Ont.,  Canada. 


Twentieth  Century- Fox 

AIRWAYS  TO  PEACE:  March  of  Time— An  inter- 
esting trip  around  various  air  fields  showing  some  of 
the  newest  and  biggest  planes  and  their  equipment. 

{Continued  on  following  page) 


48 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    22.     194  4 


(Continued  from  preceding  page) 
It  pleased  everyone  here. — Thomas  di  Lorenzo,  New 
Paltz  Theatre,  New  Paltz,  N.  Y. 

BACK  TO  BIKES:  Sport  Review— Ed  Thorgerson  is 
always  welcome  here  as  his  voice  is  well  known  from 
the  newsreel.  In  this  subject  there  are  many  good 
looking  girls  riding  bicycles  around  various  places, 
notably  hong  Island  and  Hollywood. — Thomas  di  Lo- 
renzo, New  Paltz  Theatre,  Mew  Paltz,  N.  V. 

JUNGLE  LAND:  Dribble  Puss  Parade— Very  good. 
Should  please  anywiiere.— Henry  B.  Valleau,  Angels 
TTieatre,  Angels  Camp,  Calif. 

LIFE  WITH  FIDO :  Terrytoons  —  Fair  cartoon.  — 
Harlan  Rankin,  Plaza  Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 

Universal 

BOOGIE  WOOGIE  MAN:  Swing  Symphonies— 
Wasn't  much  to  this  cartoon;  patrons  were  disap- 
pointed.—J.  H.  Bustin,  Imperial  Theatre,  Windsor, 
N.  S.,  Canada. 

KING  OF  THE  '49-ERS:  Person- Oddities— Could  be 
a  lot  better.  This  series  always  looks  amateurish. — 
Henry  B.  Valleau,  Angels  Theatre,  Angels  Camp, 
Calif. 

PASS  THE  BISCUITS,  MIRANDY:  Swing  Sym- 
phonies—A good  original  cartoon.  A  series  of  moun- 
tain folk  cartoons  should  click.— Henry  B.  Valleau, 
Angels  Theatre,  Angels  Camp,  Calif. 

RATION  BORED:  Color  Cartune— Just  a  fair  car- 
toon; few  laughs.— J.  H.  Bustin,  Imperial  Theatre, 
Windsor,  N.  S.,  Canada. 


Vitaphone 


ARMY  SHOW:  Broadway  Brevities— Very  good 
army  musical.  Play  it.— Ralph  Raspa,  State  Theatre, 
Rivesville,  W.  Va. 

BORRAH  MINEVITCH  AND  HIS  HARMONICA 
SCHOOL:  Melody  Master  Bands— This  class  of  enter- 
tainment goes  over  big  with  the  rural  and  small  town 
audience.  Why  they  do  not  use  these  entertainers 
more  is  beyond  me,  but  the  big  companies  do  not  take 
into  consideration  the  small  town  audience.  Play  this 
one.— A.  L.  Dove,  Bengough  Theatre,  Bengough,  Sask., 
Canada. 

COAL   BLACK   AND    DE   SEBBEN  DWARFS: 

M'errie  Melodies  Cartoons — Very  clever  little  cartoon; 
children  and  adults  both  go  for  these. — J.  H.  Bustin, 
Imperial  Theatre,  Windsor,  N.  S.,  Canada. 

HAPPY  TIMES  AND  JOLLY  MOMENTS:  Broad- 
way Brevities — My  patrons  sure  liked  this  short.  It 
showed  some  of  the  first  screen  actors  and  actresses. 
—J.  H.  Bustin,  Imperial  Theatre,  Windsor,  N.  S., 
Canada. 

HISS  AND  MAKE  UP:  Merrie  Melodies  Cartoons 
—Fair  cartoon.— Ralph  Raspa,  State  Theatre,  Rives- 
ville, W.  Va. 

MARCH  ON  AMERICA:  Technicolor  Special— One 
of  the  best  Technicolor  two-reel  subjects  we  have 
played.— J.  H.  Bustin,  Imperial  Theatre,  Windsor, 
N.  S.,  Canada. 

OKLAHOMA  OUTLAWS:  Santa  Fe  Trail  Westerns 
— Don't  play  this  if  you've  played  "The  Oklahoma 
Kid."  They're  both  the  same;  but  it  is  very  good. — 
Ralph  Raspa,  State  Theatre,  Rivesville,  W.  Va. 

THE  REAR  GUNNER:  Broadway  Brevities— Very 
interesting  two-reel  subject.— J.  H.  Bustin,  Imperial 
Theatre,  Windsor,  N.  S.,  Canada. 

SUPER  RABBIT:  Merrie  Melodies  Cartoons— Ralph 
Raspa,  State  Theatre,  Rivesville,  W.  Va. 


Stearn  Opens  Cooperative 
Service  in  Pittsburgh 

Bert  Stearn,  former  western  sales  manager 
for  United  Artists,  is  completing  plans  to  open 
the  Cooperative  Theatre  Service  in  Pittsburgh, 
to  buy  and  book  pictures  for  a  group  of  ex- 
hibitors. Offices  were  to  be  opened  on  Janu- 
ary 19,  to  which  members  of  the  industry  were 
invited. 


Altec  Sets  Circuit  Deal 

The  Joy  Houck  Circuit,  New  Orleans,  has 
contracted  with  Altec  Service  Corporation  to 
service  and  furnish  repair  and  replacement 
parts  for  the  sound  reproducing  equipment  in 
their  35  theatres. 


SHORT  PRODUCT 
PLAYING  BROADWAY 

Week  of  January  17 

ASTOR 

The  Helicopter  20th  Cent.-Fox 

Silver  Wings  20th  Cent.-Fox 

Feature:  Lifeboat  20th  Cent.-Fox 

CAPITOL 

A  Kiss  for  Hitler  MGM 

The  Price  of  Rendova  MSM 

Feature:  A  Guy  Named  Joe.  .MGM 

CRITERION 

Baby  Puss  MGM 

Mister  Chimp  Raises  Cain.  .Universal 
Feature:  His  Butler's  Sister.  Universal 

GLOBE 

Corny  Concerto  Vitaphone 

Desert  Playground   Vitaphone 

Feature:    Where    Are  Your 

Children?  Monogram 

HOLLYWOOD 

inside  the  Clouds  Vitaphone 

Puss  'n'  Booty  Vitaphone 

VoiceThat  Thrilled  the  World. Vitaphone 
Feature:  Desert  Song  <  Warner  Bros. 

PARAMOUNT 

The  Price  of  Rendova  :MGM 

Feature:  Ridin'  High  Paramount 

RIALTO 

Cage  Door  Canteen  Paramount 

Her  Honor  Maine  Paramount 

Feature:  Spider  Woman  Universal 

RIVOLI 

Cartoons  Ain't  Human  Paramount 

Feature:  For  Whom  the  Bell 

Tolls  Paramount 

ROXY 

A  Volcano  Is  Born  20th  Cent.-Fox 

The  Hopeful  Donkey  20th  Cent.-Fox 

Feature:  The  Lodger  20th  Cent.-Fox 

STRAND 

Bees  A-Buzzin'  Vitaphone 

The  Price  of  Rendova  MGM 

Little  Red  Riding  Rabbit.  ..  Vitaphone 
Feature:  Destination  Tokyo.  .Warner  Bros. 


Mayer  To  Advise  Arnny  on 
Films  for  War  Workers 

Arthur  L.  Mayer,  War  Activities  Committee 
executive,  will  become  industrial  film  advisor 
to  the  War  Department  at  the  request  of  Rob- 
ert P.  Patterson,  Under-Secretary  of  War. 
Mr.  Mayer  was  recommended  for  the  post  by 
a  committee  consisting  of  Tom  Connors,  20th 
Century-Fox  vice-president;  Leonard  Golden- 
son,  Paramount  vice-president,  and  Lt.  Col. 
Emanuel  Cohen  of  the  Army  Pictorial  Service. 

The  move  is  due  to  the  expansion  of  the  War 
Department's  industrial  service  division  pro- 
gram of  showing  special  films  to  workers  in 
war  industries,  it  is  understood.  Lt.  Col.  Co- 
hen will  be  in  charge  of  compilation  of  the 
films,  with  Capt.  Kenneth  M.  McKenna  as 
assistant  producer. 


Name  Variety  Club  Board 

William  Horan,  Max  Levinson  and  Abe 
Yarchin  were  named  directors  of  the  Boston 
Variety  Club  last  week.  They  succeeded  Nor- 
man Ayers,  Edward  Morey  and  the  late  Joseph 
Levinson. 


Rosenfield  Heads  SPG 

All  officers  of  the  Screen  Publicists  Guild, 
Local  114,  CIO,  New  York,  were  reelected  last 
week  at  the  union's  fifth  annual  election  meet- 
ing. Chosen  to  continue  in  office  are  Jonas 
Rosenfield,  Jr.,  president ;  Harry  Hochfeld, 
first  vice-president;  Carl  Rigrod,  second  vice- 
president  ;  Gertrude  Gelbin,  secretary ;  Charles 
L.  Wright,  treasurer. 


Republic  Sales 
Meetings  End 

The  third  and  last  of  Republic  Picture's  sales 
conferences  was  held  at  the  company's  North 
Hollywood  Studios  Monday  and  Tuesday,  with 
James  R.  Grainger,  president,  presiding.  The 
sessions  were  highlighted  by  the  continued  dis- 
cussion of  the  promotion  appropriation  of  $2,- 
000,000  for  advertising  and  publicity  on  all  the 
company's  major  productions,  announced  last 
week  at  the  New  York  sales  conference  by 
Herbert  J.  Yates. 

Francis  Bateman,  western  district  sales  man- 
ager, a  contingent  of  men  from  his  district, 
among  them  J.  T.  Sheffield,  franchise  holder  of 
the  Northwest  territory,  and  branch  managers 
F.  M.  Higgins  of  Seattle,  J.  H.  Sheffield,  Port- 
land ;  Gene  Gerbase,  Denver ;  H.  C.  Fuller, 
Salt  Lake  City;  John  Frey,  Los  Angeles,  and 
Sid  Weisbaum,  San  Francisco. 

From  the  home  office  and  traveling  by  plane, 
William  Saal  arrived  in  Los  Angeles  late  last 
week  and  completed  details  in  connection  with 
the  preview  and  reception  launching  the  com- 
pany's current  major  release,  "The  Fighting 
SeaBees."  The  reception  took  place  at  the 
Hotel  Ambassador  in  that  city  on  Monday. 
Simultaneously  in  New  York  a  similar  recep- 
tion was  held  at  the  Hotel  Astor,  New  York. 
At  both  receptions  the  guests  of  honor  were 
SeaBees,  six  in  Los  Angeles  and  26  in  New 
York. 


KRS  Refuses  Pictures 
To  25  ABC  Theatres 

London  Bureau 

The  Kinematograph  Renter's  Society  has  re- 
fused to  book  product  at  25  of  the  40  theatres 
acquired  by  Associated  British  Cinemas'  from 
W.  G.  Elcock's  Mayfair  Circuit,  claiming  that 
renters'  deals  with  ABC  provides  for  booking 
product  to  existing  ABC  lessees  only  and  not 
to  additional  theatres. 

It  is  claimed  that  it  would  be  a  breach  of 
relations  with  distributors  if  they  were  to  pro- 
vide these  additional  ABC  theatres  with  prod- 
uct. As  a  result,  the  houses  will  revert  to  El- 
cock,  who  is  now  planning  to  build  up  his  cir- 
cuit to  80  houses. 

Warner  Bros,  has  a  25  per  cent  stock  interest 
and  a  strong  management  participation  in  ABC 
which  acquired  the  Elcock  theatres  last  August. 
At  the  time  the  deal  was  made  it  was  said  that 
it  strengthened  Warners'  immediate  and  post- 
war position  in  the  British  Isles. 

ABC  theatres  acquired  from  Elcock  are  lo- 
cated in  the  provinces.  The  acquisition  raised 
the  Associated  British- Warner  and  related 
Union  Cinemas  holdings  to  approximately  500 
properties,  topped  only  by  Rank's  holdings 
through  his  control  of  Odeon  Circuit's  300  and 
Gaumont-British's  263.  AB-WB's  theatres  are 
divided  into  360  operated  by  ABC  and  140  by 
Union  Cinemas. 


Paramount  Holds  Preview 
Of  "Lulu"  Cartoon 

A  special  preview  of  the  first  Little  Lulu 
cartoon,  "Eggs  Don't  Bounce,"  was  held  at 
Paramount's  Philadelphia  exchange  last  Thurs- 
day for  the  staflF  of  the  Saturday  Evening  Post. 
Plans  for  a  nationwide  promotional  campaign 
on  the  cartoon  were  discussed.  The  cartoon, 
based  on  the  Post's  cartoon,  is  reviewed  in  this 
week's  Product  Digest  Section,  page  1726. 


Allied  Unit  Names  Penneil 

Fred  E.  Penneil,  a  director  of  Allied  Thea- 
tres of  Michigan,  has  been  named  business  man- 
ager. Mr.  Penneil  has  been  in  charge  of  the 
office  on  a  temporary  basis  since  last  Septem- 
ber, and  the  present  appointment  is  permanent. 


ijanuary    22,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


49 


MANAGERS* 

ROUND  TABLE 


<iAn  international  association  of  showmen  meeting  weekly 
in  MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD  for  mutual  aid  and  progress 

CHESTER  FRIEDMAN,  Editor  GERTRUDE  MERRIAM,  Associate  Editor 


OP 


Honesty,  the  Best  Policy 

Despite  the  objections  to  war  pictures,  no  less  than  eight  of 
these  attractions  landed  among  the  first  25  box  office  cham- 
pions for  grosses  during  the  past  year. 

This  is  rather  an  impressive  showing  when  one  considers  the 
higher  general  standard  of  product  and  the  competition 
afforded  by  musicals,  comedies  and  dramas  supposedly  in 
greater  favor  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moviegoer. 

The  point  is  that  something  had  to  overcome  the  public's 
aversion  to  war  pictures  in  each  of  the  eight  specific  instances, 
since  it  is  generally  acknowledged  that  pictures  like  "Hitler's 
Children",  "Behind  the  Rising  Sun",  "Sahara",  "Commandos 
Strike  at  Dawn",  etc.,  depicted  all  the  horror  and  terror  which 
supposedly  removes  these  vehicles  from  the  entertainment  class. 

The  answer  is  that  these  pictures  were  exploited  properly — 
not  in  the  sense  of  misleading  the  public,  but  rather  by  intelli- 
gent and  truthful  statements.  In  other  words,  the  advertising 
stated  that  the  picture  was  a  war  picture,  and  the  illustrations 
depicted  war  scenes  or  action  scenes  closely  related  to  the 
picture,  with  no  effort  made  to  disguise  the  background. 

As  such,  the  pictures  had  appeal  for  the  general  public  that 
was  manifest  in  the  box  office  receipts. 

It  is  only  when  a  good  product  is  handicapped  by  mislead- 
ing advertising  that  the  product  commonly  fails  to  attain  public 
approval.  It  is  important  that  the  manager  and  exploiteer 
steer  clear  of  such  misrepresentation,  because  goodwill  and 
the  confidence  of  our  patrons  are  conducive  to  the  success  of 
the  theatre  as  an  institution  and  a  commercial  enterprise. 

Let's  all  start  calling  war  pictures  by  their  right  names  instead 
of  trying  to  bury  the  theme  under  a  cloak  of  intimation  that 
would  infer  the  story  is  something  which  it  is  not. 

Maybe  we  would  then  find  that  war  pictures  are  like 
comedies,  musicals  or  dramas,  that  there  are  good  and  bad  in 
all  types,  that  invariably  a  good  picture  will  do  more  business 
than  a  poor  one. 

AAA 

Two  Birds,  One  Stone 

Bob  Rosen  is  one  of  the  Loew  managers  in  metropolitan 
New  York  who  is  not  content  to  depend  only  on  the  centralized 
form  of  advertising  generally  in  use  by  circuits  operating  a 
large  number  of  neighborhood  theatres  in  a  big  city. 

It  might  be  natural  for  some  managers  to  get  accustomed  to 


having  all  their  advertising  and  promotion  taken  care  of  by 
the  home  office,  but  not  so  with  Bob.  Hardly  a  week  passes 
that  he  does  not  contrive  to  utilize  some  little  promotion  of  his 
own  at  the  Sheridan  theatre,  in  the  city's  Greenwich  Village. 

Ever  since  Pearl  Harbor,  Bob  has  been  busy,  too,  with  every 
drive,  collection  and  promotion  connected  with  the  war  effort, 
and  each  time  he  has  gone  all-out  with  just  a  bit  more  exertion 
than  was  expected. 

.  His  latest  promotion  was  inspired  by  a  suggestion  from 
another  Round  Tabler  which  was  published  in  these  pages 
recently:  to  have  the  theatre  patrons  affix  their  signatures  and 
a  War  Stamp  to  a  Christmas  greeting  to  President  Roosevelt. 

He  streamlined  the  idea  for  a  March  of  Dimes  tiein  instead, 
the  result  of  which  is  published  on  the  following  page.  A  huge 
scroll  rotates  through  the  display,  providing  ample  space  for 
signatures  and  Stamps  for  those  wishing  to  offer  congratula- 
tions to  the  President  for  his  birthday. 

The  first  two  days  the  display  was  placed  in  the  lobby 
netted  over  $200.00  in  Stamps  for  the  project.  Bob  is  expect- 
ing Mr.  LaGuardia,  the  mayor,  and  other  dignitaries  and 
celebrities  to  sign  up  on  the  opening  day  of  the  March  of 
Dimes  drive.  You  may  be  sure  the  news  photographers  will  be 
on  hand. 

There's  still  time  for  any  alert  showman  to  emulate  Bob's 
device.  Aside  from  the  goodwill  the  theatre  can  create.  Stamp 
sales  are  accelerated  and  the  Infantile  Paralysis  Fund  is  swelled. 

AAA 


Early  Bird  Taylor 


Charles  B.  Taylor,  director  of  advertising  and  publicity  for 
the  Shea  theatres,  Buffalo,  took  a  head  start  on  his  Christmas 
promotions  by  landing  a  full-page  co-op  as  early  as  Thanks- 
giving Day. 

A  huge  cut  of  Bob  Hope  and  Betty  Hutton  was  centered 
in  the  ad  with  theatre  and  playdates.  Across  the  top  a  streamer 
blazoned:  "Let's  Face  It!  .  .  .  Christmas  isn't  the  same  this 
year". 

Since  the  cooperating  merchant  paid  full  costs,  space  on 
the  sides  and  bottom  of  the  page  listed  gift  suggestions  obtain- 
able at  the  store.  Which  proves  that  a  good  showman  will 
always  give  the  merchant  an  even  break  and  the  early  bird 
gets  the  tieups. 

—CHESTER  FRIEDMAN 


50 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    22,  1944 


EFFECTIVE  SHOWMANSHIP 


A  real  attention  getter  for  manager  Walter  Ahrens  was  the 

Frank  Sinatra  Swoon  Meter  displayed  in  a  prominent  shop  window 

to  exploit  "Higher  and  Higher"  at  the  RKO  Orpheum,  Des  Moines.  The 

"Rube  Goldberg"  contraption  really  worked  on  a  mechanical  hookup. 


11IIS  IS  liews- 

so  hnZ  THE 

OAKWOODS 
CONING 

WIWCTIOMS 


The  cartoon  depicted  on  Art  Easson's  dis- 
play board  drew  laughs  from  lookers-on 
and  focused  attention  to  coming  hits  at 
the  Oakwood  theatre,  in  Toronto,  Canada. 


At  Xmas  time, 
Vaughn  Taylor, 
manager  of  the 
Rialto,  Phoenix, 
injected  a  cheery 
touch  of  atmos- 
phere to  his  front, 
drawing  excellent 
comment  from 
patrons. 


Photo  by  McCulloch  Bros. 


Al  Hatoff,  man- 
ager of  the  Park 
theatre.  In  Brook- 
lyn, N.  Y.,  built 
this  simple,  at- 
tractive display 
for  "Phantom  of 
the  Opera".  The 
eyes  were  cut 
out  and  trans- 
parent with  a 
flasher  a  rra  nge- 
ment. 


Bob  Rosen's  double-barreled  promotion  at  the 
Sheridan,  New  York,  sells  War  Stamps  and  aids  the 
March  of  Dimes.  Patrons'  names  and  Stamps  will 
be  sent  to  the  President  as  contribution  to  the 
Infantile  Paralysis  Fund. 


January    22,  1944 


MANAGERS'    ROUND  TABLE 


51 


The  Selling  Approach 

ON  NEW  PRODUCT 

[The  material  below  reflects  press  books  now  in  preparation  and  represents  the  point  of 
view  of  the  distributors'  exploiteers  about  the  selling  points  and  special  merit  of  these  pictures.^ 


"THE  FIGHTING  SEABEES"  (Republic): 

The  "Romance  of  the  Seven  Seas"  is  the 
advertising  keynote  for  the  campaign  in 
connection  with  this  production,  which  is 
a  tribute  to  the  Seabees.  The  promotion 
possibilities  are  excellent.  Lobby  displays 
of  photographs  of  local  Seabees  are  in 
order.  A  giant  postcard,  addressed  to 
Admiral  Ben  Morrell  of  the  Bureau  of 
Yards  and  Docks,  carrying  the  Seabee 
emblem  and  a  message  of  thanks  to  the 
Seabees  for  their  contribution  to  Victory, 
can  be  set  up  in  the  theatre  lobby,  with  a 
placard  suggesting  that  theatre  patrons 
sign  the  message.  A  three-column  mat  of 
the  Seabee  emblem  is  available  for  color- 
ing contests  which  may  be  arranged  with 
newspapers.  Tributes  to  the  Seabees  can 
be  arranged  in  connection  with  local  War 
Bond  drives.  Screenings  for  the  families 
and  wives  or  sweethearts  of  local  Seabees 
can  be  arranged;  or  these  groups  can  be 
honored  at  opening-night  showings.  Navy 
personnel  can  be  similarly  honored.  The 
Mayor  of  your  town  may  be  persuaded  to 
declare  a  "Seabee  Day"  to  tie  in  with  the 
opening  of  the  film.  Since  the  bulldozer  is 
popularly  associated  with  the  Seabees,  you 
may  be  able  to  arrange  a  construction  con- 
test, through  the  cooperation  of  a  trade 
or  technical  school,  with  prizes  offered  for 
the  best  miniature  bulldozer  model.  Street 
ballyhoo  can  take  the  form  of  an  Inquiring 


Direct  Mail  Appeal 
Made  by  Galston 

Albert  A.  Galston,  manager  of  the  Hawaii 
theatre,  used  an  extensive  publicity  cam- 
paign to  exploit  the  western  premiere  of 
"The  City  That  Stopped  Hitler"  in  Holly- 
wood. 

Foreign  newspapers  carried  ads  and  de- 
voted extra  space  for  stories  and  art.  Radio 
announcements  were  used  and  complete  bus 
coverage  was  taken  on  the  Los  Angeles 
transportation  system. 

Galston  also  used  a  direct  mail  appeal, 
sending  500  letters  to  educators,  priests,  rab- 
bis and  civic  leaders.  3,000  post  cards  car- 
rying a  personal  message  were  sent  to  a 
select  mailing  list  furnished  by  the  Ameri- 
can-Soviet Friendship  league. 

Heroes  Attend  Premiere 
For  "Sahara"  in  Chicago 

Six  members  of  the  crew  operating  the 
Mitchell  Bomber  B-26,  the  "Coughin'  Cof- 
fin," who  took  part  in  50  successful  bombing 
missions  against  the  enemy,  were  enter- 
tained at  the  College  Inn  in  Chicago  and 
then  at  the  Roosevelt  theatre  premiere  of 
"Sahara." 

Manager   Charles   Nesbit  and  publicity 


reporter  asking  the  question:  "What  does 
a  Seabee  do?"  and  handing  out  cards 
with  theatre  playdate  or  lucky  number 
tickets  entitling  the  winners  to  free  passes. 
This  stunt  might  be  worked  in  cooperation 
with  a  newspaper.  Play  up  the  fine  cast  in 
the  picture  and  the  romantic  triangle. 

HIGHER  AND  HIGHER  (RKO  Radio): 

Don't  be  afraid  of  overselling  Sinatra — the 
more  advertising  and  publicity  for  this  one, 
the  bigger  should  be  your  grosses.  Try  to 
arrange  or  promote  spot  announcements 
after  Sinatra's  radio  broadcasts.  Your  local 
station  may  go  for  a  contest,  of  which 
many  are  suggested.  A  crooner's  contest, 
a  Sinatra  contest  or  a  title  guessing  con- 
test with  recordings  of  song  hits  popu- 
larized by  the  star.  The  singing  contest  Is 
a  natural  for  your  theatre  stage,  and  added 
interest  can  be  Injected  by  getting  local 
service  camps  to  enter  contestants,  or  have 
defense  plants  enter  a  representative.  This 
angle  can  be  readily  sold  to  your  news 
editor,  who  may  be  glad  to  tie-ln  for  photos 
and  stories  and  possibly  sponsor  the  event. 
Lithographs  are  good  for  cutouts  and  dis- 
plays which  can  be  augmented  with  record- 
ings of  Sinatra's  records.  A  unique  twist 
being  tried  by  some  theatres  Is  a  swoon 
contest  on  the  stage,  with  prizes  offered 
to  young  ladles  who  do  the  most  realistic 
swoon  when  Frank's  records  are  played. 


man  Jimmy  Savage  of  the  Roosevelt  had 
the  public  relations  office  of  the  Chicago 
district  of  Army  Ordnance  invite  the  heads 
of  war  plants  in  that  area  to  the  special 
screening  of  the  picture,  with  the  result 
that  the  plants,  via  their  bulletin  boards, 
urged  their  many  thousands  of  employees 
to  be  sure  to  see  the  picture. 


"Jack  London"  Campaign 
Gets  Commercial  Tieups 

Local  radio  and  commercial  tieups  were 
among  the  highlights  of  the  exploitation 
campaign  put  on  by  managers  Jim  Tebbetts 
and  Harry  Greenman,  of  Loew's  State  and 
Orpheum  theatres,  Boston,  on  "Jack  Lon- 
don." 

Radio  station  WCOP  used  a  five  minute 
transcription  and  gave  the  picture  another 
great  break  on  their  special  breakfast  club 
program.  Station  WORL  also  used  a  tran- 
scription. In  addition,  the  Royal  Crown 
Cola  radio  program  devoted  time  to  the 
attraction  and  mentioned  its  twin  theatre 
engagement. 

The  Royal  Crown  Cola  tieup  also  ac- 
counted for  the  distribution  of  1,000  window 
cards  throughout  the  city.  Special  two- 
sheet  oil-cloth  banners  were  used  on  their 
20  delivery  trucks,  each  prominently  men- 
tioning the  opening.  The  local  Royal 
Crown  Cola  ads  broke  with  full  credits. 

An  Adams  Hat  tieup  resulted  in  three 
local  shops  getting  out  attractive  window 
displays  featuring  scene  stills  and  the  spe- 
cial poster  tieup.  In  addition  local  dailies 
carried  the  Adams  ad  mentioning  Michael 
O'Shea,  star  in  "Jack  London."  Local  book 
shops  featured  scene  stills  from  the  picture, 
and  20  x  30  posters  specially  gotten  up  for 
the  display. 

Advertises  in  Foreign 
Language  Paper 

Manager  Les  Pugsley  used  some  unusual 
ads  to  focus  attention  to  the  recent  engage- 
ment of  "The  City  That  Stopped  Hitler"  at 
the  Empress  theatre,  Edmonton,  Alberta, 
Canada. 

In  one  of  the  ads  Les  incorporated  the 
New  York  newspaper  critic's  quotes  with  a 
striking  illustration  from  the  picture  high- 
lighted with  scenes  depicted  on  a  strip  of 
film.  Les  also  used  a  large  display  ad  in  a 
foreign  language  paper,  the  Ukrainian  News. 

Salvage  Show  Lands  on  Page  One 

A  front  page  story  was  landed  in  the 
Norwich  Bulletin  on  a  Salvage  Show  run 
simultaneously  at  the  Loew  Poli  Broadway 
and  the  Warner  Palace  theatres,  in  Nor- 
wich, Conn.  The  program  was  sponsored 
jointly  by  manager  Joe  Boyle  of  Loew's  and 
Jo.e  Miklos  of  the  Palace,  to  reward  the  kid- 
dies for  their  participation. 


ENTER  YOUR  BOND  CAMPAIGN 
FOR  QP  AWARD  COMPETITION 

Your  activities  in  behalf  of  the  Fourth  War  Loan  Drive  offer  oppor- 
tunity to  make  entry  for  the 

Annual  Quigley  Award  For  War  Showmanship 

The  earlier  entries  are  received,  the  better — that  they  may  become 
available  to  other  members  and  readers  of  the  Round  Table. 

Exceptional  performance  may  be  assured  exceptional  attention. 

Send  your  campaigns  for  the  Fourth  War  Loan  Drive  to  the  Round 
Table. 


52  MOTION    PICTURE    HERALD  January    22,  1944 


ACCEPTANCES  CONTINUE  TO 
PRAISE  QUICLEY  AWARDS 


CHARLES  EINFELD 

Director  of  Advertising  and  Publicity 
Warner  Bros.  'Pictures 

I  have  always  had  a  very  high  regard  for  the  constructive 
incentive  provided  by  the  Quigley  Awards  in  encouraging 
better  showmanship. 

Today,  despite  the  flourishing  condition  of  the  boxofifice, 
the  need  for  better  type  film  exploitation  is  greater  than  ever. 

The  principal  reason  is  that  quality  of  product  has  ad- 
vanced to  the  highest  level  on  record,  and  better  quality  pic- 
tures call  for  better  quality  salesmanship  on  the  part  of 
exhibitors. 

So  we  must  direct  all  branches  of  film  exploitation  along 
lines  that  will  win  the  confidence  and  goodwill  of  these 
patrons,  and  assure  their  regular  attendance  in  the  years 
ahead. 

In  providing  a  stimulus  for  this  type  of  showmanship,  the 
Quigley  Awards  are  doing  an  invaluable  industry  service. 

W.  A.  SCULLY 

Y ice-President  and  General  Sales  Manager 
Universal  Film  Exchanges,  Inc. 

In  my  opinion  these  annual  competitive  awards  help  to 
stimulate  and  enhance  interest  among  thousands  of  exhibi- 
tors throughout  the  country,  for  the  benefit  of  the  Motion 
Picture  Business  in  general. 

It  is  this  type  of  showmanship  that  has  served  the  industry 
well,  and  it  is  the  fostering  of  such  spirit  that  will  keep  the 
industry  on  a  high  level  in  years  to  come. 

JOHN  W.  HICKS.  JR. 

Vice-President 
Paramount  Pictures,  Inc. 

I  will  be  very  happy  to  serve  as  a  judge  on  the  Quigley 
Awards  Committee  for  1944. 

In  my  opinion,  I  think  the  "Quigley  Awards"  has  been 
an  excellent  medium  for  stimulating  better  boxoffice  grosses 
and  improving  the  exploitation  efforts  of  the  men  in  the 
field,  not  only  here  in  the  U.  S.,  but  in  overseas  territories 
as  well. 

NAT  HOLT 

Western  Division  Manager 
RKO  Theatres 

I  have  always  been  interested  in  the  Quigley  Awards  as- 
I  believe  that  it  is  an  excellent  stimulus  for  our  business. 
Most  particularly  does  it  develop  the  men  in  the  field  along 
the  lines  of  new  methods  of  ticket  selling,  and  it  therefore 
must  be  a  strong  means  of  stimulating  better  box  office 

HERMAN  ROBBINS 

President 

National  Screen  Service,  Inc. 

It  is  only  natural  that  a  service  organization  such  as  ours, 
should  view  with  especially  warm  regard  the  Quigley 
Awards  Competition.  For  if  this  enterprise  did  nothing 
more  than  regularly  kill  off  an  exhibitor's  complacency  with 
his  promotional  methods,  it  would  have  served  its  purpose. 
By  making  a  contest  of  the  various  exploitational  efforts 
expended  upon  a  picture  engagement,  the  progenitors  of  the 
Quigley  Awards  have  immeasurably  stimulated  showmanship,- 
and  advanced  the  industry  in  every  branch  of  its  operation. 

The  Quigley  Awards  are  rendering  this  industry  a  service 
of  untold  value,  by  helping  to  make  the  exhibiting  of  pictures, 
an  exact  business  science,  and  one  in  which  every  ingenious 
facility  for  arousing  public  interest  has  been  fully  utilized ; 


such  benefits  as  these  redound  not  only  to  the  exhibitor,  but 
to  the  star,  distributor  and  producer  as  well. 

JOHN  JOSEPH 

Director  of  Advertising  and  Publicity 
Universal  Pictures  Co.,  Inc. 

Thanks  again  for  the  invitation  to  join  the  judges  selecting 
the  best  campaigns  for  the  Quigley  Awards  Competition. 

I  don't  know  of  any  finer  method  of  stimulating  box  office 
results  than  the  Quigley  Awards.  The  men  in  the  field  can 
always  do  a  great  deal  toward  making  or  breaking  any  mo- 
tion picture. 

LOUIS  W.  SCHINE 

Secretary -Treasurer 
Schine  Circuit,  Inc. 

Thank  you  for  your  letter  of  December  22nd.  I  will  be 
pleased  to  accept  your  offer  to  be  a  Judge  on  the  Committee 
for  1944.  You  can  be  assured  that  I  will  be  on  hand  at  the 
time  of  the  meeting. 

WILLIAM  K.  JENKINS 

President  and  General  Manager 
Lucas  &  Jenkins  Circuit 

It  will  give  me  pleasure  to  serve  on  the  Quigley  Awards 
for  1944. 

There  is  no  question  but  that  the  Quigley  Awards  has 
stimulated  a  better  form  of  showmanship  on  the  part  of  the 
theatre  managers  and  I  am  happy  that  we  have  had  many 
winners  in  our  organization. 

HARRY  M.  KALMINE 

Assistant  General  Manager 
Warner  Bros.  Circuit 

I  shall  b-^  very  happy  to  serve  as  a  Judge  on  the  Commit- 
tee for  the  Quigley  Awards  Competitions  for  1944. 

It  has  been  my  contention  that  each  year  the  Quigley 
Awards  serve  as  an  inspiration  to  the  men  in  the  field  and  I 
am  glad  to  see  this  practice  is  being  continued. 

HUGH  OWEN 

Eastern  Sales  Manager 
Paramount  Pictures,  Inc. 

I  consider  it  a  privilege  to  serve  as  a  Judge  on  the  Quigley 
Committee  for  1944. 

Since  the  Quigley  Awards  are  firmly  established  as  in- 
centives for  better  efforts  and  better  results,  I  am  glad  to 
know  that  you  are  continuing  them  for  the  New  Year. 

SAM  DEMBOW,  JR. 

Theatre  Executive 
Paramount  Pictures,  Inc. 

I  accept  with  pleasure,  the  opportunity  to  again  serve  as 
a  Judge  on  the  Quigley  Awards  Committee  for  the  year  1944. 

In  my  opinion,  the  competition  engendered  by  the  Quigley 
Awards  is  a  wonderful  incentive  for  a  great  many  theatre 
managers  throughout  the  country.  It  is  a  stimulating  idea. 

JOSEPH  M.  SEIDER 

President 

Prudential  Playhouses 

I  will  be  pleased  to  serve  as  a  Judge  on  the  Committee 
for  the  Quigley  Awards  for  1944. 

The  Quigley  Awards  are  an  established  institution  in  our 
industry  and  has  proved  its  definite  value  toward  stimulating 
the  efforts  of  theatre  managers  and  exploitation  staffs. 


January    22,  1944 


MANAGERS'    ROUND  TABLE 


53 


Awards  rank  tops;  render  service  to  industry'' 

—SAY  JUDGES 


"Satisfaction  to  Win'''' 

It  will  be  a  great  pleasure  to  serve  as  a  judge  on  the 
Quigley  Awards  Committee  for  1944. 

It  is  from  experience  that  I  commend  the  Quigley  Awards 
as  a  stimulating  medium  for  improving  box-office  grosses 
and  exploitation  efforts  of  the  men  and  women  in  the  field. 
I  know  because  I  was  one  of  the  men  in  the  field  and  for 
years  one  of  the  Managers'  Round  Table  and  entered  many 
Quigley  Award  competitions.  It  was  always  a  great  source 
of  satisfaction  to  me  to  win  an  Award  and  it  was  extremely 
gratifying  to  see  my  work  recognized.  In  the  final  analysis 
it  is  these  men  and  women  in  the  field  who  are  responsible 
for  the  ultimate  consumer  buying  tickets  at  the  individual 
box-offices  and  it  is  they  who  are  responsible  for  the  success 
of  the  individual  picture. 

—CnABdJES  SCHLAIFER,  Advertising  Manager, 
Twentieth  Century -^Fox  Film  Corp. 


ALEC  MOSS 

Director  of  Exploitation 
Paramount  Pictures,  Inc. 

Every  effort  that  stimulates  the  more  effective  use  of  ex- 
ploitation and  showmanship  on  the  part  of  exhibitors  is 
worth  while  and  should  be  encouraged.  There  is  a  need  for 
greater  aggressiveness  by  exhibitors  in  the  presentation  of 
the  advertising  and  exploitation  message  to  the  public.  As 
a  medium  for  the  continuous  encouragement  of  effective  ex- 
ploitation by  the  man  on  the  "firing  line,"  the  Quigley 
Awards  rank  as  tops  in  their  field. 

HARRY  MANDEL 

Director  Advertising  and  Publicity 
RKO  Theatres 

I  accept  with  pleasure  the  opportunity  of  serving  again 
as  a  Judge  on  your  Quigley  Awards  Committee. 

I  can  think  of  no  better  medium  which  affords  such  a 
marvelous  opp®rtunity  for  the  men  in  the  field  to  get  rec- 
ognition for  their  efforts. 

NATE  B.  SPINGOLD 

Vice-President 

Columbia  Pictures  Corporation 

I  will  be  very  glad  to  serve  as  a  Judge  on  the  Quigley 
Awards  Competition. 

There  is  no  question  in  my  mind  that  the  Quigley  Awards 
stimulate  thinking  in  a  branch  of  the  picture  business  that 
is  all  too  quickly  overlooked,  namely,  the  proper  exploita- 
tion effort  which  results  in  better  box  office  returns. 

E.  C.  GRAINGER 

President 

M.  A.  Shea  Theatrical  Enterprises 

As  the  head  of  a  theatre  company  operating  approximately 
fifty  theatres  I  urge  you  to  continue  the  Quigley  Awards. 

Speaking  for  our  own  group  of  theatres  I  assure  you 
that  this  contest  stimulates  our  individual  manager.  When- 
ever they  put  over  a  particularly  good  campaign  they  ad- 
vise me  that  they  send  it  in  to  the  Motion  Picture  Herald. 
They  like  to  see  how  their  compaign  stacks  up  against 
others  and  they  all  inform  me  they  get  a  lot  of  benefit  out 
of  the  spirit  of  competition  set  up  through  the  Awards. 


CHARLES  C.  MOSKOWITZ 

Vice-President 
Loeti/s,  Inc. 

Of  course,  I'll  be  happy  to  serve  as  a  Judge  in  the  Quigley 
Awards  for  1944.  Anything  we  can  do  to  further  this 
worthy  effort  will  be  done.  Your  plan  of  encouraging  and 
recognizing  showmanship  is  an  important  activity  of  modern 
show  business.  It  helps  the  industry  find  our  future  leaders. 

LOUIS  GOLDBERG 

Zone  Manager 
RKO  Theatres 

I  shall  be  very  happy  to  continue  to  serve  on  the  Judging 
Committee  for  the  1944  Quigley  Awards.  I  feel  these 
awards  are  an  incentive  for  the  men  in  the  field  and  give 
recognition  to  their  efforts. 

ALBERT  DEANE 

Director  Foreign  Publicity 
Paramount  Pictures,  Inc. 

The  Quigley  Awards'  record  of  accomplishment  in  this 
industry  is  best  attested  by  two  uncontestable  facts:  the 
growing  list  of  theatre  managers  and  exploiteers  who  have 
gained  promotion  through  participation  in  it,  and  the  man- 
ner in  which  its  name  has  become  the  standard  yardstick 
around  the  world  for  practical  motion  picture  exploitation. 

ARTHUR  L  MAYER 

Rialto  Theatre,  New  York  City 

I  shall  of  course  be  honored  to  again  act  as  a  judge  of  the 
Quigley  Awards  for  1944.  There  is  nothing  that  I  can  add 
to  the  statements  which  I  have  been  making  for  several 
years,  expressing  my  enthusiasm  over  this  activity  or  my 
appreciation  of  participating  in  it. 

ARTHUR  FRUDENFELD 

Divisional  Director 

RKO  Theatres,  Cincinnati 

I  shall  be  happy  to  serve  as  a  Judge  on  the  Quigley 
Awards  Committee  for  1944.  The  value  of  these  awards  in- 
crease year  by  .year  representing,  as  they  do,  a  composite 
picture  of  showmanship  ideas  across  the  nation. 

W.  R.  FERGUSON 

Director  of  Exploitation 
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  Pictures 

You  can  depend  on  the  writer  to  extend  fullest  cooperation 
as  a  judge  on  the  Committee  for  the  1944  Quigley  Awards 
Competition. 

This  event  is  of  real  importance  to  the  entire  motion  pic- 
ture industry.  Competitive  showmanship  of  this  calibre  can- 
not fail  to  enthuse  the  exhibitors  to  make  an  extra  effort  to 
secure  better  box  office  results. 

LEW  PRESTON 

Division  Manager 
Interboro  Circuit,  Brooklyn 

The  Managers'  Round  Table  is  a  splendid  organization, 
very  helpful,  very  constructive.  The  exploitation  ideas  the 
men  get  from  the  Herald  always  pay  dividends  at  the 
box  office. 

Insofar  as  the  heads  of  our  circuit  are  concerned,  they 
are  always  very  much  interested  in  any  recognition  the  boys 
in  the  field  receive. 


54 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


J  a  n  u  a  r 


2  2 


944 


Exploiting  the  New  Films 


How  the  recent  pictures  are  being  sold  at 
the  first  run  and  pre-release  date  showings 


'  LOST  ANCEL ' 

A  direct  tiein  with  local  distributors  for 
Coca-Cola  is  resulting  in  a  wealth  of  pub- 
licity for  theatres  playing  "Lost  Angel." 

By  contacting  tlie  distributor,  manager 
Ted  Teschner  arranged  to  have  2,500  win- 
dow strips  placed  in  all  stores  throughout 
two  counties  plugging  the  engagement  of 
the  picture  at  Loew's  Valentine  theatre,  in 
Toledo.  Ten  thousand  heralds  were  im- 
printed and  distributed  at  defense  plants  in 
the  area  with  the  Coca-Cola  people  halving 
the  cost. 

Ted's  campaign  included  a  Child  Photo 
Contest  which  was  inspired  by  Margaret 
O'Brien,  star  of  the  attraction.  Trailers 
were  run  in  both  local  circuit  houses  calling 
attention  to  the  fact  that  coupons  could  be 
obtained  at  the  box-office  entitling  holders 
to  a  free  S  by  10  photo  from  a  local  studio. 
Contestants  were  required  to  be  between  the 
ages  of  one  and  eight  years. 

Prizes  to  the  winners  totaled  $175  in 
War  Bonds.  The  Toledo  Union- Journal 
which  sponsored  the  contest  contributed  a 
$100  Bond  and  the  cooperating  studio  gave 
the  $25  Bond. 

A  40  by  60  was  placed  in  the  lobby  of  the 
Esquire  theatre  and  a  special  44  by  77  dis- 
play in  the  Valentine  listed  the  rules  of  the 
Contest.  Special  layouts  and  stories  were 
devoted  to  the  promotion  by  the  Union- 
Journal  which  included  art  on  Margaret 
O'Brien.  Ads  and  art  breaks  were  used  in 
20  out-of-town  newspapers,  the  CIO  and 
AFL  publications,  various  other  weeklies 
and  the  Jewish  Herald. 

Street  cars  and  buses  carried  a  quarter 
showing  on  the  picture.  One  week  in  ad- 
vance, paid  and  gratis  spot  announcements 
were  used  over  WTOL  and  WSPD.  A 
dry  cleaning  concern  and  local  newspaper 
distributors  permitted  trucks  to  be  ban- 
nered, .plugging  the  attraction,  theatre  and 
playdates. 

Peters  Lands  Beverage 
And  Tobacco  Tieups 

George  Peters,  manager  of  the  Loew  the- 
atre, in  Richmond,  Va.,  also  took  advan- 
tage of  the  Coca-Cola  tiein,  with  the  local 
beverage  distributor  spotting  window  stream- 
ers, bannering  delivery  trucks  and  distrib- 
uting 5,000  paper  napkins  to  downtown 
soda  fountains. 

Peters  tied  up  with  the  manufacturers  of 
Edgeworth  Tobacco  who  bannered  trucks 
and  plastered  windows  and  countercards  all 
over  town  advertising  the  picture. 

All  advertising  emanating  from  the  the- 
atre stressed  the  fact  that  the  story  of  "Lost 
Angel"  is  not  sad,  but  enjoyable,  "gay"  en- 
tertainment. The  theatre  lobby  and  foyer 
featured  bright,  colorful  enlargements  and 
displays  in  advance  and  a  large  title  trans- 
parency was  placed  on  the  orchestra  pit 
covering  and  illuminated  at  every  intermis- 
sion. 

A  radio  contest  was  staged  over  WRVA 
with  organist  Eddie  Weaver  asking  lis- 


teners to  identify  musical  numbers  with 
"Angel"  themes  on  lyrics.  The  station  is 
owned  by  the  makers  of  Edgeworth  Tobacco 
and  the  picture  received  free  plugs  from  the 
management. 

Parent-teacher  groups  were  contacted  by 
Peters  and  a  special  screening  was  arranged, 
with  the  English  department  of  the  high 
schools  sending  two  reviewers  from  each 
school  to  write  reviews  on  the  picture.  A 
$25  War  Bond  was  awarded  to  the  stu- 
dent who  wrote  the  best  review  with  the 
presentation  of  the  award  made  on  opening 
night  of  the  picture,  from  the  stage  of  the 
theatre. 

Doob  Scores  with 
Radio  Co-op 

For  his  advertising  campaign  on  "Lost 
Angel"  at  Loew's  Aldine,  Wilmington, 
Del.,  manager  Edgar  Doob  used  catchy 
underlines  for  two  weeks  in  advance  of  the 
playdate.  Special  stories  broke  in  the  dailies 
on  Margaret  O'Brien,  stressing  the  "Oscar" 


award  for  her  previous  characterization  "in 
"Journey  for  Margaret."  Photo  and  story 
breaks  were  planted  in  the  Sunday  Star  a 
week  before  opening. 

Still  boards  and  color  enlargements  were 
used  in  advance  in  the  theatre  lobby.  Pro- 
motions with  radio  broadcasts  included  a 
novel  contest  with  first  letters  of  song  titles 
spelling  "Lost  Angel."  Station  WDEL  in- 
terviewed Doob  with  material  gathered 
from  the  Question  and  Answer  form  listed 
in  the  press-book.  Doob  also  addressed  the 
Federation  of  Women's  Clubs  and  delivered 
with  particular  stress  on  the  picture. 

Manager  William  Saxton  and  publicist 
Gertrude  Bunchez  at  Loew's  Century  the- 
atre, Baltimore,  hit  on  a  novel  angle  which 
resulted  in  a  raft  of  publicity  for  the  pic- 
ture when  the  News  Post  adopted  the  idea 
and  devoted  columns  of  extra  space  to  the 
stunt. 

Four  little  girls  were  selected  from  four 
dififerent  institutions  in  the  city  and  four 
leading  citizens  were  asked  to  play  godpar- 
ent to  the  four  "Lost  Angels."   Mayor  Mc- 

{Continued  on  opposite  page) 


A  LAUGH-HAPPY 
FEAST  OF  SONG 
AND  STORY... 
BASED  ON  THE 
BROADWAY  HIT! 


Representative  display  ads  used 
by  E.  V.  Dinerman,  director  of 
advertising  and  publicity  for  the 
RKO  theatres,  in  Cincinnati. 
Above,  one  of  the  holdover  ads 
for  "Higher  and  Higher".  At 
right,  opening  day  ad  for  "Des- 
tination Tokyo",  at  the  Capitol 
theatre,  stresses  excitement  and 
drama  in  the  picture. 


he  get!  back, 
well  punt 
thf  town 

Sit       luiiiif  Jim  iiiuii  •  luiiiii  nm 


January    22,  1944 


MANAGERS'    ROUND  TABLE 


55 


'Tokyo''  salvage  drives  well  publicized 


Weitman^s  Spectacular  Display 


Credit  Robert  M.  Weitman,  managing  director  of  the  New  York  Paramount,  luith  one  of 
the  most  outstanding  lobby  displays  ever  conceived.  In  brilliant  colors,  the  tremendous  spec- 
tacle attracts  comment  from  almost  every  patron.  At  the  top  of  the  stairway,  the  two 
end  montage  scenes  revolve  on  mechanically  propelled  drums;  the  center  figure  of 
Ginger  Rogers  is  set  into  a  transparent  panel  with  changing  color  effects  from  the  rear. 


(Continued  from  opposite  page) 

Keldin;  J.  Hepburn,  director  of  the  War 
Community  Fund;  Walter  Ruth,  director  of 
the  War  Savings  Staff  of  Maryland;  and 
Captain  Regina  Hill  of  the  WAC  agreed  to 
play  the  parent  roles. 

In  the  name  of  Margaret  O'Brien,  the  the- 
atre then  played  host  to  the  group,  feting 
them  with  a  luncheon,  and  having  them  as 
guests  to  see  "Lost  Angel"  on  opening  day. 

"AROUND  THE  WORLD" 

Kay  Kyser's  nevirest  release,  "Around  the 
World,"  is  loaded  with  music  tieups.  Wit- 
ness the  campaign  put  on  by  Sid  Kleper, 
manager  of  the  Loew  Poli  Bijou,  in  New 
Haven,  Conn. 

Sid  reports  that  the  music  stores  went 
overboard  for  promotions,  with  displays  in 
every  window  and  on  every  music  counter 
in  town.  Kresge's  featured  a  song  plugger 
who  played  song  hits  from  the  picture  with 
added  theatre  credits  and  playdates  after 
each  number. 

Tieups  were  made  with  orchestra  leaders 
at  the  Taft  Hotel  and  U.S.O.  lounge  to 
plug  songs  from  the  picture.  Displays  were 
arranged  at  several  leading  hotels  and  100 
window  cards  were  spotted  at  choice  loca- 
tions around  the  city.  14x22  cards  were 
placed  near  all  juke  boxes  all  of  which  fea- 
tured recordings  from  the  picture. 

Kay  Kyser  records  were  played  over  the 
theatre  amplifying  system  for  recessional 
music  two  weeks  in  advance;  an  attractive 
lobby  set^iece  was  constructed  utilizing  11  by 
14  photos  and  stills;  and  lithos  were  pasted 
on  the  side  wall  of  the  theatre. 

Kleper  got  out  a  clever  novelty  herald  in 
the  form  of  a  Cruise  Enrollment  Certificate 
and  had  them  distributed  at  high  schools  and 
to  Yale  University  Cadets.  Another  circu- 
lar was  used  which  was  in  the  form  of  a 
trip  ticket.  The  trip  tickets  were  distrib- 
uted by  ballyhoo  boys  dressed  in  cap  and 
gown  wearing  false  whiskers  and  placarded 
with  signs  carrying  theatre  and  picture 
credits. 

Ushers  were  decked  out  in  Kay  Kyser 
caps  a  week  prior  to  playdate.  Kleper  also 
promoted  a  15-minute  broadcast  over  WELI 
featuring  transcribed  music  of  Kay  Kyser 
recordings. 

"DESTINATION  TOKYO" 

Leo  Rosen,  manager  of  Warner's  Strand 
theatre,  Albany,  N.  Y.,  cashed  in  with  some 
fine  publicity  for  "Destination  Tokyo,"  by 
virtue  of  an  unusual  tiein  with  the  Knick- 
erbocker News. 

Rosen  sold  the  newspaper  publisher  the 
idea  of  a  junior  issue  of  the  paper  for  ser- 
vicemen throughout  the  world.  Twenty  thou- 
sand copies  were  run  ofif  and  distributed  ex- 
clusively at  the  theatre  during  the  engage- 
ment of  the  picture. 

The  newspaper  came  through  with  daily 
stories,  editorials,  cartoons  and  art  layouts, 
each  of  which  carried  prominent  mention  of 
the  theatre  and  the  playdates  for  "Destina- 
tion Tokyo". 

Rosen  bannered  all  junk  yards  and  scrap 
heaps  in  the  city  with  signs  reading  "Des- 
tination Tokyo"  with  theatre  copy  tied  in. 
The  Times  Union  came  through  with  pic- 


tures and  stories  depicting  eager  kids  adding 
to  the  scrap  collections. 

Both  papers  devoted  layouts  and  story 
breaks  to  the  regular  showing  of  the  picture 
which  were  continued  during  the  current 
showing  and  the  hold-over. 

Twenty  3-sheets  were  posted  around  the 
business  area;  500  half-sheet  window  cards 
were  spotted  in  good  locations  and  advance 
trailers  were  shown  on  the  circuit's  theatre 
screens  in  the  city.  A  false  front  was  built 
and  the  theatre  was  decorated  with  flags 
and  pennants  for  the  opening.  Two  free 
spot  announcements  were  secured  over 
WABY  and  station  WOKO  also  came 
through  with  some  free  plugs,  as  well  as 
spot  announcements. 

To  exploit  the  showing  of  "Destination 
Tokyo"  at  the  Capitol  theatre,  Madison, 
Wise,  manager  Marlowe  Conner  invited  the 
entire  personn€l  at  the  University  of  Wis- 
consin to  see  the  first  performance.  Nearly 
2,000  bluejackets  paraded  to  the  theatre  and 
back  to  their  quarters  bearing  banners  plug- 
ging the  picture  and  the  theatre. 

Cincinnati  Campaign  Tied 
To  Local  Salvage  Drive 

For  the  Cincinnati  opening  of  "Destina- 
tion Tokyo",  E.  V.  Dinerman,  publicity 
director  for  the  RKO  theatres  there,  and 
assistant  publicity  director  Noah  Schechter 
tied  in  directly  to  the  local  Salvage  Drive 
with  excellent  results. 

The  cooperation  of  the  press,  1,700  Boy 
Scouts,  600  soldiers,  300  truck  drivers  and 
hundreds  of  Red  Cross  workers  was  enlisted. 
Newspaper  trucks,  Red  Cross  cars  and  can- 
teens, and  vehicles  of  all  types,  both  Army 


and  commercial,  were  placarded  with  ban- 
ners reading  "Destination  Tokyo". 

Several  hundred  trucks  were  promoted  to 
make  the  pickups  of  paper,  metal,  fats  and 
rags,  with  soldiers  and  Boy  Scouts  assist- 
ing the  drivers. 

"WHAT  A  WOMAN" 

Matt  Saunders,  manager  of  the  Loew  Poli 
theatre,  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  put  on  an  exten- 
sive campaign  for  the  opening  of  "What  a 
Woman"  which  included  set  pieces  and 
trailers  being  displayed  at  the  other  two  cir- 
cuit theatres  in  the  city. 

Saunders  spotted  25  window  cards  in 
prominent  locations  around  town  and  tied 
up  for  many  window  and  hotel  displays;  he 
imprinted  and  distributed  2,500  menu  cards 
at  leading  eateries  and  obtained  some  free 
plugs  for  the  picture  from  the  orchestra 
leader  at  the  popular  Y.  M.  C.  A.  dances. 
Two  30  by  40  displays  were  used  in  the 
lobby  well  in  advance  of  playdates  and  two 
transparent  40  by  60s  were  set  up  in  the 
foyer  of  the  theatre. 

All  ads  were  underlined  for  a  week  in 
advance  with  the  newspaper  campaign 
building  up  to  large  display  ads  the  day  be- 
fore opening,  opening  day  and  day  after 
opening. 

The  Courier  and  Register  devoted  art 
layouts  and  stories  to  the  picture  before 
opening  and  during  the  current  showing. 
Readers  were  obtained  gratis  in  the  New 
Haven  Register  and  in  several  weekly  out- 
of-town  papers.  A  special  ad  was  taken  and 
free  publicity  was  promoted  in  a  local  Italian 
weekly. 


56 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    22,  1944 


The  Quigley 
Awards  Rules 

Entries  must  be  forwarded  as  soon 
as  possible  after  exploitation  is  com- 
pleted. 

There  are  no  classifications  of  population 
or  sittiation.  Every  entrant  starts  from 
scratch — circuit  or  independent,  first-run 
or  subsequent,  downtown  or  neighborhood, 
big  city  or  small  toum. 

• 

Consistency  of  effort  is  a  paramount  con- 
sideration in  the  Quigley  Awards.  One-shot 
campaigns  or  ideas  are  not  eligible  for  con- 
sideration. 

• 

Whole  campaigns  need  necessarily  not  be 
submitted  but  are,  of  course,  acceptable. 
Single  ideas  or  promotions  are  eligible  for 
consideration  if  the  entrant  is  a  consistent 
contributor. 

• 

Entrants  most  often  represented  in  each 
Quarter  will  receive  first  consideration  for 
the  Quarterly  Awards. 

• 

A  single  promotion  may  include  more 
than  one  slant,  providing  all  slants  relate 
to  the  original  idea.  Thus,  a  single  contest 
promotion  may  be  carried  in  newspapers,  on 
the  radio,  in  windows,  ads,  lobby,  etc. 

No  fancy  entries  are  necessary.  Costly 
and  time-using  "Gingerbread"  decorations 
are  not  encouraged.  Showmanship  only 
coimts. 

In  addition  to  exploitation  on  pictures — 
features,  shorts  or  serials — entries  may  be 
made  on  institutional  promotions.  Exploita- 
tion on  stage  shows,  presentations,  etc.,  are 
also  definitely  eligible  for  consideration. 


A  single  idea  may  be  confined  to  a  win- 
dow, contest,  newspaper  or  program  pub- 
licity, street  stunt,  lobby  display,  ad  of 
ad  series,  newspaper  section,  radio  tiein,  etc. 


One  Plaque  and  seven  Scrolls  of  Honor 
will  be  awarded  each  Quarter.  Those  win- 
ning these  honors  will  be  entered  for  the 
Grand  Awards  competition.  In  addition, 
entries  of  merit  will  be  awarded  Citations. 


Evidence  proving  authenticity  of  each 
entry  must  be  submitted,  such  as  photos, 
tear  sheets,  programs,  heralds,  ads,  let- 
ters, etc. 

Address  all  entries  to: 

Quigley  Awards  Committee 
Managers'  Round  Table 
1270  Sixth  Avenue 
New  York  20,  N.  Y. 


Quigley  Awards  Contenders 


The  men  and  women  be 
manship  within  the  past 
outstanding  showmen. 

LIGE  BRIEN 

Kenyon,  PiHsburgh,  Pa. 

GERTRUDE  BUNCHEZ 
Century,  Baltimore,  Md. 

ELMER  BRENNAN 
Bay,  Green  Bay,  Wis. 

MORT  BERMAN 
Orpheum,  Springfield,  III. 

JOSEPH  BOYLE 
Poll,  Norwich,  Conn. 

CHRIS  CHAMALES 
Roxy,  Delphi,  Ind. 

MARLOWE  CONNER 
Capitol,  Madison,  Wis. 

CLAYTON  CORNELL 
Strand,  Amsterdam,  N.  Y. 

TOM  DELBRIDGE 
Vendome,  Nashville,  Tenn. 


low  are  the  first  in  1944  to  have  submitted  evidence  of  show- 
fortnight,  which  justifies  their  names  being  placed  on  the  list  of 


ED  GOTH 

Fabian,  Staten  Island,  N.  Y. 

ARTHUR  GROOM 
State,  Memphis,  Tenn. 

AL  HATOFF 

Berkshire,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

J.  D.  HILLHOUSE 
State,  Galveston,  Tex. 

JAMES  J.  KING 

Keith  Memorial,  Boston,  Mass. 

LEONARD  KRASKA 
Dorchester,  Dorchester,  Mass. 

BERT  LEIGHTON 
Grand,  Lancaster,  Pa. 

JACK  MATLACK 
Broadway,  Portland,  Ore. 

LOUIS  B.  MAYER 
Palace,  Cleveland,  Ohio 


GEORGE  PETERS 
Loew's,  Richmond,  Va. 

JESSE  PULCIPHER 

Loew's  Palace,  Washington,  D.  C. 

LES  PUGSLEY 

Empress,  Edmonton,  Alta.,  Canada* 

JOSEPH  SAMARTANO 
Loew's  Poli,  Meriden,  Conn. 

MATT  SAUNDERS 
Poll,  Bridgeport,  Conn. 

HARRY  D.  STEARN 
Manring,  Middlesboro,  Ky. 

MOLLIE  STICKLES 
Strand,  Waterbury,  Conn. 

TED  TESCHNER 
Valentine,  Toledo,  Ohio 

H.  F.  WILSON 

Regent,  Brockville,  Ont.,  Canada 


Sells  "Crazy  Show"  with 
Novel  Campaign 

Louis  E.  Mayer,  manager  of  the  RKO 
Palace  theatre,  in  Cleveland,  used  an  exten- 
sive exploitation  campaign  to  put  over  his 
stage  presentation,  "Crazy  Show  of  1944," 
which  shared  the  program  with  "Happy 
Land." 

Mayer's  newspaper  ads  were  run  upside 
down  with  the  title  in  reverse.  His  entire 
lobby  was  decorated  with  crazy  sayings  and 
illustrations  stressing  the  crazy  theme.  He 
filled  a  large  glass  bowl  with  nuts  and  ran  a 
guessing  contest  with  guest  tickets  to  the 
winners.  A  distortion  mirror  with  tiein 
copy  was  placed  in  a  corner  of  the  foyer. 
The  doorman  and  usherettes  were  dressed 
in  clown  costumes  for  a  week  in  advance  of 
the  playdates  and  a  barrel  was  placed  near 
the  ticket  box  with  a  sign  requesting  sug- 
gestions from  patrons  for  ideas  on  the 
"Crazy  Show." 

Fifty  local  druggists  were  invited  to  a 
special  screening  of  the  picture,  "Happy 
Land."  500  letters  were  mailed  to  all  phar- 
macists in  the  area  and  50,000  heralds  were 
distributed  in  drug  stores. 


ries.  One  side  of  the  book  mark  contained 
the  titles  of  London's  books  now  available 
at  the  libraries,  and  the  other  side  was  an 
ad  on  the  picture  with  full  credit  to  the 
Grand  theatre. 

Five  hundred  printed  arrows,  with  copy 
reading:  "See  Jack  London"  were  placed 
on  all  lamp  posts  throughout  the  downtown 
business  area.  The  arrows  were  backed  on 
each  post  so  as  to  attract  the  attention  of 
both  pedestrians  and  motorists. 

The  five-minute  transcription  was  used  on 
radio  station  WATL.  The  same  station  also 
gave  the  film  several  spot  plugs.  Bulletin 
boards  in  prominent  hotels  carried  an- 
nouncements of  the  opening.  The  front  of 
the  theatre  was  decorated  with  special  lobby 
pieces  playing  up  the  dramatic  highlights 
in  the  picture. 


Tie-ups,  Radio  Coverage 
For  "Jack  London"  by  Fry 

Several  effective  tie-ups,  newspaper  and 
radio  coverage  were  among  the  highlights 
of  the  exploitation  campaign  put  over  by 
manager  Boyd  Fry,  of  Loew's  Grand  thea- 
tre, Atlanta,  for  the  opening  of  "Jack  Lon- 
don." 

A  week  prior  to  the  picture's  opening  the 
Journal  and  Constitution  both  devoted 
stories  and  art  featuring  Michael  O'Shea 
and  Susan  Hayward,  the  stars  of  the  attrac- 
tion. 

Cashing  in  on  the  popularity  of  the  au- 
thor and  many  of  his  famous  books,  five 
thousand  book  marks  were  gotten  out  for 
all  the  branches  of  the  local  Carnegie  libra- 


Broadcasts  Sell  New  Year's  Show 

To  help  sell  his  New  Year's  Eve  show  at 
the  Regent  theatre,  in  Brockville,  Ont., 
Harry  F.  Wilson  put  on  an  advertising 
campaign  which  included  news  broadcasts 
over  the  local  radio  station  CFER  from 
Monday  to  Friday.  Other  advertising  in- 
cluded a  special  front  display,  special  lobby 
display  and  trailers  which  were  run  for  over 
a  week  in  advance. 


THEATRE  MANAGEMENT  RECORD 
AND  ANNUAL  TAX  REGISTER 

■  Easy  accounting  system  that  enables 
you  to  keep  an  accurate,  complete  and  up- 
to-the-minute  record  of  the  Q  Q 
business    of   your   theatre.     Mm  postpaid 

QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP 

ROCKEFELLER   CENTER,    NEW   YORK  (20) 


January    22,  1944 


MANAGERS'    ROUND  TABLE 


57 


PERSONALS  ON  SHOWMEN 


TONY  De  CARLO,  manager  of  Warners' 
New  Palace  theatre,  Philadelphia,  was 
switched  to  the  circuit's  Family  theatre. 
Other  circuit  changes  in  the  city  have  Fred 
Sarr  mo.ving  from  the  Auditorium  to  the 
New  Palace  and  George  McHugh  from  the 
Family  to  the  Auditorium.  Ray  Rendleman 
was  named  manager  of  Warners'  Poplar 
theatre,  which  re-opened  for  week-end  oper- 
ations. Jack  Howard  returned  to  the  circuit 
as  assistant  manager  of  the  Liberty-Tacony 
theatre,  and  Annetta  Mervine  resigned  as 
assistant  manager  of  the  Warner  theatre  in 
Reading,  Pa. 

GEORGE  B.  REINERT  was  named  man- 
ager of  Wilmer  &  Vincent's  Rialto  theatre, 
Allentown,  Pa.,  succeeding  Leo  Trainer, 
who  resigned  several  months  ago. 

NICK  FOREST  has  been  named  manager 
of  the  Rex  theatre,  Detroit.  Other  mana- 
gerial appointments  in  that  city  include : 
Herbert  Boughey,  who  goes  to  the  Seville ; 
Wilbur  McCarty,  Courtesy  theatre;  Sidney 
Vincent,  Redford  theatre ;  Alex  Zesser,  New 
Home  theatre  and  Marty  Grove  assigned  as 
relief  manager  for  the  Komer  and  Goldberg 
houses. 

JOE  KLINE  is  now  managing  the  Park 
theatre  in  Brooklyn  for  the  Interboro  cir- 
cuit. Al  Hatoff,  formerly  at  the  Park,  has 
been  assigned  to  the  Berkshire,  relieving 
Max  Schoenberg,  who  returns  to  his  former 
post  as  manager  of  the  Vanity.  Mike  Wex- 
elblatt,  recently  moved  up  to  the  Vanity  from 
the  Sunset,  returns  to  his  former  post  to  re- 
lieve George  King,  resigned. 

PVT.  ARTHUR  R.  DENIS,  formerly  with 
the  Associated  Theatres,  of  Providence, 
R.  I.,  has  announced  his  engagement  to  Miss 
Jean  Smith,  of  Providence.  Mr.  Denis  is 
now  serving  overseas  in  the  Persian  Gulf 
Command. 

CLIFFORD  BOYD  has  been  reappointed 
manager  of  the  Hamp  theatre,  in  Northamp- 
ton, Mass. 

WILLIAM  HASTINGS,  manager  of  the 
RKO  Grand  theatre,  Cincinanti,  suffered  a 
broken  arm  and  other  injuries  when  the 
car  in  which  he  was  riding  overturned.  He 
was  returning  from  a  hunting  trip  with 
Eddie  Riesenberger,  manager  of  Keith's. 
Riesenberger  escaped  injury. 

MURRAY  HOWARD  has  been  named 
manager  of  the  Warner  Strand,  Hartford, 
Conn.,  replacing  Sam  Saxton.  Murray,  un- 
til recently,  was  in  the  Army. 

PFC.  JOE  HORANZY,  formerly  assistant 
manager  at  the  Warner  Embassy,  New 
Britain,  Conn.,  has  been  appointed  aviation 
cadet  in  the  Army  Air  Corps. 

HELEN  Mclaughlin,  connected  with 
the  Palace  theatre,  Meriden,  Conn.,  since 
1929,  has  been  appointed  manager  of  the 
Capitol  theatre,  Middletown. 

MRS.  MARTHA  LANCASTER,  for  five 
years  on  the  office  staff,  was  promoted  to 
assistant  manager  of  Loew's  theatre,  in 
Reading,  Pa. 


HAPPY  BIRTHDAY 


January  I6fh 

Ed  Penn 
J.  H.  Diller 
J.  L.  Shasteen 
Joseph  D.  Nevison 
Frederick  Tickell 

17th 

Isser  Singerman 
Bernard  N.  Bisbee 
John  Ewing 
Paul  E.  Cornwall 
George  R.  Shepp 
Howard  R.  McGhee 
Leon  Ehrlich 
Donald  W.  Buhrmester 

18th 

Clarence  J.  Olbrich 
I.  M.  Hirshblond 
William  Weiss 
Theodore  L.  Smalley 
Bill  Nash 
Chris  G.  Holmes 
Arlo  Clausen 
Alberf  J.  Blasko 
Jack  Fretwell 


19+h  ' 

Ralph  W.  Weir 

20lh 

Charles  M.  Hurley 
William  H. Turner 
John  Monroe 
Guy  W.  Hevia 

2ist 

Alvah  Barber 
M.  J.  Reed 
Ray  Tubman 
Warren  M.  Fordyce 

22nd 

K.  L.  Adams 
Thomas  DelVecchio 
George  Clariton  ' 
Homer  R.  Hisey 
Ellison  Loth 
Charles  Martina 
William  Wittenberg 
Harry  E.  Creasey 
Calvin  Council 
Wesley  F.  Pratzner 
Elliott  Wolf 
Lewis  Dreisbach 


ARNOLD  STERRISON,  former  manager 
of  the  Elm  Theatre,  Elmwood,  111.,  has  been 
appointed  manager  of  the  Mont  Clare  thea- 
tre, Chicago. 

ROBERT  W.  JENKINS,  formerly  Assist- 
ant Manager  of  Balaban  and  Katz  Gateway 
theatre,  Chicago,  is  now  Assistant  Man- 
ager of  Warner  Brothers'  Tower  theatre, 
Milwaukee. 

LOUIS  B.  GOODMAN,  manager  of  the 
Lincoln  theatre,  Detroit,  has  been  inducted 
into  the  Army. 


PHIL  KLINE  has  received  an  honorable 
discharge  from  the  Army  and  is  now  man- 
aging the  Vogue  theatre,  in  Chicago.  Other 
former  theatremen  recently  discharged, 
honorably,  who  have  returned  to  active 
management,  are:  Bernard  Zelenko,  Loew's 
Valencia,  Jamaica,  N.  Y. ;  Glen  Caldwell, 
Aurora,  Mo. ;  Milton  Brown,  Patio,  Free- 
port,  111. ;  Tony  Sarvis,  Times  Square,  De- 
troit, and  Nick  Forrest,  who  becomes  su- 
pervisor of  the  Broder  theatres,  Detroit. 

THURSTON  WAYNER  is  the  new  man- 
ager at  the  Telenews  theatre,  Buffalo. 
Managerial  changes  in  Chicago  places  Ray- 
mond Kenny  in  charge  of  the  Rhodes  the- 
atre and  Cornelius  Szakatis  at  the  Cosmo. 

FRANK  GREENWALD  has  been  named 
manager  of  the  Jewel  theatre,  Cleveland. 
In  the  same  city,  Bernard  McGrainer  as- 
sumes new  duties  as  assistant  manager  of 
the  Ohio  theatre,  with  Gerald  Ulion  in  a 
similar  capacity  at  the  State. 

AL  LANDIE  has  been  assigned  to  Loew's 
theatre  in  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  as  student 
manager. 

HERBERT  MARK,  recently  out  of  the 
Army,  has  been  named  manager  of  the 
Fenway  theatre,  in  the  Bronx,  N.  Y. 

IRVING  SIEGEL,  formerly  at  the  Sun 
theatre,  Brooklyn,  has  been  transferred  to 
the  Hollywood,  replacing  Cy  Barr  who  takes 
over  at  the  Sun. 

MORRIS  ROSENTHAL,  manager  of  the 
Loew  Poll  Majestic  theatre  in  Bridgeport, 
Conn.,  was  a  visitor  to  New  York  and  the 
Round  Table.  Rosenthal  is  recuperating 
from  an  appendectomy  and  hopes  to  assume 
his  former  duties  within  a  few  days. 


Round  Table  Visitors 


Photos  by  Staff  Photographer 

Corp.  John  Capuano,  U.S.M.C.,  left,  formerly  located  at  th"  Vortway  theatre,  Brooklyn, 
visits  the  Round  Table  ivhile  home  on  holiday  leave.  Right,  Pfc.  Joe  Rinzler,  formerly 
with  the  Randforce  and  Endicott  circuits,  in  Brooklyn,  is  another  visitor  while  on  fur- 
lough from  Fine  Camp,  N.  Y. 


58 

RCA  Equipment 
Now  Available 
For  Theatres 


A  limited  quantity  of  RCA  film  equipment  is 
being  made  available  to  civilian  purchasers  dur- 
ing the  first  half  of  this  year,  it  was  announced 
in  a  letter  sent  to  all  RCA  theatre  supply  deal- 
ers by  Homer  B.  Snook,  manager  of  RCA's 
theatre  equipment  sales.  The  means  for  ob- 
taining WPB  approval  of  such  sales  are  pro- 
vided under  WPB  Limitation  Order  L-325. 

The  equipment  will  include  small  and  me- 
dium-sized RCA  sound  equipments,  BX-80 
Brenkert  projectors,  N-lOO  Enarc  lamps,  BX-12 
bases,  503S-type  tube  rectifiers,  and  PR-76  cop- 
per oxide  rectifiers,  dealers  were  advised.  Some 
of  this  equipment  is  available  for  immediate 
shipment,  Mr.  Snook  said. 

Exhibitors  who  may  be  eligible  for  such 
equipment  under  Limitation  Order  L-325  are, 
roughly,  those  who  can  show  that  replacement 
of  such  equipment  is  necessary  for  the  main- 
tenance of  civilian  morale  in  their  communities, 
or  for  other  reasons  related  to  the  war  pro- 
gram. Such  necessity  might  be  considered  to 
exist  where  present  equipment  is  completely 
worn  out  and  beyond  repair,  or  totally  destroyed 
by  fire,  flood  or  similar  catastrophe,  and  where 
remaining  facilities  do  not  adequately  meet  the 
community's  needs.  In  exceptional  cases  in- 
volving insufficient  amusement  facilities,  an  ex- 
hibitor may  be  eligible  for  equipment  for  initial 
installation  rather  than  replacement. 

Dealers  were  reminded  in  the  letter  that  per- 
mission obtained  from  WPB  by  RCA  to  cover 
equipment  ordered  by  a  dealer  for  a  specific 
sale  to  a  theatre  or  Government  agency  consti- 
tutes authorization  for  the  entire  transaction. 
When  a  dealer  sells  equipment  from  his  stock, 
however,  even  though  WPB  approval  was  ob- 
tained by  RCA  to  cover  its  sale  to  the  dealer, 
the  dealer  must  apply  to  the  Service  Equipment 
Division  of  WPB  in  Washington  for  approval 
for  his  sale. 

Columbia  Stockholders 
Reelect  Officers 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  stockholders  of  Co- 
lumbia Pictures  Corporation  held  Tuesday  in 
the  New  York  home  office  of  the  company,  the 
following  members  of  the  board  were  reelected 
to  serve  for  the  ensuing  year :  Harry  Cohn, 
Jack  Cohn,  A.  Schneider,  A.  Montague,  N.  B. 
Spingold,  L.  J.  Barbano,  Leo  M.  Blancke. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  directors  im- 
mediately following  the  stockholders  meeting 
the  following  officers  were  reelected :  Harry 
Cohn,  president ;  Jack  Cohn,  executive  vice- 
president  ;  A.  Schneider,  vice-president  and 
treasurer ;  Sidney  Buchman,  A.  Montague,  N. 
B.  Spingold,  B.  B.  Kahane,  L.  J.  Barbano,  Jo- 
seph A.  McConville,  vice-presidents ;  Charles 
Schwartz,  secretary ;  Mortimer  Wormser,  Leo 
Jaffe,  assistant  treasurers ;  David  Fogelson, 
Duncan  Cassell,  assistant  secretaries ;  Warren 
Sharpe,  comptroller. 

Of  the  total  outstanding  stock  of  the  com- 
pany, over  80  per  cent  was  represented  by 
proxy  of  which  an  overwhelming  majority 
voted  to  restore  the  salaries  of  Harry  Cohn 
and  Jack  Cohn  to  their  1939  level  and  in  favor 
of  the  issuance  of  stock  purchase  options  noted 
in  the  proxy  to  A.  Schneider. 

The  management  indicated  that  the  estimated 
earnings  of  the  second  quarter,  which  ended 
in  December,  compares  with  and  possibly  may 
exceed  the  earnings  in  the  first  quarter,  which 
ended  last  September,  which  amounted  to  $1,- 
500,000  before  taxes  and  $480,000  after  taxes. 

The  Columbia  board  Tuesday  declared  a  divi- 
dent  of  68^  cents  per  share  on  the  $2.75  con- 
vertible preferred  stock,  payable  February  15  to 
stockholders  of  record  February  1. 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


IN  NEWSREELS 


MOVIETONE  NEWS— Vol.  26,  No.  3»-President  out- 
lines win-the-war  plans.  .  .  .  American  task  force 
is  attacked  by  enemy  torpedo  planes.  .  .  .  U.  S. 
fighter  planes  batter  Jap  ships.  .  .  .  Toronto  fire 
threatens  coal.  .  .  .  Boats  for  invasion.  .  .  .  Ele- 
phants in  the  war.  .  .  .  Canadian  ashcans  for  Adolf. 
.  .  .  Jug  McSpaden  wins  War  Bonds  in  golf  tourna- 
ment. .  .  .  Football  in  Africa. 

MOVIETONE  NEWS— Vol.  26,  No.  40— U.  S.  forces 

battle  to  oust  Japs  from  key  Pacific  bases.  .  .  . 
Scharnhorst  sinking-  by  British  ends  Nazi  naval 
threat.  .  .  New  ship  honors  Carole  Lombard.  .  .  . 
Mrs.  Roosevelt  and  Mary  Pickford  ..open  March  of 
Dimes  campaign.  .  .  .  Dangerous  job  at  Hercules 
Powder  Company.  .  .  .  Australian  dog  show. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY— Vol.  15,  No.  237— Roosevelt 
urges  labor  draft  law.  .  .  .  Navy  whittles  Jap  air 
power  in  Marshall  Island  attack.  .  .  .  Republicans 
at  Chicago  parley  open  1944  presidential  campaign. 
.  .  .  Mrs.  Catt,  85,  locks  to  the  future.  .  .  Elephants 
used  at  war.  .  .  .  Boom  for  airmen.  .  .  .  Arab  bowl 
football  special. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY— Vol.  15,  No.  238— U.  S. 
Marines  take  Cape  Gloucester.  .  .  .  S.S.  Carole 
Lombard  launched.  .  .  .  12-star  mother  enlists  as 
War  Bond  Minute  Man.  .  .  .  First  Lady  and  Mary 
Pickford  open  March  of  Dimes  drive.  .  .  .  Dog 
show.  .  .  .  Stars  go  ice  boating. 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS— Not  4ft-GOP  drive  opens. 
.  .  .  Pistols  for  the  invasion.  .  .  .  Nazi  plane 
"brought  back  alive."  .  .  .  President  Roosevelt  gives 
Congress  five-point  legislative  program.  .  .  .  Bat- 
tle for  the  Marshals. 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS— No.  41— Duluth's  curling 
classic.  .  .  .  Listen  America:  "Let's  all  back  the 
attack."  .  .  .  Mrs.  Van  Coutren  sells  first  Bond. 
.  .  .  Launching  of  S.S.  Carole  Lombard.  .  .  .  Mary 
Pickford  stars  again.  .  .  .  Australia  dogs  outclass 
kangaroos.  .  .  .  Portrait  of  Pacific  war. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS— Vol.  IS,  No.  42— Roosevelt  out- 
lines "Second  Bill  of  Rights."  .  .  .  Down  85  Jap 
planes.  .  .  .  Papuans  fight  with  Aussies.  .  .  .  Ele- 
phants aid  war  in  Burma.  .  .  .  Yank  teams  battle 
in  Arab  bowl. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS— Vol.  IS,  No.  43— Air,  sea  lane 
attack  wins  Cape  Gloucester.  .  .  .  Hold  hearings  on 
prohibition.  .  .  .  Dog  fashion  show.  .  .  .  Launching 
of  S.S.  Carole  Lombard. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREEL— Vol.  17,  No.  259—85  Jap 
planes  bagged.  .  .  .  President's  annual  message.  .  .  . 
Miracle  fire  fighter.  .  .  .  AAF  nurses  in  China.  .  .  . 
Angelo  Bertelli  wins  Heisman  trophy.  .  .  .  Joe  E. 
Brown  visits  Yank  troops.  .  .  .  Horseracing.  .  . 
Golf  winner  gets  War  Bonds.  .  .  .  Elephants  in 
India. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREE^-Vol.  17,  No.  260— Inva- 
sion of  Cape  Gloucester.  .  .  .  MacArthur's  strategy. 
.  .  .  March  of  Dimes.  .  .  .  S.S.  Carole  Lombard  is 
launched.  .  .  .  Canine  show  in  Australia.  .  .  .  Ice 
boat  show. 

ALL  AMERICAN  NEWS— Vol.  2,  No.  65— Red  Cross 
social  center  in  Britain.  .  .  .  Dentist  gets  false 
teeth  patent.  .  .  .  Bootblack  erects  "Y"  for  Negro 
boys.  .  .  .  March  of  Dimes.  .  .  .  Samara  wins 
wrestling  match. 


Legion  Puts  Three  Films 
In  "B"  Classification 

Of  four  pictures  reviewed  by  the  National 
Legion  of  Decency  this  week,  three,  "El  Que 
Tenga  Un  Amor,"  "The  Miracle  of  Morgan's 
Creek"  and  "The  Sultan's  Daughter"  were 
classified  "B",  objectionable  in  part.  The  other, 
"What  a  Man,"  received  an  "A-1"  classifica- 
tion, unobjectionable  for  general  patronage. 


Juvenile  Delinquency  Shows 
60  Per  Cent  Increase 

Juvenile  court  officials  of  Johnson  City,  Tenn., 
have  announced  that  there  was  a  60  per  cent 
increase  in  juvenile  delinquency  during  1943. 
Steps  have  been  taken  to  ban  midnight  shows 
at  theatres,  and  a  9 :30  P.M.  curfew  law  is 
being  enforced  to  prevent  young  girls  from 
entering  bars. 


Smith  President  of  ITOMA 

W.  A.  Smith,  owner  of  the  Majestic  theatre, 
Akron,  Ohio,  has  been  elected  president  of 
Independent  Theatre  Owners  and  Managers 
Association  of  Akron.  Mr.  Smith  succeeds 
R.  E.  Paulus,  of  the  Spicer  theatre.  Other 
officers  elected  were  Frank  Hensen,  Loew's, 
and  Richard  Romwebber  of  the  State. 


January    22,  1944 

FCC  to  Permit 
Press  Operation 
Of  Radio  Stations 

The  Federal  Communications  Commission  in 
Washington  voted  this  week  to  allow  newspa- 
per ownership  of  radio  stations  without  estab- 
lishing any  general  rule  on  the  issue.  This 
brings  to  a  close  a  long  inquiry  undertaken  at 
the  request  of  President  Roosevelt. 

More  than  two  years  ago  the  FCC  began  an 
inquiry  into  whether  the  joint  ownership  of 
radio  stations  and  newspapers  was  detrimental 
to  the  public  interest.  While  the  decision  closes 
the  record  and  dismisses  the  inquiry  and  pro- 
ceedings, its  wording  leaves  the  commission 
free  to  decide  against  a  newspaper  as  opposed 
to  a  non-newspaper  owner  when  both  are  ap- 
plicants for  a  broadcasting  license. 

The  FCC  recognizes  the  problems  involved 
in  the  broader  field  of  the  control  of  radio  sta- 
tions and  the  importance  of  avoiding  monopoly 
in  radio  communications.  The  Commission  has 
indicated  that  diversification  of  radio  control 
is  desirable  and  does  not  wish  to  discourage 
legally  qualified  persons  from  applying  for  li- 
censes, but  does  encourage  a  maximum  number 
of  qualified  persons  to  enter  the  radio  communi- 
cations field  to  permit  them  to  use  all  inven- 
tions and  improvements  to  insure  good  public 
radio  service. 

The  Commission  said  that  it  would  be  in  the 
public  interest  not  to  permit  concentration  of 
control  of  radio  stations  in  a  few. 


Discuss  High 
Speed  Camera 

The  high  speed  motion  picture  camera  was 
analyzed  and  explained  in  detail  for  the  At- 
lantic Coast  Section  of  the  Society  of  Motion 
Picture  Engineers,  at  a  meeting  Wednesday 
night  at  the  Hotel  Pennsylvania,  New  York. 

Speakers  were  Martin  Oilman,  of  the  Gen- 
eral Radio  Company,  on  "The  General  Radio 
High  Speed  Stroboscopic  Recorder" ;  R.  K. 
Waggerhauser,  of  the  Eastman  Kodak  Com- 
pany, on  "The  Eastman  High  Speed  Camera, 
Type  3" ;  and  Frank  Nickel,  Jr.,  of  the  Western 
Electric  Company,  on  "Fastax:  An  Ultra  High 
Speed  Motion  Picture  Camera." 

The  members  also  saw  a  film,  "Airacobra," 
the  papers  following  this  showing.  The  meet- 
ing was  called  by  C.  R.  Keith,  chairman  of 
the  Section. 


Ring  Heads  Cincinnati  Union 

Charles  Ring  has  been  elected  president  of 
the  Cincinnati  operators'  Local  327,  at  the  an- 
nual meeting.  Walter  Partner  was  chosen 
vice-president ;  John  Krebs,  business  representa- 
tive; E'arl  Wagner,  alternate  business  repre- 
sentative and  corresponding  and  financial  sec- 
retary ;  Gale  Murney,  recording  secretary- 
treasurer  and  Arthur  Wright,  sergeant-at- 
arms. 


Warner  Films  Set  Records 

Two  Warner  Brothers  pictures,  "Destination 
Tokyo,"  playing  at  the  Broadway  theatre,  Port- 
land, Ore.,  and  "Old  Acquaintance,"  at  the  Or- 
pheum  and  Playhouse  there,  set  new  house  rec- 
ords in  their  first  week  of  showings,  the  com- 
pany announced. 


Lynch  Leaves  for  Coast 

Fred  Lynch,  publicity  and  advertising  di- 
rector of  the  Radio  City  Music  Hall,  New 
York,  left  for  Hollywood  last  week. 


January    22 ,    I  944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


59 


PICTURE 
CROSSES 


A  statistical  compilation  and 
comparison  of  Box-Office  Per- 
formance in  first  run  theatres 


Figures  directly  below  picture  title  compare  dollar  gross  with  average  gross  and  show  relative  percentage  of  all  engagements  tabulated. 
Figures  opposite  theatre  names  represent  percentage  of  tabulated  grosses  to  average  weekly  business  based  on  the  six  months'  period 
ending  October  3 1 ,  1943. 

SYMBOLS:  (DB)  Double  Bill— associate  feature  title;  (SA)  Stage  Attraction;  (MO)  Move-Over  Run;  (AA)  Advance  Admission. 


THOUSANDS  CHEER  (MGM) 

Final  Reports: 
Total  Gross  Tabulated 
Comparative  Average  Gross 
Over-all  Performance 


$884,500 
681.300 
129.8% 


BALTIMORE— Century,  1st  week   130.3% 

BALTIMORE— Century,  2nd  week   109.0% 

BOSTON— Orpheum,  1st  week   -^^^-^^ 

BOSTON— Orpheum,  2nd  week   97.1% 

BUFFALO— Buffalo   121.?% 

BUFFALO— Hippodrome.  MO  2nd  week  .    .    .  116.6% 

CHICAGO— State  Lake,  1st  week   '^-5^ 

CHICAGO— State  Lake,  2nd  week   ^52'?^ 

CHICAGO— State  Lake,  3rd  week   .....  97.3% 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Palace  

CINCINNATI— RKO  Shubert,  MO.  1st  week  .  130.0% 

CINCINNATI— Keith's,  MO'  2nd  week      .    .  .  96.0% 

CLEVELANI>-Loew's  State   ^Jf^" 

CLEVELAND— Loew's  Stillman,  MO'  1st  week  126.3% 

INDIANAPOLIS— Loew's,  1st  week    ....  145.4% 

INDIANAPOLIS  Loew's,  2nd  week    .    .    .  86.3% 

KANSAS  CITY— Midland,  1st  week    ....  163.0% 

KANSAS  CITY— Midland,  2nd  week  ....  137.5% 

MINNEAPOLIS^State,   1st  week     ....  125.0% 

MINNEAPOLIS— State,  2nd  week   100.0% 

NEW  HAVEN— Loew's  Poli   145.1% 

NEW  HAVEN— College,  MO  1st  week  .    .    .  156.2% 

NEW  YORK— Astor,  1st  week   155.0% 

NEW  YORK— Astor,  2nd  week   139.0% 

NEW  YORK— Astor.  3rd  week   ^'"•^I" 

NEW  YORK— Astor,  4th  week    133.6% 

NEW  YORK— Astor.  5th  week   l^^-^ 

NEW  YORK— Astor,  6th  week   ^^-^Z" 

NEW  YORK— Astor,  7th  week   112.2% 

NEW  YORK— Astor,  8th  week   "^'S 

NEW  YORK— Astor,  9th  week   ^^'IS 

NEW  YORK— Astor,  10th  week   112.5% 

PHILADELPHIA— Stanley,  1st  week     .    .    .  191.8% 

PHILADELPHIA— Stanley,  2nd  week   .    .    .  128.4% 

PITTSBURGH-Penn  ,  ■    •   •   •  HS-JI" 

PITTSBURGH— Warner,  MO  1st  week    .    .    .  Ib9.4% 

PITTSBURGH— Warner,  MO'  2nd  week  .    .    .  120.9% 

SAN  FRANCISCO-Fox    .........  126.5% 

SAN  FRANCISCO— St.  Francis,  MO'  1st  week  152.1% 

SEATTLE— Paramount,  1st  week   166.9% 

SEATTLE— Paramount,  2nd  week      ....  121.3% 

ST.  LOUIS— Loew's  State,  1st  week  ....  156.2% 

ST.  LOUIS— Loew's  State.  2nd  week    .    .       .  83.8%> 

WASHINGTON— Loew's  Palace   113.6% 

WASHINGTON— Loew's  Columbia,  MO  1st  wk  157.1% 

• 

DESTINATION  TOKYO  (WB) 

Intermediate  Reports : 
Total  Gross  Tabulated  $525,700 
Comparative  Average  Gross  356,400 
Over-all  Performance  147.5% 


BALTIMORE— Stanley,  1st  week   130.1% 

BALTIMORE— Stanley,  2nd  week   112.4% 

BUFFALO— Great  Lakes— 1st  week    ....  139.0% 

BUFFALO-- Great  Lakes,  2nd  week     ....  100.0% 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Capitol   138.4% 

INDIANAPOLIS— Indiana    125.2% 

INDIANAPOLIS— Lyric,  MO'  1st  week    .    .    .  100.0% 

LOS  ANGELES— Warner's  Downtown,  1st  wk  163.1% 

LOS  ANGELES— Warner's  Downtown.  2nd  wk  118.7% 

LOS  ANGELES— Warner's  Hollvwood,  1st  wk  227.3% 

LOS  ANGELES— Warner's  Hollywood,  2nd  wk  125.9% 

LOS  ANGELES— Warner's  Wiltern.  1st  week  194.4% 

LOS  ANGELES— Warner's  Wiltern,  2nd  week  131.2% 

NEW  HAVEN— Roger  Sherman   145.3% 

NEW  YORK— Strand,  1st  week   148.3% 

(SA)  Charlie  Barnet's  Orch.,  Ella  Mae  Morse 

NEW  YORK-Strand.  1st  week   184.2% 

(SA)  Charlie  Barnet's  Orch..  Ella  Mae  Morse 

PHILADELPHIA— Mastbaum.  1st  week     .    .  195.0% 

PHILADELPHIA— Mastbaum,  2nd  week     .    .  111.3% 

PITTSBURGH-Penn,   1st  week   148.8% 

PITTSBURGH-Penn,  2nd  week   102.7% 

ST.   LOUIS— Fox    158.2% 

(DB)  Sherlock  Holmes  Faces  Death  (Univ.) 


HAPPY  LAND  {20th-Fox) 

Final  Reports: 
Total  Gross  Tabulated 
Comparative  Average  Gross 
Over-all  Performance 


$381,600 
413,300 
92.3% 


BALTIMORE— New,  1st  week   100.0% 

BALTIMORE— New,  2nd  week  .   95.0% 

BALTIMORE^New,  3rd  week    87.6% 

BOSTON— Paramount   116.0% 

(DB)  Dancing  Masters  (20th-Fox) 

BOSTON— Fenway   83.0% 

(DB)  Dancing  Masters  (20th-Fox) 

CHICAGO-Apollo  •  94.3% 

(DB)  Henry  Aldrich  Haunts  a  House  (Para.) 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Capitol   ^^'^ 

CmaNNATI— RKO  Lyric,  MO.  Ist  week    .   .  100.0% 

CLEVELAND— Palace   115.0% 

(SA)  Milt  Britton's  Band,  Bert  Wheeler,  others 

DENVER— Denver   •    •  116.0% 

(DB)  Crime  Doctor's  Strangest  Case  (Col.) 

DENVER— Esquire   •    •   •  79.7%, 

(DB)  Crime  Doctor's  Strangest  Case  (Col.) 

KANSAS  CITY-Esquire   ]03A% 

KANSAS  CITY— Uptown   100.0% 

MINNEAPOLIS— Century    H'-'^ 

NEW  HAVEN— Loew's  Poli   "0.0% 

(DB)  Crime  Doctor's  Strangest  C^ase  (Col.) 

NEW  YORK— Roxy,  1st  week   88.5% 

(SA)  Frank  Fay,  Irini  Baronova.  Di  Gatanos 

NEW  YORK— Roxy,  2nd  week   71.1% 

(SA)  Frank  Fay,  Irini  Baronova,  Di  Gatanos 

NEW  YORK— Roxy,  3rd  week   62.4% 

(SA)  Frank  Fay,  Irini  Baronova,  Di  Gatanos 

OMAHA— Paramount    ^SS'S^ 

OMAHA— Omaha,  MO,  1st  week   9S.7% 

PITTSBURGH— Fulton   116.8% 

SEATTLE— Fifth  Ave   102.6% 

(DB)  Dancing  Masters  (20th-Fox) 

ST.  LOUIS— Fox   94.9% 

(DB)  Mystery  Broadcast  (Rep.) 
ST.  LOUIS— Shubert,  MO'.  1st  week  83.3% 

(DB)  True  to  Life  (Para.) 

WASHINGTON— Capitol                                 •  95.6% 

(SA)  Ina  Ray  Hutton's  Orchestra  . 

• 

GOVERNMENT  GIRL  (RKO) 

Intermediate  Reports: 
Total  Gross  Tabulated  $284,900 
Comparative  Average  Gross  236,700 
Over-all  Performance   .  120.3% 

BALTIMOREr-Hippodrome   119.0% 

(SA)  Vaudeville 

INDIANAPOLIS— Circle  :    .    .  81.8% 

(DB)  The  Falcon  and  the  Coeds  (RKO) 

LOS  ANGELES— Chinese    123.7% 

(DB)  Sherlock  Holmes  and  the  Spider  Woman 
(Univ.) 

LOS  ANGELESr-Loew's  State   132.2% 

(DB)  Sherlock  Holmes  and  the  Spider  Woman 
(Univ.) 

LOS  ANGELES— Uptown   1'28.8% 

(DB)  Sherlock  Holmes  and  the  Spider  Woman 
(Univ). 

NEW  HAVEN— Roger  Sherman   98.4% 

(DB)  Victory  Through  Air  Power  (UA) 

NEW  YORK— Palace   113.6% 

OMAHA— Brandeis   183.6% 

(DB)  Rookies  in  Burma  (RKO) 

PHILADELPHIA— Aldine.  1st  week   140.7% 

PHILADELPHIA— Aldine.  2nd  week   ....  152.4% 

PHILADELPHIA— Aldine,  3rd  week    ....  95.1% 

SAN  FRANCISCO— Golden  Gate,  1st  week     .  112.2% 

SAN  FRANCISCO— Golden  Gate,  2nd  week    .  91.8% 

ST.  LOUIS^Missouri,  1st  week   150.6% 

(DB)  The  Falcon  and  the  Coeds  (RKO) 

ST.  LOUIS-  Missouri,  2nd  week   178.0% 

(DB)  The  Falson  and  the  Coeds  (RKO) 

WASHINGTO'N— Keith's  1st  week   152.5% 

WASHINGTON— Keith's,  2nd  week    ....  131.3% 

WASHINGTON— Keith's,  3rd  week     ....  76.2% 


WHISTLING  IN  BROOKLYN  (MGM) 

Intermediate  Reports: 

Total  Gross  Tabulated  $203,300 

Comparative  Average  Gross  195,600 

Over-ail  Performance  103.0% 


BALTIMORE— Century   106.0% 

BUFFALO— Buffalo    82.8%, 

(DB)  The  Man  From  Down  Under  (MGM) 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Palace   86.9% 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Shubert,  MO  1st  week    .  96.0% 

CLEVELAND— Loew's  State   92.3% 

LOS  ANGELES— Carthay  Circle   95.7% 

(DB)  The  Man  From  Down  Under  (MGM) 

LOS  ANGELES— Chinese    76.9% 

(DB)  The  Man  From  Down  Under  (MGM) 

LOS  ANGELES— Loew's  State   91.3% 

(DB)  The  Man  From  Down  Under  (MGM) 

LOS  ANGELES— Uptown   75.0% 

(DB)  The  Man  From  Down  Under  (MGM) 

NEW  HAVEN— Loew's  Poli   75.2% 

(DB)  There's  Something  About  a  Soldier  (Col.) 

PHILADELPHIA— Stanton   134.5% 

PITTSBURGH— Stanley   114.5% 

(SA)  Tony  Pastor's  Orch.,  Berry  Brothers,  others 

TORONTO— Loew's   123.1% 

(DB)  The  Kansan  (UA) 

WASHINGTO'N— Loew's  Capitol   109.0% 

(SA)  Vaudeville 
WASHINGTON— Loew's  Columbia,  MO  1st 

week   71.4% 


WHAT  A  WOMAN  (CoL) 

First  Reports: 
Total  Gross  Tabulated 
Comparative  Average  Gross 
Over-all  Performance 


$387,400 
384,300 
100.8% 


BALTIMORE— Hippodrome   113.0% 

(SA)  Vaudeville 

BUFFALO— Lafayette,  1st  week   158.2% 

(DB)  Good  Luck,  Mr.  Yates  (Col.) 

BUFFALO— Lafayette,    2nd    week   95.6% 

(DB)  Good  Luck,  Mr.  Yates  (Col.) 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Palace   115.9% 

NEW  YORK— Music  Hall,  1st  week   98.3%, 

(SA)  Radio  City  Music  Hall  Stage  Presentation 

NEW  YORK— Music  Hall,  2nd  week  ....  93.1% 

(SA)  Radio  City  Music  Hall  Stage  Presentation 

NEW  YORK— Music  Hall,  3rd  week   91.0% 

(SA)  Radio  City  Music  Hall  Stage  Presentation 

PHILADELPHIA— Boyd   104.2% 

SAN  FRANCISCO^Orpheum   129.1% 

(D'B)  Crime  Doctor's  Strangest  Case  (Col.) 

SEATTLE— Liberty   152.1% 


NO  TIME  FOR  LOVE  (Para. 

First  Reports: 
Total  Gross  Tabulated 
Comparative  Average  Gross 
Over-all  Performance 


$269,400 
289,600 
99.1% 


BUFFALO— Great  Lakes  102.4% 

CDB)  Henrv  Aldrich  Haunts  a  House  (Para.) 
BUFFALO— Hippodrome.  MO  1st  week  .    .   .  137.2%, 

(DB)  Henry  Aldrich  Haunts  a  House  (Para.) 
LOS  ANGELES— Paramount  Downtown  .   .   .  146.2% 
LOS  ANGELES— Paramount  Hollywood  ,    .    .  136.7% 
NEW  YO'RK— Paramount,  1st  week  98.3% 

(SA)  Woody  H(yman's  Orch.,  Marion  Hutton 
NEW  YORK— Paramount,  2nd  week     ....  78.6% 

(SA)  Woody  Herman's  Orch.,  Marion  Hutton 
NEW  YORK— Paramount,  3rd  week  68.8% 

(SA)  Woody  Herman's  Orch.,  Marion  Hutton 

PHILADELPHIA— Boyd,  1st  week  83.1% 

PHILADELPHIA— Boyd,  2nd  week  90.5% 

TORONTO— Imperial   111.9% 


January    22,  1944 

OBITUARIES 


60 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


CLASSIFIED  ADVERTISING 

Ten  cents  per  word,  money-order  or  check  with  copy.  Count  initials,  box  number  and  ad- 
dress. Minimum  insertion,  $1.  Four  insertions,  for  the  price  of  three.  Contract  rates  on 
application.  No  borders  or  cuts.  Forms  close  Mondays  at  5  P.  M.  Publisher  reserves 
the  right  to  reject  any  copy.  Film  and  trailer  advertising  not  accepted.  Classi- 
fied advertising  not  subject  to  agency  commission.  Address  copy  and  checks: 
MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD,  Classified  Dept.,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  (20) 


HELP  WANTED 


POSITIONS  WANTED 


WANTED:  MANAGER  FOR  THEATRE  CATER- 
ing  to  colored  trade.  WOMETCO  THEATRES,  Box 

2440,  Miami  31,  Fla. 


WANTED:    COMBINATION  OPERATOR  AND 

assistant    manager   for   theatre  catering   to  colored 

trade.  WOMETCO  THEATRES,  Box  2440,  Miami  31, 
Fla. 


WANTED  TO  BUY 


WANTED— PIPE  ORGAN  IN  EXCELLENT  CON- 
iition,  state  complete  details  and  information.  A.  HEF- 
FERAN,  H  &  M  Theatres,  Coopersville,  Mich. 


BUSINESS  BOOSTERS 


BINGO  CARDS,  DIE  CUT,  1  TO  100  OR  1  TO  75, 
$2.25  per  thousand,  $20.00  for  10,000.  S.  KLOUS,  care 
of  MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD. 


BOOKS 


1944  EDITION  OF  FAME  READY  SOON.  EVERY 
exhibitor  should  have  a  copy.  An  annual  audit  of  mo- 
tion picture  and  radio  personalities.  Limited  supply. 
Send  $1  today.  QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP,  RockefeUer 
Center,  New  York  20. 


COMPLETELY  REVISED  7TH  EDITION  OF 
Richardson's  Bluebook  of  Projection  with  treatise  on 
Television  and  complete  Sound  Trouble -Shooting 
Charts,  as  well  as  host  of  additional  up-to-the-minute 
text  on  sound  and  projection  equipment.  Order  Now  I 
$7.25  postpaid.  QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP.  Rockefeller 
Center,  New  York  (20). 


SOUND  TROUBLE  SHOOTING  CHARTS.  A 
handy  tool  in  the  booth.  Gives  the  answers  to  all 
questions  regarding  trouble  shooting  on  every  type  of 
sound  equipment.  $1.00  postpaid.  QUIGLEY  BOOK- 
SHOP, Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  (20). 


MOTION  PICTURE  SOUND  ENGINEERING— 
547  pages;  illustrated;  covers  every  practical  method 
and  process  in  present-day  sound  engineering.  Leading 
engineers  explain  every  detail  of  apparatus  and  its  ar- 
rangement, with  diagrams,  tables,  charts  and  graphs. 
This  manual  comes  straight  from  the  workshops  of  the 
studios  in  Hollywood.  It  is  indispensable  to  everyone 
working  with  sound  equipment.  Price  $6.50  postpaid. 
QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York 
(20). 


NEW  567  PAGE  BOOK  ON  AIR  CONDITIONING, 
by  Charles  A.  Fuller,  authority  on  the  subject.  Avail- 
able for  theatre  owners  contemplating  engineering 
changes.  Book  is  cloth  bound  with  index  and  chai1:j 
and  covers  every  branch  of  the  industry  as  well  as 
todes  and  ordinances  regulating  installation.  Order 
now  at  $4.00  a  copy  postpaid.  QUIGLEY  B(X)KSHOP. 
Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  (20). 


BOOKKEEPING  SYSTEM 


THEATRE  MANAGEMENT  RECORD  AND  TAX 
Register.  This  new  accounting  system  is  the  finest 
book  of  its  kind  ever  made  available  to  an  exhibitor. 
In  addition  to  being  complete  in  every  respect,  it  is 
simple— so  much  so  that  it  is  not  necessary  to  have 
had  bookkeeping  experience  in  order  to  keep  an  ac- 
curate, complete  and  an  up-to-minute  record  of  the 
business  of  your  theatre.  The  introductory  price  is 
only  $2.00  postpaid.  QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP,  Rocke- 
feller Center,  New  York  (20). 


POPCORN 


MORE  VOLUME  GUARANTEED  WHEN  USING 
our  popcorn  and  seasoning.  POPCORN  CORP..  100 
N.  LaSalle  St.,  C3iicago. 


"Flu"  Cuts  A++en<Jance 

Theatre  attendance  in  Tennessee  has  been 
affected  by  the  widespread  influenza  epidemic 
throughout  the  state.  Knoxville  recorded  5,000 
cases  in  the  city  and  in  Knox  County. 


EXPERT  PROJECTIONIST  AND  SERVICE  EN- 
gineer,  14  years'  experience,  graduate  radio  sound  engi- 
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TURE HERALD. 


DISTRICT  MANAGER,  SUPERVISOR,  OR  BOOK- 
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NEW  EQUIPMENT 


COMPLETE  NEW  SOUND  EQUIPMENT,  RO- 
tary  stabilizer,  high  fidelity,  powerful  amplifier,  stage 
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Ave.,  Long  Island  City. 


BOX  OFFICE  BOWL  HEATERS,  $9.50;  VICTORY 
carpet,  all  colors,  $2.49  sq.  yrd.;  pickup  pans  with  han- 
dle, $1.27;  colored  lamps,  15/25  watt,  20c;  40/60  watt, 
23c;  rechargeable  flashlight  batteries,  $2.20;  collapsible 
36"  X  48"  beaded  screens,  $11.50;  rectifier  bulbs,  15 
ampere  Gordos,  $6.95;  6  ampere  Westinghouse,  $3.95; 
Nodraft  speaking  tubes,  $5.75;  Suprex  carbon  savers, 
98c.  Winter  Sale  Bulletin  ready.  S.  O.  S.  CINEMA 
SUPPLY  CORP.,  New  York.  18. 


USED  EQUIPMENT 


ROCKOLA  12  RECORD  JUKE  BOX  WITH  REC- 
ords,  $77.50;  Peerless  condenser  lenses,  $3.95;  reflectors, 
50%  discount;  aluminum  marquee  letters,  fit  Adler, 
Wagner,  etc.,  9"  standard,  95c;  9"  deluxe,  $1.25;  13" 
deluxe,  $1.75;  16"  deluxe,  $3.95;  30  ampere  rectifiers 
with  tubes,  $99.50.  Winter  Bargain  Bulletin  ready  — 
get  yours.  S.  O.  S.  CINEMA  SUPPLY  CORP.,  New 
York  18. 


358  AMERICAN  SEATING  BALL  BEARING  H" 
heavy  Keystone  inserted  panel  backs,  reupholstered 
box  spring  cushion  chairs,  $3.50  each;  230  American 
ball  bearing^fully  upholstered  padded  red  figured  Tel- 
our  backs,  red  leatherette  box  spring  cushions,  good  as 
is,  $4.50  each.  S.  O.  S.  CINEMA  SUPPLY  CORP., 
New  York  18. 


CLOSING  AND  SELLING  COMPLETE  THEATRE 
equipment,  two  machines,  225  seats,  Al  condition, 
$1,000.  ART  KELSO,  Orland,  Ind. 


STUDIO  EQUIPMENT 


HOLLYWOOD  16MM.  RECORDING  CAMERA, 
double  systein;  AOIf  magazine;  synchronous  motor; 
A.C.  power  pack;  high  fidelity  volume  indicator  am- 
plifier; dynamic  microphone;  Bemdt-Maurer  type  Gal- 
vanometer; cables,  etc.  Worth  $1,500.  Special,  $795. 
Bell  &  Howell  5  way  sound  printer,  $2,250.  Reduction 
printers,  from  $750.  Send  for  Laboratory  and  Record- 
ing lists.  S.  O.  S.  CINEMA  SUPPLY  CORP.,  New 
York  18. 


TRAINING  SCHOOLS 


THEATRE  EMPLOYEES:  TRAIN  FOR  BETTER 
position.  Learn  modem  theatre  management  and  ad- 
vertising. Big  opportunities  for  trained  men.  Estab- 
lished since  1927.  Write  now  for  free  catalog.  THE- 
ATRE MANAGERS  SCHOOL,  Elmira.  New  York. 


Gaudet  Moves  to  Pittsburgh 

Gene  Gaudet,  RKO  publicity  director  in 
Cleveland,  has  been  transferred  to  Pittsburgh, 
and  has  been  succeeded  by  Ted  Wynn,  shifted 
from  Atlanta. 


William  Collier,  Actor,  77, 
Dies  of  Pneumonia 

William  Collier,  Sr.,  stage  and  screen  actor 
and  playwright,  died  January  13  at  his  home 
in  Beverly  Hills,  Cal.,  of  pneumonia.  Mr. 
Collier  had  been  active  on  the  stage  and  screen 
for  more  than  60  years.  His  first  appearance 
was  with  a  children's  opera  company  playing 
"H.  M.  S.  Pinafore." 

Some  of  the  plays  he  took  part  in  were  "Hello 
Broadway,"  "Cotton  Time,"  and  he  appeared 
in  George  White's  second  "Scandals,"  the  first 
"Vanities"  and  "Sweetheart  Time."  His  film 
appearances  include  "Valiant  Is  the  Word  for 
Carrie,"  "Thanks  for  the  Memory"  and  "Dis- 
puted Passage." 

Besides  his  widow,  Mr.  Collier  leaves  a  son, 
William  Collier,  Jr.,  actor  and  film  agent. 


James  Farreil 

James  Farreil,  manager  of  the  Majestic  the- 
atre, Carbondale,  Pa.,  died  January  13  after  a 
brief  illness.  Mr.  Farreil  was  the  son  of  L.  A. 
Farreil,  executive  of  Comerford  Theatres,  Inc., 
and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Irving  the- 
atre. He  is  survived  by  his  parents,  a  sister 
and  two  brothers. 


Morris  Reitman 

Morris  Reitman,  32,  former  treasurer  of  S. 
O.  S.  Cinema  Supply  Corporation,  New  York, 
died  January  12.  Mr.  Reitman  had  been  treas- 
urer of  Crescent  Heat  and  Power  Corporation, 
Brooklyn.  He  is  survived  by  his  widow  and 
four  children. 


Lewis  Danz 

Lewis  Danz,  94,  died  in  Seattle  January  11 
following  a  long  illness.  He  was  the  father 
of  three  sons,  John,  Joseph  and  Simon,  all  con- 
nected with  Seattle  theatres. 

Two  Film  Classics  Reissues 
Get  Wide  Promotion 

Two  Film  Classics  reissues,  "Hara  Kari"  and 
"The  Young  in  Heart,"  are  receiving  special 
exploitation  and  publicity  attention.  The  cam- 
paign started  prior  to  their  opening  on  the 
RKO  circuit  last  Tuesday.  The  double  feature 
is  being  billed  as  the  "Top  Star  Show  of  1944" 
to  the  accompaniment  of  newspaper  breaks, 
special  still  boards  and  panels,  and  special  her- 
alds listing  the  names  of  the  stars  of  both  pic- 
tures. The  exploitation  also  includes  spots  on 
Stations  WOV,  WMCA  and  WBYN.  In  some 
sections  of  the  metropolitan  area  of  New  York 
the  exploitation  of  "Hara  Kari"  is  being  tied 
in  with  the  selling  of  War  Bonds,  with  the  Jap- 
atrocity  angle  stressed.  "The  Young  in  Heart" 
is  being  exploited  through  tieups  with  mer- 
chants and  other  commercial  media. 

Exchanges  Win  48-Hour  Week 
Exemption  in  Oklahoma 

Film  distributors  in  Oklahoma  City  area 
have  been  granted  an  exemption  from  the  48- 
hour  week  which  went  into  effect  on  Novem- 
ber 15  when  the  War  Manpower  Commission 
designated  that  area  as  one  in  which  a  critical 
manpower  .shortage  existed.  Appeals  by  the 
distributors  for  exemption  were  handled 
through  C.  J.  Scollard,  Paramount  executive. 


Schedule  88  Ohio  Fairs 

Eighty-eight  more  fairs  than  last  year  were 
assigned  1944  dates  by  the  State  Department 
of  Agriculture,  it  was  disclosed  at  the  19th 
annual  meeting  of  Ohio  Fair  Managers  Asso- 
ciation, in  Columbus,  last  week.  A  minimum 
admission  of  40  cents  will  be  maintained.  The 
Ohio  State  Fair  in  Columbus,  the  largest  in 
the  state,  has  been  discontinued  for  the  dura- 
tion. 


January    22.    I  944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


In  This  Week: 
SHOWMEN'S  REVIEWS 

SHORT  SUBJECTS 

RELEASE  CHART 

BY  COMPANIES 

THE  RELEASE  CHART 


The  FighHng  Seabees 

(Republic) 

Saga  of  the  Navy  Engineers 

In  honor  of  the  men  who  cut  bases  from 
jungles  and  level  hills  for  landing  fields  as 
working  and  fighting  members  of  the  U.  S. 
Navy,  Republic  presents  "The  Fighting  Sea- 
bees,"  a  rousing  story  of  Pacific  warfare.  The 
battle  scenes  teem  with  action  and  excitement, 
unhampered  by  discussions  of  the  course  of  the 
war  or  the  state  of  the  nation.  There  is  a  ro- 
mantic theme  as  well,  hardly  novel  in  outline, 
but  enlivened  by  the  personalities  of  John 
Wayne,  Susan  Hayward  and  Dennis  O'Keefe  at 
the  top  of  the  cast. 

As  the  first  film  dealing  with  the  perilous 
work  of  the  Navy  Construction  Battalions  it 
gives  evidence  that  the  extended  budget  and 
production  care  given  it  by  the  studio  should  be 
amply  repaid  at  box  offices  throughout  the 
country. 

The  story  line  is  simple.  A  construction 
man  greets  his  crew  returning  from  a  Pacific 
Island,  where  Japanese  fire  had  taken  its  toll 
of  the  men,  resentful  of  the  fact  that  the  Navy 
had  kept  them  unarmed.  He  refuses  to  accept 
the  plan  for  a  well-trained  corps,  stows  rifles 
away  on  the  next  trip  and  plunges  into  a  disas- 
trous encounter  with  the  Japs.  Having  learned 
his  lesson,  he  throws  himself  into  the  new  unit, 
the  Seabees,  and  helps  to  repel  the  next  attack 
at  the  cost  of  his  life. 

A  three-cornered  romance  is  threaded 
through  this  plot  as  a  war  correspondent,  loved 
by  the  Naval  Commander,  discovers  she  loves 
both  men. 

It  is,  however,  for  the  two  sweeping  battle 
scenes  that  the  film  will  be  remembered.  The 
first  is  an  enemy  thrust  under  severe  Navy 
cross-fire  which  is  turned  into  a  wild  scramble 
as  the  construction  men  drive  headlong  into  the 
pocket  without  protection.  The  second  finds  the 
men  on  the  island  outnumbered  by  the  invaders, 
but  tough  and  resourceful.  They  use  their  heavy 
equipment  as  well  as  the  weapons  of  war  and 
stampede  the  enemy  by  setting  fire  to  one  of  the 
oil  tanks,  in  a  manner  somewhat  reminiscent  of 
the  Western  epic. 

A  strong  cast  was  assembled  for  this  major 
production,  with  William  Frawley,  Leonid  Kin- 
skey,  J.  M.  Kerrigan  and  Grant  Withers  sup- 
porting the  three  principals.  Edward  Ludwig 
directed  the  Borden  Chase  story,  keeping  the 
wide  areas  and  large  cast  well  within  his  con- 
trol. Albert  J.  Cohen  did  a  fine  job  as  associ- 
ate producer. 

Previewed  in  the  home  office  projection  room. 
Reviewer's  Rating:  Good. — E.  A.  Cunning- 
ham. 

Release  date,  not  set.  Running  time,  100  min.  PCA 
No.  -9802.     General  audience  classification. 

Wedge  Donovan   John  Wayne 

Connie  Chesley   Susan  Hayward 

Lt.  Comdr.  Yarrow   Dennis  O'Keefe 

William  Frawley,  Leonid  Kinskey,  J.  M'.  Kerrigan, 
Grant  Withers,  Paul  Fix,  Ben  Welden,  William  For- 
rest, Addison  Richards,  Jay  Norris,  Duncan  Renaldo. 


Reviews 


This  department  deals  with 
new  product  from  the  point  of 
view  of  the  exhibitor  who  is 
to  purvey  it  to  his  own  public. 


Broadway  Rhythm 

(  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) 
Technicolor  Musical 

In  the  abundance  and  variety  of  its  talented 
performers,  colorful  costumes  and  elaborate  set- 
tings, "Broadway  Rhythm"  is  typical  of  the 
Broadway  musical  revue,  although  its  borrow- 
ings from  the  Kern-Hammerstein  show,  "Very 
Warm  for  May"  might  be  small  indeed.  A 
new  and  tuneful  set  of  songs  is  used — only  "All 
the  Things  You  Are"  being  retained  in  the 
screen  version — a  new  cast  has  been  assembled, 
and  Tommy  Dorsey's  band  keeps  the  music  in 
the  groove. 

The  story  is  the  familiar  one  about  the  star 
producer  who  goes  arty  for  a  time  and  is  guided 
back  to  the  simple  entertainment  by  love  and 
family  loyalty.  But  the  incidental  turns  are 
many  and  excellent,  the  color  is  boldly  used  and 
the  singing,  dancing  and  humor  are  near  the 
top  in  their  respective  fields. 

George  Murphy  heads  the  cast  with  a  poised 
performance  and  a  bit  of  intricate  hoofing. 
Ginny  Simms  gets  an  attractive  role  for  her 
first  featured  screen  appearance,  playing  it  sim- 
ply and  singing  several  songs  in  the  clear  so- 
prano which  made  her  a  radio  favorite.  Charles 
Winninger  turns  in  the  best  acting  job  as  the 
retired  father  with  show  business  in  his  blood. 
Gloria  De  Haven,  from  the  "Best  Foot  For- 
ward" cast,  plays  the  younger  sister  and  sings 
with  pert  competence,  while  Nancy  Walker  and 
Ben  Blue  team  up  for  laughs. 

In  addition  there  is  an  excellent  group  of  en- 
tertainers whose  specialties  are  worked  into  the 
show  plausibly.  Lena  Horne  has  two  numbers, 
Gershwin's  "Somebody  Loves  Me"  ranking  with 
her  best  screen  offerings.  Hazel  Scott  is  in  for 
a  brief  but  exciting  number  at  the  piano.  Dean 
Murphy  puts  over  his  imitations  of  Churchill, 
Willkie,  the  Roosevelts  and  others,  displaying 
an  unusual  comic  gift.  Walter  B.  Long  does  a 
fine  tap  dance,  and  the  Ross  Sisters  exhibit 
their  astounding  acrobatics. 

Five  of  the  new  songs  are  the  work  of  Raye 
and  De  Paul,  two  are  by  Martin  and  Blane,  and 
the  rhythmic  South  American  ballad,  "Amor," 
is  credited  to  Gabriel  Ruiz  and  Ricardo  Lopez 
Mendez.  In  contrast,  the  familiar  "Pretty 
Baby,"  by  Tony  Jackson,  Egbert  Van  Alstyne 
and  Gus  Kahn  serves  to  recall  the  musical  shows 


of  another  day.  All  fare  well  under  the  spirited 
treatment  of  Tommy  Dorsey. 

Jack  Cummings  and  Roy  Del  Ruth,  producer 
and  director,  working  without  much  of  a  story, 
keep  the  show  in  good  time  with  a  nice  change 
of  pace  and  an  excellent  eye  for  scenic  effects. 
They  had  the  able  assistance  of  Johnny  Green, 
who  supervised  the  music. 

While  it  lacks  the  star  names  of  some  of  its 
immediate  predecessors,  the  film  offers  an  at- 
tractive substitute  in  variety  and  spontaneity. 

Seen  in  a  New  York  projection  room.  Re- 
viewer's Rating :  Good. — E.  A.  C. 

Release  date,  March,  1944.  Running  time,  115  rain. 
PCA  No.  9702.    General  audience  classification. 

Jonnie  Demming  George  Murphy 

Helen  Hoyt  Ginny  Simms 

Sam  Demming  Charles  Winninger 

Gloria  DeHaven,  Nancy  Walker,  Ben  Blue,  Lena 
Horne,  EMdie  "Rochester"  Anderson,  Hazel  Scott, 
Kenny  Bowers,  The  Ross  Sisters,  Dean  Murphy,  Louis 
Mason,  Bunny  Waters,  Walter  B.  Long,  Tommy  Dor- 
sey and  his  orchestra. 

The  Crime  Doctor's 


Strangest  Case 


(Columbia) 

Mystery  Melodrama 

Columbia  has  fortified  its  "Crime  Doctor" 
series  with  a  large  cast  of  competent  perform- 
ers, but  is  then  faced  with  the  problem  of  pro- 
viding adequate  roles  for  all.  This  leads  in- 
evitably to  more  conflicting  threads  of  plot, 
tangled  motives  and  logical  suspects  than  a 
brief  melodrama  can  comfortably  handle.  The 
result  should  satisfy  the  mystery  fans,  however, 
in  the  matter  of  suspense  and  frequent  climaxes, 
while  offering  a  real  challenge  to  their  sleuthing 
abilities. 

Warner  Baxter,  in  his  role  of  adviser  to  boys 
trying  to  live  down  their  past  records,  interests 
himself  in  a  murder  which  seemingly  points  to 
one  of  his  clients.  Further  investigation  reveals 
more  than  one  likely  suspect  within  the  mur- 
dered man's  household.  It  points  back  also  to 
an  undiscovered  crime  of  many  years  before 
which  adds  to  the  possible  motives  of  jealousy 
and  robbery  that  of  revenge.  The  surprise  con- 
clusion comes  when  the  whole  party  returns  to 
the  scene  of  the  original  crime  and  the  known 
murders  total  three. 

Lynn  Merrick,  Reginald  Denny,  Barton  Mac- 
Lane,  Jerome  Cowan,  Rose  Hobart,  Gloria 
Dickson,  Virginia  Brissac,  Lloyd  Bridges  and 
Constance  Worth  are  members  of  the  support- 
ing cast. 

Rudolph  C.  Flothow  produced  and  Eugene  J. 
Forde  directed  the  story  by  Eric  Taylor. 

Seen  in  Loew's  Jefferson  theatre,  New  York. 
Reviewer's  Rating:  Fair. 

Release  date,  December  9,  1943.  Running  time,  68 
min.    PCA  No.  9796.    General  audience  classification. 

Robert  Ordway  Warner  Baxter 

Ellen   Lynn  Merrick 

Reginald  Denny,  Barton  M'acLane,  Jerome  Cowan, 
Rose  Hobart,  Gloria  Dickson,  Virginia  Brissac,  Lloyd 
Bridges,  Constance  Worth,  Thomas  E.  Jackson. 

Product  Digest  Section    I  725 


MOTION    PICTURE    HERALD  January    2  2,  1944 

SHORT  SUBJECTS 

reviews  and  synopses 


Swing  Out  the  Blues 

(  Columbia  ) 

Minor  Musical 

In  "Svviufi  Out  tlie  Blues,"  Producer  Sam 
White  and  Director  Mai  St.  Clair  have  turned 
out  a  minor  musical  plentifully  sprinkled  with 
corn  by  "The  Vagabonds,"  a  quartet  similar  in 
style  to  the  Ritz  Brothers,  but  specializing  in 
even  greater  quantities  of  corny  music  and 
ditties. 

Bob  Haymes,  in  the  few  opportunities  af- 
forded him,  discloses  he  deserves  better  scripts 
and  that  his  brand  of  crooning  is  of  the  type  to 
get  over  well  with  the  youngsters.  Lynn  Mer- 
rick does  an  adequate  job  with  the  role  of  the 
wealthy  young  girl  who  marries  Haymes,  while 
Janis  Carter  is  effective  as  the  siren-agent  try- 
ing to  entice  him  away  from  his  wife  and  his 
pals,  The  Vagabonds. 

The  exceedingly  thin  story  deals  with  the 
Vagabonds  telling,  in  flashback,  to  Radio  Coun- 
cillor Tim  Ryan,  all  about  their  efforts  to  get 
a  booking  through  the  agentress,  who  is  after 
Bob.  He  leaves  in  a  dispute  over  the  girl,  only 
to  return  in  uniform  after  his  wife  has  a  baby 
and  refuses  to  leave  The  Vagabonds  and  return 
to  the  home  of  her  wealthy  aunt.  Dorcas 
Cochran  wrote  the  script. 

Seen  at  the  Pantages  Theatre,  Hollywood, 
where  an  early  afternoon  audience  chuckled  at 
some  of  the  antics.  Reviewer's  Rating:  Medi- 
ocre. 

Release  date,  December  23,  1943.  Running  time,  79 
min.  PCA  No.  9788.  General  audience  classification. 
Bob  Haymes,  Lynn  Merrick,  The  Vagabonds,  Janis 
Carter,  Tim  Ryan,  Joyce  Corapton,  Arthur  Q.  Bryan, 
Kathleen  Howard,  John  Eldredge,  Dick  Elliott,  Lotf'e 
Stein,  Tor  Johnson. 


SWEDEN'S  MIDDLE  ROAD  (20th-Fox) 

March  of  Time 

Life  within  one  of  the  world's  few  neutral 
countries,  Sweden,  wholly  surrounded  by  war- 
ring nations,  is  herein  on  display.  Because  of 
its  juxtaposition  to  a  Europe  in  conflagration, 
though  its  role  is  a  role  of  peace,  the  life  of  the 
people  of  Sweden  is  a  life  of  compromises.  The 
while  they  enjoy  the  beaches  and  modern  archi- 
tecture, they  must  rely  upon  bicycles  and  coal- 
burning  automobiles  to  transport  them  to  their 
scenes  of  pleasure,  and  their  modern  apart- 
ments and  schools  must  be  heated  by  wood, 
which  is  even  used  for  cattle  fodder.  Their 
politics,  too,  are  on  display.  What  once  amount- 
ed to  a  collaboration  with  victory-hungry  Nazi 
armies  has  been  transformed  into  a  strict  neu- 
trality as  a  result  of  Axis  reverses.  There  is, 
too,  the  obvious  sympathy  of  the  people  for  the 
course  of  the  United  Nations  with  a  special 
friendliness  being  shown  for  things  American 
and  English.  The  camera  has  caught  some 
wondrous  scenic  effects.  It  also  has  a  story 
to  tell.  A  story  of  complete  harmony  of  em- 
ployer and  employee  under  a  progressive  gov- 
ernment headed  by  a  popular  king  and  his 
prime  minister. 

Release  date,  January  28,  1944  19  minutes 

GUN  TO  GUN  (WB) 

Santa  Fe  Trail  Western  (9109) 

Another  in  the  two-reel  Westerns  featuring 
Robert  Shayne,  this  is  a  story  of  California  in 
the  middle  of  the  last  century.  It  features  a 
cattle  stampede  and  a  final  gun  duel  between 
Shayne  and  the  tax  collector  who  had  tried  to 
hold  up  the  herd.  Others  in  the  cast  are  Lupita 
Tovar,  Pedro  de  Cordova,  Harry  Woods  and 
Anita  Camargo.  D.  Ross  Lederman  directed. 
Release  date,  January  9,  1944  20  minutes 

NO  EXCEPTIONS  (20th-Fox) 

War  Information  Film 

This  message  is  addressed  to  the  women  at 
home — those  who  have  done  their  jobs  well  and 
those  who  have  hesitated  to  join  in  community 
war  activities.  John  Archer  writes  home  after 
a  battle  on  the  Italian  front  urging  greater 
civilian  effort  to  avoid  the  fate  of  other  coun- 
tries no  longer  able  to  put  up  a  fight. 

10  minutes 


EGGS  DON'T  BOUNCE  (Para.) 

Little  Lulu  (D3-1) 

Paramount  adds  another  Technicolor  cartoon 
to  its  short  subject  schedule  with  this  season's 
adaptation  of  Little  Lulu,  the  minx  from  the 
Saturday  Evening  Post,  into  a  one-reel  comedy. 
This  first  release,  in  which  the  mischief-maker 
wrestles  with  a  bag  of  eggs  and  then  with  a  set- 
ting hen,  suggests  that  the  feature  will  have  a 
strong  appeal  for  children.  Two  songs  are  in- 
cluded, "Little  Lulu"  and  "Now  You  Done  It." 
The  color  is  clear  and  pleasing,  and  the  anima- 
tion amusingly  contrived. 

Release  date,  January  28,  1944  9  minutes 

CROSS  COUNTRY  DETOURS  (WB) 

Blue  Ribbon  Merrie  Melodies  (9305) 

This  reissue  of  a  popular  cartoon  of  several 
seasons  back  is  patterned  on  the  travelogue 
cliche.  The  glamorous  scenery  of  the  West, 
including  the  Grand  Canyon,  Yellowstone  Park 
and  the  Redwood  Forests,  is  presented  with  the 
customary  enthusiasm,  but  a  small  dog  manages 
to  steal  the  spotlight  with  his  unalterable  deter- 
mination tc  retire  to  California. 
Release  date,  January  15,  1944  7  minutes 

MARRY-GO-ROUND  (Para.) 

Popeye  (E3-2) 

It's  spring  and  Popeye's  thoughts  turn  to  love 
and  Olive  Oyl.  But  the  strong  man  of  spinach 
hasn't  the  nerve  to  pop  the  question.  He  is  re- 
hearsed completely  by  Shorty  and  sets  out  for 
Olive's  house.  There  he  finds  his  new  tech- 
nique running  a  poor  second  to  the  lady's  do- 
mestic activities.  Trying  to  "sweep  her  off  her 
feet"  he  winds  up  in  the  washing  machine. 
Release  date,  December  31,  1944      7^2  minutes 

SWIMCAPADES  (Para.) 

Sportlights  (R3-4) 

Ted  Husing  presents  several  highly  special- 
ized views  of  water  sports.    The  first  is  the 


REPUBLIC,  WARNER  BROS. 
REISSUE  FILMS 

"Frisco  Kid,"  a  James  Cagney  ve- 
hicle originally  released  in  1935,  will 
be  reissued  by  Warner  Bros,  on 
March  4th.  The  film,  which  featured 
Margaret  Lindsay,  Ricardo  Cortez 
and  Lili  Damita  in  supporting  roles, 
centers  around  an  ambitious  pro- 
motor  of  the  Barbary  Coast  and  his 
reformation.  The  review  in  Motion 
Picture  Herald  issue  of  November  2, 
1935  said  in  part:  "An  action  thriller 
from  first  sequence  to  fadeout, 
there's  enough  vivid,  punchy  enter- 
tainment in  this  to  interest  anyone 
and  more  than  enough  showmanship 
potentialities  with  which  to  sell  it." 

Republic  Pictures  has  announced 
the  re-release  of  "Women  in  War" 
which  was  first  shown  in  1940.  A 
melodrama  of  World  War  II,  the  pic- 
ture is  laid  in  Britain  at  the  outbreak 
of  war.  Elsie  Janis  is  featured  in  the 
role  of  head  nurse,  while  Wendy 
Barrie  and  Patric  Knowles  play  the 
romantic  leads. 


Great  Salt  Lake  vvitii  its  unusual  buoyancy 
offering  safe  swimming  to  all.  Next  come  two 
versions  of  aquatic  rhythm  calling  for  perfect 
form  and  precision  timing.  The  reel  closes  on 
a  sequence  devoted  to  the  SPARs  of  the  U.  S. 
Coast  Guard  training  at  Palm  Beach,  Fla. 
Release  date,  January  14,  1944         9^  minutes 

THE  PELICAN  AND  THE  SNIPE  (RKO) 

Disney  Cartoon  (34,112) 

Walt  Disney  launches  two  new  cartoon  char- 
acters in  this  touching  treatise  on  friendship. 
They  are  a  sleep-walking  Pelican  and  his  de- 
voted protector,  the  Snipe.  The  Pelican  is  com- 
pletely unaware  of  his  little  friend's  efforts  in 
his  behalf  and,  waking  at  the  bottom  of  the 
ocean  with  an  anchor  tied  to  his  foot,  he  orders 
the  Snipe  away.  But  a  night  of  blind  flying 
among  bomber  maneuvers  brings  him  to  his 
senses.  He  has  an  opportunity  to  rescue  the 
Snipe  at  the  end  of  the  reel. 
Release  date,  January  7,  1944  9  minutes 

CO-ED  SPORTS  (RKO) 

Sport  scope  (44,305) 

Stanford  University  in  California  is  typical  of 
the  educational  institutions  which  foster  a  gen- 
eral athletic  program.  Besides  sports  which  are 
distinctly  masculine,  the  campus  affords  oppor- 
tunities for  men  and  women  to  join  in  activities 
like  hockey,  archery,  fencing,  swimming  and 
golf.  Under  this  heading  too  comes  group 
dancing,  a  popular  and  healthful  exercise. 
Release  date,  December  31,  1943        8  minutes 

PRUNES  AND  POLITICS  (RKO) 

Edgar  Kennedy  (43,403) 

This  being  a  predominately  political  year,  Ken- 
nedy tries  his  luck  in  running  for  public  office. 
The  first  obstacle  is  the  opposition  candidate, 
his  mother-in-law.  The  next  is  his  interfering 
brother-in-law  who  manages  to  spike  Edgar's 
plans  just  as  they  are  about  to  persuade  her  to 
withdraw.  Kennedy  finally  puts  on  such  an 
exhibition  of  temper  and  frustration  that  even 
his  own  supporters  decide  he  is  insane,  and 
transfer  their  allegiance. 

Release  date,  January  7,  1944  16  minutes 

UNUSUAL  OCCUPATIONS,  NO.  2  (Para.) 

L3-2 

In  Monument  Valley,  Arizona,  the  Indians 
have  joined  the  war  effort  in  the  mines.  Elder 
Navajo  warriors  are  shown  mining  vanadium, 
while  their  wives  tend  the  herds  and  their  sons 
fight  on  the  battlefields.  Sculptress  Toni 
Hughes  of  New  York  is  pictured  creating  por- 
traits in  bits  of  wood  and  metal.  A  parson  in 
Ansonia,  Conn.,  demonstrates  his  proficiency  at 
the  drop-kick.  A  young  girl  in  Silvermine, 
Conn.,  is  introduced  as  a  popular  fashion  de- 
signer, while  a  Bunker  Hill,  111.,  man  shows 
samples  of  his  crocheting.  The  reel  ends  with 
a  glimpse  of  the  training  of  Air  Evacuation 
nurses. 

Release  date,  January  7,  1944  10  minutes 

AMAZING  METROPOLIS  (Univ.) 

Variety  View  (8355) 

In  sharp  contrast  with  the  ancient  customs 
and  rites  dominant  in  India  is  the  modern  city 
of  Hyderabad.  Here  are  many  government 
buildings  of  up-to-date  architecture,  Osmania 
University,  a  modern  hospital  along  with  a  fair- 
ly well  advanced  and  government-sponsored 
system  of  home  manufacture. 
Release  date,  January  17,  1944         9  minutes 


I  726  Product  Digest  Section 


January    22,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


RELEASE  CHART 

By  Companies 


COLUMBIA 


Prod. 
No. 


Title 


Release 
Date 


5201  Hall  to  th«  Rangers  Sep.  16, '43 

5031  Doughbays  in  Ireland  Oct.  7,'43 

5003  Sahara   Oct.  14/43 

5034  Chance  of  a  Lifetime  Oct.  26, '43 

S0I6  is  Everybody  Happy?  Oct.  28,'43 

5202  Silver  City  Raiders  Nov.  4.'43 

5024  Return  of  the  Vampira  Nov.  Ii,'43 

.  5017  There's  Somethino  About  a 

Soldier   Nov.  S0,'43 

5009  The  Heat's  On  Dec.  2,'43 

5021  Crime  Doctor's  Strangest 

Case   Dec.  B,'.43 

5029  Klondike    Kate  Dec.  16. '43 

5203  Cowboy  in  the  Clouds  Dec.  23,'43 

j005  What  a  Womanl  Dec.  28,'43 

  Hey   Roolcie   Jan.  7,'44 

5036  The    Racket   IHan  Jan.  I8,'44 

5020  Sing  Out  the  Blues  Jan.  20,'44 

...  Beautiful  but  Broke  Jan.  28, '44 

...  The  Vigilantes  Ride   Feb.  3,'44 

...  None  Shall   Escape  Feb.  .  .3. '44 

...  The  Ghost  That  Walks  Alone.  Feb. .  ID,'44 

...  Nine  Girls   Feb.  I7,'44 

...  Sailor's  Holiday   Feb.  24,'44 

...  Cover  Girl   Not  Set 

...  Wyoming   Hurricane   Not  Set 

...  The  Last  Horseman  Not  Set 

...  Riding  West   Not  Set 

...  Cowboy  from  Lonesome  River. Not  Set 

...  Cyclone  Prairie  Ranger  Not  Set 

...  Roundup  for  Victory  Not  Set 

. . .  Curly   Not  Set 

. . .  Cowboy  Canteen   Not  Set 

...  Empire  of  the  West  Not  Set 

...  Address  Unknown  Not  Set 

...  Jam  Session   Not  Set 

...  At  Night  We  Dream  Not  Set 

...  Two-IVIan  Submarine   Not  Set 

...  Heroes  of  the  Sagebrush  Not  Set 


MGM 

Block  I 

401  Salute  to  the  IHarlnes  Sep., '43 

402  Above  Suspicion   Sep., '43 

403  I   Dood   It  Sep., '43 

404  Swing  Shift  Maisie  Oct., '43 

405  Best  Foot  Forward  Oct.,'43 

406  Adventures  of  Tartu  Oct.,'43 

407  Dr.  Gillespie's  Criminal  Case  Nov., '43 

408  Young  Ideas   Nov., '43 

409  Girl  Crazy   Nov.,'43 

410  Lassie  Come  Home  Dec, '43 

411  The  Man  from  Down  Under  Deo., '43 

412  Whistling  in  Bnoklyn  Dec.,'43 

Block  2 

413  Thousands  Cheer   Jan. ,'43 

414  The  Cross  of  Lorraine  Jan. ,'44 

413  Lost  Angel   Jan., '44 

416  A  Guy  Named  Joe  Feb., '44 

417  Cry  "Havoc"   Feb., '44 

418  Rationing   Feb., '44 

419  Broadway  Rhythm   Mar., '44 

420  See  Here,  Private  Hargrove  Mar., '44 

421  The  Heavenly  Body  Mar., '44 

422  Song  of  Russia  Apr., '44 

423  Swing  Fever   Apr., '44 

490  Madame  Curie   Apr., '44 

  America   Not  Set 

  The  White  Cliffs  Not  Set 

  Meet  the  People  Not  Set 

  Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble. Not  Set 

  Mr.  Co-ed   Not  Set 

....  Gaslight   Not  Set 

  The  Cantervllle  Ghost  Not  Set 

  Kismet   Not  Set 

  Two  Sisters  and  a  Sailor  Not  Set 

  Dragon  Seed   Not  Set 

....  Three  Men  In  White  Not  Set 

  Seventh  Cross   Not  Set 

  Meet  Me  in  St.  Louie  Not  Set 


MONOGRAM 

....  Melody  Parade    .    ...v- 27,'43 

 Spotlight  Scandals   Sep.  24,'43 

 The    Unknown    Guest  Oct.  22,'43 

....  The  Texas  Kid   Nov.  26,'43 

  Death  Valley  Rangers  Dec.    3, '43 

  Mr.  Muggs  Steps  Out  Dec.  I0,'43 

  Women  in  Bondage  Jan.  10, '44 

....  Where  Are  Your  Children?. .  .Jan.  17/44 

  Westward  Bound   Jan.  i7,'44 

 The  Sultan's  Daughter  Jan.  24,'44 

  Raiders  of  the  Border  Jan.  31. '44 

...  Sweethearts  of  the  U.S. A  Feb.  7,'44 

  Charlie  Chan  in  the  Secret 

Service   Feb.  14, '44 

 Voodoo  Man   Feb.  21, '44 

....  Million   Dollar  Kid  Feb.  28, '44 

  Lady  Let's  Dance  Mar.  7,'44 


PARAMOUNT 

Block  I 

4301  Let's  Face  It  

4302  The  Good  Fellows  

4303  True  ta  Life  

4304  Tornado   

4305  Hostages   


For  Stars,  Running  Time,  Review  and  other  Service 
Data  references,  turn  to  the  alphabetical  Release  Chart 
starting  on  page  1728. 

Complete  listing  of  1942-43  Features,  by  company,  in 
order  of  release,  may  be  found  on  pages  1508  and  1509  of 
the  Product  Digest  Section  in  the  August  28,  1943  issue 
of  Motion  Picture  Herald. 


Prod.  Release 
No.  Title  Date 

SPECIAL 

4331  City  that  Stopped  Hitler  

Block  2 

4306  Henry  Atdrich  Haunts  a 

House   

4307  Riding  High   

4308  Minesweeper   

4309  No  Time  for  Love  

Block  3 

4311  Henry  Aldrich  Boy  Scout  

4312  Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek  

4313  Timber  Queen   

4314  Standing   Room  Only  

4315  The  Uninvited   

ROADSHOW  SPECIAL 
4338  For  Whom  the  Bell  Toils  

 Triumph  Over  Pain  Not  Set 

  Lady  in  the  Dark  Not  Set 

  Henry  Aldrich  Plays  Cupid ...  Not  Set 

 The  Hour  Before  the  Dawn.. Not  Set 

  And  the  Angels  Sing  Not  Set 

  Henry  Aldrich's  Little  Secret.  Not  Set 

  Frenchmen's  Creek   Not  Set 

  Ministry  of  Fear  Not  Set 

 The  Story  of  Dr.  Wassell  Not  Set 

  Hail  the  Conquering  Hero  Not  Set 

  Going  My  Way   Not  Set 

...  Our  Hearts  Were  Young  and 

Gay   Not  Sot 

....  The  Navy  Way  Not  Set 

  The  Man  in  Half-Moon  Street. Not  Set 

  Double   Indemnity   Not  Set 

  I  Love  a  Soldier  Not  Set 

....  'Till  We   Meet  Again  Not  Set 

....  The  Hitler  Gang   Not  Set 

  incendiary  Blonde   Net  Set 

....  Take  It  Big   Not  Set 

....  National   Barn   Dance  Not  Set 

  You  Can't  Ration  Love  Not  Set 

  Gambler's  Choice   Not  Set 

  Road  to  Utopia  Not  Set 

....  And  Now  Tomorrow  Not  Set 


PRC  PICTURES 

405  Submarine  Base   July  20, '43 

401  Isle  of  Forgotten  Sins  Aug.  15, '43 

411  Dangerl  Women  at  Work  Aug.  23,'43 

459  Blazing  Frontier   Sep.    I, '43 

406  Tiger    Fangs   Sep.  10/43 

412  The  Girl  from  Monterrey  Oct.  4,'43 

451  Return  of  the  Rangers  Oct.  2B,'43 

460  Devil  Riders   Nov.  5,'43 

452  Boss  of   Rawhide  Nov.  20,'43 

402  Harvest  Melody   >..Nov.  22,'43 

407  Jive  Junction   Dec.  20,'43 

461  The  Drifter   Dec.  20,'43 

453  Gunsmoke  Mesa   Jan.  3,'44 

403  Career  Girl   Jan.  II, '44 

408  Nabonga   Jan.  25, '44 

454  Outlaw    Roundup  Feb.  10. '44 

409  Men  on  Her  Mind  Feb.  12,'44 


RKO 

Block  I 

401  The  Fallen  Sparrow  

402  Adventures  of  a  Rookie  

403  The  Seventh  Victim  

404  So  This  Is  Washington  

405  A  Lady  Takes  a  Chance  

Block  2 

406  The  Iron  Malor  

407  Gangway  for  Tomorrow  

408  Government  Girl   

409  Giidersleeve  on  Broadway  

410  The  Falcon  and  the  Coeds  

SPECIAL 

451  The  North  Star  

Block  3 

411  Around  the  World  

412  The  Ghost  Ship  

413  Tarzan's  Desert  Mystery  

414  Rookies  In  Burma  

415  Higher  and  Higher  

  Days  of  Glory  Net  Set 

 Tender  Comrade   Not  Set 

  Dangerous  Journey   Not  Set 

  The  Curse  of  the  Cat  People.  .Not  Set 

  Danger  in  Damascus  Not  Set 

 Show   Business   Not  Set 

  Gildersleeve's  Gboet   Not  Set 


Prod.  Release 
No.  Title  Date 

 The  Falcon  Out  West  Not  Set 

 Are  These  Our  Children?  Not  Set 

  Marine   Raiders   Not  Set 

 Seven   Days  Ashore  Not  Set 

  Up  In  Arms   Not  Set 


REPUBLIC 

361  Fugitive  from  Sonera  July    I, '43 

301  The  Saint  Meets  the  Tiger  July  29,'43 

362  Black   Hills   Express  Aug.  I5,'43 

302  Hoosier   Holiday   Sep.  i3,'43 

351  Beyond  the  Last  Frontier  Sep.  18, '43 

375  Death  Valley  Manhunt  Sep.  23,'43 

363  Man  from  the  Rio  Grande. .  .Oct.  i8,'43 

303  Here  Comes    Elmer  Nov.  IS,'43 

376  Overland   Mail   Robbery  Nov.  20,'43 

306  The  Deersiayer   Nov.  22,'43 

304  Mystery  Broadcast   Nov.  23,'43 

305  Drums  of  Fu  Manchu  Nov.  27, '43 

364  Canyon  City   Nov.  29,'43 

307  In  Old  Oklahoma  Dec.  6,'43 

310  Pistol   Packin'   Mama  Dec.  i5,'43 

352  Raiders  of  Sunset  Pass  Dec.  20, '43 

365  California    Joe  Dec.  29,'43 

309  Whispering  Footsteps   Dec.  30,'43 

308  0,  My  Darling  Clementine. .. Dee.  3I,'43 

353  Pride  of  the  Plains  Jan.  5,'44 

341  Hands  Across  the  Border  Jan.  5,'44 

3301  Rootin,'  Tootin'  Rhythm(R) .  .Jan.  15, '44 
  Women  in  War  (R)  Jan.  25,'44 

....  Casanova  in  Burlesque  Not  Set 

  The   Fighting  SeeBees  Not  Set 

  Three  Little  Sisters  Not  Set 

  Mojave  Firebrand   Not  Set 

  The   Monster's  Castle  Not  Set 

  My  Best  Gal  Not  Set 

  Rosio  the   Riveter  Not  Set 

  Beneath  Western  Skies  Not  Set 

  Cowboy  and  the  Senorlta  Not  Set 

  Man  from  Frisco  Not  Set 

  The  Outlaw  Buster   Not  Set 

  The  Laramie  Trail   Not  Set 

  Outlaws  of  Santa   Fe  Not  Set 

  The  Man  from  Frisco  Not  Set 

....  Jamboree   Not  Set 


20TH-FOX 

401  Bomber's  Moon   Aug.  6,'43 

402  Heaven  Can  Walt  Aug.  I3.'43 

403  Holy  Matrimony   Aug.  27,'43 

404  Claudia   Sep.  3,'43 

405  Wintertime   Sep.  I7,'« 

408  Sweet   Rosie  O'Grady  Oct.    I, '43 

409  Paris  After  Dark  Oct.  I5,'43 

406  In  Old  Chicago  (R)  Oct.  29.'43 

407  Banjo  on  My  Knee  (R)  Oct.  29,'43 

412  Guadalcanal  Diary   Nov.  5.'43 

414  The  Battle  of  Russia  Nov.  5.'43 

413  Dancing  Masters   Nov.  19,'43 

410  The  Rains  Came  (R)  Nov.  26,'43 

411  Under  Two  Flags  (R)  Nov.  26,'43 

415  Happy  Land   Dec.  3,'43 

416  The  Gang's  All  Here  Dec.  24,'43 

417  The  Lodger   Jan.  7,'44 

418  Uncensored   Jan.  21, '44 

419  Lifeboat   Jan.  28,'44 

 Jane  Eyre   Not  Set 

  Roger  Touhy,  Last  of  the 

Gangsters   Not  Set 

  The  Song  of  Bernadette  Not  Set 

  Buffalo  Bill  Net  Set 

....  Pin  Up  Girl  Not  Set 

  Tampico   Not  Set 

 The  Sullivans   Not  Set 

 The  Eve  of  St.  Mark  Not  Set 

  Home  in  Indiana  Not  Set 

 The  Purple  Heart  Not  Sot 

  Four  Jills  In  a  Jeep  Not  Set 

  Greenwich  Village   Not  Set 

  Wilson   Not  Set 

  I  Married  a  Sailor  Not  Set 

....  Bermuda  Mystery   Not  Set 

  Ladies  of  Washington  Not  Set 


UNITED  ARTISTS 

  Yanks  Ahoy   July    I, '43 

  That  Nazty  Nuisance  Aug.  6,'43 

 Victory  Through  Air  Power... Aug.  I3,'43 

  Hi    Diddle   Diddle  Aug.  20,'43 

  Johnny  Come  Lately  Sep.   3, '43 

 The  Kansan   Sep.  10, '43 


Prod.  Release 
No.  Title  Date 

....  Bar  20   Oct.    I. '43 

  False  Colors   Nov.  5,'43 

  Riders  of  the  Deadline  Dec.  3,'43 

  Jack  London   Dec  24, '43 

  Woman  of  the  Town  Dec.  31, '43 

  Three   Russian  Girls  Jan.  I4.'44 

  Knickerbocker  Holiday   Jan.  28,'44 

  Bridge  of  San  Luis  Rey  Feb.  1 1, '44 

....  it   Happened  Tomorrow  Feb.  25, '44 

  Voice   in  the  Wind  Mar.  10.'44 

  Song  of  the  Open  Road  Mar.  24, '44 

  Up  In  Mabel's  Room  Apr.  7,'44 

  Texas   Masquerade   Not  Set 

  Thundering  Hoofs   Not  Set 

  Since  You  Went  Away  Not  Set 

....  Lumber  Jack   Not  Set 

....  Strange  Confession   Not  Set 

  The   Hairy  Ape  Not  Set 


UNIVERSAL 

8017  Fired    Wife   Sep.  3,'43 

8022  Strange  Death  of  Adolf  Hitler.Sep.  I0.'43 

8028  Larceny  with   Music  Sep.  ie,'43 

8024  Sherlock  Holmes  Faces  Oeath.Sep.  I7,'43 
8009  Top   Men   Sep.  I7,'43 

8081  Arizona   Trail   Sep.  24,'43 

8023  Always  a   Bridesmaid  Sep.  I4,'43 

8007  Corvette   K-225   Oct.  1/43 

8005  Crazy  House   Oct.  8,'43 

8035  Hi  Ya  Sailor  Ott.  H,'43 

8033  You're  a  Lucky  Fellow, 

Mr.  Smith   Oct.  22/43 

B062  Flesh  and  Fantasy  Oct.  29, '43 

8013  Son  of  Dracula  Nov.  5,'43 

8082  Frontier  Law   Nov.   5, '43 

8038  The   Mad   Ghoul  Nov.  I2,'43 

8030  Never  a  Dull  Moment  Nov.  19, '43 

8004  His  Butler's  Sister  Nov.  2a,'43 

8042  So's  Your  Uncle  Dee.  S/43 

8041  She's  for  Me  Dee.  10, '43 

8026  Calling   Dr.   Death  Dec.  I7,'43 

B025  Moonlight  in  Vermont  Dec.  24,'43 

  Gung  Ho   Dee.  SI, '43 

B034  Sing  a  Jingle  Jan.  7,'44 

...  All  Baba  and  the  40  Thieves. Jan.  I4,'44 

6021  Spider   Woman   Jan.  21, '44 

B083  Marshal  of  Gunsmoke  Jan.  21, '44 

  Phantom  Lady   Jan.  28, '44 

8020  Swingtime  Johnny   Feb.   4, '44 

 The  Impostor   Feb.  1 1, '44 

....  Weekend  Pass   Feb.  I8,'44 

....  Chip  Off  the  Old  Block  Feb.  25,'44 

  Moonlight  and  Cactus  Net  Set 

 The  Mummy's  Ghost  Not  Set 

....  Ladies  Courageous   Not  Set 

  This  is  the  Life  Not  Set 

  Oklahoma  Raiders   Not  Set 

 Three  Cheers  for  the  Boys  Not  Set 

  Gypsy  Wildcat   Not  Set 

  Patrick  the   Great  Not  Set 

  Her  Primitive  Man  Not  Set 

  Cobra  Woman   Not  Set 

...  Cross  Your  Fingers  Not  Set 

....  Slightly  Terrlflo   Not  Set 

  Weird   Woman   Not  Sot 

 The  Merry   Monahans  Not  Set 

  Has  Anybody  Here  Seen 

Kelly?   Not  Set 

....  Christmas  Holiday   Not  Set 


WARNER  BROS. 

301  Watch  on  the  Rhine  Sep.  4,'43 

330  Oklahoma    Kid    (R)  Sep.  1 1, '43 

302  Murder  on  the  Waterfront. ..  .Sep.  I8,'43 

303  Thank  Your  Lucky  Stars  Sep.  2fi,'43 

331  Song  of  the  Saddle  (R)  Oct.  2,'43 

332  Prairie  Thunder   (R)  Oct.  2, '43 

333  Cherokee  Strip  (R)  Oot.  2, '43 

334  Empty  Holsters  (R)  Oct.  2, '43 

335  Guns  of  the  Pecos  (R)  Oct  2.'43 

336  Land  Beyond  the  Law  (R)...Oet.  2/43 

304  Adventure  in   Iraq  Oct.  9,'43 

305  Princess  O'Rourke   Oot.  23,'4S 

306  Find   the    Blackmailer  Nov.  8, '43 

307  Northern  Pursuit   Nov.  I8,'43 

308  Old  Acquaintance   Nov.  27,'43 

327  Crime  School   (R)  Dee.  4/43 

328  Girls  en  Probation  (R)  Oe«.    4, '43 

309  Destination,  Tokyo   Jan.    I, '44 

310  The  Desert  Song   Jan.  29.'44 

224  This  Is  the  Army  Feb.  I5,'44 

311  in   Our  Time  Feb.  19,'44 

325  Frisco    Kid    (R)  Mar.  4,'44 

  Adventures  of  Mark  Twain. .  .Not  Set 

  Arsenic  and  Old  Lace  Not  Set 

  The  Desert  Song  Not  Set 

  Crime  by  Night  Not  Set 

  Devotion   Not  Sot 

....  The   Last  Ride  Not  Set 

  Saratoga  Trunk   Not  Set 

  Conflict   Not  Set 

  Shine  On,   Harvest   Moon  Not  Set 

  Rhapsody  In  Blue  Not  Set 

  Passage  to  Marseille  Not  Set 

  Uncertain  Glory   Not  Set 

  Mr.  Skeffllngton   Not  Set 

  The  Horn  Blows  at  Midnight. Not  Set 

  One  More  Tomorrow  Not  Set 

  Between  Two  Worlds  Net  Set 

  My  Reputation   Not  Set 

  A  Coffin  for  Dimitrios  Not  Set 

  Make   Your   Own   Bed  Not  Set 

  Cinderella  Jones   Not  Set 

....  Janie   Not  Set 


Product  Digest  Section  1727 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    22,  1944 


THE  RELEASE  CHART 

Index  to  Reviews,  Advance  Synopses  and 
Service  Data  in  PRODUCT  DIGEST  SECTION 


(•)  before  the  title  indicates  1942-43  product. 

Release  dates  and  running  time  are  furnished  as  soon  as  avail- 
able. Advance  dates  are  tentative  and  subject  to  change. 

Consult  Service  Data  in  the  PRODUCT  DIGEST  SECTION  for 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating,  Audience  Classification  and  Managers' 
Round  Table  Exploitation. 


All  page  nunnbers  on  this  chart  refer  to  pages  in  the 
PRODUCT  DIGEST  SECTION  of  MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD. 

Short  Subjects  Chart  with  Synopsis  Index  can  be  found  on 
pages  I7I6-I7I7. 

Feature  Product  Including  Conrfing  Attractions,  listed  by  Conn- 
pany,  in  order  of  release,  on  page  1727. 


Prod. 

Title  Company  Number 

ABOVE  Suspicion  MGM  402 

Address  Unknown  Col.  .... 

Adventure  in  Iraq  WB  304 

Adventures  of  a  Rookie  RKO  402 

Adventures  of  Mark  Twain  WB  .... 

Adventures  of  Tartu  MGM  406 

Ali  Baba  and  40  Thieves  (color)    Univ.  .... 

Always  a  Bridesmaid  Univ.  8023 

America  (color)  MGM  ... 

And  Now  Tomorrow  Para. 

And  the  Angels  Sing  Para. 
Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble  MGM 

Arizona  Trail  Univ.  808 

Around  the  World  RKO  41 

At  Night  We  Dream  Col  

BANJO  on  My  Knee 

(Reissue)  20th-Fox  407 

Bar  20  UA  .  . .  . 

•Bataan  MGM  328 

Battle  of  Russia  20th-Fox  414 

Beautiful  But  Broke  Col  

•Behind  the  Rising  Sun  RKO  334 

Best  Foot  Forward  (color)  MGM  405 

Between  Two  Worlds  WB  .... 
(formerly  Outward  Bound) 

.  Beyond  the  Last  Frontier  Rep.  351 

•Billy  the  Kid  in  Cattle  Stampede    PRC  362 

Black  Hills  Express  Rep.  362 

•Black  Market  Rustlers  Mono  

Blazing  Frontier  PRC  459 

•Blazing  Guns  Mono.  .... 

Bombers  Moon  20th-Fox  401 

Boss  of  Rawhide  PRC  452 

Bridge  of  San  Luis  Rey,  The  UA  .... 

Broadway  Rhythm  (color)  MGM  419 

Buffalo  Bill  (oolor)  20th-Fox 

•  Bullets  and  Saddles  Mono.  .... 

CALIFORNIA  Joe  Rep.  365 

Calling  Dr.  Death  Univ.  8026 

•  Campus  Rhythm  Mono.  .... 
Candlelight  in  Algeria  (Br.)  Br.  Lion  .... 

Canterville  Ghost,  The  MGM   

Canyon  City  Rep.  364 

Career  Girl  PRC  403 

Chance  of  a  Lifetime,  The  Col.  5034 

Charlie  Chan  in  Secret  Service  Mono.  .... 

Casanova  in  Burlesque  Rep.  .... 

Cherokee  Strip  (Reissue)  WB  333 

Chip  Off  the  Old  Block  Univ  

Christmas  Holiday  Univ.  .... 

City  That  Stopped  Hitler  Para.  4331 

Claudia  20th-Fox  404 

Cobra  Woman  (color)  Univ.  .... 

Conflict  WB   

Corvette  K-225  Univ.  8007 
Courageous  Mr.  Penn  (Br.)  Hoffberg 

Cover  Girl.  The  (color)  Col. 

Cowboy  in  the  Clouds  Col.  5203 

Crazy  House  Univ.  8005 

Crime  by  Night  WB   

Crime  Doctor's  Strangest  Case     Col.  5021 

Crime  School  (Reissue)  WB  327 

Cross  of  Lorraine,  The  MGM  414 

Cry  "Havoc"  MGM  417 

Curly  Col  

Curse  of  the  Cat  People  RKO   

1728  Product  Digest  Section 


Release  Running 

Stars  Date  Time 

Joan  Crawford-Fred  MacMurray  Sept., '43  90m 

Paul  Lukas-Mady  Christians  Not  Set  .... 

John  Loder-Ruth  Ford  Oct.  9,'43  64m 

Wally  Brown-Alan  Carney  Block  I, '43-44  64m 

Fredric  March-Alexis  Smith  Not  Set  .... 

Robert  Donat-Valerie  Hobson  Oct.,'43  103m 

Jon  Hall-Maria  Montez  Jan.  14, '44  87m 

Andrews  Sisters-Patric  Knowles  Sept.  24,'43  62m 

Brian  Donlevy-Ann  Richards  Not  Set  .... 

Loretta  Young-Alan  Ladd  Not  Set  .... 

Fred  MacMurray-Dorothy  Lamour  Not  Set  .... 

Mickey  Rooney-Lewis  Stone  Not  Set  .... 

Tex  Ritter-Fuziy  Knight  Sept.24,'43  57m 

Kay  Kyser-Joan  Davis-Mischa  Auer  Block  3  81m 

Merle  Oberon-Paul  Muni  Not  Set  .... 


Barbara  Stanwyck-Joel  McCrea  Oct.  29.'43  95m 

William  Boyd-Andy  Clyde  Oct.    I, '43  55m 

Robert  Taylor-Thomas  Mitchell  June-Aug.,'43  il4m 

Documentary  Nov.  5, '43  80m 

Joan  Davis-Jane  Frazee  Jan.  25, '44  .... 

Margo-Tom  Neal-Robert  Ryan  Block  7  87m 

Lucille  Ball-William  Gaxton  Oct.,'43  94m 

John  Garfield-Paul  Henreid  Not  Set  .... 

Eddie  Dew-Smiley  Burnette  Sept.  1 8, '43  55m 

Buster  Crabbe-Al  St.  John  Aug.  I6,'43  58m 

Don  Barry-Wally  Vernon  Aug.  I5,'43  55m 

The  Range  Busters  Aug.  27,'43  58m 

Buster  Crabbe-Al  St.  John  Sept.   I, '43  59m 

Hoot  Gibson-Ken  Maynard  Oct.  8, '43  55m 

George  Montgomery-Annabella  Aug.  6,'43  70m 

Dave  O'Brien-Jim  Newill  Nov.  20,'43  .... 

Lynn  Bari-Louis  Calhern  Feb.  1 1, '44  ... 

George  Murphy-Ginny  Simms  Mar., '44  1 15m 

Maureen  O'Hara-Joel  McCrea  Not  Set  .... 

Range  Busters  Oct.  29,'43  52m 

Don  Barry-Helen  Talbot  Dec.  29.'43  55m 

Lon  Chaney-Patricia  Morison  Dec.  I7,'43  63m 

Gale  Storm-Robert  Lowery  Nov.  1 9, '43  63m 

James  Mason-Caria  Lehmann  Not  Set  85m 

Charles  Laughton-Margaret  O'Brien  Not  Set  .... 

Don  Barry-Helen  Talbot  Nov.  29,'43  54m 

Frances  Langford-Craig  Wood  Jan.  II, '44  66m 

Chester  Morris-Jeanne  Bates  Oct.  26,'43  66m 

Sidney  Toler-Gwen  Kenyon  Feb.  I4,'44  65m 

Joe  E.  Brown-June  Havoc  Not  Set  .... 

Dick  Foran  Oct.  2,'43  56m 

Donald  O'Connor-Peggy  Ryan  Feb.  25, '44  .... 

Deanna  Durbin-Gene  Kelly  Not  Set  .... 

Russian  Documentary  Sept.  4,'43  58m 

Dorothy  McGuire-Robert  Young  Sept.  3, '43  91m 

Jon  Hall-Maria  Montez  Not  Set  .... 

Humphrey  Bogart-Alexis  Smith  Not  Set  .... 

Randolph  Scott-James  Brown  Oct.   I, '43  99m 

Clifford  Evans-Deborah  Kerr  Dec.  22, '43  78m 

Rita  Hayworth-Jinx  Falkenberg  Not  Set  .... 

Charles  Starrett- Julie  Duncan  Dec.  23, '43  54m 

Olsen  and  Johnson  Oct.  8,'43  80m 

Jane  Wyman-Jerome  Cowan  Not  Set  .... 

Warner  Baxter-Lynn  Merrick  Dec.  9, '43  68m 

Humphrey  Bogart-Dead  End  Kids  Dec.  4,'43  86m 

Pierre  Aumont-Gene  Kelly  Jan. ,'44  90m 

Margaret  Sullavan-Ann  Sothern  Feb.,'44  97m 

Cary  Grant-Janet  Blair  Ndt  Set  .... 

Simone  Simon-Kent  Smith  Not  Set  .... 


r-  REVIEWED 

M.  P.  Product 
Herald  Digest 
Issue  Page 
May   I, '43  1546 


Sept.  25.'43 
Aug.  2 1, '43 

Aug.  7, '43 
Jan.  I5,'44 
Oct.  2,'43 


Dec.  5,'36 
July  24, '43 
May  29,'43 
Nov.  6, '43 

July  I7,'43 
July  3, '43 


Sept. 1 1, '43 
Jan.    I, '44 
Aug.  7,'43 
Sept.  4,'43 

Sept.  I8,'43 
July  I0,'43 


Jan.  22,'44 
Oct."  9, '43 

Jan.  8,'44 
Dec.  I8,'43 
Oct.  9,'43 
Jan.   I, '44 

Nov.' is, "43 
Dec.  I8,'43 
Oct.  I6,'43 
Jan.  I5,'44 


Sept.  4,'43 
Aug.  2 1, '43 


Oct.  2,'43 
Jan.  I,'44 


Jan.  8,'44 
Oct.  23,'43 

jan.22,'44 
May  7,'38 
Nov.  I3,'43 
Nov.  6,'43 


1553 
1547 

1546 
1713 
1566 


Nov.27,'43  1645 


1585 
1559 
1337 
1615 


Advance 
Synopsis 

Page 

1081 

1695 

1530 

1471 
936 

i457 
1 192 
1457 
1715 
1555 
1456 
1545 
1457 
1715 


1 127 


1696 


1425 

1362 

1532 

1 191 

1646 

1529 

1695 

153! 

1546 

1457 

1522 

1391 

1531 

i542 

1509 

1532 

1305 

1599 

1636 

i725 

1616 

1531 

1573 

1531 

1706 

1675 

1673 

1635 

1574 

1545 

1694 

i635 

i626 

1599 

1674 

1634 

1586 

1545 

1714 

1599 

1676 

1715 

1695 

1521 

1558 

i457 

1456 

i565 

1240 

1694 

i4i6 

1706 

1636 

1595 

1531 

1091 

1725 

1654 

1626 

1625 

1457 

1614 

1555 

1616 

1715 

Service 
Data 
Page 

1575 


1617 


1655 


1507 
1719 

i655 
1617 


1655 
1655 
1655 

i7i9 


1719 


1719 


January    22,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


Title 

DANCING  Masters,  The 

•  Dangerous  Blondes 
Dangerous  Journey 
Dangerl  Women  at  Work 
Day  After  Day  (Russian) 
Days  of  Glory 
Dear  Octopus  (British) 

•  Death  Rides  the  Plains 
Death  Valley  Manhunt 
Death  Valley  Rangers 
Demi  Paradise  (Br.) 
Deersiayer,  The 
Desert  Song,  The  (color) 
Destination,  Tokyo 

•  Destroyer 

Devil  Riders,  The 

•  Dixie  (color) 
Double  Indemnity 
Doughboys  in  Ireland 
Dragon  Seed 
Drifter.  The 

Dr.  Gillespie's  Criminal  Case 
Dr.  Paul  Joseph  Goebbels 
Drums  of  Fu  Manchu 

•  Du  Barry  Was  a  Lady  (color) 


Company 

20th- Fox 
Col. 
RKO 
PRC 
Artkino 
RKO 
Gains.-Gen'l 
PRC 
Rep. 
Mono. 
Two  Cities-GFD 
Rep. 


WB 

WB 

Col. 

PRC 
Para. 
Para. 

Col. 
MGM 

PRC 
MGM 
Frank 

Rep. 
MGM 


EMPTY  Holsters  (Reissue)  WB 
Eve  of  St.  Mark  20th-Fox 

•FALCON  in  Danger,  The  RKO 

Falcon  and  the  Coeds.  The  RKO 

Fallen  Sparrow.  The  RKO 

False  Colors  UA 

•  Fighting  Valley  PRC 
Fighting  Seabees,  The  Rep. 
Find  the  Blackmailer  WB 
Fired.  Wife  Univ. 
Flesh  and  Fantasy  Univ. 
Follow  the  Leader  Mono. 

•  Footlight  Glamour  Col. 
For  Whom  the  Bell  Tolls  (color)  Para. 
Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep  20th-Fox 
Frenchman's  Creek  (color)  Para. 
Frisco  Kid  (Reissue)  V/B 

•  Frontier  Bad  Men  Univ. 
Frontier  Law  Univ. 

GANG'S  All  Here  (color)  20th-Fox 
■     -  RKO 
RKO 
Col. 
RKO 
MGM 
PRC 
WB 
Para. 
RKO 

Midfilm 
20th-Fox 
20th-Fox 
Univ. 
PRC 
WB 
MGM 
Univ. 


Garjgway  for  Tomorrow 
Ghost  Ship,  The 
Ghost  That  Walks  Alone,  The 
Gildersleeve  on  Broadway 
Girl  Crazy 

Girl  from  Monterrey.  The 
Girls  on  Probation  (Reissue) 
Good  Fellows,  The 
Government  Girl 
Great  Mr.  Handel,  The  (color) 

(British) 
Greenwich  Village 
Guadalcanal  Diary 
Gung  Ho 
Gunsmoke  Mesa 
Guns  of  the  Pecos  (Reissue) 
Guy  Named  Joe,  A 
Gypsy  Wildcat 


HAIL  the  Conquering  Hero  Para. 

Hail  to  the  Rangers  Col. 

Hands  Across  the  Border  Rep. 

Happy  Land  20th-Fox 

•  Harrigan's  Kid  MGM 
Harvest  Melody  PRC 

•  Headin'  for  God's  Country  Rep. 
Heat's  On,  The  Col. 
Heaven  Can  Wait  (color)  20th-Fox 
Heavenly  Body,  The  MGM 
Henry  Aldrich,  Boy  Scout  Para. 
Henry  Aldrich  Haunts  a  House  Para. 
Henry  Aldrich  Plays  Cupid  Para. 

•  Henry  Aldrich  Swings  It  Para. 
Here  Comes  Elmer  Rep. 

•  Here  Comes  Kelly  Mono. 
Her  Primitive  Man  Univ. 
Hey,  Rookie  Col. 
Hi  Diddle  Diddle  UA 
Higher  and  Higher  RKO 


Proil. 
Numbe  i 

413 
4016 


41 


365 
375 


306 
310 
309 

4003 
460 

4230 

5031 

461 

407 

305 
333 

334 


332 
410 
401 

355 

306 
8017 
8062 

4020 
4338 


325 
7011 
8082 

416 
407 
412 

409 
409 
412 
328 
4302 
408 


412 

453 
335 
416 


5201 
341 
415 
329 
402 
224 

5009 
402 
421 

43 II 

4306 

4226 
303 


415 


Release 

Stars  Date 

Laurel  and  Hardy  Nov.  I9,'43 

Evelyn  Keyes-Edmund  Lowe  Sept.23,'43 

Elsa  Lanchester-Gordon  Oliver  Not  Set 

Patsy  Kelly-Mary  Brian  Aug.  23,'43 

Documentary  Nov.  I5,'43 

Tamara  Toumanova-Gregory  Peck  Not  Set 

Margaret  Lockwood-Michael  Wilding  Not  Set 

Bob  Livingston-AI  St.  John  May  7,'43 

Bill  Elliott-Gabby  Hayes  Sept.  25,'43 

Hoot  Gibson-Ken  Maynard  Dec.  3,43 

Laurence  Olivier-Penelope  Ward  Not  Set 

Bruce  Kellogg-Jean  Parker  Nov.  22,'43 

Dennis  Morgan-Irene  Manning  Jan.  29, '44 

Cary  Grant-John  Garfield  Jan.  I, '44 
Edw.  G.  Robinson-Marguerite  Chapman  Sept.  2, '43 

Buster  Crabbe-AI  St.  John  Nov.  5,'43 

Bing  Crosby-Dorothy  Lamour  Block  6 

Barbara  Stanwyck-Fred  MacMurray  Not  Set 

Kenny  Baker-Jeff  Donnell  Oct.  7,'43 

Katharine  Hepburn-Walter  Huston  Not  Set 

Buster  Crabbe-AI  St,  John  Dec.20,'43 

Lionel  Barrymore-Van  Johnson  Nov., '43 
Paul  Andor-Claudia  Drake-Donald  Woods   Not  Set 

Henry  Brandon-William  Royle  Nov.  27,'43 

Lucille  Ball-Red  Skelton  June-Aug.,'43 

Dick  Foran  Oct.  2,'43 

Michael  O'Shea-Anne  Baxter  Not  Set 

Tom  Conway-Jean  Brooks  Block  7 

Tom  Conway-Jean  Brooks  Block  2 

Maureen  O'Hara-John  Garfield  Block  I, '43-44 

William  Boyd  Nov.  5,'43 

Dave  O'Brien-Jim  Newill  Aug.   I, '43 

John  Wayne-Susan  Hayward  Not  Set 

Faye  Emerson-Jerome  Cowan  Nov.  6,'43 

Robert  Paige-Louise  Allbritton  Sept.  3,'43 

Charles  Boyer-Barbara  Stanwyck  Oct.  29, '43 

East  Side  Kids  Not  Set 

Penny  Singleton-Arthur  Lake  Sept.  30, '43 

Gary  Cooper-lngrid  Bergman  Special 

Kay  Francis-Carole  Landis  Not  Set 

Joan  Fontaine-Arturo  de  Cordova  Not  Set 

James  Cagney-Margaret  Lindsay  Mar.  4,'44 

Diana  Barrymore-Robert  Paige  Aug.  6,'43 

Russell  Hayden-Jennifer  Holt  Nov.  5, '43 

Alice  Faye-Carmen  Miranda  Dec.  24,'43 

Margo-Robert  Ryan-John  Carradine  Block  2 

Richard  Dix-Edith  Barrett  Block  3 

Arthur  Lake-Lynn  Roberts  Feb.  I0,'44 

Harold  Peary-Billie  Burke  Block  2 

Mickey  Rooney-Judy  Garland  Nov.,'43 

Armida-Edgar  Kennedy  Oct.  4, '43 

Jane  Bryan-Ronaid  Reagan  Dec.  4,'43 

Cecil  Kellaway-Helen  Walker  Block  I  ,'43-44 

Olivia  de  Havilland-Sonny  Tuffs  Block  2 

Wilfred  Lawson-Elizabeth  Allan  Sept.,  9,'43 

Don  Ameche-Carmen  Miranda  Not  Set 

Preston  Foster-Lloyd  Nolan  Nov.  5, '43 

Randolph  Scott-Grace  McDonald  Dec.  3 1, '43 

Dave  O'Brien-Jim  Newill  Jan.  3,'44 

Dick  Foran  Oct.  2,|43 

Spencer  Tracy-Irene  Dunne  Feb., '44 

Maria  Montez-Jon  Hall  Not  Set 

Eddie  Bracken-Ella  Raines  Not  Set 

Charles  Starrett                   '  Sept.  I6,'43 

Roy  Rogers-Ruth  Terry  Jan.  5, '44 

Don  Ameche-Frances  Dee  Dec.  3, '43 

Bobby  Readick-William  Gargan  June-Aug.,'43 

Rosemary  Lane-Johnny  Downs  Nov.  22, '43 

William  Lundigan-Virginia  Dale  Aug.  26,'43 

Mae  West-Victor  Moore  Dec.  2, '43 

Don  Ameche-Gene  Tierney  Aug.  1 3, '43 

William  Powell-Hedy  Lamarr  Mar.,'44 

Jimmy  Lydon-Charlie  Smith  Blocks 

Jimmy  Lydon-Charlie  Smith  Block  2 

Jimmy  Lydon-Charlie  Smith  Not  Set 

Jimmy  Lydon-Charlie  Smith  Block  6 

Al  Pearce-Dale  Evans  Nov.  I5,'43 

Eddie  Quillan-Joan  Woodbury  Sept.  I0,'43 

Louise  Allbritton-Robert  Paige  Not  Set 

Ann  Miller-Larry  Parks  Jan.  7,'44 

Martha  Scott-Adolphe  Menjou  Aug.  20, '43 

Michele  Morgan-Frank  Sinatra  Block 3 


Kunniiig 
Time 

63  m 
80m 

59m 
62m 

86m 
55m 
55m 
57m 

II  5m 
67m 
96m 

135m 
99m 
58m 
89m 


r-  REVIEWED 
M.  P.  Product 

Herald  Digest 
Issue  Page 


68m 
lOlm 

62m 


70m 
69m 
94m 
65m 
59m 
1 00m 
55m 
73m 
94m 

70m 
168m 


77m 
77m 


103m 
69m 
69m 

65  m 
99m 
59m 
63m 
70m 
93m 


93m 
88m 

56m 
120m 


57m 
73m 
75m 
80m 
70m 
78m 
79m 
1 12m 
93  m 
66m 
72m 

65  m 
74m 
64m 


71m 
90m 


Oct.  30,'43 
Oct.  23,'43 

July  I7,'43 
Nov.  20,'43 


1605 


Advance  Service 

Synopsis  Data 

Page  Page 

1555 


Sept. 

Jan. 
Aug. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Nov. 

Dec. 

Dec. 
Aug. 


I8,'43 
1 5, '44 
28,'43 
I8,'43 
I8,'43 
6,'43 
I8,'43 
25,'43 
2 1, '43 


June  26,'43 


61m       Oct.  9,'43 


89m       May  8,'43 


Nov.  I3,'43 
May  8,'43 


July 
Nov. 
Aug. 
Nov. 
Dec. 
Jan. 
Oct. 
Sept. 
Sept. 


17,  '43 
6,'43 

2 1,  '43 
6.'43 

18.  '43 

22,  '44 

23,  '43 
4, '43 

18,'43 


Oct.  9,'43 
July  I7,'43 


Nov.  2,'35 
Aug.  7,'43 


Dec.  4,'43 
Nov  6, '43 
Dec.  II, '43 

Oct.  23,'43 
Aug.  7,'43 
Sept.  25,'43 
Oct.  29,'38 
Aug.  I4.'43 
Nov.  6,'43 


89m     Sept.  I8,'43 


Oct.  30,'43 
Dec.  25,'43 


Dec.  25,'43 


Nov.  27,'43 
Dec.  1 1, '43 
Nov.  I3,'43 
Mar.  I3,'43 
Oct.  9,'43 
July  3  I, '43 
Dec.  4,'43 
July  24,'43 
Jan.  {,'44 
Jan.  8,'44 
Nov.  6,'43 

June26,'43 
Oct.  I6,'43 
July  3 1, '43 


July  3 1, '43 
Dec.  1 1 '43 


1594 

1509 

1636 

1426 

1634 

1636 

1542 

1714 

1558 

1402 

1674 

1555 

1673 

1615 

1599 

1673 

872 

1719 

1685 

1530 

1719 

1  AQL. 
1470 

1  1  6/ 

1  £.  1  *7 
161  / 

1566 

1385 

1091 

1575 

1646 

i574 

1545 

1675 

1606 

1546 

1 192 

1599 

1626 

1606 

1301 
• 

1019 

\b\7 

1636 

1426 

1362 

1615 

1599 

1547 

1 182 

1719 

1614 

1431 

1674 

1391 

1725 

1616 

1594 

1  li?  1 

1  ^4,  1 

1  >;4i 

1  DRR 

1  U90 

1719 

1/17 

1  AOA 

1  tiTl 

1  9^  1 

1 
1 

093 

1  7  1 Q 

.... 

1 A7A 
1  Or  O 

1 4 1  A 
1  *r  1  O 

1  /  AO 

1  ^  /  u 

1606 

1653 

1530 

1719 

1614 

1566 

1666 

1646 

1696 

1595 

1566 

1558 

1 191 

1719 

1554 

1509 

1626 

1559 

li9l 

1  0 1  'r 

1  41  A 
1 1 1  O 

1710 

1  ATA 

1  O/O 

1  OU3 

1  ^3  / 

1  7  1  Q 
1/17 

1  AAA 

1  37  7 

1  Am 

(AAA 
1  OOO 

1  to  1 

1  O/O 

1696 

1646 

1055 

1665 

1545 

1625 

1555 

1719 

1202 

1 191 

1574 

1545 

1455 

1339 

1653 

1555 

1719 

1578 

1240 

1617 

1693 

1555 

1706 

1696 

1614 

1566 

1431 

1386 

1 104 

1585 

1456 

i39i 

1675 

1654 

1559 

1375 

1617 

1665 

1616 

Product  Digest  Section    1 729 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    22,  1944 


REVIEWED 


M.  P. 

Product 

Advance 

Service 

Prod. 

Release 

Running 

Herald 

Digest 

Synopsis 

Data 

Title 

Company 

Number 

Slats 

Date 

Time 

Issue 

Page 

Page 

Page 

Hic  Rutipr'^  Sister 

U  niv. 

8004 

Deanna  Durbin-Franchot  Tono 

Nov.  26,'43 

93m 

Nov.  I3'43 

1625 

1555 

r^i4'lAr  t^^nn  Inn 
1  1 1 T 1  a r       a  II  ^  1    i  1 1 o 

Para. 

Robert  ^Vatson-Victor  Varconi 

Not  Set 

1675 

^1  iiiici  9  iviauiiioii 

MGM 

334 

Patricia  Morison-John  Carradine 

June- Aug. ,'43 

85m 

June  12, '43 

136! 

1351 

1617 

Hi  Ya  Sailor 

Univ. 

8035 

Donald  Woods-Elyse  Knox 

Oct.  1 5'43 

63  m 

Oct.  9,'43 

1574 

1531 

Holy  Mafrimony 

20th-Fox 

403 

Monty  Woolley-taracie  Fields 

Aug.  27,'43 

87m 

Aug.  28, '43 

1547 

143 1 

1655 

Home  in  Indiana  (color) 

20th-Fox 

Walter  Brennan-Lon  McAllister 

Not  Set 

1634 

Hoosier  Holiday 

Rep. 

302 

Dale  Evans-George  Byron 

Sept.  13 '43 

72m 

Aug.  28,'43 

1547 

Horn  Blows  at  Midnight,  The 

WB 

Jack  Benny-Alexis  Smith 

Not  Set 

1715 

Hostages 

Para. 

4305 

Luise  Rainer-William  Bendix 

Block  1, '43-44 

88m 

Aug.  I4,'43 

1579 

1277 

Hour  Before  the  Dawn.  The 

Para. 

Veronica  Lake-Franchot  Tone 

Not  Set 

1555 

•Human  Comedy,  The 

MGM 

380 

Mickey  Rooney-Frank  Morgan 

June-Aug.,'43 

nsm 

Mar.  6,'43 

1  190 

1019 

1432 

1  DOOD  It 

MGM 

403 

Red  Skelton-Eleanor  Powell 

Sept.,'43 

102m 

July  31, '43 

1579 

1 192 

1719 

1    1  f>vp   r\  Sftlnipr 

Para. 

Paulette  Goddard-Sonny  Tufts 

Not  Set 

1675 

lmno*:+or  Thf 

U  niv. 

Jean  Gabin-Allyn  Joslyn 

Feb.  1 1,'44 

1616 

Incendiary  Blonde 

Para. 

Betty  Hutton-Arturo  de  Cordova 

Not  Set 

1675 

In  Old  Chicago  (Reissue) 

20th-Fox 

406 

Alice  Faye-Tyrone  Power-Don  Ameche 

Oct.  29,'43 

94m 

Jan.  8, '38 

1542 

•  In  Old  Monterey  (Reissue) 

Rep. 

2306 

Gene  Autry 

Sept.  I,'43 

74m 

Aug.  I2.'39 

1494 

In  Old  Oklahoma 

Rep. 

00/ 

John  Wayne-Martha  bcott 

Dec.  6,  43 

1  Uzm 

vJct.  £i,  no 

1719 

In  Our  Time 

WB 

311 

Ida  Lupino-Paul  Henreid 

Feb.  I9,'44 

1  lOm 

1416 

Iron  Major,  The 

RKO 

406 

Pat  O'Brien-Ruth  Warrick 

Block  2 

85m 

Oct.  23.'43 

1593 

1555 

1719 

Is  Everybody  Happy? 

Col. 

5016 

Ted  Lewis-Nan  Wynn 

Oct.  28,'43 

73m 

Nov.  27,'43 

1646 

1545 

1655 

Isle  of  Forgotten  Sins 

PRC 

401 

John  Carradlne-Gale  Sondergaard 

Aug.  15,  '43 

82m 

July  3, '43 

1532 

1339 

1617 

It  Happened  in  Gibraltar  (Fr.)  Vigor 

Erich  von  Stroheim-Viviane  Romance 

Nov.  I5.'43 

93  m 

Nov.  27,'43 

1646 

It  Happened  Tomorrow 

UA 

Dick  Powell-Linda  Darnell 

Feb.  25,'44 

1675 

JACK  London 

UA 

.... 

Michael  O'Shea-Susan  Hayward 

Dec.  24.'43 

94m 

Nov.  27,'43 

1645 

1554 

1719 

Jane  Eyre 

20th-Fox 

Orson  Welles-Joan  Fontaine 

Not  Set 

1240 

1655 

Jeannie  (British) 

English 

Barbara  Mullen-Michael  Redgrave 

Oct.  I,'43 

85m 

Aug.  23.'4I 

1594 

Jive  Junction 

PRC 

407 

Dickie  Moore-Tina  Thayer 

Dec.  20.'43 

62m 

Nov.  20, '43 

1633 

1606 

Johnny  Come  Lately 

UA 

James  Cagney-Grace  George 

Sept.  3,'43 

97m 

Aug.28,'43 

1559 

1375 

i7l9 

KANSAN.The 

UA 

Richard  Dix-Jane  Wyatt 

Sept.  I0,'43 

79m 

June  I9.'43 

1547 

1182 

Kismet  (color) 

MGM 

Ronald  Colman-Marlene  Dietrich 

Not  Set 

1635 

Klondike  Kate 

Col. 

5029 

Ann  Savage-Tom  Neal-Glenda  Farrell 

1     Dec.  I6,'43 

.... 

•  •  •  • 

1636 

Knickerbocker  Holiday 

UA 

Nelson  Eddy-Charles  Coburn 

Jan.  28,'44 

.  .  .  ■ 

1635 

.... 

• 

LAD  from  Our  Town 

Artkino 

Russian  Feature 

Oct.  6,'43 

65m 

Oct.  I6,'43 

1586 

Ladies  Courageous 

Univ. 

Loretta  Young-Geraldine  Fitzgerald 

Not  Set 

1616 

(formerly  When  Ladies  Fly) 

Lady  in  the  Dark  (color) 

Para. 

Ginger  Rogers-Ray  Milland 

Not  Set 

1091 

Lady,  Let's  Dance 

Mono. 

Belita-James  Ellison 

March  7,'44 

1599 

Lady  Takes  a  Chance,  A 

RKO 

405 

Jean  Arthur-John  ^/ayne 

Block  1, '43-44 

86m 

Aug.  21. '43 

1547 

1240 

1655 

Lamp  Still  Burns.  The  (British) 

Two  Cities-Gen'l 

Ro^Amund  Jonn-^+pwflrt  GrAnn^r 

Not  Set 

90m 

Nov.  20,'43 

1633 

Land  Beyond  the  Law  (Reissue)  WB 

336 

Dirk  Fori^n 

Oct.  2, '43 

55m 

Larceny  with  Music 

Univ. 

8028 

Allan  Jones-Kitty  Carlisle 

Sept.  !0,'43 

64m 

Sept.  II, '43 

1530 

1351 

Lassie  Come  Home  (color) 

MGM 

410 

Roddy  McDowall-Edmund  Gwenn 

Dec.!'43 

90m 

Aug.  21, '43 

1546, 

1240 

1719 

Last  Ride,  The 

WB 

Richard  Travis-Eleanor  Parker 

Not  Set 

1 1 15 

•  Law  Rides  Again.  The 

Mono. 

Ken  Maynard-Hoot  Gibson 

Aug.  6, '43 

58m 

Aug.  21, '43 

1496 

1339 

Let's  Face  It 

Para. 

430  i 

Bob  Hope-Betty  Hutton 

Block  1  ,'43-44 

76m 

Aug.-  7,'43 

1559 

1277 

1655 

Lifeboat 

20th-Fox 

419 

1111     n       11          l\A/*ll*           f%  1* 

lallulah  Dankhead-WiMiam  Bendix 

Jan.  28, '44 

96m 

Jan.  15, '44 

1713 

1616 

.... 

Lodger,  The 

20th-Fox 

417 

Laird  Cregar-Merle  Oberon 

Jan.  7,'44 

84m 

Jan.  8,'44 

1705 

1636 

•Lone  Rider  in  Law  of  the  Sa 

ddle  PRC 

367 

Bob  Livington-Al  Sf.  John 

Aug.  28,"43 

57m 

1509 

•Lone  Rider  in  Raiders  Red 

Gap  PRC 

368 

Bob  Livmgston-AI  Sf,  John 

Sept.  30,'43 

54m 

•  Lone  Star  Trail,  The 

Univ. 

7077 

Johnny  Mack  Brown-Tex  Ritter 

Aug.  6,'43 

58m 

June  I9,'43 

i373 

1019 

Lost  Angel 

MGM 

415 

Margaret  O'Brien-James  Craig 

Jan.,'44 

92m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1613 

1555 

Love  in  Jalisco  (Mex.)  Clasa-Mohme 

Jorge  Negrete-Marla  Elena  Marquej 

;     Aug.  6,'43 

128m 

Aug.  21, '43 

1496 

.... 

MADAME  Curie 

MGM 

490 

Greer  Oarson-^Valter  Pldgeon 

S  pecia  I 

124m 

Nov  20  '43 

1633 

1416 

Mad  Ghoul,  The 

Univ. 

8038 

rv^lun    AniTPrc-DAvifi  Rriir'A 

Nov  12 '43 

65ni 

Oct  23  '43 

1 594 

1 586 

Make  Your  Own  Bed 

WB 

Jr^rlf  Cjri ft n— ifl n A  NA/vm^in 

w u ^ ^        ui^^ii  ^aiiw    TT  yiiidii 

Not  Set 

1715 

Man  from  Down  Under,  The 

i  MGM 

41 1 

Oharies  Laughton-Binnie  Barnes 

Dec.,'43 

I03m 

Aug.  7,'43 

1547 

•  Man  from  Music  Mountain 

Rep. 

257 

1  w y    iwuci  A 

Oct.  30, '43 

71m 

Seot  25  '43 

1554 

1402 

Man  from  the  Rio  Grande, 

The  Rep. 

363 

Drtn         rrv-Twin  rl«a  \W*^tt? 

L^WII     Uail  J     •  WIIIMC  TTOIId 

Oct  1 8  '43 

55m 

Oct.  2,'43 

1566 

Marine  Raiders 

RKO 

pAt  O'RriAn-Rifth  MiiccAu 

Not  Set 

1696 

Marshal  of  Gunsmoke 

Univ. 

8083 

Ipy    R  ittpr-  R  lies  All    H  ;4\/n  An 

Jan  2!  '44 

wwll«     Al|       ■  ■ 

1676 

Meet  Me  in  St.  Louis 

MGM 

1 1 1  rl \i        A  r  1 A  n ri  - a  m  a  rAt       '  Rri  An 
V  u u  y  >— «'  oi  ici  11  u  ivi  a  1  u a  i  o  i         %ji  i cii 

Not  Set 

1715 

Meet  the  People 

MGM 

Dick  Powell-Lucille  Ball 

Not  Set 

1456 

Melody  Parade 

Mono. 

K^/^rv/  RA^n  r*i linn AC-Frin t A  (^JiiillAn 

IVI  aiy     UCIII     I    IUUIICS    L*U\JlC           U  l  1 1  Cl  ll 

Aua  27  '43 

73m 

Aug.  7.'43 

1559 

1339 

.... 

Men  on  Her  Mind 

PRC 

409 

nA A ru  R A^n   rH  imnAcFriu/Ar/4  N nrr i c 
IVI aiy  uciii  1  lu^ii tu waiu  i^uiiis 

Feb.  12, '44 

1715 

*  '  '  * 

•Mexican  Spitfire's  Blessed  Event  RKO 

333 

I  iinA    vAlATail  Ann  Frml 

Block  7 

63m 

Julv  1  7  '43 

1426 

1402 

Million  Dollar  Kid 

Mono. 

F,:i<:t  ^idp  Kirl<; 
i^ddi   Jiuc  [\1U3 

Feb.  28, '44 

1  w/  w 

<  •  ■  ■ 

Millions  Like  Us  (British)  Gains.-Gen'l 

ti  ic  r  u  rTm  a  n- r  a  Til  vi  a 

1  ^ UT  ^t?  1 

103m 

Oct.  23'43 

Minesweeper 

Para. 

4308 

Rir*nArri    ArlAn-  Iaah  PArrAr 
i\  I  ^1 1  a  1  u   f\  1 1  cs  11  w    o  M    r  a  1  kxsi 

Block  2 

68m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1615 

1 606 

•  <  •  ■ 

Ministry  of  Fear 

Para. 

K  A\J   nA  1 1 1 A  n  rl  -      AnnriA  RAunnl^^c 
i\a  y   IVI  II 1  o  1 1  u  -  IVI  dijUriC'  rvcyiiwiua 

Not  Set 

1  w  1  w 

Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek, 

The  Para. 

4312 

Fn  ri  1 A    Rta  ^  r  A  n  _R  Attv    r1 1  it4nn 
tuuit?    uiaQKcii-DciTy  riUTTwn 

Block  3 

99m 

Jan    8  '44 

1705 

1079 

Moonlight  In  Vermont 

Univ. 

8025 

^^IftriA  .lAAn-pAX/  r-iAlm 
>— / iviia  wcaii-i  Qy   i  iciiii 

Dec.  24, '43 

62m 

Dec  25  '43 

1686 

1635 

Mr.  Co-ed  (color) 

MGM 

RArl  ^lrAttnn.F<;thAr  WilliAmc 
ixt^u  ^Kts iTori'taTncr   vviiiici ma 

Not  Set 

Mr.  Muggs  Steps  Out 

Mono. 

East  Side  Kids 

Dec.  I0,'43 

63  m 

Dec.  25,'43 

1686 

1555 

Mr.  Skefflngton 

WB 

Bette  Davis-Claude  Rains 

Not  Set 

1654 

Murder  on  the  V/aterfront 

WB 

302 

John  Loder-Ruth  Ford 

Sept.  i8,'43 

49m 

July  31. '43 

1579 

My  Best  Gal 

Rep. 

Jane  Withers-Jimmy  Lydon 

Not  Set 

1696 

•My  Kingdom  for  a  Cook 

Col. 

3010 

Charles  Coburn-lsobel  Elsom 

Aug.  31, '43 

82m 

Oct.  23,'43 

1593 

1391 

1719 

My  Reputation 

WB 

Barbara  Stanwyck-George  Brent 

Not  Set 

1695 

Mystery  Broadcast 

Rep. 

304 

Nils  Asther-Ruth  Terry 

Nov.23,'43 

62m 

Oct.  23,'43 

1594 

1586 

•Mystery  of  the  13th  Guest 

Mono. 

Dick  Purcell-Helen  Parrlsh 

Nov.  5,'43 

60m 

Oct.  I6.'43 

1586 

1730  Product  Digest  Section 


January    22,     194  4 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


Title 

NABONGA 

(formerly  Jungle  Terror 
•Nearly  Eighleen 

Never  a  Dull  Moment 

Nine  Girls 
•Nobody's  Darling 

None  Shall  Escape 

Northern  Pursuit 

North  Star.  The 

No  Time  for  Love 


Company 
PRC 


Mono. 
Univ. 
Col. 
Rep. 
Col. 
WB 

RKO-Soldwyn 
Para. 


OKLAHOMA  Kid  (Reissue)  WB 

Old  Acquaintance  WB 

•  Old  Barn  Dance,  The  (Reissue)  Rep. 
O  My  Darling  Clementine  Rep. 
One  More  Tomorrow  WB 

(formerly  Animal  Kingdom) 

•Outlaws  of  Stampede  Pass  Mono. 

Outlaw  Roundup  PRC 

Overland  Mail  Robbery  Rep. 

PARIS  After  Dark  20th-Fox 

Passage  to  Marseille  WB 

•  Passport  to  Suez  Col. 
Patrick  the  Great  Univ. 

•Petticoat  Larceny  RKO 

Phantom  Lady  Univ. 

•Phantom  of  the  Opera  (color)  Univ. 

•Pilot  No.  5  MGM 

Pin  Up  Girl  (color)  20th-Fox 

Pistol  Packin'  Mama  Rep. 

Prairie  Thunder  (Reissue)  WB 

•Presenting  Lily  Mars  MGM 

Pride  of  the  Plains  Rep. 

Princess  O'Rourke  WB 

Purple  Heart,  The  20th-Fox 

RACKET  Man,  The  Col. 

Raiders  of  the  Border  Mono. 

Raiders  of  Sunset  Pass  Rep. 

Rainbow  Island  (color)  Para. 

Rains  Came,  The  (Reissue)  20th-Fox 

•  Random  Harvest  MGM 
Rationing  MGM 
Return  of  the  Ape  Man  Mono. 
Return  of  the  Rangers  PRC 
Return  of  the'  Vampire  Col. 

•Revenge  of  the  Zombies  Mono. 

Rhapsody  in  Blue  WB 

Riders  of  the  Deadline  UA 

Riding  High  (color)  Para. 

Road  to  Utopia  Para. 

Roger  Touhy,  Gangster  20th-Fox 

Rookies  in  Burma  RKO 
Rootin',  Tootin' Rhythm  (Reissue)  Rep. 

SAHARA  Col. 

Sailor's  Holiday  Col. 

Salue  to  the  Marines  (color)  MGM 

Saratoga  Trunk  WB 

•Scream  in  the  Dark,  A  Rep. 

See  Here,  Private  Hargrove  MGM 

Seventh  Cross,  The  MGM 

Seventh  Victim,  The  RKO 

Sherlock  Holmes  Faces  Death  Univ. 

She's  for  Me  Univ. 

Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon  WB 

Show  Business  RKO 

Silver  City  Raiders  Col. 

•Silver  Spurs  Rep. 

Since  You  Went  Away  UA 

Sing  a  Jingle  Univ. 

•  Six-Gun  Gospel  Mono. 

•  Sky's  the  Limit,  The  RKO 
•Sleepy  Lagoon  Rep. 

•  Smart  Guy  Mono. 
•Someone  to  Remember  Rep. 
•So  Proudly  We  Hail  Para. 

So  This  Is  Washington  RKO 

Son  of  Dracula  Univ. 

Song  of  Bernadette,  The  20th-Fox 

Song  of  Russia  MGM 
Song  of  the  Marimba  Clasa-Mohme 

Song  of  the  Open  Road  UA 

Song  of  the  Saddle  (Reissue)  WB 

So's  Your  Uncle  Univ. 

Spider  Woman  Univ. 

Spotlight  Scandals  Mono. 


Prod.  Release 

Clumber                Stars  Date 

408  Buster  Crabbe-Fifi  Dorsey  Jan.  25,'44 

  Gale  Storm-Bill  Henry  Nov.  I2'43 

8030  Ritz  Bros.-Frances  Langford  Nov.  19, '43 
  Ann  Harding-Evelyn  Keyes  Feb.  1 7, '44 

227  Mary  Lee-Gladys  George  Aug.  27, '43 

•  •••  Marsha  Hunt-Alexander  Knox  Feb.  3, '44 

307  Errol  Fiynn-Julie  Bishop  Nov.  1 3, '43 
451  Walter  Huston-Anne  Baxter  Special 

4309  Claudette  Colbert-Fred  MacMurray  Block  2 

330  James  Cagney-Humphrey  Bogart  Sept.  I  I, '43 

308  Bette  Davis-Miriam  Hopkins  Nov.  27,'43 
2307  GeneAutry  Oct.  1 5, '43 

308  Frank  Albertson-Lorna  Grey  Dec.  3 1, '43 

•  •  Ann  Sheridan-Olivia  de  Havilland  Not  Set 

•  .  •  •  Johnny  Mack  Brown-Raymond  Hatton  Oct.  15,43 
454  Dave  O'Brien-Jim  N  ewill  Feb.  10, '44 
376  Bill  Elliott-Anne  Jeffreys  Nov.  20,'43 

409  George  Sanders-Brenda  Marshall  Oct.  15, '43 

•  •  •  •  Humphrey  Bogart-Michele  Morgan  Not  Set 
4023  Warren  William-Ann  Savage  Aug.  I9,'43 
....  Donald  O'Connor-Peggy  Ryan  Not  Set 

331  Ruth  Warrick-Joan  Ca  rroll  Block  7 

•  ■  Ella  Raines-Franchot  Tone  Jan.  28, '44 
7061  Nelson  Eddy-Susanna  Foster  Aug.  27, '43 

332  Franchot  Tone-Marsha  Hunt  June-Aug.,'43 
....  Betty  Grable-Joe  E.  Brown  Not  Set 

310  Ruth  Terry-Bob  Livingston  Dec.  1 5, '43 

332  DickForan  Oct.  2, '43 

330  Judy  Garland-Van  Heflin  June-Aug.,'43 
353  Robert  Livingston-Smiley  Burnette  Jan.  5, '44 
305  Olivia  de  Havilland-Robert  Cummings      Oct.  23, '43 

....  Dana  Andrews-Richard  Conte  Not  Set 

5036  Tom  Neal-Jeanne  Bates  Jan.  18, '44 

•  ■  Johnny  Mack  Brown  Jan.  31, '44 
352  Eddie  Dew-Smiley  Burnette  Dec.  20,'43 

....  Dorothy  Lamour-Eddie  Bracken  Not  Set 

410  Myrna  Loy-Tyrone  Power  Nov.  26, '43 
370  Ronald  Colman-Greer  Garson  June-Aug.,'43 
418  Wallace  Beery-Marjorie  Main  Feb. ,'44 

....  Bela  Lugosl-John  Carradine  Not  Set 

451  Dave  O'Brien-Jim  Newill  Oct.  26, '43 

5024  Bela  Lugosi-Michael  Du  ane  Nov.  I  I  ,'43 

John  Carradine-Veda  Ann  Borg  Sept.  I7,'43 

....  Joan  Leslie-Robert  Alda  Not  Set 

  William  Boyd  Dec.   3, '43 

4307  Dorothy  Lamour-Dick  Powell  Block  2 

....  Bing  Crosby-Bob  Hope-D.  Lamour  Not  Set 

...  Preston  Foster-Lois  Andrews  Not  Set 

414  Alan  Carney- Wally  Brown  Block  3 

3301  GeneAutry  Jan.  I5,'44 

5003  Humphrey  Bogart-Bruce  Bennett  Oct.  I4,'43 

....  Arthur  Lake-Jane  Lawrence  Feb.  24, '44 

401  Wallace  Beery-Fay  Bainter  Sept., '43 

....  Gary  Cooper-lngrid  Bergman  Not  Set 

229  Robert  Lowery-Marie  McDonald  Oct.  15, '43 

420  Robert  Walker-Donna  Reed  Mar., '44 

....  Spencer  Tracy-Signe  Hasso  Not  Set 

403  Tom  Conway-Kim  Hunter  Block  I  ,'43-44 
8024  Basil  Rathbone-Nigel  Bruce  Sept.  I7,'43 
8041  David  Bruce-Grace  McDonald  Dec.  10,'43 
....  Ann  Sheridan-Dennis  Morgan  Not  Set 
....  Eddie  Cantor-George  Murphy  Not  Set 
5202  Russell  Hayden-Bob  Wills  Nov.  4,'43 

256  Roy  Rogers  Aug.  1 2, '43 

....  Colbert-Temple-Woolley-Cotten  Not  Set 

8034  Allan  Jones-June  Vincent  Jan.   7, '44 

....  Johnny  Mack  Brown-Raymond  Hatton     Sept.   3, '43 

335  Fred  Astaire-Joan  Leslie  Block  7 

228  Judy  Canova-Dennis  Day  Sept.  5, '43 
Rick  Vallin-Wanda  McKay  Dec.  I7,'43 

225  Mabel  Paige-John  Craven  Aug.  21, '43 

4228  Claudette  Colbert-Paulette  Goddard  Block  6 

404  Lum  'n'  Abner-Mildred  Coles  Block  I, '43-44 
8013  Louise  Allbritton-Lon  Chaney  Nov.  5, '43 
....  Jennifer  Jones-Charles  Bickford  Not  Set 

422  Robert  Taylor-Susan  Peters  Apr.,'44 

....  Mexican  Feature  Aug.  20, '43 

....  Edgar  Bergen-"Charlie"-Bonita  Granville  Mar.  24, '44 

331  DickForan  Oct.  2,'43 
8041  Donald  Woods-Elyse  Knox  Dec.  3,'43 
8021  Basil  Rathbone-Nigel  Bruce  Jan.  21, '44 

Billy  Gilbert-Frank  Fay  Sept.  24,'43 


r-  REVIEWED 
M.  P.  Product 


Riiniiiiig 


Herald 


Digest 


Time 

Issue 

Page 

Page 

1 634 

61m 

Oct.  30, '43 

1605 

1545 

oUm 

Nov.    o,  4J 

1615 

1  351 

1676 

/ 1  m 

Aug.  1 4,  4i 

I  AO  I 

143  1 

ojm 

Ian     1  R  'AA 

1  7  1  ^ 

1  AOR 
1  OYD 

94m 

Oct.  23, '43 

1593 

1471 

105m 

Oct.  16,'43 

1585 

1305 

83m 

Nov.  13,'43 

1625 

855 

80m 

Mar.  18'39 

1482 

1  lOm 

Nov.  6,'43 

1613 

1 192 

60m 

Jan.  15,'38 

1574 

68m 

Dec.  4,'43 

1653 

1636 

Advance  Service 
Synopsis  Data 
Page 


59m 
64m 
63m 
73m 


1431 


65m  Jan.   8, '44 

53m  Jan.  15, '44 

57m  Dec.  25, '43 

95m  Sept.  9,'39 

126m  Nov.  28,'42 

57m  Oct.  16,'43 

70m   

61m  Aug.  7,'43 

70m  Jan.  15,'44 
89m  '    Nov.  6,'43 

62m  Dec.  1  1,'43 

97m  Oct.  2,'43 

101  m  July  31, '43 

55m  Oct.  30, '43 

71m  Aug.  21, '43 

68m  Sept.  11, '43 

60m  Dec.  II, '43 

55m  Nov.  27,'43 

68m  July  24,'43 

62m  Jan.   I, '44 

55m  Sept.  4, '43 

89m  Julyl7,'43 

65m  Aug.  2 1, '43 

63m  Jan.  1,'44 

80m  Aug.  7,'43 

1 26m  June  26, '43 

64m  Aug.  2 1, '43 

80m  Nov.  13, '43 

165m  Dec.  25,'43 

107m  Jan.    I, '44 

131m  Sept.  II, '43 


Apr.  1 1, '36 
Dec.  4,'43 
Jan.  15,44 
July  24,'43 


1706 
1714 
1686 

1574 
1029 


1585 

1471 

1714 
1613 

1666 

1565 
1579 
1605 


1558 
1529 
1665 


1646 
1442 

1694 
1521 
1425 
1496 
1695 
1470 
1385 
1558 
1626 
1685 
1693 
1530 

1482 
1654 
1714 
1579 


1654 

1676 

1457 
1654 

796 
1616 
1606 
1545 
1599 
1391 
1530 
1696 
1431 
1715 
1362 
1646 


1305 
1696 
1057 
1431 
1531 
1616 
1715 
1471 

1635 
1457 
1675 

1351 
1635 
1654 
1391 
1 162 
1391 
1599 
1276 
1 104 
1471 
1241 
1416 
1416 

i695 

i635 
1675 
1351 


1719 


1719 


55m 

Oct.  2, '43 

1566 

1402 

1715 

55m 

Oct.  23, '43 

i594 

85m 

Oct.  9,'43 

1573 

1545 

1616 

71m 

Oct.  23, '43 

1595 

1457 

1675 

61m 

July  17,'43 

1426 

1240 

1675 

91m 

Aug.  21, '43 

1493 

1  192 

1719 

70m 

Apr.  I0,'43 

1250 

971 

1432 

1531 

64m 

Dec.  1 1,'43 

1666 

1654 

55m 

104m 

May  1,'43 

1289 

962 

1432 

56m 

Dec.  4,'43 

1653 

94m 

Sept.  25,'43 

1553 

962 

1655 

1280 


1719 


1719 
1655 


1617 


1655 


Product  Digest  Section  1731 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    22,  1944 


REVIEWED- 


Tide  Company 

•  Sfage  Door  Canteen  "  UA 
Standing  Room  Only  Para. 
Story  of  Dr.  Wassell  (color)  Para. 
Strange  Death  of  Adolf  Hitler  Univ. 

•  Submarine  Alert  Para. 
Sullivans,  The  20th-Fox 
Sultan's  Daughter,  The  Mono. 

•  Suspected  Person  (British)  PRC 
Sweet  Rosie  O'Grady  (color)  20th-Fox 
Sweethearts  of  the  U.  S.  A.  Mono. 
Swing  Fever  MGM 
Swing  Out  the  Blues  Col. 
Swing  Shift  Maisie  MGM 
Swingtime  Johnny  Univ. 

TAMPICO  20th-Fox 

Tarzan's  Desert  Mystery  RKO 

Tender  Comrade  RKO 

Texas  Kid,  The  Mono. 

Thank  Your  Lucky  Stars  WB 

That  Nazty  Nuisance  UA 
There's  Something  About  a  Soldier  Col. 
They  Met  in  the  Dark  (British) 

Hellman-Gen'l 

•This  Is  the  Army  (color)  WB 

This  Is  the  Life  Univ. 

(■formerly  Angela) 

Thousands  Cheer  (color)  MGM 

Three  Cheers  for  the  Boys  Univ. 

Three  Russian  Girls  UA 

Tiger  Fangs  PRC 

Till  We  Meet  Again  Para. 

Timber  Queen  Para. 

Top  Man  Univ. 

Tornado  Para. 

•  Trail  of  Terror  PRC 
Triumph  Over  Pain  Para. 

(formerly  Great  Without  Glory) 

True  to  Life  Para. 
•Tumbling  Tumbleweed  (Reissue)  Rep. 

Two  Sisters  and  a  Sailor  MGM 


UNCENSORED  (British) 

Uncertain  Glory 
•  Underdog,  The 
Under  Two  Flags  (Reissue) 
Uninvited,  The 
Unknown  Guest 
Up  in  Arms  (color) 
Up  in  Mabel's  Room 


20th-Fox 
WB 
PRC 
20th-Fox 
Para. 
Mono. 
RKO-Goldwyn 
UA 


VICTORY  Through 

Air  Power  (color)  UA-Disney 
Vigilantes  Ride,  The  Col. 

(formerly  Deadline  Guns) 
Voice  in  the  Wind  UA 
Voodoo  Man,  The  Mono. 

•WAGON  Tracks  West 

Watch  on  the  Rhine 

Weedend  Pass 
•West  Side  Kid 

Westward  Bound 
•What  a  Man 

What  a  Woman! 

Where  Are  Your  Children? 

Whispering  Footsteps 

Whistling  in  Brooklyn 

White  Cliffs,  The 

Wilson 

Wintertime 

Woman  of  the  Town,  The 
Women  in  Bondage 
Women  in  War  (Reissue) 
Wyoming  Hurricane 


Rep. 
WB 
Univ. 
Rep. 
Mono. 
Mono. 

Col. 
Mono. 

Rep. 
MGM 
MGM 
20th-Fox 
20th-Fox 
UA 
Mono. 
Rep. 
Col. 

YANKS  Ahoy  UA-Roach 
Yellow  Canary  (British)  Wllcox-RKO 
•Youngest  Profession,  The  MGM 
Young  Ideas  MGM 
You're  a  Lucky  Fellow,  Mr.  Smith  Univ. 


2314 
301 

226 


5005 

309 
412 


405 


M.  P. 

Product 

Advance 

Service 

■n  J 

Prod. 

Release 

Running 

Herald 

Digest 

Synopsis 

Data 

Number 

Stars 

Date 

Time 

Issue 

Page 

Page 

Page 

Stage  and  Screen  Stars 

Special 

132m 

May  I5,'43 

1313 

1 1 15 

1617 

43  i  4 

Paulette  Goddard-Fred  MacMurray 

Block  3 

83m 

Jan.  8,'44 

1706 

1616 

Gary  Cooper-Laraine  Day 

Not  Set 

1530 

8022 

Ludwig  Donath-Gale  Sondergaard 

Sept.  I0.'43 

72m 

Sept.  4,'43 

i522 

4229 

Richard  Arlen-Wendy  Barrie 

Block  6 

67m 

June  26/43 

1385 

772 

Anne  Baxter-Thomas  Mitchell 

Not  Set 

1636 

Ann  Corio-Charles  Butterworth 

Jan.  24,'44 

64m 

Dec.  I8,'43 

1674 

1555 

0  1  c 

1  1  3 

Clitrord  cvans-Patncia  Roc 

Nov.  29,  43 

78m 

Jan.  1,44 

1694 

408 

Betty  Grable-Robert  Young 

Oct.  I,'43 

76m 

Sept.  25,'43 

1553 

1305 

i7l9 

Una  Merkel-Donald  Novis 

Feb.  7,'44 

1586 

423 

Kay  Kyser-Marilyn  Maxwell 

Apr.,'44 

Vim 

Nov.  I3,'43 

1626 

1241 

5020 

Bob  Haymes-Lynn  Merrick 

Jan.  20, '44 

79m 

Jan.22,'44 

1726 

1636 

404 

Ann  Sothern-James  Craig 

Oct.,'43 

86m 

May  8,'43 

1546 

1 191 

i6l7 

Andrews  Sister-Harriet  Hilliard 

Feb.  4,'44 

60m 

Jan.  I,'44 

1695 

1676 

Lynn  Bari-Edward  G.  Robinson 

Not  bet 

1636 

413 

Johnny  Weissmuller-Nancy  Kelly 

Block  3 

70  m 

Dec.  II, '43 

1666 

1362 

Ginger  Rogers-Robert  Ryan 

Not  Set 

lOlm 

Jan.  I,'44' 

1693 

1635 

Johnny  Mack  Brown 

Nov.  26,'43 

56m 

Nov.  27,'43 

1645 

1545 

303 

Warner  Stars  Revue 

Sept.  25.43 

127m 

Aug.  21, '43 

1559 

1058 

1719 

Bobby  Watson-Joe  Devlin 

Aug.  6,'43 

43  m 

June  I2,'43 

1546 

1019 

5017 

Evelyn  Keyes-Tom  Neal 

Nov.  30/43 

81m 

Dec.  I8,'43 

1674 

1545 

James  Mason-Joyce  Howard 

Not  Set 

I04m 

Sept.  4,'43 

1522 

224 

Joan  Leslie-George  Murphy-Stage  Cast 

Feb.  I5,'44 

ll4m 

July  31/43 

1453 

1276 

1575 

Susanna  Foster-Donald  O'Connor 

Not  Set 

1416 

413  Kathryn  Grayson-Gene  Kelly 

....  Stage  and  Screen  Entertainers 

....  Anna  Sten-Kent  Smith 

406  Frank  Buck-Duncan  Renaldo 

...  Ray  Milland-Maureen  O'Hara 

4313  Dick  Arlen-Mary  Beth  Hughes 

8009  Donald  O'Connor-Peggy  Ryan 

4304  Chester  Morris-Nancy  Kelly 

356  Dave  O'Brien-Jim  Newill 

....  Joel  McCrea-Betty  Field 

4303  Mary  Martin-Franchot  Tone 

2308  Gene  Autry-Lucile  Browne 

....  Jimmy  Durante-Van  Johnson 

418  Eric  Portman-Phyllis  Calvert 

....  Errol  Flynn-Paul  Lukas 

316  Barton  MacLane-Charlotte  Wynters 

41 1  Ronald  Colman-Claudette  Colbert 

4315  Ray  Milland-Ruth  Hussey 
Victor  Jory-Pamela  Blake 
Danny  Kaye-Dinah  Shore 

....  Marjorle  Reynolds-Dennis  O'Keefe 


Disney  Aviation  Feature 
Russell  Hayden-Shirley  Patterson 

Francis  Lederer-Sigrid  Gurle 
Bela  Lugosl-John  Carradlne 

Bill  Elliott-Gabby  Hayes 
Bette  Davis-Paul  Lukas 
Martha  O'Driscoll-Noah  Beery,  Jr. 
Donald  Barry-Dale  Evans 
Ken  Maynard-Hoot  Gibson 
Johnny  Downs-Wanda  McKay 
Rosalind  Russell-Brlan  Aherne 
Jackie  Cooper-Patricia  Morison 
John  Hubbard-RIta  Quigley 
Red  Skelton-Ann  Rutherford 
Irene  Dunne-Roddy  McDowall 
Alexander  Knox-Charles  Coburn 
Sonja  Henle-Jack  Oakle 

•  •  •  •        Albert  Dekker-Claire  Trevor 

•  •  •  •  Gail  Patrick-Nancy  Kelly 
■  •  •  •  Elsie  Janls-Wendy  Barrie 
  Russell  Hayden-Bob  Wills 

Joe  Sawyer-William  Tracy 
....        Anna  Neagle-Richard  Greene 
33  I         Virginia  Weldler-E.  Arnold  &  Guests 
408        Mary  Astor-Herbert  Marshall 
8033        Allan  Jones-Evelyn  Ankers 


Jan./44 
Not  Set 
Jan.  I4,'44 

Sept.  I0,'43 
Not  Set 
Block  3 

Sept.  17/43 
Block  {,'43-44 

Sept.  I4,'43 
Not  Set 

Block  I. '43-44 
Dec.  {,'43 
Not  Set 

I 

Jan.  21,44 
Not  Set 
Oct.  I0,'43 
Nov.  26,'43 
Block  3 
Oct.  22.'43 
Not  Set 
Apr.  7,'44 


Aug.  I3.'43 
Feb.  3,'44 

Mar.  I0,'44 
Feb.  2 1, '44 


126m 

Sept.  I8,'43 

1541 

1079 

1635 

79  m 

Jan.  1/44 

i694 

1457 

58m 

Sept.  25,'43 

1554 

1531 

1676 

66m 

Jan.  8,'44 

1706 

1696 

83m 

Sept.  I8,'43 

1541 

1456 

80m 

Aug.  I4,'43 

1579 

1457 

63m 

94m 
57m 


Aug.  I4.'43  1578 


Aug 
Sepf 
Feb 


I9,'43 
4,'43 
I8,'44 
Aug.23,'43 
Jan.  I7.'44 
Jan.  3 1, '44 
Dec.  28,'43 
Jan.  I7,'44 
Dec.  30,'43 
Dec.,'43 
Not  Set 
Not  Set 
Sept.  I7,'43 
Dec.  3 1, '43 
Jan.  I0,'44 
Jan.25,'44 
Not  Set 

July   I. "43 
Not  Set 
June-Aug.,'43 
Nov.,'43 
Oct.  22,'43 


55m 
I  13m 


59m 
73  m 
93m 
72  m 


July  3 1. '43 
July  3 1, '43 


Jan.  I5,'44 
Dec.  1 1, '43 
Dec.  1 1, '43 
Nov.  27/43 


87m       Oct.  2,'43 


82m 
88m 
72m 
69m 


58m 
98m 
81m 
77m 
64m 


Sept.  1 1  ,*43 
Dec.  I8,'43 
Nov.  20,'43 
May  25,'40 


Mar.  I3.'43 
Nov.  20,'43 
Mar.  6,'43 
July  3 1, '43 
Oct.  9/43 


1455 
1579 


1714 
1666 
1665 
1645 

1565 


1529 
1673 
1634 
1726 


1532 
1634 
1189 
1578 
1573 


912 
1079 
1696 


83m 

Aug.  I,'42 

1714 

1636 

65  m 

Oct.  9,'43 

i574 

1509 

99m 

May  9,'36 

1574 

97m 

Jan.  8,'44 

1705 

1416 

65  m 

Aug.  28.'43 

1559 

i457 

1695 

65m 

July  I0,'43 

1532 

1375 

1081 

1654 
1676 

1391 
986 
1676 
135! 
1599 

i635 
1606 
1636 
1431 
1586 
1676 
1431 
1531 
1554 

1079 
1019 

1081 
1240 
1531 


1719 
i7i9 
1655 


1575 


Feature  Product,  including  Coming  Attractions,  listed  Company  by  Company,  in 
Order  of  Release  on  page  1727, 


1 732  Product  Digest  Section 


WITH  CERTAINTY 


ON  MANY  FRONTS  where  vital  pictures 
are  made  without  rehearsal,  the  caniera- 
meu  have  utmost  confidence  in  the  un- 
varying high  quality  of  Eastman  films. 
This  certainty  is  built  on  a  half  century 
of  unexcelled  performance.  Eastman 
Kodak  Company,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

J.  E.  BRULATOUR,  INC.,  Distributors 
Fort  Lee  Chicago  Hollywood 


EASTMAN  FILMS 


TH£  MOST  FEROCIOUS 
SHS-WOLF  you  EVER 
HOWLED  AT... 


fa/  »V 


MOTION  PICTURE 

it  RAID 


REVIEWS 

{In  Product  Digest) 

Phantom  Lady 
Passport  to  Adventure 
Texas  Masquerade 
Casanova  in  Burlesque 
Rationing 
The  Shipbuilders 
Mojave  Firebrand 
San  Dennetrio,  London 
Bell  Bottonn  George 
Kings  of  the  Ring 
Lady,  Let's  Dance 


OP 


Q  Exhibitor  units  move  to  establish 
national  united  front  on  taxes 

C|  Majors  take  this  week's  final 
version  of  Decree  to  Clark 

(|  Tax  receipts  for  1943  show  14% 
increase  in  theatre  attendance 

CI  Projected  Anglo-American  deals 
boost  film  stocks  in  London 


C|  New  units  are  major  factor 
in  production  schedule  for  1944 


C]  16mm  distributors  seek  OWI  aid  in 
increasing  Government  production 


VOL  154.  NO.  5 


JANUARY  29.  1944 


7  ,T    inii        tu^  p,,cf  niTirf    it  Vcio  York  City,  U.S.A.,  under  ihe  act  of  March  3,  1879.  Pub 

January        19^1'  "f  A-^r^.r    R^-^elhr  Ccvter.  New  York  20,  N.  Y.    Subscription  prices:  $5.<- 

'1';;  "UiL^-^if  ■  ri.kt  1944  hy  Quigley  Publishing  Ccnpan,. 


Entered  as  second-class  matter, 
lished  weekh  by  Quigley  Publishing  ,  _  .     _  . 
o  year  in  the  Americas,  $10.00  a  year  Foreign.  Single  copy,  2s 


M-G-M  IN  THE 
SPOTLIGHT ! 

One!  Two!  Three! 
Sock!  Sock!  Sock!  It's  just  the 
beginning  of  the  Greatest  Group 
this  industry  has  ever  CHEERED 


GREER  GARSON 
WALTER  PIDGEON 

in 

"MADAME  CURIE" 

Directed  by  Produced  by 

MERVYN  LeROY  •  SIDNEY  FRANKLIN 

with  Henry  Travers  •  Albert  Basserman 
Robert  Walker  •  C.  Aubrey  Smith*  Dame 
May  Whitty  •  Victor  Francen  •  Elsa 
Basserman  •  Reginald  Owen  •  Van 
Johnson  •  Margaret  O'Brien  •  Screen 
Play  by  Paul  Osborn  and  Paul  H.  Rameau 
Based  on  the  Book  "Madame  Curie"  by 
Eve  Curie  •  An  M-G-M  Picture 


Going  Strong 
Into  8th  Week 
Radio  City  Music  Hall! 


"THOUSANDS  CHEER" 

(  Technicolor) 
Kathryn  GRAYSON  •  Gene  KELLY 
Mary  John  Jose 

ASTOR  •  BOLES  •  ITURBI 

Ben  Blue,  Frances  Rafferty,  Mary  Elliott,  Frank 
Jenks,  Frank  Sully,  Dick  Simmons,  Ben  Lessy, 
Mickey  Rooney,  Judy  Garland,  Red  Skelton, 
Eleanor  Powell,  Ann  Sothern,  Lucille  Ball,  Virginia 
O'Brien,  Frank  Morgan,  LenaHorne,  Marsha  Hunt, 
Marilyn  Maxwell,  Donna  Reed,  Margaret  O'Brien, 
June  AUyson,  Gloria  DeHaven,  John  Conte,  Sara 
Haden,  Don  Loper,  Maxine  Barrat,  Kay  Kyser, 
Bob  Crosby,  Benny  Carter,  The  M-G-M  Dancing 
Girls  •  Original  Screen  Play  by  Paul  Jarrico  and 
Richard  Collins  ♦  Based  on  their  story  "Private 
Miss  Jones"  •  Directed  by  George  Sidney  •  Pro- 
duced by  Joseph  Pasternak  •  An  M-G-M  Picture 


SPENCER  TRACY 
IRENE  DUNNE 

in 

VICTOR  FLEMING'S  PRODUCTION  OF 

"A  GUY  NAMED  JOE" 

with  Van  Johnson  •  Ward  Bond  •  James 
Gleason  •  Lionel  Barrymore  •  Barry 
Nelson  •  Esther  Williams  •  Screen  Play 
by  Dalton  Trumbo  •  Adaptation  by 
Frederick  Hazlitt  Brennan  •  Directed  by 
Victor  Fleming  •  Produced  by  Everett 
Riskin*A  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  Picture 


7th  Grand 
Week  Capitol 
Theatre,  N.Y. 


"Our  Two  Big  Jobs  in  January:  Fourth  War  Loan  and  March  of  Dimes! 


ur  Two  Big  Jobs  in  January: 


.„.DANE  ROBERT      ,  •     ,  .Yf^ Ji^k^^ 

CLARK  •  HUTTON  •  ANDERSON 

ALAN  HALE  •  JOHN  RIDGELY  •  WILLIAM  PRINCE 
Directed  bv  DELMER  DAVES  •  Produced  bv  JERRY  WALD 

Sceen  Plov  by  nPl.^n^If  .n!^  ^^Tbe.  M^^      •  Fro,  on  O.iginol  S.ory  by  S.eve  Fishe.  ■  M.sic  by  Pron.  Wa..cn 


Now,  if  I  could  only  stretch  my  seating  capacity!" 


4th  WAR  LOAN  DRIVE  ...  A  BONO  FOR  EVERY  SEA 


MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD 


COLVIN  BROWN,  Publisher 

MARTIN  QUIGLEY 
President  and  Editor-in-Chief 

TERRY  RAMSAYE,  Editor 

Vol.  154,  No.  5 

January  29,  1944 

BERNADEHE 


THIS  week  marks  the  advent  of  the  long  considered  and 
carefully  produced  and  presented  "The  Song  of  Berna- 
dette".  It  is  a  picture  of  faith  born  of  faith  under  ordeals. 
That  is  why  Franz  Werfel,  fleeing  from  Nazi  persecution, 
and  taking  refuge  in  Lourdes,  on  his  way  to  safety  in  America, 
came  to  write  it.  Faith  was  a  living  fact  for  him.  It  is  addressed 
at  people  of  belief  and  people  hungry  for  it.  It  records  a 
triumph  over  skepticism. 

For  the  screen  it  is  exploration  of  a  public  consciousness, 
and  an  appeal  of  poignancy  to  conscience  and  individual 
fidelity. 

A  great  deal,  if  not  most,  of  what  has  been  said  on  the 
screen  in  address  to  the  people  has  been  exactly  that,  address 
to  the  people.  "The  Song  of  Bernadette"  is  addressed  to  the 
individual.  No  matter  who  is  in  the  next  seat,  every  one  will 
see  the  picture  alone. 

A  certain  quality  of  belief  is  required,  if  one  is  really  to  see 
this  picture. 

There  is  about  the  production  a  certain  daring.  It  raises  the 
question  of  the  willingness  of  our  picture  public  to  give  con- 
sideration to  and  to  enjoy  concern  about  belief.  It  is  not  for 
those  who  expect  to  be  lulled  into  salvation,  but  it  will  be  a 
stirring  experience  for  the  many  who  are  willing  to  accept  the 
disappointments  of  the  Now  as  part  of  the  path  to  a  better 
Tomorrow. 

The  like  of  this  has  not  been  seen  upon  the  screen  before. 
There  is  a  quality  about  it  which  suggests  those  moments  when 
a  man  may  sit  down  with  himself  and  think  things  that  he  hesi- 
tates to  say  out  loud.  Bernadette  Soubirous  stands  in  history 
as  one  who  was  unafraid. 

AAA 

C|  Advertising  contemporaries,  and  friends,  of  Mr.  Silas  F. 
Seadler,  of  M-G-M  and  typographical  custodian  of  Leo-the- 
Lion,  held  an  unofficial  meeting  before  the  best  bar  in  Fifty- 
second  Street,  last  week,  and  voted  him  the  New  York  equiva- 
lent of  an  Oscar  for  his  achievements  in  the  production  of  the 
War  Activities  Committee's  Fourth  War  Loan  drive  trade  press 
advertisements.  There  were  citations,  in  particular,  for  drama, 
emotional  punch,  and  challenge  to  reader  attention.  An  essen- 
tial characteristic  of  the  effective  copy  is  that  it  has  been 
written  to  be  read,  typed  so  it  can  be  read. 

AAA 

ANNIVERSARY 

A  PRIL  next,  the  motion  picture  will  reach  the  fiftieth 
anniversary  of  its  Broadway  opening  and  the  begin- 
/  \  ning  of  Its  development  as  a  medium  of  enter- 
tainment. Holland  Brothers  Kinetoscope  Parlor,  presenting 
Thomas  A.  Edison's  peepshow  film  machine,  with  bits  of  box- 
ing matches  and  flashes  of  variety  acts,  officially  opened 
April  14,  1894,  at  1155  Broadway. 

Srover  Cleveland  was  President  of  the  United  States.  The 
women  wore  bustles.  Only  hussies  and  actresses  used  rouge. 
The  U.  S.  Army  was  out  west  watching  the  Indians. 


The  United  States  and  the  films  have  come  a  long  way  since 
then.  Today  the  motion  picture  is  integrated  with  the  life  of 
the  nation  and  it  has  become  an  Important  implement  in  the 
greatest  of  wars. 

There  has  been  for  some  months  a  project  for  special  atten- 
tion to  this  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  motion  picture.  It  started 
bravely  enough  with  plans.  Now  it  Is  smouldering  along,  get- 
ting, it  seems,  nowhere,  in  a  maze  of  minor  indifferences,  mis- 
understandings and  controversies. 

It  would  appear  that  in  this  anniversary  the  industry  might 
bring  wide  and  favourable  attention  to  itself.  Too  much  of 
the  news  has  been  coming  from  courts.  About  now  the  industry 
could  do  with  some  constructive  publicity. 

AAA 

GIRL  FROM  RECTOR'S 

METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER'S  version  of  "The  Girl 
from  Rector's",  according  to  report,  is  to  enjoy  the 
reminiscent  collaborations  of  Mr.  George  Rector. 
This  would  be  no  more  than  right.  It  was  the  stage  play,  "The 
Girl  from  Rector's",  which  put  Mr.  Rector  in  the  reminiscence 
business. 

That  was  a  while  ago  in  the  period  when  Diamond  Jim  Brady 
was  still  around,  and  the  "Great  White  Way"  was  dotted  with 
what  they  called  "lobster  palaces".  There  were  still  such  noted 
establishments  as  Shanley's,  and  Mouquln's,  and  Bustanoby's, 
and  Churchill's,  and  Louis  Martin's.  Rector's  was  not  only  a 
restaurant  but  also  a  hotel.  A  great  many  staid  business  men 
from  the  hinterlands  stayed  at  Rector's,  and  wrote  letters  home 
on  Rector  stationery.  After  the  stage  play  and  its  publicity 
had  limned  a  very  merry  picture  of  the  blithe  life  at  Rector's, 
Papa-from-Dubuque  was  in  bad.  He  couldn't  go  there  any- 
more. Rector's  went  into  a  decline.  The  name  of  the  hotel  was 
changed  to  the  Claridge.  Mr.  Rector  opened  a  restaurant 
across  the  way,  but  eventually  he  turned  to  the  art  of  remem- 
bering and  writing. 

About  1916  the  Mutual  Film  Corporation  distributed  an 
uninspired  film  rendition  of  the  play  but  no  one  appeared  to 
be  impressed.  NA^ith  Mr.  Rector's  aid  it  will  be  better  this  time, 

AAA 

Cj  Up  here  in  Yankeeland  there  comes  a  thaw  In  January. 
There  is  a  greening  of  the  moss  and  little  things  that  grow 
against  the  rocks  In  the  white-water  brooks,  gurgling  against 
the  ice.  They  are  an  earnest  that,  come  hell  or  high  water,  war 
or  peace,  there  will  be  again  a  spring  and  after  that  a  sum- 
mer. We  of  the  motion  picture  who  live  so  much  of  our  lives 
in  a  remote  world  of  box-office  grosses,  percentages,  protec- 
tion, and  clearance  and  zoning  and  trade  practices,  may  now 
and  then  with  profit  recall  that  actually  we  live,  the  world 
around,  off  an  average  of  eight  Inches  of  topsoll.  The  stuff 
of  war  today  is  petroleum,  the  juice  of  a  prehistoric  crop  of 
little  green  things  made  of  sunshine,  soil  and  water.  The  human 
race  is  living,  and  fighting,  very  like  the  termites,  on  the  dead 
materials  of  yesterday,  ploughed  under.  The  arts,  including 
ours,  are  addressed  at  making  a  pretty  job  of  it.  That's  the 
big  picture;  some  of  the  details  are  confusing,  annoying.  But 
there's  a  sun-up  every  morning.  — Terry  Ramsaye 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    29,  1944 


THIS  WEEK  IN  THE  NEWS 


EXHIBITOR    groups    move    to'  establish 
united  tax  front  Page  12 

MAJORS  take  new  "final"  Decree  version 
to  Tom  Clark  Page  14 

URGE  more  16mm  non-theatrical  films  to 
stimulate  war  effort  Page  15 

ADMISSION  tax  receipts  increase  fourteen 
per  cent  in  1943 — a  graph         Page  18 

ON  TIjIE  MARCH— Red  Kann  discusses 
the  United  Artists  setup  Page  23 

"BOND-a-Seat"  slogan  is  on  way  to  reality 
in  nation's  theatres  Page  25 


SERVICE  DEPARTMEN 

Hollywood  Scene 

Page  40 

In  the  Newsreels 

Page  50 

Managers'  Round  Table 

Page  55 

Picture  Grosses 

Page  63 

Shorts  on  Broadway 

Page  53 

INDEPENDENT  production  to  have  biggest 
year  in  1944  Page  33 

TWO  former  theatre  men  discuss  exhibition 
in  Bougainville  foxhole  Page  34 

MARCH  of  Dimes  drive  in  industry  runs 
ahead  of  last  year  -        Page  36 

"THE  Song  of  Bernadette,"  20th-Fox  film, 
opens  on  Broadway  Page  37 

PICTURE    stocks    experience    boom  on 
London  Stock  Exchange  Page  41 

BOX  OFFICE  Champions  for  the  month  of 
December  Page  45 

TS 

What  the  Picture  Did  for  Me         Page  52 

IN  PRODUCT  DIGEST  SECTION 

Showmen's  Reviews  Page  1733 

Short  Subjects  Page  1 735 

The  Release  Chart  Page  1 736 


Toward  Timeliness 

"THE  Road  to  Rome,"  an  official  film  rec- 
ord of  the  Italian  campaign,  should  be  on 
theatre  screens  within  a  couple  of  weeks 
after  the  Yanks  march  into  the  Eternal  City. 
That,  according-  to  Stanton  Griffis,  chief  of 
the  Office  of  War  Information  motion  pic- 
ture bureau,  is  the  kind  of  swift  report  from 
war  fronts  that  the  official  two-reel  Army 
releases  ought  to  provide. 

Mr.  Griffis,  who  already  has  done  much 
to  speed  up  official  releases  to  newsreels,  was 
in  New  York  this  week  to  confer  with  Army 
film  officers  and  motion  picture  executives 
on  procedure  to  accelerate  the  official  re- 
leases. 

The  OWI  film  head  is  reported  to  have 
expressed  the  belief  that  the  first  newsreel 
flashes  from  the  battlefront  should  be  fol- 
lowed as  quickly  as  feasible  by  a  full  docu- 
mentary report  on  each  important  campaign. 
Reorganization  of  the  Signal  Corps  combat 
coverage,  and  the  new  editorial  responsi- 
bilities assigned  to  Colonel  Frank  Capra 
were  indications  of  official  intention  to  meet 
Mr.  Griffis'  advance  billing. 


Retiring  Chairman 

FRANK  COMERFORD  WALKER,  Post- 
master General,  and  former  president  of  the 
Comerford  circuit,  tendered  his  resignation 
as  chairman  when  the  Democratic  National 
Committee  met  in  Washington  Saturday  to 
set  a  convention  date  and  plot  campaign 
strategy  for  the  November  elections. 

Mr.  Walker  said  his  action  was  prompted 
by  the  enlarged  demands  on  his  time  made 
by  the  Post  Office. 

"Let  there  be  no  misunderstanding  of  my 
attitude,"  he  told  reporters.  "The  ground 
won  on  the  domestic  field  must  be  held. 
New  problems  are  already  shaping  them- 
selves. An  administration  —  the  President 
and  Congress — must  be  elected  which  will 
be  worthy  to  cope  with  America's  needs." 

He  was  succeeded  as  Democratic  Na- 
tional Chairman  by  Robert  E.  Hannegan  of 
St.  Louis,  who  resigned  as  Collector  of  In- 
ternal Revenue. 


Who  Is  Boss? 

PRESIDENT  ROOSEVELT  has  been 
asked  to  decide  who  is  the  boss  of  the  Office 
of  War  Information.  A  dispute  between 
Elmer  Davis,  director  of  OWI,  and  Robert 
Sherwood,  chief  of  the  administrative  divi- 
sion, is  now  awaiting  the  Final  Word. 

Mr.  Sherwood,  correspondents  reported, 
went  to  the  White  House  for  help  when  Mr. 
Davis  ordered  the  discharge  of  three  top 
assistants  in  the  Overseas  Branch.  They 
were  James  Warburg,  chief  of  psychological 
warfare;  Joseph  Barnes,  deputy  director  of 
Atlantic  operations,  and  Ed  Johnson,  chief 
of  the  overseas  editorial  board. 

Mr.  Davis  is  said  to  have  sent  in  a  memo 
asking  that  his  nominal  title  of  boss  be  con- 


firmed with  administrative  power.  Other- 
wise he  was  reported  to  want  out.  The  op- 
eration of  the  film  division  of  the  Overseas 
Branch  has  been  under  Mr.  Sherwood's  di- 
rection. Its  activities  have  reportedly 
prompted  some  of  the  disagreement  between 
bosses  Davis  and  Sherwood. 


Network  FM 

NETWORK  frequency  modulation  was 
promised  Monday  by  Niles  Trammell,  pres- 
ident of  the  National  Broadcasting  Com- 
pany, in  an  announcement  that  all  its  regu- 
lar network  programs  would  be  available  to 
FM  stations  operated  by  NBC's  standard 
broadcast  affiliates. 

In  an  effort  to  stimulate  the  expansion  of 
FM  the  network  will  service  its  commer- 
cial programs  to  the  FM  stations  without 
additional  charge. 

Currently  NBC  is  transmitting  WEAF 
programs  over  its  New  York  FM  station, 
W2XWG,  and  has  applications  pending  to 
build  FM  companion  stations  in  Chicago 
and  four  other  cities  where  it  operates  sta- 
tions. Mr.  Trammell  said  that  when  there 
were  a  sufficient  number  of  FM  affiliates  the 
network  would  construct  point-to-point  re- 
lays or  utilize  new  high  fidelity  telephone 
lines. 

As  the  size  of  the  FM  audience  grows  it 
should  permit  the  organization  of  several 
national  FM  chains,  Mr.  Trammell  said. 
NBC  also  is  making  plans  for  a  television 
network,  to  serve  those  of  its  affiliates  which 
have  plans  in  the  visual  broadcasting  field 
for  the  future. 


Moscow  to  Mexico 

MEXICO  City's  Russian  Aid  Committee  has 
organized  a  Cinema  Club  to  insure  the  pe- 
riodical exhibition  of  Soviet  war  documen- 
tary films,  according  to  reports  from  south 
of  the  Rio  Grande.  They  add  that  Russia 
is  endeavoring  to  build  interest  in  its  films 
throughout  Latin  American  by  frequent 
mention  of  pictures  and  players  in  the  night- 
ly 500-word  resume  of  war  news  wired  di- 
rectly from  Moscow.  It  is  broadcast  in 
Mexico  City  over  the  Government's  radio 
station  XEFO. 

These  resumes  were  arranged  soon  after 
the  arrival  in  Mexico  of  Alexander  Ouman- 
sky,  first  Russian  Ambassador  to  the  coun- 
try. The  broadcast  is  reported  to  be  an 
expensive  propaganda  efYort  both  for  Mos- 
cow and  for  the  radio  station. 

The  USSR  pays  the  500-word  cable  tolls. 
XEFO,  and  indirectly  the  Government, 
hires  three  translators  to  handle  the  cable 
which  arrives  sometimes  in  Russian,  at  other 
times  in  English,  and  now  and  then  in 
French,  or  mixtures.  It  is  translated  into 
Spanish. 


War  Hours 

THE  BLUE  Network  says  that  in  1943  a 
total  of  1,402  hours  and  50  minutes  of  air 
time  was  contributed  to  the  war  effort,  an 
increase  ®f  64  per  cent  over  1942,  when  the 
total  was  857  hours  and  eight  minutes.  The 
program  analysis  division  of  the  Blue's  re- 
search department  was  responsible  for  the 
release  of  the  figures. 


January    29,     I  944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


9 


Monopoly 


GREER  GARSON  could  be  charged  with 
monopolizing  the  screen  of  the  Radio  City 
Music  Hall.  Her  current  vehicle,  "Madame 
Curie,"  has  entered  its  seventh  week  at  the 
theatre,  the  fourth  film  to  run  that  long  in 
the  history  of  the  house,  and  bringing  Miss 
Garson's  personal  total  to  seven  full  months 
on  the  Music  Hall  screen  in  less  than  two 
years. 

Miss  Garson  appeared  in  two  of  the  three 
other  pictures  to  run  seven  weeks  or  more, 
"Mrs.  Miniver"  with  a  run  of  10  weeks,  and 
"Random  Harvest,"  which  topped  all  records 
with  a  run  of  11  weeks. 

Even  before  establishing  her  modern  rec- 
ord at  the  Music  Hall,  Miss  Garson  was 
doing  well.  In  1940  she  was  starring  in 
"Pride  and  Prejudice"  there,  and  in  1941 
"Blossoms  in  the  Dust,"  both  of  which  did 
better  than  average  at  the  Music  Hall.  The 
first  ran  for  four  weeks  and  the  second  for 
three  weeks,  both  impressive  runs  for  those 
ty-gone  days. 


Televized  News 

TELEVISION  stations  in  New  York  and 
Schenectady  Wednesday  received  Navy  per- 
mission to  broadcast  motion  pictures  of  the 
launching  on  Saturday  of  the  new  super- 
battleship  Missouri  at  the  Brooklyn  Navy 
Yard.  General  Electric,  operator  of 
WRGB  in  Schenectady,  will  send  its  own 
cameramen,  rush  the  films  to  a  New  York 
laboratory  and  broadcast  them  at  7  P.M. 
over  the  National  Broadcasting  Company's 
WNBT  and  by  relay  upstate.  GE  workers 
who  helped  to  build  the  ship  will  see  the 
pictures  at  their  work  benches. 

Plans  to  cover  the  political  conventions 
in  Chicago  next  summer  by  film  and  tele- 
vision also  were  maturing  this  week.  The 
visual  broadcasters  express  increasing  inter- 
est in  quick  pictorial  news  over  the  air 
waves.  In  several  instances  they  have  asked 
newsreel  companies  to  provide  the  cameras 
and  film. 

The  answer  there  is  still  "no." 


Carmen  Bones 

EXACTLY  twice  as  many  people  appeared 
at  the  Breadway  theatre  in  New  York  last 
week  to  view  Billy  Rose's  "Carmen  Jones" 
than  there  are  seats  in  the  house.  A  near 
riot  was  the  result.  Police  were  called,  and 
the  police  called  the  emergency  squad. 

When  order  was  restored  it  was  discov- 
ered that  several  weeks  ago  the  Bronx  Ha- 
dassah,  a  Jewish  benevolent  organization, 
had  bought  600  seats  in  the  house  and  had 
sold  the  tickets  at  a  50-cent  profit  to  finance 
a  charity  program.  But  somebody  in  the 
box  office  either  forgot  or  was  never  in- 
formed of  the  block  sale  and  proceeded  to 


carry  on  business  for  the  evening's  perform- 
ance.   And  the  seats  were  sold  again. 

When  Paul  Groll,  manager  of  the  thea- 
tre, and  Robert  Milford,  manager  of  the 
show,  explained  from  the  stage,  they  were 
met  with  rounds  of  boos,  and  no  one  moved. 
A  detective,  shouting  demands  from  the  bal- 
cony, got  results  with  the  threat  of  wholesale 
arrests  for  disorderly  conduct. 

This  week,  also,  an  attorney  for  the 
plaintiff  announced  that  Billy  Rose  and  Os- 
car Hammerstein  II  were  being  sued  by 
Robert  P.  Steele,  a  newspaper  and  adver- 
tising man,  who  charges  literary  piracy  in 
the  writing  and  production  of  "Carmen 
Jones."  In  the  allegation  written  by  Mr. 
Steele's  attorney,  Rudolph  Allen,  no  mention 
is  made  of  one  Monsieur  Bizet  who,  musical 
history  has  it,  some  decades  ago  wrote  the 
music  and  the  story  of  "Carmen  Jones." 


Basic  English 


Mounting  Miracle 

PARAMOUNT'S  "Miracle  of  Morgan's 
Creek"  has  a  cumulative  draw  in  direct 
proportion  to  word-of-mouth  publicity  by 
contented  customers.  That  contention  by  the 
company  would  seem  to  be  proved  by  sta- 
tistics released  Wednesday  by  Robert  Weit- 
man,  managing  director  of  the  Paramount 
theatre,  where  the  picture  opened  last  week. 
According  to  Mr.  Weitman,  who  talks  in 
percentages  only,  the  picture's  second  day's 
business  was  10  per  cent  better  than  open- 
ing day,  and  the  third  day  was  12  per  cent 
better  than  the  second.  The  fourth  day,  Sat- 
urday, was  46  per  cent  better  than  opening 
day  and  was  the  biggest  non-holiday  Satur- 
day in  the  theatre's  records.  The  fifth,  sixth 
and  seventh  days  were,  respectively,  50,  20 
and  63  per  cent  better  than  opening  busi- 
ness. Reviewing  his  figures,  Mr.  Weitman 
predicted  the  biggest  second  week  business 
in  his  memory. 


RKO  RADIO  has  announced  its  intention 
of  meeting  the  battle  of  the  etymologists 
over  and  about  basic  English  head  on.  The 
studio  will  bring  "The  Robe"  to  the  screen 
in  Technicolor  and  in  basic  English,  on  the 
theory  that  its  use  will  "enhance  the  inter- 
national appeal"  of  the  Frank  Ross  pro- 
duction. 

"The  Robe"  is  an  adventure  story  of  the 
first  century  and  will  therefore  be  without 
modern  colloquialisms  or  technical  phrase-' 
ology,  and  all  within  the  limitations  of 'basic 
English  with  its  850  simple  words  consist- 
ing of  400  nouns,  200  names  of  things  pic- 
torial, 150  qualities  and  100  operational 
words. 

As  an  example:  in  basic  English  you  do 
not  say  "men."  You  say  "mans." 


Honors 

CAPTAIN  James  M.  Stewart,  who  went 
from  leading  film  roles  in  Hollywood,  Cal., 
to  England  as  leader  of  a  heavy  bomber 
group  with  the  U.  S.  Army  Air  Forces,  has 
been  named  the  "outstanding  young  man  of 
California  for  1943"  by  a  committee  of  civic 
leaders  headed  by  Robert  Gordon  Sproul, 
president  of  the  University  of  California. 
Captain  Stewart  will  receive  the  distin- 
guished service  award  of  the  United  States 
Junior  Chamber  of  Commerce,  an  award 
made  each  year  to  the  young  man  between 
the  ages  of  21  and  35  who  has  made  the 
greatest  contribution  to  his  state  and  nation. 

At  Williams  Field,  Arizona,  Henry  King, 
motion-picture  director,  had  the  pleasure 
and  distinction  of  pinning  pilot's  wings  on 
his  son,  Henry  E.  King,  when  recently  the 
younger  King  was  commissioned  a  second 
lieutenant  in  the  Army  Air  Force.  Mr.  King 
was  a  cadet  in  training  for  an  air  force  com- 
mission when  World  War  I  was  ended  by 
the  Armistice. 


Fame 

THE  LORD  Mayor  of  London  recently  vis- 
ited Plymouth.  On  returning  home  he  had 
a  couple  of  stories  to  tell. 

Upon  his  arrival  in  Plymouth  he  remarked 
to  his  host.  Lord  Astor,  Plymouth's  mayor, 
that  he  considered  it  a  great  honor  to  have 
such  a  great  crowd  turn  out  to  welcome 
him. 

"Oh,"  said  hizzoner  of  Plymouth,  "they're 
waiting  for  the  cinema." 

At  Lord  Astor's  home,  a  school  boy  asked 
the  Lord  Mayor  of  London  for  three  auto- 
graphs, and  hizzoner  of  London  asked  why 
three  ? 

The  youngster  replied :  "Back  at  school  I 
can  exchange  them  for  one  of  George  Form- 
by."  The  same  George  Formby  whom  Brit- 
ish exhibitors  recently  named  the  top  money- 
making  star  of  England  in  the  Motion 
Picture  HEEALD-Fam^  poll. 


Rejection  Slips 


FIGURES  released  by  Simon  and  Schuster, 
New  York  publishers,  as  a  footnote  to  their 
first  20  years  of  publishing,  show  that  of 
50,000  manuscripts  read  in  that  period,  only 
723,  or  exactly  1.23  per  cent  were  published. 
Some  20,  or  a  very  small  fraction  of  one  per 
cent,  were  sold  for  screen  adaptations. 

Of  the  723  published  books  81  became 
best-sellers  and  an  almost  equal  number 
flopped.  Three  books,  all  book  club  choices, 
found  more  than  one  million  readers,  and  54 
others  sold  more  than  100,000  copies. 

The  publisher  says  that  448  of  their  books 
are  still  in  print,  102  of  which  now  comprise 
an  active  back  list. 

Of  the  total  published  books  adapted  to 
the  screen,  six  were  sold  last  year. 


sspon 


10 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    29.  1944 


THIS  WEEK 


the  Camera  reports: 


H.  J.  GRIFFITH  has  succeeded  his  brother, 
the  late  R.  E.  Griffith,  as  president  of  the 
Griffith   circuit,   innportant  theatre  operation 
in  the  Southwestern  area. 


FIRST  MEETING,  above,  between  Arthur  Rank,  right,  British  exhibition, 
distribution  and  production  magnate,  and  actress  Vivien  Leigh.  Producer 
Gabriel  Pascal  watches.  The  place  is  London,  and  the  trio  are  studying  "types' 
for  the  forthcoming  "Caesar  and  Cleopatra".   Mr.  Rank's  far-reaching 
activities  In  the  British  industry  receive  attention  from  London  on  page  41. 


By  Staff  Photographer 


AWARD,  for  "Report  From  the  Aleutians",  Is  presented 

to  Colonel  Kirke  Lawton,  Army  Pictorial  Service, 

by  Alton  Cook,  president  of  the  New  York  Film  Critics. 

The  ceremony  was  at  the  Critics'  annual  dinner-broadcast, 

in  New  York.   Spectators  are  Bosley  Crowther, 

Kate  Cameron,  and  Mort  Blumenstock,  of  Warners, 

present  for  the  award  to  "Watch  on  the  Rhine". 


DIMES.  The  March  of  Dimes  drive  in  New  York  was  opened 
by  a  theatremen's  breakfast  at  the  Astor  and  dedication  of 
a  "Wishing  Well"  in  ■  Times  Square.  Above,  at  the  well, 
Mayor  Fiorello  LaGuardla  and  Basil  O'Connor,  paralysis  foun- 
dation head.  At  the  breakfast,  Marjorie  Lawrence,  Pat  Patri- 
coff,  Ernest  Emerling,  Bob  Wolff,  G.  S.  Eyssell. 


January    29,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


WAR  MESSAGES  through  films  reached  last  year  an  audience  of  1,250,000,000, 
William  F.  Rodgers,  MGM  sales  manager,  told  representatives  of  500  Washing- 
ton, D.  C,  theatres,  at  luncheon  there  last  week.  Above,  Mr.  Rodgers,  left,  with 
Postmaster  General  Frank  C.  Walker  and  MGM  district  manager  Rudolph  Berger,  right. 


staff  Photos 

APPOINTMENTS.  Frank  Rosen- 
berg, top,  and  Lawrence 
Lipskin,  above,  have  been 
named  Columbia's  director  of 
advertising,  publicity,  and 
exploitation;  and  advertising 
manager,  respectively.  Mr. 
Rosenberg  replaces  David 
Lipton,  who  joins  the 
Army  February  7. 


INTRODUCTION.  Edmund  Grainger,  president  of  the  Feiber  &  Shea 
circuit,  introduced  managers  of  his  six  largest  theatres  to  distributor 
sales  heads,  Tuesday,  at  luncheon  in  the  Astor  hlotel.  New  York.  Above, 
Mr.  Grainger  with  his  men:  Robert  Rhodes,  Edward  Fahey,  J.  Vance  Minion, 
John  Woodward,  Mr.  Grainger,  John  Walsh  and  E.  J.  hHeihIe. 


THE  MILLIONTH  patron  at  Paramount's 

"For  Whom  the  Bell  Tolls"  in  the  Rivoli,  New  York, 

was  18-year-old  Caroline  Rosenthal;  and 

Bob  Weitman,  Paramount  executive,  presents  her 

with  a  $25  Bond.  The  picture  ended 

its  28-week  run  Monday. 


THE  "ESKIMO"  at  the  right 
is  from  Eastman  Kodak  Com- 
pany. He  is  wearing  one  of 
that  company's  polar  work 
uniforms.  They  are  for  testing 
Eastman's  war  products  in 
temperatures  of  from  45  to 
70  degrees  below  zero. 


12  MOTION    PICTURE    HERALD  January    2  9,  1944 

EXHIBITORS  MOVE  TO  FORM 
UNITED  TAX  FRONT 


Expect  One  Cent  on  Fire  Cents 
Ticket  Tax  to  Be  Enacted 


step  Was  Given  Impetus  by 
Recent  Hearing  Before 
Congressional  Groups 

A  united  exhibitor  organization  to  repre- 
sent all  theatre  operators  in  tax  matters  is 
now  in  process  of  formation.  Long  dis- 
cussed, it  was  spurred  toward  reality  by  the 
experience  of  theatre  men  in  recent  appear- 
ances at  Washington  before  Senate  and 
House  Committees  on  the  pending  revenue 
bill. 

Leaders  of  national  affiliated  and  indepen- 
dent exhibitor  organizations,  almost  a  score 
of  state  groups,  and  key  regional  associa- 
tions already  have  informally  approved  the 
project.  It  is  now  before  their  memberships 
and  official  announcement  of  the  formation 
of  an  exhibitors  tax  committee,  or  confer- 
ence, is  expected  within  a  week  or  10  days. 

First  Step  To  Be  Taken 
At  Allied  Meeting 

Its  sole  purpose  will  be  to  coordinate  the 
presentation  of  exhibitor  tax  arguments  to 
legislators  and  to  gather  and  to  pool  in- 
formation pertinent  to  taxation. 

A  first  step  toward  approval  of  the  new 
tax  organization  will  be  taken  by  Allied 
States  Association  at  Chicago  January  31, 
when  the  national  board  of  directors  meets 
at  the  Blackstone  Hotel.  Abram  Myers, 
general  counsel,  in  a  bulletin  discussing  tax 
problems  this  week,  said  the  tax  conference 
occupied  the  top  position  on  the  Chicago 
agenda. 

The  Motion  Picture  Theatre  Owners  of 
America  directors  are  now  being  polled  by 
mail  by  Ed  Kuykendall,  national  president, 
to  obtain  their  support  for  participation  with 
other  national  and  regional  groups  in  a  joint 
exhibitor  tax  program. 

"The  MPTOA  has  always  favored  a  na- 
tional tax  committee.  It  is  more  necessary 
than  ever  now,"  Mr.  Kuykendal  said  at  his 
home  in  Columbus,  Miss.,  last  week.  He 
said  that  the  organization  was  polling  its 
board  members  now  and  that  representatives 
had  not  yet  been  named.  "MPTOA  will  in- 
sist on  the  participation  of  all  units  regard- 
less of  affiliations,"  he  added. 

Would  Gather  Statistics  ' 
On  Effect  of  Tax 

Allied  of  New  England,  Motion  Picture 
Theatre  Owners  of  Virginia,  California, 
Carolina,  Texas,  Michigan,  Pacific  North- 
west and  other  regional  leaders  of  exhibitor 
groups  also  have  pledged  support  to  a  united 
tax  front.  Proposals  that  they  participate 
are  now  pending  before  regional  member- 
ships or  are  being  prepared  for  submission 
at  the  next  meetings  of  directorates. 

The  national  tax  conferences,  according 
to  its  supporters,  would  gather  precise  sta- 
tistics on  the  number  of  theatres  in  the  sev- 
eral tax  brackets,  the  total  of  regional  tax 
payments,  and  information  as  to  the  effect 
of  new  taxes  on  all  groups  of  exhibition.  It 
.a^?o  would  follow  developments  in  Wash- 


Senate  and  House  conferees  in  Washing- 
ton were  scheduled  to  nneet  Wednesday  to 
adjust  final  differences  in  the  revenue  bill. 
The  Senate  approved  admission  rates  of 
one  cent  on  each  five  cents,  with  the  House 
rate  set  at  two  cents  on  each  ten  cents. 
It  was  considered  likely  that  the  Senate 
version  would  be  accepted. 

Prior  to  reporting  out  the  tax  bill,  the 
Senate  rejected  efforts  by  Senator  Chap- 
man Revercomb,  West  Virginia,  to  restore 
the  current  10  per  cent  rate. 

Following  the  conference.  Congress  is 
expected  to  pass  the  current  tax  bill  and 
send  It  to  the  President  within  a  fortnight, 
although  It  raises  less  than  half  of  the 
amount  asked  by  the  Treasury.  The  Presi- 
dent is  expected  by  capital  observers  to 
sign  the  bill,  with  protest,  and  to  demand 
a  supplemental  act.  It  is  considered  doubt- 


ington  and  report  to  theatre  operators 
through  existing  organizations. 

Appeals  to  local  Congressmen  and  the 
appearances  of  exhibitors  before  legislative 
committees  would  be  coordinated  through 
this  central  board.  It  would  decide  upon 
uniform  policies  and  approaches  for  a  con- 
certed drive  by  all  existing  organizations. 

Would  Combine  Work  of 
Existing  Organizations 

The  experience  and  leadership  of  the  tax 
committees  of  existing  organizations  would 
be  drawn  upon  extensively  for  a  national 
program.  The  tax  conference  sponsors  point 
out  that  the  committee  would  not  be  a  new 
group,  but  rather  a  conference  to  combine 
in  common  purpose  the  tax  efforts  of  all 
existing  organizations. 

Worried  by  continuing  Treasury  demands 
for  a  30  per  cent  admission  tax,  or  possibly 
higher,  leading  exhibitor  spokesmen  are 
hopeful  that  the  joint  committee  will  secure 
unanimous  exhibitor  approval  and  be 
launched  quickly.  They  pledged  that  its 
activities  would  be  confined  strictly  to  tax 
matters,  with  no  involvement  in  trade  prac- 
tices, the  Consent  Decree  or  other  contro- 
versial issues. 

Three  representatives  from  each  of  the 
main  classifications  of  exhibitor  organiza- 
tions would  sit  on  the  board,  it  was  learned 
at  New  York  Tuesday.  These  would  in- 
clude delegates  from  Allied,  MPTOA,  from 
the  affiliated  theatre  circuits,  and  indepen- 
dent unaffiliated  exhibitor  organizations. 

Mr.  Myers,  in  his  five-page  report  on  the 
status  of  the  current  tax  bill,  praised  the 
efforts  of  theatre  men  of  all  organizations  in 


ful,  however,  that  this  would  be  passed 
by  campaign-minded  Congress  before  the 
November  elections. 

Licensing  of  ticket  printers,  or  a  similar 
direct  Federal  control  of  theatre  tickets 
has  been  under  consideration  by  the 
Treasury  for  some  time,  it  was  admitted 
last  week.  But  It  has  been  decided  not  to 
seek  Immediate  legislation  along  this  line 
until  other  control  methods  have  been 
tested. 

Bureau  of  Internal  Revenue  field  audits 
of  ticket  stubs  and  box  ofRce  accounts, 
reported  last  week  from  Milwaukee,  will  be 
extended  to  other  districts.  It  Is  also 
learned  that  ticket  printers  have  complied 
with  Treasury  requests  that  they  report  all 
sales  to  theatres.  The  number  of  tickets 
purchased  is  being  compared  with  theatre 
tax  reports. 


contacting  their  Congressmen  with  intelli- 
gent presentation  of  their  problems.  He 
warned,  however,  that  lack  of  coordination 
in  this  activity,  and  in  testimony  to  commit- 
tees might  thwart  future  campaigns.  He 
particularly  criticized  lack  of  teamwork  in 
Senate  appearances  by  exhibitors  and  cir- 
cuit agents. 

Pointing  out  that  the  tax  question  is  not 
settled  yet,  Mr.  Myers  urged  all  exhibitors 
to  join  and  to  work  through  local  associa- 
tions with  common  purpose  and  to  establish 
liaison  with  local  Representatives  in  Con- 
gress. He  urged  support  of  the  tax  pro- 
grams of  national  associations  and  the  pro- 
posed committees. 

Harmon  Addresses  Miami 
Rotarians  on  WAC  Work 

More  than  300  civic  leaders  from  29  states 
heard  an  address  by  Francis  S.  Harmon,  War 
Activities  Committee  vice-chairman,  at  the 
Aliami  Rotary  Club  last  Thursday.  Mr.  Harmon 
was  introduced  by  Sidney  Meyer  of  Wometco 
Theatres,  with  George  Hoover  and  Lt.  Myron 
Blank  as  guests.  The  talk  centered  around 
theatre  participation  in  the  Fourth  War  Loan 
and  the  support  for  the  March  of  Dimes  drive. 

Commissioner  Moss  Guest 
At  Bookers'  Dinner 

New  York  License  Commissioner  Paul  Moss 
was  one  of  the  guests  of  honor  at  the  installation 
dinner  of  the  Motion  Pictures  Bookers  Club 
in  New  York  City  Monday.  Home  office  and 
exchange  sales  heads  were  among  those  who 
attended.  George  Trilling  of  the  Fabian  circuit 
was  installed  as  president. 


WE  BOUGHT  EXTRA  WAR  BONDS 


HONORED 
HUNDRED 
BULLETIN! 


ALL  THEATRE  MANAGERS  in  America,  Alaska  or  Havyaii  who  are  competing  in  the 
"HONORED  HUNDRED"  contest  of  the  Motion  Picture  Industry's  Fourth  War  Loan  are 
requested  to  note  the  following: 


1  IT  IS  NOT  absolutely  necessary  to  send  in  an 
OFFICIAL  ENTRY  BLANK  to  be  enrolled 
in  the  "HONORED  HUNDRED"  contest.  THE 
REASON  FOR  the  entry  blank  is  to  accurately 
measure  the  interest  throughout  the  country  as 
well  as  to  be  able  to  stay  in  contact  with  all  entrants. 

2^  ENTRY  BLANK  OR  NO  ENTRY  BLANK, 
you  are  automatically  in!  The  only  qualifying 
factor  is  the  sale  of  at  least  ONE  "E"  BOND  FOR 
EVERY  SEAT  IN  YOUR  THEATRE.  THE 
"HONORED  HUNDRED"  will  be  selected  on  the 
basis  of  the  percentage  ratio  of  "E"  bonds  sold  to 
the  number  of  scats. 

3  ALL  BONDS  SOLD  FROM  JANUARY  1 
THROUGH  FEBRUARY  29  will  count  in  the 
"HONORED  HUNDRED"  contest.  (Treasury 
Department  forms  INCORRECTLY  carry  dates 
"From  midnight  January  17  through  February  15). 

4^  TO  RECEIVE  FULL  credit  for  bonds  sold 
by  your  theatre  OUTSIDE  the  stated  contest 
dates  (midnight  January  17  through  February  15, 
as  indicated  on  the  Treasury  form)  YOU  WILL 
SUBMIT  TO  YOUR  STATE  EXHIBITOR 
CHAIRMAN  a  statement,  listing  the  total  of  these 
bond-sales.  This -statement  will  attest  those  bond- 
sales  which  were  made  from  January  1  through 
February  29,  excluding  those  reported  on  the  special 
Treasury  forms.  Thus,  your  Treasury  Form  stubs 
and  your  special  statement,  will  give  you  credit  for 
all  bonds  sold  from  January  i  through  February  29. 

IF  YOU  RUN  out  of  the  special  Treasury 
bond-application  forms,  your  nearest  Na- 
tional Screen  Service  exchange  will  supply  you. 

THE  SPECIAL  STUB  on  the  Treasury  forms, 
indicating  each  sale,  is  to  be  held  by  you 
until  the  conclusion  of  the  campaign.  These  stubs, 


together  with  a  "FINAL  REP@RT  FORM"— 
which  will  be  sent  you — go  to  your  STATE  EX- 
HIBITOR CHAIRMAN. 

7  THE  EXPIRATION  DATE  of  the  "HON- 
'  ORED  HUNDRED"  contest  is  midnight, 
February  29,  1944.  Your  stubs,  your  special  state- 
ment, (see  No.  2)  together  with  your  FINAL 
REPORT  FORM  must  be  mailed  to  your  STATE 
EXHIBITOR  CHAIRMAN  bearing  a  post  mark  not 
later  than  March  15,  1944. 

EACH  STATE  CHAIRMAN,  assisted  by 
the  State  War  Finance  Committee  Chairman 
and  such  outside  accounting  help  as  may  be  neces- 
sary, will  select  from  his  state's  final  report  forms 
the  STATE  WINNER  as  well  as  the  winner  in  each 
classification  of  population  (see  press  book  or  special 
brochure  for  complete  contest  rules.)  This  group 
of  state  winners  will  constitute  NOMINEES  from 
that  state  to  the  "HONORED  HUNDRED."  The 
bond-sales  of  these  NOMINEES  from  EACH 
STATE,  Alaska  and  Hawaii  will  then  be  sent  to 
the  National  Committee  in  New  York  where  the 
Contest  Judges,  assisted  by  an  outside  accounting 
firm,  will  determine  the  winners. 

0  ANNOUNCEMENT  OF  THE  "HONORED 
*  HUNDRED"  will  be  made  from  New  York 
as  soon  as  possible  after  the  close  of  the  contest, 
but  not  later  than  April  20,  1944. 

10.  IF,  AT  ANY  TIME,  during  the  Fourth  War 
Loan  you  wish  any  information  on  the 
"HONORED  HUNDRED"  contest,  telegraph, 
telephone  or  write  to  ROBERT  W.  SELIG,  As- 
sistant Campaign  Director,  Motion  Picture  Indus- 
try Fourth  War  Loan,  Suite  407,  Paramount  Build- 
ing, 1501  Broadway,  New  York  18,  New  York. 


War  Activities  Committee  o(  the  Motion  Picture  Industry,  1501  Broadway,  New  York  City 


!4 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January  29 


19  44 


Majors  Take  'Tinal 
Decree  to  Clark 


Attorneys  Sure  Objections 
Have  Been  Met;  Theatre 
Units  to  Voice  Views 

Executives  ot  the  five  consenting  dis- 
tributors went  back  to  Washington  Tuesday 
to  the  Department  of  Justice  offices  of  Tom 
C.  Clark,  Assistant  Attorney  General,  hope- 
ful that  they  took  with  them  a  final  version 
of  the  Consent  Decree  which  would  prove 
acceptable  to  the  Government. 

The  Tuesday  meeting  between  Mr.  Clark 
and  J.  Robert  Rubin,  counsel  for  MGM ; 
Joseph  Hazen,  Warners;  John  F.  Caskey, 
Twentieth  Century-Fox :  Ralstone  Irvine, 
RKO,  and  Austin  Keough,  Paramount,  was 
relatively  brief.  Mr.  Clark  took  the  copy  of 
the  decree  and  promised  to  stud)'  it. 

Until  he  had  reached  a  decision  as  to  the 
Government's  next  step,  he  refused  to  dis- 
cuss the  contents  or  speculate  on  how  soon 
the  decree  would  be  revealed  to  exhibitors 
and  to  the  trade  in  general.  Mr.  Clark 
said  no  action  had  been  taken  at  the  session 
-with  distributors. 

Say  Decree  Discussions 
Nearing  Final  Stage 

A  week  earlier  a  series  of  kinks  had  ap- 
peared in  at  least  three  sections  of  the  com- 
pany proposals.  For  three  hours  the  presi- 
dents and  top  counsel  of  MGM,  Warners, 
RKO,  Twentieth  Century-Fox  and  Para- 
mount explored  in  conversations  with  Mr. 
Clark  the  points  at  variance.  They  then 
returned  to  New  York  to  work  them  out. 

Monday  in  New  York,  Austin  Keough, 
Paramount  general  counsel,  and  others  con- 
cerned with  the  decree  discussions  expressed 
their  belief  that  the  negotiations  were  near- 
ing the  last  round.  But,  they  said,  all  de- 
pended on  Mr.  Clark's  reactions  to  the 
phrases  which  were  recast  during  the  past 
week. 

In  anticipation  that  the  agreement  be- 
tween Government  and  distributors  which 
has  been  reported  pending  for  almost  three 
months  had  finally  crystallized  exhibitor 
leaders  this  week  were  making  plans  to  take 
advantage  of  Mr.  Clark's  promise  of  an  op- 
portunity for  them  to  discuss  the  proposed 
decree  and  to  tell  him  what  they  thought  was 
wrong  with  it. 

The  Allied  States  Association  board  of 
directors  was  scheduled  to  meet  in  Chicago 
Monday. 

Allied  to  Formulate 
Decree  Policy 

"In  anticipation  of  the  receipt  of  a  draft 
of  the  revised  Consent  Decree,  arrange- 
ments have  been  made  for  a  preliminary  con- 
ference between  Allied's  executive  commit- 
tee and  representatives  of  other  exhibitor 
associations,"  Abrani  Myers,  Allied  general 
counsel,  said  in  the  meeting  announcement. 

The  Pacific  Coast  Conference  of  Indepen- 
dent Exhibitors,  Independent  Exhibitors, 
Inc.,  of  New  England,  the  Nebraska-Iowa 
Independent    Theatres,    and    the  Virginia 


^IPTO  were  among  the  organizations  ex- 
pected to  send  representatives  to  Chicago. 

Allied  is  expected  to  formulate  its  Decree 
policy,  following  the  study  with  the  unafiili- 
ated  groups,  at  the  meeting  of  the  directors, 
February  2  and  3. 

Reports  on  the  decree  status  at  New  York 
Monday  were  almost  unanimous  in  concur- 
rence in  the  belief  that  distributors  finally 
had  phrased  the  decree  to  meet  all  principal 
Government  objections  on  the  touchy  ques- 
tions of  circuit  affiliation,  cancellation  and 
arbitration. 

Will  Retain  Central  Appeal 
Board  in  New  York 

-Arbitration  provisions,  it  was  reported, 
would  give  arbitrators  and  the  Appeal 
Board  extensive  new  powers  to  decide  pri- 
ority of  run.  Clearance  provisions  are  ex- 
pected to  be  clarified.  Current  restrictions 
on  the  some  run  and  specific  run  provisions 
of  the  decree,  Sections  VI  and  X,  have  been 
almost  completely  abolished,  it  is  reported. 
Powers  as  extensive  as  those  now  held  over 
clearance  are  said  to  be  included  in  the  new- 
run  section. 

It  also  was  reported  that  the  Government 
had  agreed  to  retain  the  central  Appeal 
Board  in  New  York  rather  than  to  set  up 
regional  groups.  It  had  been  argued  by 
distributors  that  regional  appeals  would  de- 
stroy the  body  of  precedent  and  experience 
already  obtained  in  clearance  actions  and 
lead  to  wide  local  variance  in  the  settlement 
of  parallel  run  problems. 

The  Department  of  Justice  was  reported 
waiting  until  Tuesday's  meeting  before  ask- 
ing Judge  Henry  Goddard,  in  Federal  Dis- 
trict Court  at  New  York,  to  extend  the  term 
of  office  of  the  three  board  members  beyond 
January  31. 

In  Cincinnati  this  week  the  Indignant 
Exhibitors  Forum  was  promised  a  hearing 
by  Mr.  Clark  on  their  protests  against  film 
allocations  and  percentage  costs.  Mr.  Clark, 
replying  to  their  request  for  action,  told  the 
group  that  he  w^as  interested  in  the  general 
control  of  product  forcing,  rather  than  spe- 
cific rental  terms.  The  Cincinnati  organi- 
zation seeks  unrestricted  cancellation  and 
regional  "allocation  boards"  to  pass  on  the 
general  price  designation  of  films. 


Paramourrl;  Pep  Club  Aids 
Ambulance  Purchase 

Oscar  A.  Morgan,  acting  for  Neil  Agnew, 
Paramount  vice-president,  who  headed  the 
drive  for  an  American  Field  Service  ambulance 
given  by  the  Paramount  Pep  Club,  presented  a 
check  for  $2,000  to  Stephen  Galatti,  AFS  sec- 
retary, at  a  meeting  last  week  at  the  home  office. 

The  drive  :.for  the  ambulance  fund  was  in- 
augurated a  year  ago  with  the  contribution  of 
$600  by  individual  Pep  Club  members.  Mr. 
Galatti  said  that  the  ambulance  recently  was 
placed  in  service  in  Italy. 

Preceding  the  ceremony,  Jane  Cowl,  acting 
for  the  American  Theatre  Wing  Stage  Door 
Canteen,  presented  a  citation  to  Paramount  for 
its  services  to  the  Canteen  since  its  inception 
two  years  ago.  Adolph  Zukor,  chairman  of  the 
board,  accepted  the  citation. 


Expect  Further 
Delay  in  Appeal 
On  Crescent  Suit 

Hearing  by  the  United  States  Supreme  Court 
of  the  appeal  of  the  Crescent  Circuit  anti-trust 
conviction  may  be  further  delayed  by  the  length 
cjf  the  record  compiled  in  the  district  court  trial. 
It  was  reported  in  Nashville  tiiis  week  that  it 
was  doubtful  if  the  transcript  could  be  completed 
in  time  to  file  in  Washington  on  February  7, 
tiie  date  set  by  Judge  Elmer  Davies. 

Court  attaches  at  Nashville  reported  that  the 
record  consisted  of  4,000  typewritten,  legal-size 
pages,  to  be  bound  in  IS  volumes.  Although 
the  typing  has  been  completed  the  record  must 
be  checked  against  original  documents,  numbered 
and  indexed. 

Judge  Davies,  it  was  reported,  might  extend, 
the  filing  date  until  March  7.  If  this  were  done 
it  would  raise  the  possibility  that  the  Supreme 
Court  might  not  be  able  to  pass  on  the  Crescent 
appeal  until  its  autumn  term,  next  October. 
Preparation  of  the  record  has  been  supervised  by 
S.  E.  Wasson,  special  assistant  to  the  Attorney 
General,  and  William  Waller,  defense  attorney. 

Drop  Monogram  from 
Jersey  Trust  Suit 

Monogram  Pictures,  Inc.,  was  eliminated  as 
a  defendant  in  the  anti-trust  action  of  Rosyl 
Amusement  Corporation,  operating  the  Cameo  in 
Jersey  City,  through  a  stipulation  filed  Monday 
by  attorneys  in  Federal  Court  at  Newark.  The 
action  had  named  eight  distributors  and  five 
Hudson  County  circuits. 

Joelson  Asks  to  Examine 
Trust  Suit  Defendants 

J.  J.  Theatres,  Inc.  in  New  York  Federal 
District  Court  this  week  petitioned  for  a  pre- 
trial examination  of  eight  distributors  and  the 
Brandt  and  Max  Cohen  circuit  interests  which 
are  defendants  in  the  restraint  of  trade  com- 
plaint filed  by  Julius  Joelson  for  his  subsequent 
run  Times  theatre.  Judge  Charles  B.  McLaugh- 
lin reserved  decision. 

The  $360,000  anti -trust  action  of  the  Jackson 
Park  Theatre  against  the  Balaban  and  Katz 
circuit  and  Warner  Brothers  and  MGM,  RKO, 
Warners,  Paramount  and  20th  Century-Fox 
was  postponed  Friday  in  Chicago  until  February. 
It  originally  had  been  set  for  November  1. 

In  Atlanta  the  illness  of  Fred  Weis,  com- 
plainant, has  led  to  postponement  until  March  6 
of  his  $218,000  action  against  Lucas  and  Jenkins 
circuit  and  eight  distributors.  Mr.  Weis  operates 
the  Savannah  Theatre,  in  Savannah. 


Hold  Final  Meeting  on 
Jewish  Charity  Drive 

Leading  members  of  the  amusement  division 
of  the  merged  New  York  and  Brooklyn  Federa- 
tions of  Jewish  Charities  gathered  at  the  Hotel 
Astor,  New  York  last  Friday  for  the  final  re- 
port luncheon  of  the  1943  amusement  division 
drive  for  the  merged  New  York  and  Brooklyn 
Federation  appeal.  Present  were  David  Bern- 
stein, Major  Albert  Warner  and  Nathan  B. 
Spingold.  The  industry-wide  effort  was  con- 
ducted by  t^e  amusement  division  on  behalf  of 
the  116  medical  and  social  welfare  agencies 
affiliated  with  the  merged  Federation. 


Operators  Elect  Barco 

The  St.  Louis  operators  union.  No.  143,  has 
elected  Harry  A.  Barco  to  replace  Robert  Tom- 
sen  as  business  representative.  Mr.  Tomsen,  who 
has  served  four  years,  succeeded  Clyde  A.  Wes- 
ton, who  with  John  P.  Nick  is  now  serving 
a  five-year  Federal  prison  sentence  for  labor 
racketeering.  Harvard  O'Laughlin  has  been 
elected  president  of  the  local. 


January    29,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


15 


URGE  MORE  NON-THEATRICAL 
FILMS  ON  WAR  EFFORT 


16mm  Advisory  Commit- 
tee of  OWI  Recommends 
Four  Definite  Proposals 

Increased  production  of  Government- 
made  war  propaganda  films  for  non-theatri- 
cal distribution  "to  accelerate  the  civilian 
war  ei¥ort"  was  one  of  the  four  recommen- 
dations made  this  week  by  the  National 
16mm  Motion  Picture  Advisory  and  Policy 
Committee  of  the  Office  of  War  Information. 
The  proposals  came  at  the  conclusion  of  a 
two-day  conference  called  in  Washington 
last  Wednesday  and  Thursday  by  Stanton 
Griffis,  chief  of  the  motion  picture  bureau 
of  the  OWI,  to  discuss  methods  of  expand- 
ing 16mm  distribution  of  OWI  subjects. 
Taylor  Mills,  recently  appointed  assistant  to 
Mr.  Griffis,  formerly  with  the  Budget 
Bureau,  was  present. 

Recognizing  the  need  for  wider  use  of  the 
screen  to  inform  the  population  on  the 
progress  of  the  war  both  at  home  and 
abroad,  the  committee  said  it  advocated  the 
16mm  film  production  by  individual  Federal 
agencies  to  replace  the  elimination  of  the 
centralized  OWI  domestic  film  program  by 
Congress  last  June.  Representatives  of 
more  than  135  national  and  state  war  film 
distributors,  coordinators  and  members  of 
civic,  educational,  industrial  and  labor  or- 
ganizations attended  the  conference. 

Intend  to  Form  National 
Organization  After  War 

It  was  learned  in  New  York  Monday  that 
plans  were  being  completed  by  the  advisory 
committee  to  form  a  national  organization 
after  the  war,  comprising  the  four  com- 
mercial and  four  educational  associations 
now  represented  on  the  committee.  The 
post-war  program  would  have  as  its  objec- 
tive coordination  of  16mm  field  interests, 
utilizing  as  a  base  the  241  existing  16mm 
depositories  now  handling  OWI  films :  to  in- 
fluence production  of  special  subjects  and  to 
extend  distribution  on  a  larger  scale  in  the 
United  States  and  in  foreign  countries. 

C.  R.  Reagan,  chief  of  the  non-theatrical 
division  of  the  OWI  domestic  branch,  esti- 
mated Tuesday  that  approximately  7,500,- 
000  persons  were  seeing  OWI  16mm  films. 
Mr.  Reagan  said  that  there  were  25,000 
projectors  in  use  throughout  the  country 
and  that  29,000  prints  of  68  subjects  were 
in  circulation.  Each  projector,  he  said, 
runs  war  films  twice  a  month,  reaching 
an  average  audience  per  showing  of  250 
.  persons. 

The  four  recommendations  aimed  at  ac- 
celerating "the  civilian  war  effort  through 
the  use  of  16mm  films"  are  as  follows: 

1.  "Federal  agencies  to  allocate  funds  to 
produce  additional  informational  films  and 
to  provide  sufficient  prints  for  their  effec- 
tive and  speedy  presentation  before  the  adult 
American  public. 

2.  "Government  agencies  desiring  to 
reach  the  industrial  and  labor  organizations, 
churches,  schools  and  colleges,  men's  and 


women's  organizations,  and  other  groups 
owning  projectors,  to  utilize  the  OWI  cen- 
tral 16nim  war  film  distribution  system. 

3.  'We  strongly  urge  that  the  Treasury 
Department  use  nop-theatrical  prints  to  com- 
plement its  commercial  theatre  (35mm)  pro- 
gram. The  16mni  films  can  best  be  employed 
"at  the  point  of  sale'  during  pay-roll  deduc- 
tion war  bond  drives  and  other  war  finance 
campaigns." 

4.  The  committee  also  urged  the  Treas- 
ury Department  "to  produce  films  dealing 
with  inflation  and  financing  of  the  war  and 
to  provide  sufficient  films  for  national  dis- 
triliution  through  16mm  war  film  distribu- 
tors as  well  as  through  commercial  thea- 
tres." 

A  proposal  also  was  submitted  that  the 
Treasury  Department  provide  16mm  trail- 
ers which  could  be  attached  to  "morale- 
building  films  for  special  presentation"  at 
the  actual  Bond  drives  held  in  local  com- 
munity group  meetings. 

Griffis  Said  to  Have  Approved 
Committee  Recommendation 

Mr.  Griffis  was  said  to  have  expressed 
approval  of  the  committee's  four-point 
recommendation,  according  to  committee 
spokesmen.  It  was  reported  from  Holly- 
wood last  week,  prior  to  the  two-day  meet- 
ing in  Washington,  that  Mr.  Griffis,  during 
a  visit  to  the  west  coast,  had  discussed  with 
industry  executives  a  recommendation  that 
production  of  all  Government-made  war 
propaganda  films  be  discontinued. 

Final  approval  of  the  Advisory  commit- 
tee's proposals,  however,  must  come  from 
individual  Federal  agencies  which  must  al- 
locate funds  from  their  budgets  for  the  pro- 
posed film  and  print  production. 

Several  of  the  68  OWI  subjects  now  be- 
ing distributed  non-theatrically  were  made 
by  Government  agencies  since  Pearl  Har- 
bor, including  the  War  Manpower  Commis- 
sion, War  Production  Board  and  Federal 
Security  Agency.  The  committee  has  urged 
that  these  agencies  in  addition  to  the  Treas- 
ury Department  and  other  Federal  bureaus 
increase  their  film  production  from  one  or 
two  pictures  a  year  to  five  or  six. 

See  Direct  Information 
Subjects  Needed 

A  spokesman  for  the  committee  said  in 
New  York  this  week  that  although  the  Hol- 
lywood-produced war  films  being  distribut- 
ed in  theatres  by  the  War  Activities  Com- 
mittee, which  replaced  OWI  production,  are 
serving  the  war  information  needs  of  the 
public,  the  pictures  nevertheless,  are  de- 
signed to  be  included  in  theatre  programs. 

The  committee  believes,  he  said,  that  di- 
rect information  messages  which  do  not  fit 
into  theatre  programs,  are  "definitely  need- 
ed" and  should  be  supplied  to  the  public. 
The  16mm  film,  reaching  audiences  pre- 
pared and  conditioned  for  instructional 
films,  he  added,  is  one  way  for  Government 
agencv  objectives  to  be  achieved. 

It  vvas  estimated  that  print  costs  for  a  two- 
reel   16mm  film,  running  about  800  feet, 


would  cost  1.6-10  cents  per  foot,  or  $12.80 
per  print.  Five  hundred  prints  would 
amount  to  $6,000,  a  nominal  cost  per  season 
to  reach  audiences  of  12,000. 

During  the  two-day  conference,  it  was 
learned  that  some  criticism  had  been  ex- 
pressed by  16mm  distributors  of  the  dis- 
tribution of  Army  incentive  films.  The 
committee  therefore  urged  that  the  Army 
pictures,  which  are  now  circulated  non- 
theatrically  by  Walter  Gutlohn,  Inc.,  Castle 
Films,  Inc.,  and  Modern  Talking  Pictures, 
Inc.,  be  distributed  through  the  existing  241 
film  depositories  handling  OWI  subjects 
throughout  the  country. 

See  More  Information  Films 
Available  on  United  Nations 

CommitteQ  members  also  expressed  the 
view  that  there  are  more  war  informational 
films  about  the  United  Nations  in  circula- 
tion than  there  are  pictures  about  the  U.  S. 
war  and  home  front  effort.  Several  hundred 
subjects  are  available  from  the  information 
services  of  Canada,  England,  Russia,  Aus- 
tralia and  China. 

A  partial  list  of  films  available  for  non- 
theatrical  showing  follows : 

Industrial  incentive  subjects :  "The  Arm 
Behind  the  Army,"  "Bomber,"  "Conquer 
by  the  Clock,"  "Divide  and  Conquer,"  "It's 
Everybody's  War,".  "Safeguarding  Military 
Information,"  "Target  for  Tonight,"  British 
Ministry  of  Information  subject;  "When 
Work  Is  Done." 

Army  incentive  films,  released  through 
the  Army  public  relations  bureau :  "All 
American,"  "Army  Service  Forces,"  "At- 
tack Signal,"  "Baptism  of  Fire,"  "The  Bat- 
tle of  Britain,"  "Battle  of  Midway,"  "Com- 
bat Report,"  "Film  Communique  No.  1," 
"Divide  and  Conquer,"  "The  Nazis  Strike," 
"Prelude  to  War,"  and  "War  Department 
Report." 

Canadian  Film  Board 
Subjects  Included 

Navy  incentive  films:  "December  7,"  "The 
Life  and  Death  of  the  Hornet,"  "Mary 
Smith,  y\merican,"  "Nazi  Long  Range 
Bomber,"  "Nazi  Workers  vs.  You,"  "This 
Is  Guadalcanal." 

Also,  "Suggestion  Box,"  OWI;  "Handle 
With  Care,"'  "Sicily— Key  to  Victory," 
"New  Soldiers  Are  Tough,"  and  "Pincers 
on  Japan,"  four  subjects  of  the  National 
Film  Board  of  Canada ;  "The  Dutch  Tradi- 
tion," Netherlands  Information  Bureau ; 
"Black  Marketing,"  "Our  Enemy — the 
Japanese,"  "Swim  and  Live,"  "Price  of  Vic- 
tory," "It's  Everybody's  War,"  "Lake  Car- 
rier," "Campus  on  the  March,"  "Dover," 
"Farmer  at  War,"  "Jap  Zero,"  "Japanese  Re- 
location," "Mission  Accomplished,''  "Right 
of  Way,"  "Tanks,"  "Troop  Train,"  -War- 
time Nutrition"  and  "Magic  Bullets." 


Named  to  Chamber  of  Commerce 

Fred  Danico,  manager  of  Tri- States'  Esquire 
theatre  at  Davenport,  Iowa,  has  been  elected 
vice-president  of  the  Davenport  Junior  Chamber 
of  Commerce. 


TUB 


DR.  LEO,  THE 
PHILOSOPHER,  says: 

Harvest  is  something 
for  every  year. 
A  good  year,  then 
two  poor  ones, 
does  not  make 
for  security. 
The  FRIENDLY 
soil  yields  a 
Golden  Harvest 
year  after  year. 


"Not  for  just  a  day,  not  for  just  2 


'Our  Two  Big  Jobs  in  January:      Fourth  War  Loan  and  March  of  Dimes!" 


THE  FACTS! 

M-G-M  FIRST  IN  THIS  SURVEY 


"Random  Harvest"  voted  Best  Picture  of  the  Year  in 
Film  Daily  poll.  M-G-M  was  First  on  the  10-Best  List 
last  year  too— and  the  year  before!  Also  topped  the 
field  in  Film  Daily's  "Filmdom's  Famous  Five"  poll. 


DAILY 

10  BEST 
of  1943 


-■••I  p"C<C.C.<- 


M-G-M  FIRST  IN  THESE  SURVetS 


M-G-M  has  70  Box- 
office  Champs,  next 
company  44  in  all- 
time  FAME  (Quig- 
ley  Publications) 
Survey. 


More  Top -Grossing 
hits  than  any  other 
company  in  Box- 
office  Magazine 
Record's  Survey. 


M-G-M  FIRST  IN  THESE  SURVEYS 


LEFT:  Tops  the  Ten  lead- 
ing Box-office  Pictures 
with  "Random  Harvest." 

RIGHT:  M-G-M  leads 
the  industry  with  32 
Top-Grossers  in  1943. 


DIGEST 


A 
N 
N 
V 
A 
h 


flan 

aenn/iflg  ft) 
TECHNICOLOR 


P.  S.  AND  SMALL 
TOWNS  NOTE! 

M-G-M  led  the  field 
in  stars  and  hits  in 
Country  Gentleman 
Magazine  Annual 
Survey! 


And  in 


LIFE 


Magazine: 


"THE  NAME  METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER 
MEANS  MORE  IN  THE  MOTION  PICTURE 
BUSINESS  THAN  ANY  OTHER  SINGLE  NAME." 


eason,  but  ALWAYS!" 


18 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    29.  1944 


Admission  Tax  Receipts  Increase 
Fourteen  Per  Cent  in  1943 


1942 


A  14  per  cent  increase  in  annusement  at- 
tendance in  1943  as  compared  with  1942 
is  indicated  by  figures  of  the  Internal 
Revenue  Bureau,  putting  1943  collections 
of  the  admission  tax  at  $163,730,178,  an 
increase  of  more  than  $19,000,000,  or 
approximately  14  per  cent,  over  the 
$146,372,271   obtained  in  1942. 

Assuming  that  motion  picture  theatre 
admissions  make  up  approximately  90 
per  cent  of  the  total  tax  revenue,  the 
record  total  for  the  year  indicates  an 
average  weekly  attendance  of  1  10,000,000 
and  an  annual  box  office  gross  of 
$1,400,000,000. 

Analysis  of  the  collection  figures  shows 
that  approximately  14  per  cent  of  the 
nation's  business  is  done  along  the  Broad- 
way sector.  The  special  reports  compiled 
for  the  Third  New  York  District  show  that 
1943  collections  were  $23,574,320,  against 
$22,221,057  the  preceding  year. 

The  gain  of  only  approximately  four 
per  cent  in  New  York,  however,  evidences 
that  the  bulk  of  the  14  per  cent  increase 
last  year  was  enjoyed  by  amusement  opera- 
tors outside  the  metropolitan  centers — 
undoubtedly  largely  in  the  defense  manu- 


facturing areas  which  have  mushroomed 
throughout  the  country. 

Throughout  last  year,  admission  tax  col- 
lections moved  up  and  down  from  month 
to  month,  but  no  accurate  assumptions  can 
be  drawn  from  such  movement,  because 
some  taxes  may  come  in  late,  lowering  the 
total  for  one  month  and  raising  it  for  the 
next.  However,  a  comparison  of  1943  with 
1942,  month  by  month,  shows  general 
trends  to  be  downward  in  January  and 
February,  then  upward  through  May,  down 
in  June,  up  through  the  baseball  season 
th  rough  October,  then  down  in  November. 
Translated  into  business,  these  trends  would 
be  for  one  month  earlier,  due  to  the  lag 
in  reporting  taxes. 

Last  year's  record  total  collections  were 
in  the  face  of  a  sharp  drop  in  receipts  in 
December,  to  $13,048,274  from  $16,388,- 
863  in  November.  The  December  collec- 
tions were  nearly  $3,000,000  under  the 
$15,922,909  recorded  in  the  same  month 
in  1942. 

The  year-end  drop  apparently  was  con- 
centrated in  areas  outside  the  metropoli- 
tan centers,  since  the  Third  New  York  Dis- 
trict actually  reported  an  increase,  from 


[Motion  Picture  Herald  Chart] 

$2,204,839  in  November  to  $2,393,044  the 
following  month.  The  gain  was  entirely  in 
box  office  collections  (increased  from 
$2,032,715  to  $2,164,043)  and  in  admis- 
sions to  roof  gardens  and  cabarets  (in- 
creased from  $144,389  to  $209,346)  and 
at  the  expense  of  taxes  from  tickets  sold 
by  brokers,  which  dropped  to  $19,654. 

The  1943  collections,  it  was  shown, 
ranged  from  a  low  of  $1  1,109,477  in  June 
to  a  high  of  $16,499,395  in  October,  and 
in  10  of  the  12  months  were  larger  than 
in  the  corresponding  months  of  1942,  the 
exceptions  being  June  and  December. 
The  month-by-month  report  was  as  follows: 

1 943  1 942 

January  .,..,..$  I  1 ,728,489    $  I  1 ,355,639 

February   II, 3 17, 101  9,769,398 

March    I  1,874,676  10,592,455 

April    13,283,115  10,788,463 

May   14,625,615      I  1,803,922 

June    11,109,477  11,550,144 

July   15,750,519  12,484,881 

August    16,178,306  12,436,304 

September    13,926,347  13,662,337 

October    16,499,395  14,694,997 

November   16,388,863  11,310,821 

December   13,048,274  15,922,909 


Virginia  O'Brien,  red-hot  fr 


"THOUSANDS  CHEER"  the  10-week  Astor,  N.Y. 
hit  is  already  a  nationwide  box-office  joy.  Advertised 
to  America  in  a  giant  campaign  including  M-G-M's 
one  and  only  regular  radio  program.  Here  are  a  few 
enlargements  of  Technicolor  frame  clips  from  the 
film  itself.  Just  a  sample  of  M-G-M's  Show  of  Shows! 


No  blues  in  Ben  Blu 


I  J  I  b^-  /  jF  1 1..  If 


STARIFFIC  IN  TECHNICOLOR 

M-G-M's 
THOUSANDS 
CHEER 

30  STARS!      3  BANDS! 

Original  Screen  Play  by  Paul  Jarrico 
and  Richard  Collins  based  on  their 
story  "Private  Miss  Jones." 
Directed  by  GEORGE  SIDNEY 
Produced  by  JOSEPH  PASTERNAK 


They're  crazy  about  Maisie — it's  Ann  Sothern 


"Be  Frank,  Dr.  Morgan" — and  he  was 


SEE    OTHER    SIDE    AND    THERE'S    MORE    HERE  TOO 


i 


» 


M-G-M's 
GREATEST 
GROUP 
VITAMIN  12 

Pep!  Profits! 
Pleasure!  LOOK: 


"THOUSANDS  CHEER" 

Stariffic  in  Technicolor 
★ 

''MADAME  CURIE" 

Greer  Garson,  Walter  Pidgeon 
★ 

"A  GUY  NAMED  JOE" 

Spencer  Tracy,  Irene  Dunne 

"THE  HEAVENLY  BODY" 

William  Powell,  Hedy  Lamarr 
★ 

"CRY  'HAVOC'" 

Margaret  Sullavan,  Joan  BK>ndell, 
Ann  S<ithcrn 
★ 

"SONG  OF  RUSSIA" 

Robert  Taylor,  Susan  Peters 
★ 

"LOST  ANGEL" 

Margaret  O'Brien,  James  Craig, 
Marsha  Hunt 

"CROSS  OF  LORRAINE" 

Jean  Pierre  Aumont,  Gene  Kelly, 
Sir  Cedric  Hardwicke 
★ 

/  c'c/imco/oi 

"BROADWAY  RHYTHM" 

Ginny  Simms,  George  Murphy, 
Tommy  Dorsey 
★ 

"RATIONING" 

Wallace  Beery,  Marjorie  Main 
★ 

"SEE  HERE, 
PRIVATE  HARGROVE" 

Robert  Walker 

"SWING  FEVER" 

Kay  Kyser 


•Keep  up  the  attack!  4th  WAR  LOAN!" 


I 


StarifFically  yours,  Margaret  O'Brien 


Marsha  Hunt — a  joyful  eyeful 


MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD 
January    29,  1944 


January    29,    I  944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


23 


ON  THE  3LABCH 


by  RED  KANN 


HOLLYWOOD 

THE  internal  situation  at  United  Artists  is  so  complex  these 
days  that  it  is  not  always  simple  to  diagnose  motivations 
and  purposes.  Reported  in  the  news  columns  of  the  Her- 
ald from  time  to  time  have  been  the  essentials  of  these  checker- 
board plays. 

The  moves  have  created  interesting  reactions.  Curious  ones, 
too.  When  one  of  four  owner-members  determines  to  sue  an- 
other as  Charlie  Chaplin  has  seen  fit  to  do  in  the  case  of  David 
O.  Selznick,  the  inevitability  of  the  step  is  that  discussion  in 
wholesale  follows.  When  another  contemplates  recourse  to  the 
courts  to  lift  the  unanimous  consent  rule  which  sets  the  affairs  of 
United  Artists  in  a  niche  peculiarly  their  own  as  Mary  Pickford 
is  now  pondering,  it  becomes  inevitable  as  well  that  widespread 
speculation  will  trail.  And  when  the  plans  of  a  fourth  come 
under  the  scrutiny  of  the  Department  of  Justice  as  Alexander 
Korda's  have,  curiosity  would  have  the  right  to  approach  a  new 
high. 

The  inside  offered  on  this  latest  of  the  tangles  in  the  affairs  of 
the  company  traces  to  the  decided  interest  aroused  in  a  press 
dispatch  from  London  and  published  in  the  New  York  Times 
about  formation  of  M-G-M's  producing  unit  in  England.  Not  in 
the  press  release,  yet  nevertheless  a  reputed  phase  of  the  ar- 
rangement, is  the  kind  of  contract  Korda  now  holds.  He  is 
in  charge  of  all  M-G-M  production  outside  the  United  States. 
He  is  employed  at  a  typical  film  salary.  He  will  share  in  the 
profits  and  his  administrative  powers  are  sweeping. 

As  all  of  this  is  designed  to  proceed  so,  likewise,  does  Korda's 
twenty-five  per  cent  interest  in  United  Artists.  As  one  of  the 
owners  there,  of  course  he  shares  in  the  company's  earnings. 
However,  his  is  a  stock  interest  which  carries  whatever  benefits 
tide  and  fortune  may  bring.  As  one  of  the  owners,'  he  need  not 
be  a  producer-contributor  to  enjoy  such  benefits,  the  significant 
point  being  he  cannot  be  compelled  to  make  pictures  for  United 
Artists  if  the  inclination  does  not  persuade  him.  Moreover,  his 
new  deal  with  M-G-M  appears  to  indicate  there  is  no  inclination. 

It  is  of  probable  great  significance,  on  the  other  hand,  that  the 
rule  of  unanimous  consent  places  Korda  in  the  position,  certainly 
entirely  theoretical  thus  far,  of  blocking  any  plans  which  United 
Artists  may  evolve.  He  is  in  position  to  do  so  under  the  bylaws 
which  specifically  set  forth  that  decisions  must  be  mutually  ar- 
rived at  by  all  of  the  owner-members  if  they  are  to  be  decisions  at 
all.  The  same  prerogative  applies  to  owners  Chaplin,  Pickford 
and  Selznick.  Yet  in  the  case  of  Korda,  the  circumstance  is 
viewed  in  a  color  very  particularly  Its  own. 

Washington  Eyes  Processes 

COLOR  is  imparted  by  the  r.eputed  approach  of  the  De- 
partment of  Justice  on  the  question  of  processes.  If  it 
can  be  argued  with  legal  success,  as  some  are  confident 
it  may,  that  a  man  under  contract  is  committed  to  devote  his 
best  energies,  his  best  thinking  and  the  full  reservoir  of  his  ideas 
to  the  company  which  has  purchased  these  assets  on  contract,  it 
would  then  follow  Korda's  commitment  as  an  employee  of  M-G-M 
makes  his  future  course  clear  enough.  Under  certain  circum- 
stances, all  hypothetical  currently  but  certainly  not  remote  and 
never  impossible  in  a  changing  business  like  this,  the  Depart- 
ment is  understood  to  have  interested  itself  in  where  United 
Artists  may  come  off. 

This  interest  generates  from  the  intricate  and  sometimes  deli- 
cate problem  of  corporate  relationships  that  interlock  and  reflects 
no  specialized  concern  whatsoever  in  the  welfare  of  United  Art- 
ists as  an  individual  business  enterprise.  As  a  Government 
agency,  the  Department  scrutinizes  specific  situations  under  spe- 
cific applications  of  the  existing  statutes  bearing  on  open  com- 
petition in  all  industries.  The  fact  that  it  has  cut  out  a  lot  of 
work  for  itself  in  the  film  business  at  large  is  merely  coincidental. 

What  might  these  hypothetical  conditions  be?  For  example, 
suppose  the  contract  of  a  Metro  star  were  running  out  and 
United  Artists  launched  negotiations  for  his  or  her  services.  Sup- 
pose, further,  Metro  preferred  to  retain  this  player  on  its 
roster.  And  suppose,  too,  M-G-M  took  occasion  to  emphasize  to 


Korda  that  the  best  interests  of  the  company  which  employs  him 
under  a  ten-year  contract  dictated  retention  of  the  player  in 
flirtation  with  United  Artists.  The  question  which  no  one  can 
answer,  of  course,  is  the  direction  Korda  would  elect  to  travel. 
Would  he  view  his  first  obligation  through  Metro  eyes  and  ne- 
gate United  Artists'  negotiations  by  refusing  to  apply  the  rule 
of  unanimous  consent  ?  Or  would  he  determine  for  United  Art- 
ists by  joining  his  three  partners  in  applying  the  rule,  at  the 
same  juncture  thereby  determining  against  M-G-M?  This  is 
the  nature  of  the  potential  condition  reportedly  of  active  interest 
in  the  thinking  of  the  Department. 

The  variations  in  this  pattern  are  several.  Involved  might  be 
a  company  entirely  apart.  To  understand  this  hypothesis,  imag- 
ine a  situation  in  which  reprisals  are  threatened  against  M-G-M 
and  not  against  United  Artists,  because  it  is  the  latter  which  may 
be  competing  for  the  third  company's  talent.  Under  circum- 
stances such  as  these,  Korda  once  more  may  find  himself  in  the 
delicate  position  of  deciding  if  he  wants  to,  or  can,  allow  Metro 
to  face  probable  hurt  through  the  activities  of  his  other  enter- 
prise— United  Artists.  In  either  setup,  the  veto  power  residing 
in  the  rule  of  unanimous  consent  is  the  determining  factor. 

Underground  rumblings  insist  the  Department  sees  such  pos- 
sibilities even  if  it  has  no  way  of  forecasting  their  eventuality — if 
ever.  Miss  Pickford,  too,  is  evidently  well  aware  of  the  situation 
pointed  up  by  the  M-G-M-Korda  alignment.  This,  and  her  be- 
lief the  unanimous  consent  rule  is  archaic  enough  to  block  prog- 
ress in  United  Artists,  explains  her  reasons  for  exploring  the 
potentialities  and  the  probable  outcome  of  a  friendly  suit  designed 
to  break  the  existing  deadlock. 

It  would  be  reaching  considerably  beyond  the  facts  to  suggest 
the  United  Artists  partners  are  never  in  accord.  This  is  chal- 
lenged at  once  by  the  fact  new  deals  are  being  made  constantly. 
It  is  challenged  additionally  by  the  undeniable  truth  of  the  matter 
which  is  that  other  deals  will  continue  to  be  negotiated. 

But  the  road  is  hard.  It  is  frequently  long.  Against  this  is  Miss 
Pickford's  belief  there  is  no  need  for  either  condition  to  exist  if 
the  unanimous  consent  method  can  be  supplanted  by  a  more 
modern  and  more  practical  system  based  on  majority  opinion. 
Three  out  of  four,  in  other  words. 

George  Wharton  Pepper,  noted  lawyer,  therefore  continues  his 
exploration  of  the  situation  and  of  the  law.  If  it  is  his  opinion 
a  friendly  suit,  such  as  has  been  proposed,  can  be  successful.  Miss 
Pickford  in  all  likelihood  will  proceed. 


The  Question:  How  Long? 

4  4  1   WONDER  how  long  the  market  will  continue  to  absorb 
I     negative  costs  of  $3,000,000  and  $4,000,000,"  J.  Cheever 
Cowdin,  chairman  of  Universal's  board,  was  observing  a 
few  days  ago. 

What  he  observed  right  out  in  the  open,  other  executives  in 
other  companies  have  been  pondering  as  well,  but  without  benefit 
of  print. 

In  Hollywood,  too,  the  question  of  staggering  negatives  and 
effect  on  inventories  has  had  some  attention  thrown  its  way.  The 
combination  of  competition  and  unprecedented  prosperity  makes  it 
difficult,  and  frequently  impossible,  to  resist  temptation.  The 
consequence  is  that,  when  one  studio  starts  going,  in  due  and 
reasonable  time  practically  all  others  pile  up  in  the  same  alley. 
The  final  result  is  haywire  costs  not  reflected  in  the  finished 
product.  Or,  if  reflected,  there  is  frequent  reason  to  wonder 
what  causes  that,  after  allowing  for  increases  in  labor  and  costs 
of  materials. 

The  plain  unvarnished  truth  is  three  millions  look  much  more 
attractive  than  two  out  Hollywood  way. 
■  Comment  of  a  highly  placed  distributor  on  the  decree : 

"The  five  majors  have  just  passed  through  the  uncertain  ex- 
perience of  delivering  their  heart,  their  lungs  and  their  blood  to 
the  Government.  If  any  further  parts  of  the  body  prove  required, 
I  don't  know  what  else  there  is  to  put  on  the  sacrificial  block." 

He  said  it  with  a  smile.  But  he  meant  it. 


24  '  • 

Early  Returns 
Show  Determined 
Theatre  Effort 

Early  and  scattered  returns  from  exhibitors 
give  every  indication  that  numerically  if  not 
actually,  the  industry  is  on  the  way  to  selling 
well  over  a  Bond  for  every  seat. 

When  the  campaign  was  officially  taking  its 
first  breath  at  one  minute  past  midnight  on  the 
morning  of  the  opening  day,  Ray  Cooper  of  the 
Golden  State  theatre  in  San  Francisco  an- 
nounced tliat  that  night's  inaugural  premiere 
was  sold  out  with  a  Bond  for  every  seat,  2,850 
"E"  Bonds  in  all.  In  Seattle,  the  Moore  theatre 
was  the  first  to  make  the  goal ;  in  Richmond, 
Va.,  the  Pulaski  theatre  won  the  honor.  In 
Colorado  the  first  to  report  a  Bond  for  every 
seat  was  Ralph  Batchelett,  manager  of  the 
Bluebird  theatre,  Denver.  In  Southern  Cali- 
fornia 7,746  "E"  Bonds  were  sold  the  first  day 
of  the  drive.  George  Sharp  of  Fresno,  Cal., 
reported  a  sale  of  2,500  "E"  Bonds  for  his  1.999- 
seat  Wilson  theatre.  J.  R.  Vogel,  of  Loew's, 
stated  that  more  Bonds  were  sold  the  first  day 
of  the  drive  than  in  any  10  days  in  Loew's  Bond 
selling  history. 

In  Inglewood,  Cal.,  a  Rudy  Vallee  Bond  show 
at  the  Academy  theatre  resulted  in  the  sale  of 
1,364  Bonds,  164  over  capacity,  for  a  total  of 
$201,569. 

At  the  Madison  theatre  in  Peoria,  111.,  with 
Porter  Hall  and  Lois  Andrews  appearing  in 
person,  1,739  "E"  Bonds  were  sold,  for  a  total 
of  $231,315. 

In  Upstate  New  York,  Albert  Dekker  and 
Helen  Walker  with  six  war  veterans,  sold 
$845,000  in  Bonds  at  Gloversville  and  Amster- 
dam, and  another  $575,000  at  the  Mohawk  Car- 
pet Mills  in  Amsterdam. 

In  Albany  Jeanette  MacDonald  obtained  State 
Comptroller  Frank  C.  Moore's  pledge  that  the 
State  of  New  York  would  purchase  $10,000,000 
in  Bonds.  Along  with  Mr.  Dekker  and  Miss 
Walker  and  the  six  war  heroes,  she  appeared 
at  a  banquet  to  which  2,000  persons  purchased 
$70,000  in  Bonds  as  admission.  Following  the 
dinner  the  battalion  sold  an  added  $2,100  in 
Bonds. 

More  than  6,000  Portlandites  of  Portland, 
Ore.,  bought  "E"  Bonds  as  admission  to  the 
municipal  auditorium  to  be  on  hand  for  the 
launching  of  the  drive  and  the  personal  appear- 
ances of  Dinah  Shore  and  Gene  Kelly.  In 
Indianapolis  Cecilia  Parker  and  Dana  Andrews 
opened  the  drive  at  the  RCA  plant,  obtaining 
pledges  from  all  the  3,000  employees  to  pur- 
chase $100  Bonds. 

In  Topeka,  Kan.,  the  Jayhawk  theatre  was 
sold  out  for  its  Bond  premiere  last  Sunday. 
In  Kansas  City,  Kan.,  Nick  Sonday's  Fairway 
theatre  has  a  record  of  a  Bond  for  every  seat 
without  a  premiere. 


Enemy  Military  Equipment 
Playing  Role  in  Drive 

In  cooperation  with  the  United  States  Army, 
captured  Japanese  and  German  military  equip- 
ment is  on  display  in  many  theatre  lobbies, 
parades  and  rallies  held  in  connection  with  the 
Fourth  War  Loan. 

According  to  announcements  made  by  various 
state  War  Finance  Committees,  some  4,000  Ger- 
man helmets  have  been  distributed,  as  well  as 
hundreds  of  German  and  Japanese  rifles  and 
parts,  tanks,  Messerschmidts,  50mm  field  pieces, 
German  machine  guns,  etc. 

The  material  is  being  made  available  to  the 
nine  Army  Service  Commands  throughout  the 
country.  Arrangements  for  its  use  are  being 
made  through  the  liaison  officer  assigned  as 
contact  with  the  local  motion  picture  chairman 
in  each  command  and  with  the  War  Finance 
Committee. 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


LAST  WEEK  OF  DRIVE 
GENERAL  EISENHOWER'S 

The  Fourth  War  Loan  strategists 
have  announced  plans  for  a  climactic 
windup  of  the  campaign.  The  final 
week  is  to  be  known  throughout  the 
nation  as  "This  Is  "E"  Week,"  during 
which  each  community  will  designate 
one  day  as  "This  Is  'E'  Day."  The 
week  and  the  day  will  accent  a  spe- 
cial tribute  to  General  Dwight  Eisen- 
hower; "E"  for  Eisenhower,  "E"  for 
"E"  Bonds,  and  "E"  for  every  seat  in 
the  house.  Plans  are  also  under  way 
to  produce  a  trailer  featuring  the 
reading  of  a  message  from  General 
Eisenhower  by  a  high  ranking  Army 
officer. 


Loan  Plans  Go 
Into  Action 

Throughout  the  nation  theatres  in  large  cities, 
towns  and  hamlets  went  into  high  gear  this 
past  week  in  their  climb  towards  the  sale  of  a 
War  Bond  for  every  seat. 

Ii)  Portland,  Ore.,  the  industry  moved  ahead 
with  some  figures,  supplied  by  Lieut.  Colonel 
Worth  Wicker  of  Camp  Adair,  to  guide  them. 
At  a  meeting  of  leaders  of  the  industry  from 
that  area,  the  Colonel  said: 

"Every  time  a  155-millimeter  howitzer  fires 
it  costs  the  taxpayers  $45  for  ammunition  alone. 
When  you  understand  that  there  are  four  of 
those  howitzers  in  a  battery  and  five  batteries 
in  a  battalion,  and  four  of  these  field  artillery 
battalions  in  a  division,  and  Germany  has  more 
than  300  divisions  in  the  field  today,  you  begin 
to  appreciate  the  astronomical  figures  to  which 
the  cost  of  this  war  is  mounting." 

In  Massachusetts  theatre  managers  and  ex- 
hibitors were  informed  by  Samuel  Pinanski, 
state  chairman,  that  Tuesday,  February  8,  had 
been  set  aside  as  "Free  Movie  Day,"  but,  "pro- 
viding that  it  does  not  conflict  with  any  other 
previously  planned  and  scheduled  War  Bond  ac- 
tivity in  your  city  or  town,  which  cannot  be 
changed."  The  exhibitors  of  the  state  also  were 
advised  to  get  their  cities  to  erect  a  seating 
chart  in  the  heart  of  the  city,  patterned  after 
New  York's,  situated  at  Times  Square,  to 
record  the  joint  efforts  of  all  the  theatres  of 
the  area. 

Sale  of  "Golden  Chair"  Sends 
Wounded  Veterans  to  Show 

The  Fourth  War  Loan  matinee  of  the  "Ice- 
Capades  of  1944,"  sponsored  by  the  Washington 
Radio  Station,  WRC,  and  the  Variety  Club 
on  January  29,  will  be  attended  by  176  wound- 
ed soldiers  and  sailors  of  Walter  Reed  and 
Naval  Hospitals  as  result  of  the  sale  of  the 
$1,000,000  "Golden  Chair"  to  the  Equitable 
Life  Insurance  company,  whose  home  office  is 
in  Washington,  D.  C.  Carter  Barron,  general 
chairman  in  charge  of  the  show,  made  the  an- 
nouncement. 

The  |1, 000,000  sale  was  in  Bonds  and  repre- 
sents half  of  the  WRC- Variety  Club's  quota  for 
the  "Ice-Capades"  matinee.  The  purchase  is 
also  one  of  the  largest  company  Bond  purchases 
in  the  District  of  Columbia. 

Indications,  according  to  last  reports,  are  that 
the  show  will  be  a  sell-out.  Sidney  Lust  is 
chairman  of  the  ticket  committee.  Alexander 
Sherman  represented  the  Variety  Club  in  the 
sale  of  the  Bonds  to  the  Equitable  Life,  and 
Charles  E.  Phillips  represented  the  company  in 
the  purchase. 


January   29,  1944 

Film  Bond  Drive 
Hits  Fast  Pace 
In  New  York 

Exhibitors  and  distributors  of  the  New  York 
metropolitan  area  sent  their  efforts  on  behalf 
of  the  Fourth  War  Loan  drive  soaring  as  the 
campaign  neared  the  close  of  its  second  week, 
with  a  Skouras  house  first  to  report  sales  of 
better  than  a  Bond  for  every  seat,  Metro- 
Goldwyn-Mayer  announcing  the  purchase  of 
an  extra  Bond  for  every  employee  in  its  33 
branch  offices,  Warner  Brothers  introducing  a 
contest  for  patrons,  with  10  $50  War  Bonds  as 
prizes,  and  the  announcement  by  David  Bern- 
stein, vice-president  and  treasurer,  that  his 
company,  Loew's,  Inc.,  will  buy  $10,000,000  in 
Bonds. 

The  Skouras  Forest  Hills  theatre,  with  a 
seating  capacity  of  926,  announced  981  Bonds 
had  been  sold  for  a  total  of  $59,275  when  the 
drive  was  but  three  days  old. 

The  Home  Front  News,  a  specially-prepared 
newspaper  published  by  the  Warner  Club  pres- 
ident, Martin  F.  Bennett,  announced  last  week 
that  Warner  Brothers  would  award  10  $50 
Bonds  to  Bond-buying  patrons.  Every  Bond 
buyer  at  a  Warner  theatre  from  December  1, 
1943,  to  February  15,  1944,  is  eligible.  Num- 
bers will  be  drawn  to  determine  the  winners 
of  the  prizes  shortly  after  the  drive  closes. 

On  Monday  in  New  York  City  the  Chinese 
of  Gotham  held  a  War  Bond  rally  along  wind- 
ing Mott  Street,  cheered  wildly  two  speakers 
from  Hollywood,  Brian  Donlevy  and  Lloyd 
Nolan,  and  three  decorative  stars,  Jeannette 
MacDonald,  Laraine  Day  and  Zorina.  They 
also  witnessed  a  parade  of  military  and  civilian 
units  headed  by  an  enormous  banner  on  hand 
by  courtesy  of  Universal  and  reading:  "Gung 
Mo!"  Chinatown  has  set  its  quota  at  $1,000,000. 

Presidents  of  the  city's  five  boroughs  issued 
proclamations  calling  upon  the  citizens  to  help 
make  a  realization  of  the  motion  picture  in- 
dustry's slogan  of  A  Bond  for  Every  Seat.  , 

Announce  Change  of  Routes 
For  Hollywood  Bondardiers 

A  revised  booking  of  Hollywod  stars  for 
appearances  as  Bondardiers  in  key  cities 
throughout  the  United  States  in  the  interest  of 
the  Fourth  War  Loan  drive  shows  the  follow- 
ing schedule: 

New  York  and  Newark  combined,  Brian  Don- 
levy,  Laraine  Day,  Lloyd  Nolan  and  Jeanette 
MacDonald,  all  booked  through  January  31 ; 
Philadelphia,  Franchot  Tone,  from  January  16 
to  27,  and  Lucille  Ball  from  January  24  to 
February  2 ;  Chicago,  John  Garfield,  January 
20  through  27,  and  Jinx  Falkenberg,  January  17 
through  27;  Cleveland,  Maria  Montez,  January 
17  to  27,  and  Lee  Bowman,  January  18  through 
31 ;  Minneapolis,  Dennis  Morgan  and  Arline 
Judge,  January  17  through  31 ;  Detroit,  Walter 
Pidgeon,  January  19  through  28. 

St.  Louis,  Gene  Tierney,  January  17 
through  29 ;  Anthony  Quinn,  January  20 
through  29 ;  Errol  Flynn,  January  28  and  29 ; 
Indianapolis,  Dana  Andrews  and  Cecilia  Park- 
er, January  17  through  31 ;  Dallas,  Houston, 
Tulsa  and  Oklahoma  City,  Red  Skelton,  Jan- 
uary 19  through  22;  Denver,  Fred  MacMurray 
and  Madeleine  LeBeau,  January  21  through 
24;  New  Orleans,  Errol  Rynn,  January  18 
through  27;  Portland,  Ore.,  Gene  Kelly,  Janu- 
ary 18  through  20;  Dinah  Shore,  January  18; 
Buffalo,  Franchot  Tone,  January  28  through 
31;  Atlanta,  Jane  Withers,  January  20  to  28; 
Kansas  City,  Errol  Flynn,  January  30  and  31 ; 
Hartford,  Brian  Aherne  and  Joan  Fontaine; 
Seattle  and  Boise,  Ella  Raines,  January  18  to 
31 ;  Boston,  Alan  Marshall,  January  18  to  31 ; 
Frances  Dee,  January  24  to  31,  and  Baltimore, 
Anne  Baxter,  January  24  to  31. 


January    29.  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


25 


"BOND-A-SEAT "  SLOGAN  IS 
ON  WAY  TO  REALITY 


Over  5,000  Managers  Are 
Enrolled  in  the  Honored 
Hundred  Contest 

With  the  industry  well  into  its  second 
week  of  the  nationwide  drive  to  ring-  up  a 
Bond  sale  for  every  theatre  seat,  early  re- 
turns from  the  Fourth  War  Loan  front 
show  exhibitors,  distributors,  studios  and 
workers  in  the  industry's  varied  departments, 
plunging  forward  to  the  realization  that  the 
slogan  is  on  the  way  to  becoming  a  reality. 

Headquarters  in  New  York  reports  that 
more  than  5,000  theatre  managers  have  en- 
rolled in  the  Honored  Hundred  contest,  and 
that  in  the  first  week  of  the  drive  1,860  Bond 
premieres  had  been  scheduled,  as  compared 
to  the  1,733  premieres  registered  for  the 
whole  of  the  Third  War  Loan,  prompting 
the  optimistic  estimate  of  doubling  grand 
total  figures. 

Ned  Depinet,  chairman  of  the  Distribu- 
tors Committee,  announced  that  the  RKO 
exchange  in  Washington,  D.  C,  was  the 
first  to  report  a  100  per  cent  sale  of  Bonds 
to  employees. 

Extend  Hundred  Contest 
Through  Two  Months 

In  an  arrangement  with  Treasury  officials, 
Charles  P.  Skouras,  heading  the  industry's 
efforts,  has  arranged  to  extend  the  Honored 
Hundred  contest  period,  now  to  cover  the 
whole  of  the  two  months  of  January  and 
February.  The  totaling  of  the  results  is  to 
get  under  way  immediately  after  March  15. 
The  first  beyond-the-border  entry  blank  was 
received  this  week  at  War  Activities  Com- 
mittee headquarters  from  Homer  Garvin, 
manager  of  the  60S-seat  Capitol  theatre  in 
Juneau,  Alaska. 

Robert  W.  Selig,  who  is  in  charge  of  the 
contest,  in  a  statement  this  week  reminded 
theatre  managers  that  while  headquarters 
need  the  entry  blanks  for  their  records,  fail- 
ure to  send  one  in  does  not  disqualify  the 
theatre  manager. 

"All  exhibitors  automatically  compete  in 
the  contest,"  he  said,  "once  they  have  met 
the  minimum  quota  of  a  Bond  for  every  seat 
in  their  houses.  But  still,  we  will  appreci- 
ate their  sending  in  the  entry  blanks.  It 
helps  us  in  making  estimates  of  sales  in  ra- 
tio to  seating  capacities." 

Urges  Special  Valentine 
Day  Exploitation 

On  Monday,  Mr.  Skouras  wired  all  state 
chairmen  and  public  relations  heads  suggest- 
ing a  special  exploitation  for  Bond  sales 
be  given  in  connection  with  Valentine's  Day, 
February  14,  putting  to  use  a  slogan  coined 
by  Harold  Fitzgerald,  president  of  the  Wis- 
consin Amusement  Enterprises,  Inc.,  of 
Milwaukee:  "Buy  an  'E'  Bond  as  a  Valen- 
tine for  Your  Sweetheart  on  Valentine's 
Day."  The  aim,  it  is  said,  is  to  add  to  the 
purchases  of  Bonds  for  both  men  and 
women  in  the  services. 

In  a  breakdown  of  the  figure  representing 
the  number  of  Honored  Hundred  contest 


BONDS.  In  New  York,  Joseph  Reich, 
second  from  left,  above,  is  given  a  cita- 
tion by  Charles  Skouras,  film  industry 
Fourth  War  Loan  chairman,  for  being  the 
first  Bond  purchaser  in  the  local  theatre 
campaign.  The  spectators  are  Edward  Al- 
person.  New  York  chairman,  and  actress 
Laraine  Day. 


THE  BEARD,  at  the  right,  belongs  to 
Ralph  J.  Batschelet,  manager  of  the  Blue- 
bird, Denver,  who  strode  into  his  house 
the  opening  night  of  the  drive  and  told 
patrons  he  would  wear  the  beer  blotter 
until  they  put  his  theatre  "over  the  top". 
Mr.  Batschelet  was  able  to  shave  that 
night;  however,  he  elected  to  wait  until 
he  has  been  named  one  of  the  driver's 
"Honored  Hundred"  so  he  can  be  shaved 
by  the  White  Hoiise  barber. 

blanks  received,  the  State  of  New  York  led 
the  field,  with  Pennsylvania,  California  and 
Michigan  following  close  behind.  Mr.  Gar- 
vin, to  date,  is  the  sole  entry  outside  the 
48  states.  Alaska  has  18  theatres,  and 
Hawaii  31.  It  was  suggested  that  delayed 
mails  were  holding  up  the  arrival  of  other 
entries,  especially  from  the  far  island  of 
Hawaii. 

This  week  the  New  York  headquarters  of 
the  Century  Circuit  announced  a  drive  con- 
test for  its  employees.  The  contest  will 
stretch  over  a  period  of  29  days,  the  period 
of  the  national  drive.  There  will  be  prizes 
in  Bonds  of  $100,  $50  and  $25  denomina- 
tions for  supervisors  whose  districts  produce 
the  highest  percentage  of  its  quota.  Man- 
agers whose  theatres  sell  the  highest  per- 
centage of  Bonds  will  win  like  awards,  and 
assistant  managers  will  compete  for  a  first 
prize  of  $75  in  Bonds,  the  second  and  third 
prizes  being  the  same. 

As  an  added  inducement,  first  prize  win- 
ners in  all  three  categories  will  receive  a 
week's  vacation.   There  is  also  a  contest  for 


By  Staff  Photographei 


all  employees  of  the  circuit,  with  the  vari- 
ous categories  according  to  positions,  and 
the  prizes  a  $50  Bond  for  the  winner,  plus 
a  week's  vacation,  a  $25  Bond  for  second 
place  and  $15  in  War  Stamps  as  third  prize. 

It  was  also  indicated  this  week  that  the 
industry  had  arranged  for  a  nationwide  tie- 
up  with  the  American  Legion  wherein  thea- 
tres in  many  communities  will  work  in  close 
cooperation  with  local  American  Legion 
posts. 


WAC  Shorts  Suspended  for 
Duration  of  War  Loan 

On  Monday  all  distribution  and  exhibitor 
chairmen  of  the  War  Activities  Committee  of 
the  industry  were  informed  that  until  the  con- 
clusion of  the  current  Fourth  War  Loan  drive 
there  would  be  no  WAC  single  reel  subjects 
released.  Herman  Gluckman,  in  charge  of  the 
distribution  of  the  Victory  shorts,  explained 
that  due  to  the  Fourth  War  Loan  trailers  now 
showing  and  others  to  come,  it  was  decided  all 
exhibitors  should  have  screen  space  exclusively 
for  War  Bond  messages. 


26 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    29.    I  944 


Plan  Survey  of 
All  Canadian 
Royalty  Fees 

Following  a  two-day  hearing  by  the  Copy- 
right Appeal  Board  of  Canada,  Justice  J.  1- 
Thorson,  chairman,  announcd  that  a  survey  ol 
the  complicated  musical  copyright  develop- 
ments through  applications  and  objections  of 
various  performing  rights  organizations  on  the 
subject  of  collecting  license  fees,  will  be  made. 
Meanwhile,  royalty  schedules  against  theatre 
owners  and  others  for  this  year  will  be  com-., 
pletely  tied  up,  as  was  the  case  some  years  ago 
when  the  Canadian  Copyright  Act  was  revised 
and  the  Copyright  Appeal  Board  set  up  to  take 

'^'^The'^  Board  in  Ottawa  last  week  had  reserved 
judgment  on  license  fee  applications.  The  Mu- 
sical Protective  Association  of  Canada,  repre- 
senting theatres,  hotels  and  fairs,  as  well  as 
the  Canadian  Association  of  Broadcasters  and 
the  Canadian  Broadcasting  Corporation,  told 
the  Board  it  had  no  objection  to  the  American 
Performing  Rights  Society  sharing  in  the  an- 
nual license  fees  for  use  oj  musical  works 
along  with  the  Canadian  Performing  Rights 
Society  and  Broadcast  Music,  Ltd.,  provided 
the  1944  payments  did  not  mean  an  additional 
levy  on  theatres  and  other  licensed  interests. 

The  American  Society  asked  a  seat  tax  of  one 
or  two  cents,  according  to  the  size  of  the  thea- 
tre, and  one  cent  on  each  radio  receiving  set 
in  the  Dominion. 

The  Canadian  Performing  Rights  Society  ob- 
jected, however,  to  the  entry  of  the  New  York 
rival  into  the  Canadian  field  and  claimed  the 
American  Society  failed  to  meet  requirements 
of  the  Canadian  Copyright  Act  in  not  filing  a 
catalogue  of  controlled  compositions  in  sufficient 
time.  This  was  denied  by  lawyers  for  the 
American  Society. 

The  original  Canadian  Society  also  wanted 
to  collect  a  fee  on  juke  boxes  and  from  facto- 
ries using  canned  music  or  sound  films. 

Sentencing  of  Zevin 
Delayed  to  March  20 

The  sentencing  of  Isadore  Zevin,  former  sec- 
retary to  George  E.  Browne,  convicted  lATSE 
ex-president,  who  pleaded  guilty  to  perjury  in 
connection  with  the  Government's  probe  of 
the  whereabouts  of  $1,500,000  collected  from 
lATSE  members,  was  adjourned  in  New  York 
this  week  by  Federal  Judge  Henry  W.  God- 
dard  until  March  20. 

The  long  adjournment  indicates  that  Zevin 
is  preparing  to  be  a  star  witness  for  the  gov- 
ernment at  the  forthcoming  mail  fraud  trial  in 
connection  with  the  special  two  per  cent  wage 
tax  assessed  by  Browne  against  lATSE  mem- 
bers. 

Meanwhile,  Harry  Hochstein,  former  Chicago 
official,  will  not  face  trial  in  Federal  Court  un- 
til February  1,  Judge  Goddard  decided. 

The  court  adjourned  until  that  date  Hock- 
stein's  trial  under  the  perjury  true  bill,  but 
indications  are  that  the  case  will  be  adjourned 
further,  at  least  until  a  mail  fraud  indictment 
against  six  Capone  gangsters  is  disposed. 


NAME  RICKETSON  TO 
NATIONAL  WAR  FUND 


"Snow  White"  On  Tour 

Adriana  Caselotti,  the  original  voice  of  Snow 
White,  left  New  York  Monday  for  Cincinnati 
for  a  series  of  personal  appearances  in  connec- 
tion with  the  mid-west  showjngs  of  "Snow 
White  and  the  Seven  Dwarfs."  Miss  Caselotti, 
one  of  150  girls  tested  by  Walt  Disney  for  the 
voice  of  Snow  White,  will  visit  tovras  in  Ohio. 
Indiana,  Kentucky  and  West  Virginia. 


staff  Photographer 

ident  of 


F.  H.  RICKETSON,  pres 
Fox  Intermountain  Theatres,  has  been 
elected  a  member  of  the  board  of 
directors  of  the  National  War  Fund. 
Until  the  naming  of  Mr.  Ricketson, 
the  agency  of  major  charities  of  the 
United  Nations  was  without  a  repre- 
sentative of  the  industry  on  its  board. 
Spyros  Skouras,  president  of  Twen- 
tieth Century- Fox,  is  associated  with 
the  National  War  Fund  as  represen- 
tative of  the  Greek  War  Relief  Asso- 
ciation. The  organization  comprises 
17  charities,  including  the  U.S.O. 


Cleveland  Weighs  Bill 
To  Restrict  Bingo 

Aimed  to  curb  and  control  the  hundreds  of 
Bingo  games  that  have  sprung  up  in  Cleveland 
since  the  passage  of  the  law  legalizing  charity- 
sponsored  Bingo,  an  ordinance  requiring  a 
$100,000  daily  bond  for  places  where  pots  of 
more  than  $300  are  paid  each  day,  is  being 
considered  by  the  Legislative  Committee  of  the 
City  Council.  It  is  estimated  by  bonding  com- 
pany officials  that  bonding  fees  under  the  ordi- 
nance would  cost  Bingo  operators  $1,000  a  day. 
Mayor  Frank  J.  Lausche,  who  is  backing  the 
ordinance,  says  it  is  aimed  to  drive  out  the 
racketeers  and  to  protect  the  legally  operating 
Bingo  games.  The  ordinance  also  proposes  to 
limit  attendance  at  games  by  permitting  only 
one  person  to  each  15  feet  of  floor  space. 

Projection  Room  Burns 

A  fire  developed  in  the  re-windinsf  room  of 
the  Majestic  theatre.  New  Waterford,  N.  S., 
Canada,  while  Harry  Gregor,  operator  was 
warming  up  the  machines.  The  audience,  con- 
sisting of  boys  and  girls,  was  led  out  of  the 
theatre  without  incident.  The  projection  and 
sound  apparatus  was  salvaged. 


Canadian  Board 
Calls  Meeting  on 
Trade  Practices 

Chairman  Donald  Gordon  of  the  Canadian 
Government's  Wartime  Prices  and  Trade  Board 
has  invited  officers  of  the  National  Council  of 
Independent  Exhibitors  of  Canada  to  attend  a 
conference  of  high  Federal  officials  at  Ottawa 
February  8  to  discuss  film  trade  practices  in 
Canada. 

A  prepared  statement,  said  to  deal  with  ren- 
tal contracts  and  booking  priorities  in  relation 
to  board  regulations  which  control  the  film  in- 
dustry, will  be  formally  presented  to  the  gov- 
ernment representatives  at  that  meeting.  It  is 
understood  the  government  will  be  represented 
by  Finance  Minister  J.  L.  Ilsley  and  a  deputy 
of  Premier  W.  L.  M.  King  in  addition  to  Chair- 
man Gordon. 

The  Ottawa  meeting  is  scheduled  to  take 
place  one  week  after  film  exchange  general 
managers  and  directors  of  the  Ontario  Council, 
the  provincial  branch  of  the  Independent  Exhib- 
itors of  Canada,  are  to  confer  at  Toronto  in  a 
move  for  cooperation,  based  on  a  newly-adopted 
policy  of  the  Ontario  independents  pointing  to- 
ward trade  amity. 

Representatives  invited  to  the  conference 
with  Dominion  officials  in  the  capital  include 
President  A.  J.  Mason,  Springhill,  N.  S. ;  G.  O. 
Auclair,  for  Quebec ;  Ben  Freedman  and  Henry 
Falk,  Toronto ;  H.  Shulman,  Winnipeg ;  W.  P. 
Mahon,  Prince  Albert,  Sask. ;  H.  G.  Stevenson, 
LaCombe,  Alta. ;  Robert  McTavish,  Vancouver, 
and  Malcolm  Walker  of  Halifax. 


E.  M.  Loew  Sells  Boston  House 

E.  M.  Loew  has  sold  the  Regent,  first  run 
theatre  in  Arlingfin,  Mass.,  to  Arthur  Viano. 


Columbia  Promotes  McWilliams 

Harry  K.  McWilliams  has  been  appointed 
exploitation  manager  of  Colombia  Pictures,  suc- 
ceeding Frank  P.  Rosenberg,  promoted  to  ad- 
vertising and  publicity  director.  Mr.  McWil- 
liams has  been  in  Columbia's  exploitation  de- 
partment since  1942. 


Loew  Building  Employees 
Sue  for  Overtime  Pay 

Thirty-seven  service  employees  of  the  Loew's 
Building,  at  1540  Broadway,  New  York,  sued 
in  Federal  Court  last  week  for  recovery  of  over- 
time wages  aggregating  $29,078,  and  liquidated 
damages  aggregating  a  similar  sum,  under  pro- 
visions of  the  Fair  Labor  Standards  Act  of 
1938. 

The  plaintiffs,  represented  by  Walter  F. 
O'Malley,  attorney,  name  the  Marcus  Loew 
Realty  Corporation,  owner  of  the  building; 
Marcus  Loew's  Booking  Agency,  Film  Amuse- 
ment Corporation,  and  Loew's,  Inc.,  as  defen- 
dants. All  of  the  plaintiffs  have  been  employed 
in  the  maintenance  division  of  the  building  since 
October  24,  1938,  when  the  act  became  effective. 

On  that  date,  they  assert,  the  law  provided 
for  a  44-hour  work  week,  although  they  worked 
48  hours  weekly  until  October  24,  1939.  There- 
after, when  the  work  week  was  40  hours,  they 
assert,  they  worked  between  44  and  48  hours 
weekly  without  receiving  the  overtime  pay  speci- 
fied in  the  law.  No  answer  has  been  filed  by 
the  defendants. 


RKO  Employees  Get 
Christmas  Bonus 

RKO  Radio  employees  in  the  New  York 
home  office,  the  theatre  department,  and  branch 
offices  who  come  within  the  salary  classifica- 
tions, received  a  Christmas  bonus  last  Friday. 
The  bonus,  which  was  intended  for  Christmas, 
and  which  was  held  up  pending  approval  by 
the  War  Labor  Board  and  the  Treasury  Stabil- 
ization Unit,  was  authorized  by  the  board  of 
directors  of  Radio-Keith- Orpheum  Corporation 
December  6.  The  approval  was  received  from 
the  War  Labor  Board  some  time  ago,  and  from 
the  Treasury  Stabilization  Unit  last  Thursday, 
it  was  said. 


Fire  Damages  House 

A  fire  in  the  projection  room  of  the  Venetian 
theatre,  Albany,  Ore.,  destroyed  6,000  feet  of 
film,  with  total  loss  estimated  at  $25,000. 


ungry  wor 


kas  teen  waiting     .  .  . 


1 


THE 
KEYS 
of  the 
KINGDOM 


CRONIN 


BERKV 
FLEMIN(f 


oiiel 


QUIJVTIN  i 
REyi>lOlDS| 


UTTIE,  BROWN 


Raid 


[albert  E] 
IDELL 


il,  SLOAN 

NS  PEARCE 


TH£    5  Sch-^ 


.  presenting  two 
screen's  dreat 


e  roles 


til 


jorn  to  play  .  .  .  . 


as  "Edward  Rochester" 


as  '  Jane 


it  Hi>giter&Bri«n 

V  p(gg,  Ann  Cirntf  •  John  Sutton 

— -----  * 


A  Love 
Story 

Every  Woman 
Would  Die 
A  Thousand 
Deaths 
To  Live! 


ORSON  WELLES 

ai  "Edward  Rochester" 

JOAN  FONTAINE 

ie" 

t 


as  "Jane" 


The  motional 
exptnence  of  a 
lifetime  I 


At  last,  Charlotte  Bronte's 
mighty  novel  makes  the  screen 
a  tempest  of  mystery  unspeak- 
c«TUiT-»oi      able  .    .  of  /crve  unafraid. 


Sara  Allgood*  Henry  Oanieil»  Agnes  Moorehead- Aubrey  Mather*  Edith  Barrett*  Barbara  Everest*  Hillary  Brooke 

Directed  by  ROBERT  STEVENSON  •  screen  Play  by  Aldous  Huxley,  Robert  Stevenson 
and  John  Houseman  •  William  Goetz  in  Charge  of  Production 


January    29,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


33 


INDEPENDENT  PRODUCTIONS 
TO  HAVE  BIGGEST  YEAR 


RKO  to  Release  Product 
of  International  Pictures, 
Spitz  and  Goetz  Unit 

Further  indication  that  production  activi- 
ties of  independent  producing  companies 
would  reach  a  high  point  in  1944  was  seen 
this  week  when  RKO  Radio  announced  it 
would  release  the  product  of  International 
Pictures,  Inc.,  the  unit  formed  last  year  by 
Leo  Spitz  and  William  Goetz. 

Last  November,  Motion  Picture  Her- 
ald reported  that  since  the  war,  the  nation's 
box  office  performance,  resulting  from  the 
public's  increased  income  and  greater  ability 
to  spend  mcu|ey  on  entertainment,  had  made 
it  possible  for  new  producing  ventures  to 
obtain  financial  support.  Independent  prod- 
uct was  given  more  playing  time  last  year 
than  ever  before  because  of  fewer  releases 
and  longer  holdovers. 

In  addition  to  International,  other  new 
units  formed  last  year  included  Cagney 
Productions,  headed  by  William  and 
James  Cagney;  Fiknusical  Productions,  of 
which  Charles  R.  Rogers  is  president; 
Ripley-Monter  Productions  and  Film 
Classics,  Inc..  the  latter  handling  reissues. 
Vanguard  Films,  Inc.,  is  the  producing 
unit  which  David  O.  Selznick  formed.  It 
has  an  important  production  schedule 
lined  up  for  1944. 

An  important  venture  into  film  production 
by  the  Theatre  Guild,  New  York  legitimate 
theatre  producing  company,  has  been  report- 
ed. According  to  Lawrence  Langner,  who 
returned  last  month  from  a  visit  to  Holly- 
wood, the  Guild  is  considering  a  partner- 
ship with  some  independent  film  producer, 
although  no  definite  decision  has  been 
reached. 

RKO's  deal  with  International,  which  was 
announced  in  Hollywood  over  the  weekend, 
gives  the  company  another  line  of  product 
from  a  leading  independent  producer.  RKO 
has  release  arrangements  with  Samuel 
Goldwyn,  Herbert  Wilcox,  the  British  pro- 
ducer ;  Walt  Disney  and  Frank  Ross.  RKO's 
star  list  will  be  augmented  by  those  on  the 
International  roster,  including  Gary  Cooper, 
Edward  G.  Robinson,  Sonja  Henie,  Gypsy 
Rose  Lee,  Teresa  Wright,  Frank  Morgan, 
Randolph  Scott,  Dinah  Shore,  Bob  Burns 
and  Charles  Winninger. 

Start  Production  Soon 
On  "Casanova  Brown" 

International  will  begin  production  short- 
ly on  "Casanova  Brown,"  which  vvill  be 
produced  by  Nunnally  Johnson  and  directed 
by  Sam  Wood.  Gary  Cooper  and  Teresa 
Wright  will  be  co-starred.  Late  in  Febru- 
ary, the  unit  will  start  shooting  "Belle  of  the 
Yukon,"  a  Technicolor  musical  with  Gypsy 
Rose  Lee.  It  will  be  followed  by  another 
Nunnally  Johnson  picture  to  star  Edward 
G.  Robinson,  which  Fritz  Lang  will  direct. 
Another  Technicolor  musical,  "It's  a  Pleas- 
ure," starring  Sonja  Henie,  is  planned  by 
International  for  June  shooting. 

Ned  E.  Depinet,  president  of  RKO  Radio,  ^ 


discussed  some  aspects  of  the  deal  with  In- 
ternational this  week  when  he  returned  from 
Hollywood. 

Before  Mr.  Goetz  resigned  from  Twenti- 
eth Century-Fox  last  year  to  form  the  pro- 
ducing unit  with  Mr.  Spitz,  he  was  in  charge 
of  production.  He  was  expected  to  arrive 
ill  New  York  Thursday  for  a  brief  visit, 
to  complete  details  of  the  RKO  deal,  to  nego- 
tiate for  several  Broadway  hit  plays  and  to 
sign  talent  for  his  company.  Mr.  Spitz  was 
president  of  RKO  from  1935  to  1938. 

16  Independent  Units 
Shooting  UA  Releases 

Currently  active  on  United  Artists'  re- 
leases are  16  independent  units,  the  largest 
number  in  the  company's  25-year  history. 
Several  of  the'  producers  have  had  previous 
deals  with  other  distributors.  Hunt  Strom- 
berg,  for  example,  had  been  an  MGM  pro- 
ducer and  resigned  from  that  company  in 
1942  to  form  his  own  company.  He  lined 
up  with  United  Artists.  His  first  picture 
for  UA  release  was  "Lady  of  Burlesque." 
He  is  now  making  "Guest  in  the  House"  for 
the  company. 

The  only  independent  producing  unit 
which  obtained  an  MGM  release  last  year 
was  Seymour  Nebenzal,  whose  picture,  "Hit- 
ler's Madmen,"  was  included  in  the  MGM 
1943-44  schedule.  Mr.  Nebenzal  is  now 
making  "Strange  Confessions"  for  UA. 

William  Pine  and  William  Thomas,  who 
head  Pine-Thomas  Productions,  are  the  only 
independent  producers  affiliated  with  Para- 
mount. They  made  six  films  last  season  for 
Paramount  release  and  may  do  six  more  for 
this  season.  In  1942,  Harry  Sherman  pro- 
duced six  "Hopalong  Cassidy"  Westerns  for 
Paramount,  which  were  sold  to  United  Art- 
ists at  the  beginning  of  the  1942-43  season. 

Only  two  outside  producers  released 
through  Universal  last  year,  Walter  Wan- 
ger,  who  made  "We've  Never  Been  Licked," 
and  Alfred  Hitchcock,  who  made  "Shadow 
of  a  Doubt."  "Gung  Ho,"  another  Wanger 
production,  is  on  the  company's  1943-44  re- 
lease schedule. 

Many  Producers  Will 
Release  Through  UA 

Twentieth  Century-Fox  released  an  out- 
side production  last  season,  "Tales  of  Man- 
hattan," produced  by  S.  P.  Eagle  and  Boris 
Morros.  The  company  is  scheduled  to  re- 
lease this  year  the  Winfield  Sheehan  pro- 
duction based  on  the  life  of  Captain  Eddie 
Rickenbacker,  which  is  still  in  the  conversa- 
tion stage. 

Other  producer  units  releasing  through 
United  Artists  are:  Sig  Schlager's  Produc- 
ers Corporation  of  America,  which  has  just 
completed  "Knickerbocker  Holiday";  Sol 
Lesser's  Principal  Artists  Productions, 
scheduled  to  do  "Three's  a  Family" ;  Arnold 
Pressburger's  Arnold  Productions,  complet- 
ed "It  Happened  to  Tomorrow";  Samuel 
Bronston  produced  "Jack  London,"  and  is 
scheduled  to  begin  work  on  "Billy  Mitchell." 

Also:  Charles  R.  Rogers,  producer  of 
"Song  of  the  Open  Road";  Edward  Small 


completed  "Up  in  Mabel's  Room,"  and  will 
make  "Abroad  with  Two  Yanks" ;  Andrew 
Stone,  who  is  now  at  work  on  "Sensations 
of  1944" ;  Benedict  Bogeaus  completed  "The 
Bridge  of  San  Luis  Rey"  and  will  begin 
work  on  "There  Goes  Lona  Henry" ;  Gre- 
gor  Rabinovitch  completed  "Three  Russian 
Girls";  David  Loew- Arthur  Lyons,  who, 
with  Boris  Moros,  plan  to  make  "Of  Thee  I 
Sing";  Jules  Levey,  at  work  on  "The  Hairy 
Ape" ;  Jack  Skirball,  scheduled  to  do  a  com- 
edy starring  Fred  Allen ;  Lester  Cowan  com- 
pleted Tomorrow  the  World"  and  will  begin 
"Here's  Your  War"  shortly;  Rudolph  Mon- 
ter-Arthur  Ripley,  who  just  completed 
"Voice  in  the  Wind;  Vanguard,  the  Selznick 
unit,  is  making  "Since  You  Went  Away." 

Myerburg  Awarded  $50,000 
In  Disney  Suit  Verdict 

A  New  York  Supreme  Court  jury  before  Su- 
preme Court  Juctice  Lloyd  Church  last  week 
awarded  Michael  Myerburg,  theatrical  pro- 
ducer, $50,000  for  his  services  in  arranging  the 
1940  refinancing  of  Walt  Disney  Productions, 
Inc.  The  award  came  after  a  trial  of  one  week. 

Under  the  award,  which  defendants  plan  to 
appeal,  Walt  Disney  Productions,  Inc.,  will  have 
to  pay  Mr.-  Myerburg  $20,000,  and  the  banking 
firm  of  Kidder,  Peabody  and  Company,  which 
underwrote  the  $3,000,000  issue  of  150,000 
shares  of  preferred  stock  offered  by  Disney 
Productions,  will  have  to  pay  $30,000. 

Mr.  Myerburg,  through  his  counsel,  Emil  K. 
Ellis,  said  that  he  entered  an  agreement  with 
the  bankers  in  May,  1939,  to  negotiate  and 
recommend  the  refinancing  to  the  Disney  organ- 
ization which,  he  had  learned,  was  in  need  of 
public  refinancing.  Later,  when  the  negotiations 
were  completed,  the  bankers  and  the  Disney 
organization  agreed  to  pay  Mr.  Meyerburg  rea- 
sonable compensation  for  his  services,  it  was 
alleged. 

Decision  Favors  Chaplin 
In  Selznick  Action 

Justice  Ferdinand  Pecora  in  a  recent  New 
York  Supreme  Court  decision  held  that  both 
Vanguard  Films,  Inc.,  and  David  O.  Selznick, 
Inc.,  are  actually  doing  business  in  New  York 
State  and  are  not  foreign  to  the  state  as 
claimed  by  David  Selznick  in  his  attempt  to 
prevent  Charles  Chaplin  from  joining  his  two 
corporations  in  the  accounting  action  filed 
against  20th  Century-Fox  and  United  Artists 
corporations  in  which  Chaplin  seeks  recovery  of 
about  $1,000,000.  A  ruling  in  favor  of  Mr. 
Selznick  would  have  meant  that  Mr.  Chaplin 
would  have  to  file  his  action  against  Mr.  Selz- 
nick in  California. 

Indications  are  that  Mr.  Selznick  will  appeal 
the  decision. 

Press  Photographers'  Ball 
Set  for  February  4 

The  Press  Photographers  Association  of 
New  York,  Inc.,  will  hold  its  15th  annual 
dance  and  entertainment  at  the  Waldorf-Astoria 
Hotel,  New  York,  February  4.  The  profits  will 
be  turned  over  to  the  American  Theatre  Wing 
War  Service,  Inc.,  which  operates  the  Stage 
Door  Canteens  in  the  country.  A  number  of 
stars  of  stage,  screen  and  radio  are  scheduled  to 
appear. 


34 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    29,  1944 


Discuss  New  Zealand 
Exhibition  in  Foxhole 


By  SERGEANT  FRANCIS  H.  BARR,  of 
5  J  34  Vickery  Boulevard,  Dallas,  Tex.,  a 
Marine  Corps  Combat  Correspondent 

BOUGAINVILLE  (delayed)— Today,  on 
Bougainville,  I  learned  something  about 
theatre  business  in  New  Zealand.  Being  a 
theatre  man,  I  found  it  interesting. 

I'm  sitting  in  my  foxhole  when  into  my 
line  of  vision  walks  a  tough  looking  Marine, 
stripped  to  the  waist,  displaying  a  hairy 
chest. 

"Are  you  Barr  ?"  he  queries. 
"Yeah,"  I  answer. 

"The  Barr  who  worked  for  Interstate 
Theatre  Circuit  in  Dallas,"  he  persisted. 

"Yeah,"  I  again  answer,  somewhat  sur- 
prised. 

"Well,  fellow  employee,  I'm  glad  to  meet- 
cha."  And  he  walks  over  with  extended 
right  hand.  "My  name's  North.  I  worked 
for  Interstate  in  Abilene." 

Invited  Into  Foxhole,  They 
Introduce  Each  Other 

I  invited  him  into  my  foxhole.  It  was 
good  to  see  a  fellow  Texan,  especially  one 
who  had  worked  for  the  same  firm  as  I.  . 

My  new-found  friend's  full  name  is  Pri- 
vate First  Class  Wilbur  Ray  North,  3L  His 
wife,  and  children,  Robert  Edward,  7,  and 
Patricia  Rae,  4,  live  at  Wink,  Texas,  a  con- 
siderable distance  from  Bougainville. 

In  our  talk  Pfc.  North  and  I  learned  we 
both  knew  Wally  Aiken,  Interstate's  city 
manager  in  Abilene,  Tex.,  that  I  had  once 
been  in  the  Texas  theatre  where  he  was  a 
projectionist;  and  that  we  undoubtedly  had 
passed  each  other  numerous  times  on  Elm 
Street,  in  Dallas,  Texas. 

While  in  New  Zealand,  Pfc.  North  had 
taken  a  busman's  holiday  during  his  leaves. 
He  met  the  theatre  people  and  learned  how 
they  do  business. 

He  became  a  friend  of  Alex  Grant,  of  the 
J.  C.  Williamson  Circuit,  largest  theatre 
circuit  in  New  Zealand. 

When  "Mrs.  Miniver"  was  shown  at  the 
Plaza  theatre  in  Whangarie,  New  Zealand, 
Mr.  Grant  got  a  special  leave  of  absence  for 
Pfc.  North  from  his  commanding  officer.  It 
was  Mr.  Grant's  idea  of  a  publicity  stunt 
to  advertise  that  a  Yankee  operator  would 
project  "Mrs.  Miniver"  twice  daily  on  the 
silver  screen. 

New  Zealand  Theatres  Run 
Four  "Sessions"  Daily 

Whether  it  was  because  North  projected 
the  film  or  because  "Mrs.  Miniver"  was 
one  of  the  10  best  pictures  of  the  year,  the 
movie  set  an  all-time  record. 

According  to  Pfc.  North,  the  theatres  in 
New  Zealand  have  what  they  call  four  ses- 
sions a  day — two  in  the  afternoon  and  two  in 
the  evening.  All  seats  are  reserved  and  sold 
in  advance  at  a  downtown  ticket  agency. 
This  is  called  booking,  which  is  quite  dif- 
ferent from  the  term  as  used  in  American 
motion  picture  parlance.  Oddly,  balcony 
seats  are  priced  higher  than  those  on  the 
lower  floor. 

The  program  opens  with  a  musical  over- 
ture— transcribed.    While  the  overture  is 


playing,  various  colored  lights  flash  on  and 
off  the  curtains  on  the  stage. 

Then  everybody  stands  and  sings  "God 
Save  the  King."  This  is  followed  by  the 
showing  of  short  subjects,  after  which  there 
is  an  intermission. 

During  the  intermission,  the  advertising 
trailers  are  shown.  Many  people  in  the 
States  would  think  this  a  great  idea. 

Managers  Wear  Tuxedos, 
And  Help  Is  Feminine 

The  theatre  managers  wear  tuxedos.  Ex- 
cept for  the  manager  and  projectionist,  all 
theatre  help  is  feminine.  Even  cleaning  and 
maintenance  is  done  by  women. 

Newspaper  advertising  is  limited.  The 
title  of  the  picture  is  used  repeatedly  in  each 
ad.  Publicity  and  exploitation  are  practi- 
cally non-existent.  Private  First  Class 
North  remarked  to  a  manager  that  he  could 
give  him  some  ideas  to  implant  in  the  minds 
of  possible  theatregoers  that  a  picture  was 
so  good  they  couldn't  afford  to  miss  it. 
"Really?"  replied  the  manager. 

The  New  Zealand  theatres  are  modernly 
designed,  employ  indirect  lighting.  But 
none  of  them  have  air  conditioning.  Neon 
lighting  on  the  marquees  is  just  beginning 
to  be  used.  Very  little  is  done  in  the  way 
of  art  work  for  lobby  displays.  A  special 
"front"  is  never  built. 

In  the  projection  booth,  American  thea- 
tres are  much  further  advanced.  New  Zea- 
land theatres  use  front  shutter  projectors. 
You  never  see  a  rear  shutter  or  Simplex  ma- 
chine, which  are  so  common  in  the  States. 
Before  the  war,  the  theatres  used  a  German 
projector,  the  Erket.  Film  from  the  ex- 
changes come  on  veneer  reels.  The  number 
of  prints  available  are  few. 

New  Zealanders  Have  False 
Conception  of  U.  S.  Life 

American  motion  pictures  have  given  the 
New  Zealanders  a  misconception  of  life  in 
the  United  States.  Private  First  Class 
North  said  he  was  repeatedly  asked  about 
bubble  baths,  gangsters,  beautiful  cars  and 
easy  living.  The  natives  were  disappointed 
when  they  learned  the  American  Marine  was 
not  well-infol'med  on  these  subjects. 

North,  who  has  been  a  projectionist  for 
14  years,  is  an  operator  in  his  artillery  unit. 
He  also  aids  the  chaplains  in  morale  work. 

Leatherneck  North  sends  a  word  of  advice 
to  the  motion  picture  industry:  "When  you 
send  films  to  be  shown  to  the  boys  overseas, 
please  send  more  musicals.  The  boys  enjoy 
the  familiar  tunes  and  want  to  hear  the  new 
ones,  too." 


Glover  Appointed  Manager 

Arthur  C.  Bromberg,  president  of  Mono- 
gram's exchanges  in  Charlotte,  Memphis,  New 
Orleans  and  Atlanta,  has  appointed  Henry  B. 
Glover  manager  of  the  New  Orleans  office  to 
succeed  Harold  Cohen. 


Joins  Chicago  Hotel  Publicity 

Fred  Joyce,  formerly  with  United  Artists  as 
a  publicist  in  Chicago,  is  now  director  of  pub- 
licity, advertising  and  entertainment  of  the  Ste- 
vens Hotel,  Chicago.  Mr.  Joyce  recently  was 
on  a  national  tour  for  Selznick  Studios. 


Allbright  Lauds  Army  Film 
Exchange  in  Australia 

Tribute  to  the  Army  distribution  system  in 
Australia  set  up  to  handle  the  industry's  gift 
films  in  16mm,  was  paid  by  Sidney  Allbright, 
general  manager  for  United  Artists  in  Australia. 
He  arrived  in  New  York  this  week  for  a  visit 
of  several  months. 

The  Army  film  exchange  in  Australia,  he  said, 
was  receiving  its  quota  of  current  films  months 
in  advance  of  the  regular  commercial  theatres 
there.  Troops  in  actual  combat  are  booked 
first  with  shipments  made  by  air  with  a  high 
priority.  The  films  are  brought  as  close  to  the 
battle  lines  as  possible  and  then  are  routed  to 
the  rest  of  the  men,  he  said. 

With  no  civilian  theatres  open  in  New  Guinea, 
the  industry's  gift  films  constitute  the  most  im- 
portant form  of  relaxation  offered  the  troops. 
Audiences  are  composed  of  fighting  men  from 
the  U.  S.,  the  various  Allied  nations  and  in  some 
instances,  Papuan  natives.  The  Army  film  ex- 
change in  Australia  is  under  the  supervision  of 
Major  Lynn  Cowan. 

Previews  of  "SeaBees"  Held 
In  Several  Key  Cities 

Officers  of  the  U.  S.  Navy  and#he  Bureau  of 
Yards  and  Docks,  newspapermen  and  radio 
representatives  attended  a  reception  Monday  in 
Washington,  in  connection  with  a  press  pre- 
view of  Republic's  "The  Fighting  SeaBees," 
starring  John  Wayne,  Susan  Hayward  and 
Dennis  O'Keefe,  which  was  to  open  this  Friday 
at  the  Earle  and  Ambassador  theatres. 

Among  those  who  attended  were  Frank 
LaFalce,  publicity  director  for  Warner  Broth- 
ers ;  Jacob  Flax,  Republic  franchise  holder  in 
Washington ;  and  Steve  Edwards,  director  of 
publicity  for  Republic. 

Previews  and  receptions  also  were  held  in 
Boston,  where  the  picture  opened  January  27 ; 
Dallas,  where  the  film  opens  at  the  Majestic 
theatre,  February  3 ;  Philadelphia,  where  the 
picture  opened  at  the  Stanley  January  26,  and 
Oklahoma  City,  where  the  picture  will  open  at 
the  Midwest,  February  3. 

Republic  has  set  additional  bookings  on  "The 
Fighting  SeaBees."  The  film  will  open  at  the 
following  theatres  :  Paramount  and  Fenway  the- 
atres, Boston,  January  27;  Paramount,  New 
Haven,  January  28 ;  Midwest,  Oklahoma  City, 
February  3 ;  Saenger,  New  Orleans,  February 
12,  and  the  Fox  theatre,  St.  Louis,  February  10. 

Freedman  New  President 
Of  Ontario  Exhibitors 

Ben  Freedman  has  been  unanimously  re- 
turned to  office  as  president  of  the  Independent 
Theatres  Association  of  Ontario,  affiliate  of  the 
National  Council  of  Independents.  Henry  Les- 
ter, Toronto,  was  elected  vice-president,  re- 
placing Barney  Goldhar ;  Sam  Strashin,  To- 
ronto, succeeds  Max  Starkman  as  treasurer, 
and  Harry  Romberg  was  reelected  secretary. 
The  new  executive  board  consists  of  Tom  Wal- 
ton, Br>uce  McLeod  and  Max  Starkman.  Gar- 
son  Soloway  will  again  act  as  public  relations 
counsel. 

"In  Our  Time"  Set  for  Two 
New  York  State  Premieres 

Warner  Brothers'  "In  Our  Time,"  starring 
Ida  Lupino  and  Paul  Henreid,  will  be  given  two 
pre-release  openings  in  New  York  state  next 
month.  Special  campaigns  are  being  worked 
out  by  Mort  Blumenstock,  eastern  advertising 
and  publicity  director,  for  previews  at  Shea's 
Buffalo  theatre,  February  4,  and  at  the  Warner 
theatre,  Erie,  February  5.  The  first  New  York 
City  showing  will  be  at  the  Strand  theatre 
February  11. 


Bartholonnew  Discharged 

Pfc.  Freddie  Bartholomew  recently  received 
a  medical  discharge  from  the  Army  Air  Corps 
because  of  a  back  injury. 


A  RAVE  A  DAY 


(4 


Preston  Sturges .  .  .  should  be  elected  next  President  of 
the  United  States  for  his  originality  in  'The  Miracle  Of 
Morgan's  Creek'. . .  I  defy  you  to  come  away  from  the  the- 
atre without  your  sides  aching  from  continual  laughter." 

-WANDA  HALE  in  N.  Y.  Daily  News 


Starring 

EDDIE  BRACKEN 
BETTY  HUTTON 

with  Diana  Lynn 

William  Demarest  •  Porter  Hall 

and  "McGinty"  and  "The  Boss" 

Written  and  Directed  by 

PRESTON  STURGES 


36 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    29,  1944 


Dimes  Drive  Running 
Ahead  of  Last  Year 


Reports  Indicate  Goal  of 
$3,000,000  Will  Be  Far 
Over-Subscribed 

As  the  weekend  neared,  the  March  of 
Dimes  marched  steadily  towards  its  goal  of 
$3,000,000,  with  all  reports  showing  theatres 
running  well  ahead  of  the  comparable  period 
last  year.  Many  reports  started  pouring  in- 
to headquarters  before  the  opening  gun  was 
fired  on  Monday  when,  in  Times  Square, 
New  York,  Mayor  La  Guardia  unveiled  a 
Wishing  Well  and  called  upon  the  people  to 
contribute.  Stars  of  Hollywod  and  Broad- 
way spoke,  while  ushers  from  Broadway 
theatres  mingled  with  the  thousands  of  New 
Yorkers  assembled  in  the  street  and  along 
the  sidewalks,  shaking  contribution  boxes. 

In  New  York  City  Loew's  Theatres  col- 
lected $89,251  in  the  first  five  days  of  the 
drive,  as  compared  to  $65,989  for  the  same 
period  last  year.  Loew's  out-of-town  thea- 
tres reported  a  $142,816  figure  for  the  same 
period,  against  $113,338  in  1943.  The  cir- 
cuit's total  amounts  to  $232,067. 

New  York  Circuits 
Over  Last  Year 

Skouras  Theatres  in  metropolitan  New 
York  reported  a  collection  of  between  65 
and  90  per  cent  more  money  than  in  the 
1943  campaign,  while  Brandt  Theatres  are 
averaging  100  per  cent  more.  RKO,  Cen- 
tury, Randforce,  Fabian,  Interboro  and 
smaller  circuits  and  independents,  all  report 
a  rise  in  collections  of  from  50  per  cent  to 
75  per  cent. 

Robert  J.  O'Donnell,  state  chairman  for 
Texas,  wired  a  report  that  four  Dallas  thea- 
tres, in  the  first  four  days,  collected  $16,- 
000,  compared  to  a  last  year's  total  for  the 
entire  state  of  Texas  of  $11,000. 

The  District  of  Columbia  has  set  a  goal 
of  "a  buck  a  seat,"  or  some  $56,000,  accord- 
ing to  Carter  Barron,  chairman.  The  first 
four  days  brought  in  $31,000. 

In  the  10  days  of  the  1943  drive  a  group 
of  Oklahoma  City  theatres  collected  $4,600. 
According  to  C.  B.  Akers,  on  the  first  day 
of  the  current  drive  the  same  group  of  thea- 
tres collected  a  sum  of  $5,100.  Seventy 
per  cent  more  theatres  in  the  state  are  tak- 
ing part  in  the  1944  campaign. 

Delaware  Figures  Far 
Above  Expectations 

Ted  Schlanger  in  Philadelphia  reported 
theatres  in  Eastern  Pennsylvania,  including 
Philadelphia,  over  last  weekend  collected 
from  25  to  40  per  cent  of  total  theatre  re- 
ceipts. 

Don  Jacocks,  New  Jersey  state  chairman, 
reported  collections  in  his  territory  running 
from  100  to  150  per  cent  over  last  year. 
The  Delaware  state  chairman,  A.  Joseph  De 
Fiore,  stated  that  the  drive  opened  with 
figures  far  in  excess  of  expectations,  with 
much  the  same  general  report  coming  from 
Alice  Gorham  of  United  Theatres,  Detroit. 

The  Mayor's  opening  of  the  drive  in 
Times  Square,  New  York  City,  was  pre- 


ceded by  a  parade  which  was  formed  at 
Madison  Square  Garden  and  moved  across 
50th  Street  and  down  Seventh  Avenue  to 
Times  Square,  headed  by  E.  L.  Alperson, 
Harry  Brandt  and  Ernest  Emerling  of  the 
national  executive  committee. 

On  Sunday  from  9  to  10  P.M.,  a  broad- 
cast originating  in  Hollywood  and  sent  out 
over  the  Mutual  Network,  featured  a  num- 
ber of  Hollywood  stars  in  a  March  of  Dimes 
program. 

New  York  Legitimate 
Houses  To  Collect 

On  Friday  of  last  week  more  than  500 
exhibitors  assembled  at  the  Hotel  Astor  for 
an  "Appreciation  Breakfast,"  and  in  a 
speech  by  Basil  O'Connor,  president  of  the 
National  Foundation  for  Infantile  Paraly- 
sis, were  paid  a  tribute  for  their  past  ef- 
forts. They  also  heard  Mr.  Alperson,  act- 
ing as  chairman  of  the  meeting,  accept  a 
wager  of  $100  made  by  Oscar  Dood,  that 
Loew's  would,  seat-for-seat,  beat  RKO 
Theatres  in  the  amount  of  collections  made 
during  the  drive. 

Mr.  Emerling,  who  is  publicity  chairman, 
stated:  "If  every  theatre  employe  were  to 
fill  one  of  the  $2  coin  cards,  it  would  mean 
an  additional  $25,000  in  New  York  City 
alone." 

All  of  New  York's  40  legitimate  theatres 
pledged  to  take  collections  this  year  were 
represented  at  the  breakfast. 

Dr.  Phillip  Stimson,  chief  pediatrician  of 
the  Willard  Parker  Hospital,  directed  a 
demonstration  of  the  Sister  Kenney  method 
of  treating  Infantile  Paralysis,  a  four-year- 
old,  Carl  Danson,  a  recent  victim  of  the 
polio,  ^yho  is  now  almost  completely  recov- 
ered, serving  as  a  model. 


Fox  West  Coast 
Leads  Dimes 

The  Fox  West  Coast  Theatres  opened  their 
March  of  Dimes  campaign  Saturday  of  last  week 
and  in  the  first  two  days  collected  $102,000, 
according  to  an  announcement  made  early  this 
week  by  Charles  P.  Skouras,  president  of 
the  circuit,  as  well  as  National  Theatres.  Mr. 
Skouras  is  also  heading  the  industry's  partici- 
pation in  the  Fourth  War  Loan. 

The  circuit  collected  $63,994  from  patrons  of 
the  Southern  California  area,  and  $38,006  were 
collected  in  the  Northern  California  houses. 

Mr.  Skouras  took  time  out  from  his  duties  in 
the  War  Loan  drive  to  supervise  the  over-all 
strategy  of  making  collections  in  his  theatres 
during  the  Dime  drive,  issuing  orders  to  make 
the  war  upon  infantile  paralysis  a  greater  one 
than  ever. 

His  theatres  extended  their  days  of  partici- 
pation in  the  drive  from  seven  days  to  nine  in 
order  to  take  full  advantage  of  two  heavy  week- 
ends. 


Alexander  Sworn  In  as  Ensign 

Sidney  Alexander  of  Columbia  Pictures  ad- 
vertising department  has  been  sworn  in  as  an 
ensign  in  the  U.  S.  Maritime  Service  and  has 
begun  work  in  the  public  relations  department. 


Horwits  Publicist 
For  Universal 

John  Joseph,  national  director  of  advertising 
and  publicity,  announced  this  week  that  Al 
Horwits  had  been  promoted  to  publicity  man- 
ager under  Maurice  A.  Bergman,  eastern  ad- 
vertising and  publicity  director  for  Universal 
Pictures.  Mr.  Horwits  was  formerly  baseball 
editor  of  the  Philadelphia  Evenrng  Public 
Ledger  and  president  of  the  Baseball  Writers 
Association  of  America. 

Among  those  added  to  the  Universal  depart- 
ment in  the  last  three  months  are  Harry  Keller, 
former  public  relations  counsel  and  Marie 
Slater,  former  publicity  director  of  the  USO 
Camp  Shows,  Inc.  On  the  publicity  roster  are 
Marion  Orford,  contacting  fan  magazines; 
Peggy  Mahoney,  contacting  New  York  news- 
papers ;  E.  J.  Eustace,  special  feature  writer ; 
Charles  Simonelli,  advertising  tieup  contact  and 
Robert  Wile,  trade  paper  contact. 

To  the  field  forces  under  the  supervision  of 
Hank  Linet,  executive  assistant  to  Mr.  Bergman, 
has  been  added  Al  Selig  with  headquarters  in 
Washington,  and  Harry  McDonald,  former 
theatre  executive,  exploitation  representative 
for  New  England.  Milton  Silver  has  been  named 
chief  of  the  advertising  copy  department,  and 
Harold  Gutman  has  been  appointed  trade  ad- 
vertising art  director. 

Loew's  Year  Net 
Is  $13,422,853 

In  a  report  released  late  last  week,  Loew's, 
Inc.,  and  wholly  owned  subsidiaries  announced 
a  net  profit  of  $13,422,853,  equivalent  to  $8.01 
per  share  on  1,675,213  outstanding  shares,  for 
the  year  ending  August  31,  1943.  In  the  pre- 
vious corresponding  period  the  company  an- 
nounced net  profits  of  $12,132,606,  or  $7.02  per 
share  on  the  then  1,665,713  outstanding  shares. 
Both  net  figures  were  after  provision  for  de- 
preciation and  taxes. 

Federal  taxes  for  the  period,  including  income 
and  excess  profits  taxes,  totaled  $21,239,870  as 
compared  to  the  previous  year's  $6,932,512. 

The  earnings  statement  included  operations  in 
foreign  countries  to  August  31,  1943,  instead  of 
to  the  end  of  July  as  in  previous  reports.  The 
report  stated  that  a  total  of  $1,160,358  has  been 
added  to  surplus  from  proceeds  of  foreign  cur- 
rency not  previously  considered  income. 


First  All-Negro  Bond 
Premiere  Is  Held 

What  is  apparently  the  first  all-Negro  War 
Bond  premiere  in  the  nation  was  held  this 
Friday  in  the  Liberty  theatre,  Chattanooga, 
Tenn.  The  Liberty  is  one  of  the  Independent 
Theatres  group,  and  the  publicity  was  handled 
by  Abe  Borisky  and  Mose  Lebovitz,  heads  of 
the  publicity  committee  for  the  entire  drive. 

The  premiere,  sponsored  by  a  Negro  com- 
mittee composed  of  civic  leaders  and  church- 
men, featured  the  Twentieth  Century-Fox  all- 
Negro  picture,  "Stormy  Weatherj"  with  ad- 
mission by  purchase  of  War  Bonds  only. 

Mr.  Borisky  is  manager  of  the  circuit,  which 
scheduled  two  other  premieres  for  Chattanooga, 
"The  Desert  Song,"  a  Tivoli  theatre  premiere 
last  Wednesday,  with  another  coming  up  next 
Wednesday  at  the  Capitol. 


Rush  Gets  RCA  Victor  Post 

W.  Arthur  Rush,  owner  and  president  of  Art 
Rush,  Inc.,  has  been  appointed  west  coast  man- 
ager of  RCA  Victor's  artists  relations,  it  was 
announced  this  week  by  J.  W.  Murray,  head  of 
RCA  Victor  record  activities.  Harry  Myerson 
will  continue  as  supervisor  of  disc  recording 
arrangements  at  RCA  Victor's  Hollywood  re- 
cording studios. 


January    29,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


37 


"Bernadette  Opens  in  New  York 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spyros  Skouras. 


By  Staff  Photographer 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Al  Smith  and  daughter, 
Mrs.  John  A.  Warner. 


By  Staff  Photographer 


By  Metropolitan 


"THE  SONG  OF  BERNADETTE", 
the  Twentieth  Century-Fox  screen 
version  of  Franz  Werfel's  story  of 
Lourdes,  opened  at  the  New  York 
Rivoli  theatre  Wednesday  after  an 
invitation  preview  Tuesday  night  for 
the  trade  and  the  press.  Some  of  the 
company  executives,  and  their  guests 
at  the  preview,  are  shown  here  with 
the  theatre  front  constructed  for  the 
pre-release  run. 

The  New  York  showing  is  the 
second  advance  run  for  the  produc- 
tion. It  opened  December  24  at  the 
Carthay  Circle  in  Hollywood  and 
was  reviewed  in  the  Herald  Decem- 
ber 25. 

Starring  Jennifer  Jones,  the  pic- 
ture was  produced  by  William  Perl- 
berg  and  directed  by  Henry  King, 
and  cost  $3,000,000. 


By  Metropolitan 

Robert  J.  O'Donnell,  Tom  Connors. 


By  Metropolitan 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leonard  Goldenson. 


Where  There's  Life 


IS  PROUD  TO  SALUTE 

&he  tAlo^ie  fj/(.€m  o£iiie  %em 


"Covered"  by  Life  and  Time-r- 

Front-paged  from  coast  to  coast  for  his  great  entertain- 
ment of  America's  fighting  men  — 

Voted  one  of  the  ten  top  money-making  stars  in  Motior 
Picture  Herald's  exhibitor  poll  — 

Voted  Radio's  Champion  of  Champions  in  Motion  Picture 
Daily's  poll  — 

Voted  the  best  comedian  on  the  air  in  Radio  Daily's  poll  — 

Voted  one  of  the  ten  leading  screen  actors  in  Boxoffice 
and  Showmen's  Trade  Review  surveys  — 

Now  breaking  records  in  "LET'S  FACE  IT"— 

Coming  in-THE  ROAD  TO  UTOPIA"-with  co-stars 
Bmg  Crosby  and  Dorothy  Lamour. 


40  MOTIONPICTUREHERALD  January29,l944 

THE  HOLLYWOOD  SCENE 


from  HOLLYWOOD  BUREAU 


Phony  Ballots  Stir  Academy  Interest 


Hollywood  interest  in  the  forthcoming 
selection  by  the  Academy  of  Motion  Picture 
Arts  and  Sciences  of  projects  and  people 
to  be  designated  recipients  of  Awards  for 
outstanding  achievements  in  1943,  already 
near  boiling  point,  was  stirred  last  week  by 
mysterious  news  and  material  evidence  of  a 
widespread  plot  to  wield  influence  on  the  out- 
come of  the  Academy's  balloting. 

On  Friday,  a  date  previously  announced, 
the  Academy  distributed  the  ballots  to  some 
4,000  of  its  own  members  and  the  member- 
ships of  the  several  guilds  qualified  by 
Academy  rules.  The  ballots  are  returnable 
February  2,  by  use  of  which  they  will  nomi- 
nate the  pictures  and  the  people  on  whom 
the  Academy  voting  strength — some  11,000 
individuals — will  concentrate  their  attention 
in  the  elections  which  terminate  in  an- 
nouncement of  the  winners  on  March  30. 

Investigation  Is  Promised 
In  Academy  Statement 

A  few  days  prior  to  Friday  the  Academy 
began  receiving  spurious  ballots  postmarked 
Seattle,  Chicago,  Pittsburgh  and  points  east. 
They  were  nicely  printed,  and  official-look- 
ing enough  to  deceive  the  casual  citizens  of 
those  far  places,  but  devoid  of  designation  as 
to  source. 

On  Thursday  the  Academy  issued  a  state- 
ment asserting  that  the  matter  of  the  phony 
ballots  would  be  investigated  and  going  on 
to  explain  the  official  procedure,  well  known 
to  everybody  in  the  Hollywood  professional 
colony,  which  automatically  precludes  the 
possibility  of  these  or  any  phony  ballots 
getting  into  the  final  count  or,  collectively,  to 
the  attention  of  anyone  whose  vote  might  be 
swayed  by  the  votes  of  the  several  municipal 
populations  around  the  country  which  had 
been  led  to  believe  they  were  to  have  a  voice 
this  year  in  the  determination  of  the  Acade- 
my Award  winners. 

There  was,  at  the  weekend,  no  indication 
of  any  kind  as  to  the  origin  of  the  phony 
ballots.  There  was,  however,  in  the  wide- 
spread character  of  their  distribution  and  in 
the  character  of  their  composition,  conclu- 
sive indication  that  the  project  had  cost  its 
sponsor  a  pretty  penny,  which  appeared  to 
eliminate  the  likelihood  that  a  crackpot  or 
group  of  crackpots  had  gone  on  a  tempera- 
mental binge  out  of  whim  or  prank. 

Plenty  of  Guesses  Heard 
As  to  Ballots'  Origin 

Theories  advanced  to  account  for  the  phe- 
nomenon, first  of  its  kind  in  Academy  his- 
tory, ranged  high  and  low.  They  were 
voiced  in  conversations  throughout  the  pro- 
duction community,  none  official  but  all  per- 
tinent. The  Number  One  guess  was  that 
some  studio  with  a  picture  or  personality 
in  the  running  for  Academy  Award  felt  so 
sure  of  its  chances  that  it  decided  to  spend 
a  little  money  in  hopes  of  breaking  into  the 
newspapers  ^.a  story  which  would  include 
the  counted '-result  of  the  unofficial  balloting, 


Just  Another  Week 


It  was  jusf  another  week  along  the  pro- 
duction front,  the  completion  of  six  pic- 
tures and  the  start  of  five  leaving  the  total 
count  of  films  in  shooting  stage  at  a  mod- 
erate 40.  Still  unreflected  in  the  statistics 
was  that  sharp  upturn  predicted  for  Jan- 
uary, by  virtually  everybody,  in  December. 

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  started  the  big- 
gest picture  of  the  week,  "National  Vel- 
vet," a  Pandro  Berman  production  directed 
by  Clarence  Brown,  with  Mickey  Rooney, 
Elizabeth  Taylor,  Jackie  Jenkins,  Donald 
Crisp  and  others  In  the  cast. 

Columbia  is  in  the  new-project  list  with 
"Pilebuck,"  a  Turneen  production,  with  Phil 
Ryan  as  producer,  Edward  Sutherland  as 
director,  arid  starring   Pat  O'Brien,  with 


Carole  Landis,  Ruth  Warwick,  Chester 
Morris  and  others  in  support. 

"The  Girl  in  the  Case,"  presenting 
Janice  Carter,  Edmund  Lowe  and  Robert 
Scott,  under  direction  of  William  Berke 
and  production  of  Sam  White,  is  a  second 
Columbia  enterprise. 

RKO  Radio  launched  "One  Exciting 
Night,"  starring  Tom  Conway,  with  Audrey 
Long  opposite,  Gordon  Douglas  directing 
for  producer  hierman  Schlom. 

PRC  Pictures  started  "Thundering  Gun- 
slingers,"  presenting  Buster  Crabbe  and  Al 
St.  John,  with  Sigmund  Neufeld  producing 
and  Sam  Newfield  directing. 

The  score  by  studio  and  status  of 
properties: 


COMPLETED 

Paramount 

rill  We  Meet  Again 

PRC  Pictures 

Her  Last  Mile  (for- 
merly "Murder  in 
the  Death  House") 

Frontier  Outlaws 
(formerly  Buster 
Crabbe,  No.  4) 

20th  Century-Fox 

Ladies  in  Washington 
Home  in  Indiana 
Bermuda  Mystery 

STARTED 

Columbia 

Pilebuck 

Girl  in  the  Case 


MGM 

National  Velvet 
PRC  Pictures 

Thundering 

Gunslingers 

RKO  Radio 

One  Exciting  Night 

SHOOTING 

Columbia 

At  Night  We  Dream 
Address  Unknown 

MGM 

Meet  Me  in  St. 

Louis 
Seventh  Cross 
Dragon  Seed 
Monogram 

Murder  in  the  Fun 
House 


Law  Men 
Paramount 

Bring  On  the  Girls 
One  Body  Too  Many 
And  Now  Tomorrow 
Road  to  Utopia 
Incendiary  Blonde 
Hitler  Gang 

RKO  Radio 

Marine  Raiders 

Republic 

Jamboree 
Man  from  Frisco 
Cowboy  and  the 
Senorita 

20th  Century-Fox 

Wilson 

I  Married  a  Soldier 
UA 

Hairy  Ape  (Levey) 


Song  of  the  Open 

Road  (Rogers) 
Sensations  of  1944 

(Stone) 
Since  You  Went 
Away 
(Vanguard) ) 

Universal 

Invisible  Man's 

Revenge 
Scarlet  Claw 
Merry  Monahans 
Christmas  Morning 

Warners 

Cinderella  Jones 
Make  Your  Own  Bed 
Mask  of  Dimitrios 
Mr.  Skeffington 
My  Reputation 
Horn  Blows  at 

Midnight 
Janie 


hoping  this  would  swing  them  votes  in  the 
official  election. 

Nobody  ventured,  out  loud,  to  accuse  any 
individual  studio  of  doing  so,  naturally,  but 
a  lot  of  thinking  was  being  put  by.  Number 
Two  guess  was  that  some  individual  with  a 
stake  in  the  official  ballotings  had  put  his 
own  money  into  the  wildcat  enterprise  in 
some  hope,  vain  or  otherwise,  of  getting  the 
ballots  counted  and  reaping  the  reward  by 
whatever  means.  Guesses,  beyond  Numbers 
One  and  Two,  verged  on  the  fantastic. 

So  that  nobody  may  be  worried  about  the 
matter,  the  Academy  explained,  as  it  is  now 
repeated  here,  that  the  phony  ballots  were 
addressed  directly  to  the  Academy,  which 
will  bundle  them  up  and  destroy  them  with- 
out counting  results,  whereas  the  official  bal- 
lots, now  and  from  the  inception  of  the 
Academy,  are  mailed  by  the  voters  to  Price, 
Waterhouse  and  company,  auditors,  which 
attends  to  the  counting  separately  from 
Academy  supervision. 


David  Loew  and  Hakim  File 
Incorporation  Papers 

Incorporation  papers  for  Loew-Hakim  Inc., 
Hollywood,  to  produce  pictures,  are  on  file  with 
the  Los  Angeles  County  Clerk.  David  L.  Loew, 
David  Tannebaum  and  Robert  Hakim  are  listed 
as  incorporators.  Mr.  Hakim  is  said  to  be  con- 
ferring with  United  Artists  on  release  arrange- 
ments. 


30  Goldwyn  Reissues 
Sold  for  Argentina 

Samuel  Goldwyn  announced  this  week  that  30 
of  his  productions,  from  "Bulldog  Drummond" 
to  "The  Westerner,"  had  been  sold  for  reissue 
in  Argentina  to  Jaime  Cabouli.  Henry  R.  Arias 
acted  as  agent  in  the  negotiations. 


Sells  Iowa  Theatre 

George  Prick  has  sold  his  Hawkeye  theatre 
at  Graettinger,  Iowa,  to  Sam  Watson. 


January    29,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


41 


PICTURE  STOCKS  BOOMING 
ON  LONDON  EXCHANGE 


U.  S.  ATTORNEY  GENERAL 
STUDIES  RANK  DEAL 

Robert  L.  Wright,  assistant  to  the 
U.  S.  Attorney  General  in  charge 
of  the  film  unit,  has  been  assigned 
to  investigate  negotiations  between 
J.  Arthur  Rank,  British  filnn  leader, 
and  American  companies,  with  a  view 
to  ascertaining  whether  the  negotia- 
tions may  develop  into  an  inter- 
national motion  picture  cartel. 

Preliminary  work  had  been  done 
by  the  anti-trust  division,  in  line  with 
a  campaign  against  cartels.  Mr. 
Wright  said  this  week  it  was  a  mat- 
ter of  "watchful  waiting"  to  see 
what  transpired. 


"night-shift"  automatic^illy  have  killed  the 
cinema's  trade. 

Yet,  entertainment  by  and  large,  the  mo- 
tion picture  in  particular,  is  having  a  boom 
time.  Which,  one  surmises,  is  the  prime 
inspirational  factor  in  all  those  Stock  Ex- 
change rumors.  Moreover,  J.  Arthur  Rank 
once  again  has  enunciated  his  firm  deter- 
mination to  secure  a  more  advantageous 
market  in  America  not  only  for  his  own 
but  for  all  worth-while  British  films. 

In  passing,  it  may  be  recorded  that,  on 
the  informed  computation  of  Motion  Pic- 
ture Herald's  London  Bureau,  Mr.  Rank 
has  at  stake  two  to  three  million  pounds  on 
the  pictures  which  he  will  release  or  have 
in  production  in  the  course  of  the  present 
year.  Which  is,;^  prime  reason  for  theiCon- 
versations  now /proposed  between  him  ancf 
certain  American  executives. 

At  this  writing,  a  dense  diplomatic  haze 
enshrouds  the  Rank  discussions.  Arthur 
W.  Kelly,  springing  a  march  on  Spyros 
Skourasj  also  scheduled  for  early  conversa- 
tions with  Mr.  Rank,  liaS  liad  several  long, 
animated- talks  wiSi  the  leader  of'the  British 
industry.  Officially,  the  agenda  of  the  dis- 
cussions was  confined  to  the  exploration -OLf 
better  distribution  and  exploitation  of  Mr. 
Rank's  pictures  in  the  United  States.  In 
that  regard,  Mr.  Kelly  starts  a  long  way 
ahead  of  scratch.  U.A.'s  gross  on  "In 
Which  We  Serve"  constitutes  an  all-time 
high  for  any  British  picture. 

But  it  is  authoritatively  indicated  that 
the  talks  have  covered  an  infinitely  wider 
field.  Tentative  proposals  have  been  dis- 
cussed for 

(a)  Coalition  of  the  U.A.-Rank  inter- 
ests, and,  alternatively 

(b)  Creation  of  a  separate  Rank  dis- 
tribution entity  on  the  American  con- 
tinent. 


the  local  U.A.  branches — will  not  return 
empty  handed.  He  has  stated  ptiblicly  that 
he  wishes  to  have  the  British-made  "Colonel 
Blimp"  (reviewed  in  Motion  Picture 
Herald  July  10,  1943).  Present  indica- 
tions are  that  he  will  get  his  wish. 

There  are,  however,  other  wider  consid- 
erations. The  action  of  the  United  States 
Attorney  General's  Anti-Trust  Division  in 
relation  to  the  alleged  du  Pont-Imperial 
Chemical  Industries'  international  "cartel" 
has  created  intense  interest  on  this  side.  The 
very  word  "cartel"  wears  a  malodorous  air 
in  wartime  Britain. 

There  are  persons — unduly  vocal,  maybe, 
but  nevertheless  of  influence  in  the  House 
of  Commons — who  already  are  declaring  that 
an  international  film  "cartel"  is  in  process 
of  planning.  They  are  demanding,  the  while, 
that  prohibitive  legislation  be  introduced  in 
the  House. 

It  is  the  fact  that  the  over-worked  Films 
Division  of  the  Board  of  Trade  is  kept  in- 
timately informed^  of  the  entire  present  set- 
up in  the  industry. '  Hugh  Dalton,  president 
of  the  Board,  has  assured  the  Commons 
more  than  once  that  the  Government  will  not 
tolerate  anything  in  the  nature  of  an  inter- 
national film  "monopoly." 

Informed  observers  here  would  not  be 
surprised  at  a  further,  more  definitive,  de- 
claration from  the  Government. 


Rank  May  Form 
New  Unit  Here 

The  possibility  that  J.  Arthur  Rank  will  form 
a  new  organization  for  distributing  his  British 
film  productions  in  the  United  States  .  and 
throughout  the  world  was  seen  this  week  with 
a  report  from  London  that  E.  T.  'Carr  may  be 
named  sales  manager  of  a  new  Rank  co'tnpany. 
Mr.  Carr  recently  resigned  his  post  as  manag- 
ing director  in  England  for  United  Artists  to 
join  Mr.  Rarik, 

Harrington  Gain,  representative  of  the  Brit- 
ish producer-distributor,  who  is  in  the  U.  S., 
was  en  route  to  Hollywood  this  week.  He 
plans  to  sign  acting,  writing  and  pr  oducing  tal- 
-ent  while  on  the  west  coast.  Dr.  Alexander 
Galperson,  representing  Two  Cities  Films, 
Ltd.,  who  is  in  this  country  to  arrange  a  dis- 
tribution deal  for  his  company,  accompanied 
him. 

20+h-Fox  Australian  Branch 
Connpletes  Sales  Meeting 

Twentieth  Century-Fox's  Australian  branch 
has  completed  a  four-day  sales  conference,  ac- 
cording to  Murray  Silverstone,  vice-president 
in  charge  of  foreign  distribution.  The  meetings 
included  discussion  of  the  preceding  year's  sales 
activities  and  sales  and  advertising  policies  for 
1944  product.  Managing  director  Raymond 
Rowe  arranged  screenings  of  six  films. 


Observers  Attribute  Rise 
to  Reports  of  American 
Deals  with  British 

by  PETER  BURNUP 

in  London 

Holders  of  stocks  in  major  British  cinema 
enterprises  and  operators  in  their  markets 
have  found  themselves  enriched  by  no  less 
than  £2,000,000  sterling,  approximately  $8,- 
000,000,  in  a  month's  feverish  trading  on 
London's  Stock  Exchange.  That  is  a  con- 
servative estimate  of  the  accretion  in  capital 
values  ensuing  on  the  rising  stock  market. 

The  increases  in  the  shares  of  the  three 
most  favored  companies  dtrring  the  period 
are  as  follows:  Odeon  Theatres  (five  shill- 
ings shares),  rise  of  4s/0d.  to  30s/0d. ;  As- 
sociated British  Pictures  (five  shillings 
shares),  rise  of  Is/Od.  to  17s/0d. ;  Gau- 
mont-British  (ten  shillings  shares),  rise  of 
ls/9d.  to  16s/4d. ;  Gaiimo'nt-British  (five 
shillings  "A"  shares),  rise  of  ls/4d.  to 
9s/0d. 

Substantial  Dividend  Rise 
Expected  from  Gaumont  • 

Close  scrutiny  of  issued  accounts  and  as- 
certainable current  earnings  warrants  a 
measure  of  optimism.  Gaumont's  position 
is  the  least  clear,  and  will  remain  so  until 
a  promised  consolidated  balance-sheet  is  is- 
sued. In  the  last  two  fiscal  years  Gaumont 
has  paid  a  dividend  of  six  per  cent.  Market 
opinion,  taking  note  of  pronouncedly  in- 
creased earnings  in  the  last  few  months,  an- 
ticipates a  substantial  dividend  increase. 

Odeon's  and  A.B.P.'s  last  paid  dividends 
were  15  per  cent  and  17  per  cent,  respec- 
tively ;  ■■  but  here  again,  in  both  cases,  sub- 
jjStantially  incr^^sed  returns  are  anticipated. 
%'^'Obsi^ers,  l|^^ver,  ma^f^f^in  thsel^the  un- 
^pectadly-  ster^|p^' rises  afj^ynot  occasioned 
exclusively  by*k  native  ci%ize  for  war-time 
entertainment ;  or  by  the '  vastly  increased 
vrar-time  earnings  of  the  workers.  The 
Stock  Exchange,  inordinately  and  (in  the 
opinion  of  many)  unjustifiably  sensitive  to 
rumor,  lately  has  been  the  sounding  board 
of  fantastic  legends  of  impending  American 
intervention   in  the  British   film  industry, 
particularly  in  production. 

Some  Theatres  Report  40% 
Attendance  Increase 

Certainly,  the  known  facts  of  the  current 
entertainment  business  are  not  of  themselves 
justification  for  the  spectacular  stock  rises. 
Certain  theatres,  it  is  true,  report  that  the 
number  of  their  patrons  has  risen  in  war- 
time by  no  less  than  40  per  cent.  There 
are  others,  however,  whose  receipts,  in  fact, 
have  declined. 

They  might  be  in  situations,  for  example, 
which  being  declared  vulnerable  have  suf- 
fered wholesale  evacuation  of  the  civil  popu- 
lace. In  other  areas  attenuated  transport 
facilities  under  blackout  conditions  or  where 
half  of  the  adult  population   is  working 


Outcome  of  the  discussions  will  not  be 
known  for  some  time ;  certainly  not  until  the 
long  awaited  Skouras-Rank  meeting.  Al- 
though it  is  likely  that  Mr.  Kelly— ostensi- 
bly in  Britain  for  a  routine  inspection  of 


Close  Theatres  to  Save  Coal 

Theatres  in  Summerville,  Ga.,  will  close  all 
day  on  Wednesdays  until  the  local  coal  shortage 
ends. 


44 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    29,  1944 


Sees  Panama  as 
Central  America 
Distribution  Hub 

A  bright  post-war  future  as  the  hub  of  film 
distribution  in  Central  America  is  foreseen  for 
Panama  by  Fabian  Velarde,  the  leading  Panama 
City  circuit  operator. 

Visiting  New  York,  Senor  Velarde  dis- 
cussed the  future  of  Central  American  film  busi- 
ness in  an  interview  at  the  Waldorf-Astoria 
Hotel.  Air  transportation,  and  a  growing  inter- 
est in  motion  pictures,  will  spur  a  major  film 
boom  after  the  war  in  Central  America,  he  pre- 
dicted. . 

Panama,  Mr.  Velarde  pointed  out,  is  within 
seven  hours'  flight  of  every  large  film  market 
in  Central  America  and  the  northern  republics 
of  South  America.  This,  he  said,  also  will 
facilitate  film  service  to  small  rural  theatres. 
He  e.xpects  a  tremendous  increase  in  theatre 
construction  after  the  war. 

Mr.  Velarde  operates  the  Lux,  Cecilia  and 
Tropicale  theatres  in  Panama  City  and  has 
formed  a  new  distribution  company,  Distribui- 
dora  Central  America  to  handle  both  Latin 
American  and  Hollywood  productions  in  the 
area.  Enrique  Hermanos,  the  Panama  Ambas- 
sador to  the  United  States,  is  his  partner.  The 
company  will  represent  Estudios  Miguel  of 
Argentina  and  negotiations  are  under  way  with 
several  Mexican  and  U.  S.  producers. 

Business  in  Central  American  theatres  has 
increased  tremendously,  according  to  Mr.  Vel- 
arde, with  grosses  in  Panama  City,  spurred  by 
defense  activities,  rising  to  as  much  as  $18,000 
for  a  week's  run  of  top  pictures.  Average 
grosses  are  up  to  $7,000  and  $8,000  weekly 
from  a  pre-war  $1,900. 

Pictures  in  Spanish  from  Mexican  and  Argen- 
tine studios  are  establishing  themselves  on  first 
run  screens  in  competition  with  American  prod- 
uct, Mr.  Velarde  reported.  He  warned  that 
American  distributors  must  embark  on  an  ex- 
tensive reexamination  of  their  sales  practices, 
pointing  out  instances  in  which  salesmen  for  the 
Latin  American  producers  have  taken  away 
playing  time  by  "better  prices  and  much  more 
friendly  relations  with  the  theatre  operators." 

Percentage  problems  are  just  as  real  for  Latin 
American  theatre  men  as  they  are  for  U.  S.  ex- 
hibitors, Mr.  Velarde  said,  reporting  a  move- 
ment to  reduce  the  50  per  cent  rental  which 
has  become  widely  established. 

Musical  and  comedy  entertainment  is  by  far 
the  most  popular  type  of  release  with  the  Pan- 
ama public  expressing  vigorous  protest  against 
many  war  pictures,  he  said.  Interest  in  news- 
reel  reports  of  United  Nation  war  successes  runs 
high,  however,  and  official  newsreels  and  short 
subjects  from  both  the  United  States  and  Great 
Britain  are  welcomed. 

Latin  American  capital  is  anxious  to  partici- 
pate in  the  post-war  development  of  film  mar- 
kets, Mr.  Velarde  reported.  He  urged  that 
American  companies  aid  development  of  new 
theatres  and  distribution  outlets  in  cooperation 
with  local  film  men. 

A  lawyer  for  20  years,  Mr.  Velarde  is  a  rela- 
tive newcomer  to  film  exhibition,  having  con- 
structed his  Panama  houses  only  a  few  years 
ago.  He  intends  to  devote  full  time  to  develop- 
ment of  Panama's  film  trade  and  hopes  that 
some  day  American  companies  will  send  stars 
and  production  talent  to  produce  Spanish  lan- 
guage pictures  in  Panama. 


Chicago  Women  Protest 
"Adults  Only"  Ads 

Chicago  women's  clubs  are  preparing  formal 
^otests  against  newspaper  advertisements  of 
-••filrns  designated  "for  adults  only,"  as  inserted 
/  by  inckpendent  theatres.  They  charge  that  the 
:    advertisements  attract  youngsters  who  respond 
\   to  th^iads  more  than  their  elders. 


r 


staff  Photographer 


FABIAN  VELARDE 

Pay  Commissions 
In  Full  for  1943 

According  to  an  announcement  made  last 
week  by  the  Internal  Revenue  Bureau  in  Wash- 
ington, a  new  policy  is  to  go  into  effect  imme- 
diately allowing  for  the  collection  of  full  1943 
percentage  commissions  by  persons  restricted 
under  regulations  previously  in  effect.  Robert 
E.  Hannegan,  Internal  Revenue  Commissioner, 
in  making  the  announcement  said  formal  regula- 
tions had  not  yet  been  drafted. 

The  new  policy  for  the  commission  and  per- 
centage compensation  this  year  will  affect  com- 
panies which  withheld  part  of  percentages  d.ue 
employees  because  of  previous  regulations,  with 
supplementary  payments  paid  to  adjust  the  1943 
payments  to  the  new  policy. 

Payments  are  to  be  made  without  regard  to 
the  dollar  amount,  so  long  as  the  rate  of  com- 
mission or  percentage  has  not  been  increased 
since  the  beginning  of  the  salary  stabilization 
program  on  October  3,  1942. 

In  the  case  of  executives,  branch  managers 
and  others  earning  overriding  commissions  or 
percentage  bonuses,  employers  are  authorized 
to  adjust  any  1943  payments  in  accord  with  the 
new  policy.  If  the  percentage  method  of  com- 
putation or  base  salary  has  changed  and  the 
employer  believes  an  adjustment  is  warranted, 
the  Bureau  said,  he  may  apply  for  a  ruling  to 
the  field  office  of  the  Salary  Stabilization  unit 
in  the  region  in  which  the  employer  has  his 
principal  place  of  business. 

"Jane  Eyre"  and  "The  Sullivans" 
20th-Fox  February  Films 

"Jane  Eyre,"  starring  Orson  Welles  and 
Joan  Fontaine,  and  "The  Sullivans"  with  Anne 
Baxter,  Thomas  Mitchell  and  Trudy  Marshall, 
will  be  released  during  February,  Tom  Con- 
nors, vice-president  in  charge  of  world  distri- 
bution of  20th  Century-Fox,  announced  this 
week. 


Named  RKO  Booker 

Jack  Hill,  former  shipper  at  Monogram  in 
Boston,  is  the  new  booker  at  RKO,  handling 
the  Maine,  New  Hampshire  and  Vermont  terri- 
tory, replacing  Paul  Black,  now  stationed  in 
the  middle  west. 


Leventhal  PRC  Salesman 

Rube  Leventhal  started  work  Monday  as  a 
Chicago  salesman  for  Henry  Elman,  PRC  Pic- 
tures franchise  holder  in  Chicago.  Mr.  Leven- 
thal has  been  assigned  to  the  North  Side. 


Board  Condemns 
Run  Policies 
In  New  Orleans 

One  of  the  few  exhibitor  victories  in  a  spe- 
cific run  arbitration  under  Section  X  of  the 
Consent  Decree  was  scored  last  week  by  An- 
thony Demharter,  operator  of  the  Peacock 
theatre  in  New  Orleans. 

The  Appeal  Board  directed  that  Paramount, 
RKO,  Warners  and  20th  Century-Fox  license 
the  competing  United  Theatres  circuit's  Rivoli 
and  Dreamland  on  the  60  days  after  downtown 
run  requested  by  the  Peacock  only  by  separate 
contracts,  and  without  regard  to  their  circuit 
affiliation.  They  reversed  Bert  Flanders,  arbi- 
trator of  this  ninth  New  Orleans  action.  Costs 
were  divided. 

The  Board  found  that  distributors  had  clearly 
given  the  Dreamland  and  Rivoli  a  run  ahead  of 
the  Peacock,  taking  away  a  previously  enjoyed 
playing  position,  because  of  the  circuit's  power. 
They  quoted  a  schedule  of  clearances  held  by 
United  Theatres,  observing  that  it  appeared  to 
show  the  runs  and  clearances  demanded  by  the 
circuit  and  which  had  been  accepted  by  dis- 
tributors. 

"On  its  face  it  reveals  a  contemptuous  dis- 
regard of  the  interests  and  probable  rights  not 
only  of  the  Peacock  but  of  practically  every 
theatre  not  belonging  to  the  circuit,"  the  Ap- 
peal judge  commented. 

Distributors  henceforth  must  "disregard  the 
fact  that  the  Dreamland  and  Rivoli  are  circuit 
theatres  and  they  must  in  good  faith  negotiate 
future  licenses  on  a  strictly  business  basis  free 
from  any  other  consideration  whatsoever,"  the 
Board  directed. 

It  criticized  the  clearances  of  60  days  held 
by  the  suburban  circuit  theatres  as  "very  un- 
usual" and  expressed  the  opinion  that  Mr.  Dem- 
harter might  be  entitled  to  further  relief 
through  a  Section  VIII  clearance  action. 

The  case  had  previously  been  remanded  to  the 
arbitrator  to  establish  proof  that  the  Peacock 
had  won  a  change  of  run  in  1935  from  the  NRA 
Clearance  and  Zoning  Board.  The  Appeal 
Board  accepted  this  proof  and  found  that  the 
distributors  had  ignored  the  NRA  order  to  give 
the  Peacock  60  days  clearance  after  dowfltown 
theatres. 

Los  Angeles 

Los  Angeles  clearances  were  attacked  in  the 
third  1944  arbitration  case,  filed  last  week  by 
G.  L.  Smith,  operating  the  York  theatre,  Los 
Angeles.  He  charges  that  the  63-day  margins 
granted  to  the  first  run  theatres,  and  the  seven- 
day  clearances  held  by  the  Park  and  Franklin 
over  the  York  are  unreasonable.  He  asks 
elimination  of  the  latter  margin  and  a  reduc- 
tion of  the  first  run  clearance  to  49  days  at  30 
cents  admission  and  35  days  at  30  cents.  It  is 
Los  Angeles'  16th  case. 

In  Chicago  formal  withdrawal  by  stipulation 
of  the  clearances  complaint  of  R.  J.  Miller, 
operating  the  Colony  in  McHenry,  111.,  was 
announced.    It  is' the  28th  case. 


William  E.  Butler  Dead 

William  E.  Butler,  Philadelphia  exhibitor, 
died  January  21  at  his  home  there.  He  was  72 
and  last  operated  the  Clearfield  theatre.  A 
daughter  survives.  Funeral  services  were  held 
January  25  in  Philadelphia  and  interment  was 
in  New  Cathedral  Cemetery  there. 


Alan  J.  Quinn 

Alan  J.  Quinn,  53,  former  film  actor,  died 
January  23  in  Chestnut  Hill  Hospital,  -Phila- 
delphia. He  was  a  character  actor  in  Lubin 
and  Vitagraph  films  for  10  years.  Surviving 
are  his  wife,  Eleanor  D.,  a  daughter  and  three 
sisters.  Funeral  services  were  held  January  26 
in  Philadelphia.  Interment  was  in  Holy  Sepul- 
chre Cemetery. 


January    29,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


45 


December  Box  Office  Champions 


Julien  Duvivier,  director 

FLESH  AND  FANTASY:  Universal.  Charles 
Boyer  and  Julien  Duvivier,  producers.  Julien 
Duvivier,  director.  Screenplay  by  Ernest  Pas- 
cal, Samuel  Hoffenstein  and  Ellis  St.  Joseph, 
based  on  stories  by  Oscar  Wilde,  Laslo 
Vadnay  and  Ellis  St.  Joseph.  Directors  of 
photography,  Paul  Ivano  and  Stanley  Cor- 
tez.  Cast:  Edward  G.  Robinson,  Charles 
Boyer,  Barbara  Stanwyck,  Betty  Field.  Re- 
lease date,  October  29,  1943. 


Norman  Taurog,  director 

GIRL  CRAZY:  Metro  -  Soldwyn  -  Mayer. 
Producer,  Arthur  Freed.  Nornnan  Taurog, 
director.  Screenplay  by  Fred  F.  Finkle- 
hoffe,  based  on  musical  play,  "Girl  Crazy", 
by  Guy  Bolton  and  Jack  McGowan.  Music 
and  lyrics  by  George  and  Ira  Gershwin. 
Douglas  Shearer,  recording  director.  Ced- 
ric  Gibbons,  art  director.  Cast:  Mickey 
Rooney,  Judy  Garland,  Gil  Stratton.  Re- 
lease date,  November,  1943. 


Vmcente  Minnelli,  director 

I  DOOD  IT:  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.  Jack 
Cummings,  producer.  Vincente  Minnelli, 
director.  Screenplay  by  Sig  Herzig  and 
Fred  Saidy.  Director  of  photography,  Ray 
June.  Musical  director,  George  Stolf. 
Dance  direction.  Bob  Connolly.  Douglas 
Shearer,  recording  director.  Cedric  Gib- 
bons, art  director.  Cast:  Red  Skelton, 
Eleanor  Powell,  Richard  Ainley,  Patricia 
Dane.   Release  date,  September,  1943. 


Fred  M.  Wilcox,  director 

LASSIE  COME  HOME:  Metro-Goldwyn- 
Mayer.  Samuel  Marx,  producer.  Fred  M. 
Wilcox,  director.  Screenplay  by  Hugo 
Butler.  Based  upon  the  novel  by  Eric 
Knight.  Director  of  photography,  Leonard 
Smith.  Natalie  Kalmes,  Technicolor  direc- 
tor. Musical  score  by  Daniele  Amfithea- 
trof.  Cast:  Roddy  McDowall,  Donald  Crisp, 
Dame  May  Whitty,  Edmund  Gwenn,  Nigel 
Bruce.  Release  date,  December,  1943. 


Vincent  Sherman,  director 

OLD  ACQUAINTANCE:  Warner  Brothers. 
Henry  Blanke,  producer.  Vincent  Sherman, 
director.  Screenplay  by  John  Van  Druten 
and  Lenore  Coffee.  From  the  stage  play 
by  John  Van  Druten.  Director  of  photog- 
raphy, Sol  Polito.  Film  editor,  Terry  Morse. 
Sound  by  Robert  B.  Lee.  Cast:  Bette  Davis, 
Miriam  Hopkins,  Gig  Young,  John  Loder, 
Dolores  Moran,  Philip  Reed,  Roscoe  Karns. 
Release  date,  November  27,  1943. 


Lewis  Milestone,  director 


THE  NORTH  STAR:  RKO  Radio.  Pro- 
duced by  Samuel  Goldwyn.  Associate  pro- 
ducer, William  Cameron  Menzies.  Lewis 
Milestone,  director.  Original  story  and 
screenplay  by  Lillian  Hellman.  Music  by 
Aaron  Copland.  Lyrics  by  Ira  Gershwin. 
James  Wong  Howe,  photographer.  Film 
editor,  Daniel  Mandell.  Cast:  Anne  Bax- 
ter, Dana  Andrews,  Walter  Huston,  Wal- 
ter Brennan,  Ann  Harding.  Special  release. 


Romance  of  the  Seven  Seas. 

John  WAYNE  Susan  HAYWARD 


A  REPUBLIC  PICTURE 


48 

400  Dates  Set 
On  ''Bell  Tolls  " 
To  March  1 

With  a  minimum  of  85  additional  engage- 
ments on  Paramount's  "For  Whom  the  Bell 
Tolls"  in  February,  more  than  400  key  theatres 
in  the  country  will  have  played  the  picture  at 
advanced  admissions  up  to  March  1,  and  addi- 
tional bookings  are  being  set,  Charles  M.  Rea- 
gan, assistant  general  sales  manager  of  Para- 
mount, announced  last  week. 

Included  in  the  deals  slated  for  February  are 
35  theatres  of  Loew's  New  York  metropolitan 
circuit,  following  the  28-week  engagement  at 
the  Rivoli  theatre,  New  York.  The  first  thea- 
tres in  the  metropolitan  area  to  play  the  picture 
are  the  Brooklyn  Strand,  where  it  set  an  all- 
time  house  record  on  its  opening  last  Thursday, 
and  the  Paramount,  Newark,  where  it  started 
last  Friday. 

MGM's  "Madame  Curie"  started  its  seventh 
week  at  the  Radio  City  Music  Hall  Thursday, 
becoming  the  fourth  attraction  to  enjoy  a  run 
of  that  length  at  the  house,  among  them  "Mr. 
Lucky,"  seven  weeks ;  "Mrs.  Miniver,"  10 
weeks,  and  "Random  Harvest,"  11  weeks. 

Among  the  top  grossers  in  the  New  York 
Capitol  theatre's  history,  "A  Guy  Named  Joe" 
set  new  records  Thursday  when  it  became  the 
first  MGM  attraction  to  go  six  weeks  at  the 
house  under  its  present  policy. 

At  the  Majestic  and  Normandie  theatres  in 
Boston,  "None  Shall  Escape"  set  new  records 
for  the  houses.-  The  Strand  theatre  in  Lewiston, 
Me.,  enjoyed  the  biggest  Wednesday  opening 
of  any  Columbia  picture  to  play  the  theatre. 

Warner  Brothers'  "The  Desert  Song,"  now 
in  its  sixth  week  at  the  Hollywjood  theatre, 
New  York,  and  scheduled  for  general  release 
January  29,  has  been  set  for  90  additional  open- 
ings January  25. 

"Madame  Curie"  is  setting  a  box-office  mark 
of  186  per  cent  of  normal  business  in  its  first 
42  index  city  engagements,  the  company  an- 
nounced, with  30  holdovers  reported. 

With  an  attendance  of  147,333  in  its  first 
week  at  the  New  York  Paramount  theatre, 
"The  Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek"  started  a 
second  week  Wednesday.  Its  first  week  at- 
tendance figure  is  the  second  highest  at  the 
theatre  in  a  year,  topped  only  by  "China,"  with 
Harry  James  in  person. 

Paramount  Partners  Hold 
Meeting  in  Dallas 

Post  -war  problems  and  participation  in  the 
Fourth  War  'Loan  drive  and  the  March  of 
Dimes  were  discussed  last  week  at  a  meeting 
of  Paramount  theatre  executives  and  theatre 
partners  in  Dallas.  Attending  the  meeting  were 
R.  B.  Wilby  and  H.  F.  Kincey  of  Atlanta; 
E.  V.  Richards,  New  Orleans ;  Karl  Hoblitzelle 
and  R.  J.  O'Donnell,  Dallas;  Julius  Gordon, 
Beaumont,  Texas;  A.  H.  Blank  and  Ralph 
Branton,  Des  Moines;  John  Balaban,  Chicago; 
Martin  J.  Mullin  and  Sam  Pinanski,  Boston, 
and  from  the  home  office  theatre  department, 
Leonard  H.  Goldenson,  Leon  D.  Netter  and 
Sam  Dembow,  Jr. 

Release  Two  Canadian  Films 

"War  Birds,"  describing  the  use  of  homing 
pigeons  by  the  air  force,  and  "You  Can't  Blullf 
a  Soldier,"  showing  the  training  of  service  men, 
both  produced  by  the  National  Film  Board  of 
Canada,  will  be  released  in  the  United  States 
from  the  Board's  office  in  New  York. 


Paper  Salvage  Successful 

Fall  River,  Mass.,  theatres,  through  special 
appeals  on  the  screen  and  lobby  displays  and 
signs,  totaled  370  tons  of  paper  in  the  waste 
paper  salvage  drive  held  recently. 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 

Theatrical  Groups  to  Aid 
Minorities  of  Europe 

Representatives  of  screen,  stage  and  radio 
met  at  a  luncheon  last  week  at  the  Hotel  Astor, 
New  York,  to  pledge  support  of  their  groups 
to  the  Emergency  Committee  to  Save  the  Jew- 
ish People  of  Europe,  which  will  hold  a  fund- 
raising  rally  at  Madison  Square  Garden  March 
13.  Alan  Corelli  of  the  Theatre  Authority  pre- 
sided at  the  luncheon. 

Dean  Alfange,  vice-chairman  of  the  commit- 
tee, outlined  the  background  of  the  group's  crea- 
tion last  July,  and  said  that  a  resolution  was 
in  Congress  for  a  committee  to  save  Europe's 
remaining  war-torn  people.  Al  Rosen,  manager 
of  Loew's  State  theatre.  New  York,  will  head 
a  showmen's  group  to  obtain  talent  for  the  Gar- 
den rally,  Mr.  Corelli  said. 

Among  those  present  at  the  luncheon  were 
Nick  John  Alatsoukas,  Bob  Shapiro,  Harry 
Mayer,  Zeb  Epstein,  Bill  White,  Ben  Beyer, 
Charles  Washburn,  Charles  McDonald,  Max 
Wolf,  Sol  Pernick,  Vincent  Jacobi,  Dave  Dris- 
coll,  Tom  Kelleher  and  others. 


Scouts  Approve 
''Aldrich"  Film 

Paramount's  "Henry  Aldrich,  Boy  Scout," 
current  film  of  the  series,  has  been  named  the 
official  picture  for  National  Boy  Scout  Week, 
February  8  to  14,  with  Scout  heads  planning  to 
inform  the  1,750,000  registered  Boy  Scouts  and 
the  10,000,000  alumni  of  the  picture.  In  con- 
nection with  the  official  Scout  week  and  the  pic- 
ture, local  Scout  Councils  are  planning  to  co- 
operate with  theatres  in  promoting  the  picture, 
which  was  produced  with  the  complete  co- 
operation of  the  national  Scout  organization. 

In  a  booklet  printed  and  released  by  Scout 
headquarters,  Leslie  C.  Stratton,  national  di- 
rector of  public  relations,  advises  both  Scouts 
and  alumni  to  see  the  film,  which  "has  national 
office  approval."  On  the  cover  of  the  booklet 
are  the  two  stars,  Jimmy  Lydon  as  Henry 
Aldrich,  and  Charlie  Smith  as  Dizzy.  Inside, 
there  are  stills  and  a  synopsis. 

More  than  100  Boy  Scouts  of  the  Los  An- 
geles area  participated  in  the  making  of  the 
picture,  shot  on  location  at  Uplifters  Ranch, 
Santa  Monica,  Cal.  Eighty-four  of  the  100 
Scouts  taking  a  hand  in  the  film  worked  before 
the  cameras,  appearing  with  the  principals  and 
the  other  boy  actors. 

The  advertising  and  publicity  department  of 
Interstate  Theatres  of  Texas  has  informed 
managers  of  a  War  Bond  selling  campaign  in 
connection  with  the  picture,  with  Scouts  com- 
peting as  Bond  salesmen  and  a  theatre  party 
on  the  day  of  the  engagement  for  the  Troop 
making  the  best  showing.  The  theatres  also 
will  advertise  that  the  film  is  being  shown  as  a 
tribute  to  National  Boy  Scout  Week. 

Legion  Classifies  Nine  Films 
As  Unobjectionable 

Of  nine  pictures  reviewed  by  the  National 
Legion  of  Decency  this  week,  six,  "Arizona 
Whirlwind,"  "Beautiful  But  Broke,"  "Henry 
Aldrich,  Boy  Scout,"  "Nabonga,"  "Rationing" 
and  "Westward  Bound"  were  classified  "A-I," 
unobjectionable  for  general  patronage.  The  other 
three,  "None  Shall  Escape,"  "Standing  Room 
Only"  and  "Timber  Queen"  received  an  "A-H" 
classification,  unobjectionable  for  adults. 


Re-releases  Set  Record 

Film  Classics'  releases,  "Hara  Kiri"  and  "The 
Young  in  Heart,"  shown  in  Brooklyn  and  Man- 
hattan RKO  theatres  last  week  as  a  midwedc 
show,  were  given  extended  playing  time,  sur- 
passing the  record  set  by  "A  Star  Is  Bom" 
and  "Made  for  Each  Other,"  the  first  reissue 
program  released  by  the  company,  it  was  an- 
nounced. 


January    29,  1944 

WPB  Eases 
Replacements 
For  Theatres 

The  War  Production  Board  last  week  in 
orders  covering  repair  parts  and  vacuum  tubes 
moved  to  make  it  easier  for  exhibitors  to  obtain 
replacements.  The  film  division  of  the  WPB 
under  Harold  Hopper  also  reported  that  war- 
time film  manufacturing  had  increased  16  per 
cent. 

Allen  G.  Smith,  chief  of  the  WPB  Theatre 
Service  Division,  January  19  revised  projection 
priority  order  L-325  to  limit  restrictions  to 
complete  sound  heads,  amplifying  systems,  arc 
and  lamp  house  units.  This  will  permit  freer 
flow  of  parts.  Theatres  may  continue  to  secure 
partial  replacements  from  dealers  without  spe- 
cific WPB  approvals. 

An  AA-2  priority  rating  has  been  alocated 
to  exhibitors  who  require  vacuum  tubes  or  other 
electronic  equipment  to  continue  operations,  it 
was  announced  Friday  by  John  Eberson,  head 
of  the  amusement  section  of  the  Office  of  Civil- 
ian Requirements. 

Any  exhibitor  may  use  the  new  priority 
without  special  application  to  the  WPB  if  his 
expenditures  for  repair  materials  during  the 
year  meet  the  ceiling  imposed  in  1942  by  WPB 
order  CMP-S. 

Manufacture  of  raw  film,  still  and  motion 
picture,  totaled  413,028,000  feet  in  the  first  nine 
months  of  1943,  the  WPB  reported.  This  is  an 
increase  of  16  per  cent  from  1941  levels. 

In  the  first  analysis  of  film  supply  since  the 
war  began  the  WPB  indicated  that  although 
production  by  eight  companies  had  risen  the 
demands  for  the  armed  services.  Allied  nations 
and  other  essential  consumers  would  prevent 
any  early  increase  in  the  entertainment  quota. 
On  the  other  hand,  no  reduction  in  film  quotas 
is  predicted. 

SAG  Asks  Dismissal 
Of  Warner  Action 

The  Screen  Actors  Guild  filed  a  demurrer 
last  week  in  Los  Angeles  to  Warners'  suit  for 
$500,000  damages  and  an  injunction  restraining 
application  of  the  Guild's  Rule  33  in  the  com- 
pany's "Holly-wood  Cdnteen"  production. 

It  asked  the  Superior  Court  to  dismiss  War- 
ners' action  on  four  specific  grounds,  namely, 
that  "it  failed  to  state  in  what  maimer  SAG's 
Rule  33  is  in  conflict  with  the  basic  agree- 
ment; whether  Warners  actually  oflfered  em- 
ployment to  any  actor  in  'Hollywood  Canteen,' 
the  terms  of  such  an  offer,  whether  any  actors 
were  able  or  unwilling  to  accept  such  employ- 
ment, or  whether  the  rule  prevented  any  actor 
from  playing  a  part  in  the  production;  in  what 
majiner  the  application  of  Rule  33  constituted 
a  'boycott'  of  'Hollywood  Canteen'  or  how  it 
'terrorized  Guild  members,'  and  why  Warners 
were  unable  to  produce  the  picture  using  a 
large  number  of  actors  jmployed  by  the  studio." 

Fronikess  Calls  PRC  Pictures 
Convention  Feb.  I  I 

Leon  Fromkess,  vice-president  of  PRC  Pic- 
tures, announced  that  PRC  will  hold  a  national 
sales  convention  February  11-14,  at  the  St. 
Moritz  Hotel,  New  York,  with  franchise  hold- 
ers, branch  managers  and  sales  representatives 
from  the  United  States  and  Canadian  exchanges 
attending.  Leo  J.  McCarthy  will  preside.  Mr. 
Fromkess  will  report  on  expanded  production 
activities  and  also  outline  the  1944-45  program. 


Sudekum  On  Scout  Board 

Tony  Sudekum,  president  of  Crescent  Amuse- 
ment Company,  Nashville,  Tenn.,  has  joined 
the  executive  board  of  the  Nashville  Area 
Council,  Boy  Scouts  of  America. 


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50 

Depinet  Hopes 
For  Extension 
Of  Goetz  Deal 

Returning  from  the  Coast  studio  Tuesday, 
Ned  E.  Depinet,  RKO  Radio  Pictures  president, 
called  the  trade  press  into  his  New  York  office 
Wednesday  at  noon,  clarified  certain  aspects  of 
the  deal  by  which  his  company  will  release  four 
pictures  from  International  Pictures,  told  them 
of  his  impressions  of  forthcoming  studio  work, 
and  of  the  pictures  he  has  seen  completed  or 
near  completion. 

Speaking  of  the  International  deal,  delivering 
"Casanova  Brown,"  "Belle  of  the  Yukon," 
"Once  Off  Guard,"  and  "It's  a  Pleasure,"  Mr. 
Depinet  said  the  present  contract  would  run  for 
one  year,  but  that  he  hoped  the  association  with 
William  Goetz  and  Leo  Spitz,  International 
heads,  would  be  longer. 

In  Hollywood,  Mr.  Depinet  saw  Samuel 
Goldwyn's  "Up  in  Arms,"  and  predicted  that  a 
new  personality  would  hit  the  public  with  a 
"big  wallop."  That  personality  is  Danny  Kaye, 
the  star  of  the  picture,  which,  he  said,  has 
"Technicolor,  music,  girls— and  is  funny!" 

Mr.  Depinet  also  depicted  a  "wallop"  in  the 
new  Walt  Disney  feature,  "Three  Caballeros,^ 
which  will  be  delivered  in  late  spring. 

He  also  saw  at  the  studio  "Days  of  Glory," 
which,  he  noted  has  a  cast  new  to  the  public 
and  which,  he  promised,  would  be  one  of  the 
"finest  pictures  RKO  has  ever  done";  "Show 
Business,"  which  stars  Eddie  Cantor,  Joan 
Davis,  George  Murphy  and  others,  and  which 
he  called  a  "riot  of  fun" ;  "Marine  Raiders," 
"Action  in  Arabia,"  and  "Seven  Days  Ashore." 

The  new  Frank  Sinatra  picture  will  begin 
shooting  in  February,  he  said.  Others  to  start 
that  month  will  be  "I  Married  the  Navy," 
"Elizabeth  Kenny,"  and  "None  But  the  Lonely 
Heart."  In  March,  "The  Gibson  Girl"  will 
begin,  starring  Ginger  Rogers. 

"Higher  and  Higher,"  the  first  Sinatra  pic- 
ture, Mr.  Depinet  said  was  doing  "good — 
though  not  sensational"— business.  Mr.  De- 
pinet thinks  Mr.  Sinatra  and  his  opus  have  made 
a  good  showing  compared  with  other  "A"  pic- 
tures. 

Show  Home  Front  Film 
Made  for  CDVO 

"This  Is  Worth  Fighting  For,"  an  18-minute 
film  depicting  the  activities  of  an  average 
American  family  on  the  home  front,  has  been 
completed  under  the  sponsorship  of  the  New 
York  Civilian  Defense  Volunteer  Office  and 
was  given  its  first  showing  Thursday  at  the 
Museum  of  Modern  Art,  New  York.  The  pic- 
ture, narrated  by  Lowell  Thomas,  may  be  ob- 
tained free  of  charge  in  either  16mm  or  35mm 
size,  through  the  CDVO  Film  Library  for 
showing  at  Civilian  Defense  meetings. 

Film  on  War  Contribution 
Of  Negro  Is  Ready 

"Fighting  Americans,"  all-Negro  picture, 
produced  by  Toddy  Pictures  Company,  has 
been  completed.  The  film  shows  the  Negro's 
part  in  the  war  effort,  and  was  made  in  co- 
operation with  the  Government.  The  premiere 
was  held  at  the  Dunbar  theatre,  Washington, 
and  will  have  its  New  York  showing  February 
12  at  the  Orient  theatre. 


Plans  Film  for  CIAA 

Production  of  "University  Town"  for  the  Co- 
ordinator of  Inter-American  Affairs  has  been 
started  by  the  Princeton  Film  Center,  Prince- 
ton, N.  J.  The  film,  written  by  Carl  Carmer 
and  produced  by  Gordon  Knox,  will  depict  the 
wartime  activities  of  an  American  college  com- 
munity for  Latin  American  consumption. 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


IN  HEWSREELS 


MOVIETONE  NEWS— Vol.  26,  No.  41— Story  of  the 
Scharnhorst.  .  .  .  Morgenthau  launches  Fourth  War 
Loan  drive.  .  .  .  Action  in  Pacific  skies.  .  .  .  March 
of  Dimes.  .  .  .  Love  story  in  the  Navy. 

MOVIETONE  NEWS— Vol.  26,  No.  42— Allies  launch 
new  drive  in  push  towards  Rome.  .  .  .  Flying  boat 
Mars  spans  Pacific.  .  .  .  Army's  mightiest  field 
guns.  .  .  .  Admiral  Halsey  speaks  for  boys  in  the 
Pacific.  .  .  .  The  Chuquicamata  mine  in  Chile.  .  .  . 
Robert  E.  Hannegan  new  chairman  of  Democratic 
National  Committee.  .  .  .  Ski-meet  in  Chicago.  .  .  . 
Rodeo  in  Australia.  .  .  .  Lew  Lehr  newsette. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY— Vol.  IS,  No.  2J»-Cave  dwell- 
ers in  Italy.  .  .  .  Nation's  dollars  on  march  in  War 
Loan  campaign.  .  .  .  New  York,  Philadelphia,  Wash- 
ington— "A  neighborly  visit  message  from  the  boys." 

.  .  .  Lighter  side  of  the  war.  .  .  .  Fast  action  marks 
golden  gloves. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY— Vol.  IS,  No.  240— General 
Clark  reports  on  war  in  Italy.  .  .  .  Democratic  lead- 
ers call  for  fourth  term  for  Roosevelt.  .  .  .  Mars, 
world's  biggest  plane,  on  war  duty  for  U.  S.  Navy. 
.  .  .  Miniature  maneuvers.  .  .  .  Axis  smashers  in 
action.  .  .  .  Lighter  side  of  the  news. 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS— No.  42— Leap  year  romance  in 
full  bloom.  .  .  .  Fredric  March's  home  front  message. 
.  .  .  General  "Monty"  home  for  invasion.  .  .  .  Italy — 
aftermath  of  war.  .  .  .  First  flour  in  Italy.  .  .  .  Fifth 
Army  soldiers  give  food  to  Italian  kids.  .  .  .  Amer- 
ica announces  jet  plane. 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS— No.  43— Canada  ski  thrillers. 
.  .  .  last  mile  for  Murder,  Inc.  .  .  .  Mars  hops  oflF. 
.  .  .  Democratic  party  asks  fourth  term.  .  .  .  Army 
blood  prolongs  baby's  life. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS— Vol.  IS,  No.  44— ItaUan  civil- 
ians get  new  start.  .  .  .  Fredric  March  tells  of  war 
tour.  .  .  .  Marine  ace  missing  in  action.  .  .  .  Yanks 
go  to  Salisbury  Cathedral.  .  .  .  Polish  boundary 
question  faces  Allied  world. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS— Vol.  15,  No.  45— Mars  flies  to 
Pacific.  .  .  .  Fifth  Army  oil  line  runs  to  front.  .  .  . 

Civilians  buy  jeeps  for  farm  use.  .  .  .  Cleave  huge 
Liberator  diamond.  .  .  .  Top  food  producer.  .  .  .  Can- 
adians win  bloody  battle  for  Ortona. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREEI^Vol.  17,  No.  261— Fourth 
War  Loan  drive  opens.  .  .  .  Advancing  through  Italy. 
.  .  .  Major  Boyington,  air  ace.  .  .  .  U.S.S.  Duluth 
launched.  .  .  .  General  Airnold  honored.  .  .  .  Troops 
visit  Salisbury  Cathedral  in  England.  .  .  .  Love 
rigged  up. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREELr-Vol,  17,   No.  26Z-Can- 

adian  triumph  at  Ortona.  .  .  .  Mars  goes  across 
Pacific.  .  .  .  Splitting  diamonds.  .  .  .  Clark  gives 
medal  to  hero.  .  .  .  Food  tokens  soon  in  use.  .  .  •. 
Piping  oil  in  Italy.  .  .  .  Skiis  in  Chicago  park.  .  .  . 
Sub  busters,  ten  below  zero. 

ALL  AMERICAN  NEWS— VoL  2,  No.  6«-Seabees 
build  and  defend.  .  .  .  Martin  A.  Martin  urges  all- 
out  effort.  .  .  .  Richmond  makes  the  boys  welcome. 
.  .  .  Negroes  New  York  assistant  district  attorneys. 
.  .  .  Oiandler  Owen  discusses  amphibious  attack. 


Catholic  Guild  Gives 
Ambulance  to  Army 

The  Catholic  Actors  Guild  of  America  last 
week  presented  a  field  ambulance  to  the  Army 
in  a  ceremony  at  the  Hotel  Astor,  New  York. 
The  "Vehicle  of  Mercy"  was  officially  turned 
over  to  the  armed  forces  by  Gene  Buck,  presi- 
dent of  the  Guild,  who  was  present  with  mem- 
bers of  the  clergy,  theatre  and  officers  of  the 
Second  Service  Command.  The  ambulance  was 
purchased  by  funds  raised  at  an  entertainment 
and  dance  which  the  Guild  held  last  November. 

Grierson  Resigns  Canadian 
War  Information  Post 

Premier  W.  L.  M.  King  of  Canada  an- 
nounced recently  the  resignation  of  John 
Grierson  as  general  manager  of  the  Wartime 
Information  Board.  Mr.  Grierson,  however, 
will  continue  as  manager  of  the  National  Film 
Board.  It  was  reported  that  he  would  become 
general  manager  of  the  Canadian  Broadcasting 
Corporation,  but  no  mention  was  made  by  Mr. 
King  of  the  radio  appointment. 


Fire  Destroys  Theatre 

The  Cover  theatre,  Ft.  Morgan,  Colo.,  caught 
fire  last  week,  with  damage  estimated  at 
$50,000. 


January    29,  1944 

Basic  Labor  Pact 
To  Be  Studied  in 
New  YorkMarch  6 

Annual  negotiations  on  the  studio  basic  labor 
pact  will  occur  in  New  York  beginning  March 
6  between  executives  of  the  six  international 
unions  who  are  signatories  and  representatives 
of  the  studios. 

The  negotiations  will  survey  wages,  hours 
and  working  conditions.  The  date  was  agreed 
upon  last  week  after  conferences  between  Pat 
Casey,  producers'  labor  representative,  and 
Richard  Walsh,  president  of  the  International 
Alliance  of  Theatrical  Stage  Employees. 

It  is  expected  virtually  every  union  will  ask 
for  wage  increases.  The  unions  also  are  ex- 
pected to  ask  that  such  increases  be  retroactive 
to  last  October,  because  the  negotiations  were 
to  have  occurred  at  that  time. 

In  New  York,  last  week,  unionization  of 
staffs  of  600-odd  theatres  apparently  has  been 
quietly  abandoned,  a  survey  shows.  The  present 
hurried  and  large  turnover  of  workers  is  un- 
derstood to  be  the  reason.  The  unions  contest- 
ing for  representation  of  such  employees  have 
been  the  lATSE's  Local  B-171,  the  AFL's 
Theater  and  Amusement  Service  Employees 
Local  54,  and  the  Motion  Picture  Theatre  Man- 
agers and  Employees  Union. 

The  War  Manpower  Commission  has  desig- 
nated Chicago  as  a  "No.  1  critical  labor  short- 
age area." 

Walter  Hackett,  67,  Was 
Noted  Playwright 

Walter  Hackett,  67,  playwright,  best  known 
for  "The  White  Sister,"  died  in  New  York 
January  20  after  a  brief  illness.  Mr.  Hackett 
was  his  own  producer  and  stage  director.  Most 
of  his  plays  were  produced  in  London.  Born  in 
Oakland,  Cal.,  he  was  the  author  of  "The  In- 
vader," "Paying  the  Price,"  "The  Regeneration", 
and  among  his  last  productions  were  "Road 
House,"  "Espionage,"  "London  After  Dark" 
and  "Toss  of  a  Coin."  Mr.  Hackett  was  man- 
ager of  the  Duke  of  York  theatre,  London,  in 
1930  and  also  opened  the  Whitehall  theatre.  He 
belonged  to  the  Garrick  Club  of  London  and 
formerly  lived  at  Stratton  House,  Piccadilly. 

Arthur  Edward  Johnstone, 
Music  Specialist 

Arthur  Edward  Johnstone,  musician  and  com- 
poser, died  at  the  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa.,  Hospital 
Sunday  night.  He  was  83,  and  had  been  ill  a 
short  time. 

A  photographer  also,  Mr.  Johnstone  was  asso- 
ciated with  the  Biograph  Company  in  the  early 
days  of  making  pictures  under  artificial  light. 

He  was  born  in  London,  and  began  studying 
music  at  six.  With  the  late  Thomas  A.  Edison, 
he  helped  make  musical  recordings,  and  he  later 
taught  music  composition  and  appreciation  at 
Cornell,  Washington  University,  and  Teachers 
College,  St.  Louis.    He  was  also  a  conductor. 

A  son,  Jack,  of  Greenwich,  Conn.,  survives. 

"War  Department  Report" 
Is  Screened  by  Army 

The  Army  is  continuing  to  use  theatres  for 
off-time  exhibitions  of  its  film  on  production, 
"War  Department  Report."  It  was  shown  in 
New  York  Friday  morning  at  Loew's  Ziegfeld 
theatre  to  an  audience  of  industrial,  labor,  mili- 
tary and  civic  organization  leaders  invited  there 
by  Brigadier  General  R.  K.  Robertson.  The 
film  also  was  exhibited  Monday  evening  over 
television  station  W6XA0  in  Los  Angeles  and 
is  scheduled  for  exhibition  over  other  television 
outlets. 


FIGURE! 


Amusement  advertising  carried  by  the  Chicago  Herald- 
American  in  1943  totalled  over  ONE  MILLION  LINES! 

6^£ca^  HERALD-AMERICAN 

EVENING  and  SUNDAY 

^"^f^  Nationally  Represented  by 

HEARST  ADVERTISING  SERVICE 


52 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    29.     I  944 


// 


WHAT  THE 

PICTURE  DID  FOR  ME 


W 


Columbia 


FIRST  COMES  COURAGE:  Merle  Oberon,  Brian 
Aherne — This  was  a  good  picture,  but  somehow  no 
business.  Tlie  stars  are  not  very  popular  here. 
Played  Wednesday,  Thursday,  Jan.  5,  6. — Harland 
Rankin,  Plaza  Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 

HEAT'S  ON,  THE:  Mae  West,  William  Gaxton— 
Mae  West  is  the  drawing  card,  but  hasn't  got  "It" 
like  in  the  old  days.  The  show  itself  was  a  little 
disappointing.  Hazel  Scott  really  "goes  to  town" 
in  this  one. — Bruce  K.  Young,  Ritz  Theatre,  Dyers- 
burg,  Tenn.    General  patronage. 

MEET  THE  STEWARTS:  Frances  Dee,  William 
Holden — A  real  nice  bit  of  family  entertainment  with 
general  satisfaction  even  at  the  box  office.  Played 
Sunday,  Jan.  9. — Harland  Rankin,  Plaza  Theatre,  Til- 
bury, Ont.,  Canada. 


Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 

BEST  FOOT  FORWARD:  Lucille  Ball,  William 
Gaxton — Just  a  fair  offering.  While  it  will,  no  doubt, 
please  the  young  folks,  it  will  prove  boring  to  the 
older  folks.  Many  walkouts.  Tliese  "hot"  music 
pictures  are  keeping  the  people  away  in  droves.  How 
about  a  good  old  gangster  picture  for  a  change,  or 
have  we  got  to  keep  on  with  the  war-underground- 
hot  music  cycle  till  we  have  no  business  left. — B,  R. 
Johnson,  Roxy  Theatre,  Nipawin,  Sask.,  Canada.  Ru- 
ral patronage. 

I  DOOD  IT:  Red  Skelton,  Eleanor  Powell— Tinis 
seemed  to  please  the  crowd  immensely  and  business 
was  good. — B.  R.  Johnson,  Roxy  Theatre,  Nipawin, 
Sask.,  Canada.    Rural  patronage. 

PILOT  NO.  5:  Franchot  Tone,  Marsha  Hunt— De- 
cidedly from  an  entertainment  point  of  view  a  weak 
lower  half  of  a  double  bill.  The  opinion  of  my  patrons 
was  divided  on  the  entertainment  value  of  this  prod- 
uct. Personally  I  was  disappointed  as  the  title  would 
denote  an  airplane  picture.  Would  not  recommend 
this  for  small  town  audience  entertainment.  Played 
Thursday,  Jan.  6. — A.  L.  Dove,  Bengough  Theatre, 
Bengough,  Sask.,  Canada.  Rural  and  small  town 
patronage. 

SALUTE  TO'  THE  MARINES:  Wallace  Beery,  Fay 
Bainter— Very  good  picture.  They  all  seem  to  like 
Wallace  Beery,  who  does  some  good  acting.  Busi- 
ness fair.  Played  Thursday,  Friday,  Jan.  13,  14. — Na- 
tional Theatre,  Bridgeport,  Tex.  Small  town  patron- 
age. 


Paramount 


HENRY  ALDRICH  HAUNTS  A  HOUSE:  Jimmy 
Lydon,  Charlie  Smith — Good,  but  too  creepy  for  the 
kids.  This  series  has  a  large  following  here  among 
the  children  and  I  question  the  wisdom  of  using  the 
"horror  technique"  in  such  a  situation. — B.  R.  John- 
son, Roxy  Theatre,  Nipawin,  Sask.,  Canada.  Rural 
patronage. 

LET'S  FACE  IT:  Bob  Hope,  Betty  Hutton- Good 
show  and  good  business.  One  of  the  funniest  Bob 
has  made.  Everyone  was  pleased.  Played  Wednes- 
day, Thursday,  Jan.  12,  13.— E.  M'.  Freiburger,  Para- 
mount Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla.    Small  town  patronage. 


PRC  Pictures 


TRAIL  OF  TERROR:  Dave  O'Brien,  Jim  Newill— 
Series  not  well  liked.  Needs  strong  support.— Ralph 
Raspa,  State  Theatre,  Rivesville,  W.  Va.  Rural 
patronage. 


Republic 


HOOSIER  HOLIDAY:  Dale  Evans,  George  Byron— 
A  dandy  Httle  picture  that  I  played  on  Sunday  and 
Monday.  Not  a  complaint.  It  was  full  of  corn,  good 
singing  and  dancing  that  will  fit  in  for  these  days 
in  any  small  town.— Jim  Haney,  Milan  Theatre,  Milan, 
Ind. 

IN  OLD  OKLAHOMA:  John  Wayne,  Martha  Scott 
—Probably  the  best  picture  Republic  has  ever  made 
and  business  was  good.  However,  the  customers 
laughed  at   the  scenery,  which  was  supposed  to  be 


.  .  .  th*  original  exiiibitors'  reports  department,  established  October  14,  1916. 
In  it  tlieatremen  serve  one  anotlier  with  information  abont  the  box-ofRee  per* 
formance  of  product  —  providing  a  service  of  the  exhibitor  for  the  exhibitor. 
ADDRESS  REPORTS:  What  the  Picture  Did  for  Me,  Motion  Picture  Herald. 
Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  20,  N.  Y. 


typical  of  Oklahoma.  Heard  the  picture  was  made 
in  Utah.  Played  Sunday,  Monday,  Jan.  2,  3.— E.  M. 
Freiburger,  Paramount  Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla.  Small 
town  patronage. 

IN  OLD  OKLAHOMA:  John  Wayne,  Martha  Scott 
— Hats  off  to  Republic.  They  came  through  with  as 
finely  produced  and  finished  an  outdoor  picture  as  I 
have  ever  seen.  Nothing  better  from  any  company. 
Sold  to  me  on  a  "live  and  let  live"  basis,  which  left 
me  with  a  very  satisfied  box  office.  By  all  means  give 
this  your  best  "A"  running  time. — Parkway  Theatre, 
Bridgeport,  Conn.    General  patronage. 

OH,  MY  DARLING  CLEMENTINE:  Frank  Al- 
bertson,  Lorna  Gray — This  is  a  load  of  corn,  but  it 
pleased  the  plowboys  on  Friday  and  Saturday.  Busi- 
ness was  good.  Played  Jan.  7,  8. — E.  M'.  Freiburger, 
Paramount  Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla.  Small  town  pat- 
ronage. 

TUMBLING  TUMBLE  WEEDS:  Gene  Autry— This 
is  the  first  Autry  reissue  which  failed  to  please. 
Autry  acted  like  an  amateur  and  his  makeup  was  a 
mess.  Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Jan.  14,  15. — E.  M. 
Freiburger,  Paramount  "Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla.  Small 
town  patronage. 


RKO 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  ROOKIE:  Wally  Brown, 
Alan  Carney — The  crowd  rocked  in  their  seats  over 
this  program  picture;  many  are  still  talking  about 
it.  Much  favorable  comment.  Played  Friday,  Sat- 
urday, Jan.  7,  8.— Harland  Rankin,  Plaza  Theatre, 
Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 

BEHIND  THE  RISING  SUN:  Tom  Neal,  Margo— 
Played  this  one  late  and  business  was  extremely  poor; 
so  was  the  picture. — Jim  Haney,  Milan  Theatre,  Mi- 
lan, Ind. 

BEHIND  THE  RISING  SUN:  Tom  Neal,  Margo— 
Good  enough  picture  which  did  miserable  business. 
The  trailer,  containing  shots  of  the  few  brutal  epi- 
sodes, frightened  away  most  of  the  regular  patrons. 
This  I  know  for  a  fact.  The  few  who  ventured  out 
remarked  that  it  was  not  nearly  as  bad  as  the  trailer 
indicated.  My  advice  is  to  miss  out  on  the  trailer  if 
you  can't  ditch  the  feature. — B.  R.  Johnson,  Roxy 
Theatre,  Nipawin,  Sask.,  Canada.    Rural  patronage. 

BEHIND  THE  RISING  SUN:  Tom  Neal,  Margo- 
This  picture  proved  to  be  a  big  surprise;  we  did 
extra  well  with  it.  In  Chatham,  where  I  live,  it 
didn't  click,  but  in  the  small  town  it  was  a  natural. 
Played  Monday,  Tuesday,  Jan.  10,  11. — Harland  Ran- 
kin,  Plaza  Theatre,   Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 

BOMBARDIER:  Pat  O'Brien,  Randolph  Scott- 
Midweek  business  was  a  little  above  normal.  One 
ten-year-old  remarked,  "Don't  they  know  Japan  was 
bombed  from  a  carrier?"  Played  Wednesday,  Thurs- 
day, Jan.  5,  6. — A.  C.  Edwards,  Winema  Theatre,  Sco- 
tia, Calif.    Small  lumber  town  patronage. 

FLIGHT  FOR  FREEDOM:  Rosalind  Russell,  Fred 
MacMurray — This  has  the  record  of  the  lowest  Sun- 
day, Monday  draw  to  date.  Our  local  newspaper 
picked  the  day  I  played  it  to  tell  the  public  that  it 
was  the  biggest  bore  in  pictures.  You  will  agree  with 
them. — Ralph  Raspa,  State  Theatre,  Rivesville,  W. 
Va.    Rural  patronage. 

GILDERSLEEVE'S    BAD    DAY:    Harold  Peary, 

Jane  Darwell — This  is  very  good,  at  least,  for  a  small 
town.  It  should  bring  out  some  laughs. — Ralph  Raspa, 
State  Theatre,  Rivesville,  W.  Va.  Rural  patronage. 

LEOPARD  MAN,  THE:  Dennis  O'Keefe,  Margo— 
The  first  horror  film  to  flop  at  my  box  office.  Much 
better  than  "Cat  People."— Ralph  Raspa,  State  Thea- 
tre, Rivesville,  W.  Va.    Rural  patronage. 

SO  THIS  IS  WASHINGTON:  Lum  and  Abner— 
Business  just  average  on  this,  although  the  radio  fans 
who  came  seemed  pleased.  The  two  radio  stars  tried 
hard  to  be  actors.  .Played  Wednesday,  Thursday, 
Jan.  S,  6. — E.  M.  Freiburger,  Paramount  Theatre, 
Dewey,  Okla.    Small  town  patronage. 


Twentieth  Century- Fox 

CHETNIKS:  Philip  Dorn,  Virginia  Gilmore— Very 
farfetched,  although  action  enough  for  most.  Noth- 
ing much  wrong  with  the  picture  except  the  title. — 
B.  R.  Johnson,  Roxy  Theatre,  Nipawin,  Sask.,  Canada. 
Rural  patronage. 

CLAUDIA:  Dorothy  McGuire,  Robert  Young— This 
was  one  of  the  most  refreshing  pictures  that  I  have 
ever  played.  Liked  by  everyone  that  came.  Nice 
business  Sunday  and  Monday.— Jim  Haney,  Milan 
Theatre,  Milan,  Ind. 

CRASH  DIVE:  Tyrone  Power,  Anne  Baxter— Good 
picture,  fair  business,  weather  bad.  My  patrons  seem 
to  like  Tyrone  Power.  Played  Saturday-Monday, 
Jan.  1-3.— National  Theatre,  Bridgeport,  Tex.  Small 
town  patronage. 

JUST  OFF  BROADWAY:  Lloyd  Nolan,  Marjorie 
Weaver— Played  this  with  a  Western  on  the  week- 
end. Business  good.  Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Jan. 
14,  15.— Harland  Rankin,  Plaza  Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont., 
Canada. 

QUIET  PLEASE,  MURDER:  George  Sanders,  Gail 
Patrick — There  was  never  a  dull  moment  during  the 
entire  picture.  It  went  over  fairly  well  on  the  weak 
end  of  a  double  bill.  Weather  too  cold  for  any  busi- 
ness. Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Jan.  7,  8.— A.  C. 
Edwards,  Winema  Theatre,  Scotia,  Calif.  Small  lum- 
ber town  patronage. 

QUIET  PLEASE,  MURDER:  Gail  Patrick,  George 
Sanders — Quite  a  good  httle  dualer  with  Sanders,  as 
usual,  acting  superbly. — B.  R.  Johnson,  Roxy  Theatre, 
Nipawin,  Sask.,  Canada.    Rural  patronage. 

SWEET  ROSIE,  O'GRADY:  Betty  Grable,  Robert 
Young — Fine  musical  show  in  Technicolor.  Business 
was  way  above  average.  Give  us  more  like  this. 
Played  Sunday,  Monday,  Jan.  9,  10. — E.  M.  Freiburg- 
er, Paramount  Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla.  Small  town 
patronage. 


United  Artists 


COLT  COMRADES:  William  Boyd— Bill  Boyd  _  is 
quite  the  man  of  the  hour  for  weekend  business  with 
us.  Everybody  likes  "Hoppy."  Played  Friday,  Sat- 
urday, Jan.  7,  8. — Harland  Rankin,  Plaza  'Theatre, 
Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 


Unr 


niversai 

CAPTIVE  WILD  WOMAN:  Evelyn  Ankers,  John 
Carradine — Nice  program  picture  that  did  fair  mid- 
week business.  Played  Wednesday,  Thursday,  Jan. 
12,  13.— Harland  Rankin,  Plaza  Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont., 
Canada. 

MR.  BIG:  Gloria  Jean,  Donald  O'Connor— A  lovely 
picture  for  young  folks.  Didn't  do  the  business  we 
hoped  to  do.  This  boy  O'Connor  should  go  places. 
Played  Monday,  Tuesday,  Jan.  3,  4.— Harland  Rarikin, 
Plaza  Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 

STRANGE  DEATH  OF  ADOLF  HITLER:  Ludwig 
Donath,  Gale  Sondergaard — This  was  really  different. 
The  acting  of  all  the  leading  characters  was  good. 
The  part  of  Hitler's  double  was  handled  with  so 
much  restraint  that  even  the  kids  forgot  to  boo. 
Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Jan.  7,  8. — A.  C.  Edwards, 
Winema  Theatre,  Scotia,  Calif.  Small  lumber  town 
patronage. 


Warner  Bros. 


ACTION  IN  THE  NORTH  ATLANTIC:  Humph- 
rey Bogart,  Raymond  Massey — This  was  a  very  good 
picture  and  held  the  interest  of  the  audience  through- 
out.   Business  was  good  even  though  war  pictures  are 
(Continued  on  opposite  page) 


January    29,     I  944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


(Continued  from  opposite  page) 

not  so  popular  any  more.  The  work  of  Bogart  and 
M'assey  was  outstanding,  with  every  member  of  the 
cast  deserving  special  commendation.  Played  Sun- 
day, Monday,  Jan.  9,  10. — A.  C.  Edwards,  Winema 
Theatre,  Scotia,  Calif.    Small  lumber  town  patronage. 

ACTION  IN  THE  NORTH  ATLANTIC:  Raymond 
Massey,  Humphrey  Bogart — A  good  picture,  but  no 
business.— Jim  Haney,  Milan  Theatre,  Milan,  Ind. 

ADVENTURE  IN  IRAQ:  John  Loder,  Ruth  Ford- 
Not  much  of  a  picture  and  no  star  power.  They 
wouldn't  come  in  to  look  at  it  even  on  Bargain  Night. 
Didn't  get  film  rental.  Played  Tuesday,  Jan.  11.— E. 
M.  Freiburger,  Paramount  Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla. 
Small  town  patronage. 

WATCH  ON  THE  RHINE:  Paul  Lukas,  Bette  Da- 
vis— ^A  very  fine  picture,  but  the  crowds  stayed  away. 
Bette  Davis  is  not  for  the  small  towns.  Could  have 
done  three  times  more  business  with  a  Western. — Jim 
Haney,  Milan  Theatre,  Milan,  Ind. 

WATCH  ON  THE  RHINE:  Paul  Lukas,  Bette 
Davis — Very  good,  magnificently  acted  and  engrossing 
enough  to  hold  the  attention  of  all  except  the  kids. 
Business  above  average.— B.  R.  Johnson,  Roxy  Thea- 
tre,  Nipawin,   Sask.,   Canada.     Rural  patronage. 


Short  Features 
Columbia 

COMMUNITY  SING  NO.  8:  Community  Sing— 
These  are  very  popular  here.  Give  us  more. — Harland 
Rankin,  Plaza  Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 

HIGHER  THAN  A  KITE:  All  Star  Comedies— 
This  one  was  just  what  the  public  wanted  to  forget 
their  troubles.  I  never  fail  on  a  Stooge  comedy. 
They're  tops.— Bruce  K.  Young,  Ritz  Theatre,  Dyers- 
burg,  Tenn. 

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 

SCRAP  HAPPY:  Pete  Smith  Specialties— Not  up  to 
the  usual  Pete  Smith  reel  as  this  was  practically  gov- 
ernment propaganda.  These  reels  can  be  obtained 
rental  free.— A.  L.  Dove,  Bengough  Theatre,  Ben- 
gougb,  Sask.,  Canada. 

Paramount 

G.  I.  FUN:  Sportlights— Good  sport  reel  showing 
what  a  soldier  does  while  on  leave. — K  M'.  Freiburger, 
Paramount  Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla. 

GOOD  NIGHT,  RUSTY:  Madcap  Models— Another 
good  Puppetoon  in  color  from  George  Pal. — E.  M. 
Freiburger,  Paramount  Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla. 


RKO 

FALL  OUT,  FALL  IN;  Walt  Disney  Cartoons- 
Real  good  subject  that  helped  our  progrram.— Harland 
Rankin,  Plaza  Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 

RADIO  RUNAROUND:  Leon  Errol— One  of  Mr. 
Errol's  best  comedies  and  it  hit  a  pleasing  note  here. 
He  plays  a  dual  role  in  this  one  and  puts  them  over 
well.— Thomas  di  Lorenzo,  New  Paltz  Theatre,  New 
Paltz.  N.  Y. 

RHYTHM  ON  THE  RAMPAGE:  Headliner  Re- 
vivals— Musicals  have  appeal  to  young  folks.  Brought 
a  lot  of  favorable  comment.— Harland  Rankin,  Plaza 
Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 


United  Artists 


DON'T  HOOK  NOW:  Special— Played  this  up  as  a 
featurette.  Did  nice  business. — Harland  Rankin,  Plaza 
Theatre,  Tilbury, .  Ont.,  Canada. 


Universal 

CHOO  CHOOi  SWING:  Musicals— Count  Basic  was 
right  in  the  groove.— Ralph  Raspa,  State  Theatre, 
Rivesville,  W.  Va. 

DANCING  ON  THE  STARS:  Musicals— A  nice  mu- 
sical that  was  well  received.— Harland  Rankin,  Plaza 
Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 

MR.  CHIMP  RAISES  CAIN:  Variety  Views— Good 
one-reel  monkey  comedy.— E.  M'.  Freiburger,  Para- 
mount Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla. 

WHAT  ARE  WE  FIGHTING  FOR:  Victory  Fea- 
turettes— Best  war  short  made.— Ralph  Raspa,  State 
Theatre,  Rivesville,  W.  Va. 


SHORT  PRODUCT 
PLAYING  BROADWAY 

Week  of  January  24 

ASTOR 

The  Helicopter  20+h  Cent.-Fox 

Feature:  Lifeboat   20+h  Cent.-Fox 

CAPITOL 

My  Tomato   MGM 

Feature:  A  Guy  'Named  Joe.  .MGM 

CRITERION 

Baby  Puss  MGM 

No  Exceptions  20th  Cent.-Fox 

Feature:  His  Butler's  Sister.  Universal 

GLOBE 

Inki  and  the  Minah  Bird.  .  .  .Vitaphone 

Desert  Playground   Vitaphone 

Feature:    Where    Are  Your 

Children?  Monogram 

HOLLYWOOD 

inside  the  Clouds  Vitaphone 

Puss  'n'  Booty  Vitaphone 

Voice  That  Thrilled  the  World.Vitaphone 
Feature:  Desert  Song  Warner  Bros. 

PARAMOUNT 

Ozark  Sportsmen  Paramount 

Feature:  The  Miracle  of  Mor- 
gan's Creek  Paramount 

RIALTO 

Cage  Door  Canteen  Paramount 

Her  Honor  the  Mare  Paramount 

Vanishing  Private   RKO  Radio 

Feature:  Spider  Woman  Universal 

ROXY 

A  Volcano  Is  Born  20th  Cent.-Fox 

The  Hopeful  Donkey  20th  Cent.-Fox 

Feature:  The  Lodger  20th  Cent.-Fox 

STRAND 

Little  Red  Riding  Rabbit.  ..  Vitaphone 
Feature:  Destination  To^yo .  .  Warner  Bros. 


the  best. — A.  L.  Dove,  Bengough  Theatre,  Bengough 
Sask.,  Canada. 

CORNY  CONCERTO:  Merrie  Melodies  Cartoons- 
High  class  music  with  Bugs  Bunny.  Porky  Pig  and 
Dafify  Duck.— Ralph  Raspa,  State  Theatre,  Rivesville, 
W.  Va. 

GUN  TO  GUN:  Santa  Fe  Trail  Westerns— Good 
two-reel  Western  drama.  Plenty  of  action. — E.  M'. 
Freiburger,   Paramount   Theatre,   Dewey,  Okla. 

HUNTING  THE  DEVIL  CAT:  Vitaphone  Varieties 
— Howard  Hill,  world  champion  archer,  hunts  wild 
cats  in  this  one-reel  thriller. — E.  M.  Freiburger,  Para- 
mount Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla. 

TASK  FORCE:  Technicolor  Specials— Very  good 
two-reel  subject  in  Technicolor  showing  our  boys  and 
the  invasion  barges. — E.  M.  Freiburger,  Paramount 
Theatre,  Dewey.  Okla. 

VAUDEVILLE  DAYS:  Broadway  Brevities— Just 
what  the  doctor  ordered. — Harland  Rankin,  Plaza 
Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 


Morris  Joins  United  Artists 

Claud  Morris,  exploitation  and  publicity  man, 
last  week  joined  United  Artists  as  publicity  rep- 
resentative in  the  mid-western  division  with 
headquarters  in  the  Chicago  exchange.  Morris 
will  work  under  the  home  office  supervision  of 
Paul  N.  Lazarus,  Jr.,  advertising  and  publicity 
director,  and  in  Chicago  under  Rud  Lohrenz, 
district  manager. 


Vitaphone 


CHILDHOOD  DAYS:  Melody  Master  Bands— An 
excellent  musical  reel  of  a  child's  orchestra.    One  of 


"Vampire"  Opens  in  New  York 

"The  Return  of  the  Vampire,"  Columbia  film 
featuring  Bela  Lugosi,  Frieda  Inescort,  Nina 
Foch,  Miles  Mander,  Roland  Varno  and  Matt 
Willis,  opened  Friday  in  New  York  at  the 
Rialto  theatre. 


A." 

'      to  lell  you  about 
film  lliat  is  happy  and  ga 
andfilledwitli  romance  and 
action.  You'll  loseyourcares 
when  you  go  to  see  this 
rhumba-on-lhe-range  ftesto 

ROY  ROGERS 

Ring  ot  the  Cowboys 

TRIGGER 

A  Smaitest  Hotse  ^in  the  Movies 


RUTH  TERRY 

GUINN  "BIG  BOY"  WIlUAMi 
ONSLOW  STEVENS 

MARY  TREEN, 
The  Wlore  Brothers 
and  BOB  NOLAN  and 
THE  SONS  OF  THE  PIONEERS 
ftoy  Sings 

;:Hoagy  ("Stardust")  Carmichael's  "Hands  Across' 
'/^       the  Border"  and  other  grand  tunes 

Buy  War  Bands  and  Stamps 


A  RiPUBUC  PICrUkE} 


54 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    29,  1944 


Advertising  Rate 
In  Newspapers 
Shows  Increase 

In  spite  of  freezing  and  limiting  circulations, 
newspaper  advertising  per  agate  line  lias  be- 
come more  costly  to  advertisers  throughout  the 
nation.  In  a  survey  made  by  Standard  Rate 
and  Data  Service,  it  was  indicated  half  of  the 
26  newspapers  in  the  nation's  five  largest  cities, 
New  York,  Chicago,  Philadelphia.  Detroit  and 
Los  Angeles,  had  raised  their  advertising  rates 
in  the  past  year,  and  that  123  daily  papers,  all 
in  cities  of  over  100,000  population,  covered  by 
the  survey,  showed  a  general  increase  in  rates. 

The  increase  in  rates  has  accompanied  a 
great  upswing  in  volume.  The  Bureau  of  Ad- 
\ertising  in  a  survey  found  that  in  52  key  cities 
during  the  first  11  months  of  1943  national  ad- 
vertising amounted  to  255,737,439  lines,  a  gain 
of  26.8  per  cent  over  1942,  with  the  local  ad- 
vertising figure  coming  to  687,403,507,  a  gain 
of  2.9  per  cent. 

Cost  rises  were  comparable.  In  the  123 
cities  covered  in  the  Standard  Rate  and  Data 
Service  survey,  it  was  found  that  between  No- 
vember 1,  1942,  and  November  1,  1943,  the 
total  cost  of  advertising  rose  2.00004  per  cent 
in  the  general  field  to  $31.2921,  while  local  rates 
in  the  same  papers  brought  costs  to  |21.2713,  an 
increase  of  1.456  per  cent  over  1942  rates. 

The  rise  in  both  cost  and  volume  has  come 
in  the  face  of  a  paper  shortage,  with  newspapers 
serving  the  largest  reading  public  in  history, 
and  with  23  per  cent  less  paper  than  was  avail- 
able to  them  in  1941.  As  a  result,  space  for 
advertising  is  limited  and  publishers  are  ob- 
liged to  get  higher  rates  for  the  space  available. 
In  the  past  decade  sales  of  newspapers  rose 
from  35.1  million  to  an  estimated  44  million. 


Television  Groups  Hold 
Session  in  New  York 

Directors  of  the  newly  formed  Television- 
Broadcasters  Association  were  to  hold  the  first 
meeting  in  New  York  January  29,  O.  B.  Han- 
son, chief  engineer  of  the  National  Broadcasting 
Company,  announced. 

The  board  will  elect  officers  and  define  policy, 
Mr.  Hanson  reported  exceptional  enthusiasm 
and  unanimity  among  the  18  television  interests 
who  formed  the  Association  in  Chicago  last 
week. 

The  American  Television  Society,  meeting  in 
New  York  Tuesday  heard  addresses  on  post- 
war television  by  Paul  Raibourn,  Paramount 
executive  in  charge  of  television,  and  Norman 
D.  Waters,  ATS  president.  Mr.  Raibourn 
predicted  television  would  develop  rapidly  into 
international  importance. 


Warners  Set  Up 
Educational  Unit 


Creation  of  an  Educational  Bureau  to  supply 
schools,  colleges  and  libraries  with  discussion 
material  on  Warner  Brothers  releases  has  been 
announced  by  Mort  Blumenstock,  in. charge  of 
advertising  and  publicity  in  the  east.  Charles 
Steinberg,  formerly  educational  director  of  the 
Book-of-the-Month  Club,  will  be  in  charge  of 
the  activity. 

Now  in  preparation  is  a  series  of  aids  deal- 
ing with  the  forthcoming  release  of  "The  Ad- 
ventures of  Mark  Twain,"  including  a  pictorial 
map  of  the  America  of  Mark  Twain's  period, 
a  teaching  guide  to  the  film,  bulletin  posters  on 
Twain  and  his  works,  and  other  printed  matter 
to  help  discussions  of  the  film  by  schoolroom 
classes,  book  clubs,  library  groups  and  other 
units  in  the  educational  field. 


Monogram  Sets 
Releasing  Deals 
In  Latin  America 

Six  new  Latin  American  distribution  agen- 
cies have  been  acquired  by  Monogram  Pictures 
in  recently  completed  deals,  the  home  office  in 
New  York  announced  this  week. 

Monogram  products  will  be  offered  to  South 
and  Central  American  exhibitors  in  a  specially 
selected  "Latin  American  Package,"  it  was  an- 
nounced. The  company  has  combined  18  of  its 
best  current  productions  into  a  1943-44  package 
specially  tailored  for  Latin  American  film  de- 
mands. Although  other  Monogram  pictures 
will  be  available  through  its  agents,  the  com- 
pany will  stress  this  selected  product. 

The  new  Monogram  agents  are: 

Venezuela,  Joaquin  Martin,  president,  Inter- 
national Films,  C.  A. ;  Colombia,  Condor  Films, 
Bogota ;  Ecuador,  Francis  W.  Coleman ;  Cuba, 
Orbe  Films,  Havana;  Argentine,  Zdenko 
Bruck,  Buenos  Aires,  and  Uruguay  and  Para- 
guay, Central  Films,  in  Montevideo. 

A  special  exploitation  campaign  has  been 
launched  in  Latin  America  for  the  company's 
release,  "Women  in  Bondage."  Monogram  has 
dubbed  in  an  off-screen  Spanish  narration  and 
increased  print  orders  to  provide  for  air  ex- 
press delivery  for  simultaneous  release  in  key 
cities.  It  is  also  distributing  a  15-minute  Span- 
ish radio  dramatization. 


Ridnick  of  N.  S.  S.  inducted 

Cecil  Ridnick  of  the  National  Screen  Service 
Boston  exchange  was  honored  at  a  dinner  last 
week  at  the  .  Hotel  Bradford  in  Boston  before 
leaving  for  service  in  the  Army. 


NOTICE  OF  TRADE  SHOWINGS 


2o* 

CENTURY- FOX  J 


FOR  THE  BENEFIT  OF  EXHIBITORS  GENERALLY 


February  2nd-"JANE  EYRE"-2:30  P.M. 


ALBANY,  1052  Broadway 
ATLANTA,  197  Walton  St.,  N.  W. 
BOSTON,  105  Broadway 
BUFFALO,  290  Franklin  Street 
CHARLOTTE,  308  South  Church  Street 
CHICAGO,  1260  South  Wabash  Avenue 
CINCINNATI,  1638  Central  Parkway 
CLEVELAND,  2219  Payne  Avenue 
DALLAS,  1801  Wood  Street 
DENVER,  2101  Champa  Street 
DES  MOINES,  1300  High  Street  * 


(20th  Cenlury-Fox  Proieclion  Room,  unless  otherwise  specified) 
DETROIT,  2211  Cass  Avenue 
INDIANAPOLIS,  326  North  Illinois  Street 
KANSAS  CITY,  1720  Wyandotte  Street 
LOS  ANGELES,  2019  South  Vermont  Ave. 
MEMPHIS,  151  Vance  Avenue 
MILWAUKEE,  1016  North  8th  Street 
MINNEAPOLIS,  1015  Currie  Avenue,  N. 
NEW  HAVEN,  40  Whiting  Street 
NEW  ORLEANS,  200  South  Liberty  Street 
NEW  YORK  CITY,  345  West  44th  Street 
OKLAHOMA  CITY,  10  North  Lee  Avenoe 
*At  DES  MOINES  only  "JANE  EYRE"  12:45  P.M. 


OMAHA,  1502  Davenport  Street 

PHILADELPHIA,  302  North  13th  Street 

PinSBURGH,  1715  Boulevard  of  Allies 

PORTLAND,  Star  Film  Exchange 
925  N.W.19thSt. 

ST.  LOUIS,  Srenco  Screening  Room 
3143  Olive  St. 

SALT  LAKE  CITY,  216  East  1st  South  Street 

SAN  FRANCISCO,  245  Hyde  Street 

SEATTLE,  2421  Second  Avenue  ^ 

WASHINGTON,  932  N.  J.  Ave.,  N.  W. 


anuary    29,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


55 


MANAGERS* 

ROUND  TABLE 


<u{n  international  association  of  showmen  meeting  weekly 
in  MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD  for  mutual  aid  and  progress 


CHESTER  FRIEDMAN.  Editor 


GERTRUDE  MERRIAM.  Associate  Editor 


OP 


Merited  Recognition 

Last  week,  in  Chicago,  Jack  Kirsch,  president  of  the  Allied 
Theatres  of  Illinois,  remarked  that  it  was  a  good  idea  to  have 
luncheons  and  nneetings  of  theatre  managers,  instead  of  just 
exhibitor-owners,  when  planning  campaigns  for  drives. 

He  concluded  by.  observing  that  the  manager  performs 
rriajor  duties  in  the  drives  and  that  he  (the  manager)  is  always 
ready  to  exert  himself  to  the  utmost  to  put  these  things  over. 

Last  Friday,  Mr.  Nicholas  Schenck,  chairman  of  the  March 
of  Dimes  Drive,  tendered  a  breakfast  get-together  for  some 
600  theatre  managers  at  the  Hotel  Astor  in  New  York. 
The  purpose  of  the  gathering  was  to  launch  the  opening  of 
the  drive  for  the  Infantile  Paralysis  Fund. 

The  highlight  of  the  meeting  was  a  demonstration  of  the 
Sister  Kenny  method  of  treatment  for  the  dread  polio,  with 
little  Carl,  a  victim  of  the  disease,  as  the  patient. 

Carl's  cherubic  face  and  winning  smile  melted  the  hearts 
and  brought  lumps  to  the  throats  of  those  assembled.  An 
indelible  impression  was  created  in  the  minds  of  all  those 
present. 

A  good  share  of  that  impression  must  surely  be  lost  in  the 
attempted  transition  of  such  information  to  others.  The  fact  is 
that  second-hand  information,  or  information  that  is  handed 
along  from  executive  to  subordinate,  usually  loses  a  portion  of 
the  enthusiasm  and  import  that  motivates  the  leaders  in  a 
project.  This  time  600  saw  for  themselves. 

Mr.  Schenck  expressed  the  hope  that  every  theatre  would 
exceed  its  last  year  mark.  More  than  likely,  those  who  were 
present  determined  to  double  previous  collections. 

We  hope  that  in  all  future  drives  the  chairmen  and  executive 
committees  will  follow  the  sound  advice  of  Mr.  Kirsch  and 
the  inspired  action  of  Mr.  Schenck  and  permit  the  boys  who 
are  on  the  firing  line  to  get  first  hand  information  and  some 
of  the  limelight. 

AAA 

Tops  in  any  Competition 

Paramount  recently  staged  a  competition  to  select  the  best 
selling  campaigns  employed  by  managers  in  exploiting  the  local 
engagements  of  "So  Proudly  We  Hail". 

Lige  Brien,  manager  of  the  Kenyon  theatre,  Pittsburgh,  who 


has  since  been  transferred  to  the  bigger  Enright  theatre,  won 
first  prize  in  the  contest,  a  $500  War  Bond. 

Second  honors  and  $350  in  War  Bonds  were  awarded  to 
Harry  Botwick  of  the  State,  Portland,  Maine. 

Both  Lige  and  Harry  are  contributors  to  the  Round  Table 
pages,  and  Lige  has  won  honors  in  the  Quigley  Awards  on 
several  occasions. 

The  competitive  spirit  of  promotional- activities  stimulated 
by  the  Quigley  Awards  has  never  been  in  greater  evidence. 
Nor  does  it  manifest  itself  more  conclusively  when  the  two 
highest  honors  in  Paramount's  enterprise  are  won  by  members 
of  the  Round  Table. 

AAA 

Pleasantry  Costs  Nothing 

In  these  troubled  times  when  most  managers  are  burdened 
with  unskilled  employees  who  are  indifferent  to  the  peculiar 
problems  associated  with  good  theatre  operation  and  the 
necessity  for  extra  courtesy  in  their  contact  with  the  public,  it 
is  heartening  to  note  that  recognition  and  appreciation  is  still 
forthcoming  whenever  merited. 

Marlowe  Conner  of  the  Capitol,  in  Madison,  Wis.,  for- 
wards a  recent  editorial  article  published  In  the  Wisconsin  State 
Journal.  The  story  Is  centalnly  unusual,  considering  the  number 
of  Impolite  and  frequently  downright  rude  persons  one  comes 
in  contact  with  almost  daily. 

As  a  weekly  sermon,  recently,  a  local  minister  selected  for 
his  topic:  "Courtesy  in  Business".  The  clergyman  illustrated 
his  talk  by  singling  out,  for  special  commendation,  one  Evan 
M.  Hughes,  who  has  been  employed  at  the  Capitol  theatre  as 
doorman,  and  nominated  Mr.  Hughes  as  the  most  courteous 
person  In  the  city. 

The  editor  of  the  State  Journal  seconded  the  nomination 
and  also  was  highly  complimentary  In  mentioning  Hughes' 
cheerfulness  and  pleasantness  with  every  patron  of  the  theatre. 

Both  the  press  and  the  clergy  agreed  that  Hughes'  friendly 
greetings  made  people  feel  better  and  attracted  extra  business 
to  the  theatre.    The  editorial  concluded: 

"As  a  matter  of  fact,  Hughes  does  not  have  too  much  to 
be  happy  about.  You  see,  his  son  was  on  Bataan  and  Is 
now  a  prisoner  of  the  Japs." 

—CHESTER  FRIEDMAN 


56 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    29,     194  4^ 


LOBBY  PROMOTIONS 


\a  im  m  m  war  mm  biiv  war  ronds  mqm: 

ATTRAaiOHi  mi  MAD  CHOUL"  AND  i  THF  iflN  OF  DftAtOT 


Photo  by  Osjetea  Brlggs 

Another  Louie  Charninsky  front,  at  the  Rialto  theatre,  Dallas,  Tex.  Note 
the  special  box  office  Lou  built  to  promote  Gift  Book  sales. 


At  the  Palace,  In  Memphis,  manager  Cecil  Vogel 
tied  "The  Gang's  All  Here"  to  current 
Bond  drive  in  this  attractive  window  display. 


A  miniature 
stage  setting  en- 
hanced this  dis- 
play for  "Heav- 
enly Body"  at 
Loew's  Poll,  Hart- 
ford, Conn.  Man- 
ager Lou  Cohen 
made  the  layout. 


n  Buenos  Aires,  Argen- 
tina, attention  was  fo- 
cused on  "Crash  Dive" 
for  Its  engagement  at 
the  Gran  Rex  theatre 
with  this  replica  of  a 
submarine  and  llfesize 
cutout  of  Tyrone 
Power.  Exhibit  was 
unveiled  by  Navai  of- 
ficers. 


Photo  by  H.  Campbell! 

Les  Pollock  set  this  attractive  reminder 
that  "Lassie"  was  coming  to  Loew's,  1 
Rochester,  N.  Y.,  where  every  patron  saw 
it  as  they  entered. 


Bill  Eagen,  manager  of  the  Princess,  Sioux  City,  borrowed  a 
coffin  for  this  effective  sidewalk  ballyhoo  on  "Hostages". 


January    29,  1944 


MANAGERS'    ROUND  TABLE 


57 


By  Eobert  K.  Morris,  P.S.A. 


Manager  Mike  Nicholas,  of  Century's 
Kingsway,  Brooklyn,  set  up  an  advance 
sale  ticket  office  for  seats  to  New  Year's 
Eve   premiere  of  "Higher  and  Higher". 


A  seating  plan,  with  allowance  for  names  of  servicemen  to  be  honored  by 
Bond  purchasers,  has  been  erected  in  the  lobby  of  the  Fox  theatre,  Hackensack, 
N.  J.,  by  manager  Clement  D.  Krepps. 


Frank  La  Falce, 
advertising  man- 
ager, Warners', 
Washington,  pre- 
pared this  sal- 
vage display  to 
plug  "Destina- 
tion Tokyo"  at 
the  Earle. 


H.  Campbell  Photos 


F.  Anderson,  manager  of  the  Century, 
Rochester,  N.  Y.,  secured  the  cooperation  of 
Marine  heroes  and  the  American  Legion  for 
stage  ceremonies  in  conjunction  with  the  opening 
of  "Guadalcanal  Diary". 


Noah  Schechter, 
publicist,  RKO 
theatres,  Cincin- 
nati, had  Army 
troops  aiding 
local  scrap  drive 
collection  to  ex- 
ploit "Destina- 
tion Tokyo". 


Red  King,  pub- 
licity director  for 
RKO  In  Boston, 
arranged  this 
window  display 
plugging  the 
stage  attraction 
at  the  RKO  Bos- 
ton. 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    29,  1944 


Exploiting  the  New  Films 


How  the  recent  pictures  are  being  sold  at 
the  first  run  and  pre-release  date  showings 


"WOMEN  IN  BONDAGE" 

An  extensive  newspaper  and  radio  cam- 
paign was  prepared  and  executed  by  man- 
ager Gene  Kilburg  for  the  world  premiere 
of  "Women  in  Bondage"  at  the  Palace 
theatre,  Milwaukee.  A  considerable  amount 
of  publicity  was  obtained  for  the  picture 
through  the  personal  appearance  of  the  late 
H.  B.  Warner,  Gertrude  Michael  and  Rita 
Quigley,  stars  of  the  attraction. 

Kilberg's  campaign  opened  with  under- 
lines in  the  regular  theatre  ads  two  weeks 
in  advance.  Beginning  five  days  in  advance 
of  the  opening  with  100  line  display  ads, 
space  was  increased  daily  to  600  lines  on 
the  day  before  opening  and  opening  day. 

Three  daily  announcements  were  used  on 
radio  stations  WTMJ  and  WISN.  Five  an- 
nouncements were  used  daily  on  WEMP. 
Additional  plugs  were  obtained  on  WTMJ 
from  station  sponsored  programs. 

State-wide  Radio  Hookup 
Introduces  Stars 

A  state-wide  hook-up  was  arranged  over 
the  Wisconsin  network  the  day  before  open- 
ing, featuring  the  stars  and  producer  of  the 
picture  on  a  15  minute  program.  The  Wis- 
consin network  gave  the  special  program 
five  advance  announcements,  gratis. 

The  Journal  and  the  Sentinel  gave  the 
premiere  complete  news  coverage  with  pho- 
tos of  the  stars  arriving  in  town  and  de- 
voted columns  of  news  space  to  art  and 
stories  on  the  picture. 

On  Sunday  before  opening  a  special 
screening  was  arranged  for  German  refugees 
which  was  covered  by  a  staff  reporter  for 
the  Journal.  A  cocktail  party  was  arranged 
at  the  leading  Milwaukee  hotel  where  the 
stars  met  the  press  and  radio  representa- 
tives. 

Permission  was  obtained  to  hang  a  street 
banner  measuring  50  feet  in  width  across 


-.WORLD  ^ 
PREMIERE.- 


'  with  Ihc  STARS  IN  PERSON! 

ON  THt  SIAGt 

GERTRUDE  MICHAEL  •  RITA  GUIGLE/ 
H.  B.  WARNER 


m  r 


—AND  FOR  THOSE  WHO 
DARE  TO  DISOBE/,  THE 
PUNISHMENT  IS—  M|k 

STERILIZATION!! 

THE  STORY  OF  I 
HITLER'S  WOMEN!  ' 


I 


GERTRUDE  MICHAEL 
RITA  QUIGLEY  • 
ALAN  BAXTER  • 

STARTING   AT   6:30    P.  M. 


V/ITH 
•    H.  B.  WARNER 
NANCy  KELLY 
GAIL  PATRICK 


WARNER  BAXTER 


TOMORROW! 

DOORS  OPEN  AT  6:00  P.  M. 


the  main  thoroughfare  advertising  the 
premiere.  A  streamer  sign  was  built  across 
the  theatre  front  with  side  panels  displaying 
30  by  40  enlargements  and  punch  copy  from 
the  picture.  Outer  doors  were  painted  red 
with  swastikas  in  the  center  panels.  Stream- 
er pennants  were  hung  from  the  roof  and 
fastened  to  the  outer  edges  of  the  marquee. 
Flood  lights  illuminated  the  theatre  front 
at  night. 

Three  ten-foot  circles  were  painted  on  the 


Street  ballyhoo  for  the  world  premiere  of  "Women  In  Bondage"  took  the  form  of 
a  concentration  camp,  which  was  erected  at  a  busy  street  corner. 


WORLD  PREMIERE 

PALACE  THURSDAY 


WITH  THE  STARS 
IH  PERSON.' 


Two  of  the  display  ads  used  to  announce 
the  world  premiere  of  "Women  In  Bond- 
age' at  the  Palace  theatre,  in  Milwaukee. 
Stress  was  placed  on  the  highly  "sensa- 
tional" angle  of  the  story  plot  in  all 
media  of  advertising.  Above,  one  of  the 
advance  teaser  ads;  left,  a  huge  three- 
column  announcement,  measuring  almost 
600  lines,  was  run  the  day  before  opening. 


sidewalk  in  front  of  the  entrance  with  swas- 
tikas filled  in  reversed  blocks. 

As  an  advance  plug,  the  entire  lobby  of 
the  theatre  was  converted  into  a  Nazi  Art 
Museum  with  large  blowups  adorning  all 
available  wall  space.  For  the  premiere  per- 
formance, all  employees  of  the  theatre  were 
dressed  in  appropriate  costumes.  The  men 
wore  uniforms  of  Nazi  Storm  Troopers  and 
the  women  employees  were  decked  out  in 
dark  skirts,  white  blouses  and  ties  and  af- 
fected pigtails. 

In  the  center  of  the  foyer  a  live  model 
dressed  in  torn  and  disheveled  Nazi  maed- 
chen  uniform  reclined  upon  a  platform  over 
which  was  a  ten-foot  high  banner  with 
swastika  captioned,  "She  has  served  the 
Reich!" 

Wacs  and  Waves  Appear 
At  Premiere  Ceremonies 

Additional  exploitation  on  the  attraction 
included  a  barbed  wire  enclosure  resembling 
a  concentration  camp,  with  girl  prisoners 
and  a  guard;  posting  of  25  twenty-four 
sheets  and  copy  welcoming  the  stars  to  the 
premiere  which  was  carried  on  the  marquees 
of  two  leading  hotels  in  the  city. 

On  the  night  of  the  premiere,  the  stars 
were  introduced  to  the  audience  from  the 
stage  as  part  of  the  ceremonies  which  were 
climaxed  with  a  finale  in  which  uniformed 
members  of  the  Waves  and  Wacs  partici- 
pated. The  backdrop  for  the  finale  was  a 
huge  picture  of  Miss  Liberty  with  the  prin- 
cipals and  the  audience  joining  in  singing 
"God  Bless  America." 


January    2  9,     1  944 


MANAGERS'    ROUND  TABLE 


59 


The  Selling  Approach 

ON  NEW  PRODUCT 

[The  material  below  reflects  press  books  now  in  preparation  and  represents  the  point  of 
view  of  the  distributors'  exploiteers  about  the  selling  points  and  special  merit  of  these  pictures.^ 


THE  NORTH  STAR  (RKO  Radio):  News- 
paper publicity  should  not  be  too  difficult 
to  promote  because  of  the  fact  that  the 
general  public  has  been  awakened  to  the 
heroic  struggle  Soviet  Russia  has  been 
making  against  the  Nazis  and  because  of 
their  unprecedented  counterattack,  still  go- 
ing on.  You  might  be  able  to  arrange  a 
contest  in  the  form  of  a  quiz  with  the 
paper  publishing  maps  of  Russia  with 
names  of  cities  and  rivers  omitted,  with 
free  guest  tickets  for  readers  who  can 
properly  locate  specific  points.  A  radio 
quiz  might  go  well,  with  questions  perti- 
nent to  important  dates  and  places  in  con- 
nection with  invasion  of  Russia  and  the 
present  retreat  of  the  Nazis.  Ira  Gershwin 
composed  a  number  of  songs  which  are 
heard  In  the  picture,  which  have  been  pub- 
lished by  Chappell  &  Co.  Radio  and  music 
shop  promotions  are  therefore  in  order. 
The  song  hits  are:  "No  Village  Like  Mine", 
"Younger  Generation"  and  "Song  of  the 
Guerrillas".  Try  a  coloring  contest  in  your 
local  schools,  with  free  guest  tickets  to  the 
winners.  Dress  the  doorman  and  cashier 
in  Russian  peasant  costume  as  an  advance 
plug.  Tie  In  with  the  American-Russian 
organizations  and  try  to  arrange  for  a  cos- 
tume pageant  or  balalaika  band  on  the 
stage.  Use  the  old  telescope  device  at  an 
important  street  corner,  bannered  "Free 
look  at  the  North  Star".  When  passersby 
look  Into  the  telescope,  your  theatre  name 
and  dates  should  be  visible.  Another  good 
street  ballyhoo  might  be  arranged  with  a 


horse  and  cart,  properly  placarded,  with 
the  driver  In  costume  and  perhaps  a  young 
lady  In  peasant  dress  to  lend  atmosphere. 

NONE  SHALL  ESCAPE  (Columbia):  This 
picture  has  as  its  theme  the  punishment 
destined  for  those  guilty  of  war  crimes  and, 
by  Its  very  timeliness  and  the  recent  trial 
of  apprehended  Nazis  in  Russia,  can  lead 
to  some  excellent  newspaper  cooperation. 
A  contest  is  suggested  for  readers,  with 
prizes  for  those  submitting  the  best  letters 
on  the  form  of  punishment  that  should  be 
meted  out  to  war  criminals.  News  com- 
mentators might  also  be  open  for  similar 
promotions  on  radio  broadcasts.  Try  to 
arrange  a  round  table  discussion  on  the 
local  radio  station,  with  the  topic:  "How 
shall  the  Axis  war  criminals  be  punished?" 
Go  after  the  foreign-American  organiza- 
tions whose  countries  have  been  over- 
run by  the  Nazis.  Arrange  a  special  screen- 
ing for  newspapermen,  the  clergy,  and 
members  of  foreign  legations.  Ask  for  their 
comments  and  get  out  a  special  herald  or 
lobby  display  with  quotes.  Get  the  high 
school  English  department  interested  and 
try  to  arrange  a  reviewers'  contest,  with 
prizes  for  winning  students.  The  distributor 
has  prepared  a  set  of  display  ads  that  are 
effective  and  forceful.  LIthos  are  likewise 
excellent  and  wIlTmake  appealing  displays. 
A  tabloid  herald  Is  provided  that  is  a  sure- 
fire ticket  seller,  with  space  allowed  for 
merchant  imprint  where  tieups  are  pro- 
moted. 


Star  Personal  Appearance  Aids 
"Where  Are  Your  Children?" 

Thiough  a  request  made  by  the  High 
Sherift  of  New  Haven  County,  Gale  Storm, 
star  of  '  Where  Are  Your  Children  ?"  visited 
the  city  and  attended  various  meetings  of 
Child  Welfare  organizations  etc.,  Sidney 
Kleper,  manager  of  Loew's  Poli  Bijou, 
where  the  picture  was  playing  landed  abun- 
dant publicity  on  the  visit  and  also  arranged 
a  broadcast  which  included  Miss  Storm,  the 
Mayor  and  Jefifry  Bernerd,  producer  of  the 
picture. 

Special  heralds  were  distributed,  teachers 
and  guidance  directors  were  given  permis- 
sion to  discuss  the  picture  with  their  classes 
and  special  screenings  were  held  for  priests, 
ministers  and  rabbis. 


both  the  sheet  music  and  record  angle.  Win- 
dow and  counter  displays  were  also  pro- 
moted, while  the  bands  in  the  leading  hotels 
played  the  music  and  plugged  the  picture. 

For  "The  Iron  Major,"  Dick  promoted  a 
full  column  on  the  sports  page,  sports  com- 
mentators on  two  local  stations  plugged  the 
picture  and  a  co-op  ad  was  promoted. 


Music  Tieups  Help  Sell 
"Sweet  Rosie  O'Grady" 

In  advance  of  his  ak'fe  on  "Sweet  Rosie 
O'Grady"  at  the  Keith  theatre,  in  Syracuse, 
Dick  Feldman  arranged  for  five  of  the  hit 
tunes  from  the  picture  to  be  publicized  in  all 
outstanding  music  stores  in  town  covering 


Effective  Lobby  Display 
Sells  "Girl  Crazy" 

Three  weeks  in  advance  of  "Girl  Crazy" 
at  the  Yucca  theatre,  in  Midland,  Tex.,  El- 
mer Adams  constructed  a  huge  lobby  dis- 
play which  was  decked  with  stills  from  the 
picture.  In  the  center  the  house  artist 
painted  a  large  comic  cowboy.  Catchline 
from  the  cowboy  with  lariat  in  his  hand 
read :  "Yes,  suh.  Podner,  this  is  their  best 
yet." 

Station  KRLH  came  through  with  plugs 
for  the  picture  and  played  the  hit  tunes  and 
Adams  also  secured  the  cooperation  of  music 
instructors  in  the  schools  for  the  plugging 
of  the  picture  in  classes.  Stair  risers  car- 
ried picture  copy  together  with  title  and 
cast. 


Peters'  Whistling  Contest  Opens 
"Whistling  in  Brooklyn" 

An  effective  radio  contest  was  staged  by 
George  Peters  at  Loew's  theatre,  in  Rich- 
mond, Va.,  in  advance  of  "Whistling  in 
Brooklyn."  Listeners  were  asked  to  iden- 
tify various  whistling  tunes,  such  as  "Whistle 
While  You  Work,"  etc.,  and  various  types 
of  whistles  which  were  reproduced  on  the 
organ.  In  addition,  a  search  was  made  for 
Richmond's  best  whistler,  who  was  heard 
on  the  program  the  Thursday  and  Friday 
after  opening  of  the  picture. 

Red  Skelton  whistles  in  the  form  of 
miniature  baseball  bats  were  distributed  a 
week  in  advance  with  appropriate  copy  at- 
tached. Window  displays  were  promoted 
and  a  tieup  was  effected  with  the  Raleigh 
Cigarette  distributors  whereby  cards  were 
available  at  all  retail  outlets  carrying  copy 
reading:  "See  Red  Skelton  in  'Whistling 
in  Brooklyn'  and  Hear  him  on  the  Raleigh 
Cigarettes  Program." 

For  "Best  Foot  Forward,"  Peters  sold 
the  shoe  division  of  the  Retail  Merchants 
Association  on  cooperating  by  displaying 
12  by  14  foot  cards  reading  "Avoid  a  Last 
Minute  Shoe  Stampede.  Put  your  Best  Foot 
Forward."  Music  from  the  picture  was 
played  on  the  theatre  organ  intermittently 
several  weeks  in  advance  and  radio  cover- 
age included  a  "College  Song  Contest." 
Winners  naming  the  correct  colleges  re- 
ceived passes  to  the  picture. 

Feldnnan  Has  Toy  Matinee 
For  Poor  in  Syracuse 

Dick  Feldman,  manager  of  the  Keith  the- 
atre, in  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  staged  a  special 
Saturday  morning  show  in  conjunction  with 
the  Girl  Scouts  of  Onondaga  county  and  the 
Syracuse  Xmas  Bureau. 

Admission  to  the  performance  was  a  used 
toy  from  each  scout.  The  toys  were  turned 
over  to  the  Xmas  Bureau  for  repairs  and  re- 
painting and  distribution  to  poor  children 
in  the  county. 

Photos  and  special  stories  broke  in  the 
dailies  and  considerable  good-will  was  estab- 
lished for  the  theatre. 


Reh's  "Tokyo"  Screening 

As  part  of  his  campaign  on  "Destination 
Tokyo,"  Al  Reh,  manager  of  Warners'  Mast- 
baum  theatre,  Philadelphia,  tied  in  with  the 
Navy  Incentive  Office  to  arrange  for  a  spe- 
cial preview  of  the  picture  at  the  Cramps 
Shipyard,  major  war  plant  in  the  city.  The 
special  screening  was  held  for  submarine  and 
construction  crews  along  with  Navy  officers. 
The  program  also  included  an  inspection 
tour  of  a  submarine  now  at  Cramps'  for  re- 
pair of  battle  damage. 


THEATRE  MANAGEMENT  RECORD 
AND  ANNUAL  TAX  REGISTER 

■  Easy  accounting  system  that  enables 
you  to  keep  an  accurate,  complete  and  up- 
to-the-minute  record  of  the  .  Q  0 
business   of   your   theatre.  Mm 

Postpaid 

QUICLEY  BOOKSHOP 

ROCKEFELLER   CENTER.   NEW   YORK  (20) 


60 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    29,  1944 


MANAGERS  JOIN  JUDGES  IN 
AWARDS  APPROVAL 


CHARLES  B.  McDONALD 

Hame  Office  Executive 
RKO  Theatres 

I  will  be  very  glad  to  serve  as  Judge 
on  the  Quigley  Awards  Committee  for 
1944.  I  have  always  considered  the 
Quigley  Awards  an  important  phase  of 
our  business ;  they  recognize  that  the  out 
of  town  manager  and  the  small  time  man- 
ager are  important  members  of  the  Mo- 
tion Picture  Industry, 

T.  J.  CONNORS 

Sales  Manager 

Twentieth  Century-Fox  Film  Corp. 

It  was  pleasing  news  indeed  to  know 
that  the  Quigley  Awards  competitions  are 
to  be  continued  for  another  year. 

The  Quigley  Awards  have  long  been 
an  inspiration  to  showmen  throughout  the 
world.  Exhibitors,  exploitation  men,  ad- 
vertising and  publicity  workers  look  to 
the  Quigley  Awards  for  new  ideas,  help- 
ful suggestions  and  for  general  informa- 
tion of  showmanship  activities.  These 
Awards  have  always  served  to  stimulate 
showmen  to  greater  efiforts — for  greater 
grosses. 

CHARLES  E.  KURTZMAN 

Loeti/'s  Northeastern  Division  Manager 
Boston,  Mass. 

Thanks  for  your  invitation  to  again 
serve  as  a  Judge  on  the  Committee  for  the 
1944  Quigley  Awards. 

More  than  ever  before,  good  show- 
manship deserves  recognition  and  these 
competitions  certainly  are  a  stimulant  for 
the  fellows  in  the  field. 

NAT  WOLF 

Division  Manager 

Warner  Bros.  Circuit,  Cleveland 

I  consider  it  an  honor  to  serve  as  a 
Judge  on  the  Quigley  Awards  Committee 
for  1944;  I  feel  that  the  Quigley  Awards 
Competitions  are  of  great  value  as  they 
stimulate  our  managers,  keep  them  on  the 
alert  and  bring  out  the  best  in  them  in 
their  efforts  to  win  recognition  in  this 
field. 

J.  R.  SPRINGER 

Executive  General  Manager 
Century  Circuit,  Inc. 

I  am  in  receipt  of  your  letter  of  Decem- 
ber 22nd,  1943,  inviting  me  to  serve  on 
the  Quigley  Awards  Competition  Com- 
mittee as  a  Judge,  and  I  wish  to  advise 
that  I  will  be  happy  to  accept  this  invi- 
tation. 


''AWARDS  RECOGNITION 
SOMETHING  TO  CHERISH" 

The  recognition  I  have  received  from  the 
Judges  in  the  Quigley  Awards  is  something 
I  greatly  cherish. 

The  Qtiigley  Awards  furnish  that  outlet 
for  friendly  competition  which  adds  zest  to 
any  undertaking.  The  Awards  have  cer- 
tainly been  an  incentive  for  me  to  study 
my  campaigns  and  make  them  as  complete 
as  possible. 

It  is  my  hope  that  the  Awards  will  con- 
tinue as  they  have  in  the  past;  they  have 
a  definite  place  in  our  industry. — BOYD  F. 
SCOTT,  Manager,  Granada  and  Mozark, 
Springfield,  Mo. 


GEORGE  F.  DEMBOW 

Vice-President  in  Charge  of  Sales 
National  Screen  Service 

Our  Company  is  vitally  interested  in 
the  continued  operation  of  this  Award 
plan  as  it  constitutes  a  most  important 
factor  towards  fostering  an  interest  in 
every  angle  of  showmanship  that  can  be 
put  behind  a  feature  engagement.  Since 
we  are  of  the  advertising  business,  we 
have  more  than  a  casual  interest  in  good 
advertising  and  exploitation  work  and  in 
the  stimulation  of  all  effort  tending  to  en- 
hance box  office  response. 

It  is  our  opinion  that  the  Quigley 
Awards  are  truly  valuable  to  both  ex- 
hibitor and  producer  alike — for  they  are 
incentive  developing  towards  the  use  of 
the  best  showmanship  to  attain  maximum 
returns  on  all  pictures. 


''HELPS  MANAGER  WHO  IS 
NEW  TO  BUSINESS" 

I  have  nothing  but  favorable  comment 
to  make  regarding  the  efforts  of  managers 
to  improve  their  showmanship. 

As  a  manager,  I  think  that  the  Motion 
Picture  Herald,  through  the  Managers' 
Round  Table,  definitely  helps  the  manager 
who  is  new  to  the  business.  With  the 
Quigley  Award  as  a  goal  it  is  a  great  incen- 
tive to  put  all  one  has  into  exploitations  for 
the  theatre  and  the  prestige  the  manager 
receives. 

I  know  my  company  appreciates  the 
efforts  their  managers  put  into  their 
exploitations,  and  are  keenly  interested  in 
the  citations  awarded. — LOUIS  L.  SIMONS, 
Manager,  ?irk,  Windsor,  Ont.,  Canada. 


C.  J.  LATTA 

Zone  Manager 

Warner  Bros.  Circuit,  Albany 

I  have  always  considered  the  Quigley 
Awards  a  splendid  medium  for  stimulat- 
ing better  box  office  grosses  and  exploita- 
tion efforts  of  the  men  in  the  field. 

I  will  be  very  pleased  to  serve  as  a 
Judge  on  the  Committee  for  1944. 

RALPH  BRANTON 

General  Manager 

Tri-States  Theatre  Corp.,  Des  Moines 

I  believe  that  the  Quigley  Awards  are 
extremely  stimulating,  and  especially  now 
where  lack  of  showmanship  is  so  easily 
evidenced.  Without  the  Quigley  Awards 
and  stimulants  of  such  a  character,  the 
industry  may  find  itself  some  day  in  a 
position  where  it  will  need  just  such 
showmanship,  and  without  this  continu- 
ous stimulation,  it  may  be  lacking. 
Please  continue  them  for  the  good  of  the 
industry. 

CHARLES  REED  JONES 

Director  of  Advertising 
Republic  Pictures  Corp. 

Of  course  I  shall  be  very  happy  to 
serve  as  a  judge  on  the  Committee  for 
1944. 

Serving  as  a  judge  in  the  past,  I  have 
had  an  opportunity  to  see  what  the 
Quigley  Awards  inspire,  and,  I  know  that 
the  Awards  are  serving  a  most  excellent 
purpose. 

BEN  H.  GRIMM 

Advertising  Manager 
RKO  Radio  Pictures,  Inc. 

I  will  be  very  glad  to  act  as  one  of  the 
judges  of  the  Quigley  Awards  Committee 
for  1944. 

Definitely  I  believe  the  Quigley 
Awards  are  a  stand-out  medium  for  stim- 
ulating better  box  office  grosses.  Backed 
by  the  52-weeks-a-year  Managers'  Round 
Table,  the  combination  becomes  of  para- 
mount importance  in  promoting  theatre 
exploitation. 

HARRY  F.  SHAW 

Division  Manager 
New  Haven,  Conn. 

Thank  you  so  much  for  asking  me  to 
serve  as  a  Judge  on  the  Committee  of 
Quigley  Awards  for  1944.  I  shaU  be 
very  happy  to,  and  consider  it  an  honor 
and  a  privilege.  - 

I  have  always  felt  that  the  Quigley 
Awards  were  a  great  impetus  for  better 
box  office  grosses,  and  I  know  it  will  be 
very  successful  this  year. 


January    29,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


61 


''executiYes  watching  our  efforts  with  interest'' 

—SAYS  SAMARTANO 


WILLIAM  D,  GALLIGAN 

Manager,  Commercial 
Chicago,  III. 

Most  certainly  the  Awards  Competition 
has  a  stimulating  effect  on  the  box  office. 
In  planning  each  campaign  the  manager 
automatically  refers  to  what  he  remem- 
bers about  similar  campaigns  in  the  pages 
of  the  Round  Table.  I  think  most  men 
couple  original  ideas  or  twists  with 
other  ideas  garnered  from  their  fellow 
Round  Tablers.  It  is  this  coupling  of 
ideas  that  makes  a  well-rounded  cam- 
paign, and  a  well-rounded  campaign  in- 
variably means  money  at  the  box  office. 

Then,  too,  every  manager  has  his  par- 
ticular specialty.  One  man  may  be  a 
cracker- jack  publicist  but  relatively  weak 
as  an  exploiteer.  A  Round  Tabler 
doesn't  worry  about  such  a  small  thing. 
He  simply  draws  upon  the  talents  of  his 
fellow  members  who  are  strong  on  ex- 
ploitation and  thus  completes  his  work. 

My  firm  has  never  failed  to  have  an 
appreciative  word  when  I  have  won.  We 
have  a  bonus  system  not  based  entirely 
on  net  income  but  partially  so  and  my 
bonuses  in  the  past  two  years  have  been 
evidence  enough  that  my  efforts  as  a 
Round  Tabler  have  paid  large  dividends 
both  in  salary  and  bonuses. 

LOUIS  CHARNINSKY 

Manager,  Capitol 
Dallas,  Tex. 

Will  say  there  is  nothing  better  than 
the  Quigley  Awards  to  keep  one  right  on 
his  toes.  It  is  bound  to  stimulate  the 
box  office  this  I  know  from  experience. 
Of  course  during  the  war,  business  is 
good  and  one  only  needs  a  doorman, 
ticket  seller  and  a  few  one-sheets  in  front 
of  his  theatre  and  the  people  will  come 
in.  However  no  manager  should  allow 
himself  to  get  in  a  rut,  he  must  keep  that 
get-up-and-go  spirit,  war  or  no  war. 

With  reference  to  recognitions,  my 
company  has  been  very  interested.  They 
have  dined  me  and  wined  me  and  have 
sent  me  many  letters  of  appreciation 
to  "keep  up  the  good  work." 

JACK  MATLACK 

Publicity  Director 
J.  J.  Parker  Theatres 

To  my  mind  the  Quigley  Awards  are 
the  most  stimulating  single  factor  to  in- 
spire showmanship  that  has  ever  been 
conceived  by  anyone.  The  motion  pic- 
ture industry  definitely  owes  a  great  deal 
to  Martin  Quigley  for  his  efforts  in  estab- 
lishing the  Quigley  Awards.  The  Quig- 
ley Awards  are  definitely  to  us  showmen 
what  the  Academy  of  Motion  Picture 
Arts  and  Science  is  to  actors  and 
actresses. 

I  have  had  an  opportunity  to  look  upon 


the  Quigley  Awards  from  a  small  town 
exhibitor's  point  of  view  as  well  as  that 
of  an  exhibitor  in  one  of  the  country's  key 
cities.  Large  or  small,  these  Awards 
make  each  of  us  continue  to  put  more 
and  more  effort  into  showmanship,  which 
pays  off  at  the  box  office.  Personally,  I 
get  a  lot  of  satisfaction  in  feeling  that  my 
successes  may  have  helped  some  other 
fellow  showman  who  has  read  my  humble 
experiences  on  your  pages.  I  receive  an 
abundance  of  help  in  publicizing  and  ex- 
ploiting pictures  by  reading  the  efforts  of 
other  showmen.  By  the  same  token  I 
believe  this  applies  to  them. 

My  winning  of  the  Quigley  Award  has 
definitely  brought  recognition  from  my 
employers.  The  President  of  our  Com- 
pany is  as  interested  as  I  am  in  the  out- 
come of  these  competitions. 

SID  SCOTT 

Manager,  Capitol 
Sudbury,  Ont.,  Canada 

The  Quigley  Awards  have  and  must 
always  be  a  very  important  section  of 
your  valued  publication,  the  different  and 
ever  changing  ideas  have  always  been  a 
stimulant  to  me,  and  surely  must  be  a 
great  stimulant  for  the  younger  fellows 
coming  into  our  great  business. 

I  know  the  officers  of  Famous  Players 
Canadian  Corp.  are  always  pleased  to  see 
any  of  our  boys  win  an  Award. 

ARTHUR  GROOM 

Manager,  Loeu/s  State 
Memphis,  Tenn. 

I  find  the  Quigley  Awards  provide 
enough  competition  among  other  man- 
agers to  induce  an  added  interest  along 
with  my  business  duties. 

The  Motion  Picture  Herald  speaks 
for  itself.  As  winner  of  three  Quigley 
Awards  for  1943,  I've  appreciated  every 
boost  received  through  the  Managers' 
Round  Table. 


''HAVEN'T  WON  MAJOR 
AWARD— STILL  STRIVE" 

I  wish  to  congratulate  the  Quigley  Pub- 
lishing Company  for  making  these  Awards 
possible.  Although  I  have  never  won  a  major 
Award  in  the  eight  years  that  I  have  con- 
tributed, I  feel  just  as  anxious  to  contribute 
and  strive  for  an  Award  today  as  I  did  eight 
years  ago. 

I  feel  that  the  Quigley  Awards  add 
stimtdation  to  our  business  and  advertising 
campaigns  and  I  know  that  our  company 
executives  watch  the  periodic  Loew  winners 
with  keen  interest. — /.  G.  SAMARTANO, 
Manager,  Loew  Poli-Paloce,  Meriden,  Conn. 


J.  D.  HILLHOUSE 

Manager,  State 
Galveston,  Tex. 

When  you  can  inspire  a  theatre  man- 
ager to  put  extra  effort,  time  and  thought 
into  his  exploitations  without  added  cash 
compensation,  especially  as  trying  as 
times  are  now  with  everyone  at  the  point 
of  exhaustion,  you  have  rendered  a  great 
service  not  only  to  the  Motion  Pictuire 
Herald  as  a  magazine,  but  to  the  man  in 
the  field  who  is  trying  to  better  himself 
in  his  community  and  add  greater  profits 
to  the  organization  for  whom  he  works. 

The  Quigley  Awards  Competition  has 
given  the  exhibitor,  especially  the  small 
town  theatreman,  access  to  many  ideas 
through  the  media  of  the  Round  Table 
section  that  we  otherwise  would  have 
been  denied.  Through  this  media  I,  for 
one,  am  able  to  use  a  special  exploitation 
campaign  on  two  or  three  pictures  where 
before  I  relied  on  my  own  ideas. 

HARRY  A.  ROSE 

Manager,  Lyric 
Bridgeport,  Conn. 

Tlie  winning  of  a  Quigley  Award  is 
definitely  a  reward  of  merit.  It  spurs  one 
on  to  get  to  the  top  of  show  business,  not 
only  enhancing  the  value  of  your  attrac- 
tion at  the  box  office,  but  also  acts  as  a 
pat  on  the  back  for  a  worthwhile  effort 
well  done.  It  also  takes  the  drabness  of  a 
daily  routine  out  of  show  business. 

Eventually,  although  not  too  conspicu- 
ously, one  must  gain  recognition  from  the 
heads  of  the  organization  for  these  extra 
efforts  and  activities.  It  is  indeed  a  great 
feeling  of  pride  to  win  a  Quigley  Award 
or  Citation.  Carry  on  this  good  work. 

JOSEPH  S.  BOYLE 

Manager,  Loew's  Poli 
Norwich,  Conn. 

The  Quigley  Awards  have  always  given 
me  extra  incentive,  to  exploit  to  the  full- 
est our  attractions,  enhancing  their  value 
at  the  box  office. 

I  am  sure  that  the  officials  of  our  cir- 
cuit are  interested  in  the  competitive 
spirit  which  is  aroused  in  our  exploitation 
by  the  thought  of  recognition  by  the  Quig- 
ley Awards  Committee. 

SYDNEY  J.  POPPAY 

Manager,  Majestic  and  Strand 
Gettysburg,  Pa. 

I  am  very  happy  to  be  included  among 
the  winners  of  the  Quigley  Awards. 

It  gives  one  a  great  amount  of  satis- 
faction to  know  that  his  efforts  are  rec- 
ognized by  such  judges  as  are  enrolled 
for  the  judging  of  the  Quigley  Awards, 
and,  furthermore,  encouragement  to  work 
harder,  knowing,  if  the  "stunt"  is  good, 
it  will  be  recognized. 


62 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


January    29,  1944 


PERSONALS  ON  SHOWMEN 


Photos  by  Staff  Photographer 


Above,  left,  Eddie  Sniderman,  division  manager  for  RKO  theatres  in  the  Bronx,  West- 
chester and  New  Jersey,  appears  overjoyed  with  the  prospect  of  being  inducted  into 
the  Army  next  week.  At  right  is  George  Pappas,  during  a  recent  visit  to  New  York. 
Pappas  is  manager  of  the  Circle  theatre,  Indianapolis. 


HOMER  McCALLOM,  publicity  man  for 
Loew's  State,  in  Houston,  Tex.,  succeeds 
Francis  Deering  as  manager.  Deering  has 
entered  the  Navy.  William  Aiken,  manager 
of  Loew's  Broad,  Columbus,  moves  to 
Loew's  Grand,  Atlanta,  replacing  Boyd  Fry, 
who  has  entered  the  armed  services.  He  is 
succeeded  by  Harry  Klotz  who  moves  from 
the  Esquire,  Toledo.  Carl  Rogers,  manager 
of  the  Granada,  Cleveland,  goes  to  the 
Esquire,  Toledo.  Eddie  Richardson,  man- 
ager of  Loew's  Strand,  Syracuse,  has  been 
assigned  to  the  Cleveland  post.  He  is  suc- 
ceeded by  Ruth  Bolton,  now  assistant  at 
Loew's  State,  Syracuse. 

JERRY  HAMRICK,  has  been  made  pub- 
licity manager  for  the  Sterling  theatres,  in 
Seattle. 

HARPER  NESBITT  is  assistant  manager 
of  the  Roosevelt,  in  Chicago. 

RALPH  RUBEN  manager  of  the  Globe 
theatre,  in  Detroit,  has  been  inducted  into 
the  Army. 


After  Honorable  Discharge, 
Returns  to  Theatres 

Melvin  Aronson  manages  Skouras'  Gra- 
nada theatre,  in  Corona,  L.  L  He  started 
as  chief  of  service  at  the  Paramount,  in 
Springfield,  Mass.,  in  1937  and  later  was 
promoted  to  assistant  manager  in  many 
houses  of  the  Western  Mass.  Theatres  cir- 
cuit. From  there,  Mel  went  with  the  Schine 
Circuit  as  assistant  manager  of  the  RKO 
Keith,  in  Syracuse,  in  1941,  from  which  post 
he  was  promoted  to  manager,  and  sent  to 
Schine's  Liberty,  in  Rochester.  After  serv- 
ice at  that  house,  Aronson  left  to  join  the 
Century  Circuit  as  manager  of  the  Mayfair 
theatre,  in  Brooklyn  and  in  Sunnyside,  L.  L 
Melvin  then  spent  time  with  the  Army 
Forces  at  Camp  Hulen,  in  Texas.  After  an 
honorable  discharge,  he  went  with  Columbia 
Pictures  as  a  booker  in  Memphis,  but  the 
lure  of  the  theatre  was  too  great  and  he  re- 
signed to  return  to  New  York. 


.^1:11^! 


VICTOR  VAUGHN  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Vaughn  O'Neill.  The  father  is  manager  of 
Loew's  State  theatre,  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

STEPHEN  MILLER  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Franz  {Doc)  Westphal.  "Doc"  is  manager 
of  the  Salem,  Salem,  Va. 

LINDA  KATHRYN  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lon  Johnson.  The  father  is  manager  of  the 
Lancaster  theatre.  River  Rouge,  Mich. 


LIGE  BRIEN,  former  manager  of  the  Ken- 
yon,  Pittsburgh,  has  been  stepped  up  to  man- 
ager of  the  Enright  theatre  in  that  city.  Bill 
Hock,  formerly  at  the  Enright  goes  to  Wil- 
kinsburg  as  city  manager  for  Warners.  He 
relieves  Dick  Brown  who  has  been  ill.  Mar- 
tin Shearn  is  temporarily  filling  in  as  man- 
ager of  the  Kenyon  and  Regis  McCall,  as- 
sistant manager  of  the  Warner,  has  been 
transferred  to  the  Stanley. 

ROBERT  TAYLOR,  manager  of  the  Har- 
ris-Senator, in  Pittsburgh,  in  addition  to 
being  a  new  father,  received  his  military 
notice  on  the  same  day. 

G.  B.  COOMBS  has  been  named  manager 
of  the  Pheil  theatre,  in  St.  Petersburg,  Fla. 
In  the  same  city,  W.  G.  Timmons  assumes 
a  similar  capacity  at  the  Ninth  Street. 


Discharged  from  Marines, 
Returns  to  Service 

John  W.  Godfrey,  assistant  manager  of 
Loew's  State,  in  Louisville,  Ky.,  was  born 
in  that  city  and  all  of  his  career  has  been 
centered  there.  John  started  as  assistant  to 
Doug  Cornette  and  Frederick  De  Cordova 
at  the  Iroquis  Amphitheatre  in  June  of  1942 
and  through  to  the  end  of  the  season.  From 
there  to  Loew's  as  student  assistant  in  Sep- 
tember of  1942  and  in  January  of  1943,  was 
promoted  to  his  present  position.  Of  inter- 
est is  the  fact  that  in  June  of  1942,  John 
received  his  medical  discharge  from  the 
Marines. 


FRED  REETH,  manager  of  the  Neenah 
theatre,  Neenah,  Wise,  for  the  past  two 
years,  has  been  assigned  to  the  Appleton 
theatre,  Appleton.  He  succeeeds  J.  J.  Matis, 
who  resigned  to  join  the  Warner  theatre, 
Milwaukee,  in  a  similar  capacity. 

RONALD  W.  STURGESS  is  now  manag- 
ing Schine's  Holland  theatre,  in  Bellefon- 
taine,  Ohio. 

GEORGE  RAMSDELL  has  been  appointed 
assistant  manager  of  the  Warner  Regal 
theatre,  in  Hartford,  Conn.,  following  the 
resignation  of  Wallace  Lappee. 

MICHAEL  STRANGER,  assistant  man- 
ager at  Loew's  Palace,  in  Hartford,  has 
been  transferred  to  Loew's  Poll,  in  Bridge- 
port, in  the  same  capacity.  He  is  replaced 
by  Mrs.  Helen  Rossiter,  former  student  as- 
sistant at  the  Bijou,  in  New  Haven. 

ORAN  C.  PARKS  has  been  named  man- 
ager of  the  Times,  Hammond,  Ind. 

CLIFFORD  BOYD  has  been  renamed  man- 
ager of  the  Hamp  theatre,  in  Northampton, 
Mass. 


CONGRATULATIONS 


January  23rd 

G.  W.  Sampson 

G.  O+to  Hartsoe 
Ernst  Williams 
Harry  E.  Finley 
Moon  Corker 
John  A.  Cherry 
Shelby  McCallum 
Eldy  Williams 
Phil  Grody 

241-h 

H.  A.  Larson 
Ken  Vech 

A.  Milam  Wilson 
George  Heliotes 
Thomas  P.  Dowd 
Stanley  Gartside 
Roy  Downey 
Donlan  Gould 
Donley  T.  Schultz 

25fh 

George  W.  Jinlts 
Herman  D.  Wood 
Frank  Reid 
Norman  A.  Linz 
Harry  A.  Colvin 


January  25'1'h 

Edward  Spengeman 
Paul  H.  Harrell 
Dick  Walsh 
David  W.  Bayne 
Fred  R.  Fisher 
George  A.  Hodge 
Joseph  Rogatnick 
Richard  C.  Shaw 
Ernest  A.  Grecula 
J.  Mark  Cadle 

26th 

Harry  Wade 
M.  J.Stockwell 
Jack  Kleinman 
Warren  Wood 
Cecil  L.  Brusegard 
Henry  Paul  LeClair 

28th 

Dan  Krendel 
William  G.  Cooke,  Jr. 
Boydell  Edwards,  Jr. 
Joe  Miklos 

29th 

Sam  Aaron 

Paul  D.  Rainsberger 


January    29.  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


63 


PICTURE 
CROSSES 


A  statistical  compilation  and 
comparison  of  Box-Office  Per- 
formance in  first  run  theatres 


Figures  directly  below  picture  title  compare  dollar  gross  with  average  gross  and  show  relative  percentage  of  all  engagements  tabulated. 

Figures  opposite  theatre  names  represent  percentage  of  tabulated  grosses  to  average  weekly  business  based  on  the  six  months'  period 
ending  October  31,  1943. 

SYMBOLS:  (DB)  Double  Bill— associate  feature  title;  (SA)  Stage  Attraction;  (MO)  Move-Over  Run;  (AA)  Advance  Admission. 


THE  GANG'S  ALL  HERE  (20th-Fox) 

Final  Reports: 
Total  Gross  Tabulated  $816,200 
Comparative  Average  Gross  617,400 
Over-all  Performance  132.2% 


BALTIMORE— New,  1st  week   125.7% 

BALTIMORE— New,  2nd  week   113.4% 

BALTIMORE— New,  3rd  week   103.0% 

BOSTON— Memorial   131.0% 

(DB)  Sherlock  Holmes  and  the  Secret  Weapon 
(Univ.) 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Capital,  1st  week   .   .   .  130.0% 

CINONNATI- RKO  Capital,  2nd  week   .   .   .  107.6% 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Lyric,  MO  1st  week   .   .  9S.2% 

DENVER— Denver    164.2% 

DENVER— Esquire   127.6% 

DENVER— Aladdin,  MO  1st  week   144.4% 

DENVER— Rialto,  MO  2nd  week   76.0% 

INDIANAPOLIS— Circle   120.0% 

KANSAS  CITY— Esquire   137.8% 

KANSAS  CITY— Uptown   166.6% 

LOS  ANGELES— C:hinese    122.3% 

LOS  ANGELES— Loew's  State    129.8% 

LOS  ANGELES— Uptown    103.0% 

MILWAUKEE-Strand    129.3% 

(DB)  Riding  High  (Para.) 

NEW  HAVEN— Loew's  Poli   105.3% 

(DB)  Ghost  Ship  (RKO) 

NEW  HAVEN— College,  MO  1st  week     .   .   .  112.5% 

(DB)  Ghost  Ship  (RKO) 

NEW  YORK— Roxy,  1st  week    203.6% 

(SA)  Jimmy  Dorsey's  Orch.,  Bill  Robinson 

NEW  YORK— Roxy,  2nd  week   168.3% 

(SA)  Jimmy  Dorsey's  Orch.,  Bill  Robinson 

NEW  YORK— Roxy,  3rd  week    107.4% 

(SA)  Jimmy  Dorsey's  Orch.,  Bill  Robinson  . 

NEW  YORK— Roxy,  4th  week    95.8% 

(SA)  Jimmy  Dorsey's  Orch.,  Bill  Robinson 

OMAHA— Paramount    189.8% 

PHILADELPHIA— Fox,  1st  week   162.9% 

PHILADELPHIA- Fox,  2nd  week   105.0% 

PITTSBURGH— Harris,  1st  week   155.9% 

PITTSBURGH— Harris,  2nd  week   70.0% 

PROVIDENCE— Majestic   116.5% 

SAN  FRANaSCO— St.  Francis   135.3% 

(DB)  Mystery  of  the  13th  Guest  (Mono.) 

SEATTLE— Paramount,  1st  week   82.5% 

SEATTLE— Paramount,  2nd  week   79.6% 

SEATTLE— Blue  Mouse,  MO  1st  week   .    .    .  132.6% 

SEATTLE— Blue  Mouse,  MO  2nd  week    .    .    .  121.2% 

ST.  LOTOS- Fox,  1st  week   123.4% 

(DB)  Adventure  in  Iraq  (WB) 

ST.  LOUIS— Fox,  2nd  week   113.9% 

(DB)  Adventure  in  Iraq  (WB) 

ST.  LOUIS^Shubert.  MO  1st  week    ....  100.0% 

(DB)  Corvette  K-225  (Univ.) 

WASHINGTON— Loew's  Palace   102.2% 


FLESH  AND  FANTASY  (Univ.) 

Final  Reports: 
Total  Gross  Tabulated 
Comparative  Average  Gross 
Over-all  Performance 


$560,000 
474.800 
117.9% 


BALTIMORE— Keith's,    1st    week   141.6% 

BALTIMORE— Keith's,   2nd  week   125.0% 

BOSTON— Memorial    95.8% 

(DB)  She's  For  Me  (Univ.) 

BUFFALO— Lafayette   139.1% 

(DB)  Cowboy  in  Manhattan  (Univ.) 

CHICAGO-Palace,  1st  week   110.0% 

(DB)  Moonlight  in  Vermont  (Univ.) 

CHICAGO— Palace,  2nd  week   115.0% 

(DB)  Moonlight  in  Vermont  (Univ.) 

CHICAGO^Grand,  MO  1st  week   78.6% 

(DB)  Moonlight  in  Vermont  (Univ.) 

CINCTNNATI— RKO  Albee,  1st  week  ....  135.8% 

CINaNNATI— RKO  Albee,  2nd  week  ....  98.7% 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Capitol,  MO  1st  week   .  110-7% 

CLEVELAND— Warner's  Hippodrome     .   .   .  102.8% 

CLEVELAND— Allen.  MO  1st  week   ....  58.8% 


CLEVELAND— Warner's  Lake,  MO  2nd  week  91.7% 

DENVER— Denver    139.2% 

(DB)  So's  Your  Uncle  (Univ.) 

DENVER— Esquire    95.7% 

(DB)  So's  Your  Uncle  (Univ.) 

DENVER— Aladdin,  MO  1st  week   .....  83.3% 

(DB)  So's  Your  Uncle  (Univ.) 

DENVER— Rialto,  MO  2nd  week   97.8% 

INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana    97.3% 

(DB)  You're  a  Lucky  Fellow,  Mr.  Smith  (Univ.) 

LOS  ANGELES— Carthay  Circle,  1st  week   .  133.5% 

(DB)  Mystery  Broadcast  (Rep.) 

LOS  ANGELES— Carthay  Circle,  2nd  week   .  114.2% 

(DB)  Mystery  Broadcast  (Rep.) 

LOS  ANGELES— Chinese    108.3% 

(DB)  Mystery  Broadcast  (Rep.) 

LOS  ANCJELES— Loew's   State   120.1% 

(DB)  Mystery  Broadcast  (Rep.) 

LOS  ANGELES— Uptown    100.0% 

(DB)  Mystery  Broadcast  (Rep.) 

MONTREAL-Loew's   115.3% 

NEW  HAVEN— Paramount   88.2% 

(DB)  She's  For  Me  (Univ.) 

NEW  YORK— Criterion,  1st  week   211.6% 

NEW  YORK— Criterion,  2nd  week   168.3% 

NEW  YORK— Criterion,  3rd  week   121.5% 

NEW  YORK— Criterion,  4th  week   95.2% 

PHILADELPHIA— Boyd,  1st  week   118.4% 

PHILADELPHIA— Boyd,  2nd  week     ....  81.0% 

PHILADELPHIA— Karlton,  MO  1st  week  .    .  180.5% 

PITTSBURGH— Fulton,  1st  week   168.6% 

PITTSBURGH— Fulton,  2nd  week   107.7% 

ST.  LOUIS— Ambassador,  1st  week      ....  116.0% 

(DB)  Campus  Rhythm  (Mono.) 

ST.  LOUIS— Ambassador,  2nd  week     ....  72.0% 

(DB)  The  Eagle  (UA) 

TORONTO^Uptown,  1st  week   115.4% 

TORONTO-Uptown,  2nd  week   105.1% 

WASHINGTON— RKO  Keith's   152.9% 


RIDING  HIGH  (Para.) 

Final  Reports: 
Total  Gross  Tabulated 
Comparative  Average  Gross 
Over-all  Performance 


$794,700 
693,700 
114.5% 


BALTIMORE— Keith's,  1st  week   125.0% 

BALTIMORE— Keith's,  2nd  week   104.1% 

BUFFALO— Buffalo   75.9% 

(DB)  Minesweeper  (Para.) 

CHICAGO^C:hicago,  1st  week   126.6% 

CHICAGO— Chicago,  2nd  week   131.1% 

CTNCINNATI— RKO  Palace    119.5% 

CLEVELAND— Loew's  State   102.5% 

CLEVELAND— Loew's  Stillman,  MO  1st  week  131.5% 

DENVER— Denham,  1st  week   98.2% 

DENVER— Denham,  2nd  week   102.5% 

DENVER— Denham,  3rd  week   98.2% 

(DB)  Minesweeper  (Para.) 

DENVER— Denham,  4th  week   89.7% 

(DB)  Minesweeper  (Para.) 

INDIANAPOLIS— Circle   101.8% 

INDIANAPOLIS— Lyric,  MO  1st  week   .   .   .  135.7% 

KANSAS  CITY— Newman,  1st  week   ....  127.2% 

KANSAS  CITY— Newman,  2nd  week  ....  100.0% 
LOS  ANGELES— Paramount  Downtown, 

1st  week   140.9% 

(DB)  Henry  Aldrich  Haunts  a  House  (Para.) 
LOS  ANGELES— Paramount  Downtown, 

2nd  week   119.8% 

(DB)  Henry  Aldrich  Haunts  a  House  (Para.) 
LOS  ANGELES— Paramount  Hollywood, 

1st  week   117.9% 

LOS  ANGELES— Paramount  Hollywood, 

2nd  week   "7.9% 

MILWAUKEE— Strand    129.3% 

(DB)  The  Gang's  All  Here  (20th-Fox) 

MINNEAPOLIS— State   100.0% 

MINNEAPOLIS— World,  MO  1st  week   .   .    .  100.0% 

NEW  HAVEN— Paramount,  1st  week  ....  98.5% 

(DB)  Submarine  Alert  (Para.) 

NEW  HAVEN— Paramount,  2nd  week     .   .   .  102.9% 

(DB)  Submarine  Alert  (Para.) 


NEW  YORK— Paramount,  1st  week 

(SA)  Tommy  Dorsey's  Orchestra 
NEW  YORK— Paramount,  2nd  week 

(SA)  Tommy  Dorsey's  Orchestra 
NEW  YORK— Paramount,  3rd  week 

(SA)  Tommy  Dorsey's  Orchestra 
NEW  YORK— Paramount,  4th  week 

(SA)  Tommy  Dorsey's  Orchestra 
OMAHA— Paramount   

(DB)  Minesweeper  (Para.) 
OMAHA— Omaha,  MO  1st  week   .  . 

(DB)  Minesweeper  (Para.) 

PITTSBURGH— Penn  

SAN  FRANCISCO^Paramount,  1st  week 

(DB)  Whispering  Footsteps  (Rep.) 
SAN  FRANCISCO^Paramount,  2nd  week 

(DB)  Whispering  Footsteps  (Rep.) 
SEATTLE— Fifth  Avenue,  1st  week   .  . 
SEATTLE-Fifth  Avenue,  2nd  week    .  . 
SEATTLE— Blue  Mouse,  MO  1st  week  . 

(DB)  Paris  After  Dark  (20th-Fox) 
TORONTO— Imperial   


131.1% 
163.9% 
95.0% 
73.7% 
146.3% 

nz9% 


.  95.2% 

.  111.4% 

.  10Z2% 

.  107-1% 

.  64.3% 

.  166.6% 


155.5% 


HIGHER  AND  HIGHER  (RKO) 

Intermediate  Reports: 
Total  Gross  Tabulated 
Comparative  Average  Gross 
Over-all  Performance 


$271,900 
232,200 
117.0% 


BALTIMORE— Hippodrome,  1st  week  ....  12S.0% 

(SA)  Vaudeville 

BALTIMORE— Hippodrome,  2nd  week     .   .   .  101.1% 

(SA)  Vaudeville 

BUFFALO— 20th  Century,  1st  week   ....  176.4% 

BUFFALO— 20th  Century,  2nd  week   ....  122.6% 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Palace    126.8% 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Shubert,  MO  1st  week  .  120.0% 
CLEVELAND— Warner's  Hippodrome, 

1st  week   114.2% 

CLEVELAND— Warner's  Hippodrome, 

2nd  week   111.4% 

CLEVELAND— Warner's  Lake,  MO  1st  week  83.3% 

DENVER— Orpheum   100.0% 

(DB)  Gangway  for  Tomorrow  (RKO) 

INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana   88.7% 

(DB)  Gildersleeve  on  Broadway  (RKO) 

KANSAS  CITY— Orpheum,  1st  week    ....  180.0% 

(DB)  Gangway  for  Tomorrow  (RKO) 

KANSAS  (nTY— Orpheum,  2nd  week  ....  92.0% 

(DB)  Gangway  for  Tomorrow  (RKO) 

MINNEAPOLIS— State   83.3% 

NEW  HAVEN— Roger  Sherman '   114.0% 

(DB)  Gangway  for  Tomorrow  (RKO) 

OMAHA— Brandeis   210.9% 

(DB)  Gangway  for  Tomorrow  (RKO) 

SAN  FRANCISCO— Golden  Gate,  1st  week   .  112.2% 

(SA)  Vaudeville 

SAN  FRANCISCO— Golden  Gate,  2nd  week   .  104.0% 

(SA)  Vaudeville 


AROUND  THE  WORLD  (RKO) 

First  Reports: 
Total  Gross  Tabulated 
Comparative  Average  Gross 
Over-all  Performance 


$98,300 
72.400 
121.9% 


CINCINNATI— RKO  Albee   231.4% 

(SA)  Gracie  Barrie  and  Orch.,  Three  Stooges, 
Mills  Bros. 

NEW  HAVEN— Bijou   114.2% 

(DB)  Mantrap  (Rep.) 

PHILADELPHIA— Earle    122.8% 

(SA)  Vaudeville 

PITTSBURGH— Stanley   109.3% 

(SA)  Virginia  Weidler,  Louis  Prima's  Orch. 

PROVIDENCE— RKO  Albee   81.4% 

(DB)  Ghost  Ship  (RKO) 


64 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


CLASSIFIED  ADVERTISING 

Ten  cents  per  word,  money-order  or  check  with  copy.  Count  initials,  box  number  and  ad- 
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application.  No  borders  or  cuts.  Forms  close  Mondays  at  5  P.  M.  Publisher  reserves 
the  right  to  reject  any  copy.  Film  and  trailer  advertising  not  accepted.  Classi- 
fied advertising  not  subject  to  agency  commission.  Address  copy  and  checks: 
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draft  exempt.  State  salary,  include  snapshot.  Theatre 
in  Northern  Illinois.  BOX  1697,  MOTION  PICTURE 
HERALD^  

WANTED:  OPERATOR,  ALSO  COMBINATION 
operator  and  manager.  Must  be  sober  and  draft 
e.xempt.  FAIN  THEATRES,  Leesburg,  Fla.  

BOOKS 

JUST  OUT— 1944  EDITION  OF  FAME.  EVERY 
exhibitor  should  have  a  copy.  An  annual  audit  of  mo- 
tion picture  and  radio  personalities.  Limited  supply. 
Send  $1  today.  QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP,  Rockefeller 
Center,  New  York  20.   

COMPLETELY  REVISED  7TH  EDITION  OF 
Richardson's  Bluebook  of  Projection  with  treatise  on 
Television  and  complete  Sound  Trouble -Shooting 
Charts,  as  well  as  host  of  additional  up-to-the-minute 
text  on  sound  and  projection  equipment.  Order  Now! 
$7.25  postpaid.  QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP,  Rockefeller 
Center,  New  York  (20). 

SOUND  TROUBLE  SHOOTING  CHARTS.  A 
handy  tool  in  the  booth.  Gives  the  answers  to  all 
questions  regarding  trouble  shooting  on  every  type  of 
sound  equipment.  $1.00  postpaid.  QUIGLEY  BOOK- 
SHOP. Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  (20). 

MOTION  PICTURE  SOUND  ENGINEERING— 
547  pages;  illustrated;  covers  every  practical  method 
and  process  in  present-day  sound  engineering.  Leading 
engineers  explain  every  detail  of  apparatus  and  its  ar- 
rangement, with  diagrams,  tables,  charts  and  graphs. 
This  manual  comes  straight  from  the  workshops  of  the 
studios  in  Hollywood.  It  is  indispensable  to  everyone 
working  with  sound  equipment.  Price  $6.50  postpaid. 
QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York 
(20).  

NEW  567  PAGE  BOOK  ON  AIR  CONDITIONING, 
by  Charles  A.  Fuller,  authority  on  the  subject.  Avail- 
able for  theatre  owners  contemplating  engineering 
changes.  Book  is  cloth  bound  with  index  and  charts 
and  covers  every  branch  of  the  industry  as  well  as 
codes  and  ordinances  regulating  installation.  Order 
now  at  $4.00  a  copy  postpaid.  QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP, 
Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  (20). 

BUSINESS  OPPORTUNITIES 

UNITED  KINGDOM,  POST-WAR.  GENTLEMAN 
of  excellent  financial  standing  established  over  35  years 
in  England  and  Scotland  would  be  pleased  to  make 
contact  with  reliable  equipment  manufacturers  de- 
siring to  extend  their  activities.  BOX  1698,  MOTION 
PICTURE  HERALD. 

BOOKKEEPING  SYSTEM 

THEATRE  MANAGEMENT  RECORD  AND  TAX 
Register.  This  new  accounting  system  is  the  finest 
book  of  its  kind  ever  made  available  to  an  exhibitor. 
In  addition  to  being  complete  in  every  respect,  it  is 
simple — so  much  so  that  it  is  not  necessary  to  have 
had  bookkeeping  e.xperience  in  order  to  keep  an  ac- 
curate, complete  and  an  up-to-minute  record  of  the 
business  of  your  theatre.  The  introductory  price  is 
only  $2.00  postpaid.  QUIGLEY  B(X)^HOP,  Rocke- 
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TRAINING  SCHOOLS 

THEATRE  EMPLOYEES:  TRAIN  FOR  BETTER 
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ATRE MANAGERS  SCHOOL,  Elmira,  New  York. 


THEATRES 


THEATRE  NEIGHBORHOOD  HOUSES:  NEAR 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  can  be  purchased  as  unit  or  sep- 
arately. Small  down  payment!  A  "Golden  Oppor- 
tunity." Two  large  houses:  Cleveland,  Ohio,  850 
seats  each,  averaging  $1,000  weekly.  Long  leases. 
Very  desirable.  TOWER  INVESTMENT  CO.,  621 
Hippodrome  BIdg.,  Cleveland,  Ohio. 


NEW  EQUIPMENT 


TWO  NEW  WENZEL  ACE— REAR  SHUTTER, 
Simplex  type  mechanisms.  Can  ship  immediately. 
MONARCH  THEATRE  SUPPLY  CO.,  492  So.  Second, 
Memphis,  Tenn. 

OPERADIO  COMPACT  PUBLIC  ADDRESS 
System,  2  speakers  and  microphone,  $39.50;  underwriters 
approved  2}^  gallon  anti -freeze  fire  extinguishers, 
$14.95:  quart  pump  type,  $11.25;  two  quart,  $13.50; 
Wollensak  4"  Series  I  lenses,  $13.95;  box  office  bowl 
heaters,  $9.50;  pickup  pans  with  handle,  $1.27;  re- 
chargeable flashlight  batteries,  $2.20;  rectifier  bulbs, 
15  ampere  Gordos,  $6.95;  six  ampere  Westinghouse, 
$3.95;  Suprex  carbon  savers.  98c.  Winter  sale  bulletin 
ready.  S.  O.  S.  CINEMA  SUPPLY  CORP.,  New 
York  18. 

PATCHING  CEMENT  FOR  FABRIC  AND 
Leatherette.  Special  price,  $1.  3  ounce  bottle.  ALLIED 
SEATING  COMPANY,  36  West  13th  St.,  New  York 
City. 


USED  EQUIPMENT 


TWIN  50  AMPERE  SUPREX  RECTTIFIERS, 
rebuilt,  $297.50;  single  45  ampere  type,  $112.50;  imported 
carbons,  1/10  original  cast ;  Series  O  lenses,  $2.95 ; 
Simplex  mechanisms,  incomplete,  $95;  Brandt  coin 
changers,  $119.50;  20/40  arc  generators,  $57.50;  reflec- 
tors, 50%  discount;  thirty  ampere  rectifiers  with  tubes, 
$99.50.  Winter  bargain  bulletin  ready — get  yours. 
S.  O.  S.  CINEMA  SUPPLY  CORP.,  New  York  18. 

MUST  MOVE  TWO  SIMPLEX  REAR  SHUTTER 
heads.  Like  new.  Factory  overhauled.  TWAIN 
THEATRE,  Mansfield,  Pa. 

600  STAFFORD  REBUILT  HEAVY  INSERTED 
recoated  panel  banks,  reupholstered  box  spring  cushion 
chairs.  $5.45;  230  American  ball  bearing  fully  up- 
holstered padded  red  figured  velour  backs,  red  leather- 
ette box  spring  cushions,  good  as  is,  $4.50  each. 
S.  O.  S.  CINEMA  SUPPLY  CORP.,  New  York  18. 

CLOSING  AND  SELLING  COMPLETE  THEATRE 
equipment,  two  machines,  225  seats,  Al  condition, 
$1,000.    ART  KELSO,  Oriand.  Ind. 


STUDIO  EQUIPMENT 


STUDIO  GLOWLAMP  RECORDER,  35MM. 
stabilized  variable  density;  lOOO'  magazine;  two  optical 
systems;  noiseless  amplifier;  V.  I.  indicator;  dynamic 
microphone;  complete  $555;  Uhler  sound  reduction 
printer  35/16  mm.,  $750;  Hollywood  16mm.  recorder 
with  Maurer  type  galvanometer  complete,  $795;  Blue 
Seal  3  element  glowlamps,  $22.75.  Send  for  studio  and 
laboratory  equipment  listings.  S.  O.  S.  CINEMA 
SUPPLY  CORP.,  New  York  18. 

BUSINESS  BOOSTERS 


BINGO  CARDS,  DIE  CUT,  1  TO  100  OR  1  TO  75, 
$2.25  per  thousand,  $20.00  for  10.000.  S.  KLOUS,  care 
of  MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD. 


Carlyle  Barre+f 

Carlyle  G.  Barrett,  49,  district  manager  of 
southern  Connecticut  for  Warner  Brothers,  died 
January  15  in  New  Haven  after  a  brief  illness. 
Mr.  Barrett,  who  had  been  with  Warner  Broth- 
ers for  20  years,  is  survived  by  his  widow,  two 
daughter,  a  sister  and  a  brother. 


Albert  C.  Coffey 

Albert  C.  Coffey,  Chicago  newspaperman  who 
was  known  among  motion  picture  theatre  man- 
agers, died  in  that  city  January  10.  Mr.  Coffey 
was  a  member  of  the  amusement  advertising 
department  of  the  Chicago  Herald  and  the 
Examiner. 


January    29,  1944 

Partington^  Roxy 
Executive^  Dies 

John  Allan  Partington,  one  of  the  operating 
Iieads  of  the  Roxy  theatre  in  New  York  and 
vice-president  and  general  manager  of  Fanchon 
and  MarcOj  died  Tuesday  of  a  heart  attack  at 
his  home  in  New  York.  Mr.  Partington  was 
one  of  the  first  exhibitors  to  promote  the  policy 
of  the  modern  stage  presentation  and  the  film 
program.   He  was  54. 

A  native  of  the  Isle  of  Man,  Mr.  Partington 
was  reared  in  San  Francisco.  He  began  his 
film  career  in  that  city  and  it  was  at  the  Im- 
perial theatre  there  that  he  experimented  with 
stage  presentations.  Later,  he  instituted  stage 
shows  at  the  Granada  and  Paramount  theatres 
in  San  Francisco.  He  was  production  manager 
for  the  Paramount  theatre  in  Brooklyn  and  for 
the  Paramount  in  New  York  before  he  joined 
the  Roxy  11,  years  ago. 

Mr.  Partington  held  patent  rights  to  moving 
objects  used  in  stage  presentations,  both  on  the 
legitimate  stage  and  in  the  motion  picture  the- 
atre. He  patented  the  automatic  band  pits 
which  rise  from  under  stage  to  stage  level  and 
roll  back  on  stage  to  any  position  required. 

He  is  survived  by  his  wife,  Inger ;  a  son,  John 
Allan  Jr.,  a  staff  sergeant  in  the  U.  S.  Army, 
and  two  sisters,  Miss  Blanche  Partington  and 
Mrs.  Gertrude  Partington  Albright,  both  of 
San  Francisco. 

De  Gersdorff,  Prominent 
Attorney,  Dies  at  78 

Carl  August  de  Gersdorff,  partner  in  the  law 
firm  of  Cravath,  de  Gersdorff,  Swaine  and 
Wood,  representatives  of  numerous  motion  pic- 
ture companies,  died  last  Friday  at  his  home 
in  New  York  after  an  illness  of  several  months. 
He  was  78  years  old  and  had  practised  law 
more  thaft  50  years.  Mr.  de  Gersdorff  was 
recognized  as  a  leading  corporation  and  rail- 
road attorney. 

Born  in  Salem,  Mass.,  on  July  10,  1865,  he 
attended  Boston  Latin  School  and  was  a  grad- 
uate of  Harvard  University  in  1887.  He  began 
his  practice  of  law  in  New  York  two  years  later, 
after  completing  his  studies  at  Harvard  Law 
School.  In  1906,  Mr.  de  Gersdorff  joined  the 
firm  of  Cravath,  Henderson  and  de  Gersdorff, 
the  forerunner  of  the  law  firm  in  which  he  was 
a  partner  until  his  death. 

Funeral  services  were  held  at  St.  James 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  New  York,  Mon- 
day and  burial  was  Tuesday  at  Stockbridge, 
Mass. 

The  late  Frederick  H.  Wood,  a  partner  of 
Air.  de  Gersdorff,  died  in  New  York  on  Decem- 
ber 28,  1943.  He  was  well  known  in  the  film 
industry.  Mr.  Wood  represented  Paramount  in 
the  $4,000,000  anti-trust  suit  brought  against  the 
company  by  Edward  Quittner,  exhibitor.  Mr. 
Wood  also  was  counsel  for  Warners  in  the  U.  S. 
vs.  Warner  Bros,  case  in  St.  Louis.  He  figured 
prominently  in  the  ultimate  dissolution  of  the 
NRA,  when  he  tried  the  Shecter  chicken  case 
before  the  U.  S.  Supreme  Court. 

Senator  Van  Nuys  of 
Indiana,  Was  70 

Senator  Frederick  Van  Nuys,  of  Indiana, 
member  of  the  U.  S.  Senate  since  1933,  died 
Tuesday  in  Washington.  He  was  70  years  old. 
His  sudden  death  leaves  vacant  the  chairman- 
ship of  the  Senate  Judiciary  Committee,  which 
has  before  it,  in  addition  to  other  legislation, 
the  proposed  Kilgore  bill  for  the  divorcement 
of  distribution  and  exhibition  of  motion  pic- 
tures. He  served  on  the  committee  from  1933 
ur|til  1941,  when  he  was  named  chairman. 
Senator  Pat  McCarren  of  Nevada,  who  is  now 
chairman  of  the  District  of  Columbia  commit- 
tee, is  in  line  for  chairman  of  the  Judiciary 
Committee. 


by  demand  of  the  times! 


ANOTHER  PRINTING  HAS  MADE 
COPIES  AGAIN  AVAILABLE  OF 

The  7th  Edition  of 

RICHARDSON'S 
BLUEBOOK  of 
PROJECTION 


Order  today  from 


QUICLEY  BOOKSHOP 

Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  20,  N.Y. 


IN  THE  CIVILIAN  THEATRE:  "Of  all  flmes,  this 
is  one  in  which  projectionists  must  study  their  craft. 
Every  projectionist  who  does  not  own  a  copy  of  an 
up-to-date  textbook  on  projection  should  promptly 
correct  this  deficiency."— LESTER  B.  ISAAC,  Director 
of  Visual  and  Sound  Projection,  Loew's,  Inc. 

IN  THE  ARMED  SERVICES:  "...  we  are  for- 
tunate in  having  a  post  theatre.  .  .  .  We  find  Richard- 
son's Bluebook  indispensable."— CORPORAL  M.  L. 
MORPURGO,  somewhere  In  Australia. 

If  Thus,  had  there  never  been  a  need  for  a  textbook 
and  operating  guide  on  projection  and  sound,  this  war 
would  have  created  it. 

H  Most  nnaterials  have  gone  to  war.  Less  and  less  £ 
remains  for  the  replacement  of  theatre  equipment. 
Projection  and  sound  equipment  must  be  operated 
skillfully,  repaired  promptly,  If  It  Is  to  continue  In 
effective  service.  This  calls  for  maximum  practical 
knowledge  among  all  memibers  of  the  craft,  the  older 
projectionists  as  well  as  the  newcomers. 

H  Know-how  equal  to  the  demands  of  these  times, 
Is  available  to  anyone  exhibiting  motion  pictures.  In 
commercial  theatres  or  at  Army  camp  and  on  Naval 
ship,  who  has  Richardson's  Bluebook  available  for 
study,  handy  for  reference.  It  Is  both  textbook  and 
manual — comprehensive  In  treatment  of  both  theory 
and  practice,  of  sound  as  well  as  of  projection. 

H  In  the  Seventh  Edition,  this  famous  standard  text- 
book on  motion  picture  projection  and  sound  repro- 
duction brings  to  all  persons  concerned  with  the 
screening  of  35-mm.  film,  up-to-the-minute  guidance. 
The  Seventh  Edition  Is  new  in  its  method  of  present- 
ing the  subject,  new  In  organization  of  material,  new 
in  much  of  the  operating  data.  Additionally,  the 
Seventh  Edition  contains  four  chapters  on  Theatre 
Television,  prepared  for  the  practical  instruction  of 
motion  picture  projectionists.  The  chapters  on  sound 
now  Include  one  devoted  to  control-track  and  stereo- 
phonic reproduction.  And  supplementing  the  regular 
text  are  20  charts  for  handy  reference  In  locating 
and  correcting  sound  system  defects.  Each  chapter 
Is  preceded  by  a  list  of  study  questions  with  cross- 
reference  to  the  text  so  that  the  answers  may  be 
readily  found.  The  text  Is  thoroughly  Indexed  for 
easy  access  to  all  instructions. 


Published  by   QUIGLEY  PUBLISHING  COMPANY  •  New  York,  Hollywood,  London 


Take  this  pen  being  held  out  to  you  .  .  .  bi 
our  favorite  pin-up  boy  .  .  .  sign  up  you 
John  Henry  .  .  .  and  let  the  Prize  Baby  stai 
directing  trafFic  to  your  theatre  . . .  that's  you 
elementary  lesson  in  the  fine  science  of  sho>A 
selling  .  .  .  and  that's  all  there  is  .  .  .  You  an 
now  a  graduate  .  .  .  and  you've  found  ou 
how  to  go  all  out  ...  to  get  'em  all  in  .  .  .  ii 
an  endless  chain  of  seat-selling  .  .  .  You  se: 
today's  show  on  the  outside  .  .  .  (poster; 
heralds,  etc.)  ...  so  that  you  can  sell  tomoi 
row's  show  on  the  inside  .  .  .  (trailers,  lobb 
displays,  etc.)  .  .  .  How  can  you  go  wrong^ 
.  .  .  You've  got  'em  coming  and  going  . 
Hurry!  .  .  .  Look  at  those  people  going 
.  .  .  Hurry! 


\ 


SERVICECONTRACT 


National  Screen  Service  Corporation 

ACCESSORIES  DIVISION 

630  jNinlh  Avenue,  New  York.  Ti.  Y. 


iTTliliJ 


L  Geiem  servi 

(^/wxr  BUKrorniimouswinr 


R  I  E  S    •    TLR^i^^^^        S    -    SPECIAL  ACCESSO 


MOTION  PICTURE 

HERALD 


REVIEWS 

(In  Protfttrf  D/?cv/) 

Tha  Sulliv4nt 
J«n*  6yr* 

Th#  bridge  pf  3«n  lui>  Rey 
In  Our  Time 
Escap«  io  D«n9«r 
Beautiiful  but  Broke 
Return  of  th*  V«mp5r«i 
W«eli«ndl  )*«s< 
Klondike  K«(« 
Men  on  Her  M^pti 


WHAT  DISTRIBUTORS 
PROPOSE  FOR  THA  T 
NE  W  CONSENT  DECREE 


^^^^  J  ^ES  If  gives  latest  draft  to  exhibitor 
organizations  for  debate  and  opinion 


—  in 


tettemedtres 


How  the  Courts  Measure  Theatre  iesponsibility 


VOL.  154.  NO.  6 


FEBRUARY  5.  1944 


it 


a  VMr  J- 


"I  KISS  YOUR 
HAND,  MADAME 
f*^CURIE!" 


856,000 
THRIUED  NEW  YORKERS! 

In  the  SSVSMTH  WEEK  of  its  sensational 
engagement  its  popularity  is  undiminished  as  the 
thousands  who  have  seen  it  tell  the  town  of  its 
glorious  love  story,  of  its  beauty  and  joy ! 


Directed  by  MERVYN  LeROY  .  Produced  by  SIDNEY  FRANKLIN 

with 

HENRY  TRAVERS  •  ALBERT  BASSERMAN  •  ROBERT  WALKER 
C.  AUBREY  SMITH  .  DAME  MAY  WHITTY  •  VICTOR  FRANCEN 
ELSA  BASSERMAN  .  REGINALD  OWEN  •  VAN  JOHNSON 
MARGARET  O'BRIEN  •  Screen  Play  by  Paul  Osborn  and 
Paul  H.  Rameau  •  Based  on  the  Book  "Madame  Curie"  by 
Eve   Curie       •       A  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  Picture 


Now  Playing  at 


RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL 


(Above)  There's  no  let-up  in  the  ad  campaign  for  M-G-M's  great  hit! 
Large  spaces  bring  large  crowds  in  its  yth  happy  week  I 

"Keep  up  the  attack!  4th  WAR  LOAN  !" 


Support  the  Fourth  War  Loan! 


OP  eo  we  &possesf 

xAJiKhAtStA/^  UP  ON  TOP  ALWAYS . 


STARRING 


DENNIS  MORGAN  •  ME  MANNIG 


BRUCE  CABOT- GENE  LOCKHART 

Directed  by  ROBERT  FLOREY  •  Produced  by  ROBERT  BUCKNER 

Based  Upon  a  Play  by  lowrence  Schwab,  Otto  Harbach. 
Oscar  Hammerstein  2nd,  Sigmund  Romberg,  &  Frank  Mandel 


•  Vi^hnfer  of  the'  N  Y.  CriticTXwarc 


nfof  1943 


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NANCy  COLEMAN -MARy  BOLAND-VICIOR  FRANCEN-NAZIMOVA- 


Directed  by  Produced  by 

VINCENT  SHERMAN  •  JERRY  WALD 

Originol  Screen  Ploy  by  Ellis  St.  Joseph  and  Howard  Kocli  •  Music  by  Fronz  Woxmon 


INTO  THE  MATION?  TREATRK 


Capt.  HARVEY  ROSS 

Flight  commander.  Silver  wings  and  iron  courage! 


of  the  heroes  in  Darryl  F.  Zanuck's  production  THE  PURPLE  HEART  for  20th  Century-Foxl 


MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD 


COLVIN  BROWN,  Publisher 

MARTIN  QUIGLEY 
President  and  Editor-in-Chief 

TERRY  RAMSAYE,  Editor 

Vol.  154,  No.  6 

OP 

February  5,  1944 

INTERNATIONAL 

THE  international  skies  of  the  nrtotion  picture  are  gathering 
weather  rapidly.  More  intimately  than  most  can  realize, 
the  screen  is  becoming  an  interwoven  thread  in  the  pro- 
jected post-war  patterns.  Foremost  among  the  elements 
of  that  pattern  so  far  are  films,  rubber  and  petroleum. 

We  are  making  synthetic  rubber,  trying  in  a  fashion  to  bring 
natural  rubber  home  to  the  Americas.  We  are  after  petroleum 
overseas  in  complicated  deals  in  the  British  sphere  of  influence, 
mostly  in  Arabia.  We  have  the  films.  Sporadically  in  Latin 
America,  and  consistently  in  Britain,  production  is  rising,  com- 
petitively. Our  Department  of  State  is  interested,  active,  in 
all  three.  Something  like  a  deal  has  been  shaped  in  Arabian 
oil.  Rubber  will  have  to  wait  on  the  new  map  of  southern  Asia. 
Motion  pictures  are  actively  in  the  crucible  of  reaction, 
with  the  Department  of  State  holding  conferences  with  the 
organized  American  industry  and  in  the  process  of  the  forma- 
tion of  a  "Ministry  of  the  Movies"  as  a  sub-department. 

A CURIOUS  sort  of  inside-outside  design  appears  to 
obtain  in  the  cinema  affairs  of  both  the  United  States 
and  Britain.  On  the  inside  of  each  country  there  is  a 
disposition  to  oppose  consolidations  of  power  in  production 
and  distribution,  and  for  external  or  world  market  purposes 
there  is  in  each  instance  address  toward  unified  national 
industry  fronts.  One  pressure  would  take  the  picture  business 
rather  apart;  the  other  would  put  it  compactly  together. 

Here  in  the  United  States  the  movement  for  the  dispersal 
of  power  in  the  Industry  is  represented  by  the  anti-trust  suit 
instituted  by  the  Department  of  Justice,  with  Its  continuing 
Consent  Decree  negotiations.  In  Britain  the  kindred  pressure 
is  of  only  semi-official  nature.  It  is  represented  currently  by  a 
committee  created  by  the  British  Board  of  Trade's  Film  Council, 
which  seems  to  be  addressed  directly  at  consideration  of  the 
activities  of  Mr.  J.  Arthur  Rank,  rising  to  screen  dominance 
there,  and  also  looking  overseas. 

To  glance  sidewise  for  a  moment  at  the  order  of  intricacies 
which  can  obtain,  consider  that  oil  picture,  with  the  U.  S.  Gov- 
ernment investing  In  oil  In  some  sort  of  relation  and  partnership 
with  the  California-Arabian  oil  company,  which  is  In  turn  a 
partnership  of  the  Standard  Oil  of  California,  one  of  those 
"dissolved"  elements  of  the  old  Standard  Oil,  and  of  the  Texas 
Company  which  enjoys  national  and  international  distribution. 
The  report  that  some  eighteen  or  so  "oil  Senators"  have  agreed 
to  vote  for  "International  policing"  after  the  war  Is  merely 
incidental.  This  has  bearing  only  to  indicate  how  the  com- 
mercial affairs  of  the  world-to-come  may  be  entwined  with  the 
affairs  of  state. 

An  incidental,  and  possibly  almost  accidental,  note  of 
moment  transpires  in  an  expression  from  Mr.  Rank,  in  the 
course  of  an  interview  with  "Tatler",  a  by-line  writer  for 
The  Daily  Film  Renter  of  London,  at  year's  end,  thus: 

^  "He  [Mr.  Rank]  was  Inclined  to  discount  to  a  certain 
extent  the  great  start  which  Hollywood  has  on  Britain  in  the 
matter  of  actual  preparation,  dubbing,  etc.,  because  he 
thought  British  prestige  would  be  so  high  among  the  liberated 


countries  after  the  war  that  they  would  be  willing  to  take  our 
product,  primarily  out  of  gratitude,  and  secondarily  out  of  its 
greater  suitability." 

Interestingly,  Indeed,  Mr.  Rank  observed  that  post-war  trad- 
ing would  be  of  infinitely  more  Importance  than  the  British 
quota  act.  He  declared  emphatically  for  competition  in  Con- 
tinental distribution  and  for  a  British-American  company 
addressed  at  the  world  market. 

In  the  news  pages  of  this  Issue  there  is  a  neat  little  intimation 
of  some  possible  hands-across-the-sea  aspects  of  the  newly 
announced  Academy  Foundation,  in  an  article  by  Mr.  William 
R.  Weaver,  Hollywood  editor. 

The  pre-war  world  market  was  dominated  by  the  American 
motion  picture  in  sequel  to  developments  In  the  first  World 
War  which  delivered  substantial  monopoly  to  the  studios  of 
the  United  States.  The  war  now,  while  somewhat  restricting 
British  production  activities,  has  effected  no  such  shut-down  as 
ensued  In  1914.  After  that  the  French  industry  never  recovered, 
and  in  Russia  and  Germany  the  motion  picture  became  an 
Instrument  of  state.  Its  product  principally  for  home  consump- 
tion. In  those  countries  there  is  little  prospect  that  their  screen 
product  will  be  important  in  a  world  market  for  a  long  time 
to  come,  if  ever. 

THE  American  motion  picture  since  the  first  World  War  has 
been  a  conspicuous  product  of  export.  It  was  said  and  esti- 
mated that,  even  against  the  quotas.  Imposts  and  rising 
walls  of  nationalism,  the  American  motion  picture  makers 
derived  something  like  twenty  per  cent  of  their  income  from 
lands  overseas.  That  was  a  high  figure,  comparatively,  when 
one  considers  that  It  was  estimated  that  In  1927-29  the  average 
annual  exports  of  the  United  States  did  not  exceed  six  per  cent 
of  the  national  Income.  For  comparison  It  Is  Interesting  to 
recall  that,  In  the  same  period,  the  exports  of  Great  Britain, 
Germany  and  Japan  amounted  to  about  20  per  cent  of  their 
Incomes.  The  figures  for  Chile  were  35  per  cent,  for  Cuba,  65 
per  cent,  and  for  little  Belgium  55  per  cent. 

Now  for  awhile  the  American  Industry  has  been  doing 
exceedingly  well  on  the  home  market,  and  today  Is  In  the 
soundest  financial  condition  in  its  history. 

Many  changes  can  come,  must  come,  to  the  world  industrial 
map.  The  new  technologies  and  the  new  facilities  of  transport 
and  new  trade  routes  will  exert  diverse  and  wide  influences. 
And  not  only  does  trade  follow  the  films,  but  also  films  can 
and  probably  will  follow  the  trade. 

CONSIDER  some  of  the  changes  that  history  has  seen.  The 
United  States  took  cotton  from  the  Orient,  and  It  looks 
now  as  though  Brazil  might  be  taking  cotton  from  us. 
Brazil  took  coffee  from  Asia,  and  Asia  took  rubber  from  Brazil, 
and  for  a  while  Japan  has  taken  rubber  from  all  of  us.  Cuba 
went  one-crop  on  sugar  cane,  and  now  the  beet  is  making  sugar 
a  home  crop  in  many  lands. 

In  the  case  of  the  motion  picture,  as  it  is  now  made,  soil, 
climate  and  location  are  not  material.  It  is  an  industry  of 
"the  know-how"  and  of  talent  and  aggressive  enterprise.  So 
far,  Hollywood  has  concentrated  the  most  of  It.  Tomorrow 
the  rivalry  will  find  expression  mostly  in  the  field  of  talent 
and  enterprise.  — Terry  Kavtsaye 


8 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


.-ebruary    5,  1944 


THIS  WEEK  IN  THE  NEWS 


RANK  seeks  all-industry  council  for  in-  EXPECT  increased  adnnission  tax  to  be 

dustry  in  England                     Page    9  effective  March  I                    Page  28 

Tells  "Tatler"  of  his  worldwide  plans  for  WAR  work  accents  place  of  theatre  as 

British  trade                           Page  29  connmunity  center                    Page  39 

CLARK  shows  exhibitors  what  the  nnajors  NEW  Acadenny  Foundation  in  Hollywood 

offer  on  Decree                       Page  14  has  cultural  designs                  Page  43 

EXHIBITORS  cool  to  Decree  proposals  at  REVENUE  Bureau  studies  policy  on  talent 

Chicago  meeting                    Page  16  contracts                              Page  46 

WASHINGTON   ends  ban   on  filnrjs  of  WAR  Bond  front  advances  as  trade  speeds 

Japanese  atrocities                  Page  25  War  Loan  drive                      Page  47 

ADVERTISERS  use  fame  of  flocks  of  stars  MEXICAN  Government  is  extending  powers 

to  vend  wares  to  public            Page  26  of  censors                              Page  50 

SERVICE  DEPARTMENTS 

Hollywood  Scene                        Page  58  Picture  Grosses                          Page  66 

In  the  Newsreels                         Page  77  Shorts  on  Broadway                     Page  64 

Managers'  Round  Table                Page  67  What  the  Picture  Did  for  Me        Page  59 

IN  PRODUCT  DIGEST  SECTION 

Showmen's  Reviews                  Page  1741  Advance  Synopses                   Page  1746 

Short  Subjects  Chart                Page  1744  The  Release  Chart                   Page  1748 


Film  Man  to  Man 

STANTON  GRIFFIS,  whose  favorite 
after-dinner  story  is  the  one  about  "Don't 
shoot  the  piano  player — he's  doing  the  best 
he  can,"  would  be  last  among  the  last  to 
remark  the  difference  between  Hollywood's 
acceptance  of  his  suggestions  and  those  of 
his  predecessor  in  charge  of  the  domestic 
motion  picture  division  of  OWI,  but  the 
record  tells  the  story. 

On  January  5  OWI's  Griffis  sat  down 
at  luncheon  with  Hollywood  studio  leaders 
and  suggested  some  shorts  to  be .  produced 
for  distribution  by  the  War  Activities  Com- 
mittee. 

On  January  24  Universal  started  shoot- 
ing on  the  first  of  them,  "Prices  Unlimited," 
with  Milton  Feld  producing,  Edmund  L. 
Hartmann  writing  and  Erie  C.  Kenton  di- 
recting. Martha  O'Driscoll  and  Leon  Errol 
are  among  the  players. 

On  the  27th  Columbia  started  "War  Time 
Taxes,"  from  a  script  by  MGM's  Howard 
Hinsdale,  Hugh  McCollum  producing  and 
Charles  Coburn  speaking  the  commentary. 

The  weekend  saw  "Skirmish  on  the  Home 
Front"  under  way  at  Paramount. 

Close  on  the  heels  of  these,  to  meet  the 
camera,  will  be  four  more,  the  Warner 
plant  turning  out  a  subject  on  food.  Twen- 
tieth Century-Fox  doing  one  on  gasoline, 
MGM  supplying  a  film  on  Army-Navy  avi- 
ation training  and  David  O.  Selznick  fur- 
nishing a  treatment  of  the  Cadet  Nurse 
Training  Corps. 

When  the  man  from  Washington  talking 
to  the  head  men  in  Hollywood  is  a  film  man 
himself  it  makes  a  difference. 


Stars  Can  Be  Wrong 

IT'S  so  long  between  the  time  when  a 
star  finishes  acting  in  a  picture  and  the 
public  gets  to  see  it  on  the  screen  that  he 
or  she  can  have  flown  or  sailed,  and  often 
has,  to  a  warfront  and  back  while  the  cut- 
ters and  editors  are  toiling  with  the  film 
the  camera  caught.  Which  phenomena,  en- 
tirely local  and  technological-,  accounts  for 
some  of  our  more  traveled  personalities  ar- 
riving back  from  overseas  to  tell  reporters 
that  the  boys  are  having  to  look  at  last 
year's  pictures  or  worse. 

What's  actually  happening  in  that  connec- 
tion is  revealed  in  a  report  received  by  the 
Hollywood  division  of  the  War  Activities 
Committee  from  Major  John  W.  Hubbell, 
Officer  in  Charge  of  the  Film  Circuit  Sec- 
tion of  the  Army  Pictorial  Service,  pertain- 
ing to  the  cinematic  menu  served  the  fight- 
ing men  at  a  certain  Pacific  base. 

"A  unit  of  45  men  located  on  a  small  is- 
land 17  miles  from  a  substantial  base  has 
pictures  twice  a  week,"  the  communication 
says,  "and  the  main  unit  has  a  cub  plane 
capable  of  landing  on  a  dime.  An  amphibi- 
ous tank  was  used  to  clear  away  a  small 
strip  of  ground  on  the  island.  Twice  a  week 
the  sub  plane  flies  over  to  the  island  in  the 


evening.  The  men  carry  a  mobile  unit. 
Movies  are  shown  each  trip  and  the  plane 
reports  back  to  its  base  on  the  following 
morning. 

"In  advanced  areas  the  men  are  getting 
three  pictures  a  week  and  they  are  all  late 
releases.  There  are  times  when  they  wonder 
how  we  are  able  to  send  up  pictures  which 
they  know  are  playing  only  the  larger  cities 
in  America  at  the  time  they  are  screening 
them." 

Actors  wouldn't  necessarily  know  about 
that. 


Second  10,000 

THE  ten  thousandth  16mm  film  program 
given  by  the  industry  to  the  Army  for  free 
showing  to  men  in  combat  areas  was  accept- 
ed by  Lt.  General  Brehon  Somervell  from 
George  Schaefer,  chairman  of  the  War  Ac- 
tivities Committee,  at  a  special  ceremony 
Wednesday  at  the  Waldorf  Astoria  Hotel, 
New  York. 

General  Somervell  also  was  presented  with 
prints  of  10  current  motion  pictures,  mark- 
ing the  start  of  the  industry's  second  series 
of  10,000  gift  prints.  Four  of  the  ten  have 
just  been  released  in  this  country  and  sev- 
eral others  will  not  be  seen  by  American 
audiences  for  some  time. 

Present  at  the  ceremony  in  addition  to 
Army  representatives  and  film  stars,  were : 
Barney  Balaban,  N.  Peter  Rathvon,  W.  C. 
Michel,  Y.  Frank  Freeman,  Francis  S.  Har- 
mon, S.  H.  Fabian,  Arthur  Mayer,  Her- 
man Gluckman  and  J.  Robert  Rubin. 


Hands  Across  Border 

IN  Hollywood  last  week,  to  remain  during 
filming  at  Warner  Brothers'  studio  of  a 
short  designed  to  stimulate  interest  in  the 
Canadian  6th  Victory  Loan  Drive  opening 
April  24,  Don  Henshaw,  staff  member  of 
the  National  War  Finance  Committee  of 
Canada,  said: 

"As  a  result  of  the  success  of  those  pic- 
tures (five- Hollywood  shorts  made  for  the 
five  previous  campaigns)  the  War  Finance 
Committee  decided  to  make  this  new  re- 
quest for  assistance,  which  has  been  granted. 
The  cooperation  given  Canadian  Victory 
Loans  by  the  War  Activities  Committee, 
and  by  the  Hollywood  Victory  Committee 
in  furnishing  stars  for  personal  appearances 
and  national  broadcasts,  as  well  as  for  mak- 
ing transcriptions,  has  been  of  inestimable 
help." 


Decline 

WHILE  the  number  of  newspaper  readers 
rose  to  an  all-time  high  of  44,392,829  in 
1944,  the  number  of  English  language 
dailies  in  this  country  dropped  to  a  new  low 
of  1,754,  according  to  the  1944  International 
Year  Book  issued  late  last  week  by  Editor 
&  Publisher.  Morning  newspapers  lost  32,- 
889  buyers,  while  evening  papers  picked  up 
1,050,868,  with  most  metropolitan  newspa- 
pers maintaining  a  static  circulation  because 
of  newsprint  limitations  which  caused  them 
to  discourage  readers. 


February    5,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


9 


^'Mister  Broadway^^ 

WARNER  Brothers  this  week  announced  a 
project  to  fihn  the  story  of  Variety  and  its 
founder,  the  late  Sime  Silverman,  as  a  cav- 
alcade of  American  show  business. 

The  title  is  "Mister  Broadway,"  synony- 
mous with  Mr.  Silverman,  observes  Jack  L. 
Warner,  who  says  the  picture  will  make  a 
strong  plea  for  freedom  of  the  press  and  of 
communications. 

The  formalities  and  phraseology  of  the 
usual  contract  characteristic  of  present-day 
business  were  supplanted  by  a  handshake, 
the  manner  in  which  Variety's  founder 
closed  agreements. 

Abel  Green,  long  an  associate  of  Mr.  Sil- 
verman, and  present  editor  of  Variety,  is  the 
author  of  the  story  on  which  the  picture  will 
be  based.  The  film  is  scheduled  for  imme- 
diate production.  It  has  been  assigned  to 
Arthur  Schwartz  as  his  first  picture  for 
Warners. 


Washington  Monument 

HEARINGS  by  the  House  Appropriations 
Committee  in  Washington  last  week  on  the 
Independent  Offices  Supply  Bill  disclosed 
that  officials  of  the  National  Archives  want 
$2,500,000  for  the  construction  of  a  film 
storage  and  servicing  building  in  Washing- 
ton. 

It  would  house  the  constantly  growing 
mass  of  still  and  motion  pictures  accumulat- 
ed by  Federal  agencies.  War  records  from 
the  services  and  important  commercial  mo- 
tion pictures  filed  with  the  Library  of  Con- 
gress for  copyright  purposes  would  also  be 
included. 

Plans  by  the  Library  of  Congress  for  the 
establishment  of  its  own  hall  of  films  were 
reported  in  Motion  Picture  Herald  Janu- 
ary 22. 


Times  on  the  Air 

THE  New  York  Times  on  Tuesday  bought 
the  Interstate  Broadcasting  Company  in 
New  York,  thereby  acquiring  control  of 
radio  station  WQXR  and  its  frequency 
modulation  companion  WQXQ.  The  sale  is 
subject  to  approval  of  the  Federal  Commu- 
nications Commission. 

Arthur  Hays  Sulzberger,  president  and 
publisher  of  the  Titnes  announced  that  the 
stations'  policy  of  carefully  selected  com- 
mercial programs,  classical  music,  and  ed- 
ucational features  appealing  to  radio's  "car- 
riage trade"  would  be  continued.  John  V.  L. 
Hogan,  president  of  Interstate  and  founder 
of  the  station,  and  Elliott  M.  Sanger,  vice- 
president,  will  continue  as  chief  executives 
under  five-year  contracts. 

The  Times  acquired  all  stock  in  Inter- 
state, including  a  large  block  which  had 
been  purchased  two  years  ago  by  Tirne,  Inc. 
The  Henry  Luce  news  magazine  will  con- 


Rank  Proposes  All-Industry  Unit 
To  Avert  Government  Rule 


LONDON  BUREAU 

by  Cable 

J.  Arthur  Rank,  England's  largest  pro- 
ducer -  distributor  -  exhibitor,  Wednesday 
proposed  to  set  up  a  grand  council  of  all 
sections  of  the  filnn  industry  in  Britain.  Its 
aims  would  be: 

1.  To  organize  effective  resistance  to 
any  attempt  to  increase  Government 
control  of  the  industry;  and 

2.  To  convince  the  nation  of  the  indus- 
try's ideals  and  sense  of  responsibility. 

The  council,  proposed  at  a  secret  meet- 
ing in  London  with  Francis  W.  Baker,  presi- 
dent of  the  Kinematograph  Renters'  So- 
ciety (distributors),  and  Henry  Simpson, 
president  of  the  Cinematograph  Exhibitors 
Association,  would  represent  those  two 
groups  and  the  producers,  whose  agree- 
ment, it  is  understood.  Is  already  assured. 

The  proposal  came  In  swift  sequel  to  the 
appointment  early  this  week  by  the  British 
Films  Council  of  a  committee  of  four  men 
from  outside  the  Industry  to  suggest 
measures  "to  counteract  the  dangers  of  a 
film  monopoly".  (See  page  29.) 

Mr.  Rank  told  Mr.  Simpson  and  Mr.  Baker 
he  was  Impressed  by  their  endeavors  and 
achievements   In   the   establishment  and 


operation  of  a  joint  conciliation  commit- 
tee to  arbitrate  the  many  recent  major  and 
minor  frictions  between  distributors  and 
exhibitors.  A  further  step,  however,  he 
said,  was  Imperative  In  view  of  the  threat 
of  objectionable  legislation  and  of  the  par- 
amount need  to  maintain  the  prestige  of 
British  production. 

In  the  proposal  for  the  all-Industry  coun- 
cil, Mr.  Rank  pledged  himself  In  favor  of 
strict  regulation  by  the  new  body  of  all 
future  theatre  building,  currently  a  very 
sore  point  among  exhibitors.  He  made  a 
direct  expression  to  Mr.  Simpson  of  his 
sympathy  for  small  theatre  owners  who 
have  been  threatened  with  extinction  be- 
cause of  over-building  by  circuits. 

Mr.  Simpson,  as  head  of  the  CEA,  has 
waged  a  vigorous  campaign  against  what 
he  terms  "reckless  speculative  building" 
and  has  warned  that,  if  continued,  it  would 
lead  to  onerous  Government  regulation. 
Last  December  he  condemned  "the  ten- 
cent-store  mentality  current  In  certain  cir- 
cuit executives  who  seek  a  shop  window 
In  every  town  Irrespective  of  whether  the 
seat  saturation  has  been  reached". 

Mr.  Rank's  views  on  the  world  market 
and  some  of  his  plans  in  that  direction 
as  reported  by  "Tatler"  In  the  Daily  Film 
Renter  also  are  on  page  29. 


tine  to  provide  news  for  a  15-minute 
nightly  program  and  the  New  York  Times 
will  continue  its  hourly  news  broadcasts 
over  WMCA. 

Nicholas  Roosevelt  returns  to  the  staff  of 
the  New  York  Times  to  take  charge  of  its 
radio  interests.'  In  a  13^^-year  interim  he 
served  as  United  States  Minister  to  Hun- 
gary, an  editorial  writer  on  the  New  York 
Herald  Tribune  and  more  recently  as  dep- 
uty director  of  the  Office  of  War  Informa- 
tion under  Elmer  Davis. 


Revival 


Tonsil  Bowl 

BING  CROSBY  and  Frank  Sinatra,  each 
of  whom  has  his  respective  following  of 
Old  Guard  swing  fans  and  Bobby  Sox 
swooners,  engaged  in  a  Battle  of  the  Bari- 
tones via  radio  from  Hollywood  Tuesday. 

It  was  a  "no-tones-barred"  bout  on  the 
"Command  Performance"  show  sponsored  by 
the  Armed  Forces  Radio  Service,  with  the 
Hollywood  Victory  Committee  cooperating. 


METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER  has  an- 
nounced plans  to  produce  a  serious  version 
of  a  best-seller  of  yesteryear,  the  stage  hit 
of  90  years  ago,  the  Harriet  Beecher  Stowe 
novel  that  yvas  made  into  a  play  and  became 
in  time  an  American  classic,  "Uncle  Tom's 
Cabin." 

The  book  was  first  published  serially  in 
National  Era,  from  June,  1851,  to  April, 
1852.  In  1852  it  was  published  in  book 
form,  and  shortly  thereafter  as  a  play.  Few 
are  the  American  cities  with  anything  re- 
sembling a  stage  that  have  not  witnessed  the 
perils  of  Eliza  making  her  way  across  the 
ice  with  Simon  Legree  in  pursuit,  with 
bloodhounds,  who  were  not  in  the  novel, 
adding  illimitably  to  the  drama  of  the  perils 
behind  the  footlights. 

To  date,  Margaret  O'Brien  has  been  cast 
to  play  Little  Eva;  Lena  Horn,  Eliza,  and 
Lewis  Stone,  St.  Clair.  No  bloodhounds 
cast. 


Avenue,  cmcago,  5;  noiiywooa  pu.cuu,  ru>,.,    ...,^,ng,  HoMywood,  28,  William  R.  Weave., 

ray  vcjuMuyiici,  ^i^»  =  ...^."a  '-':"'r^"i    ■  '  ^  r^r.^^r,"  W    M    filndlsh    correSDondent-  Montreal   Bureau,  265  Vitre  St.,  West,  Montreal,  Canada,   Pat  Donovan, 

editor;  Toronto  Bureau,  242  Mil  wood  Road,  Toron  o,  Ontario    Canada    W    M  ■  Bu°nup,  editor;  cible  Quigpubca  London;  Melbourne  Bureau,  The  Regent 

correspondent;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Square    London  W  I,  Hope  ^''''^"^^/"^P'  '^""^  Riseville    Sydney    N  S.W.,   Australia,    Lin    Endeon,  correspondent- 

Theatre,  191  Collins  St.,  Melbourne,  Australia,  Cliff,  Holt,  correspondent; , Syd-^ey  ^^^f""'  '^^^-^.^"bu  Aires  Bureau  J  E  Ur  buri  126,  Buenos  Aires,  Argentina,  Natalio  Bruski 
rvlexico'City  Bureou,  Dr.  Carmona  y  Valle  6,  Mexico  City,  Luis    ecerra  Cel.^,  corresponds  Montevideo  Bureau,' P.  O.  Box  664,  Montevideo 

correspondent;  Rio  de  Janeiro  Bureau,  R.^Sao^Jose,  61,  C.  .Postal^834_,^R,_o  de_^Jane,ro,  Brazil  ^^^^^^^^  copyright   1944  by  Quigley  Publishing  _( 

Uruguay,  Pa 
all  correspo 


;t  r^e^n^r;T:a^,^'^:'j::.^°  c^'^^orssnio  dT^^iroj^azii  A^^^  ^r^^e^"::^;?^^^1r^'t^^^e;^^bl^s^g^ co^^a^!":?d:i;::s 

den^ce^  to  "^'^t:^  S^.  oTr  /heatres,°LS'io:'?lct:re  ^^ily-^lnternotio^n^^Motion  PiLre  Al.onoc,  and  Fa.e. 


10 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    5,  1944 


THIS  WEEK 


the  Camera  reports: 


MEETING  in  the  New  York  ofRce  of  Twentieth  Century-Fox,  producers  of 
"The  Sullivans":  Spyros  Skouras,  president;  Mrs.  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Wendell  Willkie, 
board  chairman;  Mr.  Sullivan.  The  Sullivans  are  parents  of  the  five  nrien  who  died 
when  the  cruiser  Juneau  was  sunk  in  action  in  the  Pacific  area. 


>3 

By  Stall  Photographer 

HOW  "The  Sullivans"  was  cast,  written, 
produced,  what  tieups  were  arranged 
and  are  available  and  what  public 
reception  is  expected  was  outlined 
for  the.  trade  press  last  Friday  morning 
by  Sam  Jaffe,  producer,  at  a  coffee 
and  doughnuts  interview  in  his 
Hotel  Gotham  suite.  New  York. 


By  SUIT  Photographer 

CHIEFS  of  Columbia's  sales,  during  the  sales  meeting  Tuesday, 
Wednesday,  and  Thursday,  at  the  Warwick  Hotel,  New  York.  Left  to  right,, 
seated,  Nate  Spingold,  vice-president;  Jack  Cohn,  executive 
vice-president;  A.  Montague,  general  sales  manager;  Joseph  McConville, 
foreign  sales  vice-president.  Standing,  Lou  Weinberg  and  Lou  Astor, 
circuit  sales;  Rube  Jackter,  assistant  sales  manager;  and  Max 
Welsfeldt,  sales. 


By  Stall  Photographer 

AT  THE  BACHELOR  d  inner  last  week  In  New  York  to 
Phil  Dow,  UA  sales  executive:  Harry  Gold,  Carl  Leserman, 
Gradwell  Sears,  Mr.  Dow,  Jack  Ellis. 


CONTRIBUTION  to  the  Jackpot  on  the  Warner 
"Janie"  set.  Dolores  Moran  is  the  contributor, 
under  a  plan  to  fine  players  who  blow  lines. 


February    5,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


"LADY  IN  THE  DARK".  IN  GAY  COLOR 

Paramount's  drama  with  music,  in  Technicolor,  tradeshown  next 
week,   presents  Ginger   Rogers   in  three   dream  sequences, 


of  which  the  one  shown  above,  with  the  star  in  the  center  of  a 
circus  ring,  is  the  most  vivid.  Miss  Rogers'  repressed  per- 
sonality by  means  of  the  dreams  is  dissolved  into  a  completely 
glamorous  one.  These  are  the  first  stills  in  color. 


RAY  MILLAND  in  span- 
gles is  a  ringmaster  in  the 
glittering  circus  dream 
scene,  hie  is  the  man 
Ginger  Rogers  finally 
marries,  after  falling  in 
love,  in  the  dream,  with 
Jon  Hall. 


A  TOTAL  of  350  especially  designed 
gowns  are  worn  in  "Lady  in  the 
Dark",  one  of  them  this  mink  gown 
with  sequin  and  red  jeweled  bodice 
and  sequin-lined  skirt  worn  by  Miss 
Rogers.  Her  companion  is  Mary 
Philips  as  Maggie  Grant. 


POR  1944,  leading  the  Theatre  Owners  of  North 
and  South  Carolina:  George  Parr,  president;  Boyd 
Brown,  vice-president;  A.  F.  Sams,  Jr.,  vice-presi- 
dent, and  Mrs.  Walter  Griffith,  secretary-treasurer. 


12 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    5,  1944 


ALBERT  A.  CORMIER,  for- 
mer motion  picture  trade  press 
representative  and  for  many 
years  an  executive  in  radio, 
has  joined  Joseph  Hershey 
McGillvra,  Inc.,  advertising  rep- 
resentative for  radio  stations. 


SIGNING  the  deal.  Officials  of  RKO  Radio 
Pictures  and  of  International  Pictures,  Inc., 
complete  negotiations  calling  for  an  agreement 
under  which  RKO  will  distribute  four  pictures  which 
International  will  produce.   Leo  Spitz,  of  Inter- 
national, affixes  his  signature,  while  his  partner, 
Will  iam  Goetz,  left,  and  Charles  Koerner  and 
Ned  E.  Depinet,  RKO  Radio  Pictures  studio  chief 
and  president,  respectively,  watch. 


AT  LUNChlEON,  last  week,  in  New  York,  for  out-of-town  exhibitors  attending 
the  premiere  of  Twentieth  Century- Fox's  "Song  of  Bernadette": 
Maurice  White,  Cincinnati;  J.  J.  Grady;  J.  Real  Neth,  Columbus,  Ohio; 
Ray  Moon,  and  Tom  Connors  and  William  Kupper  of  Twentieth  Century-Fox. 


By  Staff  Photographer 


PUBLICITY  MANAGER.  That  is  the  title  given 
to  Al  Horwits,  above,  in  a  realignment  of 
Universal's  New  York  advertising  department. 
Mr.  Horwits  has  been  with  the  Universal  home  office 
publicity  department  approximately  a  year, 
and  was  formerly  sports  writer  on  the 
Philadelphia  Ledger. 


By  Staff  Photographer 


INSTALLATION.  Officers  of  the  25-30  Club,  New  York, 
Installed  last  Friday:  Morris  Klapholz,  secretary;  Mike  Berkowltz, 
president;  Morris  Rotker,  vice-president;  Henry  Weinberger,  finan- 
cial secretary.  The  club  comprises  projectionists  of  long  experience. 


February    5,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


13 


By  Staff  Photographer 

THOMAS  BAIRD  succeeds  George  Archibald  as 
director  of  the  British  Information  Service  film 
division  in  New  York.   Mr.  Archibald 
leaves  next  week  for  England. 


A  $240,000  CHECK  is  presented  to  President  Roosevelt  by 
Lady  Cedric  Hardwicke,  for  the  Infantile  Paralysis  Foundation. 
It  represents  net  profits  in  this  country  of  RKO's  "Forever  and  a  Day". 
Watching  are  Basil  O'Connor,  Foundation  president;  N.  Peter  Rathvon, 
RKO  president;  Joan  Fontaine,  Roland  Young  and  Brian  Aherne. 
The  1944  March  of  Dimes  drive  has  just  been  completed. 


THE  PALACIO,  Rio  de  Janeiro,  Brazil, 
has  become  Twentieth  Century- Fox's 
exclusive  first  run  "showcase".  The  theatre 
Is  owned  by  the  Riberio  circuit,  Brazil's  largest. 


By  Staff  Photographer 

OUR  FIGHTERS  like  newsreel  shots  of  home, 

Earle  Crotchett,  above,  reported  last  week 

at  the  Universal  New  York  office.   Cameraman  for 

its  newsreel,  he  returned  after  almost 

two  years  In  the  South  Pacific. 


LUNCH:  The  principals  are  Jennifer  Jones,  star  of  "The  Song 
of  Bernadette,"  and  David  O.  Selznick,  producer,  to  whom  she  Is 
under  contract,  and  who  will  star  her  In  "Since  You  Went  Away." 
Miss  Jones  Is  one  of  many  star  personalities  who  will 
appear  in  the  new  Selznick  production. 


INGRID  BERGMAN, 
left,-  returned  to 
Hollywood  this  week 
from  a  tour  of  Alaskan 
bases,  told  the  press 
of  the  value  of  pictures 
and  star  tours  to 
servicemen  there  who, 
she  said,  "feel  they  are 
forgotten  men." 


PRESENTATION.  SeaBee  James  Purgason  was  given  a  silver  Identification 
bracelet  by  Dallas  mayor  pro  tem  J.  B.  Adoue,  Jr.,  right,  In  a  reception 
ceremony  launching  Republic's  "The  Fighting  SeaBees"  at  the 
Majestic,  Dallas.  Others  above  are  James  Cherry,  Interstate  Circuit  city 
manager;  Lloyd  Rust,  Republic  manager;  and  Mrs.  Purgason. 


14 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    5,  1944 


CLARK  SHOWS  EXHIBITORS 
WHAT  THE  MAJORS  OFFER 


Decree  Proposals  Would 


ZlTnfa:fFrZiS:f  Three  Versions,  and  Three 


by  FRANCIS  L  BURT 

/■//  Washington 

Alajor  points  in  distributor  proposals  for 
revision  of  the  Consent  Decree  were  dis- 
closed in  Washington  Tuesday  by  Tom  C. 
Clark,  Assistant  Attorney  General. 

The  proposals  from  Metro-Goldwyn- 
Mayer,  Paramount,  RKO,  Warner  Broth- 
ers and  Twentieth  Century-Fox  included 
three  changes  in  principal  points  of  the  pres- 
ent decree  which  would : 

1.  Practically  freeze  affiliated  circuits  to 
their  present  holdings  ;  prevent  pool- 
ing of  theatres  between  distributors 
and  dissolve  franchise  agreements. 

2.  Grant  cancellation  privileges  pro- 
rated according  to  film  rentals  on  a 
scale  closely  paralleling  the  United 
Motion  Picture  Industry  Plan. 

3.  Permit  arbitration  of  the  clearance 
of  affiliated  circuits  and  of  run  held 
in  competition  with  circuits. 

Provisions  covering  trade  shows,  fran- 
chises, pooling  agreements,  forcing  of  news- 
reels  and  shorts  and  protection  against  with- 
holding prints  were  also  contained  in  the 
distributor  proposals. 

Earlier  in  the  week  Mr.  Clark  had  given 
copies  of  the  full  35-page  proposed  decree  to 
exhibitor  organizations  in  all  sections  of  the 
country  for  study.  Initial  comment  indi- 
cated that  while  exhibitors  were  admitting 
that  it  represented  a  marked  improvement 
over  the  present  decree,  they  were  preparing 
to  criticise  the  revision  as  falling  far  short 
of  the  ideal.  (A  report  from  Allied  board 
meeting  at  Chicago  is  on  page  16.) 

At  the  Department  of  Justice,  officials  re- 
fused to  comment  on  the  distributors'  offer, 
but  there  were  indications  that  they,  too,  felt 
that  many  of  its  provisions  could  be  im- 
proved. 

Disclosing  some  of  the  major  points  of 
the  proposal,  Mr.  Clark  emphasised  that 
there  had  been  no  acceptance,  and  the  dis- 
tribuHon  of  copies  to  the  exhibitor  associa- 
tions was  merely  for  the  purpose  of  obtain- 
ing their  reaction  to  an  offer.  So  far  as 
could  be  learned,  the  matter  has  not  yet  been 
discussed  with  the  Attorney  General,  Fran- 
cis Biddle.  He  must  pass  in  advance  upon 
any  decree  zuhich  is  submitted  to  the  Federal 
District  Court  in  New  York  which  retains 
jurisdiction  in  the  Government's  anti-trust 
case. 

The  proposal  does  not  carry  any  provision 
for  selling,  beyond  the  requirement  of  trade 
showing.  There  was  no  indication  whether 
the  distributors  would  steadfastly  withstand 
Mr.  Clark's  suggestion  that  they  be  pro- 
hibited from  offering  pictures  in  large  blocks, 
but  be  permitted  to  accept  exhibitor  bids  for 
block  purchases. 

Previously  Mr.  Clark  had  indicated  that 
the  Department  of  Justice  was  not  particu- 
larly concerned  with  the  terms  and  methods 


Rejections^  Score  so  Far 


Three  times  tentative  distributor  versions 
of  the  concessions  which  they  would  be 
willing  to  offer  in  a  new  Consent  Decree 
have  been  turned  down  by  Tom  C.  Clark, 
Assistant  United  States  Attorney  General. 
On  two  other  occasions  Mr.  Clark  made  it 
clear  to  the  distributors  that  it  was  up  to 
them  to  suggest  revisions  which  would 
answer  exhibitor  complaints.  The  chronol- 
ogy: 

SEPTEMBER  4:  "The  Government  refuses 
to  make  suggestions  for  revisions,  taking 
the  position  that  the  companies  as  de- 
fendants seeking  to  avoid  further  litigation 
should  outline  the  steps  they  are  willing  to 
take,"  Washington  dispatches  on  the  first 
meeting  between  Mr.  Clark  and  company 
presidents  report. 


OCTOBER  16:  "Suggest  specific  reme- 
dies to  exhibitor  complaints,"  Mr.  Clark 
advises  the  distributor  presidents  at  a  con- 
ference in  New  York. 

NOVEMBER  6:  "They  must  give  more 
milk,"  the  Assistant  Attorney  General  tells 
Motion  Picture  Herald  after  looking  at 
the  first  distributor  proposals  In  a  1 5-minute 
meeting  with  their  counsel. 

DECEMBER  4:  "The  round  up  and  roping 
stage  has  been  reached,"  Mr.  Clark  warns. 
"The  alternative  to  a  new  decree  was  court 
action  on  an  unequalled  scale." 

JANUARY  23:  "Inadequate  in  many  re- 
spects," Is  the  official  comment  when  Mr. 
Clark  sends  proofs  of  the  proposals  back 
to  distributors  with  the  advice  to  work  them 
over  again. 


by  which  pictures  are  sold.  The  aim  of  the 
Government,  rather,  had  been  to  set  up  safe- 
guards to  protect  independent  exhibitors 
from  discrimination  in  favor  of  affiliate  cir- 
cuits or  circuits  holding  franchises  or  pool- 
ing arrangements  with  distributors,  he  had 
indicated. 

Summarized,  the  major  provisions  of  the 
distributors'  proposal  were  as  follows : 

LIMITATION  ON  CIRCUIT  EXPANSION: 

Distributors  to  obtain  court  approval  prior  to 
the  acquisition  of  any  additional  houses  except 
where  theatres  are  acquired  for  replacement,  as 
a  "show  case,"  or  as  a  result  of  a  "lock-out" 
of  one  year  or  longer. 

Certain  distributors  were  reported  to  have 
cited  situations  in  Louisiana  where,  they  com- 
plained to  the  Government,  exhibitors  have  re- 
fused to  book  their  pictures.  They  demanded 
the  right  to  operate  competitive  theatres. 

Under  the  present  decree,  the  distributor  does 
not  have  to  go  to  the  court  to  secure  approval 
of  an  acquisition,  but  the  Government  must  do 
so  if  it  wishes  to  prevent  one.  The  new  pro- 
vision would  require  the  distributor  to  go  into 
court,  where  the  Government  or  local  exhibitors 
could  appear  in  opposition. 

Exhibitors  are  understood  to  favor  a  pro- 
vision requiring  the  circuit  to  go  into  a  local 
Federal  district  court,  where  affected  exhibitors 
in  the  area  could  offer  contest  easily  and 
cheaply.  Distributors  are  understood  to  be  de- 
sirious  of  a  provision  permitting  them  to  file 
their  applicatons  without  publicity. 

POOLING  AGREEMENTS: 

Distributors  propose  to  divest  themselves  of 
joint  theatre  ownership  or  operation  and  prod- 
uct-buying agreements, 

FRANCHISES: 

Distributors  propose  to  eliminate  all  fran- 
chises, those  between  consenting  companies  to 


be  cancelled  immediately  and  those  with  outside 
interests  to  be  cancelled  if  possible  and,  if  not, 
terminated  at  end  of  present  contract. 

TRADE  SHOWS: 

Advance  screening  of  all  pictures  is  pro- 
vided for. 

CANCELLATIONS: 

Cancellations  to  run  at  minimum  rate  of  20 
per  cent  for  theatres  paying  $100  or  less  per 
picture,  10  per  cent  for  those  paying  between 
$101  and  $200  and  five  per  cent  for  those  pay- 
ing over  $200.  Cancellations  would  not  be 
cumulative.  Cancellation  privilege  would  apply, 
in  the  20  per  cent  classification,  on  the  third 
picture  (20  per  cent  of  three  being  six-tenths, 
or  more  than  half  a  picture)  and  thereafter  at 
the  20  per  cent  rate. 

FORCING  OF  SHORTS  AND 
NEWSREELS: 

Forcing  is  to  be  prohibited,  and  in  the  event 
an  arbitrator  finds  it  to  exist,  a  penalty  of  $250 
is  provided  for  the  first  violation  and  $500  for 
the  second  and  subsequent  violations.  The  fine 
would  be  paid  to  the  exhibitor. 

ARBITRATION: 

Arbitration  on  clearance  to  be  extended  to 
the  defendant's  own  theatres  ;  arbitration  of  run 
to  be  granted  exhibitors  in  competition  with 
circuits.  Regional  appeal  boards,  discussed 
earlier,  were  not  set  up. 

CANCELLATIONS  FOR  MORAL. 
RELIGIOUS  OR  RACIAL  REASONS: 

To  be  extended  to  five  days  after  notice  of 
availability. 

PROTECTION  AGAINST  WITH- 
HOLDING OF  PRINTS: 

Withholding  of  prints  to  give  a  competitor  a 
prior  playing  date  is  prohibited. 


^IfllfVV^^lfilfV^^^  jf  llf  llf  ^If  ^  V  f  ilf 

^  ^  V  ^  ^'^j^^^^^^^BH^  ilf  ^  ^  V  ^  ilf 

^  ^  V  ^        jj^^Mt  ^  ^  ^  jf  ^  ^ 


^  ^  V  ^  ^  ^  l^^^^^^^^^^if  ^  ^  ^  jjp  ^  ^ 
^  ^  V  ^  ^  ^   ilf  ^^^^^^^^^^ 

100  EXHIBITORS! 

THEY  will  be  honored  throughout  the  industry  and  their  names  will 
be  famous  in  the  trade  press! 

THEY  will  be  given  a  free  trip  to  Washington  with  all  expenses  paid. 

THEY  will  be  named  to  the  Industry's  Executive  Advisory  Committee 
of  the  5th  War  Loan. 

THEY  will  receive  a  personal  letter  of  congratulation  from  the  Secretary 
of  the  Treasury  and  will  be  presented  with  a  tribute  scroll,  an  honorary 
medallion  and  other  awards. 

THEY  will  be  featured  in  the  Official  Report  of  the  industry  to  the 
nation  on  the  4th  War  Loan;  and  they  and  their  staffs  will  wear  a  special 
'^E"  lapel  button  from  the  Treasury  Department. 

THEY  will  be  honored  in  their  home  states  and  in  their  localities  with 
important  dignitaries  present! 

THEY  are  the  industry's  patriotic  showmen  who  from  Jan.  1st  through 
Jan.  29th  sell  the  most  "E"  Bonds  in  ratio  to  their  seating  capacity. 

IT  IS  NOT  TOO  LATE  TO  BE  AMONG  THE 

HONORED  HUNDRED! 

War  Activities  Committee  of  the  Motion  Picture  Industry,  1501  Broadway,  New  York  City 


16 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


Independents  Say  No 
To  Decree  Proposals 


United  Front  Meeting  in 
Chicago  Lists  Objections 
in  Brief  for  Clark 

Exhibitor  response  to  distributor  proposals 
for  a  new  Consent  Decree  appeared  on  the 
cool  side  this  week  as  regional  associations 
completed  study  of  the  drafts  sent  to  them 
last  Friday  by  Tom  C.  Clark,  the  Assistant 
Attorney  General. 

A  flat  "No"  was  indicated  from  Chicago, 
where  directors  of  Allied  States  Associa- 
tion and  other  independents  met  on  Monday 
with  Abram  F.  Myers,  Allied  general  coun- 
sel, to  go  over  the  45  pages  of  decree  text. 

Mr.  Myers  Tuesday  evening  said  Allied 
would  file  a  brief  with  Mr.  Clark  by  next 
Wednesday,  February  9,  detailing  Allied 
objections  to  many  points  in  the  distributor 
offers.  It  was  reported  that  delegates  to  the 
two  day  meetings  at  the  Blackstone  Hotel 
had  read  the  decree  without  enthusiasm, 
then  launched  into  a  point  by  point  analysis 
of  what  they  believed  to  be  its  shortcomings. 

A  united  front  of  independent  exhibitors 
against  acceptance  of  the  Decree  as  it  now 
stands  will  result  from  the  Chicago  meetings, 
Mr.  Myers  predicted. 

Following  a  seven  hour  conference  at  the 
Blackstone  Mr.  Myers  announced  that  the 
group,  which  named  itself  the  National 
Council  of  Unaffiliated  Exhibitors,  would 
make  no  public  announcement  of  its  deci- 
sions until  a  committee  had  presented  its 
comments  to  Mr.  Clark. 

The  report  committee  includes: 

Abram  F.  Myers,  Allied  Robert  Poole,  PCCITO 

Col.  H.  A.  Cole,  Allied  Jesse  Stern,  Unaffiliated 
William  Crockett,  MPTO         Independent  Exhib- 
of  Virginia  itors 

the  Chicago  meeting 

of  Wisconsin 
Sidney   Samuelson,  Al- 
lied of  Eastern  Penn- 
sylvania 
H.  A.  Rosenberg,  Na- 
tional Allied 
Donald  Guttman,  North- 
Central  Allied 
Roy  E.  Harrold,  ATO  of 

Indiana 
Arthur  K.  Howard,  New 
England  Independents 
Nathan  Yamins,  New 
England  Independents 


Other  delegates  to 
were : 

Hugh  Bruen,  PCCITO 
Rotus  Harvey,  PCCITO 
Leo  F.  Wolcott,  Iowa- 
Nebraska  ITO 
A.    C.    Myrick,  Iowa- 
Nebraska  ITO 
Wesley  Mansfield,  Iowa- 
Nebraska  ITO 
Martin  Smith,  ITOA  of 

Ohio 
P.  J.  Wood.  ITOA 
Julius  Charnow,  DIE  of 

New  York 
William  Ainsworth,  ITPA 


Final  sessions  of  the  joint  conference  on 
Wednesday  were  devoted  to  discussion  of 
proposals  that  exhibitors  form  a  central  or- 
ganization to  represent  them  on  tax  matters 
and  to  coordinate  exhibitor  reaction  to  tax 
legislation. 


Edward  Snlderman  In  Army 

Edward  Sniderman,  RKO  New  York  divi- 
sion manager,  entered  the  Army  Thursday.  His 
associates  and  executives  of  the  company 
tendered  him  an  induction  luncheon  Wednesday 
at  the  Hotel  Abbey,  New  York.  Among  those 
present  were  Edward  L.  Alperson,  Malcolm 
Kingsberg  and  zone  manager  H.  Russell  Emde, 
Mr.  Sniderman's  immediate  superior. 


353  ARBITRATION 
CASES  IN  THREE  YEARS 

In  the  three  years  of  arbitration, 
353  cases  were  filed  with  the  31  re- 
gional tribunals,  the  American  Arbi- 
tration Association,  administrator, 
reported  Tuesday  on  the  third  anni- 
versary of  the  opening  of  its  offices 
for  exhibitor  complaints. 

Clearance  actions  constituted  252 
of  the  complaints  under  the  Consent 
Decree,  while  there  were  35  some- 
run  actions,  22  demands  for  specific 
run  and  44  combination  complaints. 

Exhibitors  won  143  out  of  231 
awards,  while  distributors  won  88  dis- 
missals. Complainants  withdrew  90 
actions,  while  32  are  still  pending 
before  tribunals.  New  York,  with 
53  cases,  led  in  the  number  of  com- 
plaints. The  Seattle  office  has  re- 
ceived none. 


Majors  Split  on 
Appeal  Award 

Distributors  and  a  major  intervening  circuit 
openly  split  for  the  first  time  over  the  merits 
of  an  arbitration  award  in  the  Apollo  theatre 
case  at  St.  Louis  it  was  disclosed  by  the 
Appeal  Board  in  their  88th  decision  on  Friday. 

Paramount,  RKO,  Twentieth  Century-Fox 
and  Warner  Brothers  in  their  appeal  briefs 
asked  that  the  award  of  Harry  G.  Erbs,  ar- 
bitrator, be  affirmed.  St.  Louis  Amusement 
Company  asked  reversal  of  the  award  which 
cut  clearance  of  their  Pageant  theatre  over  the 
Apollo  from  14  days  to  seven. 

The  Appeal  Board  upheld  the  seven  day  cut 
between  the  West  St.  Louis  neighborhood  thea- 
tres and  granted  further  availability  concessions 
to  Leo  Litvag,  the  complainant.  Sharply  criticiz- 
ing circuit  delay  in  booking  pictures  into  the 
Pageant  after  they  had  played  prior  runs  at 
St.  Louis  Amusement  Company's  Tivoli  and 
West  End  the  Appeal  Board  modified  the  award 
to  make  pictures  available  to  the  Apollo  not 
later  than  24  days  after  close  of  exhibition 
at  the  West  End.  The  West  End  follows  the 
Tivoli  by  one  or  two  days. 

The  board  found  that  pictures  were  generally 
not  available  to  the  Apollo  until  45  days  or 
longer  aftec  the  Tivoli  and  that  although  the 
Pageant  could  play  them  on  the  20th  or  21st 
day  after  the  Tivoli  it  generally  delayed  until 
the  29th  or  30th  day. 

"In  the  absence  of  any  explanation  the  con- 
clusion is  inevitable  that  the  delay  is  the  ex- 
pression of  a  deliberate  policy  adopted  by  the 
intervener  for  some  purpose  of  its  own  in 
consequence  of  which  unnecessary  hardship  is 
imposed  upon  the  complainant,"  the  board  wrote. 

"Moreover  . . .  the  intervenor  was  able  to  play 
the  pictures  at  the  Pageant  as  soon  as  its 
purpose  required,  and  was  not  subject  to  the 
influence  of  circumstances  beyond  its  control," 
the  Board  said,  citing  play  date  schedules. 

The  board  divided  costs  among  all  parties. 
It  was  the  16th  St.  Louis  case  and  was  filed 
in  February  1943. 


February    5.  1944 

Court  Renames 
Appeal  Board 
In  Arbitration 

Members  of  the  Appeal  Board  of  the  arbitra- 
tion system  set  up  by  the  Consent  Decree  in 
1940  were  reappointed  and  the  Board's  juris- 
diction continued  for  another  year  in  Federal 
District  Court  in  New  York  Tuesday  after- 
noon by  Judge  Henry  W.  Goddard. 

He  renamed  George  W.  Alger  as  chairman 
and  Albert  W.  Putnam  and  Robert  McCurdy 
Marsh  as  members.  The  original  three-year 
terms  would  have  expired  February  1. 

The  extension  was  granted  after  Tom  C. 
Clark,  Assistant  Attorney  General,  asked  Judge 
Goddard  to  reappoint  the  board  and  extend 
their  terms  for  one  year.  Attorneys  for  the 
consenting  distributors,  MGM,  Warners,  Para- 
mount, RKO  and  20th  Century-Fox  approved 
the  action. 

Department  of  Justice  lawyers  appearing  for 
Mr.  Clark  informed  Judge  Goddard  that  nego- 
tiations fon  a  new  decree  had  been  in  progrees 
for  six  months  and  that  every  effort  was  be- 
ing made  to  effect  a  new  decree  which  would 
have  a  beneficial  effect  on  the  entire  industry. 

The  Appeal  Board  has  two  cases  still  pending 
before  it  and  the  29  cases  still  pending  in  re- 
gional tribunals  could  keep  the  appeal  docket 
active  for  many  months. 

At  New  Haven  three  interveners  have  en- 
tered the  new  Groton  theatre  action  asking 
for  reduction  of  clearance  of  New  London 
first  runs.  Warners  have  filed  for  the  Garde, 
New  London,  Victory  Theatre  Operating  Com- 
pany for  the  Victory,  and  M  &  P  Circuit  for 
the  Capitol,  New  London. 


Hochstem  Perjury  Trial  Is 
Postponed  to  March  1 7 

Federal  Judge  Vincent  L.  Leibell  Tuesday 
postponed  until  March  17  the  trial  of  Harry 
Hochstein,  former  morals  inspector  of  the  City 
of  Chicago,  who  is  accused  of  having  com- 
mitted perjury  before  the  federal  grand  jury 
which  indicted  the  Capone  gangsters  who  were 
recently  convicted  of  extorting  more  than 
$1,000,000  from  the  film  industry 

Hochstein,  according  to  an  indictment  filed 
against  him,  falsely  swore  that  he  knew  that 
certain  members  of  the  ring  were  not  present 
at  his  Riverside,  111.,  home  in  1934,  when  the 
Capone  mob  planned  the  elevation  of  George 
E.  Browne  to  the  presidency  of  the  lATSE. 
That  the  gangsters  were  present  was  proven 
at  the  recent  trial. 

Louis  Kaufman,  former  business  agent  of 
Local  244,  Motion  Picture  Operators  Union,  of 
Newark,  N.  J.,  convicted  with  the  Chicago 
defendants  and  free  in  bail  of  $25,000  pending 
appeal,  was  examined  by  Martin  Klein,  assistant 
United  States  attorney,  last  Friday  to  ascertain 
what  assets  Kaufman  had  to  pay  the  $10,000 
fine  imposed  against  him.  The  six  Capone 
mobsters  paid  their  fines,  $10,000  each,  a  few 
days  after  being  convicted  in  order  to  avoid 
a  Federal  search  of  their  assets.  Each  of  the 
six  was  also  sentenced  to  ten  years  imprison- 
ment. 

The  Chicago  defendants,  refused  bail  pending 
appeal,  are  now  in  the  Federal  House  of  Deten- 
tion and  their  attorneys,  meanwhile,  are  prepar- 
ing an  appeal.  Their  prison  sentences  will  not 
commence  until  after  the  appeal  is  decided. 


Jersey  House  Wins  Reduction 

In  a  consent  award  Monseigneur  Enterprises, 
Inc.  and  the  five  consenting  distributors  this 
week  agreed  on  a  reduction  of  clearances  for 
the  Forum  theatre,  Metuchen,  N.  J.  It  reduced 
the  seven  day  clearance  of  the  Strand  Operating 
Company  theatres  in  Plainfield  to  one  day  and 
continued  the  present  14  day  margins  held  by 
New  Brunswick  theatres. 


He  just  got 
a  shot  of  this! 


SITTING  PRETTY! 


You  too  can 
have  that 
schoolboy 
complexion. 
Come  this  way ! 


BEFORE!  AFTER! 

Sluggish!  ^^PP^' 

No  ideas!  '  Enthusiastic! 

No  Pgpi  Full  of  ideas! 

FUTURE  FUTURE  SECURE 

UNCERTAIN!  MONTHS  AHEAD! 


so  TAKE  THE  ADVICE  OF 
M-G-M's  FRIENDLY  DR.  LEO 


OPEN  UP 
THE  CAPSULE 


TAKE  OUT 
THE  PRESCRIPTION 


Ml' 


9» 


pre9 


Leo. 


Box- 


II 


II 


12 


|i 


FEEUNG  BETTER  ALRE Any?  KEEP  GOING! 


M-G-M's 

VITAMIN 

12  for 

that 

Good 

Feeling! 

It's  fun  to  look  ahead 
and  see  the  wealth 
of  entertainment  that 
assures  your  patrons 
of  good  times  in  your 
show-shop  for 
months  to  come! 
Their  popularity  has 
been  proven! 
^Thousands  Cheer" 
the  Stariffic  Army 
love  story  is  a  joy  in 
all  its  engagements 
following  10  merry 
weeks  at  the  Astor, 
N.Y.  "Cry 'Havoc'" 
another  Astor  Big 
One  direct  from  7 
solid  weeks  there. 
And  "A  Guy  Named 
Joe"  just  what  the 
folks  like  in  the  way 
of  Star-romancing.  It 
broke  Capitol,  N.Y. 
records  in  its  6- week 

(at  press  fime) 
World  Premiere  en- 
gagement. Sure,  that 
VITAmN  12  makes 
you  feel  great! 


SPENCER  TRACY 
IRENE  DUNNE 

in 

VICTOR  FLEMING'S  PRODUCTION  OF 

"A  GUY  NAMED  JOE" 

with  Van  Johnson  •  Ward  Bond  •  James 
Gleason  •  Lionel  Barrymore  •  Barry 
Nelson  •  Esther  Williams  •  Screen  Play 
by  Dalton  Trumbo  •  Adaptation  by 
Frederick  Hazlitt  Brennan  •  Directed  by 
Victor  Fleming  •  Produced  by  Everett 
Riskin  •  A  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  Picture 


THOUSANDS  CHEER" 

( Technicolor) 
Kathryn  GRAYSON  •  Gene  KELLY 
Mary  John  Jose 

ASTOR  •  BOLES  •  ITURBI 

Ben  Blue,  Frances  Rafferty,  Mary  .Elliott,  Frank  , 
Jenks,  Frank  Sully,  Dick  Simmons,  Ben  Lessy, 
Mickey  Rooney,  Judy  Garland,  Red  Skelton, 
Eleanor  Powell,  Ann  Sothern,  Lucille  Ball,  Virginia 
O'  Brien,  Frank  Morgan,  Lena  Horne,  Marsha  Hunt, 
Marilyn  Maxwell,  Donna  Reed,  Margaret  O'Brien, 
June  Allyson,  Gloria  DeHaven,  John  Conte,  Sara 
Haden,  Don  Loper,  Maxine  Barrat,  Kay  Kyser, 
Bob  Crosby,  Benny  Carter,  The  M-G-M  Dancing 
Girls  •  Original  Screen  Play  by  Paul  Jarrico  and 
Richard  Collins  •  Based  on  their  story  "Private 
Miss  Jones"  •  Directed  by  George  Sidney  •  Pro-^ 
duced  by  Joseph  Pasternak  •  An  M-G-M  Picture 


MARGARET  SULLAVAN 
ANN  SOTHERN 
JOAN  BLONDELL 

"CRY  HAVOC" 

with  Fay  Bainter  •  Marsha  Hunt  •  Ella 
Raines  •  Frances  Gilford  •  Diana  Lewis 
Heather  Angel  •  Dorothy  Morris  •  Screen 
Play  by  Paul  Osborn  •  Based  Upon  the 
Play  by  Allan  R.  Kenward  •  Directed  bi 
Richard  Thorpe  •  Produced  by  Edwii" 
Knopf 'A  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  Pictur^ 


GREER  6ARSON 
WALTER  PIDGEON 


m 


"MADAME  CURIE" 


Directed  by 

MERVYN  LeROY 


Produced  by 

SIDNEY  FRANKLIN 


with  Henry  Travers  •  Albert  Basserman 
Robert  Walker  •  C.  Aubrey  Smith  •  Dame 
May  Whitty  •  Victor  Francen  •  Elsa 
Basserman  •  Reginald  Ov/en  •  Van 
Johnson  •  Margaret  O'Brien  •  Screen 
Play  by  Paul  Osborn  and  Paul  H.  Rameau 
Based  on  the  Book  "'Madame  Curie"  by 
Eve  Curie  •  An  M-G-M  Picture 


"THE  CROSS  OF 
LORRAINE" 


Jean  Pierre 
AUMONT 


Gene 
KELLY 


Sir  Cedric 
HARDWICKE 


Richard  Whorf  •  Joseph  Calleia  •  Peter 
Lorre  •  Hume  Cronyn  •  Screen  Play  by 
Michael  Kanin  and  Ring  Lardner,  Jr., 
Alexander  Esway,  Robert  D.  Andrews 
Directed'  by  Tay  Garnett  •  Produced  by 
Edwin  Knopf  •  An  M-G-M  Picture 


( Technicolor) 

BROADWAY  RHYTHM" 

Starring 

GEORGE  MURPHY 

GINNY  SIMMS 
TOMMY  DORSEY 

And  His  Orchestra 

with  Charles  Winninger  •  Gloria 
DeHaven  •  Nancy  Walker  •  Ben  Blue 
Lena  Home  •  Eddie  '"Rochester" 
Anderson  •  Hazel  Scott  •  Kenny  Bowers 
The  Ross  Sisters 'Dean  Murphy  •  Screen 
Play  by  Dorothy  Kingsley  and  Harry 
Clork  •  Story  by  Jack  McGowan  •  Based 
on  the  Musical  "Very  Warm  For  May" 
by  Jerome  Kern  and  Oscar  Hammer- 
stein,  2nd  •  Directed  by  Roy  Del  Ruth 
Produced  by  Jack  Cummings  •  A  Metro- 
Goldwyn-Mayer  Picture 


'Pu/se 


M-G-M's 
VITAMIN 
12  for  a 
Happy 
Outlook! 

Did  you  ever  find  so 
much  pep  and  plea- 
sure in  one  package 
as  you  get  in  M-G-M' s 
VITAMIN  12?  Of 
course,  "Madame 
Curie"  is  one  of  them 
and  its  fame  has 
spread  from  the  long 
Music  Hall  Premiere 
to  everybody  in  your 
town.  Get  yourself  a 
tonic  with  Techni- 
colorful  "Broadway 
Rhythm" — for  music 
and  fun  and  love; 
and  then  for  action 
and  pulse-pounding 
suspense  there's 
"The  Cross  of 
Lorraine"  box-office 
proven  in  a  10-thea- 
tre  New  York  prem- 
iere. VITAMIN  12, 
oh  boy,  it's  good  for 
you! 


MORE  GOOD  MEDICINE  AHEAD 


"Way 
Above 
Normal !" 


M-G-Ms 
VITAMIN 
12  for  a 
Cheerful 
Disposition ! 

What  a  joyful  pros- 
pect for  the  fans !  One 
of  the  year's  most  de- 
lightful comedies 
'*The  Heavenly 
Body"  will  take  their 
minds  off  everything 
but  slick  Bill  Powell 
and  sleek  Hedy 
Lamar r.  And  when 
they  see  little  Mar- 
garet O'Brien  in 
^Tost  Angel"  they'll 
see  the  screen's  New 
Star  in  a  grand  show. 
There's  fun  ahead 
too  in  "Swing  Fever" 
a  gay  musical  with  a 
plot!  Keep  merry! 
Keep  VITAMIN  12 
on  hand  for  health 
and  happiness! 


WILLIAM  POWELL 
HEDY  LAMARR 
THE 

HEAVENLY  BODY' 

with  James  Craiq  •  Fay  Bainter 
Henry  O'Neill  •  Spring  Byington 
Screen  Play  by  Michael  Arlen  and 
Walter  Reisch  •  Adaptation  by  Harry 
Kurnitz  •  Directed  by  Alexander  Hall 
Produced  by  Arthur  Hornblow,  Jr. 
A  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  Picture 


LOST  ANGEL 

Starring 

MARGARET  O'BRIEN 

with  James  Craig  •  Marsha  Hunt 
Phihp  Merivale  •  Henry  O'Neill 
Donald  Meek  •  Original  Screen  Play 
by  Isobel  Lennart  •  Based  on  an  idea 
by  Angna  Enters  •  Directed  by  Roy 
Rowland  •  Produced  by  Robert  Sisk 
A  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  Picture 


KAY  KYSER 
'SWING  FEVER" 

with  Marilyn  Maxwell  •  William  Gargan 
Nat  Pendleton  •  Lena  Horne  and  Kay 
Kyser  and  his  Orchestra  featuring  Harry 
Babbitt  •  Sully  Mason  •  Ish  Kabbible 
Julie  Conway  and  Trudy  Irwin  •  Screen 
Play  by  Nat  Perrin  and  Warren  Wilson 
Directed  by  Tim  Whelan  •  Produced  by 
Irving  Starr      •      An  M-G-M  Picture 


'Heart 
Beats 


WALLACE  BEERY 
RATIONING 

with  Marjorip  Mrun  •  Donald  Meek 
Dorothy  Morris  «  Oriqinal  Screen 
Play  by  William  R.  Liprrian,  Grant 
Garrett  and  Harry  Ruskm  •  Directed 
by  Willis  Goldbeck  •  Produced  by 
Orvilln-  O.  Dull  .  An  M-G-M  Picture 


ROBERT  TAYLOR 

SUSAN  PETERS 

SONG  OF  RUSSIA' 

with  John  Hodiak  •  Robert  Benchley 
Felix  Bressart  •  Screen  Play  by  Paul 
larrico  and  Richard  Collins  •  Directed 
by  Gregory  Ratoff  •  Produced  by 
Joseph  Pasternak  •  An  M-G-M  Picture 


Imilm 

mm 


SEE  HERE,  PRIVAT; 
HARGROVE' 

with 

ROBERT  WALKER 

As  "Private  Hargrove" 

and  Donna  Reed  •  Keenan  Wynn 
Robert  Benchley  •  Ray  Collins 
Chill  Wills  •  Screen  Play  by 
Harry  Kurnltz  *  Based  Upon  the  Book 
by  Marion  Hargrove  •  Directed  by 
Wesley  Ruggles  •  Produced  by 
George  Haiaht  •  An  M-G-M  Picture 


M-G-M's 
VITAMIN 
12  for 
Steady 
Nerves ! 

The  exhibitor  with 
the  carefree  look  is 
the  chap  who's  got 
VITAMIN  12  on  tap. 
What  variety:  the 
grand  love  story  of 
a  Yank  in  Moscow, 
"Song  of  Russia" — 
it's  Bob  Taylor's  best 
job  and  it  clinches 
Susan  Peters  for  star- 
dom! Then  there's 
comedy  galore  in  the 
timely  Wally  Beery 
attraction  ''Ration- 
ing" and  in  the  Best- 
Seller  Hit  "See  Here, 
Private  Hargrove" 
with  appealing  Rob- 
ert Walker  on  the 
way  UP!  Sure,  we've 
had  socko  groups  be- 
fore, but  the  greatest 
of  all  is  that  vital, 
vivid  VITAMIN  12 
gross -builder ! 


TAKE  IT  EASY!  TURN 


"Be  mine  Leo  dear 
you've  got  muscles, 
endurance,  Stars  in 
your  eyes  —  and 
SUCH  VITAMINS!" 


"Okay  babe,  let's 
marry  and  settle  down 
for  a  long  run  ! " 


SURE,  IT'S 
LEAP  YEAR! 


And  the  best  proposition 
you'll  get  in  all  of  1944  is 
M-G-M's  "VITAMIN  12" 


"Keep  up  the  attack!  4th  WAR  LOAN!' 


DON'T  LOOK  NOW 
—but  here's  what's 

IN  PRODUCTION: 

"AMERICA" 

(Technicolor) 
Brian  Donlevy 
• 

"THE  WHITE  CLIFFS" 

Irene  Dunne,  Alan  Marshal 
• 

"MEET  THE  PEOPLE" 

Lucille  Ball,  Dick  Powell 
• 

"ANDY  HARDY'S  BLONDE 
TROUBLE" 

Lewis  Stone,  Mickey  Rooney 
Herbert  Marshall,  Bonita  Granville 
• 

(Technicolor) 

"MR.  CO-ED" 

(Tentative  title) 
Red  Skelton,  Esther  Williams 
• 

"GASLIGHT" 

Charles  Boyer,  Ingrid  Bergman 
Joseph  Cotten 
• 

"TWO  SISTERS  AND  A 
SAILOR" 

Jimmy  Durante,  June  Allyson,  Gloria  DeHaven 
Van  Johnson,  Jose  Iturbi 
Gracie  Allen.  Lena  Home 
Harry  James  and  his  music  makers 
Xavier  Cugat  and  his  orchestra 
• 

"THE  CANTERVILLE  GHOST" 

Charles  Laughton,  Margaret  O'Brien 
Robert  Young 
• 

"KISMET" 

(Technicolor) 
Ronald  Colman 
Marlene  Dietrich 
• 

"DRAGON  SEED" 

Katharine  Hepburn 
Walter  Huston,  Aline  MacMahon 
Akim  Tamiroff,  Turhan  Bey 
• 

"THE  SEVENTH  CROSS" 

Spencer  Tracy 
Signe  Hasso 
• 

"MEET  ME  IN  ST.  LOUIS" 

Judy  Garland 
Margaret  O'Brien,  Mary  Astor 
• 

"NATIONAL  VELVET" 

Mickey  Rooney 
Elizabeth  Taylor,  Jack  Jenkins 
• 

"THIRTY  SECONDS  OVER 
TOKYO" 

Van  Johnson,  Robert  Walker 
• 

"MARRIAGE  IS  A 
PRIVATE  AFFAIR" 

Lana  Turner 
James  Craig,  Frances  Gifiord,  John  Hodiak 
• 

"MRS.  PARKINGTON" 

Greer  Gaison 


I 


February    5,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


25 


WASHINGTON  ENDS  BAN  ON 
JAP  ATROCITY  FILMS 


Official  Suggestion  Follows 
News  Release;  Studios 
Go  into  Action  at  Once 

No  holds  will  be  barred  in  future  screen 
depiction  of  Japanese  barbarity,  according 
to  official  word  to  Hollywood  this  week  on 
the  heels  of  the  Army-Navy  announcement 
of  Jap  brutality  to  American  and  Philippine 
soldiers  captured  on  Bataan  and  Corregidor. 
The  latest  order  rescinds  November  requests 
to  Hollywood  by  Washington  not  to  stress 
atrocity  angles  in  stories  about  the  enemy. 

A  cycle  of  pictures  on  Jap  bestiality  ap- 
peared in  the  making  in  Hollywood  Monday. 
At  least  three  studios  rushed  out  announce- 
ments of  productions  in  preparation  and 
other  lots  were  reported  ready  to  handle  the 
subject  as  soon  as  they  could  get  cameras 
and  script  staffs  rolling. 

Public  Reaction  Cue  for 
Producers  on  Theme 

Many  producers  took  their  cue  for  action 
on  the  atrocity  theme  from  public  reaction 
to  the  Army-Navy  announcement.  They 
cited  vengeful  press,  Congressional  and  pub- 
lic comment. 

Further  evidence  of  public  reaction  was 
seen  in  spurting  War  Bond  sales  in  every 
locality.  Many  theatres  and  local  Bond 
committees  reported  that  sales  doubled  fol- 
lowing release  of  the  Bataan  story. 

Washington  approval  to  proceed  with  pro- 
ductions showing  Jap  atrocities  was  for- 
warded Monday  to  the  Hollywood  branch  of 
the  Office  of  War  Information  by  Robert 
Sherwood,  director  of  the  overseas  division. 

"Use  of  atrocity  material  now  will  be  use- 
ful overseas,  especially  after  the  war  in 
Europe  has  ended,  as  a  means  of  keeping 
alive  an  understanding  of  our  enemy  and 
the  will  to  defeat  him,"  studios  were  told 
officially. 

To  Confine  References 
To  Factual  Matters 

Mr.  Sherwood  expressed  the  OWI  as- 
sumption that  producers  and  writers  would 
confine  these  film  references  to  the  type  of 
brutality  officially  reported  and  documented. 

"Our  purposes  abroad  will  not  be  served 
by  mere  horror  material  that  is  beyond  the 
bounds  of  credibility,"  he  commented  in  his 
r  suggestion  to  producers. 

The  Government,  Mr.  Sherwood  said, 
would  continue  to  judge  each  film  for  over- 
seas use  on  the  basis  of  its  particular  mer- 
its. Likewise  the  Office  of  Censorship  will 
examine  pictures  for  their  individual  con- 
formity to  its  code.  Although  no  official 
regulations  had  been  received  by  the  film 
censors  at  midweek  members  of  the  New 
York  and  Hollywood  boards-  indicated  that 
films  would  receive  export  clearance  of 
atrocity  material  on  the  same  basis  as  press 
and  radio. 

Official  information  on  brutality  to  prison- 
ers, and  advice  on  how  this  should  be  filmed, 
will  be  available  to  producers  through  the 
Hollywood  OWI  office,  it  was  indicated. 


William  Cunningham  is  now  chief  of  the 
office,  replacing  Ulric  Bell. 

RKO  was  the  first  studio  to  announce  a 
film  on  the  theme,  with  the  Friday  schedul- 
ing of  "This  Is  My  Brother,"  a  novel  on 
mistreatment  of  American  soldiers  written 
by  Louis  Paul.  Dudley  Nichols  has  been 
assigned  to  write  and  produce  the  story  as 
quickly  as  possible. 

Republic,  Monogram  and 
20th-Fox  Plans  Films 

At  Republic  H.  J.  Yates  announced  that 
the  studio  would  make  "The  Death  March" 
based  on  the  report  of  the  officers  who  es- 
caped from  Jap  camps.  He  ordered  writing 
staffs  to  work  over  the  weekend  and  ex- 
pressed the  hope  that  the  picture  would  be 
before  cameras  within  three  weeks.  Armand 
Schaefer,  Republic  executive  producer,  will 
handle  the  picture  personally. 

King  Brothers,  who  release  through  Mon- 
ogram, announced  that  their  recently  ac- 
quired story  by  John  Darrow,  "I  Was  a 
Prisoner  of  Japan,"  would  be  filmed  as 
quickly  as  possible. 

Twentieth  Century-Fox  resumed  work  on 
"Horror  Island,"  Bryan  Foy  production 
which  had  been  shelved  in  response  to  Gov- 
ernment requests  last  November.  The  com- 
pany also  will  produce  a  version  of  Jan  Her- 
rik  Marsman's  book,  "I  Escaped  from  Hong 
Kong." 

Newsreels  in  their  Tuesday  issues  de- 
voted extensive  clips  to  public  reaction  to 
the  Jap  brutality  story,  RKO,  Pathe,  Para- 
mount and  Universal  included  new  material 
from  captured  enemy  films  and  reissued  pre- 
viously released  Corregidor  pietures. 

"Gung  Ho"  Inspires 
Buyers  of  Bonds 

Typical  of  reaction  in  theatres  and  at 
Bond  booths  was  a  report  from  Charles 
Moss,  manager  of  the  Criterion  on  Broad- 
way, New  York.  A  scene  in  Universal's 
"Gung  Ho"  in  which  a  Jap  bayonets  a 
wounded  Marine  evoked  audible  and  fre- 
quently profane  audience  comment  at  every 
show,  he  reported. 

The  theatre's  War  Bond  sales  jumped  al- 
most 100  per  cent  following  release  of  the 
atrocity  report.  Mr.  Moss  reported  that  the 
Criterion  had  sold  over  450  Bonds  through 
Tuesday,  or  one  for  more  than  30  per  cent 
of  the  theatre's  seats,  setting  a  high  pace  for 
other  Broadway  first  runs. 

Theatre  advertising  copy  in  the  larger 
cities  was  quick  to  pick  up  atrocity  angles 
on  currently  playing  war  pictures. 

In  Kansas  City  audience  reaction  was 
violent,  according  to  Jay  Means,  operator 
there,  who  reported  that  he  had  to  patch  55 
holes  in  his  screen.  They  were  made  by 
youngsters  with  air  rifles  who  took  shots  at 
Jap  soldiers  in  "Guadalcanal  Diary." 

Limit  Registration 

The  Institute  of  Film  Techniques  at  City  Col- 
lege, New  York,  which  offers  instruction  in  the 
films  production,  is  limiting  its  registration  for 
the  spring  term  to  those  already  in  the  motion 
picture  field  or  to  applicants  with  special  quali- 
fications. 


"Unity''  Keynote 
Of  Canadian 
Industry  Lunch 

Officers  of  the  Ontario  Council,  Independent 
E'xhibitors  of  Canada,  were  hosts  to  general 
managers  of  Canadian  film  distributing  com- 
panies Tuesday,  at  luncheon  in  the  King 
Edward  Hotel,  Toronto.  Cooperation  among 
all  branches  of  the  industry  was  sought  as  a 
basis  for  future  actions. 

Observers  saw  significance  in  a  similar 
"united  front"  program  recently  issued  by  the 
Motion  Picture  Theatres  Association  of  On- 
tario. This  organization  embraces  circuits  as 
well  as  independent  theatre  owners.  The  two 
units  are  expected  to  confer  in  matters  affecting 
theatres,  and  especially  on  provincial  and  fed- 
eral regulations. 

Attending  the  Independent  Exhibitors  lunch- 
eon Tuesday  were  Colonel  John  A.  Cooper, 
chairman  of  the  Canadian  Motion  Picture  Dis- 
tributors Association ;  Henry  Falk,  chairman  of 
the  national  council  of  the  IE ;  J.  J.  Fitzgibbons, 
president  of  Famous  Players  Canadian  Corpora- 
tion ;  Haskell  Masters,  head  of  the  Odeon 
circuit ;  the  following  officers  of  the  Ontario 
IE  unit,  Ben  Freedman,  Harry  Lester,  Sam 
Strashin,  H.  L.  Romberg,  Max  Starkman,  Tom 
Walton,  and  Bruce  McLead ;  and  other  industry 
representatives. 


Columbia  Plans 
50  for  1944-45 

Columbia  contemplates  making  four  to  six 
additional  pictures  in  1944-45,  making  the  total 
it  may  deliver  48  or  50  pictures,  according  to 
A.  Montague,  general  sales  rrianager,  who  spoke 
to  the  trade  press  Wednesday  during  the  com- 
pany's sales  meeting  of  division  and  branch 
managers,  at  the  Hotel  Warwick,  New  York. 

"We  think  the  smaller  exhibitors  are  de- 
manding more  pictures,"  said  Mr.  Montague, 
"and  I  think  we  can  stand  the  strain  of  supply- 
ing them.  Of  course,  the  plan  is  being  dis- 
cussed and  is  subject  to  many  conditions,  in- 
cluding the  amount  of  raw  stock  available,"  he 
added. 

Columbia  is  attempting  to  make  more  "escap- 
ist" pictures,  following  public  demand,  and  Mr. 
Montague  pointed  to  the  success  of  "What  a 
Woman''  as  "almost  proving  the  point." 

Although  he  had  no  comment  on  the  consent 
decree,  the  sales  executive  pointed  out  that 
Columbia  sells  pictures  off  the  regular  contract 
and  on  screening  if  demanded ;  and  that  it  may 
have  four  such  pictures  in  the  new  program. 

The  purpose  of  the  New  York  meeting,  he 
said,  was  to  discuss  the  unprecedented  adver- 
tising campaign  in  all  mediums  of  four  pic- 
tures, "None  Shall  Escape,"  "Cover  Girl," 
"Curly"  and  "Address  Unknown."  The  first, 
he  said,  is  doing  as  much  business  as  any  the 
company  has  produced. 

Columbia  is  anxious  to  help  the  small  ex- 
hibitor ;  to  keep  him  in  business — "but  only 
if  he  needs  help,  and  too  many  only  think  they 
need  it,"  Mr.  Montague  said. 

He  predicted  that  high  grosses  of  the  past 
year  would  be  maintained  in  1944. 


26 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    5,  1944 


<>Advertisers  Use  Fame 
of  Flocks  of  Stars  to 
"Vend  W ms  to  Public 

Advertisers  in  the  mass  media  are  conspicuously  fond  of  attaching  the 
fame  of  the  screen,  and  radio,  to  their  products  in  current  copy. 

Motion  picture  stars,  and  just  players  too,  are  lending  both  faces  and 
names  to  the  vending  of  merchandise  as  diverse  as  bird  seed  and  vitamins. 

A  fireside  survey  of  magazines  addressed  at  the  majority  finds  seventy- 
one  motion  picture  names  in  advertising  copy,  and  a  casual  listening  hears 
thirty  film-radio  personalities  on  the  air  in  behalf  of  such  items  as  milk, 
vaseline  and  soup.  That  adds  up  to  101  borrowings  from  the  world  of 
entertainment  for  merchandising.  There  are  more. 

This  is  the  present  application  of  the  time-tried  testimonial.  The  testi- 
monial, so  imbedded  in  advertising  practice,  has  extended  far  from  its 
beginnings  when  it  was  used  solely  for  patent  medicines.  The  testimonial 
is  addressed  at  those  who  are  much  interested  in  "Who",  not  in  "What". 

In  the  material  in  print  examined  it  has  been  found  that  the  use  of 
screen  star  personalities  appears  in  the  following  typical  ratios:  Cosmetics 
and  the  pursuit  of  beauty,  44%;  men's  hats,  15%;  women's  clothes  and 
stockings,  too,  10.9%,  and  bird  seed  and  vitamins,  just  3.5%  each. 

Here  are  screen  names  in  the  magazine  advertisements: 


ABBOn    &    COSTELLO:    Adam    hats,  Camel 

cigarettes. 
WENDY  BARRIE:  Adam  hah, 
DIANA  BARRYMORE:  Lux  toilet  soap.  Arrid. 
ANNE  BAXTER:  Woodbury  face  powder. 
JOAN  BENNEH:  French's  bird  seed. 
HUMPHREY  BOGART:  Resistol  hats. 
LESLIE  BROOKS:  Shire-tex  slacks. 
JAMES  BROWN:  Jergens  lotion. 
LUCIA  CARROLL:  Tayton's  makeup. 
CHARLES  COBURN:  Adam  hats. 
CLAUDETTE  COLBERT:  Max  Factor  makeup. 
ANN  CORIO:  Princess  pinafore,  Adam  hats. 
JOAN  DAVIS:  Fashion  Frocks. 
OLIVIA  DE  HAVILUND:  Westmore  makeup. 
BRIAN  DONLEVY:  Calox  tooth  powder. 
JINX  FALKENBURG:  Royal  Crown  Cola.  Shire-Tex 

slacks,  Trimfit  anklets. 
ALICE  FAYE:  Westmore  makeup. 
ERROL  FLYNN:  Resistol  hats. 
JOHN  GARFIELD:  Resistol  hats. 
FRANCES  GIFFORD:  White  Stag  slacks,  Jergens 

lotion. 

PAULETTE  GODDARD:  Lux  soap,  Woodbury  cold 
cream. 

BETTY  GRABLE:  Chesterfield  cigarettes. 
BONITA  GRANVILLE:  French's  bird  seed. 
VIRGINIA  GREY:  Glover's  hair  tonic. 
JACK  HALEY:  Adam  hats. 
SUSAN  HAYWARD:  Royal  Crown  Cola. 


RITA  HAYWORTH:  Hollander  coats,  Royal  Crown 
Cola. 

SONJA  HENIE:  French's  bird  seed. 

PAUL  HENREID:  Resistol  hats. 

BETTY  HUTTON:  Royal  Crown  Cola. 

VICTORY  JORY:  Adam  hats. 

BORIS  KARLOFF:  Will  iams  shaving  cream. 

PATSY  KELLY:  Adam  hats. 

EVELYN  KEYES:  Max  Factor  makeup. 

VERONICA  LAKE:  Woodbury  cold  cream. 

DOROTHY  LAMOUR:  Calox,  North  Star  blankets. 

Bexel  Vitamin  B  Complex  Tablets. 
JUNE  LANG:  "Round-Towner"  Casuals,  "Jumper 

Slacks." 

MARGARET  LINDSAY:  Adam  hats. 
MYRNA  LOY:  Woodbury  cold  cream. 
PAUL  LUKAS:  Williams  shaving  cream. 
IDA  LUPINO:  Westmore  cosmetics. 
IRENE  MANNING:  Seaforth. 

MARY  MARTIN:  Charles  of  the  Riti  toiletries, 
Bexel  Vitamin  capsules,  Westmore  makeup. 

ILONA  MASSEY:  Arrid.  Woodbury  face  powder. 

LYNN  MERRICK:  Starlet  Makeup  Cake;  Parfait 
powder  puff. 

ANN  MILLER:  Betty  Co-Ed  slacks,  "Lumberiack" 
slack  suits. 

AGNES  MOOREHEAD:  Lander's  hand  cream. 

DENNIS  MORGAN:  Resistol  hats. 

MICHELE  MORGAN:  Glamour  slacks. 

MERLE  OBERON:  Lux  soap,  Maybelline  mascara. 


MARTHA  O'DRISCOLL:  Betty  Co-Ed  dresses.  Two- 
Tone  slack  suit.  Sweetheart  skirt. 

MAUREEN  O'HARA:  Woodbury  cold  cream. 

MICHAEL  O'SHEA:  Adam  hats. 

JEAN  PARKER:  Jergens  lotion. 

VERA  HRUBA  RALSTON:  Glover's  Mange  Medi- 
cine. 

JOYCE  REYNOLDS:  Hollyvogue  hosiery. 
MARJORIE  REYNOLDS:  Bexel  Vitamin  B  Complex 
Tablets. 

GAIL  RUSSELL:  Jergens  lotion. 
ANN  RUTHERFORD:  Deltah  pearls. 
SHEILA  RYAN:  Glover's  hair  preparations. 
MARTHA  SCOTT:  Quart  Permanent  Wave  Liquid 
Rinse. 

ANN  SHERIDAN:  Bates  bedspreads. 

ALEXIS  SMITH:  Westmore  makeup.  Bates  fabrics. 

C.  AUBREY  SMITH:  Williams  shaving  cream. 

BARBARA  STANWYCK:  Cheerioats. 

CHERYL  WALKER:  Wallaby  coat. 

ARLEEN  WHELAN:  Parfait  makeup. 

MARJORIE  WOODWORTH:  Tayton's  makeup. 

TERESA  WRIGHT:  Woodbury  cold  cream. 

JANE  WYAH:  Nailhead  jumper. 

LORETTA  YOUNG:  Lux  soap. 

Film-Radio  Personalities 

The  following  personalities  who  divide 
their  fame  on  screen  and  air  are  heard  at 
the  microphone  in  behalf  of  assorted  goods : 

FRED  ALLEN:  Texaco  gas  and  oil. 

JACK  BENNY:  Grape  Nuts. 

EDGAR  BERGEN-CHARLIE  McCARTHY:  Chase  & 

Sanborn  coffee. 
FANNY  BRICE:  Maxwell  House  coffee. 
NIGEL  BRUCE:  Bromo  Quinine. 
BOB  BURNS:  Lifebuoy  soap. 
BURNS  &  ALLEN:  Swan  soap. 
JUDY  CANOVA:  Colgate  toothpaste. 
EDDIE    CANTOR:    Ipana    toothpaste    and  Sal 

Hepatica. 
JACK  CARSON:  Campbell  soup. 
JOSEPH  COTTEN:  Lockheed  Aircraft. 
BING  CROSBY:  Kraft  cheese. 
JOAN  DAVIS:  Sealtest  milk  and  ice  cream. 
CECIL  B.  DE  MILLE:  Lux  soap. 
GRACIE  FIELDS:  Pall  Mall  cigarettes, 
JACK  HALEY:  Sealtest  milk  and  ice  cream. 
JEAN  HERSHOLT:  Vaseline. 
BOB  HOPE:  Pepsodent. 
KAY  KYSER:  Lucky  Strikes. 
GROUCHO  MARX:  Pabst  beer. 
FIBBER  McGEE  &  MOLLY:  Johnson  floor  wax. 
FRANK  MORGAN:  Maxwell  House  coffee. 
BASIL  RATHBONE:  Bromo  Quinine. 
DINAH  SHORE:  Birdseye  Frosted  Foods. 
GINNY  SIMMS:  Philip  Morris  cigarettes. 
FRANK  SINATRA:  Lucky  Strike  cirgarettes,  vimms. 
PENNY  SINGLETON:  Camel  cigarettes. 
RED  SKELTON:  Raleigh  cigarettes. 
KATE  SMITH:  Jello,  Grape  Nuts. 
MONTY  WOOLLEY:  Old  Gold  cigarettes. 


(Right)  Next  Issue  of  M-G-M's  famed 
column  in  national  magazines. 


TRADE  SHOW  OF  M-C-M's 

SEE  HERE,  PRIVATE  HARGROVE 


ALBANY 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

1052  Broadway 

MON.  2/21 

8  P.M. 

ATLANTA 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

197  Walton  St.,  N.W. 

MON.  2/21  10:30  A.M. 

BOSTON 

M-G-M  Screen  Room 

46  Church  St. 

MON.  2/21 

70  A.M. 
&  2:15  P.M. 

BUFFALO 

20fh-Fox  Screen  Room 

290  Franklin  St. 

MON.  2/21 

8  P.M. 

CHARLOHE 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

308  South  Church  St. 

SAT..  2/12 

10  AM. 

CHICAGO 

H.  C.  Igel's  Screen  Room 

1301  S.  Wabash  Ave. 

MON.  2/21 

1  P.M. 

CINCINNATI 

RKO  Screen  Room 

16  East  Sixth  Street 

MON.  2/21 

7  P.M. 

CLEVELAND 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

2219  Payne  Avenue 

MON.  2/21 

1  P.M. 

DALLAS 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

1803  Wood  Street 

MON.  2/21 

2:30  P.M 

DENVER 

Paramount  Screen  Room 

2100  Stout  Street 

MON.  2/21 

2  P.M. 

DES  MOINES 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

1300  High  Street 

MON.  2/21 

1  P.M. 

DETROIT 

Max  Blumenthcl's  Sc.  Rm. 

2310  Cass  Avenue 

MON.  2/21 

1:30  P.M. 

INDIANAPOLIS 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

326  No.  Illinois  Street 

MON.  2/21 

10  A.M. 

KANSAS  CITY 

Vogue  Theatre 

3444  Broadway 

MON.  2/21 

1  P.M. 

LOS  ANGELES 

Boulevard  Theatre 

1615  W.Washington  Blvd. 

MON.  2/21 

2:30  P.M. 

MEMPHIS 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

151  Vance  Avenue 

MON.  2/21 

10  A.M. 

MILWAUKEE 

Warner  Screen  Room 

212  W.  Wisconsin  Ave. 

MON.  2/21 

1.30  P.M. 

MINNEAPOLIS 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

1015  Currie  Avenue 

MON.  2/21 

1  P.M. 

NEW  HAVEN 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

40  Whiting  St. 

MON.  2/21 

10  A.M. 

NEW  ORLEANS 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

200  South  Liberty 

MON.  2/21 

1.30  P.M. 

NEW  YORK  / 

INC  TV   JCIxiJC  1  / 

M-G-M  Screen  Room 

630  Ninth  Avenue 

MON.  2/21  10:30  A.M. 

&  2:30  P.M. 

Olfl  A'MA  riTY 

V^^LM  /V\M  ^1 1  1 

iiUTn-rox  ocreen  ivoom 

10  North  Lee  Street 

MON.  2/21 

1  P.M. 

OMAHA 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

loUz  Uavenport 

MON.  2/21 

1.15  P.M. 

PHILADELPHIA 

M-G-M  Screen  Room 

1233  Summer  Street 

MON.  2/21 

11  A.M. 

iv\-V7-iv\  ocreen 

1623  Blvd.  of  Allies 

MON.  2/21 

2  P.M. 

PORTLAND 

B.  F.  Shearer  Screen  Rm. 

1947  N.W.  Kearney  St. 

MON.  2/21 

1  P.M. 

ST,  LOUIS 

S'Renco  Screen  Room 

3143  Olive  St. 

MON.  2/21 

1  P.M. 

SALT  LAKE  CITY 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

216  East  First  St.,  South 

MON.  2/21 

1  P.M. 

S.  FRANCISCO 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

245  Hyde  Street 

MON.  2/21 

1:30  P.M. 

SEAHLE 

Jewel  Box  Preview  Theatre 

2318  Second  Avenue 

-  MON.  2/21 

1  P.M. 

WASH.,  D.  C. 

20th-Fox  Screen  Room 

932  New  Jersey,  N.W. 

MON.  2/21 

1  P.M. 

''Keep  up  the  attack!  4th  WAR  LOANV 


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1 


Published  in 
this  spacs 
•vary  month 


The  greatest 
star  of  the 
screen ! 


A  snappy  salute  is  in  order— as  M-G-M  | 
brings  "See  Here,  Private  Hargrove" 
to  the  screen. 

★     ★     ★  ★ 
TheBigStudiohas 
made  a  very  spec- 
ialissueof  the  best- 
seller G.  I.  story! 

★  ★  ★ 
Robert  Walker, 
whose  own  pri- 
vate life  reads  like 
a  composite  biog- 
raphy of  the  aver- 
age private,  plays 
the  title  role! 


Walker  worked  in  a  garage,  punched  cat- 
tle in  Texas,  jerked  sodas  on  Broadway, 
survived  a  wreck  at  sea,  then  turned 
to  the  film-world  for  more  excitement. 

★  ★     ★  ★ 

He  made  his  bow  to  picture-audiences 
as  the  sailor-boy  in  "Bataan" — followed 
this  with  a  role  in  "Madame  Curie". 
His  checkered  past  partly  accounts  for 
his  splendid  performance  as  the  naive 
rookie.      ★     ★     ★  ★ 

"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  should 
be  seen.  It's  definitely  in  the  nature  of 
a  command  performance  for  every  sweet- 
heart, wife,  mother,  dad  and  kid  brother. 

★  ★     ★  ★ 

Or  even  if  your  closest  association  with 
the  service  is  the  memory  of  the  smil- 
ing kid  next  door! 

★  ★     ★  ★ 
M-G-M's  film  is  a  rollicking,  entertain- 
ing revelation  of  a  masculine  world! 

★  ★     ★  ★ 

With  lovely  Donna  Reed  providing  the 
feminine  touch— and  it's  a  delightful  one. 

★  *     ★  * 

Robert  Benchley,  Bob  Crosby,  Keenan 
Wynn,  Ray  Collins  and  Chill  Wills  also 
answer  to  the  entertainment  roll  call! 

★  ★     ★  ★ 

Wesley  Ruggles,  one  of  Hollywood's 
foremost  comedy  directors,  pilots  the 
screen  Hargrove  in  top-flight  fashion. 

★  ★     ★  ★ 

George  Haight  produced  with  great  gusto. 

★  ★     ★  ★ 

Leo  gives  a  hand  to  Harry  Kurnitz  for 
the  screen  play  and  the  initial  pat  on 
the  back  to  the  newspaperman  who 
became  a  private— then  told  the  world 
all  about  it! 

★  *     ★  ★ 

Our  closing  phrase  is  a  paraphrase: 
"See— Hear— Private  Hargrove"! 


28 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    5,  1944 


Expect  Ticket  Tax  to 
Be  Effective  March  1 


Increase  in  Rate,  to  One 
Cent  on  Each  Five,  Gets 
Conference  Approval 

Tax  rates  on  theatre  admissions  probably 
will  jump  from  the  present  10  per  cent  levy 
to  the  new  rate  of  almost  20  per  cent 
March  1. 

Exhibitors  were  warned  this  week  to  pre- 
pare admission  schedules  covering  the 
doubled  tax  rate  by  Washington  observers 
who  predicted  quick  enactment  of  the  rev- 
enue bill  now  pending  in  Congress. 

If  it  is  passed  by  Congress  and  signed  by 
the  President  before  February  19  theatres 
would  be  required  to  begin  collection  of  the 
new  rate  March  1. 

Admission  taxes  for  theatres  will  be  at 
the  rate  of  "one  cent  on  each  five  cents  or 
major  fraction  thereof"  paid  for  admission. 

Congressional  Conferees 
Agreed  on  Figure 

All  doubts  as  to  the  rate  of  admission 
under  the  new  revenue  bill  were  set  at  rest 
late  last  week  by  the  action  of  House  and 
Senate  conferees  in  agreeing  to  the  provi- 
sions drafted  by  the  Senate  Finance  Com- 
mittee. 

Tuesday  conferees  of  the  Senate  and 
House  had  completed  work  on  other  differ- 
ences in  their  two  versions  of  the  revenue 
bill.  Congress  was  expected  to  pass  the 
law  Wednesday  or  Thursday  and  to  send  it 
immediately  to  the  White  House  for  signa- 
ture. It  is  effective  on  the  first  of  the  next 
following  month,  if  signed  10  days  before 
the  end  of  the  current  month. 

Although  he  has  expressed  dissatisfaction 
with  the  extent  of  the  present  revenue  bill 
President  Roosevelt  is  expected  to  sign  it, 
with  a  reprimand  to  Congress  and  a  demand 
for  supplemental  tax  legislation.  Treasury 
officials  have  pointed  out  that  further  delay 
would  cost  the  Government  almost  $200,- 
000,000  a  month  in  new  revenues.  Political 
observers  in  Washington,  meanwhile,  fore- 
see scant  chance  of  passing  of  another  tax 
bill  before  the  November  election. 

Cabarets  and  Night  Clubs 
Taxed  30  Per  Cent 

Agreement  by  a  conference  committee  on 
a  provision  such  as  the  tax  rate  is  tanta- 
mount to  approval  by  Congress,  since  neith- 
er House  nor  Senate  ordinarily  upsets  the 
arrangements  made  by  their  conferees. 

In  obtaining  abandonment  by  the  House 
of  its  proposed  tax  of  two  cents  on  each  10 
cents  or  fraction  paid  for  admission,  the  con- 
ference committee  served  the  theatres  bet- 
ter than  it  did  cabarets  and  night  clubs. 
They  will  have  to  collect  a  tax  of  30  per 
cent  as  provided  by  the  House,  the  Senate 
representatives  dropping  their  proposal  for 
a  20  per  cent  levy. 

In  the  handling  of  the  admission  tax  in 
Congress,  the  exhibitors  won  two  impor- 
tant concessions,  one  the  placing  of  the  tax 
on  a  nickel  basis  and  the  other  its  applica- 
tion to  the  major  fraction  of  a  nickel.  This 


HOW  TO  FIGURE 
•  NEW  TAX  RATE 

The  new  revenue  bill  provides  for 
a  Federal  collection  of  "one  cent 
on  each  five  cents  or  major  fraction 
thereof"  of  adnnission  price.  A  major 
fraction  of  a  nickel  is  three  cents  or 
more.  Tax  must  be  collected  on  all 
tickets  of  10  cents  or  more. 

For  example,  the  tax  on  10  cents  is 
two  cents.  Similarly,  a  1 2-cent  admis- 
sion would  call  for  a  two-cent  tax. 
But  a  13-cent  admission,  as  it  in- 
cludes a  "major  fraction"  of  the  third 
nickel,  would  call  for  a  three-cent  tax 
or  total  payment  of  16  cents. 

The  new  tax  generally  will  double 
the  rate  on  basic  admissions  in  a 
multiple  of  10.  Tax  on  a  20-cent 
ticket  will  be  four  cents  instead  of 
two;  on  50  cents,  10  cents  instead  of 
five.  For  25-cent  tickets  the  new  tax 
will  be  five  cents,  compared  with 
three;  on  35  cents,  seven  cents  tax, 
compared  with  four. 


means  that  on  any  admission  up  to  and  in- 
cluding 12  cents  the  tax  will  be  no  greater 
than  at  present — two  cents. 

Exemptions  as  they  now  stand  in  the  rev- 
enue act  will  continue  in  effect.  The  new 
law  merely  amends  the  rate  of  collection, 
increasing  it  to  approximately  20  per  cent 
of  the  admission  price.  Children's  tickets 
and  other  admissions  of  less  than  10  cents 
will  continue  to  receive  the  current  exemp- 
tions. 

Calculation  of  the  tax  on  admissions  is 
based  on  the  Senate  provision  for  a  levy  at 
the  rate  of  one  cent  on  each  five  cents  or 
major  fraction  thereof.  Three  cents  is  con- 
sidered the  dividing  line  for  "major  frac- 
tions." 

As  in  previous  changes  of  tax  rate  the 
Bureau  of  Internal  Revenue  is  expected  to 
permit  theatres  to  use  up  existing  stocks  of 
tickets  with  the  old  rate  printed  on  them. 
Notice  must  be  clearly  posted  at  box  offices 
showing  the  amounts  paid  for  admission 
and  for  tax  and  noting  that  the  tax  is  col- 
lected in  accordance  with  the  new  law. 

Ticket  Orders  Held  Up 
Pending  Bill  Action 

Ticket  manufacturers  in  New  York  re- 
ported that  they  had  not  yet  changed  plates 
on  their  presses  to  print  the  new  rates  but 
several  said  that  they  had  advised  custom- 
ers to  hold  off  orders  for  several  days  until 
the  President  acts  on  the  bill. 

Circuit  executives  in  New  York,  and 
many  independents,  are  now  working  out  ad- 
justments of  admission  prices  which  will 
enable  them  to  retain  admissions  on  the 
even  nickel.  In  most  instances  the  new  rates 
are  expected  to  move  admission  bases  up 
several  cents  to  achieve  even  change. 


Ruling  on  Talent 
Withholding  Tax 
Expected  Soon 

A  definite  ruling  on  application  of  the  with- 
holding tax  to  actors  and  musicians  will  be 
issued  by  the  Internal  Revenue  Bureau  in  the 
near  future,  but  officials  this  week  admitted  that 
they  themselves  did  not  know  what  direction  it 
would  take. 

Whether  such  persons  are  to  be  considered 
employees  or  independent  contractors,  they  ex- 
plained, will  depend  upon  a  decision  of  the  Su- 
preme Court,  now  being  awaited,  from  which 
it  is  hoped  a  clearer  definition  of  the  term 
"wages"  may  be  derived. 

In  the  meantime  however,  the  major  stu- 
dios have  been  informed  that  "for  the  present" 
they  may  consider  actors  and  musicjans  inde- 
pendent contractors,  not  subiect  to  the  with- 
holding tax,  with  the  exception  of  musicians 
employed  under  the  Form  B  contract  of  the 
American  Federation  of  Musicians,,  in  which 
the  buyer  of  a  band  is  considered  the  employer. 

This  ruling  will  apply  regardless  of  whether 
the  actor  makes  his  contract  with  the  studio 
directly  or  through  an  agent. 

Bureau  officials,  emphasizing  that  the  present 
interpretation  is  merely  a  temporarv  one  and 
not  conclusive,  disclosed  that  the  definition  of 
"wages"  probably  has  been  the  most  difficult 
of  all  the  problems  presented  in  the  adminis- 
tration of  the  Social  Security  Act  and  the  with- 
holding tax  provisions. 

They  explained  that  there  were  so  many  vary- 
ing arjangements  between  emnloyers  and  em- 
ployees that  a  general  definition  of  the  term 
had  been  difficult  to  write,  and  it  was  indicated 
that  no  definition  so  far  prepared  had  met  ac- 
ceptance by  all  attorneys. 

The  question  of  the  classification  of  actors 
and  musicians,  which  also  has  been  a  problem 
with  exhibitors  who  add  vaudeville  acts  and 
bands  to  their  picture  programs,  was  brought 
before  the  bureau  some  time  ago  by  a  number 
of  the  Hollywood  studios. 

It  yvas  pointed  out  that  there  was  no  uni- 
formity in  the  treatment  of  these  persons  by 
either  the  studios  or  theatres  and  in  some  in- 
stances an  actor  or  an  orchestra  may  have  the 
tax  deducted  by  one  employer  and  not  by  an- 
other. 

Bureau  officials  admitted  that  the  situation 
was  unsatisfactory  and  adopted  the  expedient  of 
issuing  an  interim  ruling,  but  emphasized  that 
at  this  time  it  was  impossible  to  give  a  conclu- 
sive interpretation. 


Soskin  in  United  States 
To  Film  Backgrounds 

Paul  Soskin,  English  producer  who  partici- 
pated in  the  organization  of  the  new  British  pro- 
duction company.  Independent  Producers,  Ltd., 
arrived  in  the  United  States  this  week.  Asso- 
ciated with  him  as  an  independent  producer  is 
Gabriel  Pascal,  who  will  produce  a  nurnber  of 
George  Bernard  Shaw  plays  for  the  screen. 
J.  Arthur  Rank,  film  magnate,  is  chairman  of 
the  new  company. 

Mr.  Soskin's  first  production  under  the  new 
setup  will  be  the  filming  of  the  best-seller, 
"Signed  With  Their  Honour,"  by  James  Al- 
dridge.  He  will  leave  New  York  for  Hollywood 
in  about  a  week,  where  he  pjans  to  film  back- 
ground material  for  the  picture.  The  main  body 
of  the  film  will  be  made  in  England. 


Philadelphia  Revenue  Up 

Amusement  tax  collections  in  Philadelphia  for 
1943  exceeded  the  estimate  in  the  city's  budget. 
Estimated  at  $1,400,000,  totaj  receipts  for  1943 
amounted  to  $1,422,076.03,  compared  to  $1,273,- 
140.95  for  the  full  year  of  1942. 


February    5,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


29 


MR.  RANK  TELLS  "TATLER" 
HIS  WORLD  WIDE  PLAN 


J.  Arthur  Rank,  British  Him  leader  who  in 
the  past  two  years  has  risen  to  a  position  of 
dominance  in  the  industry  in  Great  Britain, 
with  unparalleled  holdings  in  production,  dis- 
tribution and  exhibition,  has  indicated  spe- 
cifica/fy  his  present  and  post-war  infenfions 
in  the  New  Year  edition  of  the  Daily  Film 
Renter,  London  motion  picture  /ournal.  The 
article  carries  the  by-line  of  "Tatler," 
pseudonym  for  Ernest  W.  Fredman,  managing 
editor.  The  widespread  designs  of  Mr.  Rank 
impinge  sharply  on  the  American  industry. 
'Tatler's"  article  is  here  reprinted  in  part. 
[The  italics  and  subheads  are  ours. — Editor.] 

By  "TATLER" 

At  the  time  of  the  interview,  rumour  as- 
sociated Mr.  Rank  with  the  intention  oi  buy- 
ing control  of  United  Artists ;  since  then,  of 
course,  it  will  have  been  seen  that  U.  A.  are 
still  continuing  as  an  entity  exactly  as  before ; 
but  Mr.  Rank  made  no  bones  about  it — he 
agreed  that  he  was  in  the  market  and  would 
have  been  prepared  to  enter  some  arrangement. 

It  was  in  reply  to  my  first  question,  wherein 
I  asked  him  about  his  views  on  the  distribution 
of  British  films  in  American  and  other  world 
markets,  that  Mr.  Rank  told  me  what  I  most 
wanted  to  know.  He  said:  "Up  to  the  present 
moment  I  have  made  no  arrangements  for 
American  distribution.  But,  as  you  know  per- 
fectly well,"  he  went  on,  "I  have  been  consider- 
ing the  matter  of  an  American  distributing  or- 
ganization for  some  several  months.  When  you 
suggested  recently  in  your  column  that  I  wanted 
an  association  with  an  American  company,  you 
were  absolutely  right.  It  is  true.  What  I  want, 
in  fact,  is  a  British-American  company  with  a 
policy  of  reciprocal  distribution  of  American 
^nd  British  made  films — particularly  in  view 
of  my  firm  opinion  that  Britain  and  America 
will  work  in  far  closer  co-operation  after  the 
war  than  at  present. 

"With  this  in  mind,  I  suppose  it  is  natural 
that  U.  A.  should  seem  an  obvious  choice. 

Would  Not  Be  Averse 
To  UA  Arrangement 

"It  is  plain,  therefore,  that  if  U.  A.  were 
to  make  a  proposition  to  me,  I  would  not 
be  averse,  under  favorable  conditions,  to  mak- 
ing an  arrangement  with  them — as  representing 
an  organisation  with  similar  ideas  to  mine. 

"If  any  negotiations  which  might  take  place 
between  myself  and  the  U.  A.  stockholders  were 
unfruitful,"  said  Mr.  Rank,  "I  should  form  a 
British-American  company  with  the  policy 
which  I  stated  previously,  and  endeavour  to 
bring  in  topnotch  producers,  directors  and  artists 
to  make  pictures  for  world  distibution."  .  .  . 

He  said  that  he  was  undoubtedly  in  favour 
of  making  pictures — expensive  pictures — special- 
ly for  the  American  market.  "For  instance," 
he  continued,  "  'Cesar  and  Cleopatra' — the  film 
which  Gabriel  Pascal  is  going  to  make  for  me 
— will  be  aimed  directly  at  this  market." 

Speaking  of  Two  Cities,  Mr.  Rank  said  that 
although  he  did  not  own  any  share  or  interest  -in 
the  company,  he  financed  the  making  of  their 
films.  In  this  connection  he  mentioned  "Henry 
V"  as  bing  a  fine  example  of  a  geat  picture 
aimed  at  a  world  market.  He  was  disinclined 
to  believe  that  its  historical  background  would 
prejudice  its  chances  among  less  discerning 
picturegoers.  He  believed  that  a  picture  of  such 
a  calibre  as  he  knew  this  one  to  be,  would  be 
acceptable  to  all  but  the  very  smallest  percent- 
age of  English-speaking  audiences. 

I  asked  him  whether  he  considered  that  in 
this  type  of  picture  we  were  shooting  above  the 


BRITAIN  STUDIES 
FILM  MONOPOLY 

The  British  Films  Council  in  London 
this  week  appointed  a  four-nnan  conn- 
nnittee  of  "independent"  members  to 
investigate  "such  measures  as  may  be 
necessary  to  counteract  the  danger" 
of  a  film  monopoly.  This  action  was 
taken  as  a  result  of  pressure  from 
labor  and  other  industry  groups.  The 
council  named  the  committee  at  the 
request  of  Dr.  Hugh  Dalton,  president 
of  the  Board  of  Trade. 

The  committee  includes:  Albert 
Palache,  London  banker,  chairman; 
Sir  Walter  Citrine,  general  secretary 
of  the  Trades  Union  Congress;  Philip 
Guedella,  author  and  historian,  and 
Professor  Albert  Arnold  Plant  of  the 
London  University  School  of  Eco- 
nomics. Dr.  Dalton  urged  speedy 
recommendations. 


heads  of  a  large  section  of  the  people,  par- 
ticularly the  American  people ;  or  whether  it 
might  be  thought  that  we  were  trying  to  impose 
upon  them  either  our  ideas  or  our  culture ;  but 
he  did  not  think  so. 

"As  far  as  the  second  part  of  the  question 
is  concerned,"  he  said,  "it  would  be  impossible 
under  the  prevailing  conditions,  to  try  to  impose 
our  ideas  on  the  American  people,  though  Holly- 
wood has  been  able  to  do  this  to  lis  to  a  cer- 
tain extent.  .  .  . 

"If  there  is  any  level  to  come  down  to,"  he 
continued,  "we  shall  come  down  to  it."  .  .  . 

That  seemed  to  me  to  be  a  pretty  forthright 
outline  of  his  British-American  production  plans. 
So  I  followed  up  by  asking  him  whether  he 
was  going  to  acquire  theatres  in  the  U.  S.,  the 
Dominions,  and  on  the  Continent,  as  shop 
windows  for  his  product. 

As  before,  he  got  down  to  brass  tacks  right 
away. 

"At  the  moment  I  have  no  plans  for  acquiring 
kinemas  in  America,"  he  said.  "But  I  am  much 
in  favour  of  the  acquisition  of  kinemas  in  the 
Dominions,  and  I  have  discussed  the  matter 
very  earnestly."  In  talking  of  the  Dominions  he 
excluded  for  this  purpose,  Canada,  as  he  re- 
garded Canada  and  the  U.  S.  as  one  as  far  as 
the  film  industry  was  concerned. 

"For  instance,"  he  went  on  enthusiastically, 
"after  the  war  I  may  have  to  go  and  build 


Joseph  M.  Schenck,  executive  pro- 
duction chief  of  Twentieth  Century- 
Fox,  is  quoted  in  the  New  Year  edi- 
tion of  Daily  Film  Renter,  of  London, 
as  follows: 

"/  befieve,  and  this  is  not  meant  as  a 
criticism,  that  If  the  British  producer 
would  try  and  give  the  same  careful 
consideration  to  the  type  ot  picture 
that  would  be  suitable  for  both  markets 
we  could  handle  the  British  picture 
with  far  greater  success  than  we  have 
heretofore." 


kinemas  in  South  Africa.  It  is  definitely  my 
intention  ultimately  to  have  kinemas  and  use 
them  as  shop  windows  for  British  films  on  the 
Continent,  and  in  all  the  important  capitals  of 
the  world." 

He  obviously  couldn't  say  fairer  than  that, 
so  I  switched  the  conversation  over  to  the 
Quota  question.  It  did  not  take  him  long  to  deal 
with  this,  and  in  the  unequivocal  manner  which 
is  characteristic  of  this  shrewd  Yorkshireman, 
he  said:  "As  far  as  quota  is  concerned,  I  am 
not  worrying  about  it  at  all.  The  excellence 
of  British  product  and  the  ubiquity  of  its 
acceptance  is  my  chief  concern.  Provided  a  suf- 
ficiently high  standard  of  product  is  achieved 
and  maintained,  I  think  the  Quota  Act  will 
become  a  historical  piece  of  legislation."  .  .  . 

Plans  Own  Orffanization  for 
Continental  Distribution 

This  seemed  a  good  moment  to  ask  him  how 
he  thought  we  would  fare  in  competition  with 
Hollywood  in  the  matter  of  Continental  distribu- 
tion after  the  war.  Bang  came  the  reply  without 
a  moment's  hesitation.  "I  intend  to  open  my 
own  organisation  for  such  a  purpose." 

He  was  inclined  to  discount  to  a  certain 
extent  the  great  start  which  Hollywood  has  on 
Britain  in  the  matter  of  actual  preparation, 
dubbing,  etc.,  because  he  thought  British  prestige 
woidd  be  so  high  among  the  liberated  countries 
after  the  war  that  they  would  be  willing  to  take 
our  product,  primarily  out  of  gratitude,  and 
secondarily,  out  of  its  greater  suitability. 

This  struck  me  as  being  one  of  the  soundest 
comments  I  have  heard  on  the  matter — and  I've 
heard  quite  a  few. 

"We  have  always  done  fairly  well  in  this 
sphere,"  he  continued,  "and  I  am  confident  that 
we  shall  do  increasingly  well  after  the  war." 

It  was  inevitable  that  we  should  get  around 
to  post-war  prospects  in  the  course  of  time. 
And  Rank  said  exactly  what  I  expected  to  hear 
him  say. 

"All  round,  post-war  prospects  are  bright. 
Provided  we  make  pictures  with  a  wide  appeal, 
I  feel  that  the  prospects  for  the  British  film 
industry  are  extremely  favourable. 

"From  the  exhibitor  viewpoint,  it  is  my  firm 
opinion  that  there  will  be  no  slump — no  ap- 
preciative falling  off  in  business,  in  fact — for  at 
least  twelve  months.  Even  after  that  I  believe 
the  retrogression  will  be  much  less  and  much 
more  gradual  than  most  people  in  the  industry 
forecast. 

"It  is  inevitable  that  there  should  be  some 
falling  off,  of  course,  but  not  a  great  deal." 

"How  do  you  suppose,"  I  put  in,  "all  this  is 
going  to  be  affected  by  the  quarrels  between 
renters  and  exhibitors  that  continually  disrupt 
the  industry?" 

This  was  clearly  a  point  that  worried  him, 
and  he  looked  very  serious  as  he  replied :  "It 
must  be  quite  apparent  to  everybody  that  they 
have  got  to  stop.  The  industry  needs  a  change 
of  heart. 

"We've  got  to  work  together  if  we  are 
going  to  get  anywhere.  I  was  always  brought 
up  to  think  that  the  good  things  in  life  are 
made  for  everyone,  and  unless  we  can  co-operate 
in  this  industry  in  a  policy  of  give  and  take, 
we  are  going  to  make  things  much  harder  for 
ourselves. 

"I  should  like  it  to  be  made  perfectly  clear 
that  I  am  not  trying  to  corner  the  trade.  I  am 
trying  to  put  the  trade  on_  the_  map,  and  the 
whole  of  my  organisation  is  directed  to  that 
end."  .  .  . 


THE  PRESIDEA'T 


THE  ruins  of  London  and 
Coventry,  and  other  cities,  are 
today  the  proudest  monuments 
to  British  heroism.  Our  own  civil- 
ian population  is  now  relatively 
safe  from  such  disasters.  And, 
to  an  ever-increasing  extent,  our 
soldiers,  sailors  and  marines  are 
fighting  with  great  bravery  and 
skill  on  far  distant  fronts  to  make 
sure  that  we  shall  remain  safe.  I 
should  like  to  tell  you  one  or  two 
stories  about  the  men  we  have  in 
our  armed  forces. 

'There  is,  for  instance.  Dr.  Cory- 
don  M.  Wassell  .  .  . 


"He  was  a  missionary,  well  known 
for  his  good  works  in  China.  He 
is  a  simple,  modest,  retiring  man 
.  .  .  but  he  entered  the  service  of 
his  country  and  was  commis- 
sioned a  Lieutenant  Commander 
in  the  Navy.  ^ 

"Dr.  Wassell  was  assigned  to  duty 
in  Java,  caring  for  wounded  offi- 
cers and  men  of  the  cruisers 
Houston  and  Marblehead,  which 
had  been  in  heavy  action  in  the 
Java  Seas. 

"When  the  Japanese  advanced 
across  the  island,  it  was  decided 
to  evacuate  as  many  as  possible 


i 


AND  Tllli:  UniA  FOR  A  GR 


Cecil  B.  DeMille  listens  to  the  President's 
address  and  immediately  launches  plans 
for  dramatizing  this  heroic  adventure 


of  the  wounded  to  Australia. 
'But  about  twelve  of  the  men 
were  so  badly  wounded  that  they 
could  not  be  moved.  Dr.  Wassell 
remained  with  these  men,  know- 
ing that  he  would  be  captured  by 
the  enemy. 

'But  he  decided  to  make  a  des- 
perate attempt  to  get  the  men 
out  of  Java.  He  asked  each  of 
them  if  he  wished  to  take  the 
chance,  and  every  one  agreed. 
He  first  had  to  get  the  twelve 
men  to  the  seacoast — fifty  miles 
away  .  .  .  The  men  were  suffering 
severely,  but  Dr.  Wassell  kept 


them  alive  by  his  skill,  and  in- 
spired them  by  his  own  courage. 

"As  the  official  report  said,  'Dr. 
Wassell  was  almost  like  a  Christ- 
like shepherd,  devoted  to  his 
flock.'  On  the  seacoast,  he  em- 
barked the  men  on  a  little  Dutch 
ship.  They  were  bombed  and 
machine-gunned  by  waves  of 
Japanese  planes  ... 

"A  few  days  later.  Dr.  Wassell 
and  his  little  flock  of  wounded 
men  reached  Australia  safely  . . 

— President  Roosevelt 
In  a  IsJationwide  Broadcast 


r  MOTION  PICTIJRli:  IS  BORN 


Will  Present 

CECIL  B.  DeMILLE'S 

m  gre  iir  WD^mii 

,    .  /N  TECHNICOLOR 

starring 

GARY  COOPER  •  LARAINE  DAY 

Produced  and  Directed  by  CECIL  B.  DeMILLE 

with 

Signe  Hasso  •  Dennis  O'Keefe  *  Carol  Thurston  •  Carl  Esmond 
Barbara  Britton  •  Stanley  Ridges  •  And  Hundreds  of  Others 

Screen  Play  by  Alan  LeMay  and  Charles  Bennett  •  Based  upon  the  story  of  Dr.  Wassell  as  related 
by  him  and  fifteen  of  the  wounded  soldiers  involved  . . .  and  also  upon  the  story  by  James  Hilton 


32 


MOTION    Pl.CTURE  HERALD 


February    5,  1944 


Paramount  Has 
Sales  Meeting  On 
"Lady  In  Dark'' 

Paramount  home  office  executives  and  sales 
officials  met  in  New  York  Friday  at  the  Hotel 
Pierre  for  the  first  session  of  a  three-day  sales 
meeting  to  discuss  plans  for  "Lady  in  the  Dark" 
and  "Story  of  Dr.  Wassell,"  two  of  the  com- 
pany's important  pictures  on  the  1943-44  sched- 
ule. Neil  Agncw,  general  sales  manager,  pre- 
sided. Barney  Balaban,  president,  and  Y. 
Frank  Freeman,  vice-president  and  head  of  the 
studio,  were  the  principal  speakers. 

On  Thursday  evening,  district  managers  and 
district  advertising  representatives  of  the  com- 
pany, attended  a  screening  of  "Lady  in  the 
Dark"  at  the  home  office. 

The  selling  approach  to  the  public  of  the 
Ginger  Rogers-Ray  Milland  starring  vehicle 
was  discussed  by  Robert  M.  Gillham,  adver- 
tising and  publicity  director ;  Alec  Moss,  ex- 
ploitation manager ;  Al  Wilkie,  publicity  man- 
ager, and  Stanley  Shuford,  advertising  manager. 
Mr.  Agnew  outlined  the  company's  sales  pol- 
icy on  the  film. 

Charles  M.  Reagan,  assistant  general  sales 
manager,  reported  on  further  sales  plans  on  "For 
Whom  the  Bell  Tolls"  during  the  Friday  after- 
noon session.  A  special  panel  on  labor  rela- 
tions for  district  managers  was  held  by  C.  J. 
Scollard.  Other  sessions  included  one  on  trade 
practices  by  Louis  Phillips  of  the  legal  staff : 
Henry  Anderson  on  insurance;  Joseph  A. 
Walsh  on  exchange  operations,  and  Mr.  Rea- 
gan on  personnel  problems.  At  the  same  time, 
a  separate  meeting  for  exploitation  men  got 
under  way  with  Mr.  Gillliam  presiding. 

Outline  Selling  Plans  for 
"Story  of  Dr.  Wassell" 

First  print  of  the  Cecil  B.  DeMille  Tech- 
nicolor production,  "Story  of  Dr.  Wassell," 
was  rushed  from  the  studio  to  New  York  in 
time  for  a  screening  Friday  night  for  the  dele- 
gates. Mr.  Agnew  and  Mr.  Gillham  outlined 
sales  plans  for  this  picture  at  Saturday  morn- 
ing's meeting.  Mr.  Freeman  and  Oscar  A. 
Morgan,  general  sales  manager  of  short  sub- 
jects, respectively,  discussed  the  company's  fu- 
ture production  plans  on  features  and  shorts. 
Individual  meetings  between  division  and  dis- 
trict managers  were  to  be  held  on  Sunday. 

.\  trade  showing  of  "Lady  in  the  Dark"  was 
held  Thursday  in  New  York  at  the  Normandie 
theatre  and  at  the  Ambassador  in  Los  Angeles. 
Trade  screenings  in  all  other  exchange  areas  are 
to  be  held  February  28.  the  company  announced 
thi«  wek. 

Plans  are  under  way  for  a  coast-to-coast 
radio  salute  to  "Lady  in  the  Dark"  on  the  eve 
of  the  film's  premiere  February  9  at  the  Para- 
mount theatre,  Hollywood.  Ginger  Rogers,  star 
of  the  picture,  will  appear  on  the  Bob  Hooe 
radio  show  over  NBC  Tuesday.  February  8. 
The  entire  broadcast  will  be  built  around  the 
Paramount  production. 

_  Those  who  were  to  attend  the  three-day  ses- 
sions included : 

District  managers:  William  Erbb,  Boston;  M.  S 
Kusell,  New  York;  E.  W.  Sweig-ert,  Philadelphia;  M. 
R.  Dark,  Oeveland;  Allen  Usher,  Chicago;  R.  C.  Li- 
Beau,  Kansas  City;  H.  W.  Bralv,  Denver;  J.  F. 
Kirby.  Atlanta:  J.  J.  Donohue,  Dallas;  Del  Good- 
man, Los  Angeles,  and  Gordon  Lightstone,  Canada. 

District  advertising  representatives:  Arnold  Van 
Leer,  Boston:  William  Brooker,  Philadelphia:  Vernon 
Gray,  Atlanta;  M.  D.  Cohn,  Kansas  Citv;  T.  M.  Joice. 
Cleveland;  Ed  Wall,  Albany;  E.  G.  Fitzgibbon,"  Chi 
cage;  Lames  Levine,  Pittsburgh:  Win  Barron,  Can- 
ada: Allan  Glenn,  Dallas;  Charles  C.  Perry,  Cincin- 
nati, and  Sid  M'esibov.  New  York. 

Home  office  executives  in  attendance  were  Neil 
.\gnew.  Charles  M.  Reagan,  George  A.  Smith,  Hugh 
Owen,  C.  J.  Scollard,  G.  B.  J.  Frawley,  Oscar  A. 
Morgan,  R.  M.  Gillham.  Alec  Moss,  Al  Wilkie,  Stan- 
ley Shuford,  T.  A.  Walsh,  F.  A.  LeRoy,  H.  J.  Lorber. 
A.  J.  Dunne,  Jack  Roper  and  Sam  Palmer. 


WPB  Charges  Violation 
In  Theatre  Construction 

In  one  of  the  few  instances  in  which  it  has 
taken  formal  action  to  halt  the  construction  of 
a  theatre,  the  War  Production  Board  reported 
last  week  that  it  had  issued  a  suspension  order 
against  Harry  Papadopoulos  of  Carabelle,  Fla. 

The  order  halted  construction  on  a  theatre 
and  bar  for  which  no  authority  had  been  granted 
by  WPB  although  the  project,  estimated  to  cost 
about  |12,000,  was  initiated  last  March  when 
the  maximum  amount  which  could  be  spent  on 
building  without  specific  approval  was  $200. 

The  board  held  Mr.  Papadopoulos  had  delib- 
erately violated  the  provisions  of  the  construc- 
tion conservation  order  L-41,  and  directed  that 
neither  he,  his  successors  or  assigns,  nor  any 
other  person  may  purchase,  accept  or  use  any 
material  to  complete  the  project  without  writ- 
ten permission. 


Needed  Houses 
To  Be  Permitted 

The  recent  announcement  by  War  Production 
Board  Director  Donald  M.  Nelson  that  the  re- 
strictions on  construction  would  be  continued 
has  led  to  considerable  uncertainty  among  ex- 
hibitors as  to  the  fate  of  applications  for  new 
theatres  in  war  centers,  it  was  disclosed  this 
week. 

That  announcement,  however,  according  to 
George  McMurphey,  chief  of  the  amusement  and 
recreation  section  of  the  Office  of  Civilian  Re- 
quirements, has  no  bearing  on  the  program  to 
provide  adequate  entertainment  facilities  for  war 
centers. 

Mr.  McMurphey  explained  the  Nelson  order 
was  designed  as  a  warning  that  there  would  be 
no  general  resumption  of  construction  activity 
permitted,  but  was  not  intended  to  curtail  exist- 
ing programs  for  either  recreation^  housing  or 
other  facilities  in  war-swollen  communities 
where  there  is  a  definite  need  for  such  building. 

All  applications  for  theatres  in  such  areas 
would  continue  to  be  handled  as  in  the  past,  he 
said,  and  an  agreement  has  been  reached  with 
the  facilities  division  of  WPB  to  authorize  the 
construction  of  houses  shown  to  be  necessary. 

Los  Angeles  Theatre  Sues 
In  Musician  Strike 

Legal  action  seeking  declaratory  relief  as  the 
result  of  a  strike  of  pit  musicians  at  the  Or- 
pheum  theatre,  Los  Angeles,  last  week,  caused 
manager  Sherill  Corwin  to  convert  the  house 
into  an  all-film  moveover. 

Mr.  Corwin  intends  to  "take  every  legal  step 
necessary  to  protect  our  rights  and  obligations, 
not  only  with  regard  to  various  agreements  for 
future  service  of  persons  previously  engaged, 
but  those  persons  with  whom  we  hold  contracts 
covering  their  present  services." 

The  musician's  local.  No.  47  said  that  the 
strike  was  authorized  but  they  could  not  be 
forced _  to  work.  The  strike  was  a  result  of 
wage  increase  demands. 


Lt.  Devaney  Marries 

Lieutenant  Murray  L.  Devaney  of  the  Royal 
Canadian  Navy  was  married  in  Halifax  last 
week  to  Sub-Lieutenant  Irma  Maude  Malcolm. 
I^ieutenant  Devaney,  son  of  Leo  M.  Devaney. 
Canadian  division  sales  manager  for  RKO 
Radio,  was  formerly  salesman  for  RKO  in  the 
St.  John,  Montreal  and  Toronto  territories. 


Hold  Party  in  Omaha  Exchange 

MGM's  26  employees  in  Omaha  attended  a 
dinner  party  at  the  Fontenelle  Hotel  last  week 
with  branch  manager  John  G.  Kemptgen  pre- 
siding. A  gift  from  the  exchange  was  given 
Monte  Matthews,  who  has  been  transferred  to 
Kansas  City. 


OWI  Will  Settle 
16mm.  Dispute 
On  Army  Films 

Confidence  in  the  Office  of  War  Information's 
motion  picture  bureau  to  settle  differences  be- 
tween commercial  and  educational  16mm  dis- 
tributors and  Army  and  Navy  officials  charged 
with  distributing  war  incentive  films  was  ex- 
pressed last  Friday  by  C.  R.  Reagan,  head  of 
the  division. 

Mr.  Reagan  was  in  New  York  last  week  for 
conferences  with  Stanton  Griffis,  head  of  the 
motion  picture  bureau  of  the  OWI,  and  Army 
and  Navy  officers.  The  group  also  met  with 
Arthur  Mayer,  recently  appointed  by  the  War 
Department  to  work  with  Army  officers  in 
connection  with  the  distribution  of  Army  in- 
centive films.  Mr.  Reagan  said  he  hoped  Mr. 
Mayer's  knowledge  of  distribution  would  aid 
materially  in  giving  the  widest  possible  circula- 
tion to  the  Army's  pictures  in  the  16mm  field. 
The  films  are  now  being  distributed  by  three 
16mm  commercial  agencies,  Walter  Gutlohn, 
Inc.,  Castle  Films,  Inc.,  and  Modern  Talking 
Pictures,  Inc. 

A  number  of  subjects  which  the  OWI  non- 
theatrical  division  had  been  distributing, 
through  the  241  film  depositories  set  up  in  the 
country  by  the  16mm  National  Advisory  and 
Policy  Committee,  have  been  withdrawn  because 
of  their  controversial  subject  matter,  Mr.  Rea- 
gan said. 

In  commenting  on  the  four-point  program 
which  the  committee  recommended  recently,  the 
OWI  official  said  he  hoped  that  Government 
agencies  would  give  serious  consideration  to  the 
proposals.  Details  of  the  recommendations  were 
reporteti  in  Motion  Picture  Herald  last 
week. 

In  Washington  Tuesday,  the  non-theatrical 
division  held  a  luncheon  at  the  Roger  Smith 
Hotel,  at  which  Morton  F.  Leopold,  supervising 
engineer,  motion  picture  production  section  of 
the  Bureau  of  Mines,  was  the  guest  speaker. 
Last  week,  Paul  R.  Wendt,  director  of  visual 
education  for  the  University  of  Minnesota,  and 
Lester  Anderson,  professor  of  education  for  the 
university,  were  guests  of  the  division.  Both 
educators  came  to  Washington  to  make  a  study 
for  their  institution  on  the  wartime  use  of  visu- 
al aids,  especially  in  the  Army  and  Navy,  for 
guidance  in  mapping  out  a  16mm  program  in 
Minnesota.  War  plant  officials,  war  workers, 
educators  and  16mm  distributors  are  invited  to 
attend  the  OWI  luncheons. 

Curfew  Ordinances  Are 
Offered  in  Two  Cities 

The  City  Council  of  Red  Oak^  la.,  has  altered 
precedent  to  await  reaction  to  a  proposed  11 
P.M.  curfew  ordinance  that  would  regulate  the 
night  hours  of  all  persons  under  18.  Ordinarily 
the  Council  passes  an  ordinance  immediately  it 
is  read,  but  this  time  the  public  may  express  its 
views. 

Mayor  Guy  Drake  of  Carthage,  Tenn.,  has 
placed  before  the  City  Council  a  proposed  cur- 
few ordinance  making  it  unlawful  for  any  child 
under  16  to  be  on  the  streets  after  9  P.  M.  un- 
less accompanied  by  an  adult.  The  action  is 
proposed  in  an  effort  to  stop  a  wave  of  minor 
incidents  in  the  business  district. 


Lt.  Joseph  Meyers  Missing 

First  Lieutenant  Joseph  F.  Meyers,  21,  is 
missing  in  action  over  New  Guinea,  his  father, 
Fred,  eastern  sales  manager  for  Universal,  was 
informed  this  week  by  the  War  Department. 
Lieutenant  Meyers  enlisted  in  the  Air  Force 
the  day  after  Pearl  Harbor.  He  was  educated 
at  Valley  F©rge  Military  Academy,  and  New 
York  and  Syracuse  Universities. 


Months  in  advance,  reviews,  publishers  advertisements, 
and  planted  publicity  have  begun  to  build 
vast  ready-made  audiences  for  these 
valuable  story  properties  and  other  great  productions 


coming  from  P4|>,|^^ 


*  Release  dates  subject 
to  change 


HRST  fULL-COLOf^ 

Page  qf  ten-pagb 
story  from  ladies' 
hcxme  journal 


FROM  THE  NATIONAL 
AD  CAMPAIGN 


■tRST  REVIEWS  FROM 
'HE  TRADE  PRESS 


/  -  /L/j/iyj///i 
^''The  Miracle  of  Morgan's 


Creek 


5? 


kHIS  reviewer  rocked  and  swayed  with  gales  of 
laughter  over  'The  Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek.' 
For  what  he  saw  was  something  so  much  better 
than  merely  a  good  comedy  that  he  placed  it  imme- 
diately in  the  outstanding  class.  And  defies  any 
assault.s  to  the  contrary. 

"Out  of  the  nimble  mind  of  Preston  Sturges,  it  is  one 
of  the  funniest  pictures  in  a  long  span  of  viewing  and 
reviewing  .  .  .  An  undispujed  wow  at  the  boxoffice." 
—Red  Kann,  M.  P. 


"Human  nature  has  not 
amusing  results  in  a  long 


senting  comedy  at  its  very 
ing  less  than  a  smash  hit.' 


been  dealt  with  with  such 
long  time.  Some  of  the 
situations  in  this  film  are  pofjitively  excruciating,  repre- 


)est  ...  It  should  be  noth- 
— Film  Daily 


jMa^f  Success/ 


"'Hitler  Gad 


"Buddy  DeSylva's  fori 
coming  Paramount  fil 
'Hitler  Gang,'  accord] 
to  insiders  will  top 
anti-Nazi  films." — Wal 
Winchell. 


"  'The  Hitler  Gang': 
one  of  the  most  unusv 
movies  Hollywood  ever 
tempted."  —  Frederick 
Othman 


"THE  MIRACLE  OF 
MORGAN'S  CREEK" 
Starring  BETTY  HUTTON-EDDIE  BRACKEN 
Written  and  Directed  By 
PRESTON  STURGES 


"THE  UNINVITED" 
Starring  RAY  MILLAND,  RUTH  HUSSEY, 
DONALD  CRISP 
With  Cornelia  Otis  Skinner 
And  Introducing  Gail  Russell 
Directed  by  Lewis  Allen 


"LADY  IN  THE  DARK" 

in  Technicolor 
Starring  GINGER  ROGERS,  RAY  MILLAND, 
WARNER  BAXTER,  JON  HALL 
A  MITCHELL  LEISEN  production 
Directed  by  Mitchell  Leisen 


AS  ADVERTISBD 


SftATIONALLY 


RAVES  FROM  THE 
TRADE  PAPERS 


STANDING  ROOM  ONLY' IS  A  RIOT; 
DELIGHTFUL  COMEDY  OF  ERRORS" 


"Gorgeous  nonsense  from 
Paul  Jones'  laugh  factory 
at  Paramount" 


"If  it  doesn't  live  up  to  its  title  at 
every  boxoffice  in  this  country, 
then  this  country  has  gone  off  the 
laugh  standard. 

"Director  Sidney  Lanfield  has 
hit  the  same  rich  vein  of  pay-dirt 
as  in  'My  Favorite  Blonde.'" — 
Hollywood  Reporter 

*  #  # 

"  'Standing  Room  Only'  is  one 
of  those  enjoyable  farce  comedy 
delights  . .  .  Like  all  good  things  it 
ends  too  soon.  A  laugh  riot  .  .  . 
Can  be  a  boxoffice  whizz . ' ' — Show- 
men's Trade  Review 

*  *  * 

"Things  happen  fast  and  furi- 
ously in  a  script  that  is  packed 
with  snappy  and  intelligent  dia- 
logue and  situations  that  are 
loaded  with  laughs.  The  title 
should  give  the  exhibitor  a  hint  as 
to  what  to  expect  whe  i  he  plays 
this  one." — Film  Daily 


"STANDING  ROOM  ONLY" 

Starring  PAULETTE  GODDARD-FRED  MacMURRAY 
With  Edward  Arnold,  Roland  Young 
Directed  by  Sidney  Lanfield 


"HOUR  BEFORE  THE  DAWN" 
Starring  FRANCHOT  TONE-VERONICA  LAKE 


Directed  by  Frank  Tuttle 


AS  ADVERTISED 
FROM  COAST  TO  COAST 


GOSSIP  FROM 
THE  COLUMNISTS 


"Rise  Stevens  ...  a  beauty.  I  saw  her  playing  a  scene  with 
Bing  Crosby  in  'Going  My  Way.'  Then  I  realized  the  movies 
had  been  indifferent  to  a  good  bet."— Louella  0.  Parsons. 

*  *  * 

"  'Going  My  Way'  is  the  most  timely  thing  being  produced 
in  Hollywood  today." — Hedda  Hopper 

*  *  * 

"Recommended:  Bing  Crosby's  vocal  tricks  with  'Too-ra- 
loo-laroo'  in  'Going  My  Way'."— Ed  Sullivan 


itely  satisfying 
Kt  rewarding, 
"—New  York 
|America  who 
I  Los  Angeles 
kn  will  enjoy 
$2.75 

s! 


low 


"GOING  MY  WAY" 
Starring  BING  CROSBY- RISE  STEVENS 
A  LEO  McCAREY  Productldn 
Directed  by  Leo  McCarey 


AND  NOW  TOMORROW" 

Starring  LORETTA  YOUNG-ALAN  LADD 

Directed  by  inrmg  Pichel 


Starring 


FROM  THE  NATIONAL 
AD  CAMPAIGN 


A  FULL  PAGE  FROM  "LIFE" 


JUST  PUBLISHED 

The  new  novel  by  the 
author  of  "KINGS  ROWI 


SIX- COLUMN 
FEATURE  FROM 
''AMERICAN  WEEKLY" 


THIS  is  the  stor^'  of  ilic  cLiali  of  two  sirong-wilird  f 
sonalities:  a  beautiful  and  ambitious  New  England 
and  a  hot-blooded  son  of  a  proud  Louisiana  clan  Vict 
Dunsian  and  Niles  Crandolct  marry  after  a  headlong  c? 
ship,  scarcely  knowing  one  another,  and  go  to  live  n  V 
Cloud,  the  great  au-esome  bayou  home  of  the  Craniiolt 
White  Cloud,  with  its  spectral  whispering  gallciii 
portrait  hung  walls,  its  great  chandelier  which  is  nevef 
soon  takes  a  hand  in  the  conflict,  and  brings  it  to  a  cliii 
psychological  power  an 
Victoria  Gritndolet  is 
Guild. 


drama.  ( 
he  January  scltxtion  of  the  IJ 
Price 


SIMON  AND  SCHUSTEI  •  rUll  SHEtS  -  IO(KEFElLER  CENTER 


SEIEilllS 


"  w 


tarlets  \ui  tmHi  \uii  i« 
rOur  Heatis  Were  Yaung  art  Say 


"OUR  HEARTS  WERE  YOUNG  ANO  GAY'' 
With  DIANA  LYNN-GAIL  RUSSELL-JAMES  BROWN 
DOROTHY  GISH-CHARLES  RUGGLES 
Directed  by  Lewis  Allen 


"VICTORIA  GRANDOLET' 

Starring  VERONICA  LAKE 

And  Others 
Directed  by  Mitchell  Leisen 


"FRENCHMAN'S  CREEK" 

In  Technicolor — Starring 
JOAN  FONTAINE-ARTURO  de  CORDOVA  \ 

Directed  by  Mitchell  Leisen  z^^"  ^ 


Till 


i 


to 


Olf 


Ar 


NEVER  STOPS 


about  this  history-making  pro- 
cession of  top-crossing  successes 
which  in  little  more  than  a  year 
have  won  acknowledged  produc- 
tion leadership  for — 


''Or 


a 
m 


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n 


YOIJU  FAVOUITIi:  COMPANY 

»■%.»■ 


February    5,    19  44 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


39 


WAR  AID  ACCENTS  THEATRE 
AS  COMMUNITY  CENTER 


Recognition  of  Importance 
Stimulated  by  Work  of 
Exhibitors  in  Drives 

by  JEANNETTE  E.  SAMUELSON 

The  war  has  focused  nationwide  attention 
on  the  American  film  theatre  as  a  center  of 
community  life  across  the  country.  Long 
ago  the  theatre  established  itself  as  a  force  in 
many  communities,  responding  to  the  local 
need  for  a  meeting  place  and  focus  of  social 
interest. 

Since  the  srtart  of  the  war,  the  theatre  has 
taken  an  even  more  important  place  in  com- 
munity life,  as  a  central  point  for  war 
activities.  All  types  of  official  and  un- 
official organizations  have  turned  to  the 
local  theatre  for  aid  in  furthering  their  pro- 
grams, whether  they  involve  Bond,  scrap  or 
other  war  drives,  or  the  less  publicized  ac- 
tivities peculiar  td  specific  communities.  Ex- 
hibitors continue  to  extend  activities  as  com- 
munity leaders. 

Tremendous  Strides  Made 
In  Theatre's  Position 

A  home  office  circuit  official  said  recently 
that  in  the  years  before  the  war,  the  Ameri- 
can motion  picture  theatre  had  become 
recognized  by  civic  leaders  as  "the  only 
meeting  place  of  the  community  where  peo- 
ple of  all  creeds  and  races,  all  religious  and 
political  beliefs,  representative  of  all  eco- 
nomic classes,  could  meet  on  common 
ground  to  participate  in  a  particular  pro- 
gram for  the  betterment  of  the  entire  com- 
munity. It's  far,"  he  said,  "from  the  days 
when  the  film  theatre  was  looked  upon  as  a 
'freak'  or  'curiosity'  which  would  pass  with 
the  season's  fashion. 

Tremendous  strides  have  been  made  by 
the  entire  industry,"  he  said,  "to  elevate  the 
motion  picture  theatre  to  a  place  of  promi- 
nence in  community  life.  The  war  has  dem- 
onstrated to  the  American  people  that  the 
neighborhood  film  theatre  is  the  important 
center  for  war  effort  participation.  After 
the  war,"  he  said,  "exhibitors  throughout 
the  nation  must  strive  to  keep  their  theatres 
before  the  public  as  leading  community  cen- 
ters.   There  can  be  no  going  back." 

New  York  Neighborhood 
Houses  Play  Part 

In  New  York  City,  there  is  scarcely  a  neigh- 
borhood theatre  in  the  five  boroughs  which  has 
not  been  drawn  into  the  fabric  of  community 
life.  Exhibitor  cooperation  has  extended  from 
theatre  use  for  elementary  and  _  high  school 
graduation  exercises  during  morning  hours  to 
the  donation  of  theatre  facilities  for  mothers' 
clubs,  Parent-Teacher  meetings  and  other  local 
groups. 

Exhibitors  would  cooperate  more  freely  in 
these  activities  were  it  possible,  it  has  been 
pointed  out,  but  since  the  war,  with  theatre 
staffs  reduced  and  constantly  changing  to  keep 
up  with  the  manpower  shortage,  they  have 
been  hard  pressed  to  keep  theatres  maintained 
and  staffed  during  non-show  hours. 

An  example  of  extensive  community  partici- 


CHICAGO  THEATRE  RUNS 
CHILDREN'S  PLAYROOM 

An  unusual  community  service 
project  has  been  in  operation  in 
Chicago  at  the  Southtown  theatre 
of  the  Balaban  &  Katz  circuit.  The 
house  operates  a  nursery  and  play- 
room for  children  from  one  year  to 
five.  It  is  the  only  playroom  of  its 
kind  in  the  midwest  and  cares  for 
thousands  of  children  weekly  while 
their  parents  attend  the  shows.  The 
room  is  decorated  like  a  circus  tent 
and  has  merry-go-round,  slides,  jungle 
gym,  play  pens  and  other  attractions. 
A  registered  nurse  is  in  attendance. 
According  to  Ambrose  Conroy,  man- 
ager of  the  Southtown,  the  theatre 
has  accumulated  over  5,000  names 
of  youngsters  who  annually  receive 
invitations  to  bring  their  parents  to 
the  Southtown  on  their  birthdays. 


pation  is  that  of  the  Sheridan  Square  theatre, 
a  Loew  circuit  house  located  in  Greenwich 
Village.  The  local  draft  board  has  been  using 
the  theatre  for  "send-off  exercises,  usually  from 
nine  to  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning.  Recruiting 
drives  for  nurses,  blood  donors,  auxiliary  fire- 
men and  other  wartime  servces  have  been  held 
in  the  film  house  during  non-show  hours. 

The  Christian  Science  Church  of  America 
holds  its  annual  meetings  each  March  at  the 
Sheridan  during  morning  hours.  The  Green- 
wich Village  Parent-Teachers'  group  also  uses 
the  Sheridan  Square  for  its  annual  meetings. 
Christmas  parties  for  children  of  the  neighbor- 
hood are  a  yearly  treat  at  this  house  as  well  as 
at  most  neighborhood  theatres,  not  only  in 
New  York  City  but  throughout  the  nation. 

Coe  Stressed  Need  for 
Community  Leadership 

The  theatre  also  has  been  the  center  of  OPA 
activities  in  the  Greenwich  Village  area.  Talks 
on  rationing  and  nutrition  have  been  given  by 
women  OPA  instructors  during  morning  hours. 

Charles  Francis  Coe,  vice-president  and  gen- 
eral counsel  of  Motion  Picture  Producers  and 
Distributors  of  America,  during  several  talks 
before  varied  groups  last  year,  stressed  the 
need  for  leaders  outside  of  the  film  industry  to 
"know  your  neighborhood  exhibitor."  He  urged 
them  to  "stop  in  at  his  theatre.  Meet  ■  him. 
Talk  with  him.  You  will  find  him  a  friendly 
chap,  eager  to  do  his  part  for  America,  just  as 
you  are.  There  is  no  more  vital  work  in  town 
than  he  is  doing.  Get  to  know  him  and  his 
work." 

A  Boston  theatre  executive  said  recently  that 
in  the  past  two  years,  "exhibitors  have  gone  to 
lengths  which  before  the  war  never  would 
have  been  deemed  possible  or  practical  in  ex- 
tending their  facilities  to  community  organiza- 
tions." The  tempo  and  spirit  of  the  times  has 
inspired  the  theatre  manager,  he  said,  to  offer 
the  facilities  of  his  house  before  and  after  show 
hours  "to  the  limit  of  his  ability." 

According  to  reports  from  the  field,  for_  ex- 
ample, more  than  70  per  cent  of  the  exhibitors 
in  Greater  Boston,  which  comprises  84  towns 


within  Metropolitan  Boston,  are  members  of 
the  Rotary,  Kiwanis,  Lions,  American  Red 
Cross  and  Chamber  of  Commerce. 

Leadership  in  community  service  has  come 
from  such  showmen  as  Joseph  Marquis  of  the 
Capitol,  Allston ;  Tom  Wall  of  the  Cleveland 
Circle;  Jack  Markle,  Coolidge  Corner,  Brook- 
line;  and  James  Dempsey  at  Lynn.  Mr.  Mar- 
kle is  one  of  the  most  active  members  of  civic 
clubs  in  his  town  and  has  served  particularly  in 
the  Junion  Chamber  of  Commerce  work  of  his 
state.  His  theatre  has  been  open  for  special 
night  meetings  to  Rotary,  Kiwanis,  Civitan, 
Lions  and  other  fraternal  groups  and  he  has 
organized  high  school  and  patriotic  clubs  among 
the  young  people  of  Brookline. 

Civic  Clubs  Find  Theatre 
Convenient  for  Meetings 

The  Red  Cross  in  Brookline  has  been  given 
every  possible  aid  by  the  Coolidge  Corner,  the 
Brookline  Village,  the  Allston  Capitol  and  the 
Cleveland  Circle.  Chapters  of  th§  Red  Cross 
have  had  booths  in  these  theatres  for  collec- 
ton  purposes  and  also  have  held  special  meet- 
ings during  morning  hours  to  raise  funds  and  to 
educate  their  growing  membership  in  Red  Cross 
work. 

The  E.  M.  Loew  and  Keith  theatres  in  Bos- 
ton and  in  other  New  England  cities  also  have 
turned  over  their  buildings  time  and  again  to 
the  Red  Cross  for  recruiting  and  for  drives. 

At  least  90  per  cent  of  the  Mullin  and  Pinan- 
ski  circuit  have  been  used  during  non-show 
hours  for  war  relief  and  civic  associations.  Re- 
cently, a  WAVE  recruiting  drive  terminated 
in  which  the  M  and  P  theatres  did  more  than 
their  share,  it  was  reported.  In  each  house, 
morning  meetings  were  held  and  in  each  lobby 
booths  were  set  up  for  the  WAVE  campaign. 

Parent-Teacher  groups  frequently  hold  meet- 
ings in  the  Capitol,  Allston ;  University,  Cam- 
bridge; Coolidge  Corner,  Brookline,  and  Para- 
mount in  Newton.  Mr.  Markle  has  invited  the 
association  to  make  full  use  of  the  lounge  and 
recreation  rooms  at  his  theatre. 

Ben  Rosenberg,  manager  of  the  Metropolitan 
in  Boston,  has  been  active  in  civic  club  work 
and  has  had  several  meetings  of  SPARS, 
WAVES  and  WACS  in  his  house.  Commit- 
tees of  the  War  Community  Fund,  Boston  Wel- 
fare Committee  and  United  Nations  Relief  also 
have  gathered  at  the  Metropolitan. 

Practically  every  war  cause,  from  Victory 
Gardens  to  service  recruiting,  has  been  given  as- 
sistance by  circuit  and  independent  exhibitors 
in  the  Boston  area  for  special  morning  or  night 
meetings. 

Chicago  Manager  Named 
To  Civic  Committee 

Civic  leaders  in  Chicago  who  are  preparing 
to  launch  a  crusade  against  juvenile  delinquency 
in  the  city,  this  week  named  W.  A.  Weinberg, 
theatre  manager  of  the  Ken,  to  represent  the  in- 
dustry on  their  committee. 

In  Chicago,  85  per  cent  of  the  city  and  sub- 
urban theatres  have  cooperated  with  fraternal, 
educational,  civic,  religious  and  patriotic  organi- 
zations. Events  were  staged  to  raise  funds 
for  musical  instruments  for  school  bands  and 
for  local  philanthropic  agencies.  Groups  in 
youth  movements  have  been  the  guests  of  hun- 
dreds of  Chicago  theatres.  Morning  sessions 
of  civic  bodies  in  film  houses  of  the  city,  at 
no  charge,  were  a  fixed  habit  some  years  ago 
and  many  theatres  frequently  have  given  their 
facilities  for  Sunday  morning  church  services. 

Typical  of  theatre  participation  in  community 

(.Continued  on  following  page,  column  1) 


40 

War  Emphasizes 
Theatre  Place 
In  Community 

(Continued  from  preceding  page) 
life  has  been  the  cooperation  of  the  Paranwunt, 
of  the  Hamrick-Evergreen  circuit  in  Portland, 
Ore  Special  night  meetings  for  the  WAVES, 
WACS  and  SPARS  at  the  Paramount  brought 
in  hundreds  of  new  enlistments  m  each  of 
these  women's  services.  A  special  matmee  was 
inaugurated  to  benefit  under-privileged  children 
of  the  area  and  proved  to  be  so  successful  that 
it  soon  will  be  repeated.  Two  of  Portland's 
prominent  newspapers,  the  Oregonian  and  the 
Oregon  Journal,  used  the  theatre  for  Junior 
Victory  Course  shows  during  morning  hours 
and  all  youngsters  were  given  free  tickets. 

The  Mayfair,  jointly  owned  by  the  J.  J. 
Parker  Theatres  and  Evergreen  circuit,  has 
been  made  available  on  many  occasions  to  com- 
munity organizations  for  morning  meetings,  in- 
cluding those  held  by  the  Community  Chest, 
Red  Cross  and  Junior  Safety  Patrol.  Jack 
Matlack,  publicity  director  and  public  relations 
official  for  the  J.  J.  Parker  Theatres,  is  an  ac- 
tive member  of  the  Portland  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce. He  serves  on  the  forum  committee  and 
uses  the  theatre  and  its  facilities  for  the  forum 
meetings,  frequently  showing  special  education- 
al films  to  the  group. 

Cigarette  Drive  Great 
Success  in  Portland 

Mrs.  J.  J.  Parker,  president  of  the  circuit,  is 
a  volunteer  worker  of  the  American  Red  Cross 
and  donates  much  of  her  time  to  the  work  of  the 
organization.  Recently,  she  refurnished  and 
outfitted  a  complete  two-room  servicemen'^ 
center  at  the  Portland  Air  Base. 

An  important  project  of  the  Parker  theatres 
has  been  its  cigarette  drive  to  furnish  smokes  to 
fighting  men  overseas.  By  various  collections, 
special  cigarette  premieres  and  other  methods, 
the  circuit  has  sent  over  6,000,000  cigarettes  to 
servicemen  abroad.  A  huge  show  was  staged 
to  launch  the  campaign  and  since  then  contri- 
bution envelopes  have  been  placed  in  the  lobby, 
resulting  in  a  continual  day-by-day  stream  of 
cigarettes  for  the  forces  overseas. 

Last  Christmas,  the  circuit  sponsored  with  the 
Oregonian  a  special  matinee  to  collect  cigar- 
ettes for  wounded  soldiers  in  the  Barnes  Gen- 
eral Hospital  in  Vancouver,  Washington. 

Another  service  of  the  circuit  has  been  its 
special  trailers  and  slides,  run  twice  monthly,  to 
announce  church  charity  functions  for  British, 
Russian  and  Greek  war  relief  agencies. 

Record  of  participation  in  community  life  by 
the  theatres  of  Tampa  shows  that  practically 
every  exhibitor  in  the  city  and  suburbs  who  has 
been  contributing  to  civic  welfare  for  the  past 
several  years  has  sharply  increased  his  activity 
since  the  war. 

Tampa  Exhibitors  Give 
Aid  to  Local  Groups 

In  the  main  section  of  the  city,  the  large  first 
runs  and  most  of  the  neghborhood  houses  are 
operated  by  the  Florida  State  circuit  It  is  the 
policy  of  the  company  to  cooperate  fully  with 
all  existing  local  community  organizations. 
Under  the  direction  of  J.  L.  Cartwright,  district 
manager  for  the  circuit,  who  is  active  in  club 
work  himself,  circuit  managers  are  encouraged 
to  take  part  in  community  activities  and  nearly 
every  one  of  them  participates. 

Clubs  and  service  organizations  such  as  the 
Chamber  of  Commerce,  Junior  Chamber,  Ro- 
tary, Kiwanis,  Lions,  Optimist  and  others,  use 
the  circuit  houses  during  non-show  hours  for 
radio  programs,  community  drives  and  patriotic 
meetings. 

Special  programs  during  morning  hours  are 
arranged  from  time  to  time  by  the  circuit  for 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 

youth  groups  including  the  Boy  Scouts,  Girl 
Scouts  and  Camp  Fire  Girls.  All  during  school 
term  there  is  a  free  matinee  given  each  week  at 
Florida  State  theatres  for  all  members  of  the 
school  police. 

In  addition  to  the  ordinary  cooperation  ex- 
tended to  local  groups  by  most  exhibitors  of 
the  nation,  theatre  managers  in  Cincinnati  dur- 
ing the  past  year  have  given  the  use  of  their 
houses  for  church  services.  Nat  Turberg,  man- 
ager of  the  Northio  in  Hamilton,  donated  his 
house  for  morning  Lenten  services.  The  RKO 
Paramount  in  Cincinnati  was  used  for  several 
Sunday  morning  church  services  by  the  New 
Thought  congregation  which  lacked  a  church 
building  of  its  own.  John  A.  Schwalm,  man- 
ager of  the  Rialto  in  Hamilton,  also  gave  his 
theatre  for  religious  services. 

Roy  Peffley,  manager  of  the  Paramount  in 
Middletown,  Ohio,  has  donated  his  theatre  for 
special  shows  held  by  Boy  Scouts  and  by  the 
Salvation  Army  in  the  collection  of  toys  and 
food  for  under-privileged  children. 

Since  Pearl  Harbor,  theatres  in  the  Hartford 
area  have  more  than  doubled  their  cooperation 
with  local  civic  and  welfare  agencies  in  order 
to  drive  home  to  patrons  the  fact  that  exhibitors 
work  hand-in-hand  with  existing  groups  for 
community  well-being  and  progress.  Every 
film  house  in  the  area  has  given  its  facilities 
free  of  charge  for  benefit  shows  held  by  charity 
organizations. 

Previews  Held 
On  ''SeaBees" 

Press  previews  and  receptions  to  the  accom- 
paniment of  exploitation  and  advertising  of  Re- 
public's "The  Fighting  SeaBees"  continued 
through  the  country.  On  Tuesday  previews  fol- 
lowed by  receptions  were  held  in  Cincinnati  and 
Indianapolis,  where  the  picture  is  scheduled  to 
open  February  17  and  18,  respectively. 

Plans  for  the  promotion  of  the  film  in  the  two 
cities  also  have  been  set,  patterned  after  the 
eastern  promotional  campaign  that  was  tied  in 
with  the  SeaBees  of  the  Navy.  On  Friday  of 
last  week  Republic  held  a  reception  in  New 
Haven,  Conn.,  in  connection  with  the  opening 
of  the  picture  at  the  Paramount  theatre.  Re- 
ceipts piled  up  at  the  Paramount,  resulting  in 
the  announcement  that  the  picture  will  be  held 
over.  It  is  also  being  held  over  at  the  Stanley 
in  Philadelphia,  where  it  opened  January  26. 
It  is  in  its  third  week  at  the  Woods  theatre, 
Chicago,  and  its  second  at  the  Paramount  thea- 
tres in  Los  Angeles  and  Hollywood. 

In  Boston  "The  Fighting  SeaBees"  opened  a 
day  and  date  engagement  at  the  Paramount 
and  the  Fenway  theatres  on  January  27  follow- 
ing a  campaign  centered  around  a  reception 
with  SeaBee  Martin  P.  White  as  guest  of  hon- 
or. The  campaign  included  a  radio  music  con- 
test on  Stations  WCOP,  WEEI,  and  WORL, 
having  to  do  with  the  piece,  "Son  of  the  Sea- 
Bees," an  extensive  tieup  with  Boston  retail 
merchants,  and  tieups  with  the  Navy.  On  open- 
ing night  at  the  Paramount,  the  mezzanine 
section  was  reserved  for  high-ranking  Naval 
officers  and  their  wives,  who  were  present  as 
guests  of  the  theatre.  Advertising  of  the  pic- 
ture included  SCO  two-sheet  posters  in  elevated 
and  subway  stations,  in  addition  to  the  regular 
campaign  including  a  full  showing  of  24-sheets ; 
1,500  lines  of  additional  newspaper  advertising 
and  radio  spot  announcements. 


Rogasner  Joins  Columbia 

Bud  Rogasner  has  joined  the  Columbia  ex- 
change in  Philadelphia  as  a  booker,  and  is  as- 
signed to  the  up-state  Pennsylvania  territory. 
Mr.  Rogasner  is  the  son  of  Milton  Rogasner, 
Philadelphia  exhibitor  and  operator  of  the  Iris 
theatre.  Harold  Rosenthall  has  resigned  as  city 
salesman  for  PRC  Pictures  in  Philadelphia. 

Buys  Minnesota  House 

Earl  Kerr,  theatre  operator  of  Council  BluiTs, 
Iowa,  has  bought  the  Caledonia  theatre  at 
Caledonia,  Minn. 


February    5,  1944 

Academy  to  Give 
New  Award  for 
Documentaries 

Following  announcement  of  the  films  nomi- 
nated by  the  Academy  of  ution  Picture  Arts 
and  Sciences  for  awards  in  the  balloting  start- 
ing February  15,  a  committee  on  documentary 
awards,  with  Howard  Estabrook,  was  formed. 
It  will  be  the  first  time  Hollywood  studios 
have  entered  films  in  this  category.  The  invi- 
tations are  extended  also  to  all  United  Na- 
tions' film  officers,  to  Army,  Navy  and  Marine 
Corps  film  units,  and  all  Government  agencies 
engaged  in  making  documentary  films. 

The  other  members  of  the  committee  are : 
Edward  Dmytryk,  William  Dozier,  James 
Wong  Howe,  Joris  Ivens,  Nunnally  Johnson, 
Edward  G.  Robinson,  Rosalind  Russell,  Sid 
Solow  and  Frank  Tuttle. 

The  pictures  nominated  follow : 

Cartoons:  Columbia,  Dave  Fleischer,  "Imagination"; 
MGM,  Fred  Quimby,  "Yankee  Doodle  Mouse";  Para- 
mount, George  Pal,  "The  Five  Hundred  Hats  of 
Bartholomew  Cubbins";  RKO -Walt  Disney,  "Reason 
and  Emotion";  Universal,  Walter  Lantz,  "The  Dizzy 
Acrobat";  Warner  Brothers,  Leon  Schlesinger,  "Greet- 
ings, Bait." 

One-reel:  Columbia-Ralph  Staub,  "Hollywood  in  Uni- 
form"; MGM,  Pete  Smith,  "Seeing  Hands";  Para- 
mount, Grantland  Rice,  "Amphibious  Fighters"; 
20th- Fox,  Edmund  Reek,  "Champions  Carry  On"; 
Warner  Brothers,  Gordon  HoUingshead,  "Cavalcade 
of  Dance  with  Veloz  and  Yolanda." 

Two-reel:  MGM,  Jerry  Bresler,  "Heavenly  Music"; 
Paramount,  Walter  MacEwen,  "Mardi-Gras" ;  RKO, 
Fred  Ullman,  "Letter  to  a  Hero";  Warner  Brothers, 
Gordon  HoUingshead,  "Women  at  War.'" 

The  following  productions  have  been  nominated  for 
the  black-and-white  and  color  art  direction  awards: 

Black-and-white:  "Five  Graves  to  Cairo,"  "So 
Proudly  We  Hail,"  Paramount;  "Flight  foi  Free- 
dom," RKO-Radio;  "Madame  Curie,"  "The  Human 
Comedy,"  MGM;  "Mission  to  Moscow,"  "Air  Force," 
"Casablanca,"  "Sahara,"  Warner  Brothers;  "North 
Star,"  Samuel  Goldwvn;  "The  Song  of  Bernadette," 
20th-Fox,  and  "Corvette  K-225,"  Universal. 

Color:  "DuBarry  Was  a  Lady,"  "Thousands  Cheer," 
"Lassie  Come  Home,"  MGM;  "For  Whom  the  Bell 
Tolls,"  Paramount;  "The  Gang's  All  Here,"  "Heaven 
Can  Wait,"  "Hello,  Frisco,  Hello,"  20th-Fox; 
"Phantom  of  the  Opera,"  Universal,  and  "This  Is  the 
Army,"  Warner  Bros. 


See  Ad  Rise  in 
South  America 

American  industries,  including  motion  picture 
companies,  will  spend  at  least  $13,700,000  in  ad- 
vertising in  South  America  during  1944,  it  was 
estimated  over  the  weekend  by  the  Coordinator 
of  Inter-American  Affairs.  The  figure  repre- 
sents an  increase  of  approximately  17  per  cent 
over  such  expenditures  last  year. 

According  to  William  A.  Anderson,  chief  of 
the  advertising  division  of  CIAA'S  department 
of  economic  development,  the  estimated  total 
significantly  represents  a  reversal  of.  a  previous 
downward  trend. 

Revived  interest  in  South  American  trade  is 
due  in  part  to  the  increased  wartime  prosperity 
which  has  made  it  a  better  market  and  in  part 
to  its  post-war  possibilities.  The  CIAA  survey 
indicated  that  the  U.  S.  film  industry  would  be 
one  of  the  more  substantial  advertisers  this  year. 


Post  Joins  Warners 

Carl  Post,  formerly  in  publicity  work  in  the 
amusement  field,  has  been  added  to  the  Warner 
field  public  relations  staff  in  the  St.  Louis  ter- 
ritory by  Mort  Blumenstock,  in  charge  of 
Warner's  advertising  and  publicity  in  the  east^ 


House  Burns,  Rented  Hall  Used 

The  Grand  theatre,  Genoa,  Neb.,  burned  last 
week.  H.  O.  Petersen,  owner,  has  rented  a 
hall  owned  by  the  city  and  will  show  films  there 
temporarily  until  priorities  can  be  obtained  tc» 
rebuild  the  Grand  theatre. 


u4  R^VE  A  D^Y 


"'The  Miracle  of  Morgan's 
Creek'  is  a  miracle  of 
mirth."  -walter  winchell 

*       *  * 

"New  York  critics  are 
unanimous  that  it's  a 
smash  hit/^DANxoN  walker 

in  N.  Y.  DAILY  NEWS 


Starring 

EDDIE  BRACKEN 
BETTY  HUTTGN 

with  Diana  Lynn  •  William  Demarest 
Porter  Hall  and  "McGinty"  and  "The  Boss" 

Written  and  Directed  by 

PRESTON  STURGES 


Is  Everybody  HAPPY?  Sure.  If  They're  Seeing  a  l^ramOUnt  Show! 


42 

Dimes  Goal  May 
Be  Exceeded 
By  $500,000 

Expectation  that  the  industry's  goal  of  $3,- 
000,000  in  the  1944  March  of  Dimes  campaign 
would  be  exceeded  by  at  least  $500,000  were 
indicated  this  week  by  reports  flooding  head- 
quarters. In  most  instances,  circuit  and  inde- 
pendent exhibitors  said  that  1944  collections  far 
exceeded  last  year's  totals  for  the  first  days 
of  the  drive. 

The  campaign  got  off  to  a  ceremonious  start 
last  Saturday  night  whe_n  a  contingent  of  Holly- 
wood stars  accompanied  Mrs.  Eleanor  Roose- 
velt on  a  tour  of  eight  birthday  parties  in  Wash- 
ington marking  the  President's  62nd  birthday. 
Maria  Montez,  Jinx  Falkenburg,  Brian  Don- 
levy,  Walter  Pidgeon,  Lucille  Ball,  John  Gar- 
field, James  Melton,  Joan  Fontaine,  Brian 
Aherne  and  Jose  Iturbi  came  from  Hollywood 
to  take  part  in  the  celebrations. 

In  New  York,  Mary  Pickford  headed  a  group 
of  screen,  stage  and  radio  stars  who  contributed 
to  the  success  of  the  birthday  party  at  the  Wal- 
dorf-Astoria Hotel.  The  drjve  opening  was 
climaxed  Saturday  night  with  a  coast-to-coast 
broadcast  over  the  four  major  networks,  ema- 
nating from  New  York,  Washington,  San  Fran- 
cisco, Hollywood  and  London.  The  President 
spoke  briefly  at  the  conclusion  of  the  radio  pro- 
gram on  the  importance  of  this  drive. 

Theatres  w.ere  urged  this  week  to  return 
their  March  of  Dimes  appeal  trailers  featuring 
MGM  star  Greer  Garson  to  the  nearest  National 
Screen  Service  exchange.  Herman  Robbins  of 
the  national  executive  committee  reminded  ex- 
hibitors that  last  year  "we  realized  $781  in  sal- 
vageof  silver  from  the  returned  trailers."  This 
money  was  added  to  the  theatres'  total  collec- 
tions for  the  Infantile  Paralysis  Fund. 

Early  in  the  week  Charles  P.  Skouras,  pres- 
ident of  National  Theatres  and  co-chairman  of 
the  Dimes  drive  in  the  state  of  California,  an- 
nounced that  Fox  West  Coast  theatres  in  the 
state  had  collected  a  total  of  $255,000  frorn  pa- 
trons compared  with  $150,000  last  year,  repre- 
senting an  increase  of  70  per  cent.  Loew's  cir- 
cuit accounted  for  $425,000  thus  far  and  RKO 
theatres  collected  $205,000  this  year. 

Seymour  Morris  of  the  Schine  circuit  said 
that  collections  during  the  first  three  days  of 
the  1944  campaign  eclipsed  last  year's  totals  for 
that  period,  with  some  situations  showing  an 
increase  of  from  200  to  300  per  cent. 

In  Portland,  Ore.,  200  film  houses  made  col- 
lections, as  c^mgared  with  128  a  year  ago.  Reno 
and  Las  Vegas  theatres  doubled  their  1943  to- 
taifs.  A.  H.  Blank,  state  chairman  for  Iowa  and 
Nebraska,  reported  thai  1944  returns  amounted 
to  as  much  in  thg  first  three  or  four  days  as 
they  did  in  the  entire  seven  days  of  the  drive 
last  year. 

A  check  for  $240,000,  to  help  combat  infantile 
paralysis,  was  presented  President  Roosevelt 
last  week  by  Lady  Hardwicke,  wife  of  Sir  Cedric 
Hardwicke.  The  sum  representfe'd  most  of  the 
net  profits  in  the  U.  S.  of  "Forever  an4  a-Day," 
RKO  film  made  by  British  screen  stairs  in  Hol- 
lywood. 

Mayor  LaGuardia  of  New  York  instituted  a 
novel  method  of  collecting  funds  for  the  March 
of  Dimes  when  he  installed  a  box  outside  his 
door  in  City  Hall,  with  a  sign  reading :  "Admis- 
sion 10  cents."  The  Mayor  said  it.  was  to  be 
used  by  the  working  press  who  had  be_en  gettin^g 
free  entree  into  his  inner  sanctum  too  long. 

Bill  Robinson  wid 

Bill  Robinson,  66-year-old  Negro  dancer, 
whose  unit  played  the  RKO  Palace,  in  Colum- 
bus. Ohio,  last  week,  was  married  there  at 
midnight,  January  27,  to  Elaine  Paine,  23,  of 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  who  appeared  in  the  unit 
under  the  name  of  Sue  Dash.  It  was  Mr.  Rob- 
inson's second  mar-iage. 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 

Naval  Film  Society  of 
Canada  Issues  Repori* 

First  annual  report  of  the  Royal  Canadian 
Naval  Film  Society,  which  was  issued  in  Otta- 
wa recently,  shows  that  since  the  organization 
was  formed  in  November,  1942,  4,000  men 
every  week  are  seeing  motion  pictures  in  35 
and  16mm  at  sea,  20,000  men  on  shore  view  the 
films  in  35mm  theatres  and  3,000  weekly  see 
16mm  shows  ashore. 

The  society  operates  under  a  donation  of 
|6,000  from  the  Canadian  Government,  in  add- 
tion  to  a  loan  of  $10,000,  which  is  to  be  repaid 
in  two  years.  About  60  16mm  projectors  have 
been  supplied  to  ships  at  sea,  but  that  figure  is 
far  below  present  needs,  according  to  the  report. 
Revenue  is  obtained  for  the  showing  of  its  film 
program  by  a  charge  of  25  cents  per  officer 
and  five  cents  per  man  at  each  show. 

A  total  of  $17,933  was  spent  by  the  society 
during  the  year  for  film  rentals.  Distributors 
who  have  made  their  pictures  available  in  16mm 
to  the  naval  unit  are  United  Artists,  Warners, 
Columbia,  Paramount,  Twentieth  Century-Fox, 
MGM  and  Universal.  Lt.  D.  S.  Rubin, 
R.C.N.V.R.,  is  in  charge  of  the  society's  film 
program. 

Sues  on  Sale  of  Theatre 
In  New  Hampshire 

Sam  Merchant  has  filed  suit  against  Peter 
Gange,  former  owner  of  the  Somersworth  thea- 
tre, Somersworth,  N.  H.,  alleging  breach  of 
contract  in  the  sale  of  that  theatre.  The  suit 
is  set  for  Somersworth,  February  1,  and  is  ex- 
pected to  be  attended  by  many  prominent  film 
men  from  Boston  and  other  points. 

Mr.  Merchant  is  now  chairman  of  the  State 
Council  of  Defense  in  New  Hampshire.  It  is 
alleged  that  Mr.  Gange  was  presumed  to  have 
leased  the  theatre  to  Ralph  E.  Snider,  who  is 
described  as  having  been  ready  to  proceed  with 
the  deal.  The  building  was  formerly  the  Town 
Hall.  Mr.  Merchant  now  is  suing  for  compen- 
sation alleged  due  for  services  rendered  in  con- 
summating this  deal,  and  others  of  Boston  are 
presumably  parties  to  the  suit. 

The  theatre,  in  the  meantime,  has  been  sold 
to  other  parties.  Many  persons  prominent  in 
political  circles  of  the  New  Hampshire  town  are 
concerned  in  the  case. 

To  Exploit  "Snow  White" 
With  Radio  Tieup 

The  radio  exploitation  of  Walt  Disney's 
"Snow  White  and  the  Seven  Dwarfs,"  arranged 
by  RKO  Radio  and  Station  WLW  in  Cincinnati, 
will  feature  Clarence  Nash,  Pinto  Cplvig,  Dick 
Mitchell,  Don  Graham  and  Adriana  Caselotti, 
the  voice  of  "Snow  White."  The  arrangement, 
under  the  supervision  of  Terry  Turner,  head  of 
RKO  Radio's  exploitation  department,  will  con- 
sist of  five  weeks  of  radio  appearances  this 
month  in  connection  with  the  film's  opening  in 
SO  theatres  in  Kentucky,  OhiOj  Indiana  and  West 
Virginia  during  the  wejk  of  February  24  tb 
'  March  2.  That  week  has  been  proclaimed  "Snow 
White  Week"  by  the  governors  of  the  four 
states. 


"Keys  of  Kingdom"  In  Work 

"Keys  of  the  Kingdom,"  the  A.  J.  Cronin 
novel  which  has  been  in  preparation  for  more 
than  a  year  at  Twentieth  Century-Fox,  went 
into  production  Tuesday.  Gregory  Peck,  Sir 
Cedric  Hardwicke,  Roddy  McDowall,  Vincent 
Price  and  others  are  in  the  cast.  The  role  of 
Nora  has  not  yet  been  cast.  Nunnally  John- 
son did  the  screen  adaptation. 


Bogart  in  Hemingway  Film 

Following  his  return  from  overseas  later  this 
month,  Humphrey  Bogart  will  report  to  War- 
ners studio  to  work  on  the  screen  version  of 
"To  Have  and  to  Have  Not,"  Ernest  Heming- 
vvay's  book.  Howard  Hawks  will  produce  and 
direct. 


February    5,  1944 

Ease  Restriction 
On  Use  of  Metal 
In  Projection 

Washington  Bureau 

The  gradual  easing  of  the  materials  situation 
marked  recently  by  the  release  of  aluminum  for 
civilian  products  was  further  evidenced  last 
weekend  by  a  War  Production  Board  announce- 
ment that  iron  and  steel  restrictions  are  to  be 
relaxed  to  permit  the  use  of  metal  in  projectors 
and  sound  equipment. 

There  was  no  indication,  however,  that  the 
WPB  order  actuajly  would  grant  any  relief 
since  the  big  factor  in  the  production  situation 
today  is  manpower. 

Officials  of  the  theatre  service  section  pointed 
out  ■  that  the  equipment  manufacturers  are  tied 
up  with  military  orders  and  said  it  was  doubtful 
whether  they  would  be  in  a  position  to  produce 
any  more  projectors  or  sound  equipment  for 
theatres  in  the  immediate  future. 

They  also  explained  that  steel  was  only  one 
of  many  things  which  e'o  into  such  apparatus, 
and  pointed  out  that  difficulties  still  surround 
the  acquisition  of  motors  and  other  important 
elements.  Even  officials  of  the  iron  and  steel 
division,  which  issued  the  order,  admitted  that 
"how  soon  these  products  will  reach  ultimate 
consumers  is  problematical." 

Allen  G.  Smith,  chief  of  the  WPB  theatre 
service  section,  said  last  week  in  Washington 
that  no  pressing  problems  confronted  theatre 
equipment  dealers,  but  that  he  was  interested  in 
having  them  build  up  replacement  stocks  to  the 
greatest  extent  possible.  Mr.  Smith  conferred 
this  week  in  St.  Louis  with  the  Equipment 
Dealers  Protective  Association.  He  will  make 
a  similar  trip  to  New  York  shortly,  where  he 
will  .confer  with  theatre  supply  dealers. 

3,214  Warner  Employees 
Now  in  Armed  Forces 

There  are  now  3,214  former  Warner  Bros, 
employes  in  the  armed  forces ;  41  are  women, 
according  to  Ralph  Budd,  Warner  personnel  di- 
rector in  New  York.  Sixteen  have  been  killed 
in  action,  four  are  missing. 

Warners'  studio  has  sent  712  of  the  total  with 
the  Warner  Theatres'  Philadelphia  circuit  area, 
making  the  second  highest  contribution,  554. 
Newark  circuit  division  sent  281,  Warner  ex- 
changes 251,  and  the  home  office  219. 

The  number  in  service  from  the  Pittsburgh 
circuit  zone  is  213,  from  Chicago  207,  Washing- 
ton 190,  New  England  159,  Albany  99,  West 
Coast  theatres  62,  Metropolitan  New  York  the- 
atre office  50  and  Ace  Film  Laboratory  35.  Six- 
teen from  Canadian  offices  are  in  service  and 
eight  from  the  company's  New  York  warehouse. 


Jinx  Falkenburg  III 

Jinx  Falkenburg,  Columbia  Pictures  player, 
is  resting  in  St.  Luke's  Hospital,  New  York, 
where  she  was  rushed  Monday  for  an  emergen- 
cy appendectomy.  Miss  Falkenburg,  who  has 
been  on  a  War  Bond  tour  since  completing  her 
role  in  Columbia's  "Cover  Girl,"  was  visiting 
friends  in  New  York  when  stricken.  She  was 
to  leave  shortly  for  further  Bond  selling  ap- 
pearances in  Chicago. 


To  Handle  Concert  Films 

Crystal  Pictures,  Inc.,  New  York,  has  com- 
pleted plans  to  distribute  Concert  Artists* 
Films,  it  was  said  last  week.  Walther  Loewen- 
dahl,  chairman  of  Artists  Films,  Inc.,  Holly- 
wood, has  concluded  arraangements  with  Melvin 
Hirsh  of  Crystal  Pictures  to  handle  domstic 
and  foreign  distribution  of  their  products.  The 
first  picture,  "Adventure  in  Music,"  with  Jose 
Iturbi,  has  been  completed  and  will  be  shown 
at  the  Little  Carnegie  theatre.  New  York. 


February    5 ,    I  944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


43 


NEW  ACADEMY  FOUNDATION 
HAS  CULTURAL  DESIGNS 


Is  Not  Related  to  Present 
Academy,  Although  Its 
Aims  Are  Similar  in  Part 

by  WILLIAM  R.  WEAVER 

Hollywood  Editor 

Politics,  labor  and  commercial  films  are 
to  receive  no  attention  from  the  Academy 
Foundation,  newest  Hollywood  organization 
of  doers-in-behalf-of-the-motion-picture.  It 
was  born  last  week  in  articles  of  incorpora- 
tion filed  at  Sacramento,  according  to  a 
qualified  but  for  the  present  necessarily 
anonymous  member  of  the  group  sponsoring 
the  project. 

Next  week,  the  principals  listed  in  the  ini- 
tial announcement  of  the  undertaking  are  to 
meet  with  invited  leaders  of  activity  in  the 
industry's  several  branches  to  formulate 
plans  for  procedure  and  set  a  date  for  com- 
mencement of  operations  as  "a  non-profit 
educational  institution  concerned  with  the 
cultural  and  technological  advancement  of 
motion  pictures." 

Has  No  Connection  with 
Existing  Film  Academy 

Presence  of  the  word  "Academy"  in  the  title 
of  the  new  organization  does  not  indicate  tie 
or  kinship  with  the:  Academy  of  Motion  Pic- 
ture Arts  and  Sciei)ces,  a  point  underscored 
in  the  Academy  Foundation's  announcement  is- 
sued by  Attorney  Loyd  Wright.  Presumably 
the  organizations  are  not  related,  although  at 
least  that  portion  of  the  Foundation's  prospec- 
tus which  refers  to  "technological"  advance- 
ments does  appear  to  parallel,  duplicate  or,  at 
minimum,  resemble  an  Academy  function  cov- 
ered by  its  Research  Council. 

What  with  Hollywood  already  plentifully 
stocked  with  organizations  which  speak  more 
or  less  officially,  and  in  all  cases,  publicly,  for 
what's  nebulously  packaged  up  as  "the  indus- 
try," launching  of  the  Academy  Foundation 
was  the  signal  for  the  prompt  start  of  general 
conjecturing  as  to  what  might  turn  out  to  be  the 
complexion  of  the  newcomer  to  the  field  of  or- 
ganized expression.  By  the  weekend,  the  per- 
sonalities named  as  among  the  sponsors  had 
been  discussed  and  analyzed  in  cross-section  and 
under  the  microscope  by  table  groups  at  Mike 
Lymans'  earnest  thinkers  among  the  associa- 
tions, board  members  of  the  guilds,  and  the 
home-to-home  or  limch-to-lunch  intimates  who 
make  it  their  business  to  study  each  and  every 
development  on  what  might  be  called  the  public- 
relations  front  maintained  by  and  for  their 
business. 

Slight  Indication  as  to 
Direction  of  Purpose 

The  Wright  announcement  lists  as  "among  the 
sponsors"  Gary  Grant,  Donald  Crisp,  James 
Hilton,  Mary  McCall,  Jr.,  Howard  Hawks,  Y. 
Frank  Freeman,  E.  J.  Mannix  and  Walter 
^yanger.  It  would  be  stretching  the  formali- 
ties to  omit  Attorney  Wright  from  the  roster 
of  prime  movers  in  the  enterprise. 

Examinations  into  the  backgrounds  and  pres- 
ent estate  of  these  individuals  nets  nothing 
overwhelmingly  decisive  as  indicating  the  di- 
rections in  which  the  Academy  Foundation  may 
be  expected  to  make  headway  when  it  begins 
functioning. 

Mr.  Grant  and  Mr.  Crisp,  the  only  actors 


ACADEMY  FOUNDATION 
LISTS  EIGHT  GOALS 

Announcement  of  the  Academy 
Foundation  includes  the  following 
definition  of  "principal  goals": 

1.  To  promote  the  study  of  the 
importance  of  pictures  in  the  life  of 
the  public. 

2.  To  promote  a  better  under- 
standing between  nations  and  peoples 
through  motion  pictures. 

3.  To  create  a  centralized  Film  Re- 
search Library. 

4.  To  establish  graduate  scholar- 
ships for  research  study. 

5.  To  conduct  a  continuing  series 
of  research  studies  and  publish  re- 
ports of  contemporary  interest. 

6.  To  show  films  not  available  in 
regular  theatres,  such  as  war  and 
documentary  subjects. 

7.  To  sponsor  lectures,  forums  and 
concerts. 

8.  To  publish  reprints  and  mono- 
graphs on  the  motion  picture  art 
and  a  periodical  for  distribution  to 
schools,  libraries  and  the  public. 


named  as  sponsors,  are,  or  only  happen  to  be 
of  British  origin.  Both  have  been  prominently 
identified  with  enterprises  relating  commonly  to 
British  and  American  interests  in  the  prosecu- 
tion of  the  war,  Mr.  Grant  notably  so  in  the 
Bundles-for-Britain  period  and  for  donating 
whole  picture-salaries  to  war  causes ;  and  Mr. 
Crisp  especially,  but  quietly  so,  in  the  perform- 
ance of  certain  duties  of  United  Nations  im- 
portance not  generally  reported.  Their  identi- 
fication as  Academy  Fbundation  sponsors  sug- 
gests to  most  volunteer  interpreters  of  the  ras- 
ter that  nothing  remotely  resembling  isolation- 
ism is  on  the  Foundation's  list  of  objectives. 

James  Hilton,  well-known  author,  recently 
active  likewise  on  the  radio  in  programs  dedi- 
cated to  the  maintenance  of  understanding  and 
unity  in  the  face  of  war's  pressures,  is  analyzed 
as  a  proper  and  probable  joiner  of  the  Acade- 
my Foundation  or  any  similar  organization  set- 
ting up  shop  in  Hollywood  at  this  time. 

Mary  McCall,  Jr.,  eminent  in  her  field  as 
writer  of  scripts,  is  currently  president  of  the 
Screen  Writers  Guild,  an  organization  fervently 
and  generously  active  in  behalf  of  the  war  ef- 
fort since,  and  before,  Pearl  Harbor.  Her 
presence  in  the  list  of  sponsors  betokens  the 
support  and  sympathy  of  her  craft. 

Howard  Hawks,  the  only  director  named  as  a 
sponsor,  is  not  now  but  has  been  a  n>ember  of 
the  board  of  directors  of  the  Screen  Directors 
Guild,  enjoying  then  and  now  the  high  regard 
and  emulation,  professionally  and  otherwise,  of 
his  fellows  in  that  field  of  endeavor.  His  spon- 
sorship of  the  Academy  Foundation,  is  person- 
al, but  the  effect  of  it  is  viewed  as  craft-wide. 

Y.  Frank  Freeman,  whom  the  Wright  an- 
nouncement identifies  in  his  capacity  as  a  Para- 
mount executive,  is  president  of  the  Motion 
Picture  Producers  Association  and  member 
and/or  executive  of  just  about  all  the  orthodox 
organizations,  war-born  or  permanent,  in  Hol- 
lywood.   A  listing  of  his  connections  and  af- 


filiations is  a  story  in  itself,  and  would  include 
the  Society  for  the  Americas,  the  Hollywood 
Victory  Committee,  the  ACMPAS  and  all  the 
Bond-selling,  fund-raising,  civic,  communal  and 
patriotic  enterprises  in  the  area.  Whether  as 
head  of  Paramount  studio  or  as  all  the  per- 
sonalities he  is,  Mr.  Freeman  is  regarded  as  a 
potential  tower  of  strength  and  an  assurance  of 
right  intent  in  his  role  as  Academy  Foundation 
sponsor. 

Wanger  Is  Regarded  as 
Liberal  Representative 

E.  J.  Mannix,  member  of  the  MGM  execu- 
tive family  and  less  widely  but  very  importantly 
known  as  the  individual  on  the  employing  side 
of  the  table  is  a  Foundation  sponsor  no  viewer- 
with-alarm  probably  can  blow  down. 

Walter  Wanger,  long-time  president  of  the 
Academy,  former  president  of  the  Society  for 
the  Americas,  magazine  writer,  after-dinner 
speaker,  radio  round-tabler  and  consistent  cham- 
pion of  the  use  of  the  screen  to  purvey  ideas  in 
accompaniment  to  entertainment,  is  regarded  by 
analysts  of  the  Foundation-sponsors  list  &s 
one  of  liberalism's  representatives  on  the  panel. 

Attorney  Wright,  counsel  for  more  ranking 
Hollywood  personalities  than  perhaps  any  other 
man  of  law,  is  likewise  president  of  the  Society 
of  Independent  Motion  Picture  Producers.  His 
announcement  of  the  Foundation  does  not  list 
himself  as  a  sponsor,  but  it  may  be  regarded  as 
tantamount  to  that.  Interpreters  of  the  develop- 
ment include  the  SIMPP  automatically  among 
the  phases  of  the  industry  sympathetic  to  the 
enterprise. 

Stymied  by  this  list  of  sponsors,  so  far  as 
forecasting  the  character  of  the  Foundation's 
operations  are  concerned,  conversationalists 
probing  the  prospect  dip  back  into  memory  for 
background.  They  dredge  up  the  fact  that, 
Donald  Gledhill,  Academy  executive  secretary 
now  in  the  armed  service,  promulgated  a  similar 
project  as  far  back  as  1937,  although  arguing 
for  it  as  a  direct  extension  of  the  Academy. 

The  Academy  Foundation  project  "may  ac- 
quire property  by  gift  bequest,  purchase  or 
otherwise,"  and  the  provision  suggests  revival 
of  the  Academy-building  project,  this  time  with- 
out the  overhanging  Academy  identification 
save  in  point  of  name  similarity. 

Various  Channels  of 
Financing  Sought 

Asked  how  the  Foundation  planned  to  finance 
itself,  the  temporarily  anonymous  authority  re- 
plied it  would  display  receptiveness  to  the  Car- 
negie and  Rockefeller  foundations,  among 
others,  and  to  the  several  branches  of  the  in- 
dustry which  might  prove  disposed  to  appropri- 
rate  sorrbe  working  funds,  likewise  to  individuals 
interested  enough  to  donate  cash  or  negotiable 
security. 

The  expressed  objectives  of  the  Academy 
Foundation  are  listed  elsewhere  on  this  page. 

Unexpressed  objectives,  according  to  the  au- 
thority interviewed,  include  the  use  of  films  to 
reindoctrinate  servicemen  for  peace,  as  they 
were  indoctrinated  for  war,  the  expediting  of 
learning  in  medical  and  scientific  fields  as  well 
as  the  facilitating  of  sociological  advance. 

Queried  on  that  portion  of  the  plan  which  re- 
fers to  the  intention  to  "publish  reprints  and 
monographs  on  the  motion  picture  and  a  peri- 
odical for  distribution  to  schools,  libraries  and 
the  public  at  large,"  Motion  Pictuke  Herald's 
informant  said  the  thing  in  mind  was  a  periodi- 
cal modeled  along  the  general  lines  of  the  New 
York  Law  Journal  and  the  Journal  of  the 
American  Medical  Association,  prepared  by  and 
for  persons  primarily  interested  in  films. 


46 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    5,  1944 


FCC  and  WPB 
Clarify  Rule  for 
New  Equipment 

Washington  Bureau 

The  Federal  Communications  Commission 
and  the  War  Production  Board  last  week  clar- 
ified the  procedure  to  be  followed  in  the  han- 
dling of  applications  for  the  construction  of 
new  broadcasting  stations  or  changes  in  facili- 
ties. 

Under  the  new  policy,  the  commission  will 
give  the  applicant  a  conditional  grant,  where 
he  shows  a  definite  need  exists  for  additional 
facilities,  but  the  grant  will  be  subject  to  ap- 
proval by  WPB  of  construction  or  modification 
of  the  facilities,  without  which  no  construction 
permit  will  be  issued  by  the  FCC. 

It  was  emphasized  that  efiForts  now  are  be- 
ing directed  primarily  to  providing  existing 
stations  with  essential  replacement  equipment 
and  it  is  felt  that  before  equipment  is  made 
available  to  new  stations,  existing  broadcasters 
should  be  provided  with  such  apparatus  as  is 
needed  to  maintain  the  service  they  have  offered 
in  the  past. 

Accordingly,  it  was  said,  the  statement  of 
policy  was  not  to  be  construed  as  an  invitation 
for  the  filing  of  applications.  However,  any 
applicant  desiring  further  consideration  of  an 
application  for  new  or  changed  facilities  which 
has  been  dismissed  by  the  commission  under 
its  policy  of  halting  the  granting  of  wartime  ap- 
plications, may  submit  a  petition  to  the  FCC  for 
reinstatement  of  the  application  during  a  per- 
iod of  60  days  beginning  January  26_. 

"Present  indications,"  the  commission  said, 
"are  that  despite  the  tremendous  expansion  of 
radio  production  that  has  taken  place  in  the 
last  twb  years,  the  large  burden  on  the  indus- 
try of  meeting  military  needs  will  not_  permit 
production  of  equipment  for  new  stations  or 
tiie  expansion  of  existing  stations." 

  ^■ 

Air  Express  Tonnage  Up 
In  First  Nine  Months 

Final  figures  on  air  express,  widely  used  by 
the  film  industry,  for  the  first  nine  months  of 
1943  indicate  more  than  11,074  tons  handled 
by  the  nation's  commercial  airlines,  reports  the 
Air  Express  Division  of  Railway  Express 
Agency. 

Exceeding  the  weight  of  air  express  cargo 
during  1942  by  272  tons,  the  1943  nine-month 
figure  represents  an  increase  of  45.8  per  cent 
over  the  similar  1942  period. 

Shiprr>ents  for  the  nine-month  period  totaled 
1,115,145  tons,  compared  with  1,033,761,  an  in- 
crease of  7.8  per  cent.  Gross  revenue  exceeded 
$8,250,000,  up  to  29.3  per  cent  over  the  similar 
1942  period.  Average  charge  per  shipment  in- 
creased from  $6.18  to  $7.41,  while  average 
weight  rose  from  14.6  pounds  to  19.8  pounds  per 
shipment. 


Seek  to  End  Segregation 

The  elimination  of  segregation  in  Atlantic 
City,  N.  J.,  motion  picture  theatres  was  pro- 
posed to  the  City  Commission  by  a  delegation 
from  the  Northside  Union  League  and  theatre 
owners.  The  Northside  delegation,  representing 
the  Negro  population  of  the  resort,  was  asked  to 
submit  a  list  of  theatres  where  this  was  a  prac- 
tice, together  with  the  names  of  wounded  Negro 
soldiers  claimed  to  have  been  asked  to  change 
seats  in  theatres  because  of  the  segregation  rule. 


Dissolve  Theatre  Partnership 

Louis  Foxman  and  William  Fishman,  ope- 
rators of  the  Upsal  and  Vogue  theatres  in 
Philadelphia,  have  dissolved  their  partnership. 
Mr.  Foxman  took  over  the  operation  of  the 
Upsal,  while  Mr.  Fishman  took  over  the  Vogue. 


Walter  Reade  Purchases 
Mayfair  Theatre  Property 

Walter  Reade,  New  York  independent  ex- 
hibitor who,  with  his  associates,  has  for  the 
past  IS  years  owned  the  Mayfair  Theatre  Build- 
ing on  Broadway,  this  week  purchased  the 
property  upon  which  the  building  stands  for 
$1,180,000  in  cash  from  Thalia  W.  Malcom,  the 
Chase  National  Bank,  and  Stephen  C.  Millett, 
as  trustees  under  the  will  of  Robert  E.  West- 
cott. 

Since  Mr.  Reade  and  his  associates  pur- 
chased the  building,  Loew's,  Inc.,  has  operated 
the  Mayfair  theatre.  The  lease  expires  June 
1,  1945,  and  negotiations  are  now  pending  for 
them  to  continue  in  possession  of  the  theatre. 

Mr.  Reade's  oflSce  has  announced  that  if  ne- 
gotiations with  Loew's  fall  through,  the  build- 
ing will  be  demolished  and  a  modern  commer- 
cial structure  erected  in  its  place.  Before  Mr. 
Reade  took  over  the  building  the  theatre  housed 
burlesque  on  the  Columbia  wheel.  Mr.  Reade 
promptly  made  extreme  renovations.  As  ten- 
ants, Loew's  has  used  the  theatre  as  a  subse- 
quent run  house. 

Skouras  Theatres  Announce 
Plan  to  Collect  Paper 

Nick  John  Matsoukas,  director  of  the  Skou- 
ras Theatres'  war  effort  department,  this  week 
announced  a  plan  for  the  collection  of  waste  pa- 
per, wherein  the  energy  of  youth  is  to  be  util- 
ized. Any  youngster  who  deposits  waste  paper 
to  the  amount  of  50  pounds  with  the  A.W.V.S. 
will  receive  a  free  ticket  to  the  Skouras  Acade- 
my of  Music  theatre.  In  an  arrangement  with 
Mr.  -Charles  E.  Copeland,  chairman  of  the 
A.W.V.S.  Greater  New  York  Salvage  Com- 
mittee, any  youngster  bringing  any  amount  of 
waste  paper  to  the  A.W.V.S.  depot  will  receive 
a  receipt.  When  his  receipts  total  50  pounds 
he  will  be  given  his  ticket. 

In  the  lobby  of  the  theatre  Nat  Simon,  the 
manager,  has  installed  a  special  waste  paper  ex- 
hibit designed  to  dramatize  the  need  of  waste 
paper  as  an  essential  war  material.  He  has  also 
made  a  trailer  explaining  the  plan  to  the  people 
of  th^- neighborhood. 

After -two  weeks,  if  the  plan  proves  success- 
ful it  is  to  be  introduced  in  other  boroughs 
where  Skouras  theatres  are  located. 

Century  Projector  Moves 
To  Larger  Quarters 

_  The  Century  Projector  Corporation  is  mov- 
mg  its  factory  from  Brooklyn  to  larger  quar- 
ters in  Long  Island  City,  N.  Y.  The  factory 
move  has  been  necessitated  by  increased  demands 
for  improved  projection  equipment  for  U.  S. 
Government  agencies  and  post-war  distribution 
arrangements  iii  all  parts  of  the  world.  The 
corporation  had'  devoted"  practically  95  per  cent 
of  its  manufacturing  facilities  since  the  begin- 
ning of  the  war  to  the  production  of  machine 
gun  and  gunnery  trainers. 

Kill  One-Cent  Tax  Plan 
In  Los  Angeles 

The  Los  Angeles  City  Council  last  Wednes- 
day killed,  by  a  vote  of  11  to  one,  a  proposed 
one-cent  amusement  admission  tax  after  Holly- 
wood councilman  Lloyd  Davies  and  Chamber 
of  Commerce  president  John  B.  Kingsley 
charged  the  proposed  ordinance  was  discrimi- 
natory. Proceeds  from  the  tax  on  film  admis- 
sions were  intended  for  repairing  the  city's 
sewers. 

Three  Kansas  Theatres 
Bought  by  Dickinson 

Three  of  the  Warren  Weber  circuit  of  five 

theatres  in  Kansas  were  sold  recently  to  Dick- 
inson Theatres,  Inc.  The  houses  sold  include 
the  Pix  theatre.  St.  John;  Ritz  theatre,  Staf- 
ford; and  the  Plaza  theatre,  Burlington. 


Revenue  Bureau 
Studies  Policy 
On  Contracts 

Washington  Bureau 

A  definite  policy  for  application  of  the  sal- 
ary stabilization  program  to  percentage  con- 
tracts made  by  studios  with  actors,  directors, 
writers  and  others  is  under  consideration  by 
the  Internal  Revenue  Bureau,  but  there  is 
some  doubt  whether  any  yardstick  ever  will 
be  laid  down  for  the  guidance  of  the  industry. 

Representatives  of  the  studios  spent  several 
days  last  week  in  conferences  with  bureau  of- 
ficials on  a  "test  case"  presented  by  the  contract 
between  RKO  and  Fibber  McGee  and  Molly, 
calling  for  a  higher  guaranteed  minimum,  and 
percentage  of  gross  than  under  previous  con- 
tracts. 

They  left  Washington  with  a  "tentative" 
approval  of  the  contract,  but  without  any  defi- 
nite formula  to  apply  to  such  deals,  bureau 
officials  insisting  that  they  had  dealt  with  the 
proposition  as  an  "emergency"  one  which  could 
not  be  used  as  a  precedent. 

Stabilization  Director  Fred  M.  Vinson  and 
resigning  Commissioner  of  Internal  Revenue 
Robert  E.  Hannegan  last  month  announced  the 
policy  to  be  followed  with  respect  to  salesmen 
and  executives  working  under  commission  or 
percentage  agreements,  but  made  no  provision 
for  contracts  of  the  various  types  which  the 
studios  use  in  dealing  with  featured  talent,  writ- 
ers and  directors. 

Bureau  officials  refused  to  discuss  the  mat- 
ter, explaining  that  such  situations  were  "con- 
fidential," but  there  were  indications  that  the 
President's  "hold-the-line"  order  would  be  ap- 
plied more  strictly  in  this  field  than  in  the  case 
of  commission  salesmen  and  percentage  execu- 
tives, although  the  dollar  amount  involved  sim- 
ilarly would  be  ignored  and  emphasis  placed 
on  the  change  in  the  rate  of  percentage. 

Variety  Club  in  Albany 
Installs  New  Officers 

C.  J.  Latta  was  installed  for  his  second  term 
as  chief  barker  of  the  Albany  Variety  Qub  at 
a  joint  men's  and  women's  night  in  the  Ten 
Eyck  Hotel  there  last  week.  Louis  R.  Gold- 
ing,  WAC  chairman  in  the  Albany  territory 
and  a  former  chief  barker,  presided. 

Installed  with  Mr.  Latta  were  Herman 
Ripps,  first  assistant  chief  barker;  Charles  A. 
Smakwitz,  second  assistant  chief  barker;  Clay- 
ton G.  Eastman,  dough  guy;  Joe  Shure,  prop- 
erty man.  The  crew  included  Harry  Lamont, 
Harry  Alexander,  Arthur  Newmann,  Neil 
Hellman,  Nate  Winig  and  Louis  R.  Golding. 
Variety  Club  members  presented  Mr.  Latta  with 
two  silver  candelabra  sets. 

The  Club  will  hold  a  testimonial  dinner  Feb- 
ruary 7  for  Welden  A.  Waters,  who  resigned 
as  Paramount  salesman  here  last  week.  The 
affair  was  announced  by  Mr.  Latta,  who  said 
it  would  be  held  in  the  Ten  Eyck  Hotel- 


Set  Key  Dates  for  "Joe" 

MGM's  "A  Guy  Named  Joe,"  now  in  its  sev- 
enth week  at  the  Capitol,  New  York,  will  have 
its  first  key  city  openings  starting  February  17. 
They  include  Wilmington,,  New  Orleans,  Kan- 
sas City,  Atlanta,  Reading,  Harrisburg,  Rich- 
mond, Baltimore,  Houston,  Hartford,  Roches- 
ter, Norfolk,  Providence,  Dayton,  Akron, 
Worcester,  New  Haven,  St.  Louis  and  Indi- 
anapolis. February  18  it  will  open  in  Evans- 
ville  and  Norwich ;  February  19  in  Bridgeport, 
and  February  25  in  Waterbury. 


Manages  Missouri  Theatre 

John  F.  Ray  has  taken  over  the  management 
of  the  Sheridan  theatre  at  Sheridan,  Mo.,  for- 
merly managed  by  J.  C.  Evans. 


February    5,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


47 


WAR  BOND  FRONT  ADVANCES 
AS  TRADE  SPEEDS  DRIVE 


New  Sales  Records  Seen 
as  Leaders  Spearhead 
Field  Force  Contact 

As  the  industry  plunged  into  the  third 
quarter  of  the  Fourth  War  Loan  drive,  ex- 
hibitor reports  gave  indications  of  soaring 
to  new  sales  records,  premieres  scheduled 
came  close  to  doubling  the  total  for  the 
whole  of  the  period  of  the  previous  War 
Loan  drive  with  some  2,700  accounted  for, 
as  compared  to  a  previous  grand  total  of 
1,400,  and  12  industry  executives  streaked 
through  the  nation  by  air,  liaison  men  link- 
ing the  field  forces  with  New  York  head- 
quarters of  the  national  campaign  commit- 
tee. 

The  industry  leaders  were  appointed  last 
Friday  by  Charles  Skouras,  national  chair- 
man, at  a  noon  luncheon  at  the  Hotel  Plaza. 
On  Monday  the  first  of  the  dozen  left  New 
York  by  plane,  the  others  following  through 
the  week.  They  will  visit  all  exchange  cen- 
ters and  other  key  cities. 

2,412  "Free  Movie  Days" 
Held  or  Scheduled 

The  dozen  are  George  Schaefer,  who  will 
cover  the  New  England  states;  Leonard 
Goldenson,  '  New  York,  New  Jersey  and 
Pennsylvania;  Robert  Mochrie,  mid-eastern 
cdast  states;  Dan  Michalove  and  Oscar 
D'dob,  east-southern  states;  Abe  Montague, 
south  and  southwest;  Joseph  R.  Vogel,  four 
middle  western  states;  Leslie  Thompson, 
Ohio;'  John  Harris,  northwestern  states; 
Herman  Robbins,  four  western  mid-west 
states;  Harry  Kalmine,  western  states,  and 
Herman  Wobber,  west  coast. 

As  a  personal  contribution,  Mr.  Skouras 
announced  he  had  purchased  a  Bond  for 
every  one  of  the  600  theatres  in  National 
Theatres  circuit  for  Mrs.  Skouras,  for  his 
son,  Charles,  Jr.,  and  for  himself. 

Early  this  War  Activities  Commit- 

tee headquarters  aTrinounced  that  2,412  "Free 
Movie  Days"  either  had  been  held  or  were 
scheduled,  a  considerable  increase  over  the 
total  figure  for  the  Third  War  Loan. 

With  the  publicity  given  the  fact  that 
theatre  managers  automatically  qualify  as 
candidates  for  the  Honored  Hundred  con- 
test upon  selling  a  Bond  for  every  seat, 
entry  blanks  from  exhibitors  flooding  WAC 
headquarters  this  week  tapered  off,  but  more 
than  6,000,  some  1,000  over  the  last  figure 
reported,  are  expected  to  be  chalked  up  at 
the  weekend. 

42nd  Street  Theatres  Join 
In  Newspaper  Campaign 

U.  S.  Treasury  ofiicials  also  have  reported 
that  there  has  been  a  great  increase  in  the 
number  o'f  new  theatres  registering  as  Offi- 
cial issuing  agencies,  many  of  them  houses 
converting  from  "application  centers." 

In  New  York  the  theatres  of  42nd  Street, 
sometimes  referred  to  as  the  World's  Great- 
est Movie  Street,  organized  to  coo^jerate  in 
a  newspaper  advertising  campaign  in  con- 
nection with  the  drive.  James  Cagney 
"broke"  into  the  Bankers  Trust  Company 


"BOND  FOR  EVERYONE" 
EXHIBITOR'S  SLOGAN 

C.  L  Martin  is  an  independent 
exhibitor  in  Republic,  which  is  not 
affiliated  with  the  Hollywood  studio 
of  the  same  name  but  is  a  town  in 
Missouri  boasting  a  population  of 
841.  Mr.  Martin's  theatre  is  the  hub 
of  the  town's  Fourth  War  Loan  drive. 
It  seats  300  persons,  more  than  one- 
third  of  the  citizenry.  Last  weekend 
Mr.  Martin's  theatre,  the  Republic, 
led  all  theatres  in  the  Kansas  City 
area.  A  total  of  985  Bonds  ha.d  been 
sold,  better  than  three  times  the  num- 
ber of  seats  in  his  house,  and  more 
than  a  Bond  for  every  citizen  of 
Republic. 


in  Wall  Street,  and  without  the  aid  of  even 
a  prop  gun  left  with  several  thousand  dol- 
lars which  went  into  Bonds. 

James  B.  Zabin,  general  manager  of  the 
Cinema  Circuit  Corporation,  this  week  re- 
ported that  the  circuit's  Bond  sales  are  700 
per  cent  over  the  total  sales  made  during 
the  Third  War  Loan. 

Loew's  Theatres  reported  sales  of  41,000 
"E"  Bonds  through  January  23  in  New 
York  and  through  January  19  in  out-of- 
town  houses.  The  total  maturity  value 
stands  at  $3,198,561.  In  ratio  to  seating  cap- 
acity, Loew's  Columbia  in  Washington,  D. 
C,  led  the  list  with  100  per  cent.  On  Wed- 
nesday the  home  office  employees  of  Loew's, 
Metro-Goidwyn-Mayer  and  Station  WHN 
participated  in  a  Bond  rally,  with  Mr. 
Vogel  acting  as  chairman,  with  $15,000  in 
"E"  Bonds  up  for  prizes  to  employees,  and 
film,  and  war  veteran  personalities  on  hand. 

Field  Reports  Indicate 
Theatre  Cooperation 

The  American  Theatre  Wing's  registry 
containing  the  signatures  of  hundreds  of 
headliners  of  stage,  screen  and  radio,  was 
auctioned  during  the  intermission  -of  Sonja 
Henie's  Hollywood  Ice  Revue,  and  brought 
$104,000  in  Bonds. 

The  Smalley  Theatres  of  Upper  New 
York  State,  are  admitting  free  anyone  buy- 
ing a  Bond  during  a  full  week  in  half  of 
the  circuit's  houses,  the  other  theatres  run- 
in  Portland,  Ore.,  twin  premieres  at  the 
Broadway  and  Paramount  theatres  featured 
Paramount's  picture,  "Standing  Room 
Only,"  with  the  results  just  that.  On  the 
day  of  the  premieres,  Thursday  of  last  week, 
a  Portland  paper  ran  an  editorial  entitled 
"The  Fighting  Cinema,"  written  by  Mrs. 
J.  J.  Parker,  Oregon  circuit  owner.  Hers 
is  a  plea  to  the  public  for  cooperation,  and 
she  refers  to  the  screen  as  "the  greatest 
salesman  in  the  world  today." 

Robert  Beamer,  who  manages  the  Pulaski 
theatre  in  Pulaski,  Va.,  held  a  Bond  pre- 
miere, was  the  first  in  his  territory  to  sell 


a  Bond  for  every  seat,  and  was  awarded 
a  $50  Bond  by  MGM,  whose  picture  he 
showed,  with  Virginia's  Governor  Darden 
making  the  presentation. 

The  first  woman  manager  to  report  a  sale 
for  every  seat  was  Betty  Margarido  of  the 
Skouras  Forest  Hills  theatre,  Long  Island, 
New  York.  Up  to  January  25  she  had  sold 
1,359  Bonds. 

In  Philadelphia  13  Warner  theatres  held 
premieres  in  the  first  three  weeks  of  the 
drive,  featuring  a  $3,000,000  premiere  at  the 
Boyd  theatre  this  Friday.  At  a  17-minute 
rally  at  Warner's  Benn  theatre,  Robert 
Kessler,  manager,  raised  $2,000. 

Veteran,  Formerly  of  Circuit, 
Aids  $6,000,000  Sale 

At  Chicago  Jinx  Falkenburg  and  John 
Garfiel*,sold  $300,000  to  workers  at  the 
Carne^^  Steel  plant  a  half-hour  after  an 
explosion  killed  four  workmen  and  injured 
12.  They  sold  an  additional  $10,000  to  of-  . 
fice  workers.  At  the  Douglas  Aircraft  plajit-'" 
they  addressed  6,000  workers  and  ran  up 
sales  amounting  to  $280,000.  The  total  for 
the  Falkenburg-Garfield  team  in  10  davs  of 
selling  in  the  Chicago  area  was  reported  at 
$55,000,000. 

In  Quincy,  Mass.,  in  coiaperation  with  the 
merchants  of  the  city,  Frances  Dee  and  Alan 
Marshall,  Hollywood  Bondbardiers,  regis- 
tered a  sale  of  $200,000  in  Bonds. 

In  Dallas,  Texas,  Capt.  Lowell  May,  a 
hero  of  41  bombing  missions  and  a  former 
Interstate  Theatre  employee,  teamed  with 
Red  Skelton  of  Hollywood,  accounting  for 
the  sale  of  $6,000,000  in  Bonds. 

Charles  Ruggles  and  Elaine  Shepard 
made  appearances  at  rallies  in  Ohio.  In 
Zanesville  they  netted  $376,775,  and  in  near- 
by Coshocton,  a  small  town,  $10,500.  At 
a  rally  in  Springfield  attended  by  the  stars, 
$150,000  in  Bonds  were  sold.  In  Oklahoma 
City  Red  Skelton  appeared  at  rallies  and  in- 
dustrial plants,  sales  totaling  $6,865,000. 

Edgar  Kennedy,  making  an  appearance 
with  war  veterans,  aided  in  the  sale  of 
$425,000  in  Bonds  at  the  Fox  theatre  in 
Spokane,  Wash.,  and  $750,000  at  the  Spo- 
kane Army  Air  Base.  The  team  of  Ruggles 
and  Shepard  worked  Owensboro,  Ky.,  for 
a  $529,000  sale  of  "E"  Bonds. 

Louis  Nizer  Bond  Appeal 
Available  on  Records 

Louis  Nizer,  attorney,  speaker  and  author,  at 
the  request  of  Harry  Mandel,  WAC  public 
relations  chairman  for  the  New  York  Ebcchange 
Area,  has  made  two  Fourth  War  Loan  drive 
Bond  appeals  which  have  been  recorded  for 
radio  and  motion  picture  theatre  use.  The 
records  carry  an  introduction  by  George 
Putnam,  newscaster. 

For  theatre  purposes  to  be  played  during  War 
Bond  rallies,  the  Louis  Nizer  record  with  in- 
troduction runs  three  minutes  and  sells  for  $1.25 
each ;  the  radio  Nizer  appeal  runs  for  fifteen 
minutes  and  costs  $1.75.  Either  or  both  can 
be  had  through  Harry  Mandel,  c/o  RKO 
Theatres  Publicity  Department,  1270  Sixth 
Avenue,  New  York  20,  N.  Y.  It  is  a  nonprofit 
contribution  to  the  campaign. 


NINE  BEAUTIFUL  GIRLS  11 
WHERE  LOVE  WALKEI 


Very  suspecti 


very  alibi . . 


very  clue . . 


r 


HARDING  EVELYN 
ESLIE  BROOKS  LYN 
SHIRLEY  MILLS  MA 


i  SNOWBOUND  LODGE 

1AND  IN  HAND  WITH  MURDER! 


wiffi 


i  JINX  FALKENBUR 
lERRICKJEF 
\  MAE  JONE 


NITA  LOUISE 

HINA  FOOH 

n  DeWolf  anu  uunr 
N. Produced  bv «»* 


50  i 

Mexico  Is 
Powers  of 

New  Commission  Will 
Study  All  Scripts  Before 
Films  Go  Into  Production 

by  LUIS  BECERRA  CELIS 

m  Mexico  City 

Mexico  has  taken  another  step  toward 
improving  the  moral  and  general  tone  of 
her  pictures  with  the  organization  of.  what 
amounts  to  a  super  board  of  censors,  a 
commission  composed  of  three,  one  repre- 
senting the  Ministry  of  the  Interior,  the 
principal  Government  department  under 
which  the  commission  is  functioning,  the 
second  the  Ministry  of  Public  Education, 
and  the  third  the  Association  of  Mexican 
Motion  Picture  Producers. 

This  commission  has  been  established  in 
accordance  with  the  law  that  went  into  ef- 
fect recently  that  demands  greater  vigilance 
over  pictures  by  the  Government  and  the 
industry.  The  object  of  both  is  to  assure 
that  only  the  best  productions  shall  be 
screened  and  that  all  pictures  exhibited  in 
Mexico  shall  be  free  of  all  that  is,  offensive 
or  which  offends  morals,  harms  personal 
rights,  encourages  crime  or  disrupts  public 
order. 

Scripts  Must  Be  Approved 
By  New  Commission 

It  is  now  obligatory  for  all  picture  scripts 
to  be  presented  to  this  commission.  No 
script  can  be  made  into  a  picture  unless  it 
is  approved  by  the  commission.  The  object 
of  this  is  to  save  a  lot  of  time  and  raw  stock 
and  money  by  the  producers  in  having  to 
cut  or  perhaps  entirely  ban  their  produc- 
tions. As  one  Crovernment  official  put  it,  the 
commission  purpose  is  to  "make  proper  pic- 
tures before  they  are  born." 

The  Ministry  of  Public  Education  has 
asked  the  Senate  to  pass  a  law  that  makes 
obligatory  accuracy  in  the  treatment  of 
Mexican  history  and  Mexican  historic  fig- 
ures in  pictures  and  stage  representations. 
The  Ministry  told  the  Senate  that  far  too 
much  liberty  was  taken  on  the  screen  and 
the  stage  with  both  subjects  and  that  it  was 
time  to  have  a  law  to  stop  it.  The  Senate, 
now  in  recess,  is  expected  to  act  upon  this 
bill  during  its  emergency  session,  which  has 
been  called  for  mid-February. 

French  Protest  Impersonation 
In  New  Mexican  Picture 

The  first  complaint  by  foreigners  to  the  Mex- 
ican Government  against  a  picture  lodged  in 
a  long  while  is  that  of  some  members  of  the 
local  French  colony.  They  have  asked  the  Fed- 
eral Film  Censorship  and  Supervision  Depart- 
ment to  order  eliminated  from  the  Mexican 
picture,  "Mexicanos  al  Grito  de  Guera"  ("Mex- 
icans Answer  the  War  Cry"),  a  war  film,  the 
impersonation  of  Napoleon  III.  They  say  that 
this  impersonation  is  offensive  to  France  and 
the  French. 

Napoleon  III  supported  the  reign  as  Em- 
peror of  Mexico  of  Archduke  Maximilian  of 
Austria  which  ended  writh  Maximilian's  execu- 
tion with  two  Mexican  generals  at  Queretaro 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 

Extending 
Censor 

City  on  June  19,  1867,  by  order  of  the  Republi- 
can President  Benito  Juarez. 

Although  newspaper  cameramen  were  ad- 
mitted and  took  some  graphic  shots,  newsreel 
cameramen  were  banned  from  the  execution  by 
a  firing  squad  at  the  barracks  in  Pachuca,  near 
here,  of  two  young  brothers,  leaders  of  a  gang 
that  recently  raped,  robbed  and  murdered  four 
girls  on  a  highway.  The  execution  was  the 
first  under  the  wartime  emergency  protective 
law  that  was  enacted  last  October  31.  The 
bandits  were  executed  exactly  79  days  after 
their  crime,  a  new  record  in  Mexican  criminal 
annals.  Radio  was  limited  to  a  mere  announce- 
ment of  the  execution. 

Labor  Groups  at  Odds 
Over  Picture  Unions 

Films  Mundiales  and  Clas  Films,  two  of 
Mexico's  leading  producers,  are  dubbing  vari- 
ous copies  of  their  best  productions  in  Portu- 
gese for  distribution  in  Brazil,  the  only  Ameri- 
can country  whose  official  idiom  is  Portugese. 

Another  rift  has  occurred  in  picture  labor 
with  the  accusation  by  Salvador  Carrillo,  sec- 
retary general  of  the  Cinematographic  Industry 
Workers  Union  that  Professor  A.  Lopez  Silva, 
an  officer  of  the  Confederation  of  Workers  and 
Peasants  of  Mexico,  rival  of  the  powerful  Con- 
federation of  Mexican  labor,  to  which  the  pic- 
ture union  belongs,  is  seeking  to  knife  his  or- 
ganization by  inducing  film  industry  employers 
to  hire  its  members  to  supplant  the  other  union- 
ists. 

Mr.  Carrillo  charges  that  the  Professor's  al- 
leged maneuvers  are  illegal  because,  says  the 
union  chief,  the  educator's  outfit  cannot  boast  a 
single  member  who  is  employed  in  pictures  in 
any  way.  Mr.  Carrillo  further  charges  that 
Professor  Silva  has  offered  some  producers 
and  exhibitors  all  the  help  they  need  at  wages 
much  lower  than  those  the  unionists  are  receiv- 
ing. 

The  Labor  Ministry  has  been  asked  by  the 
union  to  straighten  out  this  tangle  by  suppress- 
ing the  Professor's  activities. 

Mexican  Government  Pledges 
No  New  Income  Taxes 

Two  statements  by  Finance  Minister  Eduardo 
Suarez  have  not  only  eased  a  worry  of  the  film 
business  but  have  calmed  business  throughout 
Mexico  as  well. 

One  statement  was  that  the  income  tax,  an 
all-Federal  one  in  Mexico,  will  not  be  increased 
this  year.  Runwrs  that  were  given  much  cred- 
ence in  financial  circles  here  to  the  effect  that 
this  tax  was  in  for  a  big  rise,  because  of  the 
1944  Federal  budget,  1,150  million  pesos  (about 
$210,000,000),  the  highest  in  Mexican  history, 
had  dampened  business  enthusiasm  and  wor- 
ried picture  men,  for  themselves  and  for  the 
effect  it  could  have  on  their  industry. 

The  other  statement  was  that  the  Government 
did  not  intend  to  freeze  bank  deposits.  Rumors 
about  this  had  prompted  runs  on  some  banks, 
mostly  by  small  savings  depositors,  and  had 
made  the  picture  and  general  business  most 
uneasy. 

V 

"Dona  Barbara,"  the  romantic  historic  drama 
based  upon  the  novel  of  that  name  by  Romulos 
Gallegos,  the  Venezuelan  author,  is  a  winner 
for  both  producer  and  exhibitors.  The  film  cost 
$65,000,  an  outlay  that  raised  many  an  eyebrow. 
But  at  its  exhibitions  at  only  two  theatres  here 
it  grossed  $96,250.  That  has  lifted  even  more 
eyebrows.   There  are  indications  that  this  pic- 


February    5,  1944 

ture  will  break  box  office  records  for  a  Mexi- 
can production. 

Two  leading  local  first  run  theatres,  the 
Metropolitano,  opened  recently,  and  the  Olim- 
pia,  which  has  been  operating  ^nce  1921,  have 
established  weekday  price  precedents.  Both  are 
currently  charging  85  cents,  the  most  ever 
charged  for  weekdays  by  theatres  here.  The 
former  is  exhibiting  Metro's  "Random  Harvest" 
and  the  latter  Universal's  "Phantom  of  the 
Opera."  An^  they  are  getting  the  business. 

The  Popular  Action,  important  citizens'  or- 
ganization, and  the  Central  Feminine  League, 
leading  women's  group,  have  protested  to  Mex- 
ico City  authorities  over  the  price  increase.  An 
investigation  has  been  started. 

V 

Teatro  Principal  here,  a  subsequent  run  the- 
atre since  1930  when  a  fire  ended  its  career  as 
North  America's  oldest  stage  theatre,  which 
began  in  1772,  is  featured  in  "Mexico  de  mis 
■Recuerdos"  ("As  I  Remember  Mexico")  which 
Juan  Bustillo  Oro  has  just  produced  here. 


Frank  Ross  Signs  Le  Roy 
To  Direct  "The  Robe" 

Frank  Ross  this  week  signed  Mervyn  Le  Roy 
to  direct  his  independent  production  of  the 
Lloyd  C.  Douglas  best-seller,  "The  Robe," 
which  is  to  be  produced  at  RKO  Studios  and 
released  by  RKO  Pictures.  Mr.  Ross  and  his 
writers  have  been  at  work  on  the  screen  treat- 
ment for  more  than  seven  nxinths.  The  signing 
of  Mr.  Le  Roy  indicates  the  screenplay  will  go 
before  the  cameras  this  coming  summer.  Plan.« 
are  to  shoot  a  number  of  the  scenes  in  Mexico, 
and  it  is  estimated  the  shooting  schedule  will 
run  to  about  six  months.  Mr.  Le  Roy  is  cur- 
rently directing  "Sixty  Second's  Over  Tokyo" 
for  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. 

Warners  to  Reopen  Earle  i 
In  Atlantic  City 

Warners'  Earle  theatre  in  Atlantic  City,  N.  J., 
dark  for  many  years,  will  be  reopened  with  the 
Easter  holiday.  The  Earle  was  once  the  cir- 
cuit's showplace  in  Atlantic  City  and  presented 
vaudeville.  While  the  policy  for  the  house  has 
not  been  established,  there  is  a  possibility  that 
stage  shows  will  be  presented  again.  The  house 
was  taken  over  by  the  Army  two  years  ago  and 
returned  to  the  circuit  last  year  after  being  used 
as  a  classroom  for  the  Army  Air  Forces  then 
stationed  in  Atlantic  City.  The  Rexy  theatre  in 
Philadelphia,  also  dark  for  a  number  of  y^rs, 
is  being  prepared  for  early  repneninj:  by  Philip 
Harrison,  who  originally  built  the  house. 

Cunningham  Succeeds 
Bell  in  OWI  Post 

Ulric  Bell  resigned  last  week  as  administrator 
of  the  Hollywood  office  of  the  overseas  divi- 
sion of  the  Office  of  War  Information,  effective 
February  1,  to  become  director  of  the  Holly- 
wood office  of  the  Free  World  Association,  a 
group  which  hopes  to  achieve  a  unity  of  world 
nations. 

William  S.  Cunningham,  assistant  to  Mr. 
Bell  for  the  past  year,  succeeds  him.  Mr.  Bell 
said  that  the  change  had  no  connection  with 
the  Elmer  Davis-Robert  Sherwood  OWI  per- 
sonnel differences  reported  from  Washington. 


Drop  Vaudeville  Shows 

Warners'  Allegheny  theatre,  key  neighbor- 
hood house  in  Philadelphia,  after  experimenting 
with  stage  shows  on  Thursday,  Fridays  and 
Saturdays  for  the  past  three  months,  dropped  the 
vaudeville  attractions  and  returned  to  a  straight 
picture  policy  for  the  full  week.  Vaudeville  was> 
returned  to  the  house  on  a  trial  basis  after  an 
absence  of  five  years,  and  if  the  policy  had 
clicked,  it  was  intended  to  feature  stage  shows 
on  a  full-week  basis.  The  downtown  Earle  thea- 
tre, plus  Sunday  showings  at  the  Stanley  thea- 
tre in  Camden,  N.  J.,  remain  the  only  circuit 
houses  in  the  territory  featuring  stage  shows. 


February    5,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


51 


PRC  Pictures 
Plans  National 

Distribution 

An  expansion  move  designed  to  nationalize 
distribution  of  product  of  PRC  Pictures,  Inc., 
was  reported  under  way  in  Hollywood  this 
week.  It  was  indicated  that  the  company  prob- 
ably would,  purchase  existing  franchises  similar 
to  the  recent  deals  whereby  PRC  acquired  the 
Omaha  and  Des  Moines  exchanges. 

Currently  in  development  also  is  a  plan  where- 
by a  new  unit  called  PRC,  Inc.,  would  become 
the  top  company  of  assorted  film  and  theatrical 
realty  interests  of  the  controlling  Young  finan- 
cial group,  with  Robert  Young  as  key  executive 
and  Kenneth  Young  as  board  chairman.  John 
Young  would  continue  as  president  of  Pathe 
Laboratories,  Inc..  it  was  said. 

According  to  reports.  Robert  Young  would 
be  the  president  of  PRC,  Inc.  ;  Leon  Fromkess^ 
studio  head,  would  become  president  of  the  va- 
rious PRC-controlled  film  companies.,  such  as 
PRC  Pictures,  which  includes  distribution,  PRC 
and  PRC  studios. 

Consideration  also  is  being  given  to  a  move 
whereby  PRC  would  enter  the  theatre  field. 
Purchases  would  be  channeled  through  PRC, 
In?.,  the  company  now  said  to  be  in  formation, 
and  would  be  geared  to  investment  purposes 
and  not  primarily  to  provide  the  film  company 
with  theatre  outlets. 

Last  year  PRC  purchased  the  Fine  Arts  stu- 
dio in  Hollywood,  where  production  activities 
have  been  concentrated. 

It  was  indicated  that  negotiations  had  been 
concluded  last  week  for  settlement  of  the  con- 
tract of  O.  Henry  Briggs,  president  of  PRC  , 
Pictures,  whose  term  runs  through  1944.  The 
company  announced  Wednesday  that  Mr.  Briggs 
had  resigned  his  post,  effective  immediately. 
He  joined  PRC  in  1940  after  reading  Pathe 
Film  Corporation  for  several  years,  and 
he  is  a  director  of  another  Yoiing  interest,  Alle- 
ghany Corpprati^pn. 

Mr.  Fromkess  was  expected  to  leave  Holly- 
wood for  New  York  Thursday,  where  the  com- 
pany's expansion  plans  were  to  be  discussed 
next  week. 

Exhibitor  Luncheon  Monday 
For  Charles  Skouras 

Max  A.  Cohen,  president  of  Cinema  Circuit, 
Newf  York,  has  been  named  chairman  of  the  re- 
ception committee  for  a  luncheon  honoring 
Charles  P.  Skouras,  national  chairman  of  the 
industry's  Fourth  War  Loan  drive,  which  will 
be  held  Monday  at  the  Waldorf-Astoria  Hotel. 

The  luncheon,  sponsored  by  New  York  and 
New  Jersey  exhibitors,  will  keynote  the  aim  of 
the  industry's  Fourth  War  Loan  campaign 
toward  the  fulfillment,  in  New  York  and  New 
Jersey,  of  "a  bond  for  every  seat,"  according  to 
Harry  Brandt,  luncheon  committee  chairman. 

The  members  of  the  luncheon  committee  are : 
Edward  Alperson,  chairman,  ticket  committee ; 
Don  Jacocks,  chairman,  Fourth  War  Loan  ac- 
tivity ;  David  Weinstock,  chairman,  arrange- 
ments committee ;  Hal  Home,  chairman,  public- 
ity committee;  and  Leo  Brecher,  Norman  El- 
sen,  Sam  Shain,  Fred  Schwartz,  Sam  Rinzler, 
William  White,  Sam  Strassbourg,  Julius  Jel- 
son,  Harry  Loewenstein,  Joseph  Seider,  Charles 
Moskowitz,  Joseph  Vogel,  Lee  Rosenblatt, 
Frank  Moscate,  Meyer  Schine  and  Dan  Michae- 
love,  general  committee. 


Nlcholls  Joins  Donahue  &  Coe 

Richard  Nicholls  has  been  appointed  director 
of  radio  for  Donahue  &  Coe,  Inc.,  advertising 
agency,  effective  March  1.  Mr.  Nicholls  for- 
merly 

was  director  of  the  radio  department  of 
Morse  International  for  eight  years  and  has 
been  associated  with  other  radio  enterprises. 


RCA  AD  BOOSTS 
ALL  TELEVISION 

"Now  .  .  .  seven  nights  a  week 
of  thrilling  television  programs"  are 
available  in  New  York,  Radio  Cor- 
poration  of  America  announced  this 
week  in  half-page  advertisements  in 
the  metropolitan  press.  The  institu- 
tional copy  was  unusual  in  its  recog- 
nition of  programs  broadcast  from 
competing  DuMont  and  CBS  stations, 
as  well  as  RCA's  affiliated  NBC  out- 
let, WNBT.  The  RCA  copy  also 
noted  successful  network  television 
in  cooperation  with  Phiico  in  Phila- 
delphia and  General  Electric  in 
Schenectady  and  pledged  high- 
quality,  low-cost  television  after  the 
war. 


Wa  rners  Set  Releases 
For  March  and  April 

Warner  Brothers'  release  schedule  for  March 
and  April  is  announced  as  follows:  March  11, 
"Passage  to  Marseilles,"  with  Humphrey  Bo- 
gart,  Claude  Rains,  Michele  Morgan  and  John 
Loder;  April  7,  "Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon," 
with  Ann  Sheridan,  Dennis  Morgan,  Jack  Car- 
son, Irene  Manning  and  Marie  Wilson;  April 
22,  "Uncertain  Glory,"  with  Errol  Flynn,  Paul 
Lukas,  Jean  Sullivan  and  Lucile  Watson.  On 
February  19,  Warners  will  release  "In  Our 
Time,"  with  Ida  Lupino  and  Paul  Henreid, 
and  on  March  4  the  reissue  of  "Frisco  Kid," 
starring  James  Cagney. 

Dailey  Named  Universal 
Studio  Publicity  Head 

J.  W.  Dailey  has  been  named  Universal  stu- 
dio publicity  director  by  John  Joseph,  national 
advertising  and  publicity  director.  This  fills 
the  position  held  by  the  late  Terry  De  Lapp. 

Mr.  Dailey  came  to  Hollywood  in  1941  after 
18  years  of  newspaper  work.  He  was  six  years 
with  the  St.  Louis  Globe  Democrat,  and  12 
years  with  the  New  Orleans  Item,  the  last 
seven  as  city  editor. 

Joseph  F.  Lawler,  formerly  of  the  drama  and 
film  desk  of  the  Chicago  Daily  News,  and  a 
member  of  Universal's  publicity  staff  for  the 
past  two  years,  moves  into  Mr.  Dailey's  form- 
er spot. 

Maurice  Bergman,  Universal  eastern  adver- 
tising and  publicity  manager,  announced  last 
week  that  Robert  Ungerfeld  had  been  put  in 
charge  of  special  promotion  for  Universal  pic- 
tures playing  at  the  Criterion  theatre.  New 
York. 

Universal  also  has  retained  Lou  Goldberg 
and  associates  to  handle  special  promotion  in 
connection  with  the  advertising  of  "Phantom 
Lady."  Mr.  Goldberg  is  making  a  tour  of 
key  cities  regarding  the  exploitation  of  the.  film 
in  radio  and  newspaper  promotions. 


Republic  Adds  Four  to 
Studio  Advisory  Board 

Herbert  J.  Yates  announced  in  Hollywood 
last  week  the  addition  of  four  to  the  Repub- 
lic studio's  new  advisory  production  commit- 
tee, now  composed  of  Al  Wilson,  who  suc- 
ceeded M.  J.  Seigel  as  studio  production  chief; 
Armand  Schaefer,  William  O'Sullivan,  How- 
ard Sheehan  and  Charles  Looten. 

The  four  additions  are:  Russell  Kimball, 
studio  art  chief;  Walter  Scharf,  music  head; 
Howard  Lydecker,  sound  chief;  Len  Boyd, 
studio  publicity  head,  and  Harry  Engel,  newly 
signed  "co-ordinator  of  radio." 


DuMont  Heads 
New  Television 
Broadcast  Unit 

Allen  B.  DuMont,  president  of  Allen  B.  Du- 
Mont Laboratories,  Inc.,  was  elected  president 
of  the  new  Television  Broadcasters  Association, 
Inc.,  by  the  organization  committee  in  New 
York  last  Saturday. 

Other  officers  elected  were:  Lewis  Allen 
Weiss,  Don  Lee  Network,  vice-president;  J.  R. 
Poppele,  WOR,  New  York,  assistant  secretary- 
treasurer. 

Directors  elected  for  three  years  include  O.  B. 
Hanson,  NBC;  E.  A.  Hayes,  Hughes  Tool 
Company,  and  Paul  Raibourn,  Paramount  Pic- 
tures. Elected  as  directors  for  two  years  were 
Worthington  Miner,  CBS;  Robert  L.  Gibson, 
General  Electric,  and  Mr.  Weiss;  and  for  one 
year,  F.  J.  Bingley,  Phiico;  Mr.  DuMont,  and 
E.  W.  Mason  of  Earle  C.  Anthony,  Inc. 

The  television  association  will  open  perma- 
nent offices  in  New  York  as  soon  as  an  executive 
secretary  and  quarters  can  be  obtained.  Annual 
membership  dues  of  $1,000  each  for  active  mem- 
bers and  $500  for  associates  will  support  the 
work  of  the  first  visual  broadcasting  trade  group. 

Committees  named  at  the  meeting  included 
membership,  consisting  of  all  directors^  with  Mr. 
Poppele  as  chairman;  publicity,  headed  by  Rob- 
ert L.  Gibson  of  GE ;  engineering,  F.  J.  Bingley, 
Phiico,  chairman;  programs,  W.  C.  Miner,  CBS, 
chairman;  post-war  planning,  Mr.  Raibourn, 
chairman.  A  manufacturers  committee  will  be 
formed  by  associate  members. 

Television  Broadcasters  voted  to  participate  in 
the  pro-am  of  the  Radio  Technical  Planning 
Board. 

Philco's  television  station  in  Philadelphia, 
WPTZ,  started  a  new  series  of  remote  broad- 
casts January  28  from  the  Philadelphia  area, 
picking  up  the  wrestling  matches  staged  each 
Friday  evening.  A  new  technique  in  remote 
pickups  is  being  used  to  pick  up  events  at  the 
Arena.  Designed  for  short  distances,  the  tech- 
nique combines  radio  and  telephone  lines.  A 
240-megacycle  ultra  high  frequency  relay  trans- 
mitter beams  the  pictures  by  radio  to  WPTZ's 
regiilar_  transmitter  at  suburban  Wyndmoor,  Pa. 
Sound  is  transmitted  by  regular  telephone  lines. 

For  remote  pickups  over  short  distances, 
Phiico  engineers  have  devised  still  another  tech- 
nique calling  for  specially  balanced  and  ampli- 
fied telephone  lines,  which  are  considerably 
cheaper  than  coaxial  cables. 

Television  and  the  development  of  new  visual 
and  frequency  modulation  operations  will  form 
an  important  topic  at  the  third  annual  series  of 
National  Broadcasting  Company  "war  clinics" 
for  affiliate  stations,  Niles  Trammell,  president, 
announced  this  week.  Mr.  Trammell,  O.  B. 
Hanson,  chief  engineer;  C.  L.  Menser,  vice- 
president  in  charge  of  programs,  and  Philip 
Merryman,  director  of  facilities,  will  speak. 

Meetings  are  scheduled  in  New  York  for  Feb- 
ruary 28  to  March  1 ;  Atlanta,  March  5  to  7 ; 
Dallas,  March  9  to  11 ;  Chicago.  March  13  to  IS, 
^nd  Los  Angales^  March  20  to  22. 


Moger  With  Warners 

Art  Moger,  formerly  promotion  editor  and 
contact  man  for  Hearst  newspapers  in  New 
England  for  seven,  years,  also  widely  known 
as  a  contest  promoter,  national  magazine  car- 
toonist, radio  script  writer,  newspaperman,  trade 
paper  correspondent  and  publicist,  has  joined 
the  Warner  Bros,  field  public  relations  staff  as 
New  England  representative.  The  appointment 
was  announced  by  Mort  Blumenstock,  in  charge 
of  advertising  and  publicity  in  the  east. 

New  Policy  for  Bronx  House 

A  new  policy  has  been  set  for  the  New  World 
theatre,  Bronx,  N.  Y.,  which  will  include  for- 
eign and  American  films. 


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IKRLES  STARRETT 

vERk  vneuE 

HM  O  WILLIAMS 


Ml  FR^^Et 


TEXRITTER 
MILLS  BROTHERS 

....  niMPFLIM  •  Directed  by  Ltn 

•••''"'"r  coLUMBU  PICTURE 


54 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    5,  1944 


Monogram  Film 
On  Delinquency 
Breaks  Records 

Public  interest  in  juvenile  delinquency,  spurred 
by  nationwide  discussions  by  civic  leaders,  edu- 
cators and  social  workers,  has  resulted,  in  ex- 
ceptional business  for  Monogram's  "Where  Are 
Your  Children?"  the  first  feature-length  screen 
treatment  of  the  subject,  according  to  the  com- 
pany. 

Monogram  officials  have  earmarked  a  final 
budget  of  $250,000  for  this  picture  and  another 
special  production,  "Women  in  Bondage,"  to  be 
spent  on  trade  journal,  radio,  fan  magazine  and 
theatre  cooperative  advertising.  The  company  is 
putting  as  much  as  $10,000  into  individual  cam- 
paigns with  some  of  the  theatres  now  playing 
the  two  subjects,  it  was  announced. 

An  impressive  record  of  box  office  grosses 
and  holdovers  for  "Where  Are  Your  Children" 
has  been  reported  to  date.  The  picture  broke  all 
records  for  a  single  day  at  the  Trans-Lux  in 
Boston  and  was  held  for  three  weeks.  It  was 
held  a  fourth  week  at  the  Garrick,  first  run  in 
Chicago.  For  the  first  time,  a  Monogram  pic- 
ture was  booked  recently  as  the  top  half  of  a 
double  bill  in  three  Fox  West  Coast  theatres 
in  downtown  Los  Angeles,  the  Egyptian,  Fox 
and  Ritz,  which  will  play  it  day-and-date. 

At  the  Warners  theatre  in  Memphis,  "Where 
Are  Your  Children"  played  to  the  biggest  re- 
ceipts ever  attained  by  an  outside  picture  and 
a  sirnilar  record,  established  a  few  weeks  previ- 
ously, was  set  by  "Women  in  Bondage."  The 
two  films  ran  neck-and-neck  at  the  State  in 
Tampa.  The  juvenile  delinquency  subject  broke 
the  house  record  at  the  Paramount  in  Denver, 
while  "Womeji  in  Bondage"  establishd  a  new 
mark  at  the  Lyric  in  Charleston,  W.  Va. 

In  New  York,  at  the  Globe,  "Where  Are 
Your  Children"  is  now  in  its  fourth  week. 
Opening  day  records  were  set  by  the  film  at  the 
Century  in  Rochester  and  the  Great  States' 
Rialto  in  Peoria,  111. 

Set  Sales  Meetings  for 
New  York  and  Chicago 

At  Monogram  headquarters  in  New  York, 
meanwhile,  an  intensive  sales  drive,  designated 
by  the  slogan,  "50  Years  of  Service,"  is  getting 
under  way,  celebrating  President  W.  Ray  John- 
ston's 30  years  in  the  industry  and  the  20  years 
of  Samuel  Broidy,  general  sales  manager.  The 
campaign  will  be  inaugurated  this  Saturday 
and  Sunday  at  a  meeting  in  Chicago,  with  Mr. 
Broidy  presiding. 

Those  expected  to  attend  include :  Irving  Man- 
del  and  B.  Eisenberg,  Chicago ;  William  Onie, 
Cincinnati ;  Nate  Schultz,  Cleveland ;  Leo  Blank, 
Des  Moines ;  W.  Barker,  Omaha ;  William 
Hurlbut  and  M.  H.  Starr,  Detroit ;  C.  Harthill, 
Indianapolis ;  Leland  Allen,  Kansas  City ;  C.  W. 
Trampe,  Milwaukee ;  Tom  Burke,  Minneapolis  ; 
George  B.  West  and  Barney  Rosenthal,  St. 
Louis. 

February  12  and  13  are  the  dates  set  for  the 
second  series  of  meetings  to  be  held  in  New 
York,  with  Mr.  Johnston  presiding.  Among 
those  present  will  be  Harry  H.  Thomas,  eastern 
sales  manager;  H.  E.  Morey,  supervisor  of  ex- 
changes ;  Lloyd  L.  Lind,  assistant  to  Mr. 
Broidy;  J.  J.  Felder  of  the  New  York  ex- 
change;  Robert  Adler  and  H.  L.  Berkson,  Buf- 
falo ;  Herman  Rifkin  and  Ben  Abrams,  Boston ; 
Ben  Welansky  and  Mark  Goldman,  Pittsburgh^ 
Sam  Rosen,  Philadelphia,  and  Harry  Brown, 
Washington. 


Named  Assistant  Booker 

Jerry  Goldberg,  former  secretary  of  the 
booking  department  of  the  Warner  Theatre  cir- 
cuit, Philadelphia,  has  been  promoted  to  assist- 
ant in  the  out-of-town  booking  department. 


Bell  System  To  Reduce 
Interstate  'Phone  Rates 

The  Federal  Communications  Commission  an- 
nounced last  week  that  following  negotiations 
with  the  American  Telephone  and  Telegraph 
Company,  the  Bell  System  agreed  to  an  annual 
reduction  in  interstate  rates,  effective  March  1, 
of  approximately  $8,000,000.  Most  of  the  re- 
duction, over  $5,600,000,  will  derive  from  an 
agreement  to  place  the  night  rate  in  effect  be- 
ginning at  6  P.  M.,  instead  of  7  P.  M.,  on  inter- 
state calls,  as  presently  provided  in  Bell  System 
tariffs. 

At  the  same  time  an  estimated  $2,350,000  sav- 
ing will  accrue  to  users  of  teletypewriter  mes- 
sage service  with  a  reduction,  effective  March  1, 
in  the  overtime  rates  on  interstate  TWX  mes- 
sages. 

The  FCC  also  said  that  the  reductions  were 
in  addition  to  an  annual  $1,700,000  saving  to  the 
public  expected  to  result  from  the  elimination  of 
so-called  surcharges  collected  by  hotels,  apart- 
ments and  clubs  on  interstate  and  foreign  long 
distance  calls. 

Cincinnati  Plans  Scrap 
Paper  Matinees  Feb.  22 

Under  the  sponsorship  of  the  Greater  Cin- 
cinnati Independent  Exhibitors  League,  the 
Indignant  Exhibitors  forum  and  the  operators 
union,  approximately  70  Cincinnati  suburban 
theatres  will  join  in  scrap  paper  matinees,  Feb- 
ruary 22,  it  was  announced  by  Harold  W. 
Nicholas,  chairman  of  the  Hamilton  County 
Waste  Salvage  Committee. 

Because  of  the  Washington  Birthday  holi- 
day, more  than  20,000  public  and  parochial 
school  children  are  expected  to  participate.  War 
Bonds  will  be  awarded  as  prizes  for  the  largest 
collection  turned  in  at  the  theatres. 

This,  it  is  said,  is  one  of  the  first  scrap  paper 
matinees  of  its  kind  and  size  in  the  country, 
and  War  Production  Board  salvage  officials  in 
Washington  are  expected  to  send  an  observer 
to  Cincinnati  with  a  view  of  instituting  similar 
drives  in  other  key  situations,  it  was  said  by 
Mr.  Nicholas. 

■   • 

RKO  Sets  Tradeshows 
On  Five  New  Films 

Trade  screenings  of  five  RKO  Radio  pictures, 
to  be  held  February  14,  15,  16  and  17,  were 
announced  last  week  by  Ned  E.  Depinet,  pres- 
ident. The  pictures  are :  "Tender  Comrade" 
and  "Escape  to  Danger,"  February  14;  "Action 
in  Arabia"  and  "Passport  to  Adventure,"  Feb- 
ruary 15  ;  "The  Curse  of  the  Cat  People,"  Feb- 
ruary 16  and  17. 

WAC  Recruiting  Booth  in 
New  York  Sets  Record 

The  Times  Square  Women's  Army  Corps 
recruiting  booth.  New  York,  which  houses  the 
Lpew,-MGM  information  service,  this  week 
was  said  to  have  set  a  nationwide  record  by 
drawing  more  WAC  recruits  than  any  other 
booth  in  the  country.  More  than  2,000  candi- 
dates have  been  inducted  into  the  WAC  since 
the  booth  opened  last  January. 

  i 

Lee  Monogram  Manager  ; 

F.  J.  Lee,  formerly  manager  of  the  Mono- 
gram exchange,  Denver,  Col.,  ,  where  Lon  *  T. 
Fidler  is  franchise  holder,  is  now  manager  of 
the  Monogram  office  in  Kansas  City,  where  the 
franchise  holders  are  John  Franconi,  Edward 
Blumenthal  and  Mr.  Fidler.  Mr.  Lee  succeeds 
Leland  Allen,  who  took  over  western  Missouri 
as  salesman  for  RKO  Radio  out  of  Kansas 
City. 


B.  &  K.  Promotes  Lustgarten 

Harry  Lustgarten,  district  manager  of  Bala- 
ban  &  Katz,  Chicago,  has  been  appointed  film 
buyer  and  head  of  the  booking  department.  Mr. 
Lustgarten  succeeds  Joseph  Kaufman. 


Australia  Using 
More  Radio  to 
Exploit  Films 

by  LIN  ENDEAN 

in  Sydney 

Radio,  formerly  used  by  the  film  industry  in 
Australia  only  occasionally,  is  receiving  a  great 
deal  of  attention  as  a  medium  of  picture  ex- 
ploitation, both  for  particular  pictures,  and  for 
screen  entertainment  in  general. 

Although  business  generally  continues  in 
Australia  at  levels  comparable  to  the  highest 
in  all  but  the  boom  periods,  it  is  spotty  in 
a  number  of  situations.  Distributors  also  are 
getting  behind  the  wide  promotional  effort 
designed  to  stimulate  attendance. 

Every  field,  of  entertainment  is  enjoying  ex- 
cellent business,  including  .legitimate  stage 
attractions,  vaudeville,  horse  racing,  rodeos  and 
circuses. 

V 

Australian  production  has  moved  to  the  front 
again  with  "Rats  of  Tobruk,"  produced  by 
Charles  Chauvel,  who  produced  the  highly  suc- 
cessful "40,000  Horsemen." 

V 

Motion  picture  interests  have  won  tremendous 
national  and  governmental  goodwill  following 
the  cooperation  extended  in  War  Loan  drives. 

Australia  has  just  put  over  the  record  Loan 
in  its  history  £125,000,000  ($625,000,000  at  par), 
and  in  his  thanks  to  Norman  B.  Rydge,  chair- 
man of  the  Motion  Picture  Theatres  Council, 
J.  B.  Chifley,  Commonwealth  Treasurer,  said: 
"I  am  certain  that  the  extensive  publicity  which 
the  loan  received  through  theatres  had  an  im- 
portant influence  on  the  successful  result." 

New  York's  Mayor  Views 
Preview  of  CDVO  Film 

Mayor  F.  H.  La  Guardia  of  New  York, 
along  with  Newbold  Morris,  president  of  the 
City  Council,  Henry  J.  Taylor,  war  correspon- 
dent, and  Quincy  Howe,  radio  news  analyst, 
spoke  Thursday  night  at  the  preview  of  the 
film,  "This  Is  Worth  Fighting  For,"  a  recruit- 
ing short  of  the  Civilian  Defense  Volunteer 
Office,  at  the  Museum  of  Modern  Art  in  New 
York. 

The  cast  of  the  picture  also  was  present  and 
was  introduced  by  Harold  Doane,  who  pro- 
duced and  directed  the  film.  The  balance  of  the 
entertainment  on  the  program  was  headed  by 
Frederick  Jagel,  tenor  of  the  Metropolitan  Op- 
era Company,  and  Lou  Martin's  orchestra. 

Grover  A.  Whalen,  chairman-director  of  the 
CDVO,  presided.  The  title  of  the  Mayor's  ad- 
dress was  "The  Home  Front."  ^ 

Warners  Supply  16mm  Films 
To  50  Canadian  Camps 

Warner  Brothers  is  now  furnishing  16mm 
films  to  50  military  depots  and  camps  in  the 
St.  John,  N.  B.,  area,  in  addition  to  the  regu- 
lar 3Smm  prints,  the  company's  St.  John 
branch  has  announced.  The  16mm  film  is  han- 
dled by  service  clubs  while  the  standard  size  is 
shown  mostly  in  special  theatres. 


Father  Masterson  a  Chaplain 

The  Reverend  Patrick  J.  Masterson,  assist- 
ant executive  secretary  of  the  National  Legion 
of  Decency,  has  been  commissioned  a  chaplain 
in  the  United  States  Navy.  Father  Masterson, 
now  on  leave  from  his  post  with  the  National 
Legion  of  Decency,  has  been  assistant  execu- 
tive secretary  for  the  last  two  years  and  is 
now  attending  the  Chaplains'  School  at  the  Col- 
lege of  William  and  Mary,  Williamsburg,  Va. 


February    5,     I  944 

"Inside Affairs 
Discussed  By 
lATSE  Heads 

The  International  Alliance  of  Theatrical 
Stage  Employees'  semi-annual  executive  board 
meeting  in  Cincinnati  closed  Saturday.  All 
sessions  were  barred  to  the  press.  Spokesmen 
asserted  "inside"  union  affairs  were  discussed. 

Among  these,  observers  believe,  are  the  af- 
fairs of  the  Chicago  local,  whose  officers  al- 
legedly are  involved  in  the  Bioff-Browne  con- 
spiracy case. 

The  board  did  not  decide  on  a  city  for  the 
annual  June  convention.  It  is  understood  there 
are  many  transportation  problems  to  be  con- 
sidered, and  that  a  choice  will  be  made  later, 
after  further  investigation. 

Attending  the  convention  in  addition  to  Rich- 
ard Walsh,  president,  were:  William  P.  Raoul, 
assistant  international  president ;  Louis  Krouse, 
general  secretary  and  treasurer.  New  York, 
and  vice-presidents  Harland  Holmden,  Cleve- 
land; William  F.  Covert,  Toronto;  Floyd  M. 
Billingsley,  San  Francisco ;  James  J.  Brennan, 
Ramsey,  N.  J. ;  Roger  W.  Kennedy,  Detroit ; 
Felix  D.  Snow,  Kansas  City,  and  Carl  G. 
Cooper.  Others  attending  were:  George  W. 
Brayfield,  O.  M.  Jacobson,  Frank  Strickling, 
E.  J.  Miller,  Steve  B.  Newman,  John  B.  Fitz- 
gerald, Albert  S.  Johnston,  Lawrence  Katz,  E. 
J.  Brock,  T.  \'.  Greene,  J.  D.  Basson,  W.  G. 
Scanlon,  Frank  Olsen,  T.  J.  Shea,  John  H. 
Spearing,  and  R.  E.  Morris,  union  representa- 
tives. 


New  York  Stagehands  Confer 
After  Walkout  Threat 

Threat  of  a  strike  which  would  close  New 
York's  legitimate  theatres  abated  Tuesday, 
when  representatives  of  the  stagehands'  Theatri- 
cal Protective  Union,  Local  1,  conferred  with 
representatives  of  the  League  of  New  York 
Theatres. 

The  stagehands  demanded  a  IS  per  cent  pay 
increase,  paid  vacations  and  an  increase  in 
handlers  in  a  one-set  show  from  four  to  seven. 

The  contract  expired  Tuesday  at  midnight. 
It  had  provided  that  stagehands  receive  from 
$58  to  $87.50  weekly. 

Atlanta  Is  Placed  on 
48-Hour  Week  Basis 

The  city  of  Atlanta  has  been  classed  as  a 
critical  labor  area,  which  has  resulted  in  an 
order  for  business  houses,  theatres  and  film  ex- 
changes to  go  on  a  48-hour  work-week,  accord- 
ing to  Sloan  Springfield,  of  the  War  Manpower 
Commission. 

In  instances  where  the  48-hour  week  would 
burden  employers,  an  appeal  can  be  made.  The 
new  ruling  went  into  effect  February  1  and  be- 
comes compulsory  March  \. 

In  Chicago  the  WMC  has  granted  an  ex- 
emption to  the  Paramount  exchange  from  the 
48-hour  week  and  has  allowed  the  exchange  to 
remain  on  a  40-hour  week,  Neil  Agnew,  Para- 
mount general  sales  manager,  said  last  week. 
The  exemption  was  granted  upon  an  appeal 
made  on  behalf  of  Paramount  by  C.  J.  Scollard, 
executive  assistant  to  Mr.  Agnew. 


Urges  State  Fair  Tract 

Purchase  of  a  tract  of  800  to  1,000  acres  of 
land  for  a  new  State  Fair  Grounds  is  being 
advocated  by  John  T.  Brown,  State  Director 
of  Agriculture  of  Ohio,  at  Columbus,  to  permit 
expansion  of  the  present  facilities.  The  pres- 
ent grounds  are  occupied  by  the  Army  Air 
Service  Command.  The  Ohio  State  Fair,  with 
an  average  yearly  attendance  of  about  100,000, 
will  be  resumed  after  the  war,  Mr.  Brown  said. 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 

Zevin  Granted  Leave  by 
Court  to  Visit  Chicago 

Federal  Judge  Henry  W.  Goddard  in  New 
York  last  week  granted  Isadore  Zevin,  former 
secretary  to  George  E.  Browne,  convicted  for- 
mer president  of  the  International  Alliance  of 
Theatrical  Stage  Employees,  permission  to 
leave  the  jurisdiction  of  the  New  York  court 
to  visit  Chicago.  Zevin  is  scheduled  for  sen- 
tencing on  March  22.  He  pleaded  guilty  to 
a  nine-count  perjury  indictment,  after  a  special 
Federal  Grand  Jury  found  that  he  had  lied 
when  questioned  about  the  $1,500,000  special 
slush  fund  collected  from  members  of  the 
lATSE. 

Zevin  told  the  Grand  Jury  this  fund  was  used 
to  pay  salaries  and  expenses  of  union  officials, 
but  according  to  Boris  Kostelanetz,  Special 
Assistant  U.  S.  Attorney  General,  the  fund 
controlled  by  Browne  and  Willie  Bioff,  his 
personal  representative,  both  convicted  in  1941 
for  extorting  $1,000,000  from  the  motion  pic- 
ture industry,  was  being  split  among  the  two 
former  labor  leaders  and  "the  Boys  from  Chi- 
cago," six  Chicago  gangsters,  who  were  re- 
cently convicted  of  a  similar  extortion  from  the 
industry.  In  connection  with  the  misuse  of  the 
fund,  the  Chicago  mobsters  also  were  indicted 
on  a  mail  fraud  charge  and  are  expected  to  be 
tried  shortly. 

Zevin,  as  well  as  the  two  former  labor  lead- 
ers, are  expected  to  be  Government  witnesses 
at  the  forthcoming  trial. 

Sannuelson  Is  Reelected 
By  Pennsylvania  Allied 

Sidney  E.  Samuelson  was  reelected  general 
manager  of  Eastern  Pennsylvania  Allied  at  the 
sixth  annual  meeting  held  at  Allied  headquarters 
in  Philadelphia  January  25.  It  had  been  decided 
by  the  board  of  governors  to  change  the  title  of 
"business  manager,"  which  Mr.  Samuelson  has 
held,  to  "general  manager." 

Other  officers  elected  by  the  board  included: 
treasurer  Ben  Fertel ;  secretary,  E.  B.  Gregory ; 
national  director,  Harry  Chertcoff,  with  Morris 
Wax  and  George  L.  Ickes  as  alternates;  chair- 
man of  the  finance  committee,  Joseph  Conway. 
Elected  to  the  board  of  j^overnors  for  three-year 
terms  were  David  Barrist,  Harry  Fried,  Nor- 
man Lewis  and  Henry  Sork.  Alternates  to  the 
board  to  serve  one-year  terms  yere  George  L. 
Ickes,  Melvin  Koff  and  Thomas  Lazarick. 

Highlight  of  the  meeting,  presided  over  by 
Jack  Greenberg,  with  those  in  attendance  rep- 
resenting approximately  125  theatres  in  the  ter- 
ritory, was  a  talk  by  Abram  F.  Myers,  general 
counsel  of  Allied  States  Association.  He  spoke 
generally  on  amusement  taxes  and  the  consent 
decree,  and  the  general  discussion  on  the  floor 
concerned  product.  Also  addressing  the  session 
was  Irving  Dollinger,  of  New  Jersey  Allied, 
under  whose  direction  the  Eastern  regional,  con- 
ference of  Allied  directors  was  held  fanuary  26 
at  the  Warwick  Hotel. 

The  Allied  "Caravan,"  particularly  in  respect 
to  practices  and  improved  communications,  was 
the  sole  topic  of  discussion  at  the  regional  meet- 
ing of  Allied  directors.  Amonp  others  present 
were  Mr.  Greenberg,  Ralph  Wilkins,  Harry  H. 
Lowenstein,  Lee  Newbury,  George  L.  Ickes,  Mr. 
Myers,  Si  Myers,  Lou  Gold,  Mr.  Samuelson, 
Joseph  Conway  and  E.  T.  Kelly. 

Union  Backs  Fourth  Term 

The  executive  council  of  the  Conference  of 
Studio  Unions,  in  session  in  Hollywood  last 
week,  wired  William  Green,  president  of  the 
American  Federation  of  Labor  urging  him  to 
take  the  initiative  on  behalf  of  labor  in  a  move- 
ment to  draft  President  Roosevelt  for  a  fourth 
term.  The  council  also  approved  a  national 
labor  draft  as  recommended  by  the  President. 


Loew's  Books    Hara  Kin 

Loew's  has  booked  the  Film  Classics  film, 
"Hara  Kiri,"  with  Charles  Boyer  and  Merle 
Oberon.  It  opens  at  Loew's  Valencia  theatre, 
Baltimore,  shortly. 


55 

AFM  Contracts 
Expire;  Petrillo 
Sued  by  Theatre 

At  midnight  last  Tuesday  the  contracts  of  the 
four  major  radio  networks  with  James  C.  Pe- 
trillo's  American  Federation  of  Musicians  end- 
ed without  new  contracts  being  signed,  and 
with  the  AFM  locals  in  New  York,  Chicago  and 
Los  Angeles  taking  over  negotiations  in  a  re- 
versal of  Petrillo's  original  order  forbidding  the 
locals  to  negotiate  for  new  contracts  with  the 
radio  chains.  Agreements  subsequently  reached 
will  be  retroactive  to  February  1. 

The  AFM  president  announced  late  last  week 
following  a  conference  with  radio  executives 
that  come  what  might,  the  expiration  of  the 
contracts  would  not  lead  to  a  strike.  He  stated 
that  the  networks  had  agreed  that  contracts 
might  be  opened  at  any  time  for  discussion,  and 
that  whatever  the  agreements  he  would  preserve 
the  right  to  call  a  strike.  He  also  denied  he  had 
ever  held  a  strike  threat  over  the  networks  in 
connection  with  his  fjght  against  the  use  of  re- 
cordings. 

Just  prior  to  the  expiration  of  the  contracts, 
Mr.  Petrillo,  as  president  of  the  AFM,  became 
the  center  of  another  type  of  action.  On  Fri- 
day last  David  Nederlander,  a  stockholder  of 
the  Lafayette  Productions  of  Detroit,  entered  a 
$500,000  damage  suit  against  Mr.  Petrillo,  and 
John  S.  Ferentz,  president  of  Detroit's  Local  5, 
and  Jacob  Rosenberg,  head  of  Local  802,  Great- 
er New  York  musicians'  union,  and  United 
Booking  Offices,  Inc.  The  defendants  are  being 
charged  with  coercion,  threatening  strikes  if 
the  operators  of  the  Lafayette  theatre  refused 
to  employ  tnion  musicians.  The  complaint 
further  charpes  that  the  operators  of  the  thea- 
tres were  compelled  to  sign  contracts  with  Lo- 
cal 5  calling  for  six  musicians,  although  no 
music  was  required  in  presenting  its  produc- 
tions. 

New  York  Operators  May 
Receive  $5  Raise 

The  War  Labor  Board  is  now  considering  a 
plan  under  which  the  members  of  Local  306, 
New  York  projectionists  union,  working  in 
Loew  and  RKO  theatres  may  recover  part  of 
a  previous  wage  slash  to  meet  the  increased 
cost  of  living.  The  restoration  would  give  each 
man  approximately  $5  per  week  additional.  In- 
dustry circles  working  with  and  in  labor  are  in- 
terested because  the  plan  if  put  into  operation 
would  provide  a  precedent  for  similar  action. 

Pine  and  Thomas  Plan 
Key  City  Showings 

Paramount  producers  William  Pine  and  Wil- 
liam Thomas,  who  will  leave  Hollywood  for 
New  York  February  18,  plan  to  take  with  them 
a  print  of  "The  Navy  Way"  for  a  series  of  spe- 
cial trade  showings  at  key  points  across  the 
countrjr.  The  producers  expect  to  set  up  exhib- 
itor screenings  for  the  film  in  approximately  10 
cities,  San  Francisco,  Salt  Lake  City,  Denver 
and  Chicago  en  route,  and  Philadelphia,  Wash- 
ington, St.  Louis  and  Kansas  City  on  return  trip. 


Cohen  Leaves  MGM 

Charles  Cohen  resigned  from  the  Metro- 
Goldwyn-Mayer  home  office  publicity  depart- 
ment, effective  February  4.  He  has  been  the 
company's  trade  press  contact  for  several  years, 
and  previously  wrote  feature  stories,  radio 
dramatizations  and  fictionizations.  He  also  has 
assisted  in  the  preparation  of  the  Lion's  Roar. 


Burned  House  To  Reopen 

The  Dixie  theatre,  Brookville,  Fla.,  which 
was  destroyed  by  fire  last  June,  has  been  re- 
built and  will  reopen  this  month. 


58  MOTION    PICTURE    HERALD  February    5,  1944 

THE  HOLLYWOOD  SCENE 


Benny  Fields  Brings  Minstrelsy  to  Screen 


from  HOLLYWOOD  BURIAU 


Last  week,  to  a  Hollywood  that's  adapted 
for  its  purposes  just  about  all  the  essences  of 
all  the  entertainment  forms,  came  minstrelsy, 
eldest  and  most  elemental  of  the  oral  arts, 
brought  hither  and  personified  by  its  most 
consistently  successful  disciple,  Benny 
Fields. 

Minstrel  Fields  is,  in  himself,  a  story  to 
make  into  a  picture,  but  it  is  not  the  story 
of  Fields  which  PRC  Pictures  is  taking  the 
rubber  bands  off  its  bankroll  to  produce,  un- 
der the  title  of  "Minstrel  Man"  with  Fields 
in  the  principal  role.  The  story  of  Fields, 
with  which  is  entwined  the  glamorous  story 
of  Blossom  Seeley,  is  at  this  time  on  the  list 
of  things-to-come.  The  PRC  story  is  about 
a  minstrel  man  and  his  daughter,  a  saga  of 
show  business  in  the  days  of  end  men  and  in- 
terlocutors, and  it  is  enough  to  know  about 
it  now  that  it  reaches  a  point  at  which  Field 
sings,  as  nobody  else  ever  did  or  can,  the 
all-time  hit-parade  "Melancholy  Baby"  that 
has  never  been  his  theme  song  but  forever 
the  song  that  identifies  him,  as  might  a  sig- 
nature, to  his  uncounted  followers. 

Fields  To  Sing  Four  Other 
Songs  in  the  Picture 

Fields  will  sing  four  other  songs  in  the 
picture,  new  songs  written  to  his  measure  by 
the  gifted  Harry  Revell,  but  it'll  be  the  oldie 
that  proves  for  sure  whether  minstrelsy  has 
a  rightful  and  long  vacant  place  in  the 
scheme  of  things  filmic,  and  you've  got  to 
give  box  car  odds  around  here  to  get  a  bet 
Siat  it  won't. 

Fields  is  no  "find"  discovered  by  a  talent 
scout  hiding  his  light  under  a  bushel  of  al- 
falfa in  Nebraska  or  piping  gasoline  into  au- 
tomobile tanks  at  some  town  in  Texas.  He 
was  a  "find,"  and  no  finders  of  consequence 
to  do  the  finding,  back  in  th"e  days  when  Al 
Tierney's  cafe  on  Twenty-second  street  was 
the  smart  place  to  go  in  Chicago,  partly  be- 
cause a  tall,  slightly  melancholy  table  singer 
at  Tierney's  had  a  particularly  special  way 
of  cooing  a  song,  somehow  quite  privately 
and  irrespective  of  the  clatter  of  dishes  and 
miscellaneous  hubbub,  to  a  couple  or  quar- 
tette of  good  listeners  at  a  ringside  table. 

Began  Vaudeville  Career 
With  Blossom  Seeley 

He  was  still  a  find  when  he  joined  Blos- 
som Seeley's  Orpheum  vaudeville  act,  to 
sing  with  other  then  nameless  young  men 
offstage  accompaniment  to  Miss  Sensation's 
soloings,  and  it  was  there  that  Miss  Seeley 
found  him  at  the  beginning  of  a  career  that 
reached  a  peak  in  1933,  when  New  York 
(next  day  the  world)  discovered  and  en- 
throned him  as  the  uncontested  champion  in 
his  field  of  vocal  artistry. 

A  couple  of  million  songs  later,  Fields 
is  in  Hollywood  to  see  whether  minstrelsy 
as  he  knows  it — the  undersinging  of  a  nar- 
rative song,  the  weighing  of  syllable  against 
sound,  the  blending  of  manner  with  mean- 
ing— has  a  place  on  the  screen. 

Get  a  Fields'  recording  of  "Melancholy 
Baby"  and  listen  to  the  answer. 


Veer  to  "A"  Side 


After  dawdling  along  with  "B"  product 
dominating  the  shooting  list  for  several 
weeks,  production  swung  to  the  "A"  side 
in  a  week  that  witnessed  the  completion 
of  six  pictures  and  the  start  of  five,  to  bring 
the  shooting  total  to  38. 

Columbia  started  "Mr.  Winkle  Goes  to 
War",  with  Jack  Moss  producing,  Alfred 
E.  Green  directing.  Edward  G.  Robinson 
Is  starred  with  Robert  Haymes  and  Ted 
Donaldson  in  supporting  roles. 

MGM's  Lana  Turner  returned  to  the 
camera  to  star  In  "Marriage  Is  a  Private 
Affair",  a  Pandro  Berman  production, 
directed  by  Robert  Z.  Leonard,  with  John 
Hodlak  and  James  Craig  in  other  principal 
roles. 

RKO  Radio  turned  Its  cameras  on  the 
second  Frank  Sinatra  picture,  without  wait- 
ing to  decide  upon  a  title  for  it.  Robert 
Fellows  is  producing  it,  with  Tim  Whelan 
directing.  George  Murphy,  Alan  Carney, 
Wally   Brown   and   Gloria    DeHaven  are 

COMPLETED  mgm 

Columbia  Marriage  Is  a  Private 
Address  Unknown  ^^^^^ 

Monogram  PRC  Pictures 

Murder  in  the  Fun  Dixie  Showboat 

LawMer  '^^^''> 

PRC  Pictures  Frank  Sinatra  No.  2 

Thundering  20th  Century- Fox 

Gunslingers  g^^^^  Low 
Republic  Down 

Jamboree  u  .  i 

■'  Universal 

Universal 

Merry  Monahans  Moon  Over  Las 
Warners              _  ^^^as 

Mask  of  Diinitrios  SHOOTING 

STARTED  Columbia 

Columbia  Girl  in  the  Case 
Mr.  Winkle  Goes  to  Pilebuck 

War  At  Night  We  Dream 


among  the  many  who  will  compose  the 
support. 

Twentieth  Century -Fox  started  "Sweet 
and  Low  Down",  a  musical  built  around 
Benny  Goodman  and  his  band,  produced 
by  William  LeBaron  and  directed  by 
Archie  Mayo.  Jack  Oakie,  Lynn  Bar!  and 
Linda  Darnell  are  principals. 

Unlversal's  "Moon  Over  Las  Vegas"  Is 
another  musical,  produced  and  directed  by 
Jean  Yarbrough,  presenting  Anne  Gwynne, 
David  Bruce,  Vera  Vague,  Alan  Dinehart, 
Milburn  Stone,  Vivian  Austin  and  many 
others. 

PRC's  "Dixie  Showboat"  also  belongs  in 
the  musical  column.  Frances  Langford  is 
starred,  with  Guy  Kibbee,  Eddie  Quillan, 
Fifi  D'Orsay,  Charles  Butterworth,  Frank 
Jenks  and  others  in  support.  Jack  Schwarz 
Is  producing,  with  Christy  Cabanne  direct- 
ing. 

The  production  picture  shaped  up,  at 
the  weekend,  as  follows: 


MGM 

National  Velvet 
Meet  Me  in  St.  Louis 
Seventh  Cross 
Dragon  Seed 

Paramount 
Bring  on  the  Girls 
One  Body  Too  Many 
And  Now  Tomorrow 
Road  to  Utopia 
Incendiary  Blonde 
Hitler  Gang 

RKO  Radio 

One  Exciting  Night 
Marine  Raiders 

Republic 

Man  from  Frisco 
Cowboy  and  the 

Senorita 
20th  Century- Fox 

Wilson 

I  Married  a  Soldier 


UA 

Hairy  Ape  (Levey) 
Song  of  the  Open 

Road  (Rogers) 
Sensations  of  1944 

(Stone) 
Since  You  Went 
Away 
(Vanguard) 

Universal 

Invisible  Man's 

Revenge 
Scarlet  Claw 
Christmas  Holiday 

Warners 

Cinderella  Jones 
Make  Your  Own  Bed 
Mr.  Skeffington 
My  Reputation 
Horn  Blows  at 

Midnight 
Janie 


Ernst  Lubitsch,  recuperated  after  severe 
illness,  has  returned  to  Twentieth  Century- 
Fox  to  implement  his  three-picture  contract 
by  producing  "Dragonwyck,"  the  Anya  Se- 
ton  novel.  He  will  direct  as  well  as  produce 
the  third  picture  in  the  deal,  as  yet  un- 
selected. 

"Son  of  Lassie,"  designed  as  a  sequel  to 
"Lassie  Come  Home,"  and  reckoned  as  a 
reasonably  sure  fire  project,  has  been  as- 
signed by  MGM  to  Sam  Marx  for  produc- 
tion, with  March  start  of  shooting  planned. 

Don  H.  Brown,  who  recently  severed  his 
connection  with  Universal,  has  been  named 
a  producer  by  Republic. 

Irving    Briskin,    who'll    produce  "The 


Memory  Lingers  On"  for  Columbia,  is 
rounding  up  melodic  unforgettables  from  all 
available  sources  in  an  endeavor  to  make  the 
film  something  of  an  all-time  peak  in 
nostalgic  musicals. 

RKO  Radio  has  acquired  an  interest  in 
MGM's  contract  with  Laraine  Day  which 
entitles  the  studio  to  her  services  for  two 
pictures  a  year  for  the  next  four  years. 

Craig  Reynolds,  who  went  from  Holly- 
wood sound  stages  to  Guadalcanal  with  the 
Marines  and  was  wounded,  has  been  dis- 
charged from  the  Marines  and  signed  to  an 
acting  contract  by  RKO,  who  has  also 
signed  Niven  Busch,  magazine  writer  and 
author,  to  a  producer-writer  contract. 


February    5,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


59 


// 


WHAT  THE 

PICTURE  DID  FOR  ME 


W 


Columbia 


DOUGHBOYS  IN  IRELAND:  Kenny  Baker,  Jeff 
Donnell — Don't  overlook  this  little  picture.  Better 
than  lots  of  the  bigg-er  companies'  "B"  pictures. 
Played  Wednesday,  Thursday,  Jan.  5,  6.— F.  R.  Crist, 
Crist  Theatre,  Loveland,  Ohio.  Small  town  and  rural 
patronage. 

IS  EVERYBODY  HAPPY?  Ted  Lewis,  Nan  Wynn 
—A  very  gixxl  picture.  If  it  had  another  big  star  in  it, 
it  would  rank  with  the  best  of  them.  Played  Wednes- 
day, Thursday,  Jan.  19,  20.— F.  R.  Crist,  Crist  Thea- 
tre, Loveland,  Ohio.    Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

MY  KINGDOM  FOR  A  COOK:  Charles  Coburn. 
Isobel  Elsom — A  nice  weekday  picture  that  will  do 
average  business.  Was  satisfied  with  it,  but  nothing 
to  write  home  about.  Charles  Coburn  played  a  nice 
part  and  seemed  to  satisfy  the  patrons.  Played 
Tuesday,  Dec.  14.— J.  D.  Leger,  Royal  Theatre,  Le- 
compte,  La.    Rural  and  small  town  patronage. 

SOMETHING  TO  SHOUT  ABOUT:  Don  Ameche, 
Janet  Blair— We  liked  Janet  Blair  in  "My  Sister 
Eileen."  After  seeing  her  in  this  picture,  our  feelinRs 
have  changed  to  love.  She  does  everything  required 
oi  her  so  nicely  and  so  well.  They  way  we  feel 
right  now,  there's  one  gal  whose  future  will  be  a  must 
on  our  movie  schedules.  Played  Saturday,  Dec.  11. — 
J.  A.  Reynolds,  Director  of  Education  and  Recreation, 
New  Jersey  State  Prison,  Trenton,  N.  J. 

THERE'S    SOMETHING   ABOUT   A  SOLXHER: 

Evelyn  Keyes,  Tom  Neal — This  may  be  all  right  for  a 
civilian  theatre,  but  it  is  taboo  as  far  as  the  service 
is  concerned.  Some  didn't  come  because  the  title 
shows  it  as  a  possible  war  picture,  and  those  that  did 
come  were  certainly  far  from  satisfied.  Played  Mon- 
day, Jan.  17.— F.  A.  Falle,  F-S,  Theatre  No.  1,  B  &  G 
School,  Jarvis,  Ont.,  Canada. 

WHAT  A  WOMAN:  Rosalind  Russell,  Brian 
Aherne — This  one  was  tops;  packed  full  of  laughs.  One 
hour  and  30  minutes  of  real  entertainment.  Had  to 
turn  some  away.  Place  packed  for  both  shows.  Played 
Wednesday,  Jan.  19.— F.  A.  Falle,  F-S,  Theatre  No. 
1,  B  &  G  School,  Jarvis,  Ont.,  Canada. 


Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 

DANCING  MASTERS:  Laurel  and  Hardy— Just  an- 
other Laurel  and  Hardy  picture,  no  better  and  no 
worse.  Played  Sunday,  Monday,  Jan.  9,  10. — Small 
town  and  rural  patronage. 

DR.  GILLESPIE'S  NEW  ASSISTANT:  Lionel 
Barrymore,  Van  Johnson — This  picture  surprised  me; 
it  was  a  very  pleasing  comedy-drama  and  drew  enough 
to  pay  expenses. — Ralph  Raspa,  State  Theatre,  Rives- 
ville,  W.  Va. 

GIRL  CRAZY:  Mickey  Rooney,  Judy  Garland- 
Mickey  Rooney  has  the  same  old  bag  of  tricks  and  the 
public  is  getting  bored  with  them. — A.  E.  Hancock. 
Columbia  Theatre,  Columbia  City,  Ind. 

GIRL  CRAZY.  Mickey  Rooney,  Judy  Garland- 
Thank  MGM  for  this  one;  it  is  really  a  honey.  Mickey 
Rooney  certainly  at  his  best.  Played  to  a  full  hooise. 
Played  Friday,  Jan.  7.— F.  A.  Falle,  F-S,  Theatre 
No.  1,  B  &  G  School,  Jarvis,  Ont.,  Canada. 

GIRL  CRAZY:  Mickey  Rooney,  Judy  Garland- 
Typical  good  MGM  musical  production  which  pleased 
all  who  came.  Business  good;  played  under  excellent 
weather  conditions.  Played  Sunday,  Monday,  Jan.  9, 
10. — Thomas  di  Lorenzo,  New  Paltz  Theatre,  New 
Paltz,  N.  Y.    Small  town  patronage. 

GIRL  CRAZY:  Mickey  Rooney,  Judy  Garland— A 
typical  Rooney  picture.  Rooney  is  always  good  here. 
Plenty  of  laughs.  Played  Sunday,  Monday,  Jan.  1,  2. — 
F.  R.  Crist,  Crist  Theatre,  Loveland,  Ohio.  Small 
town  and  rural  patronage. 

HUMAN  COMEDY,  THE:  Frank  Morgan,  Mickey 
Rooney — A  swell  picture  that  was  well  liked  by  every- 
one. However,  Mickey  Rooney  seems  to  be  losing  out 
in  my  town.  Played  this  to  average  Sunday-Monday 
business.  Played  Dec.  26,  27.— J.  D.  Leger,  Royal 
Theatre,  Lecompte,  La.  Rural  and  small  town  patron- 
age. 

HUMAN  COMEDY,  THE:  Mickey  Rooney.  Frank 
Morgan — Flayed  this  picture  late.  Cold  weather  and 
lots  of  sickness,  but  it  stiU  did  better  than  normal 
business.     Here  is  the  best  picture  by  far  that  any 


.  .  .  th*  original  exiiibitors'  reports  department,  estoblltlied  October  14,  1914. 
in  it  tiieatremen  serve  one  anotlier  witli  information  about  tiie  box-office  per* 
formance  of  product  —  providing  a  service  of  tiie  exiiibiter  for  tiie  exhibitor. 
ADDRESS  REPORTS:  What  the  Picture  Did  for  »4e,  IMotion  Picture  Heraid. 
Rocliefeller  Center,  New  Yorli  20,  N.  Y. 


company  has  made.  Played  Saturday-Monday,  Jan, 
15-17.— J.  L.  Cooper,  Oklahoma  Theatre,  Antlers,  Okla. 
Small  town  patronage. 

I  DOOD  IT:  Red  Skelton,  Eleanor  Powell— There's 
a  little  bit  of  everything  in  this  musical  comedy. 
It  pleased  a  very  good  attendance.  There  were  no 
complaints.  Doubled  with  "Paris  After  Dark."  Played 
Friday,  Saturday,  Jan.  14,  15.— Thomas  di  Lorenzo, 
New  Paltz  Theatre,  New  Paltz,  N.  Y.  Small  town 
patronage. 

JACKASS  MAIL:  Wallace  Beery,  Marjorie  Main- 
Business  was  fair.  Flayed  Friday,  Saturday,  Jan.  21, 
22. — E.  M.  Freiburger,  Paramount  Theatre,  Dewey, 
Okla.     Small  town  patronage. 

MAN  FROM  DOWN  UNDER,  THE:  Charles 
Laughton,  Binnie  Barnes — Action  and  comedy  abound 
in  this  Laughton  picture,  which  is  dififerent  from 
his  usual  role.  Pleased  very  well  here  and  did  good 
business.  Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Jan.  21,  22. — 
Thomas  di  Lorenzo,  New  P'altz  Theatre,  New  Paltz, 
N.  Y.     Small  town  patronage. 

PILOT  NO.  5;  Franchot  Tone,  Marsha  Hunt— Here 
is  a  picture  that  will  hold  anyone  in  his  seat.  Very 
interesting  story  enjoyed  by  all  who  came.  Played 
Tuesday,  Jan.  11. — J.  L.  Cooper,  Oklahoma  Theatre. 
Antlers,  Okla.    Small  town  patronage. 

PILOT  NO.  S:  Franchot  Tone,  Marsha  Hunt— Only 
an  80-minute  picture  and  it  was  80  minutes  of  baloney. 
A  very  small  crowd  and  no  one  seemed  satisfied. 
Pictures  of  war  and  self-sacrifice  are  hard  to  take 
especially  during  war.  Played  Sunday,  Jan.  9. — F.  A. 
Falle,  F-S,  Theatre  No.  1,  B  &  G  School,  Jarvis, 
Ont.,  Canada. 

RANDOM  HARVEST:  Greer  Garson,  Ronald  Col- 
man — This  is  one  picture  that  deserves  all  the  credit 
,  it  was  given.  Played  this  to  a  very  good  business. 
Was  enjoyed  by  everyone  who  came.  Would  recom- 
mend this  for  any  location.  Played  Sunday,  Monday, 
Dec.  12,  13. — J.  D.  Leger,  Royal  Theatre,  Lecompte, 
La.    Rural  and  small  town  patronage. 

SWING  SHIFT  MAISIE:  Ann  Sothern,  James 
Craig— Due  to  delay  in  express,  I  played  this  only  one 
day,  but  the  few  who  saw  it  enjoyed  it  lots.  As  my 
patrons  say,  "Good  old  Maisie."— Cleo  Manry,  Buena 
Vista  Theatre,  Buena  Vista,  Ga.  Small  town  and  ru- 
ral patronage. 

WHISTLING  IN  BROOKLYN:  Red  Skelton,  Ann 
Rutherford — Didn't  care  much  for  this  picture.  Several 
walkouts.  Played  Sunday,  Jan.  16. — F.  A.  Falle, 
F-S,  Theatre  No.  1,  B  &  G  School,  Jarvis,  Ont.,  Can- 
ada. 

YOUNG  IDEAS:  Mary  Astor,  Herbert  Marshall— 
A  light  comedy  and  far  from  a  good  show.  Played  to 
a  very  small  crowd.  Played  Monday,  Jan.  3. — F.  A. 
Falle,  F-S,  Theatre  No.  1,  B  &  G  School,  Jarvis,  Ont., 
Canada. 


Paramount 


BISCUIT  EATER,  THE:  Billy  Lee  and  Dog— No 
matter  how  many  times  I  play  this  picture  it  gets  bet- 
ter to  my  patrons.  One  of  ray  patrons  suggested  that 
we  play  it  every  year.  Played  Sunday,  Jan.  9. — Cleo 
Manry,  Buena  Vista  Theatre,  Buena  Vista,  Ga.  Small 
town  and  rural  patronage. 

NO  TIME  FOR  LOVE:  Fred  MacMurray,  Claudette 
Colbert — Run  this  one  as  early  as  you  can.  A  superb 
picture  for  light  entertainment.  Flayed  Wednesday, 
Jan.  5.— F.  A.  Falle,  F-S,  Theatre  No.  1,  B  &  G 
School,  Jarvis,  Ont.,  Canada. 

RIDIN'  HIGH:  Dorothy  Lamour,  Dick  Powell- 
Grand  color,  good  music  and  several  laughs;  so  what 
more  can  one  wish  for.  An  excellent  picture  for  light 
entertainment.  Played  Friday,  Jan.  14.— F.  A.  Falle. 
F-S,  Theatre  No.  1,  B  &  G  School,  Jarvis,  Ont., 
Canada. 

SO    PROUDLY    WE    HAIL:    Claudette  Colbert, 


Paulette  Goddard — This  viiW  be  the  best  woman's  pic- 
ture of  the  year  as  far  as  the  management  is  con- 
cerned. Comments  from  patrons,  "A  good  picture." 
Business  good.  Played  Wednesday,  Thursday,  Jan. 
12,  13. — Cleo  Manry,  Buena  Vista  Theatre,  Buena 
Vista,  Ga.    Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

TRUE  TO  LIFE:  Mary  Martin,  Dick  Powell— A 
very  funny  picture  which  pleased  all  who  came.  Busi- 
ness was  above  average  and  Victor  Moore  as  the 
daffy  inventor  stole  the  show.  Played  Wednesday, 
Thursday,  Jan.  19,  20.— E.  M.  Freiburger,  Paramount 
Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla.    Small  town  patronage. 


Republic 


BOOTS  AND  SADDLES:  Gene  Autry,  Smiley  Bur- 
nette — A  release  that  will  do  business  where  Autry 
is  liked.  All  I  have  to  do  is  let  them  known  I  have 
an  Autry  picture  and  they  come  in.  Will  please 
your  Saturday  crowds.  Did  a  nice  weekend  business 
for  me  and  should  do  the  same  for  anyone.  Played 
Friday,  Saturday,  Jan.  14,  15. — J.  D.  Leger,  Royal 
Theatre,  Lecompte,  La.  Rural  and  small  town  pat- 
ronage. 

CARSON  CITY  CYCLONE:  Don  Barry,  Lynn  Mer- 
rick— Don  "Red"  Barry  is  O.K.  in  this.  Don't  know 
why  he  isn't  a  good  draw.— Ralph  Raspa,  State  Thea- 
tre, Rivesville,  W.  Va. 

DEERSLAYER,  THE:  Bruce  Kellogg,  Jean  Parker 
— This  is  one  of  the  reasons  for  triple  features. — H. 
Goldson,  Plaza  Theatre,  Chicago,  111.  Neighborhood 
patronage. 

HEADIN'  FOR  GOD'S  COUNTRY:  William  Lun- 
digan,  Virginia  Dale — A  good  outdoor  picture.  There 
is  a  10-minute  fight  against  the  Japs  at  the  end. — 
Ralph  Raspa,  State  Theatre,  Rivesville,  W.  Va. 

IN  OLD  MONTEREY:  Gene  Autry— One  of  Autry's 

best.  Had  more  name  draw  than  usual  and  plenty 
of  music  and  comedy.  A  small  town  natural. — Ralph 
Raspa,  State  Theatres,  Rivesville,  W.  Va. 

SLEEPY  LAGOON:  -Judy  Canova,  Dennis  Day— 
These  Republic  pictures  don't  do  any  big  business  for 
me,  but  after  you  consider  the  price,  you  have  as 
much  left  and  you  don't  have  to  bother  a  checker. 
Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Jan.  7,  8.— F.  R.  Crist,  Crist 
Theatre,  Loveland,  Ohio.  Small  town  and  rural  pat- 
ronage. 

SOMEONE  TOi  REMEMBER:  Mabel  Paige,  John 
Craven — A  nice  little  weekday  picture  that  surprised 
everyone  and  was  well  liked  by  all  who  saw  it.  Played 
this  on  a  single  bill  as  I  don't  double  bill.  Should  go 
over  swell  with  another  picture.  Played  to  a  fair 
Thursday  busineess  on  Jan.  13. — J.  D.  Leger,  Royal 
Theatre,  Lecompte,  La.  Rural  and  small  town  pat- 
ronage. 

SWING  YOUR  PARTNER:  Vera  Vague,  Lulubelle 
&  Scotty — Played  Christmas  Eve  and  was  ,well  re- 
ceived by  the  regular  weekend  trade. — Cleo  Manry, 
Buena  Vista  Theatre,  Buena  Vista,  Ga.  Small  town, 
and  rural  patronage. 

RKO 

BEHIND  THE  RISING  SUN:  Tom  Neal,  Margo— 
Same  type  of  story  as  "Hitler's  Children,"  only  this 
takes  place  in  Japan.  Didn't  draw  as  well.— Ralph 
Raspa,  State  Theatre,  Rivesville,  W.  Va. 

CALL  OUT  THE  MARINES:  Victor  McLaglen, 
Edmund  Lowe — We  picked  this  up  as  we  had  never 
played  it  before  and  are  more  than  glad  we  did. 
Business  above  normal.  Played  Sunday,  Jan.  16. — 
Harland  Rankin,  Plaza  Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont.,  Can- 
ada. 

FALCON  IN  DANGER,  THE:  Tom  Conway,  Jean 
Brooks — Falcon  pictures  do  not  click  with  us  here. 
Business  very  poor.     We  should  have  double  billei 

{Continued  on  page  62) 


LORi^  >^PA/gATiQN/A^  NmWVeU£S  ^SENSATIONAL 


Kave  to'       f„a»  »  o^"'  rime  *e 


,  Kaye  s  ^  best  tVvtug 

T'oi  seated  Vou  •  •  bV  %^^litvg  is  cVevet^^^ 
^^"^  med  and  V^^^^^  Constance  ^^^^^  that  •  •  •  ^ 

ti^^-      Slave's  '^o"^^* 


SAMUEL  GOLDWYN^  / / 


presents 


Km 


DINAH 

SHORE 

DANA 


Released  through  RKO  Radio  Pictures,  Inc.  ni        jiir  nni  nilfVII  01111  0 

Directed  by  Elliott  Nugent.  Associate  Producer  Don  Hartman  H    \  IHh  i      W|H  1  K  i\ 

Original  Screen  Play  by  Don  Hartman,  Allen  Boretz  and  Robert  PIrosh       I  LlIU  I  II L.  UU  LU  II  I II  UIIII.U 


ANDREWS 

CONSTANCE 


DOWLING 


62 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    5,  1944 


(Continued  from  page  59) 
it.    Flayed  Wednesday,  Thursday,  Jan.  19,  20.— Har- 
land  Rankin.  Plaza  Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 

FUGHT  FOR  FREEDOM:  Rosalind  Russell,  Fred 
MacMurray— An  average  picture  that  will  please  the 
majority  of  the  people.  Not  many  comments  on  it 
one  way  or  another.  Played  to  an  average  Sunday, 
Monday  business  on  Jan.  9,  10.— J.  D.  Leger,  Royal 
Theatre,  Lecompte,  La.  Rural  and  small  town  pat- 
ronage. 

GOVERNMENT  GIRL:  Olivia  De  Havilland,  Son- 
ny Tufts— They  maltreated  a  swell  little  actress  in 
this  one.  Given  direction  and  script.  Miss  De  Havil- 
land will  give  a  picture  all  she  has,  but  this  had 
neither.  Another  one  of  RKO's  lack  of  savvy  as  to 
the  borderline  where  comedy  starts  and  silliness  be- 
gins.—A.  E.  Hancock,  Columbia  Theatre,  Columbia 
City,  Ind. 

I  WALKED  WITH  A  ZOMBIE:  Tom  Conway. 
Frances  Dee— Much  better  than  the  rest.  Some  audi- 
ences will  think  it  scarey,  others  might  not.— Ralph 
Raspa,  State  Theatre,  Rivesville,  W.  Va. 

LADY  TAKES  A  CHANCE,  A:  Jean  Arthur,  John 
Wayne— Jean  Arthur  some  years  ago  never  recognized 
a  mammoth  postcard  autographed  by  most  of  the 
citizens  of  Tilbury,  and  they  never  forget.  The  pic- 
ture didn't  click.  I  thought  it  fair.  Played  Monday, 
Tuesday,  Jan.  17,  18.— Harlaiid  Rankin,  Plaza  Thea- 
tre, Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 

MR.  LUCKY:  Cary  Grant,  Laraine  Day— A  picture 
that  was  enjoyed  by  one  and  all.  Cary  was  at  his 
best.  This  picture  went  over  big  as  Cary  Grant  is 
well  liked  in  my  town.  Should  do  an  average  business 
anywhere.  Played  Sunday,  Monday,  Jan.  16,  17.— 
J.  D.  Leger,  Royal  Theatre,  Lecompte,  La.  Rural 
and  small  town  patronage. 

SEVEN  DAYS  LEAVE:  Victor  Mature,  Lucille 
Ball— "Right  good  picture"  was  the  only  comment  I 
could  get  from  my  patrons.  Flayed  Wednesday,  Dec. 
19._Cleo  Manry,*  Buena  Vista  Theatre,  Buena  Vista, 
Ga.    Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 


Twentieth  Century- Fox 

CLAUDIA:  Dorothy  McGuire,  Robert  Young— An 
excellent  picture  from  an  excellent  play,  capably  act- 
ed and  presented.  If  you  can  get  it  before  the  prop- 
er kind  of  patronage,  it  should  be  terrific.  Did  ex- 
cellently here.  Weather  was  good.  Played  Sunday, 
Monday,  Jan.  16,  17. — Thomas  di  Lorenzo,  New  Paltz 
Theatre,  New  Paltz,  N.  Y.    Small  town  patronage. 

CRASH  DIVE:  Tyrone  Power,  Anne  Baxter— Very 
exciting  action  and  romance.  Flayed  Saturday,  Jan. 
15. — J.  A.  Reynolds,  Director  of  Education  and  Recrea- 
tion, New  Jersey  State  Prison,  Trenton,  N.  J. 

DIXIE  DUGAN;  James  Ellison,  Lois  Andrews- 
Used  this  on  the  weak  end  of  a  double  bill.  Would 
not  care  to  see  the  series  continued  unless  there  is  to 
be  a  big  improvement.  Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Jan. 
14,  15.— A.  C.  Edwards,  Winema  Theatre,  Scotia,  Cal. 
Small  lumber  town  patronage. 

GANG'S  ALL  HERE,  THE:  Alice  Faye,  Carmen 
Miranda — ^Another  20th  Century-Fox  de  luxe  musical. 
This  picture  played  to  a  packed  house.  Highly  recom- 
mended. Played  Monday,  Jan.  10.— F.  A.  Falle,  F-S, 
Theatre  No.  1,  B  &  G  School,  Jarvis,  Ont.,  Canada. 

GUADALCANAL  DIARY:  Preston  Foster,  Lloyd 
Nolan — Good  war  picture  with  plenty  of  action.  Busi- 
ness above  average.  Played  Sunday,  Monday,  Jan.  16, 
17. — E.  M.  Freiburger,  Paramount  Theatre,  Dewey, 
Okla.    Small  town  patronage. 

GUADALCANAL  DIARY:  Preston  Foster,  Lloyd 
Nolan — An  excellent  picture  from  an  excellent  story; 
well  acted,  splendidly  produced.  Not  many  women 
present.  Good  comments  from  those  attending.  Busi- 
ness very  good;  weather  excellent.  Played  Sunday, 
Monday,  Jan.  23,  24. — Thomas  di  Lorenzo,  New  Paltz 
Theatre,  New  Paltz,  N.  Y.    Small  town  patronage. 

GUADALCANAL  DIARY:  Preston  Foster,  Lloyd 
Nolan — If  you  want  to  have  a  war  picture,  run  this 
one.  One  of  the  best  war  pictures  we  have  had. 
Plenty  of  excitement  and  action  packed  in  one  and 
one-half  hours'  running  time.  Played  Wednesday, 
Jan.  12.— F.  A.  Falle,  F-S,  Theatre  No.  1,  B  &  G 
School,  Jarvis,  Ont.,  Canada. 

GUADALCANAL  DIARY:  Preston  Foster,  Lloyd 
Nolan— A  highly  entertaining  and  timely  picture  which 
failed  to  do  business  for  the  one  reason  that  it  was  a 
war  picture.  Business  fair.— Qaude  Cline,  Elks  Thea- 
tre, Prescott,  Ariz.    General  patronage. 

GUADALCANAL  DIARY:  Preston  Foster,  Lloyd 
Nolan— 20th-Fox  finally  did  make  a  good  one.  Pleased 
the  fans.  BendLx  was  good.  Played  Friday,  Saturday, 
Dec.  31,  Jan.  1.— F.  R.  Crist,  Crist  Tlieatre,  Love- 
land,  Ohio.    Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

HAPPY  LAND:  Don  Ameche,  Frances  Dee — A  fair 
picture  played  to  a  very  small  crowd,  due  to  its  being 
a  Station  Holiday.  Played  Sunday,  Jan.  2— F  A 
Falle,  F-S,  Theatre  No.  1,  B  &  G  School,  Jarvis,  Ont' 
Canada. 

HAPPY  LAND:  Don  Ameche,  Frances  Dee— A  slow, 
draggy  thing  ca'.'.ed  "Happy  Land."     The   son  gets 


killed  in  the  end.  I  don't  get  it.  Flayed  Friday,  Sat- 
urday, Jan.  14,  15.— F.  R.  Crist,  Crist  Theatre,  Love- 
land,  Ohio.    Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

HEAVEN  CAN  WAIT:  Don  Ameche,  Gene  Tiemey 
— A  fair  picture.  Color  good.  But  not  for  my  town. 
Played  Saturday-Monday,  Jan.  8-10.— J.  L.  Cooper, 
Oklahoma  Theatre,  Antlers,  Okla.  Small  town  pat- 
ronage. 

HEAVEN  CAN  WAIT:  Don  Ameche,  Gene  Tier- 
ney — This  was  superb.  Everything  about  the  picture 
was  excellent.  It  is  difficult  to  single  out  the  out- 
standing played,  but  we  lean  towards  Cobum.  Ameche 
gave  his  best  performance  to  date.  Just  looking  at 
Miss  Tierney  would  have  been  worth  the  admission 
price,  but  she  also  did  a  fine  job  of  acting.  Business 
good.  Played  Sunday,  Monday,  Jan.  16,  17. — A.  C. 
Edwards,  Winema  Theatre,  Scotia,  Cal.  Small  lumber 
town  patronage. 

HOLY  MATRIMONY:  Monty  Woolley,  Gracie 
Fields — If  Monty  Woolley  ever  makes  a  dime  for  me, 
I'll  divide  it  with  him.  Played  Tuesday,  Jan.  11.— 
F.  R.  Crist,  Crist  Theatre,  Loveland,  Ohio.  Small 
town  and  rural  patronage. 

IN  OLD  CHICAGO:  Alice  Faye,  Tyrone  Power- 
Reissue,  but  still  a  good  picture.  Business  was  aver- 
age. No  complaints.  Played  Tuesday,  Jan.  18. — E.  M. 
Freiburger,  Paramount  ITieatre,  Dewey,  Okla.  Small 
town  patronage. 

LIFE  BEGINS  AT  EIGHT  THIRTY:  Monty  Wool- 
ley,  Ida  Lupino — A  very  entertaining  comedy  drama, 
superbly  acted  by  the  principals.  The  comments  from 
our  men  were  all  good.  Played  Saturday,  Dec.  4. — 
J.  A.  Reynolds,  Director  of  Education  and  Recreation, 
New  Jersey  State  Prison,  Trenton,  N.  J. 

PARIS  AFTER  DARK:  George  Sanders,  Brenda 
Marshall — I  hope  we  don't  get  any  more  like  this  one 
as  our  people  don't  like  to  see  them.  We  played  it 
of!  when  we  showed  "I  Dood  It."  Business  was  good. 
Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Jan.  14,  15. — Thomas  di  Lor- 
enzo, New  Paltz  Theatre,  New  F'altz,  N.  Y.  Small 
town  patronage. 

SWEET  ROSIE  O'GRADY:  Betty  Grable,  Robert 
Young — Though  not  up  to  standard,  will  probably  do 
business  in  most  spots. — H.  Goldson,  Plaza  Theatre, 
Chicago,  111.    Neighborhood  patronage. 

WINTERTIME:  Sonja  Henie,  Jack  Oakie— Tepid. 
Far  less  than  we  expected  from  Sonja  Henie.  Color 
would  have  helped  some. — H.  Goldson,  Plaza  Theatre, 
Chicago,  111.    Neighborhood  patronage. 

WINTERTIME:  Sonja  Henie,  Jack  Oakie— Good 
show,  lots  of  comedy;  just  what  the  doctor  ordered 
for  small  towns.  Miss  Henie  is  wonderful,  as  always, 
and  more  beautiful  than  ever.  Played  Saturday- 
Monday,  Jan.  1-3.— J.  L.  Cooper,  Oklahoma  Theatre, 
Antlers,  Okla.    Small  town  patronage. 

WINTERTIME:  Sonja  Henie,  Jack  Oakie— This  was 
a  swell  picture  for  entertainment.  I  like  to  hear  the 
laughter  from  my  patrons  that  came  when  Romero 
was  parading  around  in  his  underwear.  Was  a  good 
picture  for  Christmas.  Business  good.  Played  Wed- 
nesday, Thursday,  Dec.  29,  30.— Cleo  Manry,  Buena 
Vista  Theatre,  Buena  Vista,  Ga.  Small  town  and 
rural  patronage. 


United  Artists 

HI  DIDDLE  DIDDLE:  Martha  Scott,  Adolphe 
Menjou — The  superlatives  roll  off  the  advance  trailer 
and  then  the  picture  comes — and  falls  flat. — A.  E. 
Hancock,  Columbia  Theatre,  Columbia  City,  Ind. 

HI  DIDDLE  DIDDLE:  Martha  Scott,  Adolphe 
Menjou — This  comedy  farce  made  very  little  sense, 
but  was  just  what  they  wanted.  Did  good  business 
Sunday-Tuesday.  Everyone  satisfied. — Claude  Qine, 
Elks  Theatre,  Prescott,  Ariz.    General  patronage. 

HI  DIDDLE  DIDDLE:  Martha  Scott,  Adolphe 
Menjou — Just  a  fair  program  picture.  Only  fair  busi- 
ness. Played  Thursday,  Friday,  Dec.  20,  21.— Cleo 
Manry,  Buena  Vista  Theatre,  Buena  Vista,  Ga.  Small 
town  and  rural  patronage. 

VICTORY  THROUGH  AIR  POWER:  Disney  Avia- 
tion Feature — Example  of  just  how  poor  a  draw  an 
educational  picture  can  be.  A  great  documentary. 
Technicolor  beautiful.  Did  poorest  business  ever  done 
on  a  Technicolor  picture. — Claude  Cline,  Elks  Thea- 
tre,  Prescott,  Ariz.     General  patronage. 

Universal 

ALWAYS  A  BRIDESMAID:  Andrews  Sisters- 
Good  musical.  I  would  advise  the  Andrews  sisters  to 
stick  to  their  music  and  for  Anne  Rooney  to  act  her 
age  instead  of  being  a  16- year-old..  They  seemed  out 
of  place. — Ralph  Raspa,  State  Theatre,  Rivesville,  W. 
Va. 

ALWAYS  A  BRIDESMAID:  Andrews  Sisters— 
This  picture  was  used  on  the  top  half  of  the  week- 
end bill  and  we  have  no  complaints  to  make  as  busi- 
ness was  O.  K.  Played  Friday.  Saturday,  Jan.  14, 
15.— A.  C.  Edwards,  Winema  Theatre,  Scotia,  Cal. 
Small  lumber  town  patronage. 

AMAZING    MRS.    HOLLIDAY:    Deanna  Durbin, 


Edmond  O'Brien — Tlie  amazing  Deanna  Durbin  scores 
again.  Ever  since  her  "discovery"  several  years  ago 
she  has  starred  in  many  productions  and,  without 
exception,  they  were  all  gems  of  entertainment.  The 
plot  of  this  one  is  exceptionally  good,  and  "very  inter- 
esting in  its  own  right,  besides  being  an  excellent  prop 
for  her  wonderful  acting  and  marvelous  singing. 
Played  Saturday,  Dec.  18. — J.  A.  Reynolds,  Director 
of  Education  and  Recreation,  New  Jersey  State  F'ris- 
on,  Trenton,  N.  J. 

HIS  BUTLER'S  SISTER:  Deanna  Durbin,  Fran- 
chot  Tone — Pleased  the  fans.  A  good  small  town  pic- 
ture. The  only  thing  they  don't  like  is  Deanna's 
singing.  Played  Sunday,  Monday,  Jan.  16,  17. — F.  R. 
Crist,  Crist  Theatre,  Loveland,  Ohio.  Small  town  and 
rural  patronage. 

HI  YA,  SAILOR:  Donald  Woods,  Elyse  Knox— This 
is  another  from  Universal  and  as  good  as  soine  of 
the  big  five  put  in  their  top  allocation.  All  it  lacks 
is  names.  Played  Wednesday,  Thursday,  Jan.  19  30. 
— F.  R.  Crist,  Crist  Theatre,  Loveland,  Ohio.  Sm«tll 
town  and  rural  patronage. 

HOW'S  ABOUT  IT:  Andrews  Sisters— Andrews 
Sisters  are  popular  here.  Played  on  double  bill  with 
a  Western.  Did  nice  business.  Played  Friday,  Sat- 
urday, Jan.  21,  22.— Harland  Rankin,  Plaza  Theatre, 
Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 

MR.  BIG:  Donald  O'Connor,  Peggy  Ryan — A  swell 
picture  that  was  enjoyed  by  everyone.  Donald  O'Con- 
nor is  tops  in  my  town;  he  and  Peggy  Ryan  make  a 
swell  team.  The  picture  has  plenty  of  music  and 
comedy.  Flayed  this  to  a  very  nice  weekday  business 
on  Wednesday,  Dec.  29.— J.  D.  Leger,  Royal  Theatre, 
Lecompte,  La.   Rural  and  small  town  patronage. 

TOP  MAN:  Donald  O'Connor,  Peggy  Ryan— Busi- 
ness above  normal.  Very  good  draw  among  younger 
people,  especially  the  high  school  kids.  Tempo  fast 
and  the  only  ofT-chord  was  the  high  brow  singing 
which,  fortunately,  was  negligible.  Flayed  Wednesday, 
Thursday,  Jan.  12,  13.— A.  C.  Edwards,  Winema  Thea- 
tre, Scotia,  Cal.    Small  lumber  town  patronage. 


Warner  Bros. 

BACKGROUND  TO  DANGER:  George  Raft,  Sid- 
ney Greenstreet — A  good  action  picture.  Business 
only  fair.  Played  Wednesday,  Thursday,  Dec.  22, 
23. — Qeo  Manry,  Buena  Vista  Theatre,  Buena  Vista, 
Ga.    Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

PRINCESS  O-ROURKE:  Olivia  de  Havilland,  Rob- 
ert Cummings— In  this  picture  Miss  De  Havilland  was 
supplied  with  everything  that  a  smart,  clever  little 
comedy  should  have.  It  had  the  audience  cackling  all 
through,  and  that  is  comedy  at  its  best. — A.  E.  Han- 
cock, Columbia  Theatre,  Columbia  City,  Ind. 

THANK  YOUR  LUCKY  STARS:  Warner  Stars 
Revue — Here's  a  musical.  When  they  aren't  playing 
music,  they're  cracking  jokes.  It  didn't  seem  to  drag 
any  and  it  received  favorable  comment.  Most  people 
rated  it  above  "Star  Spangled  Rhythm"  and  said  it 
was  one  of  the  best  musicals  ever  made. — Ralph  Ras- 
pa, State  Theatre,  Rivesville,  W.  Va. 

WATCH  ON  THE  RHINE:  Paul  Lukas,  Bette  Da- 
vis— This  was  the  biggest  flop  we  had  in  years.  For 
the  classes,  not  the  masses. — H.  Goldson,  Plaza  Thea- 
tre, Chicago,  111.    Neighborhood  patronage. 

Short  Features 
Columbia 

CUE  WIZARDS:  World  of  Sports— We  tied  up  with 
the  poolrooms,  giving  passes  to  the  highest  scores  of 
the  week  in  bilHards  and  this  picture  did  O.K. — Har- 
land Rankin,  Plaza  Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 

MY  WIFE'S  AN  ANGEL:  AU  Star  Comedies— Due 
mainly  to  the  artistry  of  the  star,  this  short  comedy 
is  several  notches  above  the  average.  It's  a  pleasure 
to  see  Allen  Jenkins,  even  in  this  abbreviated  type  of 
entertainment.— J.  A.  Reynolds,  Director  of  Educa- 
tion and  Recreation,  New  Jersev  State  Prison.  Tren- 
ton, N.  J.  . 


Me+ro-Goldwyn-Mayer 

MARINES  IN  THE  MAKING:  Pete  Smith  Special- 
ties— A  good  Fete  Smith  reel.  Very  timely  now. 
Pleased  here. — Thomas  di  Lorenzo,  New  Paltz  Theatre, 
New  F'altz,  N.  Y. 

WHO  KILLED  WHO:  Technicolor  Cartoons— One 
of  the  better  cartoons  this  season,  with  a  novel  twist. 
There's  a  never  a  dull  moment  in  it,  and  many  a 
laugh.— Thomas  di  Lorenzo,  New  Paltz  Theatre,  New 
Paltz,  N.  Y. 


Paramount 

IN  THE  GARDEN:  Speaking  of  Animals— This 
made  us  a  nice  program. — Harland  Rankin,  Plaza 
Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 

JASPER  GOES  FISHING:   Madcap   Models— Nice 
(Continued  on  page  64) 


'^1  1! 


'A 


n 


r 


^     Fun  galore— breath- 
taking action  —  marvelous  mel- 
odies—in the  greatest  hit  yet 
£rom  the  greatest  entertainer  on 
the  whole  continent ! 


W 


/J 


ROY  ROGERS 

King  of  the  Cowboys  and 

TRIGGER 

Smartest  Horse  in  the  Movies 


4'- 


'I 


HEAR  ROY  S;NG  HOAGY  ("STARDUST")  CARMICHAEfS  GREAT  HIT  "HANDS  ACROSS  THE  BORDER"  and  "DREAMING  TO 
MUSIC,"  "WHEN  YOUR  HEART'S  ON  EASY  STREET,"  "THE  GIRL  WITH  THE  HIGH-BUTTONED  SHOES,"  "HEY  HEY,"  "COOL  WATER." 


;  I  ACROSS  I  r  I 


: 


: 


with  Ruth  Terry  •  Guinn  (Big  Boy)  Williams  •  Onslow  Stevens  •  Mary 
Treen  •  introducing  The  Wiere  Brother*  .  Bob  Noldn  and  the  Sons  of  the  Pioneers 


9  ' 


JOSEPH  KANE  —  Director 
Original  Scraenplay  by  BRADFORD  ROPES  •  J.  BENTON  CHENEY 


64 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    5,  1944 


(.Continued  from  page  62) 
short,  well  received.— Harland  Rankin,  Plaza  Theatre, 
Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 

POPULAR  SCIENCE  NO.  2:  Popular  Science— Good 
science  reel  in  color.— E.  M.  Freiburger,  Paramount 
Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla. 

SING,  HELEN,  SING:  Headliner— And  she  does, 
very  nicely  and  very  effectively,  too.— J.  A.  Reynolds, 
Director  of  Education  and  Recreation,  New  Jersey 
State  Prison,  Trenton,  N.  J. 

UNUSUAL  OCCUPATION  NO.  3:  Unusual  Occu- 
pations— These  short  depictions  of  oddities  in  human 
endeavor  always  interest  our  audience. — J.  A.  Rey- 
nolds, Director  of  Education  and  Recreation,  New 
Jersey  State  frison,  Trenton,  N.  J. 

RKO 

HARRIS  IN  THE  SPRING:  Headliner  Revivals— 
These  musicals  are  very  popular  with  our  young 
folks.— Harland  Rankin,  Plaza  Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont., 
Canada. 

LEND  A  PAW:  Walt  Disney  Cartoons— Human  in- 
terest cartoon.— Ralph  Raspa,  State  Theatre,  Rives- 
ville,  W.  Va. 

PACIFIC  ISLAND  NO.  43:  This  Is  America— An 
interesting  visit  to  one  of  the  Pacific  Island  bases 
where  the  wounded  from  the  war  fronts  are  brought 
back  to  health.  Well  done  and  pleased  very  well  here 
with  a  comedy  feature. — Thomas  di  Lorenzo,  New  Paltz 
Theatre,  New  Paltz,  N.  Y. 

SEEING  NELLIE  HOME:  Leon  Errol— Leon  Errol 
really  is  a  comedian  and  makes  you  forget  your  trou- 
ble.—Harland  Rankin,  Plaza  Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont., 
Canada. 

UNLUCKY  DOG:  Edgar  Kennedy  —  Fair  two-reel 
subject.  —  Ralph  Raspa,  State  Theatre,  Rivesville, 
W.  Va. 

Twentieth  Century- Fox 

GAY  RIO:  Magic  Carpet — A  good  color  reel  of  our 
neighboring  city  on  the  other  side  of  the  equator. 
Everyone  who  saw  it  enjoyed  it  thoroughly. — Thomas 
di  Lorenzo,  New  Paltz  Theatre,  New  Paltz,  N.  Y. 

HOPEFUL  DONKEY,  THE:  Terry  toons— Fair  color 
cartoon.  —  E.  M.  Freiburger,  F'aramount  Theatre, 
Dewey,  Okla. 

KEEP  'EM  GROWING:  Terrytoons— If  you're  near 
any  farm  people,  this  cartoon  will  make  them  all  laugh 
as  it's  about  the  animals  who  help  the  war  effort  by 
going  to  work  on  the  farm,  crops,  etc.  Very  lively. — 
Thomas  di  Lorenzo,  New  Paltz  Theatre,  New  Paltz, 
N.  Y. 

NAVAL  LOG  OF  VICTORY:  March  of  Time- 
Average  two-reel  subject  of  this  type.— E.  M.  Frei- 
burger, Paramount  Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla. 

PANDORA'S  BOX:  Terrytoons— A  lively  presenta- 
tion of  the  familiar  fairy  tale — with  variations.  Well 
liked  here  and  won  some  laughs. — Thomas  di  Lorenzo, 
New  Paltz  Theat<re,  New  Paltz,  N.  Y. 

Universal 

BOOGIE  WOOGIE  MAN:  Swing  Symphonies  — 
Doesn't  rate  with  the  other  cartoons  of  this  series.— 
Ralph  Raspa,  State  Theatre,  Rivesville,  W.  Va. 

RUSSIAN  REVELS:  Musicals— Timely  and  well  re- 
ceived; people  seemed  to  enjoy  it.— Harland  Rankin, 
Plaza  Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 

.  SHUFFLE  RHYTHM:  Musicals— Music  as  we  like 
It.— J.  A.  Reynolds,  Director  of  Education  and  Recrea- 
tion, New  Jersey  State  Prison,  Trenton,  N.  J. 


Vitaphone 


CHILDHOOD  DAYS:  Melody  Master  Bands-An 
amazing  array  of  children  perform  as  metnbers  of  a 
fine  orchestra,  sing,  dance  and  entertain.— j.  A.  Rey- 
nolds, Director  of  Education  and  Recreation,  New 
Jersey  State  Prison,  Trenton,  N.  J. 

FALLING  HARE:  Merrie  Melodies  Cartoons— An 
O.K.  Bugs  Bunny.  —  Ralph  Raspa,  State  Theatre, 
Rivesville,  W.  Va. 

HIT  PARADE  OF  THE  GAY  NINETIES:  Melody 
Master  Bands— Very  good  musical— Ralph  Raspa, 
State  Theatre,  Rivesville,  W.  Va. 

LITTLE  RED  RIDING  RABBIT:  Merrie  Melodies 
Cartoons— Good  color  cartoon  with  Bugs  Bunny.— E. 
M.  Freiburger,  F'aramount  Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla. 

SWEETHEART  SERENADE:  Melody  Master  Bands 
—Unusual  musical,  but  it  will  pass.— Ralph  Raspa. 
State  Theatre,  RivesviUe,  W.  Va. 

THREE  CHEERS  FOR  THE  GIRLS:  Broadway 
Brevities— Here  is  without  a  doubt  one  of  the  loveliest 
musicals  you  could  ever  wish  to  see.  It's  a  show  in 
Itself.  Play  it,  it's  a  real  treat.— Harland  Rankin, 
Plaza  Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 


SHORT  PRODUCT 
PLAYING  BROADWAY 

Week  of  January  31 

ASTOR 

The  Helicopter  20th  Cent.-Fox 

Feature:  Lifeboat  20th  Cent.-Fox 

CAPITOL 

My  Tomato   MGM 

Feature:  A  Guy  Named  Joe .  .  MGM 

CRITERION 

At  His  Side  Vitaphone 

Greatest  Man  in  Siam  Universal 

Feature:  Gnng  Ho  Universal 

GLOBE 

My  Little  Buckaroo  Vitaphone 

Desert  Playground   Vitaphone 

At  His  Side  Vitaphone 

Feature:     Where    Are  Your 

Children}  Monogram 

HOLLYWOOD 

Inside  the  Clouds  Vitaphone 

Puss  'n'  Booty  Vitaphone 

Voice     That    Thrilled  the 

World  Vitaphone 

Feature:  Desert  Song  Warner  Bros. 

PARAMOUNT 

At  His  Side  Vitaphone 

Merry-Go-Round   Paramount 

Feature:  The  Miracle  of  Mor- 
gan's Creek  Paramount 

RIALTO 

Too  Weak  to  Work  Paramount 

Fishing  Paramount 

Feature:  The  Return  of  the 

Vampire  Columbia 

ROXY 

A  Volcano  Is  Born  20th  Cent.-Fox 

The  Hopeful  Donkey  20th  Cent.-Fox 

Feature:  The  Lodger  20th  Cent.-Fox 

STRAND 

Bees  A'Buzzin'   Vitaphone 

At  His  Side  Vitaphone 

Little  Red  Riding  Rabbit. ..  Vitaphone 
Feature:  Destination  ToAj/o.  .Warner  Bros. 


Lou  Smith  Resigns  Metro 
Eastern  Publicity  Post 

Howard  Dietz,  vice-president  in  charge  of 
advertising  and  promotion  for  M-G-M,  last 
week  announced  the  resignation  of  Lou  Smith 
as  eastern  publicity  manager.  Mr.  Smith  has 
held  this  post  with  MGM  for  the  past  year  and 
a  half  and  previously  was  with  Universal  and 
Columbia.  During  the  past  two  months  Mr. 
Smith  has  been  on  leave  of  absence.  While 
his  future  plans  have  not  yet  been  announced, 
he  will  remain  in  Hollywood.  No  successor 
has  been  appointed. 

Knight  for  Wilcox 

The  December  Boxoffice  Champions,  printed 
on  page  45  of  Motion  Pictore  Herald  for 
January  29,  included  a  picture  of  Eric  Knight, 
author  of  MGM's  "Lassie  Come  Home,"  which 
was  incorrectly  captioned  as  that  of  Fred  Wil- 
cox, director  of  the  production.  The  photo- 
graph supplied  to  the  Herald  was  incorrectly 
identified. 


Theatres  Hitting 
New  Gross  High 

On  the  second  Saturday  of  its  engagement  at 
the  Paramount  theatre  in  New  York,  "The  Mir- 
acle of  Morgan's  Creek"  gave  the  theatre  the 
biggest  non-holiday  Saturday  gross  in  the  18 
years  of  its  history.  It  is,  according  to  R.  M. 
Weitman,  managing  director  of  the  theatre,  a 
case  of  building  grosses,  with  the  second  week 
bringing  grosses  at  $151,217  as  compared  with 
the  first  week's  figure  of  $147,335.  Receipts  are 
topping  such  previous  hits  as  "Let's  Face  It," 
"Riding  High"  and  "Dixie." 

According  to  last  weekend  reports  received 
at  the  Wajrner  home  office,  "The  Desert  Song" 
in  out-of-town  openings  in  43  houses  throughout 
the  country  averaged  25  per  cent  above  normal 
business.  In  some  situations  in  thje  New  Eng- 
land territory  returns  ran  as  much  as  60  per 
cent  better  than  average. 

The  Criterion  theatre  in  New  York  shattered 
house  records  with  the  first  week  oj  Universal's 
"Gung  Ho!"  with  gross  receipts  better  than 
$45,000.  With  a  seating  capacity  of  1,657,  the 
week's  business  yielded  nearly  $28  per  seat  for 
the  week.  With  the  Criterion's  scale  ranging 
from  55  cents  to  $1.10^  it  was.  practically  nec- 
essary to  fill  each  seat  for  every  show.  Service- 
■  men  are  admitted  for  28  cents. 

At  the  end  of  last  week  Neil  Agnew.  general 
sales  manager  of  Paramount,  announced  that 
first-run  engagements  give  promise  of  "No  Time 
for  Love"  being  the  biggest  Claudette  Colbert 
picture  to  date.  It  is  currently  outgrossing 
"Palm  Beach  Story"  by  a  national  average  of 
45  per  cent,  Mr.  Agnew  said. 


Two  Films  Open; 
Premiere  Set 


"Jane  Eyre,"  the  Twentieth  Century-Fox  ver- 
sion of  the  Charlotte  Bronte's  novel,  co-starring 
Joan  Fontaine  and  Orson  Welles,  opened  Thurs- 
day at  the  Radio  City  Music  Hall  in  New  York. 
It  was  the  picture's  world  premiere. 

On  Friday  at  the  Palace  theatre  "Three  Rus- 
sian Girls,"  the  Gregor  Rabinovitch-Eugene 
Frenke  productifin  released  by  United  Artists, 
had  its  New  York  premiere.  The  picture  stars 
Anna  Sten  and  Kent  §iaith  and  has  to  do  with 
Russian  Red  Cross  nurses  under  §re.  Fedor 
Ozep  and  Henry  Kesler  directed  the  film. 

"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove,"  MGM  film, 
will  have  its  world  premiere  February  19  at 
the  Carolina,  theatre,  Charlotte,  N.  C,  home  of 
Marion  Hargrove,  who  wrote  the  best-seller,  a 
description  of  his  experiences  as  a  private  in 
the  Axmy.  Robert  Walker,  in  the  title  role,  and 
Donna  Reed  head  the  cast.  The  picture  is  to  be 
tradeshown  in  Charlotte  February  12,  and  io  all 
other  exchange  centers  February  24. 

"Standing  Room  Only,"  Paramount's  version 
of  wartime  Washington,  starring  Paulette  God- 
dard  and  Fred  MacMurray,  had  its  world  pre- 
miere at  Loew's  Palace  theatre  in  Washington 
Thursday. 

The  world  premiere  of  "Passage  to  Mar- 
seille," Warner  picture  starring  Humphrey  Bo- 
gart  and  Michele  Morgan,  with  Sydney  Green- 
street,  Claude  Rains  and  Peter  Lorre  heading 
the  supporting  cast,  will  follow  the  nine-week 
run  of  "The  Desert  Song"  at  the  Hollsnvood 
theatre.  New  York  City. 


Open  New  Theatre 

The  Keylor-Grand  theatre,  Walla  Walla, 
Wash.,  opened  last  week  under  the  management 
of  Edward  Rivers,  former  owner  of  the  Hoxy 
theatre. 


New  Russian  Feature  Opens 

First  new  Russian  film  to  be  released  in  the 
U.  S.  in  1944,  "Heroes  Are  Made,"  had  its 
premiere  Friday  morning  at  the  Stanley  the- 
atre. New  York.  The  story  is  based  on  the 
novel,  "How  the  Steel  Was  Tempered,"  by  Os- 
trovsky.  English  titles  were  written  by  Charles 
Clement. 


MONOGRAM  PICTURES 

presents 

Ann  Corio 


in 


'Boxoffice  title/'  Showmen's  Trade  Review 


Tast  action."  Harrison's  Reports 

*Corio  is  gorgeous/'  Los  Angeles  Times 

^Considerable  fun/'  Variety 

^Designed  solely  for  laughs/'  Film  Daily 

'Entertaining/'  The  Exhibitor 

'Delights  the  ^y^!\Showmen's  Trade  Review 


"^SULTAN'S 

Daughter 

with 
TIM  and  IRENE 

Charles  BUTTERWORTH 
Fortunio  BONANOVA 

EDWARD  NORRIS 

Freddie  FISHER  and  His  Orchestra 

Traduced  by 
Philip  N.  Krasne  and  James  S.  Burkett 

Directed  by  Arthur  Dreifuss 

Original  Screenplay  by  Milton  Raison  and  Tim  Ryan 


PICTURE    HERALD  February    5.  1944 

A  statistical  compilation  and 
comparison  of  Box-Office  Per- 
formance in  first  run  theatres 

Figures  directly  below  picture  title  compare  dollar  gross  with  average  gross  and  show  relative  percentage  of  all  engagements  tabulated. 

Figures  opposite  theatre  names  represent  percentage  of  tabulated  grosses  to  average  weekly  business  based  on  the  six  months'  period 
ending  October  31,  1943. 

SYMBOLS:  (DB)  Double  Bill— associate  feature  title;  (SA)  Stage  Attraction;  (MO)  Move-Over  Run;  (AA)  Advance  Admission. 


66  MOTION 

PICTURE 
CROSSES 


GOVERNMENT  GIRL  (RKO) 

Final  Reports: 
Total  Gross  Tabulated  $401,900 
Comparative  Average  Gross  358,500 
Over-all  Performance  112.1% 


BALTIMORE— Hippodrome   119.0% 

(SA)  Vaudeville 

BUFFALO— 20th  Century,  1st  week   117.6% 

(DB)  The  Seventh  Victim  (RKO) 

BUFFALO— 20th  Century,  2nd  week   ....  &4.0% 

(DB)  The  Seventh  Victim  (RKO) 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Palace   108.0% 

CLEVELAND— Warner's  Hippodrome  ....  108.5% 

CLEVELAND— Allen,  MO  1st  week    ....  82.3% 

INDIANAPOLIS-Circle  '.    .  81.8% 

(DB)  The  Falcon  and  the  Coeds  (RKO) 

LOS  ANGELES— Chinese   133.7% 

(DB)  Sherlock  Holmes  and  the  Spider  Woman 

(Univ.) 

LOS  ANGELES— Loew's  State   132.2% 

(DB)  Sherlock  Holmes  and  the  Spider  Woman 
(Univ.) 

LOS  ANGELES— Uptown   128.8% 

(DB)  Sherlock  Holmes  and  the  Spider  Woman 
(Univ.) 

NEW  HAVEN— Roger  Sherman   98.4% 

(DB)  Victory  Through  Air  Power  (UA) 

NEW  YORK— Palace,  1st  week   104.5% 

NEW  YORK— Palace,  2nd  week   71.7% 

OMAHA— Brandeis   183.6% 

(DB)  Rookies  in  Burma  (RKO) 

PHILADELPHIA— Aldine,  1st  week   140.7% 

PHILADELPHIA— Aldine,  2nd  week   ....  152.4% 

PHILADELPHIA— Aldine,  3rd  week   ....  95.1% 

PITTSBURGH— Penn   86.2% 

SAN  FRANCISCO— Golden  Gate,  1st  week  .   .  112.2% 

SAN  FRANCISCO-Golden  Gate,  2nd  week  .   .  91.8% 

SEATTLE— Paramount   145.6% 

(DB)  Sing  a  Jingle  (Univ.) 

ST.  LOUIS— Missouri,  1st  week   150.6% 

(DB)  The  Falcon  and  the  Coeds  (RKO) 

ST.  LOUIS— Missouri,  2nd  week   178.0% 

(DB)  The  Falcon  and  the  Oeds  (RKO) 

ST.  LOUIS— Shubert,  MO  1st  week   108.3% 

(DB)  His  Butler's  Sister  (Univ.) 

WASHINGTON— Keith's,  1st  week   152.5% 

WASHINGTON— Keith's,  2nd  week   131.3% 

WASHINGTON— Keith's,  3rd  week   76.2% 


WHAT  A  WOMAN  (Col.) 

Final  Reports: 
Total  Gross  Tabulated 
Comparative  Average  Gross 
Over-all  Performance 


$614,700 
591,300 
103.9% 


BALTIMORE-Hippodrome   113.0% 

(SA)  Vaudeville 

BUFFALO— Lafayette,  1st  week   158.2% 

(DB)  Good  Luck,  Mr.  Yates  (Col.) 

BUFFALO— Lafayette,  2nd  week   95.6% 

(DB)  Good  Luck,  Mr.  Yates  (Col.) 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Palace   115.9% 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Shubert,  MO  1st  week   .  124.0% 

CINaNNATI— RKO  Keith's,  MO  2nd  week   .  96.0% 

DENVER— Denver    128  5% 

(DB)  Swing  Out  the  Blues  (Col.) 

DENVER— Esquire   85  1% 

(DB)  Swing  Out  the  Blues  (Col.) 

DENVER— Aladdin.  MO  1st  week   177  7% 

(DB)  Swing  Out  the  Blues  (Col.) 

INDIANAPOLIS— Loew's   113  6% 

(DB)  Swing  Out  the  Blues  (Col.) 

KANSAS  CITY— Midland   100  0% 

(DB)  Swing  Out  the  Blues  (Col.) 

MILWAUKEE— Palace   118  7% 

(DB)  Is  EveryboQ/  Happy?  (Col.) 


NEW  HAVEN— Loew's  Poli   91.4% 

(DB)  Swing  Out  the  Blues  (Col.) 

NEW  YORK— Music  Hall,  1st  week   ....  98.3% 

(SA)  Radio  Citv  Music  Hall  Stage  Presentation 

NEW  YORK— Music  Hall,  2nd  week    ....  93.1% 

(SA)  Radio  City  Music  Hall  Stage  Presentation 

NEW  YORK— Music  Hall,  3rd  week   ....  91.0% 

(SA)  Radio  City  Music  Hall  Stage  Presentation 

OMAHA— Brandeis   120.0% 

(DB)  Old  Acquaintance  (WB) 

PHILADELPHIA— Boyd,  1st  week   104.2% 

PHILADELPHIA— Boyd,  2nd  week   72.5% 

PITTSBURGH— Harris,  1st  week   172.0% 

PITTSBURGH— Harris,  2nd  week   107.5% 

SAN  FRANCISCO-Orpheum,  1st  week   .    .   .  129.1% 

(DB)  Crime  Doctor's  Strangest  Case  (Col.) 

SAN  FRANCISCO^Orpheum.  2nd  week   .   .   .  124.4% 

(DB)  Crime  Doctor's  Strangest  Case  (Col.) 

SAN  FRANCISCO— Orpheum,  3rd  week   .    .   .  120.4% 

(DB)  Crime  Doctor's  Strangest  Case  (Col.) 

SEATTLE— Liberty,  1st  week   152.1% 

SEATTLE— Liberty,  2nd  week   122.8% 

SEATTLE— Liberty,  3rd  week   97.8% 

WASHINGTON— Warner's  Earle,  1st  week   .  117.0% 

(SA)  Vaudeville 

WASHINGTON— Warner's  Earle,  2nd  week   .  101.(*% 

(SA)  Vaudeville 


THE  NORTH  STAR  ( RKO-Goldwyn ) 

Intermediate  Reports: 
Total  Gross  Tabulated  $610,250 
Comparative  Average  Gross  534,600 
Over-all  Performance  114.1% 


BUFFALO— 20th.Century,  1st  week   151.2% 

BUFFALO— 20th  Century,  2nd  week   134.4% 

BUFFALO— 20th  Century,  3rd  week     ....  67.2% 

CHICAGO'-Palace   140.0% 

(DB)  Sing  a  Jingle  (Univ.) 

CINaNNATI— RKO  Capitol,  1st  week   .   .   .  230.7% 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Capitol,  2nd  week  .   .   .  123.0% 

CINCINNATI— Keith's,  MO  1st  week   ....  100.0% 

INDIANAPOLIS— Indiana   104.3% 

LOS  ANGELES— Egyptian,  1st  week  124.5% 

LOS  ANGELES— Egyptian,  2nd  week  ....  75.4% 

LOS  ANGELES— Egyptian,  3rd  week   ....  70.0% 

LOS  ANGELES— Los  Angeles,  1st  week  .   .   .  170.2% 

LOS  ANGELES— Los  Angeles,  2nd  week  .      .  130.7% 

LOS  ANGELES— Los  Angeles,  3rd  week  .    .   .  125.0% 

LOS  ANGELES— Ritz,  1st  week   157.3% 

LOS  ANGELES— Ritz,  2nd  week   102.9% 

LOS  ANGELES— Ritz,  3rd  week   95.5% 

MILWAUKEE— Warner   142.8% 

(DB)  She's  for  Me  (Univ.) 

NEW  YORK— Palace,  1st  week*   204.4% 

NEW  YOiRK— Palace,  2nd  week   190.9% 

NEW  YORK— Palace,  3rd  week   150.0% 

NEW  YORK— Palace.  4th  week   150.0% 

NEW  YORK— Palace,  5th  week   113.6% 

NEW  YORK— Palace,  6th  week   100.0% 

NEW  YORK— Palace,  7th  week   77.2% 

NEW  YORK— Palace,  8th  week   90.9% 

NEW  YORK— Palace,  9th  week   118.1% 

OMAHA— Brandeis   143.6% 

(DB)  Gildersleeve  on  Broadway  (RKO) 

PHILADELPHIA— Mastbaum   135.3% 

SAN  FRANCISCO^Alcazar,  1st  week  ....  106.2% 

SAN  FRANCISCO^Alcazar,  2nd  week  ....  88.5% 

SAN  FRANCISCO^Alcazar,  3rd  week  ....  81.4% 

SAN  FRANCISCO— Alcazar,  4th  week  .    .    .    .  •  75.2% 

SAN  FRANCISCO— Paramount,  MO'  1st  week  120.3% 

ST.  LOUIS— Ambassador,  1st  week   136.0% 

(DB)  You're  a  Lucky  Fellow,  Mr.  Smith  (Univ.) 

ST.  LOUIS— Ambassador,  2nd  week   104.1% 

(DB)  You're  a  Lucky  Fellow,  Mr.  Smitli  (Univ.) 

WASHINGTON- RKO'  Keith's,  1st  week   .    .  169.4% 

WASHINGTON— RKO  Keith's,  2nd  week   .   .  127.1% 

WASHINGTON— RKO  Keith's,  3rd  week   .    .  80.5% 


MADAME  CURIE  (MGM) 

First  Reports: 
Total  Gross  Tabulated 
Comparative  Average  Gross 
Over-all  Performance 


$966,300 
842,350 
1 14.7% 


BALTIMORE— Century    133.3% 

CLEVELAND— Loew's  State   133.3% 

INDIANAPOLIS— Loew's   145  4% 

KANSAS  CITY— Midland   15o'o% 

LOS  ANGELES^-Chinese   101  4% 

LOS  ANGELES— Loew's  State   117.7% 

LOS  ANGELES— Uptown   97  0% 

LOS  ANGELES— Fox  Wilshire,  1st  week   .    .  106.4% 

LOS  ANGELES— Fox  Wilshore,  2nd  week   .    .  93.6% 

LOS  ANGELES— Fox  Wilshire,  3rd  week   .    .  106.4% 

LOS  ANGELES— Fox  Wilshire,  4th  week   .    .  82.5% 

LOS  ANGELES— Fox  Wilshire,  5th  week   .    ,  70.0% 

NEW  HAVEN— Loew's  Poli   106.7% 

NEW  YORK— Music  Hall,  1st  week     ....  112.8% 

(SA)  Radio  City  Music  Hall  Stage  Presentation 

NEW  YORK— Music  Hall,  2nd  week   ....  121.1% 

(SA)  Radio  City  Music  Hall  Stage  Presentation 

NEW  YORK— Music  Hall,  3rd  week   ....  119.0% 

(SA)  Radio  City  Music  Hall  Stage  Presentation 

NEW  YORK— Music  Hall,  4th  week   ....  105.5% 

(SA)  Radio  City  Music  Hall  Stage  Presentation 

NEW  YORK— Music  Hall,  Sth  week   ....  103.5% 

(SA)  Radio  City  Music  Hall  Stage  Presentation 

NEW  YORK— Music  Hall,  6th  week   ....  111.8% 

(SA)  Radio  City  Music  Hall  Stage  Presentation 

PHILADELPHIA— Boyd   139.4% 

PROVIDENCE— Loew's  State   154.8% 

ST.  LOUIS— Loew's  State    142.0% 

WASHINGTON— Loew's  Palace,  1st  week   .    .  113.6% 

WASHINGTON— Loew's  Palace,  2nd  week   .   .  113.6% 


NO  TIME  FOR  LOVE  (Para.) 

Intermediate  Reports : 
Total  Gross  Tabulated 
Comparative  Average  Gross 
Over-all  Performance 


$386,200 
364,200 
106.0% 


^Advanced  admissions,  road  show,  premiere  only. 


BALTIMORE— Stanley   100.5% 

BOSTON— Fenway    108.3% 

(DB)  Henry  Aldrich  Haunts  a  House  (Para.) 

BOSTON— Paramount   162.7% 

(DB)  Henry  Aldrich  Haunts  a  House  (Para.) 

BUFFALO— Great  Lakes   102.4% 

(DB)  Henry  Aldrich  Haunts  a  House  (Para.) 

BUFFALO— Hippodrome,  MO  1st  week   .   .   .  137.2% 

(DB)  Henry  Aldrich  Haunts  a  House  (Para.) 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Grand,  1st  week  ....  163.2% 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Grand.  2nd  week  ....  134.1% 

CLEVELANI>-Loew's  State   102.5% 

CLEVELAND'-Loew's  Stillman,  MO  1st  week  136.8% 

DENVER— Denham   123.9% 

LOS  ANGELES— Paramount  Downtown, 

1st  week   146.2% 

(DB)  Tornado  (Para.) 
LOS  ANGELES— Paramount  Downtown, 

2nd  week   122.3% 

(DB)  Tornado  (Para.) 
LOS  ANGELES— Paramount  Downtown, 

3rd  week   95.7% 

(DB)  Hands  Across  the  Border  (Rep.) 
LOS  ANGELES— Paramount  Hollywood. 

1st  week   136.7% 

LOS  ANGELES— Paramount  Hollywood, 

2nd  week   127.3% 

LOS  ANGELES— Paramount  Hollywood, 

3rd  week   108.4% 

NEW  HAVEN— Paramount   94.1% 

(DB)  Tornado  (Para.) 

NEW  YORK— Paramaunt,  1st  week     ....  98.3% 

(SA)  Woody  Herman's  Orch.,  Marion  Hutton 

NEW  YORK— Paramount,  2nd  week     ....  78.6% 

(SA)  Woody  Herman's  Orch.,  Marion  Hutton 

PHILADELPHIA— Boyd,  1st  week   .....  83.1% 

PHILADELPHIA— Boyd,  2nd  week      ....  90.5% 


February    5,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


67 


MANAGERS* 

ROUND  TABLE 


international  association  of  showmen  meeting  weekly 
in  MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD  for  mutual  aid  and  progress 


CHESTER  FRIEDMAN,  Editor 


GERTRUDE  MERRIAM.  Associate  Editor 


OP 


The  Quints  See  a  Movie 

After  entertaining  millions  of  movie-goers  with  their  antics 
on  the  motion  picture  screen  since  their  birth,  the  Dionne 
Quintuplets  have  finally  been  permitted  to  attend  a  theatre 
to  see  a  movie  for  themselves. 

The  occasion  was  the  screening  of  "Lassie  Come  hlome," 
at  the  Capitol  theatre,  North  Bay,  12  miles  from  their  birth- 
place, at  Callander,  Ont. 

The  children  were  delighted  with  the  story,  the  cast  and 
with  Yorkshire,  which  they  pronounced  "a  lovely  country."  In 
spite  of  their  varied  impressions  of  the  picture,  the  Quints 
were  unanimous  in  one:  their  attendance  at  the  theatre  was 
one  of  the  most  thrilling  events  of  their  nine  years  of  existence. 

They  admired  the  architectural  points  of  the  theatre  and 
peered  eagerly  over  the  railing  of  the  balcony,  where  they 
viewed  the  picture,  to  watch  the  crowds  below.  They  want  to 
see  many  more  movies. 

Manager  Jack  Nelson,  of  the  Capitol,  enjoyed  the  thrill  of 
having  the  Quints  rename  their  own  canine  pet  "Lassie," 
because  the  famous  young  ladies  felt  Lassie  was  more  suit- 
able. Nelson  capitalized  on  the  occurrence,  landing  a  two- 
column  story  in  the  North  Bay  Daily  Nugget. 


Exception  Is  the  Rule 

Proving  that  "exception  is  the  rule,"  we  now  have  con- 
crete evidence  that  at  least  one  former  theatreman  Is  engaged 
in  pursuits  with  which  he  Is  familiar,  since  entering  the  Service. 
The  subject  of  this  unusual  case  is  Robert  hi.  Benson,  Technical 
Sergeant,  U.  S.  Marine  Corps. 

Before  the  war,  Benton  worked  for  Fox  West  Coast  Theatres 
and  Universal  Studios.  He  has  appeared  on  the  screen  in 
many  major  productions  and  has  managed  the  Colony,  Loma 
and  Langemont  theatres,  in  Hollywood. 

His  present  assignment  Is  not  an  easy  one,  although  it  at 
least  represents  one  with  which  he  is  familiar  through  his 
previous  experience.  His  is  the  responsibility  of  supplying 
Marine  Corps  camps  scattered  through  the  Southwest  Pacific 
with  more  than  a  thousand  shows  a  week.  With  a  small  staff, 
Benton  has  done  such  an  efficient  job  that  promotion  has 
been  rapid. 

The  former  theatreman  has  compiled  one  of  the  most  com- 
plete film  libraries  In  the  Pacific.  It  includes  hundreds  of  first- 


rate  films,  three-reel  movies  which  are  supplied  free  of  charge 
by  the  Motion  Picture  Industry,  as  well  as  training  films. 

A  single  camp  may  require  as  many  as  40  different  pictures 
a  week,  some  of  them  showing  every  night. 

Three  trucks  are  used  every  day  to  collect  and  redistribute 
shows  from  one  camp  to  another. 

In  Benton's  opinion,  "motion  pictures  are  only  second  in  im- 
portance to  food  to  all  the  leathernecks  down  here  .  .  .  when 
I  enlisted  in  the  Marine  Corps,  I  thought  I  was  getting  away 
from  the  movies.  Now  I  have  more  pictures  than  I  ever  saw 
as  a  theatre  manager  or  at  the  studio." 


The  Managers  Write 

J.  S.  Oppenhelm,  Jr.,  manager  of  the  Academy  theatre, 
Waukegan,  III.,  forwards  some  of  his  recent  activities,  along 
with  a  note  which  concludes: 

"As  always,  the  attendance  was  up  to  expectation,  which 
might  now  be  the  answer  to  the  sour-grape  boys  who  don't 
believe  in  old  time  showmanship. 

"I  am  grateful  to  my  boss,  Mr.  M.  M.  Reubens,  who  recently 
sent  a  letter  to  all  managers  In  the  Great-States  Theatres  and 
made  a  point  of  mentioning  that  there  is  no  moratorium  on 
Showmanship. 

"The  fellows  who  are  breaking  into  the  business  had  better 
learn  that  you  can't  post  a  one-sheet  and  expect  them  to 
come  in.  Grosses  may  be  up  but  I  don't  believe  that  there  is 
a  theatre  in  the  country  that  Is  playing  to  absolute  capacity 
every  day,  and  until  a  manager  can  say  he  could  not  handle 
anotner  person  he  had  better  prove  himself." 


Managers  who  are  still  plagued  with  a  vandal  problem 
may  find  effective  relief  with  a  device  used  successfully  by 
Leonard  Kraska,  manager  of  the  Dorchester  theatre,  Dor- 
chester, Mass. 

Kraska  named  the  leader  of  the  worst  gang  of  hoodlums  as 
"chief  of  police".  The  "chief"  called  a  meeting  at  the  theatre 
with  representatives  of  all  the  other  gangs  in  town. 

Kraska  then  explained  to  the  boys  how  vandalism  disturbed 
war  workers 'and  diverted  attention  needed  to  win  the  war. 
Each  boy  was  put  on  his  honor,  and  the  system  appears  to  be 
working  well.  Since  the  idea  was  started,  there  has  been  no 
Instance  of  vandalism  In  the  theatre. 

—CHESTER  FRIEDMAN 


68 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    5,  1944 


FRONTS  THAT  ATTRACT 


J.  D.  Woodard,  advertising  manager  for  L.  &  J.  theatres,  Atlanta, 
likes  attractive  fronts  like  the  two  above  at  Capitol  and  Roxy,  which 
he  created. 


To  exploit  "Lassie",  C.  T.  Spencer,  at  the  Capitol, 
Hannilton,  Ont.,  used  a  young  man  and  a  dog  who 
resembled  stars  of  the  attraction  as  a  street  ballyhoo. 


Noel  Meadow,  of  the  Stanley,  New  York,  conceived  the  idea  for  this 
effective  front  for  "Ravaged  Earth". 


Ted  Trust,  of  the 
Brooklyn  Strand 
theatre,  had  an 
effective  cutout 
with  flashing  eyes 
on  the  marquee 
for  current  show- 
ing of  "In  Old 
Oklahoma". 


^HiiriMi 


An  attractive  foyer  display  stressed  war  commodity 
conservation  and  plugged  "Let's  Face  It"  for 
Louis  Simons  at  the  Park,  Windsor,  Ont. 


Street  Ballyhoo 
used  by  Charles 
Ramb,  Capitol, 
Philadelphia,  em- 
ployed Messer- 
schmidt  plane 
which  was  shot 
down  over  Russia 
to  exploit  "Bat- 
tle of  Russia". 


Februarys.    1944  MANAGERS'ROUNDTABLE  69 

Adapting  Copy  to  Space 


Rearranging  the  material  at  hand  to 
accentuate  certain  selling  features 
and  provide  variation  in  appearance. 
Seventh  of  a  series  by  George 
Schutz,  editor  of  Better  Theatres. 


Love  oqafmrth^  World 


TODAY 


STRAM 


Fl^l  -  SAT'-  SUM 


A NUMBER  of  aims  in  making  an  advertising  layout  are 
illustrated  in  the  three  patterns  shown.  Initially,  they 
represent  a  sequence  of  ads  on  one  attraction,  indicat- 
ing adaptation  of  space  and  material  to  the  purposes  of  the 
message  (I)  on  the  day  before  opening,  (2)  on  opening  day,  and 
(3)  toward  the  end  of  the  run.  It  is  not  intended,  of  course, 
to  prescribe  such  a  series  as  a  matter  of  advertising  policy; 
it  Is  a  logical  and  common  practice,  however,  and  here  It  lends 
itself  to  a  demonstration  of  various  ideas  with  which  we  have 
been  concerned  In  previous  discussions  of  the  physical  adver- 
tisement. One  of  these  is  balance;  in  shifting  the  order  of  the 
material,  each  major  element  has  been  balanced  against  the 
other,  and  the  minor  elements  fitted  In,  considering  both 
"weight"  and  form,  so  as  to  avoid  what  perhaps  we  may  here 
call  "lopsidedness,"  or  similarly  awkward  effects.  The  sequence 
also  shows  convenient  adaptation  of  a  press  book  accessory  to 
changes  in  the  copy  elements  resulting  from  changes  In  em- 
phasis; and,  of  course,  coorelative  adaptation  of  type  size, 
style  and  position  Is  illustrated.  Lines  in  the  sketches,  such  as 
those  between  the  star  names  and  the  title  in  Layout  I,  and 
at  several  locations  in  the  other  layouts,  Indicate  copy  suited 
to  the  smaller  faces  of  type — descriptive  phrases,  names  of 
featured  players,  the  name  of  the  producer,  director,  etc.; 
references  to  associated  elements  of  the  program,  prices,  show 
hours,  etc.  Press  book  ads,  which  are  usually  available  more 
or  less  complete  and  for  various  sizes  of  space,  are  often  more 
dramatic  and  distinguished  than  those  that  can  be  locally  con- 
trived, especially  In  small  towns;  but  few  theatre  managers  can 
always  depend  entirely  on  the  press  book,  and  often  they 
must  use  newspapers  with  limited  facilities.  Nothing  in  either 
type  or  ornament  is  resorted  to  In  these  Illustrations  which  is 
unlikely  to  be  unavailable  in  any  newspaper  plant. 


Bettg  Sutton 

/.lOVE 
WOULD 


Love  €tqaitfSt  IhsHtoiH 


® 


70 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    5,  1944 


Exploiting  the  New  Films 


How  the  recent  pictures  are  being  sold  at 
the  first  run  and  pre-release  date  showings 


NONE  SHALL  ESCAPE 


CARLSON'S  MAKIN 
ISLAND  RAIDERS! 


THE  SCREEN'S  OREATEST  OlORT  STORYI 


RANDOIIPH  SCOTT 

NOMBCERY.JnAUNaiRtK 

i.(on«tNofih  lidiflrdUM  UbwnSlfnt 

GRACE  MlDONAlO 

nocucio  iH  coonUTioN 

VfltH  inl  UNMIO 
lUTIt  MAIINII 


PARAMOUNT     S\atH  Thursday 


MARSH)^  hunt-  AliXANDER  KNOX -'HENRY  TRAVERS-  ERIK  ROlf 


fnix  VtV  by  Uttm  Cot*  .;iMncM  by  ANDRC  DC  TOTH  .  Pr«luc*<)  by  SAMUEL  BISCHOFF  .  A  COLUMBrA  PICTURE 

Starr* 

FRIDAY 


EM&OEWt 


2n4  HITI 

"SWING  OUT 
THE  BLUES" 

«0T  HATNtS  LTNN  MtllICK 
IME  VAGAIONOi-JAHIS  CAUm 


Above,  advance  ad  used  for  "None  Shall  Escape" 
at  E.  M.  Loeu/s,  Hartford,  Conn.  Left,  Manager 
W.  Brady's  three-column  advance  on  "Gung  Ho" 
at  the  Paramount,  Atlanta. 


v 

Boston  was  the  hub  of  a  day  and  date  en- 
gagement for  "None  Shall  Escape"  with 
manager  Ed  Allen  of  the  Majestic  theatre 
and  Al  Parris,  manager  of  the  Normandie, 
teaming  up  with  excellent  results  in  a  bril- 
liant campaign.  Full  advantage  was  taken 
of  the  press  local  and  radio  facilities. 

To  inaugurate  the  campaign,  members  of 
the  press  and  radio  were  invited  to  a  lunch- 
eon-forum-screening at  one  of  the  city's 
leading  hotels.  Quentin  Reynolds,  noted 
war  correspondent  and  national  networks 
news  commentator,  was  guest  of  honor  and 
spoke  of  his  personal  experiences  with  the 
Nazi  war  criminals. 

The  highlight  of  the  actual  campaign,  sell- 
ing the  picture  to  the  public,  was  a  tie-in 
with  the  Fourth  War  Loan  drive  which  re- 
sulted in  the  sale  of  $1,000,000  in  Bonds. 
Arrangements  were  made  for  a  rehearsal 
''trial"  of  the  Axis  war  criminals  in  the 
United  States  Federal  Court  in  that  city. 

The  feature  of  the  trial  that  garnered 
reams  of  attention  from  the  newspapers, 
including  front-page  breaks,  was  the  selec- 
tion of  the  jury.  In  a  widely  heralded  news- 
paper and  radio  campaign,  places  on  the 
jury  were  offered  to  each  person  who  pur- 
chased a  $10,000  War  Bond  with  the  result 
that  the  final  stunt  showed  a  group  of  100 
who  furthered  the  war  effort  by  loaning 
Uncle  Sam  $1,000,000. 

Federal  Judges  Preside 
At  Mock  Trial 

The  trial  was  presided  over  by  two  Fed- 
eral judges  with  the  chief  trial  attorney  for 
Suffolk  County,  Mass.,  as  the  chief  prosecu- 
tor, assisted  by  two  Boston  judges.  Repre- 
sentatives of  the  United  Nations  sat  in  on 
the  trial  as  observers  and  heard  the  prose- 
cutor present  witnesses  who  recently  fled 
Europe  relate  their  first-hand  experiences 


with  Nazi  bestiality.  As  exhibit  "A,"  "None 
Shall  Escape"  was  screened  in  the  courtroom 
after  the  testimony  of  the  witnesses  had 
been  heard. 

In  addition  to  an  extensive  newspaper 
advertising  campaign,  the  Boston  premiere 
of  "None  Shall  Escape"  was  backed  up  by 
comprehensive  radio  coverage.  All  five  sta- 
tions in  Boston  carried  scores  of  spot  an- 
nouncements and  gave  generously  of  free 
time  to  the  promotion  of  the  "million  dollar 
jury"  and  the  showing  of  the  picture. 
WCOP  carried  five  minute  interviews  on 
four  different  days;  WEEI,  WBZ  and 
WHLH  mentioned  the  jury  and  the  picture 
on  many  of  their  newsbroadcasts ;  -and 
WMEX  broadcast  the  trial  from  the  Federal 
Court  for  one  full  hour,  giving  the  picture 


many  plugs.  In  return  for  the  exclusive 
right  to  broadcast  the  trial,  WMEX  made 
special  announcements  and  carried  the  story 
daily  on  its  news  broadcasts. 

Other  outstanding  features  of  the  Boston 
campaign  were  the  distribution  of  the  "None 
Shall  Escape"  War  Bond  poster  and  an 
unusually  large  street  banner  in  the  dovsm- 
town  section  of  the  city. 

Hartford  Campaign  Nets 
Newspaper,  Radio  Time 

The  campaign  in  Hartford,  Conn.,  was 
handled  by  George  Landers,  manager  of  the 
E.  M.  Loew's  theatre  and  netted  the  picture 
extra  newspaper  space  and  radio  time.  As 
in  Boston,  the  transcription  made  by  General 
Marcel  De  Baer,  Belgian  judge  and  chair- 
man of  the  Inter-Allied  Commission  for  the 
Prosecution  of  the  Axis  War  Crimitials, 
was  aired  with  the  General  giving  the  pic- 
ture generous  play.  A  half-hour  radio 
forum  on  WTHT  was  held  with  noted  lo- 
calities participating;  WNBC  ran  the  Gen- 
eral De  Baer  transcription.  One  hundred 
and  fifty  "None  Shall  Escape"  War  Bond 
posters  were  posted  on  traffic  poles  in  the 
center  of  the  city  by  the  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce. 

In  Stamford,  Conn.,  manager  Irving 
Cooper  of  the  Palace  theatre  garnered  an 
editorial  in  the  Stamford  Advocate  and  free 
radio  time  in  addition  to  covering  the  busi- 
ness section  with  the  War  Bond  posters  and 
gaining  columns  of  extra  newspaper  space. 

Al  Anders  of  the  Bijou,  Springfield, 
Mass.,  and  Leo  Young  of  the  Strand  thea- 
tre Portland,  Me.,  aroused  their  communi- 
ties with  equally  fine  campaigns  that  includ- 
ed extra  newspaper  space,  additional  mer- 

(Contimted  on  opposite  page) 


Chinese  girls,  bearitig  "Gung  Ho"  banner,  precede  parade  for  Fourth  War  Loan  Rally  in 
New  York's  Chinatown.  This  photo  broke  in  most  of  the  city's  dailies. 


February    5,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


71 


New  York  Chinatown  adopts  ''Gung  Ho''  slogan 


(Continued  from  opposite  page) 

chant's  window  cooperation  and  radio  time. 
Both  towns  used  the  General  De  Baer  radio 
speech  as  well  as  the  regular  spot  announce- 
ment transcriptions. 


11 


CUNC  HO 


A  strong  campaign  to  put  over  the  title, 
"Gung  Ho !"  was  used  by  Manager  William 
C.  Brady  at  the  Paramount  theatre, 
Atlanta. 

The  battle  cry  of  the  Marine  Raiders  was 
heard  200  times  in  short  radio  spot  an- 
nouncements. Sixteen  free  radio  programs, 
each  of  15  minutes,  were  arranged.  On  two 
of  them,  Major  White,  in  charge  of  Marine 
public  relations  in  Atlanta,  who  has  seen 
service  in  the  Pacific,  reviewed  the  picture 
from  the  Marine  angle.  He  was  also  inter- 
viewed by  a  radio  commentator  as  to  the  au- 
thenticity of  the  picture  and  the  origin  of  the 
tile  "Gung  Ho  !"  Women  Marine  officers 
used  the  theme  of  the  picture  as  an  induce- 
ment to  encourage  enlistments  in  the  Wom- 
en's Reserve. 

Six  theatre  ushers  stencilled  the  sidewalks 
with  the  title  "Gung  Ho!".  Small  cards 
were  printed,  bearing  just  the  two  words, 
"Gung  Ho!"  These  were  placed  in  hotel 
mail  boxes. 

Marine  Color  Guard, 
Equipment  Exhibit 

Every  night  at  9  o'clock,  when  crowds 
were  at  their  peak,  a  squad  of  Marines 
presented  colors  and  a  woman  Marine  officer 
made  a  short  talk  to  encourage  women  to  en- 
list. Two  attractive  Marine  officers  were 
in  constant  attendance  at  an  equipment  ex- 
hibit in  the  lobby  of  the  theatre. 

Students  of  Georgia  Tech  and  those  in 
several  high  schools  were  told  of  the  battle 


cry  of  Carlson's  Raiders  and  were  encour- 
•aged  to  yell  it  as  often  as  possible  on  the 
campus  as  well  as  on  the  streets. 

Bergman  Coordinates 
New  York  Campaign 

Publicity,  advertising,  exploitation  and 
radio  were  all  coordinated  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Maurice  Bergman  at  Universal  to 
put  over  the  title  "Gung  Ho !"  in  New  York 
and  make  the  city  "Gung  Ho!"  conscious 
for  its  opening  at  the  Criterion  theatre. 

The  cooperation  of  the  Treasury  Depart- 
ment was  obtained  and  Chinatown's  War 
Bond  Rally  used  "Gung  Ho!"  as  its  slo- 
gan. Since  the  slogan  means  "Work  To- 
gether," it  fitted  in  perfectly  with  the  spirit 
of  the  rally.  The  newspapers  thought  so 
well  of  the  adaptation  of  "Gung  Ho !"  as  a 
slogan  for  the  War  Bond  Rally  that  they 
used  it  in  their  accounts,  and  pictures  of 
the  rally  in  the  papers  featured  "Gung  Ho !" 
The  rally  started  with  a  parade  led  off  by 
a  United  States  Army  Band,  marking  the 


,  *  wP^w^^J  *<(«» 
A  wtn  Hwm«  K!it>  »!  m  mum*  or  m  itum  ^mmt 


onmG  AT  m  mrm 


Local  Chamber  of  Commerce 
posted  150  posters  on  street 
posts  for  George  Landers,  at 
E.  M.  Loeur's,  Hartford,  for 
"None  Shall  Escape". 


Manager  William  Saxton  and  publicist  Ger- 
trude Bunchez  featured  some  outstanding 
■window  tieups  for  an  advance  plug 
advertising  the  opening  of  "Madame  Curie", 
at  Loev/s  Century  theatre,  in  Baltimore, 
one  of  which  is  shown,  above.  Baltimore 
campaign  included  school  tieups. 


Manager  William 
Brady's  attractive 
lobby  exhibit 
plugging  the  en- 
gagement of 
"Gung  Ho",  at 
the  Paramount 
theatre,  Atlanta. 
All  equipment 
was  borrowed 
from  the  U.  S. 
Marine  Corps, 
with  Marines  as- 
signed to  explain 
the  mechanisms. 


first  appearance  of  a  military  band  in  the 
district.  A  feature  of  the  parade  was  a  24- 
foot  banner  bearing  the  words  "Gung  Ho !". 
This  banner  appeared  in  all  the  pictures  tak- 
en by  the  newspapers. 

Principal  speaker  at  the  rally  was  Mayor 
F.  H.  La  Guardia  of  New  York,  who  ac- 
cepted a  "Gung  Ho !"  scroll  which  had  been 
blessed  at  a  ceremonial  featuring  the  "Dance 
of  the  Dragons,"  a  Chinese  religious  rite. 
•  The  rally  ended  with  a  special  preview 
showing  of  "Gung  Ho!"  in  the  Chinese 
school,  for  300  Chinese  dignitaries. 

Teaser  ads  appeared  in  all  New  York 
newspapers  bearing  only  the  words  "Gung 
Ho !"  For  a  week  in  advance,  WNEW  an- 
nouncers repeated  the  words  "Gung  Ho!" 
one  hundred  times  a  day  without  revealing 
what  they  meant. 

Menus  were  prepared  bearing  copy  urging 
the  "Gung  Ho!"  spirit  in  restaurants,  ask- 
ing indulgence  for  slow  service,  etc.  Twen- 
ty-five thousands  of  these  were  distributed 
and  used  in  restaurants  all  over  the  city. 
These  menus  gave  full  credit  to  the  picture. 

Thousands  of  stickers  of  various  sizes 
with  copy  reading  "Gung  Ho!  means 
Work  Together"  were  put  on  windows, 
doors,  taxicabs,  on  bulletin  boards  in  war 
plants  and  on  mirrors  in  various  spots. 


"WHAT  A  WOMAN" 

The  "What  a  Woman!"  contest  outlined 
in  the  pressbook  was  hooked  in  by  Manager 
Al  Anders  of  the  Bijou  theatre,  Springfield, 
Mass.,  with  Ethel  Henin's  "To  the  Ladies" 
program  on  radio  station  WMAS. 

Daily  broadcasts,  starting  one  week  in 
advance,  plugged  the  attraction. 

McKenna  Ties  Up  With 
Magazine  Distributor 

George  McKenna,  manager,  and  Bill  Brer- 
ton,  publicist,  of  the  Lafayette  theatre,  Buf- 
falo, picked  up  the  "What  a  Woman  !''- 
Woman's  Magazine  tie-up  as  suggested  in 
the  pressbook  and  made  arrangements  for 
the  local  wholesale  magazine  distributor  to 
banner  his  five  trucks  with  copy  selling  the 
picture  and  the  contest.  In  addition,  150 
specially  printed  14  x  17  cards  were  tacked 
on  as  many  dealers  newsstands. 


72 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    5,  1944 


Buffalo  Mayor 
Proclaims  "Jack 
London'^  Week 


Quigley  Awards  Fortnighters 

The  men  and  women  listed  below  have  submitted  evidence  of  showmanship  within  the  past 
fortnight,  which  justifies  their  names  being  placed  on  the  list  of  the  outstanding  showmen. 


ELMER  ADAMS,  JR. 
Yucca,  Midland,  Tex. 

JOSEPH  BOYLE 
Broadway,  Norwich,  Conn. 

GERTRUDE  BUNCHEZ 
Century,  Baltinnore,  Md. 

LOU  COHEN 

Poli,  Hartford,  Conn. 

D.  W.  DILLENBECK 
Rialto,  Bushnell,  IlL 

CARL  EGAN 

Palace,  Calgary,  Ont.,  Canada 

DICK  FELDMAN 
Keith,  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

SAM  FITZSIMMONS 
Rialto,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

SAM  OILMAN 
Loew's,  Harrisburg,  Pa. 


FRANCIS  GOOCH 
Houlton,  Houlton,  Me. 

MEL  JOLLEY 

Marks,  Oshawa,  Ont.,  Canada 

GENE  KILBURG 
Palace,  Milwaukee,  Wis. 

JAMES  KING 
Keith,  Boston,  Mass. 

SID  KLEPER 

Bijou,  New  Haven,  Conn. 

LOUIS  E.  MAYER 
Palace,  Cleveland,  O. 

RITA  MORTON 

RKO  Albee,  Providence,  R.  1. 

MIKE  NICHOLAS 
Century,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

CHARLES  PINCys 

Utah,  Salt  LakeT^ity,  Utah 


JESSIE  PULCIPHER 
Capitol,  Washington,  D.  C. 

GEORGE  PETERS 
Loew's,  Richmond,  Va. 

KEN  ROCKWELL 
Palace,  Jamestown,  N.  Y. 

JOSEPH  SAMARTANO 
Palace,  Meriden,  Conn. 

BOYD  SCOTT 

Granada,  Springfield,  Mo. 

LOUIS  SIMONS 

Park,  Windsor,  Ont.,  Canada 

MOLLIE  STICKLES 
Strand,  Waterbury,  Conn. 

RONALD  STURGESS 
Holland,  Bellefontaine,  O. 

C.  B.  TAYLOR 
Shea's,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 


Full  co-operation  of  Mayor  Joseph  J.  Kel- 
ley,  several  effective  tie-ups  and  numerous 
attractive  window  displays  were  among  the 
exploitation  highlights  put  over  by  Adver- 
tising Manager  Charles  Taylor,  of  Shea's 
Buffalo  theatres,  Buffalo.  N.  Y.,  for  the 
opening  of  "Jack  London". 

With  the  tlieatre  celebrating  its  18th  birth- 
day, Taylor  got  the  mayor  to  issue  a  procla- 
mation declaring  the  week  as  "Jack  London 
Week,"  urging  all  citizens  to  see  the  picture 
and  requesting  merchants  to  display  flags 
and  banners  in  honor  of  the  men  of  the 
Merchant  Marine.  The  stunt  got  plenty  of 
local  newspaper  publicity  and  plugs  on  local 
radio  stations. 

Special  half-sheet  cards  were  placed  in 
book  store  windows  throughout  the  city. 
The  Adams  Hat  tie-up  accounted  for  extra 
window  displays  utilizing  a  special  one- 
sheet  in  addition  to  the  regular  cards  ar- 
ranged for  this  national  tie-up.  The  Adams 
ads  on  Michael  O'Shea  broke  in  local  dailies 
and  the  theatre  tacked  right  under  their  ads 
the  following:  "Be  sure  to  see  Michael 
O'Shea  in  'Tack  London'  at  the  Buffalo 
theatre." 

Special  book  marks  were  distributed  at  all 
public  libraries.  More  than  three  thousand, 
paper  napkins  were  distributed  at  restau- 
rants, cafes,  drug  store  counters,  and  two 
hundred  tack  cards  were  placed  on  news- 
stands. The  regular  window,  cards  were  dis- 
played in  all  merchant  windows. 

The  front  of  the  theatre  displayed  a  blow- 
up of  the  mayor's  proclamation. 


Drops  Leaflets  from  Planes 
For  "Jack  London"  Date 

One  of  the  highlights  of  Ted  Teschner's 
campaign  on  "Jack  London"  at  Loew's 
Valentine,  in  Toledo  was  a  tieup  with  the 
Navy  Recruiting  Waves.  Civilian  Defense 
planes  dropped  100,000  leaflets  from  the  sky. 
attracting  considerable  attention  to  the  date 
A  one-minute  interview  over  WTOL  was 
had  at  a  breakfast  sponsored  by  the  local 
manufacturing  plants.  A  special  recording 
was  made  of  the  breakfast  broadcast  and  the 
transcription  was  replayed  at  all  high  schools, 
inasmuch  as  several  of  the  high  school  boys 
were  on  the  program  that  morning. 

A  recruiting  booth  was  set  up  in  the  lobbj 
of  the  theatre  in  conjunction  with  the  run- 
ning of  the  short  subject  on  the  same  pro- 
gram of  "Chief  Neely's  Report  to  the  Na- 
tion." 


Daley  Gets  Free  Plug 
With  Radio  Tiein 

In  connection  with  the  showing  of  "Prin- 
cess O'Rourke"  at  the  Imperial  theatre,  To- 
ronto, manager  Tom  Daley  garnered  a  lot  of 
newspaper  space,  including  stories  and  pic- 
tures, as  well  as  a  broadcast  from  the  thea- 
tre lobby,  via  the  Alka-Seltzer  quiz  pro- 
gram, by  inviting  the  O'Rourkes  of  Toronto 
to  a  showing  of  the  picture. 

The  event  uncovered  31  O'Rourke  families 


with  131  members  in  Toronto,  and  various 
human  interest  angles  were  developed  for 
newspaper  publicity. 

Twenty-five  music  stores  had  windows  and 
departmental  flash  on  "Honorable  Moon,"  a 
song  number  from  the  film;  a  six-sheet 
occupied  valuable  space  in  the  window  of  a 
large  department  store,  and  the  local  re- 
cruiting branch  of  the  Canadian  Army  cov- 
ered 50  choice  locations  with  jumbo  cards 
calling  attention  to  "Women  at  War,"  which 
was  shown  on  the  same  program. 


Identification  Contest  Used 
For  "Youngest  Profession" 

Clarence  Wasserman  at  the  Tulare  theatre, 
in  Tulare,  Cal.,  for  his  date  on  "The  Young- 
est Profession"  promoted  12  merchants  on 
an  identification  contest.  The  device  con- 
sisted of  securing  the  signatures  of  each 
merchant  and  using  data  about  these  men 
in  each  ad.  However,  the  signatures  were 
scrambled  and  the  contestants  had  to  list 
them  in  the  proper  ads;  in  most  cases,  a  key 
word  was  given.  A  $25  Bond  was  the  first 
prize  with  passes  going  to  runners-up.  The 
entire  expense  of  the  contest  was  borne  by 
the  merchants. 

To  create  further  interest  in  the  picture, 
Clarence  had  a  handwriting  analyst  in  his 
foyer  during  the  run  of  the  picture.  Patrons 
who  desired  readings  were  given  them  on 
the  purchase  of  at  least  $1  in  War  Stamps. 


Cannpbell  Rebooks  "Dunnbo" 
For  Special  Kiddie  Show 

When  Les  V.  Campbell  of  the  Strand 
theatre,  in  Trail,  B.  C,  was  recently  play- 
ing "Behind  the  Rising  Sun,"  he  dropped 
that  feature  at  his  special  Saturday  kiddie 
matinee  showing  and  booked  "Dumbo"  for 
the  occasion.  Special  heralds  directed  at  the 
kiddies  were  distributed  in  advance  to  sell 
the  show. 


Nurses  Invited  to  See 
"So  Proudly  We  Hail" 

A  week  in  advance  of  "So  Proudly  We 
Hail",  David  Dallas,  city  manager  of  the 
H.  J.  Griffith  theatres,  in  Manhattan,  Kan., 
invited  nurses  from  the  local  hospital  to  at- 
tend his  Sunday  matinee  in  uniform  and  in 
a  body.  The  theatre  was  roped  off  for  the 
nurses'  use.  A  recruiting  drive  for  nurses 
was  also  held  with  display  posters  and  litera- 
ture of  the  Red  Cross  used  in  the  lobby. 
Each  evening  during  the  run  of  the  picture 
a  member  of  the  VNC  was  in  attendance. 

For  his  date  on  "Destroyer,"  Dallas  ar- 
ranged for  a  Navy  Night  and  invited  mem- 
bers of  the  Recruiting  Service  to  make 
speeches  from  the  stage.  A  special  Navy 
lobby  display  was  constructed  for  the  oc- 
casion and  a  ship  model  contest  was  also 
held. 


Hillhouse  Lands  Readers 

J.  D.  Hillhouse  at  the  State  theatre,  in 
Galveston,  Tex.,  arranged  a  special  screen- 
ing of  "Youth  in  Crisis"  for  the  clergy  arid 
members  of  the  Parent-Teachers  Council. 
As  a  result  9f  the  screening,  readers  were 
landed  in  the  local  papers. 


THEATRE  MANAGEMENT  RECORD 
AND  ANNUAL  TAX  REGISTER 

■  Easy  accounting  system  that  enables 
you  to  keep  an  accurate,  complete  and  up- 
to-the-minute  record  of  the  ,  Q  0 
business    of    your    theatre.  Postptid 

QUICLEY  BOOKSHOP 

ROCKEFELLER   CENTER.    NEW   YORK  (20) 


February    5,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


73 


MORE  APPROVAL  VOICED  BY 
JUDGES  AND  MANAGERS 


LEON  J.  BAMBERGER 

Sales  Promotion  Manager 
RKO  Radio  Pictures,  Inc. 

The  Managers'  Round  Table  has  been 
of  such  service  to  the  industry  that  it  has 
become  an  almost  indispensable  institu- 
tion. 

Through  the  Quigley  Awards,  the 
Round  Table  not  only  provides  a  great 
incentive  to  all  theatre  managers  and  ad- 
vertising men  to  demonstrate  their  show- 
manship ability,  but  it  serves  as  an  educa- 
tional force  in  the  necessary  constant  de- 
velopment of  new  showmen. 

Each  time  I  have  been  called  upon  to 
serve,  I  have  found  campaigns  offering 
entirely  new  angles  of  presentation  and 
coverage,  and  they  are  the  most  conclu- 
sive evidence  that  the  so-called  "good  old- 
fashioned  showmanship"  is  hy  no  means 
dead. 

W.  F.  RODGERS 

General  Manager,  Sales  and  Distribution 
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  Pictures 

I  will  be  glad  to  serve  as  Judge  on  the 
Committee  for  1944. 

In  commenting  upon  your  -activities  in 
this  direction,  I  can  only  repeat  that 
which  I  have  said  frequently  on  other 
occasions,  your  publication  and  its  per- 
sonnel are  to  be  commended  for  their  ef- 
forts which  are  so  'responsible  for  the 
development  of  outstanding  showman 
ideas  in  making  it  possible  for  outstand- 
ing achievements  to  be  recognized. 

J.  R.  GRAINGER 

President 

Republic  Pictures  Corp. 

Knowing  how  important  a  part  -the 
exhibitor's  showmanship  plays  in  our 
business,  I  am  very  enthusiastic  about 
the  purpose  of  the  Quigley  Awards.  I 
know  for  years,  your  Awards  have  stimu- 
lated showmanship,  and  have  brought 
consequent  increased  returns  to  the  box 
offices  of  the  nation. 

I  would  like  very  much  to  serve  as  a 
judge  on  your  Committee  for  1944. 

TED  SCHLANGER 

Zone  Manager 

Warner  Circuit,  Philadelphia 

I  wish  to  advise  you  that  I  am  very 
pleased  to  serve  on  the  Committee  of 
Judges  for  the  Quigley  Award  Compe- 
titions. 

The  Quigley  Awards  in  the  past  have 
been  a  great  force  for  good,  inspiring 
managers  and  exhibitors  to  greater  effort 
in  showmanship  and  exploitation.  This 
year,  more  than  ever,  because  of  the 
influx  of  new  and  untried  manpower  in 


'AWARDS  SERVE  TO 
INSPIRE  EFFORT" 

As  a  long-time  admirer  of  the 
Quigley  Awards,  I  consider  it  a 
genuine  pleasure  to  accept  your  in- 
vitation to  serve  on  the  Quigley 
Awards  Committee  for  1944. 

Competitive  showmanship  is  as 
healthy  as  competitive  sports,  and  I 
have  always  felt  the  Quigley  Awards 
definitely  served  to  inspire  exhibitors 
to  make  that  extra  exploitation  effort 
that  generally  means  extra  business. 
—FRANK  P.  ROSENBERG,  Director 
of  Advertising,  Publicity  and  Exploit- 
ation, Columbia  Pictures  Corp. 


our  theatres,  the  Quigley  Awards  take 
on  added  importance  and,  in  my  opinion, 
should  and  will  prove  a  great  asset  to 
our  industry. 

HAL  HORNE 

Director  Advertising  and  Publicity 
Twentieth  Century-Fox  Film  Corp. 

I  will  be  happy  to  serve  as  a  judge  on 
the  Quigley  Awards  Committee  for  1944. 

ELLIOTT  L  JOHNSON 

Publicity  Director,  Malco 
Memphis,  Tenn. 

The  Quigley  Awards  have  definitely 
proven  their  worth  in  causing  theatre 
men,  and  women,  to  strive  to  greater 
efforts  in  exploiting  tl'feir  theatre  and 
product.  I  feel  sure  that  the  Quigley 
Awards  are  a  pronounced  help  in  the 
advancement  of  showmen. 

This  fine  work  on  the  part  of  the 
Motion  Picture  Herald  is  a  fine  thing 
for  show  business  and  showmanship.  The 
keen  competition  no  doubt  causes  all  who 
take  part  to  create  better  campaigns. 

Winning  one  of  these  awards  is  an- 
other thrill  of  being  in  this  great  busi- 
ness and  anyone  who  receives  the  honor 
should  be  very  proud. 

D.  M.  DILLENBECK 

Manager,  Rialto 
Bushnell,  111. 

I  feel  that  the  Quigley  Awards  have 
been  most  responsible  for  my  enthusiasm 
in  selling  pictures.  It's  the  thrill  one  gets 
from  recognition  of  one's  effort,  that  spurs 
one  to  harder  endeavor. 

And  too,  my  circuit  heads  have  many 
times,  complimented  me  on  being  recog- 
nized. 


ROBERT  E.  MAYNARD 

Manager,  Tivoli 
Saskatoon,  Sask.,  Canada 

I  can  frankly  say  that  the  Quigley 
Awards  have  been  a  great  factor  to  us  in 
stimulating  more  effort  in  showmanship 
on  our  box  office  attractions. 

Whenever  I  received  mine  it  not  only 
gave  me  great  pride  to  have  won  recogni- 
tion but  it  also  gave  me  the  feeling  that 
I  had  done  a  decent  job  in  trying  to  ex- 
ploit my  pictures.  Moreover,  they  are  a 
definite  incentive  for  us  to  go  ahead  and 
do  the  selling  job  that  should  be  done. 

We  receive  from  time  to  time,  from  the 
heads  of  our  circuit,  special  praise  re- 
garding outstanding  work  that  we  have 
done  on  certain  pictures. 

May  I  add  that  the  Motion  Picture 
Herald,  along  with  the  Quigley  Awards, 
should  be  the  working  Bible  of  every 
showman  in  the  Dominion  or  in  the 
United  States. 

DAVID  DALLAS 

City  Manager,  H.  J.  Griffith  Theatres 
Manhattan,  Kans. 

May  I  state  first  and  flatly  that  I  am 
for  the  Awards  a  hundred  per  cent  for 
they  put  a  premium  on  what  is  in  my 
opinion  the  life  blood  of  our  business — 
SHOWMANSHIP.  I  have  recently 
read,  and  with  considerable  distaste,  in 
several  of  the  trade  journals  that  "bally" 
and  exploitation  are  outmoded,  that  the 
modern  theatre  manager  is  not  a  show- 
man but  an  executive.  Perish  the  thought ! 
We  are  Showmen.  It  is  this  that  sets  us 
apart  from  bankers,  lawyers  and  under- 
takers. If  being  a  theatre  manager  and  a 
showman  puts  me  definitely  in  the  "Horse 
and  Buggy  Age"  that  is  where  I  belong 
and  I  am  glad  of  it. 

The  Quigley  Award,  with  its  premium 
on  showmanship,  is  keeping  alive  the  best 
and  oldest  tradition  of  the  theatre.  Let's 
all  do  our  best  for  bigger  and  better 
ballyhoo. 

HARRY  D.  STEARN 

Southern  Kentucky  District  Manager 
Schine  Circuit,  Inc. 

The  theatres  should  give  Quigley  Pub- 
lications a  plaque  for  the  interest  they 
stimulate  with  the  go-getter  managers  in 
making  it  possible  for  them  to  win  Quig- 
ley Awards. 

The  merits  of  our  managers  are  always 
recognized  by  our  company  on  the  win- 
ning of  contests  and  awards. 

I  have  been  a  contributor  for  a  long 
time,  and  I  am  very  proud  of  the  awards 
the  judges  have  awarded  me  in  the  past, 
and  am  looking  forward  to  winning  a 
plaque  some  day. 


MOTION    PICTURE    HERALD  February    5.  1944 


PERSONALS  ON  SHOWMEN 


CONGRATULATIONS 


By  sua  I'iiuiugiaplier 

BETTER  LATE  THAN  NEVER.  Mort 
Berman,  manager  of  the  Orpheum  theatre, 
Springfield,  Til.,  was  recently  awarded  the 
Order  of  the  Pttrple  Heart.  Mort  served 
with  the  Army  in  the  last  World  War,  was 
wounded  in  action  on  two  occasions,  and 
thinks  the  first  war  was  a  picnic  compared 
to  the  present  one.  Mort  is  helping  the  cur- 
rent war  effort  by  putting  extra  force  into 
the  Fourth  War  Loan  Drive. 

WILLIAM  C.  AIKEN  has  succeeded  Boyd 
Fry  as  manager  of  Loew's  Grand,  in  At- 
lanta.   Fry  is  now  an  Ensign  in  the  Navy. 

MRS.  JESSIE  REESE,  formerly  with  Lu- 
cas and  Jenkins,  is  now  managing  the  Gar- 
den Hills  theatre,  in  Atlanta. 

JIM  DEMPSEY,  formerly  at  the  Drive-In 
theatre,  in  Toledo,  is  manager  of  the  State 
there,  succeeding  Elmo  Schausten. 

ABE  LUDACER,  formerly  assistant  man- 
ager at  the  New  York  Capitol,  is  now  man- 
aging Loew's  Park,  in  Cleveland. 


SHOWMANSHIP 
TIE-UP  DATES 

March  2nd 

Texas  Flag  Day 

Alexander  Graham  Bell  Born — 1847 
First  U.S.  Postage  Stamp— 1847 
3rd 

Maine  Admitted  to  Union — 1820 
Florida  Admitted  to  Union — 1845 
8th 

Thomas  Jefferson  (Third  President)  Born — 1743 
1 0th 

Telephone  First  Used — 1876 
15th 

Andrew  Jackson  (Seventh  President)  Born — 1767 
16th 

West  Point  Military  Academy  Established — 1802 
17th 

St.  Patrick's  Day 
21st 

First  Day  of  Spring 
23rd 

Anniversary  of  Patrick  Henry's  Speech 
30+h 

Alaska  Purchased — 1867 
Maryland  Settled— 1634 


January  30th 

Russell  N.  Hurt 
Milton  Swanson 
Charles  Martin 
Truman  Riley 
T.  W.  North,  Jr. 
Dave  Borland 

31st 

W.  A.  Lee 

C.  J.  Boldender 
John  Capano 
Murray  Keilor 
Francis  W.  Hamilton 

February  1st 

Milton  S.  Harris 
Gerald  S.  Raines 

2nd 

Albert  Knopp 
Ben  Gross 
Leon  Webb 
William  E.  Tinkler 
Raymond  M.  Hay 
Edward  C.  McGovern 


February  2nd 

Oliver  Duncan 
George  A.  Horlacher 

3rd 

John  D.  Schultz 
Herman  Kopf 

4th 

Lloyd  E.  Sinclair 
Mannie  Swadron 
Herman  D.  Wilson 
Israel  Schancupp 
George  E.  Langness 
Larry  Stone 
Ted  Stump 
Russell  Hardwick 
James  A.  Field 
H.  T.  Grissom,  Jr. 
Alfred  L.  Singer 


5th 


George  F.  Strandt 
Joseph  Crockett 
Spencer  Steinhurst 
Charles  C.  Coolbroth 


WAYNE  SHEPLER,  former  assistant  at 
Loew's  State,  in  St.  Louis,  has  been  pro- 
moted to  manager  of  the  Majestic,  Evans- 
ville,  Ind.,  replacing  James  Carey,  who  is  in 
the  Army. 


By  mair  i'hotographer 

T.  O.  Tabor,  Jr.,  district  manager-,  Lukas 
Jenkins  theatres,  Athens,  Ga.,  was  a  recent 
visitor  to  New  York  and  the  Round  Table. 

RAY  NEWMAN  is  now  managing  the 
Admiral  theatre,  in  Kansas  City,  succeed- 
ing R.  B.  Kirkham. 

BILL  ELDER,  formerly  at  Loew's,  in  In- 
dianapolis, has  succeeded  John  McManus, 
who  resigned  as  manager  of  Loew's  Midland, 
in  Kansas  City.  Boyd  Sparrow  of  Loew's 
Park,  Cleveland,  succeeds  Elder. 


Display  Ads  for  Reissues 


A  Happy-Go-Lucky  story  with  a 
great  cost  of  your  fovorites! 


Paillette 

GODDARDj 

Douelaa 

FAIRBANKS 

Janet 

GAYNOR 


ROLAND  YOUNG  •  BIlUE  BURKE 

N  'Tense,  Thrilling  . .  Keeps  Audience 

;  on  Edge  of  Seots'  ,  .  .Worid  Utwgrom 

Charles 

BOYER 

Merif 

OBERON 

Hmmi 

ithJOHN  LODER 


Behind  fhe  Scenes  m  Aviation 

THE  AGE  OF  FLIGHT' 


PLATERS  XB 

Palac 


Above,  directory  ad  prepared  by  Harry 
Mandel,  advertising  director,  RKO 
Theatres,  for  New  York  dailies.  Left, 
Carl  Egan,  Palace,  Calgary,  Canada, 
combined  a  line  cut  of  the  star  with 
hand-drawn  reverse  block,  using  Glenn 
Process  Ink,  to  make  this  eye-catching 
layout. 


ffS 

SECOND  FRONT" 


More  than 
a  hundred 
war  products 
now  made 
of  material 
developed 
for  a  better 


Film 


FILM  BA.SF,  IS  A  FLASIIC-oae  of  the  t-arlfest. 
To  make  a  better  film.  Kodak  long  ago 
began  producing  from  cotton  lintersa  "miracle 
material":   cellulose  acetate. 

In  the  form  of  I  ENITK-made  by  Tennessee 
Eastman  Corporation,  a  Kodak  subsidiary— 
this  plastic  is  tough  as  a  steer's  horn  and  lighter 
than  wood.  It  can  be  molded  under  heat  or 
pressure,  or  "machined"  like  lumber  or  metal. 
It  can  be  clear  transparent,  or  in  an  unlimited 
range  of  colors. 

Tenite  is  molded  into  finished  produas  at 
the  fastest  rate  ever  reached  with  plastics.  It 
led  to  a  minor  "industrial  revolution"  before 
the  war  or  wartime  shortages  were  dreamed 
of .  .  . 

Now  it  has  more  than  a  hundred  war  applica- 
tions--not  as  a  substitute,  but  as  a  superior 
material.  As  an  extra  advantage,  it  does  sup- 
plant other  "critical"  materials. 

A  few  war  uses  are  illustrated  ...  In  a  sense, 
they  all  started  with  photography— the  ever- 
growing need  for  finer  film  .  .  .  Eastman 
Kodak  Company,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

RSMmBBk  TORPeOO  SQUADRON  8?...  how,  knowing 
exactly  what  the  odds  against  them  were,  this  heroic  band 
0/30  Navy  fliers  drove  unswervingly  into  the  massed  fire  oj 
the  Japanese  fleet  ofl  Midway?  And  only  one  man  survived? 
A  stern  example  to  us  at  home.  BUY  MORB  WAR  BONDS. 


H»  eontrols  the  Jeep  with  a 
steering  wheel— strong,  tough,  oodTt.v 
to  svAod  all  dimaies.  Your  own  car 
probabiy  ha?  a  Tenite-  steering  wheel, 
insuumcni  panel,  accessories. 


His  bayonet  scobbarci  is  Tenite— 
lighter,  tougher,  more  easily  cleaned 
.  -  .  Cost  is  little  more  than  half  that  of 
scabbards  made  with  earlier  materials. 


Doubles  for  brass — Before  acceptance  by 
the  Army,  this  bugle — molded  of  Tetiite 
— won  the  most  critical  ears  by  its  totie 
and  range. 


V 


Snake-bite  kit  supplied  our  troops  by 
the  Army  Medical  Corps  includes 
vacuum  pump— molded  of  Tenite— for 
extracting  snake  venom. 


76 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    5.  1944 


Management  Quarrel  Ends 
In  St.  Louis  Shooting 

Climaxing  a  family  quarrel  over  the  manage- 
ment of  Kaimann  Brothers,  Inc.,  St.  Louis, 
theatre  circuit,  William  Kaimann,  vice-presi- 
dent, shot  and  seriously  wounded  his  brother, 
Clarence,  president  of  the  company,  Wednesday 
night,  January  26,  in  the  office  of  the  O'Fallon 
theatre,  and  then  shot  himself.  William  Kai- 
mann, 52,  died  the  following  night  and  a  verdict 
of  suicide  was  returned  at  a  coroner's  inquest. 
Clarence  Kaimann,  51,  is  still  in  a  serious  con- 
dition at  the  City  Hospital  with  bullet  wounds 
of  the  back  and  lower  abdomen. 

The  Kaimann  circuit  owns  eight  neighbor- 
hood theatres  in  St.  Louis  and  leases  several 
others.  The  brothers  quarreled  Tuesday  night 
at  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  directors  over  a 
proposed  change  in  operating  policy.  In  1942, 
Stephen  Kaimann,  father  of  the  two  men,  filed 


suit  for  possession  of  the  O'Fallon  theatre,  and 
during  that  litigation  Clarence  sided  with  his 
father.  Testimony  at  the  trial  revealed  that 
Clarence  had  threatened  to  "kick"  his  brother 
out  of  the  business  if  he  did  not  sell  his  inter- 
est. A  jury  returned  a  verdict  of  $5,220  in 
favor  of  the  father,  but  the  St.  Louis  Court  of 
Appeals  reversed  the  verdict  and  the  case  is 
still  pending. 

Charles  Kaimann  was  one  of  the  principal 
witnesses  in  the  trial  in  St.  Louis  Federal 
Court  here  in  1940  of  John  P.  Nick  and  Clyde 
Weston,  former  bosses  of  the  motion  picture 
operators  union  here,  on  charges  of  racketeer- 
ing. Nick  and  Weston  are  now  serving  five- 
year  prison  sentences. 


Korda  Film  Ready  to  Shoot 

Wesley  Ruggles  will  begin  work  February 
15  on  "Perfect  Strangers,"  the  Alexander  Kor- 
da production  which  will  be  made  at  Denham 
studios  in  London. 


SMPE  Sets  Convention 
Ahead  to  April  17-19 

The  Society  of  Motion  Pictures  Engineers 
will  hold  its  55th  semi-annual  technical  con- 
ference at  the  Hotel  Pennsylvania,  New  York, 
April  17,  18  and  19,  instead  of  April  25-27,  as 
previously  scheduled,  it  was  announced  by  W.  C. 
Kunzmann,  convention  vice-president,  last  week. 

The  conference  will  cover  new  war  develop- 
ments in  the  motion  picture  engineering  field, 
according  to  W.  H.  Offenhauser,  chairman  of 
the  papers  committee.  Following  a  general  bus- 
iness session  opening  the  conference,  technical 
sessions  are  scheduled  to  be  held  during  the 
three-day  meeting. 

Committee  chairman  for  the  conference  in- 
clude :  reception  and  local  arrangements,  D.  E. 
Hyndman,  engineering  vice-president ;  registra- 
tion and  information,  Mr.  Kunzmann ;  luncheon 
and  dinner-dance,  Barton  Kreuzer ;  papers  com- 
mittee, Mr.  Offenhauser,  chairman,  and  C.  R. 
Daily,  vice-chairman,  west  coast ;  membership, 
James  Frank,  Jr. ;  Hotel  and  information,  Oscar 
F.  Neu;  projection,  H.  Heidegger,  chairman; 
ladies'  reception  hostess,  Mrs.  E.  I.  Sponable. 


Finds  for  Major  Companies 
In  E.  M.  Loew  Case 

Special  Master  Hugh  McLellan,  former  Fed- 
eral judge,  has  filed  a  report  in  Boston  favorable 
to  the  defendant  distributors  in  the  case  of  E.  M. 
Loew  against  eight  distributing  companies  in 
which  Loew  alleged  violation  of  clearance  in 
what  is  known  as  the  Winchester  Case. 

Loew  claimed  that  theatres  in  Maiden,  Med- 
ford  and  Arlington  were  being  given  releases  in 
violation  of  clearance  rules.  Mr.  McLellan 
found  that  there  was  insufficient  evidence  upgn 
which  to  base  action  for  damages  and  absolved 
the  defendants,  including  Paramount,  RKO, 
Warners,  MGM,  United  Artists^  Universal,  Co- 
lumbia and  20th  Century-Fox.  The  distributors 
and  the  theatres  in  Arlington,  Maiden  and  Med- 
ford  were  all  absolved  in  his  report. 

The  defendants  were  represented  by  tlie  Bos- 
ton law  firm  of  Nutter,  McLennan  and  Frisch, 
with  Judge  Jacob  Kaplan  and  attorney  Edward 
F.  McLellan  handling  the  case. 

Armour  Named  Vice-President 
Of  Richard  Condon,  Inc. 

Reginald  Armour,  formerly  with  Walt  Dis- 
ney, RKO  and  Radio  Corporation  of  America, 
has  joined  Richard  Condon,  Inc.,  as  executive 
vice-president  in  charge  of  motion  picture  and 
television  activities,  it  was  announced  this  week. 
Mr.  Armour  was  European  general  manager 
for  RKO  in  1940,  having  previously  super- 
vised film  exchanges  for  RKO  Radio  in  Japan, 
China  and  the  Philippines. 

British  Film  Executives 
Honor  KRS  Leader 

British  industry  leaders  were  present  Tues- 
day in  London  at  a  testimonial  luncheon  held 
in  the  Claridge  Hotel  to  pay  tribute  to  Frank 
Hill,  secretary  of  the  Kinematograph  Renters' 
Society  for  the  past  25  years.  Ten  past  presi- 
dents of  the  organization  who  are  now  members 
attended.  The  celebration  also  marked  Mr. 
Hill's  silver  wedding  anniversary. 


Dowling  To  Star  in  Program 

Eddie  Dowling,  actor,  producer  and  author, 
will  star  in  a  new  radio  series  titled  "Wide 
Horizons,"  emphasizing  the  role  of  aviation  in 
wartime  and  post-war  plans,  to  be  heard  begin- 
ning February  27  over  the  Mutual  network. 


To  Work  on  Pyle  Film 

Herbert  Kline,  who  directed  the  John  Stein- 
beck film,  "Forgotten  Village,"  has  been  en- 
gaged to  do  research  work  for  Lester  Cowan's 
production  of  Ernie  Pyle's  "Here  Is  Your 
War." 


The  demands  of  the  Services  make 
it  impossible  for  us  to  give  you  that 
service  which  is  customary  with  us. 
Please  be  assured,  however,  that  we 
have  your  interests  very  much  in  mind, 
and  when  Victory  is  won  we  shall  again 
be  able  to  provide  an  unrestricted 
flow  of  photographic  materials  of  the 
highest  possible  quality. 


CINE    SALES  DEPARTMENT 

NATIONAL  HOUSE,  WARDOUR  STREET,  LONDON,  W.i 


February    5,  1944 

IN  NEWSREELS 


MOVIETONE  NEWS— Vol.  26;  No.        The  war  in 

Italy.  .  .  .  Allies  capture  San  Pietro.  .  .  .  U.  S. 
Negro  air  squadron  bombs  Nazis.  .  .  .  Memorial 
services  for  boys  in  Tarawa.  .  .  .  Hero  of  the  week. 
.  .  .  New  giant  aircraft  launched.  .  .  .  Film  indus- 
try aids  Fourth  War  Loan  drive.  .  .  .  War  heroes 
get  artificial  limbs.  .  .  .  Army  nurses  go  to  war. 
.  .  .  The  Navy  honors  the  Sullivans. 

MOVIETONE  NEWS— Vol.  26,  No.  44-Nation  hon- 
ors_  President  on  birthday.  .  .  .  Eisenhower  tells  of 
of  invasion.  .  .  .  America  shocked  by  Jap  brutality 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY— Vol.  15,  No.  241-U.  S.  troops 
swell  invasion  forces.  .  .  .  Allies  push  beyond  hills  in 
Italy.  .  .  .  Methodist  crusade  for  new  world  at 
order.  .  .  .  Argentina  breaks  relations  with  Axis. 
.  .  .  Snowbound  in  Aleutians.  .  .  .  Flying  fortress 
explodes.  ...  In  memory  of  Tarawa. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY— Vol.  15,  No.  242— Jap  brutal- 
ity arouses  nation.  .  .  .  Gen  Eisenhower  says  victory 
is  sure.  .  .  .  Churchill  home.  .  .  .  Battleship  Mis- 
souri launched.  .  .  .  March  of  Dimes. 

PARAMOUNT   NEWS-No.   44— Fourth    War  Loan. 

.  .  .  Five  Sulhvans  honored.  .  .  .  Tom  Harmon  tells 
own  story.  .  .  .  B-17  burns  on  ground.  .  .  .  Tarawa 
memorial.  .  .  .  Legend  of  Central  City.  .  .  .  Italy 
drive  speeds  on.  .  .  .  Ace  Negro  squadron  covers 
ground  troops. 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS— No.  45— Giant  tides  on  west 
coast.  .  .  .  Dimes  march  to  White  House.  .  .  . 
World's  greatest  warship.  .  .  .  Jap  brutality  shocks 
nation. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS— Vol.  15,  No.  46— Allied  advance 
in  Italy.  .  .  .  Snowed-under  in  Attn.  .  .  .  Pack  mules 
vital  in  Italian  war.  .  .  .  Services  for  Tarawa's 
dead.  .   .  .  Invasion  troops  in  England. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS— Vol.  15,  No.  47— Celebrate 
President's  birthday.  .  .  .  Eisenhower  speaks  of  in- 
vasion. .  .  .  Cliurchill  return.  .  .  .  Launch  largest 
warship.  .  .  .  America  shocked  by  Jap  atrocities. 

UNIVERSAL     NEWSREE^-Vol.     17,     No^  263— 

Fifth  Army  captures  .San  Pietro.  .  .  .  Mules  help 
in  Italy.  .  .  .  Yanks  prepare  for  second  front.  .  .  . 
Snow  fun  at  Attu.  .  .  .  Five  purple  hearts  for  the 
Sullivans.  .  .  .  Limbs  for  heroes.  .  ,  .  Tarawa  memo- 
rial. .  .  .  Beauties  on  skiis.  .  .  .  Wrestling  with  a 
symphonic  backgroimd. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREEL— Vol.    17,    No.    264— Jap 

atrocities  shock  America.  .  .  .  March  of  Dimes. 
.  .  .  Birthday  celebration.  .  .  .  Sea  giant  launched 
at  Brooklyn  Navy  Yard.  .  .  .  Churchill  home.  .  .  . 
Eisenhower  speaks.  .  .  .  Freak  sea  storm. 

ALL  AMERICAN  NEWS— Vol.  2,  No.  67— Troops  at- 
tend English  Cathedral.  .  .  .  Leader  tells  of  Red 
Cross  work.  .  .  .  Negroes  at  eastern  shipyard.  .  .  . 
Negro  recognized  as  great  specialist.  .  .  .  Millen 
re-named  safety  aide  in  Philadelphia.  .  .  .  Troops  of 
92nd  division  get  real  thing. 


Selznick  Plans  Episodic 
Film  Using  All  Stars 

According  to  a  report  from  Hollywood,  David 
O.  Selznick  has  set  plans  for  a  picture  which, 
titled  "Tales  of  Passion  and  Romance,"  and 
being  episodic  in  treatment,  will  run  from  three 
to  three  and  a  half  hours  and  will  have  a  cast 
led  by  every  available  star  under  contract,  with 
a  staff  of  directors  headed  by  Alfred  Hitch- 
cock and  William  Dieterle,  and  a  sequence 
made  in  England  by  Sir  Alexander  Korda. 

Among  the  stars  mentioned  as  scheduled  to 
appear  in  sequences  are  Joan  Fontaine,  Ingrid 
Bergman,  Jennifer  Jones,  Dorothy  McGuire, 
Shirley  Templey  and  Vivien  Leigh,  in  England. 

It  is  said  that  the  project  has  been  in  pre- 
paratory stages  for  more  than  two  years,  that 
several  sequences  will  run  from  two  to  five 
reels,  and  that  shooting  on  the  picture  will  get 
under  way  this  summer  or  early  autumn. 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


Decency  Legion  Classifies 
Seven  New  Pictures 

Oi  seven  pictures  reviewed  by  the  National 
Legion  of  Decency  this  week,  three,  "Bullets 
and  Saddles,"  "The  Fighting  Seabees,"  "The 
Texas  Kid,"  were  classified  "A-I,"  unobjection- 
able for  general  patronage.  Three  others, 
"Phantom  Lady,"  "Secreto  Eterno"  and  "Un- 
censored,"  were  classified  "A-H,"  unobjection- 
able for  adults.  One,  "The  Uninvited,"  received 
a  "B"  classification,  objectionable  in  part. 


r 


WHEN  your  AIR  EXPRESS  shipments  are  ready,  reach  for  the 
phone.  Don't  wait  for  "routine"  afternoon  pickups. 
Pack  as  early  in  the  day  as  possihle  and  ship  when  ready! 
That's  the  way  to  get  the  full  benefit  from  air  express  service. 
It  avoids  end-of-the-day  congestion  when  Airline  traffic  is  at 
lis  peak.  Your  shipments  move  faster,  are  delivered  faster. 
And  to  cut  costs  —  AIR  express  shipments  should 
be  packed  compactly  but  securely,  to  obtain  the  best 
ratio  of  size  to  weight. 


A  Money-Saving,  High-Speed  Tool 
For  Every  Business 


As  a  result  of  increased  efficiency  developed  to  meet  wartime  demands,  rates 
have  recently  been  reduced.  Shippers  nationwide  are  now  saving  an  average 
of  more  than  10%  on  Air  Express  charges.  And  Air  Express  schedules  are  based 
on  "hours", not  days  and  weeks — with  3-mile-a-minute  service  direct  to  hundreds 
of  U.  S.  cities  and  scores  of  foreign  countries. 

WRITE  TODAY  for  "Vision  Unlimited"  —  an  informative  booklet  that  will 
stimulate  the  thinking  of  every  executive.  Dept.  PR-2,  Railway  Express  Agency, 
230  Park  Avenue,  New  York  17,  N.  Y. 


Phone  RAILWAY  EXPRESS  AGENCY,  AIR  EXPRESS  DIVISION 
Representing  the  AIRLINES  of  the  United  States 


78  MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 

CLASSIFIED  ADVERTISING 

Ten  cents  per  word,  money-order  or  check  with  copy.  Count  initials,  box  number  and  ad- 
dress. Minimum  insertion,  $1.  Four  insertions,  for  the  price  of  three.  Contract  rates  on 
application.  No  borders  or  cuts.  Forms  close  Mondays  at  5  P.  M.  Publisher  reserves 
the  right  to  reject  any  copy.  Film  and  trailer  advertising  not  accepted.  Classi-  |===i 
fled  advertising  not  subject  to  agency  commission.  Address  copy  and  checks:  l^jM 
MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD,  Classified  Dept..  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  (20)  |ibJil 


HELP  WANTED 

WANTED:   OPERATOR,  ALSO  COMBINATION 
operator    and    manager.     Must    be    sober    and  draft 
exempt.  FAIN  THEATRES,  Lecsburg,  Fla. 

WANT  TWO  MANAGERS  AND  TWO  OPERA- 
tors  immediately  for  small  town  situations.  Permanent 
positions  with  excellent  future.  State  age,  experience, 
references,    salary   expected  and   draft   status.  Reply 
BOX  1301,  Knoxville,  Tenn. 

THEATRES 

WILL  LEASE  FOR  LONG  TERM  TO  FINAN- 
cially  responsible  organization  750-seat  modern  theatre 
with  200  standing  room  capacity  on  Main  Street  in 
Pennsylvania  city  of  150,000  population.  Now  operating 
subsequent  run.  Top  week  seven  thousand.  First  run 
year  nineteen  thirty.  Only  those  with  buying  power 
need  reply.  BOX  1699,  MOTION  PK^^URE  HERALD. 

WANTED  THEATRE,  OPERATING,  PROFIT- 
able,  details.  BOX  1700,  MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD. 

ASSISTANT     MANAGER,     DRAFT  EXEMPT, 
small  New  York  City  chain.    Send  photograph  and 
all  information  in  first  letter.    BOX  1701,  MOTION 
PICTURE  HERALD. 

POSITIONS  WANTED 

NEW  EQUIPMENT 

TWO  NEW  WENZEL  ACE^REAR  SHUTTER, 
Simplex  type  mechanisms.  Can  ship  immediately. 
MONARCH  THEATRE  SUPPLY  CO.,  492  So.  Second, 
Memphis,  Tenn. 

THEATRICAL  SIGN  ARTIST,   17  YEARS'  Ex- 
perience. Will  consider  any  part  of  the  country.  Family 
man,  draft  exempt.  Reply  W.  L  DUNKELBERGEOR.. 
509  N.  9th  St.,  Reading,  Pa. 

BOOKS 

COMPLETELY    REVISED    7TH    EDITION  OF 
Richardson's  Bluebook  of  Projection  with  treatise  on 
Television    and    complete    Sound    Trouble -Shooting 
Charts,  as  well  as  host  of  additional  up-to-the-minute 
text  on  sound  and  projection  equipment.    Order  Now  I 
$7.25  postpaid.    QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP,  Rockefeller 
Center,  New  York  (20). 

OPERADIO  COMPACT  PUBLIC  ADDRESS 
System,  2  speakers  and  microphone,  $39.50;  underwriters 
approved  2J4  gallon  anti-freeze  fire  extingniishers, 
$14.95;  quart  pump  type,  $11.25;  two  quart,  $13.50; 
WoUensak  4"  Series  I  lenses,  $13.95;  box  office  bowl 
heaters,  $9.50;  pickup  pans  with  handle,  $1.27;  re- 
chargeable flashlight  batteries,  $2.20;  rectifier  btilbs, 
IS  ampere  Gordos,  $6.95;  six  ampere  Westinghouse, 
$3.95;  Suprex  carbon  savers,  98c.  Winter  sale  bulletin 
ready.  S.  O.  S.  CINEMA  SUPPLY  CORP.,  New 
York  18. 

PATCHING  CEMENT  FOR  FABRIC  AND 
Leatherette.  Special  price,  $1,  3  oimce  bottle,  ALLIED 
SEATING  COMPANY,  36  West  13th  St.,  New  York 
City. 

SOUND    TROUBLE    SHOOTING    CHARTS.  A 
handy  tool  in  the  booth.    Gives  the  answers  to  all 
questions  regarding  trouble  shooting  on  every  type  of 
sound  equipment.    $1.00  postpaid.    QUIGLEY  BOOK- 
SHOP, Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  (20). 

MOTION    PICTURE    SOUND  ENGINEERING— 
547  pages;  illustrated;  covers  every  practical  method 
and  process  in  present-day  sound  engineering.  Leading 
engineers  explain  every  detail  of  apparatus  and  its  ar- 
rangement, with  diagrams,  tables,  charts  and  graphs. 
This  manual  comes  straight  from  the  workshops  of  the 
studios  in  Hollywood.  It  is  indispensable  to  everyone 
working  with  sound  equipment.    Price  $6.50  postpaid. 
QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York. 

NEW  567  PAGE  BOOK  ON  AIR  CONDITIONING, 
by  Charles  A.  Fuller,  authority  on  the  subject.  Avail- 
able   for    theatre   owners   contemplating  engineering 
changes.  Book  is  cloth  bound  with  index  and  charts 
and  covers  every  branch  of  the  industry  as  well  as 
codes  and  ordinances   regulating  installation.  Order 
now  at  $4.00  a  copy  postpaid.  QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP, 
Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  (20). 

USED  EQUIPMENT 

TWIN  SO  AMPERE  SUPREX  RECTIFIERS, 
rebuilt,  $297.S0;  single  45  ampere  type,  $112.50;  imported 
carbons,   1/10  original  c»st;   Series   O  lenses,  $2.95; 

RimnlpTc     Ttlpfhani'^fn^      in(V,Tnrtl(*+p      ^,0^-     Rranilf  /witi 

changers,  $119.50;  20/40  arc  generators,  $57.50;  reflec- 
tors, 50%  discount;  thirty  ampere  rectifiers  with  tubes, 
$99.50.  Winter  bargain  bulletin  ready — get  yours. 
S.  O.  S.  CINEMA  SUPPLY  CORP.,  New  York  18. 

MUST  MOVE  TWO  SIMPLEX  REAR  SHXTTTER 
heads.  Like  new.  Factory  overhauled.  TWAIN 
THEATRE,  Mansfield,  Pa. 

600  STAFFORD  REBUILT  HEAVY  INSERTED 
recoated  panel  banks,  reupholstered  box  spring  cushion 

phflir^     SL5  4^*     7Vi    Am^rif^an    hnll    hl^ATinor    fiillv  lin. 

,.^lcLllo,      if^t^tJ  f      inj\J      JXlllCl  1%'CI  1 1       UAll      w^ul  lUK  lUliy 

bolstered  padded  red  figured  velour  backs,  red  leather- 
ette box  spring  cushions,  good  as  is,  $4.S0  each. 
S.  O.  S.  ONEMA  SUPPLY  CORP.,  New  York  18. 

BOOKKEEPING  SYSTEM 

THEATRE  MANAGEMENT  RECORD  AND  TAX 
Register.    This  new  accounting  system  is  the  finest 
book  of  its  kind  ever  made  available  to  an  exhibitor. 
In  addition  to  being  complete  in  every  respect,  it  is 
simple — so  much  so  that  it  is  not  necessary  to  have 
had  bookkeeping  experience  in  order  to  keep  an  ac- 
curate, complete  and  an  up-to-minute  record  of  the 
business  of  your  theatre.    The  introductory  price  is 
only  $2.00  postpaid-    QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP,  Rocke- 
feller Center,  New  York  (20). 

CLOSING  AND  SELLING  COMPLETE  THEATRE 
equipment,  two  machines,  225  seats,  Al  condition, 
$1,000.    ART  KELSO,  Orland,  Ind. 

FOR  SALE  — TWO  DEVRY  3SMM.  PORTABLE 
projectors  complete  with  sound  and  brand  new  West- 
em  Electric  screen,  plus  two  feature  westerns  and  sev- 
eral short  subjects.  $800.  Excellent  condition.  KEN- 
NETH .STINOGEL,  3510  St.  Louis,  Wichita,  Kans. 

TRAINING  SCHOOLS 

STUDIO  EQUIPMENT 

STUDIO      GLOWLAMP      RECORDER,  35MM. 
stabilized  variable  density;  1000'  magazine;  two  optical 
systems;  noiseless  amplifier;  V.  L  indicator;  dynamic 
microphone;    complete   $555;    Uhler    sound  reduction 
printer  35/16  mm.,  $750;  Hollywood  16mm.  recorder 
with  Maurer  type  galvanometer  complete,  $795;  Blue 
Seal  3  element  glowlamps,  $22.75.  Send  for  studio  and 

SOTpIV  C0'Rr^l?lw''&-18.'- 

THEATRE  EMPLOYEES:  TRAIN  FOR  BETTER 
position.  Learn  modern  theatre  management  and  ad- 
vertising. Big  opportunities  for  trained  men.  Estab- 
Ushed  since  1927.  Write  now  for  free  catalog.  THE- 
ATRE MANAGERS  SCHOOL,  Elmira,  New  York. 

BUSINESS  BOOSTERS 

BINGO  CARDS,  DIE  CUT,  1  TO  lOO  OR  1  TO  75, 
$2.25  per  thousand,  $20.00  for  10,000.  S.  KLOUS,  care 
of  MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD. 

"Jane  Eyre"  Tradeshown                  Revive  "Our  Town" 

_  "Jane  Eyre,''  20th   Century-Fox  film  star-        The  Manhattan  theatre,  New  York,  is  pre- 
ring  Orson  Welles  and  Joan  Fontaine,  was      senting  a  revival  of  "Our  Town,"  Sol  Lesser's 
tradeshown  Wedi-sday  in  all  of  the  company's     film  of  the  Thornton  Wilder  play,  which  United 
exchanges.                                                      Artists  released  in  1940. 

February    5,  1944 

OBITUARIES 

Corporal  Henry  Larner  of 
Paramount  Dies  in  Italy 

Corporal  Henry  Larner,  28,  formerly  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Paramount  home  office  publicity  de- 
partment, died  January  27  in  a  British  military 
hospital  in  Italy,  it  was  learned  this  week.  Cor- 
poral Larner,  who  enlisted  a  year  and  a  half 
ago  with  the  American  Field  Service,  had 
been  serving  with  the  British  Eighth  Army. 
Born  in  Albany,  he  attended  Albany  Academy 
and  was  graduated  from  Harvard  University  in 
1937.  He  was  the  first  Paramount  home  office 
employe  to  enlist  for  overseas  service.  His 
father,  Samuel  H.  Larner,  of  Albany,  survives. 


William  Howard 

William  Howard,  actor,  died  in  Los  Angeles 
January  23  at  the  age  of  60.  Among  the  last 
pictures  in  which  Mr.  Howard  appeared  were 
"Diamond  Jim  Brady,"  "Come  and  Get  It"  and 
"Blossoms  on  Broadway."  On  the  stage  he 
appeared  in  "White  Cargo." 


Elizabeth  S.  Brennan 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  S.  Brennan,  mother  of  James 
M.  Brennan,  comptroller  of  the  Warner  Thea- 
tre circuit,  Philadelphia,  died  January  13  in 
that  city.  Mrs.  Brennan  was  80  years  old  and 
is  survived  by  two  other  sons. 


Thomas  Huffaker 

Thomas  Huffaker,  72,  theatre  stage  manager 
in  Portland,  Ore.,  for  51  years,  died  at  his 
home  there  January  25,  following  a  short  ill- 
ness. Mr.  Huffaker  had  been  associated  with 
the  Auditorium  in  that  city. 


Esperance  Bovim 

Esperance  Bovim,  wife  of  Russell  Bovim, 
manager  of  Loew's  Ohio,  Columbus,  died  there 
January  18,  following  a  year's  illness.  Mrs. 
Bovim  is  survived  by  a  daughter,  Shirley  Ann ; 
her  mother,  three  brothers  and  a  six  sisters. 


William  Branch 

William  Thomas  Branch,  49,  projectionist  at 
Loew's  State  theatre,  Memphis,  died  January 
25.  Mr.  Branch  had  been  associated  with  that 
theatre  since  its  opening  in  1920. 

Lower  Real  Estate  Values 
On  Philadelphia  Houses 

A  lower  assessment  in  real  estate  valuation 
was  allowed  for  Warners'  five  major  first  run 
theatres  in  Philadelphia,  it  was  revealed  by  the 
Philadelphia  Board  of  Revision  of  Taxes.  The 
4,700-seat  Mastbaum  theatre  was  valued  at  $1,- 
197,400,  compared  to  $1,218,300  in  1943.  The 
Fox  theatre,  which  includes  an  office  building, 
received  a  cut  from  $1,416,700  to  $1,369,100; 
Stanley  theatre,  from  $597,000  to  $528,300;  Al- 
dine  theatre,  from  $501,300  to  $471,000,  and  the 
Boyd  theatre  from  $527,200  to  $492,700.  The 
real  estate  assessment  for  William  Goldman's 
Erlanger  theatre  also  was  reduced,  from  $545,- 
100  to  $499,800.  Realty  valuation  of  the  Acad- 
emy of  Music,  concert  hall,  was  reduced  from 
$978,000  to  $851,700. 


Grimm's  Son  Wins  Air  Medal 

Technical  Sergeant  Ben  E.  Grimm,  son  of 
Ben  Grimm,  RKO's  advertising  manager,  last 
week  was  awarded  the  Air  Medal.  Sergeant 
Grimm,  who  is  stationed  in  England,  is  a  radio 
operator-gunner. 


Offer  Course  in  Film  Writing 

A  course  in  motion  picture  writing  by  Jean 
Benoit-Levy,  French  film  producer  and  direc- 
tor, was  given  at  the  New  School,  New  York, 
Wednesday.  The  course  emphasized  the  first 
treatment  of  a  film  story. 


It^®Tro®li53    IP D (C  u  til [R LB 


1 


EQUIPMENT  •  FURNISHINGS  •  DESIGN 


HOW  TO  TEST  FOR  AN 

Unsteady  Image 

AND  HOW  TO  CURE  IT 


■  ■    ■  Page  88 

MAINTENANCE  GUIDE  FOR 

Air  Supply  System 

■  ■    ■  Page  99 

Liability  Defense 


Page  84 


PHYSICAL  OPERATION  •  MAINTENANCE 


00  w« 


NEW  EpMENT  AVAILABLE 


UNDER  WPB  ORDER  L-325? 


The  W«r  Production  Board  has  arranged  to  make  a  limited «™«""'  «* 
new  projection  and  sound  equipment  available  to  replace  damaged 
or  worn-out  apparatus.  You  may  qualify .. .  


IF  YOU 
DO 


IF  YOU 
DON'T 


riDCT  -        ^^""^  Theatre 

rlKa  I  Supply  Dealer.  He  will  see 
that  the  proper  forms  are  filled  out,  and 
that  the  application  is  properly  filed 
for  the  equipment  you  need,  ^et  m 
touch  with  him  without  delay.  RCA 
Theatre  Supply  Dealers  are  located  m 
most  film  centers. 


1 Better  sign  up  for  RCA  service  and 
maintenance  -  then  you'll  be  sure 
that  you'll  get  the  best  possible  per- 
formance and  longest  possible  life  out 
of  your  present  equipment. 

2 Be  sure  you  are  signed  up  for  a  pre- 
ferred position  on  the  RCA  Purchase 
Priority  Plan  post-war  delivery  list.  You 
can  do  this  through  your  RCA  Theatre 
Supply  Dealer. 


THEATRE  EQUIPMENT 

RADIO  CORPORATION  OF  AMERICA 

Camden,  N.  J. 
★  ★  ★  BUY  MORE  WAR  BONDS  ★  *  * 


February    5,  1944 


BETTER  THEATRES 


81 


Motion    Picture  Service 

because  you  shared  the  new  projection  equipment  with  those 
who  need  and  appreciate  entertainment  so  much. 

Help  bring  those  fellows  back  to  your  box  office  sooner 
by  buying  more  War  Bonds  NOW. 

The  Strong 

87  City  Park  Avenue 


Electric  Corporation 

Toledo  2,  Ohio 


THE  WORLD'S  LARGEST  MANUFACTURERS  OF  PROJECTION  ARC  LAMPS 


BETTER  THEATRES 


'   I  .  ^o^"'     Ave*'     eci^'te"*'^  , 


Published  in  every  fourth  issue  of  Motion  Picture  Herald 
GEORGE  SCHUTZ,  Editor  RAY  GALLO,  Advertising  Manager 


Speaking  of  Post- War  Theatres— 


SOME     FEW     WEEKS  ago 

we  were,  visited  by  a  gentleman  who  is 
in  charge  of  construction  and  maintenance 
activities  of  a  large  circuit ;  he  had  come  to 
get  our  views  on  "new  things"  in  design 
and  equipment  after  the  war.  We  promptly 
saw  that  our  task  was  not  to  convince  him 
of  revolutionary  marvels  to  come,  but 
rather  that  there  wouldn't  be  any  marvels. 

"Theatre  owners  are  definitely  thinking 
about  post-war  construction,"  wrote  one 
architect  recently  in  a  letter  discussing 
trends  in  his  territory,  "but  as  you  doubt- 
less know,  they  are  looking  for  new  ideas 
and  expect  miracles." 

Architects  in  every  section  of  the  coun- 
try who  specialize  in  theatre  design  report 
a  steadily  increasing  amount  of  interest  in 
post-war  construction,  remodeling  and  gen- 
eral renovation  of  equipment  and  building, 
and  it  seems  clear  theatre  operators  are 
more  receptive  to  principles  and  methods 
that  can  produce  a  better  theatre  for 
the  specific  purposes  of  motion  picture 
exhibition.  But  a  good  deal  of  thinking 
about  the  post-war  world  consists  in  crea- 
tive dreaming,  and  by  the  same  process 
some  nonsense  gets  into  our  planning  for 
post-war  theatres. 

Pre-war  engineering  of  both  the  building 
and  the  equipment  of  motion  picture  ex- 
hibition produced  many  "new  things"  that 
the  business  had  only  begun  to  absorb  when 
the  war  started.  Conditions  for  a  year,  two 
years,  perhaps  more,  will  not  encourage 
revolutionary  changes  on  any  substantial 
scale ;  in  the  meantime,  exhibition  will  have 
enough  to  do  to  restore  its  existing  proper- 
ties and  to  put  into  effect  in  both  these 
and  new  theatres  the  advances  in  design 

and  equipment  available  before  the  war. 
• 

What  theatre  designers  themselves  are 
thinking  about  the  post-war  theatre  crops 
up  in  our  correspondence  in  various  ways. 
One  of  the  most  quotable  presentations  of 
such  observations  came  recently  from  S.  S. 
Eisenberg  of  Boston.  He  writes,  in  part: 

"Personally,  I  believe  that  new  struc- 
tural products  will  be  available  for  theatres 
and  other  construction,  particularly  struc- 
tural members  containing  a  large  percent- 
age of  aluminum  and  magnesium  and  other 
alloys  which  will  make  for  a  very  light  and 
powerful  framework. 

"Acoustical  materials  and  plastics  are 
receiving  a  great  deal  of  attention.  We  are 
giving  a  great  deal  of  study  to  sound  con- 
trol, sightlines  and  interior  lighting — and 
at  this  point  I  want  to  inject  a  single 


phrase :  cold  cathode  lighting."  This  product 
holds  interesting  possibilities  for  theatre 
lighting,  but  for  motion  picture  theatre 
lighting  in  particular. 

"I  envision  theatre  buildings  in  the  near 
future  which  will  be  absolutely  fireproof — 
no  combustible  materials  in  either  its  struc- 
ture or  furnishings — yes,  not  even  in  its 
films  in  the  projection  room." 

But  we  also  find  in  Mr.  Eisenberg's 
stimulating  remarks  the  realization  that  the 
post-war  theatre  will  be  a  better  theatre 
if  we  apply  only  what  we  have  already 
known  and  had.  He  points  out : 

"Certain  old,  accepted  ideas  of  theatre 
design,  construction  and  operation  have 
been  obsolete  for  the  last  decade,  and  we  are 
going  to  watch  carefully  that  these  old- 
fogey  ideas  do  not  creep  into  our  planning. 

"There  is  another  angle  which  exhibitors 
have  failed  to  recognize.  A  theatre  is  a  com- 
munity enterprise,  not  just  a  place  of  pub- 
lic assembly  for  a  few  hours.  Because  a 
theatre  is  usually  placed  in  what  can  be 
called  the  center  of  a  community  it  can  be 

a  center  of  local  activities." 

• 

An  important  point  that  has  been  made 
by  several  architects  in  talks  and  letters 
referring  to  post-war  theatre  construction 
and  remodeling,  is  that  plans  should  be 
laid  for  a.  prompt  start  lest  the  demand 
for  materials  be  so  great  in  all  fields  that 
they  will  be  severely  limited.  Construction 
of  new  theatres  to  take  advantage  of  popu- 
lation shifts  or  to  put  into  effect  pre-war 
projects,  and  the  tremendous  job  of  re- 


storing properties  battered  by  the  enforced 

neglect  of  war  and  natural  obsolescence, 

will  progress  only  as  materials,  equipment 

and  labor  are  available.  Definite,  on-paper 

planning  during  the  war  is  the  only  way 

to  minimize  delay,  and  it  also  reveals  the 

provisions  necessary  for  financing  the  work. 
• 

Mr.  Eisenberg  mentioned  cold  cathode 
lighting.  This  type  of  fluorescent  illumina- 
tion has  certain  advantages  over  the  hot 
cathode  lamps  already  in  wide  use  among 
theatres.  The  tubes  can  be  modeled  readily 
to  architectural  forms.  On  the  other  hand, 
it  is  more  expensive. 

Already  curved  lamps  of  the  established 
hot  cathode  fluorescent  type  are  assured 
after  the  war.  Manufacturers  of  Mazda 
lamps  have  announced  these  in  several  sizes, 
although  they  cannot  be  made  during  the 
war.  One  size  will  have  an  outside  di- 
ameter of  inches,  another  of  12j4>  and 
another  of  16,  with  approximate  wattages 
of  20,  30  and  40,  respectively. 

Illuminating  .engineers  also  expect  that 

post-war  improvements  in  fluorescent  lamps 

will  include  greater  light  output  per  length 

of  tube,  and  almost  instantaneous  starting. 
• 

Auditorium  illumination  is  of  course 
quite  a  different  problem  from  that  of  the 
rest  of  a  motion  picture  theatre,  and  per- 
haps further  study  of  it  is  required  to  pro- 
vide a  really  intelligent  solution.  Our  col- 
league, Ben  Schlanger,  holds  that  a  major 
auditorium  light  source  should  be  the  screen 
itself.  His  idea  is  this: 

Improved  lighting  methods  have  made  it 
possible  to  avoid  a  dark  auditorium  in 
which  it  is  difEcult  to  find  a  seat  and 
which  in  some  people  creates  fear.  These 
methods  do  not  lessen  the  apparent  bril- 
liance of  the  screen  lighting  but  instead 
provide  a  more  natural  setting  for  the 
projected  picture.  For  example,  we  can 
utilize  the  light  reflected  from  the  screen, 
rereflecting  it  from  the  interior  surfaces, 
which  are  kept  quite  light  in  color  and  are 
shaped  to  control  the  direction  of  the  re- 
reflected  light.  For  safe  illumination  when 
the  projected  picture  chances  to  be  dense, 
small  wattage  lamps  can  be  built  into  the 
ceiling  and  wall  surfaces  in  a  manner  so 
as  to  completely  conceal  the  light  source; 
these  lights  would  be  always  on  and  their 
use  becomes  effective  only  when  the  screen 
light  dims. 

• 

Altogether,  improvement  of  the  motion 
picture  theatre  is  not  dependent  upon  any 
post-war  marvels.  It  is  well  in  our  plan- 
ning to  look  ahead.  But  we  do  not  need 
to  worry  about  providing  helicopter  decks 
as  yet. — G.  S. 

83 


84  BETTERTHEATRES  Februarys,  1944 

How  the  Courts  Measure  Your 
Responsibility  to  Your  Patrons 


•  Simple,  concise  explanations  of  liability  law  as 
indicated  by  higher  court  decisions  in  1943  cases 
involving  various  aspects  of  theatre-public  relations 


By  LEO  T.  PARKER 

At+orney-at-Law 


EVERY  YEAR  many  suits 
for  damages  are  brought  against  motion 
picture  theatres  by  their  patrons,  and  ex- 
amination of  the  higher  court  decisions  in- 
dicates that  all  too  often  theatre  operators 
have  operated  their  properties  without  a 
reasonably  intelligent  appreciation  of  the 
legal  principles  involved  in  their  relations 
with  the  public. 

A  theatre  owner  does  not  insure  his 
patrons  against  patrons.  He  needs  only  to 
be  reasonably  careful  in  the  construction, 
maintenance  and  management  of  his  proper- 
ty, always  considering  the  character  of  the 
performances  ofifered,  and  the  customary 
conduct  of  patrons. 

Just  what  constitutes  reasonable,  or  or- 
dinary, care  in  any  one  instance  depends 
on  the  circumstances;  but  it  is  safe  to  say 
that  the  exhibitor  who  uses  the  same  degree 
of  caution  used  by  other  prudent  and  rea- 
sonably experienced  theatre  operators,  under 
similar  circumstances,  will  be  regarded  as 
having  used  reasonable  care  and  may  feel 
quite  confident  of  being  able  to  sustain  his 
defense  in  a  suit  for  damages  brought  by  a 
patron. 

Here  is  a  case  which,  like  all  others 
selected  from  higher  court  cases  in  1943 
for  this  article,  illustrates  the  underljang 
principles  of  exhibitor-public  relations — 
principles  which  should  of  course  be  ap- 
plied in  the  formulation  of  operating  policy 
and  instruction  of  employes.  In  Tri-States 
Theatre  Corporation,  11.  N.W.  (2d)  36, 
reported  October,  1943,  the  higher  court 
explained  that  partial  darkness  is  essential 
to  the  conduct  of  motion  picture  shows  and, 
for  this  reason,  theatre  proprietors  should 
use  a  high  degree  of  care  to  keep  the  stairs, 
steps,  aisles,  and  seats  in  reasonable  safe 
condition. 

APPLYING  "REASONABLE  CARE" 

Important  law  was  laid  down  by  a  higher 
court  in  Columbia  Amusement  Company 
v.  Settle,  168  8.  W.  (2d)  734.  In  this 
case  a  patron  sued  to  recover  for  injuries 
caused  by  a  fall.  She  contended  that  the 
balcony  steps  had  been  carelessly  and 
negligently  bu:lt  in  such  a  way  that  the 


risers  were  very  high  and  the  treads  very 
narrow,  thereby  making  them  dangerous  for 
persons  going  up  and  down  the  stairway. 

The  testimony  proved  that  these  steps 
were  illuminated  by  lighting  apparatus  and 
arrangement  best  known  to  lighting  en- 
gineers. There  was  a  hooded  light  on  the 
end  of  every  other  row  of  seats  on  each 
side  of  the  aisle  in  order  that  the  lights 
would  be  reflected  along  the  side. 

Notwithstanding  this  testimony  the  jury 
held  the  company  liable.  On  appeal,  the 
higher  court  reversed  the  verdict,  and  said : 

"In  a  case  where  there  is  no  showing  of 
a  defect  in  the  steps,  or  in  the  lighting 
arrangements  designed  for  their  use,  or 
other  negligence  on  the  part  of  the  operator 
of  the  theatre,  we  fail  to  see  how  it  can  be 
contended  seriously  that  a  party  who  is 
injured  while  ascending  or  descending  the 
stairs  is  entitled  to  have  his  case  submitted 
to  the  jury." 

Also,  if  a  dangerous  condition  cannot  be 
discovered,  and  repaired,  by  the  average 
careful  theatre  proprietor,  no  liability  can 
exist. 

For  example,  in  Briggs  v.  New  Bedford 
Amusement  Company,  Inc.,  51  N.  E.  (2d) 
779,  reported  January,  1944,  it  was  shown 
that  a  patron  was  injured  when  a  splinter 
from  a  seat  became  embedded  deeply  in 
his  leg.  The  jury  held  the  theatre  owner 
7tot  liable,  and  said  the  evidence  did  not 
prove  that  the  theatre  owner,  by  the  use 
of  ordinary  care,  could  have  discovered  and 
removed  the  splinter. 

PATRONS  INJURED  BY  PATRONS 

In  Master  v.  Alsina,  15  So.  (2d)  660, 
reported  January,  1944,  a  patron  left  her 
seat  and  while  proceeding  down  the  center 
aisle  of  the  theatre  in  making  her  way  to 
the  exit,  she  was  pushed  down  by  some  of 
the  other  patrons,  who  were  leaving  the 
show  at  the  same  time  and  that,  as  a  result, 
she  suffered  personal  injuries  consisting 
principally  of  a  sprained  thumb.  She  sued 
for  damages.  The  higher  court  held  the 
theatre  owner  not  liable  and  explained  that 
since  the  theatre  owner  employed  three 
ushers  for  the  theatre,  which  seated  985 
persons,  he  was  not  liable  for  injuries  to 
the  patron  who  was  pushed  dozun  by  an- 
other patron. 

Also  pertinent  is  Million  Dollar  Theatre, 
141  Pac.  (2d)  935,  reported  November, 


1943.  In  this  case  it  was  disclosed  that 
while  a  woman  was  attending  a  motion 
picture  show  someone  struck  her  on  the 
head.  She  fainted  and  later  was  revived 
and  led  outside  by  an  usher.  Subsequently, 
her  physician  discovered  that  she  was 
seriously  injured.  She  sued  the  theatre  own- 
er for  damages,  but  the  higher  court  refused 
to  hold  the  latter  liable,  and  explained  that 
a  theatre  owner  cannot  be  held  responsible 
for  unusual  acts  of  other  theatre  patrons. 

In  Theatrical,  28  Cal.  App.  116,  a 
woman  sued  a  theatre  owner  for  injuries 
sustained  as  a  result  of  being  kicked  by  an 
intoxicated  patron.  The  higher  court  re- 
fused to  hold  the  theatre  owner  liable  be- 
cause the  woman  failed  to  prove  that  the 
theatre  owner,  or  his  employes,  knew  that 
the  patron  was  dangerous  when  intoxicated. 

PROTECTING  WAITING  PATRONS 

Modern  higher  courts  consistently  hold 
that  motion  picture  managers  must  use  care 
to  prevent  injury  to  children  and  woman 
patrons  who  are  permitted  to  stand  in  a 
lobby  and  wait  for  vacant  seats. 

For  example,  in  Sims  v.  Strand  Theatre, 
29  Atl.  (2d)  208,  reported  February,  1943, 
it  was  shown  that  a  person  purchased  a 
general  admission  ticket  to  a  motion  picture 
show.  She  was  not  informed  that  seats  were 
then  unmjoilable.  She  stood  in  the  lobby 
for  45  minutes  waiting  for  an  opportunity 
tc  obtain  a  seat. 

At  the  close  of  the  feature  picture  many 
of  the  seated  audience  left  the  theatre 
through  doors  opening  on  to  side  streets. 
Almost  immediately  the  crowd  in  the  lobby 
surged  forward  down  the  aisle  into  the 
vacant  seats.  In  the  rush  she  was  lifted 
from  her  feet  by  the  movement  of  the 
crowd  and  was  carried  down  the  aisle  and 
forced  against  the  arm  of  a  seat  in  the 
theatre.  She  was  thrown  to  the  floor  and 
was  trampled  upon,  and  seriously  injured. 
The  theatre  owner  was  held  liable.  Said 
the  higher   court  (italics  are  ours) : 

"Crowds  made  up  of  individuals  vying 
with  each  other  to  obtain  seats  in  a  place 
of  public  amusement,  cere  likely  to  become 
unruly  if  not  controlled.  The  momentum 
of  a  crowd  rushing  down  the  aisle  of  a 
theatre  may  result  in  injury  to  some  of 
them.  Defendant  (theatre  owner),  from 
experience  in  operating  a  theatre,  must  have 
known  that  failure  to  exercise  control  in- 
volved an  unreasonable  risk  of  injury." 

This  court  indicated  a  defense  by  refer- 
ring the  practice  in  theatres  to  limit  the 
number  of  standees  admitted  at  a  time. 

ACTS  OF  EMPLOYES 

The  fact  that  a  patron  is  injured  as  a 
result  of  negligence  of  a  concessionaire  does 
not  relieve  the  proprietor  of  a  place  of 


February    5,  1944 


BETTER  THEATRES 


85 


amusement  from  liability.  For  example,  in 
Crawford,  142  Pac.  (2nd)  7,  reported 
November,  1943,  the  higher  court  held  that 
one  who  operates  a  place  of  amusement 
owes  a  legal  duty  to  excercise  ordinary 
care  to  protect  from  injury  individuals 
who  come  upon  the  premises  by  expressed 
or  implied  invitation.  In  this  case  the 
proprietor  was  held  liable  for  an  injury 
sustained  by  a  patron  as  a  result  of  a 
concessionaire's  negligence. 

Note  should  also  be  made  of  United 
Detroit  Theatres  Corporation,  UN.  W. 
(2d)  210.  In  this  case  a  woman  patron 
fell  down  balcony  steps  and  sustained  severe 
injuries.  She  sued  the  theatre  corporation 
for  damages  and  proved  that  the  electric 
bulbs  in  the  aisles'  illumination  system  had 
burned  out.  She  testified  that  she  could  not 
see  the  defective  stair  carpet  which  caused 
her  to  fall. 

The  lower  court  held  the  theatre  cor- 
poration not  liable;  but  the  higher  court 
reversed  the  decision  and  explained  that  if 
the  testimony  proved  that  the  bulbs  had 
been  burned  out  for  a  sufficient  period  of 
time  for  the  theatre  manager,  or  other  em- 
ployes, to  discover  and  replace  the  bulbs, 
then  the  theatre  corporation  was  liable. 

On  the  other  hand  a  higher  court  recent- 
ly held  the  manager  of  a  theatre  personally 
liable  in  a  suit  for  damages.  This  was  in 
Duncan  v.  Flagler,  132  Pac.  (2d)  939. 
The  testimony  disclosed  that  an  engine  was 
improperly  installed  and  resulted  in  ex- 
cessive vibration  and  noise.  Certain  nearby 
property  owners  sued  the  manager. 

It  was  argued  that  the  manager  could 
not  be  held  liabk  because  an  agent  is  not 
liable  to  third  persons  who  may  be  injured 
by  the  creation  or  maintenance  of  a  nuisance 
by  the  employer.  However  the  higher  court 
held  the  manager  liable,  and  said: 

"All  those  who  participate  in  the  crea- 
tion or  maintenance  of  a  nuisance  are  liable 
to  third  persons  for  injuries  suffered  there- 
rom. 

AGENT  PERSONALLY  LIABLE 

Modern  higher  courts  consistently  hold 
that  a  person  who  assumes  legal  liabilities 
and  responsibilities  must  fulfill  their  as- 
sumed obligations.  This  law  is  especially 
applicable  to  corporation  officials,  and  other 
agents,  who  personally  guarantee  to  pay  for 
merchandise. 

For  example,  in  Redington  v.  McKay 
Hardware  Company,  141  Pac.  (2d)  891, 
reported  November,  1943,  it  was  shown 
that  a  manufacturer  refused  to  sell  certain 
merchandise  to  a  corporation  on  credit.  In 
order  to  obtain  delivery  of  the  merchandise 
an  officer  of  the  corporation  promised  orally 
that  he  would  pay  for  the  merchandise. 

Later,  when  the  corpration  failed  to  pay, 
the  seller  sued  the  official  personally.  In 
holding  the  official  liable  the  higher  court 
said: 

"The  promise  was  original  rather  than 
collateral  or  of  guaranty ;  hence,  not  within 
the  statute." 

Now  this  official  would  not  have  been 
liable  if  he  had  said:  "Let  the  corporation 
have  all  the  merchandise  it  needs  and  if  the 
{Continued  on  page  96) 


THESE  are  the  lads  who  used  to  fill  your 
seats  .  .  .  that  was  beifore  they  turned  in- 
to fighting  men,  almost  overnight. 

They  spent  countless  happy,  carefree 
hours  of  relaxation  in  their  favorite  motion 
picture  theatres,  in  chairs  made  by  Amer- 
ican Seating  Company  craftsmen.  Now 
these  intrepid  warriors  of  the  air  are  bring- 
ing destruction  to  America's  foes,  in  a  dif- 
ferent sort  of  theatre— the  far-flung  "thea- 
tre of  war".  And  "Seats  by  American"  still 
serve  them. 

Pilot  seats  which  we  designed  and  built, 
fly  with  Douglas,  Republic,  Curtiss-Wright, 
Stinson,  Boeing  and  Fairchild  in  the  famed 


Havoc,  Thunderbolt,  Warhawk,  Sentinel, 
Kaydet  and  Cornells,  while  the  Flying  Fort- 
ress carries  ammunition  in  special  contain- 
ers of  our  manufacture. 

Airplane  wings  and  assemblies,  too,  for 
many  other  famous  American  planes,  have 
been  rolling  down  our  production  lines  for 
more  than  two  years. 

When  Victory  is  won,  you  and  other 
theatre  operators  will  need  new  seats,  and 
"American"  will  be  ready  to  serve  you. 
Then  those  War  Bonds  which  you  have 
been  buying  with  your  seating  replacement 
funds  will  pay  you  their  first  dividend. 
You'll  get  the  finest  theatre  seating  in  history. 


GRAND  RAPIDS,  MICHIGAN 

WORLD'S  LEADER  IN  PrHLIC  SEATINC 

Manufacturers  of  Theatre,  Auditorium,  School,  Church,  Transportation  and  Stadium  Seating 
.     Branch  Offices,  and  Distributors  in  Principal  Cities  , 


BUY 
WAR 
BONDS 


SAVE  THOSE  EXTRA  COPPER  DRIPPINGS 
hy  accurately  timing  your  reels  for  maximuvt  utilization  of  carbons 


Originators  and  Exclusive  Manufac- 
turers of  NOISELESS  CURTAIN  TRACKS, 
CONTROL  EQUIPMENT.  SPECIAL 
OPERATING  DEVICES. 


^he  Seal  of 

Readership 

ALL-STEEL  CURTAIN  TRACKS 
AUTOMATIC  CURTAIN  CONTROL 

VALLEN,  INC.,  AKRON,  OHIO 


86  BETTERTHEATRES  Februarys,  1944 

Determining  Seating  Levels  for 
An  Auditorium  with  a  Balcony 


36  34  33  32  31    30  2? 


27  26  2S  24  23  22  21   2D   19    18   17    IS   15   14    13  IZ 


10  987GS432 


W  Si?  -  -  -  N 
!<!    si    R     £    Ei  E 


O  IS  m  o 
p 


/?OM/  NUMBERS, 
%     ROW  LEVELS 


FLOOR  PITCHES  FOR  AUDITORIUM  WITH  OVERHANGING  BALCONY  OF  9  ROWS  (see  text) 

The  scheme  used  is  an  adaptation  of  Floor  Slope  No.  4  to  conditions  designated  in  the  issue  of  March  6,  1943,  as  Auditorium  Types  3A  and  3B,  with 
an  upper  level  of  seating  starting  at  a  point  about  26  rows  from  the  screen  end.  The  upper  seating  tier  overhangs  remaining  rows  of  the  main  floor 
seating.  The  plan  further  meets  conditions  presented  by  level  ground,  or  ground  sloping  not  more  than  2  feet,  either  upward  or  downward,  toward  the 
screen  end. 

The  levels  In  some  Instances  are  noted  In  inches  and  decimal  parts  of  an  Inch  (up  to  one-hundredth  of  an  Inch).  For  practical  construction  purposes, 
five-hundredths  of  an  inch  would  be  sufficiently  accurate,  in  forming  floors  at  the  main  floor  level,  an  accurate  template  taking  in  three  rows  at  a  time 
should  be  used  to  run  the  cement  finish  of  the  floor. 


THERE  ARE  two  basic  rea- 
sons for  employing  an  overhanging  upper 
level  of  seating  in  the  design  of  a  motion 
picture  theatre  auditorium.  An  overhang- 
ing balcony  covers  some  portion  of  the 
seats  on  the  main  floor. 

The  first  reason  for  it  is  based  purely  on 
space  considerations,  where  the  size  of  the 
plot  of  ground  is  not  sufficient  to  accom- 
modate the  desired  seating  capacity.  In 
instances  of  this  kind  you  may  find  that 
even  too  many  of  the  main  floor  seats  are 
covered  by  the  upper  seating  tier,  thereby 
creating  an  undesirably  steep  incline  for 
the  balcony  seating. 

The  frequent  presence  of  this  type  of 
auditorium  has  been  due  to  the  influence  of 
the  stage  theatre  where  it  was  obviously 
more  important  to  be  as  close  as  possible 
to  the  performers  than  it  was  to  be  con- 
cerned about  the  discomforts  of  steep-angle 
viewing  positions. 

In  viewing  and  hearing  motion  pictures, 
it  is  no  advantage  to  be  close  to  the  point 
of  performance ;  rather,  there  are  specific 
distances  from  the  screen  which  prove  to 
be  most  desirable  for  viewing  pictures.  And 
because  it  is  undesirable  to  have  more  than 
approximately  37  rows  of  total  seating 
depth,  an  upper  overhanging  level  of  seats 
has  to  be  employed  to  increase  the  capacity 
where  the  width  of  the  plot  of  ground,  or 
the   recommended   maximum   number  of 


chairs  in  the  width  of  the  auditorium,  does 
not  create  sufficient  capacity.  These  lat- 
ter conditions  constitute  the  basis  for  the 
second  reason  justifying  the  use  of  an  up- 
per level  of  seating  of  this  type. 

It  must  be  noted  in  addition,  however, 
that  upper  level  seating  in  itself  is  by  no 
means  in  the  category  of  a  necessary  evil ; 
on  the  contrary,  if  properly  designed  it  may 
be  the  location  of  some  of  the  most  desir- 
able seating  positions  in  the  auditorium. 
This  is  true  because  the  level  of  these  seats 
can  be  so  arranged  as  to  be  substantially 
on  a  level  with  or  just  above  the  level  of 
the  screen,  thereby  making  for  exceedingly 
comfortable  viewing  angles. 

In  this  article  and  in  the  accompanying 
illustration  a  single  design  is  offered  to  take 
care  of  two  different  natural  slopes  of  the 
ground.  The  conditions  dealt  with  were 
designated  as  Theatre  Types  3A  and  3B  in 
the  issue  of  March  6,  1943.  The  effect  of 
the  main  floor  slope  upon  the  design  of  the 
upper  tier  slope  is  more  important  than 
the  relationship  of  the  main  floor  slope  to 
the  outside  grade  conditions. 

There  may  be  some  instances  in  the  ap- 
plication of  this  design  where  the  natural 
ground  at  the  screen  end  may  be  quite  a 
bit  lower  than  the  exit  door  sill  at  the  same 
end  of  the  auditorium.  In  such  instances 
a  ramp  or  stairs  can  be  successfully  em- 
ployed to  negotiate  the  difference  in  levels. 


By 

BEN  SCHLANGER 

This  condition  is  satisfactory,  whereas  it 
is  not  satisfactory  to  have  the  natural 
ground  higher  than  exit  door  sills. 

In  the  scheme  submitted  here  an  amount 
of  reverse  floor  was  used  sufficient  to  keep 
point  "B"  low  enough,  so  that  the  upper 
level  seating  pitch  could  be  kept  down  to  a 
difference  in  platform  levels  of  6  inches. 
As  a  result  there  are  exceedingly  comfort- 
able viewing  angles  for  this  tier  of  seating 
and  the  steppings  are  within  the  8-inch 
maximum  recommended  for  this  purpose. 
Also,  the  projection  angle  is  greatly  re- 
(Continued  on  page  98) 


February    5,    1944  BETTER    THEATRES  87 

METHODS  IN  MANAGEMENT:  A  department  for  newcomers  to  theatre  operation 


THE  WAY  OF  AN  USHER  WITH  PATRONS 


A  —  Direction 


B  —  The  Greeting 


A DIRECTION:  A  cordial  expression 
of  welcome  and  a  natural  directive 
motion  with  the  arm  should  be 
combined  with  a  pleasant  intona- 
tion of  the  voice,  "Best  seats  are  to  your 
right,  please";  or,  "You'll  find  a  better  se- 
lection of  seats  to  your  left,  please.  Side 
aisles  should  never  be  referred  to  as  such 
because  of  the  psychological  aversion  to 
so-called  "side  seats."  These  aisles  should 
be  designated  by  the  usher  on  direction  as 
the  "third  aisle  over,";  or,  "the  second  aisle 
across."  On  the  initial  fill  of  the  house, 
the  crowd  should  be  split  to  each  side. 

BTHE  GREETING:  The  usher  steps 
smartly  into  the  aisle  as  the  patron 
approaches,  bringing  both  heels  to- 
gether. Usher  beckons  and  says,  "This 
Way,  Please."  The  phrase  can  be  varied; 
when  there  is  a  large  number  of  vacant 
seats,  he  may  say,  "How  far  down,  please?"; 
or  when  aisle  is  almost  full,  "I  have  seats 
at  the  rear  (or  extreme  front)  only." 

C TRAILING:  Walking  down  the  aisle, 
the  usher  goes  ahead,  keeping  the 
patron  a  few  paces  distant.  He  must 
avoid  bumping  into  people  coming 
up  the  aisle  and  watch  for  the  location  of 
vacant  seats.  Considerable  time  can  be 
saved  by  the  usher  if  he  memorizes  the 
location  of  all  vacancies.  Note  flashlight 
held  as  close  to  floor  as  possible  and  in 
perpendicular  position,  to  reduce  size  of 
light  focus  and  minimize  distraction  for 
those  already  seated.  Approaching  the 
vicinity  of  the  vacant  chair,  the  usher  turns 
about,  walking  the  last  few  steps  backward 
as  a  warning  that  the  objective  is  near.  He 
has  excused  himself  to  the  person  seated 
on  the  end  of  the  appointed  row,  saying, 
"I'm  sorry  to  disturb  you." 

D LARGE  BREAKS:  The  usher  has  quiet- 
ly announced  to  those  waiting,  "No 
one  will  be  seated  until  the  aisles 
have  cleared,  kindly  remain  where 
you  are."  Pressure  on  the  tape  with 
one  hand  will  prevent  some  over-anxious 
patron  from  removing  the  snap.  Usher  stands 
clear  to  permit  more  rapid  exit  and  to 
block  patrons  who  have  just  entered  from 
"crashing  down".  The  manager,  assisting, 
let  us  say,  in  the  absence  of  a  second  usher 
who  has  gone  down  the  aisle  to  prevent 
jamming,  has  intercepted  a  patron  and  is 
announcing,  "All  seating  is  from  within  the 
rails,  kindly  step  inside  the  tapes." 

E CUTTING    TAPES:    The    usher  an- 
nounces, "Two  please,"  or  whatever 
number  Is  to  be  admitted.  His  arm 
is  placed  over  and  behind  the  first 
couple  before  the  snap  Is  removed,  and  he 
addresses  those  behind:  "That  will  be  all, 
please;  kindly  remain  where  you  are." 

F AFTER  THE  SPILL:  Care  must  be 
exercised  to  prevent  pushing  and 
shoving  which  can  result  In  per- 
sonal injuries  and  disorder.  The 
usher  should  first  announce,  "There  are  seats 
for  all — do  not  rush — kindly  keep  In  single 
file."  He  should  form  a  wedge,  with  his 
body  braced,  and  hold  firmly  to  the  tape, 
leaving  only  a  small  opening. 

[PHOTOS  BY  STAFF  PHOTOGRAPHER} 


D  —  Large  Breaks 


E  —  Cutting  Tapes 


C  —  Trailing 


F_  After  the  Spill 


BETTER    TH  EATRES 


February    5,  1944 


IS  WORKING 
FOR  VICTORY! 


Carl  M,  Weber 
President, 
Weber  Machine 
Corporation 

TODAY,  our  modernized, 
greatly  enlarged  plant  and 
the  complete  facilities  of 
the  Weber  Machine  Corpora- 
tion are  at  the  command  of  the 
United  States  Army.  We  have 
been  selected  to  produce  pre- 
cision tools,  dies  and  gauges 
for  U.  S.  Army  Arsenals  be- 
cause of  our  reputation  for 
precise  workmanship  at  exceed- 
ingly close  tolerances. 

In  our  new  research  and  de- 
velopment laboratories,  how- 
ever, we  are  now  designing  a 
new,  complete  SYNCROFILM 
theatre  sound  system  that  will 
meet  the  high  standards  of  the 
Post  War  market. 

Precision  engineering  and 
fine  craftsmanship  have  built 
for  SYNCROFILM  sound  equip- 
ment an  enviable  reputation  in 
the  theatres  of  the  world — to- 
morrow's SYNCROFILM  equip- 
ment will  carry  on  that  fine  tra- 
dition of  quality. 

Carl  M.  Weber, 
Pres. 

WEBER  MACHINE  CORP. 

59  RUTTER  STREET, 
ROCHESTER,     N.  Y. 


EXPORT  DEPOT 
13  East4(Hh  St., 
New  York,  N.Y. 


CABLE 
ADDRESS: 
ROMOS 


The 


LIGHT  on  your 

SCREEN 


By  CHARLES  E.  SHULTZ 

Member  SMPE  .  .  .  Honorary  Life  Member  LOCAL  365,  lATSE  &  MPMO 


Causes  of  Unsteady  Image— 
And  What  to  Do  to  Cure  It 


THIS  ► 

is  a  great  trick — in  the  cir- 
cus— -but  mighty  poor  prac- 
tice in  your  projection  room. 
The  exhibition  that  we  have 
cartooned  well  demonstrates 
the  effect  of  improper  bal- 
ance and  overload  imposed 
on  obsolete  projector  bases 
when  called  upon  to  sup- 
port modern  mechanisms.  If 
you're  sorry  for  our  thin 
man,  look  at  the  poor  pro- 
jector base  in  Figure  1 !  The 
striking  siniilarity  to  the 
sorry  plight  of  the  little  man 
trying  so  desperately  to  bal- 
ance the  overstuffed  female, 
and  the  obsolete  base  groan- 
ing under  the  weight  of 
modern  equipment,  becomes 
apparent  when  you  compare 
the  weights  and  note  the 
point  of  balance  shown  in 
Figure  1.  Note  that  a  base, 
weighing  approximately  175  lbs.,  is  sup- 
porting projection  equipment  weighing  ap- 
proximately 373  lbs.  Also  note  that  a 
lamphouse,  weighing  approximately  160 
lbs.,  is  hanging  out  at  a  dizzy  angle  to  the 
main  support. 

Figure  2  illustrates  the  same  base  but 
having  mounted  on  it  equipment  that  was 
originally  designed  for  the  base.  In  this 
case  a  well  balanced  condition  exists,  as 
can  be  seen  when  the  weight  of  the  base 
and  the  weight  of  the  equipment  are  ex- 
amined. A  base,  weighing  approximately 
175  lbs.,  is  supporting  equipment  weighing 
about  208  lbs.  with  the  center  at  the  mid- 
dle of  the  mass  of  weight. 

Modern  equipment  weighing  approxi- 
mately 373  lbs.  with  an  entirely  different 
point  of  balance  cannot  be  expected  to  be 
properly  supported  on  a  little  base.  Fig- 
ure 3  illustrates  a  modern  projector  base 
weighing  approximately  450  lbs.  support- 
ing 373  lbs.  of  equipment  with  firm  stabil- 


ity. In  this  case  it  may  be  seen  that  the 
center  of  the  mass  of  weight  is  placed  at 
the  point  of  support  and  that  the  modern 
base  covers  a  wide  floor  area. 

It  is  required  of  any  good  projector  base 
that  it  have  the  following  features: 

1.  Ability  to  maintain  perfect  optical 
alignment  between  the  lamphouse  and  pro- 
jection head. 

2.  Firm  stability  through  wide  floor 
area  coverage  and  substantial  base  weight. 

3.  Good  balance  of  equipment  weight 
through  the  correct  positioning  of  the  main 
point  of  support. 

4.  Precision  means  of  adjusting  the  pic- 
ture in  relationship  to  the  screen  masking. 

5.  Adjustable  means  for  leveling  the 
ba'.e  on  irregular  flooring. 

The  base  shown  in  Figures  1  and  2  was 
designed  to  allow  the  lamphouse  to  move 
out  of  line  with  the  projector  head  and 
into  line  with  optical  system  of  the  slide 
attachment,  which  was  often  used  during 


February    5.  1944 


BETTER  THEATRES 


89 


KEEP  UP  THE  GOOD  WORK  WITH  YOUR 


E 


IXHIBITORS  and  projectionists  across  America 
are  to  be  congratulated  for  their  splendid  con- 
tribution to  the  war  effort  by  conserving  and 
recovering  much  of  the  copper  plating  of  their 
"National"  Victory  Carbons  .  ,  .  copper  that 
would  have  been  completely  lost  but  for  their 
cooperation. 

Naturally  the  copper  coating  on  Victory  Car- 
bons is  as  thin  as  practicable,  because  copper  is 
a  vital  war  material.  This  calls  for  strict  main- 
tenance of  arc  current  within  the  recommended 
range,  and  careful  adjustment  of  the  carbon 
feed  ratio. 

Satisfied  theater  audiences  everywhere  are 
testimony  to  the  constant  attention  being  given 
to  the  current  and  feed  factors. 


In  addition,  tons  of  copper  drippings  and  cop- 
per plate  stripped  from  carbon  stubs  have  been 
turned  back  into  production  channels  as  your 
Government  urged. 

Your  continued  cooperation  in  saving  copper 
is  still  of  utmost  importance,  for  copper  needs 
go  right  on  expanding  as  America's  war  produc- 
tion grows.  YouVe  done  a  splendid  job.  Keep 
up  the  good  work! 

As  a  reminder,  check  the  table  below  for 
carbon  trim  and  current  values  specified  for 
your  equipment.  A  bulletin  describing  com- 
pletely the  operation  of  the  Victory  High  Inten- 
sity Carbons  will  be  sent  promptly  on  request. 
Write  for  it  today. 

★  BUY  UNITED  STATES  WAR  BONDS 


The  word  "National"  is  the  registered  trade-marl;  of  rsalional  Carbon  Company,  Inc. 


RECOMMENDED  TRIM  AND  RAN 
USING  COPPER  COATED,  HIGH 


GE  OF  ARC  CURRENT  FOR  LAMPS 
INTENSITY,  PROJECTOR  CARBONS 


Type  of  Arc 


Arc  Current — 
Amperes 


New  Victory  Carbons — Size  and  Type 


"1  Kw"  High  Intensity,  A.  C. 
"1  Kw"  High  Intensity,  D.  C, 

Simplified  High  Intensity,  D.  C. 

with  adjustable  feed  ratio 
Simplified  High  Intensity,  D.  C. 

with  fixed  feed  ratio 
Simplified  High  Intensity,  D.  C. 


52-66     7  mm  x  9  inch  H.I.,  A.  C. 
40-42      7  mm  x  12  inch  or  14  inch  ' 
6  mm  X  9  inch  "Orotip"  C 
42-45     7  mm  x  12  inch  or  14  inch  ' 

6  mm  X  9  inch  **Orotip"  C 
42-45     7  mm  x  12  inch  or  14  inch 

7  mm  X  9  inch  **Orotip"  C 
56-65      8  mm  x  12  inch  or  14  inch 

7  mm  X  9  inch  "Orotip"  C 


Carbons  in  both  holders 
'*Suprex'*  Positive 
Negative 

"Suprex"  Positive 
Negative  ■ 
"Suprex"  Positive 
Negative 

**Suptex*'  Positive 
Negative 


NATIONAL  CARBON  COMPANY,  INC. 

Unit  of  Union  Carbide  and  Carbon  Corporation 

mi 

CARBON  PRODUCTS  DIVISION,  CLEVELAND  1,  OHIO 

Genera/  Offices 
30  East  42nd  Street,  New  York  17,  N.  Y. 

Branch  Sales  Offices 
New  York,  Pittsburgh,  Chicago,  San  Francisco 


9C 


B  ETT  E  R  THEATRES 


Feb 


r  u  a  r  y 


944 


Exhibitors  of  America  have  many  du- 
ties to  perform  these  war  days.  You 
build  unity  and  morale  through  motion 
picture  presentations— and  you  promote 
and  support  the  various  government 
drives  that  are  initiated  to  spur  war 
production  and  civilian  defense. 

RCA  Service,  like  exhibitors,  is  carry- 
ing on  important  war  duties:  RCA  en- 
gineers are  rendering  scheduled  service 
to  projection  room  equipment  in  thou- 
sands of  theatres  to  "Keep  'em  Run- 
ning"—and  other  RCA  Service  groups 
are  installing  military  equipment  and 
instructing  personnel,  in  this  country 
and  at  the  battlefronts. 

The  RCA  Service  organization  is  to- 
day more  than  nation-wide 
...  it  is  world-wide . . .  serv- 
ing the  home  front  and 
battlefronts  too! 


RCA  SERVICE  CO.,  INC. 

RADIO  CORPORATION  OF  AMERICA 

Subsidiary 
Camden,  N.  J. 


oLOBffiG  m. 

DENVER,  COLO. 


Save  Those  Extra  Copper  Drippings 


the  era  in  which  this  base  was  designed. 
This  feature  alone  causes  this  type  of  base 
to  be  entirely  unsuited  to  modern  projec- 
tion, in  which  perfect  optical  alignment 
between  the  lamphouse  and  projection  head 
must  be  maintained  if  efficient  operation  is 
to  be  achieved  with  modern  high-speed 
optical  systems  now  in  use. 

A  base  such  as  that  shown  in  Figures  1 
and  2  can  be  braced  to  help  support  the 
overhanging  weight,  but  it  is  virtually  im- 
possible to  maintain  perfect  optical  align- 
ment, while  the  bracing  operation  causes 
adjustments  of  the  base  to  be  very  diffi- 
cult. Such  bracing  also  sets  up  undesir- 
able strains  on  the  joints  and  sliding  mem- 
bers of  the  base  which  often  result  in  mis- 
alignments. 

A  steady  picture  has  been  one  of  the 
prime  requirements  of  good  projection 
since  the  inception  of  the  motion  picture 
into  the  field  of  entertainment.  Ever  since 
the  first  crude  pictures  in  motion  flickered 
and  jumped  their  way  across  a  screen  it 
has  been  the  constant  object  of  projection 
engineers  and  equipment  manufacturers  to 
provide  rock  steady  projection.  Everyone 
is  familiar  with  the  success  that  has 
crowned  these  efforts  and  with  the  almost 
unbelievable  excellence  that  has  been  at- 
tained in  picture  registry  in  the  mechanism 
of  the  modern  projector. 

Unsteadiness  does  not  always  result 
from  a  single  cause,  however;  it  may  be 
the  product  of  several  undesirable  condi- 
tions, some  of  which  are  external  to  the 
projection  mechanism  entirely.  Before  a 
correction  of  any  unsteady  condition  can 
be  made  it  is  necessary  to  isolate  the  causes 
separately.  In  the  simple  tests  which  follow 
direct  practical  means  are  given  for  analysis 
of  the  four  common  causes  of  unsteady 
projection,  and  methods  are  submitted  for 
measuring  the  degree  of  movement  from 
each  source. 

OTHER  CAUSES  OF  UNSTEADINESS 

I  have  placed  particular  emphasis  upon 
the  part  that  projector  bases  may  play  in 
contributing  to  unsteady  presentation  be- 
cause they  are  probably  the  most  neglected 
pieces  of  equipment  in  any  theatre.  Hav- 
ing no  moving  parts  and  requiring  no  ser- 
vice, they  are  forgotten.  Constant  im- 
provements in  projectors  and  sound  heads 
with  an  accompanying  increase  in  weight 
and  change  in  the  distribution  of  this 
weight  have  made  all  but  the  newest  types 
of  bases  obsolete,  as  has  been  shown  in 
the  foregoing  drawings.  Other  causes  of 
unsteady  projection  are  of  equal  impor- 
tance, however. 

I  consider  the  following  four  conditions 
to  be  the  most  important  direct  causes  of 
unsteady  projection: 

1.  Unstable  projection  room  floors. 

2.  Unstable  projection  bases. 

3.  Mechanical  vibrations. 

4.  Improper  registry. 

Any  one  or  a  combination  of  any  or 
all  of  these  conditions  may  result  in  un- 
steady projection,  so  it  is  highly  desirable 
to  be  able  to  study  each  individually '  to 
determine  the  exact  part  it  plays  in  the 
final  results.    The  tests  which  follow  are 


WEIGHT  ON  BAS 
APPROXIMATELY  373 


573  lbs. 


FIGURE  I 


WE16HT  ON  BASE  ff —  | 
APPROXIMATELY  a081bs<LL  >- 


FIGURE  2 


FIGURE  3 


simple  to  make  and  require  no  special  tools 
or  precision  instruments.  The  resulting 
measurements  will  indicate  unsteadiness  at 
the  aperture  to  1/lOOOth  of  an  inch. 

The  study  of  imperfection  of  any  kind 
is  often  dependent  upon  the  extent  to  which 
the  object  under  test  can  be  magnified  for 
examination.  The  tests  offered  are  based 
on  this  principle  of  great  magnification  of 
error.  The  very  principle  of  motion  pic- 
ture projection  is  based  on  magnification. 
A  tiny  aperture  6/10  of  an  inch  high  is 
projected  and  enlarged  on  a  screen  many 
feet  in  height  by  the  projection  lens.  If 
we  wish  to  find  out  how  many  times  this 
picture  is  magnified,  we  divide  the  height 
of  the  picture  in  feet  by  the  height  of  the 


February    5,  1944 


BETTER  THEATRES 


91 


tiny  aperture  in  feet.  For  example,  if  we 
are  projecting  a  picture  15  feet  high  from 
a  standard  sound  film  aperture  which  is 
6/10  of  an  inch  high,  we  would  first  find 
out  how  many  parts  of  a  foot  6/10  of  an 
inch  was  and  divide  the  result  by  the 
height  of  the  screen  in  feet  in  this  man- 
ner: 6/10  =  .6;  .6  12  =  .05  feet,  or 
5/100  feet. 

The  height  of  the  sound  aperture  in  feet 
is  .05  feet.  If  the  picture  is  15  feet  in 
height,  the  magnification  is  15  -f-  .05  = 
300;  the  aperture  height  is  magnified  300 
times  at  the  screen.  This  type  of  magni- 
fication is  known  as  linear  magnification. 

If  the  aperture  is  magnified  300  times, 
it  is  obvious  that  any  jump  at  the  aperture 
will  move  300  times  as  far  at  the  screen. 
If  the  aperture  image  at  the  screen  moved 
up  and  down  1  inch,  the  aperture  would 
be  moving  up  and  down  1/300  of  an  inch. 

We  could  double  the  height  of  the  pro- 
jected image  if  we  were  to  replace  the 
screen  on  the  stage  with  a  great  mirror 
as  big  as  the  screen  itself,  for  the  picture 
reflected  from  the  mirror  would  fall  upon 
the  rear  wall  of  the  theatre  in  the  form 
of  an  image  twice  as  high  as  the  mirror. 
If  our  picture  had  been  15  feet  high  at 
the  point  at  which  it  struck  the  mirror 
the  picture  on  the  rear  wall  would  be  30 
feet  high.  Because  the  magnification 
would  be  doubled  at  the  rear  wall,  any 
movement  at  the  aperture  would  also  be 
doubled,  and  the  image  from  the  aperture 
would  be  magnified  600  times.  Any  move- 
ment of  the  aperture  would  also  be  dou- 
bled, and  if  the  aperture  moved  1  /300  of 
an  inch,  the  jump  would  be  2  inches  on 
the  reflected  image  at  the  rear  wall  of  the 
theatre. 

This  is  the  principle  of  magnification 
used  in  the  tests,  but  instead  of  employ- 
ing a  great  mirror  to  reflect  the  entire  pic- 
ture back  to  the  projection  room,  we  use 
a  small  mirror  which  throws  back  an 
image  of  a  tiny  part  of  the  edge  of  the 
aperture,  greatly  magnified  for  easy  exam- 
ination and  measurement.  This  method 
enables  us  to  enlarge  the  edge  of  the  aper- 
ture to  enormous  proportions,  just  as  a 
microscope  enlarges  a  tiny  specimen  for  ex- 
amination. 

SETTING  UP  THE  TESTS 

Figure  4  shows  at  a  glance  the  simple 
set-up  used  in  conducting  these  tests.  A 
large  mirror  is  placed  on  the  floor  of  the 
stage  leaning  against  the  surface  of  the 
screen.  The  mirror  is  tilted  until  the 
image  of  the  edge  of  the  aperture  is  re- 
flected back  through  the  center  of  an  ob- 
servation or  spotlight  port.  (A  good  grade 
of  mirror  should  be  used,  one  which  does 
not  have  waves  in  its  surface.)  The 
image  of  the  edge  of  the  aperture  passes 
through  the  port  and .  falls  upon  a  test 
screen  stretched  across  the  inside  of  the 
port.  This  test  screen  is  simply  tracing 
cloth  or  tracing  paper,  ground  glass  or 
even  waxed  paper,  which  forms  a  small 
translucent  test  screen. 

In  setting  up,  run  the  projector  without 
film  and  have  an  assistant  tilt  the  mirror 
on  the  stage  until  the  image  of  the  edge 


Photo  from  "A  GUY  NAMED  JOE"  as  produced  by  MGM 


A  GUY 


NAME 
JOE!" 


"Red-hot  air  story,  with 
names  to  pull  'em  .  .  .  action 
to  thrill  'em  .  .  .  comedy  to 
wow  'em  .  .  .  romance  to  woo 
'em!"  A  critic  wrote  those  lines 
— not  a  press  agent — about 
MGM's  latest  vehicle  for  , 
Spencer  Tracy,  Irene  Dunne, 
and  other  stars  of  the  first 
magnitude  .  .  .  Wonder  if  the 
reviewer  who  wrote  those 
words  saw  "A  GUY  NAMED 
JOE"  screened  by  a  DeVRY 
precision  projector  —  if  a 
DeVRY  hi-fidelity  sound  sys- 
tem brought  him  words, 
sounds,  music  with  the  perfec- 
tion such  top-flight  produc- 
tions deserve?  Wonder  how 
many  of  our  fighting  men  will 
see  this  great  picture  at  sea,  at 
distant  air  corps  bases,  and  in 
training  camps  as  presented 
with  theater-like  brilliance  by 
war-proved  DeVRYS?  Those 
DeVRYS  come  under  the  heading 
of  "^"-quipment  according  to  the 
Army  -  Navy  excellence  -  pennant 


under  which  they  are  produced. 
DeVRY  CORPORATION,  1111 
Armitage  Ave.,  Chicago  14,  Illinois. 


THIS    MONTH'S    BOX    OFFICE  BOOSTERS 

What  A  Woman— COL  .  .  .  North  Star— RKO  .  .  .  Jane  Eyre— 20TH-FOX  .  .  .  Destination  Tokyo— WAR 


Where  Are  Your  Children? — MONO  • .  .  .  Standing  Room  Only — PARA 
The  Fighting  Seabees — REP   ...   Ah  Baba  and  the  Forty  Thieves — UNIV    .  . 

BACK  THE  ATTACK— BUY  WAR  BONDS 


.  Voice  in  the  Wind — UA 
.    .    .    Career  Girl— PRC 


Star  awarded  for  contin- 
ued excellence  in  the  pro- 
duction of  motion  picture 
sound  equipment. 


Distributors  in  World's  Principal  Cities 
WORLD'S  MOST  COMPLETE  LINE  OF   MOTION   PICTURE  SOUND  EQUIPMENT 


NEW  Model  "D " 
AUTOMATIC  ENCLOSED 

REWIND 


Improved  Design  ,  •  .  For  Now — and 
Later  Too.' 


1.  U.L.  Approved 

2.  Safe  .  .  .  E  liminates 
Fire  Hazard 

3.  Rigid,    Solid  Cast 
Case 

4.  Super-Silent 

5.  Micro-Switch  Safety 
Cut-Off 


.  6.  Door    Opens  — 
Motor  Stops 

7.  Positive  Friction 
.  .  .  Non-Clinching 

8.  Power  Plus 

9.  Modern,  Compact 
Design 

10.  Early  Delivery 


Available  to   Theatres  and  Theatre 

Supply  Dealers  on  Form  WPB-SA7 


ColdE  Manufacturing  Co. 


Dept.  D.  1220  W.  Madison  St. 
Chicago  7,  Illinois 


92 


BETTER  THEATRES 


February    5,  1944 


HELP    CONSERVE  MATERIALS 

STOP  WASTING  CARBONS! 

HUNDREDS  OF  THEATRES  EVERYWHERE 

CUT  CARBON  COSTS  10-25% 


with  DROLL  PROCESSED  CARBONS 

You  bum  •viry  Inch  of  Droll  Pro«o*s«d  Carbons.  No 
wasteful  stubs. 

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of  the  aperture  is  positioned  on  the  test 
screen  properly.  It  will  require  care  to 
get  the  mirror  properly  adjusted,  for  the 
slightest  movement  causes  a  very  quick 
change  in  the  direction  of  the  reflected 
image.  Once  the  mirror  has  been  ad- 
justed properly,  be  sure  that  no  one  re- 
mains on  the  stage,  as  wallcing  on  the  floor 


the  rear  of  the  lamphouse,  the  top  of  the 
upper  magazine  and  the  front  of  the  sound- 
head. Open  and  close  the  upper  magazine 
door,  lamphouse  door  and  projector  head 
door  and  note  the  movement  of  the  image 
of  the  aperture  edge  on  the  test  screen. 

Shake  the  non-operating  projector 
lightly  and  note  whether  this  movement 


TEST  SCREEN 


FIGURE  4 


OBSERVATION  OR. 
SPOTLIGHT  PORT 


LARGE  MIRROR  LEAtJING 
AGAINST  THE'SCREEN  AND" 
TILTED  TO  REFLECT  THE 
IMAGE  OF  THE  EDGE  OF 
APERTURE  BACK  THROUGH 
THE  CENTER  OF  A  PORT 


ST  A  G.  E 


of  the  stage  will  cause  the  reflected  image 
to  move  about  on  the  test  screen  and  re- 
sult in  an  inaccurate  measurement. 

Focus  the  projection  lens  until  the  image 
of  the  edge  of  the  aperture  is  as  sharply 
focused  on  the  test  screen  in  the  projection 
room  as  possible.  This  image  will  be  very 
fuzzy  due  to  the  great  magnification  and 
will  appear  somewhat  as  shown  in  Fiff- 
ure  5.  All  is  now  prepared  for  the  four 
tests  for  individually  checking  the  com- 
mon causes  of  unsteadiness  previously 
listed. 

1.  TEST  FOR  UNSTABLE 
PROJECTION  ROOM  FLOOR 

Strike  the  arc.  Open  all  shutters  and 
dowsers,  allowing  the  light  to  pass 
through  the  projection  system  to  the  screen, 
but  do  not  run  the  projector. 

Focus  the  image  of  the  edge  of  the  aper- 
ture as  sharply  as  possible  on  the  test  screen 
in  the  projection  room. 

Walk  about  the  projection  room  heavily 
and  note  the  movement  of  the  image  of 
the  edge  of  the  aperture  on  the  test  screen. 

During  this  test  do  not  allow  the  light 
to  pass  through  the  projector  constantly 
for  mor.e  than  half  a  minute  at  a  time, 
since  the  rear  shutter  is  not  in  operation 
cutting  down  the  heat  of  the  beam,  and 
a  long  period  without  this  shutter  will 
overheat  the  film  trap  and  projection  lens. 
It  is  advisable  to  open  the  dowser  for  half 
a  minute  while  testing,  and  to  close  it  be- 
tween times  for  about  the  same  period. 

2.  TEST  FOR  UNSTABLE 
PROJECTOR  BASES 

Strike  the  arc.  Run  the  projector  with- 
out film.  Focus  the  image  of  the  edge  of 
the  aperture  as  sharply  as  possible  on  the 
test  screen  in  the  projection  room. 

Press  lightly  with  your  finger  tips  on 


is  transmitted  to  the  operating  projector 
through  the  interconnection  of  the  two 
projectors  by  the  exhaust  pipes  of  the 
lamphouses. 

3.    TEST  FOR 

MECHANICAL  VIBRATION 

Thread  film  in  the  projector.  Strike 
the  arc.  Operate  the  projector  in  the 
usual  manner.  Focus  the  image  of  the 
edge  of  the  aperture  on  the  test  screen  as 


FIGURE  5  —  Appearance  of  magnified 
image  of  edge  of  aperture  on  tesf  screen. 

sharply  as  possible.  Don't  focus  the  film 
for  the  test.  Be  sure  that  the  picture  is 
framed  low  enough  to  avoid  the  edge  of 
the  frame  line  from  obscuring  the  image 
of  the  edge  of  the  aperture  on  the  test 
screen. 

Note  the  vibration  of  the  image  of  the 
edge  of  the  aperture  up  and  down  on  the 
test  screen. 

Touch  the  barrel  of  the  projection  lens 
lightly  and  note  the  resulting  movement 
on  the  image  of  the  edge  of  the  aperture 
on  the  test  screen. 

4.  TEST  FOR  PICTURE  JUMP 
DUE  TO  BAD  FILM  REGISTRY 

Thread  a  test  reel  in  the  projector.  If 
such  a  reel  is  not  available,  use  a  cartoon 
having  a  light  background  so  that  the 
frame  line  will  be  clearly  seen  in  contrast 
to  the  background.  A  newsreel  is  not 
suitable  for  this  purpose  because  the  width 
of  the  frame  line  will  change  constantly 


February    5,  1944 


BETTER  THEATRES 


93 


throughout  the  reel.  Operate  the  projector 
in  the  usual  manner.  Frame  the  picture 
until  the  edge  of  the  frame  line  is  seen 
above  the  bottom  edge  of  the  image  of 
the  aperture. 

Focus  the  image  of  the  edge  of  the  frame 
line  as  sharply  as  possible  on  the  test  screen 
in  the  projection  room.  This  image  of 
the  frame  line  will  be  less  distinct  than 
the  image  of  the  edge  of  the  aperture,  and 
more  difficult  to  focus.  Do  not  expect  a 
sharp  focus  of  the  edge  of  the  aperture, 


FIGURE  6  —  Appearance  of  magnified 
imac|e  of  edge  of  frame  line  on  fest  screen. 


it  will  appear  fuzzy  and  granular  due  to 
the  enormous  magnification  as  shown  in 
Figure  6. 

Note  the  jump  of  the  image  of  the  edge 
of  the  aperture  up  and  down  on  the  test 
screen. 

FROM  TESTS  TO  FIGURES 

With  an  understanding  of  the  procedure 
for  testing  unstability,  vibration  and 
jump,  and  knowing  how  to  test  for  each 
one  individually,  let's  see  how  we  translate 
this  information  into  figures  which  have  a 
real  meaniing  when  measured  upon  the 
test  screen. 

Table  1  has  been  compiled  for  the  pur- 
pose of  reducing  measurements  made  at  the 
test  screen  in  the  projection  room,  to  fig- 
ures giving  the  actual  amount  of  jump  or 
vibration  present  at  the  screen  on  the  stage 
and  at  the  aperture  of  the  projector.  The 
movement  at  the  theatre  screen  is  given 
in  inches,  and  the  movement  at  the  projec- 
tor aperture  is  given  in  thousandths  of  an 
inch.  Supplementing  Table  1  is  a  simple 
gauge  for  direct  measurement  of  move- 
ment at  the  test  screen  in  the  projection 
room. 

TAe  Woy  fo  Use  Me  Gouge  and  Table 

Let's  suppose  that  you  have  a  picture  15 
feet  in  height  and  that  you  are  conduct- 
ing Test  4.  By  holding  the  gauge  against 
the  surface  of  the  translucent  test  screen, 
just  as  you  would  a  ruler,  you  can  measure 
the  length  of  the  jump  of  the  magnified 
image  on  the  test  screen.  If  you  found 
that  the  jump  was  equal  to  the  distance 
between  the  lines  marked  "B"  on  the 
gauge,  you  would  be  in  possession  of  the 
only  two  figures  required.  These  two  fig- 
ures are  the  height  of  the  picture  and  the 
length  of  the  jump. 

By  examining  Table  1  you  will  find 
that  the  figures  for  screen  height  are  given 
across  the  top.  As  your  screen  is  assured 
to  be  15  feet  high  in  this  case,  run  your 
finger  down  the  column  under  "15."  The 
first  box  under  "15"  shows  us  the  num- 
ber of  times  that  the  image  of  the  aperture 
is  magnified  at  the  test  screen  in  the  projec- 
tion room^ — in  this  case  600x,  or  600  times. 
The  next  box  just  below  this  shows  us 


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Projection  Optics  P.?: 

330  LYELL  AVE.,      ROCHESTER,  N.Y..  U.S.A. 


BETTER  THEATRES 


February    5,  1944 


that  the  length  of  the  jump  at  the  aper- 
ture, or  the  movement  of  the  aperture  it- 
self, is  magnified  300  times  at  the  screen 
on  the  stage  of  the  theatre.  If  you  have 
found  during  Test  4  that  the  length  of 
the  jump  of  the  edge  of  the  image  of  the 


theatre,  I  found  the  jump  to  be  some- 
what greater  than  the  narrow  standards 
of  6%  ten-thousandths  of  an  inch.  This 
may  be  accounted  for  in  part  by  the  differ- 
ence in  perfection  between  the  precision 
test  film  used  in  factory  tests  and  the 


TABLE  I 


LINEAR  MAGNIFICATION  AT  TEST 
SCREEN    IN  PROjeCTIOKi  ROQIrt 


1  GHX 

10 


3&Ox 


ISO  J 


4<X>)( 


ZOOx 


PlCTVJ  R. 
12. 


OM 


4-40) 


2.2jOx 


4ao». 


OAOx 


13 


520/ 


14- 


STAS 
15 


tSOOx 


300;< 


I  NJ 

16 


17 


300  X 


"1 


16 


360x 


A 


MOVEMEMT  ATTHtSCraN 
ON  THE  THEATRE  SITvSC 


MOVEMENT  AT  APEim)RE 
OF  THE  PROJECTOR 


JL" 


1.76.  W 
lOOO 


•2. 


a..4-a  " 
looo 


I  I 
X 


looo 


JL" 

X 


g.oa . 
looo 


I.  9X.. 
lOOO 


X 


lOOO 


I  .1 
a 


1 .56 


lOOO 


_L" 

X 


lOOO 


2. 


B 


MOVEMEMT  AT  THE  28EEN 
ON  THE  THEATRE  STASE 


MovEMENr  AT  mmfi 

OF  THE  PROjeaOR 


3  , 
4- 


340,, 
looo 


3  ' 
4- 


3-IX 


3  . 
4- 


x-as. 

I  ooo 


3  ■ 

4- 


X.g.7  " 

lOOO 


4- 


X.S-Q  „ 
lOOO 


3  • 
4- 


X.S4- 


_3_ 
4 


2..2.0  .■ 
I  OOO 


n..oe.i 

I  OOO 


c 


MOVEMENT  a  THE  SCREIN 
ON  THE  THEATRE  ?T«3E 


MOVEMENT  AT  APERTURE 
OF  THE  PROJECTOR 


S.5X  . 
\ooo 


4-.96 


4-.  48 


4-.  IS 


3.84-. 
1  OOO 


3. ST.. 
lOOO 


3.33. 
lOOO 


3. IX. 
looo 


•X9X. 
looo 


I  ooo 


D 


MOVEMENT  AT  THE  SCeOU 
ON  THE  THEATRE  STA6E 


MOVEMENT  AT  APERTURE 
OF  THE  PR.OJECT0R 


S.94. 
I  OOO 


5.&0, 
looo 


g.XO. 
lOOO 


4-.80.. 
looo 


4-.40 
lOOO 


4-.10 


3.<?0. 
looo 


looo 


3.47 


MOVMENT  AT  THE  SCREEN 
OH  THE  THEATRE  STAGE 


MOVEMENT  AT  APERTURE 
OF  THE  PROJECTOR 


14:°  )i 


«.3  3 


7.  SO 
lOOO 


6.81 


14" 


(S.Xg. 


looo 


5.3S-. 

lOOO 


1^" 


S.OO, 


4-.6e. 

I  OOO 


4^1 


1 4-" 


4-.ie,' 

I  OO  O 


frame  line  on  the  gauge  was  equal  to  "B," 
run  your  finger  on  down  the  vertical  col- 
umn under  "15"  until  you  reach  the  point 
of  intersection  of  the  two  horizontal  col- 
umns starting  with  "B."  In  the  first  box 
you  will  find  the  length  of  the  jump  of 
the  picture  at  the  screen  on  the  theatre 
stage  in  inches  (in  this  case  ^-inch).  In 
the  second  box  just  below  this  you  will 
find  the  movement  of  the  picture  up  and 
down  at  the  aperture  'of  the  projector  in 
thousandths  of  an  inch  (in  this  case  2^2 
thousandths  of  an  inch). 

HOW  MUCH  JUMP  IS  TOO  MUCH? 

In  order  to  answer  this  question  I  con- 
ferred with  projection  engineers  and  pro- 
jector manufacturers  to  obtain  their  ideas 
of  a  standard  for  the  amount  of  jump  con- 
sidered acceptable  in  keeping  with  optimum 
projection.  One  well  known  engineer 
placed  a  value  of  %  of  1%  of  the  height 
of  the  projected  image  as  a  limit  of  ac- 
ceptable jump  when  tested  with  precision 
film.  This  is  a  jump  of  1^  thousandths 
(1.5/1000)  of  an  inch  at  the  aperture  of 
the  projector. 

A  leading  manufacturer  of  projectors 
considers  a  standard  for  their  modern 
projectors  which  is  far  greater  in  accuracy 
than  this.  Their  factory  tests  permit  a 
tolerance  of  6%  ten  thousandths  of  an  inch 
jump  at  the  aperture  when  tested  with 
precision  film. 

In  a  series  of  tests  which  I  conducted 
in  theatres  equipped  with  various  makes  of 
projectors  and  a  variety  of  conditions  sim- 
ilar to  those  encountered  in  the  average 


standard  release  prints  which  I  used  in  my 
tests.  As  a  result  of  my  tests,  the  gauge 
and  Table  1  are  scaled  to  measure  con- 
siderably greater  jump  than  that  consid- 
ered tolerable  by  the  manufacturer. 

For  those  who  may  find  that  their  preci- 
sion of  registry  is  more  accurate  than  the 
minimum  shown  in  the  table  or  on  the 
gauge.  I  am  listing  the  length  of  jump 
which  will  be  present  on  the  test  screen  in 
the  projection  room  and  at  the  screen  on 
the  stage  of  the  theatre  if  a  jump  of  only 
634  ten-thousandths  of  an  inch  is  present 
at  the  aperture  of  the  proiect»»«-» 


Image  Jump  af  tes'f  screen  Jump  af 

ht.  in  ft.  in  projecHon  room  screen  on  stage 


9 

.225" 

or  app 

7/32" 

.1 125" 

or  app. 

7/64" 

10 

.25" 

or 

1/4" 

.125" 

or 

1/8" 

1 1 

.265" 

or  app. 

1 7/64" 

.1375" 

or  app. 

17/128 

12 

.3" 

or  app. 

5/16" 

.15" 

or  app. 

5/32" 

13 

.325" 

or  app. 

21/64" 

.1625" 

or  app. 

21/128 

14 

.35" 

or  app. 

1 1/32" 

.175" 

or  app. 

11/64" 

15 

.375" 

or 

3/8" 

.1875" 

or 

3/16" 

16 

A" 

or  app. 

13/32" 

.2" 

or  app. 

13/64" 

17 

.425" 

or  app. 

7/16" 

.2125" 

or  app. 

7/32" 

18 

.45" 

or  app. 

29/64" 

.225" 

or  app. 

29/128' 

FINDING  THE  CURE 

Now  that  we  have  examined  the  nieth- 
ods  of  testing  and  measuring  movement, 
let's  see  what  can  be  done  to  correct  un- 
desirable conditions  that  may  be  found. 

TEST  I 

If  we  find  in  Test  1  that  the  projection 
room  floor  is  a  source  of  unsteadiness, 
there  is  very  little  that  the  projectionists 
or  manager  can  do  directly.  In  such  a  case 
an  architect  or  building  contractor  should 


February    5,  1944 

be  consulted  for  the  purpose  of  correct- 
ing the  unstable  flooring  by  structural 
bracing  and  reinforcement.  This  is  very 
important,  for  steady  projection  will  be  im- 
possible with  any  equipment  if  this  condi- 
tion remains  as  a  source  of  unsteadiness. 

TEST  2 

If  Test  2  indicates  that  unstable  pro- 
jector bases  are  responsible  for  movement, 
it  is  obvious  that  the  bases  should  be  re- 
placed with  a  modern  model  built  to  bal- 
ance properly  the  weight  of  the  equipment 
mounted  upon  it  with  firm  stability.  As 
war  conditions  may  make  the  purchase  of 
these  bases  temporarily  impossible,  the 
overhanging  weight  should  be  braced  with 
supporting  rods  as  an  emergency  measure 
until  the  proper  bases  can  be  installed. 

In  no  event  should  the  great  excess  of 
unbalanced  weight  of  a  heavy  lamphouse 
be  allowed  to  hang  out  in  the  unsupported 
manner  shown  in  Figure  1.  Such  an  over- 
hang is  not  only  undesirable  from  a  stand- 
point of  unsteadiness,  but  represents  a  real 
danger  of  serious  damage  to  the  entire 
equipment  that  would  result  from  break- 
age of  the  greatly  overloaded  supporting 
points  of  the  light  bases. 

TEST  3 

If  Test  3  indicates  that  mechanical 
vibration  is  present  in  the  projection  equip- 
ment, there  are  several  things  which  may 
be  the  cause.  First  check  for  vibration 
that  may  be  originating  in  the  fan  which 
exhausts  the  air  from  the  lamphouse.  This 
vibration  is  sometimes  carried  through  the 
exhaust  pipes  to  the  projection  lamps. 
Check  the  possibility  of  this  by  testing  the 
movement  of  the  image  of  the  edge  of  aper- 
ture on  the  test  screen  in  the  projection 
room  with  and  without  the  ventilating  fan 
in  operation. 

If  you  find  that  the  fan  is  responsible 
for  a  measurable  vibration  on  the  test 
screen,  it  is  advisable  to  take  a  small  sec- 
tion of  the  pipe  out  near  the  projection 
lamps  so  that  a  clearance  of  about  3  inches 
exists  between  the  ends  of  the  pipe.  En- 
close this  space  between  the  ends  of  the 
pipe  with  asbestos  sheeting  of  flexible  type 
which  should  be  clamped  at  each  end  of 
the  pipe.  This  provides  a  leakproof  fit- 
ting that  will  not  transmit  the  vibration 
from  the  fan  to  the  projection  system. 

If  the  projection  head  is  not  tightened 
on  its  mounting  a  vibration  may  be  seen 
on  the  test  screen.  Check  this  by  putting 
slight  pressure  on  the  upper  magazine  while 
running  the  test  and  note  whether  the 
vibration  is  lessened.  If  the  head  is  loose, 
"snug"  the  supporting  bolts  up. 

In  some  types  of  projectors  a  vibration 
results  from  a  looseness  of  the  bolts  hold- 
ing the  projection  lens  assembly.  To  check 
this  place  your  finger  between  the  top  of 
the  lens  barrel  and  the  front  of  the  head 
to  take  up  any  movement  that  is  present, 
and  note  the  test  screen  to  see  if  the  move- 
ment is  reduced.  If  the  vibration  is  found 
to  originate  at  this  point,  find  the  bolts 
which  support  the  lens  assembly  and 
"snug"  them.  (On  Standard  Model  Sim- 
plex projectors,  the  bold  has  a  screwdriver 


BETTER  THEATRES 


95 


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96 


BETTER  THEATRES 


The  Book  for  the  Times! 


the  new 
7th  Edition — 


I 


available  in 
a  new  printing 


F  there  had  never  been  a  need  for  a  textbook  and  operat- 
ing guide  on  projection  and  sound,  this  war  would  have  created  it. 

Almost  all  materials  have  gone  to  war.  Less  and  less  remains 
for  the  replacement  of  theatre  equipment  parts. 

Projection  and  sound  equipment  must  be  operated  skillfully,  re- 
paired promptly,  if  it  is  to  continue  in  effective  service.  This  calls 
for  maximum  practical  knowledge  among  all  members  of  the  craft, 
the  older  projectionists  as  well  as  the  newcomers. 

That  know-how,  equal  to  the  demands  of  these  times,  is  avail- 
able to  anyone  who  has  Richardson's  Bluebook  available  for  study, 
handy  for  reference.  It  is  both  textbook  and  manual — comprehen- 
sive in  treatment  of  both  theory  and  practice,  of  sound  as  well  as 
of  projection. 

For  years  the  standard  work  on  the  subject,  Richardson's  Blue- 
book  brings  to  this  greater  need  a  long  tradition  of  just  such  prac- 
tical aid  to  the  working  projectionist — aid  that  is  now  of  equal 
importance  to  management. 

Wartime  restrictions  do  not  permit  unlimited 
printings — we  suggest  ordiering  your  copy  today. 


QUICLEY  BOOKSHOP 

Rockefeller  T.enter  (1270  Sixth  Avenue)  New  York  20,  N.  Y. 


PRICE 

$7.25 

POSTPAID 


February    5,  1944 

slotted  head  and  is  found  just  behind  the 
governor  ball.) 

If  vibration  is  encountered  in  a  Motio- 
graph  head,  it  may  be  that  looseness  has 
developed  in  the  sliding  supports  which  al- 
low the  section  of  the  mechanism  moved 
during  framing  to  vibrate.  Check  this  by 
bracing  each  point  at  which  the  supports 
contact  the  moving  member,  and  check  on 
the  test  screen  until  the  point  or  points 
which  are  loose  have  been  found.  This 
condition  can  be  corrected  in  accordance 
with  the  manufacturer's  recommendations. 

TEST  4 

Picture  jump  through  inaccurate  regis- 
try is  determined  in  Test  4,  and  if  your 
picture  jump  is  excessive  it  will  be  well 
to  investigate  the  following  points  first  (as 
poor  registry  is  a  complex  problem  that 
may  have  many  causes,  it  is  a  good  idea 
to  consult  a  service  organization  if  none 
of  the  following  common  conditions  prove 
to  be  the  source  of  the  trouble)  : 

1.  Examine  the  sprocket  teeth  with  a 
magnifying  glass  for  deposits  of  dirt  or 
emulsion  about  the  base  of  the  teeth.  Clean 
the  sprocket  teeth  with  a  stiff  toothbrush. 
If  excessive  jump  is  still  in  evidence,  ex- 
amine for  undercutting  at  the  base  of  the 
teeth. 

2.  Test  the  gate  tension  to  be  sure  that 
the  film  is  not  "overshooting." 

3.  Feel  the  intermittent  by  trying  to 
rock  the  sprocket  with  your  fingers  in  each 
of  the  locked  positions.  If  any  play  is 
felt  in  any  of  the  locked  positions,  the  in- 
termittent should  be  sent  in  for  adjust- 
ment or  repair. 

These  tests  and  suggestions  are  offered 
in  the  sincere  hope  that  they  may  help  us  in 
our  constant  battle  for  better  projection 
through  a  clear  understanding  of  the  im- 
portance and  source  of  the  conditions  con- 
tributing to  undesirable  picture  movement. 


LEGAL  RESPONSIBIUTY 
TO  YOUR  PATRONS 

{Continued  from  page  85) 
corporation  does  not  pay  the  bill,  I  will 
pay  it. 

In  this  case  the  official  would  have  been 
a  surety,  and  such  agreements  are  void 
unless  in  uniting. 

REMOVING  GOODS  UNPAID  FOR 

If  equipment  can  be  removed  from  a 
building  without  material  or  permanent 
damage  to  the  building,  the  court  will 
permit  a  contractor  to  remove  equipment 
not  paid  for,  or  which  otherwise  belongs 
to  him. 

For  example,  in  Westmore  Company  v. 
Frum,  44  N.  E.  (2d)  949,  reported  Jan- 
uary, 1943,  a  building  contractor  installed 
hot  water  boilers,  in  a  place  of  amusement, 
then  filed  suit  to  remove  the  equipment 
when  the  proprietor  breached  his  agreement 
regarding  payments.  The  higher  court  held 
the  contractor  authorized  to  remove  the 
equipment,  and  explained  that  the  building 
would  not  be  damaged  by  such  removal. 


February    5,  1944 


STATEMENTS  AND  REPORTS 
ABOUT  THEATRE  EQUIPMENT. 
MATERIALS  AND  SERVICES 
AND  THOSE  WHO  SELL  THEM 


WPB  Makes  Projection 
Equipment  Available 

MANUFACTURERS  of  pro- 
jectors and  sound  reproducing  equipment 
are  making  a  limited  number  of  projector 
rnechanisms,  magazines  and  bases,  and  a 
similar  quantity  of  sound  system  compo- 
nents  available   in   accordance   with  the 
recent  Limitation  Order  L-325  of  the  War 
Production  Board  granting  such  equipment 
to  commercial  theatres  which  can  be  proved 
essential  to  maintenance  of  civilian  morale 
and  entertainment  of  war  workers.  The 
theatre  must,  of  course,  be  unable  to  op- 
erate unless  new  equipment  of  these  classi- 
fications is  procured.  (An  exhibitor  files  his 
application  on  Form  3253.) 

A  statement  from  Motiograph  specifies  the 
followmg  equipment  pursuant  to  the  order: 
Small  and  medium-sized  Motiograph-Mirro- 
phonic  sound  systems  (including  Models  9-B 
M-11,  M-911,  M-911  Dual,  and  M-U  Dual)' 
Monograph  Model  K  projector  mechanisms,' 
magazines,  and  Model  S  pedestals. 

A  statement  from  RCA  lists  BX-80  Brenkert 
projector  heads,  N-lOO  Brenkert  Enarc  lamps, 
BX-12  Brenkert  pedestals,  5035-type  tube  recti- 
fiers, PR-76  copper  oxide  rectifiers,  and  small 
and  medium  RCA  sound  systems. 

• 

A.  ("Count")  de  Stefano  has  rejoined 
the  National  Theatre  Supply  organization, 
haying  been  named  manager  of  the  Kansas 
City,  Mo.,  branch.  He  has  previously 
managed  NTS  branches  in  Memphis,  Los 
Angeles  and  Dallas. 

• 

New  Compact  Changeover 

An  automatic  electrical  changeover  re- 
cently brought  out  by  the  Essannay  Elec- 
tric Manufacturing  Company,  Chicago,  is 
a  lightweight  development  of  this  type  of 
device,  using  a  foot-treadle  actuating  a 
shutter  at  the  aperture.   It  is  available  in 


BETTER  THEATRES 


97 


two  models,  one  for  Simplex,  the  other  for 
Motiograph  projectors,  and  it  also  can  be 
had  with  synchronized  sound  changeover 
built  in. 

Electrical  response  to  the  treadle  is  effected 
by  a  Solonoid  coil  connected  to  the  shutter  by  a 
single  flexible  shaft.  The  manufacturer  points 
out:  "There   are  no  bearings,   no  levers,  no 


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Although  we  have  been  devoting  the  major  part  of  our  eflorts  and  lacililies 
to  war  production,  we  have  at  the  same  time  been  making  deliveries  right 
along,  and  are  continuing  to  make  deliveries  of  our  Adler  Letters  and  Frame 
and  Glass  Equipment  for  theatre  marquee  program  displays.  Write  for 
information. 


ADLER  SILHOUETTE  LETTER  CO. 

2909  Indiana  Ave.,  Chicago,  16—1451  Broadway,  New  York,  18 

CHICAGO  — NEW  YORK  —  TORONTO,  CAN.  — LONDON,  ENGLAND 
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98 


BETTER  THEATRES 


February    5,  1944 


MANY  YEARS  EXTRA  USE 

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Export  Office  220  W.  42nd  St.,  N.  Y.  C. 

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and  Curtain  Machtnes. 


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THEATRE  MANAGEMENT  RECORD 
AND  ANNUAL  TAX  REGISTER 

5£CTIOHS:  Holiday  and  Date  Record 
•  Film  Clearance  Chart  •  Insurance  Record  • 
Equipment  Purchase  Record  •  Fixed  Expense 
Apportionment  •  Income  (Ticket  Numbers. 
Prices.  Cash.  Taxes.  Costs  of  Features. 
Shorts)  •  Payroll  and  Check  Record.  Bank 
Record.  Social  Security  Tax  Deductions  by 
Individual  and  complete  listing  of  all  ex- 
penses  •  Profit  and  Loss,  weekly  and  cumula- 
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FEATURES:  Running  Times  •  Entire 
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,....:^^ERMASTON^^s  ..... 

•       Anchors  Loose  Equipment  —  Sets  Within  10  Minutes 
:        SOLD   EVERYWHERE   BY  DEALERS 
:  SQUARE 

:  S5.00  Per  Kit  F.O.B.  Chicago 

:  FENSIN  SEATING  COMPANY,  62  E.  13th  St. 


complicated  working  parts,  nothing  to  require 
lubrication  or  wear  out.  When  the  changeover 
operates  there  is  only  a  slight  click."  The 
shutter  is  similarly  available  in  a  film  fire. 

In  the  sound  changeover,  the  core  of  the 
Solenoid  coil  which  operates  the  shutter  pro- 
jects through  the  base  of  the  coil  and  acts,  ex- 
plains the  manufacturer,  "as  a  bayonet  switch 
to  close  the  speaker  circuit,"  and  thus  both  pic- 
ture and  sound  cliangeovers  are  synchronized. 


Charles  R.  Underhill,  Jr.,  RCA 
service  representative  in  Pittsburgh  for  six- 
teen years,  has  been  promoted  to  the  home 
offie  staff  of  the  RCA  theatre  equipment 
section  in  Camden,  N.  J.  He  is  in  charge 
of  motion  picture  screen  sales. 

• 

Five-Reel  Film  Tells  of 
Progress  in  Plastic  Material 

How  the  use  of  Formica  laminated  plas- 
tic has  been  extended  and  progress  has  been 
made  during  the  war  in  manufacturing 
technique  promising  more  varied  applica- 
tion of  this  material,  is  shown  in  a  five-reel 
motion  picture  recently  completed  by  the 
Formica  Insulation  Company,  Cincinnati. 
It  will  be  shown  to  representatives  of  the 
piess  in  New  York  City  some  time  in  Feb- 
ruary. The  announcement  states: 

"The  motion  picture,  produced  with  all  of 
the  tempo  of  Hollywood  technique,  tells  the 
factual  story  of  the  history  of  Formica,  manu- 
facturing and  fabricating  processes  and  divers- 
ified applications,  all  with  an  interest-compelling 
presentation  more  in  line  with  the  entertain- 
ment type  of  picture  than  an  industrial  film. 

"The  picture  was  made  'on  location'  in  the 


A  pioneer  in  the  arts  that  produced  motion  picture 
sound  drops  in  at  the  DeForest  Training  School  for 
Visual  Education  In  Chicago.  The  school  was 
founded  In  collaboration  with  the  late  Herman  A. 
DeVry.  Dr.  DeForest  Is  shown  during  his  visit  with 
E.  C.  DeVry,  president  head  of  the  school  (left), 
and  (right)  W.  N.  LIttlewood,  chief  of  education. 


I 


Awarded  the  "White  Star"^  for  continued  meri- 
torious production  of  war  materials.  Executives  of 
the  Ilex  Optical  Company,  Rochester,  lens  manu- 
facturers, display  the  company's  "E"  Flag,  pre- 
viously awarded,  with  the  new  symbol.  Colnclden- 
tally  with  the  ceremony,  ground  was  broken  for 
an  addition  to  the  plant.  Shown  are  Rufus  Rosen- 
bloom,  president;  Jacques  Levensen,  purchasing 
agent,  .and  Harwln  Richards,  superintendent. 

Formica  plant  in  Cincinnati,  and  in  other  parts 
of  the  United  States,  where  shots  illustrating 
applications  of  the  laminated  products  were 
filmed. 

"The  Company  plans  to  make  the  film  avail- 
able to  technical  and  engineering  societies,  col- 
leges and  universities  and  manufacturers  and 
fabricators." 

The  company  also  announces  that  the  capac- 
ity of  the  Cincinnati  plant  to  use  raw  materials 
for  fabrication  will  be  increased  about  25%  by 
installation  of  infra-red  treating  equipment. 
• 

The  Charles  P.  Cochrane  Company,  car- 
pet manufacturers,  announces  the  appoint- 
ment of  Howard  A.  DeLong  to  the  post  of 
Eastern  Division  manager.  He  has  been  in 
charge  of  the  company's  New  York  office 

for  the  past  five  years. 

• 

Sound  in  1943  Reviewed 

In  a  review  of  activities  in  1943  involv- 
ing applications  of  electronic  devices,  Ed- 
ward C.  Cahill  and  others  of  RCA  describe 
the  significance  of  electro-mechanical  sound 
devices  to  the  arts  of  both  war  and  peace. 

Reporting  for  the  Photophone  and  the  Sound 
and  Picture  Sections  of  RCA,  Barton  Kreuzer, 
manager,  said  that  during  the  year  large  quan- 
tities of  film  sound  recording  and  reproducing 
equipment  continued  to  be  supplied  to  armed 
forces  and  Government  agencies.  Projection 
and  sound  equipment  of  35-mm.  type  furnished 
the  armed  forces  totaled  several  hundred,  while 
16-mm.  equipment  ran  to  thousands  of  units. 

Besides  more  than  a  score  of  reproduction 
systems  installed  in  Government  offices  in  Wash- 
ington, a  large  amount  of  both"  recording  and 
theatre  equipment  was  supplied  to  the  govern- 
ments of  England,  India,  Russia,  Australia 
and  Canada. 


SEATING  LEVELS  FOR  BALCONY  PLAN 


(Continued  from  page  86) 


duced  and  the  amount  of  stair  climbing  to 
the  upper  level  is  minimized  to  further 
make  the  approach  to  the  upper  level  easy. 

Sightline  "A-A"  from  the  eye  of  a  main 
floor  standee  placed  three  deep  standing, 
to  the  top  of  the  picture  locates  the  lowest 
possible  position  for  the  upper  level  seating. 
Sightline  "B-B"  from  the  eye  of  the  pro- 
jectionist at  the  observation  port,  to  the 
top  of  the  picture,  locates  the  lowest  pos- 
sible position  for  any  part  of  the  audi- 
torium. 

To  decrease  the  total  area  of  the  struc- 


ture it  is  possible  to  place  the  lounge  and 
rest  rooms  at  an  intermediate  level  be- 
tween the  projection  room  and  the  main 
floor,  as  is  shown  in  the  drawing.  Approach- 
ing a  lounge  level  on  the  way  up  to  the 
upper  seating  tier  also  minimizes  the  ap- 
parent climb  to  the  upper  level.  Although 
In  this  instance  the  upper  seating  level  is 
rather  comparatively  low,  this  further  re- 
finement creates  a  still  richer  and  more 
comfortable  feeling.  The  upper  level  seat- 
ing should  be  staggered,  as  is  called  for  on 
the  main  floor  seating. 


February    5,  1944 


ETTER  THEATRES 


99 


WAYS  &  MEANS 


in  operation,  installation,  maintenance 


John  J.  Sefing  is  a  graduate  mechanical  engineer  and  has  long  specialiied  in  fheatre  work 


WARTIME  INSPECTION: 

9.  Ventilation;  Air-Conditioning 

NINTH  OF  A  SERIES  OF  INSPECTION  GUIDES  WITH  RECORD  FORMS 


[The  Maintenance  Inspection  Record 
for-  Ventilation  and  Air-Conditioning 
Equipment  is  on  pages  102-103.  Beginning 
below,  ivith  each  item  numbered  according 
to  its  number  in  the  form,  is  an  explanation 
of  procedure  for  efficient  examination  and 
for  correction  of  defects.  The  first  guide, 
on  projection  and  sound  equipment,  ap- 
peared in  May  29,  1943  issue;  items  are 
numbered  cumulatively  regardless  of  classi- 
fication so  as  to  avoid  confusion  in  the  use 
of  the  record  forms.] 

ITEM  104:  Blower 

The  entire  blower  housing  should  be 
looked  over  carefuUj^  for  rust  or  corrosion 
spots.  Rust  spots  should  be  covered  with 
paint,  preferably  a  rust-arresting  and  water- 
resistant  paint.  Failure  to  do  this  can 
weaken  in  a  short  time  the  entire  blower 
housing. 

If  the  blower  has  been  operating  for 
several  months  without  much  attention,  the 
bearing  pillow  blocks  in  which  the  shaft 
revolves  should  be  taken  apart,  the  old 
grease  or  oil  removed,  and  the  parts  cleaned 
with  kerosene.  These  parts  should  be 
checked  carefully  for  any  uneven  wear  or 
defects  before  they  are  again  reassembled. 
Only  a  good  grade  of  clean  grease  or  oil 
should  be  put  into  the  bearing  housing. 

Bearings  that  show  uneven  wear,  or  are 
scored,  or  if  the  shaft  has  undue  wear  at 
the  point  where  it  rests  in  the  bearing 
housing,  there  is  misalignment  of  either  the 
shaft  squirrel  cage  rotor  or  the  large  driven 
pulley.  The  use  of  improper  grease  or  oil 
and  insufficient  lubrication  can  also  cause 
these  conditions.  When  the  blower  has  been 
in  use  for  some  time  the  use  of  heavier  grade 
of  grease  or  oil  will  help  compensate  for 
the  natural  wear  in  the  bearings.  However, 
when  the  bearings  are  too  loose,  or  show 
other  defects,  new  bearings  should  be  in- 
stalled; continued  use  of  defective  bearings 
will  permanently  score  and  scratch  the  shaft 
so  that  ordinary  repairs  will  be  impossible. 

To  check  for  proper  alignment,  make 


certain  that  the  shaft  is  perfectly  level  by 
placing  a  carpenter's  spirit  level  on  the 
horizontal  part.  For  any  adjustments  in 
the  level,  insert  thin  metal  shims  under  the 
bearing  blocks,  on  one  side  or  the  other, 
as  need  be.  After  this  is  done,  tighten  down 
all  the  holding  bolts  and  then  check  again 
for  proper  level.  Make  sure  that  there  is 
sufficient  clearance  between  the  squirrel 
cage  rotor  blades  and  the  blower  housing. 

The  blower  pulley  should  not  be  loose 
on  the  end  of  the  shaft,  and  it  should  always 
be  in  a  straight  line  with  the  motor  pulley. 
The  key  in  the  keyway  on  the  shaft  should 
be  in  tight,  and  the  set  screws  around  the 
hub  of  the  pulley  always  turned  down  hard. 
A  loose  or  improperly  set  pulley  on  the 
blower  will  cause  not  only  rapid  wear  of 
the  shaft  and  bearings,  but  also  of  the  drive 
belts. 

Do  not  overlook  checking  the  lag  bolts 
or  screws  that  hold  down  the  frame  of  the 
blower  to  the  foundation ;  a  loose  blower 
will  tend  to  creep  and  misalign  the  grooves 
on  the  pulleys  with  the  drive  belts. 

A  check  should  be  made  to  see  if  the 
connection  from  the  mouth  of  the  blower 
to  the  duct  is  not  loosened  and  is  reason- 
ably air-tight,  especially  if  a  canvas  con- 
nection is  installed. 

ITEM  105:  Motors 

In  the  maintenance  of  motors  a  thought 
worth  remembering  is  that  an  electric  motor 
is  only  as  old  as  its  insulation  and  bearings. 
The  gradual  deterioration  of  the  insulatiop 
can  be  hastened  by  excessive  heat  due  to 
shorts  and  hot  spots  in  the  winding,  me- 
chanical and  electrical  overloads,  and  gen- 
eral uncleanliness.  Bearings  that  show 
excessive  wear  can  be  the  result  of  poor 
bearings  improperly  designed  or  main- 
tained; ineffective  lubrication,  poor  align- 
ment with  an  accompanying  strenuous 
magnetic  side  pull  on  the  revolving  shaft. 
In  maintaining  a  motor,  be  it  a  single  speed, 
multi-speed  polyphase  induction,  or  d.  c. 
variable  speed,  every  effort  should  be  made 


SUPER  SERVICE 


OUR  PARTS 
in 


x\i\smR! 


LaVezzi-made  precision  parts  are 
now  in  demand  for  the  tools  of 
war.  When  the  war  is  won 
YOUR  needs  will  again 
rank  "First." 


LaVfezzi  Machine  Works 

180  North  Wacker  Drive  ChicagoJIIinpis 


1    1»0*00  aaywiiere  ia         IJDited  States 

few  .  I  IMIMIIIMl 


RECTIFIER  BULBS 


without  priority 

GORDOS  S-83  (replaces  G.E.  Tungar 
\  217283).  15  Ampere.  List  $10.00. 

SPECIAL  $6.95 

WESTINGHOUSE  289416  (replaces 
G.E.  Tungar  289049).  6  Ampere.  List 
$5.00.  SPECIAL  $3.95 

Write  lor  Latest  Bargain  Bulletin — Rem%A 

S.O.S.  CINEMASUPPLYCORP.,  449  W.  42nd  St.,  N.Y.C.18 


.IMMEDIATE 
DELIVERIES 

On  CHICAGO'S  Supreme  Expansion 
Bolts.  Keep  seats  anchored  securely. 
Available  now  at  leading  supply  houses 
CHICAGO    Expansion    Bolt  Co. 

2230  W.  Ogden  Ave.,  Chicago  12,  III. 


100 


BETTER  THEATRES 


February    5,  1944 


lu  prevent  dirt,  grease,  oil  or  other  foreign 
material  from  getting  inside  the  housing. 
A  good  vacuum  cleaner  should  be  employed 
for  blowing  out  any  accumulation  of  dust 
and  dirt  from  the  interior.  Oil  and  grease 
on  the  windings,  commutator,  rotor,  etc. 
should  be  wiped  off  with  a  clean  cloth  wet 
in  carbon  tetrachloride.  In  case  of  a  sudden 
>luit-down  of  an  a.  c.  motor,  check  if  one 
phase  or  one  side  of  the  3-phasing  wiring  is 
out,  due  to  a  blown  fuse.  Motor  trouble 
may  also  be  caused  by  some  defect  in  the 
blower  or  the  drive.  Check  the  rotor  clear- 
ance tap  and  bottom  between  the  stator 
windings  with  regular  rotor  clearance 
gauges.  Variation  in  the  air-gap  means  that 
the  bearings  are  worn,  or  that  some  rotor 
bars  are  loose:  either  should  be  remedied 
at  once  to  prevent  damage  to  the  stator 
winding. 

A  knocking  noise  in  the  motor  as  it  re- 
volves may  mean  that  there  is  looseness 
between  the  rotor  and  the  shaft.  In  this 
case  the  rotor  should  be  tightened  to  the 
shaft  and  lined  up  evenly.  Also,  check  the 
stator  coil  pole  pieces  for  any  looseness. 

In  case  any  testing  is  done  on  the  site, 
the  instruments  that  should  be  used  in  this 
work  are  a  good  voltmeter,  an  ammeter 
and  a  resistance  meter  ("megger"),  with 
ranges  and  characteristics  suitable  for  test- 
ing the  windings  and  general  wiring  of  the 
motor  on  hand.  The  megger  should  be 
used  for  testing  the  insulation  that  may 
have  deteriorated  because  the  windings  are 
soaked  with  moisture  or  oil,  or  are  weak- 
ened or  punctured  in  spots  due  to  high 
voltage  or  overloads,  grounds,  short  circuits 
or  open  circuits.  ■ 

Electric  Wire  Splicing 

Tighten  all  electrical  wiring  connections 
at  the  motor  splice  box,  and  especially  check 
any  splices  in  the  wiring  and  the  lug  con- 
nection, for  they  can  be  the  cause  of  faulty 
motor  operation.  In  some  cases  moisture 
or  water  enters  the  splices  and  causes  elec- 
trical leakage  to  ground  or  even  short  cir- 
cuits. 

In  order  to  make  a  strong  low-resistance 
soldered  splice,  only  a  good  solder  rosin 
core  should  be  used,  with  any  globules  and 
sharp  points  removed.  The  splice  should  be 
insulated  with  one  layer  of  half-lapped  fresh 
rubber  tape,  and  a  half-lapped  layer  of 
friction  tape.  The  splice  should  be  secure 
in  the  splice  box,  and  Avhere  there  are 
possibilities  of  moisture  penetration,  pour 
in  molten  beeswax  or  paraffin,  making  sure 
that  the  connections  are  neatly  formed  and 
separated  so  that  the  wax  will  flow  around 
them  readily.  The  variable  speed  starter 
should  be  checked  to  see  if  the  contact 
points  are  pitted  or  burned.  If  these  points 
need  touching  up  use  #00  sandpaper,  but 
make  sure  that  the  contact  arm  or  lever  is 
working  properly  to  avoid  further  sparking 
and  pitting  of  the  points. 

Commutator  Inspection  * 

When  the  motor  has  a  commutator  and 
brushes,  sparking  or  poor  operation  can  be 
caused  by  dirt,  grit  or  oil  accumulation. 
This  foreign  material  should  be  removed 
by  using  a  clean  rag  saturated  with  alcohol, 


gasoline,  or  a  comparable  solvent.  Other 
troubles  can  be  caused  by: 

Brushes  not  functioning;  windings  arc 
open  or  shorted;  slip  rings  are  dirty;  arma- 
ture and  field  windings  have  no  continuity, 
or  arc  grounded ;  there  is  an  open  circuit 
in  wiring  to  the  motor. 

Slight  ridges  or  scratches  on  the  commu- 
tator face  can  be  caused  by  badly  shaped 
01  a  wrong  type  of  brush.  To  remedy,  first 
smooth  the  commutator  with  very  fine 
sandpaper  or  crocus  cloth,  with  the  motor 
running,  then  correct  the  brushes. 

The  only  remedy  for  a  badly  scarred 
commutator  is  to  have  it  under-cut.  Use 
only  a  clean  dry  cloth  for  cleaning  dirty 
brushes.  To  reshape  brushes  use  #00  sand- 
paper with  the  sanded  side  on  the  brush 
face  and  move  it  back  and  forth  rapidly 
while  it  is  set  between  the  brush  and  com- 
mutator face.  Make  sure  that  the  dust  and 
grit  is  removed  after  the  operation.  Check 
the  brushholder  springs  for  proper  tension. 

Examination  and  Core  of  Searings 

If  the  bearings  run  hot,  check  to  see  if 
the  motor  is  getting  proper  lubrication. 
Where  oil  or  sleeve-bearings  are  used,  make 
sure  that  the  oil  level  in  the  cup  shows  the 
correct  amount  of  oil  in  the  bearing  hous- 
ing. The  cover  cap  on  the  cup  should 
always  be  on  tight  and  fitted  properly. 
For  ballbearings  use  only  good  clean 
grease — sodium  base,  if  possible- — and  as 
recommended  by  the  manufacturer.  Make 
sure  that  no  grit  or  dirt  is  squeezed  in  with 
the  grease. 

In  checking  oil  bearings,  make  sure  that 
the  oil  rings  in  the  housing  revolve  freely 
with  the  motor  running.  Where  the  races 
or  raceways  in  the  ballbearings  are  worn 
badly,  they  can  be  remedied  if  need  be  by 
grinding  the  surfaces  smooth  and  inserting 
larger  ballbearings.  However,  for  assur- 
ance of  good  results,  this  work  should  be 
done  by  an  experienced  man. 

If  ballbearings  are  lubricated  by  oil, 
SAE-10  oil,  or  oil  recommended  by  the 
manufacturer  for  that  particular  type  of 
motor,  should  be  used.  In  checking  oil- 
bearings,  make  sure  that  the  oil  rings  in  the 
housing  revolve  freely  with  the  motor  run- 
ning. 

To  remedy  oil  leakage  at  the  bearing 
housing,  take  off  the  oil  well  covers  and 
insert  new,  pliable  felt  washers  in  the 
grooves  of  the  same  size  as  the  old  ones. 
Then  replace  the  covers  so  tha't  they  seat 
tightly.  Check  the  felt  washers  around  the 
shaft  to  see  if  they  are  in  good  condition 
and  pliable.  Remember  that  cast  iron  cracks 
easily,  so  handle  with  extreme  care  any 
items  of  this  material. 

ITEM  106:  Pulleys 

Check  the  pulley  on  the  blower  and 
motor  for  looseness.  The  keys  in  the  key- 
ways  and  set  screws  around  the  hub  should 
always  be  tight  in  place.  A  loose  pulley 
can  fly  off  the  shaft  when  in  operation, 
causing  damage  or  breakage  to  itself  and 
surrounding  equipment.  Clean  the  grooves 
smooth  of  all  foreign  material  and  sharp 
01  rough  surfaces. 

Never  strike  the  pulley  directly  with  a 


hammer  when  adjusting  or  taking  it  ofif  the 
shaft ;  use  a  good  wheel-puller.  This  same 
precaution  applies  to  a  motor  pulley,  even 
though  in  most  cases  it  is  made  of  steel 
instead  of  cast  iron.  Striking  a  steel  pulley 
with  a  hammer — even  if  lightly — will  tend 
to  force  the  groove  width  out  of  uniformity. 
Another  practice  that  should  be  dis- 
couraged in  adjusting  or  taking  off  a  tight 
fitting  motor  pulley,  is  to  drive  in  a  tapered 
wood  wedge  between  the  motor  yoke  and 
the  side  of  the  pulley.  This  method  not 
only  will  force  the  grooves  out  of  shape, 
but  will  also  put  a  strain  on  the  shaft  and 
interior  working  parts  of  the  motor.  The 
same  effect  can  also  be  expected  when  an 
iron  crowbar  is  used  to  yank  off  the  pulley 
from  the  shaft,  but  with  the  additional 
possibility  that  the  motor  yoke  or  end-bell 
may  be  cracked.  The  best  and  safest  way 
is  to  use  a  proper  wheel  or  bearing  puller 
tool. 

In  dismantling  the  motor  or  replacing 
parts  make  sure  to  mark  the  parts  as  they 
are  t^ken  off  so  that  they  will  go  back 
and  fit  in  the  exact  position.  Use  a  clean 
rag  saturated  in  carbon-tetrachloride  in 
cleaning  the  motor  interior  and  miscel- 
laneous electrical  parts. 

ITEM  107:  Drive  Belts 

The  one  main  thing  that  contributes  to 
rapid  belt  wear  is  misaligned  pulleys  or 
grooves  into  which  the  belts  fit  as  they  drive 
the  blower.  To  check  for  alignment  of  the 
fan  pulley  in  relation  to  the  motor  pulley, 
a  good  way  is  to  use  an  accurate  straight- 
edged  board  or  wood  slat  that  is  long 
enough  to  span  the  distance  between  the 
full  diameter  of  the  blower  pulley  as  well 
as  reach  across  the  face  of  the  motor  pulley. 
When  this  board  or  slat  is  placed  tight 
against  the  hubs  of  both  pulleys  without 
bending  the  pulleys  are  reasonably  in  a 
straight  line.  If  this  is  not  the  case,  one 
pulley  or  the  other  should  be  loosened  and 
moved  until  both  are  lined  up. 

Make  sure  that  the  belt  tension  is  reason- 
ably right  at  the  pulleys  for  if  they  are 
too  tight  or  too  loose,  rapid  wear  will  re- 
sult. For  adjustment,  loosen  or  tighten  up 
on  the  adjustment  bolts  on  the  base  of  the 
blower  until  all  the  belts  are  fairly  tight 
in  the  grooves  and  not  sagging. 

In  case  one  or  more  drive  belts  flop  up 
and  down  with  the  motor  running,  while 
the  others  run  taut,  the  cause  of  this  is 
usually  that  the  motor  shaft  and  pulley 
are  not  lined  up  properly  with  the  blower 
pulley.  The  main  trouble  is  that  the  motor 
is  set  slightly  to  one  side  and  half  of  the 
belts  take  the  load,  while  the  others  just 
turn  loosely  around  the  pulleys.  The  only 
remedy  in  a  case  like  this  is  to  relocate  the 
bolt  holes  holding  down  the  motor  so  that 
all  belts  pull  the  load  evenly. 

Check  the  motor  fastenings  to  make  sure 
that  they  are  tight,  not  permitting  the  motor 
to  creep  one  way  or  the  other.  It  is  a  good 
idea  to  change  the  belts  around  occasionally 
so  that  each  belt  works  in  a  different  groove 
for  a  while.  The  main  idea  is  to  get  the 
full  life  out  of  all  the  belts. 

In  case  a  belt  begins  to  show  wear,  it 
can  be  resurfaced  with  a  composition  of 


February    5,  1944 


BETTER  THEATRES 


101 


synthetic  rubber  (known  as  So-Lo).  This 
composition  consists  essentially  of  a  cement 
primer  and  mastic  which  can  be  easily  ap- 
plied over  the  present  belts,  giving  them 
longer  life  and  resistance  to  oil,  grease  and 
shrinkage. 

In  case  some  of  the  old  belts  are  broken, 
they  can  be  repaired,  in  an  emergency,  by 
first  cutting  of?  the  worst  spots,  then  splic- 
ing them  with  ordinary  metal  eye-hooks. 
These  hooks  should  be  of  a  large  size  so 
that  a  good  bite  is  made  in  the  belts  for 
proper  fastening — but  make  sure  that  no 
metal  extends  on  the  sides  to  rub  against 
the  grooves  in  the  pulley.  Where  one  or 
two  of  the  V-belts  are  broken  and  they 
cannot  be  repaired  or  replaced  with  new 
ones,  good  second-hand  b.elts  can  be  used 
in  a  pinch  even  though  they  may  be  of  a 
different  size  or  type.  However,  in  such  a 
case  the  center  distances  between  the  pulley 
shafts  may  change  and  as  a  result  the  motor 
base  fastening  bolts  will  have  to  be  re- 
located to  make  up  the  difference.  At  best, 
this  procedure  would  be  a  make-shift  affair 
and  should  not  be  used  as  a  regular  prac- 
tice. Another  thing  to  bear  in  mind  is  that 
the  metal  guard,  if  one  is  used,  must  fit 
over  the  belts  properly  so  that  the  belts 
do  not  slap  or  rub  against  it  while  in 
operation. 

ITEM  108:  Hydraulic  Drive 

This  is  the  type  of  drive  that  is  used 
in  some  cases  where  a  single  speed  drive 
motor  is  in  operation  and  variable  speeds 
are  desired  at  the  blower.  The  main  thing 
to  check  is  the  copper  oil-feed  lever  for 
breaks  and  very  sharp  bends.  As  this 
particular  drive  employs  pressure  through 
these  levers  to  actuate  the  friction  disc 
clutch  at  the  blower,  any  blockage  or  breaks 
within  the  feed  lines  will  materially  effect 
the  operation  of  the  blower.  Also,  make 
sure  that  the  priming  pump  is  in  good 
condition  and  that  the  make-up  pressure 
oil  is  as  recommended  by  the  manufacturer. 

The  clutch  at  the  blower  pulley  should 
be  removed  and  the  face  plate  cleaned  of 
all  grit,  dirt  and  heavy  grease.  When  this 
clutch  plate  does  not  make  proper  contact 
with  the  friction  discs  there  will  be  rapid 
and  undue  wear  on  these  parts  as  well  as 
no  control  over  the  speed  of  the  blower. 
In  a  drive  of  this  sort  this  clutch  is  one 
of  the  main  causes  of  breakdown  when  not 
given  the  proper  care  and  attention.  A 
badly  worn  or  unevenly  surfaced  clutch 
plate  should  be  ground  even  and  smooth 
by  an  experienced  mechanic,  if  possible, 
then  reinstalled  carefully  to  fit  the  friction 
disc  on  the  drive. 

ITEM  109:  Air-Washers, 

Dehumidifiers,  Etc. 

First  check  to  see  if  the  spray  nozzles 
are  not  blocked  by  sediment,  scale  and  rust 
after  being  in  use  the  past  season.  Any 
holes  in  these  nozzles  that  are  clogged 
should  be  cleaned  out  and,  if  need  be,  forced 
open  with  a  fine  stiff  wire.  Any  bent  or 
broken  feed  pipes  should  be  repaired  and 
corrosion  spots  be  touched  up  with  some 
Tust-arrestant.   The  banks  of  scrubber  or 


eliminator  plates  should  be  washed  down 
clean  and  also  touched  up  with  rust-pre- 
ventive paint.  The  make-up  water  tank  or 
drip  pan  should  be  drained  thoroughly  of 
all  water  and  then  washed  clean  of  all 
accumulation  of  mud,  dirt,  scale,  etc.  By 
doing  so,  not  only  will  protection  be  given 
to  the  metal  parts  and  drain  piping,  but 
also  help  eliminate  odors  that  are  present 
in  this  solid  matter  deposited  by  the  water. 
The  float  ball  should  be  removed  and 
stored  away  for  safe  keeping  or  propped 
up  in  the  tank  to  relieve  the  strain  on  the 
automatic  valve. 

Assuming  that  the  washer  or  dehumidi- 
fier  is  not  to  be  used  for  the  winter,  the 
entire  housing  scfubber  eliminator  plates 
and  tank  should  be  painted  with  some  rust- 


preventive  or  water-resistant  paint,  the 
valves  drained  free  of  all  water  and  cleaned 
of  all  foreign  matter.  Any  and  all  repairs 
should  be  done  before  late  spring. 

As  an  added  measure,  the  housing  should 
be  covered  by  a  tarpaulin  or  similar  ma- 
terial, also  the  spray  nozzles,  to  prevent 
dust,  dirt  and  moisture  from  penetrating 
inside.  A  check  should  be  made  to  see  if 
the  louvers  or  doors  over  the  fresh  air  in- 
take operate  properly  and  that  they  close 
tight  to  keep  out  cold  air,  rain  and  snow. 

ITEM  110:  Water  Pumps 

The  housing  around  the  pump  should 
be  taken  off  and  the  interior  thoroughly 
drained  of  all  water  and  cleaned  of  all 

{Continued  on  page  104) 


The  Spark  That  Lights  The  Flame  of  Victory 


A  pinpoint  of  fighting 
metal  placed  in  the  arc 
of  the  spectograph  writes  its  own  signature 
on  a  photographic  plate.  It  reveals  to  the 
spectrographer  each  constituent,  what  im- 
purities are  present  and  in  what  quantities. 

Spectrography  helps  in  controlling  in- 
spection .  .  .  keeps  tough  fighting  steels 
tough,  helps  in  development  of  new  fight- 
ing metals.  Spectrography  is  used  too  in 
other  fields  .  .  .  chemicals,  foodstuffs, 
vitamins.  It  speeds  research,  control,  and 
analysis. 


Because  Bausch  &  Lomb  had  long  ex- 
perience with  such  precision  optical  equip- 
ment it  was  ready  when  the  need  arose 
for  quantity  production  of  the  precision 
optical  instruments  of  war.  But  through 
war  and  peace,  Bausch  &  Lomb  has 
continued  .  .  .  and  will  continue  ...  to 
do  the  job  it  knows  how  to  do  best. 

For  Bausch  &  Lomb  Instruments  essential  to 
Victory — priorities  govern  delivery  schedules. 

BAUSCH  &  LOMB 

OPTICALCO.  .  ROCHESTER,  N.  Y. 
ESTABLISHED  1853 


AN  AMERICAN  SCTENTIFIC  INSTITUTION  PRODUCING  OPTICAL  GLASS  AND  INSTRUMENTS 
FOR    MILITARY    USE,    EDUCATION,    RESEARCH,    INDUSTRY    AND    EYESIGHT  CORRECTION 


102 


BETTER  THEATRES 


February    5,  1944 


THEATRE   MAINTENANCE  INSPECTION  RECORD- 

LOCATION  


ITEM  INSPECTED 

DATE 
INSPKTFD 

DEFECTIVl:   PART  (  UNIT 

OR  material)  inspected 

amount 

IN  SAME 
CONDITION 

total  AMT 

IN  USE  OR. 
ON  HAND 

loc  at  ion 
(as  necessary) 

MAKE 

PART  OQ 
STYLE  NO. 

INSTAL- 
LATION 
DATE 

nDiCiiN 
P  R  U 

104.  Blower 

M 

105.  Motors 

— 1 

f 

106.  Pulleys 



107.  Drive  Belts 

108.  Hydraulic 

Variable  Speed 
Drive 

109.  Air- Washers, 
Dehumidifiers, 
Etc. 

• 

1 

110.  Water  Pumps 

H 

— > 

111.  Cooling  Coils  ' 

1 

112.  Compressors 

113.  Condensers, 
Air-Water 
Cooled  and 

1 1 4.  Thermostatic 
Controls 

1 1 5.  General  Duct 
System 

February    5,     194  4' 


BETTER  THEATRES 


103 


ntilation  and  Air-Conditioning  Equipment 


MANAGER 


INSPECTED  BY 


NATURE    OF  DEFECT 

COI21?ECTlON(ch.xk) 

DATE 

Correction 

SUGGESTIONS  FOP  POST-WAR  QEPLACEMEMTorREVIS ION 

REPLACE 

REPAIR. 

_ 

• 

104 


BETTER  THEATRES 


February    5,  1944 


{CorilintutI  from  page  101) 
sediment.  The  impeller  blades,  packing 
glands,  washers  and  coupling  should  be 
checked  for  any  defects  and  repairs  made 
at  once,  if  possible.  Any  hard  crusts  of  rust 
or  corrosion  spots  should  be  scraped  clean 
and  thc-n  rust-preventive  applied. 

The  pump  motor  should  be  accorded 
practically  the  same  checkup  as  suggested 
ill  Item  105  for  motor  care.  After  this  is 
done  the  entire  pump  and  motor  should  be 
covered  with  water-proof  duck  or  a  tar- 
paulin if  they  are  not  to  be  used  for  a  season. 

ITEM  111:  Cooling  Coils 

Make  sure  that  the  fin  surfaces,  square 
plate  or  spiral,  are  thoroughly  cleaned  of 
all  caked  mud,  dirt,  scale,  etc.;  however, 
e.\treme  care  should  be  taken  in  their  clean- 
ing that  no  hard  piece  of  metal  or  sharp 
chisel  or  scraper  be  used  to  remove  this 
accumulation  as  the  soft  copper  or  brass 
fins  can  be  eas'ily  punctured.  A  careful 
checkup  should  be  made  to  see  if  any  of 
the  fins  have  been  bent. 

For  cleaning  out  the  fins,  a  good  tool  to 
use  is  a  stiff  hair  brush,  but  if  a  steel  wire 
brush  is  used,  extreme  care  should  be  taken 
that  the  hard  metal  rod  in  the  brush  is  not 
poked  into  the  metal. 

If  the  coils  are  to  remain  idle  for  a  time, 
all  the  fluid  or  water  should  be  drained  dry 
to  prevent  freezing.  To  obtain  proper  drain- 
age of  the  coils,  the  pipe  connection  at  the 
top  should  be  opened  to  relieve  the  vacuum 
pocket  created  by  the  inside  being  air- 
bound.  Flush  out  these  coils  by  running 
water  through  them.  Also  clean  out  the 
drain  or  drip  pan  at  the  coils  of  all  scale, 
mud,  etc.,  to  prevent  corrosion  and  de- 
terioration and  to  eliminate  foul  odors. 

ITEM  112:  Compressors 

While  the  compressor  is  quite  intricate 
in  operation  and  should  be  serviced  by  an 
experienced  air-conditioning  mechanic,  there 
are  certain  general  conditions  and  faults 
that  the  theatre  management  and  engineer 
should  be  familiar  with  in  order  to  properly 
diagnose  trouble  in  an  emergency.  The 
following  tabulation  will  tend  to  list  these 
conditions,  specific  causes  and  methods  of 
remedying. 

1.  Loss  of  Refrigerant:  Leaks  have  de- 
veloped in  general  piping  system,  joints  and 
valves  due  to  expansion  from  temperature 
changes,  settling  of  building  and  equipment, 
vibrators,  etc.  Tighten  all  pipes,  joints 
and  valves.  Replace  parts  as  required.  Re- 
move old  packing  in  valves  and  install  new, 
pliable  packing,  flexible  but  tight  fitting. 

2.  High  pressure  switch  diaphram  in- 
operative; diaphram  corroded  or  defective: 
Replace.  Check  other  safety  controls,  elec- 
trical and  mechanical,  to  assure  proper 
pressure  in  the  system. 

3.  Driers  in  refrigerant  line  not  effec- 
tive: Remove  driers  such  as  Silica  Gel, 
alunna,  etc.  and  dry  thoroughly.  Then  re- 
place in  driers. 

4.  Refrigerant  line  strainers  clogged  with 
grit,  lint,  etc. :  Remove  strainers,  thorough- 
ly wash  and  clean  them,  then  carefully  re- 
place. Exhaust  the  air  that  has  leaked  in 
the  condenser  w'th  opening  up  of  sj^stem. 


using  small  auxiliary  compressor  or  pump. 

5.  Compressor  overheats:  Insufficient 
amount  or  improper  type  of  oil  in  the  crank 
case.  Fill  crank  case  with  adequate  amount 
of  oil.  Metal  seals  in  compressor  defective 
or  melted  down  due  to  excessive  heat. 
Replace  as  required.  Check  suction  and 
discharge  valves  for  proper  op>eration. 
Check  expansion  valves  for  proper  seating 
and  full  charge.  Check  fans  if  interlocked 
with  compressor.  Low  pressure  contact 
defective.  Replace  with  new  contact. 

6.  Mechanical  noise  in  compressor:  De- 
fects or  accumulation  of  foreign  matter  in 
head  valves,  bearings,  gears  and  connecting 
rod.  Infiltration  of  refrigerant  into  suc- 
tion line.  Excessive  amount  of  crank  case 
oil.    Improper  oil.    Check  and  repair. 

1.  Windings  open,  shorted  or,  if  used, 
speed  control  resistor  open :  Check  rotor 
and  field  windings  for  continuity  and 
grounds.  Open  circuit  in  wiring  between 
magnetic  controller  and  motor  or  the  ser- 
vice entrance.  Check  all  wiring. 

2.  Low  or  high  pressure  contact  open; 
overload  relay  in  sivitch  open :  Check 
ratings  of  tripping  heaters  in  switch  control. 
Main  circuit  breaker  open  or  fuse  blown. 
Replace  as  required. 

3.  Motor  overheats:  Compressor  over- 
loaded. Overload  relay  defective.  Low 
voltage.  Defective  bearings  or  improper 
lubrication. 

4.  Motor  noisy :  Bearings  worn.  Rotor 
"swiping"  stator  fields.  Rotor  vent  fan 
loose.  Oil  rings  (if  sleeve  bearing)  are 
loose.  Coupling  misaligned  or  loose. 

5.  Motor  oil-soaked  and  dirty:  Cover 
seal  on  bearing  box  loose  or  defective.  Seal 
in  crankshaft  loose  or  defective.  Replace. 

6.  Controllers  noisy  :  Coil  armature  loose 
or  defective.    Magnetic  vibration. 

7.  Controllers  inoperative :  Coil  relay  or 
relays  open,  or  controls  not  closing.  Check 
coils  for  continuity.  Readjust  contacts, 
burnish  with  a  point  file  or  fine  sandpaper 
if  pitted,  or  replace  relays  as  required. 

ITEM  113:  Condensers 

For  general  care  and  checkup  use 
methods  as  suggested  in  Item  111,  for 
cooling  coils.  For  checking  troublesome 
conditions,  finding  their  specific  causes,  and 
determining  m.ethods  of  remedying,  the  fol- 
lowing list  should  help : 

High  Condenser  Discharge  Pressure 

1.  Discharge  water  too  hot  due  to 
"makeup"  water  shortage  or  regulator 
valve  is  defective.  Low  water  pressure. 
Blockage  of  "makeup"  water  supply.  Check 
control  valve  and  strainers  in  feed  pipes. 
Adjust  and  clean  as  required. 

2.  Water  pressure  low  at  evaporative 
condensers.  Check  spray  nozzles.  Clean 
basin  strainer,  pump,  float-ball,  nozzles. 

3.  Improper  cooling  "range"  at  conden- 
sers. Check  and  clean  all  fins.  Repair  and 
replace  as  required. 

Low  Condenser  Suction  Pressure 

1.  Loss  of  refrigerant  through  leakage 
in  system.  Inadequate  refrigerant  charge. 
Restricted  air  flow  through  fins.  Tubing 
fins  are  dirty  or  clogged. 


2.  Defective  fan  or  improper  air  flow 
through  duct  system.  Filters  are  clogged 
with  dirt.  Repair  or  replace  parts  as  re- 
quired. In  case  the  entire  system  is  to  be 
idle  for  a  season,  clean  thoroughly  and 
touch  up  all  rust  and  corrosion  spots  with 
a  good  grade  of  metal  paint  or  rust-arres- 
tive  and  then  place  waterproofed  covers  for 
protection  against  the  weather. 

ITEM  114:  Thermostatic  Controls 

These  items  should  be  accorded  the  same 
general  care  and  attention  given  any  other 
delicate  piece  of  electrical  equipment.  A 
natural  deterioration  sets  in  and  increases  if 
operated  under  abnormal  conditions,  such 
as  penetration  of  moisture,  short-circuits, 
grounds  and  overloads. 

They  should  be  always  kept  clean,  the 
contacts  on  the  wiring  connections  be 
tightened,  and  any  pitted  or  "fused"  ter- 
minals be  smoothed  ofiF  carefully  with  a 
fine-pointed  file  or  very  fine  sandpaper. 
If  not  in  use  for  a  season,  they  too  should 
be  protected  against  atmosphere. 

ITEM  115:  General  Duct  System 

The  dycts  should  be  thoroughly  cleaned 
of  all  accumulation  of  dust,  lint,  fuzz,  etc., 
and  especially  the  sections  that  tap  into  the 
auditorium  floor  grilles,  registers  and 
mushroom  ventilators.  Such  cleaning  is  a 
protection  against  fires  that  might  be  caused 
by  a  lighted  cigarette  being  thrown  away 
carelessly  and  falling  into  the  duct  system. 

A  check  should  be  made  of  the  entire 
duct  system  for  any  loose  points,  dampers, 
splitters  and  defects  in  the  metal  sections. 
Repairs  done  immediately  will  not  only 
prevent  further  deterioration,  but  will  also 
mean  that  a  reasonably  safe  and  secure 
system  will  be  ready  for  use  whenever 
needed. 

• 

Index  of  ADVERTISERS 
in    BETTER  THEATRES 


Page 

Adler  Silhouette  Letter  Co   97 

Altec  Service  Corp   95 

American  Pop  Corn  Co   95 

American  Seating  Co   85 

Artkraft  Sign  Co.,  The   95 

Automatic  Devices  Co   98 

Bausch  &  I.omb  Optical  Co   101 

Chicago  Expansion  Bolt  Co   99 

DeVry  Corp   91 

Droll  Theatre  Supply  Co   92 

Essannay  Electric  Mfg.  Co   95 

Fensin  Seating  Co   98 

Forest  Mfg.  Corp  '   93 

Goldberg  Bros  90-99 

GoldE  Mfg.  Co   91 

LaVezzi  Machine  Works   99 

Motiograph    82 

National  Carbon  Co.,  Inc  •.  .  .  .  89 

National  Theatre  Supply,  Div.  of  National- 

Simplex-Bludworth,  Inc  93-97 

Projection  Optics  Co.,  Inc   93 

RCA  Theatre  Service  Co   90 

RCA  Theatre  Equipment  Co.,  Div.  Radio 

Corp.  of  America    80 

S.  O.  S.  Cinema  Supply  Corp   99 

Strong  Electric  Corp.,  The   81 

Union  Carbide  &  Carbon  Corp   89 

Vallen,  Inc   85 

Weber  Machine  Corp   88 

Wenzel  Projector  Co.,  The   92 


February    5,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


In  This  Week: 


SHOWMEN'S  REVIEWS 


SHORT  SUBJECTS 


SHORT  SUBJECTS  CHART 


ADVANCE  SYNOPSES 


THE  RELEASE  CHART 


The  Sullivans 

(Twentieth  Century-Fox) 
Family  Portrait 

While  the  title  will  recall  to  many  the  five 
brothers  from  Iowa  who  fought  their  last  bat- 
tle together  in  the  Pacific,  "The  Sullivans"  is 
not  primarily  concerned  with  war  or  patriotism 
or  tragedy,  although  each  of  these  plays  a  part. 
It  is  above  all  a  picture  of  family  life,  of  clean- 
cut  American  boys  whose  home  was  richer  in 
spiritual  values  and  a  bit  poorer  in  material 
things  than  most,  and  of  the  fullness  of  the  life 
they  had  before  death  came. 

There  is  more  humor  by  far  than  pathos. 
And  there  is  over  all,  a  warm  understanding  of 
everyday  living  in  modest  homes  where  sym- 
pathy, affection  and  religious  guidance  build 
character. 

It  is  a  picture  for  the  whole  family,  for  all 
but  the  most  sophisticated  audience,  and  will 
amply  repay  eflforts  to  exploit  it  as  just  that. 

For  the  first  third  of  the  film,  the  Sullivan 
boys  range  from  six  to  twelve  or  so,  engaging 
in  five-fold  mischief,  adopting  their  first  "mon- 
grel-hound" and  sailing  a  highly  unseaworthy 
tub.  As  they  grow  to  manhood  the  solidarity 
is  threatened  when  the  youngest  braves  family 
jibes  and  introduces  his  "steady  girl."  But  she 
is  brought  into  the  family  as  another  daughter, 
and  in  time  four  expectant  uncles  pace  the  hos- 
pital corridor  with  the  worried  father. 

The  Sunday  morning  of  the  Pearl  Harbor 
attack  finds  the  family  vying  for  the  comics, 
taking  pictures  of  the  baby  and  changing  the 
radio  according  to  tastes.  Monday  finds  five 
Sullivans  at  the  Naval  recruiting  station,  in- 
sisting that  they  serve  together. 

When  the  tragic  news  comes,  the  family  is 
shaken  but  staunch,  and  five  Sullivans — mother, 
father,  sister,  wife  and  son — launch  the  battle- 
ship which  will  keep  the  boys'  name  afloat. 

Performances  are  all  nicely  in  key,  Thomas 
Mitchell,  as  the  father,  and  young  Bobby  Dris- 
coll  being  especially  memorable.  Anne  Baxter 
and  Selena  Royle  are  the  other  marquee  names. 
The  five  young  men  are  played  by  newcomers 
with  sincerity  and  without  afifectation,  and  all 
of  the  supporting  players  sustain  the  simplicity 
and  warmth  of  the  film. 

The  individual  contributions  of  Lloyd  Bacon, 
who  directed ;  Sam  Jaft'e,  who  produced ;  Mary 
C.  McCall,  Jr.,  who  supplied  the  screenplay,  and 
Edward  Doherty  and  Jules  Schermer,  who 
wrote  the  original  story,  are  diificult  to  sepa- 
rate. All  deserve  high  praise  for  wholesome 
and  unpretentious  entertainment. 

Seen  in  the  home  office.  Reinewer's  Rating: 
Excellent. — E.  A.  Cunningham. 

Release  date,  February,  1944.  Running  time.  111 
mm.    PCA  No.  %50.    General  audience  classification. 

Katherine  Mary   Anne  Baxter 

Mr.  Sullivan   Tliomas  Mitchell 

Mrs.  Sullivan   Selena  Royle 

A'   Edward  Ryan 

Trudy  Marshall,  John  Campbell,  James  Cardwell,  Tohn 
Alvin,  George  Offerman,  Jr.,  Roy  Roberts,  Ward  Bond, 
Mary  McCarty,  Bobby  DriscoU.  Nancy  June  Robin- 
son. Marvin  Davis,  Buddy  Swan,  Billy  Cummings. 


Reviews 


This  department  deals  with 
new  product  from  the  point  of 
view  of  the  exhibitor  who  is 
to  purvey  it  to  his  own  public. 

{Kunning  times  in  all  instances  are 
the  official  times  given  by  the  dis- 
tributws.) 


Jane  Eyre 

(Twentieth  Century -Fox) 
Romance  Deluxe 

One  of  the  most  widely-read  novels  to  be 
brought  to  the  screen  in  many  seasons,  "Jane 
Eyre"  will  draw  its  audiences  from  women  of 
all  ages  who  delight  in  a  purely  romantic  story, 
splendidly  set  and  costumed,  and  generously 
cast.  That  total  should  be  a  very  impressive 
number  if  showrriien  will  exploit  widely  the 
title,  the  tenor  of  the  story  and  the  perform- 
ances of  Joan  Fontaine,  Orson  Welles  and  Mar- 
garet O'Brien. 

It  is  a  costume  piece,  but  no  time  is  lost  in 
establishing  the  manner  of  the  period  or  the 
slight  social  implications  of  the  story.  The 
focus  is  always  on  characters  and  the  atmo- 
sphere in  which  they  move. 

The  film  opens  with  the  cruelties  of  Jane's 
childhood,  follows  her  through  years  of  happi- 
ness and  tragedy  at  Thornfield  Hall  to  her 
eventual  marriage  with  Edward  Rochester.  It 
reaches  the  dramatic  climax  when  Rochester's 
first  marriage,  long  hinted  at,  is  revealed  at  the 
altar  of  his  second. 

If  the  cruelties  and  tragedies  seem  rather 
excessive  and  the  sense  of  impending  doom  re- 
lentlessly pursued  by  camera  and  musical  ac- 
companiment, the  basic  love  story  is  tender  and 
triumphant. 

Joan  Fontaine  plays  Jane  with  becoming 
modesty  and  openness,  holding  the  audience's 
sympathy  to  the  end  and  creating  an  aura  of 
radiant  virtue  which  offers  a  unique  contrast 
to  the  somber  scene.  Orson  Welles  is  a 
Rochester  cut  from  the  familiar  pattern  of  the 
romantic  novel,  a  man  of  mystery,  'of  dark 
moods,  sharp  wit  and  sudden  gentleness.  He 
brings  to  the  role  a  commanding  presence,  a 
rich,  flexible  voice  and  a  great  relish  for  play- 
acting. Margaret  O'Brien  is  slightly  hampered 
by  a  French  accent  but  plays  the  master's  ward 
with  bright  charm. 

The  supporting  cast  includes  siich  talented 
performers  as  Sara  Allgood,  Agnes  Moorehead, 
John  Sutton,  Edith  Barrett  and  Henry  Daniell. 
They  offer  distinctive  characterizations  without 
interrupting  the  forward  progress  of  the  story, 


an  accomplishment  for  which  Robert  Steven- 
son, the  director,  should  receive  much  credit. 

Mr.  Stevenson  also  collaborated,  with  Aldous 
Huxley  and  John  Housemen,  on  a  screenplay 
which  is  remarkably  close  to  the  spirit  and 
substance  of  Charlotte  Bronte's  story.  Few 
readers  will  resent  the  omission  of  the  later 
chapters  which  delayed  the  final  reconciliation. 

William  Goetz,  who  was  in  charge  of  pro- 
duction, has  achieved  a  well-integrated  presen- 
tation which  should  satisfy  those  who  have  read 
the  book  and  entertain  equally  those  who  have 
not. 

Seen  in  the  home  office  projection  room.  Re- 
viezver's  Rating:  Excellent. — E.  A.  C. 

Release  date,  February,  1944.  Running  time,  96 
mm.    PCA  No.  9213.    General  audience  classification. 

Jane  Eyre   Joan  Fontaine 

Edward  Rochester   Orson  Welles 

Margaret  O'Brien,  Peggy  Ann  Garner,  John  Sutton. 
Sara  Allgood,  Henry  Daniell,  Agnes  Moorehead,  Au- 
brey Mather,  Edith  Barrett,  Barbara  Everest,  Hillary 
Brooks,  Ethel  Griffies,  Mae  Marsh,  Eily  Malyon. 


In  Our  Time 

(Warner  Bros.) 
Poland  in  1939 

After  an  impressive  list  of  films  from  many 
studios  acclaiming  the  heroism  of  the  conquered 
nations  of  Europe,  Warner  Bros,  has  taken  up 
the  cause  of  Poland,  recalling  its  brief  but  stub- 
born fight  without  excusing  the  decadent,  feudal 
regime  to  which  her  people  were  enslaved.  The 
title  is  taken  from  Neville  Chamberlain's  prom- 
ise of  peace  after  Munich,  and  the  story,  essen- 
tially a  romance,  takes  place  in  the  few  pre- 
carious months  before  it  was  shattered. 

Excellent  performances  by  Ida  Lupino,  Paul 
Henreid  and  a  fine  supporting  cast  help  to  bal- 
ance the  fact  that  the  film  is  long  and  largely 
without  action.  Even  as  a  love  story,  the  suc- 
cess of  the  enterprise  will  depend  largely  on  the 
snecial  appeal  of  the  background,  the  popularity 
of  the  players  and  the  artistic  production  it  re- 
ceives from  Jerry  Wald. 

Miss  Lupino  plays  an  English  girl,  traveling 
in  Poland  with  her  employer,  who  meets  the  son 
of  an  old  aristocratic  family  and  falls  in  love. 
His  people  are  outraged  by  her  lack  of  back- 
ground but  accept  the  situation  when  the  young 
count  insists  he  will  marry  her.  The  girl  re- 
bels against  the  way  of  life  they  would'  impose 
upon  her  and  tries  to  modernize  the  estate  and 
improve  the  lot  of  the  peasants  who  make  their 
living  on  it.  But  the  war  clouds,  which  have 
been  gathering  unnoticed — or  have  been  fear- 
fully ignored — burst  suddenly  on  the  harvest, 
the  feudal  castle  and  the  unprepared  peasants. 

Vincent  Sherman's  direction  evokes  moments 
of  subtle  charm  and  beauty,  particularly  in  the 
early  scenes.  Nancy  Coleman,  as  the  proud 
sister ;  Mary  Boland,  as  the  antique  dealer ; 
Nazimova,  as  the  elderly  countess,  and  Michael 
Chekhov  as  the  uncle  who  sees  things  as  they 
are  but  is  too  weak  to  act,  all  help  to  place 
the  emphasis  on  characterization  rather  than 

Product  Digest  Section    \  74 1 


movement.    And  all  characters  are  delicately 

etched.  ,    „    .  , 

Tliemes  from  Chopm  are  used  effectively  as 
accompaniment  and  are  occasionally  woven  into 
the  screenplay,  an  original  effort  by  Ellis  St. 
Joseph  and  Howard  Koch.  The  audience  for 
such  an  effort,  however,  may  be  limited. 

Seen  in  the  home  office  projection  room.  Re- 
vicwer's  Rating :  Good. — E.  A.  C. 

Release  date,  February  19,  1944.  Running  time, 
110  min.  PCA  No.  9522.  General  audience  classification. 

Jennifer  Whittredge   Ida  Lupino 

Count  Stephen  Orvid   Paul  Henreid 

Nancy  Coleman,  Mary  Boland,  Victor  Francen,  Nazim- 
ova,  Michael  Chekhov,  Marek  Windheim,  Ivan  Trie- 
sault,  John  Blciffer,  Lotte  Palfe,  Wolfgang  Zilser 
Pyotr. 

Bridge  of  San  Luis  Rey 

(UA-Bogeaus) 
A  Study  in  People 

The  fascinating  characters  of  Thornton  Wild- 
cr's  Pulitzer  Prize  novel  about  the  Peru  oi 
two  centuries  ago  have  come  to  the  screen 
again.  The  puzzle  of  the  lives  of  the  five  who 
died  when  the  bridge  fell  is  studied  this  time  by 
producer  Benedict  Bogeaus  with  a  new  screen- 
play by  Howard  Estabrook  and  Herman  Weiss- 
man. 

It  is  a  performance  piece  for  a  group  of 
skilled  character  actors  and  actresses  and  an 
opportunity  for  Lynn  Bari  to  show  the  prom- 
ised talents  in  drama  and  coquetry  which  led 
exhibitors  to  pick  her  as  one  of  Motion  Pic- 
ture Herald's  Stars  of  Tomorrow. 

Akim  Tamiroff  as  Pio,  the  gossipy  uncle,  ties 
the  story  together  and  guides  the  efforts  of  Don- 
ald Woods,  as  Brother  Juniper,  to  fathom  why 
Destiny  placed  these  certain  five  on  the  bridge 
when  it  fell.  Miss  Bari  as  Michaela,  the  half- 
breed  dancing  girl,  bewitches  all  Lima.  It  is 
love  for  her  which  prompts  conflict  between 
Louis  Calhern,  Spain's  Viceroy,  and  Manuel 
die  hot-blooded  sailor.  Francis  Lederer  plays 
both  Manuel  and  Esteban,  the  twin  brother, 
who  as  a  mystic  scribe  hates  Michaela  as 
much  as  Manuel  loves  her.  Nazimova  as  the 
scheming  Marquesa  is  a  study  in  pride  and  hu- 
mility. 

These  lives  are  tied  around  Michaela  rather 
loosely  by  the  screenplay  and  there  may  be 
times  when  audiences  find  the  story  adrift.  But 
there  is  suspense  and  climax  in  the  fall  of  the 
bridge  and,  although  Brother  Juniper  offers 
scant  solution  to  the  enigma  of  their  lives,  one 
feels  that  the  characters  were  indeed  very  real 
persons. 

Rowland  Lee's  direction  alternates  between 
moments  of  suspense  and  scenes  in  which  the 
story  wanders.  Awkward  dialogue  at  several 
points  slows  action  and  spoils  the  full  effect. 
Dimitri  Tiomkin's  music  lends  effective  assist- 
ance. 

This  is  a  picture  which  will  symbolize  many 
things  to  many  audiences.  There  is  a  note  of 
deep  religious  feeling,  an  earnest  study  of 
people  and  lavishness  of  production.  All  should 
lend  themselves  to  exhibitor  salesmanship. 

Previezved  at  the  home  office  projection  room. 
Reviewer's  Rating:  Good. — John  Stuart,  Jr. 

Release  date,  February  11,  1944.  Running  time,  107 
min.    PCA  No.  9822.    General  audience  classification. 

Michaela   Lvnn  Bari 

Uncle  Pio   Akim  TarairofiF 

Manuel  and  Esteban  Francis  Lederer 

Tlie    Marquesa  Nazimova 

Louis  Calhern,  Donald  Woods,  Blanche  Yurka,  Emma 
Dunn,  Barton  Hepburn.  Joan  Loriner,  Abner  Biber- 
man,  Minerva  Urecal  and  Antonio  Triana. 

Escape  to  Danger 

(RKO  Radio) 

Suspenseful  Drama 

In  "Escape  to  Danger,"  produced  at  Denham 
and  Pinewood  studios  in  London,  RKO  Radio 
has  a  drama  of  World  War  II  packed  with  sus- 
pense, unusual  photographic  detail,  which  does 
not  detract  from  the  story  movement,  and  real- 
istic performances  on  the  part  of  Ann  Dvorak 
and  Eric  Portman  under  direction  that  makes 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 

the  whole  a  worthwhile  piece  of  product  for 
those  interested  in  war  stories  with  punch. 

While  it  has  no  marquee  names  of  particular 
selling  value,  this  film  shows  promise  of  build- 
ing up  customer  interest  from  word-of-mouth 
advertising  about  its  very  tenseness,  a  deal  of 
which  is  flavored  with  what  has  become  known 
as  the  Alfred  Hitchcock  touch. 

The  story  deals  with  an  English  schoolteach- 
er, posing  as  a  friend  of  the  Nazis  in  Denmark, 
who  actually  is  a  leader  in  the  underground. 
Played  by  Miss  Dvorak,  in  realistic  and  com- 
petent manner,  the  girl  is  sent  to  England  as  a 
Nazi  spy.  She  meets  Eric  Portman,  a  coimter- 
espionage  agent,  and  the  pair  work  together  to 
trap  the  Nazis  into  sending  out  a  strong  fleet 
which  the  English  aerial  and  naval  forces  deci- 
mate. As  she  puts  the  finishing  touch  on  her 
dangerous  mission,  the  girl  is  shot  and  killed  by 
the  Nazi  agent  she  has  been  working  with,  and 
Portman  returns  to  his  duty  in  Lisbon,  where 
they  first  met. 

Credits  list  Victory  Hanbury,  Lance  Comfort 
and  Mutz  Greenbaum  as  producer-directors  for 
the  screenplay  by  Jack  Whittingham.  Pho- 
tography by  Guy  Green  is  exceptional  through- 
out. Others  prominent  in  the  cast  include 
Karel  Stepanek,  Ronald  Ward,  Felix  Aylmar, 
Ronald  Adam,  David  Peel  and  Marjorie 
Rhodes. 

Previewed  at  the  studio.  Reviewer's  Rating : 
Good.— Jack  Cartwright. 

Release  date,  Block  4.    Running  time,  83  min.  PCA 
No.    9918.     General   audience  classification. 
Eric  Portman,  Ann  Dvorak,  Karel  Stepanek,  Ronald 
Ward,  Felix  Aylmar,  David  Peel,  Ronald  Adam,  Mar- 
jorie Rhodes,  May  F'etrie,  Lilly  Kann. 

Beautiful  but  Broke 

(  Columbia  ) 

Joan  Davis  Entertains 

Joan  Davis,  given  a  plenitude  of  the  kind 
of  material  in  which  she  revels,  and  ample 
footage  for  the  revelling,  makes  this  topical  lit- 
tle musical  a  gay  and  useful  item  for  the  spot 
next  to  whatever  picture's  being  used  at  the 
moment  to  get  the  people  past  the  ticket  wicket. 
If  the  film  on  top  happens  to  be  a  seriously 
dramatic  tindertaking,  so  much  the  better. 

Miss  Davis  plays  a  modern  young  woman 
who  sets  out  from  Los  Angeles  to  take  a  girl 
orchestra  to  a  night  club  in  Cleveland,  but  is 
stranded  and  surrounded  by  sentimental  compli- 
cations in  town  midway  between.  Jane  Frazee 
sings  half  a  dozen  currently  popular  tunes  (in- 
cluding "Shoo  Shoo  Baby"  and  "Pistol  Packin' 
Mama")  in  the  course  of  the  picture,  which 
is  dominated  otherwise,  and  profitably,  by  M;iss 
Davis. 

Irving  Briskin  produced  the  picture,  with 
Charles  Barton  directing  from  a  script  by  Mon- 
te Brice,  based  on  a  story  by  Arthur  Housman, 
all  four  acquitting  themselves  creditably. 

Previewed  at  the  Chinese  theatre,  Hollywood, 
where  a  sparse  matinee  audience  chuckled, 
sometimes  snorted,  approval.  Reviewer's  Rat- 
ing :  Good. 

Release  date,  January  25,  1944.  Running  time,  72  min. 
PCA.  No.  9608.    General  audience  classification. 

Lottie   Joan  Davis 

Bill  Drake   John  Hubbard 

Jane  Frazee,  Judy  Clark,  Bob  Haymes,  Danny  Mum- 
mert,  Byron  Foulger,  George  McKay,  Ferris  Taylor, 
Isabel  Withers,  John  Eldridge,  Grace  Hayle,  John 
Dilson,  Willie  West  and  McGinty. 

Return  of  the  Vampire 

(  Columbia) 
Blood  Chiller 

Reminiscent  of  the  "Dracula"  stories,  with 
the  added  horror  of  a  wolf-man  slave  to  a  cen- 
turies-old vampire,  "Return  of  the  Vampire" 
builds  suspense  in  the  right  places  against  a 
background  of  fog-bound  English  graveyards  at 
the  time  of  the  London  Blitz.  It  fits  into  a 
niche  well  up  among  the  day's  horror  pictures. 

Directed  by  Lew  Landers  for  producer  Sam 
White  from  a  screenplay  by  Griffin  Jay,  the 
story  reveals  the  return  of  the  vampire,  Bela 
Lugosi,  after  having  been  trapped  by  Freda 


February    5 ,    I  944 

Inescort  and  Gilbert  Emory  as  he  preyed  upon 
Emory's  young  daughter. 

Freed  by  Nazi  bombs  which  disturb  his 
grave,  the  vampire  returns,  re-enslaves  Nat 
Willis,  Miss  Inescort's  laboratory  assistant,  and 
hypnotically  forces  the  girl,  Nina-Foch,  to  obey 
his  commands.  To  seek  vengeance  upon  those 
who  had  trapped  him,  he  plots  to  turn  her  into 
a  vampire  to  prey  upon  her  fiance,  Roland 
Varno,  Miss  Inescort's  son. 

Through  belief  in  goodness,  taught  him  by  his 
employer,  Willis  releases  himself  from  the  hyp- 
notic power  of  the  vampire,  drags  the  monster 
to  the  sunlight  during  another  London  bomb- 
ing, and  saves  the  girl. 

Seen  at  the  Hawaii  theatre,  Hollywood,  where 
an  afternoon  audience  seemed  to  enjoy  the  chills. 
Reviewer's  Rating:  Good. — J.  C. 

Release  date,  November  11,  1943.  Running  time.  69 
min.    PCA  No.  9643.    General  audience  classification. 

Armand  Tesla   Bela  Lugosi 

Lady  Jane  Ainsley   Freda  Inescort 

Nina  Foch,  Roland  Varno,  Nat  Willis,  Miles  Mander, 
Gilbert  Emory. 

Klondike  Kate 

(  Columbia  ) 
Minor  Melodrama 

The  minor-melodrama  fans  get  a  change  of 
venue  here,  so  to  speak,  by  reason  of  a  switch 
from  the  wide  open  spaces  of  the  American 
West  to  the  wider  open  areas  of  the  Klondike 
in  the  days  when  the  law  there  (to  quote  a 
character  in  the  film)  was  a  "hand  to  mouth 
matter."  Apart  from  the  difference  in  locale, 
the  film  differs  in  no  important  respect  from 
other  presentations  of  lawlessness  in  which  the 
principal  contestants,  plus  their  gangs,  settle 
their  disputes  in  a  free-for-all  that  gets  the 
picture  to  its  fadeout. 

The  script  for  this  one  is  by  M.  Coates  Web- 
ster, who  took  it  from  a  story  by  himself  and 
Houston  Branch,  and  it  holds  together  fairly 
well  while  it's  bringing  a  girl  from  the  States 
to  claim  a  dance-hall  property  left  her  by  her 
father.  It's  been  taken  over  by  a  gambler  who 
intends  to  keep  it,  and  it's  some  while  before  the 
girl  falls  in  love  with  him.  They  turn  out,  in  a 
sudden  finish  following  an  abrupt  outburst  of 
fisticuffs,  to  be  a  couple  of  nice  folks  deter- 
mined to  marry  each  other. 

The  production  is  by  Irving  Briskin  and  the 
direction  by  William  Castle,  both  good  to  the 
point  where  narration  is  abandoned  in  the  in- 
terest of  action.  Three  or  four  songs  worked 
into  the  proceedings  neither  enhance  nor  damage 
the  property. 

Previewed  in  the  Egyptian  theatre,  Holly- 
wood, where  a  matinee  crowd  displayed  no  re- 
action. Reviewer's  Rating:  Fair. — William 
R.  Weaver. 

Release  date,  December  16,  1943.  Running  time,  62 
min.    PCA  No.  9787.    General  audience  classification. 

Klondike  Kate   Anne  Savage 

Jefif  Bradley  Tom  Neal 

Lester  Allen,  Lewis  Wilson,  Sheldon  Leonard,  Con- 
stance Worth. 

Weekend  Pass 

(Universal) 
Fabricated  Fun 

Although  redeemed  in  a  measure,  market- 
wise,  by  the  availability  of  names  like  Martha 
O'DriscoU  and  Noah  Beery,  Jr.,  for  billing  pur- 
poses, this  item  in  Universal's  folio  of  utility 
musicals  slips  and  slides  up,  down  and  across 
the  screen  in  a  manner  to  amuse  no  more  than 
a  minority  of  the  average  assemblage.  It  is 
fabricated  of  gag  sequences  laced  together  with 
nine  musical  interludes,  but  with  insufficient 
strength  in  either  department  to  rescue  the 
other. 

Clyde  Bruckman's  screenplay,  based  on  a 
story  by  associate  producer  Warren  Wilson  and 
directed  by  Jean  Yarbrough,  presents  Beery  as 
a  shipyard  worker  with  a  weekend  off  duty, 
which  he  aspires  to  spend  in  luxurious  alterna- 
tion between  bed  and  bathtub.  Instead,  he  gets 
caught  up  in  the  affairs  of  an  Admiral's  daugh- 
ter who  has  run  away  from  home  to  become  a 


I  742    Product  Digest  Section 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 

SHORT  SUBJECTS 

reviews  and  synopses 

(Running  times  are  those  quoted  by  the  distributors.) 


February    5,    I  944 

WAC,  after  filling  in  with  a  stint  as  nightclub 
singer.  From  premise  to  payoff,  plausibility 
fails .  to  get  a  break,  and  neither  humor  nor 
song  fare  much  better. 

Best  of  the  musical  interludes  is  a  rendition  of 
"All  or  Nothing  at  All"  by  the  Delta  Rhythm 
Boys.  Four  of  the  nine  numbers  are  originals 
by  Milton  Rosen  and  Everett  Carter,  two  of 
these  sung  without  distinction  by  Miss  O'Dris- 
coll,  the  other  five  deriving  from  here  and  there. 

Previewed  at  the  Four  Star  theatre,  Holly- 
wood, to  an  audience  attracted  by  "AH  Baba 
and  the  Forty  Thieves,"  which  was  much  small- 
er when  the  previewed  picture  ended  than  when 
it  started.  Reviewer's  Rating :  Fair. — William 
R.  Weaver. 

Release  date,  February  18,  1944.  Running  time,  65 
min.    PCA  No.  9868.    General  audience  classification. 

Barbara   Martha  O'DriscolI 

Johnny   Noah  Beery,  Jr. 

George  Barbier,  Andrew  Tombes,  Irving  Bacon,  Dan- 
nis  Moore,  Edgar  Dearing,  Pierre  Watkin,  Lottie 
Stein,  Eddie  Acuff,  Jack  Rice,  Perc  Launders. 

Men  On  Her  Mind 

(PRC  Pictures) 
Lady  Chooses  Suitor 

Produced  with  care  by  Alfred  Stern  and 
directed  by  Wallace  W.  Fox  without  strivings 
for  the  spectacular,  this  is  a  moderately  paced 
account  of  three  romances  in  the  life  of  a 
young  woman  who  chooses  between  as  many 
suitors  at  the  point  where  her  success  as  a 
radio  vocalist  intercepts  her  determination  to 
remain  single.  All  of  the  romances,  revealed 
in  flashback,  are  decorous  affairs,  and  melo- 
drama intrudes  only  once  and  briefly  upon  the 
even  narration  of  placid  events  set  down  in 
Raymond  L.  Schrock's  screenplay. 

Mary  Beth  Hughes,  best  marquee  name  in 
the  cast  and  star  of  the  film,  sings  three  songs 
in_  the  flow  of  events,  furnishing  the  high 
points  of  interest.  They  are  "Heaven  On 
Earth,"  by  Lee  Zahler  and  Pat  O'Dea ;  "Once 
Around  the  Clock,"  by  Zahler  and  Carol  E. 
Cooper,  and  "I  Predict,"  by  Sam  Neuman, 
Michael  Breen  and  Billy  Lynch. 

Within  its  budgetary  limitations,  the  film  is 
smooth  merchandise,  not  a  production  on  which 
to  predicate  the  promise  of  a  program-run  but 
a  suitable  accompaniment  to  a  top-liner. 

Previewed  in  projection  room.  Reviewer's 
Rating:  Mediocre. — W.  R.  W. 

Release  date,  February  12,  1944.  Running  time,  67 
min.    PCA  No.  9883.    General  audience  classification. 

Lily  Surrell  Mary  Beth  Hughes 

Edward  Norris,  Ted  North,  Alan  Edwards,  Luis  Al- 
berni,  Kay  Linaker,  Claire  Rochelle,  Lyle  Latell,  Claire 
McDowell,  Eva  Hamill,  Isabell  La  Mai,  Lane  Chandler. 


HOW  TO  BE  A  SAILOR  (RKO) 

Disney  Cartoon  (34,113) 

Goofy,  that  master  expounder  of  difficult 
questions,  takes  up  the  problem  of  men  who  go 
dovm  to  the  sea  in  ships.  He  does  not  limit  his 
explanations  to  any  age  or  type  of  craft,  but 
presents  the  whole  history  of  sailing  in  histor- 
ical perspective.  In  fact,  he  starts  out  as  a 
caveman  paddling  a  log  and  winds  up  as  an  Ad- 
miral in  the  U.  S.  Navy.  In  between  he  has 
touched  upon  the  Vikings,  Columbus,  pirates 
and  the  wreck  of  the  Hesperus. 

Release  date,  January  28,  1944  7  minutes 

POLLY  WANTS  A  DOCTOR  (Col.) 

Phantasy  Cartoon  (5,704) 

The  parrot  and  the  goat  have  struck  up  a 
strange  friendship  in  spite  of  the  apparent  lack 
of  common  interests.  They  decide  on  a  luncheon 
date  with  the  goat  supplying  the  food.  He  picks 
up  some  great  delicacies — discarded  radio  tubes, 
in  fact — and  his  guest  feels  compelled  by  all 
standards  of  courtesy  to  sample  them.  At  the 
conclusion,  Polly  is  quite  determined  to  be 
more  chgosy  about  her  friends. 
Release  date,  January  6,  1944         6j4  minutes 


THIS  IS  FORTDIX  (Col.) 

Fihn-Vodvil  (5954) 

Herbie  Fields  and  his  Fort  Dix  reception 
center  orchestra,  assembled  from  the  big-time 
hands  by  Uncle  Sam,  play  "Go  Down  Moses," 
"Take  It  Iiasy"  and  "Just  as  Though  You 
Were  Here."  Jack  Leonard,  David  Burns  and 
James  Maxwell  do  solo  bits. 
Release  date,  January  7,  1944  9  minutes 

PRACTICAL  JOKER  (M-G-M) 

Pete  Smith  (S-S61) 

Pete  Smith  looks  into  the  annoying  subject 
of  the  practical  joker,  annoying,  that  is,  for  the 
victim.  Several  very  funny — to  the  perpetrator 
— gags  are  shovra  and  one  even  backfires  on 
the  master-mind,  but  nothing  short  of  death 
can  be  expected  to  stop  him. 
Release  date,  January  8,  1944    ^      10  minutes 

DOGIE  ROUND-UP  (WB) 

Sports  Parade  (9505) 

Another  Technicolor  subject  with  slight  bear- 
ing on  the  field  of  sports,  this  follows  up  the 
sheep  industry  with  cattle-raising.  Wyoming  is 
the  setting,  and  herding,  branding  and  preparing 
for  market  the  subjects.  There  are  some  inter- 
esting views  of  the  industry,  little  known  to 
Easterners  and  city  folk. 

Release  date,  Febrtiary  26,  1944         9  minutes 

A  DAY  IN  DEATH  VALLEY  (M-G-M) 

Fitspatrick  Traveltalk  (T-514) 

James  Fitzpatrick,  who  has  been  revisiting 
the  glories  of  our  own  West  for  some  time, 
takes  some  scenes  of  highly-photogenic  Death 
Valley  in  Southern  California.  Among  the 
places  of  interest  are  Badwater,  the  old  borax 
mines  at  Furnace  Creek,  and  the  famed  castle 
of  "Death  Valley  Scotty." 
Release  date,  January  22,  1944  9  minutes 

STRANGE  INNERTUBE  (M-G-M) 

Technicolor  Cartoon  (W-456) 

A  mule,  while  digging  up  his  garden,  comes 
upon  fabulous  treasure  of  another  era.  It  is,  or 
appears  to  be,  an  inner-tube,  and  he  pounces  on 
it  gleefully.  But  the  tube  has  lost  neither  its 
resilience  nor  its  resistance.  The  tug-of-war  is 
one  in  which  the  mule  meets  his  match  in  stub- 
bornness, and  the  garden  gets  a  bad  deal  all 
around. 

Release  date,  January  22,  1944  7  minutes 

TOM  TURK  AND  DAFFY  (WB) 

Merrie  Melodies  (9702) 

A  friend  in  need  is  a  friend  indeed,  but 
Daffy's  efforts  to  hide  Tom  Turk  from  the 
hunter  are  a  bit  strenuous.  But  the  time  comes 
when  kindness  may  be  paid  back  in  kind.  Daffy 
has  aroused  the  ire  of  Porky  Pig,  running  from 
him  in  desperation.  Turk  hides  him  with  force 
just  short  of  murder. 

Release  date,  February  12,  1944         7  minutes 

CAMERA  DIGEST  (Col.) 

Panoramics  (5,903) 

This  is  a  collection  of  unusual  camera  shots, 
outstanding  for  their  oddity  or  their  beauty.  In 
the  first  class  are  the  animal  models  made  from 
tree  branches,  the  snake  farm  and  the  Seminole 
Indian  village.  Among  the  latter  are  some 
views  of  Silver  Springs  and  of  the  Florida  ever- 
glades where  the  gathering  of  Spanish  moss  has 
become  a  commercially  profitable  industry. 
Release  date,  January  14,  1944     lOyi  minutes 


COMMUNITY  SING,  NO.  5  (Col.) 

5655 

Highlighted  by  the  screening  of  "Whistlin'  in 

Wyomin' "  for  the  crowd  to  sing,  this  group 
includes  both  popular  favorites  and  those  of 
some  years  back.  "Gertie  from  Bizerte"  and 
"Don't  Get  Around  Much  Anymore"  are  fol- 
lowed by  "Wait  for  Me,  Mary"  and  "When 
the  Red,  Red  Robin  Comes  Bob,  Bob  Bobbin' 
Along." 

10  minutes 

TO  HEIR  IS  HUMAN  (Col.) 

Langdon  (5431) 

Una  Merkel  acquires  a  new  profession  when 
she  is  mistaken  for  the  head  of  a  missing  per- 
sons' bureau.  Her  first  assignment  is  to  find 
Harry  Langdon  so  that  he  may  claim  his  in- 
heritance. Harry's  easy  enough  to  find  but  the 
state  of  the  estate  is  none  too  clear.  His  new- 
found relatives  have  unsuspected  motives,  chief- 
ly murder  by  poison,  rope  or  electricity.  Harry 
is  lucky  to  escape  intact. 

Release  date',  January  14,  1944       16  minutes 


GRANDFATHER'S  FOLLIES  (WB) 

Featurettes  (9103) 

Here  are  songs  and  turns  from  the  last  cen- 
tury when  Niblo's  Garden  boasted  headline 
variety  entertainment.  Among  the  old  favor- 
ites are  Harrigan  and  Hart,  Maggie  Cline, 
Chauncey  Olcott,  Eddie  Foy  and  Lillian  Rus- 
sell. Songs  that  still  live  on  from  that  day, 
including  "Dear  Old  Girl,"  "After  the  Ball," 
"A  Bicycle  Built  for  Two,"  "Strolling  Through 
the  Park  One  Day,"  "The  Moonlight's  Fair 
Tonight  Along  the  Wabash"  and  "Come 
Josephine  in  My  Flying  Machine"  bring  back 
the  old  lantern  slides. 

Release  date,  February  5,  1944      19  minutes 


THE  HERRING  MURDER  MYSTERY  (Col.) 

Color  Rhapsodies  (5503) 

Even  a  fish  canner  has  a  conscience  as  this 
cartoon  will  attest.  Here  one  becomes  the 
victim  of  his  own  misgivings  and  stands  trial 
in  an  undersea  court  for  his  crimes.  The  panel 
of  jurors  is  hardly  distinguishable  from  "In- 
formation Please"  experts,  or  even  a  barber- 
shop quartet. 

Release  date,  January  20,  1944         7  minutes 


THIS  IS  WORTH  FIGHTING  FOR 

Recruiting  Film  for  CDVO 

This  is  a  concoction  of  why,  how  and  where 
the  home  front  is  backed  by  every  member  of 
the  family.  A  typical  American  family  is  on 
display.  Each  member  enters  one  of  the  ser- 
vices of  Civilian  Defense.  Block  leader,  city 
patrol  corps,  nurses'  aid  corps,  blood  4o"ors, 
messengers,  junior  recreation  aides,  and  con- 
sumer interest  such  as  canning  and  clothes 
conservation  are  represented. 

The  picture  was  made  with  a  volunteer  cast, 
all  of  them  non-professionals  with  the  ex- 
ception of  Lowell  Thomas  who  donated  his 
services  as  narrator.  There  is  an  introduc- 
tion by  Grover  A.  Whalen,  chairman  of  the 
Civilian  Defense  Volunteer  Office.  It  is  a  re- 
cruiting film  for  all  the  branches  of  CDVO, 
was  produced  by  American  Pictures  Company, 
sponsored  by  CDVO  Film  Service  Labs,  and 
directed  by  Harold  Doane. 

18  minutes 

Product  Digest  Section    |  743 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    5,  1944 


SHORT  SUBJECTS  CHART 

index  to  reviews,  synopses 


COLUMBIA 

Prod.  Ret.  P.O. 

No.  Title  Date  Page 

ALL  STAR  COMEDIES 
(Artragt  17  Mln.) 

S42S   Shot  In  lh«  Eieapa  8-6-43  IS35 

(Gilbert  4  NuuTO) 

5401  I  CaD  Hvdiy  Walt  8-13-43  1535 

(Sttogei) 

3428    Farmer  »»r  a  Da»  8-20-43  1535 

(Clyd.) 

5427  Quack  Service   9-3-43  1534 

(Una  Merkel) 

5409  Pitchin'  In  tkt  KItdiin.  .9-10-43  IS43 

(Herbert) 

5402  Dizzy  Pllotc   0-24-43  1576 

(Stooges) 

5421    A  Rookle'c  Cookie  10-6-43  1598 

(Brendel) 

5428  Garden  ol  Eatin'  10-22-43  1637 

(Summervllle) 

5429  You  Dear  Boy  11-4-43  1837 

(Vera  Vague) 

5403  Phony  Expreii   11-18-43  1637 

(Stooges) 

5430  Ha  Was  Only  Feudin'. ...  12-3-43  1677 

(Clyde) 

5410  Who's  Hugh?   12-17-43  1697 

(Herbert) 

5404  A  Gem  of  a  Jam  12-30-43  1697 

(Stooges) 

5431  To  Heir  Is  Human  1-14-44  1743 

(Langdon) 

3432    Dr.  Feel  My  Pulse  1-21-44  .... 

(Vague) 

5405  Crash  Goes  the  Hash  2-5-44  .... 

(Stooges) 

5433  Bachelor  Daze   2- 17-44   

(Summervllle) 

5434  His  Tale  It  Told  3-4-44  .... 

(Clyde) 

COLOR  RHAPSODIES 
(Average  7  Minutes) 
1511    A  Hunting  Wt  Wan't  Go.. 8-23-43  1472 


IM3-44 

5501  The  Rocky  Ruin  to  Ruin.  10-22-43 

5502  Imagination   11.19-43 

5503  The   Herring  Murder 

Mysttery   1-20-44 


IS35 
1899 


1743 


PHANTASIES  CARTOONS 
(Average  9  Mln.) 
4711    Dizzy  Newsreel   8-27-43  1472 


1943-44 

5701  Nurtery  Crimes   10-8-43  1598 

5702  The  Cocky  Bantam  11-12-43  1837 

6703   The  Playful  Pest  I2-S.43  1677 

5704  Polly  Wants  a  Doctor  1-6-44  1743 

5705  Magle  Strength   2-4-44   

5706  Lionel  Lion   3-3-44   


FOX  t  CROW 
(8  Minutes) 

5761    Rton  ud  Bored  9-30-43  1576 

5752  Way  Down  Yander  In  the 

Com   11-25-43  1659 

5753  The  Dream  Kids  2-25-44   


FILM  VODVIL 
(10  Mlnntet) 
5951    No.  I  Meusle    Powell  1-10-43  1597 


For  information  on  short  subjects  turn  to  the  Product 
Digest  Section  pages  indicated  by  the  numbers  which 
follow  the  titles  and  release  dates  in  the  listing.  Product 
Digest  pages  are  numbered  consecutively  and  are  sepa- 
rate from  Motion  Picture  Herald  page  numbers.  For 
1942-43  short  subject  releases,  prior  to  August,  1943,  see 
pages  1510,  1511  and  1512. 


Prod. 

Rel. 

P.D. 

Prod. 

No. 

Title 

Date 

Page 

No. 

5952 

N*.  2  Cootie  Williams... 

.10-8-43 

1598 

T-512 

5953 

Na.  3  Featuring  Zeb 

T-513 

Carver   

ll-IS-43 

1637 

5954 

No.  4  This  Is  Ft.  DIx.. 

..1-7-44 

1743 

T-514 

T-515 

COMMUNITY  SING  (Series  7) 
(9  Minutes) 

5651  No.  I  On  a  Wing  and 

a  Prayer   7-29-43  1472 

5652  No.  2  Delta  Rhythm  Boys. 8-27-43  1535 

5653  No.  S  Patriotic  Songs. ..  .9-24-43  1543 
5634    No.  4  Baby  Smiles  at  Me.  10-22-43  1637 

5655  No.  5  Whlstlln'  In 

Wyomin'   11-25-43  1743 

5656  No.  6  Pistol  Packln' 

Mama   12-10-43  1697 

5657  No.  7  Christmas  Carols. .  12-24-43  1697 

5658  No.  8  Alouette   I-28-44  1718 


PANORAMICS 
(Average  9  Minutes) 

5901  Birds  on  the  Wing  8-26-43  1535 

5902  Babies  by  Bannister  10-1-43  1576 

5903  Camera  Digest   1-14-44  1743 


SCREEN  SNAPSHOTS  (Series  22) 
(10  Minutes) 

5851  No.  1   8-15-43  1534 

5852  No.  2                                 0-17-43  1543 

5853  No.  3   10-15-43  1597 

5854  No.  4   11-19-43  1637 

5855  No.  5   12-17-43  1659 

5856  No.  6   1-14-44  .... 

5857  No.  7   2-18-14  .... 

WORLD  OF  SPORTS 
(10  Minutes) 

5801  Kings  of  Basketball  8-27-43  1535 

5802  Cua  Wizards   9-30-43  1576 

5803  Champ  of  Champions  10-29-43  1837 

5804  Ten    Pin   Aces  11-26-43  1659 

5805  Winged  Targets   12-24-43  1718 

5806  Follow  Through   2-18-44   

5807  Golden  Gloves   3-17-44  .... 


Ll'L  ABNER 
560 1    Amoozin'  but  (^nfoozln* 


-28-44 


M-G-M 


TWO    REEL  SPECIALS 
(Averait  20  Minutes) 
A-403   Shoe  Shine  Boy  12-25-43  1718 

FITZPATRICK  TRAVELTALKS  (Color) 
(9  Minutes) 

T-421    Gliaipse*  of  Mexico  8-21-43  1535 

T-422   Over  the  Andes  9-25-43  1598 

1943-44 

T-511    Tbrti  tke  Colorado 

Ro'klM   10-23-43  1637 


Title 


Creation 


Rel. 
Date 


P.O. 
Page 


-27-43  1877 


Iting   St.    Louis  2-19-44  .... 

PETE  SMITH  SPECIALTIES 
(Average  9  Minutes) 

S-470    Scrap    Happy   9-4-43  1535 

S-471    Flxin'  Tricks   9-18-43  1597 

S-472    Feotball  Thrlllt  of  1942.. 9-25-43  1598 

S-473   Tips  on  Trips  11-13-43  1659 

S-474    Water  Wisdom   11-27-43  1697 

1943-44 

S-551    Practical  Joker   1-8-44  1743 


PASSING  PARADE 

(Average  10  Minutes) 

K-488   Storm   10-23-43  1598 

K-480  To  My  Unborn  Son. ...  10-30-43  IS37 
K-490   This  it  Tomorrow  11-27-43  1859 

MINIATURES 

(10  Minutes) 

M-581    My  Tomato   12-4-43  1697 

M-582    Kid  in  Upper  Four. ...  12-25-43  1718 

M-583    No  News  is  Good  News. 12-18-43  1697 


OUR    GANS  COMEDIES 
(Average  10  Minutes) 
C-497    Little  Miss  Plakerton...9-l8-43  1596 
C-498   Three  Smart  Guyt  10-23-43  1637 


TECHNICOLOR  CARTOONS 
(Average  8  Minutes) 

W-451    One  Ham's  Family  8-14-43  1535 

W-452   War  Dogs   10-9-43  1598 

W-453    Stork's  Holiday   10-23-43  1598 

W-454   What's  Buzzin' 

Buzzard   11-27-43  1659 

W-455    Baby  Puss   12-25-43  1697 

W-456    Strange  Innertube   1-22-44  1743 


SPECIAL  RELEASE 
X-460    These  Are  the  Men  9-1-43 


1498 


PARAMOUNT 

UNUSUAL   OCCUPATIONS  (Color) 
(Average  10  Minutes) 
L2-6    No.  6    9-17-43  1576 

1943-44 

L3-I    No.   I   11-12-43  1659 

L3-2    No.  2   1-7-44  1726 

HEAOLINERS 
(Average  10  Minutes) 

A2-I0  Sing,    Helen,    Sing  8-6-43  1512 

A2-li  Three  Bears  in  a  Boat. .8-20-43  1535 

A2- 12. Yours  Truly   9-3-43  1576 

A2-I3  Down  with   Everything ..  .9-24-43  1617 


Prod.                                   Rel.  P.D 

No.           Title                    Date  Pnoe 

MADCAP    MODELS  (Color) 
(Average  7  Minutes) 

U2-6    The  Truck  That  Flew  8-6-45  i*3fl 

1943-44 

U3-1    Jasper  Goes  Fishing  10-8-43  I54.'t 

U3-2    Goodnight  Rusty   12-3-43  IRBO 

U3-3    Package    for    Jasper         1-21-44  1735 

POPEYE  THE  SAILOR 
(Average  7  Minutes) 

E2-II  Wood   Peckin'   8-6-43  I53S 

E2- 12  Cartoons  Ain't  Human..     .9-3-43  I54:t 


1943-44 

E3-1  Her  Honor  the  Mare. ..  11 -26-43  1658 
E3-2    Mary    Go    Round  12-31-43  1726 


POPULAR  SCIENCE  (Color) 

(10  Minutes) 
J2-6    No.  6   8-13-43 


1943-44 


J3-I 
J3-2 


No.  I 
No.  2 


.10-15-43 
.12-10-43 


SPEAKING  OF  ANIMALS 
(Average   9  Minutes) 
Y2-5   Speaking  of  Animals  In 


MUSICAL  PARADE 
(20  Minutes) 


FF3-I    MardI  Gras   

FF1-2  narlbbean  Romance.. 
FF3-3   Lucky  Cowboy   


RKO 


1637 
1677 


1543 


the  Garden   8-20-43 

Y2-6   Speaking  of  Animals  in 

the  Desert   9-24-43  1617 

1943-44 

Y3.1    Tails  of  the  Border  12-17-43  1677 

Y3-2    In  Winter  Quarters  1-28-44   


SPORTLIGHTS 
(Average  10  Minutes) 
R2-10  All  Salts  Set  9-10-43  1506 

1943-44 

R3-I    Mermaids  on  Parade  10-22-43  1637 

R3-2    Ozark  Sportsmen   11-19-43  1637 

R3-3    G.  I.  Fun  12-24-43  1677 

R3-4   Swimcapades   1-14-44  1726 


.10-1-43  1506 
.12-17.43  tH.-iS 
,.2-11-44  1735 


LITTLB  LULU 

D3-I    Eggs  Don't  Bounce  1-28-44  1726 

D3-2    Hullaba-iulu   2-25-44  .... 


NOVELTOON 

P3-I  No  Mutton  fer  Nuttin'. .  1 1 -26-43  1677 
P3-2    Hen  Pecked  Rooster  2-18-44   


WALT   DISNEY   CARTOONS  (Color) 
(7  Minutes) 
34,107    Reason  and  Emotion  8-27-43  1535 


1 744    Product  Digest  Section 


February    5,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


Prod. 
No. 


Title 


Rel. 
Date 


P.D. 
Page 


34,108    Flusro  and  Cleo.. 


.  .10-15-43  1597 
1637 

less 

1718 


34.109  The  Old  Army  Game. .. 1 1-5-43 

34.110  Home  Defense   11-26-43 

34.111  Chicken    Little   12-17-43 

34.112  The  Pelican  and  the 

Snipe  1-7-44 

34.113  How  to  Be  a  Sailor  1-28-44 


1726 

1743 


SPORTSCOPE 
(Average  9  Minutes) 
34,313    Barnyard  Self   8-13-43  1576 


1943-44 

44.301  Field  Trial  Champions.  .9-16-43 

44.302  Joe  KIrkwoed   10-8-43 

44.303  Stars  and  Strikes  11-5-43 

44.304  Mountain  Anglers   12-3-43 

44305   Cod-Ed   Sports   12-31-43 


HEADLINER  REVIVALS 
(Awrage  19  Minutes) 

.9-10-43 


1598 
1596 
1659 
1677 
1726 


1543 


43.201  Harris  In  the  Sfring. 

43.202  Rhythm  on  the 

Rampage   10-8-43  1576 

43.203  Romancing  Along   11-5-43  1698 

43.204  Music  Will  Tell  12-3.43  1677 

EDGAR  KENNEDY 
(Average  17  Min.) 

43,401    Not  Ml  My  Account  9-17-43  1598 

U.in:    Unlucky  Dog   11-12-43  IM7 

43,403    Prunes  and  Politics  1-7-44  1726 


LEON  ERROL 
(Average  17  Minutes) 

43.701  Seeing  Nellie  Home  9-3-43  1598 

43.702  Cutle  on  Duty  10-29-43  1(37 

43.703  Wedtime  Stories   12-24-43  1598 

VICTORY  SPECIALS 

34.204    Oil   Is  Blood  9-23-43  1617 

FLICKER  FLASH  BACKS 
(Average  9  Minutes) 

44.201  No.  I   9-3-43  IS35 

44.202  No.  2   10-1-43  1576 

44.203  No.  8   10-29-43  1606 

44.204  No.  4   11-26-43  1659 

44.205  No.  5   12-24-43  1677 

•4,206    No.  6   1-21-44  1718 

THIS  IS  AMERICA 
(Average  19  MIn.) 

33.111  Arctic  Passage   8-28-43  1522 

33.112  Age  of  Flight  10-1-43  1576 

33.113  Children  of  Mars  10-21-43  1606 

1943-44 

43.101  Sailors  All   11-19-43  1654 

43.102  Letter  to  a  Hero  12-17-43  1677 

43.103  New  Prisons— New  Men  i-14-44  1718 


20TH  CENTURY-FOX 

MOVIETONE  ADVENTURES  (CMor) 
(Average  9  Minutes) 

4251  Flying  Ounners   9-24-43  1543 

4252  Snowland  Sentinels   11-19-43  1543 

4253  Leathernecks  on  Parade. ..  1-14-44  1718 


(Black  and  White) 

4201  Sails  Aloft   3-31-44  1659 

4202  Silver  Wings   2-18-44  1735 

MAGIC  CARPET  (Color) 
(9  Minutes) 

4151  Mormon  Trails   8-20-43  1534 

4152  Coast  of  Strategy  10-15-43  1543 

4156    Kingdom   of   Treasure. ...  12-3-43  1658 

4154  A  Volcano  Is  Born  12-24-43  1718 

4155  Realm   of   Royalty  2-4-44  1718 

4153  Steamboat  on  the  River..  .3-10-44  1659 

SPORTS  REVIEWS 

(Avereee  9  MIn.) 

4301  Dog  Sense   9-3-43  1543 

4302  Sport  Stars  IB  WW  10-29-43  IS76 


Prod. 
No. 


4501 
4502 
4503 
4504 
4505 
4506 
4507 
4508 
4510 
4509 
4511 
4512 


Rel. 

Titit  Date 

TERRYTOONS  (Technicolor) 
(7  Minutes) 

Mighty  Mouse  Rides  Again  8-6-43 

Camouflage   8-27-43 

Somewhere  In  Egypt  9-17-43 

Down   with   Cats   .10-7-43 

Aladdin's  Ump   10-22-43 

Lion  and  the  Mouse  11-12-43 

Yokel  Duck  Makes  Good. 1 1-26-43 
The   Hopeful   Donkey. ...  12-17-43 

The  Helicopter   1-21-44 

The  Butcher  of  Seville  1-7-44 

Wreck  of  the  Hesperus  2-11-44 

A   Day  in  June  3-3-44 


P.D. 
Pagi 


1535 
1534 
1543 
1543 
1576 
1637 
1659 
1658 
1697 
1658 
1658 
1735 


MARCH  OF  TIME 
(Average  18  Minutes) 
VO-13  And  Then  Japan  8-13-43  1472 


1943-44 

VIO-I    Airways  to  Peace  9-10-43  1543 

VIO-2   Portugal — Europe's 

Crossroads   10-8-43  1566 

Vie-3    Youth  la  Crisis  11-5-43  1606 

VIO-4    Naval  Log  of  Victory. ..  12-3-43  1658 

VIO-5    Upbeat  in  Music  12-31-43  1697 

VIO-6   Sweden's  Middle  Road..  1-28-44  1726 


ORIBBLE    PUSS  PARADE 
(9  Minutes) 
4901    Fuss  and   Feathers  IO-2t-4S  1817 


UNITED  ARTISTS 


WORLD  IN  ACTION 
(21  Minutes) 
War  for  Men's  Minds. ..  .8-13-43  ISI2 
The  Labor  Front  11-19-43  1658 


(12  Minutes) 
Raid  Report   11-12-43  1718 


UNIVERSAL 


COLOR  CARTUNE 
(Average  7  Min.) 
8137    Meatless  Tuesday   12-20-48  1858 

SWING  SYMPHONIES 
(Average  7  MIn.) 
7235    Pass  the  Biscuits  M  lrandy.8-23-43  1512 

1943-44 

8231  Boogie  Woogie  Man  9-27-43  1557 

8232  Greatest  Man  in  Slam   1718 

PERSON— ODDITIES 
(Average  9  MIn.) 
7383    Cactus  Artist   8-23-43  1472 

1943-44 

8371  Wizard  e(  Autos   9-20-43  1557 

8372  Farmer  Gene  Sarazen  10-25-43  1597 

8373  Fannie  Hurst  and  Her 

Pets   11-22-43  1637 

8374  World's  Youngest  Aviator.  12-20-43  .... 

8375  Mrs.  Lowell  Thomas  Fur 

Farmer   1-31-44  1735 

8376  The   Barefoot  Judge  2-28-44   

VARIETY  VIEWS 
(9  Minutes) 

7363    Yukon  Outpost   8-30-43  1512 

1943-44 

8351  Who's  Next   9-27-43  1535 

8352  l-A    Dogs   10-18-43  1557 

8353  Mister  Cliimp  Raises 

Rain   11-29-43  1658 


Prod. 

Rel. 

P.O. 

No 

Title 

Date 

Page 

8354 

Wings  in  Record  Time. 

. 12-27-43 

1697 

8355 

Amazing  Metropolis... 

..1-17-44 

1726 

8356 

Magazine  Model   

..1-24-44 

1735 

8357 

Animal  Tricks   

..2-21-44 

MUSICALS 

(Average  15  MIn.) 

TIM 

South  Sea  Rhythms  

..8-26-43 

1472 

1943-44 

8121 

Hit  Tune  Serenade  

..9-29-43 

1543 

8122 

10-27-43 

1598 

8123 

Choo-Choo  Swing   

.11-24-43 

1658 

8124 

Radio  Melodies   

. 12-29-43 

1658 

8125 

New  Orleans  Blues  

..1-26-44 

1718 

8126 

Sweet  Swing   

.  .2-23-44 

VITAPHONE 


TECHNICOLOR  SPECIALS 
(Average  19  Minutes) 
8005    Mountain    Fighters   8-7  43  1460 

1943-44 

9001  Women  at  War  10-2-43  1543 

9002  Behind  the  Big  Top. ...  1 1-27-43  1658 

9003  Task  Force   12-11-43  1677 


FEATURETTES 
(20  Minutes) 

9101  Voico  That  Thrilled  the 

Worid   10-16-43  1598 

9102  Over  the  Wall   12-25-43  1718 

9103  Grandfather's  Follies   2-5-44  1743 


SPORTS  PARADE 
(Average  10  Minutes) 

8413    Dude  Ranch  Bttckaroos  8-14-43  1643 


1943-44 

9501  Tropical  Spertland   10-0-43  IS97 

9502  Desert  Playground   11-13-43  1598 

9503  Into  the  Clouds  1-1-44  1718 

9504  Baa  Baa  Blacksheep  1-22-44  1735 

9505  Dogie   Roundup   2-26-44  1743 


MELODY  MASTER  BANDS 
(10  Minutes) 

9601  Hit  Parade  of  the  Gay 

Nineties   9-16-43  1596 

9602  Sweethevt  Sorenade  ....18-23-43  1698 

9603  Cavalcade  of  the  Dane*. .  1 1-20-43  1598 

9604  Freddie  Fisher  aid  hll 

Band   12-18-43  1598 

9605  Ted  Weems  and  HI* 

Merchant  Marine  Band. 1-29-44  1735 


LOONEY   TUNES  CARTOONS 
(Average  7  Minutes) 

8610  Scrap  Happy  Daffy  8-21-43  1535 

8611  Porky  Pig's   Feet  7-17-43  1460 

8612  Daffy  the  Commando  11-20-43  1658 

8613  Pus*  'N  Booty  12-11-43  1658 


BLUE    RIBBON    MERRIE  MELODIES 
(Averag*  7  Minutes) 

9301  A  Feud  Thsro  Was  9-11-43  1543 

9302  Early  Worm  Gets  the  Bird  10-2-43  1576 

9303  My  Little  Buckaro*  1 1 -6-43  1837 

9304  Fighting  69'/2   12-4-43  1677 

9305  Cross  Country  Detours  1-15-44  1726 

9306  Hiawatha's  Rabbit   Hunt. 2- 1 2-44  .... 


MERRIE  MELODIES  CARTOONS  (Color) 
(Average  7  Minutes) 

6719    Hiss  aid  Make  Up  .9-11-43  1460 

8720   Corny  Concert*   9-25-43  1535 


Prod. 

Rel. 

P.D. 

No. 

Title 

Date 

Page 

8721 

Fin-n-Catty   

10-23-43 

1536 

8722 

10-80-48 

1107 

8723 

Inki  and  the  Minah  Bird 

11-13-43 

1637 

8724 

An  Itch  in  Time  

.12-4-43 

1658 

8725 

Little  Red  Riding 

1659 

8726 

What's  Cookin',  Ooc7 

1-8-44 

1659 

1943-44 

9701 

Meatless  Fly- Day  .... 

.1-29-44 

1735 

9702 

Tom  Clark  &  Daffy  

.2-12-44 

1743 

8ANTE   FE  TRAIL  WESTERNS 

(Average  20  Minutes) 

9107 

, .9-4-43 

1543 

9108 

Wagon  Wheels  West  

18-30-43 

1598 

9109 

1726 

VITAPHONE  VARIETIES 

(Average  8  Minutes) 

9401 

Our  Alaskan  Frontier... 

.11-13-43 

1637 

9402 

Bees  A'BuzzlD'   

..9-18-43 

1598 

9403 

Hunting  the  Devil  Cat.. 

.12-18-43 

1718 

V 

OFFICIAL   U.  8.  VICTORY  FILMS 
(Distributed  by  Various  Major  Exchanges) 

Wings  Up    1315 

Mission  Accomplished    1329 

Message  from  Malta   1387 

War  Town    1387 

Black  Marketing    1535 

Glamour  Girls  of  1943   1557 

Last  Will  and  Testament  of  Tom  Smith  1576 

Day  of  Battle   1617 

Suggestion  Box    1817 

Chief  Nelly  Reports  to  the  Nation....  1659 

Brothers  In  Blood   1659 

Family  Fued    1659 

Food  and  Magic   1659 

Destination:  Island  X   1697 

No    Exceptions    1726 

This  Is  Worth  Fighting  For  1743 

BRITISH   MINISTRY  OF  INFORMATION 

Silent  Village    1415 

In  the  Drink   1496 

These  Are  the  Men   1496 

The  Last  Hazard   1496 

Common  Cause    1534 

Women  of  Britain   1634 

I  Was  a  Fireman   1677 

Before  the  Raid   1697 

Danger  Area    1718 

MISCELLANEOUS 

War  In  the  Mediterranean 

(English  Films)    1415 

Trade  Horizons  (Scheftel)   1677 

Avengers  Over  Europe   1697 

(Telenews) 


SERIALS 
COLUMBIA 


1943-44 


5120   The  Batmaa  . 
(15  episodes) 

5160  The  Phantom 
(15  tplssdM) 


REPUBLIC 

1943-44 

381  The  Masked  Marvel.. 

(12  episodes) 

382  Captain  America  .... 

(15  episodes) 


...7-18-43  1415 
..12-24-43  1697 


....11-6-43  1576 
....1-29-44  1718 


UNIVERSAL 


1043-44 

8681-93    Don  WInslow  of  the 

Coast  Guard   7-6-48  1227 

(13  episodes) 
8781-93   Adventures  of  the 

Flying  Cadets   t-7-43  1557 

(18  (Plsodes) 


Product  Digest  Section   1 745 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    5,  1944 


ADVANCE  SYNOPSES 

and  information 


ACTION  IN  ARABIA 
(RKO  Radio) 

PRODUCER:  Maurice  Geraghty.  DIREC- 
TOR: Leonide  Moguy.  PLAYERS:  George 
Sanders,  Virginia  Bruce,  Lenore  Aubert, 
Gene  Lockhart,  Robert  Armstrong,  H.  B. 
Warner,  Joseph  Vitale,  Alan  Napier,  John 
Hamilton,  Rafael  Storm. 

WAR  DRAMA.  Love  blooms  in  the  menace 
packed  regions  of  Iran  where  espionage  is 
rife  and  anyone's  life  may  be  forfeit  at  any 
moment.  It's  a  "Casablanca"  type  story  and 
the  devious  plottings  of  the  secret  agents  of 
Germany  and  other  nations  complicate  the 
situation,  with  the  hero  and  heroine  finally 
extricating  themselves  from  the  tangle  and  win- 
ning out  for  their  homeland. 

ARIZONA  WHIRLWIND 
(Monogram) 

PRODUCER-DIRECTOR:  Robert  Tansey. 
PLAYERS:  Ken  Maynard,  Hoot  Gibson, 
Bob  Steele,  Ian  Keith.  Myrna  Dell,  Don 
Stewart,  Charles  King. 

WESTERN.  The  Trail  Blazers  beat  off 
Indians  attacking  the  Sonora  stage  coach  only 
to  have  it  attacked  again  by  a  band  of  outlaws. 
Aware  that  tliere  is  something  of  importance 
hidden  about  the  stage,  they  search  but  to  no 
avail.  They  take  jobs  as  telegraph  linemen,  get 
the  goods  on  a  local  banker,  who  is  head  of 
band  of  counterfeiters,  and  rescue  a  youngster 
imprisoned  in  a  vault.  The  banker  and  his 
henchmen  are  apprehended. 

CINDERELLA  JONES 
(Warners) 

PRODUCER:  Alex  Gottlieb.  DIRECTOR: 
Busby  Berkeley.  PLAYERS:  Joan  Leslie, 
Robert  Alda,  William  Prince,  Julie  Bishop, 
Edward  Everett  Horton,  S.  Z.  Sakall,  Tom 
TuUy,  Charles  Dingle,  Ruth  Donnelly,  Eli- 
sha  Cook,  Jr.,  Hobart  Cavanagh,  Grant 
Mitchell,  Chester  Clute. 

COMEDY  WITH  MUSIC.  Joan  Leslie 
sings  with  an  orchestra  and  also  works  in  an 
aircraft  plant.  She  takes  part  in  a  radio  pro- 
gram and  is  discovered  to  be  the  missing  heir- 
ess to  a  large  fortune.  This  will  provides,  how- 
ever, that  she  must  be  married  by  a  certain 
time  or  lose  the  inheritance.  It  is  touch  and  go, 
with  Joan  to  decide  whether  Robert  Alda  and 
William  Prince,  rivals  for  her  hand,  love  her 
for  herself  or  for  the  fortune  she  will  inherit. 
She  finally  decides  upon  Alda  just  in  time  to 
meet  the  will's  deadline. 

BENEATH  WESTERN  SKIES 
(Republic) 

PRODUCER:  Lou  Grey.  DIRECTOR: 
Spencer  Bennett.  PLAYERS:  Bob  Living- 
ston, Smiley  Burnette,  Tom  London,  Effie 
Laird,  Charles  Miller,  LeRoy  Mason. 

WESTERN  DRAMA.  This  is  another  in 
the  John  Paul  Revere  series  in  which  Bob 
Livingston  took  over  the  lead  role.  In  this  one, 
Revere  and  his  old  schoolmates  return  to 
town  when  their  elderly  former  schoolteacher 
sends  for  them  to  save  Stokesville  from  outlaws. 
Revere  is  elected  sheriff,  but  suffers  a  stroke 
of  amnesia  and  for  a  time  is  a  stooge  of  the 
bandits.  He  recovers  in  time  to  save  the  town 
and  jail  the  outla..'s. 


CROSS  YOUR  FINGERS 
(Universal) 

PRODUCER:  Will  Cowan.  DIRECTOR: 
Edward  F.  CUne.  PLAYERS:  Grace  Mc- 
Donald, Leon  Enrol,  Walter  Catlett,  Jimmy 
Cash,  Ted  Weems  and  orchestra,  Freddie 
Slack  and  orchestra,  Harry  Owens  and  Royal 
Hawaiians. 

MUSICAL.  Happy  Dan  Briggs,  a  carnival 
showman,  tells  his  son  to  clear  out  because  he 
wants  him  out  of  the  business.  The  boy  finds 
a  job  as  a  bus  boy.  His  singing  talent  is  dis- 
covered at  the  night  club  where  he  is  working, 
and  he  replaces  the  band's  vocalist.  Soaring 
upward,  he's  starred  opposite  a  Hollywood  star 
only  to  fail  of  success.  The  hatcheck  girl,  who 
got  him  his  night  club  break,  sells  the  studio  a 
story  about  Happy  Dan  and  the  carnival  days, 
and  the  youngster  is  brought  back  when  his 
father  refuses  the  role  unless  his  son  is  featured 
with  him. 

OUR  HEARTS  WERE  YOUNG  AND 
GAY 

(Paramount) 

PRODUCER:  Sheridan  Gibney.  DIREC- 
TOR: Lewis  AUen.  PLAYERS:  Diana 
Lynn,  Gail  Russell,  James  Brown,  Bill  Ed- 
wards, Charles  Ruggles,  Dorothy  Gish, 
Beulah  Bondi,  Helen  Freeman,  Alma  Kruger. 

COMEDY.  Two  young  girls,  unchaperoned, 
start  on  a  tour  of  Europe  in  the  early  1920s. 
They  experience  amusing  incidents  on  ship 
board  and,  due  to  their  innocence,  more  amusing 
things  occur  when  they  get  to  Europe,  with 
light  love  interest  woven  through  the  trip  and 
meetings  abroad. 

MASK  OF  DIMITRIOS 

(Warners) 

PRODUCER:  Henry  Blanke.  DIRECTOR: 
Jean  Negulesco.  PLAYERS:  Zachary  Scott, 
Sydney  Greenstreet,  Peter  Lorre,  Helmut 
Dantine,  Monte  Blue,  Victor  Francen, 
George  Tobias,  Florence  Bates,  Kurt  Katch, 
Roman  Bohnen,  John  Abbott,  David  Hoff- 
man. 

MYSTERY.  This  is  a  mystery  told  in  flash- 
back following  the  finding  of  a  corpse  which 
is  identified  as  that  of  Dimitrios,  one  of  the 
most  loathsome  characters  of  the  day.  A  famous 
detective  story  writer  becomes  interested  in 
tracing  Dimitrios'  life  in  an  effort  to  discover 
his  murderer.  He  finds  that  one  of  the  men, 
among  the  many  whom  Dimitrios  had  traduced, 
is  in  search  of  Dimitrios'  fabulous  hidden 
wealth. 

FRONTIER  OUTLAWS 
(PRC  Pictures) 

PRODUCER:  Sigmund  Neufeld.  DIREC- 
TOR: Sam  Newfield.  PLAYERS:  Buster 
Crabbe,  Al  St.  John,  Frances  Gladwin. 

WESTERN.  Wolf  Valley  is  in  the  midst  of 
a  land-grab  plot  engineered  by  a  pair  of  un- 
scrupulous local  men.  They  frame  Bill  Carson 
on  a  murder  charge,  drive  ofT  cattle,  rob  a 
bank,  and  burn  ranches  while  he  is  in  jail. 
Liberated,  Carson  goes  after  the  outlaws  dis- 
guised as  a  Mexican  cattle  buyer.  He  gets  the 
evidence  on  the  ringleaders,  but  they  are  tipped 
off  and  set  a  trap  for  him.  Carson  outwits  and 
out-shoots  the  pair  and  their  henchmen. 


TWO-MAN  SUBMARINE 
(Columbia) 

ASSOCIATE  PRODUCER:  Jack  Fier. 
DIRECTOR:  Lew  Landers.  PLAYERS: 
Tom  Neal,  Ann  Savage,  J.  Carrol  Naish, 
Lloyd  Bridges,  Robert  Williams. 

DRAMA.  Tom  Neal,  Ann  Savage  and  J. 
Carroll  Naish  are  conducting  medical  research 
on  a  South  Pacific  island  in  an  effort  to  find 
more  sources  for  the  miracle  drug,  penicillin. 
Japs  send  a  two-man  sub  to  capture  them,  they 
fight  it  off  with  machine  guns.  A  Nazi  sub- 
mersible arrives  to  further  complicate  things, 
but  in  the  end  the  trio  triumph  and  Tom  and 
Ann  profess  their  love. 


HER  LAST  MILE 
(PRC  Pictures) 

PRODUCER:  Jack  Schwarz.  DIRECTOR: 
Steve  Sekely.  PLAYERS:  Lionel  Atwill, 
Jean  Parker,  Douglas  Fowley,  Marcia  Mae 
Jones,  John  Maxwell,  Robert  Middlemas, 
Pat  Gleason,  Richard  Curtis. 

MYSTERY.  Dr.  Bradford,  a  young  scien- 
tist, and  Charles  Finch,  a  criminologist,  become 
acquainted  in  a  fashionable  grill  where  they 
save  beautiful  Mary  Kirk  when  her  dress 
catches  on  fire.  The  younger  man  falls  in  love 
with  her  but  she  is  shocked  to  learn  he's  taken 
a  job  as  an  executioner  to  further  his  research 
experiments.  Mary  is  being  blackmailed  over 
something  in  her  father's  past,  and  her  younger 
sister  is  carrying  on  a  clandestine  affair  with  an 
embezzler.  Mary's  blackmailer  is  killed  in  her 
apartment.  She  is  convicted  and  sentenced  to 
die.  Her  younger  sister  admits  an  auto  key 
found  at  the  scene  of  the  crime  belongs  to  her 
lover.  Mary  faces  execution  at  Bradford's 
hands  but  he  locks  himself  in  the  panel -room, 
refusing  to  pull  the  switch.  Finch  and  Mary's 
sister  win  a  reprieve  on  the  strength  of  the 
embezzler's  confession. 


MOONLIGHT  AND  CACTUS 
(Universal) 

ASSOCIATE  PRODUCER:  Frank  Gross. 
DIRECTOR:  Edward  F.  Cline.  PLAYERS: 
Andrews  Sisters,  Elyse  Knox,  Leo  Carrillo, 
Tom  Seidel,  Shemp  Howard,  Tom  Keimedy, 
Murray  Alper,  Frank  Lackteen,  Eddie 
Quillan,  Mitch  Ayres  and  orchestra. 

MUSICAL  COMEDY.  A  Merchant  Marine 
officer  returns  to  his  ranch  on  leave  only  to 
find  that,  due  to  the  war,  the  cattle  business  is 
in  the  hands  of  cowgirls.  He  finds  the  feminine 
cowhands  are  being  victimized  by  a  gang  of 
cattle  rustlers,  but  it's  easily  solved  when  they 
learn  that  a  neighboring  rancher  has  herrlp^i 
up  the  cattle  to  protect  them.  The  Andrews 
Sisters  help  to  keep  the  proceedings  musical 
with  the  aid  of  Mitchell  Ayres  and  his  band. 


SENSATIONS  OF  1944 
(UA  -  Andrew  L.  Stone) 

EXECUTIVE  PRODUCER:  James  Nas- 
ser. PRODUCER-DIRECTOR:  Andrew 
L.  Stone.  PLAYERS:  Eleanor  Powell, 
Dennis  O'Keefe,  W.  C.  Fields,  Sophie 
Tucker,  Mimi  Forsythe,  C.  Aubrey  Smith, 
George  Barbier,  David  Lichine,  Lyle  Tal- 
bot, Cab  Calloway  and  Woody  Herman 


1 746   Product  Digest  Section 


February    5.  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


and  their  bands,  numerous  circus  and  vaude- 
ville acts. 

COMEDY-MUSICAL.  Eleanor  Powell, 
musical  comedy  star,  stages  a  publicity  stunt 
in  which  a  woman  in  a  box  takes  a  shot  at  the 
dancer  in  the  midst  of  her  best  number.  Her 
press  agent  thinks  she's  great  and  turns  his 
business  over  to  her  while  he  goes  on  a  vaca- 
tion. She  carries  on  with  harum-scarum  pub- 
licity stunts  over  the  protests  of  Dennis 
O'Keefe,  son  of  the  publicity  man.  O'Keefe 
foils  an  attempt  to  blackmail  her  while  she 
blithely  opens  a  Circus  Night  Club.  In  the  end 
she  comes  to  her  senses,  the  publicity  man  re- 
turns, O'Keefe  kisses  Miss  Powell  goodby  and 
leaves  for  the  Army. 

THE  MAN  IN  HALF  MOON  STREET 
(Paramount) 

PRODUCER:  Walter  MacEwen.  DIREC- 
TOR: Ralph  Murphy.  PLAYERS:  Nils 
Asther,  Helen  Walker,  Paul  Cavanaugh, 
Morton  Lowry. 

MURDER  DRAMA.  The  man  in  Half 
Moon  Street  is  a  scientist,  whom  everyone 
knows  as  a  young  man  of  exceeding  charm,  but 
who  secretly  has  discovered  a  dangerous  oper- 
ation that  provides  immortality.  He  has  com- 
mitted a  series  of  murders  to  carry  on  the  ex- 
periments on  himself.  Each  time  he  needs  the 
operation  to  carry  on  as  a  young  man  his  vic- 
tim dies.  He's  engaged  to  a  young  girl  and  his 
doctor  friend,  who  aids  in  his  experiments,  is 
stricken  with  paralysis.  Realizing  he  cannot 
defy  God,  the  scientist  burns  the  papers  on  the 
operation  as  the  girl  begins  to  suspect  her 
sweetheart  when  she  sees  signs  of  old  age  ap- 
pearing. The  police  are  seeking  a  young  man 
and  do  not  suspect  that  the  old  man  who  dies 
on  the  street  is  the  murderer  they  seek. 

STRANGE  CONFESSION 

(U.A.  -  Angelus  Productions) 

PRODUCER:  Seymour  NebenzaL  DIREC- 
TOR: Douglas  Sirk.  PLAYERS:  George 
Sanders,  Linda  Darnell,  Edward  Everett 
Horton,  Hugo  Haas,  Robert  Greig,  Lori 
Lahner,  John  Philliber,  Sig  Ruman. 

MYSTERY-DRAMA.  The  story  is  told 
in  retrospect  with  flashbacks  in  the  office  of  a 
Russian  newspaper  operated  by  a  woman.  As 
she  reads  a  manuscript  left  by  a  once  prosper- 
ous Count,  the  tale  of  the  murder  of  a  wood- 
cutter's daughter  by  her  husband,  in  love  with 
the  newspaperwoman,  unfolds.  Discovering 
she  has  the  manuscript,  the  murderer  comes  to 
retrieve  it  and  is  shot  by  police  when  he  rifles 
a  mailbox  after  discovering  the  woman  also 
loved  him.  As  police  confront  her  over  his 
body,  she  tears  up  an  old  dance  card  upon 
which  her  slain  lover  had  written  "I  Love  You" 
at  the  supper  celebrating  his  wedding  to  the 
woman  he  murdered. 

THE  NAVY  WAY 
(Paramount) 

PRODUCER:  Pine  Thomas.  DIRECTOR: 
William  Berke.  PLAYERS:  Robert  Lowery, 
Jean  Parker,  Richard  Powers,  Bill  Henry, 
Sharon  Douglas,  Robert  Armstrong,  Roscoe 
Karns,  Horace  MacMahon,  Mary  Treen, 
Ann  Marsters. 

NAVY  LIFE  DRAMA.  Two  boots  in  the 
navy,  one  wealthy,  the  other  an  ex-prize  fighter, 
vie  for  the  love  of  a  pharmacist's  mate,  Jean 
Parker.  The  ex-pugilist  is  fresh  and  kisses  her 
in  a  hospital  but  she  likes  him  because  of  sym- 
pathy aroused  over  what  he  tells  of  his  child- 
hood. He  saves  a  mate  when  the  latter  falls 
overboard  in  a  rowing  race.  The  wealthy  sailor 
refuses  a  fat  commission  and  enlists.  He  meets 
the  girl  and  falls  in  love  with  her.  When  the 
pugilist  finds  out  she  intends  to  marry  him  he 
goes  out  and  gets  drunk,  planning  to  desert. 
He's  finally  brought  around  to  the  "Navy  Way," 
and  the  boys  march  off  to  war  as  the 
awaits  return  of  her  loved  one. 


THE  COWBOY  AND  THE  SENORITA 
(Republic) 

ASSOCIATE  PRODUCER:  Harry  Grey. 
DIRECTOR:  Joe  Kane.  PLAYERS:  Roy 
Rogers,  Quinn  (Big  Boy)  Williams,  Dale 
Evans,  Mary  Lee,  John  Hubbard,  Hal 
Taliaferro,  Dorothy  Christy,  Fuzzy  Knight, 
Louis  Montez,  Sons  of  the  Pioneers. 

WESTERN  WITH  MUSIC.  Roy  Rogers 
and  Big  Boy  are  falsely  accused  of  a  kidnap- 
ping but  escape  and  find  the  girl.  Chip,  who 
ran  away  because  her  cousin  is  being  duped  into 
selling  a  mine  left  by  Chip's  father.  Roy  finds 
men  hired  by  Allen,  who  is  seeking  the  mine,  at 
work  in  the  diggings.  He  and  Big  Boy  recover 
Chip's  bracelet  from  Allen  and,  following  its 
inscription,  find  the  real  vein  of  rich  ore  in  the 
mine.  They  prove  Allen  is  a  scoundrel  and 
Chip's  cousin  takes  them  back  to  their  jobs  on 
her  ranch. 


WEIRD  WOMAN 
(Universal) 

PRODUCER:  OUver  Drake.  DIREC- 
TOR: Reginald  LeBorg.  PLAYERS:  Lon 
Chaney,  Anne  Gwynne,  Evelyn  Ankers, 
Lois  Collier,  Ralph  Morgan,  Phil  Brown, 
Elisabeth  Risdon,  Samuel  S.  Hinds,  Eliza- 
beth RusselL 

MYSTERY  DRAMA.  Lon  Chaney,  a  so- 
ciologist, meets  and  weds  Anne  Gwynne,  raised 
on  tribal  customs  and  superstitions  by  her  na- 
tive nurse.  Returning  to  the  college  where  he 
teaches,  he  finds  his  happiness  clouded  by  jeal- 
ousy of  Evelyn  Ankers,  a  sister  of  the  dean  of 
men.  A  series  of  mysterious  events  result  in 
death  for  Ralph  Morgan,  a  professor,  and  Phil 
Brown,  a  student,  who  has  been  led  to  believe 
his  sweetheart,  Lois  Collier,  is  romancing  with 
Chaney.  Caught  in  her  own  trap,  the  jealous 
woman  admits  her  guilt,  freeing  Chaney  of  sus- 
picion, but  dies  attempting  to  escape. 

PARTNERS  OF  THE  TRAIL 
(Monogram) 

PRODUCER:  Scott  R.  Dunlap.  DIREC- 
TOR: Lambert  Hillyer.  PLAYERS:  Johnny 
Mack  Brown,  Raymond  Hatton,  Christine 
Mclntyre,  Craig  Woods,  Robert  Frazer, 
Harry  F.  Price,  Jack  Ingram,  Lynton  Brent, 
Marshall  Reed,  Ben  Corbett,  Steve  Clark, 
Lloyd  Ingraham. 

WESTERN  DRAMA.  Kate  Hilton  is  en- 
route  home  after  learning  of  her  father's  mur- 
der when  she  meets  U.  S.  Marshal  Nevada. 
The  stagecoach  is  held  up  and  robbed,  but  he 
brings  it  in.  Nevada's  pal,  Sandy,  is  posing  as 
a  cook  at  the  town's  only  cafe.  They  discover 
the  girl's  sweetheart,  Joel  Edwards,  has  a  step- 
father who  is  really  back  of  the  holdups  and 
murders.  They  trap  him  and,  when  he  tries  to 
shoot  Nevada^  Joel  draws  first  and  kills  his 
stepfather.  The  ranchers  are  told  of  gold  on 
their  property,  which  the  gang  leader  was  try- 
ing to  get,  and  the  band  is  rounded  up. 


HENRY  ALDRICH'S  LITTLE  SECRET 
(Paramount) 

PRODUCER:  Michel  Kraike.  DIREC- 
TOR: Hugh  Bennett.  PLAYERS:  Junmy 
Lydon,  Charlie  Smith,  Joan  Mortimer,  John 
Litel,  Olive  Blakeney. 

HENRY  IN  LEGAL  TANGLE.  Henry 
Aldrich  sets  up  a  baby-minding  business  with 
himself  as  President  and  Dizzy  as  Secretary- 
Treasurer.  On  one  night  when  all  his  fair  as- 
sistants are  busy,  Henry  has  to  mind  the  babies 
himself.  That  job  takes  him  into  the  home  of 
a  woman  whose  husband  has  been  jailed  on 
a  felony  charge.  It  is  later  revealed  she  wanted 
the  baby  minded  so  that  she  could  visit  Henry's 
lawyer  father.  Henry  is  convinced  of  the  hus- 
band's innocence.  His  father  is  not,  and  a  farn- 
ily  tangle  is  precipitated.  It  ends  with  Henry 
defending  the  woman  in  court  and  her  hus- 
band cleared. 


JANIE 

(Warners) 

PRODUCER:  Alex  Gottlieb.  DIRECTOR: 
Michael  Curtiz.  PLAYERS:  Joyce  Reyn- 
olds, Robert  Hutton,  Ann  Harding,  Edward 
Arnold,  Robert  Benchley,  Hattie  McDaniel, 
Ruth  Tobey,  Dick  Erdman,  Ann  Gillis,  Col- 
leen Townsend. 

COMEDY.  This  is  a  comedy  of  American 
family  life  with  a  locale  that  could  be  any  small 
town  in  the  United  States.  Emphasis  is  placed 
upon  the  youngsters  of  the  family  in  wartime 
America.  The  Army  establishes  a  base  for 
maneuvers  near  the  town,  arousing  the  fears 
of  parents.  However,  through  devious  schemes, 
Janie  (Joyce  Reynolds),  and  her  girl  chums 
manage  to  work  out  plans  for  wholesome  enter- 
tainment of  the  soldiers.  She  becomes  interest- 
ed in  a  young  soldier  but  she  also  has  an 
adolescent  interest  in  a  high  school  boy,  who 
leaves  to  join  the  Navy.  When  the  Army 
moves  out,  Marines  move  in,  and  the  girls  plan 
all  over  again  similar  forms  of  entertainment 
for  the  boys. 


THE  AMAZING  MR.  FORREST 
(PRC  Pictures) 

PRODUCER:  Walter  C.  Mycroft.  DIREC- 
TOR: Thornton  Freeland.  PLAYERS: 
JACK  BUCHANAN,  Edward  Everett 
Horton,  Otto  Kruger,  Googie  Withers,  Jack 
LaRue,  Syd  Walker,  David  Burns,  Walter 
RiUa,  Charles  Carson,  Leslie  Perrine,  Ron- 
ald Shiner. 

COMEDY  MELODRAMA.  This  produc- 
tion is  English-made,  but  features  in  the  cast 
several  actors  well  known  in  this  country.  Mr. 
Forrest  is  a  retired  investigator  for  an  insur- 
ance company  who  returns  to  lend  a  hand  when 
the  firm's  safe  has  been  robbed.  Aided  by  his 
wife,  butler  and  assistant,  he  uncovers  enough 
clues  to  identify  the  burglars  and  joins  their 
ranks  to  secure  evidence  for  a  conviction.  Ed- 
ward Everett  Horton  is,  of  course,  the  but- 
ler, while  Otto  Kruger  and  Jack  LaRue  play 
their  usual  villainous  roles. 

HER  BACHELOR  HUSBAND 
(Monogram) 

PRODUCER:  Barney  Sarecky,  DIREC- 
TOR: WiUiam  Beaudine.  PLAYERS: 
Johnny  Downs,  Wanda  McKay,  Etta  Mc- 
Daniel, Robert  Kent,  Stan  JoUey, 

COMEDY.  A  meek  accountant  in  a  big 
accounting  concern  is  embroiled  in  an  office 
shakeup.  He  comes  home  to  find  a  girl  in  his 
apartment  and  a  gangster  killed  on  his  doorstep. 
Experts  find  his  system  of  accounting,  turned 
down  by  former  office  heads,  far  superior  to 
the  one  in  use  and  he's  made  manager.  He 
returns  home  to  find  the  girl  gone.  From 
newspaper  pictures  he  thinks  she's  a  gangster's 
sweetheart  but  finally  finds  her.  She's  the  own- 
er's daughter  who  has  been  hiding  from  persons 
seeking  control  of  the  firm.    He  wins  her  love. 

THUNDERING  HOOFS 
(Harry  Sherman-UA) 

PRODUCER:  Harry  Sherman.  DIREC- 
TOR: George  R.  Archainbaud.  PLAYERS: 
William  Boyd,  Andy  Clyde,  Jimmie  Rogers, 
Eleanor  Stewart,  Don  Costello,  Forrest 
Taylor,  Francis  McDonald. 

HOPALONG  CASSIDY  WESTERN. 
Hopalong  and  crew  take  a  herd  of  cattle  to  the 
Circle  ranch  to  sell  them.  They  are  attacked 
by  outlaws,  the  herd  driven  oft  and  Hopalong 
is  jailed  as  the  outlaw  leader.  The  sheriff's 
daughter  believes  in  him  and  helps  him  to  es- 
cape. After  brushes  with  the  outlaws,  which 
always  end  in  Hopalong's  defeat,  he  finally 
manages  to  trap  them  in  a  one-way  canyon. 
There  he  beats  the  outlaw  chief  up  in  a  man-to- 
man fight  and  discovers  evidence  to  clear  him- 
self and  also  recover  the  cash  the  outlaws  got 
for  the  stolen  cattle. 


Product  Digest  Section    \  747 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    5,  1944 


THE  RELEASE  CHART 

Index  to  Reviews,  Advance  Synopses  and 
Service  Data  in  PRODUCT  DIGEST  SECTION 


(•)  before  the  title  indicates  1942-43  product. 

Release  dates  and  running  time  are  furnished  as  soon  as  avail- 
able. Advance  dates  are  tentative  and  subject  to  change.  Run- 
ning times  are  the  official  times  supplied  by  the  distributor. 

All  page  numbers  on  this  chart  refer  to  pages  in  the 
PRODUCT  DIGEST  SECTION  of  MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD. 


Consult  Service  Data  in  the  PRODUCT  DIGEST  SECTION  for 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating,  Audience  Classification  and  Managers' 
Round  Table  Exploitation. 

Short  Subjects  Chart  with  Synopsis  Index  can  be  found  on 
pages  1744-1745. 

Feature  Product  Including  Coming  Attractions,  listed  by  Com- 
pany, in  order  of  release,  on  page  1727. 


Prod. 

Title  Company  Number 

ABOVE  Suspicion  MGM  402 

Action  in  Arabia  RKO  .... 

Address  Unknown  Col.  .... 

Adventure  in  Iraq  WB  304 

Adventures  of  a  Rookie  RKO  402 

Adventures  of  Mark  Twain  WB  .... 

Adventures  of  Tartu  MGM  406 

Ali  Baba  and  40  Thieves  (color)    Univ.  8003 

Always  a  Bridesmaid  Univ.  8023 

Annazing  Mr.  Forrest,  The  PRC  413 

America  (color)  MGM  .... 

And  Now  Tomorrow  Para.  .... 

And  the  Angels  Sing  Para.  .... 

Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble     MGM  .... 

Arizona  Trail  Univ.  8081 

Arizona  Whirlwind  Mono.  .... 

Around  the  World  RKO  41 1 

At  Night  We  Dream  (color)  Col  

BANJO  on  My  Knee 

(Reissue)  20th-Fox  407 

Bar  20  UA  .  . .  . 

Battle  of  Russia  20th-Fox  414 

Beautiful  But  Broke  Col  

Bell  Bottom  George  (British)  Col  

Beneath  Western  Skies  Rep  

Best  Foot  Forward  (color)  MGM  405 

Between  Two  Worlds  WB  .... 
(formerly  Outward  Bound) 

.  Beyond  the  Last  Frontier  Rep.  351 

Black  Hills  Express  Rep.  362 

Blazing  Frontier  PRC  459 

•Blazing  Guns  Mono.  .... 

Bombers  Moon  20tli-Fox  401 

Boss  of  Rawhide  PRC  452 

Bridge  of  San  Luis  Rey,  The  UA  .... 

Broadway  Rhythm  (color)  MGM  419 

Buffalo  Bill  (color)  20th-Fox 

•  Bullets  and  Saddles  Mono.  .... 

CALIFORNIA  Joe  Rep.  365 

Calling  Dr.  Death  Univ.  8026 

•Campus  Rhythm  Mono.  .... 

Candlelight  in  Algeria  (Br.)  Br.  Lion  .... 

Canterville  Ghost.  The  MGM   

Canyon  City  Rep.  364 

Casanova  in  Burlesque  Rep.  .... 

Career  Girl  PRC  403 

Chance  of  a  Lifetime,  The  Col.  5034 

Charlie  Chan  in  Secret  Service  Mono.  .... 

Cherokee  Strip  (Reissue)  WB  333 

Chip  Off  the  Old  Block  Univ  

Christmas  Holiday  Univ. 

Cinderella  Jones  WB 

City  That  Stopped  Hitler  Para.  4331 

Claudia  20th-Fox  404 

Cobra  Woman  (color)  Univ. 

Conflict  WB 

Corvette  K-225  Univ.  8007 

Courageous  Mr.  Penn  (Br.)  Hoffberg 

Cover  Girl.  The  (color)  Col. 

Cowboy  in  the  Clouds  Col.  5203 

Cowboy  and  the  Senorita,  The  Rep  

Crazy  House  Univ.  8005 

Crime  by  Night  WB 

Crime  Doctor's  Strangest  Case     Col.  5021 

Crime  School  [Reissue)  WB  327 

I  748  Product  Digest  Section 


Release 

Stan  Date 

Joan  Crawford-Fred  MacMurray  Sept.,'43 

George  Sanders-Virginia  Bruce  Block  4 

Paul  Lukas-Mady  Christians  Not  Set 

John  Loder-Ruth  Ford  Oct.  9,'43 

Wally  Brown-Alan  Carney  Block  I 

Fredric  March-Alexis  Smith  Not  Set 

Robert  Donat-Valerie  Hobson  Oct.,'43 

Jon  Hall-Maria  Montez  Jan.  14, "44 

Andrews  Sisters-Patric  Knowles  Sept.  24,'43 

Edward  E.  Horton-Jack  Buchanan  Feb.  24,'44 

Brian  Donlevy-Ann  Richards  Not  Set 

Loretta  Young-Alan  Ladd  Not  Set 

Fred  MacMurray-Dorottiy  Lamour  Not  Set 

Mickey  Rooney-Lewis  Stone  Not  Set 

Tex  Ritter-Funy  Knight  Sept.24,|43 

Ken  Maynard-Hoot  Gibson  Mar.  7, '44 

Kay  Kyser-Joan  Davis-Mischa  Auer  Block  3 

Merle  Oberon-Paul  Muni  Not  Set 


Barbara  Stanwyck-Joel  McCrea  Oct.  29,'43 

William  Boyd-Andy  Clyde  Oct.  I.|43 

Documentary  Nov.  5,'43 

Joan  Davis-Jane  Frazee  Jan.  25,'44 

George  Form  by  Not  Set 

Bob  Livingston-Smiley  Burnette  Not  Set 

Lucille  Ball-William  Gaxton  Oct.,'43 

John  Garfield-Paul  Henreid  Not  Set 

Eddie  Dew-Smiley  Burnette  Sept.  I8,'43 

Don  Barry-Wally  Vernon  Aug.  I5,'43 

Buster  Crabbe-AI  St.  John  Sept.  I,!43 

Hoot  Gibson-Ken  Maynard  Oct.  8, '43 

George  Montgomery-Annabella  Aug.  6,'43 

Dave  O'Brien-Jim  Newill  Nov.  20,'43 

Lynn  Bari-Akim  Tamiroff  Feb.  II, '44 

George  Murphy-Ginny  Simms  MarH'44 

Maureen  O'Hara-Joel  McCrea  Not  Set 

Range  Busters  Oct.  29,'43 

Don  Barry-Helen  Talbot  Dec.  29,'43 

Lon  Chaney-Patrlcia  Morison  Dec.  I7,'43 

Gale  Storm-Robert  Lowery  Nov.  I9,'43 

James  Mason-Caria  Lehmann  Not  Set 

Charles  Laughton-Margaret  O'Brien  Not  Set 

Don  Barry-Helen  Talbot  Nov.  29,'43 

Joe  E.  Brown-June  Havoc  Not  Set 

Frances  Langford-Craig  Wood  Jan.  1 1, '44 

Chester  Morris-Jeanne  Bates  Oct.  26,'43 

Sidney  Toler-Gwen  Kenyon  Feb.  1 4, '44 

Dick  Foran  Oct.  2,'43 

Donald  O'Connor-Peggy  Ryan  Feb.  25,'44 

Deanna  Durbin-Gene  Kelly  Not  Set 

Joan  Leslie-Robert  Alda  Not  Set 

Russian  Documentary  Special 

Dorothy  McGuire-Robert  Young  Sept.  3,'43 

Jon  Hall-Maria  Montez  Not  Set 

Humphrey  Bogart-AIexis  Smith  Not  Set 

Randolph  Scott-James  Brown  Oct.   I, '43 

Clifford  Evans-Deborah  Kerr  Dec.  22,'43 

Rita  Hayworth-Jinx  Falkenberg  Not  Set 

Charles  Starrett-Julie  Duncan  Dec.  23, '43 

Roy  Rogers-Dale  Evans  Not  Set 

Oken  and  Johnson  Oct.  8,'43 

Jane  Wyman-Jerome  Cowan  Not  Set 

Warner  Baxter-Lynn  Merrick  Dec.  9,'43 

Humphrey  Bogart-Dead  End  Kids  Dec.  4, '43 


Running 
Time 
90m 


64m 
64m 


103m 
87m 
61m 


57m 
81m 


r-  REVIEWED 
M.  P.  Product 
Herald  Digest 
Issue  Page 
May   {,'43  1546 


Sept.  25,'43 
Aug.  2 1, '43 

Aug.  7,'43 
Jan.  I5,'44 
Oct.  2.'43 


1553 
1547 

1546 
1713 
1566 


Nov.27,'43  1645 


Advance 
Synopsis 

Page 

1081 

1746 

1695 

1530 

147! 
936 

1457 
1 192 
1747 
1457 
1715 
1555 
1456 
1545 
1746 
1457 
1715 


95m 

Dec.  5.'36 

1585 

54m 

July  24,'43 

1559 

80m 

Nov.  6.'43 

1615 

72m 

Feb.  •5,'44 

1742 

1696 

97m 

Jan.  29,'44 

1734 

i746 

94m 

July  3,'43 

1532 

1191 

1646 

55m 

Sept.  II, '43 

1529 

55m 

Aug.  7,'43 

1546 

1457 

59m 

1531 

55m 

Sept.  I8,'43 

1542 

1509 

70m 

July  I0,'43 

1532 

1305 

59m 

1599 

107m 

Feb.  5.'44 

i742 

1636 

Il5m 

Jan.  22,'44 

1725 

1616 

1531 

54  m 

Oct.  9,'43 

1573 

1531 

55m 

Jan.  8,'44 

1706 

1675 

63  m 

Dec.  I8,'43 

1673 

1635 

63m 

Oct.  9,'43 

1574 

1545 

85m 

Jan.  I,'44 

1694 

i635 

55  m 

Nov.  I3,'43 

i626 

1599 

72m 

Jan.  29,'44 

1733 

1676 

66m 

Dec.  I8,'43 

1674 

1634 

66m 

Oct.  I6,'43 

1586 

1545 

65m 

Jan.  I5,'44 

1714 

1599 

56m 

1715 
1695 
1746 


Service 
Data 
Page 

1575 


61 


655 


719 


617 


57m 

Sept.  4,'43 

1521 

1655 

91m 

Aug.  21, '43 

1558 

1655 

1457 
1456 

1655 

99  m 

Oct.  2,'43 

i565 

1240 

i7i9 

78m 

Jan.  I.'44 

1694 

I4i6 

55m 

Jan.  8,'44 

1706 

1636 
1747 

80m 

Oct.  23.'43 

1595 

1531 
1091 

1719 

68m 

Jan.  22.'44 

1725 

1654 

86m 

May  7,'38 

1626 

Feb 


r  u  a  r  y 


I  944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


REVIEWED  - 


Title  Company 

CroM  of  Lorraine.  The  MGM 

Cross  Your  Fingers  Univ.' 

Cry  "Havoc"  MGM 

Curly  Col. 

Curse  of  the  Caf  People  RKO 

DANCING  Masters,  The  20th-Fox 

*  Dangerous  Blondes  Col. 

Dangerl  Women  at  Work  PRC 

Day  After  Day  (Russian)  Artlcino 

Days  of  Glory  RKO 
Dear  Octopus  (British)  Gains.-Gen'l 

Death  Valley  Manhunt  Rep. 

Death  Valley  Rangers  Mono. 
Demi  Paradise  (Br.)     Two  Cities-GFD 

Deerslayer,  The  Rep. 

Desert  Song,  The  (color)  WB 

Destination,  Tokyo  WB 

Devil  Riders,  The  PRC 

Double  Indemnity  Para. 

Doughboys  in  Ireland  Col. 

Dragon  Seed  MGM 

Drifter,  The  PRC 

Dr.  Gillespie's  Criminal  Case  MGM 

Dr.  Paul  Joseph  Goebbels  Frank 

Drums  of  Fu  Manchu  Rep. 

EMPTY  Holsters  (Reissue)  WB 

Escape  to  Danger  (British)  RKO 

Eve  of  St.  Mark  20th-Fox 

FALCON  and  the  Coeds,  The  RKO 

Fallen  Sparrow,  The  RKO 

False  Colors  UA 

Fighting  Seabees,  The  Rep. 

Find  the  Blackmailer  WB 

Fired  Wife  Univ. 

Flesh  and  Fantasy  Univ. 

Follow  the  Leader  Mono. 

*Footlight  Glamour  Col. 
For  Whom  the  Bell  Tolls  (  color)  Para. 

Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep  20th-Fox 

Frenchman's  Creek  (color)  Para. 

Frisco  Kid  (Reissue)  WB 

Frontier  Law  Univ. 

Frontier  Outlaws  PRC 

Fugitive  from  Sonora  Rep. 

GANG'S  All  Here  (color)  20th-Fox 

Gangway  for  Tomorrow  RKO 

Ghost  Ship,  The  RKO 
Ghost  That  Walb  Alone.  The  Col. 

Gildersleeve  on  Broadway  RKO 

Girl  Crazy  MGM 

Girl  from  Monterrey.  The  PRC 

Girls  on  Probation  (Reissue)  WB 

Good  Fellows,  The  Para. 

Government  Girl  RKO 
Great  Mr.  Handel,  The  (color) 

(British)  Midfilm 

Greenwich  Village  20th-Fox 

Guadalcanal  Diary  20th-Fox 

Gung  Ho  Univ. 

Gunsmoke  Mesa  PRC 

Guns  of  the  Pecos  (Reissue)  WB 

Guy  Named  Joe,  A  MGM 

Gypsy  Wildcat  Univ. 

HAIL  the  Conquering  Hero  Para. 

HaU  to  the  Rangers  Col. 

Hands  Across  the  Border  Rep. 

Happy  Land  20th-Fox 

Harvest  Melody  PRC 

Heat's  On,  The  Col. 

Heaven  Can  Wait  (color)  20th-Fox 

Heavenly  Body,  The  MGM 

Henry  Aldrich,  Boy  Scout  Para. 
Henry  Aldrich  Haunts  a  House  Para. 

Henry  Aldrich's  Little  Secret  Para. 

Henry  Aldrich  Plays  Cupid  Para. 

Her  Bachelor  Husband  Mono. 

Her  Last  Mile  PRC 

Here  Comes  Elmer  Rep. 

•Here  Comes  Kelly  Mono. 

Her  Primitive  Man  Univ. 

Hey,  Rookie  Col. 

Hi  Diddle  Diddle  UA 

Higher  and  Higher  RKO 


Prod. 
Number 

414 

417 


413 
4016 
411 


375 

306 
310 
309 
460 

503! 

461 
407 

305 

334 


410 
401 


306 
8017 
8062 

4020 
4338 


325 
8082 
462 
361 

416 
407 
412 

409 
409 
412 
328 
4302 
408 


412 
8064 
453 
335 
416 


5201 
341 
415 
402 

5009 
402 
421 

4311 

4306 


414 
303 


Release 
Date 

Jan.,'44 
Mar.  I0,'44 
Feb..'44 
Not  Set 
Not  Set 

Nov.  I9.'43 
Sept.23,'43 
Aug.  23,'43 
Nov.  I5,'43 
Not  Set 
Not  Set 
Sept.  25,'43 
Dec.  3,43 
Not  Set 
Nov.  22,'43 
Jan.  29.*44 
Jan.  I, '44 
Nov.  5,'43 
Not  Set 
Oct.  7.'43 
Not  Set 
Dec.  20,'43 
Nov..'43 

Paul  Andor-Claudia  Drake-Donald  Woods  Not  Set 


Stars 

Pierre  Aumont-Gene  Kelly 
Grace  McDonald-Leon  Errol 
Margaret  Sullavan-Ann  Sothern 
Cary  Grant-Janet  Blair 
Simone  Simon-Kent  Smith 

Laurel  and  Hardy 
Evelyn  Keyes-Edmund  Lowe 
Patsy  Kelly-Mary  Brian 
Documentary 

Tamara  Toumanova-Gregory  Peck 
Margaret  Lockwood-Michael  Wilding 
Bill  Elliott-Gabby  Hayes 
Hoot  Gibson-Ken  Maynard 
Laurence  Olivier-Penelope  Ward 
Bruce  Kellogg-Jean  Parker 
Dennis  Morgan-Irene  Manning 
Cary  Grant-John  Garfield 
Buster  Craisbe-AI  St.  John 
Barbara  Stanwyck-Fred  MacMurray 
Kenny  Baker-JefF  Donnell 
Katharine  Hepburn-Walter  Huston ' 
Buster  Crabbe-AI  St,  John 
Lionel  Barrymore-Van  Johnson 


415 


Henry  Brandon-William  Royle  Nov.  27,'43 

Dick  Foran  Oct.  2,'43 

Eric  Portman-Ann  Dvorak  Block  4 

Michael  O'Shea-Anne  Baxter  Not  Set 


Tom  Conway-Jean  Brooks  Block  2 

Maureen  O'Hara-John  Garfield  Block  I 

William  Boyd  Nov.  5,'43 

John  Wayne-Susan  Hayward  Not  Set 

Faye  Emerson-Jerome  Cowan  Nov.  6,'43 

Robert  Paige-Louise  Allbritton  Sept.  3,'43 

Charles  Boyer-Barbara  Stanwyck  Oct.  29,'43 

East  Side  Kids  Not  Set 

Penny  Singleton-Arthur  Lake  Sept.  30, '43 

Gary  Cooper-lngrid  Bergman  Special 

Kay  Francis-Carole  Landis  Not  Set 

Joan  Fontaine-Arturo  de  Cordova  Not  Set 

James  Cagney-Margaret  Lindsay  Mar.  4, '44 

Russell  Hayden-Jennifer  Holt  Nov.  5,'43 

Buster  Crabbe-Al  St.  John  Mar.  4,'44 

Don  Barry-Lynn  Merrick  July   I, '43 

Alice  Faye-Carmen  Miranda  Dec.  24, '43 

Margo-Robert  Ryan-John  Carradine  Block  2 

Richard  Dix-Edith  Barrett  Block  3 

Arthur  Lake-Lynn  Roberts  Feb.  10, '44 

Harold  Peary-Billie  Burke  Block  2 

Mickey  Rooney-Judy  Garland  Nov.,'43 

Armida-Edgar  Kennedy  Oct.  4, '43 

Jane  Bryan-Ronald  Reagan  Dec.  4,'43 

Cecil  Kellaway-Helen  Walker  Block  I 

Olivia  de  Havilland-Sonny  Tuffs  Block  2 

Wilfred  Lawson-Elizabeth  Allan  Sept.,  9,'43 

Don  Ameche-Carmen  Miranda  Not  Set 

Preston  Foster-Lloyd  Nolan  Nov.  5, '43 

Randolph  Scott-Grace  McDonald  Dec.  3 1, '43 

Dave  O'Brien-Jim  Newill  Jan.  3,'44 

Dick  Foran  Oct.  2,'43 

Spencer  Tracy-Irene  Dunne  Feb.,'44 

Maria  Montez-Jon  Hall  Not  Set 

Eddie  Bracken-Ella  Raines  Not  Set 

Charles  Starrett  Sept.  I6,'43 

Roy  Rogers-Ruth  Terry  Jan.  5,'44 

Don  Ameche-Frances  Dee  Dec.  3,'43 

Rosemary  Lane-Johnny  Downs  Nov.  22,'43 

Mae  West-Victor  Moore  Dec.  2,'43 

Don  Ameche-Gene  Tierney  Aug.  1 3, '43 

William  Powell-Hedy  Lamarr  Mar.,'44 

Jimmy  Lydon-Charlie  Smith  Block  3 

Jimmy  Lydon-Charlie  Smith  Block  2 

Jimmy  Lydon-Charlie  Smith  Not  Set 

Jimmy  Lydon-Charlie  Smith  Not  Set 

Johnny  Downs-Wanda  McKay  Not  Set 

Lionel  Atwill-Jean  Parker  Mar.  I5,'44 

Al  Pearce-Dale  Evans  Nov.  I5,'43 

Eddie  Quillan-Joan  Woodbury  Sept.  I0,'43 

Louise  Allbritton-Robert  Paige  Apr.  2 1, '44 

Ann  Miller-Larry  Parks  Mar.  9,'44 

Martha  Scott-Adolphe  Menjou  Aug.  20,'43 

Michelo  Morgan-Frank  Sinatra  Block  3 


M.P. 

Product 

Advance 

Service 

Running 

Herald 

Digest 

Synopsis 

Data 

Thne 

Issue 

Page 

Page 

Page 

90m 

Nov.  I3,*43 

1625 

1457 

1719 

1746 

97m 

Nov.  6,'43 

I6i4 

1555 

93m 
88m 
59m 
56m 
120m 


74m 
64m 


73m 
90m 


1616 
1715 


63m 

Oct.  30,'43 

1605 

1555 

80m 

Oct.  23,'43 

1594 

1509 

59m 

July  I7,'43 

1426 

62m 

Nov.  20,'43 

1634 

1  OJO 

86m 

Sept.  18, '43 

1542 

55m 

Aug.  28,'43 

1558 

1402 

59m 

Dec.  I8,'43 

1674 

1555 

Il5m 

Dec.  I8,'43 

1673 

67m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1615 

1599 

96m 

Dec.  I8,'43 

1673 

872 

135m 

Dec.  25,'43 

1685 

1530 

58m 

1566 

1646 

61m 

Oct.  9.'43 

1574 

1545 

1675 

60m 

1606 

89m 

May  8,'43 

1546 

1 192 

1599 

68m 

Nov.  I3,'43 

i626 

1606 

62m 

83  m 

Feb.  5,'44 

1742 

89m     Sept.  I8,'43  1542 


Oct.  30,'43 
Dec.  25.'43 


Oct.  I6.'43 
July  3 1, '43 


July  3 1, '43 
Dec.  1 1 '43 


1605 
1686 


Dec.25,'43  1686 


57m 

Nov.  27,'43 

1646 

73m 

Dec.  1 1,'43 

1665 

75m 

Nov.  I3,'43 

1625 

71m 

Oct.  9,'43 

1574 

79m 

Dec.  4,'43 

1653 

Il2m 

July  24.'43 

1578 

94m 

Jan.  I,'44 

1693 

66m 

Jan.  8,'44 

1706 

73m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1614 

1585 
1456 


1559 
1665 


1636 


68m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1615 

1599 

93m 

Aug.  21, '43 

1547 

1 182 

65  m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1614 

1431 

lOOm 

Jan.22,'44 

1725 

1616 

55m 

Oct.  23,*43 

1594 

73m 

Sept.  4,'43 

1521 

94m 

Sept.  I8,'43 

1541 

i058 

1606 

68m 

Oct.  9,'43 

i573 

1531 

168m 

July  I7.'43 

1546 

855 

1676 

1416 

77  m 

Nov.  2,'35 

1726 

55m 

1606 

1746 

55m 

July  10, '43 

i4i4 

1375 

I03m 

Dec.  4,'43 

1653 

1530 

69m 

Nov  6, '43 

1614 

1566 

69m 

Dec.  II, '43 

1666 

1646 

1696 

65  m 

Oct.  23,'43 

1595 

1566 

99m 

Aug.  7,'43 

1558 

1 191 

61m 

Sept.  25,'43 

1554 

1509 

63m 

Oct.  29,'38 

1626 

70m 

Aug.  14, '43 

1559 

i  i9l 

93  m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1614 

1416 

1676 
1457 
1599 
1635 

1431 
1675 

1696 

1055 

1545 

1555 

1545 

1555 

1240 

1555. 

1696 

1566 

1747 

1431 

1747 

1746 

1391 
1675 
1654 
1375 
1616 


1719 
1719 


1719 


71 


71 


1719 


1719 


1719 


71 


1719 

i7l9 
1617 


1617 


Product  Digest  Section    I  749 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    5,  1944 


REVIEWED  ■ 


Title  Company 

His  Butler's  Sister  Univ. 

Hitler  Gang,  The  Para. 

Hi  Ya  Sailor  Univ. 

Holy  Matrimony  20th-Fox 

Home  in  Indiana  (color)  20th-Fox 

Hoosier  Holiday  Rep. 

Horn  Blows  at  Midnight,  The  WB 

Hostages  Para. 

Hour  Before  the  Dawn.  The  Para. 


Prod. 
Number 

8004 

8035 
403 

302 

4305 


Stars 

Deanna  Durbin-Franchot  Tone 
Robert  Watson-Victor  Varconi 
Donald  Woods-Elyse  Knox 
Monty  Woolley-Gracie  Fields 
Walter  Brennan-Lon  McAllister 
Dale  Evans-George  Byron 
Jack  Benny-Alexis  Smith 
Luise  Rainer-William  Bendix 
Veronica  Lake-Franchot  Tone 


M.  P. 

Product 

Advance 

Service 

Release 

Running 

Herald 

Digest 

Synopsis 

Data 

Date 

Time 

Issue 

Page 

Page 

Page 

Nov.  26.'43 

93m 

Nov.  I3'43 

1625 

1555 

Not  Set 

1675 

Oct.  I5'43 

63  m 

Oct.  9,  43 

1574 

1531 

Aug.  27.'43 

87m 

Aug.  28,'43 

1547 

1431 

i655 

Not  Set 

1634 

Sept.  I3'43 

72m 

Aug.  28,'43 

1547 

Not  Set 

1715 

Block  1 

87  m 

Aug.  I4,'43 

1579 

1277 

Not  Set 

1555 

I  DOOD  It  MGM 

I  Love  a  Soldier  Para. 

Impostor,  The  Univ. 

incendiary  Blonde  (color)  Para. 

In  Old  Chicago  (Reissue)  20th-Fox 

In  Old  Oklahoma  Rep. 

In  Our  Time  WB 

Iron  Major,  The  RKO 

Is  Everybody  Happy?  Col. 

Isle  of  Forgotten  Sins  PRC 
It  Happened  in  Gibraltar  (Fr.)  Vigor 

It  Happened  Tomorrow  UA 

JACK  London  UA 

Jane  Eyre  20th-Fox 

Janle  WB 

Jeannie  (British)  English 

Jive  Junction  PRC 

Johnny  Come  Lately  UA 

KANSAN.The  UA 

Kings  of  the  Ring  Lewis-Lesser 

Kismet  (color)  MGM 

Klondike  Kate  Col. 

Knickerbocker  Holiday  UA 

LAD  from  Our  Town  Artkino 
Ladies  Courageous  Univ. 

(■formerly  When  Ladies  Fly) 
Lady  in  the  Dark  (color)  Para. 
Lady,  Let's  Dance  Mono. 
Lady  Takes  a  Chance,  A  RKO 
Lamp  Still  Burns,  The  (British) 

Two  Cities-Gen'l 
Land  Beyond  the  Law  (Reissue)  WB 
Larceny  with  Music  Univ. 
Lassie  Come  Home  (color)  MGM 
Last  Ride,  The  WB 
Let's  Face  It  Para. 
Lifeboat  20th-Fox 
Lodger,  The  20th-Fox 
•Lone  Rider  in  Raiders  Red  Gap  PRC 
Lost  Angel  MGM 
Love  in  Jalisco  (Mex.)  Clasa-Mohme 


403 


406 
307 
311 
406 
5016 
401 


407 


5029 


405 


336 
8028 
410 

430  i 
419 
417 
368 
415 


Red  Skelton-Eleanor  Powell 

Paulette  Goddard-Sonny  Tufts 

Jean  Gabin-Allyn  Joslyn 

Betty  Hutton-Arturo  de  Cordova 

Alice  Faye-Tyrone  Power-Don  Ameche 

John  Wayne-Martha  Scott 

Ida  Lupino-Paul  Henreid 

Pat  O'Brien-Ruth  Warrick 

Ted  Lewis-Nan  Wynn 

John  Carradine-Gale  Sondergaard 

Erich  von  Stroheim-Viviane  Romance 

Dick  Powell-Linda  Darnell 


Michael  O'Shea-Susan  Hayward 
Orson  Welles-Joan  Fontaine 
Joyce  Reynolds-Robert  Hutton 
Barbara  Mullen-Michael  Redgrave 
Dickie  Moore-Tina  Thayer 
James  Cagney-Grace  George 

Richard  Dix-Jane  Wyatt 

Fight  Film  Feature 

Ronald  Colman-Marlene  Qietrich 

Ann  Savage-Tom  Neal 

Nelson  Eddy-Charles  Coburn 

Russian  Feature 

Loretta  Young-Geraldine  Fitzgerald 

Ginger  Rogers-Ray  Milland 
Belita-James  Ellison 
Jean  Arthur-John  Wayne 

Rosamund  John-Stewart  Granger 
Dick  Foran 

Allan  Jones-Kitty  Carlisle 

Roddy  McDowall-Edmund  Gwenn 

Richard  Travis-Eleanor  Parker 

Bob  Hope-Betty  Hutton 

Tallulah  Bankhead-William  Bendix 

Laird  Cregar-Merle  Oberon 

Bob  Livrngston-AI  St.  John 

Margaret  O'Brien-James  Craig 

Jorge  Negrete-Maria  Elena  Marques 


Not  Set 
March  7,'44 
Block  I 

Not  Set 
Oct.  2,'43 
Sept.  I0,'43 
Dec.,'43 
Not  Set 
Block  I 
Jan.  28,'44 
Jan.  7.'44 
Sept.  30,'43 
Jan.,'44 
Aug.  6.'43 


Sept.,'43 

102m 

July  31, '43 

1579 

1192 

1719 

Not  Set 

1675 

Feb.  II, '44 

1616 

Not  Set 

1675 

Oct.  29.'43 

94  m 

Jan.  8,'38 

1542 

Dec.  6, '43 

102m 

Oct.  23,'43 

1593 

1719 

Feb.  I9,'44 

1  lOm 

Feb.  5,'44 

1741 

1416 

Btock  2 

85m 

Oct.  23, '43 

1593 

1555 

1719 

Oct  28  '43 

73  m 

Nov.  27.'43 

1646 

1545 

1655 

Aug.  15,  '43 

82m 

July  3,'43 

1532 

1339 

1617 

Nov.  I5.'43 

93  m 

Nov.  27.'43 

1646 

Feb.  25,'44 

1675 

Dec.  24,'43 

93m 

Nov.  27,'43 

1645 

1554 

1719 

Feb.,'44 

96m 

Feb.  5,'44 

1741 

1240 

1655 

Not  Set 

1747 

Oct.  I,'43 

85m 

Aug.23,'4l 

1594 

Dec.  20.'43 

64m 

Nov.  20. '43 

1633 

1606 

Sept,  3,'43 

97m 

Aug.  28,'43 

1559 

1375 

i7i9 

Sept.  I0.'43 

79m 

June  I9,'43 

1547 

1182 

Jan.  22,'44 

95m 

Jan.29,'44 

1735 

Not  Set 

i635 

Dec.  I6,'43 

62  m 

Feb.  5.'44 

1742 

1636 

Jan.  28,'44 

1635 

Oct.  6,'43 

65m 

Oct.  I6.'43 

1586 

Mar.  I7,'44 

1616 

88m 
86m 

90iTi 
55m 
64m 
90m 

76m 
96m 
84m 
54m 
91m 
128m 


Jan.29.'44 
Aug.  2 1, '43 


Sept.  1 1, "43 
Aug.  2 1. '43 

Aug.  7,'43 
Jan.  I5,'44 
Jan.  8,'44 

Nov.'  '6,''43 
Aug.  2 1, '43 


1735 
1547 


Nov.20,'43  1633 


1530 
1546 

1559 
1713 
1705 

1613 
1496 


1091 
1599 
1240 


1351 
1240 
1115 
1277 
1616 
1636 

1555 


1655 

i7i9 
i655 


MADAME  Curie  MGM  490 

Mad  Ghoul,  The  Univ.  8038 

Make  Your  Own  Bed  WB   

Man  from  Down  Under,  The  MGM        4!  I 

•  Man  from  Music  Mountain  Rep.  257 
Man  from  the  Rio  Grande,  The  Rep.  363 
Man  in  Half  Moon  Street,  The  Para. 
Marine  Raiders  RKO 
Marshal  of  Gunsmoke  Univ.  8083 
Mask  of  DImitrlos,  The  WB 
Meet  Me  in  St.  Louis  MGM 
Meet  the  People  MGM 
Melody  Parade  Mono. 
Men  on  Her  Mind  PRC  409 
Million  Dollar  Kid  Mono. 
Millions  Like  Us  (British)  Gains.-Gen'l 
Minesweeper  Para.  4308 
Ministry  of  Fear  Para. 
Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek,  The  Para.  4312 
Mojave  Firebrand  Rep. 
M  oonlight  and  Cactus  Univ. 
Moonlight  in  Vermont  Univ.  8025 
Mr.  Co-ed  (color)  MGM 
Mr.  Muqgs  Steps  Out  Mono. 
Mr.  Skeffington  WB 
Murder  on  the  Waterfront  WB  302 
My  Best  Gal  Rep. 
My  Reputation  WB 
Mystery  Broadcast  Rep.  304 

•  Mystery  of  the  IS'h  Guest  Mono  

1 750  Product  Digest  Section 


Greer  Garson-Walter  Pidgeon  Apr., '44 

Evelyn  Ankers-David  Bruce  Nov.  1 2, '43 

Jack  Carson-Jane  Wyman  Not  Set 

Charles  Laughton-Binnie  Barnes  Dec.,'43 

Roy  Rogers  Oct.  30, '43 

Don  Barry-Twinkle  Watts  Oct.  I8,'43 

Nils  Asther-Helen  Walker  Not  Set 

Pat  O'Brien-Ruth  Hussey  Not  Set 

Tex  Ritter-Russell  Hayden  Jan.  2I,'44 

Sydney  Greenstreet-Peter  Lorre  .  Not  Set 

Judy  Garland-Marqaret  O'Brien  Not  Set 

Dick  Powell-Lucille  Ball  Not  Set 

Mary  Beth  Hughes-Eddie  Quillan  Aug.  27,'43 

Mary  Beth  Hughes-Edward  Norris  Feb.  I2,'44 

East  Side  Kids  Feb.  28,'44 

Eric  Portman-Patricia  Roc  Not  Set 

Richard  Arlen-Jean  Parker  Block  2 

Ray  Milland-Marjorie  Reynolds  Not  Set 

Eddie  Bracken-Betty  Hutton  Block  3 

Bill  Elliott-Gabby  Hayes  Feb.  I2,'44 

Andrews  Sisters-Leo  Carillo  Not  Set 

Gloria  Jean-Fay  Helm  Dec.  24, '43 

Red  Skelton-Esther  Williams  Not  Set 

East  Side  Kids  Dec.  I0,'43 

Bette  Davis-Claude  Rains  Not  Set 

John  Loder-Ruth  Ford  Sept.  I8,'43 

Jane  Withers-Jimmy  Lydon  Not  Set 

Barbara  Stanwyck-George  Brent  Not  Set 

Nils  Asther-Ruth  Terry  Nov.23,'43 

Dick  Purcell-Helen  Parrish  Nov.  5,'43 


63  m 
60m 


124m 

Nov.  20,'43 

1633 

1416 

65  m 

Oct.  23.'43 

1594 

1586 

1715 

103  m 

Aug.  7,'43 

i547 

71m 

Sept.  25,'43 

1554 

1402 

55m 

Oct.  2.'43 

1566 

Oct.  23,'43 
Oct.  I6,'43 


1594 
1586 


1747 
1696 
1676 
1746 
1715 
1456 


73  m 

Aug.  7,'43 

1559 

1339 

67m 

Feb.  5,'44 

1743 

1715 

1676 

103m 

Oct.  23'43 

1595 

66m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1615 

1606 

1616 

99m 

Jan.  8,'44 

1705 

1079 

55m 

Jan.  29,'44 

1734 

i746 

62m 

Dec.  25,'43 

1686 

1635 

1635 

63m 

Dec.  25,'43 

1686 

1555 

1654 

49m 

July  31. '43 

1579 

1696 
1695 
1586 


February    5,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


REVIEWED 


Title 


Company 


OKLAHOMA  Kid  (Reissue)  WB 

Old  Acquaintance  WB 

•  Old  Barn  Dance,  The  (Reissue)  Rep. 
O  My  Darling  Clementine  Rep. 
One  More  Tomorrow  WB 

(formerly  Animal  Kingdom) 
Our  Hearts  Were  Young  and  Gay  Para. 

•  Outlaws  of  Stampede  Pass  Mono. 
Outlaw  Roundup  PRC 
Overland  Mail  Robbery  Rep. 


Prod. 
Number 


M.P. 


Product    Advance  Service 


NABONGA 

PRC 

408 

(formerly  Jungle  Terror) 

Navy  Way,  The 

Para. 

•  Nearly  Eighteen 

Mono. 

Never  a  Dull  Moment 

Univ. 

8030 

Nine  Girls 

Col. 

None  Shall  Escape 

Col. 

Northern  Pursuit 

WB 

307 

North  Star,  The  RKO 

■Goldwyn 

451 

No  Time  for  Love 

Para. 

4309 

330 
308 
2307 
308 


454 
376 


Stars 

Buster  Crabbe-Fifi  Dorsey 

Robert  Lowery-Jean  Parker 
Gale  Storm-Bill  Henry 
Riti  Bros.-Frances  Langford 
Ann  Harding-Evelyn  Keyes 
Marsha  Hunt-Alexander  Knox 
Errol  Flynn-Julie  Bishop 
Walter  Huston-Anne  Baxter 
Claudette  Colbert-Fred  MacMurray 

James  Cagney-Humphrey  Bogart 
Bette  Davis-Miriam  Hopkins 
Gene  Autry 

Frank  Albertson-Lorna  Grey 
Ann  Sheridan-Olivia  de  Havilland 

Diana  Lynn-Gail  Russell 

Johnny  Mack  Brown-Raymond  Hatton 

Dave  O'Brien-Jim  Newill 

Bill  Elliott-Anne  Jeffreys 


Release 

Running 

Herald 

Digest 

Synopsis 

Data 

Date 

Time 

Issue 

Page 

Page 

Page 

Jan  25  '44 

1634 

Not  Set 

1747 

Nov.  12  43 

61m 

Oct.  30, '43 

1605 

1 545 

Nov.  I9,'43 

60m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1615 

1351 

Feb.  I7.'44 

1676 

Feb.  3,'44 

85m 

Jan.  I5,'44 

1713 

1695 

Nov.  I3,'43 

94m 

Oct.  23,'43 

1593 

1471 

1719 

Special 

105m 

Oct.  I6,'43 

1585 

1305 

Block  2 

83m 

Nov  n  '4^ 

1 625 

Seot  II  '43 

80m 

Mar  I8'39 

1482 

Nov  27  '43 

1  lOm 

Nov.  6,'43 

1613 

1 192 

1719 

Oct.  I5,'43 

60m 

Jan.  I5,'38 

1574 

Dec.  31, '43 

68m 

Dec.  4,'43 

1653 

i636 

Not  Set 

1431 

Not  Set 

1746 

Oct.  15,43 

55m 

Oct.  2,'43 

1566 

1402 

Feb.  I0,'44 

1715 

Nov.  20.'43 

55m 

Oct.  23,'43 

i594 

PARIS  After  Dark  20th-Fox  409 

Passage  to  Marseille  WB  .... 

Passport  to  Adventure  RKO  .... 

Patrick  the  Great  Univ  

Phantom  Lady  Univ  

Pin  Up  Girl  (color)  20th-Fox   

Pistol  Packin'  Mama  Rep.  310 

Prairie  Thunder  (Reissue)  WB  332 

Partners  of  the  Trail  Mono  

Pride  of  the  Plains  Rep.  353 

Princess  O'Rourke  WB  305 

Purple  Heart.  The  20th-Fox   

RACKET  Man,  The    ^  Col.  5036 

Raiders  of  the  Border  Mono.  .... 

Raiders  of  Sunset  Pass  Rep.  352 

Rainbow  Island  (color)  Para  

Rains  Came,  The  (Reissue)     20th-Fox  410 

Rationing  MGM  418 

Return  of  the  Ape  Man  Mono  

Return  of  the  Rangers  PRC  451 

Return  of  the  Vampire  Col.  5024 

•  Revenge  of  the  Zombies  Mono.  .... 

Rhapsody  in  Blue  WB   

Riders  of  the  Deadline  UA  .... 

Riding  High  (color)  Para.  4307 

Road  to  Utopia  Para.  .... 

Roger  Touhy,  Gangster  20th-Fox  .... 

Rookies  in  Burma  RKO  414 
Rootin',  Tootin' Rhythm  (Reissue)    Rep.  3301 


George  Sanders-Brenda  Marshall 
Humphrey  Bogart-Michele  Morgan 
Elsa  Lanchester-Gordon  Oliver 
Donald  O'Connor-Peggy  Ryan 
Ella  Raines-Franchot  Tone 
Betty  Grable-Joe  E.  Brown 
Ruth  Terry-Bob  Livingston 
Dick  Foran 

Johnny  Mack  Brown-Raymond  Hatton 
Robert  Livingston-Smiley  Burnette 
Olivia  de  Havilland-Robert  Cummings 
Dana  Andrews-Richard  Conte 

Tom  Neal-Jeanne  Bates 
Johnny  Mack  Brown 
Eddie  Dew-Smiley  Burnette 
Dorothy  Lamour-Eddie  Bracken 
Myrna  Loy-Tyrone  Power 
Wallace  Beery-Marjorie  Main 
Bela  Lugosi-John  Carradine 
Dave  O'Brien-Jim  Newill 
Bela  Lugosl-Frieda  Inescourt 
John  Carradine-Yeda  Ann  Borg 
Joan  Leslie-Robert  Alda 
William  Boyd 

Dorothy  Lamour-Dick  Powell 
Bing  Crosby-Bob  Hope-D.  Lamour 
Preston  Foster-Lois  Andrews 
Alan  Carney-Wally  Brown 
Gene  Autry 


Oct.  I5,'43 

85m 

Oct.  9,'43 

1573 

1545 

Not  Set 

1616 

Not  Set 

64  m 

Jan.  29,'44 

i734 

1636 

Not  Set 

1675 

Jan.28,'44 

87m 

Jan.  29,'44 

1733 

1675 

Not  Set 

1531 

Dec.  I5,'43 

64m 

Dec.  II, '43 

i666 

1654 

Oct.  2,'43 

55m 

Mar.  I4,'44 

i747 

Jan.  5,'44 

56m 

Dec.  4,'43 

1653 

Oct.  23,'43 

94m 

Sept.  25,'43 

1553 

962 

Not  Set 

1654 

1655 


Jan.  I8,'44 

65  m 

Jan.  8,'44 

1706 

1676 

Jan.  31. '44 

53  m 

Jan.  I5,'44 

1714 

Dec.  20,'43 

56m 

Dec.  25,'43 

1686 

1457 

Not  Set 

1654 

Nov.  26,'43 

95  m 

Sept.  9,'39 

1574 

Feb.,'44 

93  m 

Jan.29,'44 

1734 

1616 

Not  Set 

1606 

Oct.  26, '43 

60m 

Oct.  1 6/43 

1585 

1545 

Nov.  11, '43 

69  m 

Feb.  5,'44 

1742 

1599 

Sept.  I7,'43 

61m 

Aug.   7, '43 

1471 

1391 

Not  Set 

1530 

Dec.  3,'43 

70m 

Jan.  I5,'44 

1714 

1696 

Block  2 

88m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1613 

1431 

Not  Set 

1715 

Not  Set 

1362 

Block  3 

62  m 

Dec.  1 1,'43 

1666 

1646 

Jan.  !5.'44 

61m 

1719 


SAHARA  Col. 

Saint  Meets  the  Tiger,  The  Rep. 

Sailor's  Holiday  Col. 

Salute  to  the  Marines  (color)  MGM 

San  Demetrio,  London  (British)  Ealing 

Saratoga  Trunk  WB 

•Scream  in  the  Dark,  A  Rep. 

See  Here,  Private  Hargrove  MGM 
Sensations  of  1944  UA-Stone 

Seventh  Cross,  The  MGM 

Seventh  Victim,  The  RKO 

Sherlock  Holmes  Faces  Death  Univ. 

She's  for  Me  Univ. 

Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon  WB 
Shipbuilders,  The  (Br.)  Br.  Nat'l-Anglo 

Show  Business  RKO 

Silver  City  Raiders  Col. 

Since  You  Went  Away  UA 

Sing  a  Jingle  Univ. 

•Smart  Guy  Mono. 

So  This  Is  Washington  RKO 

Son  of  Dracula  Univ. 
Song  of  Bernadette,  The  20th-Fox 

Song  of  Russia  MGM 
Song  of  the  Marimba  Clasa-Mohme 

Song  of  the  Open  Road  UA 

Song  of  the  Saddle  (Reissue)  WB 

So's  Your  Uncle  Univ. 

Spider  Woman  Univ. 

Spotlight  Scandals  Mono. 

Standing  Room  Only  Para. 

Story  of  Dr.  Wassell  (color)  Para. 

Strange  Confession  UA 


5003        Humphrey  Bogart-Bruce  Bennett 
301         Hugh  Sinclair-Jean  Gillis 
....         Arthur  Lake-Jane  Lawrence 
401        Wallace  Beery-Fay  Bainter 

Walter  Fitzgerald-Ralph  Michael 
....         Gary  Cooper-lngrid  Bergman 
229        Robert  Lowery-Marie  McDonald 
420        Robert  Walker-Donna  Reed 
W.  C.  Fields-Eleanor  Powell 
Spencer  Tracy-Signe  Hasso 

403  Tom  Conway-KIm  Hunter 
8024        Basil  Rathbone-Nigel  Bruce 

8041  David  Bruce-Grace  McDonald 
Ann  Sheridan-Dennis  Morgan 
Cllve  Brook-Morland  Graham 

....        Eddie  Cantor-George  Murphy 
5202        Russell  Hayden-Bob  Wills 

•Colbert-Temple-Woolley-Cotten 
8034       Allan  Jones-June  Vincent 
Rick  Vallin-Wanda  McKay 

404  Lum  'n'  Abner-Mildred  Coles 
8013        Louise  AIlbritton-Lon  Chaney 

Jennifer  Jones-Charles  Bickford 
422        Robert  Taylor-Susan  Peters 
Mexican  Feature 

Edgar  Bergen-"Charlie"-Bonita  Granville 
331         Dick  Foran 

8042  Donald  Woods-Elyse  Knox 
8021        Basil  Rathbone-Nigel  Bruce 

Billy  Gilbert-Frank  Fay 
43 14        Paulette  Goddard-Fred  MacMurray 
Gary  Cooper-Laraine  Day 
George  Sanders-Linda  Darnell 


Oct.  I4.'43 

97m 

July  29, '43 

70m 

Feb.  24,'44 

Sept.,'43 

lOlm 

Not  Set 

105m 

Not  Set 

Oct.  I5,'43 

55m 

Mar.,'44 

May  5, '44 

Not  Set 

Block  1 

71m 

Sept.  I7,'43 

68m 

Dec.  I0,'43 

60m 

Not  Set 

Not  Set 

90  m 

Not  Set 

Nov.  4,'43 

55m 

Not  Set 

Jan.  7.'44 

62  m 

Dec.  I7,'43 

63m 

Block  1 

64m 

Nov.  5,'43 

80m 

Not  Set 

157m 

Apr.,'44 

107m 

Aug.  20,'43 

I3lm 

Mar.  24,'44 

Oct.  2,'43 

59m 

Dec.  3,'43 

64m 

Jan.  21, '44 

63  m 

Sept.  24.'43 

73m 

Block  3 

83m 

Not  Set 

Apr.  21, '44 

Oct.  2,'43 
Aug.  7,'43 

July  31, '43 
Jan.29,'44 


Aug.  2 1, '43 
Sept.  1 1, '43 
Dec.  1 1  ,'43 


Jan.  I, '44 
Jan.  I, "44 
Aug.  2 1, '43 
Nov.  I3,'43 
Dec.  25,'43 
Jan.  I, '44 
Sept.  1 1, '43 

Apr.  ii,'36 
Dec.  4,'43 
Jan.  15,44 
July  24,'43 
Jan.  8,'44 


1565 
1471 

i579 
1734 


Oct.  30,'43  1605 


1558 
1529 
1665 


Jan.29,'44  1733 


Nov.27,'43  1646 


1694 
1695 
1558 
1626 
1685 
1693 
1530 

1482 
1654 
1714 
1579 
1706 


1305 

1696 
1057 

1431 
1531 
1616 
1746 
1715 
1471 

1635 
1457 

1675 

1635 
1654 
1599 
1471 
1241 
1416 
1416 

i695 

i635 
1675 
1351 
1616 
1530 
1747 


1719 


1655 


Product  Digest  Section  1751 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    5,  1944 


REVIEWED  ■ 


Prod. 

Title                              Company  Numbtr 

Strange  Death  of  Adolf  Hitler      Univ.  8022 

Submarine  Base                            PRC  405 
Sullivans,  The  20th-Fox 

Sultan's  Daughter,  The               Mono.  .... 

•Suspected  Person  (British)             PRC  315 

Sweet  Rosie  O'Grady  (color)    20th-Fox  408 

Sweethearts  of  the  U.  S.  A.  Mono  

Swing  Fever                             MGM  423 

Swing  Out  the  Blues                    Col.  5020 

Swing  Shift  Maisie                    MGM  404 

Swingtime  Johnny                        Univ.  .... 

TAMPICO  20th-Fox 

I  arzan  s  Desert  Mystery                RKO  413 
Tender  Comrade  RKO 

Texas  Kid,  The  Mono  

Texas  Masquerade                          UA  .... 

Thank  Your  Lucky  Stars                  WB  303 

That  Narty  Nuisance                      UA  .... 

There's  Something  About  a  Soldier  Col.  5017 
They  Met  in  the  Dark  (British) 

Hellman-Gen'l  .... 

•  This  Is  the  Army  (color)  WB  224 
This  Is  the  Life  Univ  

(■formerly  Angela) 

Thousands  Cheer  (color)            MGM  413 

Three  Cheers  for  the  Boys             Univ.  .... 

Three  Russian  Girls                      UA  .... 

Thundering  Hoofs                            UA  .... 

Tiqer  Fangs                                  PRC  406 

Till  We  Meet  Again  Para  

Timber  Queen                             Para.  4313 

Top  Man                                  Univ.  8009 

Tornado                                    Para.  4304 

•  Trail  of  Terror  PRC  356 
Triumph  Over  Pain                       Para.  .... 

(formerly  Great  Without  Glory) 

True  to  Life                              Para.  4303 

•  Tumbling  Tumbleweed  ( Reissue)  Rep.  2308 
Two-Man  .Submarine  Col.  .... 
Two  Sisters  and  a  Sailor            MGM  .... 

UNCENSORED  (British)    20th-Fox  418 

Uncertain  Glory                              WB  .... 

•  Underdog,  The  PRC  316 
Under  Two  Flags  (Reissue)  20th-Fox  411 
Uninvited,  The  Para.  4315 
Unknown  Guest  Mono.  .... 
Up  in  Arms  (color)  RKO-Goldwyn  .... 
Up  in  Mabel's  Room                      UA  .... 

VICTORY  Through 

Air  Power  (color)            UA-Disnay  .... 

Vigilantes  Ride,  The                      Col.  .... 

(formerly  Deadline  Guns) 

Voice  in  the  Wind                         UA  .... 
Voodoo  Man,  The  Mono. 


WATCH    on  the  Rhine  WB 

Weekend  Pass  Univ. 

Weird  Woman  Univ. 

Westward  Bound  Mono. 

•What  a  Man  Mono. 

What  a  Woman!  Col. 

Where  Are  Your  Children?  Mono. 

Whispering  Footsteps  Rep. 

Whistling  in  Brooklyn  MGM 

White  Cliffs,  The  MGM 

Wilson  (  color)  20th-Fox 

Wintertime  20th-Fox 

Woman  of  the  Town,  The  UA 

Women  in  Bondage  Mono. 

Women  in  War  (Reissue)  Rep. 

Wyoming  Hurricane  Col. 


^ANKS  Ahoy  UA-Roach 
Yellow  Canary  (British)  Wiicox-RKO 
Young  Ideas  MGM  408 

You're  a  Lucky  Fellow,  Mr.  Smith     Univ.  8033 


301 


5005 

309 
412 


405 


Stan 

Ludwig  Donath-Gale  Sondergaard 
John  Litel-Alan  Baxter 
Anne  Baxter-Thomas  Mitchell 
Ann  Corio-Charles  Butterworth 
Clifford  Evans-Pafricia  Roc 
Betty  Grable-Robert  Young 
Una  Merkel-Donald  Novis 
Kay  Kyser-Marilyn  Maxwell 
Bob  Haymes-Lynn  Merrick 
Ann  Sothern-James  Craig 
Andrews  Sister-Harriet  Hilliard 

Lynn  Bari-Edward  G.  Robinson 
Johnny  Weissmuller-Nancy  Kelly 
Ginger  Rogers-Robert  Ryan 
Johnny  Mack  Brown 
William  Boyd 
Warner  Stars  Revue 
Bobby  Watson-Joe  Devlin 
Evelyn  Keyes-Tom  Neal 


M.  P. 

Herald 

Digest 

Gata 

Date 

Issue 

Pare 

Past 

Sept.  I0,'43 

72  m 

Sept.  4. '43 

1522 

July  20,'43 
Feb.,'44 

65m 

July  I0,'43 

1414 

1305 

11  Im 

Feb.  5,'44 

1741 

1636 

Jan.  24, "44 

64m 

Dec.  I8,'43 

1674 

1555 

Nov.  29, '43 

78m 

Jan.  {,'44 

1694 

Oct.  I,'43 

76m 

Sept.  25.'43 

1553 

iios 

i7i9 

Mar.  7,'44 

1586 

Apr.,'44 

Vim 

Nov.  I3,'43 

1626 

124! 

Jan.  20,'44 

70m 

Jan.  22.'44 

1726 

1636 

Oct.,'43 

86m 

May  8.'43 

1546 

1191 

1617 

Feb.  4,'44 

60m 

Jan.  I,'44 

1695 

1676 

Not  Set 
Block  3 
Not  Set 
Nov.  26,'43 
Not  Set 
Sept.  25,43 
Aug.  6,'43 
Nov.  30,'43 


James  Mason-Joyce  Howard  Not  Sot 
Joan  Leslie-George  Murphy-Stage  Cast  Fob.  I5,'44 

Susanna  Foster-Donald  O'Connor  Not  Set 

Kathryn  Grayson-Geno  Kelly  Jan.,'44 

Stage  and  Screen  Entertainers  '      Not  Sot 

Anna  Sten-Kent  Smith  Jan.  1 4, '44 

William  Boyd  Not  Set 

Frank  Buck-Duncan  Renaldo  Sept.  I0,'43 

Ray  Milland-Maureen  O'Hara  Not  Sot 

Dick  Arlen-Mary  Beth  Hughes  Block  3 

Donald  O'Connor-Peggy  Ryan  Sept.  I7,'43 

Chester  Morris-Nancy  Kelly  Block  I 

Dave  O'Brien-Jim  Newill  Sept.  I4,'43 

Joel  McCrea-Betty  Field  Not  Sot 

Mary  Martin-Franchot  Tone  Block  I 

Gene  Autry-Luclle  Browne  Dec.   I, '43 

Tom  Neal-Ann  Savage  Mar.  I6,'44 

Jimmy  Durante-Van  Johnson  Not  Sot 

Eric  Portman-Phyllis  Calvort  Jan.  21,44 

Errol  Flynn-Paul  Lukas  Not  Set 

Barton  MacLane-Charlotte  Wynters  Oct.  I0,'43 

Ronald  Colman-Claudette  Colbert  Nov.  26,'43 

Ray  Milland-Ruth  Hussey  Block  3 

Victor  Jory-Pamela  Blake  Oct.  22,'43 

Danny  Kayo-Dinah  Shore  Not  Set 

Marjorle  Reynolds-Dennis  O'Keefe  Apr.  7,'44 


Disney  Aviation  Feature  Aug.  1 3, '43 

Russell  Haydon-Shirley  Patterson  Feb.  3, '44 

Francis  Lodoror-Sigrid  Gurie  Mar.  I0,'44 

Bela  Lugosi-John  Carradine  Feb.  2 1, '44 

Bette  Davis-Paul  Lukas  Sept.  4, '43 

Martha  O'Driscoll-Noah  Beery,  Jr.  Feb.  I8,'44 

Lon  Chaney-Anne  Gwynne  Apr.  I4,'44 

Ken  Maynard-Hoot  Gibson  Jan.  I7,'44 

Johnny  Downs-Wanda  McKay  Jan.  3 1, '44 

Rosalind  Russell-Brian  Aherne  Doc.  28, '43 

Jackie  Cooper-Patricia  Morison  Jan.  I7,'44 

John  Hubbard-Rita  Quigley  Dec.  30,'43 

Red  Skelton-Ann  Rutherford  Dec.,'43 

Irene  Dunne-Roddy  McDowall  Not  Set 

Alexander  Knox-Charlos  Coburn  Not  Set 

Sonja  Hen!e-Jack  Oakie  Sept.  1 7, '43 

Albert  Dekker-Claire  Trevor  Dec.  3 1, '43 

Gail  Patrick-Nancy  Kelly  Jan.  I0,'44 

Elsie  Janis- Wendy  Barrio  Jan.  25,'44 

Russell  Hayden-Bob  Wills  Not  Set 

Joe  Sawyer- William  Tracy  July   I, '43 

Anna  Neaglo-Richard  Greene  Not  Sot 

Mary  Astor-Herbert  Marshall  Nov.,'43 

Allan  Jones-Evelyn  Ankers  Oct.  22, '43 


70m 
lOlm 
57m 
59m 
127m 
42m 
81m 


1 13m 
63  m 

59m 
73m 
93m 
72m 
55m 
87m 


82m 
88m 
72m 
69m 


58m 
98m 
77m 
64m 


Dec.  II, '43 
Jan.  I, '44 
Nov.  27,'43 
Jan.  29,"44 
Aug.  2 1, '43 
June  I2.'43 
Doc.  I8,'43 


65m       July  I0,'43 


July  3 1, '43 
Feb.  5,'44 

Jan.  i5,'44 
Doc.  II, '43 
Dec.  1 1  ,'43 
Nov.  27,'43 


Sept.  II, '43 
Dec.  I8,'43 
Nov.  20,'43 
May  25,'40 


Mar.  I3,'43 
Nov.  20,'43 
July  3 1, '43 
Oct.  9,'43 


1666 
1693 
1645 
1733 
1559 
1546 
1674 


104m  Sept.  4.'43  1522 

1 14m  July3l,'43  1453 

126m  Sept.  I8,'43  1541 

80m  Jan.   i, '44  1694 

59  m  Sept.25,'43  1554 

66m  Jan.  8,'44  1706 

82m  Sept.  I8,'43  1541 

80m  Aug.  I4,'43  1579 

63m    .... 

93m  Aug.  I4.'43  1578 

58m   

83m  Aug.   I, '42  1714 

67m  Oct.  9,'43  1574 

99m  May  9,'36  1574 

98m  Jan.  8.'44  1705 

64m  Aug.28,'43  1559 


1532 


1579 
1742 

1714 
1666 
1665 
1645 


Oct.  2,'43  1565 


1529 
1673 
1634 
1726 


1532 
1634 
1578 
1573 


1636 
1362 
1635 
1545 

i058 
1019 
1545 


1276 
1416 

1079 
1635 
1457 
1747 
1531 
1676 
1696 
1456 
1457 

9i2 

1079 

i746 
1696 


1636 
1509 

1416 

i457 
1695 


1375 
1081 

1654 
1676 

986 
1676 
1747 
1599 

i635 
1606 
1636 
1431 
1586 
1676 
1431 
1531 
1554 

1079 

1019 

1240 
1531 


1719 


1575 


1719 


1719 


1617 


1719 

1719 
1719 
1655 


Feature  Product,  including  Coming  Attractions,  listed  Company  by  Company,  in 
Order  of  Release  on  page  1727. 


I  752  Product  Digest  Section 


This  is  No.  2  of  a  series 


World  famous  Taj  Mahal  at  Agra,  India, 


IN  INDIA 


♦  ♦♦ 


new  sights  constantly  greet  the  armed 
forces  of  the  United  States  and  their  com- 
rades of  the  United  Nations  serving  the 
fight  for  Freedom. 

New  sights . . .  but  not  all  are  new!  In 
whatever  important  city  of  distant  India 
our  fighting  men  seek  motion  picture  en- 
tertainment, there  they  can  find  a  familiar 


sight  —  Simplex  projection.  This  high 
standard  of  perfection  in  screen  presenta- 
tion is  identical  with  that  which  they  enjoy 
at  home,  whether  they  hail  from  Maine 
or  California,  Minnesota  or  Louisiana! 

For  leading  Exhibitors  the  world  over 
have  found  Simplex  projection  the  most 
important  factor  in  good  showmanship. 


-       WAR  AND  PEACE  -  THE  INTERNATIONAL  PROJECTOR 


>l\(atching 

Extraordinary 

Progress 
Columbia 


FOURTH  WAR  LOi 
A  BOND  FOR  EVERY 


MOTION  PICTURE 


REVIEWS 

{In  Product  Digest) 

Up  In  Arms 
Lady  in  the  Dark 
The  Impostor 
The  Vigilantes  Ride 
The  Devil  Riders 


OP 


Spring  schedules  show  trend  toward  fewer 
releases  and  bigger  backlogs  Q  Q  Ex- 
hibitors give  Clark  their  objections  to  the 
Decree  Q  Q  Q  Hollywood  Alliance  plans 
war  on  **isms"  CJ  CJ  Q  Momand  files  new 
anti-trust  suit  against  Griffith  €]  Q  Q 
Eight  studios  plan  14  pictures  for  Latin 
America  under  CI  A  A  sponsorship  Q  Q  Q 
Rank  operates  children's  film  clubs  for 
social  welfare  and  education 


VOL  154,  NO.  7 


FEBRUARY 


Enu ■  '   

lished  wt-ekty  by  ijuigiey  t'ubUshmg  L^.,  i'^^.,  ij(  1 
a  year  in  the  Americas,  $10.00  a  ye<ir  Foretyn,  iiH. 


copyright  1944  by  Q- 


Triumphant  Greer 
Garson,  Walter 
Pidgeon  welcomed  at 
nationwide  box-offices 
after  7  big  Radio  City 
Music  Hall  weeks! 


Spencer  Tracy,  Irene 
Dunne  set  new  7-week 
Capitol  N.  Y.  records. 
Watch  this  romance 
sweep  America! 


Starrific  at  the  box- 
office  and  a  joy  to  hold 
and  hold!  One  of  the 
industry's  Biggest  in 


years 


A  Yank  in  Moscow. 
Dashing  Robert 
Taylor  woos  Susan 
Peters  and  it's  a  wow! 
Nashville  World  Pre- 
miere sensational! 


New  star,  tiny  Mar- 
garet O'Brien  headed 
for  fame  and  fortune. 
Word-of-mouth  hit 
that's  the  Joy  of  the 
Year! 


1 


THE  CROSS 
OF 

LORRAINE 


Powerful!  Big  scale 
action  nlm  keeps  audi- 
ences b-eathless  with 
thrill:  Wi:"  "  ■  =  -  ^ 
Aumont 
Sir  Cedrii- 
in  great  cast^ 


World  Premiere  at 
State  on  Broadway 
launches  Kay  Kyser's 
merry  show  to  laugh- 
loving  fans! 


SEE  HERE,  t 
PRIVATE  i 
HARGROV 


Watch  Big  World  Pre- 
miere at  Charlotte, 
N.  C.  The  laughs  of  a 
nation  from  best- 
seller. Robert  Walker 
scores! 


Uproarious!  Wally 
Beery  and  Marjorie 
Main  will  convulse 
the  nation.  Sure-fire 
fun  for  the  rationed 
public! 


Margaret  SuUavan, 
Joan  Blondell,  Ann 
Sothern  and  all-female 
cast  in  the  grand  hit 
that  packed  Astor, 
N.  Y.  7  weeks! 


Slick  William  Powell 
and  sleek  Hedy  Lamar  r 
in  a  riotous  romantic 
lark.  Watch  Capitol, 
N.  Y.  audiences  shriek 
with  laughter! 


The  company  that 
made  "Thousands 
Cheer"  makes  Mil- 
lions Shout  Hooray! 
Terrific  Technicolor 
Musical  Topper! 


"40  To 


Ne)<+  Opening 


IDA  LUPINO 
"IN  OUR  TIME" 

Directed  by  Produced  by 

VINCENT  SHERMAN  •  JERRY  WALD 


PAUL  HENREID 

with 

NANCY  COLEMAN  •  MARY  BOLAND 
VICTOR  FRANCEN  •  NAZIMOVA 

Original  Screen  Play  by  Ellis  St.  Joseph  and 
Howard  Koch  •  Music  by  Fronz  Woxman 


Support  the  Fourth  War  Loan ! 


I^EXTWEEK 
WILL  LAUNCH 
IN  NEW  YORK  AT  THE 
HOLLYWOOD  THEATRE 
WITHAMIGHTY 

BIG 
NOISE 


PASSAGE  W 
MARSEILLi: 

By  the  authors  of  'Mutiny  on  the  Bounty' 
With  this  remarkable  supporting  cast: 

c[i[  msiicffiifiMPip  mmm 
yftiii.iLLis  piniJiBm  Bf  wmmw 

Screen  Pl>(  by  Ciser  Holiinsoii  S  lack  Mollill  •  fiom  i  K(  >■    rh«s  HiMt  t  limes  Normin  Hill  •  Music  b)  «•>  Sterner 


MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD 


COLVIN  BROWN,  Publisher 

MARTIN  QUIGLEY 
President  and  Editor-in-Chief 

TERRY  RAUSAYE,  Editor 

Vol.  154,  No.  7 

OP 

February  12,  1944 

SUSPENSE 

A SPECIAL  sort  of  awareness  about  the  state  of  mind 
of  a  lot  of  our  young  men  is  to  be  commended  to  the 
consideration  of  senior  executives  today,  in  this,  and 
all  other  industries.  The  time  has  come  when  the  national  cause 
is  calling  on  the  class  that  is  handily  called  "the  young  fathers", 
the  heads  of  families  under  thirty-eight  years  of  age. 

There  is  hardly  an  organization  of  moment  in  which  important 
desks  are  not  occupied  by  younger  workers  and  executives 
who  inescapably  must  now  be  counting  days  or  weeks  on  their 
fingers  while  they  meet  the  labours  and  problems  of  the  hour. 
If  now  and  then  you  find  them  looking  out  the  window  in  a 
state  of  abstraction,  do  not  be  surprised.  They  may  be  think- 
ing about  a  long  journey. 


Sunday  evening  there  was  a  tapping  at  the  kitchen  door. 
It  was  Eugenic,  the  gardener's  son,  who  lives  up  the  hill.  He 
was  born  in  Venetia.  He  has  a  slim  little  wife  and  a  bambino. 
He  used  to  slouch.  This  time  he  was  erect  in  khaki.  He  had 
never  called  before.  His  eyes  swept  fireside,  bookcases,  lazy 
chairs.  "After  barracks,  a  house  looks  funny,"  he  said.  There 
were  difficult  silences. 

"I  told  them  I  was  pretty  good  on  the  motorcycle.  So  I'm 
going  to  be  in  reconaissance.  That's  way  up  front." 

He  had  a  long  square  look  at  the  fire.  "Don't  forget  to  have 
new  rings  in  the  mower  this  spring,"  he  said  at  the  door. 

AAA 

FASHION  MAP 

A  MONG  the  post-war  intricacies  will  appear  the  issues  of 
/\  the  world  of  fashion.  This  will  be  one  of  the  larger, 
/  \but  unproclaimed,  problems  of  Hollywood  and  the 
American  motion  picture.  There  is  debate  aplenty  about 
whether  London  or  New  York  is  to  be  the  world's  financial 
capital.  There  might  be  more  debate,  and  interesting  to  more 
of  the  customers,  about  whether  Paris,  New  York  or  Hollywood 
is  to  be  the  world's  fashion  center.  Right  now  it  is  Hollywood. 
New  York's  fashions  now  are  substantially  refugee  from  Paris. 
Meanwhile,  Hollywood,  by  force  of  the  dominance  of  the 
medium  of  the  screen,  calls  the  turn,  the  curve,  the  silhouette. 

To  most  showmen,  the  costuming  of  pictures  becomes 
apparent  only  when  it  pertains  to  historical  periods.  There  is 
little  awareness  that  the  real  costume  problems  are  of  pictures 
of  today.  Historical  costumes  are  frozen,  but  tomorrow's  are 
fluid.  There  is  endless  effort  and  tediously  elaborate  skill  in  the 
dress  of  the  players  in  productions  now,  which  have  to  be  in 
style  months  ahead  in  anticipation  of  release  dates — maybe  a 
year  or  two  ahead,  in  view  of  the  considerable  number  of  pro- 
ductions now  going  into  inventory  for  1945-46. 

In  the  typical  exploitation  of  pictures,  fashion  in  dress  is  as 
nonchalantly  taken  for  granted,  with  as  much  indifference  as 
is  portrayed  with  reference  to  the  musical  scores  and  record- 
ings. Probably  this  is  so  chiefly  because  both  exhibitors  and 


press  agents  have  their  minds  on  something  else.  The  most 
emphatic  attention  to  costume  in  motion  picture  exploitation 
is  when  there  is  a  minimum  of  costume  to  consider. 

Experience  of  the  garment  trade,  however,  has  shown  that 
the  women  of  the  audience  are  never  so  impressed  by  the 
drama  that  they  do  not  note,  and  concern  themselves  about, 
the  details  of  the  heroine's  gown. 

LIKE  the  musical  score,  the  costuming  of  a  picture  gets  only 
a  line  among  the  credit  titles,  but  an  amazing  number  of 
.the  feminine  customers  do  know  such  names  as  Adrian, 
Irene,  Travis  Banton,  Edith  Head  and  Henry  Stevenson.  To 
millions  they  are  better  known  than  Schiaparelli,  Molyneux  and 
Malnbocher. 

"Hollywood  has  put  and  Is  putting  something  permanently 
and  definitely  of  its  own,  definitely  American,  Into  fashion," 
observes  Kathleen  Hammond,  whose  concern  Is  Hollywood 
Patterns  for  the  Conde  Nast  organization.  "Wherever  the 
fashion  capital  may  go,  that  Hollywood  influence  will  go  with 
it."  Across  her  desk  there  flows  the  tide  of  whim  and  fancy 
of  women  across  the  land.  "They  are  responsive,"  she 
observes,  "to  what  they  see  on  the  screen  in  manners  and 
dress.  In  fashion  Hollywood  is  achieving  an  Independence  and 
quality  all  Its  own,  and  without  seeking  any  independence  at 
all.  It  is  just  America  deciding  things  In  the  American  way. 
That  gives  Hollywood  a  special  sort  of  responsibility,  too." 

All  this.  It  would  seem,  might  be  another  element  of  con- 
sideration for  our  Department  of  State  which  is  currently 
becoming  so  constructively  interested  in  the  motion  picture 
as  a  factor  in  international  relations  in  the  peace-to-come. 

AAA 

REMEMBERING  40  YEARS 

A  S  an  incidental  of  the  discovery  of  the  long  forgotten 
paper  copyright  prints  of  the  early  motion  picture 
/  \  in  the  vaults  of  the  Library  of  Congress,  comes  the 
finding  of  Mr.  Arthur  S.  White,  probably  the  lone  actor  sur- 
vivor of  the  dawn  era  of  the  photoplay,  now  in  his  eighties, 
living  in  a  Long  Island  village. 

Mr.  White,  a  member  of  the  Edison  staff,  was  drafted  to  be 
the  actor  in  the  title  role  of  "The  Life  of  An  American  Fire- 
man", made  by  the  late  Mr.  Edwin  S.  Porter  In  1902.  The 
exploits  of  a  team  of  firemen  under  the  direction  of  George 
C.  Hale,  chief  of  the  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  fire  department  at  the 
Crystal  Palace  exposition  in  London  in  1900  had  made  fire- 
manship  also  showmanship  with  world  attention.  This  also  made 
Mr.  Hale  a  showman,  with  his  "Hale's  Tours",  which  figured  in 
the  early  showmanship. 

"The  Life  of  An  American  Fireman"  in  1902  in  turn  led 
to  Mr.  Porter's  making  of  "The  Great  Train  Robbery"  of  1903, 
set  down  in  history  as  the  first  of  the  "story  pictures". 

Since  this  spring,  when  April  comes  again,  will  bring  the 
fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  films'  advent  into  public  entertain- 
ment, it  might  be  appropriate  for  the  Academy  of  Motion 
Picture  Arts  and  Sciences  to  bestow  a  citation,  medal  or  token 
upon  Mr.  White,  the  actor  of  1902,  first  star  in  a  title  role. 

— Terry  Ramsaye 


8 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    12,  1944 


THIS  WEEK  IN  THE  NEWS 


COMPANIES   to   deliver    238  features 
through  April  Page  13 

MOMAND  again  files  anti-trust  suit  against 
Griffith  ,        Page  14 

EXHIBITORS  tell  Clark  what's  wrong  with 
Consent  Decree  Page  15 

ON  THE  MARCH  — Red  Kann  discusses 
controversy  over  "Lifeboat"       Page  16 

HOLLYWOOD  Alliance  is  formed  to  wage 

Page  18 


war  on  "isms" 


SERVICE  DEPARTMEN 

Hollywood  Scene  Page  35 

In  the  Newsreels  Page  57 

Managers'  Round  Table  Page  59 

IN  PRODUCT  DIGEST  SECTION 

Showmen's  Reviews  Page  1753 

Short  Subjects  Page  1754 


PAUL   Soskin   explains   J.   Arthur  Rank's 
world  market  plans  Page  19 

STUDIOS  have  14  films  in  work  now  on 
Latin  America  Page  22 

RANK  developing  national  children's  film 
clubs  in  England  Page  27 

ARTHUR  White,  screen's  oldest  actor,  re- 
members when  Page  28 

INDUSTRY  sells  five  million  Bonds  at  half- 
way point  Page  33 

TS 

Picture  Grosses  Page  58 

Shorts  on  Broadway  Page  53 

What  the  Picture  Did  for  Me  Page  50 


Release  Chart  by  Companies  Page  1755 
The  Release  Chart  Page  1756 


Red  Delinquents 

RUSSIA,  too,  has  its  wartime  juvenile  de- 
linquency problems,  according  to  an  Asso- 
ciated Press  report  in  the  Washington  Star. 
A  decree  clamping  down  on  film  attendance 
by  Soviet  kiddies  was  issued  by  the  Depart- 
ment of  Education  in  Moscow  last  week  in 
an  attempt  to  solve  the  problem. 

Russian  youngsters  under  16  years  of  age 
were  forbidden  to  attend  theatres  during 
school  without  special  permission  from  the 
authorities.  Even  then  teachers  or  qualified 
adult  leaders  must  accompany  the  children 
to  theatres  in  groups. 

Scholastic  records,  attendance,  conduct 
and  home  work  will  be  taken  into  considera- 
tion before  the  Soviet  Government  permits 
its  youngsters  to  see  a  film. 


Up  Shake 

IT  BECAME  clear  Monday  who  was  top 
man  at  OWI.  Elmer  Davis,  director,  ap- 
peared at  the  office  in  New  York  and  per- 
sonally handed  out  an  announcement  of  the 
resignation  of  three  key  men  in  the  over- 
seas division.  Robert  Sherwood,  director  of 
overseas  work,  and  reported  challenger  for 
the  leadership  of  the  agency,  announced  he 
was  taking  a  trip  to  London. 

The  departing  executives  were  James  P. 
Warburg,  director  for  propaganda  policy; 
Joseph  Barnes,  deputy  in  charge  of  Atlantic 
operations,  and  Edd  Johnson,  chief  of  the 
editorial  board. 

Edward  W.  Barrett  was  made  executive 
director  of  the  overseas  branch,  "under  Mr. 
Sherwood,"  and  Thurman  L.  Barnard  as- 
sistant executive  director.  The  high  com- 
mand shifts,  it  was  declared  by  an  OWI 
spokesman,  would  not  affect  operations  of 
the  film  branch.  Robert  Riskin  still  reports 
to  Mr.  Sherwood. 


Mr.  Moley  Writes 

\\  ITH  expressions  of  notable  vigour,  Ray- 
mond Moley,  once  of  the  White  House 
"brain  trust"  and  more  recently  identified 
with  the  journalism  of  Newsweek,  news- 
magazine, gave  to  the  New  York  Times  of 
last  Sunday  an  exclusive  announcement  of 
what  is  called  "A  History  of  the  Hays  Of- 
fice." The  volume,  of  100,000  words,  was 
indicated  to  be  still  in  preparation,  but  its 
pattern  was  completely  outlined.  The  main 
topic  appears  to  be  "self-regulation." 

_  Mr.  Moley  was  quoted,  concerning  the 
rise  of  the  screen  "in  an  atmosphere  of 
ruthless  conflict,  chicane,  daring,  genius  and 
brutality  .  .  ."  holding  it  exposed  to  pub- 
lic attack  •'  "because  it  touched  all  the  nerve 
centers  of  public  concern — artistic,  moral, 
religious,  racial,  economic  and  political'." 

"Mr.  Moley  declared  it  was  a  miracle," 
said  the  Times  writer,  "that  the  movies  did 
not  become  the  Government's  business." 

Mr.  Moley  once  wrote  a  brochure  for  the 
Hays  office  to  explain  what  Dr.  Mortimer 


Adler  had  said  when  he  wrote  "Art  and 
Prudence,"  as  an  inspired  and  ponderous 
work  in  intended  answer  to  Henry  James 
Forman's  "Our  Movie  Made  Children," 
which  was  written  somewhat  under  the  aus- 
pices or  encouragement  of  the  late  Dr.  Wil- 
liam Harrison  Short  to  explain  the  prior 
eight  volumes  of  report  on  the  Payne  Fund- 
Motion  Picture  Research  Council's  report  on 
how  some  children  in  an  orphanage  tossed  in 
their  sleep,  presumably  after  seeing  some 
pictures. 

Of  the  history  now  in  hand,  says  the 
Times,  "he  says  flatly  that  the  inspiration 
.  .  .  was  strictly  his  ovin.  T  am  putting 
down  the  facts,  the  public  can  make  up  its 
own  mind'." 


Counter-  Wh  ispering 

BECAUSE  the  public  in  Chicago  had  got  in 
the  habit  of  whispering  that  theatres  were 
the  origin  of  the  recent  mild  influenza  epi- 
demic, motion  picture  managers  and  their 
staffs  went  into  action.  They  let  the  whispers 
rise  above  a  falsetto  in  street  cars,  elevateds 
and  busses,  explaining  they  had  escaped  the 
flu  because  they  worked  in  theatres  "where 
the  air  is  washed  and  purified  .  .  .  more 
healthy  than  private  homes  and  stufify  apart- 
ments, where  there  is  no  ventilation  or  air 
conditioning."  According  to  box  office 
figures,  the  counter-whispering  proved  suc- 
cessful. It  was  accompanied  by  general  pub- 
licity releases  to  the  effect  that  during  the 
epidemic  of  World  War  I  theatres  were 
without  such  superior  air-conditioning  equip- 
ment, and  that  it  is  now  a  healthy-wise  habit 
to  go  to  the  motion  picture  theatre  regularly 
in  any  season. 


Mairzy  Doats 

EVERY  year  Tin  Pan  Alley  chefs  come  up 
with  a  song  which  doesn't  make  sense  but 
makes  plenty  of  dollars  for  its  composers 
and  publishers.  Last  year  it  was  "Pistol 
Packin'  Mama" ;  the  year  before,  "Praise  the 
Lord  and  Pass  the  Ammunition."  Mairzy 
Doats"  is  the  title  of  the  double-talk  tune 
which  recently  has  been  added  to  the  score 
of  American  ballads,  although  nobody  can 
explain  why. 

Since  its  introduction  five  weeks  ago,  it 
has  had  a  printing  of  some  400,000,  with 
another  100,000  copies  now  under  way. 
Total  sales  during  its  meteoric  rise,  from 
Christmas  to  February  4,  are  over  431,000, 
with  daily  totals  running  at  about  40,000. 
There  are  now  in  the  making  about  nine  re- 
cordings by  popular  duos,  trios,  quartets 
and  orchestras.  The  song  leaped  to  the  top 
of  the  list  of  sheet  music  hits  for  the  coun- 
try during  the  current  week. 

Every  big-name  band  in  radio  has  played 
it  and  it  has  been  featured  on  the  Bing 
Crosby  show,  Burns  and  Allen,  Fred  Allen 
and  other  popular  programs.  Screen  stars 
Herbert  Marshall,  Andy  Devine  and  Irene 
Dunne,  who  come  before  the  microphones 
regularly,  but  who  do  not  ordinarily  air 
their  vocal  chords,  capitulated  to  "Mairzy 
Doats."  So  have  Cecil  B.  De  Mille,,  Fan- 
nie Brice  and  Monty  Wooley. 

From  the  record,  the  song  was  an  inspira- 
tion of  composer  Milton  Drake,  who  wrote 
it  with  Al  Hoffman  and  Jerry  Livingston. 
The  composer  blames  his  four-year-old 
daughter  Neila,  who  apparently  can't  think 
aloud  with  her  composer-father  around. 

So  far  Hollywood  has  not  announced  a 
film  title. 


February     12,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


9 


Ad  Rationing 

THE  NECESSITY  of  having  to  ration  film 
advertising  in  the  face  of  newsprint  shortage 
has  spread  to  New  York  with  the  two  morn- 
ing newspapers,  the  Times  and  Herald 
Tribune,  and  the  evening  paper,  the  World- 
Telegram,  introducing  advertising  space  re- 
strictions to  all  theatrical  advertisers. 

The  Herald  Tribune  now  is  allowing  film 
advertisers  90  per  cent  of  the  space  they 
used  in  February  and  March  of  last  year, 
1942's  peak  period.  This  arrangement  is 
for  the  larger  advertisers  on  contract.  Small- 
er advertisers  without  contracts  are  being 
held  to  a  maximum  of  10  lines  of  advertising 
which,  it  is  figured,  comes  to  an  approxi- 
mate 10  per  cent  reduction.  The  legitimate 
theatres  are  being  limited  to  12  lines. 

The  Times  is  holding  its  theatrical  adver- 
tisers to  300  lines,  200  lines  in  the  directory, 
except  on  Thursdays,  when  programs  are 
changed  for  the  week,  with  a  maximum  of 
300  lines  accepted. 

All  space  in  the  World-Telegram  now  is 
being  rationed.  Reductions  were  calculated 
in  proportion  to  the  space  used  by  each  ad- 
vertiser last  year  and  according  to  current 
usage.  The  cuts  in  amusements,  department 
stores,  classified  and  other  lineage  were  ef- 
fective January  20.  New  advertising  will 
be  accepted,  but  limited  in  size  to  the 
median  amount  available  to  competing  ad- 
vertisers.   There  is  no  change  in  rates. 


For  War  Prisoners 

IN  an  exchange  arrangement  between 
America  and  Germany,  the  first  shipment  of 
26  American  films  should  be  thrown  on 
screens  in  German  prison  camps  for  Amer- 
ican prisoners  of  war  some  time  this  month. 
The  arrangements  allow  for  German-made 
pictures  to  be  shown  Nazi  prisoners  in  this 
country.  They  will  be  distributed  by  the 
World's  Committee  of  the  Y.M.C.A.,  a  neu- 
tral organization  with  international  head- 
quarters in  Geneva,  Switzerland.  Tracy 
Strong,  executive  director  of  the  War  Pris- 
oners Aid  of  the  Y.M.C.A.,  concluded  ar- 
rangements for  the  shipment  of  the  films 
last  month  with  the  War  Activities  Com- 
mittee, the  Army  Overseas  Film  Service 
and  the  Office  of  Censorship. 


Tax  Delay 

THE  new  tax  bill  was  before  President 
Roosevelt  this  week  with  two  chances  out 
of  three  that  the  higher  admission  rate 
would  not  go  into  effect  March  1. 

Only  in  the  event  the  President  signs  the 
bill,  which  he  has  been  represented  as  un- 
wilHng  to  do,  would  the  tax  go  into  efifect 
next  month.  In  the  event  he  vetoes  the 
measure,  which  now  is  less  likely  than  it 
was  two  weeks  ago,  before  the  Senate  modi- 
fied provisions  with  respect  to  renegotiation 


of  war  contracts,  the  final  fate  of  the  bill 
rests  upon  the  ability  of  Congress  to  muster 
the  two-thirds  vote  in  each  house  necessary 
to  pass  it  over  his  veto. 

The  more  generally  expected  course  of 
the  President  would  be  to  let  the  bill  become 
law_  without  his  signature,  as  a  protest 
against  the  refusal  of  Congress  to  raise  the 
$10,500,000,000  he  requested.  That  would 
be  accomplished  by  letting  the  bill  lie  on 
his  desk  ten  days  without  action,  but  that 
period  would  not  end  in  time  to  permit  the 
new  excise  taxes  to  take  effect  "on  the  first 
day  of  the  first  month  which  begins  more 
than  ten  days  after  the  date  of  the  enactment 
of  this  act,"  as  provided  in  the  legislation. 

As  finally  passed  by  Congress,  the  bill  pro- 
vided for  a  tax  of  one  cent  on  each  five 
cents  or  major  fraction  thereof  paid  for 
admissions. 


Plasma 

BLOOD  recently  flowed  in  Cincinnati,  but 
not  in  the  streets  or  even  in  the  lobby  of 
Keith's  theatre,  but  into  the  blood  banks  of 
the  Red  Cross  in  connection  with  the  na- 
tion's first  Plasma  Premiere.  The  film  on 
exhibition  was  "Three  Russian  Girls,"  re- 
leased by  United  Artists,  and  a  pint  of  blood 
was  the  price  of  admission,  making  it  tough 
for  those  a  little  anemic  but  a  boon  to  the 
war  effort.  As  a  columnist  on  the  Cincin- 
nati Enquirer  explained  to  his  readers  prior 
to  the  premiere :  "The  ushers  will  not  pass 
through  the  audience  with  buckets,  how- 
ever. Nor  will  admittance  be  by  scab.  You 
have  to  get  your  ticket  ft'om  the  Red  Cross, 
and  we  reckon  that  is  so  that  they  won't 
run  any  risk  of  getting  short-changed  on  an 
orchestra  seat  for  just  three-quarters  of  a 
pint." 

The  premiere  got  considerable  editorial 
and  news  attention  in  the  local  newspapers. 
The  Enquirer  and  the  Times-Star  ran  daily 
stories,  with  the  Enquirer  adding  a  full  col- 
umn editorial,  and  the  Post  featuring  daily 
front  page  boxes  referring  to  the  event.  The 
Mayor  of  the  city,  James  G.  Stewart,  an- 
nounced his  endorsement  of  the  premiere, 
and  called  upon  the  citizenry  to  give  it 
support.    The  citizenry  did. 


Camera  Lag 

PICTURES  of  the  landing  of  U.  S.  forces 
in  the  Marshall  Islands  on  February  1  ap- 
peared Wednesday,  eight  days  later,  in  news- 
papers. No  word  as  to  when  motion  pic- 
tures would  be  cleared  to  newsreels  had 
been  received  up  to  Wednesday  afternoon. 
Press  and  radio  gave  the  invasion  the  most 
extensive  coverage  of  any  Pacific  operation 
to  date.  Comparable  camera  coverage  also 
was  ordered  by  Admiral  Chester  Nimitz. 
Newsreels  were  hopeful  that  they,  too, 
would  get  some  exceptional  pictures,  and 
soon. 


For  Advertising 

THE  magazines  of  the  nation  billed  major 
motion  picture  distributors  for  $2,434,416 
worth  of  advertising  in  1943,  according  to  an 
audit  made  by  Publishers'  Information 
Bureau  and  published  in  Advertising  Age. 
The  figure  compares  with  a  1942  expendi- 
ture of  $1,785,488  in  magazine  advertising 
by  the  industry,  $1,377,631  in  1941,  and 
$1,358,868  in  1940. 

In  total  expenditures  Metro-Goldwyn- 
Mayer  led  the  field  with  $725,237,  with 
Paramount,  at  $457,331,  second  on  the  list. 
The  largest  proportionate  rise  was  Repub- 
lic's, from  $28,263  in  1942  to  $112,768  in 
1943. 

Other  company  totals  for  1943  are:  Co- 
lumbia, $157,678;  RKO,  $202,391;  Twenti- 
eth-Fox, $279,399;  United  Artists,  $221,- 
075  and  Warners,  $278,537. 

Totals  for  1942  were:  Columbia,  $117,- 
526  MGM,  $560,035;  Paramount,  $366,824; 
RKO,  $97,562;  Twentieth-Fox,  $243,419; 
United  Artists,  $124,208,  and  Warners, 
$247,651. 

In  1941  Columbia  spent  $62,185;  MGM, 
$452,501;  Paramount,  $379,649;  Republic, 
$12,625;  RKO,  $163,937;  Twentieth-Fox, 
$125,750;  United  Artists,  $69,395,  and 
Warners,  $111,589.  For  1940,  Columbia, 
$57,861;  MGM,  $574,916;  Paramount, 
$222,631;  RKO,  $77,497;  Twentieth-Fox, 
$143,045;  United  Artists,  $163,113,  and 
Warners,  $119,005. 


All  Say  Aye 

"WHOLEHEARTED"  welcome  was  given 
Wednesday  in  London  to  the  suggestion  by 
J.  Arthur  Rank,  British  film  magnate,  that 
all  sectors  of  that  country's  film  industry 
establish  a  grand  council  to  resist  Govern- 
ment control  and  convince  the  public  of  the 
industry's  ideals  and  sense  of  responsibility. 
The  welcome,  according  to  a  London  cable, 
came  from  the  Cinematograph  Exhibitors 
Association,  whose  general  council  met  that 
day  and  appointed  committees  to  arrange 
further  details  in  early  discussion  with  Mr. 
Rank. 

Mr.  Rank's  proposal  was  made  last  week, 
after  meetings  with  heads  of  the  CEA  and. 
the  Kinematograph  Renters'  Society.  It 
came  a  few  days  after  the  British  Films 
Council  had  appointed  a  committee  of  four 
non-industry  men  to  suggest  measures  "to 
counteract  the  dangers  of  a  film  monopoly." 

The  CEA  general  council  Wednesday 
also  approved  the  Government's  plan  to- 
train  disabled  soldiers  as  projectionists  and 
it  rebuked  trades  unions  which  sponsor  the 
Cinema  Managers  Association  for  using 
"filthy  language."  Predictions  made  last 
November,  when  the  managers  struggled 
loudly  for  recognition,  that  they  would  not 
be  recognized,  appeared  to  have  been  fuU 
filled. 


MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD,  published  every  Saturday  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  City,  20.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100;  Cable  address  "Ouigpubco, 
New  York."  Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Terry  Rannsaye,  Editor;  James  D.  Ivers,  News  Editor; 
Ray  Gallagher,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Avenue,  Chicago,  5;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Building,  Hollywood,  28,  William  R.  Weaver, 
editor;  Toronto  Bureau,  242  Millwood  Road,  Toronto,  Ontario,  Canada,  W.  M.  Sladish,  correspondent;  Montreal  Bureau,  265  Vitre  St.,  West,  Montreal,  Canada,  Pat  Donovan, 
correspondent;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Square,  London  W  I,  Hope  Williams  Burnup,  manager;  Peter  Burnup,  editor;  cable  Quigpubco  London;  Melbourne  Bureau,  The  Regent 
Theatre,  191  Collins  St.,  Melbourne,  Australia,  Cliff  Holt,  correspondent;  Sydney  Bureau,  17  Archbold  Rd.,  Roseville,  Sydney,  N.S.W.,  Australia,  Lin  Endean,  correspondent; 
Mexico  City  Bureau,  Dr.  Carmona  y  Valle  6,  Mexico  City,  Luis  Becerra  Cells,  correspondent;  Buenos  Aires  Bureau,  J.  E.  Uriburi  126,  Buenos  Aires,  Argentina,  Natalio  Bruski, 
correspondent-  Rio  de  Janeiro  Bureau,  R.  Sao  Jose,  61,  C.  Postal  834,  Rio  de  Janeiro,  Brazil,  Alfredo  C.  Machodo,  correspondent;  Montevideo  Bureau,  P.  O.  Box  664,  Montevideo, 
Uruguay,  Paul  Bodo,  correspondent;  cable  Argus  Montevideo.  Member  Audit  Bureau  of  Circulations.  All  contents  copyright  1944  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company.  Address, 
all  correspondence  to  the  New  York  Office.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Better  Theatres,  Motion  Picture  Doily,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  and  Fame. 


10 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    12.  1944 


TmS  WEEK 


the  Camera  reports: 


By  Staff  Photographer 


THE  ICOOOTH  SIFT  16mm  film  from  the  industry  to  servicemen  in  combat 
was  presented  last  week  in  New  York  to  the  Army  Service  Forces.  Also 
presented  were  ten  additional  films,  inaugurating  the  second  gift  of  10,000. 
Above,  at  the  ceremonies,  are  Y.  Frank  Freeman,  Paramount;  George  J. 
Schaefer,  chairman  of  the  War  Activities  Committee;  W.  C.  Michel, 
Twentieth  Century-Fox;  Barney  Balaban,  Paramount;  J.  Robert  Rubin,  MGM; 
Colonel  Kirke  B.  Lawton,  chief  of  the  Army  Pictorial  Service;  and  Francis 
Harmon,  executive  vice-chairman  of  the  WAC. 


IRVING  M.  LESSER  has  succeeded  the 
late  Jack  Partington  as  associate  general 
manager  of  the  Roxy  Theatre,  New  York. 
Mr.  Lesser  entered  exhibition  in  1925, 
later  joining  the  Skouras  circuit,  and 
resigning  in  1933  to  operate  the  Fox,  in 
Brooklyn,  from  which  he  came  to  the  Roxy. 


International  News  Photos 


MEXICO'S  one  time  "Sarah  Bernhardt,"  Senora 
Maria  Conesa,  is  in  Hollywood  to  study  American 
production. 


ALICIA  HUTCHINSON, 
right,  Mexican  film  censor- 
ship official,  Is  visiting 
Hollywood  to  "absorb 
more  knowledge  of  movie 
making,"  following  which 
she  will  return  to  Mexico 
City  to  produce  a  picture 
treating,  she  says,  of  cur- 
rent problems  of  Mexico. 
As  yet.  Miss  Hutchinson 
has  announced  no  specific 
plans  for  the  production 
of  the  film  she  intends 
making. 


International  News  Photos 


February     12,     I  944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


By  Staff  Photographer 

HERBERT  CROOKER  has  been 
appointed  MGM  Eastern  publicity 
manager,  succeeding  Lou  Smith, 
resigned.    Mr.  Crooker  was  with 
Warners  12  years  and  held  the  same 
position  there. 


"PASSAGE  TO  MARSEILLES,"  from  which  a  still  is  shown  here,  stars  Humphrey  Bogart, 
and  will  be  released  by  Warner  March  II.    It  is  that  company's  latest  entry 
in  the  long  list  of  titles  coinciding  with  current  events. 


ON  "THE  HAIRY  APE"  set  at  the  Goldwyn  studio:  Jules  Levey, 
producer;  Susan  Hayward  and  William  Bendix,  stars,  and 
Paul  Lazarus,  publicity  and  advertising  director  of 
United  Artists. 


By  Statr  Photographer 

FIFTY-FIVE  FEATURES,  the  same  as  expected  this  year, 
will  come  from  Universal  next  year,  William  A.  Scully,  vice- 
president  in  charge  of  sales,  announced  Monday,  in  New  York, 
upon  his  return  from  the  studio.  Mr.  Scully  said  he  regarded 
"Technicolor"  as  a  "star"  and  that  the  company 
intended  to  have  eight  in  that  medium  next  year. 


By  Staff  Photographer 


By  Staff  Photographer 


VISITOR.   Charles  Roberts.  Columbia  Central 
American  supervisor,  as  he  appeared  on  a  recent  visit 
to  the  New  York  home  office. 


MARY  PICKFORD,  as  she  delivered  an  appeal  for  the  infantile 
paralysis  fund,  at  the  convention  of  the  New  York  State  Federation 
of  Women's  Clubs  in  New  York  last  week. 


12 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    12,  1944 


UP  IN  ARMS.  The  picture  of  that  title,  previewed  this  week 
for  the  trade  by  RKO  at  the  Normandie,  New  York,  brought,  among 
many,  James  Mulvey,  vice-president  of  Samuel  Goldwyn  Productions; 
Sam  Goodman,  Century  circuit;  Robert  Mochrie,  RKO  sales  manager. 


By  Staff  Photographer 

ON  ICE.  Oscar  Morgan,  Paramount's  short  subjects 
sales  manager,  is  seen  above  with  his  skating 
partner,  Betty  Chase,  at  the  New  York  Skating  Club. 
Mr.  Morgan  is  a  member,  and  two  weeks  ago 
was  official  recorder  at  the  Eastern  skating  cham- 
pionship meet  of  the  American  Society  of 
Figure  Skating  Association,  at  Lake  Placid. 


EXHIBITORS'  WIVES  and  daughters  were  among  those 
who  attended  Paramount's  trade  showing  of  "Lady  in  the  Dark" 
at  the  Normandie.  Above  are  Babette,  daughter  of  Harry 
Brandt;  Mrs.  Brandt;  Mrs.  Max  Cohen,  and  Mrs.  Harold  Rinzler. 


AUSTRALIAN  LUNCHEON.  At  Sydney,  the  47  Club,  comprising 

film  advertising  writers,  was  host  recently  to  USO  entertainers 

Gary  Cooper,  Phyllis  Brooks  and  Una  Merkel.  Above  are  Bernie  Freeman, 

MGM;  H.  Maclntyre,  Universal;  Ralph  Doyle,  RKO;  Major  Karn, 

U.S.A.;  Miss  Merkel;  Ernest  Turnbull,  20th-Fox;  Mr.  Cooper; 

Hermann  Flynn,  Paramount;  Miss  Brooks;  Norman  Rydge,  Greater  Union; 

Andrew  Ascari,  and  James  Sixsmith,  Paramount. 


CONGRATULATIONS  are  given  Ben  Caplon, 
newly  appointed  Columbia  branch  manager  in  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  by  Sam  Galanty,  left, 
mideastern  district  manager. 


February     12,     I  944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


13 


COMPANIES  WILL  DELIVER  238 
FILMS  THROUGH  APRIL 


Total  of  141  Features  Now 
on  Backlogs^  Largest 
Ever  Held  in  Reserve 

At  the  end  of  eight  months  of  the  1943- 
44  season,  or  through  April  of  this  year, 
11  distributing  companies  will  have  deliv- 
ered 238  pictures,  or  17  more  than  half  of 
the  schedules  promised.  A  minimum  of  442 
films  indicated  for  the  year  at  the  start  of 
the  season,  was  the  lowest  number  set  for 
any  one  season. 

In  addition  to  the  238  features,  there  are 
95  completed  and  46  now  in  production,  to- 
taling 141  productions  on  the  backlog,  the 
largest  number  ever  held  in  reserve  for  new 
season  releasing.  Not  included  in  this  total, 
however,  are  several  productions  which  are 
scheduled  to  go  before  the  cameras  within 
the  next  few  weeks.  In  all  likelihood,  these, 
too,  will  be  put  on  the  backlog  for  1944-45, 
although  several  companies,  including  Mono- 
gram, PRC  Pictures  and  Republic,  have 
earmarked  a  few  for  this  season's  release. 

Deliveries  by  Companies 
Fewer  Each  Month 

With  a  little  more  than  50  per  cent  of 
1943-44  schedules  in  release  through  April, 
deliveries,  by  company,  this  season  are  fewer 
each  month,  compared  to  1942-43.  The  trend 
for  this  release  system  began  toward  the  end 
of  last  season. 

Warner  Bros.,  for  example,  are  now  re- 
leasing about  two  pictures  a  month,  com- 
pared to  three  last  year ;  Twentieth  Century- 
Fox  about  three,  compared  to  approximately 
five  last  season ;  Paramount  three,  as  against 
about  five  in  1942-43.  MGM,  which  set  its 
blocks-of-12  release  pattern  last  year,  con- 
tinues to  distribute  three  a  month.  RKO 
Radio,  with  about  five  films  released  monthly 
last  season,  shows  a  slight  decrease  to  about 
four  per  month. 

Recent  announcements  and  indicated  plans 
from  the  major  companies,  however,  point 
to  a  slight  change  in  planned  releases  for 
this  season.  Monogram,  for  example,  has 
.increased  by  four  its  1943-44  schedule. 
Twentieth  Century-Fox,  which  last  year  ex- 
pected to  release  between  36  and  40  this 
year,  already  has  accounted  for  37,  21  re- 
leased through  February,  plus  12  completed 
and  four  in  work.  At  least  three  more  are 
to  come  before  the  end  of  the  season. 

Paramount  Leads  in  Total 
Ready  for  Release 

Paramount  leads  the  field  in  total  number 
of  films  completed  and  ready  for  release, 
with  a  backlog  of  22,  excluding  five  now  in 
production.  The  company's  17  films  already 
delivered  or  scheduled  for  release  through 
March,  give  Paramount  a  strong  program 
for  the  first  half  of  1944-45. 

Warner  Bros,  has  completed  10  pictures 
and  six  are  now  in  work,  which  totals  16, 
one  more  than  the  15  distributed  thus  far 
or  set  for  release  through  April.  Warners' 
current  policy  of  releasing  at  least  two  films 
a  month  in  all  likelihood  will  be  followed 


Inventory  of  Production 


Features 

released  or 

set  for  release 

1943-44 

Product 

Company 

through 

Features 

Product 

Released 

April 

Completed 

In  Work 

Total 

Announced 

for  1942-43 

23 

12 

7 

42 

44 

50 

MGM  

24 

10 

5 

39 

35 

36 

18 

1 

19 

44 

40 

17 

22 

5 

44 

30 

33 

PRC  Pictures  

20 

2 

22 

40 

42 

Republic  

25 

9 

4 

38 

68 

56 

RKO  Radio  

2! 

8 

2 

31 

40 

47 

20th  Century-Fox  

21 

12 

4 

37 

36-40 

44 

United  Artists  

17 

3 

5 

25 

25-30 

27 

Universal  

37 

9 

5 

51 

55 

58 

15 

10 

6 

31 

24-31 

24 

238 

95 

46 

379 

442-458 

457 

next  season,  if  market  conditions  permit  and 
it  is  indicated  the  company's  backlog  of  16 
will  carry  it  through  a  good  portion  of  next 
season. 

MGM  thus  far  has  accounted  for  39  films, 
three  more  than  the  company  expects  to  re- 
lease in  1944-45.  The  figure  includes  24  in 
release  or  planned  for  release  through  April, 
10  completed  and  five  in  production.  A 
large  portion  of  the  15  comprising  MGM's 
backlog  will  be  earmarked  for  the  new  sea- 
son. 

Universal,  with  55  pictures  delivered  or 
in  the  backlog,  has  only  four  to  go  to  com- 
plete its  promised  schedule  of  55  for  the 
season.  Columbia  has  two  more  pictures  to 
designate  to  make  the  44  announced^  and 
RKO  has  nine.  United  Artists  with  17  re- 
leased, three  completed  and  five  in  produc- 
tion, has  a  total  of  25  pictures  to  meet  its 
indicated  schedule  of  25-30  for  the  season. 

Only  Two  Companies  Have 
Set  New  Schedules 

Although  the  majority  of  the  distributors 
generally  have  made  tentative  production 
and  release  plans  for  next  season,  only  two 
companies  have  made  official  announcements 
concerning  the  1944-45  product. 

Columbia  this  week  revealed  that  it  con- 
templates increasing  its  feature  release  total 
for  1944-45  from  four  to  six  films,  exclu- 
sive of  Westerns,  over  this  year's  schedule 
of  44.  A.  Montague,  general  sales  man- 
ager, explained  that  the  reason  for  the  in- 
crease was  the  exhibitors'  need  for  more 
films.  The  company  does  not  plan  to  re- 
lease any  reissues,  he  said,  and  added 
that  it  did  not  contemplate  any  immediate 
change  in  selling  policies.  Mr.  Montague 
discounted  the  possibility  that  the  company 
might  turn  to  decree  selling  methods  for 
1944-45. 

William  A.  Scully,  vice-president  and  gen- 
eral sales  manager  for  Universal,  announced 
this  week  the  company  planned  to  release 
55  features  next  season,  the  same  number 


as  this  year,  with  the  1944-45  program  to 
start  in  June.  Seven  Westerns,  81  short 
subjects  and  four  serials  also  are  planned. 
The  feature  program  will  include  two  spe- 
cials, the  same  number  as  released  this  sea- 
son, and  from  three  to  eight  Technicolor 
productions. 

Paramount  announced  Tuesday  four  pic- 
tures in  its  fourth  block  of  the  1943-44  sea- 
son. The  films  are:  "Going  My  Way," 
"The  Hour  Before  the  Dawn,"  "You  Can't 
Ration  Love,"  and  "The  Navy  Way !". 


"Battle  For  the  Beaches" 
Ready  For  Release 

The  Industrial  Incentive  Division  of  the 
U.  S.  Navy  has  announced  that  its  latest  film, 
"Battle  for  the  Beaches,"  based  upon  actual 
combat  scenes  and  heralding  other  scenes  to 
come  along  the  embattled  roads  to  Berlin  and 
Tokyo,  will  be  ready  for  release  to  war  plants 
the  middle  of  this  month. 

The  picture  will  be  available  in  both  16  and 
35mm  and  will  run  approximately  25  minutes. 
It  is  a  screen  recording  of  the  high  cost  of  men 
and  material  involved  in  storming  the  enemies' 
beaches. 

With  Quentin  Reynolds,  war  correspondent, 
narrating,  the  picture  traces  the  many  am- 
phibious operations  that  have  turned  the  course 
of  the  war  in  favor  of  the  United  Nations : 
Bouganville,  Lae,  Guadalcanal,  Salerno  and 
Tarawa.  Featured  is  footage  captured  from  the 
Germans  showing  the  Nazi  version  of  the 
Dieppe  "Dress  Rehearsal,"  with  Mr.  Reynolds 
witnessing  the  British  side  of  the  event. 


Group  in  Ohio  Purchases 
Four  MacDonald  Houses 

A  partnership  headed  by  Leo  Yassenoff, 
Columbus,  Ohio,  theatre  builder  and  operator, 
has  acquired  the  four  theatres  operated  by  Mrs. 
Marie_  H.  MacDonald,  who  had  supervised 
operation  of  these  theatres  since  the  death  of 
hei-  husband,  Clarence  A.  MacDonald.  The  four 
theatres  are:  Westmont,  Southland,  Arlington 
and  Boulevard.  The  consideration  was  not  an- 
nounced. 


14 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February     12,  1944 


Momand  Again  Sues 
Griffith  Circuit 


Oklahoma  Exhibitors  Join 
in  Monopoly  Charges 
Against  Majors  Also 

Anti-trust  charges  were  filed  against  the 
Griffith  Circuit  and  major  distributors  for 
the  third  time  at  Oklahoma  City  February 
3  when  A.  B.  Momand,  M.  L.  Riggs  and 
J.  D.  Wineland,  independent  circuit  opera- 
tors, in  a  suit  filed  in  Federal  District 
Court,  charged  Griffith  and  the  distributors 
had  conspired  to  create  a  monopoly. 

Triple  damages  totaling  $606,127  were 
sought  by  the  operators. 

Defendants  named  in  the  action  are  L.  C. 
and  H.  C.  Griffith,  the  Griffith  Amusement 
Company,  Griffith  Southwestern  Theatres, 
Inc.,  Paramount  Pictures,  Inc.,  Paramount 
Pictures  Distributing  Company,  Paramount 
Film  Distributing  Corp.,  Loew's,  Inc.,  RKO 
Radio  Pictures,  Inc.,  Warner  Brothers  Pic- 
tures, Inc.,  Vitaphone,  Inc.,  Vitagraph,  Inc., 
20th  Century-Fox  Film  Corp.,  Universal 
Pictures  Corp.,  Universal  Film  Exchanges, 
Inc.,  United  Artists  Corp.,  Republic  Pic- 
tures Corp.  and  Columbia  Pictures  Corp. 

Claim  Moves  to  Force 
High  Rentals  and  Prices 

Griffith  and  the  distributors  conspired  to 
monopolize  pictures  in  three  Oklahoma  towns 
on  first  and  second  run,  forced  unfairly  high 
admission  prices,  and  excessive  rental  fees, 
dictated  operating  policy  and  suppressed 
competition,  the  complainants  allege. 

Mr.  Momand  filed  his  action  in  the  name 
of  Oklahoma  Theatres,  Inc.,  operating  the 
Odeon  in  Shawnee,  Okla.,  in  competition 
with  the  Griffith  circuit's  Bison,  Avon  and 
Criterion.  Mr.  Momand  asks  actual  dam- 
ages of  $82,017.14  for  net  profit  losses  al- 
legedly suffered  from  May  15,  1937  to  De- 
cember 31,  1943  plus  good  will  damages  of 
$36,841.56. 

Under  the  Sherman  anti-trust  statutes  the 
total  may  be  tripled  in  asking  damages. 

Mr.  Riggs  operates  the  State  theatre  in 
Vinita,  Okla.,  in  competition  with  Griffith's 
Aztec  and  Lyric.  He  seeks  $2,995.51  net 
profit  damages  and  $8,987.73  good  will  dam- 
ages for  injuries  which  he  said  were  sus- 
tained between  July  20,  1943  and  December 
31,  1943. 

U.S.  Subpoenas  Officials 
Of  Major  Companies 

Mr.  Wineland,  suing  for  his  Mystic  the- 
atre in  Picher,  Okla.,  requested  $31,200 
profit  damages  and  $40,000  for  loss  of  good 
will.  These  amounts  also  are  tripled  under 
the  Sherman  law.  He  operates  in  competi- 
tion with  Griffith's  Bison  and  Roxy  the- 
atres. 

The  Government  Wednesday  subpoenaed 
the  secretaries  of  eight  major  companies  for 
pre-trial  examination  at  New  York  in  the 
Department  of  Justice  trust  action  against 
the  Griffith  circuit.  Albert  Boggess,  Special 
Assistant  U.  S.  Attorney  General,  will  ex- 
amine officers  and  company  records  Feb- 
ruary 28.    Called  were:  Leopold  Freidman, 


MGM;  Austin  Keough,  Paramount;  Felix 
Jenkins,  Twentieth  Century-Fox;  A.  W. 
Perkins,  Warner  Bros.;  J.  Miller  Walker, 
RKO ;  Charles  Schwartz,  Columbia ;  An- 
thony Petti,  Universal,  and  Loyd  Wright, 
United  Artists. 

A  decision  is  expected  from  Judge  Bower 
Broaddus  in  Oklahoma  City  within  a  few 
weeks  on  an  earlier  anti-trust  action  filed 
against  the  Griffith  Theatres  by  Mr.  iVo- 
mand.  This  case  has  been  under  advise- 
ment for  almost  a  year.  Pre-trial  examina- 
tions are  now  being  completed  for  trial  dur- 
ing the  spring  of  the  Department  of  Jus- 
tice's anti-trust  action  against  the  Griffith 
interests. 

"The  defendant  exhibitors  have  continu- 
ously combined  with  and  conspired  with 
each  other  and  with  defendant  distributors 
to  unreasonably  restrain  interstate  trade  and 
commerce  in  motion  pictures  .  .  .  and  to 
monopolize  and  attempt  to  monopolize  first 
and  second  run  exhibition  of  feature  pictures 
and  the  operation  of  first  and  second  run 
theatres"  in  the  three  towns  where  the  com- 
plainants operate,  the  suit  charged. 

Mr.  Momand  indicated  that  similar  ac- 
tions might  be  expected  from  other  inde- 
pendent theatre  men  in  the  Oklahoma  area. 

The  suit  seeks,  in  addition  to  damages,  a 
court  order  enjoining  the  defendants  from 
the  alleged  monopolistic  practices  and  pro- 
hibiting them  from  jointly  negotiating  film 
contracts. 

Demand  Terms  on  Same 
Grade  and  Same  Run 

It  also  asks  that  features  be  licensed  in  the 
three  competitive  towns  on  "a  local  competi- 
tive basis  whereby  the  plaintiff's  theatres 
operating  in  the  respective  towns  will  have 
an  equal  opportunity  to  license  pictures  for 
that  area." 

Terms  "on  the  same  grade  on  the  same 
run,  at  the  same  license  charges  contained 
by  the  defendant  exhibitors  from  the  defend- 
ant distributors"  are  demanded.  Dissolu- 
tion of  the  defendant  exhibitor  companies 
and  rearrangement  of  their  theatres  under 
separate  corporations,  supervised  by  a  court 
appointed  trustee  is  also  sought,  along  with 
a  prohibition  against  further  theatre  ac- 
quistions  by  Griffith. 


Seek  to  Vacate  Order 
In  Atlanta  Action 

Robert  Sams,  attorney  for  the  eight  defend- 
ant distributors  in  the  $218,000  anti-trust  suit 
filed  at  Atlanta  by  Frank  Weis  in  behalf  of  his 
Savannah  theatres.  Savannah,  -  Ga.,  sought  to 
vacate  an  order  permitting  plaintiff  to  take 
pre-trial  depositions  from  23  industry  execu- 
tives. George  Ryan,  attorney  for  Mr.  Weis, 
had  planned  to  begin  the  depositions  February 
14.  Executives  who  would  be  examined  in- 
clude: Adolph  Zukor,  Nicholas  Schenck,  Ned 
Depinet,  Neil  Agnew,  W.  F.  Rodgers,  Tom 
Connors,  Gradwell  Sears,  Carl  Leserman, 
William  Scully,  Norman  Collier,  J.  T.  Mills, 
A.  W.  Smith,  Jr.,  William  Sussman,  Robert 
Dann  and  Willard  McKay. 


OCR  Is  Seeking 
Communities  in 
Need  of  Houses 

A  nationwide  search  for  communities  in 
which  additional  recreation  facilities  are  re- 
quired as  a  result  of  war  congestion  has  been 
initiated  by  George  McMurphey,  chief  of  the 
amusement  and  recreation  section  of  the  Office 
of  Civilian  Requirements.  The  first  announce- 
ment that  permission  for  at  least  100  new  thea- 
tres would  be  granted  was  made  December  18. 

The  survey  is  being  made  through  the  13  field 
offices  of  the  OCR,  the  first  of  which  reported 
this  week  that  additional  motion  picture  thea- 
tres might  be  needed  at  a  number  of  points  in 
Kansas  and  Nebraska. 

Specifically  named  as  possibly  requiring  thea- 
tres were  Kansas  City,  Parsons,  Eudora, 
De  Soto,  Scribner,  Hastings,  McCook  and 
Wichita,  Kansas ;  Bellevue  and  Alliance,  Ne- 
braska, and  Pine  Bluff,  Arkansas.  An  appli- 
cation for  a  new  theatre  already  has  been  ap- 
proved for  Wichita  and  one  is  pending  for 
Parsons. 

Mr.  McMurphey  explained  that  the  field  re- 
port showed  rrherely  where  the  need  for  new 
facilities  was  "indicated"  and  did  not  always 
make  it  clear  whether  the  inadequacy  was  in 
theatres  or  other  forms  of  amusement  or  recre- 
ation, and  said  the  actual  need  for  a  new  thea- 
tre would  have  to  be  supported  in  any  applica- 
tions filed  for  authority  to  build.  None  had 
been  filed  at  mid-week. 

A  new  form  of  application  for  authority  to 
construct  new  theatres,  to  be  used  beginning 
February  15,  is  being  distributed  to  field  offices 
of  the  OCR,  it  was  announced  Wednesday  by 
Mr.  AIcMurphey.  The  new  form  is  a  simpli- 
fication of  the  present  application  on  which  it 
no  longer  will  be  necessary  to  furnish  a  list  of 
materials  to  be  used  in  construction.  Copies  will 
be  available  at  the  field  offices  within  the  next 
few  days. 


File  Particulars  in 
Newark  Trust  Suit 

Rosyl  Amusement  Company  filed  a  bill  of 
particulars  in  New  York  Federal  Court  this 
week  in  reply  to  a  motion  by  Skouras  Theatres 
Corporation  for  further  explanation  of  Rosyl's 
charges  that  Skouras  and  distributors  con- 
spired to  restrain  the  trade  of  the  Cameo  the- 
atre, Newark. 

Rosyl  declared  that  it  was  compelled  to  sign 
standard  contracts  while  competing  theatres 
were  granted  special  "deal  sheets."  Rosyl  fur- 
ther charged  that  it  was  forced  to  pay  higher 
rentals  and  percentages  and  to  rent  more  shorts 
and  newsreels  than  competing  houses. 

On  special  top  bracket  pictures  the  com- 
plainant asserted  it  was  forced  to  charge  high- 
er admission  prices  although  the  pictures  were 
not  played  until  long  after  their  release  to 
competing  theatres. 

Rosyl  also  charged  that  war  effort  films  and 
special  Government  releases,  including  "Report 
from  the  Aleutians,"  were  denied  unless  it  met 
special  conditions  set  by  distributors. 


Fox  West  Coast  Trust  Case 
Starts  in  Los  Angeles 

The  anti-trust  complaint  of  the  Bard-Adams 
theatre  against  Fox  West  Coast  and  the  Cren- 
shaw theatre  in  Los  Angeles  was  to  begin  on 
February  11  before  Judge  Benjamin  Harrison 
in  U.  S.  District  Court. 

Crenshaw's  reply  denied  violation  of  the  trust 
laws  and  countercharged  conspiracy  to  violate 
the  same  laws.  It  sought  an  injunction  against 
Adams  and  dismissal  of  the  suit.  Fox  West 
Coast  is  seeking  a  further  bill  of  particulars, 
charging  that  the  Adams  complaint  is  vague. 


February    12,     1944  MOTION    PICTURE    HERALD  15 


EXHIBITORS  TELL  TOM  CLARK 
WHAT'S  WRONG  WITH  DECREE 


Independent  Spokesmen 
Confer  at  Capital;  Allied 
Files  Extensive  Brief 

Exhibitor  leaders  from  all  sections  of  the 
country  crowded  into  the  spacious  walnut 
offices  of  Tom  C.  Clark,  Assistant  Attorney 
General,  at  the  Department  of  Justice  Build- 
ing in  Washington  this  week  to  tell  him 
what  they  thought  was  wrong  with  distribu- 
tor proposals  for  a  new  Consent  Decree. 

Tuesday  several  independent  exhibitor 
spokesmen,  among  them  Harry  Brandt,  head 
of  the  Independent  Theatre  Owners  Asso- 
ciation of  New  York,  visited  Mr.  Clark. 

A  committee  Wednesday  called  at  the 
Department  of  Justice  to  present  the  views  of 
Allied  States  Association  and  three  in- 
dependent regional  groups.  They  had  met 
last  week  at  Chicago  to  look  over  the  cop- 
ies of  the  new  decree  sent  by  Mr.  Clark 
for  their  inspection. 

Allied  Committee  Filed 
Extensive  Brief 

The  Allied  committee,  it  was  reported, 
filed  an  extensive  brief  detailing  paragraph 
by  paragraph  the  points  on  which  they  felt 
distributors  fell  short.  These  criticisms 
were  augmented  by  some  pointed  sugges- 
tions as  to  what  exhibitors  believed  the 
Government  should  do  to  get  more  con- 
cessions, it  was  indicated. 

Distributor  spokesmen  for  the  moment 
said  nothing.  Attorneys  and  executives  of 
the  five  consenting  companies  took  the  po- 
sition that  they  had  made  the  most  liberal 
offers  possible  following  the  series  of  con- 
ferences which  Mr.  Clark  launched  last  Aug- 
ust. 

Mr.  Clark,  Robert  Wright,  chief  of  the 
film  unit  in  the  Department's  anti-trust  di- 
vision, and  other  Government  spokesmen 
also  were  silent.  They  would  make  no  pub- 
lic comment  on  either  the  suitability  of  the 
distributor  proposals  or  the  validity  of  ex- 
hibitor criticisms. 

It  is  understood  that  Mr.  Clark  himself 
not  satisfied  with  many  of  the  provisions 
offered  by  the  companies,  is  compiling 
data  on  which  to  base  arguments  in  sup- 
port of  demands  for  modifications  which 
will  eliminate  some,  at  least,  of  the  ex- 
hibitors' major  sore  spots.  There  are  some 
indications  in  Washington  also  that  he 
sent  the  distributor  proposals  to  exhibit- 
ors for  comment  with  that  objective  in 
mind. 

There  were  indications,  moreover,  that 
the  barrage  of  exhibitor  comment  and  sug- 
gestion on  a  new  decree  would  inevitably 
lead  into  a  new,  and  perhaps  lengthy  series 
of  meetings  with  the  company  lawyers  and 
presidents. 

Although  Allied  and  some  unaffiliated 
groups  were  ready  with  a  quick  comment 
on  the  decree  proposals,  Edward  Kuyken- 
dall,  president  of  the  Motion  Picture  The- 
atre Owners  of  America,  would  not  act 
hastily.  His  organization,  the  largest  exhib- 
tor  group  in  the  country,  might  require 


EXHIBITOR  ATTACKS 
DECREE  SECRECY 

"Let  us  never  be  gagged  again  on 
the  Consent  Decree,"  Van  A.  Nomi- 
kos,  Chicago  circuit  head  and  vice- 
president  of  Illinois  Allied,  said 
Wednesday  in  a  blast  against  "the 
mask  of  secrecy  that  covered  the  new 
Consent  Decree  discussions. 

"The  agreement  not  to  divulge  or 
discuss  any  of  the  contents  publicly 
Is  a  serious  encroachment  upon  our 
American  freedom  of  speech,"  Mr, 
Nomikos  said.  "We  should  not  be 
muzzled  and  we  shall  not  be  in  the 
future. ■ 

"The  contents  of  any  Consent  De- 
cree should  be  released  openly  for 
clarified  Interpretation  so  that  we  as 
laymen  can  understand  It  and  answer 
it  In  our  own  language.  The  by-play 
In  Washington  on  the  decree  pro- 
posals Is  costing  the  taxpayers  a  lot 
of  money  and  as  yet  the  public  Is  not 
benefiting,"  he  asserted. 


several  weeks  to  look  into  the  decree  propo- 
sals, he  indicated. 

Directors  of  the  MPTO  now  are  studying 
the  decree  copies  released  by  Mr.  Clark, 
Mr.  Kuykendall  reported  from  his  home  in 
Columbus,  Miss.  They  will  mail  him  their 
comments. 

"They  will  not  be  rushed  into  decisions," 
Mr.  Kuykendall  said. 

Allied's  decree  message  was  carried  to 
Mr.  Clark  by  Abram  F.  Myers,  general 
counsel,  and  H.  A.  Cole,  a  director. 

Participating  with  them  were  Robert 
Poole,  representing  the  Pacific  Coast  Con- 
ference of  Independent  Theatre  Owners; 
William  F.  Crockett,  head  of  the  Motion 
Picture  Theatre  Owners  of  Virginia,  and 
Jesse  Stern,  president  of  the  Unaffiliated  Ex- 
hibitors, Inc.,  of  New  York  City. 

Broader  application  of  the  cancellation 
proposals  advanced  by  distributors;  a  de- 
mand for  regional  arbitration  appeal 
machinery;  more  precise  definition  of  the 
changes  which  distributors  made  in  the  ar- 
bitration of  some  and  specific  run;  and  still 
stricter  limitation  of  circuit  expansion  and 
pooling  deals  or  franchises  are  understood 
to  have  been  advocated  by  the  exhibitor 
spokesmen. 

Mr.  Brandt  and  his  ITOA,  representing 
key  subsequent  run  thgatres  in  New  York, 
told  Mr.  Clark  that  they  were  by  no  means 
happy  over  the  decree  proposals. 

The  joint  committee  was  said  to  have  tak- 
en the  position  that  nothing  must  be  in- 
cluded in  the  decree  which  would  bar  _  or 
defer  the  prosecution  of  divorcement  action 
should  it  be  deemed  necessary.  They  also 
declared  that  the  arbitration  changes  were 
entirely  too  inadequate. 

Monday  Mr.  Brandt  said  that  his  group 


still  felt  that  a  decree  settlement  was  still 
a  stop-gap  solution  of  trade  problems.  He 
urged  that  the  Department  of  Justice  either 
bring  its  anti-trust  complaints  to  trial  and 
win  a  final  court  definition  of  trade  rules  or 
permit  the  industry  to  work  out  its  own 
self-regulatory  code  of  trade  practices. 

With  Mr.  Brandt  were  Max  A.  Cohen, 
Mel  Albert  and  Leon  Rosenblatt,  represent- 
ing the  Allied  Theatre  Owners  of  New 
York.  It  was  reported  that  the  group,  in 
a  20  minute  session  with  Mr.  Clark,  vigor- 
ously assailed  the  arbitration  proposals  of 
distributors,  charging  that  the  new  passages 
were  inadequate  and  poorly  defined. 

Says  UMPI  Plan  Gave 
Exhibitors  Concessions 

"The  Government  is  no  great  help,"  Mr. 
Brandt  said.  "It  is  better  to  let  exhibitors 
work  out  their  own  deal  with  distributors. 
They  did  it  before  in  the  United  Motion 
Picture  Industry  plan." 

Mr.  Brandt  maintained  that  in  the  UMPI 
plan,  which  was  rejected  by  the  Govern- 
ment, exhibitors  won  as  many  concessions 
from  distributors  as  are  contained  in  the 
proposals  for  a  revised  decree. 

"I  am  interested  in  buying  for  my  money 
as  much  motion  picture  as  any  one  else  in 
the  country  can  buy  for  the  same  amount," 
Mr.  Brandt  observed.  He  said  that  his  unit 
favored  continuation  of  the  Government 
suits  for  divorcement  of  affiliated  circuits, 
expressing  the  belief  that  if  this  were 
achieved  it  would  be  easier  for  all  theatre 
groups  to  bargain  on  a  competitive  basis. 

Send  Crescent  Records 
To  Supreme  Court 

Judge  Elmer  Davies  of  Federal  District 
Court  at  Nashville  last  week  approved 
transfer  of  part  of  the  exhibits  in  the  Cres- 
cent anti-trust  suit  to  the  Supreme  Court  at 
Washington  in  their  original  form.  This  ac- 
tion permitted  filing  of  the  appeal  documents 
in  time  for  the  February  7  deadline. 

Charles  E.  Cropley,  Clerk  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  acknowledged  receipt  of  the  case  and 
it  is  expected  to  go  on  the  calendar  for  early 
trial. 

Judge  Davies'  decision  convicting  the  Cres- 
cent Amusement  Company  and  ordering  it,  and 
its  officers,  to  dissolve  present  alliances  was 
handed  down  almost  a  year  ago,  on  March  3, 
1943.    Appeal  was  filed  in  October. 

Wisconsin  Partners 
Attack  Clearances 

A  clearance  demand  filed  at  the  Minneapolis 
tribunal  by  Paul  Mans  and  Donald  O'Reilly, 
operators  of  the  Falls  theatre  at  River  Falls, 
Wis.  was  the  only  arbitration  activity  reported 
this  week  to  the  American  Arbitration  Asso- 
ciation, administrator  of  decree  arbitration. 

The  partners  named  MGM,  Warners,  RKO, 
Paramount  and  20th  Century-Fox  as  defendants. 
They  charged  that  the  12-day  clearance  granted 
to  the  Heywood-PrasHe  circuit's  Hudson  The- 
atre in  Hudson,  Wis.,  was  unreasonable. 

They  asked  the  arbitrator  to  eliminate  or 
reduce  clearance  to  a  minimum.  It  was  the 
seventh  Minneapolis  case  and  the  first  filed 
there  since  August  1942. 


16 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


ON  THE  MARCH 


February    12,  1944 


by  RED  KANN 


HOLLYWOOD 

THE  blaze  over  "Lifeboat"  and  the  kind  of  film  it  is  po- 
litically continues  to  rage.  It's  a  live,  hot  topic,  and  v^re 
want  to  get  in  on  it.  _  '  ,    ,  a- 

Bosley  Crowther,  critic  of  the  New  York  Times,  touched  off 
the  issue.  He  thinks  Alfred  Hitchcock,  the  director,  has  sold 
out  the  democracies  and  elevated  the  master  race  to  unprecedent- 
ed heights.  To  him,  the  film  represents  a  case  of  "appalhng  fol- 
ly." Its  theme  assumes  an  architecturally  curious  and  anti- 
democratic pattern,  in  his  view.  His  conclusion  is,  here  is  a 
"most  dangerous"  motion  picture  "especially  so  because  the  film 
is  so  cleverly  constructed,  so  well  acted  and  so  dramatically  in- 
triguing all  the  way  that  audiences  will  follow  it  intently  in 
wonder  and  anxiety." 

Dorothy  Thompson,  the  enthusiastic  columnist,  thus  far  has 
written  two  pieces  on  the  same  subject.  "From  the  point  of  di- 
rection and  entertainment,"  she  acknowledges  the  picture  to  be 
"brilliant."  Nevertheless,  she  is  much  concerned.  In  fact,  she 
is  concerned  twice  over  and  draws  a  set  of  conclusions,  the  most 
pertinent  of  which  perhaps  is  this: 

"The  net  effect  on  an  innocent  observer  must  be  that,  if 
this  is  the  democratic  world,  it  deserves  to  perish  and  cer- 
tainly will." 

At  this  point  and  as  she  frequently  does.  Miss  Thompson  en- 
deavors to  sweep  out  of  her  path  all  contrary  opinion  and  to  im- 
pale the  outcome  of  all  the  future  on  the  shiny  scabbard  of  her 
own  typewriter.   It's  all  too  pat. 


Arguments  Have  Two  Sides 


.  ,T  IFEBOAT"  will  create  a  difference  of  opinion,  undeniably. 
^*  I      If  it  has  a  hero  within  the  definition  of  the  heroic  pro- 
portions  usually  accredited  with  creating  one,  he  is  Wal- 
ter Slezak,  the  U-boat  captain. 

It  is  quite  true  that  he  is  the  only  well-integrated,  properly  pre- 
pared and  competently  functioning  individual  of  all  that  small 
group  imprisoned  on  the  helpless  lifeboat  in  which  the  action 
takes  place.  He  endures  through  concentrated  food  tablets,  stol- 
en water  and  a  secreted  compass.  He  also  happens  to  have  the 
advantage  of  navigation  experience  because  he  is  a  submarine 
commander. 

The  development  of  his  characterization  and  the  part  which 
the  emergent  role  plays  in  this  gripping  drama  make  him  stand 
out,  and  above  the  others.  In  the  correct  symbolic  interpreta- 
tion that  he  represents  the  Nazis  because  he  is  one  and  the  master 
race  because  he  is  a  member  of  it,  the  others  become  the  dis- 
organized representatives  of  the  disorganized  democracies.  Up  to 
a  point  only,  however. 

In  the  democratic  way,  these  others  decide  in  majority  rule  not 
to  toss  the  Nazi  overboard,  but  to  treat  hin?  as  a  prisoner-of-war. 
To  proceed  in  any  other  manner  would  have  been  to  proceed 
under  the  rule  of  might.  Thereby,  the  right  would  have  suc- 
cumbed to  the  very  kind  of  thinking  and  ideology  which  makes 
the  Nazi  abhorrent. 

Furthermore,  Slezak  is  painted  in  final  terms  for  what  he  is: 
cheat,  liar  and,  eventually,  murderer.  When  the  others  discover 
this,  their  fury  bursts  its  bounds  and  they  do  away  with  the 
violator  of  their  confidence.  If  it  is  symbolism  that  counts,  the 
argument  then  could  be  this : 

The  democracies,  admittedly  slow  to  shake  off  their  lethargies,, 
are  an  irresistible  mountain  of  wrath  and  strength  when  aroused. 
The  course  of  world  history  is  demonstrating  this  very  point. 

It  can  be  maintained  without  effort,  too,  that  those  who  see  , 
more  than  tense  and  biting  entertainment  in  "Lifeboat"  will  be 
re-aroused  to  the  dangers  of  the  Nazi  system ;  that  this  attraction 
can  serve  to  re-focus  the  need  to  obliterate  the  National  Social- 
ists and  their  methods,  which  is  quite  apart  from  exterminating 
the  German  people;  that  we,  as  a  democracy,  must  remain  con- 
stantly aware  of  the  softenings  in  blandishment  and  deception  and 
that  we  must  remain  perpetually  riveted  to  the  avowed  policy  of 
wiping  Fascism,  its  disciples  and  its  satellites  permanently  off 
the  face  of  the  earth. 

Joseph  M.  Schenck  says  the  picture  will  not  be  touched.    We  • 
should  prefer  to  see  that  decision  altered  to  the  extent  of  remov- 


ing one  scene.  It  is  the  one  which  comes  after  Slezak  is  elim- 
inated and  the  second  Nazi  rises  from  the  sea.  Here  and  with 
rescue  at  the  hands  of  an  Allied  warship  in  sight,  the  others  are 
made  to  return  to  their  former  indecisions  and  bickerings.  This 
throws  the  theme  back  to  its  beginnings  and  diffuses  the  effect. 
The  deletion  could  be  managed  with  no  sacrifice  of  drama  or 
impact.  In  fact,  its  editing  would  add  strength  by  eliminating 
weakness. 

If  this  is  in  any  wise  a  discussion  approximating  the  hifalutin', 
showmen  would  be  well  advised  to  appreciate  that  the  heat  of 
this  extending  controversy  is  providing  them  with  box  oflSce 
stimulants  in  unexpected  and  sizeable  measure.  The  Crowther- 
Thompson  bout  ought  to  be  making  more  people  primed  to  see 
the  picture. 

As  usual,  they  will  want  to  decide  for  themselves.  That's 
democratic,  too. 

The  Man  from  Columbus 

LOOSE-LIPPED  Pete  Wood,  secretary  of  the  Independent 
Theatre  Owners  of  Ohio,  reaches  far  and  sinks  low  in 
joining  hands  with  Westbrook  Pegler,  the  columnist  who 
called  this  "a  dirty  industry"  and  some  of  its  leaders  "dirty  men 
of  shady  background." 

It  is  not  a  dirty  industry,  writes  Wood  in  a  letter  published  in 
the  New  York  World-Telegram.  That's  wrong,  but  not  so  those 
"dirty  men  of  shady  background."  With  hirt,  this  becomes  an 
acceptable  accusation,  his  only  objection  taking  shape  in  a  de- 
fense of  "many,  many  hundreds  of  clean  living,  honest  and 
decent  American  citizens — motion  picture  theatre  owners"  who, 
in  Wood's  fouled  eyes,  have  been  smeared  automatically  by  the 
Pegler  brush. 

There  is  not  much  to  be  said  about  a  turncoat  who  volunteers 
to  slander  his  own  industry  in  public  print.  The  direct  responsi- 
bility for  this  becomes  an  issue  which  the  Independent  Theatre 
Owners  of  Ohio  cannot  ignore. 

This  is  the  organization  which  hired  Wood,  pays  his  salary 
and  can  fire  him.  He  is  responsible  to  his  employer,  and  his 
employer  for  him. 

Both  are  responsible  to  the  whole  industry.  Theirs  is  an 
obligation  which  cannot  be  escaped  or  dodged. 

Terrific  Is  the  Idea 

THE  local  rumor  foundry,  always  a  thriving  industry  in 
Hollywood,  credits  the  rumbling  that  Gene  Fowler  and 
Rowland  Brown  hope  to  buy  the  film  rights  of  "Terrific  Is 
the  Word  for  Bird,"  or  the  life  story  of  Russell  J.  Birdwell. 
William  A.  Wellman  would  direct. 

A  word  on  "Bird":  He  is  the  press  agent  (1)  who  handled 
that  epic  "The  Outlaw"  for  Howard  Hughes  and  planted  those 
overflowing  pictures  of  Jane  Russell  hither  and  yon  and  (2)  who 
arranged  for  an  actress  to  do  a  strip-tease  on  the  public  thorough- 
fare fronting  the  Universal  studio  as  a  press  stunt  presumably 
designed  to  capture  producer  attention  and  (3)  who  currently  is 
trying  to  persuade  a  public  which  refuses  to  fall  for  it  that  Carol 
of  Rumania  is  democracy's  starry-eyed  disciple. 

Another  word,  and  delicious,  too:  Hedda  Hopper,  reporting 
the  possibility  of  this  biography  on  celluloid,  wrote : 

"If  they  do  this,  it  will  be  lowdown  on  the  lowdown." 


■  Humor  in  England  in  its  fifth  year  of  war  shows  up  in  many 
ways.  One  of  them  manifests  itself  in  Campbell  Dixon's  reviews 
in  the  London  "Daily  Telegraph." 

Paper  shortages,  of  course,  have  cut  briskly  into  the  size  of 
British  newspapers.  In  turn,  this  invades  Dixon's  province  and 
makes  it  required  of  him  to  say  as  much,  or  more,  in  less  word- 
age.   Samples  of  how  he  maneuvers : 

"  'Hi  Diddle  Diddle'  brings  back  Pola  Negri,  looking  fresher 
than  the  script. 

"As  for  'What's  Buzzin',  Cousin,'  why  bother,  brother?  It's 
true  there's  Ann  Miller,  but  what  if  you  missed  her,  sister?" 


T'EM 
HAVE  IT! 

A  Bond  For  Every  Seat! 


How's  your  campaign  going?  Is  it  worthy  of  those  who  are  dying  in  Italy,, 
of  those  who  give  their  lives  for  Marshall  Island  victories?  Your  extra 
effort  will  win  a  home-front  victory  to  cheer  our  fighting  troops  -  HGHTi 

Aata-tto  Commte  of  the  Mo*.  PWure  Mu,^  >5<..  B,oad^y.  New  Yrf  Gt^ 


18 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February     12,  1944 


Hollywood  Alliance  to 
Wage  War  on  Isms 


Wood  and  McGuiness  Lead 
Movement  to  Combat  All 
Subversive  Elements 

by  WILLIAM  R.  WEAVER 

Hollywood  Editor 

Organization  of  the  Motion  Picture  Alli- 
ance for  the  Preservation  of  American 
Ideals  was  announced  last  Friday  night  at 
the  Beverly-Wilshire  Hotel  in  Hollywood 
at  a  meeting  attended  by  200  members  en- 
rolled in  advance  as  a  result  of  four  pre- 
liminary meetings  held  privately  during  the 
preceding  six  weeks  by  prime  movers  in  the 
organization. 

In  a  statement  of  principles,  distributed  at 
the  meeting  and  released  to  the  press,  the 
organization  said,  "We  find  ourselves  in 
sliarp  revolt  against  a  rising  tide  of  Com- 
munism, Fascism  and  kindred  beliefs,  that 
seek  by  subversive  means  to  undermine  and 
change  this  (American)  way  of  life.  .  .  .  We 
pledge  ourselves  to  fight,  with  every  means 
at  our  organized  command,  any  effort  of 
any  group  or  individual  to  divert  the  loyalty 
of  the  screen  from  the  free  America  that 
gave  it  birth." 

Wood  and  McGuiness  Are 
Leaders  of  Group 

Producer-director  Sam  Wood  and  MGM 
executive  James  K.  McGuinness,  leaders 
in  the  formation  of  the  organization,  were 
elected  president  and  chairman  of  the  ex- 
ecutive committee,  respectively. 

Walt  Disney  was  elected  first  vice-presi- 
dent, Cedric  Gibbons,  second  vice-president; 
Norman  Taurog,  third  vice-president;  Louis 
D.  Lighton,  secretary;  Clarence  Brown, 
treasurer,  and  George  Bruce,  executive  sec- 
retary. 

The  executive  committee  under  Mr.  Mc- 
Guinness, which  will  be  expanded  to  include 
additional  members  up  to  the  number  of 
25,  now  consists  of  Victor  Fleming,  Arnold 
Gillespie,  Frank  Gruber,  Bert  Kalmar,  Ru- 
pert Hughes,  Fred  Niblo,  Jr.,  Cliff  Reid, 
Casey  Robinson,  Howard  Emmett  •  Rogers, 
Harry  Ruskin,  Morris  Ryskind,  King  Vi- 
dor,  Robert  Vogel,  George  Waggner  and 
Borden  Chase. 

Says  Some  Workers  Spread 
Un-American  Doctrine 

Although  the  immediate  future  will  be 
devoted  to  further  mapping  of  plans  for  pro- 
cedure, according  to  an  organization  spokes- 
man, it  is  learned  that  certain  lines  of  ac- 
tion and  policy  have  been  determined  upon. 
There  is  no  intention,  a  qualified  informant 
said,  to  attempt  to  deprive  any  worker  of 
employment  by  reason  of  his  known  leanings 
toward  Communism,  Fascism  or  other  un- 
American  beliefs,  although  it  is  among  the 
purposes  of  the  group  to  notify  the  employer 
of  any  such  worker  regarding  the  worker's 
tendencies. 

Similarly,  the  unit  does  not  take  the  posi- 
tion, nor  hold  the  view,  that  any  producer 
is,  or  has  been,  oropagating  un-American 


beliefs  by  the  use  of  the  screen.  It  does 
maintain  that  some  of  their  workers  have 
sought  to  disseminate  un-American  doctrine 
via  Hollywood-produced  pictures  by  pro- 
cesses of  stealth,  as  by  writing  innocuous- 
looking  but  overtly  subversive  dialogue  and 
scenes  into  pictures. 

Interrogated  Saturday  morni-ng  with  re- 
spect to  the  exact  meaning  of  his  address  de- 
livered at  Friday  night's  meeting,  Mr.  Wood 
said,  "Pictures  should  be  made  for  enter- 
tainment and  education  in  the  American 
way,  not  to  sell  Communism  or  Fascism. 
There's  no  great  difference  between  them. 
The  time  has  come  for  the  people  to  have  an 
organization  to  counteract  pressure  put  on 
them  by  these  highly  organized  groups." 

Aim  to  Assure  Country  of 
Hollywood  Americanism 

In  his  address  accepting  the  presidency, 
Mr.  Wood  said,  "We  are  here  tonight  as  an 
organization,  not  because  we  want  to  be  here 
but  because  we  are  compelled  to  be  here. 
This  organization  is  for  everyone  in  the  in- 
dustry, regardless  of  position.  Its  purpose 
is  to  provide  a  rallying  point  for  the  great 
majority  of  men  and  women  in  motion  pic- 
tures who  think  as  we  do,  but  who  hereto- 
fore have  been  lost  sight  of  in  the  din  of  a 
planned  hue  and  cry  raised  by  a  small  but 
highly  organized,  cleverly  led  and  extremely 
articulate  minority. 

"These  highly  indoctrinated  shock  units  of 
the  totalitarian  wrecking  crews  have  shrewd- 
ly led  the  people  of  the  United  States  to  be- 
lieve that  Hollywood  is  a  hotbed  of  sedition 
and  subversion,  and  our  industry  is  a  battle- 
ground over  which  Communism  is  locked  in 
death  grips  with  Fascism.  We  intend  to 
correct  that  erroneous  impression  immedi- 
ately, and  to  assure  the  people  of  the  Unit- 
ed States  that  the  truth  of  the  situation  is 
that  Hollywood  is  a  reservoir  of  American- 
ism, and  that  those  forces  which  have  pre- 
sumed to  speak  in  the  name  of  our  industry 
and  under  the  geographical  identity  of  Hol- 
lywood have  been  acting  under  false  pre- 
tenses, and  that  we  repudiate  them  entirely; 
and  that  we,  through  the  fact  of  our  being 
assembled  here  tonight,  can  give  this  coun- 
try, and  the  world,  if  necessary,  assurance 
that  the  American  motion  picture  industf" 
is  and  will  continue  to  be  held  by  Ameri- 
cans, for  the  American  people,  in  the  inter- 
ests of  America  and  dedicated  to  the  preser- 
vation and  continuance  of  the  American 
scene  and  the  American  way  of  life. 

Pledged  to  Fight  Effort  to 
Divert  Screen  Loyalty 

"There  is  a  place  in  this  organization  for 
every  American  member  of  the  motion  pic- 
ture industry.  There  are  no  political,  reli- 
gious or  racial  barriers  to  membership.  The 
one  qualification  necessary  to  membership  is 
very  simple:  Are  you  an  American?" 

The  statement  of  principles  said,  in  part, 
"In  our  special  field  of  motion  pictures,  we 
resent  the  growing  impression  that  this  in- 
dustry is  made  up  of,  and  dominated  by. 
Communists,  radicals  and  crackpots.  We 
believe  that  we  represent  the  vast  majority 


of  the  people  who  serve  this  great  medium 
of  expression.  But  unfortunately  it  has  been 
an  unorganized  majority.  This  has  been 
almost  inevitable.  The  very  love  of  freedom, 
of  the  rights  of  the  individual,  make  this 
great  majority  reluctant  to  organize.  But 
now  we  must,  or  we  shall  meanly  lose  the 
last,  best  hope  on  earth. 

"As  members  of  the  motion  picture  in- 
dustry, we  must  face  and  accept  an  especial 
responsibility.  Motion  pictures  are  ines- 
capably one  of  the  world's  great  forces  for 
influencing  public  thought  and  opinion,  both 
at  home  and  abroad.  In  this  fact  lies  solemn 
obligation.  We  refuse  to  permit  the  effort 
of  Communist,  Fascist  and  other  totalitarian- 
minded  groups  to  pervert  this  powerful  me- 
dium into  an  instrument  for  the  dissemina- 
tion of  un-American  ideas  and  beliefs.  We 
pledge  ourselves  to  fight,  with  every  means 
at  our  organized  command,  any  effort  of  any 
group  or  any  individual  to  divert  the  loyalty 
of  the  screen  from  the  free  America  that 
gave  it  birth.  And  to  dedicate  our  own 
work,  in  the  fullest  possible  measure,  to  the 
presentation  of  the  American  scene,  its 
standards  and  its  freedoms,  its  belief  and  its 
ideals,  as  we  know  them  and  believe  in 
them:" 

Revise  Film  Handling  in 
Toronto  Exchanges 

A  completely  revised  code  of  Ontario  regu- 
lations for  the  handling  and  distribution  of  films 
is  scheduled  to  go  into  effect  in  March,  accord- 
ing to  information  from  Toronto,  following  the 
adoption  of  amended  rules  resulting  from  the 
film  exchange  fire  there. 

Film  companies  will  not  be  compelled  to  move 
outside  of  Toronto,  but  buildings  must  be  not 
more  than  two  stories  high,  with  elevators  and 
stairways  totally  enclosed.  Covered  containers 
with  a  capacity  of  200  pounds  are  required  for 
scrap  films  and  not  over  500  pounds  may  be 
kept  overnight  inside  the  film  vault.  New 
specifications  limit  the  film  vault  to  750  cubic 
feet  and  roof  vents  must  not  face  windows  or 
doors  less  than  50  feet  away  and  fire  escapes 
less  than  25  feet  away. 

No  other  business  can  be  carried  on  in  the 
Film  Exchange  Building  and  two  exits  are 
required  for  each  revising  room. 

20th-Fox  and  Parannount 
Arrange  Radio  Time 

In  a  series  of  four  consecutive  broadcasts  on 
the  Kate  Smith  Hour  from  Hollywood,  dram- 
atic highlights  of  an  equal  number  of  forth- 
coming Paramount  releases  will  be  heard  by 
CBS  listeners  starting  February  25.  Last  Sat- 
urday Twentieth  Century-Fox,  in  a  tie-in  with 
CBS,  had  their  current  release,  "The  Lodger," 
credited  on  the  Laird  Cregar  program,  "Inner 
Sanctum,"  and  on  Sunday  Martha  Raye  ap- 
peared on  the  Blue  Network's  "Radio  Hall  of 
Fame,"  with  the  forthcoming  film,  "Four  Jills 
in  a  Jeep"  getting  mention. 

The  first  of  the  Paramount  pictures  to  be 
dramatized  in  part  will  be  "The  Hitler  Gang," 
and  on  March  3  Fred  MacMurray  will  star  in 
high  spots  from  the  comedy,  "Standing  Room 
Only." 

The  third  of  the  series  will  be  "The  Unin- 
vited" March  10,  with  Alan  Ladd  as  guest 
star.  The  concluding  program  will  be  on 
March  17  with  Veronica  Lake  performing  in  a 
portion  of  "The  Hour  Before  the  Dawn." 


B.  &  K.  Unveils  Honor  Roll 

In  connection  with  a  dance  sponsored  by  Bala- 
bah  &  Katz  Theatres,  Chicago,  more  than  3,500 
employees  participated  in  the  dedication  of  a 
"Roll  of  Honor,"  which  was  a  separate  fea- 
ture on  the  dance  night,  Friday  at  the  Hotel 
Stevens.  The  committee  was  headed  by  Jacob 
Katz,  Charles  Cottle  and  J.  R.  Savage. 


February    12,    1944  MOTION    PICTURE    HERALD  19 


Soskin  Explains 
Rank    Plan  for 
World  Markets 


J.  Arthur  Rank,  England's  largest  producer- 
distributor-exhibitor,  is  so  determined  to  aid  the 
British  industry  that  he  will  "go  to  any  extent" 
to  establish  a  formula  for  that  aid  and  would 
even  be  willing  to  act  as  banker  to  one  of  the 
American  independent  producing  companies, 
Paul  Soskin,  producer  of  the  Rank-controlled 
Independent  Producers,  Ltd.,  told  the  trade 
press  in  New  York  last  week. 

Mr.  Soskin  is  here  to  obtain  an  American 
director  and  writer  for  his  next  film,  "Signed 
With  Their  Honor,"  to  shoot  exteriors  for 
the  film  and  to  obtain  the  cooperation  of  Am.er- 
ican  technicians  and  talent  for  other  pictures 
in  which  Mr.  Rank  will  have  an  interest. 

Further  exposition  of  Mr.  Rank's  post-war 
world  market  plans  and  his  proposals  for  gain- 
ing a  larger  market  in  America  for  British 
films  was  made  by  Mr.  Soskin,  who  said  that 
the  international  market  had  become  a  pressing 
necessity  for  British  producers  because  the  in- 
creased negative  costs  apparent  in  all  British 
pictures  could  not  be  recouped  in  England's 
5,000  theatres. 

Says  Rank  Encourages 
British  Producers 

According  to  cables  from  London  last  week, 
Mr.  Rank  proposed  a  grand  council  of  all  sec- 
tions of  the  film  industry  to  organize  effective 
resistance  to  any  attempt  to  increase  Govern- 
ment control  of  the  industry  and  to  convince  the 
British  nation  of  the  indusry's  ideals  and  sense 
of  responsibility. 

This  recommended  all-industry  unit  to  avert 
Government  rule  followed  closely  the  appoint- 
ment, earlier  in 'the  week,  by  the  British  Films 
Council  of  a  committee  of  four  men  to  suggest 
measures  "to  counteract  the  dangers  of  a  film 
monopoly." 

Describing  Mr.  Rank  as  a  man  "with  great 
vision"  who  has  encouraged  British  producers 
"to  make  good  pictures  so  that  we  can  get  the 
international  market,"  Mr.  Soskin  further  ex- 
plained that  the  "friendly  competition"  which 
the  British  producer-distributor  desires  to  pro- 
mote should  be  matched  by  cooperation  from 
American  talent  and  technicians.  That  cooper- 
ation, he  added,  was  necessary  to  achieve  in 
British  films  the  balance  between  British  and 
American  tempos,  accent,  spirit,  and  star  names 
which  would  make  pictures  acceptable  on  both 
sides  of  the  Atlantic  and  other  sections  of  the 
English  speaking  world. 

Amongi  the  stars  Independent  Producers  is 
interested  in  signing  are  Vivien  Leigh,  now 
under  contract  to  David  O.  Selznick;  Ingrid 
Bergman  and  Dorothy  Maguire,  another  Selz- 
nick player. 

Estimates  British  Output 
This  Year  at  49  Films 

Directors  of  Independent  Producers  include 
Gabriel  Pascal,  Michael  Powell,  Emeric  Press- 
burger  and  Mr.  Soskin.  Mr.  Soskin  said  each 
would  make  two  or  three  pictures  a  year  "cost- 
ing between  $1,000,000  and  $2,000,000,"  and 
would  receive  25  per  cent  of  the  profits  after 
negative  costs,  and  a  share  of  world  distribu- 
tion profits. 

Approximately  49  films  would  be  made  in 
England  this  year,  Mr.  Soskin  said,  citing  lack 
of  studio  space  as  one  of  the  factors  preventing 
a  larger  output.  Films  which  Independent 
Producers  have  announced  are,  in  addition  to 
the  Soskin  production,  "Caesar  and  Cleo- 
patra," the  Gabriel  Pascal  film  starring  Vivien 
Leigh;  "Canterbury  Talis,"  by  Mr.  Pascal  and 
Mr.  Powell,  and  "Fame  Is  the  Spur,"  by  Mr. 
Soskin. 

Barrington  Gain,   financial   adviser  to  Mr. 


PAUL  SOSKIN 


staff  Pboto 


Rank,  who  returned  this  week  from  a  brief 
visit  to  Hollywood,  indicated  that  a  distribu- 
tion deal  for  the  Rank  British  films  was  nearer 
completion.  Mr.  Gain  said  he  would  complete 
distribution  arrangements,  although  there  were 
difficulties  to  overcome,  especially  physical  fac- 
tors arising  from  the  war,  manpower  and  other 
shortages. 

Dr.  Alexander  Galperson,  a  director  of  Two- 
Cities  Films,  Ltd.,  a  major  producing  company 
which  has  financial  arrangements  with  Mr. 
Rank,  also  returned  from  the  coast  this  week. 

In  London,  meanwhile,  E.  T.  Carr,  formerly 
managing  director  for  United  Artists  in  En- 
gland who  resigned  recently  to  take  a  post  with 
Mr.  Rank,  this  week  opened  headquarters  in 
the  offices  of  General  Film  Distributors,  the 
Rank-controlled  company. 


Lipton  Luncheon  Guest 
Before  Army  Induction 

On  the  eve  of  his  induction  into  the  Army, 
David  A.  Lipton,  Columbia's  director  of  adver- 
tising, publicity  and  exploitation,  was  guest  of 
honor  Monday  at  a  luncheon  attended  by  more 
than  40  members  of  the  department  at  the 
Hickory  House,  New  York.  Mr.  Lipton  was 
presented  a  watch  and  a  scroll. 

Among  those  who  attended  were:  N.  B. 
Spingold,  Frank  P.  Rosenberg,  Lawrence  A. 
Lipskin,  Hortense  Schorr,  Harry  McWilliams, 
Sylvia  Kossack,  Jack  Meyers,  Herbert  Smith, 
David  O'Malley,  Edward  Schwartz,  Sidney 
Alexander,  Sigmund  Maitles.  Robert  A.  Fergu- 
son, Miriam  Teichner,  Paul  Walker,  Helen 
Harrison,  George  Ettinger. 

J.  Raymond  Murray,  Hal  Seroy,  Jack  Shawn, 
Henry  Spiegel,  Al  Rylander,  Sam  Geison,  Joe 
Wold,  Nick  Amen,  Nick  Borgia,  Wilbur  Har- 
rison, Charles  Webb,  Jack  Kerness,  Ernst  Lich- 
tenstein,  Irving  Gilman,  Henry  Strauss,  Clar- 
ence A.  Schneider,  Seth  Flax,  Samuel  Kootz, 
Celia  Schnabel,  Charlotte  Walerstein,  Eileen 
Regan,  Esther  Feldman,  Madge  Drake,  Rita 
Antkes,  Bernice  Kaufman,  Ann  Colletta,  Ralph 
Martin  and  Perry  Mandel. 


To  Make  Film  Equipment 
Under  War  Contract 

Secretary  of  Commerce  Jesse  Jones  announced 
in  Washington  last  week  that  the  Defense  Plant 
Corporation  had  executed  a  contract  with  the 
Motion  Picture  Engineering  Corporation,  Chi- 
cago, to  provide  film  equipment  at  a  plant  in 
Cook  County,  111.,  at  a  cost  of  approximately 
$25,000.  The  Chicago  company  will  operate  the 
facilities,  title  to  which  will  remain  in  the  De- 
fense Plant  Corporation,  a  Government  war 
agency.  Because  this  is  a  war  contract,  details 
of  its  character  and  purpose  were  withheld. 


Paramount  Sets 
Sales  Plans  for 
Two  Pictures 


Sales  and  merchandising  plans  for  "The 
Story  of  Dr.  Wassell,"  Cecil  B.  DeMille's  Tech- 
nicolor production,  and  "Lady  in  the  Dark," 
Technicolor  film  starring  Ginger  Rogers,  were 
discussed  at  Paramount's  three-day  sales  meet- 
ing held  in  New  York  over  the  weekend  at  the 
Hotel  Pierre.  Selling  and  exploitation  plans 
for  the  company's  remaining  1943-44  releases 
also  were  outlined. 

Neil  Agnew,  general  sales  manager,  who  pre- 
sided, told  the  district  managers  and  district 
advertising  representatives  that  "The  Story  of 
Dr.  Wassell"  probably  will  be  given  its  world 
premiere  in  Washington,  D.  C,  early  in  May. 
This  will  be  followed  by  an  opening  in  Little 
Rock,  Ark.,  home  of  Commander  Corydon  M. 
Wassell,  upon  whose  adventures  in  Java  during 
the  Japanese  invasion  the  film  is  based. 

After  the  Little  Rock  opening,  pre-release 
engagements  of  the  picture  will  be  arranged 
in  a  selected  number  of  important  key  cities, 
it  is  planned.  The  film  will  be  released  sepa- 
rately under  a  policy  of  regular  admission 
prices. 

Mr.  Agnew  also  told  the  sales  force  that 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  had  an  excellent  opportu- 
nity of  being  Paramount's  "biggest  grosser  of 
all  tiine,"  backed  by  the  company's  $500,000  ad- 
vertising and  publicity  campaign.  Exhibitors 
will  not  be  asked  to  raise  admission  scales,  he 
said.  Pre-release  engagements  of  "Lady  in  the 
Dark"  have  been  set'  in  15  cities,  including  the 
world  premiere  in  Hollywood  which  was  held 
Wednesday  night  at  the  Paramount  theatre, 
and  the  New  York  opening  at  the  Paramount, 
scheduled  for  February  22. 

Selling  plans  for  "Frenchman's  Creek,"  Tech- 
nicolor film  based  on  the  Daphne  DuMaurier 
novel,  and  "For  Whom  the  Bell  Tolls,"  another 
of  the  company's  Technicolor  productions,  also 
were  disciissed  during  the  sessions  which,  with 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  and  "Story  of  Dr.  Wassell," 
total  four  specials  to  be  released  by  the  com- 
pany this  season. 

Barney  Balaban,  president  of  Paramount,  and 
Y.  Frank  Freeman,  vice-president  and  studio 
head,  addressed  the  delegates.  Mr.  Freeman 
was  expected  to  return  to  Hollywood  during 
the  week.  Robert  Gilham,  advertising  and  pub- 
licity director,  left  for  the  coast  last  Friday 
and  planned  to  make  stopovers  en  route. 

Pre-release  engagements  for  "Lady"  already 
set  include :  Metropolitan,  Boston,  March  9 ; 
Beach,  Sheridan  and  Paramount  theatres,  Mi- 
ami, March  17,  day-and-date ;  Carolina,  Char- 
lotte, N.  C,  April  9;  United  Artists,  Detroit, 
March  1,  8  or  15 ;  Orpheum,  Phoenix,  March  3 ; 
Rialto,  Tucson,  March  3 ;  the  new  Radio  City 
theatre,  Minneapolis,  March  2;  Fox,  San  Fran- 
cisco, March  2;  Capitol,  Cincinnati,  March  17; 
Newman,  Kansas  City,  April  6;  Majestic,  Dal- 
las, March  16  or  17 ;  also  engagements  in  St. 
Louis  and  Baltimore. 

The  film's  Hollywood  gala  premiere  on 
Wednesday  was  highlighted  by  the  appearance 
of  a  color  guard  of  women  Marines  and  the 
induction  of  new  members  on  the  stage  of  the 
Paramount  by  Ginger  Rogers,  who  stars  in  the 
picture.  Army,  Navy  and  Marine  Corps  officers, 
in  addition  to  Hollywood's  screen  personalities 
and  civic  leaders  also  were  present. 


"Uninvited"  Opens  in  Capita! 

Paramount's  "The  Uninvited"  had  its  premiere 
at  Loew's  Capitol  theatre  in  Washington,  D.  C, 
on  Thursday.  The  Broadway  opening  is  sched- 
uled for  February  19  at  the  Globe  theatre. 
Ray  Miland,  Ruth  Hussey  and  Donald  Crisp 
are  the  co-stars.  Stage  actress  Cornelia  Otis 
Skinner  and  newcomer  Gail  Russell  are  fea- 
tured. 


3 


4lbWAR  L0Ati  DRtVE.A^A  BOND  FOR  EVERY  SEAT 


22 


Eight  Studios  Plan  Product 
Done  with  Cooperation  of 
CIAA  Officials 

Hollywood  Bureau 

At  midnight  in  the  third  year  of  the  Mo- 
tion Picture  Society  for  the  Americas,  liai- 
son body  implementing  cooperation  between 
the  production  branch  of  the  industry  and 
the  Coordinator  of  Inter-American  Affairs, 
Hollywood  studios  have  in  preparation  14 
features  pertaining  to  Latin  America  or  to 
subjects  which  bring  them  within  the  zone 
of  CIAA  interest. 

The  Society  is  a  voluntary  organization 
composed  of  the  heads  of  the  major  studios 
and  most  independent  producers.  Its  presi- 
dent, elected  last  June,  is  Joseph  I.  Breen, 
administrator  of  the  Production  Code.  Its 
function  is  to  suggest  to  and  listen  to  sug- 
gestions from  the  CIAA  with  respect  to  film 
subjects  which  the  latter  regards  as  of  rele- 
vancy to  the  status  of  inter-American  rela- 
tions. 

The  CIAA  provides  advice,  basic  informa- 
tion, sometimes  a  measure  of  guarantee 
against  financial  loss,  in  connection  with 
pictures  that  fall  within  its  sphere  of  opera- 
tion. 

20th-Fox  Has  Three  Films 
Now  on  Schedule 

The  14  features  in  preparation  represent 
eight  studios. 

Twentieth  Century-Fox  has  three  of  them 
on  its  agenda ;  RKO  Radio  and  Paramount 
have  two  each,  as  does  PRC  Pictures,  which 
is  in  the  market  for  a  third;  Metro-Gold- 
wyn-Mayer,  Warner  Brothers,  Republic  and 
Walt  Disney  have  one  each. 

"Chico  Chica,"  which  Damon  Runyon  will 
produce  with  Carmen  Miranda  starred, 
probably  will  be  the  first  of  the  Twenti- 
eth Century-Fox  triad  to  go  before  the 
cameras.  It's  a  musical  to  be  done  in 
Technicolor. 

"Mexico  City,"  the  second  on  the  20th- 
Fox  schedule,  is  likewise  a  Technicolor 
project  and  a  musical,  to  be  produced  by 
William  LeBaron. 

"Laredo,"  third  from  Twentieth-Fox,  is  a 
border  town  story,  which  Irving  Starr  will 
produce  in  Technicolor. 

"Spanish  Main,"  on  which  RKO  Radio 
has  disclosed  little,  is  planned  as  one  of 
the  biggest  pictures  in  the  company's  his- 
tory. Although  a  period  picture  con- 
cerned with  the  pirates  who  preyed  upon 
merchantmen  in  the  days  before  interna- 
tional brigandage  became  a  matter  of  sub- 
marines and  world  warring,  the  film  will 
have  the  benefit  of  CIAA  counsel  for  pur- 
poses of  keeping  the  issues  clear  on  such 
matters  as  whose  nation  did  what  about 
them. 

"Panamericana,"  the  second  RKO  Radio 
enterprise  in  this  bracket,  is  as  yet  little 
more  than  a  production  idea.  It  is  thought 
of  as  a  musical  on  the  grand  scale. 

"Rurales,"  Cecil  B.  DeMille  production  in 
Technicolor  for  Paramount,  will  tell  the 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


story  of  the  Mexican  constabulary's  part 
in  the  1912  insurrection.  This  is  the  next 
picture  on  the  DeMille  schedule. 

"Curacao,"  Paramount's  second  with 
Latin  American  aspects,  is  described  as  a 
romantic  drama  set  among  the  islands  off 
the  northern  coast  of  South  America. 
John  Farrow  is  to  direct  it  in  Technicolor. 

"Natal,"  for  PRC  Pictures,  is  an  original 
by  Harrison  Carter,  for  production  by 
Martin  Mooney.  It's  to  tell  the  story  of 
the  world's  largest  airport,  footage  fur- 
nished by  the  CIAA  guaranteeing  authen- 
ticity. 

"Passport  to  Paradise,"  PRC's  second,  is 
a  romantic  drama  set  in  the  Chilean  moun- 
tains, and  the  studio  is  in  quest  of  an- 
other Latin  American  story  for  use  as  a 
vehicle  for  Armida,  starred  recently  in  its 
"The  Girl  from  Monterey." 

"Yolanda  and  the  Thief,"  on  which  Irv- 
ing Brecher  is  doing  a  script  for  Metro- 
Goldwyn-Mayer,  is  a  fantasy  with  a 
South  American  background,  which  Ar- 
thur Freed  is  to  produce  as  a  musical. 
Fred  Astaire  has  been  mentioned  inform- 
ally as  a  choice  for  one  of  the  starring 
roles. 

"To  Have  and  Have  Not,"  for  Warners, 
based  on  Ernest  Hemingway's  drama  of 
Cuba,  is  in  preparation  for  direction  by 
Howard  Hawks,  who  probably  will  func- 
tion likewise  as  producer. 

"Brazil,"  on  which  Republic  has  assigned 
Al  Rogell  to  produce,  is  a  lavish  musical 
now  in  final  stages  of  preparation,  which 
is  to  be  filmed  in  Technicolor. 

"Three  Caballeros"  is  on  the  Disney 
schedule.  Walt  Disney's  "Saludos  Ami- 
gos"  has  been  called  the  most  effective  of 
all  Latin  American  subjects  thus  far.  His 
"Surprise  Package"  is  in  the  editing 
stage. 

In  addition  to  these  14  features,  the  in- 
dustry may  be  seeing  at  any  time,  or  never, 
the  feature  which  Orson  Welles  photo- 
graphed under  RKO  Radio  auspices  with 
CIAA  cooperation  in  South  America  year 
before  last.  Still  in  possession  of  the  studio, 
and  subject  to  consistently  recurrent  re- 
ports that  editing  has  been  undertaken  with- 
out benefit  of  Mr.  Welles'  presence,  the 
footage  is  generally  described  as  spectacular 
but  unrelated.  Filmed  under  CIAA  guar- 
antee of  compensation  for  any  loss  sus- 
tained in  distribution  and  exhibition,  up  to 
$300,000,  the  property  may  be  expected  to 
emerge  from  the  editing  department  sooner 
or  later,  although  nobody  professes  at  this 
time  to  know  when. 


New  England  Variety  Club 
Elects  1944  Officers 

At  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the 
Variety  Club  of  New  England  in  Boston  last 
week  the  following  officers  for  1944  were  elect- 
ed: Albert  M.  Kane,  chief  barker;  Theodore 
Fleisher,  first  assistant  chief  barker;  Arthur 
Lockwood,  second  assistant  chief  barker ;  Abra- 
ham Yarchin,  treasurer,  and  Max  Levenson, 
secretary.  Joseph  Cifre,  in  charge  of  free  films 
for  "shut-ins"  sponsored  by  the  Club,  reported 
on  the  project  for  the  last  10  months. 


i 

February    12,  1944 

"Lady  in  Dark^^  , 
Notable  for  Use 
Of  Mood  Music 

Among  other  innovations  of  theme  and  set- 
ting Paramount's  "Lady  in  the  Dark"  (reviewed 
in  the  Product  Digest  Section)  recognizes  the 
marriage  of  music  and  the  motion  picture.  It 
marks  progress  from  the  impassioned  wooing 
of  film  by  organ  and  orchestra  to  a  natural 
blending  of  the  sound  track  into  the  theme  and 
action. 

The  shift  from  reality  to  dreams,  which  the 
audience  must  make  at  several  points  to  follow 
the  story,  is  signalized  by  the  approach  of 
orchestral  music,  which  fades  out  when  the  ac- 
tion returns  to  the  present.  There  is  no  accom- 
paniment to  the  "now"  of  the  film.  But  the 
dream  sequences  and  flashbacks  have  a  constant 
flow  of  melody,  breaking  into  song  during  the 
circus  scene  when  Ginger  Rogers  sings  the 
"Saga  of  Jennie"  from  the  stage  show  and  Ray 
Milland  puts  over  some  melodic  patter  as  the 
ringmaster. 

For  the  circus  scene,  too,  there  is  real  circus 
music  with  steam  calliope  and  band.  And  for 
the  high  school  dance  there  is  an  orchestra 
which  reproduces  with  brassy  perfection  the 
jazz  band  of  the  "Charleston"  era. 

The  greater  part  of  the  music,  however,  is 
Robert  Emmett  Dolan's  arrangement  of  Kurt 
Weill's  score  for  the  stage  play  to  suggest  the 
atmosphere  of  troubled  revery  in  which  the 
scenes  are  played.  This  heightens  the  effect  of 
shimmering  masses  of  color  on  the  screen,  over- 
laid with  a  softening  haze.  The  theremin,  the 
organ  and  a  muted  chorus  of  voices  are  cleverly 
combined  in  Robert  Russell  Bennett's  orches- 
trations. 

Aside  from  the  two  songs  and  the  Johnny 
Burke-Jimmy  van  Heusen  composition  for  a 
ballet  danced  by  Miss  Rogers  and  Don  Loper, 
there  is  a  recurrent  theme  finally  identified  as 
"My  Ship  Has  Sails."  The  song  is  one  that 
the  story's  heroine  had  carried  through  life, 
hummed  when  she  was  worried,  but  did  not 
fully  remember.  When  she  does,  it  brings  back 
a  scene  of  early  childhood,  of  her  first  disillu- 
sionment with  the  complete  goodness  of  the 
world.  Recognition  of  the  song  and  the  cir- 
cumstances in  which  she  first  sang  it  complete 
the  woman's  understanding  of  herself. 

Throughout  the  film  the  opulence  of  the  mu- 
sic is  in  keeping  with  the  spectacular  produc- 
tion Richard  Blumenthal  has  given  the  story, 
while  the  integration  of  sight  and  sound  clari- 
fies the  action  and  reinforces  the  emotional 
appeal. 

Memphis  Court  Asks  Strict 
Supervision  of  Youth 

Judge  Camille  Kelley  of  the  Memphis  Ju- 
venile Court,  has  ordered  policemen  to  patrol 
all  theatres  and  other  places  where  youth  con- 
gregate. Judge  Kelley  said,  "There  should  be 
a  probation  office  everywhere  there  is  a  public 
health  nurse."  A  clinic  for  the  consideration  of 
the  juvenile  problem  was  held  by  the  Shelby 
County  Parent  Teachers  Association.  Dr.  Sue 
Powers,  superintendent  of  Shelby  County 
schools,  advocated  measures  to  keep  all  children 
under  15  years  in  school  and  to  issue  no  work 
permits  to  juveniles  below  this  age  limit. 


Consolidateci  Denies  Reports 

An  announcement  from  Consolidated  Film 
Industries,  Inc.,  this  week  said:  "Rumors  that 
the  management  of  Consolidated  Flm  Indus- 
tries, Inc.,  now  has  under  consideration  a  plan 
of  recapitalization  which  contemplates  the  pay- 
ment or  discharge  of  the  dividend  arrearages  on 
preferred  stock  have  come  to  the  management's 
attention.  There  is  no  foundation  for  such 
rumors." 


14  Films  Now  in  Work 
On  Latin  America 


HEAVEN  CAN  WA 


from  20th  CENTURY-FOX! T 


from  20th  CENTURY-FOXl 


WINTERIIME 


from  20th  CENTURY-FOX!  . 


SWEET  Mi  mm 


from  20th  CENTURY-FOX!  . 


from  20th  CENTURY-FOX!  . 


HAPPY  LAND 


from  20th  CENTURY-FOX!  . 


IHE  GANH  ALL  HERE 


from  20th  CENTURY-FOX! 


LLOYD  BACON 
SAM  JAFFE 

ROBERT  T.  KANE 


CENTURY-FOX 

THE  LODGER 


LIFEBOAT 


JANE  EYRE 


BUFFALO  BILL 


THE  PURPLE  HEART 


THE  SONG  OF  BERNADETTE 


PRINTED  IN  U.  3. 


February    12,    I  944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


27 


RANK  DEVELOPS  NATIONAL 
CHILDREN'S  FILM  CLUBS 


Sees  Screen  Most  Effective 
Medium  for  Fostering  of 
Good  Citizenship 

by  PETER  BURNUP 

in  London 

Ostensibly  preoccupied  exclusively  with 
perfecting  his  plans  for  an  impending  as- 
sault on  world  film  markets,  currently  the 
centerpiece  of  a  fantastic  ferment  of  inter- 
nationally circulated  rumor,  j.  Arthur  Rank 
takes  time  out  to  consider  something  nearer 
his  heart — so  his  closest  friends  assert — than 
any  plans  for  world  film  domination.  Some- 
thing, moreover,  which  he  regards  as  the 
motion  picture's  potentially  most  significant 
contribution  to  world  order. 

Juvenile  delinquency,  ever-present  prob- 
lem in  social  administration,  inevitably  be- 
comes more  widespread  in  wartime;  in  this 
war,  with  thousands  of  working  class  school 
children  compelled  to  evacuate  from  their 
homes  and  away  from  the  care  of  their 
parents,  more  than  ever  so.  Inevitably,  too, 
the  motion  picture,  always  a  target  of  con- 
demnation by  less-informed  magistrates  and 
social  workers,  is  blamed  more  than  ever 
for  sporadic  outbreaks  of  childish  lawless- 
ness. Mr.  Rank,  himself  a  local  magistrate, 
serving  without  pay,  in  accordance  with 
English  custom,  is  aware  of  that  circum- 
stance. 

Sees  Screen  Vital  in  Development 
Of  Good  Citizenship 

But  Mr.  Rank's  present  concern  goes 
further  than  the  problem  of  delinquency.  He 
has  a  deep,  abiding  anxiety  in  the  whole 
question  of  child  welfare;  in  the  moulding, 
as  he  expresses  it,  of  an  instinct  for  good 
citizenship  and  good  neighborliness.  He 
maintains,  moreover — neatly  spiking  the 
guns,  thereby,  of  the  bigots — that  the  mo- 
tion picture  is  this  world's  most  effective 
medium  for  the  evocation  of  that  instinct. 

Hence,  the  National  Cinema  Boys  and 
Girls  Club  which  he  created  and  whose  or- 
ganization is  one  of  his  major  concerns. 

The  distant  observer  may  discern,  as  he 
thinks,  cynicism  in  this  attitude  of  Mr. 
Rank— "Machiavelli  of  the  Movies,"  "Man 
of  Millions,"  citing  two  only  of  the  epithets 
currently  applied  to  him.  Paradoxical 
though  it  seem,  however,  that  is  not  the 
case. 

Work  of  Clubs  Earns  High 
Praise  of  Many  Groups 

Mr.  Rank  was  reared  a  strict  Methodist; 
still  is  a  devote  adherent  of  that  religious 
connection.  The  Children's  Clubs  which 
already  function  in  150  of  his  700  Odeon 
and  Gaumont-British  theatres — they  have  a 
membership  between  them  of  approximate- 
ly 200,000 — are  but  the  tangible,  expression 
of  a  vast  volume  of  social  work  which  he 
inspires  unobtrusively  in  many  directions. 

The  work  of  the  Clubs,  moreover,  has 
earned  high  praise  from  people  of  every 
kind;  education  authorities,  police  chiefs. 


CHILDREN  CINEMA  CLUBS 
HIGHLY  REGARDED 

Cinema  clubs  for  boys  and  girls, 
functioning  now  in  many  theatres  of 
the  Odeon  and  Gaumont  British  cir- 
cuits, are  widely  regarded  in  Britain 
as  the  industry's  finest  contribution 
to  national  welfare. 

The  clubs'  founder,  J.  Arthur  Rank, 
in  a  message  to  Motion  Picture 
Herald,  says: 

"I  am  well  aware  of  the  crusade 
waged  by  Martin  Quigley  through 
the  Motion  Picture  Herald  for  a  due 
sense  of  responsibility  in  motion  pic- 
tures. 

"A  high  responsibility  indeed  rests 
on  our  industry  in  the  moulding  of 
the  minds,  the  personality,  of  the 
coming  generation.  I  believe  we  hold 
in  our  hands  a  weapon  for  good — 
one  which  will  help  forge  the  children, 
particularly  in  these  parlous  days  of 
war,  into  the  good  citizens,  the  good 
neighbours,  of  tomorrow. 

"We  have  an  unrivalled  medium, 
in  the  visual  resources  of  the  screen, 
for  the  leading  of  their  outburgeon- 
ing  minds  into  paths  of  decency.  We 
have  them,  sitting  in  our  theatres,  at 
their  most  impressionable  age.  The 
onus  of  that  great  responsibility  lies 
upon  us." 


clergy  (not  excepting  even  members  of  the 
Bench  of  Bishops).  And,  in  so  doing,  added 
inestimably  to  the  civic  stature  of  the  in- 
dustry. 

The  Clubs  take  the  place,  in  their  re- 
spective theatres,  of  the  ordinary  Saturday 
children's  matinee.  But  their  promotion  and 
functioning  was  not  left  in  haphazard  fashion 
to  the  resident  manager.  The  lines  upon 
which  they  were  formed,  on  which  they  run. 
have  been  laid  down  in  a  carefully  compiled 
managerial  "guide,"  prepared  by  Rank's 
theatre  controllers  in  consultation  with  the 
nation's  foremost  social  authorities. 

Managers,  furthermore,  had  an  intensive 
personal  coaching  from  their  immediate  su- 
pervisors. They  were  not,  they  were  strict- 
ly enjoined,  to  regard  this  as  just  another 
job  of  showmanlike  exploitation.  Showman- 
ship was  to  be  used  in  developing  the  chil- 
dren's interest;  but  it  was  to  be  showman- 
ship in  the  service  not  of  the  theatre  but  of 
the  community. 

Orthodox  film  programs  form  the  basis 
of  the  Club  "meetings";  Westerns  and 
serials  predominating.  A  cartoon  film  opens 
the  program  proper,  followed  by  a  cultural 
short,  obtained  generally  from  the  Ministry 
of  Information.  In  this  regard  Mr.  Rank  is 
far  from  satisfied.  He  has  set  his  ace  pro- 
ducers to  work  on  a  series  of  "parable" 
pictures;  insisting  that  they  shall  be  of  the 


highest  technical  quality,  possess  the  finest 
entertainment  value. 

"The  moral  must  be  pointed,"  says  Mr. 
Rank,  "but  the  children  must  be  entertained. 
Their  lesson  in  good  neighborliness  must  * 
be  absorbed  subconsciously." 

Prices  of  admission  to  the  "meetings" 
range  from  3d.  (six  cents)  to  6d.  (12  cents). 
But  the  theatre  takes  none  of  the  receipts. 
The  takings  go  into  a  common  pool,  spread 
throughout  the  Clubs,  and  which  provides 
for  competition  prizes  (given  in  the  form 
of  War  Savings  Certificates),  help  to  needy 
"members,"  scholarships  for  children  with 
specialized  but  undeveloped  talent.  Already 
— the  first  Club  was  initiated  in  April  of 
last  year — one  little  girl  has  been  assisted 
to  a  Music  Academy  scholarship  by  means 
of  the  "Pool." 

Clubs  Must  Be  Approved 
By  Social  Workers 

Very  strictly,  Britain's  cinema  chief  has 
ordained  that  no  Club  may  be  started  with- 
out the  approval  of  the  local  social  work- 
ers. Managers  must  convince  head  office 
that  they  have  the  cooperation  of  such  per- 
sons as  the  director  of  education,  police 
chief,  leading  clerics,  before  the  Club  is  per- 
mitted to  function. 

So  that  autonomy  may  be  achieved  and  a 
sense  of  responsibility  bred  in  the  children, 
the  affairs  and  finances  of  each  Club  are 
run  by  a  committee  of  control  on  which  sit 
the  theatre  manager,  some  independent  adult 
of  local  eminence,  three,  or  perhaps  five, 
boys  and  girls  elected  by  their  fellow  mem- 
bers. At  committee  meetings,  the  votes  of 
the  children  have  value  equal  with  those 
of  the  adults.  The  juvenile  committee  mem- 
bers come  up  for  election  every  third  month. 

Mr.  Rank  and  his  advisers  have  devised 
a  simple  ritual  for  Club  "meetings."  Pro- 
ceedings begin  with  a  rousing  period  of  com- 
munity singing. 

Talks  on  Varied  Topics 
Feature  Programs 

After  the  cartoon  is  a  "talk,"  never  more 
than  five  minutes,  delivered  preferably  by 
someone  in  uniform;  soldier  on  leave,  may- 
be, or  police  officer  talking  about  traffic 
dangers  in  the  blackout.  The  children  are 
invited  to  submit  essays  on  the  "talk,"  prizes 
of  Savings  Certificates  to  the  value  of 
7s/6d  (about  $1.50)  being  awarded  for  the 
best  effort. 

Devices,  too,  like  birthday  greetings  to 
each  of  the  members  or  messages  to  the 
sick  are  adopted.  Mr.  Rank  plans  that  clubs 
shall  function  eventually  in  all  his  cinemas; 
envisages  an  army  of  young  citizens  under 
his  personal  banner  one  million  strong. 

Immediate  results,  in  improved  childhood 
welfare  and  behavior,  are  difficult  to  assess. 
It  is  the  fact,  nevertheless,  that  close  stu- 
dents of  delinquency  and  other  problems 
of  youth  are  impressed  with  the  endeavor; 
have'  publicly  expressed  their  praise. 

Also,  it  may  be,  Mr.  Rank  is  helping 
mould  not  only  good  citizens  but  an  audience 
nucleus  for  the  future. 


28 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February     12,  1944 


JVhite^  screen  s  Oldest 
Acton  remembers  When 


by  FLOYD  STONE 

"I  NEVER  was  an  actor." 

That  is  Arthur  S.  White's  summation  of 
his  brief  career  in  the  first  "story"  motion 
pictures — a  career  which  at  present  makes 
him  the  only  surviving  "star"  of  those  early 
Edison  film  days. 

Mr.  White,  who  will  be  84  years  old 
March  29,  lives  with  his  wife  and  sister  in 
Elmhurst,  Long  Island,  and  has  been  retired 
from  his  real  vocation — that  of  theatre  man- 
ager— since  1922. 

Of  the  days  when  he  was  Thomas  A. 
Edison's  studio  manager,  Mr.  White  says 
that  he  was  foremost  a  business  man;  and 
that,  because  the  Edison  Company  was 
watchful  of  payroll  costs,  and  wary  of  un- 
reliable actors — and  they  were  unreliable  for 
films,  he  testifies — he  substituted  for  them, 
now  and  then. 

Describes  Role  as  His 
"Crowning  Piece  of  Acting" 

Not  only  did  Mr.  White  step  from  studio 
management  into  bit  parts,  and  then  into 
leads,  such  as  he  had  in  "The  Life  of  an 
American  Fireman,"  but  his  wife  also  acted 
in  the  pictures,  and  so  did  his  son  Thomas, 
now  45.  Thomas  was  in  "Jack  and  the 
Beanstalk,"  and  "The  Juvenile  Fire  Depart- 
ment." 

Mr.  White  says  of  "The  Life  of  an  Ameri- 
can Fireman"  that  it  was  his  "crowning 
piece  of  acting,"  and  he  describes  the  selec- 
tion of  the  theme. 

"When  I  was  a  boy,  18  or  so,  I  was  a  'call 
member'  of  the  Chelsea,  Mass.,  fire  depart- 
ment. My  home  was  nearby,  and  sometimes 
I  would  not  come  home,  but  sleep  instead  in 
the  firehouse.  Later,  after  1901,  when  I 
was  appointed  Edison  studio  manager,  and 
an  associate  of  Edwin  S.  Porter,  I  had 
filmed  a  special  'run'  of  my  old  department. 

"They  put  on  a  great  show,  and  I  was  very 
much  pleased.  Then  when  we  decided  to 
make  the  250-foot  picture,  using  that  run. 
Porter  said  to  me,  'You're  a  fireman ;  I  want 
you  to  be. the  lead.'  " 

Recalls  That  He  Wore 
Fireman's  Uniform 

Mr.  White  wore  a  fireman's  uniform,  and 
directed  four  or  five  men  in  their  fire  fighting 
operations,  as  he  recalls.  He  has  no  other 
memories  of  the  plot  because,  as  he  puts  it, 
he  hasn't  "thought  much  about  it  for  40 
years." 

However,  he  regards  the  picture  as  the 
first  one  to  tell  a  story.  The  second,  in  his 
estimation,  was  "Jack  and  the  Beanstalk." 

At  the  most,  Mr.  White  was  in  15  pic- 
tures, he  says,  adding  he  cannot  remember 
the  others. 

Mr.  White  worked  first  for  the  Edison 
Film  Company  in  the  "Black  Maria,"  the 
company's  sun-catching  revolving  studio  in 
West  Orange,  N.  J.  Actors  went  from  New 
York  to  appear  in  the  100  and  150-foot  films 
— but  sometimes  they  did  not  appear. 

"Sometimes,"    Mr.    White    adds,  "they 


failed  to  arrive,  or  when  they  did  arrive, 
they  were  drunk.    It  was  a  long  journey. 

"We  then  decided  to  move  to  41  East  21st 
Street,  New  York,  where  we  had  a  studio, 
offices,  a  projection  room  and  a  sales  room. 

"Neither  I,  nor  my  wife,  nor  others  of  the 
business  department  were  ever  paid  for  our 
acting.  And  the  actors  never  received  more 
than  $40  per  picture.  We  had  others  who 
later  received  real  money." 

Pictures  Called  "Chasers" 
Were  Used  to  Close  Show 

Mr.  White  left  the  Edison  Company  in 
1904,  joining  Percy  Williams,  who  had,  he 
remembers,  the  New  York  franchise  for 
B.  F.  Keith  vaudeville.  Mr.  White  had 
been  supervising  the  showing  of  Edison  pic- 
tures in  seven  theatres.  The  pictures,  he 
remembers,  were  used  to  close  the  shows; 
they  were  called  "chasers." 

Mr.  Williams,  who  intended  to  produce 
pictures,  and  planned  a  studio  at  Bergen 
Beach,  offered  Mr.  White  twice  the  salary 
paid  him  by  the  Edison  Company,  and  the 
position  of  studio  manager. 

The  studio  never  was  erected.  Mr.  Wil- 
liams was  balked  by  the  Edison  Company 
injunction. 

So  Mr.  White,  in  his  second  year  in  the 
vaudeville  business,  was  appointed  manager 
of  the  Alhambra  theatre.  When  Percy 
Williams  died,  and  B.  F.  Keith  took  over  his 
operations,  Mr.  White  stayed,  and  managed 
many  theatres,  finally  joining  John  J.  Ma- 
loney  as  assistant  in  operating  that  show- 
place  of  vaudeville,  the  Palace  theatre,  New 
York. 

There  he  stayed  until  1922,  when  he  re- 
tired. 

[The  especially  significant  fact  of  Mr. 
White's  appearance  in  "The  Life  of  an  Amer- 
ican Fireman"  is  that  that  picture  directly 
led  Edwin  S.  Porter,  Edison  director,  to  the 
making  of  "The  Great  Train  Robbery," 
which  was  the  picture — in  one  reel — which 
made  substantial  discovery  of  the  art  of  nar- 
ration for  the  camera  and  by  direct  develop- 
ments led  to  today's  feature  pictures. 

It  is  to  be  remembered  that  Mr.  Porter 
became  a  partner  in  Adolph  Xukor's  Famous 
Players  company,  marking  the  first  full- 
blown flight  of  American  features.  Mr. 
Porter  retired  in  1914  with  a  Rolls  Royce 
and  a  comfortable  competency.  While  Mr. 
White  says  he  was  "never  an  actor"  it  is  tru^ 
that  he  often  acted  as  an  actor,  with  success. 

Mr.  White,  so  long  in  retirement,  was 
"discovered"  the  other  day,  incident  to  the 
researches  of  Howard  L.  Walls,  of  the  staff 
of  the  Library  of  Congress  in  Washington. 
It  was  Mr.  Walls,  who,  as  the  Herald  has 
recorded,  brought  to  light  the  Library's  long 
forgotten  trove  of  ancient  paper  prints  of 
motion  pictures,  filed  for  copyright  as  photo- 
graphs in  the  dawn  years  of  the  art.  Mr. 
Walls  continues  in  zealous  pursuit  of  archi- 
vistic  recognition  for  the  screen.         T.  R.] 


staff  Photo 

ARTHUR  S.  White,  survivor  of  the  first 
title  role  in  the  motion  picture.  He  was 
the  fire  chief  in  "The  Life  of  an  American 
Fireman",  produced  by  the  late  Edwin  S. 
Porter.  Mr.  White  was  studio  manager 
and,  when  casting  emergencies  arose,  he 
sometimes  met  them  in  person,  In  addition 
to  his  executive  responsibilities.  The  fire- 
man picture  was  a  part  of  the  process  by 
which  the  motion  picture  camera  emerged 
from  Its  function  of  recording  episodes  of 
action  Into  a  capacity  to  put  sequential 
pieces  of  action  together  to  tell  a  story, 
a  photoplay.  Below,  frames  from  the  film. 


CUR/f 


WELL 
CUSHIONED 


5.^ 


A  GUY  NAMED  JOE"  IS 
JUST  ONE  OF  M-G-M'S 
NEW  GROUP  "VITAMIN  12' 
PEP!  PROFITS!  PLEASURE! 


_  'Tppr.  nr.  thp  ^Har-lf  I  4th  WAR  LOAN'" 


MOTION    PICTURE    HERALD      February   12,  1944 


February    12,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


33 


INDUSTRY  SELLS  5  MILLION 
BONDS  AT  HALFWAY  POINT 


Rallying  for  Concentrated 
Effort  to  Make  Good  Its 
Bond-a-Seat  Slogan 

.  As  the  industry  entered  the  fourth  and 
final  week  of  the  Fourth  War  Loan  drive 
all  its  agencies  and  members  rallied  for  the 
eleventh  hour  attack  in  a  concentrated  ef- 
fort to  make  a  factual  report  of  its  slogan : 
A  Bond  for  Every  Seat. 

The  54  stars  of  Hollywood  of  the  Bond- 
bardiers  and  Bond  Battalions  Monday 
ended  their  two  and  a  half  weeks  of  selling, 
covering  213  cities  with  populations  total- 
ing some  50,000,000. 

In  New  York  City  "Free  Movie  Day" 
was  held  Monday,  with  the  Radio  City 
Music  Hall  the  only  theatre  reporting  at 
press  time.  A  special  system  for  the  one- 
day  drive  had  Bond  buyers  moving  in  a 
continuous  stream  past  a  long  row  of  tables 
where  applications  were  filled  out.  While 
patrons  viewed  the  program  a  battery  of  typ- 
ists, working  in  the  theatre's  studio  apart- 
ment, made  out  the  Bonds  which  were 
awaiting  their  buyers  when  they  left  the 
theatre.  The  final  figure  showed  a  total  of 
$50,475  in  sales  for  the  day. 

Gamble  Praises  Industry's 
Bond-Selling  Effort 

With  great  numbers  of  returns  as  yet  un- 
reported, it  was  announced  Monday  at  a 
luncheon  given  Charles  Skouras,  who  is 
heading  the  industry's  efforts,  that  the  in- 
dustry, at  the  halfway  mark,  had  sold  be- 
tween five  and  five  and  a  half  million  bonds. 
Ted  R.  Gamble,  national  director  of  the 
War  Finance  Committee,  praised  the  indus- 
try and  its  goal  of  11,500,000  Bonds  to  be 
sold  by  next  Tuesday. 

The  sale  of  "E"  Bonds,  to  individuals,  is 
well  ahead  of  previous  drives.  W.  F.  Croc- 
kett, industry  chairman  in  Virginia,  has  an- 
nounced that  the  sale  of  "E"  Bonds_  in  that 
state  has  almost  doubled  any  previous  ef- 
fort. Thomas  Berta  of  Wyoming  reported 
that  in  four  cities.  Rock  Spring,  Cody,  Green 
River  and  Casper,  7,000  "E"  Bonds  were 
sold.  C.  B.  Akers  of  Oklahoma  announced 
that  Federal  Reserve  reports  at  the  halfway 
mark  showed  the  state's  two  largest  cities, 
Oklahoma  City  and  Tulsa,  sold  37  per  cent 
and  41  per  cent  of  quotas.  In  Florida,  J.  L. 
Cartwright  reported  68,000  "E"  Bonds  sold, 
with  Bond  premieres  in  Miami  and  Jackson- 
ville sold  out. 

202  Bond  Premieres  Set 
In  Minnesota  Drive 

John  J.  Friedl  of  Minnesota,  in  a  telegram 
to  War  Activities  Committee  headquarters, 
reported  that  compared  to  46  premieres  in 
the  previous  War  Loan  drive,  the  state,  at 
the  halfway  point,  Tiad  set  202.  South  Da- 
kota will  be  the  scene  of  52  premieres  and 
23  Bond  auctions,  according  to  Fred  Lar- 
kin,  state  chairman.  In  Nebraska,  accord- 
ing to  William  Miskell,  S3  premieres,  or  ap- 
proximately twice  the  number  shown  in  the 


Trade  Broadcasts  Bond  Plea 
Play  as  Theatres  Tune  in 

Last  Wednesday  night  at  9:30  the  air-waves  gave  a  portrayal  of  what  life 
would  be  like  in  an  American  city  were  the  enemies  of  the  United  Nations,  the 
Japanese  and  the  Germans,  to  win  the  war.  The  program  originated  in  Holly- 
wood with  stars  of  the  studios  in  the  roles  of  the  characters  written  into  the  radio 
play  by  Arch  Obler,  and  was  broadcast  over  the  Blue  Network's  170  stations. 
It  was  arranged  by  the  U.  S.  Treasury  Department  as  a  tribute  to  the  film  industry's 
contribution  to  the  Fourth  War  Loan.  Paul  Muni  was  narrator.  Thomas  Mitchell 
was  in  the  role  of  the  father,  Faye  Holden  the  mother,  Martha  Scott  the  daughter, 
Lucille  Watson  the  grandmother,  and  Robert  Young  the  son.  Several  theatres 
throughout  tbe  country  arranged  to  pickup  and  rebroadcast  the  program  for 
their  audiences,  using  house  sound  systems.  It  was  a  25-minute  program,  the  air 
time  donated  by  Coca-Cola. 


Third  War  Loan,  had  been  set  at  the  half- 
way point,  with  "Free  Movie  Day"  held 
last  Monday  throughout  the  state. 

The  "Flying  Bondsmen,"  Mr.  Skouras' 
representatives,  now  covering  the  nation  by 
plane,  are  continuing  their  missions,  adding 
key  meetings  in  additional  areas  to  their 
itineraries. 

In  New  York  City  seven  feminine  mem- 
bers of  Warner  sales  department  are  making 
nightly  visits  to  night  clubs  on  a  Bond  sell- 
ing wheel.  The  group  includes  Ruth  Gold- 
berg, Hazel  Blumenthal,  Isabelle  Kelly, 
Ethel  Moss,  Ruth  Kerstein,  Renee  Gold- 
stein and  Evelyn  Duvall. 

At  Universal's  home  office,  a  "Bond-a- 
Month  Club"  has  been  formed,  in  connection 
with  the  drive.  John  J.  O'Connor  and  Sam- 
uel Machnovitch,  who  are  in  charge  of 
Bond  sales  in  the  company,  reported  that 
purchases  by  employees  in  the  home  office, 
the  studio  and  exchanges  reached  a  new 
high. 

637  California  Houses 
Sold  78,000  Bonds 

In  Southern  California  637  theatres  to- 
taled sales  of  78,000  individual  Bonds,  ac- 
cording to  David  Bershon,  exhibitor  chair- 
man for  that  area.  The  report  did  not  in- 
clude two  premieres,  one  at  Grauman's 
Chinese  in  Hollywood  Monday,  and  the 
other  at  Warners'  Beverly  Hills  theatre 
Thursday  of  this  week.  The  Beverly  Hills 
theatre  program  featured  the  coast-to-coast 
broadcast  of  the  Maxwell  House  Coffee 
Hour. 

In  the  Greater  New  York  and  West- 
chester area  more  than  600  theatres  ob- 
served a  "Free  Movie  Day"  Monday.  This 
special  day  in  Tennessee  was  held  Wednes- 
day, except  in  the  smaller  towns,  where  thea- 
tres chose  different  days  to  allow  the  limit- 
ed patronage  to  visit  each  theatre  in  town. 

When  the  all-soldier  show  from  Camp 
McCoy,  Wisconsin,  ended  its  tour  at  the 
Warner  theatre  in  Milwaukee  last  week, 


before  a  million  dollar  Bond  buying  audi- 
ence, a  Nazi  helmet  shot  full  of  holes  was 
auctioned  for  $8,000  in  Bonds,  while  an- 
other brought  $5,000.  The  auction  was  not 
on  the  schedule  and  was  held  during  inter- 
mission when  it  was  discovered  that  Bonds 
purchased  for  admission  had  fallen  short  of 
a  round  figure  of  $1,000,000.  Several  other 
helmets  and  a  pair  of  Japanese  leggings 
brought  a  total  of  $41,000  and  resulted  in  a 
grand  total  of  $4,000  over  the  million  dollar 
mark.  The  grand  total  of  the  touring  all- 
soldier  musical  show  was  $7,694,810. 

Set  Plans  for  Star  Tours 
Until  Drive  Ends 

Charles  Ruggles  continued  his  tour 
through  Ohio,  and  spoke  at  Cleveland,  Ak- 
ron, Youngstown,  at  rallies,  dinners, 
luncheons  and  in  war  plants.  In  Cleveland, 
Major  Leslie  E.  Thompson,  one  of  Mr. 
Skouras'  "Flying  Bondsmen,"  met  with  a 
group  of  industry  members  in  the  Twenti- 
eth Century-Fox  screening  room  last  Fri- 
day. Means  of  making  the  most  of  the  re- 
maining days  of  the  campaign  were  dis- 
cussed. It  was  suggested  that  fewer  stars 
should  tour  the  territory,  that  they  should 
appear  not  more  than  twice  a  year,  that  they 
should  remain  not  more  than  four  or  five 
days  in  each  city,  and  that  they  should  not 
visit  war  plants  because  officials  are  of  the 
opinion  they  slow  up  production,  and  do  not 
sell  additional  Bonds  because  employees  buy 
their  quota  through  the  payroll  deduction 
plan. 

The  Warner  circuit  in  the  Clevelaiid  zone 
has  set  special  events  in  24  houses,  with 
13  theatres  holding  a  "Free  Movie  Day" 
and  11  scheduling  premieres,  a  number  of 
which  also  will  hold  Bond  auctions. 

In  Oregon,  where  $27,000,000  in  Bonds 
have  been  reported  sold,  two  premieres,  the 
results  of  which  are  not  included  in  the  total 
figure,  were  held  Monday  at  the  Paramount 
and  Broadway  theatres  in  Portland,  with  re- 

(Continued  on  following  page,  column  1) 


34 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    12,  1944 


Industry  Sells 
5  Million  Bonds 
At  Halfway  Point 

{Continued  from  preceding  page) 

tail  merchants  and  Victor  Mature,  who  ap- 
peared as  guest  at  both  premieres,  cooperat- 
ing. 

Larry  Woodin,  manager  of  the  Arcadia 
tlieatre  at  Wellsboro,  Pa.,  has  reported  to 
New  York  headquarters  that  two  Bonds 
have  been  sold  for  every  seat  in  his  house. 

At  Gloversville,  N.  Y.,  the  Glove  theatre, 
Saturday,  was  to  hold  a  special  premiere  for 
children  who  complete  their  stamp  books  or 
buy  a  Bond. 

On  Tuesday  of  next  week  the  law  break- 
ers in  Philadelphia  are  likely  to  find  a  scarc- 
ity of  patrolmen  on  the  streets,  but  if  they're 
patriotic  they'll  not  take  advantage  of  the 
fact  as  the  policemen  will  be  attending  a 
Bond  premiere  for  police  who  bought  Bonds 
from  the  Bureau  of  Police.  The  premiere 
will  be  held  at  the  Aldine  theatre.  The 
Mayor  and  police  officials  have  estimated  1,- 
400  Bond  buying  cops  will  be  on  hand,  fill- 
ing the  house  to  capacity. 

Last  week  Preston  Foster  and  Nancy 
Kelly  of  Hollywood  arrived  in  Pittsburgh, 
addressed  20,000  war  workers  and  citizens 
at  four  rallies  over  the  weekend,  on  Monday 
toured  the  Kittanning  and  Indiana  plants, 
and  on  Tuesday  addressed  the  workers  of 
Carnegie-Illinois  steel  plant.  They  doubled 
the  quota  of  "E"  Bond  sales  assigned  them. 

Six  Honolulu  Theatres 
To  Hold  Premieres 

At  Honolulu  on  the  island  of  Hawaii  in 
mid-Pacific,  six  theatres  beyond  the  beaches 
of  tangled  barbed  wire  have  scheduled  pre- 
mieres, all  of  which  are  reportedly  sold  out. 
The  theatres  are:  the  Queen,  Roosevelt, 
King,  Palace,  Golden  Wall  and  the  Inter- 
national. 

In  Seattle  last  week  a  city-wide  premiere 
held  simultaneously  by  the  Paramount, 
Palomar,  Fifth  Avenue,  Orpheum  and  the 
Music  Hall  netted  a  total  of  12,057  Bonds. 

At  Loew's  Ohio  in  Columbus  last  week 
more  than  $100,000  in  Bond  sales  were 
registered  at  a  premiere  of  "A  Guy  Named 
Joe."  Next  Monday  the  RKO  Palace  in 
Columbus  will  stage  a  special  premiere  of 
the  Air  Service  Command  "Varieties"  with 
a  cast  of  60  members  of  the  Array  Air 
Force,  and  the  picture  "Gung  Ho,"  with  all 
local  theatres  selling  Bonds  for  the  show. 

At  Richmond,  Virginia,  Robert  Moore, 
"Flying  Bondsman,"  was  tendered  a  dinner 
by  leaders  of  the  industry  along  with  the 
press,  radio  and  merchants,  and  plans  were 
discussed  whereby  the  number  of  the  state's 
issuing  agents  could  be  doubled,  and  the 
number  of  premieres  increased  to  at  least  30. 

The  theatres  of  Connecticut,  up  to  Febru- 
ary 1,  had  sold  15,651  Bonds  for  a  total  of 
$1,066,345,  in  lobby  Bond  sales  and  sales 
by  theatre  personnel,  but  excluding  pre- 
mieres. 

In  Alaska  the  Capitol  theatre  in  Juneau, 
a_650-seat  house  managed  by  Homer  Gar- 
vm,  has  sold  250  per  cent  of  its  quota  in  the 
Honored  Hundred  Contest,  according  to 
Katherine  Nordale,  chairman  of  the  War 
Finance  Committee  there. 


staff  Photo 


Ted  R.  Gamble  of  U.  S.  Treasury, 
speaking  at  luncheon  at  Waldorf- 
Astoria  Monday  for  Charles  Skouras, 
seated  besides  Mr.  Gamble  on  the  dais. 

Industry  to  Aid 
Red  Cross  Drive 

Following  a  request  from  Red  Cross  national 
headquarters,  the  executive  committee  of  the 
War  Activities  Committee  theatres  division  has 
voted  to  participate  in  the  forthcoming  fund- 
raising  campaign  for  the  organization,  adcord- 
ing  to  S.  H.  Fabian,  theatres  division  chairman. 

A  poll  of  Red  Cross  local  chairmen  around 
the  country,  taken  by  headquarters  in  Wash- 
ington, revealed  that  an  overwhelming  number 
of  the  chairmen  felt  the  need  of  industry  partici- 
pation if  the  local  quotas  were  to  be  met. 

This  will  mark  the  second  time  the  industry 
has  aided  the  Red  Cross,  whose  need  for  funds 
has  increased  enormously  with  the  war.  Func- 
tioning in  a  mop-up  position,  the  industry  last 
year  entered  the  scene  after  the  close  of  the 
Red  Cross  national  campaign,  and  staged  a 
one-week,  all-out  drive  with  $4,224,000  turned 
over  to  the  Red  Cross  by  Barney  Balaban,  Red 
Cross  chairman  for  the  industry. 

This  year  the  industry  has  a  $10,000,000  goal, 
and  Joseph  Bernhard,  Warner  general  manager, 
will  head  its  participation,  the  WAC  announced 
Wednesday.  The  drive  will  be  the  week  of 
March  23. 

The  pattern  of  participation  in  the  campaign 
to  come,  Mr.  Fabian  said,  would  be  similar  to 
that  of  the  previous  year,  with  theatre  collec- 
tions expected  to  supply  the  greatest  sum.  The 
collections  will  be  held  at  a  time  to  be  de- 
cided shortly. 

Bergman  To  Address 
Ampa  February  24 

Vincent  Trotta,  president  of  the  Associated 
Motion  Picture  Advertisers,  New  York,  has 
announced  that  an  informal  luncheon  will  be 
held  at  the  Edison  Hotel  February  24.  Mau- 
rice Bergman,  Universal  director  of  advertising 
and  publicity,  guest  of  honor,  will  discuss  "What 
Has  Happened  to  Advertising  in  the  Theatre." 
James  V.  Zabin,  Cinema  Circuit  executive  and 
vice-president  of  AMPA,  will  be  master  of 
ceremonies. 

Prominent  exhibitors  who  have  been  invited 
to  enter  into  the  discussion  include  S.  H.  Fabian, 
Fabian  Theatres ;  Joseph  Bernhard,  Warner 
Brothers ;  Max  A.  Cohen,  Cinema  Circuit ; 
Harry  Brandt,  Brandt  Theatres ;  Leonard  Gol- 
denson,  Paramount ;  C.  C.  Moskowitz,  Loew's ; 
William  White,  Skouras  Theatres ;  Fred 
Schwartz,  Century  Circuit ;  Samuel  Rinzler, 
Randforce;  Leo  Brecher,  Robert  Weitman  and 
*  Walter  Meithold. 


Honor  Skouras 
For  Leadership 
In  Bond  Drive 

More  than  1,200  exhibitors,  exchange  men 
and  executives  of  the  industry  gathered  in  the 
Grand  Ballroom  of  the  Waldorf-Astoria  Mon- 
day and  paid  tribute  to  Charles  P.  Skouras, 
president  of  National  Theatres,  for  his  work 
as  leader  of  the  industry's  share  in  the  Fourth 
War  Loan  drive.  The  luncheon  was  tendered 
by  the  theatre  owners  of  New  York  and  New 
Jersey.  Mr.  Skouras  told  those  assembled  what 
the  industry,  had  accomplished  in  the  drive  to 
date,  and  Ted  R.  Gamble  of  the  U.  S.  Treasury 
Department  praised  the  industry  and  Mr.  Skou- 
ras, and  spoke  of  the  future,  of  the  days  ahead 
in  the  current  drive  and  the  possibility  of  having 
to  call  upon  the  industry  again,  perhaps  twice. 

Mr.  Skuoras,  in  his  address,  said:  "I  am 
thankful  for  the  honor  which  you  are  bestowing 
upon  me  as  national  chairman  of  the  campaign, 
and  in  receiving  this  tribute  I  accept  it  not  for 
myself,  for  I  hardly  deserve  such  a  testimo- 
nial, but  rather  on  behalf  of  all  you  patriotic 
showmen  who  are  gathered  here  today,  and 
for  the  hundreds  of  thousands  of  men  and 
women  in  the  field  .  .  .  who  have  been  working 
...  to  make  this  drive  the  biggest  and  most 

successful  in  the  history  of  the  industry  The 

credit  goes  to  the  whole  industry." 

Mr.  Gamble  gave  an  over-all  picture  of  the 
drive.  He  said,  "The  Treasury  is  grateful  to 
your  industry  for  the  wonderful  job  it  has  done 
and  is  doing  for  us."  He  reported  that  11  bil- 
lions in  Bonds,  or  about  85  per  cent  of  the 
national  goal,  had  been  sold  to  date. 

F.  H.  "Rick"  Ricketson,  one  of  Mr.  Skouras* 
chief  lieutenants,  paid  tribute  to  the  industry's 
campaign  head  and,  after  speaking  at  sothe 
length,  described  an  optimist  as  one  "who 
reaches  for  his  hat  when  the  speaker  says  'in 
conclusion.' " 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  luncheon  Mr.  Skou- 
ras was  presented  an  engraved  silver  tray,  and 
engraved  silver  cigarette  cases  were  presented 
B.  V.  Sturdivant,  national  campaign  director, 
and  Mr.  Ricketson,  national  vice-chairman. 


Church  Groups  Seek  Test 
Of  Ohio  Bingo  Law 

Terming  the  legalizing  of  Bingo  in  Ohio 
through  an  amendment  to  a  recently-enacted 
state  anti-gambling  law,  which  exempts  the 
game  "when  conducted  for  religious,  charitable 
or  educational  purposes,"  as  contributing  to 
the  delinquency  problem,  executives  of  church 
councils  in  Cincinnati,  Columbus,  Hamilton, 
Dayton,  Youngstown,  Toledo  and  Cleveland 
have  adopted  a  resolution  seeking  to  test  the 
constitutionality  of  the  measure. 

"The  so-called  games  for  charity  are  train- 
ing schools  whereby  adults  as  well  as  young 
people  are  first  induced  to  risk  money  for  the 
sake  of  unearned  gain,  contributing  to  delin- 
quency and  crime  and  offering  a  new  avenue 
for  profit  by  criminal  elements,"  the  resolu- 
tion reads  in  part.  After  adoption  by  the  State 
Protestant  Pastors'  Convention,  in  Columbus, 
it  will  be  presented  to  Governor  Bricker  and 
the  legislature  with  a  view  to  having  the 
amendment  repealed. 

Bingo  is  flourishing  generally  in  many  situa- 
tions in  Ohio,  offering  keen  theatre  competi- 
tion. 


Approve  New  Oregon  House 

Among  the  new  theatres  to  be  constructed 
in  Oregon  in  February,  is  a  500-seat  house  at 
Hermiston.  The  War  Production  Board  has 
given  permission  for  the  erection  of  the  theatre 
in  this  defense  center. 


February    12,    1944  MOTION    PICTURE   HERALD  35 

THE  HOLLYWOOD  SCENE 


Warner  Studio  Contract  List  at  Peak 


Iron.  HOLLYWOOD  BURIAU 


Although  the  Warner  backlog  of  complet- 
ed product  stands  now  at  a  point  indemnify- 
ing the  company  and  its  customers  against  a 
shoiiage  of  releases  within  any  calendar  pe- 
riod that  might  be  blanked  out  by  any  calam- 
ity short  of  enemy  invasion,  the  studio's 
contract  list  reached  a  new  high  in  Warner 
history  last  week.  There  are  248  stars,  fea- 
tured players,  directors,  producers,  writers 
and  special  artists  on  the  contract  payroll. 
Of  this  number,  116  were  signed  within  the 
preceding  12  months  under  the  supervision 
of  Jack  L.  Warner. 

Arrival  at  this  peak  of  talent  power  at  the 
start  of  a  year  generally  expected  to  witness 
a  tapering  off  in  production  activity  through- 
out the  studio  community  may  or  may  not  be 
indicative  of  announcemertts-to-come  regard- 
ing the  studio's  plans  for  next  season  or  the 
season  after  that.  It  could  signify  no  more 
than  a  state  of  readiness  for  whatever  re- 
quirements in  the  nature  and  number  of 
films  the  largely  unpredictable  future  may 
make  mandatory. 

17  Directors,  14  Producers 
On  Contract  Roster 

And  it  could  mean,  although  it  probably 
doesn't,  that  the  studio,  which  commonly  does 
little  lending  of  its  contract  people  to  others, 
is  being  put  in  a  state  of  preparedness  for  a 
possible  increase  of  activity  in  what  might  be 
called  the  talent-trading  market,  a  field  of  op- 
eration lately  engaging  profitably  the  interest 
of  most  holders  of  choice  talent  contracts. 

In  any  case,  the  Warner  contract  list  in- 
cludes the  names  of  17  directors,  14  producers 
and  46  writers,  a  battery  of  production  talent 
equal  to  any  demands  likely  to  be  made  upon  it. 

V 

Producers  Releasing  Corporation  is  not  yet 
talking  in  terms  of  budget  about  its  forthcom- 
ing production  of  a  picture  based  upon  the  life 
of  Mother  Cabrini,  save  to  say  that  it  will  be 
limited  only  by  the  requirements  of  the  subject 
matter  and  will  set  a  new  high  for  the  studio 
in  point  of  investment.  Martin  Mooney,  who 
will  write  and  produce  the  picture,  estimates 
that  preparation  of  it  cannot  be  completed  be- 
fore August,  and  plans  to  make  a  number  of 
research  trips  in  the  interests  of  authenticity. 

Writer-producer  Mooney's  announcement  of 
his  intention  to  film  the  life  of  the  first  Ameri- 
can to  be  chosen  for  canonization  by  the  Catho- 
lic Church  was  followed,  he  said,  by  proffers 
of  cooperation  from  Archbishop  John  J.  Cant- 
well  of  the  Los  Angeles  diocese  and  Joseph  I. 
Breen,  Production  Code  administrator.  He 
plans  to  go  to  Chicago  shortly  to  confer  with 
the  Right  Reverend  Monsignor  Aristeo  V.  Si- 
moni,  head  of  the  Cabrini  Foundation,  whom 
he  hopes  to  persuade  to  write  a  treatment  of  the 
subject  for  his  use  in  making  the  picture. 

Selznick  Is  Starring  Eight  • 
In  "Since  You  Went  Away" 

The  addition  of  Charles  Coburn  to  the  'cast 
of  David  O.  Selznick's  Vanguard  production, 
"Since  You  Went  Away,"  brings  to  eight  the 
number  of  players  who  will  be  given  star  bill- 
ing on  the  picture.  The  others  are  Claudette 
Colbert,  Joseph  Cotten,  Jennifer  Jones,  Shirley 
Temple,  Monty  Woolley,  Lionel  Barrymore  and 
Robert  Walker. 


20th-Fox  Starts  "Kingdom 


rr 


A.  J.  Cronin's  "The  Keys  of  the  King- 
dom" went  into  production  at  Twentieth 
Century-Fox  as  the  highlight  of  a  week 
that  witnessed  the  start  of  eight  features 
and  the  Gompletion  of  five  others,  bring- 
ing the  shooting  level  to  41.  Joseph  Man- 
kiewicz  is  producing  and  John  Stahl  Is 
directing  the  Cronin  best  seller,  with 
Gregory  Peck,  Edmund  Gwenn,  Thomas 
Mitchell,  Roddy  MacDowell,  Vincent  Price 
and  Sir  Cedric  Hardwicke. 

Universal  started  two  pictures.  "The  Cli- 
max" Is  produced  and  directed  by  George 
Waggner,  with  Susanna  Foster,  Turhan  Bey, 
Boris  Karloff,  Jane  Farrar  and  others  In 
principal  roles.  "Pardon  My  Rhythm"  is  a 
musical  produced  by  Bernard  Burton  and 
directed  by  Felix  Feist,  with  Gloria  Jean, 
Evelyn  Ankers,  Patric  Knowles,  Walter  Cat- 
left  and  Marjorle  Weaver  In  the  cast. 

Paramount  launched  "Practically  Yours", 
a  Fred  MacMurray  -  Claudette  Colbert 
vehicle,  produced  by  Harry  Tugend  and 


COMPLETED 

Paramount 

One  Body  Too  Many 
Hitler  Gang 
RKO  Radio 
Marine  Raiders 
Universal 

Moon  Over  Las  Vegas 
Scarlet  Claw 

STARTED 

Columbia 
Mission  36 
Monogram 

Detective  Kitty  Kelly 

Paramount' 

Practically  Yours 

PRC  Pictures 

Guns  of  the  Lawless 

Republic 

Candlelights  in  Lisbon 


Twentieth  Century-Fox 

Keys  of  the  Kingdom 

Universal 
Climax 

Pardon  My  Rhythm 

SHOOTING 

Columbia 

Mr.  Winkle  Goes  to 

War 
Girl  in  the  Case 
Pilebuck 

At  Night  We  Dream 
MGM 

Marriage  Is  a  Private 

Affair 
National  Velvet 
Meet  Me  in  St.  Louis 
Seventh  Cross 
Dragon  Seed 


directed  by  Mitchell  Leisen.  Others  in  the 
cast  are  Robert  Watson,  Isabel  Randolph 
and  Rosemary  DeCamp. 

Columbia  started  "Mission  36",  with 
John  Carradlne  and  Jeanne  Bates,  Jack 
Fler  producing  and  Lew  Landers  directing. 

Republic  got  going  on  "Candlelights  in 
Lisbon",  the  Vera  hiruba  Ralston  produc- 
tion, with  Richard  Aden,  Erich  Von  Stro- 
helm,  Otto  Kruger.  George  Sherman  is 
producing  and  directing. 

Monogram  started  cameras  on  "Detec- 
tive Kitty  Kelly",  presenting  Jean  Parker, 
Edward  Gargan,  Veda  Ann  Borg  and  Tim 
Ryan,  with  William  Beaudlne  directing  for 
producer  Llndsley  Parsons. 

PRC  Pictures  began  filming  "Guns  of 
the  Lawless",  a  Dave  O'Brlen-JIm  Newill- 
Guy  Wllkerson  Western,  produced  by 
Alexander-Stern  and  directed  by  Elmer 
Clifton. 

The  status  of  production  activity  as  of 
the  weekend: 


Paramount 

Bring  on  the  Girls 
And  Now  Tomorrow 
Road  to  Utopia 
Incendiary  Blonde 

PRC  Pictures 

Dixie  Showboat 
RKO  Radio 

Frank  Sinatra  No.  2 
One  Exciting  Night 

Republic 

Man  from  Frisco 
Cowboy  and  the 
Senorita 

Twentieth  Century-Fox 

Sweet  and  Lowdown 
Wilson 

In  the  Meantime, 
Darling 
(formerly  "I 
Married  a  Soldier") 


UA 

Hairy  Ape  (Levey) 
Song  of  the  Open 

Road  (Rogers) 
Sensations  of  1944 

(Stone) 
Since  You  Went 
Away 
(Vanguard) 

Universal 
Invisible  Man's 

Revenge 
Christmas  Holiday 

Warners 

Cinderella  Jones 
Make  Your  Own  Bed 
Mr.  Skeffington 
My  Reputation 
Horn  Blows  at 

Midnight 
Janie 


Warner  Brothers  named  Dennis  Morgan,  re- 
cently suspended,  for  the  lead  opposite  Irene 
Manning  in  "Henrietta  the  Eighth,"  as  a  re- 
ward for  the  team's  success  in  "The  Desert 
Song."  When  "Henrietta  the  Eighth"  a  musi- 
cal comedy  with  a  contemporary  American 
background,  goes  before  the  cameras,  Robert 
Florey  will  direct  and  Robert  Buckner  will 
produce. 

V 

Frank  Sinatra's  current  swoon-film,  now  be- 
fore RKO's  cameras,  has  been  given  the  title  of 
"Manhattan  Serenade."  .  .  .  The  novel,  "In  His 
Steps,"  by  Rev.  Charles  M.  Sheldon,  published 
in  1896  and  translated  into  21  different  lan- 
guages, in  a  screen  adaptation,  will  be  Mono- 
gram's high  budget  contribution  to  the  religious 
cycle.  .  .  .  W.  Ray  Johnston,  Monogram  presi- 


dent, has  announced  that  the  King  Brothers  Ayill 
produce  three  pictures  for  his  company  during 
the  1944-45  season.  The  producers  still  have 
one  film,  "Prison  Babies,"  to  make  for  the  cur- 
rent season's  program. 

Dr.  Marcel  Frym,  psychopathologist  and 
criminologist  of  pre-Hitler  Austria,  has  been 
signed  by  Producers  Corporation  of  America 
as  technical  adviser  on  their  production,  "Mes- 
mer,"  having  to  do  with  hypnotism. 

Universal  has  Deanna  Durbin's  signature  to 
an  exclusive  contract  to  run  for  six  years.  The 
company  made  the  announcement  upon  the  com- 
pletion of  Miss  Durbin's  first  seven-year  con- 
tract, during  which  she  appeared  in  14  films. 

Rita  Hayworth  and  Gene  Kelly  will  have  co- 
star  billing  in  Columbia's  "Cover  Girl,"  now 
long  in  work. 


j6 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    12,  1944 


Wallace  Praises 
Industry  Effort 
In  War  Work 

Al.pn.xiniatclv  250  Hollywood  notables  heard 
V  ice-President  iknry  A.  \\'allace  address  mem- 
bers of  the  Free  World  Association  at  the 
Beverly  Hills  Hotel  last  Sunday  night.  Amonj; 
those  present  were:  Will  H.  Hays,  Gov.  Earl 
Warren.  Mayor  Fletcher  Bowron,  Thomas 
Maim,  Walter  Wanger,  Dudley  Nichols,  Walter 
Huston  and  Ulric  Bell. 

Earlier,  visiting  "Woodrow  Wilson"  sets  at 
the  Twentieth  Century-Fox  lot,  Mr.  Wallace 
•laid:  "The  American  people  never  will  appre- 
ciate fully  the  debt  of  gratitude  they  owe  the 
motion  picture  industry  for  its  contributions  to 
the  war  effort." 

In  his  address,  Vice-President  Wallace  de- 
clared. "We  caimot  have  a  free  world  without 
tree  information.  You  can  stop  democracy  at 
the  fountain-head  if  press,  radio  and  motion 
pictures  tell  only  one  particular  kind  of  truth. 
It  is  vitally  important  tliat  channels  of  infor- 
mation be  kept  clear  not  for  any  one  particular 
point  of  view  but  for  a  balanced  point  of  view 
in  terms  of  all  humanity. 

"It  does  seem  to  be  possible  that  a  little 
higher  percentage  of  pictures  can  fulfill  to  some 
degree  the  words  in  the  preamble  to  the  Con- 
stitution and  stay  in  line  wth  the  fatherhood 
of  God  and  the  brotherhood  of  man,"  he  added. 

Mr.  Wallace  made  a  direct  plea  for  pictures 
of  message  on  the  screen  when  he  said: 

"I  am  convinced  that  by  expressing  the  un- 
expressed opinions  of  the  movie  attendees, 
which  I  believe  is  a  very  fine  kind  of  thing, 
that  you  can  have  audience  appeal  even  greater 
than  it  now  is  and  still  keep  the  channel  of 
information  clean  as  far  as  movies  are  con- 
cerned." 


Wanger  Guest  at  Universal 
"Gung  Ho"  Luncheon 

Approximately  100  persons  from  Universal's 
sales  departments,  the  Loew  circuit  and  the 
trade  press  paid  tribute  to  Walter  Wanger, 
producer  of  "Gung  Ho!"  and  to  Charles  and 
B.  S.  Moss,  operators  of  the  Criterion,  at 
luncheon  in  the  Hotel  .\stor,  New  York, 
Wednesday. 

Speakers  were,  Williain  A.  Scully,  Universal 
sales  vice-president ;  Charles  Moss  and  Mr. 
Wanger.  The  success  of  the  jiicture  at  its  first 
run  in  the  Criterion  was  alluded  to,  and  praise 
was  voiced  for  the  part  played  by  Mr.  Wanger 
as  producer,  the  Mosses  as  theatre  operators, 
and  the  sales  and  exploitation  departments  of 
Universal  Pictures. 

Among  those  attending  were  John  O'Connor, 
Charles  Prutzman,  Fred  Meyers,  E.  T.  Gomer- 
sall,  Joseph  O'Brien,  Maurice  Bergman  of  Uni- 
versal, and  Charles  C.  Moskowitz  and  Eugene 
Picker  of  Loew's. 


Carroll  Loses  $300,000 
Suit  Against  Paramount 

The  suit  of  Earl  Carroll,  producer,  against 
Paramount,  for  the  alleged  unlawful  use  of  his 
naiTie  in  "A  Night  at  Earl  Carroll's"  was  dis- 
missed Wednesday  in  New  York  Federal  Court 
bv  Judge  Alfred  C.  Coxe.  The  complainant ' 
had  'asked  $300,000  in  damages. 


Name  Associates  Board 

The  new  board  of  directors  of  the  Motion 
Picture  Associates,  New  York,  appointed  this 
week  by  President  Jack  Ellis,  comprises  Jack 
Bowen,  Sain  Rinzler,  David  Snaper,  James 
Frank.  Leo  Abrams,  Joseph  Felder,  Harold 
Klein,  David  Levy,  Moe  Kurts  and  Jack  Hat- 
tem. 


Vice-President  Henry  Agard  Wallace,  Will  H.  Hays,  Thomas  Mann,  and  California 
Governor  Earl  Warren,  at  the  Tree  World  Association  dinner  last  Saturday  night  in 
the  Beverly  Hills  Hotel,  at  which  the  Vice-President  praised  the  industry. 


Edwards  Buys  for  Two  More 
New  England  Circuits 

The  Allied  Management  Corporation,  recently 
formed  with  Sol  Edwards  as  its  head,  has  taken 
on  the  buying  for  two  more  large  New  England 
circuits,  according  to  an  announcement  from 
Boston. 

Both  the  Morse  and  Rothenberg  circuit  and 
the  Arthur  Vianno  circuit  have  joined  the  list 
of  clients  of  Allied  and  these  embrace  the  fol- 
lowing theatres :  for  Morse  and  Rothenberg, 
Adams,  Mass.,  Haverhill,  Mass.,  Everett,  Mass., 
Roxbury,  Mass.,  the  Kenmore  theatre  in  Boston, 
Portsmouth  theatre  in  New  Hampshire,  also 
the  Nashua  theatre  in  Nashua,  N.  H. ;  Lynn, 
Mass,  and  Norwalk  and  New  London,  Conn., 
for  the  Vianno  circuit  the  theatres  are  located 
in  Somerville  and  Arlington  and  are  the  Broad- 
way, the  Teele  Square  and  the  Somerville  in 
the  former  and  the  Regent  in  Arlington. 

Allied  Management  was  formed  about  three 
months  ago. 


RCA  Victor  Transfers 
Kroggel  to  New  York 

Raymond  P.  Kroggel  has  been  appointed  re- 
gional director  of  RCA  Victor  educational  ac- 
tivities in  the  New  York  and  New  England 
area,  it  was  announced  last  week  by  Paul 
Thornton,  educational  director  for  the  company. 
Mr.  Kroggel  had  been  engaged  in  educational 
work  for  RCA  Victor  in  Chicago.  He  will  take 
over  his  new  post  March  \,  making  his  head- 
quarters in  New  York.  He  will  assist  schools 
and  colleges  in  the  selection  and  utilization  of 
16mm  projectors,  Frequency  Modulation  radio 
transmitters,  sound  equipment.  Victor  records 
and  other  RCA  Victor  products.  Before  join- 
ing the  company  in  1934,  Mr.  Kroggel  was  di- 
rector of  the  audio-visual  education  department 
of  Stephens  College,  Columbia,  Mo. 


Brien  Wins  First  Prize  in 
Paramount  Contest 

Lige  Brien,  manager  of  the  Kenyon  theatre, 
Pittsburgh,  won  first  prize  in  the  nationwide 
competition  to  decide  the  six  best  selling  cam- 
iiaigns  on  the  Mark  Sandrich  production,  "So 
Proudly  We  Hail,"  it  was  announced  by  Alec 
Moss,  Paramount  exploitation  manager. 

In  addition  to  Mr.  Brien,  who  won  a  $500 
War  Bond  as  first  prize,  prize-winning  man- 
agers and  their  awards  are:  Harry  Botwick, 
State  theatre,  Portland,  Me.,  second  prize,  $350 ; 
Margaret  Goyette,  Denham  theatre,  Denver, 
third  prize,  $250 ;  Harold  Armistead,  Lyric  the- 
atre, Easley,  S.  C,  fourth  prize,  $150;  Ben 
Rosenberg,  manager,  and  Paul  Levi,  publicity. 
Metropolitan  theatre,  Boston,  fifth  prize,  $100, 
and  Vernon  D.  Hunter,  Beacham  theatre,  Or- 
lando, Fla.,  sixth  prize,  $50. 


Exchanges  Test 
Essential  Rule 

Hearings  were  held  Tuesday  before  the  Re- 
gional War  Manpower  Commission  in  Phila- 
delphia, in  connection  with  the  filing  of  a  peti- 
tion to  declare  film  exchanges  "locally  needed 
establishments."  It  was  the  first  hearing  of  its 
kind  within  the  industry  in  this  country.  Rep- 
resentatives met  with  Milton  Weiss,  technical 
operations  officer  for  the  WMC.  The  hearings 
were  confidential  and  only  the  names  of  those 
present  were  permitted  to  be  used. 

Present  from  New  York  were  Leon  J.  Bam- 
berger of  RKO,  assistant  chairman  of  the  WAC 
Distributors'  Division;  A.  A.  Schubart,  RKO 
manager  of  exchange  operations  and  Claude  R. 
Collins,  WAC  Newsreel  Division,  in  an  ad- 
visory capacity.  Local  representatives  were 
Harold  Bache,  Film  Bookers  Union ;  Henrietta 
Weinberg,  Exchange  Employees  Union ;  Hor- 
ace Johns,  Local  307  lA ;  W.  R.  Schwartz, 
Monogram ;  Samuel  Gross,  20th-Fox ;  Lester 
J.  Wurtele,  Columbia ;  William  G.  Mansell, 
Warner  Bros.;  George  E.  Schwartz,  Universal; 
Lou  Formato,  Metro ;  Vincent  O'Donnell, 
RKO;  Harry  Bodkin  and  E.  V.  McCaffrey, 
United  Artists ;  and  Joseph  Engel,  Republic. 

If  the  Commission  acts  favorably,  the  ruling 
is  expected  to  ease  the  manpower  situation  at 
local  exchanges.  A  favorable  ruling  would 
result  in  local  draft  boards  giving  greater  con- 
sideration to  film  exchange  employees  in  re- 
quest for  deferments. 


Court  Delays  Fraud  Action 
Against  "Chicago  Boys" 

Pending  the  appeal  to  the  U.  S.  Circuit  Court 
of  Appeals  from  the  conviction  of  the  six  Chi- 
cago mobsters  for  conspiracy  to  extort  more 
than  $1,000,000  from  the  motion  picture  indus- 
try, the  mail  fraud  case  against  them  and  Ralph 
Pierce,  who  was  acquitted  of  conspiracy,  was 
marked  of?  the  New  York  Federal  Court  cal- 
endar on  Monday  by  Judge  John  C.  Knox. 

Boris  Kostelanetz,  special  assistant  U.  S. 
attorney  general,  who  successfully  prosecuted 
the  six  mobsters,  said  he  had  been  informed  by 
James  D.  C.  Murray,  chief  defense  counsel  for 
the  gangsters,  that  a  motion  for  bail  would  be 
filed  with  the  high  court  by  February  21. 

The  six  mobsters,  convicted  after  a  12-week 
triart  before  Judge  John  Bright  last  December 
are  now  in  the  Federal  House  of  Detention. 
They  each  were  sentenced  to  10  years'  impris- 
onment and  were  fined  $10,000  each,  which  they 
paid.  The  seventh  defendant,  not  charged  with 
mail  fraud,  Louis  Kaufman,  former  business 
agent  of  Local  244,  Operators'  Union  of  New- 
ark, N.  J.,  is  out  on  bail  pending  his  appeal 
from  a  seven-year  sentence. 


M-G-M 
SHORTS 


GOOD  NEWS 
FROM  THE  No.  1 
PIN-UP  BOY! 


M-G-M  TOPS  ANNUAL  "10  BEST  SHORTS"  POLL! 

Fame  Magazine  (Quigley  Publications)  Annual  Short  Subject  Exhibitor  Poll  gives  3  out  of 
10  Best  to  Leo,  Jr.  They  are:  PETE  SMITH  SPECIALTIES,  M-G-M  CARTOONS  and 
JOHN  NESBITT'S  PASSING  PARADE. 

"THIS  IS  TOMORROW"  NATIONWIDE  TRIUMPH! 

John  Nesbitt's  Passing  Parade  ^This  Is  Tomorrow"  wins  Special  Citation  from  National 
Board  of  Review,  is  endorsed  in  the  nationally  syndicated  column  "My  Day"  by  Eleanor 
Roosevelt  and  gets  trade  reviews  like  these:  FILM  DAILY  says:  "A  booking  that  means 
something.  Merits  widest  attention."  BOXOFFICE  MAGAZINE:  "It  will  pay  dividends, 
excellent,  golden  exploitation." 

BENCHLEY,  PETE  SMITH  AND  OTHERS  COMING! 

More  sparkling  shorts  on  the  way:  "THE  KID  IN  UPPER  FOUR,"  heart-warming  drama- 
tization of  the  newspaper  ad  that  stirred  the  nation.  "SHOE  SHINE  BOY,"  2-Reel  Special 
introducing  a  NEW  musical  technique.  PETE  SMITH'S  Specialty  "HOME  MAID,"  a 
honey!  M-G-M  Technicolor  Cartoon  "Zoot  Cat"  {even  funnier  than  "Baby  Puss"). 
ROBERT  BENCHLEY  in  "WHY  DADDY?"  Our  motto:  Benchley  for  belly-laughs! 

M^G^M  THE  LONG  AND  SHORT  OF  IT! 

"Keep  Vp  the  Attack!  4th  WAR  LOAN!" 


38 


Martin  G.  Smith 
Is  Elected  New 
Allied  President 

Directors  of  Allied  States  Association  elected 
Martin  G.  Smith,  head  of  the  Ohio  Independent 
Theatre  Owners,  president  of  national  Allied 
in  Chicago  last  Thursday  at  the  final  session 
of  the  special  Allied  board  meeting  called  to 
consider  the  Consent  Decree  and  united  tax 
action. 

Mr.  Smith,  who  had  been  treasurer  of  national 
Allied,  succeeds  M.  A.  Rosenberg  of  Pittsburgh. 
Mr.  Smith  is  a  partner  in  tlie  Smith  and  Beidler 
circuit  of  Toledo. 

Abram  F.  Meyers  was  reelected  chairman 
and  general  counsel  of  Allied.  The  directors  also 
named  William  L.  Ainsworth  of  Fond  du  Lac, 
Wis.,  to  succeed  Mr.  Smith  as  treasurer.  Mr. 
Ainsworth  is  president  of  the  Independent  The- 
atres' Protective  Association  of  Wisconsin  and 
Upper  Michigan. 

Roy  E.  Harrold  of  Rushville,  Ind.,  succeeded 
Meyer  Levanthal  as  secretary,  and  P.  J.  Wood 
of  Columbus,  O.,  was  named  recording  secre- 
tary by  the  board. 

Executive  committee  members  named  by  Al- 
lied were :  M.  A.  Rosenberg,  Pittsburgh ;  H.  A. 
Cole,  Texas ;  Sidney  Samuelson,  Philadelphia, 
and  Jack  Kirsch,  Chicago. 

Next  Quarterly  Meeting 
In  Philadelphia  in  May 

The  Allied  Caravan  Committee  members 
were  reelected.  They  are  Mr.  Rosenberg,  Mr. 
Cole,  Mr.  Samuelson  and  Mr.  Ainsworth. 

The  next  quarterly  meeting  of  the  Allied 
board  of  directors  will  be  held  in  Philadelphia 
in  May. 

Following  adjournment  of  the  Chicago  ses- 
sions the  Allied  leaders  and  other  exhibitor  rep- 
resentatives who  joined  them  in  a  discussion  of 
distributor  Consent  Decree  proposals  went  to 
Washington  to  submit  their  criticisms  and 
counter-recommendations  to  Tom  C.  Clark,  As- 
sistant Attorney  General. 

The  joint  tax  committee  approved  by  Allied 
and  the  presentatives  of  other  exhibitor 
groups  is  expected  to  meet  in  New  York  the 
last  week  in  February.  Mr.  Wood  is  chairman. 

Pending  the  New  York  meeting  members  of 
Allied  regional  units,  and  other  exhibitor  or- 
ganizations will  be  polled  on  their  willingness 
to  support  a  joint  tax  organization.  Harry 
Lowenstein  of  New  Jersey  Allied  and  Maxwell 
Alderman  also  were  named  to  the  tax  com- 
mittee. 

In  the  final  Chicago  session  the  Allied  dele- 
gates were  .warned  by  Mr.  Smith  that  film 
thefts  had  grown  to  serious  proportions  in  the 
last  year.  He  warned  theatre  men  that  they 
must  not  leave  film  for  delivery  trucks  in  front 
of  theatres  or  in  other  locations  where  it  might 
be  stolen. 

The  directors  also  approved  the  1943  finan- 
cial report  and  assigned  contribution  quotas  to 
member  luiits. 

A  proposal  to  publish  an  Allied  magazine  or 
enlarge  the  organization's  bulletin  was  voted 
down. 


To  Address  Cinema  Club 

Lester  Zucker,  Columbia  branch  manager  in 
Cleveland,  will  be  the  principal  speaker  at  a 
meeting  of  the  Cleveland  Cinema  Qub  February 
23.  Mr.  Zucker  will  discuss  "the  contribution 
of  the  industry  to  the  national  problems  of 
1944." 


Interboro  Signs  with  Al+ec 

Bert  Sanford,  New  Ycrk  district  manager  for 
Altec  Service  Corporation,  has  announced  the 
re-signing  of  service  and  parts  contracts  for  the 
21  theatres  of  the  Interboro  Circuit. 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 

Music  Hall  To  Stage 
Red  Cross  Rally 

At  the  request  of  American  Red  Cross  of- 
ficials, the  Radio  City  Music  Hall,  New  York, 
will  contribute  its  services  in  staging  a  "Red 
Cross  at  War"  rally  at  Madison  Square  Garden, 
February  29,  G.  S.  Eyssell,  managing  director 
of  the  Music  Hall,  announced  last  week.  The 
rally  committee  will  include  Ben  Hecht,  in 
charge  of  script;  Mr.  Eyssell,  co-chairman  with 
John  Golden;  Le.n  LeonidoflF,  stage  production; 
Bruno  Maine,  art  director ;  Erno  Rapee,  Music 
Hall  orchestra  conductor ;  Russell  Markert  and 
Gene  Snyder,  Music  Hall  Rockettes  directors; 
Florence  Rogge,  Corps  de  Ballet  director; 
Irving  Evans,  stage  manager,  and  the  Masic 
Hall  Glee  Club. 

Deny  Disney  Plea  to  Set  Aside 
Myerburg  Case  Verdict 

New  York  Supreme  Court  Justice  Lloyd 
Church  last  week  denied  Walt  Disney  Produc- 
tions, Inc.,  and  its  co-defendant,  Kidder,  Pea- 
body  &  Co.,  investment  bankers,  their  motions 
to  set  aside  a  $50,000  award  against  them 
handed  dowm  by  a  New  York  jury  after  a  short 
trial. 

The  jury  verdict  granted  Michael  Myerberg, 
theatrical  producer,  $20,000  damages  against 
Disney  and  $30,000  against  the  investment  house. 
The  theatrical  producer  had  sought  $70,000  for 
alleged  breach  of  contract  under  an  agreement 
made  in  1939,  and  consummated  in  1940  for  the 
reorganization  of  the  Disney  organization,  which 
offered  for  sale  to  the  public  150,000  shares  of 
six  per  cent  preferred  stock  at  a  par  value  of 
$3,750,000. 

The  bankers,  Mr.  Myerberg  alleged,  under- 
wrote the  deal  and  had  promised  him  "reason- 
able compensation,"  for  arranging  the  deal. 

The  jury  finding  that  both  of  the  defendants 
were  equally  responsible  for  the  services,  the 
banker  sought  a  new  trial  on  the  ground  that 
the  $30,000  judgment  against  them  was  exces- 
sive. The  court  indicated  that  it  would  grant 
a  new  trial,  unless  Mr.  Myerberg  agreed  to 
reduce  the  amount  to  $20,000,  which  would 
equalize  the  damages.  Emil  K.  Ellis,  attorney 
for  Mr.  Myerberg  stated  that  he  would  agree 
to  the  reduction. 

Club  Gives  Luncheon  for 
Six  Entering  Service 

A  farewell  luncheon  to  Saul  J.  Krugman, 
United  Artists  salesman  in  Philadelphia,  held 
by  the  Motion  Picture  Associates  at  the  Hotel 
Warwick  last  Monday,  also  was  a  farewell 
affair  for  five  other  industry  members  present 
who  enter  the  armed  forces  this  month.  Mr. 
Krugman,  former  Associates  president,  leaves 
for  the  Navy  on  February  21.  Among  others 
present  at  the  luncheon  also  leaving  for  the 
service  were  John  Harwin,  operator  of  the  Mt. 
Ephriam  theatre,  Mt.  Ephriam,  N.  J. ;  Jerry 
Meyers,  manager  of  the  Bell  theatre;  Si  Bell, 
Columbia  salesman ;  Paul  Kleinman,  manager 
of  the  Pearl  theatre,  and  Jack  Brower,  manager 
of  the  Belgrade  theatre. 

Mr.  Harwin  announced  that  his  three  sisters 
would  carry  on  the  operation  of  his  theatre. 

Jannes  Smith  President 
Of  Annerican  Films 

American  Films  Corporation,  organized  by 
Sig  Schlager  as  a  picture-and-play-producing 
setup,  had  its  first  stockholders'  meeting  last 
week  at  the  Samuel  Goldwryn  Studio,  Holly- 
wood. The  following  officers  were  elected : 
James  A_.  Smith,  president;  Charles  L.  Strouss, 
vice-president;  Henry  Herzbrun,  second  vice- 
president,  and  William  Grossman,  treasurer. 
Mr.  Schlager  is  general  manager.  Despite  the 
dual  management,  American  Films  Corporation 
is  entirely  distinct  from  Producers  Corpora- 
tion of  America,  producer  of  "Knickerbocker 
Holiday,"  it  was  said. 


February     12.  1944 

March  of  Dimes 
Total  May  Hit 
$4,000,000 

As  the  theatres  throughout  the  country  re- 
ported their  March  of  Dimes  collections  to  na- 
tional headquarters,  all  evidence  pointed  to  a 
$4,000,000  total,  one  million  better  than  the 
goal  set  by  Nicholas  M.  Shenck,  national  chair- 
man. Up  to  Tuesday  of  this  week  1,412  the- 
atres reported  an  aggregate  collection  totaling 
$536,000,  or  $3«0  per  tieatre. 

Robert  J.  O'Donnell,  Texas  state  chairman, 
has  reported  that  theatres  in  that  state  will 
report  collections  exceeding  $200,000,  1,800 
per  cent  over  the  1943  figure  of  $11,000,  and 
three  times  Mr.  O'Donnell's  pre-drive  predic- 
tion of  $80,000.  Loew's  theatres  from  coast  u| 
coast  collected  $443,782.57,  an  increase  of  IM 
per  cent  over  1943,  while  RKO  theatres  showM 
an  increase  of  99.6  per  cent  in  the  collectioir 
of  $213,598,  resulting  in  the  collection  of  $100 
by  Oscar  Doob,  Loew  executive,  from  Edward 
Alperson,  RKO  executive,  the  two  having  made 
a  bet  their  respective  companies  would  show 
the  great  percentage  increase.  Mr.  Doob's  win- 
ings  were  turned  over  to  the  fund. 

In  amount  collected.  Radio  City  Music  City 
Hall,  New  York,  led  the  nation  with  a  total 
of  $16,522.04,  nearly  tripling  last  year's  figure 
of  $6,583.18.  The  Roxy,  New  York,  in  second 
place,  had  a  total  of  $14,126.86,  compared  to  a 
1943  figure  of  $6,111.  Other,  Broadway  houses 
reported  collections  as  follows:  Capitol,  $12,- 
733 ;  Paramount,  $5,492 ;  Strand,  $7,520 ;  Loew's 
State,  $7,134;  Astor,  $7,819;  Criterion,  $4,174; 
Rivoli,  $3,640 ;  Loew's_  Mayfair,  $2,249 ;  RvaXto,. 
$2,703.  All  were  considerably  above  last  year's 
collections.  1 

Early  returns  from  the  Philadelphia  territory 
also  show  considerable  increases.  The  Warner 
circuit  houses  collected  $115,526,  as  compared 
to  last  year's  $64,331.  At  the  Al  Boyd  theatres 
the  total  collections  were  reported  as  $5,379.88. 
The  William  Goldman  circuit  totaled  $6,000, 
and  the  independent  Arcadia  theatre  in  down- 
town Philadelphia  collected  $1,290.35. 

In  New  York  the  seven  Trans-Lux  theatres 
collected  $11,707.  With  exact  figiu-es  yet  to 
be  revealed,  Joseph  Schleinman  of  the  Casino 
theatre  in  New  York's  Yorkville  has  reported 
collections  twice  that  of  1943. 

In  Fall  River,  Mass.,  the  Interstate  Durfee, 
Paul  Slayer,  manager,  led  the  first  four  houses 
reporting  with  a  total  of  $335.47.  Interstate 
Empire  collected  $119.29;  Interstate  Center, 
$83.78,  and  the  Capitol,  $70.74. 

With  a  few  houses  yet  to  be  heard  from,  the 
Schine  Circuit  headquarters  in  Gloversville, 
N.  Y.,  reported  collections  had  reached  $52,000, 
about  three  and  one-half  times  the  total  col- 
lected in  1943.  M 

Anderson  Cites  Safety  I 
Record  of  Industry  | 

The  industry  was  held  up  as  a  model  to  all 
industries  for  its  excellent  work  in  accident 
and  other  loss  prevention  by  Henry  Anderson, 
manager  of  Paramount  Pictures  insurance  de- 
partment, in  an  address  at  a  meeting  of  the 
Surety  Underwriters  Association  of  New  York 
last  Thursday. 

"A  person  is  far  safer  in  a  motion  picture 
theatre  than  in  his  own  home,"  he  said. 

Mr.  Anderson  stressed  self-regulation  of  the 
industry  with  respect  to  safety  in  film  ex- 
changes as  worthy  of  emulation  by  others. 


AAA  Honors  OToole 

M.  J.  O'Toole,  public  relations  counsel  for 
Comerford  Theatres,  Inc.,  last  week  was  ap- 
pointed an  honorary  member  of  the  National 
Panel  of  Arbitrators,  American  Arbitration  As- 
sociation, New  York. 


miVERSAL 


has  consistent  and 
traditional  audience 


Change  of  pace . . . 
Variety  in  subject  matter 


UNIVERSALIS  Pictures  are  modeled  to  successful  eutertainment  formulae! 


The  picture  nominated  to  be  seen  twice! 

FIMMDFMTM 


FLESH  AND  FANTASY 

starring  in  the  order  of  their  appearance 


II 


ROBERT  BENCHLEY 

BETTY  FIELD 
ROBERT  CUMMINGS 

EDGAR  BARRIER 


EDWARD  G.  ROBINSON 

THOMAS  MITCHELL 
C.  AUBREY  SMITH 

ANNA  LEE 
DAME  MAY  WHITTY 

CHARLES  BOYER 
BARBARA  STANWYCK 

w.»h  CHARLES  WINNINCeR 
Directed  by  JULIEN  DUVIVIER 
Produced  by  CHARLES  BOYER  and  JULIEN  DUVIVIER 
Screen  Play  by  Ernest  Pascal  •  Samuel  Hoffenstein  •  Ellis  St.  Joseph 
Based  on  stories  by  Oscar  V/ilde  •  Laslo  Vadnay  •  Ellis  St  Joseph 


Deanna 

Deanna 


Dorbin  box  office  picture  yet. 


Franchot 


Pat 


DURBIN- TONE -O'BRIEN 


in 


HIS  BUTLER'S  SISTER 


with  AKIM  TAMIROFF 

EVELYN  ANKERS  •  ALAN  MOWBRAY  •  FRANK  JENKS 
WALTER  CATLETT  •  ELSA  JANSSEN 

Original  Screen  Play,  Samuel  Hoffenstein    •    Betty  Reinhardt 
Directed  by  FRANK  BORZAGE 

Produced  by  FELIX  JACKSON  •  Associate  Producer  FRANK  SHAV/ 
A  FRANK  BORZAGE  Production 


The  story 


MARIA  MONTEZ-  JO"^  HALL'^^'^"^''  BEY 


in 


ALI BABA  ANB  THE 
FORTY  THIEVES 


IN  TECHNICOLOR! 

with  ANDY  DEVINE  •  FORTUNIO  BONANOVA 
FRANK  PUGLIA  •  RAMSAY  AMES 
MORONI  OLSEN-KURT  KATCH 

Written  for  the  Screen  by  Edmund  L  Hartmann 
Directed  by  ARTHUR  LUBIN  •  Produced  by  PAUL  MALVERN 


Lover.. .killer.. .schemer.. .a  many-sided 
character  in  a  many-sided  story! 


Jean 


GABIN 


m 


THE  IMPOSTOR 


with 

RICHARD  WHORF  •  ALLYN  JOSLYN  •  ELLEN  DREW 
PETER  VAN  EYCK  •  JOHN  QUALEN 
EDDIE  QUILLAN  •  RALPH  MORGAN 

Original  Screen  Play  by  Julien  Duvivier 
Dialogue  adapted  from  the  French  by  Stephen  Longstreet 
Additional  Dialogue  by  Marc  Connelly  and  Lynn  Starling 

Produced  and  Directed  by 

JULIEN  DUVIVIER 


Dramotic  chiller  builf  on  olmost 
unbearable  suspense . . .  >v/fh  somethmg 

out-of-ihis-world  in  story  and  background! 


PHANTOM  lADY 


starring 

FRANCHOT  TONE  •  ELLA  RAINES 
ALAN  CURTIS 

wifh 

THOfi/IAS  GOMEZ  •  AURORA  •  ELISHA  COOK,  Jr. 
FAY  HELM  •  ANDREW  TOMBES 

Screen  Play  by  Bernard  C.  Schoenfeld  •  Based  on  the  Novel  by  William  Irish 
Directed  by  ROBERT  SIODMAK    •   Associate  Producer, Doan  Harrison 


Dashing . . .  Daring . . .  Delightful! 
Starring  the  modern  youngster  who  sky- 
rocketed to  fame  on  his  joyous  personality!... 


Donald 

O'CONNOR 


Peggy 

RYAN 


Ann 

BLYTH 


in 


99 


CHIP  OFF  THE 
OLD  BLOCK 


w»h  HELEN  VINSON  •  ARTHUR  TREACHER 
HELEN  BRODERICK  •  PATRIC  KNOWLES 
J.  EDWARD  BROMBERG 

ond  introducing 

"QUIZ  KID"  JOEL  KUPPERMAN 

Screen  Play  by  Eugene  Conrad  and  Leo  Townsend 
Original  Story  by  Robert  Arthur 
Directed  by  CHARLES  LAMONT 
Associate  Producer,  Bernard  W.  Burton 


'KEEP  UP  THE  ATTACK! 
4th  WAR  LOAN!" 


WALTER  WANGER 

The  Story  of  Carlson's 
Makin  Island  Raiders 


starring 

RANDOLPH  SCOTT 

NOAH  BEERY,  Jr.  •  ALAN  CURTIS  •  Peter 
Coe  •  David  Bruce  •  Sam  Levene  -J.  Carrol 
Naish  •  Richard  Lane  •  Milburn  Stone 

and  GRACE  Mcdonald 

Screen  Play  by  Lucien  Hubbard 
Based  on  the  factual  story  "GUNG  HO"  by  Lt.  W.  S.  Le  Francois,  U.S.M.C 
Additional  Dialogue  by  Joseph  HofFman 
Directed  by  RAY  ENRIGHT 
Produced  by  WALTER  WANGER 


Leave  it  to  UNIVERSAL  to  give  you  something 
that  no  one  else  has  .  .  .  pictures  with  that  fresh- 
ness .  .  .  that  zest  for  the  different .  .  .  that  variety 
of  story. . .  that  UNIVERSAL  BOX  OFFICE  FEEL- 
ING you  get  only  from  UNIVERSAL  VALUES! 


44 


Equipment  Real 
Theatre  Problem 
Eberson  Finds 

Was/jingtan  Bureau 

The  motion  picture  theatres  of  the  country 
are  taking  a  beating  as  a  result  of  increased 
war  patronage  and  restrictions  on  the  produc- 
tion of  equipment,  it  is  shown  by  a  survey  just 
completed  by  John  Eberson,  consultant  to  the 
amusement  and  recreation  section  of  the  Office 
of  Civilian  Requirements. 

The  survey,  of  13,244  theatres,  9,000  of  them 
below  500  capacity,  covered  present  needs  and 
those  anticipated  over  a  12-month  period,  for 
75  items,  classified  as  most  urgently  needed, 
urgently  needed  and  pressing. 

Practically  every  theatre  in  the  country  was 
found  to  require  replacement  seats,  most  of  them 
needed  carpet,  light  bulbs,  batteries,  fire  ex- 
tinguishers and  projection  and  sound  equipment. 

On  the  basis  of  the  information  obtained,  Mr. 
Eberson  is  working  out  a  program  to  obtain 
War  Production  Board  cooperation  in  securing 
the  production  of  minimum  replacement  require- 
ments of  the  most  urgent  items,  starting  with 
seats  and  repair  material. 

A  study  of  the  material  supply  situation,  he 
said,  showed  that  the  stringency  in  metals  and 
plywood  had  eased,  and  that  steel  springs,  cast 
iron  and  strip  and  sheet  steel,  the  principal  ma- 
terials required  for  seat  production,  might  be 
available.  Substitutes,  however,  would  have  to 
be  found  for  stuffing  and  burlap. 

Mr.  Eberson  then  contacted  the  seat  manu- 
facturers and  found  that  while  most  of  them 
now  were  alniost  100  per  cent  in  war  work, 
some  had  some  facilities  available  which  might 
be  used  for  civilian  production  to  a  limited  ex- 
tent. 

On  the  basis  of  this  information,  negotiations 
have  been  opened  with  War  Production  Board 
officials  to  obtain  the  authorization  for  the  man- 
ufacture of  a  limited  quantity  of  opera  chairs  to 
a  specification  which  could  be  met  by  all  manu- 
facturers. The  standard  chair  would  have  a 
spring  seat  and  full  upholstered  back  and  would 
in  no  sense  be  a  flimsy  war  model,  but,  rather, 
a  substantial,  adequate  seat  which  would  give 
long  service. 

These  chairs  would  be  for  replacement  pur- 
poses solely,  and  exhibitors  would  not  be  per- 
mitted to  reseat  their  entire  house  simply  to 
secure  more  comfortable  chairs  or  a  different 
color  scheme. 

The  recent  survey  showed  that  theatres  were 
deteriorating  rapidly  because  of  the  inability  to 
replace  furnishings  and  equipment  which  were 
wearing  out,  Mr.  Eberson  said.  Particularly  in 
the  war  centers,  the  theatres  have  been  subjected 
to  excessive  wear  over  the  past  two  or  three 
years,  and  the  situation  has  now  reached  a 
point  where  it  is  essential  that  steps  be  taken 
to  provide  replacements  so  that  they  may  remain 
in  business. 

To  this  end,  efforts  will  be  made  to  obtain 
the  release  of  materials  for  the  production  of 
the  most  needed  items,  one  at  a  time,  but  that 
production  will  be  undertaken  with  due  regard 
for  the  necessity  of  meeting  military  require- 
ments first  and  the  quantities  to  be  turned  out 
will  be  small,  and  will  be  allocated  to  exhibitors 
only  to  the  minimum  extent  necessary  to  permit 
full  utilization  of  their  theatre  facilities. 


Zulcors  Are  Great-Grandparents 

Adolph  Zukor,  chairman  of  the  board  of 
Paramount,  and  Mrs.  Zukor,  became  great- 
grandparents  Tuesday  when  a  daughter  was 
born  to  their  granddaughter,  Mrs.  Boyd  Mc- 
David  Morse,  at  Tucson,  Ariz.  Mrs.  Morse  is 
the  daughter  of  Major  Arthur  M.  Loew.  of  the 
U.  S.  Army  Sigi.al  Corps,  and  Mildred  Zukor 
Loew.  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zukor. 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 

Canddlan  Trade  Practice 
Code  Believed  Likely 

Krom  a  Government  source  in  Toronto  it  has 
been  learned  that  the  scheduled  meeting  at 
Ottawa  last  Tuesday  between  the  National 
Council  of  Independent  Exhibitors  of  Canada 
and  officials  of  the  Wartime  Prices  and  Trade 
Board  on  trade  grievances  has  been  indefinitely 
])ostponed  pending  developments  in  negotiations 
among  branches  of  the  industry. 

This  is  the  first  indication  of  a  tangible 
nature  that  an  agreement  is  in  sight  for  a  new 
industrial  code  incorporating  exchanges,  cir- 
cuits and  unaffiliated  exhibitors. 

It  is  considered  by  observers  a  basis  on  which 
to  approach  the  Government  to  ask  that  it  re- 
linquish Federal  stabilization  control  as  a  war- 
time measure. 


New  York  Local 
Votes  to  Call 

New  York  "back  room"  exchange  employees, 
members  of  the  International  Alliance  of  The- 
atrical Stage  Employees  Local  B-51,  New  York, 
may  strike  at  midnight  Sunday.  The  executive 
board  of  the  unit  authorized  the  strike  Tuesday. 
If  called,  it  would  affect  approximately  800 
theatres. 

Similar  strike  votes  have  been  taken  in  De- 
troit and  Seattle.  In  those  instances,  lATSE 
national  executives  intervened  to  prevent 
walkouts. 

Union  spokesmen  said  the  strike  vote  was 
taken  because  film  inspectors,  shippers  and 
poster  clerks  failed  to  obtain  a  10  per  cent 
wage  increase.  The  companies  are  understood 
willing  to  grant  it,  but  the  Wage  Stabilization 
Directors'  Office  has  rejected  it  because  such 
workers  have  already  received  a  13  per  cent 
increase  under  the  "Little  Steel"  formula.  An 
appeal  to  the  War  Labor  Board  is  pending. 

lATSE  officials  are  said  to  be  attempting  to 
have  the  work-week  increased  to  44  hours,  so 
that  the  increases  may  be  granted.  It  is  con- 
tended such  a  move  would  not  require  WLB 
approval. 

Delay  "Lady"  Eastern 
Opening  to  February  22 

Because  of  the  business  being  done  by  "The 
Aliracle  of  Morgan's  Creek"  at  the  New  York 
Paramount  theatre,  the  run  of  the  picture  will 
extend  to  five  weeks  and  the  eastern  premiere 
of  Paramount's  "Lady  in  the  Dark,"  originally 
scheduled  for  February  16,  has  been  postponed 
to  February  22,  Robert  M.  Weitman,  managing 
director,  announced  last  week.  The  eastern 
premiere  of  "Lady  in  the  Dark"  will  follow  the 
world  premiere  at  the  Hollywood  Paramount 
theatre  February  9.  The  picture  started  its 
regular  run  at  the  Hollywood  and  downtown 
Paramount  theatres  February  10. 

Treasury  Approves  Bonus 
For  RKO  Theatres 

Edward  L.  Alperson,  general  manager  of 
RKO  Theatres,  announced  that  the  Treasury 
Department  had  approved  the  1943  bonus  plan 
for  the  RKO  Theatre  Company.  He  said  that 
approximately  $100,000  would  be  divided  among 
209  employees,  including  theatre  managers,  as- 
sistant managers,  zone,  division  and  city  man- 
agers and  theatre  publicists.  Also  included  are 
employees  in  the  armed  forces. 


"Up  In  Arms"  to  Music  Hail 

"Up  In  Arms,"  Samuel  Goldwyn  Technicolor 
musical  for  RKO  release,  with  Danny  Kaye 
in  his  film  debut,  will  be  the  next  attraction  at 
the  Radio  City  Music  Hall,  where  the  film  will 
follow  the  run  of  "Jane  Eyre." 


February     12,  1944 

Exchange  Union 
Negotiates  for 
Wage  Increase 

Negotiations  by  which  some  3,000  clerical 
exchange  workers  would  receive  wage  increases 
are  under  way  in  New  York  between  repre- 
sentatives of  the  major  distributors  and  Joseph 
Basson,  of  the  International  Association  of 
Theatrical  Stage  Employees.  The  first  step  is 
classification  of  jobs.  Not  involved  are  New 
York  exchanges  of  Columbia,  United  Artists, 
Twentieth  Century-Fox  and  MGM,  where  em- 
ployees are  represented  by  the  Screen  Office  and 
Professional  Employees  Guild,  Local  109,  CIO. 

In  Chicago,  Eugene  Atkinson,  projectionist 
at  the  State  Lake  theatre,  last  week  was  elected 
business  manager  of  the  Chicago  operators'  un- 
ion, Local  110.  Other  new  officers  are  James 
Gorman,  president;  Frank  Galluzzo,  vice-pres- 
ident; Ora  Bebb,  secretary-treasurer. 

The  new  slate  represents  a  departure  from 
management  by  officers  allegedly  connected  with 
the  Chicago  gangsters  convicted  in  New  York 
recently  of  complicity  with  Willie  Bioff  and 
George  Browne  in  extortion  of  more  than  $1,- 
000,000  from  the  industry. 

The  election  was  supervised  by  Richard 
Walsh,  lATSE  president.  He  publicly  an- 
nounced the  voting  as  recorded  on  machines. 
He  promised  autonomy  if  the  union  could  con- 
duct its  affairs  properly. 

Angelo  Brescia,  who  was  defeated  for  trustee,  • 
was  slugged  by  three  men  while  returning  home 
from  work  at  the  Alvin  theatre,  and  this  week 
is  in  the  County  Hospital  with  internal  injuries 
and  a  possible  skull  fracture. 

The  Lebanon,  Pa.,  lATSE  local  elected  the 
following  officers  for  1944:  John  H.  Neidig, 
president ;  Donald  Anspach,  vice-president ;  Al- 
bert Spayd,  recording  and  corresponding  secre- 
tary ;  George  Coe,  financial  secretary ;  Raymond 
E.  Hurst,  treasurer;  Norman  C.  Waters,  busi- 
ness agent,  and  Charles  E.  Kruger,  executive 
board  member. 


Labor  Board  Grants  Rise 
To  Warner  Employees 

Approximately  140  "white-collar"  employees 
of  Warners'  New  York  music  publishing  and 
warehouse  affiliates  will  receive  wage  increases, 
as  a  result  of  a  Regional  War  Labor  Board  de- 
cision handed  down  late  last  week. 

The  Board  approved  an  increase  of  six  per 
cent  to  be  given  now,  retroactive  to  August  10, 
1943,  an  additional  five  per  cent  for  employees 
with  more  than  10  years  of  service,  and  an 
additional  five  per  cent  to  be  given  on  August 
10,  1944.  The  Board  also  approved  job  classi- 
fications with  minimum  and  maximum  salaries 
set  up  by  the  company  and  the  Motion  Picture 
Office  Employees  Union,  Local  23169,  AFL. 

Russell  M.  Moss,  who  negotiated  the  wage 
increases  and  classifications  for  MPOE,  has  re- 
signed from  Warners  to  devote  full  time  to 
the  union's  activities  as  business  agent. 


Joseph  Goetz  Now  Major 

Captain  Joseph  Goetz,  formerly  RKO  as- 
sistant division  manager,  in  Cincinnati,  has  been 
promoted  to  major,  it  was  announced  over  the 
weekend.  He  is  assistant  chief  of  personnel. 
Army  Air  Force,  at  Patterson  Field,  Davton, 
Ohio. 


Graetz  Handles  "Undercover" 

"Undercover,"  film  dramatizing  the  activities 
of  the  Yugoslav  guerrillas,  has  been  acquired 
for  distribution  in  the  United  States  and  Latin 
America  by  Paul  Graetz.  It  was  produced  in 
England  in  1943  by  Michael  Balcon. 


15  af  it  again  - .  .  in  a 
bigger  way  than  ever! 


TIC  60-THEATRE,  4-STA 


F  THE  GREATEST  BOX-OFFIC 


WAIT  DISM'S 

.THE  MOST  FAR-REACHING  AND 
INTENSIVE  PRE-OPENING  PRO- 
MOTION YOU  EVER  HEARD  OF! 

—blanketing  the  entire  area  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Kentucky 
and  West  Virginia— 


—backed  by  the  official  ''Snow  White  WeeU^  proclama- 
tions of  the  Governors  of  Ohio,  Kentucky  and  Indiana — 

—with  dominatingly-powerful  Station  WLW  beaming  out 
a  saturation  coverage  many  times  a  day,  every  day,  for 
weeks  in  advance — 

—with  two  great  contests  for  animators  and  the  ''Voice'* 
of  "Snow  White*'  running  in  every  community — 

—with  personal  appearances  of  the  "Voices*"  of  Snow 
White,  Donald  Duck,  Goofy  .  .  .  plus  two  groups  of 
dwarfs  and  a  Disney  animator — 

—with  newspaper  publicity  and  advertising  adding  their 
barrage  to  such  a  drum-fire  of  exploitation  as  never 
thundered  in  the  land  before! 


m.P  YOUR  EYE  ON  THE  AREA 
FOR  THE  BIG  BOX-OFFICE  NEWS! 


andtl 


Seven] 


in 


Techni 


Distributed  by 
RKO  RADIO  PICTURES,  inc. 


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48 


Arch  Bowles  of 
Fox  West  Coast 
Dies;  Long  III 

Arch  Bowles,  Fox  West  Coast  circuit  gen- 
eral manager,  died  at  the  St.  Francis  Hospital, 
San  Francisco,  February  6,  after  a  long  illness. 
He  leaves  a  widow  and  two  sons,  Phillip  and 
Tom. 

Mr.  Bowles  entered  the  industry  as  an  exhib- 
itor, at  Livermore,  Cal.  Later,  he  worked  for 
Pathe  as  a  salesman,  and  then  joined  the 
Turner  and  Dahnken  theatre  circuit,  becoming 
general  manager.  In  1942  he  was  elevated  to 
general  manager  of  Fox  West  Coast,  after  pre- 
viously serving  as  manager  of  the  northern 
division. 

Funeral  services  were  held  Tuesday,  at  the 
Halsted  Funeral  Chapel,  San  Francisco.  Burial 
was  in  Cypress  Lawn  Mausoleum.  Among  pall- 
bearers were  Herman  Wobber,  Robert  Mc- 
Neill, Oscar  Samuels,  W.  H.  Lollier,  Abe  Gore, 
Clifford  Work,  Mike  Naify,  Frank  Whitbeck, 
Charles  Koerner  and  Mell  Hulling. 

Spyros  Skouras,  president  of  Twentieth  Cen- 
tury-Fox, in  a  statement  issued  in  New  York 
Monday,  said:  "The  industry  has  suffered  an 
irreparable  loss  in  the  passing  of  Arch  Bowles, 
who  lived  to  serve  his  fellow  men  and  who  has 
left  a  permanent  legacy  of  constructive  influ- 
ence upon  every  branch  of  our  business." 

Charles  P.  Skouras,  head  of  National-Fox 
West  Coast  Theatres,  said:  "Arch  Bowles  was 
an  encouraging  spirit  in  every  endeavor.  He 
was  respected  and  honored  by  men  and  women 
in  every  station  of  life." 


Warners  Annend  Connpiaint 
In  SAG-"Canteen"  Suit 

Warner  Bros,  filed  an  amended  complaint  in 
Los  Angeles  Tuesday  in  the  "Hollywood  Can- 
teen" suit  against  the  Screen  Actors  Guild  in 
which  the  studio  recently  dropped  its  request 
for  $500,000  damages  against  the  guild.  The 
new  complaint  asked  an  injunction  against  the 
guild's  enforcement  of  Rule  33,  which  bars 
actors  from  working  in  the  picture  for  "less 
than  usual  salaries."  The  company  also  asked 
for  a  court  interpretation  of  the  SAG-studio 
basic  agreement  on  points  brought  up  during 
the  "Canteen"  dispute.  Warners  charged  that 
the  SAG  intended  to  prevent  the  company,  as 
well  as  other  studios,  from  making  commercial 
pictures  with  war-benevolent  agencies. 


J.  J.  Unger  Takes  Sales 
Post  with  United  Artists 

J.  J.  Unger,  former  eastern  sales  manager 
for  Paramount,  has  joined  United  Artists  in  an 
important  sales  capacity,  it  was  announced 
Tuesday  in  New  York  by  Carl  Leserman,  UA 
general  sales  manager.  Mr.  Unger  recently 
resigned  from  Paramount  after  an  association 
of  18  years.  Announcement  will  be  made  short- 
ly of  his  exact  duties  at  UA,  it  was  said. 

"Morgan's  Creek"  Sets 
Record  in  Liverpool 

Paramount  announced  this  week  that  a  pre- 
release showing  of  "Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek" 
at  the  Paramount  theatre,  Liverpool,  England, 
broke  the  house  record  for  the  week.  The  film 
subsequently  was  released  nationally  in  England 
and  North  Ireland. 


Fox  Joins  Columbia 

Meyer  Fox,  Irother  of  Columbia's  Buffalo 
branch  manager,  Phil  Fox,  has  joined  the  com- 
pany's booking  staff  in  Buffalo. 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


ARCH  BOWLES 


Kelly  Resigns 
UA  Position 

Edward  C.  Raftery,  president  of  United  Ar- 
tists, announced  in  New  York  Tuesday  that 
Arthur  W.  Kelly,  UA  vice-president  and  chair- 
man of  the  finance  committee,  had  resigned  as 
of  February  IL  Mr.  Kelly  will  continue  as  a 
director  of  the  corporation,  according  to  the 
announcement. 

It  was  expected  this  week  Mr.  Kelly  would 
announce  affiliation  with  J.  Arthur  Rank,  prob- 
ably as  his  American  representative  pending 
completion  of  Mr.  Rank's  plans  for  establishing 
a  distribution  organization  in  America. 

Mr.  Kelly  returned  to  New  York  last  week- 
end from  London.  While  there,  it  was  reported 
he  had  been  offered  a  post  with  Mr.  Rank, 
but  would  not  decide  until  he  had  conferred 
with  UA  directors. 

Mr.  Kelly  joined  UA  shortly  after  World 
War  I,  serving  first  as  treasurer  and  later  as 
vice-president.  In  1942,  he  became  general 
supervisor  of  foreign  affairs.  While  he  was 
in  London  the  company  announced  he  had  re- 
linquished this  post  and  would  handle  UA 
post-war  television  plans. 


Expect  Third  Metro  Block 
To  Include  12  Pictures 

The  third  MGM  block  for  1943-44  probably 
will  comprise  12  pictures.  The  first  and  second 
groups  each  consisted  of  12. 

William  F.  Rodgers,  vice-president  in  charge 
of  distribution,  now  vacationing  in  Miami,  is 
scheduled  to  return  to  New  York  February  14 
and  then  leave  for  the  coast  to  confer  with 
studio  officials  on  product  to  make  up  the  third 
group. 

Completed  films  available  are :  "America," 
"White  Cliffs,"  "Meet  the  People,"  "Andy 
Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble,"  "Mr.  Co-Ed,"  "Gas 
Light,"  "Two  Sisters  and  a  Sailor,"  "The 
Canterville  Ghost"  and  "Kismet."  Four  other 
films  are  nearing  completion :  "Dragon,"  "The 
Seventh  Cross,"  "Meet  Me  in  St.  Louis"  and 
"National  Velvet." 


RCA  Declares  Dividend 

Following  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  directors 
last  Friday,  David  Sarnoff,  president  of  the 
Radio  Corporation  of  America,  announced  the 
company  had  declared  a  dividend  of  8/%  cents 
per  share  on  the  outstanding  shares  of  $3.50 
cumulative  first  preferred  stock,  for  the  period 
from  January  1,  1944,  to  March  31,  1944,  the 
dividend  payable  to  holders  of  record  March  3. 


February     12,  1944 


Candidates  Are 
Nominated  for 
AeademyAwards 

• 

The  Academy  of  Motion  Pictures  Arts  and 
Sciences  has  announced  nominations  for  the 
awards  to  be  made  March  2  at  Grauman's  Chi- 
nese theatre  in  Hollywood  in  ceremonies  to  be 
short-waved  to  all  United  Nations  troops  abroad, 
and  without  the  usual  dinner  and  speeches.  Ten 
pictures,  20  players,  five  directors  and  IS  writers 
were  named.  Distribution  of  the  10,000  ballots 
for  voting  in  the  elections  by  members  of  the 
industry  was  to  begin  February  11. 

The  pictures  nominated  are:  "Casablanca,"  War- 
ners ;  "For  Whom  the  Bell  Tolls,"  Paramount; 
"Heaven  Can  Wait,"  20th  Century-Fox;  "The 
Human  Comedy,"  MGM ;  "In  Which  We 
Serve,"  (British)  Two  Cities-United  Artists; 
"Madame  Cnrie,"  MGM ;  "The  More  the  Mer- 
rier," Columbia;  "The  Ox-Bow  Incident,"  20th 
Century-Fox;  "The  Song  of  Bernadette,"  20th 
Century-Fox ;  "Watch  on  the  Rhine,"  Warners. 

Best  performance  by  actor:  Humphrey  Bogart 
in  "Casablanca";  Gary  Cooper  in  "For  Whom 
the  Bell  Tolls" ;  Paul  Lukas  in  "Watch  on  the 
Rhine";  Walter  Pidgeon  in  "Madame  Curie"; 
Mickey  Rooney  in  "The  Human  Comedy." 

Best  performance  by  an  actress:  Jean  Arthur  in 
"The  More  the  Merrier" ;  Ingrid  Bergman  in 
"For  Whom  the  Bell  Tolls";  Joan  Fontaine  in 
"The  Constant  Nymph";  Greer  Garson  in 
"Madame  Curie" ;  Jennifer  Jones  in  "The  Song 
of  Bernadette." 

Best  performance  by  an  actor  in  a  supporting 
role:  Charles  Bickford  in  "The  Song  of  Berna- 
dette" ;  Charles  Coburn  in  "The  More  the  Mer- 
rier";  J.  Carrol  Naish  in  "Sahara";  Claude 
Rains  in  "Casablanca" ;  Akim  Tamiroff  in  "For 
Whom  the  Bell  Tolls." 

Best  performance  by  an  actress  in  a  supporting 

role:  Gladys  Cooper  in  "The  Song  of  Berna- 
dette"; Paulette  Goddard  in  "So  Proudly  We 
Hail" ;  Katina  Paxinou  in  "For  Whom  the  Bell 
Tolls";  Anne  Revere  in  "The  Song  of  Berna- 
dette"; Lucille  Watson  in  "Watch  on  the 
Rhine." 

Best  direction:  Michael  Curtiz  for  "Casa- 
blanca" ;  Ernst  Lubitsch  for  "Heaven  Can 
Wait" ;  Clarence  Brown  for  "The  Human  Com- 
edy" ;  George  Stevens  for  "The  More  the  Mer- 
rier" ;  Henry  King  for  "The  Song  of  Berna- 
dette." 

Best  written  screenplay:  Julius  Epstein,  Philip 
G.  Epstein  and  Howard  Koch  for  "Casablanca"  ; 
Nunnally  Johnson  for  "Holy  Matrimony"  ;  Rob- 
ert Russell,  Frank  Ross,  Richard  Flournoy  and 
Lewis  R.  Foster  for  "The  More  the  Merrier" ; 
George  Seaton  for  "The  Song  of  Bernadette" ; 
Dashiell  Hammett  for  "The  Watch  on  the 
Rhine." 

Best  original  story:  Guy  Gilpatrick  for  "Ac- 
tion in  the  North  Atlantic" ;  Steve  Fisher  for 
"Destination,  Tokyo" ;  William  Saroyan  for 
"The  Human  Comedy" ;  Robert  Russell  and 
Frank  Ross  for  "The  More  the  Merrier" ;  F. 
Gordon  McDonnell  for  "Shadow  of  a  Doubt." 


Garden  Sues  Warners 

Warner  Brothers  Pictures,  Inc.,  was  named 
defendant  in  an  accounting  action  filed  in  New 
York  Federal  Court  last  week,  after  transfer 
from  New  York  Supreme  Court,  in  which  the 
Madison  Square  Garden  Corporation  seeks  an 
order  restraining  the  distribution  and  exhibition 
of  the  film,  "Mission  to  Moscow."  The  com- 
plaint alleges  that  the  film  shows  scenes  and 
events  which  occurred  in  Madison  Square  Gar- 
den, without  authorization  by  the  plaintiff. 


RKO  RADIO  PICTURES,  INC.  TRADE  SHOWINGS  of 


THE  SAMUEL  GOLDWYN  PRODUCTION 


y   (/  DINAH 

SHORE 

DANA 

ANDREWS 

CONSTANCE 

DOWIING 

Released  through  KRO  Radio  Pictures,  inc.  ni        -yup  nni  n||||f||  nini 

Directed  by  Elliott  Nugent -Associate  Producer  Don  Martman  H  ll\  IHh  |i|  I IIWYN  ilK 

Original  Screen  Play  by  Don  Hartman,  Allen  Borelz  and  Robert  Pirosh       I  LUU  IIIL  UULUIllll  UIIILU' 


MAHMS 


BRANCH 

PLACE  OF  SHOWING 

ADDRESS 

DAY  AND  DATE 

TIME 

Albarty 

Proctor's  Grond  Theatre 

1 1  Clinton  Ave. 

Mon.  2/21 

10:00  AiiA. 

Atlanta 

Rhodes  Theatre 

62  S.  Rhodes  Center  NW 

Mon.  2/21 

10:30  A.M. 

Boston 

Uptown  Theatre 

239  Huntington  Ave. 

Mon.  2/21 

10:45  kM. 

Buffalo 

20th  Century  Theatre 

Main  &  Mohawk 

Mon.  2/21 

11:45  P.AA. 

Charlotte 

Carolina  Theatre 

226  No.  Tyron 

Mon.  2/21 

10:00  A.M. 

Chicago 

Esquire  Theatre 

58  E.  Oak  St. 

Mon.  2/21 

11:00  A.M. 

Cincinnati 

Forest  Theatre 

671  Forest  Ave. 

Mon.  2/21 

11:00  A.M. 

Cleveland 

Lake  Theatre 

1630  Euclid  Ave. 

Mon.  2/21 

11:45  P.M. 

Dallas 

Tower  Theatre,  Tower Theo.Bldg.  Elm  St. 

Mon.  2/21 

9:00  A  J^. 

Denver 

Broadway  Theatre 

1 756  B'way 

Mon.  2/21 

10:00  A.M. 

Des  Moines 

Orpheum  Theatre 

8th  &  Locust 

Mon.  2/21 

10:30  A.M. 

Detroit 

Fischer  Theatre 

2nd  Blvd.  &  W.  Grond  Blvd. 

Mon.  2/21 

10:00  A.M. 

Indianapolis 

Cinema  Theatre 

213  E.  16th  St. 

Mon.  2/21 

10:30  A.M. 

Kansas  City 

Edison  Hall 

1330  Baltimore  Ave. 

Mon.  2/21 

11:00  A.M. 

Memphis 

Loew's  Palace  Theatre 

81  Union  Ave. 

Mon.  2/21 

9:30  A.M. 

Milv/aukee 

Alhambra  Theatre 

334  W.  Wisconsin  Ave. 

Mon.  2/21  ■ 

10:00  A.M. 

Minneapolis 

Loring  Theatre 

1405  Nicollet  Ave. 

Mon.  2/21 

2:00  P.M. 

New  Hoven 

Loew's  Bijou  Theatre 

28  Church  St. 

Mon.  2/21 

10:30  A.M, 

Nev/  Orleans 

Circle  Theatre 

Bernard  &  Gatvez  St. 

Mon.  2/21 

9:45  A.M, 

Oklahoma  City 

Uptown  Theatre 

1212  N.  Hudson  St. 

Mon.  2/21 

10:30  A.M. 

Omaha 

Dundee  Theatre 

50th  &  Dodge  St. 

Mon.  2/21 

2:00  P.M. 

Philadelphia 

Schubert  Theatre 

Broad  &  Locust 

Mon.  2/21 

8:30  P.M. 

Pittsburgh 

Schenley  Theatre 

3960  Forbes  St. 

Mon.  2/21 

12:00  Noon 

Portland 

Orpheum  Theatre 

759  S.  W.  B'way 

Mon.  2/21 

10:30  A.M. 

St.  Louis 

St.  Louis  Theatre 

718  No.  Grand  Ave. 

Mon.  2/21 

11 :00  A.M. 

Salt  Lake  City 

Riolto  Theatre 

272  So.  Main  St. 

Mon.  2/21 

9:30  A.M. 

Son  Francisco 

»      Tivoli  Theatre 

70  Eddy  St. 

Mon.  2/21 

2:00  P.M. 

Seattle 

Egyptian  Theatre 

4543  University  Way 

Mon.  2/21 

2:30  P.M. 

Sioux  Falls 

Hollywood  Theatre 

212  No.  Philips  Ave. 

Mon.  2/21 

10:30  A.M. 

Washington 

Circle  Theatre 

2105  Pennsylvania  Ave. 

Mon.  2/21 

11:00  A.M. 

yt^  ©AV  tteVi  SiTVAHONS 


50  MOTIONPICTUREHERALD  Februaryl2.l944 

//what  the  „ 
picture  did  for  me 


.  .  .  th«  origiBal  •xhlbltora  rapertt  department,  •stablithcd  October  14.  191  A. 
la  it  theatreima  strv*  en*  aaetbar  with  Infermatleo  aboat  the  box-efie*  par- 
fermanc*  of  product  —  providing  a  torvico  of  tlio  oxbibitor  for  tho  •xUbiter. 
ADDRESS  REPORTS:  What  tbo  Pictnro  Did  for  Mo,  Motion  Pietnro  Herald. 

Rockefeller  Center.  New  Yorli  20.  N.  Y. 


Columbia 

APPOINTMENT  IN  BERLIN:  George  Sanders. 
Marguerite  Chapman — A  fair  war  picture.  Business 
was  below  normaL  The  public  is  definitely  fed  up  on 
war  pictures,  unless  they  are  a  top  attraction  such 
as  "Salute  to  the  Marines."  Played  Wednesday, 
Thursday,  Jan.  5,  6.— Paul  McBride,  Avalon  Theatre, 
Fillmore,  Utah.    Small  town  patronage. 

DESPERADOES,  THE:  Randolph  Scott.  Glenn 
Ford — A  western  in  Technicolor.  Sure-fire  with  ac- 
tion fans.  Here,  it  is  the  first  time  a  Western  has 
paid  its  freight,  and  this  one  did  better  than  average 
business.  Played  Thursday-Saturday,  Jan.  20-22. — 
C  A.  Smith,  Regent  Theatre,  C3iapleau,  Ont.,  Can- 
ada.   Small  town  patronage. 

DESTROYER:  Edward  G.  Robinson,  Glenn  Ford— 
An  entirely  satisfying  action  picture.  Not  the  tri- 
umph of  artistry  that  "In  Which  We  Serve"  was, 
but  there  is  more  of  a  public  to  eat  up  this  kind. 
Tears,  tickles  and  tickets.  Played  Friday -Sunday, 
Jan.  6-8. — N.  W.  Mason,  Roseland  Theatre,  New 
Glasgow,  N.   S.,   Canada.     General  patronage. 

MUCH  TOO  SHY:  George  Forraby— How  he  does 
it  I  don't  know.  We  just  packed  them  in  for  this 
one  which  I  considered  not  so  good  as  some  of  his 
others.  Tlie  recording  was  poor  and  had  us  worried 
all  evening.  Anyway,  money  talks,  and  we  sure 
took  it  in.  Played  Monday,  Tuesday,  Jan.  24,  25.— 
K.  John,  Legion  Theatre,  Bienfait,  Sask.,  Canada. 
Small  town  patronage. 

MY  KINGDOM  FOR  A  COOK:  Charles  Coburn, 
Isobel  Elsom — This  is  a  nice  comedy,  not  big  but 
full  of  pleasing  situations  that  make  the  customers 
laugh  and  chuckle  throughout  the  picture.  Play  it 
on  your  Family  Night;  it  will  really  satisfy.  Played 
Wednesday,  Thursday,  Dec.  29.  30.— Paul  McBride. 
Avalon  Theatre,  Fillmore,  Utah.  Small  town  patron- 
age. 

REDHEAD  FROM  MANHATTAN:  Lupe  Velez, 
Michael  Duane — Good  program  picture  for  a  double 
bill  for  the  weekend  trade.  Played  Friday,  Saturday, 
Dec.  17,  18.- Miss  Cleo  Manry,  Buena  Vista  Theatre, 
Buena  Vista.  Ga.    Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

WHAT'S  BUZZIN'  COUSIN:  Ann  Miller.  John 
Hubbard— A  very  disappointing  picture.  Rochester  was 
the  only  good  thing  about  it.  The  hillbilly  routines 
were  terrible.  Business  way  below  normal.  Played 
Wednesday,  Thursday,  Dec.  8,  9.— Paul  McBride, 
Avalon  Theatre.  Fillmore,  Utah.  Small  town  patron- 
age. 


Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 

ABOVE  SUSPICION:  Joan  Crawford,  Fred  Mac- 
Murray— Joan  Crawford's  swan  song  for  Metro  proves 
a  good  money  maker.  Lots  of  action  for  the  men, 
clothes  for  the  women  and  atmosphere  for  the  would- 
be  cultured.  Seems  to  have  been  a  surprise  hit  and 
built  considerably  by  word  of  mouth.  Played  Monday - 
Wednesday,  Jan.  10-12.— N.  W.  Mason,  Roseland 
Theatre,  New  Glasgow,  N.  S.,  Canada.  General  patron- 
age. 

BATAAN;  Robert  Taylor,  Thomas  Mitchell— You 
put  the  right  kind  of  advertising  behind  these  good 
war  pictures  and  you  will  do  good  business.  People 
still  want  to  see  a  good  war  picture.  Trouble  is  there 
have  been  too  many  that  were  no  good.  Played 
Saturday,  Sunday,  Dec.  25,  26.— Otto  W.  Chapek,  An- 
nex Theatre,  Anamoose,  N.  D.  Rural  and  small  town 
patronage. 

BATAAN:  Robert  Taylor,  Thomas  Mitchell— A  very 
good  war  picture  that  pleased.  Due  to  a  very  bad 
snow  storm,  the  film  arrived  late  and  the  picture  was 
shown  only  twice,  Sunday  and  Monday  night.  Played 
Jan.  9,  10,— Melville  Danner,  Kozy  Theatre,  Granite, 
Okla. 

BEST  FOOT  FORWARD;  Lucille  Ball.  William 
Gaxton — Nothing  spectacular  about  this  one  except 
the  Technicolor,  but  it  pleased  very  well.  Fell  off 
considerably  the  last  day.  Played  Monday -Thiu-sday, 
Dec.  27-30.— N.  W.  Mason.  Roseland  Theatre,  New 
Glasgow,  N.  S.,  Canada.    General  patronage. 

BEST  FOOT  FORWARD:  Lucille  Ball,  William 
Gaxtoo —  Played  Sunday,  Monday  to  excellent  busi- 
ness, proving  the  critics  are  not  right  for  all  loca- 
tions. My  patrons  liked  it  and  told  me  so.  Played 
Jan,  9,  la— E.  A.  Lindenau,  Arthur  Theatre,  Lemont, 
m.    Small  town  patronage. 

DR.  GILLESPIE'S  CRIMINAL  CASE:  Lionel  Bar- 
rrmore,  Van  Johnson — This  series  of  pictures  is  al- 


ways enjoyed  by  my  patrons.  This  one  was  very 
good.  Played  Sunday,  Jan.  16. — Miss  Cleo  Manry, 
Buena  Vista  Theatre,  Buena  Vista,  Ga.  Small  town 
and  rural  oatronage. 

GIRL  CRAZY:  Mickey  Rooney,  Judy  Garland— A 
great  morale  booster.     One  of  the  best  Rooney  or 

Garland  ever  did.  Something  to  really  make  you 
forget  your  troubles.  Audience  greatly  pleased.  Did 
a  marvelous  business;  could  have  held  it  for  more 
because  that  team  brings  them  in.— Jay  G.  Williams, 
Liberty  Theatre,  Sharon,  Pa. 

HARRIGAN'S  KID:  Bobby  Readick,  William  Gar- 
gan — Saw  so  many  poor  reports  on  this  one  that  I 
was  afraid  of  it,  but  it's  a  good  little  picture  and  one 
can't  go  wrong  on  running  it.  Played  Tuesday,  Wed- 
nesday, Jan.  11,  12. — Otto  W.  Chapek,  Annex  Theatre, 
Anamoose,  N.  D.   Rural  and  small  town  patronage. 

HITLER'S  MADMAN:  John  Carradine,  Patricia 
Morrison — Played  to  110  per  cent  midweek  business. 
I  expected  to  have  a  tough  time  making  the  rental; 
the  surprise  was  pleasing.  Played  Tuesday,  Wednes- 
day, Jan.  18,  19. — K  A.  Lindenau,  Arthur  Theatre, 
Lemont,  IlL    Small  town  patronage. 

HUMAN  COMEDY,  THE:  Mickey  Rooney,  Frank 
Morgan — This  was  a  very  fine  production  and  seemed 
to  please  most  of  the  patrons.  Due  to  bad  weather, 
the  picture  fell  down  on  gross  business.  Played  Sat- 
urday-Monday, Jan.  1-3. — Melville  Danner,  Kozy  The- 
atre, Granite,  Okla. 

I  DOOD  IT:  Red  Skelton,  Eleanor  Powell— Red 
Skelton  isn't  liked  at  all.  Too  silly.  Why  MGM' 
keeps  making  pictures  with  him  is  mystery  No.  1  with 
me.  Played  Monday,  Tuesday,  Jan.  34,  25. — Paul  Mc 
Bride,  Avalon  Theatre,  Fillmore,  Utah.  Small  town 
patronage. 

KEEPER  OF  THE  FLAME:  Spencer  Tracy,  Kath- 
arine Hepburn— I  tried  to  pass  this  up  but  I  had  to 
play  it  sometime.  It  proved  to  be  a  very  good  mys- 
tery, but  lacked  drawing  power. — Ralph  Raspa,  State 
Theatre,  Rivesville,  W.  Va. 

LASSIE  COME  HOME:  Roddy  McDowall,  Edmund 
Gwenn — Tops  anywhere,  anytime.  This  picture  will 
never  grow  old.  It's  really  a  classic. — Phil  Schwartz, 
Parkway  Theatre,  Bridgeport,  Conn.  General  patron- 
age. 

SALUTE  TO  THE  MARINES:  Wallace  Beery,  Fay 
Bainter — A  good  picture,  very  well  liked  by  a  large 
majority  of  those  who  saw  it.  The  best  business 
done  by  a  Beery  picture  in  many  years.  Played  Sun- 
day, Monday,  Jan.  2,  3.— Paul  McBride,  Avalon  Thea- 
tre, Fillmore,  Utah.    Small  town  patronage. 

SWING  SHIFT  MAISIE:  Ann  Sothem,  James 
Craig — Not  so  hot.  This  picture  seemed  to  wander 
about  aimlessly  with  nothing  definite  taking  shape. 
Too  draggy.  Not  much  comedy.  Played  Friday,  Sat- 
urday, Jan.  7,  8. — Paul  McBride,  Avalon  "Theatre. 
Fillmore,  Utah.     Small  town  patronage. 

WHISTLING  IN  BROOKLYN:  Red  Skelton,  Ann 
Rutherford — These  "Whistling"  pictures  are  as  good 
as  you  can  find  anywhere  for  the  money.  Nobody 
takes  them  seriously,  but  everybody  has  a  fine  time. 
\yish  there  were  more  like  them  instead  of  too  ambi- 
tious efforts  which  turn  out  to  be  flops.  Played 
Friday,  Saturday,  Dec.  31.  Jan.  1.— N.  W.  Mason. 
Roseland  Theatre,  New  Glasgow,  N.  S.,  Canada.  Gen- 
eral patronage. 

YOUNG  IDEAS:  Mary  Astor,  Herbert  Marshall- 
Sophisticated  comedy,  very  amusing.  Kind  of  missed 
here  as  this  is  a  little  over  my  customers'  heads.— 
Phil  Schwartz.  Parkway  Theatre,  Bridgeport,  Conn. 
General  patronage. 


Paramount 


AERIAL  GUNNER:  Chester  Morris,  Richard  Ar- 
len — This  picture  did  good  business  on  midweek  and 
seemed  to  olease.  Plaved  Tuesday-Thursday,  Jan. 
11-13.- Melville  Danner,  Kozy  Theatre,  Granite,  Okla. 


ALASKA  HIGHWAY:  Richard  Arlen,  Jean  Parker 
— Very  good  action  pictiu'e  that  brought  out  extra 
business  and  was  well  liked  by  all.  Played  Tuesday, 
Wednesday,  Jan.  4,  5.— Otto  W.  Chapek,  Annex  Thea- 
tre, Anamoose,  N.  D.  Rural  and  small  town  patron- 
age. 

CHINA:  Loretta  Young,  Alan  Ladd — Good  picture 
played  to  fair  business.  Played  Monday-Wednesday, 
Dec.  13-15.— C.  A.  Smith,  Regent  Theatre,  Chapleau. 
Ont.,  Canada.  Small  town  patronage. 

CHINA:  Alan  Ladd,  Loretta  Young — ^A  stirring  film 
based  upon  an  incident  in  China  during  1941.  For  a 
slight,  believable  example  of  the  Jap  atrocities  which 
have  just  been  publicized,  see  this  picture.  Played 
Saturday,  Jan.  29.— J.  A.  Reynolds,  Director  of  Ed- 
ucation and  Recreation,  New  Jersey  State  Prison, 
Trenton,  N.  J. 

DIXIE:  Bing  Crosby,  Dorothy  Lamour — This  was, 
as  usual,  a  good  Crosby  picture  that  was  well  liked. 
Played  Saturday,  Sunday,  Dec.  18,  19.— Otto  W. 
Chapek,  Annex  Theatre,  Anamoose,  N.  D.  Rural  and 
small  town  patronage. 

DIXIE:    Bing   Crosby,   Dorothy  Lamour— A  swell 

show  and  well  received  by  those  who  saw  it,  although 
we  had  our  first  snow  in  years,  which  kept  many 
away.  I  plan  to  run  it  again.  Played  Wednesday, 
Thursday,  Dec.  15,  16. — Miss  Qeo  Manry,  Buena 
Vista  Theatre,  Baena  Vista,  Ga.  Small  town  and 
rural  patronage. 

DIXIE:  Bing  Crosby,  Dorothy  Lamour — One  exhib- 
itor called  this  "the  same  old  stuff."  Here,  it  was  a 
tonic  to  the  bank  account,  played  to  grand  business 
and  customers  raved  about  it.  Personally,  would  like 
more  like  this.  Played  Thursday-Saturday,  Dec  23- 
25-.— C.  A.  Smith,  Regent  Theatre,  Chapleau,  Ont., 
Canada.    Small  town  patronage, 

FLEET'S  IN:  Dorothy  Lamour,  William  Holden— 
This  is  another  good  one  that  Paramount  has  given 
us  and  we  had  plenty  of  favorable  comments,  though 
it  wasn't  Lamour  who  put  this  one  over.  Some  swell 
numbers  in  this  that  will  have  them  rocking  in  th»<r 
seats.  As  good  a  comedy  as  you  could  wish.  Played 
Monday,  Tuesday,  Jan.  17,  18. — K.  John,  Legion  "The- 
atre, Bienfait,  Sask.    Canada,    Small  town  patronage 

GREAT  MAN'S  LADY,  THE:  Barbara  Stanwyck. 
Joel  McCrea— This  was  well  liked  by  all  who  saw  it. 
They  mostly  voted  it  Stanwyck's  best.  A  good  one 
for  any  location  and  we  did  above  average  business. 
Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Jan.  14,  IS. — K.  John,  Le- 
gion Theatre,  Bienfait,  Sask.,  Canada.  Small  town 
patronage. 

HENRY  ALDRICH  HAUNTS  A  HOUSE:  Jimmy 
Lydon,  Charlie  Smith — A  small  town  natural.  Comey, 
yes,  but  they  liked  it.  Business  was  good.  Played 
Wednesday,  Thursday,  Jan.  26.  27. — E.  M.  Freiburger, 
Paramount  "Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla.  Small  town  patron- 
age. 

HENRY  ALDRICH  SWINGS  IT:  Jimmy  Lydon, 
Charlie  Smith — "These  Aldrich  pictures  all  seem  to  go 
over  pretty  well,  but  they  are  too  short.  "They  should 
be  about  80  minutes  in  length  at  least.  Played  Sat- 
urday, Sunday,  Jan.  8,  9. — Otto  W.  Chapek,  Atmex 
Theatre,  Anamoose,  N.  D.  Rural  and  small  town 
patronage. 

HIGH  EXPLOSIVE:  Chester  Morris,  Jean  Parker- 
Good  action  picture.  Played  Tuesday,  Wednesday. 
Dec.  28,  29. — Melville  Danner,  Kozy  Theatre,  Granite. 
Okla. 

LADY  BODYGUARD:  Eddie  Albert,  Anne  Shirley- 
Best  picture  Fve  played  on  Bargain.  Night  in  months. 
Really  fine. — Sammie  Jackson,  Jackson  Theatre.  Flo- 
maton,  Ala. 

TRUE  TO  LIFE:  M'ary  Martin.  Dick  Powell— A 
fair  enough  comedy,  but  it  just  caught  the  regular 
crowd.  "There  is  no  way  of  making  them  enthusiastic 
about  this  tvpe  once  they  suspect  it  is  of  the  screw- 
ball kind.  "This  one,  strictlv,  isn't,  and  should  please 
once  you  get  them  in.  Played  Thursday-Saturday. 
(Continued  on  page  S2) 


WARNER  BROS.'  TRADE  SHOWINGS  OF 

HUMPHREY  BOGART 

in 

PASSAGE  TO  MARSEILLE " 

MONDAY,  FEBRUARY  21 ,  1944 


rLA\-C  VJr  onL/Vv/NO 

AUUKCoo 

TIAAP 
1  l/Vit 

Albany 

Warner  Screening  Room 

79  N.  Pearl  St. 

12:30  P.M. 

Atlanta 

RKO  Screening  Room 

191  Walton  St.  N.W. 

2:00  P.M. 

Boston 

RKO  Screening  Room 

122  Arlington  St. 

2:00  P.M. 

Buffalo 

Paramount  Sc.  Room 

465  Franklin  St. 

2:00  P.M. 

Charlotte 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

308  S.  Church  St. 

10:00  A.M. 

Chicago 

Warner  Screening  Room 

1307  So.  Wabash  Ave. 

1:30  P.M. 

Cincinnati 

RKO  Screening  Room 

Palace  Th.  Bldg.  E.  6th 

1:30  P.M. 

Cleveland 

Warner  Screening  Room 

2300  Payne  Ave. 

8:00  P.M. 

Dallas 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

1803  Wood  St. 

10:00  A.M. 

Denver 

Paramount  Sc.  Room 

2100  Stout  St. 

4:00  P.M. 

Des  Moines 

Paramount  Sc.  Room 

1125  High  St. 

12:45  P.M. 

Detroit 

Film  Exchange  Bldg. 

2310  Cass  Ave. 

10:30  A.M. 

Indianapolis 

Paramount  Sc.  Room 

116  W.  Michigan 

1:00  P.M. 

Kansas  City 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

1720  Wyandotte  St. 

1:30  P.M. 

Los  Angeles 

Vitagraph  Sc.  Rm. 

2025  S.  Vermont  Ave. 

2:00  P.M. 

Memphis 

Paramount  Sc.  Room 

362  S.  Second  St. 

8:00  P.M. 

Milwaukee 

Warner  Th.  Sc.  Rm. 

212  W.  Wisconsin  Ave. 

10:30  A.M. 

Minneapolis 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

1015  Currie  Ave. 

10:30  A.M. 

New  Haven 

Warner  Th.  Proj.  Rm. 

70  College  St. 

11:00  A.M. 

New  Orleans 

Paramount  Sc.  Room 

215  S.  Liberty  St. 

10:00  A.M. 

New  York 

Home  Office 

321  W.  44th  St. 

2:30  P.M. 

Oklahoma 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

10  North  Lee  Ave. 

11:00  A.M. 

Omaha 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

1502  Davenport  St. 

11:00  A.M. 

Philadelphia 

Vine  St.  Sc.  Rm. 

1220  Vine  St. 

11:00  A.M. 

Pittsburgh 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

1715  Blvd.  of  Allies 

2:30  P.M. 

Portland 

Star  Screening  Room 

925  N.W.  19th  Ave. 

2:00  P.M. 

Salt  Lake 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

216  East  1st  South 

2:00  P.M. 

San  Francisco 

Republic  Sc.  Rm. 

221  Golden  Gate  Ave. 

1:30  P.M. 

Seattle 

Jewel  Box.  Sc.  Rm. 

2318  Second  Ave. 

10:30  A.M. 

St.  Louis 

S'renco  Sc.  Rm. 

3143  Olive  St. 

10:00  A.M. 

Washington 

Earle  Th.  Bldg. 

13th  &  E  Sts.  N.W. 

10:00  A.M. 

>port  the  Fourth  War  Loan! 


52 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    12.  1944 


(.Continued  from  page  SO) 
Jan.   13-15.— N.   W.   Mason,  Roseland  Theatre,  New 
Glasgow,  N.  S.,  Canada.    General  patronage. 

PRC  Pictures 

FOLJJES  GIRL:  Wendy  Barrie,  Gordon  Oliver- 
Plenty  of  entertainment,  some  good  and  some  bad. — 
Ralph  Raspa,  State  Theatre,  Rivesville,  W.  Va. 

GIRL  FROM  MONTEREY:  Armida,  Edgar  Ken- 
nedy— Fair  musical.  I  was  wondering  why  Edgar 
Kennedy  was  in  it;  he  hardly  drew  a  laugh. — Ralph 
Raspa,  State  Theatre,  Rivesville,  W.  Va. 

MY  SON,  THE  HERO:  Patsy  Kelly,  Roscoe  Karns 
— People  came  in  to  see  a  good  comedy,  but  found  it 
nothing  at  all.  They  tried  to  be  funny,  but  just 
couldn't.  Pass  it  up. — Ralph  Raspa,  State  Theatre, 
Rivesville,  W.  Va. 


Republic 

CALIFORNIA  JOE:  Don  Barry— Routine  Western 
played  to  average  business.  Played  Friday,  Saturday, 
Jan.  28,  29. — K  M'.  Freiburger,  Paramount  Theatre, 
Dewey,  Okla.    Small  town  patronage. 

HERE  COMES  ELMER:  Al  Pearce,  Dale  Evans— 
The  poorest  picture  to  play  this  bouse  in  many 
months.  Al  Pearce  is  very  poor  as  an  entertainer 
and  as  an  actor.  More  walkouts  on  this  picture  than 
we  had  customers;  some  of  them  must  have  walked 
out  twice.  Played  Wednesday,  Thursday,  Jan.  19, 
20.— Paul  McBride,  Avalon  Theatre,  Fillmore,  Utah. 
Small  town  patronage. 

HOOSIER  HOLIDAY:  Dale  Evans,  George  Byron— 
This  picture  pleased  the  Friday  and  Saturday  patrons. 
— Melville  Danner,  Kozy  Theatre,  Granite,  Okla. 

MAN  FROM  MUSIC  MOUNTAIN:  Roy  Rogers— 
This  is  a  run-of-the-mill  Roy  Rogers,  no  better  or 
worse,  but  the  natives  all  like  Westerns  and  go  for 
him.— W.  J.  Haney,  Milan  Theatre,  Milan,  Ind. 

NOBODY'S  DARLING:  Mary  Lee,  Gladys  George 
—This  picture  was  all  set  to  do  good  business,  but  due 
to  the  worst  snow  storm  in  history,  we  did  not  even 
open  the  theatre  on  Friday.  Played  Saturday  night 
and  Sunday  matinee. — Melville  Danner,  Kozy  Theatre. 
Granite,  Okla. 

OVERIAND  MAIL  ROBBERY:  Bill  Elliot.  Anne 
Jeffreys — This  was  a  good  Western.  Bill  Elliot  is 
O.K.  and  everyone  like  Gabby  Hayes.  Played  Fri- 
day, Saturday,  Jan.  14,  15. — Melville  Danner,  Kozy 
Theatre,  Granite,  Okla. 

SLEEPY  LAGOON:  Judy  Canova,  Dennis  Day- 
One  of  these  days  some  writer  is  going  to  write  a 
story  that  won't  have  a  broadcasting  station  in  it 
for  Judy  Canova,  and  probably  turn  out  a  better  pic- 
ture. Dennis  Day  sang  "Sleepy  Lagoon,"  which  was 
the  only  redeeming  feature  of  the  whole  film.  This 
was  the  worst  one  that  Judy  Canova  has  ever  played 
in. — W.  J.  Haney,  Milan  Tbeatre,  Milan,  Ind. 


RKO 

BAMBI:  Disney  Feature  Cartoon — ^A  masterpiece, 
of  course,  or  Walt  Disney  wouldn't  have  made  it. 
Don't  expect  too  much  from  it. — Ralph  Raspa,  State 
Theatre,  Rivesville,  W.  Va. 

FOREVER  AND  A  DAY:  British  and  American 
Stars — With  more  stars  than  you  could  shake  a  stick 
at,  and  some  that  you  want  to.  Did  average  business. 
Episodic  pictures  still  have  only  a  limited  appeal. 
Played  Monday -Wednesday,  Jan.  3-5. — N.  W.  Mason, 
Roseland  Theatre,  New  Glasgow,  N.  S.,  Canada.  Gen- 
eral patronage. 

GOVERNMENT  GIRL:  Olivia  De  HaviUand,  Sonny 
Tufts — Consensus  of  opinion  from  seven  film  critics 
label  it  "muddled,  stale  and  contrived."  OK,  RKO, 
make  more  of  these  stale  pictures.  The  customers 
ate  it  up;  99  percent  satisfied,  1  percent  undecided, 
box  office  OK.  I'm  afraid  some  of  these  critics  are 
just  not  fit  to  comment  on  anything. —  Phil  Schwartz, 
Parkway  Theatre,  Bridgeport,  Conn.  General  patron- 
age. 

GUNGA  DIN:  Gary  Grant,  Victor  M'cLaglen— 
People's  interest  in  India  will  make  this  a  money 
repeat.  Don't  miss  this  bet. — Phil  Schwartz,  Parkway 
Theatre,  Bridgeport,  Conn.    General  patronage. 

IRON  MAJOR,  THE:  Pat  O'Brien,  Ruth  Warrick 
— A  wonderful  picture  that  will  please  any  audience. 
Played  Sunday,  Jan.  16.— W.  R.  Pyle,  Airport  Recrea- 
tion Hall,  Rockglen,  Sask.,  Canada. 

MR.  LUCKY:  Cary  Grant,  Laraine  Day — A  honey 
of  a  picture.  I  did  not  do  the  business  I  expected, 
but  those  that  came  were  loud  in  their  praise.  Will 
play  a  repeat  later.— W.  J.  Haney,  Milan  "Theatre, 
Milan,  Ind. 

ONCE  UPON  A  HONEYMOON:  Ginger  Rogers, 
Cary  Grant — Gay  enough  and  good  enough.  All  de- 
pends on  whether  the  war  news  puts  the  public  in  the 
mood  for  seeing  "-he  Nazis  triumphed  over  by  Ginger 
Rogers  and  Cary  Grant  being  coy  and  none  too  bright. 
Played  Thursday-Saturday,  Jan.  20-22.— N.  W.  Mason, 


Roseland  Theatre,  New  Glasgow,  N.  S.,  Canada.  Gen- 
eral patronage. 

PETTICOAT  LARCENY:  Joan  Carroll,  Ruth  War- 
rick— A  dandy  that  gave  satisfaction  and  did  good 
business. — W.  J.  Haney,  Milan  Theatre,  Milan,  Ind. 

SQUADRON  LEADER  X:  Eric  Portman,  Beatrice 
Varley — A  British-made  picture  that  no  one  could 
understand  and  those  that  did  voted  it  the  cluck  of 
the  year.  Stay  away  from  this  baby;  it's  poison. — 
W.  J.  Haney,  Milan  Theatre,  Milan,  Ind. 


Twentieth  Century- Fox 

BOMBERS  MOON;  George  Montgomery,  Aimabella 
— This  was  a  good  entertainment  and  went  over  well 
both  at  the  box  office  and  with  the  audience.  Played 
Friday,  Saturday,  Jan.  21,  22.— A.  C.  Edwards,  Wine- 
ma  Theatre,  Scotia,  Calif.  Small  lumber  town  patron- 
age. 

CLAUDIA;  Dorothy  McGuire,  Robert  Young— Re- 
ceived more  complaints  on  this  than  on  any  other 
picture  played  in  the  last  12  months. — Sammie  Jack- 
son, Jackson  Theatre,  Flomaton,  Ala. 

CONEY  ISLAND:  Betty  Grable,  George  Mont- 
gomery— Betty  Grable  has  always  been  tops  in  enter- 
tainment, and  she  hits  the  top  in  this  one.  George 
Montgomery  and  Caesar  Romero  give  suave  perform- 
ances in  their  mutual  double  crossing  activities. 
Charles  Winninger  is  a  sprightly  character  and 
raises  many  a  laugh.  The  boys  loved  it.  Played  Sat- 
urday, Jan.  22. — J.  A.  Reynolds,  Director  of  Education 
and  Recreation,  New  Jersey  State  Prison,  Trenton, 
N.  J. 

GANG'S  ALL  HERE,  THE;  Alice  Faye,  Carmen 
Miranda — Another  winner  in  the  color  musical  line. 
Went  over  big  with  the  airmen.  Played  Thursday, 
Jan.  20.— W.  R.  Pyle,  Airport  Recreation  Hall,  Rock- 
glen, Sask.,  Canada. 

GUADALCANAL  DIARY;  Preston  Foster,  Lloyd 
Nolan — Excellent  production  that  pleased  all.  Played 
Thursday,  Jan.  13. — W.  R.  Pyle,  Airport  Recreation 
Hall,  Rockglen,  Sask.,  Canada. 

HE  HIRED  THE  BOSS;  Stuart  Erwin,  Evelyn 
Venable — Too  silly  and  long  drawn  out.  Used  on 
weak  end  of  double  bill.  Played  Friday,  Saturday, 
Jan.  21,  22.— A.  C.  Edwards,  Winema  Theatre,  Scotia, 
Calif.    Small  lumber  town  patronage. 

HEAVEN  CAN  WAIT;  Don  Ameche,  Gene  Tiemey 
-^This  was  the  best  comedy  we  have  had  in  a  long 
time.  The  patrons  said  it  was  such  a  relief  from  war 
pictures.  Don't  miss  it.  Business  only  average. 
Played  Monday,  Tuesday,  Jan.  17,  18. — Miss  Cleo 
Manry,  Buena  Vista  "Theatre,  Buena  Vista,  Ga. 
Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

LIFE  BEGINS  AT  8:30:  Monty  Woolley,  Ida 
Lupino — Double  billed  with  "Henry  Aldrich  Haunts  a 
House."  Played  to  above  average  business.  Monty 
Woolley  has  many  fans  here.  Played  Monday- Wednes- 
day, Jan.  10-12.— C.  A.  Smith,  Regent  Theatre, 
Chapleau,  Ont.,  Canada.    Small  town  patronage. 

MY  FRIEND  FLICKA;  Roddy  McDowall,  Preston 
Foster — Without  extra  ballyhoo,  this  picture  brought 
out  everyone  from  baby  to  grandpa.  Played  tO'  grand 
business.  Nice  to  know  there  are  such  clotures 
around.  Played  "Thursday -Saturday,  Jan.  13-15. — C. 
A.  Smith,  Regent  Theatre,  Chapleau,  Otit.,  Canada. 
Small  town  patronage. 

RAINS  CAME,  THE:  M'yrna  Loy,  Tyrone  Power 
— I  did  a  nice  business  on  this  reissue.  Played  it  on 
Pal  Night.  Still  a  good  picture.  Plaved  Tuesday, 
Jan.  25. — E.  M.  Freiburger,  Paramount  Theatre,  Dew- 
ey, Okla.    Small  town  patronage. 

SWEET  ROSIE  O^GRADY:  Betty  Grable,  Robert 
Young — Played  three  days  to  just  fair  business.  A 
good  picture,  but  the  natives  are  getting  tired  of 
these  musicals. — W.  J.  Haney,  Milan  Theatre,  Milan, 
Ind. 

"THEY  CAME  TOi  BLOW  UP  AMERICA;  George 
Sanders,  Anna  Sten — Just  a  fair  program  picture. — 
Melville  Danner,  Kozy  "Theatre,  Granite,  Okla. 

UNDER  TWOi  FLAGS:  Ronald  Colman,  Claudette 
Colbert — Still  a  good  picture,  but  business  was  only 
fair  on  this  reissue.  Played  Tuesday,  Jan.  4. — E.  M. 
Freiburger,  Paramount  "Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla.  Small 
town  patronage. 


United  Artists 

JUNGLE  BOOK;  Sabu,  Joseph  Calleia— Can't  say 
much  for  the  picture,  but  it  did  bring  in  extra  busi- 
ness. Played  Tuesday,  Wednesday,  Dec.  21,  22.— Otto 
W.  Chapek,  Annex  ITieatre,  Anamoose,  N.  D.  Rural 
and  small  town  patronage. 

LADY  OF  BURLESQUE;  Barbara  Stanwyck,  Mi- 
chael O'Shea — "The  advertising  looked  good,  but  the 
picture  was  terrible.  Played  Saturday,  Sunday,  Jan. 
1.  2. — Otto  W.  Chapek,  Annex  Theatre,  Anamoose, 
N.  D.    Rural  and  small  town  patronage. 

SILVER  QUEEN:  Priscilla  Lane,  George  Brent— 
This  was  a  good  picti:re  and  was  liked  by  all.  Played 


Tuesday,  Wednesday,  Dec.  28,  29.— Otto  W.  Chapek, 
Annex  Theatre,  Anamoose,  N.  D.  Rural  and  smalt 
town  patronage. 


Universal 

FIRED  WIFE:  Louise  AUbritton,  Robert  Paige— 
Motion  Picture  Herald  said  this  was  excellent,  but 
my  customers  said  it  was  fairly  good.  Business  was 
average.  Played  Svmday,  Monday,  Jan.  23,  24.— E.  M'. 
Freiburger,  Paramount  Theatre  Dewey,  Dkla.  Small 
town  patronage. 

FRONTIER  BAD  MEN:  Diana  Barrymore,  Robert 
Paige — My  booker  talked  me  into  playing  this  one 
on  a  Sunday  and  Monday.  The  outstanding  business 
proved  him  to  be  right.  In  Technicolor,  this  would 
have  been  a  super-duper.  Plenty  of  action  and  com- 
edy. Played  Jan.  16,  17.— E.  A-  Lindenau,  Arthur 
Theatre,  Lemont,  111.    Small  town  patronage. 

LARCENY  WITH  MUSIC:  Allan  Jones.  Kitty 
Carlisle — This  musical  seemed  to  lack  something,  but 
it  will  get  by  in  a  small  town.  Universal  should 
lengthen  these  musicals  a  little  so  that  they  could  be 
single  billed.— Ralph  Raspa,  Sate  Theatre,  Riversville. 
W.  Va. 

MR.  BIG:  Donald  O'Connor,  Gloria  Jean— Very  good,, 
but  many  people  say  that  O'Connor  gets  tiresome  with 
his  "cute"  actions.  Hold  him  down  a  little.  Uni- 
versal.— Sammie  Jackson,  Jackson  Theatre,  Flomaton, 
Ala. 

PHANTOM  OF  THE  OPERA:  Nelson  Eddy, 
Susanna  Foster — Appealed  to  the  class  patrons.  The 
"regulars"  found  too  much  opera,  not  enough  phan- 
tom. Too  many  walkouts.  Played  Monday -Wednes- 
day, Jan.  17-19.— C.  A.  Smith,  Regent  Theatre, 
Chapleau,  Ont.,  Canada.    Small  town  patronage. 

STRANGE  DEIATH  OF  ADOLF  HITLER:  Ludwig 

Donath,  Gale  Sondergaard — Just  one  name  draw  or 
any  actor  that  was  known  would  have  made  this 
picture  mean  money. — Ralph  Raspa,  State  Theatre, 
Rivesville,  W.  Va. 

TWO  TICKETS  TO  LONDON;  Michele  Morgan, 
Alan  Curtis — Very  poor.  Plenty  of  kicks  and  dirty 
looks  from  my  customers.  Two  days  wasted.  Played 
Tuesday,  Wednesday,  Jan.  11,  12. — E.  A.  LindenAll, 
Arthur  Theatre,  Lemont,  111.    Small  town  patronage. 


Warner  Bros. 

ACTION  IN  THE  NORTH  ATLANTIC:  Humphrey 

Bogart,  Raymond  Massey — Grand  picture,  but  drew 
only  one  night.  Played  Monday,  Tuesday,  Jan.  17,  18. — 
Miss  Cleo  Manry,  Buena  Vista  Theatre,  Buena  Vista, 
Ga.    Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

AIR  FORCE;  John  Garfield,  Gig  Young— If  I  had 
just  had  enough  young  men  and  boys  in  town,  busi- 
ness would  have  been  grand.  Comments  from  the 
boys  were  that  it  was  the  best  airplane  picture  they 
had  ever  seen.  Played  Monday,  Tuesday,  Jan.  10, 
11. — Miss  Qeo  Manry,  Buena  Vista  Theatre,  Buena 
Vista,  Ga.   Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

BACKGROUND  TO  DANGER:  George  Raft,  Sid- 
ney Greenstreet — The  impression  gotten  from  a  thin 
sprinkhng  of  customers  was  that  this  picture  was  too 
phony  for  general  consumption.  Raft  seemed  to  get 
around  in  Turkey  just  as  easy  as  if  he  were  in  the 
U.S.A.  Played  Wednesday,  Thursday,  Jan.  19,  20.— 
A.  C.  Edwards,  Winema  Theatre,  Scotia,  Calif.  Small 
lumber  town  patronage. 

CASABLANCA:  Humphrey  Bogart,  Ingrid  Berg- 
man— Played  this  iate  and  second  run,  but  it  still  did 
excellent  business.  Many  of  the  customers  were  ad- 
mittedly repeats.  Shows  what  can  be  done  with  good 
old  melodrama  if  intelligently  produced.  Played  Mon- 
day-Wednesday, Jan.  17-19.— N.  W.  Mason,  Rose- 
land Theatre,  New  Glasgow,  N.  S.,  Canada.  General 
patronage. 

CONSTANT  NYMPH,  THE:  Joan  Fontaine,  Charles 
Boyer — The  lowest  box  office  returns  in  over  a  year. 
This  type  of  production  is  impossible  in  a  small  town. 
About  one  out  of  every  six  walked  out.  Played  Sim- 
day,  Monday,  Jan.  23,  24.— A.  C.  Edwards,  Winema 
Theatre,  Scotia,  Calif.    Small  lumber  town  patronage. 

CONSTANT  NYMPH,  THE;  Charles  Boyer,  Joan 
Fontaine— Good  picture,  but  business  off.  _  I  heard  it 
was  a  woman's  picture,  but  my  patrons  did  not  seem 
to  think  this.  Played  Sunday,  Dec.  12.— Miss  Cleo 
Manry,  Buena  Vista  Theatre,  Buena  Vista,  Ga.  Small 
town  and  rural  patronage. 

CONSTANT  NYMPH,  THE;  Joan  Fontaine,  Charles 
Boyer — Class  picture  which  did  better  than  average 
business— which  is  something.  Played  Monday- 
Wednesday,  Dec.  20-22.— C.  A.  Smith,  Regent  Theatre, 
Chapleau,  Ont.,  Canada.    Small  town  patronage. 

GENTLEMAN  JIM;  Errol  Flynn,  Alexis  Smith— 
This  picture  very  well  received  here  and^  did  excellent 
business.  A  natural  for  any  type  of  audience.  Played 
Friday,  Saturday,  Jan.  14,  15.— W.  R.  Pyle,  Airport 
Recreation  Hall,  Rockglen,  Sask.,  Canada. 

EDGE  OF  DARKNESS:  Errol  Flynn,  Ann  Sheri- 
dan— Business  only  average.    Good  acting,  but  these 
war  pictures  get  only  one  comment,  "another  war 
picture."     Played  Monday,   Tuesday,   Dec.   13,  14.— 
(.Continued  on  opposite  Pvie) 


February    12,  1944 


CContinued  from  opposite  page) 
Miss  Cleo  Manry,  Buena  Vista  Theatre,  Buena  Vista, 
€ia.    Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

GORILLA  MAN,  THE:  John  Loder,  Paul  Cava- 
naugh — Good  little  picture,  but  no  draw.  Double 
billed  with  "Good  Morning-,  Judge,"  a  weak  support. 
Business  poor. — C  A.  Smith,  Regent  Theatre,  Chapleau, 
Ont.,  Canada.    Small  town  patronage. 

HARD  WAY,  THE:  Ida  Lupino,  Dennis  Morgan- 
Did  nice  business  on  this  picture.  Some  liked  it  and 
others  didn't  and  said  so,  but  O'.  K.  by  us.  Played 
Friday,  Saturday,  Jan.  21,  22. — K.  John,  Legion  Thea- 
tre, Bienfait,  Sask.,  Canada.    Small  town  patronage. 

OKLAHOMA  KID:  James  Cagney,  Humphrey  Bo- 
gart — Here  is  a  real  super-Western.  This,  although 
a  reissue,  cotdd  almost  have  "A"  time  because  of  its 
name  draw.  Has  everything  a  Western  should  have 
— and  more. — Ralph  Raspa,  State  Theatre,  Rivesville, 
W.  Va. 

Short  Features 
Columbia 

BACK  FROM  THE  FRONT:  All  Star  Comedies— 
You  will  always  find  a  few  hearty  laughs  in  these 
comedies  starring  the  Three  Stooges,  and  this  is  no 
exception. — ^J.  A.  Reynolds,  Director  of  Education  and 
Recreation,  New  Jersey  State  Prison,  Trenton,  N.  J. 

MATRIPHONY:  All  Star  Comedies— The  stooges 
are  always  good  for  a  laugh  here. — C.  A.  Smith, 
Regent  Theatre,  Chapleau,  Ont.,  Canada. 

YOU  DEAR  BOY:  All  Star  Comedies— A  dandy 
two-reel  comedy  with  plenty  of  laughs. — W.  R.  Pyle, 
Airport  Recreation  Hall,  Rockglen,  Sask.,  Canada. 


Metrp-Goldwyn-Mayer 

LONESOME  MOUSE:  Technicolor  Cartoons— Very 
good.  Consider  these  cartoons  the  best  in  the  busi- 
ness.— Patil  McBride,  Avalon  Theatre,  Fillmore,  Utah. 

MODERN  MEXICO  CITY:  Fitzpatrick  Traveltalks 
— Many  customers  told  me  they  enjoyed  this  short 
more  than  the  feature.  This  is  a  very  good  series. — 
Paul  McBride,  Avalon  Theatre,  Fillmore,  Utah. 

PUSS  'N*  TOOTS:  Color  Cartoon— A  winner  of  a 
cartoon.  Tom  and  Jerry  are  always  tops  here. — W. 
R.  Pyle,  Airport  Recreation  Hall,  Rockglen,  Sask., 
Canada. 


Paramount 

MARDI  GRAS:  Musical  Parade— Used  this  Techni- 
color two-reel  subject  as  a  second  feature  and  it 
proved  to  be  good  judgment.  It's  the  best  two- 
reeler  I  ever  saw. — E.  A.  Lindenau,  Arthur  Theatre, 
Lemont,  111. 

MERRY  GO  ROUND:  Popeye  the  Sailor— Enter- 
taining  Popeye  cartoon  in  Technicolor. — K  M.  Frei- 
burger.  Paramount  Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla. 

SWIMCAPADES:  Sportlights— Good  sport  reel  with 
bathing  beauties. — E.  M.  Freiburger,  Paramount 
Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla. 


RKO 

ART  OF  SELF  DEJ"ENSE:  Walt  Disney  Cartoons 
— ^Very  poor  cartoon;  definitely  not  up  to  standard. — 
Paul  McBride,  Avalon  Theatre,  Fillmore,  Utah. 

ART  OF  SKIING:  Walt  Disney  Cartoons— Cartoons 
— Timely  cartoon;  not  outstanding.— Paul  McBride, 
Avalon  Theatre,  Fillmore,  Utah. 

OLD  MACDONALD  DUCK:  Walt  Disney  Cartoons 
—Good  cartoon.— Ralph  Raspa,  State  Theatre,  Rives - 
viUe.  W.  Va. 

REASON  AND  EMOTION:  Walt  Disney  Cartoons 
— Not  so  hot.  Folks  wanted  to  know  why  I  gave 
them  this  instead  of  a  cartoon.— E.  A.  Lindenau, 
Arthur  Theatre,  Lemont,  111. 


Twentieth  Century -Fox 

BILL  JACK  VS.  ADOLF  HITLER:  March  of 
Time— One  of  the  most  entertaining  and  informative 
March  of  Time  subjects  it  has  been  our  pleasure  to 
gee.— J.  A.  Reynolds,  Director  of  Education  and  Re- 
creation, New  Jersey  State  Prison,  Trenton,  N.  J. 

BUTCHER  OF  SEVILLE,  THE:  Terrytoons-;-Good 
cartoon  in  color  with  high  class  operatic  music. — E. 
M.  Freiburger,  Paramount  Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla. 

YOKEL  DUCK  MAKES  GOOD:  Terrytoons— Av- 
erage color  cartoon.— E.  M.  Freiburger,  Paramount 
Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla. 


Universal 

PASS  THE  BISCUITS,  MIRANDY:  Swing  Sym- 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


SHORT  PRODUCT 
PLAYING  BROADWAY 

Week  of  February  7 

ASTOR 

Silver  Wings   20th  Cen+.-Fox 

The  Helicopter  20th  Cent.-Fox 

Feature:  Lifeboat  20th  Cent.-Fox 

CAPITOL 

My  Tomato   MGM 

Feature:  A  Guy  Named  Joe .  .  MGM 

CRITERION 

Wizard  of  Autos  Univ. 

Greatest  Man  in  Siam  Univ. 

Feature:  Gung  Ho  Univ. 

GLOBE 

My  Little  Buckaroo  Vitaphone 

Feature:    Where    Are  Your 

Children?  Monogram 

HOLLYWOOD 

Puss  'n'  Booty  Vitaphone 

Inside  the  Clouds  Vitaphone 

Voice  That  Thrilled  the  World.Vitaphone 
Feature:  Desert  Song  Warner  Bros. 

MUSIC  HALL 

Figaro  and  Cloo  RKO  Radio 

Feature:  Jane  Eyre  20th  Cent.-Fox 

PARAMOUNT 

Tails  of  the  Border  Paramount 

Ozark  Sportsmen  Paramount 

Feature:  The  Miracle  of  Mor- 
gan's Creek  Paramount 

R I  ALTO 

Too  Weak  to  Work  Paramount 

Jasper  Goes  Fishing  Paramount 

Olympic  Champ  RKO  Radio 

Feature:  The  Return  of  the 

Vampire   .Columbia 

ROXY 

Wreck  of  the  Hesperus.  ...  20th  Cent.-Fox 

Realm  of  Royalty  20th  Cent.-Fox 

Feature:  The  Sullivans  20th  Cent.-Fox 

STRAND 

Bees  A'BuzzIn'  Vitaphone 

At  His  Side  Vitaphone 

Little  Red  Riding  Rabbit. ..  Vitaphone 
Feature:  Destination  Tokyo.  .Warner  Bros. 


phonies — Everyone  seemed  to  get  enjoyment  out  of 
this  one. — C.  A.  Smith,  Regent  Theatre,  Chapleau, 
Ont.,  Canada. 

SMOKE  RINGS:  Musicals— Glen  Gray  has  a  fine 
unit  and  gives  out  with  some  very  tuneful  music. 
Peewee  Hunt  delivers  a  novelty  number  in  a  very 
entertaining  fashion. — J.  A.  Reynolds,  Director  of 
Education  and  Recreation,  New  Jersey  State  Prison, 
Trenton,  N.  J. 

Vitaphone 

FIN-N-CATTY:  M'errie  Melodies  Cartoons— Good 
cartoon  with  the  "Jerry  Coloima  Worm." — Ralph 
Raspa,  State  Theatre,  Rivesville,  W.  Va. 

HIAWATHA'S  RABBIT  HUNT:  Merrie  Melodies 
Cartoons — Good  cartoon  in  color. — E.  M.  Freiburger, 
Paramount  Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla. 

INTO  THE  CLOUDS:  Sports  Parade— Average  trav- 
el talk  in  color. — E.  M.  Freiburger,  Paramount  Thea- 
tre, Dewey,  Okla. 


Buys  Theatre  Building 

The  Strand  Building,  housing  the  l,2(H)-seat 
Strand-Telenews  theatre,  stores  and  offices,  in 
Cincinnati,  owned  by  the  531  Walnut  Street 
Corporation,  headed  by  Alex  Schreiber,  presi- 
dent of  Associated  Theatres,  Detroit,  has  been 
acquired  by  the  Leelanau  Realty  Company  of 
Cincinnati.  Associated  Theatres  negotiated  a 
10-year  lease  on  the  Strand-Telenews  Theatre 
recently. 


53 

Monogram  Sets 
44  Features  for 
Next  Season 

Monogram  will  release  28  features  and  16 
Westerns  for  1944-45,  it  was  announced  this 
week  by  W.  Ray  Johnston,  president,  prior  to 
his  departure  from  Hollywood  for  the  com- 
pany's eastern  sales  meetings  which  were  to  be 
held  in  New  York  this  Saturday  and  Sunday, 
February  12  and  13. 

"The  company  will  exceed  all  past  budgets 
next  season,"  he  said,  and  added  that  "inclusion 
of  a  number  of  'A'  productions  in  our  program 
has  taken  Monogram  into  many  theatres  which 
have  never  before  played  our  pictures." 

Mr.  Johnston  will  preside  at  the  regional 
meetings  inaugurating  an  intensive  Monogram 
sales  drive  under  the  slogan,  "Fifty  Years  of 
Service,"  honoring  his  30  and  Samuel  Broidy's 
20  years  in  the  industry.  He  also  will  confer 
with  the  general  sales  manager  on  post-war 
plans. 

Of  next  season's  total  schedule,  Scott  Dunlap 
will  produce  four  pictures ;  Jeffrey  Bernerd, 
two;  the  King  brothers,  three;  Sam  Katzman 
and  Jack  Dietz,  eight;  Lindsley  Parsons,  six; 
Philip  N.  Krasne  and  James  S.  Burkett,  two, 
and  Biltmore  Productions,  one. 

Already  planned  for  the  1944-45  program  are 
one  picture  starring  Belita;  two  with  Gale 
Storm ;  four  with  the  East  Side  Kids ;  three 
with  Billy  Gilbert,  Maxie  Rosenbloom  and 
Shemp  Howard,  and  two  "Charlie  Chan"  films 
with  Sidney  Toler  again  in  the  title  role. 
Johnny  Mack  Brown  and  Raymond  Hatton 
will  appear  in  eight  Westerns.  A  second  series 
of  eight  is  planned  but  no  star  has  been  named 
as  yet. 

Mr.  Johnston  said  that  several  important 
pictures  on  the  current  schedule  still  remain  to 
be  filmed,  including  "Trail  of  the  Yukon," 
"Black  Beauty,"  "Typee"  and  "The  Girl  Next 
Door." 

Biltmore  Productions,  which  recently  was 
signed  by  Monogram,  is  headed  by  Sebastian 
Cristillo,  father  of  Lou  Costello_i  Edward  Sher- 
man, manager  of  the  comedy  team  of  Abbott 
and  Costello;  and  Albert  R.  Blum,  business 
manager  for  several  screen  stars. 

First  film  which  Biltmore  will  produce  for 
the  company  will  be  "A  Wave,  a  Wac  and  a 
Spar,"  directed  by  Phil  Karlstein,  former  Ab- 
bott and  Costello  assistant  director  who  later 
became  a  Universal  producer.  Starting  date 
for  the  picture  has  been  set  tentatively  for 
March  10. 

Report  Sturges  To  Form 
Own  Producing  Unit 

Preston  Sturges  is  reported  in  Hollywood 
planning  to  form  his  own  company  with  Henry 
Henigson.  A  releasing  deal  may  be  concluded 
with  United  Artists,  it  is  indicated.  Mr.  Sturges' 
contract  with  Paramount  expired  last  October. 
It  was  indicated  in  New  York  by  UA  officials 
that  a  proposal  for  release  of  Mr.  Sturges'  films 
had  been  suggested  but  had  not  yet  progressed 
to  the  negotiation  stage. 


Calloway  Injured 

H.  C.  Calloway,  booker  for  Indianapolis  Co- 
operative Theatres,  and  operator  of  the  Doug- 
las theatre  in  Indianapolis,  suffered  serious  head 
and  face  injuries  in  a  recent  automobile  acci- 
dent in  that  city. 


Enacts  Curfew  Ordinance 

Charles  City,  Iowa,  has  enacted  an  ordinance 
that  prohibits  children  under  17  years  old,  un- 
accompanied by  parents  or  guardians,  to  be  on 
the  streets  of  the  city  or  in  public  places  after 
10:30  P.M. 


Hands  Across  the  Border  F 


BOXOFFICE 


Musical 
Wtstirn 

73  Minutes  Rel,  Jan.  5,  '44 

Republic  has  pulled  the  elastic  band  off  the  bankroll  and 
has  surrounded  Roy  Rogers  with  a  whale  of  a  production 
It  is  a  musical  with  western  settings,  two  big  production 
numbers  with  specialty  dancing  and  singing  acts,  dance 
numbers,  a  marimba  band  and  an  orchestra,  in  addition  to 
the  Sons  of  the  Pioneers.  It  has  something  for  the  entire 
family  as  well  as  the  youngsters  and  rates  "A"  time  In 
addition,  there  is  a  plausible  story,  some  fast  riding  with 
spectacular  jumps  and  falls  and  three  good  songs— "Dream- 
ing to  Music,"  "When  Your  Heart's  on  Easy  Street,"  and 
"The  Girl  With  the  High-Buttoned  Shoes,"  by  Ned  Washing- 
ton and  Hoagy  Carmichael.  In  the  big  finale  Janet  Martin 
is  a  hit  singing  "Ay  Jalisco."  There  also  is  some  snappy 
dancing  by  Betty  Marion  and  Chiquita.  Ruth  Terry  is  at- 
tractive in  the  feminine  lead.  Directed  by  Joseph  Kane 

Roy  Rogers.  Bob  Nolan  and  the  Sons  of  the  Pioneers.  Ruth 
Terry,  Guinn  Williams.  Onslow  Stevens.  Mary  Treen. 


Wf  SONS 
OF  WE 
PIONEERS! 


Ml 


BUY  U.S.  WAR  SAVINGS  BONDS 


RUTH  TERRY 

GUINN  "BIG  soy  WILLIAMS 
Onslow  STEVENS .  Mary  TREEN 

IrCtroducing  THE  WIERE  BROTHERS 

BOB  NOLAN  and 

THE  SONS  OF  THE  PIONEERS 

JOSEPH  KAHE- Director 

Original  Screen  Play  by  Bradford  Ropes. 
J.  Benton  Cheney 


56 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    12,  1944 


Iceland  Wants 
No  War  Films 
Says  Dungan 

Icelanders  refuse  to  see  pictures  of  no  artistic 
value.  They  have  no  use  for  Westerns  and 
simple  action  pictures.  They  dislike  vi^ar  pictures. 

These  facts  were  reported  last  week  by  an 
Icelander  in  a  position  to  know.  He  is  Dr.  Niels 
Dungan,  managing  director  of  Tjarnabio,  one 
of  the  three  theatres  in  Iceland's  capital,  Reyk- 
javik. 

Professor  Dungan  has  been  visiting  New 
York,  and  soon  will  go  to  the  coast  and  other 
sections  on  his  first  trip  to  this  country.  He  is 
here  partly  on  vacation,  and  partly  from 
scientific  curiosity.  The  latter  is  occasioned  by 
the  fact  that  he  is  professor  of  pathology  and 
bacteriology  at  the  University  of  Iceland,  and 
here  is  meeting  authorities  in  those  fields  and 
learning  American  methods. 

Dr.  Dungan's  university  runs  Tjarnabio 
(meaning  "picture  house  by  the  lake").  He 
heads  a  board  of  three  professors  responsible 
for  operation  of  the  house  for  the  duration. 
After  the  war,  it  is  planned  to  erect  a  larger 
theatre,  he  said. 

The  house  is  operated  in  competition  with  the 
two  others  in  Reykjavik.  The  newest  in  Iceland, 
it  has  400  seats.  Western  Electric  sound,  runs 
three  shows  daily  seven  days  per  week,  and 
plays  Paramount  and  Warner  product. 

Iceland  theatre  practice,  Professor  Dungan 
explained,  is  to  "tie-in"  with  a  company  or 
companies,  and  stick  with  them  in  an  unwritten 
agreement  not  to  play  the  pictures  of  the  other 
companies,  whose  product  other  theatres  have 
obtained. 

Changes  of  program  are  irregular ;  a  show  is 
run  as  long  as  people  attend,  he  said.  Generally, 
the  house  plays  approximately  70  pictures  per 
year.  A  program  comprises  a  feature,  short 
subjects  and  a  newsreel. 

The  majority  of  the  features  are  American. 
Only  a  small  percentage  are  British.  The 
Swedish  pictures,  flown  there,  are  popular;  but 
not  many  are  produced.  He  added  that  Swedish 
pictures  were  much  less  expensive  for  the  thea- 
tre owner  than  American. 

The  Icelanders  are  much  against  war  pictures. 
Professor  Dungan  said,  because  "they  contain 
too  much  propaganda." 

He  explained  that  "it  is  not  because  it  is 
Allied  propaganda;  it  is  because  they  are  fed 
up  with  the  war  generally." 

Nashville  Papers  Retain 
Theatre  Advertisements 

Due  to  the  paper  shortage  both  the  Nashville 
Banner  and  the  Nashville  Tennesseean  publish 
Saturdays  without  any  display  advertising  ex- 
cept that  for  film  theatres  which  are  taken  care 
of  as  usual  together  with  Sunday  church  notices. 
Contrary  to  previously  reported  cuts  in  film  ad 
space,  both  papers  are  carrying  all  that  the 
operators  contract  for  with  Crescent  Amuse- 
ment _  Company's  own  "Good  News  Weekly" 
carrying  most  of  the  advertising  for  its  subur- 
ban theatres. 


Circuits  Book  "Hara  Kiri" 

Film  Classics,  Inc.,  distributors  of  the  re- 
issued film,  "Hara  Kiri,"  report  that  circuits 
throughout  the  country  are  booking  the  pic- 
ture. RKO,  having  shown  the  film  in  60  theatres 
on  the  Metropolitan  circuit,  has  booked  it  to 
open  at  its  first  run  houses  in  Chicago,  Cincin- 
nati, Cleveland,  Dayton,  Trenton  and  other 
key  cities.  Loew  has  booked  the  film  for  a 
dual  run  in  the  Valencia  and  Parkway  in  Balti- 
more. Other  circuits  playing  "Hara  Kiri"  in- 
clude Skouras,  Randforce,  Warner,  Century, 
Brandt.  Schine  and  Fabian. 


staff  Photo 


DK.  NIELS  DUNGAN 

Added  Bookings  Announced  for 
"The  Song  of  Bernadette" 

Tom  Connors,  vice-president  in  charge  of 
worldwide  distribution  of  Twentieth  Century- 
Fox,  this  week  set  additional  bookings  for  "The 
Song  of  Bernadette,"  currently  showing  at  New 
York's  Rivoli  theatre.  It  will  open  at  Loew's 
Palace  theatre  in  Washington,  D.  C.,  February 
17,  and  a  week  later  at  the  Aldine  theatre  in 
Philadelphia.  Washington's  birthday,  Febru- 
ary 22,  it  will  open  at  the  N^ew  theatre  in  Balti- 
more, the  Capitol  in  Cincinnati  and  11  other 
key  spots,  with  deals  being  closed  this  weekend. 
The  picture  is  scheduled  to  open  in  Chicago  at 
the  State-Lake  late  this  month. 

At  the  Paramount  in  San  Francisco  "The 
Song  of  Bernadette"  will  open  February  25, 
at  the  Denver  and  Esquire  theatres  in  Denver 
or  March  7,  the  Ambassador  in  St.  Louis  on 
March  16,  the  Circle  in  Indianapolis  on  March 
17,  and  the  Great  Lakes  in  Buffalo  on  March  3. 

The  picture  is  currently  being  shown  on  the 
screens  of  two  west  coast  theatres,  the  Carthay 
Circle  and  the  United  Artists  in  Los  Angeles. 

"In  Our  Time"  Grosses 
High  in  Premieres 

The  first  two  premieres  of  Warners'  "In  Our 
Time,"  at  Shea's  Buffalo  theatre,  Buffalo,  start- 
ing last  Friday,  and  the  Warner  theatre,  Erie, 
Pa.,  starting  Saturday,  turned  in  weekend 
grosses  40  per  cent  above  the  house  average  at 
both  stands,  according  to  reports  to  the  Warner 
Bros,  home  office.  Both  engagements,  preced- 
ing the  Broadway  pre-release  premiere  on  Fri- 
day at  the  New  York  Strand,  are  in  the  nature 
of  tests  for  the  national  campaign.  "In  Our 
Time"  topped  such  comparative  big  grossers 
as  "Now,  Voyager,"  "In  This  Our  Life,"  "The 
Hard  Way,"  "Edge  of  Darkness"  and  "Watch 
on  the  Rhine,"  according  to  Warners. 

Kraska  Named  Manager 
Of  Loew  Boston  House 

George  Kraska,  former  operator  of  the  Fine 
Arts  theatre  in  Boston,  has  been  named  man- 
ager of  Loew's  State  theatre  in  Boston.  Mr. 
Kraska  has  been  serving  Marcus  Loew  thea- 
tres as  a  pinch  hitter  in  various  New  England 
managerial  posts  the  last  several  months.  His 
son  Leonard  is  manager  of  Boston's  Dorchester. 


Goodwin  Circuit  Supervisor 

Albert  T.  Goodwin,  former  manager  of  the 
Orpheum  theatre  in  San  Francisco,  has  been 
named  supervisor  of  all  the  Blumenfeld  Circuit's 
Market  Street  theatres  in  San  Francisco. 


Mexico  Sending 
Scenic  Shorts 
To  England 

by  LUIS  BECERRA  CELIS 

in   Mexico  City 

In  response  to  a  request  from  the  British 
Government,  the  Ministry  of  the  Interior,  chief 
department  of  the  Mexican  Government,  is 
assembling  a  number  of  scenic  shorts  in  color 
of  places  of  typical  Mexican  beauty  for  de- 
livery to  London.  Britain  intends  to  exhibit 
these  films  in  war  worker  centers,  military  hos- 
pitals, mimition  and  armament  plants. 

The  Ministry  deems  that  these  pictures  will 
make  Mexico  better  known  and  understood  by 
millions  of  Britishers. 

V 

Active  theatres  here,  first  and  subsequent 
run,  totaled  75  at  the  end  of  January,  accord- 
ing to  the  National  Cinematographic  Industry 
Chamber.  Four  more  theatres  are  under  con- 
struction and  will  be  opened"  during  the  late 
spring  and  late  summer. 

V 

The  Ministry  of  Public  Education,  which  at 
times  produces  pictures  on  its  own,  art  and 
documentary,  is  most  fastidiotis  about  commer- 
cial Mexican  films.  In  11  years,  it  has  withheld 
its  prize,  a  medal,  for  the  best  commercial  of 
the  year.  Now,  it  is  learned,  the  Ministry  has 
decided  to  bestow  this  award  upon  what  it 
considers  to  have  been  the  best  commercial  of 
1943.  "Dona  Barbara,"  based  upon  the  novel 
of  that  name  by  Romolus  Gallegos,  Venezuelan 
author,  was  designated  the  best  Mexican  pic- 
ture of  1943  by  the  Academy  of  Cinematograph- 
ic Arts  and  Sciences  and  the  Cinematographic 
Journalists  Association. 

V 

Clasa  Films,  one  of  the  leading  producing 
companies,  has  launched  an  ambitious  program 
for  this  year  with  four  producers,  five  direc- 
tors and  17  exclusive  players.  No  other  Mexi- 
can producing  company  can,  as  yet,  boast  such 
an  array  of  talent.  Jaime  Nobina  has  gone  to 
Colombia  and  Venezuela  to  establish  exchanges 
for  the  release  of  the  product  of  Clasa  Films 
Mundiales. 

V 

Some  elements  of  the  industry  are  campaign- 
ing for  an  amendment  to  the  labor  law  that  will 
restrict  the  number  of  foreign  players  and  tech- 
nicians per  Mexican  picture. 

V 

A  company,  Caricolor  Films,  S.  A.,  has  been 
organized  here  by  Santiago  Reachi,  president 
of  Posa  Films,  S.  A.,  to  produce  pictures  in 
color.  Mr.  Reachi  is  the  president  of  the  new 
company.  Other  officers  are  Edmund  J.  Phelan, 
vice-president;  Jeronimo  Bujeda,  treasurer; 
Mario  Garza  Castillon,  secretary,  and  Manuel 
M.  Moreno,  production  director. 

The  company  is  specializing  in  animated  car- 
toons in  color  and  with  sound.  It  expects  to 
release  its  first  production  about  May  1.  A 
staff  of  Hollywood-trained  experts  has  been 
engaged  to  teach  Mexicans  to  work  in  color 
cartoon  pictures. 

V 

The  producers,  Ramon  Pereda,  Paul  de  An- 
da  and  Ustua  Sotomayor,  have  joined  forces 
to  open  an  exchange  in  Havana  for  the  dis- 
tribution of  their  products  in  the  West  Indies. 
V 

The  scenarists  union  is  giving  outstanding 
directors  a  novel  award,  a  banquet.  The  first 
to  receive  this  distinction  from  the  writers  was 
Alberto  Gout. 


Purchases  Seattle  House 

Al  Myers,  operating  the  Granada  theatre  in 
Portland,  Ore.,  has  purchased  the  Victory 
theatre  in  Seattle. 


February    12,  1944 


IN  NEWSREELS 


MOVIETONE  NEWS— Vol.  26,  No.  45— The  global 
war.  .  .  .  General  Vandegrift  boosts  War  Bond  sales 
in  New  York.  .  .  .  Earthquake  razes  Argentine  city; 
hundreds  dead.  .  .  .  Gen.  Somervell  receives  10,000th 
movie  for  Army.  .  .  .  Skating  and  boxing. 

MOVIETONE  NEWS— Vol.  26,  No.  46— Allied  capture 
of  beachhead  below  Rome.  .  .  .  Cassino  front.  .  .  . 
Chinese  defeat  Japanese  in  battle  for  Changteh.  .  .  . 
Post-war  aviation:  largest  propeller,  joint  transport. 
.  .  .  Melbourne  Cup.  .  .  .  Milrose  games.  .  .  .  Hero 
of  the  week,  Captain  Grashio. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY— Vol.  15,  No.  243— Marshalls 
invasion  pattern  set  by  Makin  Island  victory.  .  .  . 
War  fJares  on  Burma  front  in  prelude  to  1944 
offensive.  .  .  .  Air  field  in  India  ready.  .  .  .  Army 
hails  10,000th  free  film  for  Army.  .  .  .  Earthquake 
destroys  Argentine  town.  .  .  ,  Hollywood  swings  it 
in  War  Bond  golf  match. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY— Vol.  15,  No.  2441-Allies  flank 
Nazis  in  surprise  invasion.  .  .  .  Chinese  in  greatest 
victory  over  Japs.  .  .  .  Red  Skelton  keeps  'em 
smilin'.  .  .  .  New  job  for  Vice-President.  .  .  .  In- 
troducing a  monkey  hero. 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS— No,  4«— Quads  turn  five.  .  .  . 
10,000  films  for  over  there.  .  .  .  China — one  more  day 
of  war.  .  .  .  Argentina — first  earthquake  films.  .  .  . 
Super  War  Bond  salesmen — Crosby,  Sinatra  and 
Hope. 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS— No.  47— Mickey  Walker  hits 
the  canvas.  .  .  .  Wallace  in  non-partisan  cleanup. 
.  .  .  Aviation  opens  test  plant  for  sky  giant.  .  .  . 
China  "Rice-Bowl"  battle.  .  .  .  Paramount  News 
presents  "Leap  Year  problems." 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS— Vol.  IS,  No.  4«-Argentina 
earthquake.  .  .  .  Natives  build  airfield  in  India.  .  .  . 
10,000th  film  for  men  overseas.  .  .  .  Whole  town 
fights  Kunming  blaze.  .  .  .  Army  smashes  Japs  on 
Makin  in  Gilberts. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS— Vol.  15,  No.  49— Fifth  Army  in- 
vades bftlow  Rome.  .  .  .  Colonel  Hobby  home  from 
overseas..  .  .  Test  cell  for  big  air  engrine.  .  .  .  China's 
army  retakes  key  "Rice  Bowl"  city. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREE^-Vol.  17,  No.  2«9-Capture 
of  San  Vittore.  .  .  .  Bombing  of  Sangro.  .  .  .  A.A.F. 
in  India.  .  .  .  Quartet  is  five.  .  .  .  Argentine  earth- 
quake. .  .  .  Eighth  Army  battles  snow.  .  .  .  New 
York  Bond  rally.  .  .  .  10,000th  Army  film.  .  .  . 
Hollywood  golf.  .  .  .  "Ground  Hog  Lodge." 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREEL-Vol.  17,  Nou  26e-Sur- 
prise  landing  near  Rome.  .  .  .  New  British  tank 
buster.  .  .  .  Vice-President  Wallace  in  hot  water. 
.  .  .  Test  giant  propeller.  .  .  .  Japs  lose  Changteh. 

.  .  .  Milrose  Games.  .  .  .  Ice  skating. 

ALL  AMERICAN  NEWS— Vol.  2,  No.  6S-Mrs. 
Roosevelt  attends  birthday  party  at  USD.  ...  Pil- 
grims honor  Abraham  Lincoln.  .  .  .  Woman  named 
assistant  corporation  counsel.  .  .  .  Ollie  Steward, 
back  from  front,  tells  experiences.  .  .  .  99th  Squadron 
brings  down  eight  enemy  planes. 


Place  Leaves  20th-Fox, 
Returns  to  Banking 

Twentieth  Century-Fox  Film  Corporation  an- 
nounced this  week  that  effective  February  1, 
Hermann  G,  Place  had  resigned  as  a  director 
and  as  chairman  of  the  executive  committee  of 
the  corporation.  Mr.  Place,  who  has  been  a 
director  of  the  corporation  since  1933  and  chair- 
man of  the  executive  committee  since  June, 
1941,  formerly  was  a  vice-president  of  the  Chase 
National  Bank.  He  resigned  from  Chase  to 
accept  the  administrative  post  of  chairman  of 
the  executive  committee  of  Twentieth  Century- 
Fox.  Mr.  Place  has  resigned  in  order  to  return 
to  the  banking  business. 


Thall  Joins  Donahue  &  Coe 

Jack  Thall,  trade  paper  advertising  manager 
under  Charles  Schlaifer  at  Twentieth  Century- 
Fox,  resigned  last  Friday,  effective  in  two 
weeks,  to  join  Donahue  &  Coe,  advertising 
agency,  where  he  will  handle  film  accounts.  He 
joined  Twentieth-Fox  in  1935  in  the  press  book 
department. 


Fourth  Week  at  Globe 

Monogram's  "Where  Are  Your  Children?" 
screen  treatment  of  the  subject  of  juvenile  delin- 
quency, has  been  held  over  a  fourth  week  at 
the  Globe  theatre  in  New  York. 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 

Columbia  Makes  Changes 
In  Sales  Division 

At  the  conclusion  of  Columbia's  three-day 
sales  meeting  last  Thursday  in  New  York  at 
the  Hotel  Warwick,  the  company  announced 
the  appointment  of  a  new  division  supervisor, 
the  realignment  of  a  number  of  branches  and 
several  promotions  in  the  sales  force. 

Ben  Marcus,  Kansas  City  branch  manager, 
has  been  promoted  to  district  supervisor  of  the 
mid-west  division.  Joe  Gins,  Charlotte  branch 
manager,  has  been  appointed  to  the  newly  cre- 
ated post  of  Detroit  manager,  and  George  Ros- 
coe,  salesman  in  the  Charlotte  exchange,  has 
been  named  branch  manager  of  the  same  office, 
replacing  Mr.  Gins.  Mr.  Marcus  will  supervise 
the  Des  Moines,  Omaha  and  Minneapolis 
branches,  headed  by  Mel  Evidon,  Joseph  Jacobs 


57 

and  H.  J.  Chapman,  respectively,  as  well  as 
the  Kansas  City  office  formerly  in  Carl  Shalit's 
division. 

Mr.  Shalit,  with  headquarters  in  Detroit,  will 
act  as  coordinator  with  the  home  office  in  con- 
nection with  the  Buffalo  exchange,  headed  by 
Phil  Fox ;  and  the  Albany  exchange,  headed  by 
Joseph  Miller,  in  addition  to  the  three  branch 
offices  currently  in  his  district,  Indianapolis,  St. 
Louis  and  Detroit. 


Coplan  in  London 

David  H.  Coplan  has  arrived  in  London  from 
Canada  to  take  over  the  post  of  British  gen- 
eral manager  for  United  Artists,  haxing  been 
transferred  from  Toronto,  where  he  was  UA's 
Canadian  sales  manager.  Mr.  Coplan  will  re- 
turn to  Canada  when  a  permanent  appointment 
is  made  in  London. 


"Charlie  Chan,  super  detective,  is  carrying  on  in  a  fashion  which  should 
make  the  late  Earl  Derr  Biggers  grin  happily  from  the  clouds  .  .  .  Not 
only  a  thriller,  but  a  highly  ingenious  yarn. "  . . .  L.  A.  TIMES 


Millions  of  mystery  fans  are  eager  for  the  new  adventures 
of  Earl  Derr  Bigger's  famed  sleuth!  His  first  for 
Monogram  is  a  high-tension  thriller! 


MONOGRAM  PICTURES  ptaenfi 


In  The  Secret  Service 

with  Montan  MOREIAND  •  Gwen  KENYON  •  Arthur  LOFT 


"New  'Chan'  up  to  Series' 
standard... Whodunit  fans 
will  probably  enthusiast- 
ically welcome  back  their 
old  pal." 

.  .  .  HOLLYWOOD  REPORTER 


"First  rate  mystery  keeps 
Charlie  Chan  Series  up  to 
old  standard. ..ranks  with 
the  best  in  the  series." 

.  .  .  FILM  DAILY 


"Gives  Monogram  a  top- 
notch  whodunit  release 
...genuine  entertainment 
.  .  .  should  find  a  ready 
market." 

.  .  .  DAILY  VARIETY 


Produced  by  Philip  N.  Krasne  &  James  S.  Burkett         Directed  by  Phil  Rosen 

Original  Screenplay  by  George  Coilohnn       Suggesred  by  ihs  Eml  Den  Siggos  chormiei 


PICTURE    HERALD  ~  February    12,  19-44 

A  statistical  compilation  and 
comparison  of  Box-Office  Per- 
formance in  first  run  theatres 

Rgures  directly  below  picture  title  compare  dollar  gross  with  average  gross  and  show  relative  percentage  of  all  engagements  tabulated. 

Rgures-  opposite  theatre  names  represent  percentage  of  tabulated  grosses  to  average  weekly  business  based  on  the  six  months'  period 
ending  October  3 1 ,  1943. 

SYMBOLS:  (DB)  Double  Bill— associate  feature  title;  (SA)  Stage  Attraction;  (MO)  Move-Over  Run;  (AA)  Advance  Admission. 


58  MOTION 

PICTURE 
CROSSES 


DESTINATION  TOKYO  (WB) 

Final  Reports: 
Total  Gross  Tabulated  $1,102,500 
Comparative  Average  Gross  808,300 
Over-all  Performance  136.3% 


BALTIMORE— Stanley,  1st  week  130.1% 

BALTIMORE— Stanley,  2nd  week  112.4% 

BALTIMORE— Stanley,  3rd  week  91.7% 

BUFFALO— Great  Lakes,  1st  week  ....  139.0% 
BUFFALO-Great  Lakes,  2nd  week    ....  100.0% 

CHICAGO^Roosevelt  101.5% 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Capitol,  1st  week  .  .  .  138.4% 
CINCINNATI— RKO  Capitol,  2nd  week  .  .  .  115.3% 
CINCINNATI— RKO  Capitol.  3rd  week  .  .  .  92.3% 
CINCINNATI— RKO  Lyric,  MO  1st  week  .   .  95.0% 

DENVER— Denver  139.3% 

DENVER— Esquire   95.7% 

INDIANAPOLIS— Indiana  125.2% 

INDIANAPOLIS^Lyric,  MO  1st  week  .  .  .  100.0% 
KANSAS  CITY— Newman,  1st  week  ....  127.2% 
KANSAS  CITY— Newman,  2nd  week  ....  109.0% 
KANSAS  CITY— Newman,  3rd  week  ....  90.9% 
LOS  ANGELES— Warner's  Downtown,  1st  wk  163.1% 
LOS  ANGELES— Warner's  Downtown,  2nd  wk  118.7% 
LOS  ANGELES— Warner's  Downtown,  3rd  wk  86.8% 
LOS  ANGELES-Warner's  Hollywood,  1st  wk  227.3% 
LOS  ANGELES-Warner's  Hollywood,  2nd  wk  125.9% 
LOS  ANGELES-Warner's  Hollywood,  3rd  wk  85.9% 
LOS  ANGELES-Warner's  Wiltern,  1st  week  194.4% 
LOS  ANGELES-Warner's  Wiltern,  2nd  week  131.2% 
LOS  ANGELES-Warner's  Wiltern,  3rd  week  82.5% 
NEW  HAVEN— Roger  Sherman,  1st  week  .  .  145.3% 
NEW  HAVEN— Roger  Sherman,  2nd  week  .  73.9% 
NEW  YORK— Strand.  1st  week  184.2% 

(SA)  Charlie  Barnet's  Orch,  Ella  Mae  Morse 
NEW  YORK— Strand,  2nd  week  150.7% 

(SA)  CHiarlie  Barnet's  Orch,  Ella  Mae  Morse 
NEW  YORK— Strand,  3rd  week  130.6% 

(SA)  Charlie  Barnet's  Orch.,  Ella  Mae  Morse 
NEW  YORK— Strand,  4th  week  128.1% 

(SA)  Charlie  Barnet's  Orch..  Ella  Mae  Morse 
NEW  YORK— Strand,  5th  week  124.4% 

(DB)  Charlie  Barnet's  Orch.,  Ella  Mae  Morse 
PHILADELPHIA— Mastbaum,  1st  week     .   .  195.0% 
PHILADELPHIA— Mastbaum,  2nd  week     .   .  111.3% 
PHILADELPHIA— Mastbaum,  3rd  week    .   .  65.0% 

PITTSBURGH— Penn,  1st  week  148.8% 

PITTSBURGH— Penn,  2nd  week  102.7% 

PITTSBURGH— Warner,  MO  1st  week  .  .  .  173.9% 
PITTSBURGH— Warner,  MO  2nd  week  .  .  .  108.7% 
PITTSBURGH— Ritz,  MO  3rd  week    ....  89.3% 

SAN  FRANCISCO— Fox,  1st  week  149.7% 

.SAN  FRANCISCO— Fox,  2nd  week  ....  131.7% 
SAN  FRANCTSCO— St.  Francis,  MO  1st  wk  192.7% 

SEATTLE— Orpheum,  1st  week   249.4% 

SEATTLE— Orpheum,  2nd  week  150.5% 

SEATTLE— Orpheum,  3rd  week  129.6% 

ST.  LOUIS— Fox,  1st  week  158.2% 

(DB)  Sherlock  Holmes  Faces  Death  (Univ.) 
ST.  LOUIS— Fox,  2nd  week  91.7% 

(DB)  Sherlock  Holmes  Faces  Death  (Univ.) 


HIS  BUTLER'S  SISTER  (Univ.) 

Final  Reports: 
Total  Gross  Tabulated 
Comparative  Average  Gross 
Over-all  Performance 


$569,400 
452.200 
125.9% 


BALTIMORE— Keith's,  1st  week   125.0% 

BALTIMORE— Keith's,  2nd  week   100.0% 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Palace    105.0% 

CINCrNNATI— RKO  Shubert.  MO.  Ist  week   .  100.0% 

CINCINNATI— Keith's,  MO.  2nd  week    .   .    .  80.0% 

(XEVELAND— Warner's  Hippodrome     .   .   .  97.2% 

CLEVELAND-Allen.  MO,  1st  week    ....  117.6% 

CLEVELAND-Warner's  Lake.  MO.  2nd  week  152.7% 

INDIANAPOLIfi-Indiana    86.9% 

(DB)  Unknown  Guest  (Mono.) 

INDIANAPOLIS-Lyric,  MO.  1st  week  .  .  .  125.0% 

(DB)  Unknown  Guest  (Mono.) 


KANSAS  CTTY— Esquire   129.3% 

KANSAS  (rrrY— Uptown   141.6% 

LOS  ANGELES— Hillstreet.  1st  week  ....  163.5% 

(DB)  Rookies  in  Burma  (RKO) 

LOS  ANGELES— Hillstreet,  2nd  week  ....  117.2% 

(DB)  Rookies  in  Burma  (RKO) 

LOS  ANGELES— Pantages,  1st  week  ....  181.8% 

(DB)  Rookies  in  Burma  (RKOO 

LOS  ANGELES— Pantages,  2nd  week  ....  122.3% 

(DB)  Rookies  in  Burma  (RKO) 

MILWAUKEE— Warner  .    162.3% 

(DB)  The  Kansan  (UA) 

MILWAUKEE— Alhambra,  MO  1st  week     .   .  141.3% 

(DB)  The  Kansan  (UA) 

NEW  HAVEN— Roger  Sherman   132.8% 

(DB)  Never  a  Dull  Moment  (Univ.) 

NEW  YORK— Criterion,  1st  week   238.9% 

NEW  YORK— Criterion,  2nd  week   156.0% 

NEW  YORK— Criterion,  3rd  week   116.4% 

NEW  YORK— Criterion,  4th  week   123.4% 

PHILADELPHIA— Fox.  1st  week    .....  102.2% 

PHILADELPHIA— Fox,  2nd  week   100.0% 

PHILADELPHIA— Karlton,  MO  1st  week  .   .  103.1% 

PITTSBURGH— Harris,  Ut  week   IIS.2% 

PITTSB¥RGH— Harris.  2nd  week    .....  96.7% 

PITTSBURGH— Senator,  MO  1st  week  .   .    .  187.1% 

PITTSBURGH— Senator,  MO  2nd  week  .   .   .  130.4% 

SAN  FRANC3SCO— Orpheum,  1st  week    .  .  134.6% 

(DB)  Never  a  Dull  Moment  (Univ.) 

.SAN  FRANCISCO— Orpheum,  2nd  week  .  .  .  102.3% 

(DB)  Never  a  Dull  Moment  (Univ.) 

SAN  FRANCISCO— Orpheum.  3rd  week     .   .  98.4% 

CDB)  Never  a  Dull  Moment  (Univ.) 

ST.  LOUIS— Ambassador,  1st  week    ....  152.0% 

(DB)  Never  a  Dull  Moment  (Univ.) 

ST.  LOUS— Ambassador,  2nd  week     ....  92.0% 

(DB)  Never  a  Dull  Moment  (Univ.) 

ST.  LOUIS— Shubert,  MO  1st  week    ....  108.3% 

(DB)  Government  Girl  (RKO) 

ST.  LOUIS— Shubert,  MO  2nd  week  ....  100.0% 

(DB)  Government  Girl  (RKO) 

TORONTO'— Uptown,  1st  week   146.3% 

TORONTO— Uptown,  2nd  week   100.0% 

TORONTO— Uptown,  3rd  week   94.8% 

TORONTO— Uptown,  4th  week   101.7% 

WASHINGTON— Keith's   152.5% 


THE  HEAT'S  ON  (Col.) 

Intermediate  Reports: 
Total  Gross  Tabulated 
Comparative  Average  Gross 
Over-all  Performance 


$181,800 
171,600 
105.9% 


BALTIMORE— Hippodrome   107.1% 

(SA)  Vaudeville 

BUFFALO— Lafayette   113.0% 

(DB)  One  Dangerous  Night  (.Col.) 

CINCINNATI— Keith's   116.0% 

(DB)  The  Battle  of  Russia  (20th-Fox) 

CLEVELAND— RKO  Palace   103.7% 

(S.A)  Vaudeville 

LOS  ANGELES— Egyptian,  1st  week    .   .   .  104.7% 

(DB)  Is  Everybody  Happy?  (Col.) 

LOS  ANGELES— Egyptian,  2nd  week  ....  56.6% 

(DB)  Is  Everybody  Happy?  (Col.) 

LOS  ANGELES— Los  Angeles,  1st  week     .    .  161.5% 

(DB)  Is  Everybody  Happy?  (Col.) 

LOS  ANGELES— Ix)s  Angeles,  2nd  week     .   .  100.0% 

(DB)  Is  Everybody  Happy?  (C^l.) 

LOS  ANGELES— Ritz,  1st  week   109.3% 

(DB)  Is  Everybody  Happy?  (Col.) 

LOS  ANGELES— Ritz,  2nd  week   56.2% 

(DB)  Is  Everybody  Happv?  (Col.) 

MINNEAPOLIS— Gopher   107.8% 

OMAHA— Brandeis   98.1% 

(DB)  Crime  Doctor's  Strangest  Case  (Col.) 

PITTSBURGH-Senator   96.8% 

PROVIDENCE— Strand   100.0% 

(DB)  Doughbovs  in  Ireland  (.Col.) 

SAN  FRANCISCO— Otpheum   145.6% 

(DB)  The  C:hance  of  a  Lifetime  (Ol.) 

SEATTLE— Liberty   92.3% 

(DB)  The  Chance  of  a  Lifetime  (Col.) 


THE  LODGER  (20th-Fox) 

First  Reports: 
Total  Gross  Tabulated 
Comparative  Average  Gross 
Over-all  Performance 


$317,600 
233,400 
136.1% 


BALTIMORE— New,  1st  week   113.4% 

BALTIMORE— New,  2nd  week   113.4% 

BALTIMORE— New,  3rd  week   92.7% 

CINaNNATI-RKO   Albee   145.0% 

(SA)  Vaudeville 

DENVER— Denver   107.1% 

(DB)  Sing  a  Jingle  (Univ.) 

DENVER— Esquire   74.4% 

(DB)  Sing  a  Jingle  (Univ.) 

DENVER— Aladdin,  MO  1st  week   83.3% 

(DB)  Sing  a  Jingle  (Univ.) 

MILWAUKEE— Wisconsin   147.6% 

(DB)  Swing  Out  the  Blues  (Col.) 

NEW  YORK— Roxy,  1st  week   152.3% 

(SA)  Lower  Basin  St.  Airshow,  Paul  Lavalle, 
others 

NEW  YORK— Roxy,  2nd  week   134.9% 

(SA)  Lower  Basin  St.  Airshow,  Paul  Lavalle, 
others 

PITTSBURGH-Harris   154.3% 

ST.  LOUIS— Missouri   178.0% 

(DB)  O  My  Darling  Oementine  (Rep.) 


JACK  LONDON  (UA) 

First  Reports: 
Total  Gross  Tabulated 
Comparative  Average  Gross 
Over-all  Performance 


$157,700 
150,600 
104.7% 


BOSTON— Loew's  State   123.0% 

(DB)  Is  Everybody  Happy?  (C:ol.) 

BOSTON— Orpheum   76.1% 

(DB)  Is  Everybody  Happy?  (Col.) 

BUFFALO^Buffalo   112.3% 

(SA)  Glen  Gray  and  Casa  Loma  Orchestra 

CINCINNATI— Palace   97.8% 

CTNCTNNATI— RKO  Shubert,  MO  1st  week  .  100.0% 

INDIANAPOLIS— Loew's    86.3% 

(DB)  Victory  Through  Air  Power  (UA) 

LOS  ANGELES— C^iinese   104.8% 

LOS  ANGELES— Loew's  State   123.5% 

LOS  ANGELES— Uptown   100.0% 

PITTSBURGH— Stanley   114.5% 

(SA)  Vaudeville 


CRY  HAVOC  (MOM) 

First  Reports: 
Total  Gross  Tabulated 
Comparative  Average  Gross 
Over-all  Performance 


$205,700 
21 1,400 
97.3% 


BUFFALO-Buffalo   98.3% 

(DB)  In  Our  Time  (WB) 

NEW  HAVEN— Loew's  Poli   86.1% 

(DB)  Whispering  Footsteps  (Rep.) 

NEW  HAVEN— College,  MO  1st  week   .  .  .  112.5% 

(DB)  Whispering  Footsteps  (Rep.) 

NEW  YORK— Astor,  1st  week   123.0% 

NEW  YORK— Astor,  2nd  week   117.6% 

NEW  YORK— Astor,  3rd  week   85.5% 

NEW  YORK— Astor,  4th  week   74.8% 

NEW  YORK— Astor,  Sth  week   74.8% 

NEW  YORK— Astor,  6th  week   88.2% 

NEW  YORK— Astor,  7th  week   106.9% 

NEW  YORK— Astor.  8th  week   75.0% 

PHILADELPHIA- Aldine   147.5% 

WASHINGTON— Loew's  Capitol   100.0% 

(SA)  Vaudeville 


ebruary    12,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


59 


MANAGERS* 

ROUND  TABLE 


international  association  of  showmen  meeting  weekly 
in  MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD  for  mutual  aid  and  progress 


CHESTER  FRIEDMAN.  Editor 


GERTRUDE  MERRIAM.  Associate  Editor 


Timely  Showmanship 

Many  showmen  have  had  the  experience  of  suddenly  finding 
a  current  or  coming  attraction  directly  or  indirectly  tied  in 
with  some  timely  happening  that  was  in  public  attention. 

Some  wide-awake  showmen  realized  that  a  sequence  in  the 
picture,  "Jack  London,"  described  the  very  atrocities  com- 
mitted on  American  prisoners  in  the  Philippines  by  the  Japs. 

Usually  in  such  instances  the  manager  has  to  rely  upon  his 
own  resources  and  devise  his  own  advertising  material. 

In  this  instance  Arnold  Stoltz,  a  former  theatre  manager, 
who  is  now  director  of  exploitation  for  United  Artists,  got 
out  a  revised  set  of  ad  mats,  photos  and  window  cards  which 
were  made  available  to  exhibitors  within  72  hours  of  the  time 
the  War  Department  released  the  story  that  shocked  the 
nation. 

Managers  who  had  the  picture  dated  and  had  occasion  to 
•  use  the  material  thus  made  available  will  be  naturally  appre- 
ciative. 

To  every  member  of  the  Round  Table  who  will  remember 
when  Arnold  was  one  of  the  more  active  contributors  to  these 
pages  before  his  present  assignment,  will  come  friendly  ac- 
knowledgment that  Arnold  has  kept  that  showman's  touch, 
which  won  for  him  the  Quigley  Grand  Award. 

A    A    A  ■ 

Brother  Showman 

An  exhibitor  from  Texas,  now  In  the  Army,  called  on  Mr. 
M.  de  Jong,  manager  of  the  Odeon  theatre,  Landsdowne, 
Bournemouth,  in  England,  and  asked  if  he  could  be  shown  around 
the  theatre.  The  English  manager  complied  and  the  two  spent 
an  enjoyable  day  exchanging  ideas  and  viewpoints  which 
inspired  our  English  friend  to  pass  some  of  his  ideas  along. 
He  writes: 

"This  theatre  is  a  key  house  in  our  circuit  (Odeon  Theatres, 
Ltd.)  situated  in  a  seaside  resort  .  .  .  within  100  miles  of  the 
enemy  .  .  .  our  efforts  for  the  public  go  on,  and  we  strive 
under  enormous  difficulties  to  keep  up  the  standards  of  enter- 
tainment and  service  for  our  patrons. 

"We  feel  .  .  .  the  wartime  standards  of  exploitation  have 
been  wonderfully  high,  with  many  brilliant  ideas  coming 
forward. 


"Of  course  .  .  .  paper  restrictions,  such  as  only  10  posters 
allowed  to  each  theatre  for  one  programme — 30  by  40  being 
the  largest  size  allowed. 

"This  difficulty  has  been  overcome.  In  my  case,  1  have  col- 
lected a  quantity  of  old  bed  sheets  which  we  use  for  all  our 
inside  foyer  display  work.  If  I  desire  a  large  display,  !  sew 
two  or  three  sheets  together  .  .  .  paint  on  them  in  water  colors, 
using  both  sides  for  different  pictures  .  .  .  after  the  run  of  the 
film,  they  go  to  the  wash  and  are  cleaned  for  use  again. 

"On  occasion  I  have  sent  these  displays  to  other  of  our 
theatres." 

Another  wartime  innovation  discussed  by  Mr.  de  Jong  is  a 
small  size  kiosk  maintained  in  the  theatre  foyer  where  patrons 
may  purchase  sandwiches,  cakes,  meat  pies,  sausage  rolls  and 
soft  drinks. 

The  entire  idea  is  service  of  the  English  patrons'  appetite 
for  candy  and  goodies  while  watching  the  films.  Since  chocolate 
is  rationed  and  scarce  in  England,  the  idea  has  taken  the 
public's  fancy. 

He  also  offers  the  observation  that  many  people  attend  the 
show  v/ho  come  directly  from  their  war  jobs  and  hardly  have 
time  to  stop  for  a  meal.  His  letter  continues: 

"I  have  met  several  of  your  boys  connected  with  the  theatre 
business,  and  from  these  contacts  I  have  gleaned  some  interest- 
ing data  as  to  how  your  theatres  operate.  From  all  this  I  have 
ihought  how  Interesting  It  would  be  to  visit  your  country  .  .  . 
perhaps  after  the  war. 

"It  has  occurred  to  me  that  I  should  like  to  manage  a  theatre 
in  your  country  as  a  "guest"  and  perhaps  have  one  of  your 
managers  take  over  in  my  place  as  a  guest  manager  for  that 
period.  It  would  be  wonderful  if  it  could  be  arranged  between 
two  large  companies  as  a  mutual  project. 

"From  such  cooperation  and  interchange  of  peoples  much 
good  must  arise,  ideas  would  be  absorbed,  customs  and  habits 
will  be  noted  and  such  trips  would  do  much  to  enhance  the 
industry  in  general." 

It  would  appear  that  de  Jong  is  a  showman  with  vision  and 
ability.  His  exploits  and  the  methods  employed  to  over- 
come some  of  the  handicaps  imposed  by  wartime  restrictions 
also  denote  him  an  intelligent  business  man. 

Regardless  of  whether  his  plan  to  interchange  managers  meets 
with  final  approval  when  conditions  return  to  normal,  we  suspect 
that  he  would  experience  little  difficulty  in  getting  a  managerial 
position  here  should  he  elect  to  visit  this  country  on  his  own. 

—CHESTER  FRIEDMAN 


60 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February     12,  1944 


EYE  ATTRACTING  DEVICES 


'we  demand  a  BETTtl^'i 

DEAL'        I  1 

HENRY  AlDRiCH 
HAUNTSAHOUSE 

is  roosPCX)xrFOR.os  'i 
km  SPOOKS  a/A  hah*- 


ij 


Lobby  setpiece,  above  left,  which  drew  patron 
comment  for  the  "Henry  Aldrich"  vehicle  at  the 
Princess,  Sioux  City.  At  right,  street  ballyhoo 
employed  by  manager  William  Eagen. 


Here's  a  real  attention  getter  used  by  Harry  D. 
Stearn,  Schine  district  manager,  at  the  Manring, 
MIddlesboro,  Ky.  Boys  playing  checkers  focused 
attention  of  passersby  to  theatre's  coming  program. 


Manager  Sam  Oilman,  of  Loew's  Regent,  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  took 
advantage  of  an  adjourning  building  being  demolished  and  spotted 
this  huge  banner  where  townspeople  couldn't  miss  seeing  it. 


nOBERT 

IDUNG^ 

ENJOU 


Fred  Trebilcock,  manager  of  Shea's,  Toronto,  got  out  this  attractive 
lobby  board  to  publicize  the  booking  of  "Sweet  Rosle  O'Orady." 


This  arresting  the- 
atre front  was  de- 
signed by  Charles 
Ramb,  manager 
of  the  Warner 
Capitol  theatre, 
Philadelphia, 


in 


for  the  engage- 
ment of  "Battle 
of  Russia." 


Sid  Kleper's  street  ballyhoo  for  "None 
Shall  Escape"  attracted  plenty  of  atten- 
tion to  the  picture's  current  run  at  the 
Loew  Poll-Bijou,  in  New  Haven,  Conn. 


February    12.    I  944 


MANAGERS'    ROUND  TABLE 


61 


Exploiting  the  New  Films 


How  the  recent  pictures  are  being  sold  qt 
the  first  run  and  pre-release  date  showings 


The  Navy  had  its  own  premiere  for  "The  Fighting  SeaBees"  at  the  Qiwddy  Village 
Training  Center,  in  Maine.  Lt.  (j.g.)  D.  L.  Smith  improvised  an  attractive  lobby 
display  for  the  occasion. 


FICHTINC  SEABEES " 

An  elaborate  promotion  centered  about  a 
SeaBee  home  on  leave  after  active  service 
in  the  Mediterranean  was  employed  by 
Norman  Kassel,  advertising  director,  to 
boost  the  Chicago  engagement  of  "The 
Fighting  SeaBees"  in  its  premiere  at  the 
Woods  theatre. 

Through  the  cooperation  of  the  Bureau 
of  Yards  and  Docks,  U.  S.  N.,  SeaBee  Paul 
A.  Gerts  was  chosen  to  represent  Chicago 
at  a  national  reception  at  the  Hotel  Astor 
in  New  York  City,  where  a  group  of  Sea- 
Bees representing  twenty-six  states  was 
honored.  His  selection  for  this  appearance 
received  coverage  in  the  Chicago  News, 
Sun,  and  Tribune. 

Gerts  was  feted  at  a  press  preview  and 
reception  at  the  Blackstone  Hotel,  which 
was  attended  by  the  newspaper  and  radio 
press  and  high-ranking  Naval  officers.  The 
Herald  American  carried  a  story  on  the  re- 
ception, tied  in  with  the  Woods  opening, 
and  the  News  also  carried  a  story  about 
the  reception. 

Gerts  broadcast  on  the  Treasury  Hour, 
broadcast  over  WGN,  and  was  heard  over 
140  stations  of  the  Mutual  network. 

Advance  newspaper  coverage  included  a 
big  photo  splash  in  a  Story  in  Pictures  in 
the  Little  Theatre  section  of  the  Sunday 
Tribune  and  the  Sunday  Herald  and  Ameri- 
can; as  well  as  an  entire  Kup's  Column  in 
the  Times,  with  theatre  credits. 

Trailer,  Run  at  28 
Circuit  Theatres 

Trailers,  advertising  the  engagement,  ran 
in  every  one  of  the  twenty-eight  Essaness 
neighborhood  theatres. 

A  special  giant-size  lobby  piece  proved 
an  advance  attention-getter  for  two  weeks 
prior  to  the  opening.  For  the  same  period, 
a  24-sheet  was  posted  on  the  east  wall  of 
the  theatre.  A  special  SeaBee  flag  was 
hung  from  the  theatre  attraction  board. 

In  a  tie-up  with  the  publishers  of  "Song 
of  the  SeaBees,"  this  song,  used  in  the  film, 
was  plugged  by  local  bands. 

There  were  two  15-minute  broadcasts 
over  Hal  Tate's  Variety  Show,  and  radio 
spots  were  used  on  all  major  stations. 

The  advertising  campaign  included  1,500 
additional  lines  of  newspaper  advertising. 
Radio  spot  announcements  were  used  on  Sta- 
tions WMAQ,  WBBM,  WENR,  WIND, 
WJJD,  and  WAIT.  A  full  showing  of  24- 
sheets  and  250  3-sheets  heralded  the  engage- 
ment and  remained  posted  during  the  run. 

Harry  Browning  Sparks 
Boston  Campaign 

For  the  Boston  opening  of  the  picture, 
the  campaign  arranged  by  Harry  Browning, 
director  of  advertising  and  publicity  for  the 
M.  &  P.  circuit  theatres,  assisted  by  Jack 
Saef,  was  centered  about  SeaBee  Martin 
White,  the  city's  representatitve  at  the  na- 
tional reception  held  in  New  York. 

White  returned  to  Boston  to  participate 


in  the  picture's  promotion  and  was  guest  of 
honor  at  a  reception  attended  by  press  and 
radio  representatives  and  Naval  officers. 

Promotion  included  a  radio  music  con- 
test on  Stations  WCOP,  WEEI,  and 
WORL,  built  around  "Song  of  the  Sea- 
Bees" ;  window  and  counter  displays  of  the 
title  page  of  this  song ;  a  window  display  in 
a  large  department  store ;  a  Naval  Recruit- 
ing Booth  in  the  lobby,  stafYed  by  two 
WAVES ;  and  a  Naval  Escort,  consisting  of 
Naval  Police  and  several  Chief  Petty  offi- 
cers, furnished  by  the  Navy  Department,  and 
stationed  in  the  lobby. 

Five  hundred  2-sheet  posters  were  used 
in  elevated  and  subway  stations,  in  addition 
to  the  regular  campaign,  which  included  a 
full  showing  of  24-sheets;  1,500  lines  of 
additional  newspaper  advertising  in  addition 
to  the  regular  theatre  budget,  and  radio  spot 
announcements. 

Warner  Staff  Aids 
Philadelphia  Promotion 

For  the  Philadelphia  engagement,  at  the 
Stanley  theatre,  George  Balkin,  manager, 
aided  by  Irving  Blumberg,  Warner  ad  head 
and  Milt  Young,  publicist,  utilized  every 
agency  to  exploit  the  picture. 

Newspaper  ads  and  stories,  radio  features 
and  spots,  billboards,  car  cards  and  window 
cards,  window  displays,  personal  letters,  war 
plant  bulletin  boards,  all  culminating  with 
an  opening  night  at  which  more  than  100 
Navy  men  in  uniform  were  guests  of  the 
theatre,  marked'  the  pre-opening  of  the  cam- 
paign. 

The  campaign,  stressing  the  fact  that  the 
picture  is  "a  salute  to  the  new  sons  of  the 
Navy"  was  launched  formally  by  Mayor 
Bernard  Samuel.  More  than  420  war 
plants  within  a  radius  of  30  miles  of  the 


city  cooperated  in  the  job  of  bringing  the 
picture  to  the  attention  of  approximately 
500,000  workers.  About  four  days  apart, 
labor-management  committee  chairmen,  per- 
sonnel directors,  industrial  relations  direc- 
tors and  other  plant  executives  were  sent, 
first;  a  special  letter  from  Irving  Blumberg 
calling  attention  ,to  the  Construction  Bat- 
talions, explaining  their  part  as  a  fighting 
and  working  unit  in  the  war  effort,  and 
revealing  that  a  picture  revealing  the  bat- 
talions' activities  in  combat  zones,  and  ask- 
ing them  to  be  on  the  lookout  for  posters 
designed  for  posting  on  employees'  bulletin 
boards;  second,  1,600  two-color  posters 
14x22  calling  attention  to  the  local  premiere 
on  Wednesday  Jan.  26  and  emphasizing  the 
fact  that  a  special  war  workers  show  would 
be  held  after  midnight,  Friday  Jan.  28,  with 
last  complete  show  at  3:15  A.  M. 

In  advance  of  the  opening  a  centre  lobby 
display,  10x16  ft.  was  set  in  the  theatre. 
This  elaborate  display,  placed  two  weeks  be- 
fore the  premiere,  comprised  a  panorama 
with  an  oil-painted  background,  life  size  en- 
largements of  stars,  and  cut-out  letters  made 
up  in  three  dimensions,  and  embellished  with 
special  lighting  effects.  It  was  created  by 
Maurice  Gable,  district  manager  and  George 
Balkin  House  Manager,  and  executed  by 
Luke  Lefka  of  the  Mastbaum  Displav  Shop. 

Radio  spots  on  WCAU  (CBS), '50,000- 
watt  station,  and  KYW  (NBC),  50,000- 
watt  station,  began  eight  days  in  advance 
of  opening  and  continued  two  days  after  pic- 
ture opening.  Opening  day  on  radio  station 
WCAU,  4:45  to  5:00  P.  -M.,  a  rare  15- 
minute  program  gratis,  was  devoted  to  a 
radio  film  preview  with. -Powers  Gouraud 
well-known  man-abouf-tb'vv:n  and  radio '  col- 
umnist and  theatre  critic,'  as  commentator. 
This  unusual  stunt  was  advertised  in  a  50- 
line  ad  in  the  Evening  Bnlletin. 


62 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February     12,     I  944 


MANAGERS'  WAR  ACTIVITIES 
SPUR  SALE  OF  BONDS 


"Three  Russian  Girls" 
Opens  in  Cincinnati  at 
Plasma  Premiere 

Spearheading  an  avalanche  of  promotions 
by  showmen,  in  furtherance  of  the  war  ef- 
fort is  the  unusual  device  employed  to  ex- 
ploit the  world  premiere  of  "Three  Russian 
Girls." 

A  unique  innovation  in  so  far  as  the  usual 
premieres  are  concerned,  admission  was  ex- 
clusively by  donation  of  blood  plasma  to  the 
American  Red  Cross.  The  "Plasma  Pre- 
miere" was  staged  at  the  Keith  theatre,  Cin- 
cinatti,  the  campaign  was  handled  by  man- 
ager Ed  Reisenback  assisted  by  the  United 
Artists  field  staff. 

Outstanding  publicity  coverage  was  given 
to  the  event  by  the  Enquirer,  Times-Star 
and  the  Post.  The  latter  newspaper  played 
up  the  premiere  with  daily  front  page  boxes. 
The  Enquirer  ran  a  brilliant  full  column 
editorial  with  additional  space  garnered 
through  the  society,  sports  and  news  col- 
umns. 

Merchants'  Co-op  Ads 
Promote  Opening 

Numerous  merchants  in  the  city  paid  for 
co-op  ads  in  the  papers  advertising  the 
"Plasma  Premiere"  and  many  of  them  ar- 
ranged attractive  window  displays  giving 
full  credits  to  the  picture. 

Street  card  cards  were  used  on  all  trol- 
ley lines,  special  signs  and  cards  were  dis- 
played at  the  local  Red  Cross  chapters  and 
prominent  office  buildings  and  generous 
time  was  devoted  to  the  premiere  by  sta- 
tions WKRC  and  WSAI. 

The  blood  donor's  list  was  oversubscribed 
before  the  night  of  the  premiere. 

Bob  Cox,  manager  of  the  Schine  Ken- 
tucky theatre,  Lexington,  Ky.,  and  assistant 


War  Showmanship  Contenders 

The  showmen  listed  below  have  contributed  and  reported  on  their  campaigns  to  aid 
the  war  effort.  Their  material  is  eligible  for  consideration  by  the  Judges  for  the  Quigley 
War  Showmanship  Award. 


HARRY  BOTWICK 
State,  Portland,  Me. 

JOSEPH  BOYLE 
Broadway,  Norwich,  Conn. 

O.  L.  BYRD 

Princess,  Harriman,  Tenn. 

H.  J.  CALAHAN 
Magnet,  Claremont,  N.  H. 

MARLOWE  CONNER 
Capitol,  Madison,  Wis. 

ROBERT  COX 
Kentucky,  Lexington,  Ky. 

TOM  DELBRIDGE 
Vendome,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

SID  DICKLER 
Belmar,  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 


MILDRED  FITZGIBBONS 
Roosevelt,  Flushing,  L.  I. 

JACK  FOXE 

Columbia,  Washington,  D.  C. 

ED  J.  KEARNEY 
Paramount,  Syracuse,  N.Y, 

SID  KLEPER 

Bijou,  New  Haven,  Conn. 

CLEMENT  D.  KREPPS 
Fox,  Hackensack,  N.  J. 

LOUIS  E.  MAYER 
Palace,  Cleveland,  Ohio 

RITA  MORTON 

RKO  Albee,  Providence,  R.  L 

GEORGE  PAPPAS 
Circle,  Indianapolis,  Ind. 


GEORGE  PETERS 
Loew's,  Richmond,  Va. 

SYDNEY  J.  POPPAY 
Majestic,  Gettysburg,  Pa. 

LESTER  POLLOCK 
Loew's,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

WILLIAM  SAXTON 
Century,  Baltimore,  Md. 

JEROME  SCHUR 
Laconia,  Bronx,  N.Y. 

MACK  SHAPIRO 
Harbor,  Brooklyn,  N.Y. 

GERTRUDE  TRACY 
Ohio,  Cleveland,  Ohio 

MANNY  SUSSMAN 
Lee,  R.  Myers,  Fla. 


publicity  chairman  of  the  County  War  Loan 
Staff,  reports  that  the  local  theatres  have 
sponsored  a  War  Loan  Poster  Contest  to 
be  run  in  conjunction  with  the  schools  and 
colleges.  A  War  Bond  was  offered  as  a 
prize  with  the  posters  to  be  used  to  further 
the  sale  of  Bonds. 

Another  contest  involved  all  the  schools 
and  children  in  the  county  requiring  every 
student  to  sell  a  $50  Bond.  Additional  prizes 
were  offered  to  the  individual,  class  and 
school   selling  the  greatest  amount.  The 


Manager  William  Saxton  arranged  this  exhibit  of  an  airplane  motor  at  the  Century, 
Baltimore,   to  promote  sale  of   extra    War  Bonds. 


Mayor  of  Lexington,  by  official  proclama- 
tion, changed  the  name  of  Main  Street  to 
Bond  Drive  for  the  duration  of  the  Bond 
Drive.  \ 

In  the  Bronx,  New  York,  >^ome  Schuiy 
manager  of  the  Laconia  theatrearranged^ 
war  Bond  Auction  with  prizes  donated  from 
merchants  to  stimulate  the  sale  of  Bonds. 

Marlowe  Conner,  manager  of  the  Capitol, 
Madison,  Wise,  worked  in  conjunction  with 
the  Treasury  Department  to  get  the  State 
of  Wisconsin  off  to  a  flying  start  in  the 
Fourth  War  Loan  Drive. 

A  premiere  was  arranged  on  the  eve  of 
the  drive's  inauguration  with  admission  by 
purchase  of  a  Bond.  The  2400  seat  theatre 
was  oversold  and  more  than  $1,000,000  was 
realized  from  the  show. 

Conner  called  a  meeting  of  the  Business 
Men's  Association  and  the  newspapers  and 
lined  them  up  solidly  for  the  enterprise. 
The  merchants  took  display  ads  and  sold 
Bonds,  issuing  tickets  for  the  special  per- 
formance to  purchasers. 

An  all  soldier  show  was  obtained  from 
nearby  Camp  McCoy  with  former  profes- 
sional talent  to  entertain  the  audience. 

All-Soldier  Show 
Obtained  by  Poppay 

Sydney  J.  Poppay,  manager  of  the  Majes- 
tic and  Strand  theatres  in  Gettysburg,  Pa., 
also  arranged  a  premiere  show  with  65 
members  of  the  Carlisle  Field  Medical 
School  participating.  Tickets  for  the  per- 
formance were  placed  on  sale  at  a  special 
box-office.  Admission  was  purchase  of  a 
War  Bond  and  the  tickets  were  scaled  from 

{Continued  on  opposite  page) 


February     12,  1944 


MANAGERS'    ROUND  TABLE 


63 


Botwick  Sells  First  Bond  of  Drive  in  Portland 


{Continued  from  opposite  page) 

a  $25  Bond  up  to  $5,000  Bonds  for  the 
choice  seats. 

Newspaper  publicity  accorded  to  the 
show  was  beyond  expectations  and  the  local 
Chamber  of  Commerce  paid  for  space  for 
half  page  ads  announcing  the  show.  A  mil- 
lion dollars'  worth  of  Bonds  were  sold  to 
the  townspeople. 

The  program  was  titled,  "Ten  Nights  In 
A  Squadroom"  and  featured  a  50  voice  glee 
club  from  the  post  .  and  former  stars  of 
repute. 

Baby  Beauty  Contest 
In  Syracuse 

Highlight  of  the  War  Bond  Campaign 

at  the  Paramount  theatre,  Syracuse,  N.  Y., 
w*s  a  Baby  Beauty  Bond  Contest  promoted 
by  manager  Ed  Kearney.  Parents  entered 
their  children's  photos  and  with  each  pur- 
chase of  a  $25  Bond  the  purchaser  received 
100  votes  for  their  favorite  contestant. 

Newspapers  cooperated  with  stories  of  the 
stunt  and  a  local  photographer  took  free 
pictures  of  the  entrants. 

O.  L.  Byrd,  manager  of  the  Princess 
theatre,  Harriman,  Tenn.,  worked  out  a 
novel  contest  to  stimulate  the  sale  of  Bonds. 
The  theatre  sponsored  the  contest  in  which 
high  school  girls  competed  for  the  title  "Vic- 
tory Queen  of  the  Fourth  War  Loan  Drive." 
Prizes  of  a  $300  Bond  and  a  $100  Bond 
were  promoted  from  merchants  and  offered 
to  the  wiryiers. 

The  contestants  were  selected  by  a  vote 
of  the  student  bodies  of  the  various  par- 
ticipating schools  who  were  introduced  to 
the  theatre  audience  on  the  opening  night 
of  the  Drive. 

Winners  were  selected  on  a  point  basis, 
each  girl  being  awarded  five  points  for  every 


jr  UiARMK  CAMP  MCCOY 
40  miSTS  ON  STAGE 


mj-  ~  ' 


Manager  Marlowe  Conner's  special  front  exploiting  the  War  Bond  premiere  of  an 
all-soldier  show  obtained  from  Camp  McCoy,  which  was  staged  at  the  Capitol, 
Madison,  Wis. 


mm 


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BUYANEXIRA 

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IKHONOK  OF  A 
WOHllKSMCI 
m  HAVE  HIS  OR 
HER  MAME  PLACED 
ON  THIS  SEATING 
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$25  Bond  she  sold.  Byrd  reports  that  the 
contest  has  been  very  popular  and  that  in- 
terest has  been  added  to  the  campaign. 

At  the  Belmar  theatre,  Pittsburgh,  man- 
ager Sid  Dickler  tied  up  with  an  unusual 
promotion  whereby  the  theatre  increased  the 
sale  of  Bonds. 

Dickler  arranged  with  seven  prominent 
merchants  to  allow  cash  discounts  to  cus- 
tomers who  bought  a  War  Bond  at  the  Bel- 

i  ill  iigf^ 

A  WAR  BOMB 


THE  BOND 

BETWEEN  us  I 


tk 


At  the  Paradise,  Bronx,  New  York,  manager  Jerry  DeRosa's  attractive  lobby  display 
plugging  A  Bond  A  Seat  which  is  similar  to  the  device  used  by  many  Loew  theatres. 


mar.  Every  person  who  bought  a  Bond  at 
the  theatre  was  given  a  certificate  allow- 
ing them  the  discount  upon  presentation  at 
the  merchant's  store.  The  certificates  were 
designated  as  the  Belmar  Bondbardier  Club 
certificates.  The  back  of  the  slips  were  im- 
printed with  the  theatre's  current  and  com- 
ing attractions. 

Harry  Botwick,  manager  of  the  State 
theatre,  Portland,  Me.,  got  a  state-wide  pub- 
licity break  by  selling  the  first  official  War 
Bond  of  the  drive.  At  12:01  a.m.  on  the 
day  the  Drive  got  underway,  Botwick  sold 
$5,000  in  War  Bonds  to  the  Portland  Lodge 
of  Elks.  A  member  of  the  WACs  presented 
the  Bonds  to  the  Exalted  Ruler  of  the  lodge 
and  the  picture  made  every  newspaper  in 
Maine. 

Mayer  Has  Stars  Appear 
At  Cleveland  Rallies 

In  Cleveland,  manager  Louis  E.  Mayer, 
of  the  RKO  Palace,  has  been  aiding  the  vari- 
ous rallies  sponsored  throughout  the  city  by 
inducing  the  well  known  stage  personalities 
who  appear  on  his  current  program  to  make 
personals  at  the  rallies.  Ted  Fio  Rito,  the 
Inkspots  and  other  talent  have  already 
swelled  Bond  Sales  by  their  cooperation. 

The  Baltimore  activities  in  behalf  of  the 
current  War  Loan  Drive  centered  about  a 
series  of  War  Bond  premieres  which  were 
arranged  by  William  Saxton,  manager  of 
the  Loew  Century  theatre  and  chairman  of 
the  motion  picture  committee  for  the  down- 
town area.  Premieres  were  arranged  in 
conjunction  with  the  showing  of  "The  Des- 
ert Song,"  at  the  Stanley  theatre,  "A  Guy 
Named  Joe"  at  the  Century,  and  "Tender 
Comrade"  at  the  Hippodrome. 

Admission  to  any  of  the  premieres  was 
by  purchase  of  a  Bond. 


64 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    12,  1944 


The  Selling  Approach 

ON  NEW  PRODUCT 

[The  material  below  reflects  press  books  now  in  preparation  and  represents  the  point  of 
view  of  the  distributors'  exploiteers  about  the  selling  points  and  special  merit  of  these  pictures.^ 


IN  THIS  OUR  TIME  (Warner  Bros.):  Ida 

Lupino  and  Paul  Henried,  the  stars  of  this 
picture,  are  sufficiently  popular  to  empha- 
size, as  well  as  the  romance  and  drama 
angles.  Newspaper  ads  are  effective  eye- 
catchers.  Lithos  illustrate  stars  and  are 
suitable  for  cutouts  in  lobbies  and  on  the 
marquee.  Best  exploitation  bet  would  seem 
to  be  in  the  title,  with  newspaper  contests 
inviting  readers  to  submit  a  list  of  the  ten 
greatest  events  which  have  happened  in 
our  time.  This  can  be  varied  with  the  ten 
greatest  screen  events  in  our  time,  ten 
greatest  screen  love  teams,  etc.  hiave  a 
local  merchant  sponsor  a  quiz  on  the 
theatre  stage,  with  contestants  asked  to 
furnish  correct  dates  for  great  events  in 
the  past  two  or  three  decades.  War  Bonds 
can  be  given  as  prizes.  Run  a  similar  con- 
test for  school  students.  Dig  up  old  copies 
of  newspapers  with  scare  headlines  of  im- 
portant events  and  use  them  for  a  lobby 
setpiece. 

NO  TIME  FOR  LOVE  (Paramount):  Here 
are  two  big  stars  in  a  fast  moving  comedy 
which  is  excellent  escapist  fare.  Claudette 
Colbert  plays  the  role  of  a  photographer, 
opening  the  way  for  use  of  a  women's  pho- 
tography contest  with  prizes  for  best 
comedy  photos  submitted.  Use  the  inquir- 
ing reporter  device  with  a  woman  handing 
out  cards  plugging  the  picture.  MacMur- 
ray  is  in  the  role  of  a  sandhog  and  you 


Co-op  Ads  for  Saunders 
On  "Thousands  Cheer" 

For  the  recent  engagement  of  "Thousands 
Cheer,"  at  the  Loew-PoU  theatre,  in  Bridge- 
port, Conn.,  manager  Matt  Saunders  pro- 
moted some  fine  co-op  ads  wit4i  a  number  of 
local  merchants.  The  ads  featured  large  cuts 
of  the  stars  who  appear  in  the  picture  with 
proper  theatre  credits,  etc. 

As  an  exploitation  stunt  for  "The  Gang's 
All  Here,"  Matt  ran  a  contest  in  conjunction 
with  the  local  newspaper  to  locate  the  larg- 
est family  in  the  city.  Fifteen  letters  were 
received  from  families  claiming  that  distinc- 
tion. A  $25.00  War  Bond  and  an  evening's 
pleasure  as  guests  to  see  the  picture  were 
awarded  to  the  winning  family. 


Novelty  Gag  Used  for 
"DuBarry  Was  a  Lady" 

Al  Lidman,  manager  of  the  Ambassador 
theatre,  Philadelphia,  used  a  switch  on  the 
pill  gag  to  promote  interest  for  the  showing 
of  "DuBarry  Was  a  Lady."  He  put  a  pill 
in  an  envelope  along  with  a  picture  of  the 
Varga  girl  and  an  announcement  of  the 
picture  opening.  Directions  on  the  envelope 
read :  "Dissolve  the  pill  in  a  glass  of  water 


may  be  able  to  borrow  some  equipment 
locally  as  a  lobby  display.  The  distributor 
has  prepared  a  fine  set  of  accessories,  ads, 
lithos,  plus  some  novelty  throwaway  cards 
and  an  attractive  door-hanger. 

THE  LODGER  (Twentieth  Century  -  Fox): 

This  story  is  based  on  Jack  the  Ripper  who 
terrorized  England  by  slashing  women  to 
death  with  a  knife.  Start  out  with  a  teaser 
campaign  in  your  newspapers  and  get  out 
cards  and  stickers,  plus  an  advance  trailer 
reading:  "Beware,  The  Lodger  is  Coming", 
etc.  Build  up  interest  by  placing  a  small 
black  bag  in- the  lobby,  captioned:  "If  you 
see  a  man  carrying  a  bag  like  this  one, 
notify  Scotland  Yard.  He  Is  The  Lodger". 
A  knife,  stained  red,  can  be  placed  along- 
side the  bag.  Run  an  ad  in  the  Wanted 
columns  for  lodgings  by  a  gentleman  with 
only  one  bad  habit — Murder — and  give  the 
theatre  'phone  number  for  persons  who 
wish  to  answer.  A  good  stunt  is  to  tie  in 
with  the  newspaper  to  find  a  woman  who 
Is  brave  enough  to  sit  through  the  picture 
alone  at  midnight  in  the  darkened  theatre. 
Use  a  street  ballyhoo  with  a  man  wearing 
dark  turned-down  hat  and  cape,  carrying 
a  cane  and  black  bag,  placarded:  "I  am 
The  Lodger.  Hurry  to  the  State  theatre 
and  watch  me  commit  murder".  Lithos  will 
make  effective  cutouts  which  can  be  tricked 
up  with  transparent  eyes  and  some  ani- 
mation. 


and  allow  it  to  stand  for  two-and-a-half 
hours,  during  which  time  visit  the  Ambassa- 
dor. When  you  return,  throw  away  the  pill, 
you  won't  need  it  after  seeing  'DuBarry 
Was  a  Lady.'" 

Kraska  Sells  "Old  Days" 
In  Ballyhoo  Fashion 

Leonard  Kraska,  manager  of  the  Dor- 
chester theatre  in  Dorchester,  Mass.-,  did  a 
job  of  ballyhooing  "The  Good  Old  Days." 
He  made  the  suburb  of  100,000  persons 
moustache  conscious  by  distributing  3,000 
paper  moustaches  at  the  theatre,  restaurants, 
bars,  and  drug  stores.  The  theatre  staff 
wore  them  to  encourage  patrons  to  do  like- 
wise. Kraska  also  distributed  10,000  herlas 
gagging  the  show,  as  well  as  300  double  size 
window  cards  and  fifteen  two-sheets. 

A  couple  dressed  in  the  old-fashioned  out- 
fits distributed  advertising  material  to  people 
in  the  streets.  For  newspaper  advertising 
he  "sold"  Valentino,  Dressier,  John  Bunny 
and  the  others  of  the  old-time  cast  while  for 
the  kids  he  stressed  Charlie  Chaplin  and  the 
comics.  The  men  were  sold  on  the  Demp- 
sey-Willard  angle.  The  theatre  was  espe- 
cially decorated  for  the  week  and  gaslights 
installed  to  emphasize  the  "Good  Old  Days." 


Pincus  Exploits  "Crazy  House" 
With  Atnnospheric  Front 

As  part  of  his  campaign  ahead  of  "Crazy 
House"  at  the  Utah  theatre,  in  Salt  Lake 
City,  Charlie  Pincus  constructed  a  special 
front,  which  consisted  of  enlargements  of 
Olsen  and  Johnson,  in  addition  to  which 
clothes  lines  with  red  flannel  underwear 
were  strung  from  the  roof  to  the  marquee. 

Street  gags  included  a  theatre  attendant 
rolling  a  bathtub  down  the  street  with  an 
attractive  girl  in  it,  a  Saint  Bernard  dog 
carrying  a  clothesline  from  its  collar  was 
led  by  a  girl  and  other  slants  along  the  same 
lines.  On  the  opening  day,  a  phonograph 
was  hooked  to  an  amplifier  in  the  box-office 
and  the  laugh  record  was  broadcast. 

Before  the  trailer  went  on  the  week  be- 
fore opening,  the  stage  hand  fired  two  auto- 
matic pistols,  blew  ofif  three  flash  pots  in 
the  footlights  and  the  house  lights  went  out 
as  boys  in  black  face  and  gorilla  costumes 
ran  down  the  aisles  shooting  pistols,  as  the 
trailer  came  on  with  Olsen  and  Johnson's 
name  on  the  screen. 

Conhaim  Sells  Local  Daily  * 
On  "Young  Ideas"  Club 

In  advance  of  "Young  Ideas"  at  the  Re- 
gent theatre  in  Pittsburgh,  John  Conhaim 
sold  the  East  Liberty  Tribune  on  the  idea 
of  a  "Young  Ideas  Club,"  with  the  police 
department  promoted  for  a  Bond.  John 
landed  four  weeks  free  publicity,  since  the 
club  was  formed  to  combat  juvenile  delin- 
quency. 

A  40  by  60  was  planted  in  the  labby  of 
the  theatre  announcing  the  fact  that  the 
Police  Department  would  give  a  Bond  to  the 
Club,  showing  how  closely  the  theatre  and 
the  police  were  cooperating. 

Mink  Presents  Flag 
For  "Iron  Major" 

Max  Mink,  manager  of  the  RKO  Ford- 
ham  theatre,  Bronx,  with  the  assistance  of 
John  A.  Cassidy,  RKO  Home  Office  pub- 
licist, tied-up  Mount  St.  Michael  Academy's 
championship  football  team  with  the  open- 
ing of  "The  Iron  Major,"  and  for  good 
measure,  presented  an  American  Flag  to 
Fordham  University. 

Rev.  Lawrence  A.  Walsh,  Dean  of  Ford- 
ham  U.,  where  Major  Frank  Cavanaugh 
finished  his  glorious  football  career,  accepted 
the  flag  from  Borough  President  James  J. 
Lyons  who  also  presented  Capt.  Tom  Kelly 
of  Mount  St.  Michael's  gridiron'  squad  with 
the  RKO  Iron  Major  Football  Trophy. 
These  presentations  were  preceded  by  a 
parade  of  1000  students. 


THEATRE  MANAGEMENT  RECORD 
AND  ANNUAL  TAX  REGISTER 

-■  Easy  accounting  system  that  enables 
you  to  keep  an  accurate,  complete  and  up- 
to-the-minute  record  of  the  ^  ^  Q  Q 
business    of    your    theatre.  postpaid 

QUICLEY  BOOKSHOP 

ROCKEFELLER   CENTER.    NEW    YORK  (20) 


Februaryl2,l944  MANAGE  RS'ROUNDTABLE  65 


PERSONALS  ON  SHOWMEN 


HAPPY  BIRTHDAY 


By  Staff  Photographer 

LT.(j.g.)  IRA  EPSTEIN,  of  the  U.  S.  Mari- 
time Service,  'former  Neii/  York  exhibitor, 
visits  at  the  Round  Table  and  relates  some 
of  his  recent  experiences  in  the  South  Sea 
Islands. 

JOHN  HESSE,  manager  of  the  Roger 
Sherman,  in  New  Haven,  for  the  past  nine 
years,  has  been  named  Warner  district  man- 
ager for  Southern  Connecticut.  He  suc- 
ceeds Carlyle  Barrett,  who  passed  away  re- 
cently. Edgar  Lynch,  former  manager  of 
the  Warner,  in  Bridgeport,  has  been  trans- 
ferred to  the  Roger  Sherman,  and  Vincent 
Palmeri,  of  the  Merritt,  Bridgeport,  goes  to 
the  Warner  theatre  there. 

HARRY  ROTHLEIN  has  been  appointed 
manager  of  the  Welhnan  and  New  Mock 
theatres,  in  Girard,  Ohio. 

JACK  LITTO  is  now  managing  the  Rialto 
theatre,  Philadelphia,  replacing  Henry  Hir- 
sham,  who  left  to  join  the  Navy. 

HOMER  COMER,  formerly  manager  of 
Warners'  Allegheny  theatre,  Philadelphia,  is 
now  managing  the  Palace  theatre  there. 
George  Class  succeeded  him  and  Al  Kogan, 
assistant  manager  of  Warners'  Stanton  the- 
atre, was  promoted  to  rotating  manager  for 
the  circuit. 

AL  COGGAN,  assistant  manager  of  War- 
ners' Stanton  theatre,  Philadelphia,  was  pro- 
moted to  manager  of  the  circuit's  Imperial- 
2nd  Street  theatre. 

J.  VICTOR  WILSON  is  now  manager  of 
the  Paramount  theatre,  in  Palm  Beach,  Fla. 

WAYNE  SWEENEY  has  returned  as  man- 
ager of  the  Town  theatre,  in  Omaha,  to  as- 
sume his  old  post,  which  he  held  for  the 
past  eight  years,  as  general  manager  of  the 
LaPorte  Theatres  Corp.,  of  LaPorte,  Ind., 
operating  the  LaPorte  and  Cozy  theatres. 


February  6th 

Earle  M.  Holden 
Morris  Swartz 
Jerry  Lynch 
Ben  A.  Dyer 
Murray  Peck 

7th 

Rodney  White 
Martin  S.  Lane 
Mallory  Pittman 
George  T.  Yybica 
Malcolm  Gilbert 
C.  C.  Coates 
Ray  Hanson 
Gene  E.  Scott 

8th 

Harold  C.  Lee 
Claude  D.  Burrows 
Bill  Nelson 

9th 

Walter  Murphy 
Walter  Bennett 

1 0th 

Mrs.  Gerald,  Brownfield 
Mrs.  I.  C.  Byersley 
Mark  Solomon 
Leonard  Allen 

I  Ith 

Thomas  Wall 
Lou  S.  Hart 
Russell  Hupp 
Robert  Marchbank 
John  J.  Maloney 
Raymond  Langfitt 

12th 

Samuel  Deskalakis 
Saul  L.  Goldstein 
Perry  Lessy 
George  Brownson 
J.  P.  Perry 
Stan  Andrews 
David  Wald 
Frank  Austin 
Robert  K.  Shapiro 


February  13th 

T.  H.  Whittemore 
Harry  Black 
Avece  T.  Waldron 
James  O.  Childers 

14th 

Eddie  Forester 
Edgar  B.  Hands 
W.  Horace  Reese 
Roy  L.  Patterson 
Jed  Smith 
Theron  R.  Conklin 

15th 

Earle  M.  Tate 
John  A.  Ryan,  Jr. 
Johnny  Jones 
V.  M.  Cummings 
Milton  L.  Carr 
Charles  C.  Hagedorn 

16th 

Lynn  Smith 
Edward  Selette 
Jack  Litto 
Bernard  Buchanan 
Joseph  RosenfeidI 
J.  Warren  Sever 
Archie  Connolly 

17th 

Warren  A.  Slee 
Melvin  Blackledge 
Charles  E.  August 

18th 

Raymond  E.  Salisbury 
Samuel  Shafer 
Frank  Sitton 
Gene  Lutes 

19th 

L.  A.  Stein 
I.  W.  Wyte 
Ralph  Fretz 
W.  C.  Lewellen 
Ray  Williams 
Wilbur  Neustein 


ROY  ROBBINS  has  been  named  man- 
ager of  Warner's  Boyd  theatre,  in  Philadel- 
phia, moving  from  the  circuit's  Aldine,  for 
which  Louis  Colantuono  has  been  appointed 
manager. 

GEORGE  MILLER,  who  has  managed 
the  Whalley,  in  New  Haven,  for  the  past 
seven  years,  has  been  inducted  into  the 
Army. 

HENRY  TOLLETTE  has  joined  the 
Marcus  circuit,  in  Milwaukee,  as  district 
manager,  making  his  headquarters'  in  Nina, 
Wis. 


LARBARA  ILENE,  on  Friday,  Janu- 
ary l%th,  to  Pfc.  &  Mrs.  Joseph  Rinzler,  of 
Pine  Camp,  N.  Y.  The  father,  before 
joining  the  armed  forces,  managed  the- 
atres for  Randforce,  in  Brooklyn. 


By  Staff  Photographer 

LT.ij.g.)  DOUG  GEORGE,  Incentive  Di- 
vision, U.  S.  Navy,  formerly  associated  with 
Warner  Bros.,  Philadelphia,  and  theatres  in 
the  Cleveland  area,  is  another  visitor  at  the 
Rotmd  Table  while  engaged  on  an  official 
mission. 

NORMAN  B.  BROWN,  formerly  manager 
of  the  Bertha  theatre,  in  Chicago,  is  now 
in  charge  of  the  Lincoln  theatre. 

RUTH  BOLTON,  associated  with  the  Loew 
theatres,  in  Syracuse,  and  until  recently  as- 
sistant manager  of  the  State,  has  been  named 
manager  of  the  Strand  theatre. 

ARTHUR  WORTH,  manager  of  the  Ox- 
ford theatre  in  the  Bronx,  N.  Y.,  for  the 
past  eight  years,  has  been  transferred  to  the 
Ascot  theatre. 

DAVID  YOUNG  has  been  named  manager 
of  the  Vogue  theatre,  Detroit.  In  the  same 
city,  Shirley  James  takes  over  as  assistant 
manager  of  the  Norwood ;  Maxine  Stewart 
takes  a  similar  post  at  the  Norwood  and 
Shirley  Fensch  becomes  assistant  manager 
of  the  Telenews  theatre. 

MRS.  SAM  SCHOENSTADT  has  been 
appointed  manager  of  the  Atlantic  theatre, 
in  Chicago. 

MARIE  SEAS  is  now  assistant  manager  of 
the  Stillman  theatre,  Cleveland. 

MRS.  HELEN  McLAUGHLIN  has  been 
appointed  manager  of  the  Capitol  theatre, 
Middletown,  Conn. 

JAMES  TUFFY  is  now  manager  of  the 
American,  Pittston,  Pa. 

MICHAEL  STRANGER  has  been  ap- 
pointed as  assistant  manager  of  the  Poli 
theatre,  Bridgeport,  Conn. 


66  MOTION    PICTURE    HER  A4.D 

CLASSIFIED  ADVERTISING 

Ten  cents  per  word,  money-order  or  check  with  copy.  Count  initials,  box  nunnber  and  ad- 
dress. Minimum  insertion,  $1.  Four  insertions,  for  the  price  of  three.  Contract  rates  on 
application.  No  borders  or  cuts.  Forms  close  Mondays  at  5  P.  M.  Publisher  reserves 
the  right  to  reject  any  copy.  Film  and  trailer  advertising  not  accepted.  Classi-  f^^= 
fied  advertising  not  subject  to  agency  commission.  Address  copy  and  checks: 
MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD,  Classified  Dept.,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  (20)  IBim 


HELP  WANTED 


WANTED:  OPERATOR,  ALSO  COMBINATION 
operator  and  manager.  Must  be  sober  and  drait 
exempt.  FAIN  THEATRES.  Leesburg,  Fla. 


WANT  TWO  MANAGERS  AND  TWO  OPERA- 
tors  immediately  for  small  town  situations.  Permanent 
positions  with  excellent  future.  State  age,  experience, 
references,  salary  expected  and  draft  status.  Reply 
BOX  1.101,  Knoxville,  Tenn. 


ASSISTANT     MANAGER,  DRAFT  EXEMPT, 

small  New  York  City  chain.  Send  photograph  and 

all  information  in  first  letter.  BOX  1701,  MOTION 
PICTURE  HERALD. 


WANTED:  THEATRE  MANAGER.  MARRIED, 
draft  exempt.  State  salary,  include  snapshot.  Theatre 
in  northern  Illinois.  BOX  1702,  MOTION  PICTURE 
HERALD. 


BOOKS 

COMPLETELY  REVISED  7TH  'CDItION  OF 
Richardson's  Bluebook  of  Projection  with  treatise  on 
Television  and  complete  Sound  Trouble-Shooting 
Charts,  as  well  as  host  of  additional  up-to-the-minute 
text  on  sound  and  -projection  equipment.  Order  Now  1 
$7.25  postpaid.  QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP,  Rockefeller 
Center,  New  York  (20). 


SOUND  TROUBLE  SHOOTING  CHARTS.  A 
handy  tool  in  the  booth.  Gives  the  answers  to  all 
questions  regarding  trouble  shooting  on  every  type  of 
sound  equipment.  $1.00  postpaid.  QUIGLEY  BOOK- 
SHOP, Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  (20). 


MOTION  PICTURE  SOUND  ENGINEERING— 
547  pages;  illustrated;  covers  every  practical  method 
and  process  in  present-day  sound  engineering.  Leading 
engineers  explain  every  detail  of  apparatus  and  its  ar- 
rangement, with  diagrams,  tables,  charts  and  graphs. 
This  manual  comes  straight  from  the  workshops  of  the 
studios  in  Hollywood.  It  is  indispensable  to  everyone 
working  with  sound  equipment.  Price  $6.50  postpaid. 
QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York. 


NEW  567  PAGE  BOOK  ON  AIR  CONDITIONING, 
by  C^harles  A.  Fuller,  authority  on  the  subject.  Avail- 
able for  theatre  owners  contemplating  engineering 
changes.  Book  is  cloth  bound  with  index  and  charts 
and  covers  every  branch  of  the  industry  as  well  as 
codes  and  ordinances  regulating  installation.  Order 
now  at  $4.00  a  copy  postpaid.  QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP, 
Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  (20). 


BOOKKEEPING  SYSTEM 


THEATRE  MANAGEMENT  RECORD  AND  TAX 
Register.  This  new  accounting  system  is  the  finest 
book  of  its  kind  ever  made  available  to  an  exhibitor. 
In  addition  to  being  complete  in  every  respect,  it  is 
simple — so  much  so  that  it  is  not  necessary  to  have 
had  bookkeeping  experience  in  order  to  keep  an  ac- 
curate, complete  and  an  up-to-minute  record  of  the 
business  of  your  theatre.  The  introductory  price  is 
only  $2.00  postpaid.  QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP,  Rocke- 
feller Center,  New  York  (20). 


STUDIO  EQUIPMENT 


STUDIO  GLOWLAMP  RECORDER,  3SMM. 
stabilized  variable  density;  1000'  magazine;  two  c^tical 
systems;  noiseless  amplifier;  V.  L  indicator;  dynamic 
microphone;  complete  $555;  Uhler  sound  reduction 
printer  35/16  mm.,  $750;  Hollywood  16mm.  recorder 
with  Maurer  type  galvanometer,  complete,  $795;  Blue 
Seal  3  element  glowlamps,  $22.75.  Send  for  studio  and 
laboratory  equipment  listings.  S.  O.  S.  CINEMA 
SUPPLY  CORP.,  New  York  18. 


Dindas  To  Enter  Service 

George  Dindas,  manager  of  the  New  York 
Strand  under  managing  director  Zeb  Epstin 
for  the  past  seven  years  and  connected  with  the 
Warner  house  for  15-  year^,  -  "^itll  .j-eport  for 
military  service  early "  in  April.  Mr.  Dindas 
is  married  and  has  one  child. 


THEATRES 


FOb  SALE,  200-SEAT  THEATRE.  BOX  1703,  MO- 
TION PICTURE  HERALD. 


WANTED  THEATRE.  OPERATING,  PROFTT- 
ible,  details.  BOX  1700,  MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD. 


NEW  EQUIPMENT 


TWO  NEW  WENZEL  ACE— REAR  SHUTTER, 
Simplex  type  mechanisms.  Can  ship  immediately. 
MONARCH  THEATRE  SUPPLY  CO.,  492  So.  Second, 
Memphis,  Tenn. 


OPERADIO  COMPACrr  PUBLIC  ADDRESS 
System,  2  speakers  and  microphone,  $39.50;  underwriters 
approved  2J4  gallon  anti-freeze  fire  extinguishers, 
$14.95;  quart  pump  type,  $11.25;  two  quart,  $13.50; 
WoUensak  4"  Series  I  lenses,  $13.95;  box  office  bowl 
heaters,  $9.50;  pickup  pans  with  handle,  $1.27;  re- 
chargeable flashlight  batteries,  $2.20;  rectifier  bulbs, 
15  ampere  Gordos,  $6.95;  six  ampere  Westinghouse, 
$3.95;  Suprex  carbon  savers,  98c.  Winter  sale  bulletin 
ready.  S.  O.  S.  CINEMA  SUPPLY  CORP.,  New 
York  18. 


PATCHING  CEMENT  FOR  FABRIC  AND 
Leatherette.  Special  price,  $1,  3  ounce  bottle,  ALLIED 
SEATING  COMPANY,  36  West  13th  St.,  New  York 
City. 


USED  EQUIPMENT 


TWIN  50  AMPERE  SUPREX  RECTIFIERS, 
rebuilt,  $297.50;  single  45  ampere  type,  $112.50;  imported 
carbons,  1/10  original  cost;  Series  O  lenses,  $2.95; 
Simplex  mechanisms,  incomplete,  $95;  Brandt  coin 
changers,  $119.50;  20/40  arc  generators,  $57.50;  reflec- 
tors, 50%  discount;  thirty  ampere  rectifiers  with  tubes, 
$99.50.  Winter  bargain  bulletin  ready — get  yours. 
S.  O.  S.  CINEMA  SUPPLY  CORP.,  New  York  18. 


MUST  MOVE  TWO  SIMPLEX  REAR  SHUTTER 
heads.  Like  new.  Factory  overhauled.  TWAIN 
THEATRE,  Mansfield,  Pa. 


600  STAFFORD  REBUILT  HEAVY  INSERTED 
recoated  panel  banks,  reupholstered  box  spring  cushion 
chairs,  $5.45;  230  American  ball  bearing  fully  up- 
holstered padded  red  figured  velour  backs,  red  leather- 
ette box  spring  cushions,  good  as  is,  $4.50  each. 
S.  O.  S.  aNEMA  SUPPLY  CORP.,  New  York  18. 


WANTED  TO  BUY 


WANTED:  2000'  SEMI-PROFESSIONAL  SOUND 
projectors  complete  with  amplifier,  tubes,  loudspeaker, 
cables  and  telescoping  pedestal,  mazda  lamphouses. 
Want  double  outfit  for  tent  show.  No  junk.  CLAR- 
ENCE CULLER,  North,  S.  C. 


TRAINING  SCHOOLS 


THEATRE  EMPLOYEES:  TRAIN  FOR  BETTER 
position.  Learn  modern  theatre  management  and  ad- 
vertising. Big  opportunities  for  trained  men.  Estab- 
lished since.  1927.  Write  now  for  free  catalog.  THE- 
ATRE MANAGERS  SCHOOL,  Elmira,  New  York. 


BUSINESS  BOOSTERS 


BINGO  CARDS,  DIE  CUT,  1  TO  100  OR  1  TO  75, 
$2.25  per  thousand,  $20.00  for  10,00a  S.  KLOUS,  care 
of  MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD. 


Groton  Hearing  in  March 

Because  of  the  Fourth  War  Loan  activities, 
hearing  of  the  Groton  theatre  clearance  case 
against  the  consenting  distributors,  in  which 
New  London  first  runs  have  intervened,  will  be 
heard  before  an  arbitrator  some  time  in  March. 
The  arbitrator  is  expected  to  be  selected  shortly. 


February    12,  1944 

Officer  Trading 
In  Film  Stocks 
Low  in  December 

Disposition  of  film  company  stock  by  gift  and 
receipts  as  compensation  marked  the  December 
summary  of  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Com- 
mission, but  year-end  trading  of  officers  and 
directors  of  motion  picture  companies  in  the 
securities  of  their  own  corporations  was  light. 

Gifts  reported  included  200  shares  of  Colum- 
bia Pictures  common  stock  by  Harry  Cohn, 
president  in  October,  and,  in  December  35 
shares  of  the  same  stock  by  Abraham  Schneider, 
treasurer,  reducing  his  holdings  to  1,749  shares  ; 
750 .  shares  of  Paramount  Pictures  common 
stock  by  Stanton  Griffis,  chairman  of  the  execu- 
tiv"-  committee,  now  on  leave,  leaving  him  with 
5,250  shares,  and  100  shares  of  the- same  class 
by  Maurice  Newton,  director,  leaving  him  with 
10,565  shares. 

Stock  compensation  was  received  by  four  in 
Universal  Pictures,  5,000  common  voting  trust 
certificate  warrants  going  to  J.  Cheever  Cowdin, 
chairman  of  the  board,  giving  him  a  total  of 
15,000;  3,000  to  Charles  D.  Prutzman,  vice- 
president,  to  give  him  14,900  and  3,000,  each,  to 
William  A.  Scully  and  Cliff  Work,  vice-presi- 
dents, to  give  each  a  total  of  18,000. 

Sales  outnumbered  purchases  during  the 
month,  the  largest  of  the  former  a  series  where- 
by 6,500  shares  of  Loew's  common  stock  was 
sold  by  Nicholas  M.  Schenck,  president,  leaving 
him  with  1,017  shares.  Other  sales  covered 
800  shares  of  Loew's  common  stock  by  J.  Robert 
Rubin,  vice-president,  leaving  him  with  2,065 
shares  and  2,500  common  voting  trust  certificates 
of  Universal  Pictures  by  Cliff  Work,  his  entire 
holdings. 

Purchases  included  1,100  shares  of  Columbia 
Pictures  common  stock  in  November  by  Harry 
Cohn,  increasing  his  total  of  96,734  shares,  and 
276  shares  of  Loew's  Boston  Theatres  common 
stock  by  Loew's,  Inc.,  increasing  its  holdings  to 
120,335  shares. 

Legion  of  Decency 
Reviews  Six  Films 

This  week  the  National  Legion  of  Decency 
reviewed  and  classified  six  pictures,  placing 
four  in  Class  A,  Unobjectionable  for  General 
Patronage :  "Charlie  Chan  in  Secret  Service," 
"Song  of  Bernadette,"  "Sundown  Valley"  and 
the  Negro  Marches  On,  Inc.,  documentary  film, 
"We've  Come  a  Long,  Long  Way."  The  pic- 
ture "Tender  Comrade"  was  placed  in  Class  A, 
Section  II,  Unobjectionable  for  Adults,  and 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  in  Class  B,  Objectionable 
in  Part. 


Walt  Disney's  Salary 
$50,500  Last  Year 

Walt  Disney  Productions  paid  its  president 
and  founder,  Walter  E.  Disney,  $50,500  during 
the  last  fiscal  year,  the  company's  annual  report 
to  the  securities  and  exchange  commission  in- 
dicated last  week.  In  addition,  Mr.  Disney  re- 
ceived $5,288  in  dividends  from  his  holdings  in 
a  subsidiary  company. 


To  Tradeshow  "Marseille" 

"Passage  to  Marseille,"  Warner  production 
starring  Humphrey  Bogart,  will  be  nationally 
trade  shown  February  21,  it  was  announced  last 
week  by  Ben  Kalmenson,  general  sales  manager. 


Shayon  to  Morris  Agency 

Sam  Shayon,  for  the  past  12  years  associated 
with  Franchon  and  Marco  in  New_  York  and 
Los  Angeles,  Tuesday  resigned  to  join  the  Wil- 
liam Morris  Agency. 


February    12.    1  944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


In  This  Week: 


SHOWMEN'S  REVIEWS 


SHORT  SUBJECTS 


RELEASE  CHART 

BY  COMPANIES 

THE  RELEASE  CHART 


Up  in  Arms 

(Goldwyn  -  RKO  Radio) 
Musical  Comedy  At  War 

Danny  Kaye,  Broadway  musical  comedy  star, 
accomplishes  that  fond  hope  which  Hollywood 
forever  more  holds  for  its  new  personalities: 
he  clicks  with  a  loud  click  and  establishes 
himself  as  a  star  in  his  first  feature. 

His  inimitable  antics  and  his  vast  ability  as 
comic,  songster,  dancer  and  mimic  register 
strongly  and  emphatically  in  "Up  in  Arms,  it  s 
essentially  a  one-man  show,  and  a  very  good 

one  at  that.  ,  ^  , ,  i-  j 

Probably  producer  Samuel  Goldwyn  realized 
he  was  on  safe  enough  ground  with  Kaye, 
but  nevertheless,  surrounded  him  with  a  pro- 
tective cloak  to  make  the  certainty  doubly  so. 
Dinah  Shore  is  prominent  in  the  cast  to  the 
tune  of  two  good  numbers,  "Now  I  Know 
and  "Tess'  Torch  Song."  Dana  Andrews  and 
Constance  Dowling,  attractive  newcomer  with 
little  to  do,  provide  the  romantic  interest.  Pro- 
duction values,  in  the  Goldwyn  tradition  of  good 
taste  and  scope  and  also  in  Technicolor,  are 
impressively  in  evidence.  Yet,  no  matter  what 
the  other  ingredients  or  how  many,  it  all  reverts 
to  Kaye.  He's  got  the  stuff  and  it's  on  display 
in  "Up  in  Arms." 

The  story  was  suggested  by  the  central  char- 
acter of  "The  Nervous  Wreck,"  successful  play 
of  another  day  by  Owen  Davis.  But  there  the 
resemblance  ends.  This  story,  about  as  thin 
as  the  usual  narrative  fabric  in  any  musical 
comedy,  shows  Kaye  as  the  hypochondriac 
whose  pills  do  not  save  him  from  the  draft.  The 
Army  makes  a  soldier  out  of  him,  over  his 
continuing  protest.  Kaye  makes  a  hero  out  of 
himself  despite  handicaps  when  he  captures  a 
platoon  of  Japs  on  a  musical  comedy  island  in 
the  Pacific. 

In  between  this  sketchy  framework  of  the 
sketchy  story  whipped  together  by  Don  Hart- 
man,  who  is  associate  producer  along  with 
Goldwyn,  Allen  Boretz  and  Robert  Pirosh,  is  a 
series  of  comedy  incidents  in  which  Kaye  is 
the  pivotal  figure  and  a  final  number  in  which 
Danny  and  Miss  Shore  do  "Jive  Number,"  w;ith 
the  aid  of  extremely  handsome  Goldwyn  girls 
revealing  extremely  handsome  gams  and  a  wig- 
gle that  is  naughty,  but  not  wicked. 

The  unquestioned  high  points,  on  all  counts, 
however,  are  reached  by  Kaye  in  his  special- 
ties and  in  his  team  work  with  Miss  Shore. 
It  isn't  long  after  characters  are  established 
when  Kaye  finds  himself  in  a  theatre  lobby 
resembling  the  Music  Hall  which  this  attraction, 
incidentally,  is  to  play.  He's  waiting  on  line  to 
see  the  show  and  launches  into  six  minutes  of 
high  hilarity,  merely  designated  as  "The  Lob- 
by Number."  It  is  a  satire — complete  with  mu- 
sic, dancing,  dialogue  and  mimicry — of  screen 
musicals  and  is  one  of  the  most  refreshing,  as 
well  as  one  of  the  funniest,  single  pieces  of 
business  to  take  aloft  from  Hollywood  in  a  very 
long  time.  In  this,  Kaye  goes  through  the 
essentials  of  his  prodigiously  clever  bag  of 


Reviews 


This  department  deals  with 
new  product  from  the  point  of 
view  of  the  exhibitor  who  is 
to  purvey  it  to  his  own  public. 

{Running  times  in  all  instances  are 
the  official  times  given  by  the  dis- 
tributors. ) 


tricks  and  sets  the  picture  off  to  an  early  suc- 
cess. 

Later,  on .  board  ship,  he  does  "Melody  in 
4-F,"  the  number  which  stopped  the  show  when 
he  appeared  in  "Let's  Face  It"  on  Broadway. 
Kaye  tells  the  whole  story  of  an  inductee  in  a 
style  so  amusing  and  so  particularly  his  own 
that  this  reviewer  voluntarily  _  takes  the  limb 
in  guaranteeing  its  universal  enjoyment  no  mat- 
ter where  shown  in  this  country.  The  music 
and  the  lyrics,  or  jabberwocky,  tailored  to  his 
requirements  and  delivery  were  written,  as  is 
the  prevailing  case,  by  Sylvia  Fine,  Kaye's 
wife,  with  Max  Liebman  as  collaborator.  They 
know  what  to  furnish  Kaye  and  he  knows  how 
to  deliver  it.  Exhibitors  will  be  finding  out 
shortly. 

Previewed  at  the  Ambassador  theatre,  Los 
Angeles,  where  a  trade  show  audience  closed 
out  the  issue  with  its  laughter  and  applause. 
Reviewer's  Rating :  Excellent. — Red  Kann. 

Release  date,  not  set.  Running  time,  lOS  min.  No 
PCA  No.  when  reviewed.  General  audience  classi- 
fication. 

Danny  Weems   Danny  Kaye 

Virginia   '  Dinah  Shore 

Joe   Dana  Andrews 

Mary   Constance  Dowling 

Louis  Calhern,  Elisha  Cook,  Jr.,  Lyle  Talbot,  Walter 
Catlett,  George  Meeker,  Margaret  Dumont,  Tom  Dti- 
gan,  Benny  Baker. 

Lady  in  the  Dark 

(Paramount) 

Psychiatry  in  Technicolor 

There  have  been  no  other  pictures  like  this 
study  in  Technicolor,  and  with  music,  of  the 
psychoses,  fixations  and  inhibitions  which  com- 
plicate the  romantic  interests  of  a  modern  young 
woman  who  is  exceptionally  successful  in  all 
other  departments  and  goes  to  see  a  psychiatrist 
about  her  love  life.  There  is,  therefore,  no 
precedent  by  which  to  calculate  the  ultimate 
commercial  performance  of  this  one.  The  more 
immediate  box-office  record  of  the  property  ap- 
pears guaranteed  to  prove  spectacular,  how- 
ever, both  by  reason  of  the  names  of  Ginger 
Rogers,  Ray  Milland,  Jon  Hall  and  Mischa 
Auer  at  top  of  a  strong  cast  and  because  of  off- 
screen talent  that  stacks  up  as  a  warrant  of  suc- 
cesses in  itself. 


The  script  by  Frances  Goodrich  and  Albert 
Hackett,  based  upon  the  stage  play  by  Moss 
Hart  in  which  Gertrude  Lawrence  starred  on 
Broadway,  presents  Miss  Rogers  as  editor  of  a 
successful  fashion  magazine  and  engrossed  in 
her  work  but  obsessed  by  inexplicable  fears  and 
forebodings.  Sent  by  her  doctor  to  a  psycho- 
analyst, who  probes  her  subconscious  mind  via 
her  dreams,  she  is  led  back  through  blocked 
memory  to  childhood  incidents  (a  paternal 
scolding  about  a  blue  dress,  an  unhappily  con- 
cluded dance  date  with  a  boy,  etcetera).  This, 
he  explains,  influenced  her  to  the  making  of 
resolutions  against  the  wearing  of  finery  and 
competing  with  other  women  for  male  atten- 
tions. When  she  gets  this  all  figured  out,  she 
finds  her  fears  gone  and  decides  to  marry  the 
advertising  manasrer  of  her  magazine  instead  of 
either  a  publisher  or  a  movie  star,  who  have 
been  courting  her. 

Out  of  this  story,  treated  straight  as  re- 
gards the  psychiatric  side,  executive  producer 
B.  G.  De  Sylva  and  associate  producer  Rich- 
ard Blumenthal  constructed  a  brilliantly  staged 
and  spectacularly  mounted  film  which  goes  to 
unprecedented  heights  of  magnificence  in  its 
production  numbers — which  are  picturizations 
of  the  heroine's  dreams — and  to  the  extremes 
of  sophistication  in  those  realistic  sequences 
which  are  not  given  over  to  the  serious  con- 
versations between  the  heroine  and  the  psycho- 
analyst. These  three  widely  divergent  and  con- 
trasting types  of  entertainment  are  directed  with 
equal  facility  by  Mitchell  Leisen  and  enacted 
with  skill  and  understanding  by  all  hands. 

Technicolor,  applied  with  lavish  hand,  goes 
far  toward  bringing  the  opulently  contrived 
dream  sequences  within  the  public's  zone  of  ap- 
preciation and  enjoyment  if  not  always  up  to 
its  comprehension — and  it  may  be  said  without 
hesitation  that  everybody  can  comprehend  and 
get  a  kick  out  of  Miss  Rogers'  rendition  of 
"Saga  of  Jenny."  The  Kurt  Weil-Ira  Gersh- 
win music  is  a  major  asset  of  the  entertainment, 
and  an  additional  number  by  Johnny  Burke  and 
Jimmy  Van  Heusen  fits  into  the  score  like  a 
hand  in  a  glove. 

The  film,  produced  at  prodigious  cost,  repre- 
sents a  venturing  into  new  fields,  a  trying-out 
of  the  theory  that  a  property  which  requires 
of  its  audience  an  understanding  of  more  than 
boy-meets-girl  psychology,  yet  gives  them  that 
also,  has  a  place  in  the  commercial  scheme  of 
things  at  this  lush  point  on  the  calendar.  That 
implies  some  measure  of  risk,  but  probably  not 
too  much. 

Tradeshown  at  the  Ambassador  Hotel  thea- 
tre, Los  Angeles,  to  a  capacity  audience  of  ex- 
hibitors and  press.  Reviewers  Rating :  Good. 
— William  R.  Weaver. 

Release  date,  not  set.  Running  time,  140  min.  PCA 
No.  9066.    General  audience  classification. 

Liza  Elliott   Ginger  Rogers 

Charley  Johnson   Ray  Milland 

Kendall  Nesbitt  Warner  Baxter 

Randy   Curtis   Jon  Hall 

Barry  Sullivan,  Mischa  Auer,  Phyllis  Brooks,  Mary 
Phillips,  Edward  Fielding,  Don  Loper,  Marv  Parker, 
Catherine  Craig,  Virginia  Farmer,  Fay  Helm,  Gail  Rus- 
sell, Marian  Hall. 

Product  Digest  Section    1 753 


MOTION    PICTU  RE  HERALD 


February     12,  1944 


The  Impostor 

(Universal) 

Free  French  Fight  On 

At  bottom,  producer-director  Julien  Duvivi- 
er's  original  screenplay  is  the  story  of  a  crimi- 
nal regenerated  by  service  in  the  ranks  of  the 
Free  French.  At  large  it's  a  pointed  and  force- 
ful telling  of  the  story  of  the  men  of  France 
who  rallied  around  General  de  Gaulle  to  car- 
ry on  the  fight  for  their  freedom  after  Marshall 
Petain  had  ordered  them  to  lay  down  their 
arms.  It  is  a  steadily  interesting  narrative, 
different  from  other  war  pictures  in  virtually 
every  respect  and  effective  in  attaining  its  ob- 
jectives. 

Jean  Gabin,  topping  an  almost  exclusively 
male  cast,  provides  a  performance  strong  in 
understatement  and  convincing  without  seem- 
ing effort.  Richard  Whorf,  as  the  officer  who 
first  distrusts  and  then  defends  the  principal 
character ;  Allyn  Joslyn  in  a  fellow-soldier  role 
that  provides  some  humor,  and  John  Qualen  as 
a  Normandy  farmer  steadfast  to  the  distant 
home  soil  are  to  the  fore  in  a  large  cast  that 
gives  solid  support. 

Duvivier's  script,  adapted  from  the  French 
by  Stephen  Longstreet  and  supplied  with  addi- 
tional dialogue  by  Marc  Connelly  and  Lynn 
Starling,  opens  with  Gabin  on  his  way  to  the 
guillotine  under  sentence  for  murder.  A  Nazi 
bomb  kills  his  executioners  and  he  flees,  joining 
soldiers  headed  south  from  the  invading  Ger- 
mans. When  another  Nazi  bomb  kills  one  of 
these,  Gabin  takes  his  uniform  and  papers,  mas- 
querades as  the  dead  man  through  a  voyage  to 
Africa  and  subsequent  service  under  de  Gaulle, 
learning  through  service  to  love  his  country. 
When  decorated  for  bravery,  he  reveals  his 
true  identity,  is  tried  by  military  court,  stripped 
of  his  decorations  and  reduced  to  the  ranks, 
meeting  heroic  death  in  action  against  the 
enemy. 

The  picture  is  solidly  constructed,  builds 
steadily  toward  its  objective  and  weakens  only 
momentarily  at  a  few  points  where  dialogue 
runs  to  wordiness,  these  passing  quickly.  It 
rates  high  among  the  war  films  of  the  season. 

Previewed  at  the  Pantages  theatre,  Holly- 
wood, to  a  capacity  audience  which  appeared 
altogether  pleased.  Reviewer's  Rating:  Good. 
— W.  R.  W. 

Release  date,  February  11,  1944.  Running  time,  94 
min.    PCA  No.  9824.    General  audience  classification. 

Clement   Jean  Gabin 

Lieutenant    Varenne   Richard  Whorf 

Allyn  Joslyn,  Ellen  Drew,  Peter  Van  Eyck,  Ralph 
Morgan,  Eddie  Quillen,  John  Qualen,  Dennis  Moore, 
Milburn  Stone,  John  Fliilliber,  Charles  McGraw,  Otho 
Gaines,  Fritz  Lieber,  Jan  Wolfe,  John  Forrest,  Wil- 
liam Davidson,  Frank  Wilcox,  Warren  Ashe. 

The  Devil  Riders 

rPRC  Pictures) 
Action 

As  everyone  knows,  producers  of  Western 
pictures  have  long  been  slaves  of  a  formula. 
The  basic  ingredients  of  the  formula  have  al- 
ways been  two  way  conflicts,  virtue  in  opposi- 
tion to  evil  and  virtue  in  opposition  to  virtue, 
the  latter  combination  always  arising  out  of  a 
misunderstanding  only  to  be  patched  up  in  the 
denouement.  This  latest  of  the  Buster  Crabbe 
series  defies  the  formula. 

There  is  no  misunderstanding  between  Buster 
Crabbe  and  Patti  McCarthy  who  is  on  hand  to 
supply  the  romance,  and  there  is  no  substitute  for 
this  secondary  theme.  This  omission  produces 
the  unhappy  necessity  of  repetitious  action.  It 
is  almost  entirely  a  picture  of  pursuit. 

First,  the  villain  pursues.  He  and  his  gang 
are  out  to  grab  rich  lands.  But  a  new  stage- 
coach line  owned  and  operated  by  the  heroine's 
father  is  receiving  grants  of  the  land  along  the 
right  of  way.  Buster,  who  operates  a  Pony 
express,  cooperates  with  the  stage  line.  The 
villains,  still  pursuing,  try  to  split  them,  but  in 
vain.  And  the  villains  become  the  pursued. 
The  pursuit  provides  plenty  of  action,  but  it  is 
much  too  repetitious.  Buster  as  BiJly  Carson 
exposes  the  plot  to  ruin  the  stagecoach  line,  the 


villains  take  to  the  bad  lands  with  the  forces 
of  good  in  pursuit,  there  is  a  gun  battle,  more 
pursuing,  another  gun  battle  and  finally  victory. 

Sigmund  Neufeld  produced  the  picture,  and 
Sam  Newfield  directed. 

Seen  at  the  New  York  theatre.  Reviewer's 
Rating:  Mediocre. — Bert  Hicks. 

Release  date,  November  5,  1943.  Running  time,  58 
min.    PCA  No.  9519.    General  audience  classification. 

Billy  Carson   Buster  Crabbe 

Fuzzy  Jones   Al  "Fuzzy"  St.  John 

Sally  Farrell   Fatti  McCarthy 

Charles  King',  John  Merton,  Kermit  Maynard.  Frank 
LaRue,  Jack  Ingram,  George  Chessbro,  Ed  Cassidy. 

Vigilantes  Ride 

(Columbia) 
Rangers  Win 

In  "Vigilantes  Ride"  Columbia  offers  a  West- 
ern on  formula  lines  produced  by  Leon  Barsha 
with  Willam  Berke  directing  Russell  Hayden, 
Dub  Taylor  and  Shirley  Patterson  in  action 
roles  that  live  up  to  Western  fans'  expectations. 
The  screenplay  is  an  original  by  Ed  Earl  Repp. 


MAIL  CALL  (RKO  Pathe) 

This  is  America 

This  is  at  one  time  a  lecture  about,  an  appeal 
for,  and  a  primer  in  the  use  of  V-Mail.  It  is 
done  in  the  usual  skillful  manner  of  the  series, 
and  leads  from  one  to  another  of  these  aspects 
with  facility  and  interest.  Shown  are  the  men 
at  the  front:  their  dispirit  and  fatigue  without 
mail ;  their  revival  with  the  arrival  of  mail. 
Shown  also  are  their  people  at  home,  writing 
them  in  the  ordinary  mail,  and  by  V-Mail. 
Some  of  that  ordinary  mail  doesn't  arrive.  The 
lesson  is  impressed  that  V-Mail  cannot  be 
sunk;  and  it  can  only  be  lost  temporarily.  The 
process  of  V-Mail  is  depicted  concisely  yet 
vividly.  This  is  a  film  of  aid  to  the  Government's 
current  campaign  to  have  all  letters  to  service- 
men on  the  new  type  of  mail.  It  is  a  film  of 
instruction  and  yet  of  entertainment.  Slavko 
Vorkapich  directed  from  the  script  by  Donald 
Wright  and  Ardis  Smith,  under  Jay  Bona- 
field's  supervision. — F.  E.  S. 
Release  date,  February  11,  1944        17  minutes 

SCREEN  SNAPSHOTS.  NO.  6  (CoL) 

5856 

This  camera  view  of  Hollywood  person- 
alities during  their  less  professional  hours  is 
devoted  to  the  Jimmy  Durante-Garry  Moore 
radio  show  and  some  of  the  up  and  coming 
youngsters  of  the  screen.  Among  the  latter 
are  Jane  Withers,  Marcy  MacGuire,  Peggy 
Ryan  and  Joe  E.  Brown,  Jr.  Besides  Moore 
and  Durante,  the  veterans  include  Marlene 
Dietrich,  Howard  Petrie  and  Roy  Bargy. 
Release  date,  January  14,  1944        10  minutes 

DOCTOR.  FEEL  MY  PULSE  (CoL) 

Vera  Vague  (5432) 

It  seems  the  only  cure  for  a  hypochondriac 
is  a  good  scare.  Vera  Vague  has  long  tortured 
her  family  and  friends  with  magnified  pains 
and  imaginary  diseases  when  a  new  doctor  takes 
up  her  case.  He  isn't  really  a  doctor — ^he  is, 
in  fact  a  lunatic — but  he's  willing  to  go  along 
with  her  wildest  suspicions,  adding  some  of 
his  own.  She  takes  matters  in  her  own  hands 
and  improves  rapidly. 

Release  date,  January  21,  1944         18  minutes 


Hayden,  as  Lucky  Saunders,  Texas  Ranger 
lieutenant,  forsakes  the  Rangers  to  stage  a 
bank  holdup  and  get  in  with  the  bandit  band 
after  they  slay  his  younger  brother,  also  a 
Ranger. 

Just  as  the  townsfolk  head  a  vigilante  posse 
with  a  respected  citizen,  who  is  really  the  out- 
law mastermind,  in  charge,  Hayden  reveals  the 
bandits'  plans  to  Shirley  Patterson.  She  rides 
to  bring  the  Rangers  to  the  rescue.  In  the  en- 
suing gun  fight  the  outlaws  are  beaten,  Hayden 
nroves  he  became  a  renegade  only  to  capture  the 
band,  and  the  girl's  appealing  faith  in  him  is 
justified.  Taylor  provides  the  comedy  relief 
appreciated  by  followers  of  the  gunplay  actors. 

Seen  at  the  Hitching  Post  theatre,  Holly- 
wood, where  the  audience  expressed  apprecia- 
tion of  comedy  bits  and  fast  action.  Reviezv- 
er's  Rating :  Good. — Jack  Cartwright. 

Release  date,  February  3.  1944.  Running  time,  55 
min.    PCA  No.  8572.    General  audience  classification. 

Lucky   Saunders   Russell  Hayden 

Cannon  ball   Dub  Taylor 

Shirley  Patterson,  Bob  Wells,  Tristin  Coffin,  Jack 
Rockwell,  Robert  Kortman,  Dick  Botiller,  Jack  Kirk, 
Stanley  Brown. 


HIAWATHA'S  RABBIT  HUNT  (WB) 

Blue  Ribbon  Merrie  Melodies  (9306) 

This  cartoon  brings  back  the  celebrated  stalk- 
ing of  Bugs  Bunny  by  the  Indian  boy.  Hiawa- 
tha's knowledge  of  forest  lore,  his  soft  step  and 
keen  eyes  are  still  no  match  for  the  cunning 
of  the  rabbit,  who  returns  to  his  carrots  after 
the  fun  and  chalks  up  another  victory. 
Release  date,  February  12,  1944         7  minutes 

BASKET  WIZARDS  (RKO  Pathe) 

Sportscope  (44,306) 

The  increasing  popularity  of  basketball  in  the 
national  sports  picture  is  recognized  in  this  reel 
devoted  to  the  training  and  performance  of  the 
Rhode  Island  State  team.  The  film  is  high- 
lighted by  action  shots  of  the  championship 
game  with  St.  John's  College  of  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y.  in  Madison  Square  Garden  last  fall. 
Release  date,  January  28,  1944  8  minutes 

ROARING  GUNS  (WB) 

Sanie  Fe  Trail  Western  (9110) 

Warners'  latest  two-reel  Western  with  Robert 
Shayne  is  set  in  California  in  1877,  when  the 
first  frantic  rush  for  gold  has  subsided  and  the 
machine  has  come  in  to  put  the  mines  on  a 
.commercial  basis.  Shayne  is  the  new  superin- 
tendent sent  out  to  increase  the  output  of  the 
Golden  Moon  Mine.  He  finds  the  settlers  in 
revolt  against  the  company's  tactics,  and  comes 
to  understand  their  cause.  In  the  final  battle 
he  is  leading  the  aroused  residents  in  their  fight 
to  protect  their  property. 

Release  date,  February  19,  1944         20  minutes 

WORLD'S  YOUNGEST  AVIATOR  (Univ.) 

Person  Oddity  (8374) 

David  Stoddard  of  Fort  Stockton,  Texas,  is 
ten  years  old,  but  he  handles  a  plane  in  solo 
flights  without  difficulty.  Other  unusual  camera 
subjects  are  a  mixed  squirrel  and  cat  farm  in 
Jacksonville,  Fla. ;  a  collection  of  old  Ameri- 
can stage  coaches  at  the  Bradmore  Hotel  in 
Colorado  Springs,  and  a  house  boasting  a  unique 
address — No.  1  Atlantic  Ocean,  Atlantic  City, 
N.  J. 

Release  date,  December  29,  1943         9  mimites 


SHORT  SUBJECTS 

reviews  and  synopses 

(Running  times  are  those  quoted  by  the  distributors. ) 


1 754   Product  Digest  Section 


February     12,     I  944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


RELEASE  CHART 

By  Companies 


COLUMBIA 


Prod. 

No. 


Title 


Release 
Date 


5201  Hall  to  the  Rangers  Sep.  I6,'43 

5031  Doughboys  In  Ireland  Oct.  7,'43 

5003  Sahara   Oct.  14/43 

5034  Chance  of  •  Lifetime  Oct.  26/43 

5016  Is  Everybody  Happy?  Oct.  28/43 

5202  Silver  City  Raiders  Nov.  4/43 

5024  Return  of  the  Vampire  Nov.  11/43 

5017  There's  Something  About  a 

Soldier   Nov.  30/43 

S009  The  Heat's  On  Dec.    2. '43 

5021  Crime  Doctor's  Strangest 

Csso  D6C     0  '43 

5029  Klondilce  '  Kate.' .Dec'  16/43 

5203  Cowboy  In  the  Clouds  Dec.  23,'43 

5005  What  a  Woman  1  Dec.  28/43 

5036  The   Racket   Man  Jan.  18/44 

5020  Swing  Out  the  Blues  Jan.  20.'44 

5022  Beautiful  but  Brolte  Jan.  28/44 

...  The  Vigilantes  Ride   Feb.  3/44 

..  None  Shall   Escape  Feb.  ..3/44 

,..  The  Ghost  That  Walks  Alone. Feb..  I0,'44 

..  Nine  Girls   Feb.  17/44 

..  Sailor's  Holiday   Feb.  24/44 

..  Hey   Rookie   IVlar.  9,'44 

...  Two  IMan  Submarine  Mar.  I6,'44 

..  Cover  Girl   Not  Set 

..  Wyoming   Huirieane   Not  Set 

..  The  Last  Horseman  Not  Set 

..  Riding  West   Not  Set 

..  Cowboy  from  Lonesome  River.  Not  Set 

..  Cyclone  Prairie  Ranger  Not  Set 

..  Curly   Not  Set 

. .  Cowboy  Canteen   Not  Set 

..  Empire  of  the  West  Not  Set 

..  Address  Unknown   Not  Set 

..  Jam  Session   Not  Set 

..  At  Night  We  Dream  Not  Set 

..  Heroes  of  the  Sagebrush  Not  Set 

..  Sundown  Valley   Not  Set 

..  The  Girl  in  the  Case  Not  Set 

..  Pilebuck   Not  Set 


MGM 

Block  I 

401  Salute  to  th«  Marines  Sep./43 

402  Above  Suspicion   Sep.,'43 

403  I  Dood  It  Sep./43 

404  Swing  Shift  Malslo  Oct./43 

405  Best  Foot  Forward  Oct./43 

406  Adventures  of  Tartu  Oct./43 

407  Dr.  Gillespie's  Criminal  Case  Nov./43 

408  Young  Ideas   Nov., '43 

409  Girl  Crazy   NoV./43 

410  Lassie  Come  Home  Dec./43 

411  The  Man  from  Down  Under  Dec./43 

412  Whistling  in  Brooklyn  Dec./43 

Block  2 

413  Thousands  Cheer   Jan./43 

414  The  Cross  of  Lorraine  Jan.,'44 

415  Lost  Angel   Jan./44 

416  A  Guy  Named  Joe  Feb./44 

417  Cry  "Havoc"   Feb./44 

418  J?ationing   Feb./44 

419  Broadway  Rhythm   Mar./44 

420  See  Here,  Private  Hargrove  Mar., '44 

421  The  Heavenly  Body  Mar., '44 

422  Song  of  Russia  Apr., '44 

423  Swing  Fever   Apr., '44 

490  Madame  Curie   Apr., '44 

....  America   Not  Set 

....  The  White  Cliffs  Not  Set 

  Meet  the  People  Not  Set 

  Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble. Not  Set 

  Mr.  Co-ed   Not  Set 

....  Gaslight   Not  Set 

....  The  Cantervllle  Ghost  Not  Set 

....  Kismet   Not  Set 

....  Two  Sisters  and  a  Sailor  Not  Set 

....  Dragon  Seed   Not  Set 

....  Three  Men  In  White  Not  Set 

  Seventh  Cross   Not  Set 

  Meet  Me  in  St.  Loiiit  Not  Set 

....  National  Velvet   Not  Set 

MONOGRAM 

  Melody  Parade   Aug.  27, '43 

  Spotlight  Scandals    Sep.  24.'43 

....  The    Unknown    Guest  Oct.  22,'43 

....  The  Texas  Kid   Nov.  26,'43 

  Death  Valley  Rangers  Dec.    3, '43 

  Mr.  Muggs  Steps  Out  Dec.  I0,'43 

  Women  In  Bondage  Jan.  I0,'44 

  Where  Are  Your  Children?. .  .Jan.  I7,'44 

  Westward  Bound   Jan.  I7,'44 

  The  Sultan's  Daughter  Jan.  24,'44 

  Raiders  of  the  Border  Jan.  31, '44 

  Charlie  Chan  In  the  Secret 

Service   Feb.  14,  44 

....  Voodoo  Man   Feb.  21.44 

..  .  Million   Dollar   Kid  Feb.  28,'44 

....  Sweethearts  of  the  U.S.A. ...  Mar.  7, '44 

  Arizona  Whirlwind   Mar.  7,'44 

  Partners  of  the  Trail  Mar.  I4,'44 

....  Lady,   Let's  Dance  Apr.  11, '44 


For  Stars,  Running  Time,  Review  and  other  Service 
Data  references,  turn  to  the  alphabetical  Release  Chart 
starting  on  page  1756. 

Complete  listing  of  1942-43  Features,  by  company,  in 
order  of  release,  may  be  found  on  pages  1508  and  1509  of 
the  Product  Digest  Section  in  the  August  28,  1943  issue. 


PARAMOUNT 


Block  I 

4301  Let's  Face  It  

4302  The  Good  Fellows  


Prod.  Release 
No.  Title  Date 

4303  True  to  Life  

4304  Tornado   

4305  Hostages   

SPECIAL 

4331  City  that  Stopped  Hitler  

Block  2 

4306  Henry  Aldrlch  Haunts  a 

House   

4307  Riding  High   

4308  Minesweeper   

4309  No  Time  for  Love  

Block  3 

4311  Henry  Aldrlch  Boy  Scout  

4312  Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek  

4313  Timber  Queen   

4314  Standing   Room  Only  

4315  The  Uninvited  

SPECIAL 

4338  For  Whom  the  Bell  Tolls  

4336  Lady  in  the  Dark  

  Great  Moment   Not  Set 

  Henry  Aldrlch  Plays  Cupid ...  Not  Set 

 The  Hour  Before  the  Dawn.. Not  Set 

  And  the  Angels  Sing  Not  Set 

....  Henry  Aldrlch's  Little  Secret. Not  Set 

  Frenchmen's  Creek   Not  Set 

  Ministry  of  Fear  Not  Set 

 The  Story  of  Dr.  Wassell  Not  Set 

  Hail  the  Conquering  Hero  Not  Set 

  Going  My  Way   Not  Set 

....  Our  Hearts  Were  Young  and 

Gay   Not  Set 

....  The  Navy  Way  Not  Set 

  The  Man  in  Half-Moon  Street.Not  Set 

  Double   Indemnity   Not  Set 

  I  Love  a  Soldier  Not  Set 

  'Till   We   Meet  Again  Not  Set 

  The  Hitler  Gang   Not  Set 

  Incendiary  Blonde   Not  Set 

  Take  It  Big   Not  Set 

....  National   Barn   Dance  Not  Set 

  You  Can't  Ration  Love  Net  Set 

  Gambler's  Choice   Not  Set 

  Road  to  Utopia  Not  Set 

....  And  Now  Tomorrow  Not  Set 

.  ...  One  Body  Too  Many  Not  Set 

  Bring  on  the  Girls  Not  Set 

PRC  PICTURES 

405  Submarine  Base   July  20, '43 

401  Isle  of  Forgotten  Sins  Aug.  15, '43 

411  Dangerl  Women  at  Work  Aug.  23,'43 

459  Blazing  Frontier   Sep.    I, '43 

406  Tiger    Fangs   Sep.  10, '43 

412  The  Girl  from  Monterrey  Oct.    4. '43 

451  Return  of  the  Rangers  Oct.  26,'43 

460  Devil  Riders   Nov.  5,'43 

452  Boss  of   Rawhide  Nov.  20,'43 

402  Harvest  Melody   Nov.  22, '43 

407  Jive  Junction   Dec.  20,'43 

461  The  Drifter   Dec.  20,'43 

453  Gunsmoke  Mesa   Jan.    3, '44 

403  Career  Girl   Jan.  11/44 

408  Nabonga    .  Jan.  25,'44 

454  Outlaw    Roundup  Feb.  I0,'44 

409  Men  on  Her  Mind  Feb.  12/44 

413  The  Amazing   Mr.   Forrest. .. Feb. .24, '44 

462  Frontier  Outlaws  Mar.  4,'44 

414  Her   Last    Mile  Mar.  I5,'44 

RKO 

Block  I 

401  The  Fallen  Sparrow  

402  Adventures  of  a  Rookie  

403  The  Seventh  Victim  

404  So  This  Is  Washington  

405  A  Lady  Takes  a  Chance  

Block  2 

406  The  Iron  Malor   

407  Gangway  for  Tomorrow  

408  Government  Girl   

409  Gildersleeve  on  Broadway  

410  The  Falcon  and  the  Coeds  

SPECIAL 

451  The  North  Star  

Block  3 

411  Around  the  World  

412  The  Ghost  Ship  

413  Tarzan's  Desert  Mystery  

414  Rookies  In  Burma  

415  Higher  and  Higher  

Block  4 

 Tender  Comrade   

....  Escape  to  Danger   

 Action   in  Arabia  

  Passport  to  Adventure  

 Curse  of  the  Cat  People  


Prod.  Release 
No.  Title  Date 

  Days  of  Glory  Not  Set 

 Show   Business   Not  Set 

  Gildersleeve's   Ghost   Not  Set 

 The  Falcon  Out  West  Not  Set 

  Are  These  Our  Children?  Not  Set 

  Marine   Raiders   Not  Set 

 Seven   Days  Ashore  Not  Set 

  Up  in  Arms   Not  Set 

  One  Exciting  Night   Not  Set 


REPUBLIC 

361  Fugitive  from  Sonera  July     I, '43 

301  The  Saint  Meets  the  Tiger. ..  .July  29. '43 

362  Black   Hills   Express  Aug.  IS.'43 

302  Hoosier  Holiday   Sep.  I3,'43 

351  Beyond  the  Last  Frontier  Sep.  I8,'43 

375  Death  Valley  Manhunt  Sep.  25,'43 

363  Man  from  the  Rio  Grande. . .Oct.  18. '43 

303  Here   Comes   Elmer  Nov.  I5,'43 

376  Overland   Mall   Robbery  Nov.  20, '43 

306  The  Deersiayer   Nov.  22,'43 

304  Mystery  Broadcast   Nov.  23, '43 

305  Drums  of  Fu  Manchu  Nov.  27,'43 

364  Canyon  City   Nov.  29,'43 

307  In  Old  Oklahoma  Dec.  6,'43 

310  Pistol   Packin'   Mama  Dec.  I5,'43 

352  Raiders  of  Sunset  Pass  Dec.  20.'43 

365  California    Joe  Dec.  29.'43 

309  Whispering  Footsteps   Dec.  30,'43 

308  0,  My  Darling  Clementine. .. Dec.  3 1, '43 

353  Pride  of  tho  Plains  Jan.  S,'44 

341  Hands  Across  the  Border  Jan.  S,'44 

3301  Rootin,'  Tootin'   Rhythm(R) .  .Jan.   15, '44 

....  Women  in  War  (R)  Jan.  25,'44 

333  Casanova   in   Burlesque  Feb.  I9,'44 

377  Mojave  Firebrand   Mar.  I9,'44 

 The  Fighting  SeeBees  Not  Set 

 Three  Little  Sisters  Not  Set 

  The  Lady  and  the  Monster  Not  Set 

....  My  Best  Gal  Not  Set 

  Rosie  the    Riveter  Not  Set 

  Beneath  Western  Skies  Not  Set 

 Cowboy  and  the  Senorita  Not  Set 

  Hidden  Valley  Outlaws   Not  Set 

 The  Laramie  Trail   Not  Sot 

  Outlaws  of  Santa   Fo  Not  Set 

 The  Man  from  Frisco  Not  Set 

 Jamboree   Not  Set 


20TH.FOX 

401  Bomber's  Moon   Aug.  6,'43 

402  Heaven  Can  Wiflt  Aug.  13, '43 

403  Holy  Matrimony   Aug.  27, '43 

404  Claudia   Sep.  3,'43 

405  Wintertime   Sep.  I7,'43 

408  Sweet   Rosie  O'Grady  Oct.  1/43 

409  Paris  After  Dark  Oct.  I5,'43 

406  In  Old  Chicago  (R)  Oct.  29,'43 

407  Banjo  on  My  Knee  (R)  Oct.  29,'43 

412  Guadalcanal  Diary   Nov.  6,'43 

414  The  Battle  of  Russia  Nov.  5,'43 

413  Dancing  Masters   Nov.  19. '43 

410  The  Rains  Came  (R)  Nov.  26.'43 

411  Under  Two  Flags  (R)  Nov.  26,'43 

415  Happy  Land   Dec.  3,'43 

416  Tho  Gang's  All  Here  Dec.  24,'43 

417  The  Lodger   Jan.  7,'44 

418  Uncensored   Jan.  21, '44 

419  Lifeboat   Jan.  28.'44 

420  Jane  Eyre   Feb.,  '44 

421  The   Sullivans   Feb.,  '44 

  Roger  Touiiy,   Gangster  Not  Set 

 The  Song  of  Bernadette  Not  Sot 

....  Buffalo  Bill  Not  Set 

....  Pin  Up  Girl  Not  Set 

 Tampico   Not  Set 

 The  Eve  of  St.  Mark  Not  Set 

  Home  In  Indiana  Not  Set 

 The  Purple  Heart  Not  Set 

  Four  Jills  In  a  Jeep  Not  Set 

....  Greenwich  Village   Not  Set 

....  Wilson   Not  Set 

....  I  Married  a  Sailor  Not  Set 

  Bermuda  Mystery   Not  Set 

  Ladies  of  Washington  Not  Set 


UNITED  ARTISTS 

....  Yanks  Ahoy   July    I. '43 

 That  Nazty  Nuisance  Aug.  6,'43 

 Victory  Through  Air  Power.. .Aug.  13. '43 

  HI    Diddle   Diddle  Aug.  20. '43 

 Johnny  Come  Lately  Sep.  3,'43 

 The  Kansan   Sen.  10, '43 

....  Bar  20   Oct.    I, '43 

  False  Colors   Nov.  5.'43 


Prod.  Release 
No.  Title  Date 

....  Riders  of  the  Deadline  Dec.    3. '43 

  Jack  London   Dec  24,'43 

  Woman  of  tho  Town  Dec  31, '43 

....  Three   Russian  Girls  Jan.  I4,'44 

....  Knickerbocker   Holiday   Jan.  28, '44 

  Bridge  of  San  Luis  Rey  Feb.  II, '44 

  It  Happened  Tomorrow  Feb.  25, '44 

  Voice  in  the  Wind  Mar.  10. "44 

....  Song  of  the  Open  Road  Mar.  24, '44 

....  Up  in  Mabel's  Room  Aor.    7. '44 

....  Strange   Confession   Apr.  21, '44 

....  Sensations  of  1944  May    5, '44 

....  Texas   Masquerade   Not  Set 

....  Thundering  Hoofs   Not  Set 

  Since   You   Went  Away  Not  Set 

  Lumber  Jack   Not  Set 

....  The  Hairy  Ape  Not  Set 

UNIVERSAL 

8017  Fired    Wife   Sep.  3.'43 

8022  Strange  Death  of  Adolf  Hitler. Sep.  I0.'43 
8028  Larceny  with   Music  Sep.  I0,'43 

8024  Sherlock  Holmes  Faces  Death.Sep.  I7,'43 
8009  Top    Men   Sep.  I7.'43 

8081  Arizona   Trail   Sep.  24,'43 

6ti23  Always   a    Bridesmaid  Sep.  24,'43 

8007  Corvette   K-225   Oct.     I, '43 

8005  Crazy  House   Oct.    8, '43 

8035  Hi  Ya  Sailor  Oct.  16. '43 

8033  You're  a  Lucky  Fellow, 

Mr.  Smith   Oct.  22.'43 

B062  Flesh  and  Fantasy  Oct.  29.'43 

8013  Son  of  Dracula  Nov.  5,'43 

8082  Frontier  Law   Nov.    5, '43 

8038  The   Mad   Ghoul  Nov.  12, '43 

8030  Never  a  Dull  Moment  Nov.  19, '43 

8004  His  Butler's  Sister  Nov.  26,'43 

8042  So's  Your  Undo  Deo.  3,'43 

8041  She's  for  Me  Dee.  10. '43 

B026  Calling   Or.    Death  Dec  I7.'43 

8025  Moonlight  in  Vermont  Dec.  24.'43 

8064  Gung  Ho   Dec.  31, '43 

8034  Sing  a  Jingle  Jan.  7.'44 

8003  All  Baba  and  the  40  Thieves.Jan.  I4,'44 
3021  Spider   Woman   Jan.  21, '44 

8083  Marshal  of  Gunsmoke  Jan.  2  I, '44 

  Phantom  Lady   Jan.  28,'44 

8020  Swingtime  Johnny   Feb.  4.'44 

0066  The  Impostor   Feb.  1 1, '44 

  Weekend  Pass   Feb.  I8.'44 

  Chip  Off  the  Old  Block  Feb.  25.'44 

  Cross  Your  Fingers  Mar.  10, '44 

....  Ladies  Courageous   Mar.  17, '44 

  Kelly  Takes  Over  Mar.  24, '44 

  Hip,   Hip   Hooray  Apr.  7,'44 

....  Weird  Woman   Apr.  14, '44 

  Her  Primitive  Man  Apr.  21, '44 

  Moonlight  and  Cactus  Not  Set 

 The  Mummy's  Ghost  Not  Set 

  This  Is  the  Life  Not  Set 

  Oklahoma  Raiders   Not  Set 

  Gypsy  Wildcat   Not  Set 

  Patrick  the   Great  Not  Set 

  Cobra  Woman   Not  Set 

....  Slightly  Terrifle   Not  Set 

  The  Merry  Monahans  Not  Set 

 Christmas  Holiday   Not  Set 

  Moon  Over  Las  Vegas  Not  Set 

  The  Invisible  Man's  Revenge.  Not  Set 

  The  Scarlet  Claw   Not  Set 


WARNER  BROS. 

301  Watch  on  the  Rhine  Sep.  4,'43 

330  Oklahoma    Kid    (R)  Sep.  1 1. '43 

302  Murder  on  the  Waterfront  Sep.  I8,'43 

303  Thank  Your  Lucky  Stars  Sep.  25, '43 

331  Song  of  the  Saddle  (R)  Oct.  2,'43 

332  Prairie  Thunder   (R)  Oct.  2,'43 

333  Cherokee  Strip  (R)  Oct.  2,'43 

334  Empty  Holsters  (R)  Oct.  2/43 

335  Guns  of  the  Pecos  (R)  Oct.  2,'43 

336  Land  Beyond  the  Law  (R)...Oct.  2,'43 

304  Adventure  In   Iraq  Oct.  9,'43 

305  Princess  O'Rourke   Oct.  23. '43 

306  Find   the    Blackmailer  Nov.  e,'43 

307  Northern   Pursuit   Nov.  13. '43 

308  Old  Acquaintance   Nov.  27,'43 

327  Crime  School   (R)  Dec  4, '43 

328  Girls  on  Probation  (R)  Dec  4,'4S 

309  Destination,  Tokyo   Jan.  I, '44 

310  The  Desert  Song   ....Jan.  29,'44 

224  This  Is  the  Army  Feb.  I5,'44 

311  In   Our  Time  Feb.  19, '44 

325  Frisco    Kid    (R)  Mar.  4. '44 

....  Passage  to  Marseille  Mar.  11. '44 

....  Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon  Apr.  8,'44 

  Uncertain  Glory   Apr.  22,'44 

  Adventures  of  Mark  Twain. .  .Not  Set 

  Arsenic  and  Old  Lace  Net  Set 

....  Crime  by  Night  Not  Set 

  Devotion   Not  Set 

 Tho  Last  Ride  Not  Set 

 Saratoga  Trunk   Not  Set 

....  Conflict   Not  Set 

  Rhapsody  In  Blue  Not  Set 

  Mr.  Skeflllngton   Not  Set 

 The  Horn  Blows  at  Midnight. Not  Set 

  One  More  Tomorrow  Not  Set 

  Between  Two  Worlds  Not  Set 

  My  Reputation   Not  Set 

  Mask  of  Dimitrios   Not  Set 

  Make   Your   Own   Bed  Not  Set 

 Cinderella  Jones   Not  Set 

....  Janle   Not  Set 


Product  Digest  Section    j  755 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    12,  1944 


THE  RELEASE  CHART 

Index  to  Reviews,  Advance  Synopses  and 
Service  Data  in  PRODUCT  DIGEST  SECTION 


(•)  before  the  title  indicates  1942-43  product. 

Release  dates  and  running  time  are  furnished  as  soon  as  avail- 
able. Advance  dates  are  tentative  and  subject  to  change.  Run- 
ning times  are  the  official  times  supplied  by  the  distributor. 

All  page  numbers  on  this  chart  refer  to  pages  in  the 
PRODUCT  DIGEST  SECTION  of  MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD. 


Consult  Service  Data  in  the  PRODUCT  DIGEST  SECTION  for 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating,  Audience  Classification  and  Managers' 
Round  Table  Exploitation. 

Short  Subjects  Chart  with  Synopsis  Index  can  be  found  on 
pages  1744-1745. 

Feature  Product  Including  Coming  Attractions,  listed  by  Com- 
pany, in  order  of  release,  on  page  1755. 


Prod. 

Title                             Company  'Number 

ABOVE  Suspicion                 MGM  402 

Action  in  Arabia                        RKO  .... 

Address  Unknown                        Col.  .... 

Adventure  in  Iraq                        WB  304 

Adventures  of  a  Rookie                RKO  402 

Adventures  of  Mark  Twain          .  WB  .... 

Adventures  of  Tartu  (British)      MGM  406 

Ali  Baba  and  40  Thieves  (color)    Univ.  8003 

Always  a  Bridesmaid                   Univ.  8023 

Amazing  Mr.  Forrest,  The            PRC  413 

America  (color)                        MGM  .... 

And  Now  Tomorrow                   Para.  .... 

And  the  Angels  Sing                  Para.  .... 

Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble     MGM  .... 

Arizona  Trail                              Univ.  8081 

Arizona  Whirlwind                    Mono.  .... 

Around  the  World                      RKO  411 

At  Night  We  Dream  (color)  Col  

BANJO  on  My  Knee 

(Reissue)                          20th-Fox  407 

Bar  20                                      UA  .  . . . 

Battle  of  Russia                    20th-Fox  414 

Beautiful  But  Broke                      Col.  5022 

Bell  Bottom  George  (British)        Col.  .... 

Beneath  Western  Skies  Rep  

Best  Foot  Forward  (color)        MGM  405 

Between  Two  Worlds  WB   

(formerly  Outward  Bound) 

.  Beyond  the  Last  Frontier              Rep.  351 

Black  Hills  Express                      Rep.  362 

Blazing  Frontier                           PRC  459 

*  Blazing  Guns                              Mono.  .... 

Bombers  Moon                     20th-Fox  401 

Boss  of  Rawhide                        PRC  452 

Bridge  of  San  Luis  Rey,  The          UA  .... 

Broadway  Rhythm  (color)          MGM  419 

Buffalo  Bill  (color)  20th-Fox   

*Bullets  and  Saddles                   Mono.  .... 

CALIFORNIA  Joe                 Rep.  365 

Calling  Dr.  Death                      Univ.  8026 

*Campus  Rhythm                       Mono.  .... 

Candlelight  in  Algeria  (Br.)     Br.  Lion  .... 

Canterville  Ghost,  The  MGM   

Canyon  City                              Rep.  364 

Casanova  in  Burlesque                 Rep.  333 

Career  Girl                                PRC  403 

Chance  of  a  Lifetime,  The           Col.  5034 

Charlie  Chan  in  Secret  Service  Mono.  .... 

Cherokee  Strip  (Reissue)               WB  333 

Chip  OfF  the  Old  Block  Univ  

Christmas  Holiday                       Univ.  .... 

Cinderella  Jones                           WB  .... 

City  That  Stopped  Hitler            Para.  4331 

Claudia                                20th-Fox  404 

Cobra  Woman  (color)               Univ.  .... 

Conflict  WB   

Corvette  K-225                          Univ.  8007 

Courageous  Mr.  Penn  (Br.)    Hoffberg  .... 
Cover  Girl,  The  (color)  Col. 

Cowboy  in  the  Clouds                 Col.  5203 

Cowboy  and  the  Senorita,  The  Rep  

Crazy  House                             Univ.  8005 
Crime  by  Night  WB 

Crime  Doctor's  Strangest  Case     Col.  5021 

Crime  School  [Reissue)               WB  327 

1756  Product  Digest  Section 


Release 

Stan  Date 

Joan  Crawford-Fred  MacMurray  Sept.,'43 

George  Sanders-Virginia  Bruce  Block  4 

Paul  Lukas-Mady  Christians  Not  Set 

John  Loder-Ruth  Ford  Oct.  9,'43 

Wally  Brown-Alan  Carney  Block  I 

Fredric  March-Alexis  Smith  Not  Set 

Robert  Donat-Valerie  Hobson  Oct., '43 

Jon  Hall-Maria  Montez  Jan.  14, '44 

Andrews  Sisters-Patric  Knowles  Sept.  24,'43 

Edward  E.  Horton-Jack  Buchanan  Feb.  24,'44 

Brian  Donlevy-Ann  Richards  Not  Set 

Loretta  Young-Alan  Ladd  Not  Set 

Fred  MacMurray-Dorothy  Lamour  Not  Set 

Mickey  Rooney-Lewis  Stone  Not  Set 

Tex  RItter-Fuzzy  Knight  Sept.  24, '43 

Ken  Maynard-Hoot  Gibson  Mar.  7, '44 

Kay  Kyser-Joan  Davis-Mischa  Auer  Block  3 

Merle  Oberon-Paul  Muni  Not  Set 


Barbara  Stanwyck-Joel  McCrea  Oct.  29,'43 

William  Boyd-Andy  Clyde  Oct.  I.]43 

Documentary  Nov.  5,'43 

Joan  Davis-Jane  Frazee  Jan.  25,'44 

George  Formby  Not  Set 

Bob  Livingston-Smiley  Burnette  Not  Set 

Lucille  Ball-William  Gaxton  Oct.,'45 

John  Garfield-Paul  Henreid  Not  Set 

Eddie  Dew-Smlley  Burnette  Sept.  1 8, '43 

Don  Barry-Wally  Vernon  Aug.  15,'43 

Buster  Crabbe-AI  St.  John  Sept.   I, "43 

Hoot  Gibson-Ken  Maynard  Oct.  8, '43 

George  Montgomery-Annabella  Aug.  6,'43 

Dave  O'Brien-Jim  Newill  Nov.  20,'43 

Lynn  Bari-Akim  Tamiroff  Feb.  1 1, '44 

George  Murphy-GInny  Simms  Mar.,'44 

Maureen  O'Hara-Joel  McCrea  Not  Set 

Range  Busters  Oct.  29,'43 

Don  Barry-Helen  Talbot  Dec.  29,'43 

Lon  Chaney-Patricia  Morlson  Dec.  I7,'43 

Gale  Storm-Robert  Lowery  Nov.  I9,'43 

James  Mason-Carla  Lehmann  Not  Set 

Charles  Laughton-Margaret  O'Brien  Not  Set 

Don  Barry-Helen  Talbot  Nov.  29,'43 

Joe  E.  Brown-June  Havoc  Feb.  I9,'44 

Frances  Langford-Cralg  Wood  Jan.  II, '44 

Chester  Morris-Jeanne  Bates  Oct.  26,'43 

Sidney  Toler-Gwen  Kenyon  Feb.  I4,'44 

Dick  Foran  Oct.  2.'43 

Donald  O'Connor-Peggy  Ryan  Feb.  25, '44 

Deanna  Durbin-Gene  Kelly  Not  Set 

Joan  Leslie-Robert  Alda  Not  Set 

Russian  Documentary  Special 

Dorothy  McGuire-Robert  Young  Sept.  3, '43 

Jon  Hall-Maria  Montez  Not  Set 

Humphrey  Bogart-Alexis  Smith  Not  Set 

Randolph  Scott-James  Brown  Oct.   I, '43 

Clifford  Evans-Deborah  Kerr  Dec.  22,'43 

Rita  Hayworth-Gone  Kelly  Not  Set 

Charles  Starrett-Julie  Duncan  Dec.  23, '43 

Roy  Rogers-Dale  Evans  Not  Set 

Olsen  and  Johnson  Oct.  8, '43 

Jane  Wyman-Jerome  Cowan  Not  Set 

Warner  Baxter-Lynn  Merrick  Dec.  9,'43 

Humphrey  Bogart-Dead  End  Kids  Dec.  4, '43 


Running 
Time 
90m 


64m 
64m 

loVm 
87m 
61m 


57m 
sim 


r-  REVIEWED  -^ 
M.  P.  Product 
Herald  Digest 
Issue  Page 
May   {,'43  (546 


Sept.  25.'43 
Aug.  2 1, '43 

Aug.'  7,'43 
Jan.  I5,'44 
Oct.  2,'43 


1553 
1547 

1546 
1713 
1566 


Nov.27,'43  1645 


Advance 
Synopsis 

Page 

1081 

1746 

1695 

1530 

1471 
936 

i457 
1192 
1747 
1457 
1715 
1555 
1456 
1545 
1746 
1457 
1715 


95m 

Dec.  5,'36 

1585 

54m 

July  24,'43 

1559 

80m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1615 

72m 

Feb.  5,'44 

1742 

1696 

97m 

Jan.  29,'44 

1734 

1746 

94  m 

July  3,'43 

i532 

1191 

1646 

55m 

Sept.  II, '43 

1529 

55m 

Aug.  7,'43 

1546 

i457 

59m 

1531 

55m 

Sept.  I8,'43 

1542 

1509 

70m 

July  I0,'43 

1532 

1305 

59m 

1599 

107m 

Feb.  5,'44 

i742 

1636 

Il5m 

Jan.  22,'44 

1725 

1616 

1531 

54  m 

Oct.  9,'43 

1573 

1531 

55m 

Jan.  8,'44 

1706 

1675 

63m 

Dec.  I8,'43 

1673 

1635 

63m 

Oct.  9,'43 

1574 

1545 

85m 

Jan.  I.'44 

1694 

1635 

55m 

Nov.  I3,'43 

1626 

1599 

72m 

Jan.29,'44 

1733 

1676 

66m 

Dec.  I8,'43 

1674 

1634 

66m 

Oct.  I6,'43 

1586 

1545 

65m 

Jan.  I5,'44 

1714 

1599 

56m 

1715 
1695 
1746 


Service 
Data 
Page 

1575 


1617 


1655 


1719 


1617 


57m 

Sept.  4,'43 

1521 

1655 

91m 

Aug.  21, '43 

1558 

1655 

1457 

1655 

1456 

99m 

Oct.  2,'43 

1565 

124a 

i7i9 

78m 

Jan.  I,'44 

1694 

i4i6 

55m 

Jan.  8,'4.r 

1706 

1636 

1747 

80m 

Oct.  23.'43 

1595 

1531 

1719 

1091 

68m 

Jan.22.'44 

1725 

1654 

86m 

May  7,'38 

1626 

-eb  ru  a  ry    12,    1  944 

MOTION  PICTURE 

HERALD 

r-  REVIEWED  -> 

M.P. 

Product 

Advance 

Service 

Prod. 

Release 

Running 

Herald 

Digest 

Synopsis 

Data 

Title 

Company 

Number 

Stars 

Date 

Time 

Issue 

Page 

Page 

Page 

Cross  of  Lorraine,  The 

MGM 

At  A 

414 

Pierre  Aumont-toene  Kelly 

1    —  *AA 

Jan.,  44 

90m 

Kl_„    1^  'A"} 

1  A9>; 
1 0x0 

1  Act 

1457 

1710 
1719 

Cross  Your  Fingers 

Univ. 

Grace  McDonald-Leon  Errol 

Mar.  I0,'44 

1746 

Cry  "Havoc" 

MGM 

417 

Margaret  Sullavan-Ann  Sothern 

Feb.,'44 

97m 

INOV.    o.  *r3 

1 AI4 
1 0 1  ^ 

1555 

Curly 

Col. 

Oary  V7rant-Janet  Blair 

Not  Set 

1616 

Curse  of  fhe  Caf  People 

RKO 

.... 

dimone  bimon-Kent  dmith 

Dl  LA 

Block  4 

.... 

1715 

DANCING  Masters.  The 

20th-Fox 

413 

1       t      ,  1 1  1 
Laurel  and  Hardy 

Nov.  19,  43 

63  m 

i  Ov9 

i  ccc 

1555 

Dangerous  Blondes 

Col. 

An  1 A 
4UI0 

C      1          1/             CJ           J  1 

cvelyn  Keyes-cdmund  Lowe 

bept.23,  43 

OA  

oOm 

\.i/CT.  A3,  ^3 

1  RQ4 

1  CAO 

Dangerl  Women  at  Work 

.  PRC 

A 1  1 
41  1 

Patsy  Kelly-Mary  Brian 

Aug.  23.'43 

CO 

59  m 

llllu  1  7  '41 

%iuiy  i  / ,  ^3 

149  A 

Day  After  Day  (Russian) 

Artkino 

Documentary 

Nov.  I5.'43 

ozm 

Mnv  9fl  '41 
I^OV,  Zv,  ^3 

1 A14 
1 03^ 

Days  of  Glory 

RKO 

Tamara  Toumanova-Gregory  Peck 

Not  Self 

1636 

Dear  Octopus  (British)  Gains.-Gen'l 

Margaret  Lockwood-Michael  Wilding         Not  Set 

86m 

C  -  nf    10  •4'} 
oepT.  i  O,  ^3 

1  ■i49 

Death  Valley  Manhunt 

Rep. 

375 

Bill  Elliott-Gabby  Hayes 

Sept.  25,'43 

cc  

55m 

Aim  7fi  '41 

1 1;>>8 

1  .1  AO 

1402 

Death  Valley  Rangers 

Mono. 

Hoot  Gibson-Ken  Maynard 

Dec.  3,43 

07m 

Dpc  18  '43 

1674 

i  ccc 

1  bob 

Demi  Paradise  (Br.)     Two  Cities-GFD 

Laurence  Olivier-Penelope  Ward 

Not  Set 

1  1  c  

1 1 5m 

Dnr    1  R  '41 

1 A71 

Deerslayer,  The 

Rep. 

306 

Bruce  Kellogg-Jean  Parker 

Nov.  22,'43 

67m 

IN  Ov.     V,  ^3 

1  Al  R 

1  V  1  3 

1  coo 

1 599 

Desert  Song,  The  (color) 

WB 

3IU 

Dennis  Morgan-Irene  Manning 

Jan.  29,'44 

OAm 

7om 

Dac  1 8  '43 

1673 

070 
0/2 

fl  7  i  0 
1  /It 

Destination,  Tokyo 

WB 

JOY 

Cary  Grant-John  Garfield 

Jan.  I,'44 

l3om 

L/OCa  ZO|  *tJ 

1  uOO 

i  COA 

1 530 

1 7  i  0 
1719 

Devil  Riders,  The 

PRC 

400 

Buster  Crabbe-AI  St.  John 

Nov.  5,'43 

som 

Feb.  I2.'44 

1754 

1566 

.... 

Double  Indemnity 

Para. 

Barbara  Stanwyck-Fred  MacMurray 

Not  Set 

t  LA  L 

1646 

Doughboys  in  Ireland 

Col. 

o03 1 

Kenny  Baker-JefF  Donnell 

Oct.  7.'43 

61m 

10/4 

1  d  c 

1545 

Dragon  Seed 

MGM 

Katharine  Hepburn-Walter  Huston 

Not  Set 

1675 

Drifter,  The 

PRC 

46i 

Buster  Crabbe-AI  St.  John 

Dec.  20,'43 

60m 

1606 

Dr.  Gillespie's  Criminal  Case 

MGM 

407 

Lionel  Barrymore-Van  Johnson 

Nov..'43 

89m 

May  8,'43 

1546 

1192 

Dr.  Paul  Joseph  Goebbels 

Frank 

Paul  Andor-Claudia  Drake-Donald  Woods  Not  Set 

1599 

Drums  of  Fu  Manchu 

Rep. 

^  AC 

309 

Henry  Brandon-William  Royle 

Nov.  27,'43 

68m 

Nov.  I3,'43 

i626 

1  tf\L 

1606 

EMPTY  Holsters  (Reissue) 

WB 

334 

Dick  Foran 

Oct.  2,'43 

62m 





Escape  to  Danger  (British] 

RKO 

Eric  Portman-Ann  Dvorak 

Block  4 

83m 

Feb.  5.'44 

i742 

Eve  of  St.  Mark 

20th-Fox 

Michael  O'Shea-Anne  Baxter 

Not  Set 

.... 

1636 

FALCON  and  the  Coeds,  The  RKO 

A I  rt 
41  U 

Tom  Conway-Jean  Brooks 

Block  2 

oom 

Klnv     A  '41 
INOV.     O.  "t3 

1  COO 

1599 

Fallen  Sparrow.  The 

RKO 

Am 
401 

Maureen  O  nara-John  toartield 

Dl  Li 

Block  1 

yim 

Ana  71  '43 

1547 

1  1 00 
1  Boz 

1  7  1  A 

1719 

False  Colors 

UA 

William  Boyd 

Nov.  5,'43 

obm 

Nov    A  '43 

1 AI4 

1  A^  t 

143 1 

Fighting  Seabees,  The 

Rep. 

John  Wayne-Susan  Hayward 

Not  Set 

1  f\f\r^ 

\  uum 

Jjtn  77  '44 

1 775 

1 X.  1  z. 
161 0 

.... 

Find  the  Blackmailer 

WB 

9  AX. 

306 

Faye  Emerson-Jerome  Cowan 

Nov.  6,'43 

55m 

Cift  91  '41 
WCT.  Z3,  *t3 

1  0  7*r 

Fired  Wife 

Univ. 

on  1 7 
oul  / 

Robert  Paige-Louise  Allbritton 

Sept.  3, '43 

73m 

^nnt    4  '41 

1(^71 

1  9£  1 

Flesh  and  Fantasy 

Univ. 

oU6Z 

^1      In           n     1           d  1 

Charles  Boyer-Barbara  btanwyck 

Oct.  29, '43 

y4m 

C._A    1 0  'A-l 

oepT.  1  0,  *t3 

1  0*T  1 

lOoo 

1710 
1719 

Follow  the  Leader 

Mono. 

East  Side  Kids 

Not  Set 

1606 

Footlight  Glamour 

Col. 

AOA 

4020 

n             ^*      1    ■         All         1  1 

Penny  5ingleton-Arthur  Lake 

Sept.  30, '43 

oom 

Oct.  9.'43 

i573 

1531 

For  Whom  the  Bell  Tolls  (color)  Para. 

4330 

Gary  Cooper-lngrid  Bergman 

Special 

loom 

July  I7.'43 

1546 

occ 

855 

1  7  1  A 

1719 

Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep 

20th-Fox 

Kay  Francis-Carole  Landis 

Not  Set 

1676 

.... 

Frenchman's  Creek  (color) 

Para. 

Joan  Fontaine-Arturo  de  Cordova 

Not  Set 

1416 

.... 

Frisco  Kid  (Reissue) 

WB 

325 

James  Cagney-Margaret  Lindsay 

Mar.  4, '44 

77  m 

Nov.  2,'35 

i726 

Frontier  Law 

Univ. 

8082 

n         tl  i_i      J        1       .  f      ,1   1  i 

Russell  Hayden-Jenniter  Holt 

Nov.  5,  43 

55m 

1606 



Frontier  Outlaws 

PRC 

462 

D      ±         ^       LI         A  1    Cx     i  1 

Buster  Crabbe-AI  St.  John 

Mar.  4,  44 

1746 

Fugitive  from  Sonora 

Rep. 

361 

Don  Barry-Lynn  Merrick 

July  1,43 

55m 

July  I0,'43 

i4i4 

1375 

GANG'S  All  Here  (color) 

20th-Fox 

A  t  L 

416 

Alice  Faye-Carmen  Miranda 

Dec.  24.'43 

lUim 

Dac    4  '41 

1 AR1 

1 033 

1530 

1719 

Gangway  for  Tomorrow 

RKO 

407 

Margo-Robert  Ryan-John  Carradine 

Block  2 

oVm 

Nav    a  '41 
INOV    O,  ^3 

1 AI4 

1 0  l*T 

1566 

Ghost  Ship,  The 

RKO 

Alt 

412 

Richard  Dix-Edith  Barrett 

Block  3 

oVm 

Do/-  1  1  '41 

1  AAA 
1  000 

1646 

Ghost  That  Walks  Alone,  The 

Col. 

Arthur  Lake-Lynn  Roberts 

Feb.  I0,'44 

1 696 

Gildersleeve  on  Broadway 

RKO 

A  AO 

40V 

Harold  Peary-Billie  Burke 

Block  2 

/  r*  ■  ■ 

oom 

Ori  71  '41 

i  979 

1566 

Girl  Crazy 

MGM 

Jl  AO 

40y 

Mickey  Rooney-Judy  Garland 

Nov..'43 

TTm 

AiiA     7  '41 
/\ug.   / ,  ^3 

1  000 

\  191 

1719 

Girl  from  Monterrey.  The 

PRC 

412 

Armida-Edgar  Kennedy 

Oct.  4,'43 

61  m 

C_r,+  '41 

1  oot 

1509 

Girls  on  Probation  (Reissue) 

WB 

328 

Jane  Bryan-Ronald  Reagan 

Dec.  4,'43 

63  m 

Cifi  90  'in 

wCT.  Zt,  30 

1 A9A 
i  OaO 

Good  Fellows.  The 

Para. 

jlO  AO 

4302 

Cecil  Kellaway-Helen  Walker 

Block  1 

/Um 

Aim   14  '41 
MUg.  1 1,  H3 

1  00  J 

1  1  A  i 

1191 

Government  Girl 

RKO 

408 

Olivia  de  Havilland-Sonny  TufFs 

Block  2 

93m 

Kl _^     f.  'AO 

noVt  0,  *r3 

1  AI4 
1  0 1 1 

1416 

1719 

Great  Moment,  The 

Para. 

Joel  McCrea-Betty  Field 

Not  Set 

912 

(■formerly  Great  Without  Glory) 

Great  Mr.  Handel,  The  (color) 

(British) 

Midfilm 

.... 

Wilfred  Lawson-Elizabeth  Allan 

Sept..  9.'43 

oVm 

Sept.  I8,'43 

1542 

.... 

Greenwich  Village  (color) 

20th-Fox 

Don  Ameche-Carmen  Miranda 

Not  Set 

1676 

Guadalcanal  Diary 

20th-Fox 

A  i  ^ 

412 

Preston  Foster-Lloyd  Nolan 

Nov.  5.'43 

o?« 
T3m 

Oct  in  '41 

V./CT.  3U,  ^3 

1  ouo 

1  il  C7 

1457 

1719 

Gung  Ho 

Univ. 

8064 

Randolph  Scott-Grace  McDonald 

Dec.  31. '43 

QQm 

oom 

Dnr  9R  '41 

1  AAA 
i  000 

1  coo 

Gunsmoke  Mesa 

PRC 

453 

Dave  O'Brien-Jim  Newill 

Jan.  3.'44 

59m 

.... 

1635 

Guns  of  the  Pecos  (Reissue) 

WB 

335 

Dick  Foran 

Oct.  2.'43 

56m 

Guy  Named  Joe,  A 

MGM 

416 

Spencer  Tracy-Irene  Dunne 

Feb..'44 

1  *iA— . 

IzOm 

Dor  9>>  '41 

1  AAA 
1 000 

1431 

Gypsy  Wildcat  (color) 

Univ. 

.... 

Maria  Montez-Jon  Hall 

Not  Set 

16/5 

HAIL  the  Conquering  Hero 

Para. 

Eddie  Bracken-Ella  Raines 

Not  Set 

1696 

Hail  to  the  Rangers 

Col. 

5201 

Charles  Starrett 

Sept.  I6.'43 

o/m 

Nov  27  '43 

1646 

1  ACC 

1055 

.... 

Hands  Across  the  Border 

Rep. 

341 

Roy  Rogers-Ruth  Terry 

Jan.  5.'44 

/3m 

Dec  1  1  '43 

1665 

1545 

Happy  Land 

20th-Fox 

415 

Don  Ameche-Frances  Dee 

Dec.  3.'43 

/om 

Nnv  1^  '43 

1  A9>> 

1555 

1719 

Harvest  Melody 

PRC 

402 

Rosemary  Lane-Johnny  Downs 

Nov.  22.'43 

/ 1  m 

Oct.  9,'43 

1574 

1545 

Heat's  On,  The 

Col. 

5009 

Mae  West-Victor  Moore 

Dec.  2,'43 

70m 

/  ym 

Dec.  4  '43 

1 AS3 

1  ccc 

1090 

i  7  i  0 
1719 

Heaven  Can  Wait  (color) 

20th-Fox 

402 

Don  Ameche-Gene  Tierney 

Aug.  I3,'43 

1 1  zm 

llllu  94  '41 
«juiy  ^3 

1  ^78 
1 9/0 

Iz40 

1  £  1  7 

1617 

Heavenly  Body,  The 

MGM 

421 

William  Powell-Hedy  Lamarr 

Mar.,'44 

V'tm 

Jan.  {.'44 

1 AQ1 

1  W79 

1555 

Henrv  Aldrich,  Boy  Scout 

Para. 

431 1 

Jimmy  Lydon-Charlie  Smith 

Block  3 

oom 

Jan    8  '44 

1696 

Henry  Aldrich  Haunts  a  House  Para. 

4306 

Jimmy  Lydon-Charlie  Smith 

Block  2 

7?». 

/3m 

Nov.  6.'43 

1614 

1  CZ.  £ 

1566 

Henry  Aldrich's  Little  Secret 

Para. 



Jimmy  Lydon-Charlie  Smith 

Not  Set 

.... 

1  ^At 

1747 

Henry  Aldrich  Plays  Cupid 

Para. 

.... 

Jimmy  Lydon-Charlie  Smith 

Not  Set 

■  A^  1 

143 1 

Her  Bachelor  Husband 

Mono. 

Johnny  Downs-Wanda  McKay 

Not  Set 

*  . . . 

1 747 

Her  Last  Mile 

PRC 

414 

Lionel  Atwill-Jean  Parker 

Mar.  I5,'44 

i  74  L 

1 746 

Here  Comes  Elmer 

Rep. 

Al  Pearce-Dale  Evans 

Nov.  !5,'43 

74m 

/  Tin 

Oct.  I6.'43 

1585 

Her  Primitive  Man 

Univ. 

Louise  Allbritton-Robert  Paige 

Apr.  21. '44 

i675 

Hey,  Rookie 

Col. 

Ann  Miller-Larry  Parks 

Mar.  9,'44 

July  31, '43 

1654 

Hi  Diddle  Diddle 

UA 

Martha  Scott-Adolphe  Menjou 

Aug.  20,'43 

73  m 

1559 

1375 

1617 

Product  Digest  Section  1757 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    12,  1944 


Title 

Higher  and  Higher 
Hip,  Hip,  Hooray 

(formerly  Three  Cheers  for 
His  Butler's  Sister 
Hitler  Gang,  The 
Hi  Ya  Sailor 
Holy  Matrimony 
Home  in  Indiana  (color) 
Hoosier  Holiday 
Horn  Blows  at  Midnight,  The 
Hostages 

Hour  Before  the  Dawn,  The 

I  DOOD  It 

I  Love  a  Soldier 
Impostor,  The 
Incendiary  Blonde  (color) 
In  Old  Chicago  (Reissue) 
In  Old  Oklahoma 
In  Our  Time 
Iron  Major,  The 
Is  Everybody  Happy? 
Isle  of  Forgotten  Sins 
It  Happened  in  Gibraltar  (Fr. 
It  Happened  Tomorrow 


Prod.  Release 

Company  Number                Stars  Date 

RKO  415  Michele  Morgan-Frank  Sinatra  Block  3 

Univ.  ....  Stage  and  Screen  Entertainers  Apr.  7,'44 
the  Boys) 

Univ.  8004  Deanna  Durbin-Franchot  Tone  Nov.  26, '43 

Para.  ....  Robert  Watson-Victor  Varconi  Not  Set 

Univ.  8035  Donald  Woods-Elyse  Knox  Oct.  I5'43 

20th-Fox  403  Monty  Woolley-Gracie  Fields  Aug.  27,'43 

20th-Fox  ....  Walter  Brennan-Lon  McAllister  Not  Set 

Rep.  302  Dale  Evans-George  Byron  Sept.  I3'43 

WB    Jack  Benny-Alexis  Smith  Not  Set 

Para.  4305  Luise  Rainer-William  Bendix  Block  I 

Para.  ....  Veronica  Lake-Franchot  Tone  Not  Set 

MGM  403  Red  Skelton-Eleanor  Powell  Sept.,'43 

Para.  ....  Paulette  Goddard-Sonny  Tufts  Not  Set 

Univ.  8066  Jean  Gabin-Allyn  Joslyn  Feb.  II, '44 

Para.  ....  Betty  Hutton-Arturo  de  Cordova  Not  Set 

20th-Fox  406  Alice  Faye-Tyrone  Power-Don  Ameche     Oct.  29,'43 

Rep.  307  John  Wayne-Martha  Scott  Dec.  6,'43 

WB  311  Ida  Lupino-Paul  Henreid  Feb.  !9,'44 

RKO  406  Pat  O'Brien-Ruth  Warrick  Block  2 

Col.  5016  Ted  Lewis-Nan  Wynn  Oct.  28,'43 

PRC  401  John  Carradine-Gale  Sondergaard        Aug.  15, '43 

)   Vigor  ....  Erich  von  Stroheim-Viviane  Romance      Nov.  I5,'43 

UA  ....  Dick  Powell-Linda  Darnell  Feb.  25/44 


Running 
Time 

90m 


r-  REVIEWED 
M.  P.  Product 

Herald  Digest 
Issue  Page 

Dec.  II '43  1665 


Advance  Service 
Synopsis  Data 
Page  Page 

1616 
1635 


93m 

Nov.  I3'43 

1625 

1555 

1675 

63  m 

Oct.  9,'43 

1574 

153! 

87m 

Aug.  28, '43 

1547 

1431 

1655 

1634 

72m 

Aug.  28,'43 

1547 

1715 

87  m 

Aug.  I4,'43 

1579 

1277 

* 

1555 

102m 

July3l,*43 

1579 

1 192 

1719 

1675 

94m 

Feb.  I2,'44 

i754 

1616 

1675 

94  m 

Jan.  8,'38 

1542 

102m 

Oct.  23,'43 

1593 

171? 

1  lOm 

Feb.  5,'44 

1741 

1416 

85m 

Oct.  23,'43 

1593 

1555 

1719 

73m 

Nov.  27,'43 

1646 

1545 

1655 

82m 

July  3,'43 

1532 

1339 

1617 

93  m 

Nov.  27,'43 

1646 

1675 

JACK  London 
Jane  Eyre 
Janie 

Jeannie  (British) 
Jive  Junction 
Johnny  Come  Lately 

KANSAN,The 

Kelly  Takes  Over 
Kings  of  the  Ring 
Kismet  (color) 
Klondike  Kate 
Knickerbocker  Holiday 


UA 

20th-Fox 
WB 
English 
PRC 
UA 


UA 
Univ. 
Lewis-Lesser 
MGM 
Col. 
UA 


LAD  from  Our  Town  Artkino 

Ladies  Courageous  Univ. 

(formerly  When  Ladies  Fly) 

Lady  in  the  Dark  (color)  Para. 

Lady,  Let's  Dance  Mono. 

Lady  Takes  a  Chance,  A  RKO 
Lamp  Still  Burns,  The  (British) 

Two  Cities-Gen'l 


420 


407 


5029 


4336 
405 


Land  Beyond  the  Law  (Reissue)  WB 

336 

Larceny  with  Music 

Univ. 

8028 

Lassie  Come  Home  (color) 

MGM 

410 

Last  Ride.  The 

WB 

Let's  Face  It 

Para. 

430  i 

Lifeboat 

20th-Fox 

419 

Lodger,  The 

20th-Fox 

417 

•  Lone  Rider  in  Raiders  Red  Gap  PRC 

368 

Lost  Angel 

MGM 

415 

Love  in  Jalisco  (Mex.)  Clasa-Mohme 

MADAME  Curie 

MGM 

490 

Mad  Ghoul,  The 

Univ. 

8038 

Make  Your  Own  Bed 

WB 

Man  from  Down  Under,  The 

MGM 

41  i 

•Man  from  Music  Mountain 

Rep. 

257 

Man  from  the  Rio  Grande, 

The  Rep. 

363 

Man  in  Half  Moon  Street,  The  Para. 

Marine  Raiders 

RKO 

Marshal  of  Gunsmoke 

Univ. 

8083 

Mask  of  Dimitrios,  The 

WB 

Meet  Me  in  St.  Louis  (color)  MGM 

Meet  the  People 

MGM 

Melody  Parade 

Mono. 

Men  on  Her  Mind 

PRC 

409 

Million  Dollar  Kid 

Mono. 

Millions  Like  Us  (British)  Gains.-Gen'l 

Minesweeper 

Para. 

4308 

Ministry  of  Fear 

Para. 

Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek, 

The  Para. 

4312 

Mojave  Firebrand  . 

Rep. 

377 

Moonlight  and  Cactus 

Univ. 

Moonlight  in  Vermont 

Univ. 

8025 

Mr.  Co-ed  (color) 

MGM 

Mr.  Muqgs  Stepi  Out 

Mono. 

Mr.  Skefflngton 

WB 

Murder  on  the  Waterfront 

WB 

302 

Michael  O'Shea-Susan  Hayward 
Orson  Welles-Joan  Fontaine 
Joyce  Reynolds-Robert  Hutton 
Barbara  Mullen-Michael  Redgrave 
Dickie  Moore-Tina  Thayer 
James  Cagney-Grace  George 

Richard  DIx-Jane  Wyatt 
Eddie  Quillan-Harriet  Hilllard 
Fight  Film  Feature 
Ronald  Colman-Marlene  Dietrich 
Ann  Savage-Tom  Meal 
Nelson  Eddy-Charles  Coburn 

Russian  Feature 

Loretta  Young-Geraldlne  Fitzgerald 

Ginger  Rogers-Ray  Milland 
Belita-James  Ellison 
Jean  Arthur-John  Wayne 

Rosamund  John-Stewart  Granger 
Dick  Foran 

Allan  Jones-Kitty  Carlisle 

Roddy  McDowall-Edmund  Gwenn 

Richard  Travis-Eleanor  Parker 

Bob  Hope-Betty  Hutton 

Tallulah  Bankhead-WIIIiam  Bendix 

Laird  Cregar-Merle  Oberon 

Bob  Livingston-AI  St.  John 

Margaret  O'Brien-James  Craig 

Jorge  Negrete-Maria  Elena  Marques 


Greer  Garson-Walter  PIdgeon 
Evelyn  Ankers-David  Bruce 
Jack  Carson-Jane  Wyman 
Charles  Laughton-BInnle  Barnes 
Roy  Rogers 

Don  Barry-Twinkle  Watts 

Nils  Asther-Helen  Walker 

Pat  O'Brien-Ruth  Hussey 

Tex  Ritter-Russell  Hayden 

Sydney  Greenstreet-Peter  Lorre 

Judy  Garland-Margaret  O'Brien 

Dick  Powell-Lucille  Ball 

Mary  Beth  Hughes-Eddie  Quillan 

Mary  Beth  Hughes-Edward  Norrls 

East  Side  Kids 

Eric  Portman-Patricia  Roc 

Richard  Arlen-Jean  Parker 

Ray  MIlland-Marjorie  Reynolds 

Eddie  Bracken-Betty  Hutton 

Bill  Elliott-Gabby  Hayes 

Andrews  Sisters-Leo  Carlllo 

Gloria  Jean-Fay  Helm 

Red  Skelton-Esther  Williams 

East  Side  Kids 

Bette  Davis-Claude  Rains 

John  Loder-Ruth  Ford 


Not  Set 
Oct.  2.'43 
Sept.  I0,'43 
Dec.,'43 
Not  Set 
Block  I 
Jan.  28,'44 
Jan.  7,'44 
Sept.  30,'43 
Jan.,'44 
Aug.  6,'43 


Apr..*44 
Nov.  I2,'43 

Not  Set 

Dec.,'43 
Oct.  30,'43 
Oct.  I8,'43 

Not  Set 

Not  Set 
Jan.  2 1, "44 

Not  Set 

Not  Set 

Not  Set 
Aug.  27,'43 
Feb.  !2,'44 
Feb.  28,'44 

Not  Set 
Block  2 

Not  Set 
Block  3 
Mar.  I9,'44 

Not  Set 
Dec.  24, '43 

Not  Set 
Dec.  I0,'43 

Not  Set 
Sept.  I8,'43 


Dec.  24,'43 

93m 

Nov.  27,'43 

1645 

1554 

Feb.,'44 

96m 

Feb.  5,'44 

1741 

1240 

Not  Set 

1747 

Oct.  I.'43 

85m 

Aug.  23,'4I 

1594 

Dec.  20,'43 

64m 

Nov.  20,'43 

1633 

1606 

Sept.  3,'43 

97m 

Aug.  28.'43 

1559 

1375 

Sept.  I0,'43 

79m 

June  I9,'43 

1547 

1182 

Mar.  24,'44 

Jan.  22.'44 

95m 

Jan.  29,'44 

1735 

Not  Set 

i635 

Dec.  I6,'43 

62m 

Feb.  5,'44 

1742 

1636 

Jan.  28,'44 

1635 

Oct.  6,'43 

65  m 

Oct.  I6,'43 

1586 

Mar.  I7,'44 

I6i6 

Special 

140m 

Feb.  I2,'44 

1753 

1091 

Apr.  1 1  ,'44 

88m 

Jan.29,'44 

1735 

1599 

Block  1 

86m 

Aug.  21, '43 

1547 

1240 

90m  Nov.  20,'43 

55m   

64m  Sept.  II, '43 

90m  Aug.  2 1, '43 

76m  Aug.  7.'43 

96m  Jan.  I5,'44 

84m  Jan.  8,'44 

54m   

91m  Nov.  6,'43 

128m  Aug.  2 1, '43 


1633 

1530 
1546 

i559 
1713 
1705 

1613 
1496 


1351 
1240 
1115 
1277 
1616 
1636 

1555 


124m 

Nov.  20,'43 

1633 

1416 

65m 

Oct.  23,'43 

1594 

1586 

1715 

I03r^ 

Aug.  7,'43 

1547 

71m 

Sept.  25,'43 

1554 

1402 

55m 

Oct.  2,'43 

1566 

1747 
1696 
1676 
1746 
1715 
1456 


73m 

Aug.  7,'43 

1559 

1339 

67m 

Feb.  5,'44 

1743 

1715 

1676 

103m 

Oct.  23 '43 

i595 

66m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1615 

1606 

1616 

99m 

Jan.  8,'44 

1705 

1079 

55m 

Jan.  29,'44 

1734 

i746 

62  m 

Dec.  25,'43 

1686 

1635 

1635 

63  m 

Dec.  25,'43 

1686 

1555 

1654 

49  m 

July  31, '43 

1579 

1719 
1655 


1719 


1655 

i7i9 
i655 


1758  Product  Digest  Section 


February     12,     I  944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


■  REVIEWED  ■ 


Title 


Company 


Prod. 
Number 


My  Best  Gal 

Rep. 

My  Reputation 

WB 

Mystery  Broadcast 

Rep. 

304 

•Mystery  of  the  13th  Guest 

Mono. 

NABONGA 

PRC 

408 

(formerly  Jungle  Terror) 

Navy  Way,  The 

Para. 

•Nearly  Eighteen 

Mono. 

Never  a  Dull  Moment 

Univ. 

8030 

Nine  Girls 

Col. 

None  Shall  Escape 

Col. 

Northern  Pursuit 

WB 

307 

North  Star,  The  RKO 

■Goldwyn 

451 

No  Time  for  Love 

Para. 

4309 

OKLAHOMA  Kid  (Reissue)      WB  330 

Old  Acquaintance                        WB  308 

•  Old  Barn  Dance,  The  (Reissue)  Rep.  2307 
O  My  Darling  Clementine  Rep.  308 
One  More  Tomorrow                    WB  .... 

(formerly  Animal  Kingdom) 

Our  Hearts  Were  Young  and  Gay  Para.  .... 

•  Outlaws  of  Stampede  Pass  Mono.  .... 
Outlaw  Roundup  PRC  454 
Overland  Mail  Robbery               Rep.  376 

PARIS  After  Dark               20th-Fox  409 

Partners  of  the  Trail                  Mono.  .... 

Passage  to  Marseille                       WB  .... 

Passport  to  Adventure                  RKO  .... 

Patrick  the  Great                        Univ.  .... 

Phantom  Lady                             Unlv,  .... 

Pin  Up  Girl  (color)  20th-Fox   

Pistol  Packin'  Mama                    Rep.  310 

Prairie  Thunder  (Reissue)              WB  332 

Pride  of  the  Plains                      Rep.  353 

Princess  O'Rourke                          WB  305 

Purple  Heart,  The  '  20th-Fox   


Stars 

Jane  Wrfhers-Jimmy  Lydon 
Barbara  Stanwyck-George  Brent 
Nils  Asther-Ruth  Terry 
Dick  Purcell-Helen  Parrish 

Buster  Crabbe-Fifi  Dorsey 

Robert  Lowery-Jean  Parker 
Gale  Storm-Bill  Henry 
Ritz  Bros.-Frances  Langford 
Ann  Harding-Evelyn  Keyes 
Marsha  Hunt-Alexander  Knox 
Errol  Flynn-Julie  Bishop 
Walter  Huston-Anne  Baxter 
Claudette  Colbert-Fred  MacMurray 

James  Cagney-Humphrey  Bogart 
Bette  Davis-Miriam  Hopkins 
Gene  Autry 

Frank  Albertson-Lorna  Grey 
Ann  Sheridan-Olivia  de  Havilland 

Diana  Lynn-Gail  Russell 

Johnny  Mack  Brown-Raymond  Hatton 

Dave  O'Brien-Jim  Newill 

Bill  Elliott-Anne  Jeffreys 


George  Sanders-Brenda  Marshall 
Johnny  Mack  Brown-Raymond  Hatton 
Humphrey  Bogart-Michele  Morgan 
Elsa  Lanchester-Gordon  Oliver 
Donald  O'Connor-Peggy  Ryan 
Ella  Raines-Franchot  Tone 
Betty  Grable-Joe  E.  Brown 
Ruth  Terry-Bob  Livingston 
Dick  Foran 

Robert  Livingston-Smiley  Burnette 
Olivia  de  Havilland-Robert  Cummings 
Dana  Andrews-Richard  Conte 


Sept,  1 1, '43 
Nov.  27.'43 
Oct.  I5.'43 
Dec.  3  {,'43 
Not  Set 


M.P. 

Product 

Advance 

Service 

Release 

Running 

Herald 

Digest 

Synopsis 

Data 

Date 

Time 

Issue 

Page 

Page 

Page 

Not  Set 

.... 

1696 

.... 

Not  oet 

'  

1695 

.... 

Nov.  a,  43 

63  m 

Oct.  23,  43 

1594 

1586 

Nov.    5,  43 

60m 

Oct.  16, '43 

1586 

.... 

Jan.  25/44 

1634 

Not  Set 

1747 

.... 

Nov.  I2'43 

61m 

Oct.  30,'43 

1605 

1545 

Nov.  I9,'43 

60m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1615 

1351 

Feb,  I7.'44 

1676 

Feb.  3.'44 

85m 

Jan.  I5,'44 

1713 

1695 

Nov.  I3.'43 

94m 

Oct.  23.'43 

1593 

1471 

1719 

Special 

105m 

Oct.  I6,'43 

1585 

1305 

Block  2 

83m 

Nov.  I3.'43 

1625 

855 

80m 
llOm 
60m 
68m 


Mar,  I8'39 
Nov,  6.'43 
Jan.  I5,'38 
Dec.  4.'43 


1482 
1613 
1574 
1653 


1192 

1636 
1431 


1719 


Not  Set 

1746 

Oct.  15.43 

55m 

Oct.  2,'43 

1566 

1402 

Feb.  I0.'44 

1715 

Nov.  20.'43 

55m 

Oct.  23,'43 

i594 

Oct.  I5,'43 

85m 

Oct.  9.*43 

1573 

1545 

Mar.  I4,'44 

1747 

Mar.  II, '44 

1  lOm 

1616 

Block  4 

64m 

Jan.  29,'44 

i734 

1636 

Not  Set 

1675 

Jan.28,'44 

87m 

Jan.  29,'44 

1733 

1675 

Not  Set 

1531 

Dec.  I5,'43 

64m 

Dec.  II. '43 

i666 

1654 

Oct.  2,'43 

55m 

Jan.  5,'44 

56m 

Dec.  4.'43 

1653 

Oct.  23.'43 

94m 

Sept.  25,'43 

1553 

962 

Not  Set 

1654 

1655 


RACKET  Man,  The 

Col. 

5036 

Tom  Neal-Jeanne  Bates 

Jan.  I8.'44 

65  m 

Jan.  8,'44 

1706 

1676 

Raiders  of  the  Border 

Mono. 

Johnny  Mack  Brown 

Jan.  31. '44 

53m 

Jan.  I5.'44 

1714 

Raiders  of  Sunset  Pass 

Rep. 

352 

Eddie  Dew-Smiley  Burnette 

Dec.  20,'43 

56m 

Dec.  25.'43 

1686 

1457 

Rainbow  Island  (color) 

Para. 

Dorothy  Lamour-Eddie  Bracken 

Not  Set 

1654 

Rains  Came.  The  (Reissue) 

20th-Fox 

410 

Myrna  Loy-Tyrone  Power 

Nov.  26, '43 

95  m 

Sept.  9.'39 

i574 

Rationing 

MGM 

418 

Wallace  Beery-Marjorie  Main 

Feb..'44 

93m 

Jan.  29,'44 

1734 

1616 

Return  of  the  Ape  Man 

Mono. 

Bela  Lugosi-John  Carradlne 

Not  Set 

1606 

Return  of  the  Rangers 

PRC 

451 

Dave  O'Brien-Jim  Newill 

Oct.  26,'43 

60m 

Oct.  I6,'43 

1585 

1545 

Return  of  the  Vampire 

Col. 

5024 

Bela  Lugosi-Frieda  Inescourt 

Nov.  1 1,'43 

69m 

Feb.  5,'44 

1742 

1599 

•Revenge  of  the  Zombies 

Mono. 

John  Carradine-Veda  Ann  Borg 

Sept.  I7,'43 

61m 

Aug.  7,'43 

1471 

1391 

Rhapsody  in  Blue 

WB 

Joan  Leslie-Robert  Alda 

Not  Set 

1530 

Riders  of  the  Deadline 

UA 

William  Boyd 

Dec.  3,'43 

70  m 

Jan.  I5.'44 

I7i4 

1696 

Riding  High  (color) 

Para. 

4307 

Dorothy  Lamour-Dick  Powell 

Block  2 

88m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1613 

1431 

Road  to  Utopia 

Para. 

Bing  Crosby-Bob  Hope-D.  Lamour 

Not  Set 

1715 

Roger  Touhy.  Gangster 

20th-Fox 

Preston  Foster-Lois  Andrews 

Not  Set 

1362 

Rookies  in  Burma 

RKO 

4i4 

Alan  Carney-Wally  Rrown 

Block  3 

62m 

Dec.  II. '43 

i666 

1646 

Rootin',  Tootin'  Rhythm  (Reissu 

e)  Rep. 

3301 

Gene  Autry 

Jan.  I5,'44 

61m 

1719 


SAHARA  Col. 

Saint  Meets  the  Tiger.  The  Rep. 

Sailor's  Holiday  Col. 

Salute  to  the  Marines  (color)  MGM 

San  Demetrio,  London  (British)  Ealing 

Saratoga  Trunk  WB 

•Scream  in  the  Dark,  A  Rep. 

See  Here,  Private  Hargrove  MGM 
Sensations  of  1944  (color)  UA-Stone 

Seventh  Cross,  The  MGM 

Seventh  Victim,  The  RKO 

Sherlock  Holmes  Faces  Death  Univ. 

She's  for  Me  Univ. 

Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon  WB 
Shipbuilders,  The  (Br.)   Br.  Nat'l-Anglo 

Show  Business  RKO 

Silver  City  Raiders  Col. 

Since  You  Went  Away  UA 

Sing  a  Jingle  Univ. 

•Smart  Guy  Mono. 

So  This  Is  Washington  RKO 

Son  of  Dracula  Univ. 
Song  of  Bernadette,  The  20th-Fox 

Song  of  Russia  MGM 
Song  of  the  Marimba  Clasa-Mohme 

Song  of  the  Open  Road  UA 

Song  of  the  Saddle  (Reissue)  WB 

So's  Your  Uncle  Univ. 


5003  Humphrey  Bogart-Bruce  Bennett  Oct.  1 4, '43 

301  Hugh  Sinclair-Jean  Gillis  July  29,'43 

....  Arthur  Lake-Jane  Lawrence  Feb.  24. '44 

401  Wallace  Beery-Fay  Bainter  Sept..'43 

  Walter  Fitzgerald-Ralph  Michael  Not  Set 

....  Gary  Cooper-lngrid  Bergman  Not  Set 

229  Robert  Lowery-Marie  McDonald  Oct.  I5,'43 

420  Robert  Walker-Donna  Reed  Mar.,'44 

  W.  C.  Fields-Eleanor  Powell  May  5.'44 

....  Spencer  Tracy-Signe  Hasso  '  Not  Set 

403  Tom  Conway-Kim  Hunter  Block  I 
8024  Basil  Rathbone-Nigel  Bruce  Sept.  I7,'43 

8041  David  Bruce-Grace  McDonald  Dec.  I0.'43 
....  Ann  Sheridan-Dennis  Morgan  Apr.  8, '44 
....  Clive  Brook-Morland  Graham  Not  Set 
....  Eddie  Cantor-George  Murphy  Not  Set 
5202  Russell  Hayden-Bob  Wills  Nov.  4.'43 
....  Colbert-Temple-Woolley-Cotten  Not  Set 
8034  Allan  Jones-June  Vincent  Jan.  7. '44 

Rick  Vallin-Wanda  McKay  Dec.  I7.'43 

404  Lum  'n'  Abner-Mildred  Coles  Block  I 
8013  Louise  Allbritton-Lon  Chaney  Nov.  5,'43 
....  Jennifer  Jones-Charles  Bickford  Not  Set 

422  Robert  Taylor-Susan  Peters  Apr.,'44 

....  Mexican  Feature  Aug.  20,'43 

....  Edgar  Bergen-"Charlie"-Bonita  Granville  Mar.  24.'44 

331  Dick  Foran  Oct,  2.'43 

8042  Donald  Woods-Elyse  Knox  Dec,  3.'43 


97m 

Oct,  2.'43 

1565 

70m 

Aug.  7.'43 

1471 

loYm 

July  3 {.'43 

1579 

105m 

Jan.  29.'44 

1734 

55m 

Oct.  30.'43 

1605 

1305 

1057 

1431 
1531 
1616 
1746 
1715 


1719 
i655 


71m 

Aug.  21. '43 

1558 

1471 

68m 

Sept.  II, "43 

1529 

60m 

Dec,  II, '43 

1665 

i635 

1457 

90m 

Jan.29.'44 

1733 

1675 

55  m 

Nov,  27.*43 

1646 

i635 

62m 

Jan.  I.'44 

1694 

1654 

63m 

Jan.  I,'44 

1695 

1599 

64m 

Aug.  2I,*43 

1558 

147! 

80m 

Nov.  I3,'43 

1626 

1241 

157m 

Dec.  25,'43 

1685 

1416 

107m 

Jan.  I.'44 

1693 

1416 

I3lm 

Sept.  II. '43 

1530 

59  m 

i695 

Apr.  II. '36 

1482 

64m 

Dec,  4,'43 

1654 

1635 

Product  Digest  Section   1 759 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


Title  Company 

Spider  Woman  Univ. 

Spotlight  Scandals  Mono. 

Standing  Room  Only  Para. 

Story  of  Dr.  Wassell  (color)  Para. 

Strange  Confession  UA 
Strange  Death  of  Adolf  Hitler  Univ. 

Submarine  Base  PRC 

Sullivans,  The  20th-Fox 

Sultan's  Daughter,  The  Mono. 

•Suspected  Person  (British)  PRC 

Sweet  Rosie  O'Grady  (color)  20th-Fox 

Sweethearts  of  the  U.  S.  A.  Mono. 

Swing  Fever  MGM 

Swing  Out  the  Blues  Col. 

Swing  Shift  Malsie  MGM 

Swingtime  Johnny  Univ. 

JAM  PICO  20th-Fox 

Tanan's  Desert  Mystery  RKO 

Tender  Comrade  RKO 

Texas  Kid,  The  Mono. 

Texas  Masquerade  UA 

Thank  Your  Lucky  Stars  WB 

That  Nazty  Nuisance  UA 
There's  Something  About  a  Soldier  Col. 
They  Met  in  the  Dark  (British) 

Hellman-Gen'l 

•  This  Is  the  Army  (color)  WB 
This  Is  the  Life  Univ. 

(formerly  Angela) 

Thousands  Cheer  (color)  MGM 

Three  Russian  Girls  UA 

Thundering  Hoofs  UA 

Tiger  Fangs  PRC 

Till  We  Meet  Again  Para. 

Timber  Queen  Para. 

Top  Man  Univ. 

Tornado  Para. 

True  to  Life  Para. 

•  Tumbling  Tumbleweed  (Reissue)  Rep. 
Two-Man  Submarine  Col. 
Two  Sisters  and  a  Sailor  MGM 

UNCENSORED  (British)  20th-Fox 

Uncertain  Glory  WB 

•  Underdog,  The  PRC 
Under  Two  Flags  (Reissue)  20th-Fox 
Uninvited,  The  Para. 
Unknown  Guest  Mono. 
Up  in  Arms  (color)  RKO-Goldwyn 
Up  in  Mabel's  Room  UA 

VICTORY  Through 

Air  Power  (color)  UA-Disney 
Vigilantes  Ride,  The 
Voice  in  the  Wind 
Voodoo  Man,  The 


WATCH   on  the  Rhine 
Weekend  Pass 
Weird  Woman 
Westward  Bound 
►What  a  Man 
What  a  WomanI 
Where  Are  Your  Children? 
Whispering  Footsteps 
Whistling  in  Brooklyn 
White  Cliffs,  The 
Wilson  (color) 
Wintertime 

Woman  of  the  Town,  The 
Women  in  Bondage 
Women  in  War  (Reissue) 
Wyoming  Hurricane 


YANKS  Ahoy  UA-Roach 
Yellow  Canary  (British)  Wilcox-RKO 
Young  Ideas  MGM  408 

You're  a  Lucky  Fellow,  Mr.  Smith    Univ.  8033 


Prod. 
Number 

8021 
43  i4 


8022 
405 
42! 

2\S 
408 

423 
5020 

404 
8020 


413 

303 
5017 

224 

413 

406 

43i3 
8009 
4304 
4303 
2308 

418 

316 
411 
4315 


Col. 

UA 

Mono. 

WB 

301 

Univ. 

Univ. 

Mono. 

Mono. 

Col. 

5005 

Mono. 

Rep. 

309 

MGM 

412 

MGM 

20th-Fox 

20th.Fox 

405 

UA 

Mono. 

Rep. 

Col. 

Stars 

Basil  Rathbone-Nigel  Bruce 

Billy  Gilbert-Frank  Fay 

Paulette  Goddard-Fred  MacMurray 

Gary  Cooper-Laralne  Day 

George  Sanders-Linda  Darnell 

Ludwig  Donath-Gale  Sondergaard 

John  Litel-Alan  Baxter 

Anne  Baxter-Thomas  Mitchell 

Ann  Corio-Charles  Butterworth 

Clifford  Evans-Patricia  Roc 

Betty  Grable-Robert  Young 

Una  Merkel-Donald  Novis 

Kay  Kyser-Marllyn  Maxwell 

Bob  Haymes-Lynn  Merrick 

Ann  Sothern-James  Craig 

Andrews  Sister-Harriet  Hilllard 

Lynn  Bari-Edward  G.  Robinson 
Johnny  Weissmuller-Nancy  Kelly 
Ginger  Rogers-Robert  Ryan 
Johnny  Mack  Brown 
William  Boyd 
Warner  Stars  Revue 
Bobby  Watson-Joe  Devlin 
Evelyn  Keyes-Tom  Neal 

James  Mason-Joyce  Howard 

Joan  Leslie-George  Murphy-Stage  Ci 

Susanna  Foster-Donald  O'Connor 

Kathryn  Grayson-Geno  Kelly 
Anna  Sten-Kent  Smith 
William  Boyd 

Frank  Buck-Duncan  Renaldo 
Ray  Milland-Maureen  O'Hara 
Dick  Arlen-Mary  Beth  Hughes 
Donald  O'Connor-Peggy  Ryan 
Chester  Morris-Nancy  Kelly 
Mary  Martln-Franchot  Tone 
Gene  Autry-Lucile  Browne 
Tom  Neai-Ann  Savage 
Jimmy  Durante-Van  Johnson 

Eric  Portman-Phyllis  Calvert 
Errol  Flynn-Paul  Lukas 
Barton  MacLane-Charlotte  Wynters 
Ronald  Colman-Claudette  Colbert 
Ray  Milland-Ruth  Hussey 
Victor  Jory-Pamela  Blake 
Danny  Kaye-Dinah  Shore 
Marjorie  Reynolds-Dennis  O'Keefe 


Disney  Aviation  Feature 
Russell  Hayden-Shirley  Patterson 
Francis  Lederer-Sigrid  Gurie 
Bela  Lugosi-John  Carradine 

Bette  Davis-Paul  Lukas 
Martha  O'Driscoll-Noah  Beery,  Jr. 
Lon  Chaney-Anne  Gwynne 
Ken  Maynard-Hoot  Gibson 
Johnny  Downs-Wanda  McKay 
Rosalind  Russell-Brian  Aherne 
Jackie  Cooper-Patricia  Morison 
John  Hubbard-Rita  Quigley 
Red  Skelton-Ann  Rutherford 
Irene  Dunne-Roddy  McDowall 
Alexander  Knox-Charles  Coburn 
Sonja  Henle-Jack  Oakie 
Albert  Dekker-Claire  Trevor 
Gail  Patrick-Nancy  Kelly 
Elsie  Jants-Wendy  Barrie 
Russell  Hayden-Bob  Wills 

Joe  Sawyer-William  Tracy 
Anna  Neagle-RIchard  Greene 
Mary  Astor-Herbert  Marshall 
Allan  Jones-Evelyn  Ankers 


Release 
Date 

Jan.  2 1. '44 
Sept.  24,'43 
Block  3 

Not  Set 
Apr.  2 1, '44 
Sept.  I0,'43 
July  20,'43 

Feb.,'44 
Jan.  24,'44 
Nov.  29,'43 
Oct.  I. '43 
Mar.  7,'44 

Apr.,'44 
Jan.  20,'44 

Oct..'43 
Feb.  4.'44 


Jan.  21,44 
Apr.  22.'44 
Oct.  I0,'43 
Nov.  26,'43 
Block  3 
Oct.  22,'43 
Not  Set 
Apr.  7,'44 


Feb 

r  u  a  r  y 

12. 

r-  REVIEWED  -> 

M.  P. 

Product 

Running 

Herald 

Digest 

Synopsis 

Time 

Issue 

Page 

Page 

63  m 

Ian     1  C  AA 

Jan.  1  Oi'Hr 

in  A 

1675 

73m 

July  z*t,  h6 

1  t>/y 

1351 

83m 

Jan.  0, 

1  /Uo 

1616 

.... 

1530 

1747 

72  m 

C._x      A  'A'i 

oepT.  *T, 

1  C99 
1 

oom 

lulu  1  n  'A'i 
juiy  1  u, 

iA\A 

1305 

III  

1 1 1  m 

reD.  o,  *T*r 

1  TAl 

1636 

o4m 

uec.  1  o, 

1555 

78m 

Jan.    1  '44 

76m 

Sept.  25!'43 

1553 

1305 

1586 

O  1 

8 1  m 

Nov.  I3,'43 

1626 

1241 

/um 

Jan.  22,'44 

1726 

1 036 

86m 

May  8.'43 

1546 

1191 

60m 

Jan.  I,'44 

1695 

1676 

Data 

Page 


83m 

Aug.  I,'42 

1714 

1636 

67  m 

Oct,  9.'43 

i574 

1509 

99m 

May  9,'36 

1574 

98m 

Jan.  8,'44 

1705 

1416 

64m 

Aug.28,'43 

1559 

105m 

Feb.  I2,'44 

1753 

i457 
1695 

1719 


1617 


Not  Set 

1636 

Block  3 

70m 

Dec.  1 1,'43 

1666 

1362 

Block  4 

lOlm 

Jan.  {,'44 

1693 

1635 

Nov.  26,'43 

57m 

Nov.  27,'43 

1645 

1545 

Not  Set 

59m 

Jan.  29.'44 

1733 

Sept.  25.43 

127m 

Aug.  21, '43 

1559 

1058 

i7i9 

Aug.  6,'43 

42m 

June  I2,'43 

1546 

1019 

Nov.  30.'43 

81m 

Dec.  I8,'43 

1674 

1545 

Not  Set 

104m 

Sept.  4,'43 

1522 

Feb.  I5.'44 

Il4m 

July  31, '43 

1453 

1276 

i575 

Not  Set 

1416 

Jan..'44 

126m 

Sept.  I8,'43 

1541 

1079 

1719 

Jan.  I4,'44 

80m 

Jan.  I,'44 

1694 

1457 

Not  Set 

1747 

Sept.  I0,'43 

59m 

Sept.  25,'43 

1554 

1531 

Not  Set 

1676 

Blocks 

66m 

Jan.  8,'44 

1706 

1696 

Sept.  I7.'43 

82m 

Sept.  I8,'43 

1541 

1456 

Block  1 

80m 

Aug.  I4,'43 

1579 

1457 

Block  1 

93m 

Aug.  I4,'43 

1578 

1079 

i7i9 

Dec.  {.'43 

58m 

Mar.  I6,'44 

1746 

Not  Set 

1696 

Aug.  I3,'43 

65m 

July  I0,'43 

1532 

1375 

1617 

Feb.  3,'44 

55m 

Feb.  I2,'44 

1754 

1081 

Mar.  I0.'44 

1654 

Feb.  21, '44 

1676 

Sept.  4, '43 

1 13m 

July  31, '43 
Feb.  5,'44 

1579 

986 

1719 

Feb.  I8,'44 

63  m 

1742 

1676 

Apr.  I4,'44 

1747 

Jan.  I7.'44 

59  m 

Jan.  I5,'44 

1714 

1599 

Jan.  31, '44 

73  m 

Dec.  II, '43 

1666 

Dec.  28,'43 

93m 

Dec.  II, '43 

1665 

i635 

1719 

Jan.  I7,'44 

72m 

Nov.  27.'43 

1645 

1606 

Dec.  30,'43 

55m 

1636 

Dec.,'43 

87m 

Oct.  2,'43 

i565 

1431 

i7i9 

Not  Set 

1586 

Not  Set 

1676 

Sept.  I7,'43 

82m 

Sept.  II, '43 

1529 

1431 

i655 

Dec  31, "43 

88m 

Dec.  I8,'43 

1673 

1531 

Jan.  I0,'44 

72m 

Nov.  20.'43 

1634 

1554 

Jan.25,'44 

69m 

May25,'40 

1726 

Not  Set 

1679 

July  l,'43 

58m 

Mar.  I3,'43 

1532 

1019 

Not  Set 

98m 

Nov.  20,'43 

1634 

Nov.,'43 

77m 

July  31, '43 

1578 

1240 

Oct.  22,'43 

64m 

Oct.  9,'43 

1573 

1531 

Feature  Product,  including  Coming  Attractions,  listed  Company  by  Company,  in 
Order  of  Release  on  page  1755, 


I  760  Product  Digest  Section 


P-^^S  OA.MESE  ATROCITY  PICTURE 
^X«>^.  V  *      too  AY- ACTUALLY  FILMED 

.■^^.t^^S^t  SCENES  OF  ACTION 


>'^V'*^  '^**\jO».»-YWOOD  PRODUCTION! 

^  ^    


IT'S  SMASHING 
BOX  OFFICE  RECORDS 
AND  SETTING  UP 
NEW  ONES  FROM 
COAST  TO  COAST! 

"RAVAGED  EARTH" 
HAS  RECEIVED  THE 
MOST  POWERFUL 
PRESS  REVIEWS  EVER 
GIVEN    ANY  PICTURE! 
BUILD  PRESTIGE  AND 
GOOD  WILL  IN  YOUR 
NEIGHBORHOOD  BY 
RUNNING  THE  PICTURE 
OF  THE  TIMES  — 
"RAVAGED  EARTH" 

IF  YOU  HAVEN'T 
BOOKED  "RAVAGED 
EARTH"  YET.  GET 
IN  TOUCH  WITH 
THE  DISTRIBUTOR 
NEAREST  YOU. 


MUST 
jre  For 
ligent 
jle.  It  Is 
ibie  and 
ically 
3rtan+." 

Villi  am  Allen 
Vhite 


Beware  of  Pictures  of  Similar  Title! 

"RAVAGED  EARTH"  DISTRIBUTORS 


"YOU  MUST  SEE  IT!... This  film  will 

be  preserved  forever  in  archives." 


Clyde  Elliott  Attractions 

1600  Broadway,  New  York 
1118  S.  Michigan,  Chicago 

Underwood  &  Ezell 

2009  Jackson  St.,  Dallas 

Hub  Film  Exchange 

246  Stuart  St.,  Boston 

Special  Film  Distributors 

503  Film  Exchange  BIdg.,  Cleveland 
FOR  FOREIGN  RIGHTS 

Charles  Casanave 

1600  Broadway,  New  York 


Walker  &  McKenna 

7  N.  Lee  St.,  Oklahoma  City 

B.  F.  Busby 

108  S.  Cross  St.,  Little  Rock 

F.  F.  Goodrow 

218  S.  Liberty  St.,  New  Orleans,  La. 

Sam  Wheeler 

1001  New  Jersey  Ave.  N.W.,  Wash. 

Herbert  Rosener  Co. 

816  Larkin  St.,  San  Fran  CISCO 
730  S.  Grand  Ave.,  Los  Angeles 


We've  deleted  "STOP!"  from  every  one  of  our  business  dictionaries.  For  us 
there  is  no  such  word.  No  sir!  But  "GO!"— that's  all  over  the  place,  and  in 
everything,  and  under  everything.  We  know  several  million  different  ways 
to  say  "GO!"  oil  over  trailers,  cut-outs  posters,  heralds,  and  accessories. 
"GO!"— Why,  we  eat  it,  breathe  it,  sleep  it.  We're  in  business  to  make  people 
"GO"  to  see  pictures,  and  we  do  it,  too.  Our  trade  mark  should  really  be  a 
green  light.  We  make  people  accelerate,  advance,  progress,  proceed— "GO"  to 
your  box  office,  opening  purses,  removing  rubber  bands  from  wallets,  jingling 
coins,  peeling  off  long  greens.  So  sign  up  with  us  and  have  a  "GO"  at  a 
lot  of  new  business.  Brother,  that's  what  makes  this  business  "GO!" 


nmiouMCmCie^  SERVICE 


'Pfi/Z£  BfiBY  OF  THEinDUSTRY 


PICTURE 


REVIEWS 

{In  Product  Digest) 

Passage  io  Marseille 

See  Here,  Private  Hargrove 

Chip  OfF  the  Old  Block 

Curse  of  the  Cat  People 

Action  in  Arabia 

The  Ghost  That  Walks  Alone 


OP 


TRADE  PRACTICE  RULE  PUT 
UP  TO  SUPREME  COURT 

Crescent  appeal  seeks  to  bring  first 
definitive  ruling  on  big  issues 

INDEPENDENTS  SAY  GIVE 
OR  CO  TO  TRIAL 

Exhibitor  units  ask  court  action  if 
further  concessions  are  refused 

RANK  MAKES  TRIPLE  PASS  AT 
BRITISH  DISTRIBUTION  IN  U.S. 

Eagle-Lion  Films,  Inc.,  is  projected 
while  deals  with  majors  are  sought 

STUDIO  UNIONS  ASK  PRODUCERS 
5%  FOR  NEW  BENEFIT  FUND 

Labor  leaders  leave  Hollywood  with 
plans  for  three  way  meeting  in  East 


VOL.  154.  NO.  8 


FEBRUARY  19,  1944 


itu  ,  .'li  J  ,  iu,' •  .  .  i   '        <'   ut,  at  New  i     I.   i_  li.v,  U.S.A.,  under  the  act  <rf  March  J,   1879.  Fub- 

hed  weekly  by  Qmgley  yubtishing  Co..  Inc.,  at  U'70  Si.ith  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  20,  N.  Y.  Subscription  prices-  $S.OO 
year  in  the  Americas,  $10. iK)  j  year  Foreign.    Single  copy,  25  cents.    All  contents  copyright  1944  by  Quiyley  Publishing  Company. 


TKEj-$TORY:     Yank  meets  Miss 

-  and  ends  like  this: 

THE  BldjSINESS:   ''Something  to  sing  about!' 

■  '•^■■"^  -  ■     ■  (Opening  at  Capitol,  N.  Y.  tops  "A  Guy  Named  Joe" 

and  it's  doing  sensational  176%  business  nationwide!) 

"TMn      r^DCr^lXQ*    Robert  Taylor,  Susan  Peters  in  "Song  of  Russia" 
I  n  C     \^  l\  C  L/  I  I  O  •    with  John  Hodiak,  Robert  Benchley  and  Felix 

Bressart.  Screen  Play  by  Paul  Jarrico,  Richard 
Collins.  Directed  by  Gregory  RatofF.  Produced 
by  Joseph  Pasternak.    An  M-G-M  Picture. 

(Sure  it's  one  of  M-G-M's  Starrific  Group  "Vitamin  12") 

"Remember/  March  15r/v  Deadline  for  Honored  Hundred  Bond  Reports  to  State  Chairmen! 


a6  Q^a^^,  Me=/)e{W^sc/ 


VITH  THIS 
tEMAHKABLE 
WPPPORTING  CAST: 


TO 

BY  THE  AUTHORS  OF  'MUTINY  BOUNTY' 
STARTED  ITS  FIRST  EXTENDED  RUN 
WEDNESDAY  AT  THE  HOLLYWOOD,  NY. 
. . .  AGAIN  AN  ATTRACTION  IN  WHICH 
IS  COMBINED  THE"GOOD  CITIZENSHIP 


AND  GOOD  PICTURE  MAKING"*  OF 


*N.  y.  TIMES 


mm  B  mi  IS  pbomimi 


Screen  Plov  bv  C.n<.p.\i  Rohiirinn  !>.  Inrlt  Mnfflu  •  Frnm 


Directed  by 

LEWIS  MILESTONE 


MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD 


COLVIN  BROWN,  Publisher 


Vol.  154,  No.  8 


MARTIN  QUIGLEY 
President  and  Editor-in-Chief 


OP 


TERRY  RAMSAYE,  Editor 


February  19,  1944 


RULE  by  COURT 

THE  appeal  by  which  the  Crescent  Amusement  Company, 
et  al,  carry  the  issues  of  various  trade  practices  to  the 
United  States  Supreme  Court  challenges  a  broad  and 
acute  interest  across  this  industry. 

It  is  in  effect  a  demand  for  a  final  adjudication  of  problems 
which  have  been,  and  continue,  elsewhere  in  a  process  of 
legalistic  negotiation. 

The  appeal  is  based  on  no  contentions  about  or  against  the 
Sherman  Act  as  the  law  of  the  land.  It  does  ask.  in  substance, 
how  far  interpreted  derivations  may  extend  in  the  control  of 
the  manner  in  which  an  enterprise  may  do  business. 

The  appellant  Crescent  by  the  decree  of  the  trial  court,  it 
is  to  be  remembered,  is  under  an  order  which  requires  sub- 
mission to  and  approval  by  the  court  for  various  sorts  of  opera- 
tions and  transactions  in  which  it  may  be  concerned  in  the 
operation  of  the  business.  The  legality  of  such  continued 
surveillance  is  at  issue. 

This  action  may  or  may  not  make  history.  Of  course,  the 
fact  is  that  recent  expressions  from  assorted  alignments  within 
the  Supreme  Court  have  indicated  doubtings  there  about 
what  kind  of  history  it  has  been  making.  If,  however,  significant 
outcome  is  had,  it  will  be  significant  for  the  whole  world  of 
American  industry. 

AAA 

A BRAVE  little  volume  in  red,  entitled  "The  Command 
is  Forward",  and  presenting  the  essence  of  about  a 
dozen  speeches  across  the  nation  on  and  in  behalf  of 
the  motion  picture  in  peace  and  war,  by  Mr.  Francis  Harmon, 
executive  vice-chairman  of  the  War  Activities  Committee,  went 
into  circulation  among  personages  of  the  industry  and  else- 
where this  week.  It  is  a  document  of  exciting  interest,  cheer- 
ful, sometimes  gay  and  always  in  earnest.  It  makes  a  handsome 
representation  of  the  motion  picture  and  the  spirit  of  the 
industry  without  an  air  of  special  pleading.  Mr.  Harmon  is 
full  of  a  cause,  but  he  works  with  facts.  This  slander  book  is 
a  unique  contribution. 

AAA 

REMEMBERING  EDISON 

AHUNDRED-AND-ODD  members  of  the  Edison  Pioneers 
gathered  at  luncheon  in  the  north  ballroom  of  the 
Astor,  where  the  classic  carytids  look  down,  to  honor 
Thomas  Alva  Edison  and  the  tradition  to  which  they,  too, 
pertain  on  the  occasion  of  the  ninety-seventh  anniversary  of 
his  birth,  Friday  last. 

There  was  much  that  was  said  of  Mr.  Edison's  founding  of 
the  principle  that  has  empowered  this  era  of  electronics,  in  his 
discovery  of  "the  Edison  effect",  and  related  matters.  The 
"Effect"  was  the  electronic  discharge  to  be  observed  in  the 
early  incandescent  lamps.  His  ground  work  in  sound  and  radio's 


kr 


"etheric  force",  and  the  motion  picture,  came  into  the  telling. 
It  was  a  pleasant  recital  of  achievement  and  appreciations. 

Among  some  of  the  greying  men  about  the  tables  there  was 
a  remembering  of  the  tedious  years  of  struggle.  Edison  is 
>opularly  remembered  only  as  a  man  of  the  laboratory.  Few 
„now  of  the  battles  of  the  courts  in  the  endless  wars  with  the 
pirates  and  infringers.  There  was  no  important  invention  that 
did  not  bring  attack  from  the  predators.  In  the  case  of  the 
incandescent  lamp  it  was  the  opinion  of  his  chief  attorney  that 
Edison  spent  so  much  defending  his  patent  that  his  only  profit 
was  in  the  manufacture  of  lamps  under  his  own  license.  He 
did  not  prosper  long  as  a  picture  maker  either.  Had  he  not 
been  able  to  create  faster  than  it  could  be  taken  away  from 
him  he  would  have  died  insolvent.  He  left  enough  to  make 
about  four  "A"  pictures — and  fame  for  the  ages. 

,  A    A  A 

THE  free  press  still  lives.  An  editor  has  made  a  decision. 
The  New  Yorker,  smart  metropolitan  weekly  with 
national  circulation,  has  informed  its  contributors  that 
the  publication  will  not  renew  its  agreement  permitting 
The  Readers  Digest  to  reprint  its  material.  The  principal 
objection  is  stated  to  be  against  the  Digest's  growing 
influence  on  the  art  of  publication  by  originating  material  said 
to  be  placed  with  other  magazines  to  be  subsequently  reprinted. 
The  letter  to  authors  says  it  is  "a  threat  to  the  free  flow  of 
ideas  and  to  the  independent  spirit".  It  is  signed  "The 
Editors",  which  means  Mr.  Harold  Ross,  founder  and  journalist, 
a  vigorous  person  from  the  Sierras  with  a  militant  haircut. 

AAA 

THE  swart  natives  of  the  Belgian  Congo  and  Ruanda-Urundi 
are  not  admitted  to  picture  shows,  except  for  occasional, 
specially  selected  programs.  The  idea  seems  to  be  that 
it  is  just  as  well  not  to  inform  the  blacks  too  completely  about 
the  foibles  of  the  whites.  It  is  not  so  many  years  ago  that 
there  were  speeches  in  Parliament  on  the  subject  of  the  dis- 
semination of  ideas  about  the  people  of  the  Occident  among 
the  tawny  and  yellow  people  of  Asia.  Now  the  problem  of 
the  white  man's  "face"  is  more  a  matter  of  arms  than  of 
cinema,  around  the  world. 

AAA 

Our  Fifty-fourth  Street  observer  says  that  every  time  he 
has  seen  Mr.  John  D.  Rockefeller  taking  a  walk  in  his  side  yard 
and  peering  through  the  wicker  fence  into  the  back  garden  of 
the  Museum  of  Modern  Art  something  changes.  Last  summer 
there  was  a  statue  of  a  robust  and  utterly  unclad  hero  of  such 
decided  masculinity  that  passersby  used  to  rub  their  eyes  in 
wonder.  Mr.  Rockefeller  looked  a  moment  one  day  and  at 
3:00  A.  M.  a  large  dray  and  crane  arrived  and  the  site  was 
vacant  at  the  dawn.  The  most  recent  manifestation  was  with 
an  open-air  display  of  the  strange  geometric  esoterics  of  the 
wire-and-scrap-iron  sculptor,  Mr.  Alexander  Calder.  Its  vibrat- 
ing triangles,  polygons  and  rhomboids  arrested  Mr.  Rocke- 
feller's eye.  Again  it  was  gone  come  the  dawn.  Just 
coincidences,    no   doubt.  — Terry  Kamsaye 


8 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February     19,  1944 


THIS  WEEK  IN  THE  NEWS 


lATSE  studio  unions  seek  retirement  bene- 
fit fund  Page  14 

SUPREME  Court  may  decide  industry's 
trade  practice  issues  Page  15 

GIVE  more  or  go  to  trial,  exhibitors'  verdict 
on  decree  Page  16 

ON  THE  MARCH— Red  Kann  discusses 
new  Hollywood  Alliance  Page  26 

J.  ARTHUR  RANK  starts  triple  play  for 
United  States  market  Page  33 

SERVICE  DEPARTMEN 

Hollywood  Scene  Page  39 

In  the  Newsreels  Page  56 

Managers'  Round  Table  Page  59 

IN  PRODUCT  DIGEST  SECTION 

Showmen's  Reviews  Page  176! 

Short  Subjects  Page  1 762 

Advance  Synopses  Page  1763 


RANK   seeks    "significance"   in  pictures 
which  he  produces  Page  34 

SKOURAS  cites  Bond  drive  cooperation  of 
Treasury  and  industry  Page  37 

ARMY  and  Navy  competing  on  booking 
of  incentive  films  Page  38 

MONOGRAM  Pictures  to  deliver  forty- 
four  features  this  season  Page  43 

RAW  stock  quota  to  remain  the  same  for 
quarter,  WPB  officials  say  Page  46 

TS 

Picture  Grosses  Page  58 

Shorts  on  Broadway  Page  55 

What  the  Picture  Did  for  Me  Page  52 

Short  Subjects  Chart  Page  1764 

Service  Data  Page  1766 

The  Release  Chart  Page  1767 


Camera  Shy 

Land  an  Bureau 

GENERAL  DWIGHT  EISENHOWER, 
Supreme  Commander,  Second  Front,  asks 
for  it.  At  a  talk  he  held  with  press  cor- 
respondents accredited  to  Second  Front  op- 
erations he  called  for  all  photographers  and 
newsreel  cameramen. 

"I  want  to  warn  you  men,"  he  said,  "Lay 
off  me  until  you  give  me  notice.  You've 
been  jumping  out  of  doorways  [deleted  by 
censor].  The  civil  populace  thinks  it's  a 
mobster  holdup.  What's  more  important  is 
that  you  get  damned  bad  pictures  of  me. 
Tell  my  press  officers.  They'll  always  make 
a  date  for  me  and  your  cameras." 

"We'll  make  a  'Monty'  out  of  him  yet," 
was  the  savagely  unanimous  view  of  Anglo- 
American  cameramen. 

"Monty,"  General  Sir  Bernard  Law  Mont- 
gomery, is  the  cameramen's  delight.  He  al- 
ways wants  his  picture  taken. 


Busy  Stars 

FORTY  shows  a  day  was  the  average  of 
performances  and  special  appearances  con- 
tributed by  screen  talent  through  the  Holly- 
wood Victory  Committee  during  the  second 
year  of  operation  for  the  central  clearing 
house  for  wartime  personal  appearances. 
The  committee  released  its  second  annual 
■report  this  week.    It  showed: 

A  total  of  1,526  screen  personalities  made 
a  total  of  12,619  appearances  in  2,197  sepa- 
rate events  during  1943.  Overseas  tours  to 
battlefronts  and  U.  S.  bases  were  made  by 
49  players.  Mexico  and  Canada  were  toured 
by  90  more  and  128  stars  made  extended 
camp  tours  in  this  country. 

Other  camp  performances  were  given  by 
615  performers.  Also  277  stars  made  radio 
broadcasts  for  the  Victor^'  committee,  764 
cut  transcriptions  and  384  made  personal  ap- 
pearances at  rallies  and  theatres.  Sixteen 
stars  appeared  in  special  film  shorts. 


Good  Will  Hour 

ENCOURAGED  by  the  success  of  a  study 
group  which  it  inaugurated  this  year  among 
club  women  at  New  York  the  Motion  Pic- 
ture Producers  and  Distributors  of  America 
is  making  plans  to  extend  next  year  to 
younger  women's  groups  its  program  to  en- 
courage the  study  and  discussion  of  film 
arts. 

Renting  the  Preview  theatre  in  New  York 
one  Monday  morning  a  "month,  Arthur  De 
Bra,  research  director  of  the  MPPDA,  has 
been  introducing  film  executives  to  the  wom- 
en to  explain  the  functions  of  the  many 
branches  of  the  industry.  A  feature  pre- 
view and  reels  from  illustrative  past  pictures 
are  exhibited.  The  guests  are  encouraged 
to  review  pictures  with  a  "professional 
touch"  for  their  respective  clubs  and  publi- 
cations. 

Speakers  scheduled  by  Mr.  De  Bra  have 


included  Leo  Lipp,  Paramount  cameraman; 
Sigmund  Spaeth,  music  director;  Russell 
Holman,  Paramount;  Jacob  Wilk,  Warners, 
and  Quincy  Howe,  who  spoke  on  story  ma- 
terials. Their  audiences  were  representa- 
tive of  the  Federation  of  Women's  Clubs, 
Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution,  In- 
ternational Federation  of  Catholic  Alumnae, 
Society  of  New  England  Women,  National 
Board  of  Review,  Hadassah,  National  Coun- 
cil of  Jewish  Women,  and  American  Library 
Association. 


"Eyre  "  Out 

"JANE  EYRE"  is  being  withdrawn  from 
circulation. 

But  it  is  not  Twentieth  Century-Fox's 
Orson  Welles  opus;  it  is  Monogram's  1934 
feature  starring  Virginia  Bruce.  Tuesday 
Monogram  announced  it  had  instructed  ex- 
changes to  withdraw  the  film  because  it 
felt  that  to  reissue  the  picture  at  this  time 
"would  be  unethical." 

Twentieth  Century-Fox  need  not  worry 
about  the  remaining  competitive  "Jane 
Eyre."  That  film  was  made  by  the  Hodkin- 
son  company  in  1921. 


Passes  Passes 

EXHIBITORS  of  San  Francisco,  as  is 
their  custom  when  the  city  elects  a  new 
Mayor,  sent  the  newly-elected  municipal 
head  of  government,  Roger  D.  Lapham, 
millionaire  steamship  line  executive,  courtesy 
passes  to  their  theatres.  Mayor  Lapham 
passed  up  the  passes,  returning  them  to  the 
exhibitors  with  a  polite  "thank  you"  note. 


Family  Party 

IN  April  the  industry  celebrates  its  50th 
anniversary;  the  Loew  circuit  observes  its 
40th  anniversary — but  "Mom"  Moskowitz 
February  21  will  gather  her  clan  for  her 
80th  anniversary ! 

The  birthday  party,  set  for  the  Moskowitz 
manor  in  Kew  Gardens,  Long  Island,  will 
bring  together  a  film  birthday  convention 
worthy  of  a  script. 

"Mom"  Moskowitz,  hale  and  hearty  and 
still  remembering  the  days  when  there  were 
no  films,  is  the  mother  of  the  industry's  nu- 
merous Moskowitz  boys — Charlie,  Harry, 
Arthur,  Martin  and  Joe.  She  has  seen,  with 
twinkling,  understanding  eyes,  her  five  sons 
grow  up  and  with  them  the  industry. 

Once  or  twice  a  week,  "Mom"  sees  a 
picture  in  her  own,  private  projection  room 
at  home.  She  probably  sees  through  the 
screen  each  time  and  traces  the  careers  of 
her  boys.  She  has  seen  them  lift  themselves 
from  the  East  Side  melting  pot  to  leading 
and  respected  positions  in  the  motion  pic- 
ture industry,  and  she  remains  the  planet 
about  whom  their  lives  revolve. 

Today  Charles  is  a  vice-president  of 
Loew's,  Inc.;  Harry  is  Loew's  engineering 
and  construction  chief;  Arthur,  the  only 
non-theatrical  brother,  is  in  the  carpeting 
and  furnishing  business;  Martin,  the  young- 
est, is  executive  assistant  to  William  Kup- 
per,  20th  Century-Fox  sales  chief;  and  Jo- 
seph is  eastern  production  representative 
for  20th  Century-Fox.  The  three  Mosko- 
witz daughters,  Mrs.  Pearl  Scopp,  Mrs. 
Hannah  Snyder  arid  Mrs.  Mae  Harris,  with 
their  children,  also  will  join  the  family 
party  Monday. 


February    19,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 
f 


9 


Missionary 

YANK,  the  Army  Weekly,  recently  had  a 
tale  to  tell  of  a  theatrical-missionary  on  far- 
away Ascension  Island.  He  is  Tech.  Ser- 
geant Lew  Kerner,  who  was  once  associated 
with  the  William  Morris  Agency  in  the 
radio  and  theatre  business  in  Hollywood, 
and  who  is  now  travelling  the  theatres  of 
war  arranging  soldier  shows  and  helping  to 
produce  them  at  isolated  outposts.  On  As- 
cension Island  he  ran  into  difficulties.  After 
choosing  his  staff  he  found  most  of  his  cast 
were  on  K.P.  He  needed  a  woman's  outfit 
for  a  soldier  comic.  All  the  nurses  on  hand 
were  male.  But  the  Sergeant  learned  that 
a  civilian  woman  had  arrived  on  the  latest 
plane.  Tie  sought  her  cooperation,  but  dis- 
covered all  her  extra  clothing  was  in  the 
baggage  aboard  the  plane.  So  he  arranged 
a  swap  and  the  woman  was  on  hand  at  the 
evening  performance  attired  in  an  Army 
uniform  and  a  GI  paraded  the  makeshift 
stage  in  the  dress  she  had  been  wearing. 
The  Sergeant  is  quoted  as  saying  that  GIs 
"can  put  on  good  shows  anytime,  anywhere, 
from  their  own  talent,  and  have  a  helluva 
lot  of  fun  doing  it." 


Conversion 

THE  OPERA  House  at  St.  John,  N.  B., 
which  in  the  past  has  been  known  as  the 
Rialto  and  again  as  the  Princess,  is  on  the 
way  to  becoming  a  shelter.  The  house  has 
been  dark  for  the  past  six  years,  with  local 
exhibitors  paying  the  rent  to  prevent  its  use 
as  a  cut-rate  picture  house.  Now  a  shipyard 
workers'  union  would  like  to  see  it  converted 
into  living  quarters  for  members  of  the 
union  and  their  families,  a  proposal  involv- 
ing partitioning  the  orchestra,  balcony  and 
stage  into  apartments,  and  the  establishment 
of  sanitary  facilities  for  each. 


Russia  on  Broadway 

WITH  "Three  Russian  Girls,"  United  Art- 
ists release,  playing  at  the  New  York  Pal- 
ace, Broadway  film  fans  who  wanted  to 
learn  about  Russia  fast  weekend  could  take 
their  pick  of  three  features  either  made  in, 
or  about  Russia,  which  were  playing  first 
run  Times  Square  screens. 

"North  Star,"  the  Samuel  Goldwyn  pro- 
duction, released  through  RKO  Radio,  is 
still  playing  at  the  Victoria  and  is  now  in 
its  16th  week.  The  film  recently  vacated  the 
Palace  following  a  nine-week  run,  which 
then  housed  "Three  Russian  Girls,"  pro- 
duced by  Eugene  Frenke  and  Gregor  Rabin- 
ovitch.  The  UA  release  is  the  first  Holly- 
wood-made remake  of  a  Russian  film,  "Girl 
from  Leningrad,"  which  was  released  in  the 
U.  S.  in  September,  1941,  by  Artkino  Pic- 
tures, distributors  of  Soviet  product. 

At  the  Capitol,  MGM  is  offering  "Song 
of  Russia,"   starring   Robert   Taylor  and 


Susan  Peters.  The  Stanley  theatre,  another 
first  run  theatre  for  Soviet  films,  is  playing 
Russian  shorts  with  "Ravaged  Earth." 

Anna  Sten,  wife  of  Mr.  Frenke,  stars  in 
"Three  Russian  Girls."  According  to  re- 
ports, when  "Girl  from  Leningrad"  first  ar- 
rived in  the  U.  S.,  MGM  offered  Artkino 
$150,000  for  the  remake  rights  with  the 
idea  of  starring  Greta  Garbo. 

On  February  24,  "No  Greater  Love,"  first 
Russian  film  dubbed  in  English,  will  open 
at  the  Victoria  at  an  invitation  premiere 
sponsored  by  the  American  Women's  Vol- 
untary Services  of  Greater  New  York. 
Members  of  the  sponsoring  committee  in- 
clude :  Mrs.  Julius  Ochs  Adler,  Mrs.  Vin- 
cent Astor,  Mrs.  George  F.  Baker,  Mrs. 
Marshall  Field,  Mrs.  Bernard  F.  Gimbel, 
Mrs.  Ogden  Mills,  Miss  Ruth  Vanderbilt 
Twombley  and  Grover  A.  Whalen. 


All  Going  Out 

HANDS  around  the  world  from  Hollywood 
to  Moscow,  arranged  via  the  National 
Broadcasting  Company's  short  wave  facili- 
ties failed  to  join  as  advertised  Saturday 
on  an  elaborate  exchange  program  between 
U.  S.  and  Soviet  musicians  and  cinema  art- 
ists. "Atmospheric  conditions"  made  it  im- 
possible for  NBC  to  pick  up  Moscow. 

Russia's  two  foremost  composers,  Shosta- 
kovich and  Prokofieff,  and  screen  stars, 
Federova,  Orlova,  Lemeshov  and  Chirkov 
and  the  Red  Army  chorus  were  supposed  to 
have  sent  greetings  from  Moscow. 

Hollywood's  part  went  on  the  airwaves 
unhindered,  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Academy  of  Motion  Picture  Arts  and  Sci- 
ences and  the  Hollywood  Writers  Mobiliza- 
tion. Orson  Welles  was  master  of  cere- 
monies, and  Edward  G.  Robinson  read 
friendly  greetings  from  "America's  motion 
picture  industry  to  film  makers  in  Russia." 
Rosalind  Russell,  Frances  Langford,  and 
Dinah  Shore  were  on  the  program.  Thomas 
Peluso,  Yehudi  Menuhin  and  John  Charles 
Thomas  contributed  the  music. 

Wednesday  NBC  was  still  cabling  Mos- 
cow to  find  out  if  its  end  of  the  program  had 
got  through,  and  if  so,  to  whom. 


Canadians  Meet 

THREE  employees  of  Famous  Players 
Canadian  Corporation  who  are  now  in  the 
RAF  have  been  reunited  in  a  prison  camp 
in  Germany. 

Jack  Armstrong,  of  the  Royal  theatre, 
Guelph,  and  Lloyd  Christmas  from  Hamil- 
ton, Ont.,  found  themselves  assigned  to  the 
same  bomber  in  England  not  long  ago,  just 
before  it  took  off  on  a  mission  over  Ger- 
many. Shot  down,  they  both  parachuted  to 
safety  but  were  imprisoned. 

Joseph  Loree,  also  of  Guelph,  who  had 
crashed  in  Italy,  escaped,  and  was  recaptured, 
joined  them  a  few  days  later. 


Nine  Missions  to  Go 

SERGEANT-Pilot  William  Alfred  Charles 
Pay,  21-year-old  RAF  captain  of  a  Lan- 
caster four-engined  bomber  who,  between 
the  ages  of  14  and  17  was  a  junior  assistant 
in  Motion  Picture  Herald's  London  Bu- 
reau, has  completed  his  21st  combat  mis- 
sion in  night  raids  over  Germany.  Nine 
more  such  raids  under  his  captaincy  and 
the  RAF  grounds  the  Lancaster  and  her 
crew.  The  London  Bureau  is  keeping  its 
fingers  crossed. 


Philanthropist 

THE  some  250,000  "spastic"  children,  vic- 
tims of  injuries  received  at  birth  or  shortly 
thereafter  who  face  lifelong  handicaps,  have 
a  champion  in  Jane  Pickens,  the  vocalist  of 
screen,  radio  and  stage.  Miss  Pickens  has 
announced  her  retirement  as  an  entertainer 
to  devote  all  her  time  to  the  establishment  of 
a  hospital  in  Boston  and  the  care  of  the 
child  victims.  Her  decision  cost  her  thou- 
sands of  dollars  in  screen  and  radio  con- 
tracts. Henceforth  she  will  perform  only  at 
benefits  designed  to  raise  money  for  the 
hospital  and  its  maintenance.  The  Boston 
Variety  Club,  whose  members  have  often 
given  their  time  and  efforts  to  the  infants 
and  children  hospitals,  have  pledged  their 
aid  to  Miss  Pickens.  She  announced  her 
plans  at  a  recent  conference  of  doctors  in 
the  east. 


Kegler  Harry 

HARRY  M.  WARNER'S  day  at  the  stu- 
dio was  leavened  with  nostalgia  recently 
when  he  received  a  clipping  from  the 
Youngstown  (Ohio)  Daily  Vindicator. 
Under  the  heading  "40  Years  Ago  Today" 
the  clipping  read:  "Newcastle  Notes  (his 
home  town)  :  The  second  in  a  series  of 
bowling  matches  between  the  Manson 
brothers  and  the  Warner  brothers  gives  H. 
and  R.  Manson  949  and  A.  and  H.  Warner 
926. 


Alaskan  Warm  Spell 

"NO  Shows  Until  the  Weather  Moderates 
to  Temperature  of  35  Below  or  Less"  is 
the  sign  which  the  manager  of  the  Army's 
Orpheum  theatre,  somewhere  on  the  Alaska 
Highway  hangs  on  his  door  during  a  cold 
snap.  It  has  been  in  frequent  use  during  a 
winter  which  has  seen  temperatures  as  low 
as  60  degrees  below  zero  for  days  at  a 
time.  But  the  shows  go  on  whenever  pro- 
jectors and  theatres  can  be  thawed  out  to 
a  "reasonable"  temperature,  according  to 
Captain  Richard  L.  Neuberger,  who  writes 
about  the  Highway  in  the  Saturday  Evening 
Post.  He  pays  tribute  to  the  importance  of 
films  in  keeping  up  the  morale  of  troops 
along  the  road. 


MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD,  published  every  Saturday  by  Quigley  Publishing  Connpany,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  City,  20.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100;  Coble  address  "Ouigpubco, 
New  York."  Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Terry  Ramsaye,  Editor;  Jannes  D.  Ivers,  News  Editor; 
Roy  Gallagher,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Avenue,  Chicago,  5;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Building,  Hollywood,  28,  William  R.  Weaver, 
editor;  Toronto  Bureau,  242  Millwood  Road,  Toronto,  Ontario,  Canada,  W.  M.  Gladish,  correspondent;  Montreal  Bureau,  265  Vitre  St.,  West,  Montreal,  Canada,  Pat  Donovan, 
correspondent;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Square,  London  W  I,  Hope  Williams  Burnup,  manager;  Peter  Burnup,  editor;  cable  Quigpubco  London;  Melbourne  Bureau,  The  Regent 
Theatre,  191  Collins  St.,  Melbourne,  Australia,  Cliff  Holt,  correspondent;  Sydney  Bureau,  17  Archbold  Rd.,  Roseville,  Sydney,  N.S.W.,-  Australia,  Lin  Endean,  correspondent; 
Mexico' City  Bureau,  Dr.  Carmona  y  Valle  6,  Mexico  City,  Luis  Becerra  Celis,  correspondent;  Buenos  Aires  Bureau,  J.  E.  Uriburi  126,  Buenos  Aires,  Argentina,  Natalio  Bruski, 
correspondent-  Rio  de  Janeiro  Bureau,  R.  Sao  Jose,  61,  C.  Postal  834,  Rio  de  Janeiro,  Brazil,  Alfredo  C.  Machado,  correspondent;  Montevideo  Bureau,  P.  O.  Box  664,  Montevideo, 
Uruguay,  Paul  Bodo,  correspondent;  'cable  Argus  Montevideo.  Member  Audit  Bureou  of  Circulations.  All  contents  copyright  1944  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company.  Address 
all  correspondence  to  the  New  York  Office.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Better  Theatres,  Motion  Picture  Daily,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  and  Fame. 


10 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    19.    I  944 


THIS  WEEK  the  Camera  reports: 


BETTY  GRABLE.  No.  I  in  the  Famous  Ten,  annual  MARTIN  QUIGLEY  presents  the  Motion  Picture  Herald-Fame  scroll  to  Louis 
exhibitor  poll  of  the  Money-Making  Stars,  1943.         B.  Mayer,  vice-president  of  MGM,  who  accepts  for  Capt.  Clark  Gable,  No.  10. 


February     IS,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


Awards  to  Money-Making  Stars 


C  Winners  of  the  Money-Making 
Stars  poll  for  1943  conducted  by 
Motion  Picture  Herald  and  Fame, 
received  scrolls  designating  their 
honors  last  week  in  Hollywood.  On 
these  pages  are  pictured  some  of  the 
presentations. 


GREER  GARSON,  Star  No.  6. 


MICKEY  ROONEY  shows  his  scroll — for  ninth  position — to  Clarence  Brown,  direc- 
tor of  "National  Velvet,"  Rooney's  new  one  now  in  work. 


HAL  B.  WALLIS,  Cham- 
pion producer  for  1942- 
43  with  seven,  highest  aVi- 
nual  total  since  "Fame's" 
ratings  were  instituted, 
with  Michael  Curtiz, 
Champion  director  for  the 
same  period  in  which  he 
directed  four. 


W.  RAY  JOHNSTON,  president  of  Mono- 
gram, and  Johnny  Mack  Brown,  No.  5 
among  Western  players. 


GROUP  shot  of  four  of  "The  Famous  Westerners,"  all  appearing  in 
Republic  pictures.  Standing,  left  to  right,  Don  "Red"  Barry,  who  rated 
eighth;  William  R.  Weaver,  the  Herald's  Hollywood  editor,  who  made 
the  presentations;  Al  Wilson,  vice-president  in  charge  of  studio  manage- 
ment for  Republic;  Roy  Rogers,  No.  I  Western  Star.  Seated  are  Wild 
Bill  Elliott,  No.  9;  and  George  "Gabby"  Hayes,  No.  4. 


12 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    19,     I  944 


By  S^taff  fholographer 


J.  ARTHUR  RANK,  British  film  magnate,  and  Hope  Williams  Burnup, 
London  manager  of  Quigley  Publications,  at  a  cocktail  party 
honoring  Phil  Reisman,  RKO  foreign  sales  manager,  in  London. 
Mr.  Rank's  latest  activities  in  the  American  market 
are  reported  on  page  33. 


ARTHUR  KELLY,  who  opened 
New  York  offices  this  week  for  Mr.  Rank's 
varied  interests.  See  page  33. 


By  Staff  Photographer 

AT  UNIVERSAL'S  luncheon,  last  week  in  New  York, 
to  Walter  Wanger,  producer  of  "Sung  Ho!",  and 
Charles  Moss,  operator  of  the  Criterion,  where  it  is 
playing.  Above,  Mr.  Moss  and  Mr.  Wanger, 
and  Universal  sales  vice-president  William  A.  Scully. 


COCKTAILS  were  served  at  the  party  given  by 
Mrs.  N.  Peter  Rathvon,  wife  of  RKO's  president,  to 
Margo,  actress,  at  Giro's,  Mexico  City.  Above, 
Max  Gomez,  local  RKO  manager;  Mrs.  Rathvon, 
Margo  and  Mrs.  Gomez;  Charles  Woram,  of  New  York. 


EXHIBITORS  at  the  New  Jersey  Allied  luncheon: 
Morris  Spewak,  Carteret;  David  Mate,  Little  Falls; 
Ralph  Wilkins,  South  Jersey. 


By  Staff  Photographer 

LEGISLATIVE  LUNCHEON,  held  by  New  Jersey  Allied's  board 
Monday  in  Trenton.  Above,  at  the  dais:  Si  Myers,  Trenton  exhibitor; 
Arthur  Magee,  Commissioner  of  Motor  Vehicles;  Howard  Eastwood, 
Senate  president;  Harry  Lowenstein,  Allied  president; 
Walter  Van  Riper,  Attorney  General;  Mrs.  Helen  Hlldlnger, 
Hildinger  circuit,  and  Vincent  Hanneman, 
Atlantic  County  Assemblyman. 


February    19.    I  944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


13 


BOND  SALESBABY.  Cheryl  Archer,  child  model 

who  will  appear  In  Columbia's  "Cover  Girl",  autographs 

a  picture  of  herself  after  selling  a  $50,000  Bond 

to  Hope  Hampton  (Mrs.  Jules  Brulatour),  In  New  York. 


Cosmo-Slleo 

EMBRACE,  at  the  Associated  Motion  Picture  Advertisers 
luncheon  at  the  Waldorf-Astoria,  New  York,  to  Louella  Parsons, 
Hearst  columnist.  The  principals:  Miss  Parsons  and 
Joe  E.  Brown,  newly  returned  from  USO  travels. 
The  spectator  Is  AM  PA  president  Vincent  Trotta. 


Bv  Staff  Photographer 

40TH  YEAR.   Nick  Tronolone,  vice-president 

and  sales  manager  of  Pathe  Laboratories,  this  Spring 

is  celebrating  two  score  years  In  the  industry. 

He  started  with  Biograph. 


PARTY.  At  the  party  given  Columbia  New  York  office 
telephone  operator  Rose  Hand,  on  her  20th  anniversary  with  the 
company:  Jack  Cohn,  vice-president;  Miss  Hand; 
A.  Montague,  general  sales  manager. 


ARTHUR  COLE.  Paramount 
Kansas  City  office  manager, 
who  was  tendered  a  banquet  at 
the  Muehlebach  Hotel,  Monday 
night,  marking  30  years 
In  the  industry. 


MANAGERS  of  Cincinnati's  first  runs  were  among  guests  last  week 

at  an  RKO  Radio  Pictures  -  radio  station  WLW  luncheon  at  which  the 

60-city  premiere  of  reissued  "Snow  White  and  the  Seven  Dwarfs"  was  discussed. 

Above,  Erwin  Bock,  Palace;  Elwood  Jones,  Capitol;  Joseph  Alexander,  Albee; 

William  Hastings,  Grand;  Ed  Reisenbeck,  Keltn;  Patrick  Hogan,  Lyric; 

James  Pendergast,  Shubert;  Fred  De  Laney,  Family. 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    19,     I  944 


lATSE  Studio  Unions 
Seek  Benefit  Fund 


Plan  Calls  for  Producers 
to  Tax  Themselves  5% 
of  Gross  Pay  Checks 

Hollywood  Bureau 

When  the  producers  sit  down  to  negotiate 
a  new  contract  with  the  lATSE  union 
chiefs  in  New  York  in  March  they  will  face 
a  $2,000,000  question  which  may  very  well 
become  a  $10,000,000  interrogation  point. 

This  is  brought  about  by  the  proposal 
advanced  by  11  lATSE  unions,  whose  10,- 
000  members  are  employed  in  the  studios, 
most  of  them  in  highly  skilled  technical 
lines,  for  a  "Retirement,  Vacation  and 
Health  Benefit  Fund,"  to  be  established  for 
the  union  members. 

The  proposal,  which  the  unions  have  laid 
before  the  producers'  representative,  Pat 
Casey,  demands  that  the  producers  tax  them- 
selves five  per  cent  of  the  gross  pay  checks 
they  hand  out  each  week  to  the  members  of 
the  11  unions. 

Would  Be  Paid  Into  Fund 
Controlled  by  Unions 

This  five  per  cent,  the  proposal  sets  forth, 
would  be  paid  into  a  fund  controlled  by  the 
unions  through  a  board  of  trustees  for  dis- 
tribution among  studio  workers  belonging 
to  those  unions  for  retirement,  vacation,  and 
health  benefits.  The  producers  would  be 
represented  in  the  disbursements  of  this  fund 
through  a  four-man  "advisory  committee." 

Delving  into  the  probable  costs  of  such  a 
plan,  it  is  found  that  the  average  weekly  pay 
of  lATSE  studio  employes,  exclusive  of 
sound  technicians  and  cameramen,  is  about 
$70.  When  soundmen  and  cameramen  are 
considered,  the  average  weekly  pay  check  ap- 
proximates.  $1 00. 

Considering  that  the  lATSE  claims  10,- 
000  studio  workers  as  members,  it  can  read- 
ily be  ascertained,  even  ly  discounting  this 
claim  10  per  cent  to  arrive  at  a  figure  of 
9,000  workers,  that  five  per  cent  of  $900,- 
000  weekly  is  $45,000  weekly  or  $2,340,000 
annually. 

Estimate  $11,700,000  Would 
Be  Paid  In  by  1949 

By  roughly  estimating  the  probable  costs 
of  such  a  plan,  based  on  the  proposal  that 
it  be  in  effect  from  January  1,  1944,  to  Jan- 
uary 1,  1949,  a  sum  of  approximately  $11,- 
700,000  would  be  paid  into  the  lATSE's 
"Retirement,  Vacation,  Health  Benefit 
Fund." 

In  addition  to  the  fund  plan,  each  union 
will  demand  a  wage  increase  of  about  15 
per  cent  for  all  workers  in  each  union  or 
job  classification  as  well  as  14  days'  vaca- 
tion with  pay  each  year  for  every  member 
working  1,600  hours  during  the  year  and 
seven  days'  vacation  for  each  member  work- 
ing 800  hours.  Sick  leave  with  pay  of  12 
days  annually,  cumulative  during  the  life 
of  the  contracL,  is  also  a  part  of  the  de- 
mands. 

The  11  lATSE  unions  asking  for  the  fund 


THREE  MEETINGS 
SET  FOR  MARCH 

The  three  "dates"  which  the  pro- 
ducers will  keep  with  labor  in  March 
are  as  follows: 

March  6,  in  New  York,  with  repre- 
sentatives of  1 1  studio  unions  of  the 
International  Alliance  of  Theatrical 
Stage  Employees. 

March  10,  in  New  York,  with  the 
Conference  of  Studio  Unions,  com- 
prising seven  AFL  studio  locals. 

March  13  or  14,  in  Newark,  N.  J., 
with  representatives  of  seven  AFL 
international  unions,  signatories  of 
the  studio  basic  labor  agreement  in 
behalf  of  their  locals. 


are  those  of  the  property-men,  grips,  set 
electricians,  soundmen,  projectionists,  film 
technicians,  makeup  artists,  costumers,  pho- 
tographers, utility  workers  and  cameramen. 

The  Conference  of  Studio  Unions,  com- 
prised of  seven  AFL  locals,  will  open  nego- 
tiations with  the  producers  in  New  York 
March  10.  They  will  ask  vacations  with 
pay,  sick  leave  with  pay,  adjustments  in 
some  job  classifications  calling  for  an  up- 
ward revision  of  wages  in  those  classifica- 
tions, and  a  10  per  cent  wage  differential  for 
night  shift  workers,  says  Herbert  Sorrell, 
president  of  the  CSU.  In  addition,  they 
will  seek  a  minimum  six-day  work  call  in 
place  of  the  six-hour  work  call  now  in  ef- 
fect. 

Basic  Agreement  Group 
Not  to  Ask  Rise  Now 

The  Studio  Basic  Agreement  group,  com- 
prised of  seven  AFL  international  unions 
with  a  studio  membership  of  close  to  7,000, 
does  not  plan  to  seek  any  wage  increase  at 
this  time.  What  they  may  do  if  the  wage 
stabilization  order  is  relaxed  or  the  "Little 
Steel  Formula"  scrapped  could  be  a  differ- 
ent story. 

At  present,  however,  these  unions,  which 
are  scheduled  to  convene  with  the  producers 
in  Newark,  N.  J.,  March  13  or  14,  will 
seek  some  improvements  in  working  condi- 
tions, adjustments  in  grievance  procedures, 
vacations  with  pay,  and  sick  leave  with  pay, 
according  to  officials  of  those  unions. 

The  AFL  international  unions  in  the  basic 
agreement  are  those  of  the  drivers,  electri- 
cians, musicians,  plasterers,  laborers,  carpen- 
ters and  culinary  workers. 


Plan  Ma  rine  Benefit 

Approximately  $10,000  is  expected  to  be 
raised  for  the  Marine  Corps  League  through 
the  sale  of  tickets  ranging  in  price  from  $3  to 
$50  for  a  special  preview  of  "Gung  Ho,"  at  the 
Palace  theatre,  Chicago,  February  25.  The 
benefit  was  arranged  through  Tom  Gorman,  dis- 
trict manager  of  RKO  theatres,  and  Ben  Katz, 
Chicago  director  of  publicity  for  Universal. 


Camden  Curfew 
Bans  Children 

All  Camden,  N.  J.,  film  houses  were  told 
Monday  night  that  effective  immediately  all 
children  under  the  age  of  14  were  to  be  barred 
from  all  shows,  regardless  of  the  hour  of  the 
day,  unless  accompanied  by  a  parent  or  an  adult. 
The  order  was  issued  by  David  S.  Rhone, 
Director  of  Public  Safety. 

The  Camden  county  prosecutor.  Gene  R. 
Mariano,  said  the  order  merely  invoked  a  33- 
year-old  law  never  enforced  before,  and  issued 
now  as  a  move  to  curb  juvenile  delinquency. 
He  said  that  the  order  would  be  enlarged  to 
take  in  all  of  Camden  County.  There  are  about 
20  houses  in  Camden  proper  and  as  many  in 
the  small  towns  outside  the  city  and  within  the 
county  limits. 

Mr.  Mariano  said  a  study  revealed  many  child 
offenses  started  in  the  theatres  and  must  be 
stopped.  Exhibitors  in  Camden  will  form  a 
committee  to  discuss  the  order  with  Mr.  Rhone, 
adding  that  if  it  were  rigidly  enforced  it  would 
cut  deeply  into  receipts  and  ruin  matinees,  par- 
ticularly Saturday  and  Sunday  matinees,  de- 
signed expressly  for  children. 

The  law  states  that  the  theatre  operator  is 
guilty  of  a  misdemeanor  for  violation  and  is 
subject  to  a  fine  not  exceeding  $100  for  each 
offense.  Mr.  Rhone  added  that  the  city  curfew 
law  calling  for  children  under  16  to  be  off  the 
streets  by  10  P.  M.  now  would  be  enforced. 


New  Plan  Checks 
Boston  Vandals 

Vandalism  in  Boston  theatres  is  at  an  end, 
according  to  a  survey  made  by  the  recentiy 
appointed  Police  Commissioner,  Colonel  Thomas 
D.  Sullivan. 

Colonel  Sullivan  immediately  upon  assum- 
ing office  called  into  consultation  many  of  the 
leading  theatre  men  and  arranged  with  them 
for  plans  to  overcome  the  sudden  wave  of 
vandalism. 

The  plan  suggested  by  Leonard  Kraska, 
manager  of  the  Dorchester  theatre,  found 
greatest  favor  and  has  had  the  best  results. 
Mr.  Kraska  with  the  consent  of  the  police  put 
into  effect  a  plan  whereby  the  young  hoodlums 
were  enlisted  as  police  officers  without  pay,  but 
with  actual  authority  and  responsibility. 

The  survey  last  week  disclosed  that  not  a 
single  theatre  in  downtown  or  suburban  Boston 
had  reported  a  case  of  vandalism  during  the 
last  two  weeks  and  that  even  such  minor  of- 
fences as  defacing  walls  of  public  rooms  had 
been  reduced  to  what  theatre  men  termed  "just 
the  normal  trend  of  a  certain  group  who  never 
will  be  entirely  wiped  out." 

Overtime  Pay  Averts 
New  York  Strike 

The  strike  threatened  by  New  York  exchange 
workers,  members  of  Local  B-51,  lATSE,  was 
averted  Monday  by  a  settlement  which,  while 
specific  terms  were  not  disclosed,  is  understood 
to  have  given  overtime  pay.  The  general  terms 
of  the  settlement,  as  reported,  are  that  ex- 
changes will  operate  on  a  five  day,  40  hour 
week,  instead  of  the  five  and  one  half  day  week ; 
however,  most  exchanges  will  stay  open  Satur- 
day mornings.  The  arrangement  applies  to  ex- 
changes in  all  31  exchange  centers. 

In  Chicago,  Local  B-45  was  to  meet  Friday 
evening  to  discuss  a  similar  proposal. 


Betty  Bell  in  Publicity  Unit 

Betty  Bell  has  been  appointed  to  the  staff  of 
the  Institute  of  Public  Relations  in  New  York, 
effective  March  1.  She  formerly  handled  film 
publicity  in  Boston. 


February    19,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


15 


SUPREME  COURT  MAY  DECIDE 
TRADE  PRACTICE  ISSUES 


Crescent  Trust  Decision 
Goes  to  High  Tribunal  as 
Briefs  Are  Filed 

Washington  Bureau 

Major  issues  of  industry  trade  practice 
may  hang  on  a  decision  of  the  United  States 
Supreme  Court  in  a  review  of  the  Crescent 
Amusement  Company's  anti-trust  conviction 
at  Nashville. 

The  case  went  to  the  highest  tribunal  last 
week  when  briefs  and  records  were  filed  in 
Washington.  Although  they  are  not  parties 
to  the  suit,  because  of  their  dismissal  at  the 
time  the  Consent  Decree  was  signed,  major 
film  distributors  are  watching  the  Crescent 
appeal  with  great  interest. 

The  broad  question  of  the  extent  of 
Government  power  to  regulate  film  trade 
practices  by  means  of  anti-trust  actions 
initiated  by  the  Department  of  Justice,  is 
raised  by  many  of  the  specific  points  on 
which  Crescent  and  its  affiliates  based 
their  appeal,  according  to  attorneys  who 
have  studied  the  brief. 

The  fight  of  distributors  to  choose  their 
customers  in  accord  with  justifiable  busi- 
ness practice,  an  exhibitor's  right  to  buy 
pictures  in  free  competition  with  other  ex- 
hibitors; the  legality  of  long  term  fran- 
chises; and  the  right  of  exhibitors  or  cir- 
cuits to  invest  in  other  theatre  operations 
are  among  the  issues  posed  by  the  Crescent 
Amusement  Company's  brief. 

"The  right  and  privilege  to  conduct  their 
business  in  a  lawful  and  proper  manner"  is 
at  issue  in  the  Nashville  decision.  Crescent 
and  its  affiliates  argued. 

Holding  that  the  Supreme  Court  has  full 
jurisdiction  to  consider  all  aspects  of  the 
appeal  from  the  decision  and  decree  of  Judge 
Elmer  D.  Davies  in  the  U.  S.  District  Court 
at  Nashville  the  circuit  contends  that  en- 
forcement of  the  requirements  of  the  Nash- 
ville decree  will  be  "to  take  away  from  ap- 
pellants and  give  to  distributors  a  very  de- 
cided advantage." 

Claim  No  Indication  of  Selling 
Due  to  Product  Shortage 

Attacking  the  decree  on  a  number  of 
grounds,  Crescent  pointed  out  that  the  Dis- 
trict Court  found  the  defendant  exhibitors 
had  acquired  certain  theatres  formerly  op- 
erated by  independents  "but  there  is  no  find- 
ing that  any  such  independent  exhibitor  sold 
out  because  of  a  shortage  of  product. 

"In  some  instances,"  the  Supreme  Court 
was  told,  "it  was  expressly  found  that  the 
prices  charged  by  the  distributors  for  films 
were  increased  when  competition  entered  the 
town  and  that  this  increase  in  cost  of  films 
was  one  reason  for  the  independent's  unwill- 
ingness to  continue  to  operate." 

Where  there  were  "sell-aways,"  it  was 
contended  the  films  were  licensed  to  the  de- 
fendant rather  than  the  independent  "be- 
cause it  was  better  business  to  do  so  wholly 
aside  from  the  question  of  making  a  circuit 
deal  for  other  towns.   For  example,  it  was 


explained,  "the  independent  usually  had  a 
very  inferior  theatre  and  in  many  cases  was 
financially  irresponsible  and  did  not  have  a 
record  of  complying  with  contract  terms." 

"Appellants  make  no  question  on  this  ap- 
peal as  to  the  applicability  of  the  Sherman 
Act  to  the  business  of  exhibiting  motion 
pictures,"  the  brief  continued. 

Contend  "Unfair  and  Improper" 
Requirement  Included 

"They  make  the  factual  defense  that  there 
was  no  evidence  of  conspiracy,  no  evidence 
of  coercion,  no  evidence  of  discrimination 
except  in  the  sense  of  choice  of  a  customer 
by  a  distributor  for  the  latter's  own  justi- 
fiable business  reasons,  and  no  evidence  of 
exclusion  of  any  independent  exhibitor  be- 
cause of  a  shortage  of  product.  There  was 
no  evidence  and  no  contention  by  plaintiff 
that  any  defendant  exhibitor  had  ever 
licensed  any  films  which  were  not  actually 
exhibited." 

Under  the  final  decree,  issued  May  17, 
1943,  it  was  argued,  an  ."unfair  and  improp- 
er" requirement,  "contrary  to  ordinary  prin- 
ciples of  equity  jurisprudence,"  is  included 
under  which,  while  each  defendant  exhibi- 
tor is  apparently  enjoined  from  refusing  to 
license  pictures  from  any  particular  distribu- 
tor in  non-competitive  situations  unless  the 
distributor  also  licenses  its  films  to  it  in  com- 
petitive situations,  the  distributors  are  left 
free  to  exercise  the  corresponding  leverage 
on  defendant  exhibitors.  They  could  be  re- 
quired to  take  pictures  for  every  theatre 
they  operate  in  order  to  get  films  for  any 
town  in  which  they  have  competition. 

Another  issue  raised  is  that  provision  of 
the  decree  enjoining  the  defendants  from 
making  franchises.  This,  it  is  contended,  is 
vague  in  language. 

Still  another  issue  is  the  requirement  that 
each  defendant  divest  itself  of  stock  owner- 
ship in  certain  affiliated  corporations. 

Say  Injunction  on  Franchises 
Should  Be  Clarified 

"The  question  of  the  legality  or  illegality 
per  se  of  franchises  is  an  important  one  for 
the  industry,"  the  brief  asserted.  "At  the 
present  time  pictures  are  being  sold  by  some 
of  the  distributors  in  blocks  of  five  because 
of  a  provision  in  a  consent  decree  signed  by 
these  distributors.  If  this  provision  should 
be  modified  and  the  distributors  should 
again  make  long  term  contracts  which  con- 
tain no  illegal  clauses  or  features,  appel- 
lants should  be  free  to  negotiate  on  this 
basis.  In  any  event,  the  injunction  as  to 
franchises  should  be  clarified  so  that  ap- 
pellants can  know  what  they  may  and  may 
not  legally  do. 

"The  requirement  that  defendant  exhibi- 
tors divest  themselves  of  stock  ownership  in 
each  other  (as  well  as  in  two  corporations 
which  were  not  even  made  defendants)  is 
not,  as  appellants  contend,  a  suitable  or  equi- 
table remedy  under  the  facts  in  this  case  but 
amounts  to  a  harsh  and  unnecessary  punish- 
ment. Assuming  that  there  are  practices  in 
the  motion  picture  industry  which  should 
be  remedied  or  corrected,  it  is  submitted 


that  this  is  not  the  equitable  or  proper  way 
to  do  it. 

"It  is  realized,"  the  brief  concluded,  "that 
the  questions  raised  are  questions  which 
would  ordinarily  be  determined  by  an  inter- 
mediate court  rather  than  by  the  Supreme 
Court.  However,  Congress  has  seen  fit  to 
enact  that  appeals  in  cases  of  this  character 
go  direct  to  the  Supreme  Court.  Under 
these  circumstances,  it  is  submitted  that  any 
question  which  would  ordinarily  be  substan- 
tial in  an  appeal  to  the  Circuit  Court  of 
Appeals  is  necessarily  substantial  where  the 
only  right  of  appeal  is  to  the  Supreme 
Court." 

Ordered  to  Answer  Newark 
Trust  Suit  Questions 

Ruling  that  general  denials  by  defendants  in 
the  anti-trust  suit  brought  by  the  East  Orange 
Amusement  Company,  Newark,  against  26  cir- 
cuits, independent  exhibitors  and  distributors, 
would  leave  the  real  issue  of  the  controversy  in 
"obscurity,  contrary  to  both  the  letter  and 
spirit  of  the  Rules  of  Civil  Procedure,"  Judge 
William  F.  Smith  in  Federal  District  Court  this 
week  directed  the  plaintifif  to  answer  39  ques- 
tions requested  in  defense  bills  of  particular. 

This  ruling  applies  to  requests  made  by  Vita- 
graph,  Inc.,  the  Essex  Amusement  Company, 
and  Moe  and  Jerome  Kridell,  two  individual 
defendants,  identified  with  the  M.  J.  M.  Operat- 
ing Company. 

In  the  complaint,  filed  October  21,  1941,  the 
East  Orange  Amusement  Company  sought 
treble  damages  of  $975,000,  alleging  violations 
of  the  Sherman  Act. 

The  plaintiff  owned  and  operated  the  Strand 
theatre,  Main  and  Grove  Streets,  East  Orange, 
now  known  as  the  Beacon  Theatre.  It  charged 
it  was  unable  to  obtain  and  retain  tenants  be- 
cause the  defendants  refused  to  allow  the  plain- 
tiff, lessees,  or  sub-tenants  to  date  pictures 
until  after  prior  run  in  circuit  theatres. 

Will  Examine  Majors 
In  Joelson  Suit 

A  motion  by  J.  J.  Theatres,  Inc.,  operator  of 
the  Time  Theatre  in  New  York,  for  examina- 
tion of  eight  major  film  companies  and  other 
defendants  before  trial  of  its  suit  charging  vio- 
lation of  the  Sherman  anti-trust  law  was 
granted  last  week  by  N.  Y.  Supreme  Court 
Justice  Charles  B.  McLaughlin.  The  court  di- 
rected that  the  examinations,  which  also  include 
an  inspection  of  the  books  and  records,  will 
start  February  16  and  continue  through 
March  6. 

The  action  charges  that  the  defendants 
formed  a  combination  to  restrain  trade  and 
eliminate  competition  in  the  distribution  of  sub- 
sequent-run pictures  in  the  Times  Square  area. 

Besides  the  majors,  other  defendants  are  An- 
well  Amusement  Corporation,  Helgus  Corpora- 
tion, Iris  Joyce,  Inc.,  and  Andear  Amusement 
Corporation,  operating  houses  in  the  Times 
Square  and  42nd  Street  area,  and  William  and 
Harry  Brandt  and  Max  A.  Cohen. 


Set  Pickwick  Hearing 

Judge  Carroll  Hicks  in  Federal  District 
Court  at  New  Haven  last  Friday  refused  the 
petition  of  major  distributors  for  an  adjourn- 
ment until  May  of  the  Pickwick  theatre  anti- 
trust case.  He  set  a  hearing  March  7  for  the 
$5,452,575  suit  filed  by  the  Greenwich,  Conn., 
theatre  in  1941. 


16 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February     19,  1944 


GIVE  MORE  OR  CO  TO  TRIAL 
EXHIBITOR  DECREE  VERDICT 


Independent  Units  Outline 
Their  Version  of  What 
Decree  Should  Provide 

"Not  enough,"  was  the  unanimous  verdict 
of  exhibitor  associations  as  they  told  the 
world  this  week  what  they  thought  of  dis- 
tributor proposals  for  revision  of  the  Con- 
sent Decree. 

A  dozen  irational  and  regional  theatre  or- 
ganizations in  joint  and  separate  statements 
detailed  the  objections  and  counter  proposals 
which  they  had  told  to  Tom  C.  Clark,  As- 
sistant Attorney  General,  in  the  privacy  of 
his  Washington  office  a  week  ago. 

"Make  them  give  more  concessions  or 
go  back  into  court  and  try  the  issues,"  was 
the  demand  of  Allied  States  Association 
and  seven  other  groups  who  had  met  at 
Chicago  two  weeks  ago  to  examine  the 
distributors'  proposals.  The  Motion  Pic- 
ture Theatre  Owners  of  Virginia,  South- 
eastern Theatre  Owners,  at  Atlanta,  and 
Independent  Theatre  Owners  Association 
at  New  York  City  also  asked  Mr.  Clark 
for  a  decree  with  more  force. 

The  distributors  made  no  public  reply. 
Mr.  Clark  was  silent  also,  leaving  the  decree 
discussions  in  abeyance  for  a  week  or  10 
days  while  he  visits  Texas  and  the  west 
coast  for  decree  discussions  with  exhibitors. 

"Grossly  inadequate,"  Abram  F.  Myers 
charged  in  a  31  page  letter  to  Mr.  Clark 
discussing  the  decree  proposals  in  behalf  of 
the  joint  exhibitor  committee.  They  urged 
that  the  Government's  anti-trust  and  di- 
vorcement suit  be  prosecuted  or,  if  a  decree 
is  accepted,  demanded  that  Mr.  Clark  in- 
sist on  remedies  for  the  complaints  cited 
by  exhibitors  and  listed  in  the  1938  Bill  of 
Complaint  on  which  the  New  York  prosecu- 
tion was  based. 

Say  Decree  Enforcement  Is 
Work  of  Government 

Enforcement  of  a  new  decree  should  be  the 
responsibility  of  the  Government,  not  exhibitors, 
the  letter  further  contended.  It  asked  for  flat 
20  per  cent  cancellation,  more  liberal  terms  in 
the  sales  sections  of  the  decree,  strict  limitation 
of  circuit  expansion  in  lieu  of  divorcement  and 
sweeping  changes  in  arbitration  to  make  clear- 
ance relief  easier  to  obtain  and  to  eliminate  the 
many  current  restrictions  on  arbitration  of  run, 
and  to  provide  new  appeal  procedure. 

Selling  provisions  of  the  distributor  pro- 
posals were  the  subject  of  numerous  exhibitor 
criticisrrks. 

Trade  shows  should  not  include  screenings 
attended  by  a  paying  audience  or  the  general 
public  and  no  picture  in  an  announced  group 
should  be  licensed  until  the  entire  group  had 
been  shown,  the  report  said.  It  also  asked  a 
prohibition  against  showing  pictures  in  affili- 
ated circuits  before  they  have  been  trade  shown. 

Picture  groupings  should  amount  to  "not  less 
than  25  per  cent  of  the  company's  bona  fide  es- 
timate of  its  annual  output"  and  there  should 
not  be  more  than  four  blocks  a  year,  the  exhibi- 
tors said. 

Restrictions  "^o  prevent  the  conditioning  of 
the  sale  of  one  group  upon  another  and  to 
save  exhibitors  being  required  to  license  for  two 
or  more  theatres  at  one  time  were  askei 

Stricter  regulation  of  the  forcing  of  shorts 


OBJECTORS 

objections  to  the  distributor  pro- 
posals for  revision  of  the  Consent 
Decree  have  been  sent  to  the  Depart- 
ment of  Justice  by  th^  following 
exhibitor    organizations : 

Allied  States  Association. 

Pacific  Coast  Conference  of  Inde- 
pendent Theatre  Owners. 

Independent  Exhibitors,  Inc.,  of 
New  England. 

Nebraska-Iowa  ITO. 

Virginia  Motion  Picture  Theatre 
Owners. 

Unaffiliated  Independent  Exhibitors, 
Inc.,  of  New  York  City. 

Northwest  Allied  Theatre  Owners. 

North  Central  Allied  Independent 
Theatres. 

Southeastern  Theatre  Owners  As- 
sociation. 

Independent  Theatre  Owners  As- 
sociation of  New  York. 

The  first  eight  organizations  joined 
Allied  in  a  united  report.  No  reply 
has  been  made  by  either  the  majors  or 
the  Department  of  Justice  to  the 
exhibitor  criticisms. 


was  demanded,  with  suggestions  that  arbitrators 
be  empowered  to  levy  fines  of  $250  ($500  for 
a  second  offense)  in  case  of  conviction.  The 
money  would  be  paid  the  complainant 

Westerns,  reissues,  serials  and  foreign  pic- 
tures should  be  excluded  from  blocks,  accord- 
ing to  the  letter. 

Roadshows  were  defined  as  two-a-day  per- 
formances where  the  majority  of  main  floor 
seats  are  priced  at  not  less  than  $1.50.  A 
"special"  was  defined  as  an  independent  pro- 
duction distributed  by  a  major  company. 

Announced  groups  should  be  the  same  in  all 
exchange  territories  and  distributors  prohibited 
from  shifting  pictures  from  one  group  to  an- 
other. 

Blind  pricing,  and  allocating  of  price  after 
exhibition  were  attacked  by  the  report.  It 
demanded  that  terms  be  set  at  the  time  a  con- 
tract is  signed. 

Flat  20  Per  Cent  Cancellation 
Is  Asked  in  Report 

Cancellation  rights,  which  the  distributors  had 
offered  on  the  basis  of  the  United  Motion  Pic- 
ture Industry  plan  of  prorating  according  to 
rental  was  rejected  and  a  flat  20  per  cent 
formula  requested  in  the  report. 

Criticizing  enforcement  provisions,  the  letter 
to  Mr.  Clark  declared  that  like  the  original 
decree  current  proposals  had  the  weakness  of 
putting  enforcement  responsibility  on  exhibitors 
instead  of  the  Government  It  pointed  out  that 
such  responsibility  exposed  complainants  to  the 
ill  will  of  distributors  on  whom  they  depend 
for  product.  The  report  demanded  penalties  be 
included  in  awards  and  made  payable  to  the 
exhibitors  to  cover  all  expenses  and  to  make 
proceedings  worth  while. 

Circuit  expansion,  the  letter  continued,  "was 
the  very  foundation  of  the  pending  suit  against 


the  consenting  defendants."  The  report  charged 
that  the  distributor  proposals  make  no  provi- 
sion for  maintaining  the  status  quo  and  do  not 
provide  against  further  construction  and  acqui- 
sition which  may  have  the  effect  to  restrain 
trade. 

This  is  "the  very  least  that  could  be  provided 
without  doing  violence  to  the  statute  under 
which  the  suit  was  filed,"  according  to  Mr. 
Myers. 

The  report  upheld  Paragraph  I,  of  Section 
XI,  of  the  proposals,  which  would  in  effect  re- 
quire a  consenting  company  to  make  affirmative 
showing  in  a  U.  S.  district  court  that  acquisi- 
tion of  a  new  theatre  interest  would  not  restrain 
trade  in  a  particular  competitive  area. 

Two  Sections  Approved 
In  Exhibitor  Report 

However,  modifying  clauses  of  distributor 
proposals  emasculate  this  control,  according  to 
the  report.  The  exhibitors  charged  that  loop- 
holes authorized  unlimited  expansion  in  "vague- 
ly defined  areas"  where  circuit  interests  are 
already  established. 

The  report  demanded  that  any  exhibitor  who 
might  be  affected  by  the  establishment  of  a 
new  circuit  theatre  be  given  notice,  and  the 
right  to  appear  at  a  court  hearing  held  in  the 
area  in  question. 

Section  VI,  the  some  run  provision,  and  Sec- 
tion VII,  the  immoral  pictures  clauses  of  the 
proposals  were  approved  by  the  report  It  said, 
however,  that  Section  V's  provisions  in  regard 
to  licensing  in  more  than  one  exchange  district 
were  "so  easy  of  evasion"  that  their  retention 
was  a  matter  of  indifference. 

Clearance  provisions  of  Section  VIII  were 
the  subject  of  several  recommended  changes 
designed,  the  exhibitor  report  said,  to  give 
greater  relief  to  theatre  operators.  It  asked 
elimination  of  old  definitions  of  clearance  and 
the  substitution  of  passages  declaring  it  to  be: 

"A  period  of  time,  either  fixed  by  agreement 
between  a  distributor  and  an  exhibitor,  or  by 
general  practice"  which  must  elapse  between 
exhibitions  at  competitive  theatres.  It  asked 
recognition  that  clearance  be  commensurate 
with  the  degree  of  competition  and  also  demand- 
ed that  it  be  calculated  from  the  beginning  of 
a  run. 

Exhibitors  Criticize  Distributor 
Proposals  for  Arbitration 

Distributor  proposals  for  arbitration  of  de- 
mands for  a  particular  run  were  criticized  by 
the  exhibitors  as  inadequate  and  offering  only 
slight  improvement  over  the  current  provision 
which,  they  declared,  had  been  so  surrounded 
with  restrictions  as  to  prove  worthless. 

The  report  urged  that  all  controversies  charg- 
ing distributors  had  refused  to  license  on  a  re- 
quested run  be  subject  to  arbitration.  It  speci- 
fied that: 

1.  The  complainant  be  independent  of  any 
distributor  or  affiliated  circuit  relationship  and 
that  he  operate  the  theatre  in  question  at  the 
time  complaint  is  filed. 

2.  That  the  theatre  having  the  requested  run 
be  a  circuit  theatre,  defined  as  a  common  own- 
ership or  buying  combine  with  at  least  "double 
the  total  film  buying  power  of  the  complainant" 

3.  That  complainant  submit  bona  fide  offers 
to  buy  at  least  five  successively  released  fea- 
tures, and  that  distributors  refuse  to  license 
them  on  the  run  requested. 

4.  That  the  complainant  did  not  have  suffi- 
cient pictures  available  to  run  his  theatre  on 
the  run  requested. 

5.  That  refusal  to  license  was  based  not  on 

(Continued  on  page  18,  column  1) 


LET'S  FINISH 


OUR 
IN  A 


JOB 


GLORY! 


Don^t  Stop 
Now!  Keep 
Selling  Those 
F'  Bonds! 

REMEMBER  


All  propej^y«Mgm»S)ftd  sales 
through  February  29th  will 
count  in'"«feer,4.'^QM©^^ 
HUNDRED"  contest.  Mail 
your  stubs  and  final  report 
form  to  your  STATE*  EXHIBI- 
TOR CHAIRMAN,  bearing  a 
postmark  not  later  than  March 
15th,  1944. 


BACK  OUR  BRAVE  BOYS  ON 
THE  BLOODY  BEACH  -  HEADS ! 


HONORED 
HUNDRED! 

There^s  Still  Time! 


100  theatre  managers  from  all  over  America,  Alaska  and  Hawaii  who 
sell  the  greatest  number  of  "E"  bonds  in  ratio  to  the  number  of  seats 
in  their  theatres  will  go  to  Washington,  with  all  expenses  paid, 
as  an  Executive  Advisory  Committee  for  the  Fifth  War  Loan.  In 
addition,  they  will  receive  scrolls,  citations,  medallions  and  acclaim! 


War  Activities  Committee  of  the  Motion  Picture  Industry,  1501  Broadway,  New  York  City 


18 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    19,  1944 


Give  or  Go  to 
Trials  Exhibitor 
Decree  Verdict 

(^Continued  from  page  16) 

valid  business  reasons  but  because  the  theatre 
actually  licensed  was  a  circuit  house.  Twelve 
guiding  considerations  were  then  outlined  for 
arbitrators.  . 

It  would  empower  arbitrators  to  prohibit  dis- 
tributors from  offering  the  run  in  question  to 
the  circuit  until  a  similar  offer  has  first  been 
made  to  the  independent.  The  report  would 
permit  vacation  of  such  an  order  if  it  is  shown 
to  have  reduced  the  distributors  total  revenue 
in  the  area. 

Distributor  proposals  to  make  the  decree  ef- 
fective for  10  years  were  sharply  attacked  by 
the  exhibitors.  They  demanded  that  a  new  trial 
period  of  not  more  than  three  years  be  set  up 
and  asked  that  the  Court  retain  jurisdiction  of 
the  case.  This  would  enable  the  Government 
at  any  time  to  seek  modification  of  the  de- 
cree. The  exhibitors  charged  that  the  distribu- 
tor proposals  would  permit  only  a  consenting 
defendant  to  seek  such  change. 

Appointment  of  arbitration  lawyers  in  each 
tribunal  district  to  represent  independent  ex- 
hibitors was  asked  in  the  letter  to  Mr.  Clark, 
in  line  with  earlier  Allied  proposals. 

The  group  said  that  such  a  prosecutor  could 
represent  all  exhibitors  with  a  calibre  of  coun- 
sel equal  to  familiarity  with  film  aflPairs  to  film 
company  lawyers.  It  was  suggested  that  these 
special  prosecutors  be  selected  and  compensated 
by  the  administrator  of  the  arbitration  system. 

Disagreement  over  the  function  of  the  Appeal 
Board  was  settled  in  a  compromise  recommen- 
dation which  would  permit  complainants  to 
request  appeal  to  a  special  board  of  three  ar- 
bitrators chosen  from  local  panels.  The  New 
York  Appeals  Board  would  be  limited  to  legal 
interpretations  of  the  decree  and  to  questions 
of  misconduct  by  arbitrators. 

Among  monopolistic  practices  for  which  it 
claimed  the  proposed  decree  provides  no  remedy 
the  joint  letter  listed:  arbitrary  designation  of 
play  dates,  "arbitrary,  unconscionable  and  dis- 
criminatory film  rentals,  benefits  and  advantages 
extended  by  distributors  to  each  other,  sharing 
of  advertising  costs  and  optional  contracts 
favoring  circuit  distributors.  The  report  cited 
the  1938  Bill  of  Complaint  and  asked  that  Mr. 
Clark  insist  on  provision  for  these  alleged 
abuses. 


Fellerman  Eastern  Partner 
of  Banner  Production 

Max  Fellerman,  on  his  return  from  the  coast, 
last  week,  announced  that  he  had  joined  Banner 
Productions  as  partner  and  associate  with  Sam 
Katzman  and  Jack  Dietz,  and  with  them  will 
produce  several  pictures  featuring  the  East  Side 
Kids ;  another  series  starring  Bela  Lugosi,  John 
Carradine  and  George  Zucco,  and  also  will  in- 
troduce a  new  program  of  comedy  features  with 
Billy  Gilbert,  Shemp  Howard  and  Maxie 
.Rosenbloom. 

Mr.  Fellerman,  who  will  make  his  headquar- 
ters at  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  New  York,  will  be 
eastern  representative  of  Banner  Productions. 
The  pictures  are  being  released  through  Mono- 
gram. 

Mr.  Fellerman  spent  27  years  in  distribution 
and  exhibition  with  RKO. 


RKO  Ned  Depinet  Drive 
Begins  in  New  York 

The  RKO  Radio  Pictures'  Ned  Depinet  sales 
drive,  which  started  February  4,  and  will  end 
May  18,  was  given  a  Metropolitan  New  York 
sepdoff  last  Friday  at  the  New  York  exchange, 
where  drive  captain  Charles  Boasberg  held  a 
meeting.  Mr.  Boasberg  had  returned  from  a 
39-day  tour  of  exchanges. 


Durwood's  Daughter  Wed 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edward  D.  Durwood  of  Kan- 
sas City,  Mo.,  have  announced  the  marriage 
of  their  daughter,  Marjorie  Beth,  to  Lt.  Bayard 
Martin  Grant  of  the  Army  Signal  Corp,  last 
Friday.  Lt  Grant  is  a  graduate  of  Renssalaer 
Polytechnical  Institute,  Troy,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Dur- 
wood is  head  of  the  Durwood-Dubinsky  Bros. 
Theatres. 


Cagney  Tours  War  Zones 

James  Cagney,  actor  and  president  of  the 
Screen  Actors  Guild,  this  week  began  a  personal 
appearance  tour  of  U.  S.  Army  and  Navy  bases 
in  the  European  war  theatre.  He  will  be  abroad 
approximately  three  months.  The  trip  is  under 
USO  auspices. 


Map  Plans  for 
Red  Cross  Drive 

Joseph  Bernhard,  industry  chairman  for  the 
motion  picture  theatres  Red  Cross  drive  from 
March  23  through  March  29,  Tuesday  appoint- 
ed Harry  Goldberg,  director  of  advertising  and 
publicity  for  Warner  Theatres,  as  campaign 
manager,  and  Friday  called  a  meeting  of  the 
executive  committee  to  map  plans  and  discuss 
first  steps  in  launching  the  drive.  S.  H.  Fabian, 
WAC  chairman,  Arthur  L.  Mayer,  Francis  S. 
Harmon,  all  members  of  the  committee,  were 
among  those  present. 

A  special  trailer  to  be  supplied  all  theatres 
was  discussed,  also  the  printing  of  a  compre- 
hensive press  book,  radio  tieups,  and  other  pro- 
motional activities  designed  to  obtain  the  max- 
imum of  public  response  to  meet  the  greatly 
increased  demands  upon  the  Red  Cross  as  re- 
sult of  the  war. 

Plans  for  holding  a  series  of  regional  exhi- 
bitor meetings  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  Red 
Cross  chapters  and  theatremen  together  and 
coordinating  their  drives  were  discussed. 

On  Monday  Herman  Robbins,  president  of 
National  Screen  Service,  accepted  the  chair- 
manship of  the  1944  Greater  New  York  Red 
Cross  War  Fund  campaign. 


Columbia  Sets 
Sales  Campaign 

Columbia  Pictures'  annual  sales  campaign  has 
been  given  the  slogan,  "Dates  to  Win,"  as  a 
tribute  to  the  company's  sales  force  for  the  part 
it  has  played  "in  cementing  exhibitor  friend- 
ship," according  to  an  announcement  made 
Tuesday  by  A.  Montague,  general  sales  man- 
ager. The  drive  ends  June  22. 

Under  the  award  setup,  division  supervisors, 
branch  managers,  salesmen,  office  managers  and 
bookers  in  the  31  branches  will  have  the  oppor- 
tunity to  participate  in  the  War  Bond  and  cash 
prizes.  At  least  24  offices  will  share  in  the 
cash  awards.  During  the  "Dates  to  Win"  drive, 
Columbia  will  release  some  of  the  most  impor- 
tant pictures  it  has  ever  offered,  Mr.  Montague 
said,  including  "None  Shall  Escape,"  "What  a 
Woman,"  "Sahara,"  now  in  release,  and  "Cover 
Girl,"  "Curly,"  "Address  Unknown,"  "Mr. 
Winkle  Goes  to  War,"  "Pilebuck"  and  "To- 
night and  Every  Night,"  scheduled  for  release. 


Ascap  Wins  Theatre  Suit 

Federal  Court  in  Los  Angeles  has  dismissed 
a  $300,000  suit  against  the  American  Society  of 
Composers,  Authors  and  Publishers,  brought  by 
Largo  Theatres,  Inc.,  representing  West  Coast 
operators.  The  plaintiff  petitioned  for  dismissal 
after  ASCAP  had  sought  an  order  to  amend 
the  complaint  requiring  Largo  to  furnish  a  bill 
of  particulars.    The  suit  vras  filed  in  1941. 


E.  M.  Loew  Suits 
On  Percentages 
Start  in  Boston 


Statements  that  the  theatre  daily  records  and 
cash  books  of  E.  M.  Loew  theatres  for  the 
years  prior  to  1939  had  been  destroyed  some  time 
prior  to  July  14,  1943,  on  instructions  from 
Mr.  Loew,  were  put  into  the  record  in  Boston 
Federal  Court  this  week  in  the  trial  of  suits  by 
eight  major  companies  charging  the  independent 
circuit  operator  with  falsifying  records  of  per- 
centage engagements. 

The  actions  have  been  consolidated  for  con- 
venience in  a  single  trial  which  started  Monday. 
The  distributors  charge  E.  M.  Loew  with  hav- 
ing conspired  with  his  various  theatre  compan- 
ies to  falsify  reports  to  distributors  on  the 
gross  receipts  of  their  pictures  which  played  his 
houses  on  percentage  terms  over  a  period  of 
years.  A  defense  motion  for  dismissal  of  the 
case  on  jurisdiction  grounds  was  denied  by  the 
court  today. 

The  suits,  it  is  learned,  are  the  first  of  many 
which  the  distributors  plan  to  file.  The  actions 
here  seek  an  accounting  of  sums  alleged  to  be 
due  the  plaintiffs,  and  they  ask  that  the  defen- 
dants be  enjoined  from  disposing  of  his  theatres' 
books  and  records. 

The  statement  on  the  daily  records  was  put 
into  the  record  through  the  filing  of  the  deposi- 
tion of  Gertrude  Rittenberg,  controller  of  the 
bookkeeping  department  of  the  E.  M.  Loew 
theatres.  In  1942  the  court  enjoined  the  de- 
fendants from  removing,  altering  or  disposing 
of  their  records. 

On  Tuesday,  the  trial  was  extended  several 
days  by  the  court.  The  session  that  day  was 
filled  with  evidence  from  theatre  and  office 
records.  Entered  was  a  daily  statement  marked: 
"Private,  actual  report.  Payment  to  checkers: 
'X'  dollars."  Also  offered  was  evidence  that 
double  rolls  of  tickets  were  used. 


Alliance  Accepts  Cooperation 
Of  American  Legion 

The  California  American  Legion  Americani- 
zation Committee's  offer  to  cooperate  with  the 
Motion  Picture  Alliance  for  the  Preservation 
of  American  Ideals  has  been  accepted,  MP  A 
President  Sam  Wood  announced  last  week.  The 
joint  aim  of  the  organizations  is  to  eradicate 
communist  and  fascist  influence  in  the  industry. 
The  MPA  executive  board,  with  Capt.  Clark 
Gable  as  honor  guest,  will  meet  wath  the  Amer- 
icanization chairmen  of  Legion  posts  from  all 
parts  of  the  state  at  Patriotic  Hall  in  Los 
Angeles  on  Washington's  birthday. 

Mr.  Wood  said :  "The  Legion's  offer  to  aid  in 
combating  anti- subversive  activities  in  the  mo- 
tion picture  industry  is  welcomed  and  the  meet- 
ing February  22  is  the  first  step  in  that  direc- 
tion." 

Speakers  at  the  meeting  will  include  Colonel 
Rupert  Hughes,  MPA  ;  Appellate  Court  Justice 
Thomas  P.  White,  and  State  Senator  Jack 
Tenney,  chairman  of  the  joint  committee. 


Named  Guild  Chaplain 

Father  Gustave  de  Leon  has  been  named 
Chaplain  of  the  Catholic  Actors  Guild  in  New 
York,  succeeding  the  late  Father  John  F.  White. 
Father  de  Leon,  who  assumed  his  new  duties 
this  week,  is  a  native  New  Yorker,  ordained  in 
May,  1921.  He  has  been  assistant  pastor  of  St. 
Gregory's  Church  in  New  York. 


Arrested  for  Showing 

R.  D.  Goldberg,  circuit  operator,  was  arrested 
last  week  for  the  showing  of  "Teen  Age,"  1943 
Continental  Production  film  bearing  a  Produc- 
tion Code  seal,  at  the  Arbor  theatre,  Omaha. 
Mr.  Goldberg  appeared  in  Municipal  Court. 


Most  Beautiful  Thing  in  the  World 
of  Motion  Pictures 

In  Technicolor 
From  Paramounf 


Warner  Baxter 
Jon  Hall 


Ray  Milland 


IN  TECHNICOLOR 

fl  iniMLL  Lfistn 

With  Mischa  Auer 
and  Hundreds  of  Others 

B.  G.  DeSYLVA,  Executive  Producer 
From  the  Sensationally  Successful 
Stage  Musical  by  Moss  Hart— With 
Music  by  Kurt  Weill  and  Lyrics 
by  Ira  Gershwin — Screen  Play  by 
Frances  Goodrich  and  Albert  Hackett 
Directed  by  MITCHELL  LEISEN 


FIRST  4  DAYS  OF  LOS  ANGELES  AND 
HOLLYWOOD  WORLD  PREMIERE  WERE 
ACTUALLY  45%  OVER  PREVIOUS 
ALL-TIME  RECORD-HOLDER,  "STAR 
SPANGLED  RHYTHM"  .  .  .  AND  HERE 
ARE  THE  FIRST  TERRIFIC  REVIEWS  OF 


**A  box-office  smash;  color,  settings,  pho- 
tography rate  raves ...  an  entertainment 
feast  ...  A  tremendous  attraction.  Cos- 
tumes will  have  the  women  in  ecstacies. 
Never  has  anything  like  it  been  seen  on 
the  screen."— Daily 

.MORE...  MORE. 


"An  opulent  feast ...  A  magnificent  motion 
picture  .  .  .  Possibly  the  most  beautiful 
motion  picture  ever  made  ...  A  master- 
piece of  production  . . .  quality  in  the  best 
meaning  of  the  word  .  .  .  All-around 
^\Q^^x\Q.^y —Hollywood  Rep07'ter 

MORE.. 


Super  entertainment  .  .  .  breath-taking 
beauty  and  down-to-earth  fun  . . .  lavishly 
produced  in  Technicolor — Boxoffice 

The  most  magnificent  pictorial  fashion 
show  of  all  time ...  a  visual  masterpiece." 
—Lowe//  E.  Rede/i?tgSy  L.A.  Citizen  News 


"Paramount  empties  a  veritable  jewel  case 
of  gorgeous  sets  and  costumes  upon  the 
screen.  Technicolor  camera  work  is  one 
of  the  outstanding  triumphs  of  the  film. 
The  most  sumptuous  Technicolor 
extravaganza   ever  photographed." 

—  Harrison  Carro//^  L.  A.  Hera/d- Express 


'Arrived  in  a  riot  of  color  and  excitement 
.  .  .  Never  before  or  since  has  such  a 
Technicolorful  fashion  show  been 
paraded  across  the  screen ...  It  is  an  eye- 
filling  extravaganza."— Z^^r^/Z'j^'  Mannersy 
L.  A.  Examiner 

*A  show  to  knock  the  eye  out.  Holly- 
wood has  had  its  sumptuous,  luxurious 
and  opulent  moments  but  this  attraction 
nestles  comfortably  alongside  the  most 
extravagant  .  .  .  An  overflowing  cup  of 
optical  elegance  .  .  .  sets  magnificent, 
Technicolor  superb  ...  in  the  big  money 
division  .  .  .  breathtakingly  beautiful." 
—Red  Kanny  M.  P.  Dai/y 


"Will  be  brightly  illuminated  at  the  pay- 
off windows.  Hilarious  comedy  .  .  .  bril- 
liant satire,  searching  drama.  Well  nigh 
irresistible  to  2X\.y— Dai/y  Variety 

"Loaded  with  tremendous  appeal  for 
women.  Fabulous  dream  sequences  to 
draw  women  customers  literally  'out  of 
this  world'.".— i/^/^;^  McNamaray  M.  P, 
Dai/y 


"Unique  in  the  annals  of  the  movies ...  A 
feature  to  put  on  any  must  list  of  events 

to  be  witnesscd,^^— Edwin  Sc/ia//ert, 
L,  A,  Times 


...AND  THE  TRADE  SHOWING  IS  FEB.  28th! 


TRADE  SHOWINGS 

PARAMOUNT'S 


In  Technicolor 


starring 


I 

NGER  ROGERS  •  RAY  MILLAND  WARNER  BAXTER-JON  HALL 


CITY 

PLACE  OF  SCREENING 

ADDRESS 

DAY  and  DATE 

TIME 

D  A  k.lV 

DPI  AWAPP  TMPATDP 

MONDAY  PPR  OR 

9PM 
Z  r  ./V\. 

n  A  K.IT  A 

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F*^OIIIRF  THPATPP 

Sft  F   CinV  ^\ 

MONDAY  FFR  9R 

11AM 

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MONDAY  FFR  9ft 

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:MPnlo 

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MCmrnlAIN  IncAIKt 

51  So.  Cooper  St.  (near  Union  Ave.) 

AA/^Kir>AV    PPD  OQ 
/WvJINUAT,  rCD.  Zo 

O  IrV   D  41 

2:30  P.M. 

LWAUKEE 

COLONIAL  THEATRE 

151,6  W.  Vliet  St. 

MONDAY,  FEB.  28 

2:30  P.M. 

NNEAPOLIS 

GRANADA  THEATRE 

3022  Hennepin  Ave. 

MONDAY,  FEB.  28 

2:15  P.M.  i 

:W  HAVEN 

WHITNEY  THEATRE 

1220  Whitney  Ave. 

MONDAY,  FEB.  28 

n  A.M. 

:W  ORLEANS 

CIRCLE  THEATRE 

1709  N.  Gaivez  St. 

MONDAY,  FEB.  28 

11  A.M. 

KLAHOMA  CITY 

TOWER  THEATRE 

425  Northwest  23rd  St, 

MONDAY,  FEB.  28 

11:30  A.M. 

MAHA 

DUNDEE  THEATRE 

4952  Dodge  St. 

MONDAY,  FEB.  28 

2  P.M. 

IILADELPHIA 

SHUBERT  THEATRE 

250  S.  Broad  St. 

MONDAY,  FEB.  28 

8:30  P.M. 

rrSBURGH 

SHADYSIDE  THEATRE 

5518  Walnut  St. 

MONDAY,  FEB.  28 

2  P.M. 

)RTLAND 

ORIENTAL  THEATRE 

822  So.  E.  Grand  Ave. 

MONDAY,  FEB.  28 

2  P.M. 

.  LOUIS 

WEST  END  THEATRE 

4819  Delmar  Blvd. 

MONDAY,  FEB.  28 

11  A.M. 

LAKE  CITY 

STUDIO  THEATRE 

161  S.  Main  St. 

MONDAY,  FEB.  28 

j 

2:30  P.M.  1 

FRANCISCO 

METRO  THEATRE 

2055  Union  St. 

MONDAY,  FEBi  28 

2  P.M. 

AHLE 

EGYPTIAN  THEATRE 

4543  University  Way 

MONDAY,  FEB.  28 

2:30  P.M. 

'ASHINGTON 

AUDITORIUM, 

U.  S.  Dept.  of  Interior  BIdg. 

E  St.  N.W.  (betv^een  18  &  19  Sts.) 

MONDAY,  FEB.  28 

8:30  P.M. 

i 

26 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


ON  THE  3LARCH 


February     19,  1944 

by  RED  KANN 


HOLLYWOOD  . 

THE  statement  of  principles  released  to  the  American  press 
bv  the  newly-formed   Motion   Picture  Alliance  for  the 
Preservation  of  American  Ideals  contains  this  completely 
commendable  credo : 

"We  believe  in,  and  like,  tfie  Americcm  way  of  life;  the 
liberty  and  freedom  which  generations  before  us  have  fought 
to  create  and  frreserve ;  the  freedom  to  speak,  to  think,  to  live, 
to  worship,  to  work  and  to  govern  ourselves,  as  individuals, 
as  free  men;  the  right  to  succeed  or  fail  as  free  men,  accord- 
ing to  the  measure  of  our  ability  and  our  strength. 

"Believing  in  these  things,  we  find  ourselves  in  sharp 
revolt  against  a  rising  tide  of  Communism,  Fascism  and 
kindred  beliefs,  that  seek  by  subversive  means  to  undermine 
and  change  thus  way  of  life;  groups  that  have  forfeited  their 
right  to  exist  in  this  country  of  ours,  because  they  seek  to 
achieve  their  change  by  means  other  than  the  vested  pro- 
cedure of  the  ballot  and  to  deny  the  right  of  the  majority 
opinion  of  the  people  to  rule." 

This  selfsame  statement  of  principles  closes  out  with  this 
declaration,  loftily  conceived  and  eloquently  given  voice  : 

"As  members  of  the  motion  picture  industry,  we  must  face 
and  accept  cm  especial  responsibility.  Motion  pictures  are 
in-escapably  one  of  the  zvarld's  great  forces  for  influencing 
public  thought  and  opinion,  both  at  home  and  abroad.  In  this 
fact  lies  solemn  obligation.  We  refuse  to  permit  the  effort 
of  Communist,  Fascist  and  other  totalitarian-minded  groups 
to  pervert  this  powerful  medium  into  an  instrument  for  the 
dissemination  of  un-American  ideas  and  beliefs.  We  pledge 
ourselves  to  fight,  with  every  means  at  our  organised  com- 
mand, any  effort  of  any  group  or  individual,  to  divert  the 
loyalty  of  the  screen  from  the  free  America  that  gave  it  birth. 
And  to  dedicate  our  own  work,  in  the  fullest  possible  meas- 
ure, to  the  presentation  of  the  American  scene,  its  standards 
and  its  freedoms,  its  beliefs  and  its  ideals,  as  we  know  them 
and  believe  in  them." 

Lodged  between  beginning  and  end,  however,  is  this : 

"In  our  special  field  of  motion  pictures,  we  resent  the 
growing  impression  that  this  industry  is  made  up,  and  dom- 
inated by,  Communists,  radicals  and  crackpots." 

A  Cause  for  Regret 

HERE  are  strange  phrases,  authored  by  prominent  men, 
to  feed  the  American  press  about  their  own  industry. 
They  must  be  viewed,  too,  as  highly  regrettable  phrases 
unsupported  by  the  introduction  of  a  single  shred  of  evidence 
and,  in  fact,  supported  only  by  blanket  indictment.  There  is  no 
definition  or  explanation  of  who  entertains  such  a  growing  im- 
pression beyond  the  evident  willingness  of  the  sponsors  of  this 
new  organization  to  accept  it. 

Nevertheless,  Sam  Wood,  in  assuming  the  presidency,  referred 
to  its  principles  in  this  manner: 

"This  statement  will  be  released  to  the  American  press  so 

that  all  of  our  fellow  citizens  may  know  exactly  where  the 

majority  of  Hollywood  film  workers  stand." 

Through  what  processes  and  by  what  authority  Wood  and  his 
group  presume  to  speak  for  the  majority  of  Hollywood  is  not 
declared.  What  is  declared,  in  clear  enough  terms,  however,  is 
an  assumption,  taken  by  no  known  or  announced  arrangement, 
that  most  of  Hollywood  feels  as  they  do. 

We  do  not  believe  this  squares  with  the  facts. 

No  doubt,  there  are  Communists  in  Hollywood.  There  must 
be  Fascists,  too.  There  are  also  Democrats  and  Republicans. 
There  are  conservatives  and,  in  every  likelihood,  reactionaries 
The  cross-section  of  all  phases  of  political  life  and  thinking 
undoubtedly  reside  in  Hollywood.  But  they  reside  elsewhere  as 
well. 

Thus,  there  enters  damage  in  unsupported  pillories  of  this  kind 
A  well-defined  suggestion  thereby  is  let  loose  throughout  Amer- 
ica and  perhaps  beyond  that  the  responsible  leaders  of  this  busi- 
ness are  not  aware  of  what  goes  on  around  them ;  that  they  are 
bemg  suckti  mto  matters  with  which  they  are  out  of  sympathy  • 
that  a  shadowy,  but  powerful,  group  of  unknowns  is  steer in<^ 


them  and,  even  more  importantly,  their  industry  into  channels  of 
which  neither  these  leaders  nor  their  industry  are  aware.  This 
is  a  situation  we  refuse  to  accept,  nor  do  we  think  will  any 
majority  in  the  industry  no  matter  where  located. 

The  effect  in  one  direction,  at  least,  has  been  immediate. 
Editorially,  the  Los  Angeles  Examiner  quickly  accepted  the  new 
organization  and  its  total  credo  and,  perhaps,  other  Hearst  papers 
in  various  cities  have  followed  suit.  The  consequence  asserts 
itself  with  this : 

"Unfortunately,  the  patriotic  majority  in  the  motian  pic- 
ture industry  has  been  slow  to  organize  and  to  assert  its  prin- 
ciples and  exercise  its  influence. 

"Consequently,  the  subversive  minority  in  the  industry  has 
connived  and  contrived  to  produce  a  long  succession  of 
insidious  and  evil  motion  pictures  to  the  discredit  of  the 
industry  and  to  the  detriment  of  the  country. 

"It  has  made  pictures  disparaging  American  history  and 
American  heroes  and  American  institutions  and  traditions. 

"It  has  made  pictures  glorifying  Communistic  Russia, 
ignoring  the  oppressive  and  tyrannical  character  of  Bol- 
shevism and  inventing  virtues  for  it  that  have  never  existed." 
Aside  from  the  obvious  reference  to  "Mission  to  Moscow," 
what  are  these  pictures?   To  safeguard  its  reputation,  the  indus- 
try is  privileged  to  insist  upon  the  precise  nature  of  these  various 
allegations. 

The  Examiner,  and/or  the  Hearst  press,  ought  to  name  names. 
The  Motion  Picture  Alliance  for  the  Preservation  of  American 
Ideals  ought  to  explain  the  source,  or  sources,  of  the  growing 
impression  it  appears  so  willing  to  accept. 

Who?   What?   When?  Where? 


Out  Goes  the  Chin 


No  doubt  of  it.   This  is  a  foolhardy  enterprise,  the  business 
of  trying  to  spot  winners  in  the  Academy  race.  Drawing 
upon  conversation,  drifts  and  blue  sky,  plus  an  impres- 
sion or  so  attributed  to  Academy  headquarters  where  it's 
guesswork  too,  here  is  the  leap  into  space : 
Best  Picture  :  "The  Song  of  Bernadette." 
Best  Actor:  Paul  Lukas  for  "Watch  on  the  Rhine." 
Best  Actress  :  Ingrid  Bergman  for  "For  Whom  the  Bell 
Tolls." 

Best  Male  Supporting  Player:  Charles  Bickford  for  "The 
Song  of  Bernadette." 

Best  Female  Supporting  Player:  Katina  Paxinou  for  "For 
Whom  the  Bell  Tolls." 

If  the  night  of  March  2  verifies  some  or  all  of  these  predic- 
tions, you'll  be  hearing  from  us.   Otherwise,  a  deep  silence. 

■  The  Warner  tussle  with  the  Screen  Actors  Guild  oyer  "Hol- 
lywood Canteen"  may  leave  its  mark  on  the  course  of  Academy 
voting.    Down-beat  effects  already  are  discounted  in  Burbank. 

■  Lizette  Klimer  filed  and  lost  a  $50,000  suit  against  Loew's, 
Inc.,  and  MGM  alleging  "Come  Live  With  Me"  was  a  plagiarism 
of  "Chinchilla,"  a  story  by  John  B.  Klimer.  Judge  Ben  Harrison 
in  Federal  Court  here  ordered  her  to  pay  $1,000  toward  fees  of 
the  defendants.  Great  Cooper  and  Milton  Schwartz.  In  an  earlier 
case  involving  "Of  Thee  I  Sing,"  Judge  John  Woolsey  in  New 
York  awarded  $3,500  in  attorney  fees  to  the  defendants.  "In 
this  case,  as  is  usual  in  plagiarism  cases,  obscurity  is  taking  a 
long  shot  at  success.  Having  failed  to  reach  its  mark,  the  plain- 
tiff must  pay  for  the  expense  to  which  he  put  the  defendant,"  he 
ruled. 

These  and  a  file  of  others  like  them  give  the  studios  heart 
against  floods  of  future  actions  of  this  nature,  their  theory — and 
their  hope — being  these  decisions  will  act  as  a  deterrent  against 
law  suits  indiscriminately  launched. 

■  War  news  went  down  to  crashing  defeat  in  the  Los  Angeles 
Hearst  press  the  morning  and  evening  the  Chaplin  indictment 
broke.    Incidental  headline  in  the  Examiner : 

Allies  Wipe  Out  14,000  Japs. 
Incidental  streamer  in  the  Herald-Express: 
Nazis  In  All-Out  Rome  Beach  Head  Drive. 
Sunny  place.  Southern  California. 


THE  STORY  OF  A 


Haunted  by  the  relentless 


LOVE  THAT  IS  OUT  OF  THIS 

vengeance  of  an  amazing  spectre  of  thepgst! 


Starring 


RAY  MILLAND  •  RUTH  HUSSEY- DONALD  CRISP 

with  Cornelia  Otis  Skinner  •  And  introducine  Gail  Russell 


From  the  Famous 
Best-Seller  and 
Liberty  Magazine 
Sensation 


Paramount  will 

advertise  it  in 


yoa  beiieve  there 
houses  filled  with 
unseen  evil? 

you  believe  that 
the  cold  hate  of  an  evil 
soul  can  materialize  on 
earth  and  threaten  the 
destruction  of  a  lovely 
young  girl? 

D  o  you  believe  that 
the  spirit  of  a  mother  can 
stay  behind  to  guard  her 
daughter  from  the  ma- 
lignance of  the  un-dead? 


and  14  other  great 
magazines. 


You  will  when  you  see 
Paramoimt's  thrilling  picturization 

of  Dorothy  Macardle's 
exciting  novel  oi  the  supernatural 


Kin  tlHQCCV  .  (;|j|jp 

M  tossei  . 


OONAID 


This  advance  dummy  of  a  pictorial  spread  in  one  of  America's  lead- 
ing picture  magazines  heralds  a  tremendous  press  reception  for  Para- 
mount's  greatest  player  discovery  since  Sonny  Tufts  and  Alan  Ladd. 


"A  Film  Possessing 
Class  &  Distinction 

Rich  in  Drama 

and  Suspense.'"" 


Directed  by 

LEWIS  ALLEN 

Screen  Play  by  Dodie 
Smith  and  Frank  Partos 


"Seldom  has  a  chil- 
ler been  produced 
with  so  much  refine- 
ment and  subtlety . 


"  Distinguished  product^ 

rich  in  the  values  that  coUnt 
for  entertainment."  t 


Paramount's 


SUPERB  GHOST 
DRAMA;  SURE  OF 
TOP  GROSSES,  "tt 


"One  of  the  most  unusual  pic- 
tures to  emerge  from  any  studic 
.  .  .  Gail  Russell  displays  dra- 
matic talents  which  assure  her  a 
place  in  the  star  firmament."  * 


Another  Miracle  In  The  Miracle  5 


"THE  MIRACLE  OF  MORGAN'S  CREEK" 

"THE  UNINVITED" 
"STANDING  ROOM  ONLY" 
"HENRY  ALDRICH,  BOY  SCOUT" 
"TIMBER  QUEEN" 


February     19,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


33 


RANK  STARTS  TRIPLE  PLAY 
FOR  AMERICAN  MARKET 


Opens  Own  Office  Headed 
by  Kelly  While  Agents 
Seek  Release  Deals 

by  JEANNETTE  E.  SAMUELSON 

J.  Arthur  Rank,  England's  largest  pro- 
ducer-distributor-exhibitor, this  week  estab- 
lished a  multiple  approach  to  the  American 
film  market. 

1.  He  opened  an  office  on  Fifth  Avenue  to 
distribute  British  films. 

2.  Through  his  representative,  Barring- 
ton  Gain,  he  continued  to  seek  a  dis- 
tribution deal  through  a  major  com- 
pany. 

3.  Through  an  official  of  a  related 
company.  Two  Cities  Films,  Ltd.,  he 
continued  to  seek  major  distribution 
for  this  unit's  product. 

A  further  possibility  regarding  Mr. 
Rank's  entry  into  the  U.  S.  market  was  seen 
this  week  with  the  report  that  Spyros 
Skouras,  president  of  Twentieth  Century- 
Fox,  expected  to  leave  Tuesday  for  En- 
gland. Six  months  ago,  Mr.  Skouras  had 
planned  to  visit  London  to  talk  business  with 
Mr.  Rank.  Since  that  time,  the  report  of 
his  contemplated  trip  had  been  repeated  sev- 
eral times. 

Eagle-Lion  Films,  Inc.,  headed  by  Arthur 
W.  Kelly,  former  vice-president  in  charge 
of  the  foreign  department  for  United  Art- 
ists, was  in  process  of  formation  this  week. 
Application  for  incorporation  papers  had 
been  filed  with  the  Secretary  of  State  of 
New  York.  Official  stationery  had  been  or- 
dered. The  telephone  had  been  put  in  and 
the  office  was  ready  for  business.  The  new 
company  is  headquartered  at  522  Fifth  Ave- 
nue in  thei  Guaranty  Trust  Company  Build- 
ing, incidentally,  the  building  in  which  the 
Hays  Office  made  its  home  in  1922. 

To  "Pluck  the  Diamonds" 
From  British  Product 

Mr.  Kelly  said  that  Eagle-Lion  Films, 
formed  to  distribute  British  films,  would 
"pluck  the  diamonds"  from  the  field  of  Brit- 
ish production,  including  product  of  such 
outstanding  producers  as  Two  Cities  Films ; 
Michael  Powell  and  Emeric  Pressburger ; 
Gabriel  Pascal  and  Paul  Soskin. 

According  to  Mr.  Kelly,  approximately  15 
films  a  year  will  be  distributed  in  the  U.  S., 
Canada  and  South  America  by  Eagle- 
Lion  Films.  Of  this  number,  about  seven 
or  eight  "quality"  British  productions  will 
be  released  and  the  remainder  will  be 
American  films  made  by  independent  Holly- 
wood producers  financed  by  Mr.  Rank. 

Under  the  new  setup,  E.  T.  Carr,  former 
United  Artists  managing  director  in  En- 
gland, will  head  the  eastern  division  of 
Eagle-Lion,  covering  all  of  Europe  and  ex- 
tending to  South  Africa  and  the  Near  East. 

Mr.  Kelly,  whose  resignation  from  UA 
was  announced  officially  last  week,  told 
Motion  Picture  Herald  Monday  he 
planned  to  organize  a  complete  sales,  adver- 
tising, exploitation  and  publicity  staff,  and 


/.  Arthur  Rank,  left,  chats  with  Phil 
Reisman,  right,  RKO  foreign  head,  at 
a  party  for  Mr.  Reisman  in  London. 
John  Davis,  Odeon  executive,  looks  on. 


that  eventually,  Eagle-Lion  would  establish 
branch  offices  in  the  32  exchange  centers. 

Formation  of  the  new  company  automat- 
ically eliminates  the  reported  intention  of 
Mr.  Rank  to  seek  a  distribution  deal  with 
one  of  the  American  major  companies  for 
release  of  a  block  of  British  films  annually. 
However,  early  this  week,  Barrington  Gain, 
one  of  Mr.  Rank's  financial  advisers  and  a 
director  of  General  Films  Distributors,  a 
Rank-controlled  company,  said  he  would  con- 
tinue negotiations  with  major  companies  for 
a  distribution  deal. 

When  Mr.  Kelly  was  asked  how  the  new 
organization  would  affect  Mr.  Gain's  plans, 
he  said :  "I  don't  know  what  Mr.  Gain  is 
supposed  to  be  doing.  All  I  know  is  that 
Mr.  Kank  asked  me  to  take  charge  of  Eagle- 
Lion  here." 

Mr.  Gain  came  to  the  U.  S.  early  in  Janu- 
uary,  and  outlined  his  mission  here  for  Mr. 
Rank,  but  denied  emphhatically  that  Mr. 
Rank  would  finance  films  made  in  Holly- 
wood by  independent  producers. 

Eagle-Lion  not  only  will  distribute  Brit- 
ish films  but  will  finance  independent  Holly- 
wood productions,  according  to  Mr.  Kelly. 
The  deals  would  be  patterned  after_  those 
offered  independents  by  United  Artists. 

Galperson  in  U.  S.  to  Set 
Deals  for  Two  Cities 

Two  Cities  Films,  Ltd.,  an  important 
British  producing  company  which  distrib- 
utes its,  product  through  GFD,  also  sent  its 
representative  to  the  U.  S.  with  instructions 
to  arrange  a  distribution  deal.  Dr.  ALlex- 
ander  Galperson,  assistant  managing  direc- 
tor for  Two  Cities,  since  his  arrival,  has 
consistently  denied  that  Mr.  Rank  controls 
the  company,  but  the  British  producer-dis- 
tributor has  a  considerable  financial  interest 
in  it.     GFD  holds  the  world  distribution 


rights  to  Two  Cities'  product;  Mr.  Rank 
has  financed  several  of  the  company's  im- 
portant films;  Two  Cities  uses  studios  owned 
by  Mr.  Rank. 

Dr.  Galperson  indicated  Monday  that 
he  would  continue  his  negotiations  for  a 
major  company  tieup  until  he  received  word 
from  London.  I  twas  learned  that  Filippo 
Del  Giudice,  head  of  Two  Cities',  conferred 
with  Mr.  Rank  last  weekend  to  determine 
the  company's  position  with  regard  to  the 
newly-formed  Eagle- Lion. 

Gain  Conferred  by  Telephone 
With  Justice  Department 

From  his  conversation  with  presidents  of 
the  major  companies,  Mr.  Gain  said  his  im- 
pression was  that  American  film  leaders 
would  welcome  the  distribution  here  of 
England's  better  productions.  Observers  had 
offered  this  opinion  previously,  contending 
that  the  American  majors  would  want  to 
encourage  British  film  distribution  in  the 
U.  S.  in  order  to  continue  doing  business  in 
England  on  the  best  possible  terms,  with  a 
minimum  of  trade  or  Government  restric- 
tions. 

In  view  of  the  new  Rank  organization  in 
the  U.  S.,  it  could  not  be  learned  on  what 
basis  either  Mr.  Gain  or  Dr.  Galperson 
would  proceed  with  their  conferences  with 
company  officials.  It  was  expected  that  both 
British  executives  would  return  to  England 
within  the  next  two  or  ^hree  weeks. 

Meanwhile,  recent  reports  from  Washing- 
ton that  the  Department  of  Justice  was 
investigating  the  Anglo-American  film  deals, 
contemplated  or  negotiated,  with  an  eye  to 
a  possible  cartel,  were  partly  confirmed  by 
Mr.  Gain  who  said  that  he  had  spoken  on 
the  telephone  last  week  to  Wendell  E.  Berge, 
Assistant  Attorney  General  in  charge  of  the 
anti-trust  division.  Mr.  Gain  did  not  give 
details  of  the  conversation  but  reported  that 
at  one  point  Mr.  Berge  had  said:  "We  have 
no  objection  to  competition  at  all.  In  fact, 
we  rather  welcome  it." 

First  Eagle-Lion  Release 
To  Be  "Colonel  Blimp" 

Mr.  Rank's  rapid  rise  to  prominence  in  the 
British  industry  in  the  past  two  years  al- 
ready has  been  the  subject  of  monopoly  in- 
vestigation on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic. 

"Colonel  Blimp,"  formerly  titled  "The 
Life  and  Death  of  Colonel  Blimp,"  produced 
by  Powell  and  Pressburger,  will  be  the  first 
picture  released  in  the  U.  S.  by  Eagle-Lion, 
as  soon  as  distribution  arrangements  are 
completed.  Mr.  Kelly  said,  "we  are  now 
canvassing  the  possibilities  of  whether  or  not 
it  should  be  given  a  road  show  release  or 
higher  admissions."  He  said  the  picture 
could  stand  up  under  a  $2  top  scale,  backed 
by  the  proper  advertising-exploitation-pub- 
licity campaign,  and  that  in  production 
values  it  compared  favorably  with  the  best 
of  Hollywood. 

It  is  considered  likely  that  several  Two- 
Cities  productions,  among  them  "This  Happy 
Breed"  and  the  film  version  of  Noel  Cow- 
ard's play,  "Blithe  Spirit,"  will  be  offered 
American  exhibitors  through  Eagle-Lion. 


34 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    19,     I  944 


RANK  SEEKS  "SIGNIFICANCE 
IN  FILMS  HE  PRODUCES 


Plans  Picture  to  Be  Made 
with  the  Cooperation  of 
U.  S,  Army  Officials 

by  PETER  BURNUP 

m  London 

Indicative  of  the  wide,  ambitious  pattern 
set  by  J.  Arthur  Rank  in  his  plans  for 
world  film  market  assault  is  a  project  now 
under  secret  discussion  among  Mr.  Rank's 
associates,  including  Filippo  Del  Giudice  of 
Two  Cities,  and  U.  S.  Army  headquarters 
in  London.  This  is  a  film  half  of  whose 
action  is  designed  to  take  place  in  America 
set  in  sort  of  counterpoint  against  the  action 
of  the  other  half  in  Britain. 

In  America,  so  it  is  planned,  one  will 
see  the  reactions  of  a  British  sailor  under- 
going training  and  discipline  at  the  Royal 
Navy  Depot  in  Asbury  Park,  N.  J.  In  the 
British  half  of  the  piece  there  will  be  a 
mixed  company  of  American  doughboys 
hailing  from  every  state  in  the  union. 

Film  Intended  to  Be  More 
Than  a  Documentary 

The  planner  of  the  film,  John  Sutro — one 
of  Mr.  Del  Giudice's  most  imaginative  pro- 
ducers— states  definitely  that  it  is  not  his 
intention  to  make  a  mere  documentary. 
Rather  does  he  aim  at  producing  a  rich 
amalgam  of  Anglo-American  relations;  be- 
lieving that  he  can  make  a  significant, 
worthwhile  contribution  to  the  cause  of 
trans-Atlantic  good-neighborliness  and  un- 
derstanding. 

U.  S.  Army  authorities  here  have  wel- 
comed the  idea  wholeheartedly,  pledging  all 
possible  aid  in  the  film's  production.  Al- 
though not  yet  known,  it  is  anticipated  that 
the  British  Government's  reactions  to  the 
proposal  will  be  no  less  warm.  For  White- 
hall nowadays,  abandoning  its  erstwhile  dis- 
dain of  the  cinema,  is  very  mindful  of  the 
potentialities  of  the  motion  picture  in  gen- 
eral and  of  the  Rank  influence  in  partic- 
ular. Tentative  title  of  the  piece  is,  not 
inaptly,  "Two  Cities." 

Answers  Rank  Insistence 
Films  Be  Significant 

This  is  the  latest  of  a  long  string  of  Two 
Cities  productions,  each  of  which  amply  ful- 
fills Mr.  Rank's  firmly  stipulated  demand 
that  his  pictures  should  exhibit  not  only 
quality  in  their  design  but  should  possess 
"significance." 

Awaiting  showing,  for  example,  are  two 
major  efforts:  Noel  Coward's  "This  Happy 
Breed"  and  Laurence  Olivier's  version  of 
William  Shakespeare's  "Henry  V."  Both  are 
in  Technicolor,  which  circumstance  accounts 
for  a  delay  in  their  respective  unveilings ; 
British  laboratories,  in  wartime,  being  un- 
able to  cope  speedily  with  color  processing 
problems.  But  each  is  promised  an  early 
viewing. 

The  Rank  stipulation  of  "significance"  is 
seen  in  the  three  other  Two  Cities  films  now 
in  active  production:  "Mr.  Emmanuel,"  mo- 
tivated by  Nazi  anti-Semitism;  "The  Way 


BRITISH  FILMS  EARMARKED 
FOR  U.S.  RELEASE 

Among  the  impor+ant  British  pro- 
ductions which  are  being  considered 
for  the  American  market  by  J.  Arthur 
Rank,  British  producer-distributor-ex- 
hibitor, are  the  following  films,  pro- 
duced by  Rank-controlled  companies 
or  by  related  producing  units: 
"Colonel  Blimp",  the  Michael  Powell- 
Emeric  Pressburger  Technicolor  pic- 
ture; "This  Happy  Breed",  story 
by  Noel  Coward,  produced  by  Two 
Cities  Films,  Ltd.,  in  Technicolor; 
"Blithe  Spirit",  screen  version  of 
the  Noel  Coward  play.  Two  Cities; 
"Henry  V",  Technicolor  production 
of  the  Shakespearian  play,  starring 
Laurence  Olivier,  Two  Cities;  "Caesar 
and  Cleopatra",  Technicolor  screen 
version  of  George  Bernard  Shaw's 
play,  produced  by  Gabriel  Pascal  and 
starring  Vivien  Leigh;  "Signed  With 
Their  Honor",  Paul  Soskin  production, 
and  "Army  of  Shadows",  film  about 
the  French  underground  movement, 
to  be  made  with  Hollywood  French 
actors,  Two  Cities. 


Ahead,"  dramatization  of  the  Eighth  Army's 
majestic  conquest  of  the  African  desert; 
"Man  of  Two  Worlds,"  a  study  of  the  prob- 
lems inherent  in  Britain's  African  empire. 

Promised  for  the  near  future  are  the  bi- 
lingual French  background  films,  brief  de- 
tails of  which  were  first  revealed  in  cable 
dispatches,  and  a  film  of  the  RAF  which, 
Mr.  Rank  proposes,  shall  do  for  Britain's 
flying  heroes  what  "In  Which  We  Serve" 
did  for  the  Navy. 

Typical  of  the  Del  Giudice  punctilious- 
ness in  production  is  the  thoroughness  of 
preliminary  preparation,  and  meticulousness 
in  casting.  At  the  respective  ends  of  the 
African  continent,  for  example,  camera  and 
sound-recording  units  have  been  working  for 
many  months  on  the  backgrounds  of  "The 
Way  Ahead"  and  "Man  of  Two  Worlds." 

Moreover,  ignoring  convention,  hitherto 
completely  unknown  actors  have  been  cast 
prominently  in  both  "Mr.  Emmanuel"  and 
"Two  Worlds."  The  adaptation  of  Louis 
Golding's  well  known  novel  placed  consid- 
erable emphasis  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Silver, 
a  Jewish  victim  of  Nazi  terrorism.  A  dozen 
or  so  celebrated  actors  were  tested  unsuc- 
cessfully for  the  role  which  has  now  been 
allotted  to  one  Meyer  Tzelnicker,  Russian 
born,  who  was  seen  by  one  of  the  Del  Giu- 
dice talent  scouts  appearing  in  a  Yiddish 
play  at  London's  only  Ghetto  theatre,  in  the 
Whitechapel  quarter.  Tzelnicker  had  never 
previously  seen  the  inside  of  a  film  studio. 
His  tests  revealed  surpassing  talent. 

Similarly,  the  lead  in  "Man  of  Two 
Worlds" —  a  story  of  a  Negro  musician, 


famed  and  lauded  in  European  artistic  circles 
—  who  goes  back  to  his  own  people,  is 
awarded  to  another  little  knovra  actor,  Rob- 
ert Adams,  a  Negro  who  gave  a  notable  per- 
formance in  Eugene  O'Neil's  "Hairy  Ape" 
at  one  of  London's  little  theatres.  Eric 
Portman,  high  ranking  favorite  in  Motion 
Picture  Herald's  British  poll  to  determine 
money-making  stars,  plays  opposite  Adams 
in  the  new  piece. 

All  this  unprecedented  activity  puts  a 
heavy  strain  on  attenuated  studio  space  at 
Denham.  Already  Two  Cities  have  "bor- 
rowed" stages  at  Warner  Brothers'  Tedding- 
ton  Studios.  It  is  understood  that  Del  Giu- 
dice proposes  also  taking  over  space  at  the 
Ostrer-Gainsborough  Shepherd's  Bush  es- 
tablishment, an  arrangement  presumably 
easily  implemented  now  that  the  Two  Cities 
chief  has  been  appointed  to  Gainsborough's 
board  of  directors  by  order  of  Mr.  Rank. 

Balcon  Has  Two  Subjects 
Under  Way  at  Ealing 

At  this  very  moment  of  writing  Del  Giu- 
dice announces  that  his  company  has  ac- 
quired from  an  American  organization  the 
world  film  rights,  including  the  music  and 
lyrics,  of  Noe  Coward's  group  of  eight  short 
plays  known,  in  omnibus  fashion,  as  "To- 
night at  Eight-Thirty." 

Michael  Balcon  has  two  subjects  under 
way  at  his  Ealing  plant.  Charles  Frend,  whc 
achieved  such  a  worthy  directorial  job  ol 
work  in  "San  Demetrio,"  has  started  on 
another  quasi-documentary,  "The  Return  oi 
the  Vikings,"  a  story  of  Norwegian  whaleri 
ordered  into  Allied  ports  at  the  German  in- 
vasion and  their  subsequent  adventures  aftei 
enlisting  in  the  fighting  forces  of  their  coun- 
try stationed  in  Britain. 

Mr.  Balcon's  other  enterprise  is  an  adap- 
tation of  J.  B.  Priestley's  play,  "They  Cam< 
to  a  City,"  in  which  famed  stage  actors  lik( 
Mabel  Terry-Lewis,  A.  E.  Matthews  anc 
Norman  Shelley  appear  on  the  screen. 

Latest  communique  from  Korda  head- 
quarters: Shooting  on  "The  Perfect  Stran- 
gers," first  of  the  ambitious  MGM-Kordc 
program,  will  start  toward  the  end  of  Feb 
ruary.  Robert  Donat  and  Deborah  Ken 
play  the  leads  in  this,  with  Wesley  Ruggle; 
directing. 

Meantime,  Sir  Alexander,  it  is  under 
stood,  proposes  another  flying  visit  to  th^i 
United  States. 


Paramount  Plans  Post-War 
Production  in  England 

Paramount  is  planning  to  set  up  its  own  pro- 
duction organization  in  England  after  the  war  or 
a  scale  which  will  permit  it  to  turn  out  produci 
there  comparable  with  the  better  Hollywood 
pictures,  David  Rose,  Paramount  managing  di- 
rector for  Great  Britain,  indicated  just  prior  tc 
his  departure  from  New  York  for  London  last 
weekend. 

Mr.  Rose  said  the  continuing  discussions  con- 
cerning the  company's  post-war  plans  look  tc 
the  realization  of  that  and  several  other  objec- 
tives in  operations  abroad. 

Paramount's  post-war  plans  have  not  yei 
reached  their  final  phases,  he  said,  but  may  ir 
the  near  future. 


m  Paramount's  TRADE  SHOWINGS 


CITY 

PLACE  OF  SCREENING 

THE  HOUR 
BEFORE  THE  DAWN 

THE 
NAVY  WAY 

GOING 
MY  WAY 

YOU  CAN'T 
RATION  LOVE 

Al  RAKiY 

fOY  Proi    Rnom    lOS?  Brondwav 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
2.30  P.M. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
10.30  A.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
2:30  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
70:30  A.M. 

ATI  AKITA 

PARAMOUNT  EX.,  154  Walton  St.,  N.W. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
2  P.M. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
70,30  A.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 

2  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
70:30  A.M. 

PARAMOUNT  EX.,  58  Berkeley  St. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
n  A.M. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
2:30  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
77  A.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
2  P.M. 

PARAMOUNT  EX.,  464  Franklin  St. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
3  P.M. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
7:30  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 

2  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
70  A.M. 

THAR!  DTTF 

PARAMOUNT  EX.,  305  S.  Church  St. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
3  P.M. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
7:30  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
3  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 

7:30  P.M. 

PARAMOUNT  EX.,  1306  S.  Michigan  Ave. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
3.J0  P.M. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
2  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
3:70  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
2  P.M. 

riNCINNATI 

PARAMOUNT  EX.,  1214  Central  P'kway 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
2-30  P.M. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
77  A.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
2:30  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
77  A.M. 

riEVELAND 

PARAMOUNT  EX.,  1735  E.  23rd  St. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
).-30  P.M. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
77  A.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
7:30  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
77  A.M. 

DAI  LAS 

PARAMOUNT  EX.,  412  S.  Harwood  St. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
?0;30  A.M. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
2  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
70:30  A.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
2  P.M. 

DENVER 

PARAMOUNT  EX.,  2100  Stout  St. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
2  P.M. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
3:30  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
2  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25^ 
3:30  P.M.  1 

RE*;  MOINE'i 

PARAMOUNT  EX.,  1125  High  St. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
J2;45  P.M. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
2  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
72:45  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
2:75  P.M. 

DETROIT 

PARAMOUNT  EX.,  479  Ledyard  Ave. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
7:30  P.M. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
3:30  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 

7:30  P.M.' 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
3:30  P.M. 

INDIANAPOLIS 

PARAMOUNT  EX.,  116  W.  Michigan  St. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
/.•30  P.M. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
3:00  P.M.  - 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
7:30  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
3  P.M 

KANSAS  CITY 

PARAMOUNT  EX.,  1800  Wyandotte  St. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
2  P.M. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
77  A.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 

2  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
77  A.M. 

LOS  ANGELES 

AMBASSADOR  THEA.,  Ambassador  Hotel 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
3  P.M. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
7:30  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 

3  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
7:30  P.M. 

MEMPHIS 

PARAMOUNT  EX.,  362  So.  2nd  St. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
J0:30  A.M. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
2  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
70:30  A.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
2  P.M. 

MILWAUKEE 

PARAMOUNT  EX.,  1121  N.  8th  St. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
J.-30  P.M. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
3  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
7:30  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
3  P.M. 

MINNEAPOLIS 

PARAMOUNT  EX.,  1201  Currie  Ave. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
?0:30  A.M. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 

2:30  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
70:30  A.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
2:30  P.M. 

NEW  HAVEN 

PARAMOUNT  EX.,  82  State  St. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 

2  P.M. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
3:75  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
2  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
3:30  P.M. 

NEW  ORLEANS 

PARAMOUNT  EX.,  215  S.  Liberty  St. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
JO  A.M. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
7  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
70  A.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
3  P.M. 

NEW  YORK  CITY 

FOX  Proj.  Room,  345  W.  44th  St. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
2.75  P.M. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
77:30  A.M. 

THURS.  FEB.  2 
70:75  A.M. 

NEW  YORK  CITY 

NORMANDIE  THEATRE,  51  E.  53rd  St. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
70:30  A.M. 

OKLAHOMA  CITY 

PARAMOUNT  EX.,  701  W.  Grand  Ave. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
2  P.M. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
70:30  A.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
2  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
70:30  A.M. 

OMAHA 

PARAMOUNT  EX.,  1704  Davenport  St. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 

2  P.M. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
77  A.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
2  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
77  A,M. 

PHILADELPHIA 

PARAMOUNT  EX.,  248  N.  12th  St 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
2.30  P.M. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
77  A:M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
2:30  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
77  A.M. 

PITTSBURGH 

PARAMOUNT  EX.,  1727  Blvd.  of  Allies 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
2  P.M. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
70:30  A.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
2  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
70:30  A.M. 

PORTLAND 

PARAMOUNT  EX.,  909  N.W.  19th  Ave. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
2  P.M. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
77  A.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
2  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
77  A.M. 

ST.  LOUIS 

PARAMOUNT  EX.,  2949  Olive  St. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
10:30  A.M. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
7:30  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
70:30  A.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
7:30  P.M. 

SALT  LAKE  CITY 

PARAMOUNT  EX.,  270  E.  Uf  So.  St. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
?0;30  A.M. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
7  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
70:30  A.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
7  P.M. 

SAN  FRANCISCO 

PARAMOUNT  EX.,  205  Golden  Gate  Ave. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 

3  P.M. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
7:30  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
3  P.M. 

FRI  FEB  25 
7:30  P.M. 

SEATTLE 

PARAMOUNT  EX.,  2330  First  Ave. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
7-30  P.M. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
77:30  A.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
7:30  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
77:30  A.M. 

WASHINGTON 

PARAMOUNT  EX.,  306  H  St.,  N.W 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
J0:30  A.M. 

THURS.  FEB.  24 
2:30  P.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
70:30  A.M. 

FRI.  FEB.  25 
2:30  P.M. 

"GOING  MY  WAY"  iWf/i  B\ng  Crosby,  Rise  Stevens,  Harry  Fitzgerald,  Frank  McIIiigh,  James  Brown,  Jean  Heathei 
"THE  HOUR  BEFORE  THE  DAWN"  starring  Veronica  Lake,  Franchot  Tone  with  Binnie  Barnes,  John  Sutton 

"THE  NAVY  WAY"  with  Robert  Lowery,  Jean  Parker 

"YOU    CAN'T    RATION    LOVE"    with    Better    RhnHfS   nnH    1nhnnit>  Jnhrtstr^n 


February     19,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


37 


SKOURAS  CITES  TREASURY'S 
COOPERATION  WITH  TRADE 


Team  Work  Valuable  in  All 
Future  Drives;  Figures 
To  Be  Released  Later 

Tuesday,  with  the  Fourth  War  Loan's  na- 
tional drive  officially  closed,  Charles  P. 
Skouras,  heading  the  industry's  contribution 
to  the  campaign,  flanked  by  his  chief  lieu- 
tenants, 'Frank  "Rick"  Ricketson,  B.  V. 
Sturdivant  and  Andrew  Krappman,  re- 
viewed the  events  of  the  past  six  weeks  and 
announced  that  one  of  the  great  achieve- 
ments of  the  drive  was  the  establishing  of 
greater  cooperation  between  all  the  U.  S. 
Treasury's  War  Loan  agencies  and  the  in- 
dustry. Mr.  Skouras  and  his  staff  spoke  in- 
formally at  a  gathering  of  representatives  of 
the  trade  press  in  the  home  offices  of  Twen- 
tieth Century-Fox.  This  newly  found  team- 
work, it  was  explained,  would  prove  to  be 
the  backbone  of  drives  to  come. 

No  final  figures  for  the  drive  were  an- 
nounced at  the  meeting,  Mr.  Ricketson  ex- 
plaining that  it  is  the  industry's  purpose  to 
leave  the  announcement  of  official  results  to 
the  Treasury.  It  is  also  the  policy  of  the 
industry  in  this  campaign  to  eliminate  all 
emphasis  on  dollar  figures,  except  those  re- 
leased by  the  Treasury. 

Skouras  Thanks  Industry 
Through  Trade  Press 

Mr.  Skouras,  through  the  trade  press, 
thanked  the  "approximately  195,000  persons 
from  exhibition,  distribution  and  production" 
who  were  engaged  actively  in  the  campaign. 
Mr.  Sturdivant  spoke  of  the  great  improve- 
ment in  relations  between  the  War  Finance 
Committee  and  the  industry,  born,  he  said, 
of  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Skouras.  He  spoke, 
too,  of  the  great  cooperation  received  from 
the  American  Legion,  local  merchants.  Boy 
Scouts  and  other  civic  groups  and  the 
lATSE  and  Scenic  Artists. 

Mr.  Skouras  explained  that  while  the  na- 
tional drive  had  been  concluded,  the  indus- 
try's concentrated  efforts  would  continue  to 
the  end  of  this  month,  with  premieres  and 
with  Bond  sales  to  March  1  counting  in  the 
Honored  Hundred  Contest.  March  15,  he 
said,  would  be  the  deadline  for  counting 
Bond  sales  in  theatres,  with  the  U.  S.  Treas- 
ury announcing  results  shortly  thereafter. 

15,000  Theatres  Sold 
Through  Bond  Booths 

These  over-all  results  also  were  announced 
at  the  meeting:  3,300  premieres,  4,000  "Free 
Movie  Days,"  special  War  Loan  films  seen 
by  some  570,000,000  patrons  shown  every 
week  on  every  screen,  nationwide  tours  of 
war  veterans  and  Hollywood  stars,  480  ap- 
pearances of  stars  in  key-city  rallies,  air  tour 
of  12  "Flying  Bondsmen,"  10,000  theatre 
managers  in  the  States,  Alaska  and  Hawaii 
entered  the  Honored  Hundred  Contest,  ac- 
cording to  entry  blanks  and  state  chairmen 
reports  received  at  headquarters. 

Also,  some  15,000  theatre  Bond  booths 
and  box  offices  taking  War  Bond  orders, 
61,440  outdoor  Bond-selling  events  by  show- 
men, swing  shift  premieres,  radio  broadcast 


GAMBLE  PREDICTS 
INDUSTRY  VICTORY 

Theodore  Gamble,  chairman  of  the 
War  Finance  division,  U.  S.  Treasury, 
telegraphed  Charles  Skouras,  industry 
Fourth  War  Loan  chairman,  Wednes- 
day as  follows: 

"If  present  averages  are  main- 
tained through  the  end  of  the  drive, 
we  will  go  over  the  top  on  E  Bonds. 
You  and  ail  those  associated  with  you 
can  be  very  proud  of  this,  as  it 
reaches  a  new  milestone  in  wartime 
financing.  You  will  be  interested  to 
know  we  are  announcing  in  tomorrow 
morning's  papers  that  total  sales  of 
$14,191,000,000  have  been  achieved. 
It  will  not  be  possible  for  us  to  know 
the  final  outcome  of  E  Bond  sales, 
around  which  your  campaign  was 
largely  built,  until  the  close  of  report- 
ing, February  29.  There  is,  however, 
at  this  moment  evidence  that  your 
campaign  has  been  invaluable  in  help- 
ing us  roll  up  unprecedented  E  Bond 
sales. 

"The  E  Bond  sales  in  small  com- 
munities have  been  especially  gratify- 
ing, and  it  is  hoped  that  these  sales 
will  continue  unceasingly  until  the 
final  day  of  your  campaign.  The 
Secretary  and  members  of  the  War 
Finance  division  have  asked  me  to 
express  sincere  appreciation  to  you, 
to  your  associates  and  to  all  of  the 
patriotic  men  and  women  in  your 
industry  who  have  aided  in  this  im- 
portant home  front  task." 


tribute  to  the  industry  over  the  Blue  Net- 
work, innumerable  Bond  auctions,  sponsor- 
ing of  the  Liberty  ship  Carol  Lombard,  the 
mailing  of  17,000  seating  charts,  14,000  thea- 
tre front  displays,  mobile  Bond-selling  units, 
theatre-staff  neighborhood  Bond  canvass, 
and  6,000  authorized  theatre  Bond-issuing 
agents.  The  figures,  it  was  explained,  were 
estimated  by  state  chairmen  and  executives 
throughout  the  country. 

Over  last  weekend,  Mr.  Skouras  made  an 
eleventh  hour  plea  to  the  industry  to  re- 
double its  efforts,  and  reminded  exhibitors 
that  in  "virtually  every  territory"  there  were 
to  be  added  activities  between  last  Tuesday 
and  February  29;  with  rallies  and  auctions, 
etc.,  besides  premieres,  and  that  the  entire 
resources  of  the  industry  would  be  "in  there 
pitching"  until  February  29. 

Next  Monday  evening  Mr.  Skouras  will 
hold  a  testimonial  dinner  for  the  distribution 
heads  of  all  the  film  companies,  WAC  of- 
ficials and  the  12  Flying  Bondsmen  in  ap- 
evening  of  last  week  brought  a  total  of  $2,- 
preciation  of  their  cooperation  throughout 
the  drive. 

In  eight  RKO  New  York  Metropolitan 


area  theatres,  premieres  held  on  Wednesday 
555,900  in  Bond  sales.  Keith's  Flushing 
theatre,  with  "The  Lodger,"  led  the  list  with 
a  half  a  million  sale. 

Through  February  13,  Loew's  circuit  had 
sold  Bonds  totaling  $10,082,628  in  value, 
representfng  sales  of  126,387  individual 
Bonds.  Joseph  Samartano,  manager  of 
Loew's  Poll  Palace,  Meriden,  Conn.,  led  the 
circuit  in  Bonds  sold  in  ratio  to  seating  cap- 
acity. 

Up  to  the  middle  of  last  week  nine  Loew's 
theatres  had  passed  their  Bond  for  every 
seat  quota.  In  New  York  City  on  "Free 
Movie  Day,"  Loew's  theatres  admitted  4,331 
Bond  buyers,  with  the  Capitol  theatre  on 
Broadway  leading  the  circuit  with  643  ad- 
missions, and  tlie  Pitkin  in  Brooklyn  second 
with  317. 

Reports  Sale  Three  Times 
Capacity  of  Theatre 

The  Highway  theatre  in  Brooklyn  sold 
$27,000  in  Bonds  last  week  at  a  rally  which 
brought  pledges  for  purchases  not  included 
in  the  total.  The  guest  of  honor  at  the  rally 
was  the  theatre's  former  manager,  Barney 
Wiselman,  now  a  PFC  in  the  U.  S.  Air 
Corps. 

Joe  Samartano,  manager  of  the  Palace 
theatre  in  Meriden,  Conn.,  reported  a  sale 
of  Bonds  three  and  one-half  times  the  ca- 
pacity of  his  house.  On  St.  Valentine's  Day 
Cheney  County  in  Missouri  held  a  Bond  fes- 
tival with  Harry  Arthur,  Jr.,  of  St.  Louis, 
vice-president  of  Fanchon  and  Marco,  co- 
operating on  the  production  in  connection 
with  the  festival. 

Tom  North,  manager  of  the  Rockbridge 
theatre  in  Buena  Vista,  Va.,  last  week  re- 
ported a  sale  of  a  Bond  for  each  of  his  thea- 
tre seats.  In  Fall  River,  Mass.,  the  Herald- 
News  printed  a  story  to  the  effect  that  Wil- 
liam S.  Canning,  manager  of  the  Empire 
theatre,  had  sold  more  Bonds  in  the  past 
year  than  any  other  theatre  in  the  state.  He 
was  credited  with  selling  6,000  "E"  Bonds 
in  the  current  drive.  His  theatre  seats  1,900. 

Wyoming  Manager  Sets 
Record  for  the  State 

Wilford  Williams,  manager  of  the  Fox- 
Victory  theatre  in  Kemmerer,  Wyo.,  is  re- 
ported to  have  set  a  state  record  with  the 
sale  of  1,600  Bonds  at  a  premiere,  his  house 
seating  524.  An  auction  added  to  the  sales. 
The  Earle  theatre  in  Washington,  D.  C, 
became  the  second  house  to  meet  its  quota 
with  a  sale  of  2,154  "E"  Bonds;  Loew's  Co- 
lumbia was  the  first  with  the  sale  of  2,353 
"E"  Bonds  against  1,174  seats.  In  San 
Francisco  the  Warfield  theatre  sold  2,656 
Bonds  at  a  midnight  premiere  last  week. 

Because  Ted  Schlanger,  Philadelphia  zone 
manager  for  the  Warner  circuit,  turned  over 
the  Boyd  theatre  to  the  Navy  League  for  a 
premiere  that  netted  $3,500,000  in  Bond 
sales,  and  the  Aldine  theatre  to  the  Fra- 
ternal Order  of  Police  on  Tuesday  night,  the 
premiere  selling  almost  $3,000,000  in  Bonds, 
the  Daiiy  News  of  Philadelphia  made  Mr. 
Schlanger  the  subject  of  a  laudatory  edi- 
torial. 


38 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    19,    19  44 


Services  Competing 
On  Incentive  Films 


Army  and  Navy  Units  Both 
Seek  War  Plant  Playing 
Time  for  Pictures 


Separate  and  competitive  distribution  of 
war  incentive  films  to  war  plants  by  the 
Army  and  Navy  recently  gained  the  atten- 
tion of  the  motion  picture  bureau  of  the 
Office  of  War  Information  through  the 
claims  of  the  OWI  16mm  advisory  commit- 
tee which  placed  the  OWI  in  the  center  of 
a  dispute  with  Army  and  Navy  officers. 

Stanton  Griffis,  chairman  of  the  executive 
committee  of  Paramount,  now  on  leave,  and 
director  of  the  OWI  film  bureau,  recently 
endeavored  to  arbitrate  the  dispute  in  New 
York,  following  conferences  with  Army  and 
Navy  officers  and  the  chief  of  the  OWI  non- 
theatrical  division. 

Army  and  Navy  Units  Compete 
For  Screenings  at  Plants 

Both  the  Army  and  Navy  incentive  film 
divisions  are  competing  with  each  other  for 
war  plant  screenings  of  their  pictures.  Dis- 
tribution of  the  Army  films  is  being  han- 
dled, under  contract,  by  three  commercial 
agencies,  Castle  Films,  Walter  Gutlohn, 
Inc.,  and  Modern  Talking  Pictures,  Inc. 
The  Navy,  with  its  own  distribution  organi- 
zation, arranges  screenings  in  war  plant 
areas  for  its  incentive  pictures. 

According  to  C.  R.  Reagan,  head  of  the 
OWI  non-theatrical  division,  the  Govern- 
ment has  been  utilizing  a  nationwide  net- 
work of  16mm  film  depositories,  totaling 
241,  for  OWI  war  effort  films,  which  could 
readily  be  used  to  handle  both  the  Army 
and  Navy  16mm  incentive  films.  The  Na- 
tional 16mm  Motion  Picture  Advisory  and 
Policy  Committee  of  the  OWI  recently 
charged  that  the  three  commercial  distribu- 
tors do  not  have  sufficient  16mm  outlets  to 
blanket  the  country.  The  Army  claims  that 
under  its  present  distribution  system,  it  does 
not  need  the  services  of  the  241  depositories 
to  achieve  widespread  distribution. 

In  the  meantime,  the  Army  is  continuing 
to  make  arrangements  for  theatrical  distribu- 
tion of  films  produced  by  the  Special  Ser- 
vices Division,  which,  under  the  supervision 
of  Col.  Frank  Capra,  made  the  "Why  We 
Fight  Series,"  includmg  "Prelude  to  War" 
and  "Battle  of  Russia,"  two  of  the  series 
already  exhibited  in  theatres.  "The  Negro 
at  War,"  another  Special  Service  subject,  is 
now  being  considered  by  the  War  Activi- 
ties Committee  for  theatrical  showing.  (See 
page  57.) 

Mayer  and  Greenthal  Head 
Army  Film  Releases 

Through  WAC,  the  Navy  film,  "Battle  of 
Midway,"  produced  by  John  Ford,  also  was 
shown  in  theatres,  and  another  Army  pic- 
ture, "At  the  Front,"  made  by  Col.  Darryl 
F.  Zanuck,  was  .distributed  through  regular 
commercial  chatmels. 

Under  the  direction  of  the  industrial  ser- 
vices division  of  the  War  Department  Bu- 
reau of  Public  Relations.  Arthur  Mayer, 


owner  and  operator  of  the  Rialto  theatre. 
New  York,  on  leave  from  his  executive  posi- 
tion with  WAC  to  take  the  post  of  consult- 
ant to  the  War  Department,  and  Captain 
Monroe  Greenthal,  former  United  Artists 
advertising  and  publicity  head,  are  in 
charge  of  coordinating  the  distribution  of 
Army  incentive  films. 

Recently,  Mr.  Griffis  and  Mr.  Mayer  were 
asked  to  comment  on  the  claims  made  by  the 
OWI  16mm  advisory  committee.  Mr.  Grif- 
fis said  he  had  no  comment  to  make  con- 
cerning the  controversy.  Mr.  Mayer  indi- 
cated that  the  16mm  commercial  and  educa- 
tional distributors  who  comprise  the  commit- 
tee had  made  unwarrantable  allegations  re- 
garding the  Army's  film  program  for  war 
plant  workers. 

Mr.  Reagan,  however,  urged  that  the 
Army  and  Navy  utilize  the  241  16mm  film 
depositories,  in  addition  to  the  outlets  ob- 
tained through  Castle,  Gutlohn  and  Modern 
Talking,  "in  order  to  achieve  the  best  pos- 
sible coverage  nationally  for  these  vitally 
important  war  films." 

Scale  of  Rates  Set  for 
Projection  of  Films 

According  to  the  Army  contracts  made 
with  the  three  commercial  companies,  a  nom- 
inal charge  of  $1  for  three  reels  or  less  in 
any  one  shipment,  "is  allowed  each  distribu- 
tor to  cover  the  cost  of  transportation,  han- 
dling, insurance  and  maintenance.  Plants  or 
industrial  groups  not  having  projection  facil- 
ities may  contract  with  the  distributor  for 
an  experienced  operator  and  16mm  projector 
on  the  following  authorized  scale  of  rates : 
continuous  showings  up  to  1>4  hours,  $17; 
up  to  four  hours,  $25 ;  up  to  six  hours,  $30 ; 
up  to  eight  hours,  $35." 

Currently,  the  War  Department  is  prepar- 
ing a  report  on  distribution  of  the  incentive 
films  under  the  present  system.  In  Wash- 
ington this  week,,  it  was  learned  that  during 
the  month  of  January  in  one  area  alone,  24 
incentive  pictures  were  given  approximately 
4,000  screenings  in  war  plants,  reaching  a 
total  audience  of  more  than  7,000,000,  or  an 
average  attendance  per  screening  of  about 
200  persons. 

Army  Has  Clearance  Over 
Theatrical  Bookings 

To  promote  the  best  possible  coverage  in 
any  given  war  plant  district,  the  War  De- 
partment has  assigned  an  Army  officer  to 
take  charge  of  film  distribution  in  the  in- 
dividual Army  service  command  areas.  The 
officer  works  with  the  local  distributor  and 
with  local  war  plant  managers  in  arranging 
the  screenings.  In  many  instances,  the  Army 
man  also  calls  upon  the  local  exhibitor  re- 
questing the  use  of  his  theatre  for  showings 
before  or  after  regular  theatre  hours. 

In  the  case  of  "Battle  of  Russia,"  which 
is  distributed  theatrically  by  Twentieth  Cen- 
tury-Fox, and  is  one  of  the  24  Army  incen- 
tive films  available  for  16mm  showing,  the 
Army  has  90-day  clearance  over  theatrical 
bookings.  No  war  plant  can  exhibit  the 
picture  in  16mm  in  any  area  where  the  local 
exhibitor  has  not  yet  shown  it.  According  to 


reports,  the  factory  screenings  of  this  film 
are  being  held  up  in  strategic  war  plant 
areas  because  theatre  operators  have  pro- 
longed their  bookings  of  the  subject. 

To  assist  plant  managers  in  providing 
suitable  16  mm  film  programs  for  their 
workers,  the  War  Department's  industrial 
service  division  has  grouped  Army  pictures 
under  two  categories:  Films  of  General  In- 
terest, comprising  16  subjects,  and  Films 
Made  for  Specialized  Industries,  consisting 
of  eight  subjects. 

The  pictures  are  shown  to  workers  be- 
fore, after  and  between  shifts;  during  lunch 
hours;  in  factory  theatres  or  auditoriums; 
or  in  local  theatres  before  or  after  regular 
program  hours.  Several  industries  have  put 
16mm  sound  projectors  on  their  trucks  and 
have  taken  the  pictures  into  various  plants 
in  the  same  community  through  these  mobile 
units. 

According  to  a  booklet  prepared  by  the 
industrial  service  division  of  the  War  De- 
partment, two  new  films  will  be  made  avail- 
able to  war  plants  for  release  each  month, 
in  both  35  and  16mm,  a  new  "Film  Com- 
munique," plus  another  subject  designed  to 
increase  the  output  of  war  workers. 


WAC  to  Release  Five  New 
Films  During  March 

During  March,  five  war  information  films 
will  be  distributed  under  the  auspices  of  the 
War  Activities  Committee.  Three  are  10-min- 
ute  subjects  and  two  are  the  shorter  "Film 
Bulletins."  These  were  produced  by  the  indus- 
try in  cooperation  with  the  Office  of  War  In- 
formation. 

"The  Why  of  Wartime  Taxes,"  No.  89  in 
the  WAG  release  schedule,  is  set  for  March  9. 
It  was  made  by  Columbia,  and  will  be  dis- 
tributed through  that  company's  exchanges.  For 
March  16  will  be  "Prices  Unlimited,"  on  ra- 
tioning, produced  and  to  be  distributed  by  Uni- 
versal, No.  90  in  the  series.  "America's  Hid- 
den Weapon,"  No.  91  in  the  series,  was  pro- 
duced and  will  be  distributed  by  Warner  Bros, 
beginning  March  30. 

"Film  Bulletins,"  No.'s  12  and  13,  which  are 
attached  to  the  newsreels  of  all  five  companies 
and  later  are  given  supplementary  distribution 
to  theatres  which  do  not  play  newsreels,  deal 
with  the  conservation  of  tires  and  waste  paper, 
respectively.  The  first  will  be  released  March 
21  and  the  other  March  23. 


Polish  Newspaper  Lauds 
Warners'  "In  Our  Time" 

After  viewing  "In  Our  Time"  in  its  pre- 
release premiere  showing  at  Shea's  Buffalo 
theatre,  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  one  of  the  country's 
leading  Polish  newspapers,  Everybody's  Daily, 
gave  the  picture  a  highly  laudatory  review 
and  devoted  a  1,000-word  editorial  to  praise  of 
the  film's  authenticity  and  commended  Warners 
for  giving  the  public  a  timely  story. 

Stanley  Czaster,  national  president  of  the 
Polish  Union  of  America,  and  Mrs.  A.  Bier- 
dron,  president  of  the  Polish  Women's  Alliance, 
were  among  the  prominent  Polish- Americans 
who  attended  a  showing  of  "In  Our  Time." 

Through  these  organizations  and  the  Polish 
press,  the  picture  will  be  promoted  in  Polish 
communities  throughout  the  country. 


Columbia  Shifts  Gins 

Joseph  Gins,  -  manager  for  Columbia  in  Char- 
lotte, N.  G.,  has  been  named  manager  of  the 
Detroit  exchange,  effective  February  28.  Mr. 
Gins  will  be  succeeded  in  Charlotte  by  George 
Roscoe,  now  a  Columbia  salesman,  and  Mr. 
Roscoe  will  be  succeeded  as  salesman  by  Carl 
Patterson,  now  office  manager  in  Charlotte., 


February    19.    I  944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


39 


THE  HOLLYWOOD  SCENE 


from  HOLLYWOOD  BURIAU 


New  Selznick  Film  Successor  to  ^'Wind^^ 


Not  averse  to  comparison  of  his  latest 
picture  with  his  greatest,  David  O.  Selznick 
last  vi^eek  authorized  release  of  several  sta- 
tistics pertaining  to  production  of  the  two 
properties.  They  are,  of  course,  in  the  order 
indicated,  "Since  You  Went  Away"  and 
"Gone  With  the  Wind." 

The  top  statistic  is  the  time-consumption 
factor:  "Since  You  Went  Away,"  on  which 
shooting  was  completed  February  9,  was  be- 
fore the  cameras  127  days.  "Gone  With  the 
Wind,"  which  the  company  says  has  grossed 
more  than  $35,000,000,  was  before  the  cam- 
eras 10  days  longer  than  that. 

On  the  other  hand,  "Since  You  Went 
Away"  gives  star  billing  to  eight  personal- 
ities— Claudette  Colbert,  Joseph  Gotten,  Jen- 
nifer Jones,  Shirley  Temple,  Monty  Wool- 
ley,  Charles  Coburn,  Lionel  Barrymore  and 
Robert  Walker  —  whereas  "Gone  With  the 
Wind"  gave  it  to  half  that  number. 

Twice  as  Many  Extras  Used 
In  New  Film  as  "Wind" 

"Since  You  Went  Away"  has  205  speak- 
ing parts,  whereas  "Gone  With  the  Wind" 
had  55. 

"Since"  employed  5,025  extras,  according 
to  the  studio,  whereas  "Wind"  employed 
2,500. 

The  statistics  released  to  the  press  do  not 
include  the  one  about  the  budgets  of  the  two 
projects,  perhaps  because  the  new  one,  now 
entering  editing  stage,  may  not  be  said  at 
this  point  to  have  reached  a  state  of  com- 
pletion facilitating  accurate  auditing  of  to- 
tal cost. 

Prior  revelations  by  the  studio  include  the 
information  that  the  new  picture  is  ex- 
pected to  run  about  three  and  a  half  hours 
on  the  screen,  which  is  in  the  immediate 
neighborhood  of  the  running  time  of  the 
Academy  Award-winning  "Gone  With  the 
Wind." 

"Wind"  was  in  Technicolor  and  "Since" 
is  not. 

Both  concern  wars,  "Wind"  treating  of 
the  Civil  War,  both  as  to  battlefield  and 
home  front,  and  "Since"  dealing  with  the 
home-front  aspect  of  the  present  conflict. 

"Silent  Partner"  First 
Blair  Assignment 

"Silent  Partner,"  listed  this  week  as  one 
of  the  three  new  pictures  facing  the  cam- 
eras, marks  the  debut  of  George  Blair  as 
an  associate  producer  for  Republic. 

Twentieth  Century-Fox  has  assigned  Wal- 
ter Lang  to  direct  "Where  Do  We  Go  from 
Here,"  which  William  Perlberg,  producer 
of  "The  Song  of  Bernadette,"  will  produce. 

Universal  has  exercised  its  option  on  the 
services  of  George  Waggoner,  producer. 

James  Hilton,  distinguished  for  his  "Good- 
bye Mr.  Chips"  and  "Random  Harvest,"  has 
been  signed  by  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  to 
write  a  novel  which  that  studio  will  produce. 
The  nature  of  the  novel  has  not  been  dis- 
closed. 

Harry  Beaumont  is  to  direct  Ann  Sothern 


All  Quiet  on  Studio  Front 

All  was  quiet,  serene  and  unspectacular  on  the  production  front  at  the  weekend, 
with  the  completion  of  five  pictures  and  the  start  of  shooting  on  three,  lowering  the 
shooting  level  to  a  calm  40. 

Universal's  contribution  to  the  short  list  of  new  undertakings  is  "Slick  Chick",  directed 
by  Edward  Lllley  under  associate  producer  Warren  Wilson,  with  Noah  Beery,  Jr.,  Martha 
O'Driscoll,  Fuzzy  Knight,  Lou  Harding,  David  Bruce,  Franklin  Pangborn  and  Slapsle  Maxle 
In  the  cast. 

Republic  started  "Silent  Partner",  with  George  Blair  producing  and  directing.  It 
presents  Beverly  Loyd,  William  hienry,  Grant  Withers  and  Ray  Walker. 

PRC  Pictures  turned  Its  cameras  on  "The  Devil's  Apprentice",  one  of  Its  more 
elaborate  undertakings,  which  will  present  J.  Carrol  Nalsii,  Tala  BIrell,  Wanda  McKay 
and  Ralph  Morgan.  Sam  Newfleld  Is  directing  for  producer  SIgmund  Neufeld. 

The  breakdown  at  the  weekend: 


COMPLETED 

Republic 

Cowboy  and  the 
Senorita 

UA 

Since  You  Went 
Away  (Van- 
guard) 

Universal 

Christmas  Holiday 
Warners 

Make  Your  Own  Bed 
Horn  Blows  at 
Midnight 

STARTED 

PRC  Picfures 
Devil's  Apprentice 
Republic 
Silent  Partner 


Universal 
Slick  Chick 

SHOOTING 

Columbia 

Mr.  Winkle  Goes 

to  War 
Girl  in  the  Case 
Pilebuck 

At  Night  We  Dream 
Mission  36 

MGM 

Marriage  Is  a 

Private  Affair 
National  Velvet 
Meet  Me  in  St.  Louis 
Seventh  Cross 
Dragon  Seed 

Monogram 

Detective  Kitty  Kelly 


Paramount 

Practically  Yours 
Bring  On  the  Girls 
And  Now  Tomorrow 
Road  to  Utopia 
Incendiary  Blonde 

PRC  Pictures 

Guns  of  the  Lawless 
Minstrel  Man 
Dixie  Showboat 

RKO  Radio 

One  Exciting  Night 
Manhattan  Serenade 
(Formerly  "Frank 
Sinatra  No.  2") 

Republic 

Candlelights  in  Lisbon 
Man  from  Brooklyn 
(Formerly  "Man 
from  'Frisco") 


Twentieth  Century-Fox 

Keys  of  the  Kingdom 
Sweet  and  Lowdown 
Wilson 

In  the  Meantime, 
Darling 

UA 

Hairy  Ape  (Levey) 
Song  of  the  Open 

Road  (Rogers) 
Sensations  of  1944 

(Stone) 
Universal 

Pardon  My  Rhythm 
Climax 

Invisible  Man's 

Revenge 
Warners 

Cinderella  Jones 
Mr.  Skeffington 
My  Reputation 
Janie 


in  her  next  "Maisie"  picture  for  MGM,  now 
titled  "Maisie  Goes  to  Reno." 

Ronald  MacDougall  has  been  assigned 
the  writing  of  "Objective  Burma"  for  War- 
ner production. 

Peggy  Ryan,  who's  been  seen  opposite 
Donald  O'Connor  in  13  Universal  comedies, 
iiiclusive  of  "Chip  Ofif  the  Old  Block,"  re- 
viewed in  the  Product  Digest  Section  this 
week,  has  been  optioned  by  the  Universal 
studio. 

Hope  Harding  Davis,  the  daughter  of 
Richard  Harding  Davis  and  Bessie  McCoy, 
famed  actress,  arrived  last  week  at  MGM 
studios  to  start  work  on  the  story  of  her 
famous  parents.  Dailey  Paskman  will  col- 
laborate with  Miss  Davis. 

Jack  Flier  has  been  named  to  the  newly 
created  post  of  production  manager  on  all 
pictures  produced  under  Irving  Briskin's  ex- 
ecutive supervision,  at  Columbia.  Mr.  Flier 
has  been  producing  features,  and  is  current- 
ly in  charge  of  "Mission  Thirty-Six,"  which 
he  will  see  through  to  the  end  of  shooting. 
Five  features  which  he  has  been  preparing 
for  production  will  be  assigned  to  other 
producers. 

Ethel    Barrymore   is   returning   to  the 


screen.  She  has  been  signed  by  RKO  for 
the  first  screen  role  since  her  appearance 
in  1932  in  "Rasputin." 

Herbert  Rudley,  who  played  Ira  Gershwin 
in  "Rhapsody  in  Blue,"  and  is  now  working 
before  the  cameras  in  "The  Seventh  Cross," 
has  been  named  to  a  role  in  support  of  Lana 
Turner  in  MGM's  "Marriage  Is  a  Private 
Affair." 

MGM  also  has  signed  Gladys  Cooper  to 
play  the  Duchess  de  Brantes,  daughter  of 
Greer  Garson  in  the  forthcoming  "Mrs. 
Parkington."  Miss  Cooper,  for  her  role  as 
the  nun  in  "Song  of  Bernadette,"  has  been 
nominated  for  an  Academy  award  for  the 
best  supporting  performance  of  the  year. 
Donna  Reed  has  been  named  to  the  role  of 
the  great  granddaughter  Jane  in  the  Greer 
Garson  vehicle. 

At  United  Artists,  "Sensations  of  1944," 
currently  before  the  cameras,  has  had  Mickey 
Clifton,  Jack  Carrington  and  Joan  Curtis 
added  to  the  cast.  Clifton  will  play  the  role 
of  a  newsboy,  Carrington  a  stagehand  and 
Miss  Curtis  an  elevator  operator  who  wants 
to  go  up  in  the  world. 

MGM  has  given  a  term  contract  to  Shirley 
Howard,  a  Chicago  photographers'  model. 


42 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    19,     ! 944 


Monogram  to  Deliver 
44  This  Season 


Ray  Johnston  Promises  42 
Films  'Next  Year,  with  16 
Westerns  Included 

Monogram  will  give  exhibitors  two  more 
pictures  than  announced,  on  this  year's  pro- 
gram, W.  Ray  Johnston,  president,  disclosed 
last  week  in  New  York,  where  he  presided 
with  general  sales  manager  Samuel  Broidy 
over  a  regional  sales  meeting  at  the  Hotel 
Warwick,  on  Saturday  and  Sunday. 

The  company  announced  42 ;  it  will  de- 
liver 44.  Next  year  it  will  make  42,  Mr. 
Johnston  added.  The  44  pictures  to  be  de- 
livered this  year  comprise  28  features  and 
16  Westerns.  The  42  for  next  season  com- 
prise 26  features  and  16  Westerns.  There 
were  six  "top  budget"  pictures  this  year; 
next  year  there  will  be  eight  Mr.  Johnston 
promised. 

Monogram  Studio  Now 
Completing  5  Films 

The  studio  is  completing  five  pictures  now, 
on  this  year's  schedule.  The  last  probably 
will  be  "Trail  of  the  Yukon,"  the  Mono- 
gram president  said.  He  added  he  had  seen 
another  of  the  five,  a  "big"  picture,  "Johnny 
Doesn't  Live  Here  Any  More,"  and  with 
Simone  Simon  and  James  Ellison  and  special 
"trick"  photography  it  probably  would  be 
one  of  the  company's  best.  It  introduces  for 
the  first  time  in  a  feature  a  cartooned  "grem- 
lin" for  which  the  special  photographic  proc- 
esses were  used. 

Mr.  Johnston  listed  six  of  the  eight  "top" 
pictures  for  the  coming  season:  "Wonder- 
land," "North  of  Nome,"  "Sunbonnet  Sue," 
"Northern  Lights,"  "The  Right  to  Live"  and 
"They  Shall  Have  Faith."  The  first  will 
star  Belita,  the  company's  star  of  "Lady, 
Let's  Dance,"  the  trade-showing  of  which 
was  held  in  New  York  Wednesday  at  the 
Normandie  theatre.  The  last  two  will  be 
made  by  Jeffrey  Bernerd,  producer  of 
"Where  Are  Your  Children?" 

Company  Lineup  Includes 
No  War  Pictures 

Scott  R.  Dunlap  will  produce  "Wonder- 
land," Mr.  Johnston  said;  and  he  also  will 
make  "North  of  Nome"  and  "Sunbonnet 
Sue,"  the  latter  film  a  musical  production, 
he  added. 

Remarking  that  Monogram's  lineup  in- 
cluded no  war  pictures,  Mr.  Johnston  said 
that  he  thought  the  public  was  "fed  up  on 
them — unless  they  are  great  big  pictures. 
You  have  to  do  a  'Destination,  Tokyo,' "  he 
said,  "and  then  it  becomes  too  big  a  job  for 
a  company  such  as  ours." 

Monogram  is  "doing  very  well,"  its  head 
observed,  adding: 

"So  well,  that  it  is  even  to  me  fantastic. 
We  moved  into  this  prosperity  on  our  old 
formula,  entertainment,  and  really  began  to 
hit  with  our  big  picture,  "Silver  Skates," 
which  opened  the  way  to  bigger  produc- 
tions." 

The  eight  "top"  pictures  in  the  new  sea- 


stair  Photo 


W.  RAY  JOHNSTON 

* 

son's  schedule  each  will  cost  approximately 
$500,000,  he  said. 

Mr.  Johnston  predicted  that  in  the  com- 
ing year  Monogram  would  exceed  by  25  per 
cent  its  current  sales  quota,  and  he  noted 
that  the  company's  English  market  had  more 
than  doubled  in  the  past  18  months. 

Monogram  will  not  distribute  English  pic- 
tures, however,  he  said.  It  had  not  been 
approached  by  J.  Arthur  Rank,  British  film 
magnate,  he  declared,  adding  that  in  any 
event  English  pictures  present  a  "problem" 
here.  "They  just  can't  seem  to  get  our 
touch,"  he  said. 

Monogram  does  not  fear  a  depression, 
either  after  the  war  with  Germany  ends,  or 
after  the  end  of  war  with  Japan,  Mr.  John- 
ston said.  "So  far  as  we're  concerned,  we've 
been  concentrating  on  the  exploitation  type 
of  picture;  we  have  staple  entertainment, 
which  means  that  we  do  not  have  to  worry 
about  an  end  of  war  and  war  themes  as  much 
as  some  other  companies." 

The  company  is  even  now  preparing  for 
post-war  expansion,  he  said.  A  larger  stage 
is  planned,  making  a  total  of  four.  The 
studio  carpenter  shop  will  be  enlarged,  in  a 
different  location,  allowing  construction  of  a 
restaurant  several  times  bigger  than  the 
present  commissary.  Also  to  be  built  are 
additional  dressing  rooms,  cutting  rooms  and 
offices.  The  total  studio  expansion  expendi- 
ture will  be  $300,000. 

Cites  Success  of  Two  Films 
At  Eastern  Meeting 

The  company  also  plans  to  open  a  London 
office,  with  a  sales  staff  for  European  sales. 
A  South  American  representative  will  be 
added  to  cover  the  territory  continuously, 
and  numerous  offices  will  be  opened  in  Latin 
America,  the  first  in  Mexico  City,  Mr.  John- 
ston said. 

At  the  eastern  sales  convention  Saturday 
and  Sunday  at  the  Hotel  Warwick,  New 
York,  Mr.  Broidy,  vice-president  and  gen- 


eral sales  manager,  pointed  to  the  success  of 
"Women  in  Bondage"  and  "Where  Are 
Your  Children?"  as  proof  of  the  power  of 
timeliness,  care  in  production  and  unstinted 
publicity  campaigns.  The  pictures,  he  said, 
were  being  held  over  two  to  four  weeks  in 
70  per  cent  of  the  cities  in  which  they  play. 

Other  speakers  at  the  meeting  were  Harry 
Thomas,  eastern  sales  manager;  Ed  Morey, 
New  York  office  executive,  and  Edward  A. 
Alperson  RKO  circuit  general  manager. 
The  men  attended  a  screening  of  "Lady, 
Let's  Dance"  Saturday.  Monday  afternoon 
Mr.  Johnston  was  host  to  the  trade  press  at 
a  cocktail  party  in  the  Pine  Room  of  the 
hotel. 

Arthur  Greenblatt,  former  general  sales 
manager  of  PRC  Pictures,  has  been  engaged 
as  a  special  home  office  representative.  Mon- 
ogram announced  late  last  week.  Mr.  Green- 
blatt will  maintain  headquarters  at  the 
studio. 

New  York  Paramount  Is 
Booked  for  7  Months 

With  "Lady  in  the  Dark"  set  for  its  New 
York  premiere  February  22,  the  Paramount 
theatre  there  is  booked  solidly  for  the  next 
seven  months.  Robert  M.  Weitman,  managing 
director,  last  week  announced  a  schedule  of  six 
attractions  between  now  and  October. 

Following  "Lady  in  the  Dark,"  the  Para- 
mount will  bring  in  "Going  My  Way,"  witli 
Bing  Crosby  and  Rise  Stevens. 

"And  the  Angels  Sing"  is  a  musical  with 
Dorothy  Lamour,  Fred  MacMurray,  Betty  Hut- 
ton  and  Diana  Lynn.  "I  Love  a  Soldier"  teams 
Sonny  Tufts  and  Paulette  Goddard.  Dorothy 
Lamour  in  "Rainbow  Island,"  with  Eddie 
Bracken,  Gil  Lamb  and  Barry  Sullivan,  will 
follow.  "Double  Indemnity"  stars  Fred  Mac- 
Murray,  Barbara  Stanwyck  and  Edward  G. 
Robinson. 

Four  20th-Fox  Pictures 
Now  on  Broadway 

Four  Twentieth-Century-Fox  features  current- 
ly are  playing  at  Broadway  houses.  "Lifeboat" 
is  at  the  Astor,  "The  Song  of  Bernadette"  at 
the  Rivoli,  "The  Sullivans,"  at  the  Roxy,  and 
"Jane  Eyre"  at  the  Radio  City  Music  Hall. 

The  longest  run,  to  date,  is  "Lifeboat,"  the 
Alfred  Hitchcock  picture  with  a  cast  headed  by 
Tallulah  Bankhead.  "The  Song  of  Bernadette," 
based  on  the  Franz  Werfel  novel  is  the  story  of 
the  Miracle  of  Lourdes. 

"The  Sullivans,"  produced  by  Sam  Jaffe  and 
directed  by  Lloyd  Bacon,  is  a  record  of  the  five 
Sullivan  brothers  of  U.S.S.  Juneau  fame.  "Jane 
Eyre,"  was  directed  by  Robert  Stevenson  from 
the  Charlotte  Bronte  classic,  and  stars  Orson 
Welles  and  Joan  Fontaine. 


Averts  Theatre  Panic 

The  presence  of  mind  of  Henry  Riegel,  Jr., 
manager  of  the  Ambassador  theatre,  St.  Louis, 
prevented  a  possible  panic  the  night  of  Febru- 
ary 9,  when  fire  was  discovered  in  a  basement 
storage  locker  of  the  theatre  and  smoke  filled 
the  auditorium.  Mr.  Riegel  spoke  to  the  audi- 
ence of  2,700  persons  over  the  theatre's  loud- 
speaker system,  assured  them  there  was  no 
danger  and  suggested  they  leave  the  theatre 
until  the  blaze  was  extinguished.  There  was  no 
disorder. 


Opens  Twenty-First  Theatre 

The  old  Playland  amusement  parlor  on  Mar- 
ket Street  in  San  Francisco  has  been  taken  over 
by  the  Robert  L.  Lippert  wartime  theatre  cir- 
cuit, and  converted  into  the  circuit's  21st  house 
established  since  Pearl  Harbor.  With  seating 
capacity  of  299,  it  has  been  reopened  as  the 
Roundup  theatre,  to  show  Westerns  only.  Com- 
plete change  of  bill  is  promised  daily,  with  the 
house  staying  open  round-the-clock.  Al  Fon- 
tana  is  the  manager. 


February    19,    I  944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


43 


Loses  Specific 
Run  Appeal 
In  Oklahoma 

The  Appeal  Board  sustained  the  dismissal  of 
the  specific  run  arbitration  demand  of  J.  A. 
Guest,  operator  of  the  Ritz  theatre,  Duncan, 
Okla.,  Friday,  in  their  89th  decision.  Para- 
mount was  the  sole  distributor  defendant  and 
the  Griffith  circuit  was  the  only  party  cited  by 
the  demand. 

The  Board  found  that  Mr.  Guest  had  failed  to 
qualify  in  at  least  two  respects  under  the  re- 
quirements of  Section  X  of  the  Decree. 

The  board  found  that  under  the  terms  of 
paragraph  (4)  of  sub-section  B  of  Section  X 
the  complainant  had  not  been  able  to  show  that 
he  had  insufficient  product  to  play  on  the  run 
requested.  They  cited  delays  in  playing  pic- 
tures at  the  Ritz  and  listed  product,  amounting 
to  more  than  half  the  Paramount  releases, 
which  was  available  to  Mr.  Guest. 

Also  the  Appeal  Board  found  that  Mr.  Guest 
had  failed  to  prove  that  the  distributor's  re- 
fusal to  license  was  caused  by  a  circuit  theatre. 
The  board  ruled  that  the  demand"  and  refusal 
of  run  referred  only  to  current  product  and 
found  that  Mr.  Guest  had  not  requested  licen- 
ses on  new  pictures  which  were  available  for 
bookings  either  at  his  theatre  or  the  Griffith's 
Folly  theatre. 

Paramount  licenses  selling  pictures  to  the 
Ritz  on  "second  or  third  run"  were  criticized  as 
evasive  by  the  Appeal  Board. 

"When  an  exhibitor  licenses  a  picture  he  cer- 
tainly should  be  entitled  to  know  the  run  upon 
which  he  can  play  the  picture.  He  should  not 
be  put  in  a  position  where  he  has  to  wait  to  see 
how  many  prior  run  theatres  play  the  picture 
before  he  gets  it,"  the  board  wrote. 

Dallas 

A  new  clearance  action,  his  second,  was  filed 
at  Dallas  last  week  by  Edward  Joseph,  operator 
of  the  Drive-In  and  Yank  theatres  in  Austin, 
Tex.  He  asked  that  the  arbitrator  set  reason- 
able clearances  for  the  Insterstate  Circuit's 
Paramoimt,  State,  Queens,  Capitol,  Varsity, 
Texas  and  Austin  theatres  ;  Elmo  Hegeman's  Ritz 
and  R.  S.  Pryor's  Cactus  theatres,  all  in  Austin. 
The  Drive-In  is  on  the  outskirts  of  the  city. 

At  Boston  the  Star  Amusement  Company, 
operating  the  Modern  in  Brocton,  has  withdrawn 
its  clearance  action  against  the  five  consenting 
distributors.  Morris  Perlstein  operates  the 
theatre. 


Plan  "Voice  in  Wind"  Opening 
For  RCA  Victor  V/orkers 

A  world  premiere  for  "Voice  in  the  Wind" 
for  war  workers  only  will  be  staged  by  United 
Artists,  in  association  with  RCA- Victor,  on 
February  26  at  the  Lyric  theatre,  Camden,  N.  J. 
All  tickets  to  the  premiere  will  be  sold  by  RCA- 
Victor  to  its  own  war  workers  at  the  Camden 
plants.  The  picture  is  being  heavily  exploited 
on  plant  bulletin  boards,  house  organs  and 
public  address  systems. 

In  addition,  the  February  26  radio  network 
show  of  RCA-Victor,  "What's  New,"  will  also 
be  tied  in  with  the  "war  workers'  premiere." 
Frances  Lederer  and  Sigrid  Gurie,  starred  in  the 
picture,  will  present  a  scene  from  the  film  at 
the  start  of  the  program,  originating  in  New 
York,  and  then  rush  to  Camden  to  make  a 
personal  appearance  that  same  evening  at  the 
premiere. 


Virginia  Morris  to  20th-Fox 

Virginia  Morris,  advertising  writer  with 
United  Artists'  New  York  home  office,  will  join 
Twentieth  Century-Fox's  publicity  department 
February  28.  She  will  work  under  the  super- 
vision of  Charles  Schlaifer. 


V^ill  Hays  Sees  Quality 
Picture  Increase 

Will  H.  Hays,  president  of  the  Motion  Pic- 
ture Producers  and  Distributors  of  America, 
sees  a  very  busy  film  industry  concentrating 
increasingly  on  high  quality  pictures,  regard- 
less of  a  war  which  has  imposed  stringencies. 

The  MPPDA  chief  spoke  to  the  trade  press 
Tuesday  in  New  York,  following  his  return 
from  Hollywood,  where  he  presided  at  the  an- 
nual meeting  of  the  Association  of  Motion  Pic- 
ture Producers, 

Mr.  Hays  stressed  that  the  film  industry's 
skills  also  were  being  used  "with  no  let-down" 
for  production  of  training  films  needed  by  the 
Government. 


Atlas  Doubles 
Film  Holdings 

Film  stock  holding  of  the  Atlas  Corporation 
increased  during  1943  to  $20,545,036  from  $8,- 
512,492,  according  to  information  mailed  to 
stockholders  this  week  in  the  annual  report. 

The  film  interests  of  the  corporation  headed 
by  Floyd  B.  Odium  now  amount  to  almost  two 
thirds  of  the  company's  total  portfolio  of  utility, 
tobacco,  machinery,  banking,  marine  and  other 
industrial  investments  in  77  different  stocks. 

The  asset  value  of  the  common  stock  in- 
creased to  $19.01  per  share  at  the  end  of  1943 
from  $12.56  at  the  end  of  the  previous  year,  or 
a  rise  of  51  per  cent. 

Gross  assets  of  the  company  were  listed  at 
$64,912,867,  compared  with  $48,913,474  in  De- 
cember, 1942. 

Dividends  of  25  cents  per  share  on  common 
stock  and  75  cents  per  share  of  quarterly  stock 
were  declared  for  stockholders  of  record  as  of 
February  15.  Additionally,  $1,718,765  was  set 
aside  in  a  special  reserve. 

Reporting  satisfactory  operation  of  its  sub- 
sidiary. Radio  Keith  Orpheum  Corporation,  the 
Atlas  report  listed  control  of  1,329,078  shares 
of  RKO  common,  with  a  listed  value  of  $11,- 
795,567,  and  56,400  shares  of  RKO  six  per  cent 
cumulative  preferred,  listed  at  $5,640,000. 

RKO  had  outstanding  2,873,053  common  and 
128,170  preferred  shares.  One  year  ago  Atlas 
held  1,324,853  common  shares,  valued  then  at 
only  $4,636,985,  and  the  same  number  of  pre- 
ferred, then  valued  at  $3,017,400. 

In  addition.  Atlas  had  327,811  shares  of 
RKO  option  warrants,  listed  at  $491,716.  Total 
holdings  in  RKO  approximated  $17,927,283  at 
the  end  of  the  year. 

Mr.  Odium,  in  a  report  to  the  stockholders, 
surveyed  post  war  possibilities  for  participation 
in  the  financing  of  reconstruction  and  conver- 
sion to  civilian  economy. 

"Your  company's  capital  can  be  properly 
be  called  'venture  capital'  in  that  it  is  capital 
not  restricted  by  any  charter  limitation  or  hide- 
bound investment  policy.  Indeed,  it  is  one  of 
the  largest  pools  of  risk  or  venture  capital  in 
the  country,"  he  said. 

Sturges  and  Hughes  Form 
New  Producing  Unit 

Preston  Sturges  and  Howard  Hughes  have 
established  a  producing  company  and  have  leased 
studio  space,  Mr.  Sturges  said  Tuesday  in  Hol- 
Ijrwood. 

What  pictures,  how  many,  and  by  whom  they 
will  be  released  Mr.  Sturges  did  not  specify. 

Mr.  Sturges  has  been  directing  for  Para- 
mount lately.  Mr.  Hughes'  last  production  was 
"The  Outlaw,"  which  has  been  road  shown  in 
San  Francisco. 


Fall  River  Lighting  Resumed 

By  order  of  the  City  Council,  dimout  shields 
have  been  removed  from  street  lights  on  the 
Fall  River,  Mass.,  "White  Way,"  on  which 
most  theatres  are  located. 


Freeman  Cites  19 
Paramount  Films 
Set  or  in  Work 

Paramount  has  19  pictures  completed,  in  work 
or  preparing,  Y.  Frank  Freeman,  Paramount 
production  head,  reported  in  Hollywood  Tues- 
day on  his  return  from  home  office  conferences 
in  New  York. 

Among  them  are  "Lady  in  the  Dark,"  "For 
Whom  the  Bell  Tolls,"  "Frenchman's  Creek" 
in  Technicolor,  with  Joan  Fontaine ;  "The  Story 
of  Dr.  Wassell,  a  Cecil  B.  DeMille  production, 
starring  Gary  Cooper ;  "Incendiary  Blonde,"  in 
Technicolor,  with  Betty  Hutton ;  "The  Road  to 
Utopia,"  with  Bob  Hope,  Bing  Crosby  and  Dor- 
othy Lamour ;  "The  Hitler  Gang" ;  "Going  My 
Way,"  with  Bing  Crosby  and  Rise  Stevens ; 
"Rainbow  Island,"  in  Technicolor,  with  Dorothy 
Lamour. 

"You  Can't  Ration  Love" ;  "And  the  Angels 
Sing,"  with  Dorothy  Lamour,  Fred  MacMurray 
and  Betty  Hutton ;  "Hail  the  Conquering  Hero," 
a  Preston  Sturges  comedy,  with  Eddie  Bracken ; 
"The  Man  in  Half  Moon  Street" ;  "Double  In- 
demnity," with  Fred  MacMurray,  Barbara  Stan- 
wyck and  Edward  G.  Robinson;  and  "The 
Hour  Before  the  Dawn,"  starring  Fanchot  Tone 
and  Veronica  Lake. 

In  preparation  are  an  untitled  Mark  Sandrich 
Technicolor  production  featuring  Bing  Crosby, 
Betty  Hutton  and  Sonny  Tufts ;  the  Henry 
Bellamann  Book,  "Victoria  Grandolet" ;  a  new 
version  of  the  operetta,  "The  Count  of  Luxem- 
bourg," for  Bob  Hope  and  Dorothy  Lamour; 
and  "I  Love  a  Soldier,"  to  star  Paulette  God- 
dard  and  Sonny  Tufts. 

Has  Signed  4,703  Deals 
With  Independents 

Paramoimt  has  signed  4,703  independent  con- 
tracts, exclusive  of  those  with  circuits,  for  the 
company's  third  block  of  pictures  in  the  1943- 
44  season,  Neil  Agnew,  general  sales  manager, 
announced  Wednesday  in  New  York.  Last 
year,  for  the  third  block,  in  a  similar  period, 
the  company  obtained  2,787  contracts. 

The  third  block  this  season  comprises  "The 
Miracle  of  Morgati's  Creek,"  "Standing  Room 
Only,"  "Uninvited,"  "Timber  Queen"  and 
"Henry  Aldrich,  Boy  Scout." 

Mr.  Agnew  also  reported  sales  of  short  sub- 
jects running  ahead  of  last  year.  It  is  indi- 
cated the  company  will  release  the  30  promised 
this  season,  and  that  possibly  it  may  release 
more  than  that  if  the  current  pace  is  main- 
tained. 

Paramount's  fourth  block  of  features  for  1943- 
44  will  be  trade-shown  in  all  exchange  centers 
on  Thursday,  February  24,  and  Friday,  Febru- 
ary 25,  Neil  Agnew,  general  sales  manager,  an- 
nounced Tuesday.  "The  Hour  Before  the 
Dawn"  and  "The  Navy  Way"  will  be  trade 
shown  on  February  24  and  "Going  My  Way" 
and  "You  Can't  Ration  Love"  on  February  25, 
except  New  York  where  "You  Can't  Ration 
Love''  will  be  shown  on  February  24.  All 
showings  will  be  in  Paramount  exchanges, 
except  New  York  and  Los  Angeles,  where 
screenings  will  be  in  the  Ambassador  Theatre, 
and  Albany,  where  the  Twentieth  Century-Fox 
exchange  projection  room  will  be  used  for  the 
showings. 

John  Krimsky,  account  executive  of  Buchanan 
&  Company,  advertising  agency,  in  charge  of 
the  Paramount  Pictures  account,  and  Roy 
Winkler,  art  director,  left  last  week  for  Holly- 
wood. They  will  meet  Robert  M.  Gillham, 
Paramount  advertising  and  publicity  director, 
to  plan  campaigns  on  "The  Story  of  Dr.  Was- 
sell," "The  Hitler  Gang,"  "Going  My  Way," 
and  other  forthcoming  pictures.  John  Hertz, 
Jr.,  executive  vice-president  of  the  Buchanan 
Agency,  followed  this  week  to  join  the  confer- 
ences. 


iumbias 


COMING  UP-" 

FOX  Theatre,  f  f  JJJJ,AUKEE 
p^UCE  Theatre'  ^UN  p^ys 

 iiAunDcn     I  V  miWi  I 


•'«^«^"»^^rSpS^^^^^^ '''''''' 


\ 


46 

Raw  Stock  Quota 
In  2nd  Quarter 
Is  Unchanged 

Washington  Bureau 

Raw  stock  allocations  for  the  studios  will 
remain  unchanged  through  the  second  quarter 
of  this  year  and  probably  through  the  third 
quarter,  but  a  quick  termination  of  the  Euro- 
pean phase  of  the  war  thereafter  may  make 
possible  the  elimination  of  all  of  the  present 
restrictions  on  film  consumption. 

The  inability  to  lift  the  restrictions  early  this 
year,  as  hoped  by  Harold  Hopper,  chief  of  the 
motion  picture  section  of  the  War  Production 
Board,  is  due  not  to  any  lack  of  productive 
capacity  on  the  part  of  the  film  manufacturers, 
but  to  the  adoption  by  WPB  of  a  stand-still 
policy  under  which  no  large-scale  relaxation  of 
the  controls  over  production  of  civilian  goods 
in  general  will  be  considered  until  the  outcome 
of  impending  military  operations  is  known. 

While  there  will  be  no  immediate  increase  in 
the  amount  of  film  available  to  the  industry, 
officials  of  the  motion  picture  section  empha- 
sized, there  is  no  cause  for  apprehension  over 
a  possible  further  cut.  There  is  ample  film 
available  and  the  producers  now  are  so  geared 
as  to  be  able  to  make  quick  changes  in  output 
to  meet  any  changes  in  military  requirements. 

The  WPB's  stand-still  policy  is  not  due  to 
any  scarcity  of  materials  but  rather  to  the  tight- 
ness of  manufacturing  space  and  facilities  and 
manpower.  So  far  as  film  manufacture  is  con- 
cerned, there  are  no  material  diflSculties ;  silver, 
the  only  metal  consumed,  is  available  in  satis- 
factory quanties,  and  chemicals,  while  some  are 
tight,  have  been  made  available  to  the  industry 
by  the  chemical  division  in  adequate  volume. 

The  Government's  policy  of  holding  all  in- 
dustry at  practically  its  peak  war  level  is  based 
on  considerations  of  security.  Officials  pointed 
out  that  should  manufacturers  be  permitted  to 
take  out  their  war  machinery  and  resume  the 
production  of  civilian  goods  on  a  large  scale, 
and  some  unforeseen  emergency  then  arose  in 
military  operations,  the  time  required  to  get 
the  plants  back  into  war  production  might 
imperil  the  success  of  military  operations. 

Once  the  European  phase  of  the  war  had 
been  cleaned  up  and  operations  concentrated  in 
the  Pacific,  the  relaxation  of  controls  on  civilian 
goods  would  be  prompt  and  far-reaching,  it  was 
said. 

The  film  requirements  of  the  Pacific  war 
have  been  pretty  well  worked  out,  it  is  learned, 
and  the  volume  is  expected  to  be  sufficiently 
moderate  to  permit  a  much  freer  use  of  raw 
stock  by  the  industry. 

Ohio  Censors  Made  Cuts 
In  5  Films  m  January 

Out  of  a  total  of  129  films  or  408  reels  re- 
viewed in  January,  the  Ohio  censors  ordered 
eliminations  in  five  films  or  six  reels.  There 
were  no  eliminations  for  the  week  ending  Janu- 
ary 15,  when  28  films  or  71  reels  were  reviewed. 
The  figures  compare  with  145  films  or  451  reels 
reviewed  in  December,  with  eliminations  in  13 
films  or  37  reels.  In  January,  1943,  134  films 
or  426  reels  were  reviewed,  with  eliminations 
in  13  films  or  17  reels. 


Warner  Suit  Settled 

The  suit  against  Warner  Bros.  Pictures, 
Inc.,  for  $25,000  damages  for  alleged  unlawful 
use  of  the  title,  "The  Hard  Way,"  in  a  film 
distributed  by  Warners  in  1942  was  discontinued 
and  settled,  according  to  papers  filed  last  week 
in  New  York  federal  Court.  The  action  was 
brought  by  Allen  Bore<;z,  author  of  the  play, 
"The  Hard  Way." 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 

Astor  Sues  Selznick 
For  Reissue  Prints 

Astor  Pictures,  Inc.,  of  New  York  sued  Da- 
vid O.  Selznick  in  New  York  Supreme  Court 
Wednesday  for  alleged  breach  of  contract  for 
the  reissue  rights  to  "Prisoner  of  Zenda,"  "Ad- 
ventures of  Tom  Sawyer"  and  "Garden  pf 
Allah." 

The  action  charged  that  the  Selznick  organi- 
zation failed  to  deliver  177  used  Technicolor 
and  black-and-white  prints  of  the  three  pic- 
tures in  accordance  with  the  terms  of  an  agree- 
ment made  in  August,  1943.  The  price  of  35 
and  16mm  U.  S.  reissue  rights  was  reported  at 
$76,000  in  the  complaint. 

Daniel  T.  O'Shea,  Ernest  L.  Scanlon  and 
Rajonond  A.  Klune,  Selznick  executives,  were 
named  as  co-defendants. 


Asks  WPB  Permit 
For  Projectors 

Foreseeing  theatre  closings  and  a  critical 
shortage  of  projection  equipment  next  year  un- 
less replacements  are  made,  Allen  G.  Smith, 
chief  of  the  theatre  service  division  of  the  War 
Production  Board,  Monday  asked  WPB  mate- 
rials allotment  officials  to  set  aside  supplies  for 
1,000  new  projectors. 

This  amount  probably  will  be  needed  in  1945 
to_  replace  booth  equipment  which  even  now  is 
being  kept  in  service  only  with  the  utmost  diffi- 
culty, officials  estimate.  The  machines  also  will 
be  used  for  replacement  of  apparatus  destroyed 
by  fire  and  in  new  theatres  approved  for  criti- 
cal areas  by  the  WPB. 

Estimating  that  it  would  take  nine  months  to 
manufacture  new  equipment,  Mr.  Smith  re- 
quested authorization  for  300  to  400  projectors 
a  quarter,  beginning  July  1.  The  current  al- 
lotment is  for  only  200  units  for  the  first  six 
months  of  1944. 

Dealer  inventories  have  supplied  about  1,000 
projectors  to  meet  urgent  replacement  needs  in 
the  last  two  years.  But  these  are  now  ex- 
hausted. WPB  officials  were  hopeful  the  mini- 
mum industry  needs  could  be  met.  The  supply 
of  projector  materials  was  less  critical  and  pro- 
duction would  be  spread  over  a  long  period, 
they  said. 

Warners  Reelect  Six  to 
Board  for  Two  Years 

Six  directors  of  Warner  Brothers  Pictures 
were  reelected  for  two-year  terms,  at  the  annual 
stockholders  meeting  in  Wilmington,  Del.,  Tues- 
day. The  directors  are  Harry  M.  Warner, 
Major  Albert  Warner,  Jack  L.  Warner,  Joseph 
Bernhard,  Robert  W.  Perkins,  and  Waddill 
patchings.  An  amendment  to  the  certificate  of 
incorporation  was  adopted.  Article  Four  now 
eliminates  mention  of  preferred  stock,  which 
was  retired  last  year. 


Siegel  to  MGM  March  I 

M.  J.  Siegel,  who  resigned  January  11  as 
president  of  Republic  Productions,  Inc.,  to  ac- 
cept a  high  executive  post  with  MGM,  will  re- 
port to  that  company  March  1,  it  was  learned 
in  Hollywood  last  week  when  he  left  for  a  10- 
day  stay  in  New  York. 

Mr.  Siegel,  as  previously  reported,  will  be 
succeeded  at  Republic  by  Allen  Wilson,  who 
was  appointed  vice-president  in  charge  of  studio 
operations. 


Charles  Hickey  Inducted 

Charles  Hickey,  manager  of  the  Paramount 
home  office  mailing  department  and  with  the 
company  seven  years,  left  last  Friday  to  join 
the  Army.  He  is  married  and  has  one  child. 
He  was  given  farewell  party  and  gifts  by  asso- 
ciates and  the  Paramount  Pep  Club. 


February    19.     1 944 

March  of  Dimes 
Collections  for 
1944  Doubled 

Up  to  ^onday  of  this  week  2,128  theatres 
throughout  the  nation  had  reported  an  aggregate 
collectipn  of  $688,414  in  the  1944  March  of 
Dimes  drive.  The  total  is  running  to  about 
twice  that  of  last  year. 

Walter  Vincent,  national  treasurer  of  the  the- 
atres' committee,  announced  that  circuit  collec- 
tions in  Metropolitan  New  York,  in  nearly  every 
instance  doubled  the  1943  figure.  Following 
are  circuit  reports :  Century,  $26,242,  against 
a  1943  figure  of  $13,934;  Skouras,  $42,256 
against  $29,583 ;  Randforce,  $25,216  against 
$9,318  Loew's  $443,782  against  $212,142;  RKO 
Theatres,  $227,500  against  $116,249;  Fabian, 
$22,979  against  $16,703 ;  Cinema,  $7,887  against 
$3,535;  Brandt,  $40,000  (approximate)  against 
$16,000;  Walter  Reade,  $13,076  against  $7,178; 
Rugoff  and  Becker,  $6,893  against  $2,323. 

Elmer  C.  Rhoden,  state  chairman  for  Kansas, 
reported  his  state's  total  collections  at  $84,000 
against  a  1943  figure  of  $44,000.  The  Fanchon 
&  Marco-St.  Louis  circuit  reported  $32,395  as 
compared  to  $14,226  last  year.  Loew's  State 
and  Orpheum  theatres  this  year  collected  a 
total  of  $10,403,  against  last  year's  figure  of 
$6,222,  an  increase  of  67  per  cent. 

Warner  Circuit  houses  almost  doubled  last 
"  year's  collection  and  tripled  1942's  figure  with  a 
collection  of  $415,874  as  against  $229,852  in 
1943  and  $147,751  in  1942,  The  circuit  consists 
of  more  than  450  theatres,  making  an  average 
of  $925  per  house. 

Stanley  Kolbert,  general  manager  and  treas- 
urer for  the  Interboro  circuit,  has  estimated  the 
company's  theatres  will  double  last  year's  collec- 
tion with  a  total  in  the  neighborhood  of  $11,- 
000. 

Miller,  Donaldson  and  Company,  certified  pub- 
lic accountants,  again  have  volunteered  their 
services  in  auditing  the  March  of  Dimes  ac- 
counts. 

35%  of  MGM  Accounts  Use 
10  Previous  Releases 

More  than  35  per  cent  of  Metro-Goldwyn- 
Mayer's  subsequent  run  accounts  have  used  the 
10  previously-released  pictures  offered  by  the 
company  to  relieve  picture  shortages,  it  was 
learned  in  New  York  last  week.  The  largest 
demand  was  in  the  eastern  and  central  terri- 
tories. 

When,  several  months  ago,  exhibitor  leaders 
brought  to  the  attention  of  William  E.  Rodgers, 
general  sales  manager  of  MGM,  that  there  was 
a  shortage  of  pictures  because  of  extended  runs 
and  because  fewer  pictures  were  being  produced, 
10  former  releases  were  made  available.  They 
were :  "A  Christmas  Carol,"  "Northwest  Pas- 
sage," "Third  Finger,  Left  Hand,"  "Escape," 
"Go  West,"  "Flight  Command,"  "Come  Live 
With  Me,"  "Billy  the  Kid,"  "The  Big  Store," 
"Love  Crazy." 

These  were  not  made  available  as  regular  re- 
issues, but  for  booking  by  MGM  customers  so 
affected. 


Schaefer  on  Mission 

Carl  Schaefer,  member  of  Alex  Evelove's 
publicity  department  at  the  Warner  Bros, 
studios,  has  been  granted  leave  of  absence  start- 
ing February  21  for  a  special  overseas  mission 
for  the  War  Department.  Mr.  Schaefer  has 
been  on  the  Warner  publicity  staff  for  10  years, 
mostly  as  a  specialist  in  foreign  publicity. 


Felcher  to  Philadelphia 

Ben  Felcher,  coming  from  the  home  office, 
has  joined  the  Paramount  exchange  in  Phila- 
delphia as  a  student  booker. 


o- 


A  scene  /rom  "LOST  ANGEV  another  sensational  hit  in  M-G-M's  famed  "VlTAMlh!  12'' 

A  STAR 

IS  BORN! 

-An  unforgettable  first  appearance  in  ''Journey  For  Margaret."  > 
■Next  she  touched  America's  heart  in  a  ''United  Nations''  trailer. 
-Then  an  appealing  role  in  "Dr.  Gillespie's  Criminal  Case." 
-And  right  up  with  the  big  names  in  "Thousands  Cheer." 
-Listen  to  your  folks  now  as  they  pack  your  house  to  see  her! 


The  Nation^s  Darling — M-G-M^s 

MARGARET  O'BRIEN 
as  .he  "LOST  ANGEL" 

"Remember/  March  15  Deadline  for  Honored  Hundred  Bond  Reports  to  State  Chairmen!" 


48 

Joe  E.  Brown 
Finds  Soldiers 
Want  Light  Fare 

Joe  E.  Brown,  the  cavcrnous-aioutlied  come- 
dian of  Hollywood,  Monday  ended  an  Odyssey 
that  has  taken  him  to  practically  every  theatte  of 
war,  with  a  press  conference  at  the  New  York 
headquarters  of  the  U.S.O.  The  cftmedian  trav- 
elled the  battle  fronts  with  a  bag  of  theatrical 
tricks,  doing  202  shows,  and  returned  with  a 
bag  of  souvenirs  and  with  the  statement  that 
while  there  remains  some  room  for  improvement 
in  films  being  released  to  troops  abroad,  what 
faults  remain  do  not  lie  at  home  but  with  the 
fortunes  and  the  necessities  of  war. 

Air.  Brown  explained  that  films  usually  are 
shipped  via  water  and  not  air,  space  being  lim- 
ited aboard  planes,  and  are  therefore  often  slow 
reaching  their  destinations. 

"In  China  and  India  the  problem  of  getting 
both  films  and  equipment  is  especially  great,"  he 
said.  "Projectors  are  scarce.  •  And  as  for 
lighting  equipment,  when  we  put  on  our  shows 
we  had  to  use  the  lights  from  jeeps.  It  is  all 
pretty  primitive." 

Asked  what  type  of  pictures  the  soldiers  pre- 
fer he  verified  the  general  impression  in  the  in- 
dustry. "Alusicals  and  more  musicals  and  com- 
edies, and  action  pictures.  Definitely  not  war 
pictures.  For  instance,  'Princess  O'Rourke'  was 
a  great  hit.  And  'Coney  Island.'  The  boys 
like  almost  all  of  Betty  Grable's  pictures. 

"It's  a  real  problem  getting  entertainment  to 
the  boys  in  China  and  India.  For  one  thing, 
by  the  time  a  print  gets  there  it  has  been  shown 
throughout  the  South  Pacific  and  it  is  not  al- 
ways in  the  best  of  shape.  As  for  visual  en- 
tertainment it  is  just  impossible  to  explain  to 
people  at  home  what  it  means  to  soldiers  at 
the  front.  Between  battles  they're  tense,  the 
boys  are.  What  they  need  is  relaxation.  Com- 
manding officers  in  all  the  war  theatres  are 
agreed  that  entertainment  has  a  great  military 
value." 

Mr.  Brown  took  the  opportunity  of  telling  the 
members  of  the  press  that  he  had  been  grossly 
misquoted  in  a  dispatch  from  Algiers  stating  he 
had  found  fault  with  other  entertainers  for  not 
carrying  their  entertainment  to  the  front  lines. 
"How  ridiculous,"  he  said.  "Of  course  I  said 
no  such  thing.  Who  am  I  to  find  fault  with  my 
fellow  entertainers?  Personally  I  think  they've 
done  a  grand  job,  all  of  them." 

The  comedian  gave  a  serious  performance 
for  the  members  of  the  press  present.  .He  opei)- 
ed  up  a  bag  filled  with  souvenirs.  His  act  star- 
red a  captured  Nazi  flag,  taken  in  Naples  along 
with  an  Italian  flag  now  a  flag  of  an  Ally  but  at 
the  time  a  symbol  of  fascism.  There  were  also 
a  number  of  daggers,  one  a  Chinese  dagger  taken 
from  a  dead  Japanese  officer. 

The  comedian  is  under  contract  to  Twentieth 
Century-Fox.  but  said  he  hadn't  heard  since 
his  return  what  the  company  had  planned  for 
him.  As  master  of  ceremonies  of  a  radio  quiz 
program  he  will  be  kept  away  from  the  front 
lines  for  some  while. 


Moskowitz  on  PAL  Board 

C.  C.  Moskowitz,  Loew's  vice-president,  has 
been  named  a  member  of  the  board  of  directors 
of  the  New  York  Police  Athletic  League  by 
DeputT,'  Commissioner  William  M.  Kent,  presi- 
dent of  PAL.  Mr.  Moskowitz  has  been  active 
in  aiding  the  youth  organization  in  its  annual 
benefit  shows  at  Madison  Square  Garden. 


Bailey  RKO  Denver  Manager 

Tom  Bailey,  salesman  for  RKO  Radio  in  San 
Francisco,  has  been  promoted  to  branch  man- 
ager of  the  Denver  office,  it  was  announced 
Tuesday  by  Ro!-^rt  Mochrie,  general  sales  man- 
ager of  the  company.  Mr.  Bailey  succeeds  Al 
Kolitz,  'who  will  remain  with  RKO  in  a  new 
post  to  be  announced  later. 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


"ALI  BABA"  LEADS 
AMONG  SERVICE  MEN 

Service  men  during  January  pre- 
ferred the  following  pictures,  in  or- 
der, according  to  the  U.  S.  Army 
Motion  Picture  Service:  "Ali  Baba 
and  the  40  Thieves",  "Desert  Song", 
"Gung  Hoi".  "The  Fighting  SeaBees" 
and  "Song  of  Russia".  The  preference 
is  indicated  by  receipts  at  Army 
theatres  box  offices. 


Douglas  New  Manager  of 
Loew's  State,  New  York 

The  appointment  of  Edward  C.  Douglas  as 
manager  of  Loew's  State  theatre,  New  York, 
was  announced  last  week  by  Charles  C.  Mos- 
kowitz, Loew  executive.  Mr.  Douglas,  who 
has  managed  Loew's  Kings  and  Prospect  thea- 
tres, Brooklyn,  in  recent  years,  was  assistant 
manager  of  the  Capitol,  New  York,  until  1930. 
Al  Rosen,  present  manager  of  the  State,  will 
leave  March  1,  to  enter  business  on  the  west 
coast. 

Other  promotions  and  transfers  on  the  Loew 
circuit  include :  Paul  Murphy,  manager  of  the 
Ziegfeld,  to  the  -  Prospect,  Flushing.  Harry 
Weiss  will  serve  as  temporary  manager  of  the 
Ziegfeld. 

Joseph  Citron,  assistant  manager  of  Loew's 
State,  has  been  appointed  manager  of  the 
Apollo,  succeeding  Larry  Samuels,  who  has  en- 
tered the  Navy.  Edward  Schwartz,  assistant 
manager  of  the  Metropolitan,  Brooklyn,  moves 
into  the  State  as  assistant. 

Shifts  in  assistants  are  as  follows :  Charles 
Levinson  from  the  167th  Street  theatre  to 
Metropolitan ;  Sylvia  Sharfman  from  Burnside 
to  167th  Street ;  Margaret  Robinson  from 
Dyckman  to  Burnside :  Milton  Schwartz  from 
the  Premier  to  the  Kings ;  Henry  Shamp  from 
the  Melba  to  the  Premier. 

Harold  Zeltner.  assistant  manager  of  the 
Kings,  leaves  the  theatre  department  of  Loew's, 
Inc.,  to  join  the  MGM  sales  forces  in  the 
Buffalo  exchange. 

Goldwater  Heads  New  York 
Jewish  Appeal  Drive 

Monroe  Goldwater,  New  York  attorney  and 
a  director  of  Keith-Albee-Orpheum  Corpora- 
tion, has  been  named  head  of  the  1944  "War 
Emergency  Campaign"  of  the  United  Jewish 
Appeal  of  Greater  New  York.  Mr.  Goldwater, 
partner  in  the  firm  of  Goldwater  &  Flynn,  will 
head  a  drive  which  is  a  part  of  a  $32,000,000 
national  campaign  for  the  United  Jewish  Ap- 
peal for  Refugees,  Overseas  Needs  and  Pales- 
tine. 


Lewis  Joins  Metro  Studio 

Cliff  Lewis  has  joined  the  Metro-Goldwyn- 
Mayer  studios  as  assistant  to  Frank  Whitbeck, 
head  of  the  advertising  and  exploitation  depart- 
ment. Mr.  Lewis  formerly  was  associated  with 
Paramount  for  18  years,  and  for  the  last  two 
years  has  been  public  relations  director  for 
Consolidated  Vultee  Aircraft  Corporation.  His 
first  assignment  will  be  production  of  "Twenty 
Years  After,"  which  will  be  used  nationally 
during  the  celebration  of  MGM's  20th  anni- 
versary. 


Big  Gross  for  "Acquaintance" 

Partly  as  result  of  a  15  per  cent  improve- 
ment in  Canadian  receipts  as  compared  with 
last  season,  and  partly  resulting  from  Bette 
Davis'  increased  popularity,  Warners'  "Old 
Acquaintance"  has  turned  in,  with  the  exception 
of  "This  Is  the  Army,"  the  biggest  Dominion 
gross  of  the  season,  according  to  Wolfe  Cohen, 
Canadian  district  manager  for  Warner  Bros. 


February    19.  1944 

Complete  Full 
Report  on  Films 
For  Army  Men 

A  comprehensive  report  on  the  Army's  New 
York  operations  in  connection  with  its  distri- 
bution of  the  industry's  16mm.  gift  films  to 
servicemen  overseas,  has  been  completed  by 
George  Weltner,  assistant  manager  of  the  for- 
eign department  for  Paramount  Pictures,  and 
was  released  this  week  by  War  Activities  Com- 
mittee. 

Mr.  Weltner  was  requested  to  make  the 
study  following  a  meeting  of  the  foreign  man- 
agers' division  of  the  WAC  last  December  31. 
Phil  Reisman  of  RKO,  and  Arthur  W.  Kelly, 
were  requested  by  WAC  to  make  a  similar 
study  of  Army  distribution  of  the  films  in 
England.  Marion  Jordan  of  Paramount  is  mak- 
ing another  study  for  India;  McNeil  Ackland, 
for  the  Pacific  area,  and  T.  J.  Bennett,  of  Para- 
mount, has  just  completed  a  report  covering 
the  Near  East. 

This  action  by  WAC  came  shortly  after  sev- 
eral screen  stars  who  had  toured  war  fronts  in 
Italy,  North  Africa  and  the  South  Pacific  last 
autumn  returned  to  New  York  and  told  the 
trade  press  and  newspapers  that  the  armed 
forces  were  not  getting  enough  current  enter- 
tainment films. 

Following  the  WAC  December  meeting, 
Francis  S.  Harmon,  executive  vice-chairman, 
prepared  cabled  instructions  for  each  represen- 
tative of  the  foreign  managers'  division  desig- 
nated to  make  the  study.  The  foreign  managers 
of  the  respective  major  companies,  in  turn  sent 
cables  to  their  representatives  in  the  various 
areas  abroad. 

In  his  report,  Mr.  Weltner  praised  the  effi- 
ciency and  speed  of  the  Army's  New  York  office 
in  setting  up  the  19  film  exchanges  throughout 
the  world  which  route  prints  of  the  industry's 
gift  films.  During  the  first  five  months  of 
1943  he  found  the  Army  ordered  22  prints  per 
subject.  This  figure,  he  said,  gradually  in- 
creased to  the  present  order  of  56,  and  it  is 
"quite  possible  that  in  the  not  too  far  distant 
future,  70  or  80  prints,  and  perhaps  more,  will 
be  required,  depending  entirely  upon  the  num- 
bei^and  dispersal  of  American  troops  on  foreign 
soil." 

Currently,  there  are  2,919  16mm.  projectors 
abroad,  he  said,  compared  with  370  projectors 
in  December,  1942.  One-third  of  all  projectors 
sent  overseas  were  shipped  in  October  of  last 
year,  his  report  showed,  and  it  is  estimated 
that  at  least  1,000  additional  projectors  will  be 
required  for  overseas  use  by  June  30  of  this  year. 

In  connection  with  the  industry's  prints  now 
overseas,  Mr.  Waltner  pointed  out  that  both 
the  Army  and  the  industry  "should  start  to 
think  about  what  will  happen  when  the  war 
ends." 

The  gift  films  "must  be  taken  care  of  so  that 
they  are  not  left  unguarded  and  likely  to  fall 
into  the  hands  of  unscrupulous  film  pirates,"  he 
warned,  adding  that  the  industry  went  through 
"a  bad  period  of  piracy  at  the  end  of  the  last 
war."  He  recommended  that  as  soon  as  it  is 
indicated  "that  war  will  end  in  a  particular 
zone,  the  prints  should  be  turned  over  to  the 
nearest  commercial  film  exchange  of  one  of  the 
American  companies,  to  be  held  there  until  they 
can  be  disposed  of  properly." 


Decoration  for  Jack  Bernhard 

Lt.  Jack  Bernhard  of  the  U.  S.  Army  Air 
Forces,  a  former  Universal  producer,  has  just 
been  awarded  his  third  decoration  for  valor,  the 
Distinguished  Flying  Cross.  He  had  previously 
received  the  Air  Medal  and  an  Oak  Leaf  Cluster 
for  distinguished  action  in  the  European  war 
theatre.  Lt.  Bernhard  is  the  son  of  Joseph 
Bernhard,  general  manager  of  Warner  Bros. 
Theatres,  who  also  has  two  other  sons  on  active 
service. 


February    19,  1944 

Lou  Metzger^ 
Coast  Exhibitor^ 
Dies  at  49 

Lou  B.  Metzger,  California  exhibitor  and  for 
many  years  a  prominent  distribution  executive, 
died  at  the  Cedars  of  Lebanon  Hospital  in  Los 
Angeles  February  14.  He  was  49.  Mr.  Metz- 
ger was  a  member  of  the  War  Activities  Com- 
mittee in  New  York.  He  became  ill  last  autumn 
in  Kansas  City  while  en  route  to  New  York  to 
take  a  voluntary  post  with  WAC.  He  continued 
on  to  New  York  and  assumed  his  WAC  job 
for  several  weeks.  When  he  returned  to  Cali- 
fornia in  December  for  the  year-end  holiday, 
he  was  stricken  again. 

Born  in  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  in  1895,  Mr.  Metz- 
ger began  his  film  career  at  the  age  of  17  when 
he  undertook  his  first  job  in  a  film  exchange  in 
Portland,  Ore.  He  served  in  World  War  Las 
an  officer  in  the  81st  Field  Artillery  of  the  8th 
Regular  Division. 

In  1925  he  was  named  western  sales  director 
for  Universal  and  a  year  later  was  appointed 
general  sales  manager  by  the  late  Carl  Laemmle. 
In  1928,  he  was  named  general  manager  of  the 
company.  Later,  he  joined  Columbia,  first  as 
special  foreign  representative,  and  in  1931  as 
sales  manager.  He  resigned  in  1932.  Early  in 
1934  he  was  named  U.  S.  sales  agent  for  British 
International  Pictures,  meanwhile  retaining  full 
interest  in  the  Spreckels,  Cabrfllo  and  Uptown 
theatres  in  Pasadena ;  the  Tower,  in  San  Diego ; 
Lamesa  in  Lamesa,  and  Broadway,  Los  Angeles, 
which  he  operated  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

Mr.  Metzger*  is  survived  by  his  wife,  Lillian ; 
a  daughter,  Mrs.  Jacqueline  Kramer,  and  an 
uncle,  Gus  Metzger.  Funeral  services  were  to 
be  held  in  San  Francisco. 

Study  Use  of  Films  in  Aiding 
Soviet-Canada  Relations 

Means  of  furthering  relations  between  Soviet 
Russia  and  Canada  were  the  objective  of  a 
meeting  of  the  Film  Committee  of  the  National 
Council  for  Canadian-Soviet  Friendship  held 
in  Toronto  recently  in  the  board  room  of  Fa- 
mous Players  Canadian  Corporation. 

Discussion  centered  about  the  possibility  of 
increasing  the  appeal  of  Soviet  films  with  Eng- 
lish dialogue. 

At  the  meeting  were :  Dr.  Malcolm  Ross, 
executive  director  of  the  Council ;  Morris  Stein, 
Max  Chic  and  J.  J.  Fitzgibbons,  Famous  Play- 
ers ;  N.  A.  Taylor,  20th  Century  Theatres ;  Alf 
W.  Perry,  Empire-Universal;  Jack  Karr, 
Toronto  Daily  Star,  and  Hye  Bossin. 


Sues  Over  Lisbon  Crash 

A  jury  trial  was  demanded  by  Joanne  Rog- 
nan,  Los  Angeles  dancer,  in  connection  with 
her  suits  against  the  Pan  American  Airways, 
Inc.,  for  $410,000  damages,  as  a  result  of  the 
crash  of  the  Yankee  Clipper,  early  last  year 
near  Lisbon,  Portugal.  The  papers  were  filed 
in  New  York  Federal  Court  last  week.  The 
complaint  alleges  the  plane  was  improperly 
handled,  and  because  of  the  crash  she  alleges 
she  was  permanently  injured  and  will  be  unable 
to  resume  her  professional  career. 


Mrs.  John  Cannon  Dies 

Mrs.  John  Cannon,  wife  of  the  operator  of 
the  Grand  theatre,  New  Haven,  died  at  St. 
Raphael's  Hospital  in  that  city,  February  13. 
Surviving  are  her  husband  and  a  son,  John,  Jr., 
also '  associated  with  the  Grand. 


Andrew  Shearer 

Andrew  Shearer,  80,  father  of  Norma  Shearer, 
actress,  and  Douglas  Shearer,  film  recorder, 
died  February  7  in  Los  Angeles.  Funeral  serv- 
ices were  held  in  Glendale,  Cal. 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


Staff  Phoio 


LOU  METZGER 

Edgar  Selwyn^ 
Producer 

Edgar  Selwyn,  noted  producer,  playwright, 
actor  and  director  of  the  stage  and  screen,  died 
February  13  in  the  Cedars  of  Lebanon  Hos- 
pital, Los  Angeles,  at  68.  Following  a  career 
of  33  years  in  the  legitimate  theatre,  Mr.  Sel- 
wyn went  to  Hollywood  in  1929  as  a  writer 
and  director  for  MGM.  Last  year  he  served 
as  editorial  assistant  to  Louis  B.  Mayer  at  the 
MGM  studio,  besides  operating  his  own  produc- 
tion unit. 

Btjrn  in  Cincinnati  in  1875,  Mr.  Selwyn  began 
his  theatrical  career  in  New  York  in  1896,  first 
as  an  actor,  later  as  a  director  and  producer. 
From  1914  to  1924  he  was  president  of  Selwyn 
&  Company,  Inc.,  in  association  with  his  brother, 
Arch,  and  Crosby  Gaige.  The  firm  produced 
many  plays,  including  several  Broadway  hits. 

In  1912,  he  began  his  film  career  as  a  produ- 
cer with  his  brother.  Their  All- Star  Feature 
Films  Corporation  led  to  the  formation  of  the 
Goldwyn  Pictures  Corporation  with  Samuel 
Goldwyn  in  1917.  Three  years  later,  Mr.  Sel- 
wyn returned  to  play-producing  but  went  back 
to  Hollywood  as  writer-director  for  MGM  in 
1929.  Among  the  films  which  Mr.  Selwyn  di- 
rected for  the  MGM  was  "The  Sin  of  Madelon 
Claudet,"  Helen  Hayes'  first  picture,  for  which 
she  won  the  1931-32  Academy  award. 

Surviving  are  his  brother.  Arch;  two  sisters, 
and  a  stepson,  Lt.  Russell  Selwyn  of  the  Army 
Air  Force.  Funeral  services  were  held  in  Bev- 
erly Hills  Wednesday. 


Max  Schwartz,  MGM  Salesman 

Max  Schwartz,  a  pioneer  theatre  operator  and 
for  the  past  20  years  a  salesman  in  Chicago  for 
MGM,  died  February  12  at  the  Presbyterian 
Hospital  in  Chicago.  Mr.  Schwartz  was  61. 
He  is  survived  by  his  wife,  Bessie ;  two  daugh- 
ters, Mrs.  Sylvia  Jafife  and  Mrs.  Flora  Jane 
Gold,  and  one  son,  Lawrence. 


Frank  Kalb 

Frank  H.  Kalb,  head  of  maintenance  at  War- 
ners' film  laboratories  in  Brooklyn,  died  Febru- 
ary 13  at  his  home  after  a  long  illness.  He  was 
65.  Surviving  are  his  wife,  a  son  and  four 
daughters. 


Compile  Film  on  Italian  Fight 

"Our  Italian  Frontier,"  comprised  of  footage 
from  the  Mediterranean  war  theatre,  is  being 
prepared  for  general  release  by  Warner  Broth- 
ers as  a  two-reel  short  subject. 


49 

Commerce  Unit  to 
Continue  Report 
On  Films  Abroad 

The  Bureau  of  Foreign  and  Domestic  Com- 
merce of  the  U.  S.  Department  of  Commerce 
will  continue  to  gather  statistics  and  other  in- 
formation on  film  trade  abroad  in  new  and 
closer  liaison  with  the  divisions  of  the  reorgan- 
ized State  DepaTtment  which  have  been  placed 
in  charge  of  film  matters,  according  to  Nathan 
D.  Golden,  chief  of  the  Commerce  Department's 
motion  picture  division. 

He  was  a  guest  of  the  International  Film  Re- 
lations Committee  when  the  foreign  publicity 
men  met  Friday  at  the  offices  of  the  Motion 
Picture  Producers  and  Distributors  of  America, 
Inc. 

Accurate  information  as  to  film  exports  and 
imports,  screen  legislation  abroad,  changing 
economic  conditions  and  trends  in  public  taste 
such  as  have  been  contained  in  past  Department 
of  Commerce  reports  will  have  increasing  im- 
portance to  American  film  companies  as  the 
foreign  market  reopens,  he  said.  Mr.  Golden 
was  the  author  of  an  extensive  Department  of 
Commerce  post-war  film  study  released  last 
month. 

Although  Department  of  Commerce  offices 
abroad  have  been  curtailed,  the  Bureau  of  For- 
eign and  Domestic  Commerce  compiles  trade 
information  from  reports  of  commercial  at- 
taches of  the  State  Department,  the  Board  of 
Economic  Warfare,  Office  of  War  Information 
and  other  official  sources. 

Finds  Films  Most  Popular 
Recreation  of  Soldier 

Brigadier  General  Joseph  W.  Byron,  director 
of  the  Army  Special  Services  Division,  on  the 
Army  Hour,  a  radio  program,  last  Sunday 
afternoon,  said : 

"I  wanted  to  see  for  myself  just  how  our 
operations  are  functioning  at  the  remote  out- 
posts and  perhaps  recommend  better  and  more 
expeditious  ways  of  serving  our  soldiers  wher- 
ever they  may  be.  Wherever  I  went,  particu- 
larly in  the  South  Pacific,  I  found  that  the 
men  liked  movies  above  everything  else.  They 
will  sit  hour  after  hour  in  the  rain  and  some- 
times have  to  scurry  to  a  foxhole  when  the 
air  raid  alarm  sounds.  Second  in  importance 
is  the  inner  man — I  don't  mean  regular  ra- 
tions— but  those  extra  things  like  ice  cream, 
cold  drinks  and  candy  bars.  Then  comes  music 
— music  of  any  kind." 

Later  in  his  talk  he  said:  "Soldiers  have 
very  definite  tastes  in  entertainment — movies 
in  particular.  They  don't  want  anything  that 
is  sad  or  dirty.  They  don't  want  actors  dressed 
in  uniforms  playing  at  war.  They  do  want 
musicals — dancing— and  brightness." 

Dodds  Is  Promoted  at 
Universal  Studio 

Edward  Dodds,  who  had  been  first  assistant 
to  Martin  Murphy,  Universal  studio  manager, 
this  week  was  promoted  to  production  executive. 
He  will  work  with  associate  producers  Edward 
Lilley  and  Frank  Gross.  Morris  Weiner  and 
Henry  Spitz  have  been  advanced  by  Mr.  Dodds' 
promotion.  They  become  first  and  second  as- 
sistants, respectively  to  Mr.  Murphy. 


Rawson  Leaves  Selznick 

Mitchell  Rawson  resigned  last  week  as  pub- 
licity director  for  David  O.  Selznick,  in  Holly- 
wood, effective  immediately,  after  four  months 
in  the  post.  Mr.  Rawson  had  been  with  First 
National  and  Warners  since  1929,  having  re- 
signed as  eastern  publicity  manager  to  join 
Mr.  Selznick. 


REPUBLIC  GIVES  THE  INDUSTRY  Oh 


lOHN  WAYNE 


SUSAN  HAYVVARD 


OtNNlS  O'KEEFE 


VAST  POPULAR  APPEAL 


Rpnublic  has  shot  the  works  to  insure  wide  public  support  of 
?r.maf  ilm  of  SeaBees-  exploits.  For  this  is  a  picture  of  vast 
popu  ar  appeal-or.e  that  has  what  it  ^^^es  to  roll  up  the 

S  has  been  given  the  blood-tingling  and  imagination-stirrmg 
de^ds  of  the  SeaBees  will  assure  the  success  of  this  picture,  one 
of  the  exploitation  plums  of  the  year. 

Thrills  excitement  and  action  have  not  been  spared  .  .  .  tne 
force      'the  drama  is  softened  by  a  strong  injection  of  romance 
holds  out  a  powerful  lure  to  the  femmes.       -FILM  DAILY 


The  f,  .  .  n  .  PRE-SELUNG  BY  REPUBLIC 

barctnLSoJi^bati^^rs  I  TJ'''''''''  ^^^^^  ^avy  com- 
lads  who  both  work  and  iiaht  Son","?  P'?.','^"^°«°n  of  the  lusty 
have  been  accorded  di  ect  ion  "  '.f^^  Production  values 
documentary  realism  '  Cnn^  '  "  ui"^  °"  '°  a^'ion  and 
Will  facilitate  handlSg  the  Sure  ^.'''"f''""^^  ^^P-^'^^ 
m  the  Fighting  SeaBees,  wheUed  iv  "r.n  P"bl'<= 
showmen  added  exploitation  advatlages  ^'^^^ 

-MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY 


A  SCREEN  HIT 

JfutoI'indTs"  a°\r  ranta'"'  *°  ""T.^  °^  ^-P-^'^- 
action,  drama,%"om:S/°tanV"c::;ri  "th''-"  ^^^'^^^  "^'^ 

day  to  day.  Char^ -erL^ati^^b^heTou'S  Se^  ^Taht^ 

-THE  EXHIBITOR 


,    ,     -rn.-  (The  Construction  men  .  jainment 

S:rexc  Jp  °onally  well.  The  '^^^^^^''^^S^^eseer.s 
picture  togettier  .^^^  portrayals,  that  tne  v        -p j^ard 


)f  ITS  KIGHTIiST  AmACTIONS..! 


I 


BLOOD-STIRRING  ACTION 

Excitingly,  spectacularly  and  authentically,  this  tells  the  story 
of  the  birth,  growth  and  heroic  accomplishments  of  thai  colorful 
branch  of  Uncle  Sam's  Navy,  the  construction  battalions. 

The  cast  .  .  .  performs  admirably  and  convincingly. 

There  is  plenty  of  blood-stirring  action  and  a  strong  thread 
of  romance.  — BOXOFFICE 


BEST  YET  .  .  IN  RECENT  WAR  PICTURES 

onces,  mote7along'S  a"f4"°tce''"1°;:  f.""  P-'-- 

throughout.  A  romantic  triang  e  mad.  ^f"^^ 

acters,  should  appeal  to  women  ^he  bam     ^^'"P^'hefic  char- 

ceptionally  good,  rankina  ^^hh^hJu   ^         sequences  ore  ex- 

Pictures.  Particularly  Sira  anH       f  '^'^^^^  war 

takes  place  towards^he  L^sL  wheTtL^'r'l," 

numbered,  wipe  out  the  Jap  attackers 

-HARRISON  REPORTS 


SHOULD  BE  AMPLY  REPAID  AT  THE  BOXOFFICES 

-The  Fighting  SeaBees".  a  rousing  "f^^t^^^^'Sr  iTenSd 

battle  scenes  teem  with  action  ^J^j^^'^^^"'  i  repaid  at  box- 
budget  and  production  care  ^^ould  be  an,p  y  p  ^^^^^^ 
offices  throughout  the  country.        -MUII^in  r 


One  of  the  best  war  sequences  nf  *  ■ 

cHuences  ot  recent  vintage 

-WEEKLY  VARIETY 


BOX-OFFICE  RECORDS 

From  VorJety  and  Motion  Picture  Dally 
WOODS 

CHICAGO,  in.    4  WEEKS 

Woods    (Essaness)  (1,200;  50(£-85(t) 
••Fighting  Seabees''  (Rep.)  Strong  $20,000 

STANLEY 

PHILADELPHIA,  PA.     3  WEEKS 

Stanley  (WB)  (2,915;  ZS<t.-75<t) 
•'Fighting  Seabees  '  (Rep.).  Looi<s  like  best 
indie  production  of  season  with  smosh 
$27,000  plus  $4,000  for  Sabbath  "gravy" 
show  at  Earle 

PARAMOUNT 

NEW  HAVEN,  CONN.     2  WEEKS 

Paramount  (2,373)  (40(t-55(t)  7  days 
"Fighting  Seabees"  (Rep.)  Gross:  $7,200. 
(Average:  $6,400) 


20TH  CENTURY 

BUFFALO,  N.  Y. 


2  WEEKS 


PARAMOUNT  AND 
FENWAY 

BOSTON,  MASS.     2  WEEKS 

Paramount  (M-P)  (1.700,  40<£-60!t) 
■•Fighting  Seabees     (Rep  )  and  "Clemen- 
tine" (Rep.)  Record  $18,000,  about  all  traf- 
fic will  bear 

Fenway  (M-P)  (1,373.  40^-60?) 
"Fighting  Seabees"  (Rep)  and  "Clemen- 
tine (Rep.)    Double  average  gross  for  this 
spot,  huge  $10,000  or  over 

PARAMOUNT  THEATRES 

LOS  ANGELES  AND  j  WEEKS 
HOLLYwboD,  CALIF. 

Paramount  &  M)  (3,389,  45«-90!t) 
•'Fighting  Seabees'  (Rep.)  and  "Casanova 
Burlesque"  (Rep.)  (2nd  wk.)  Big  $24,500. 
Last  week  "Seabees"  solo  on  weekend, 
tremendous  $34,000  and  new  house  record 
for  straight  pictures  on  Sunday.  (Jan.  30.) 

Paramount  Hollywood  (F&'M)  (1 ,451 ;  45^-90^) 
"Fighting  Seabees"  (Rep.)  and  "Casanova 
Burlesque"  (Rep.)  (2nd  wk.).  Nice  $10,500. 
Lost  week,  hefty  $14,300 


OLYMPIC 


UTICA,  N.  Y.     2  WEEKS 


MAJESTIC 

DALLAS,  TEXAS 


2  WEEKS 


MOVEOVER  TO 

METROPOLITAN 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C.  FOR  2  WK.  RUN 
(AFTER  A  WEEK  AT  THE  EARLE  AND 
AMBASSADOR,  WASHINGTON,  D.  C.) 

Metropolitan  (WB)  (1,600;  30<-55(t) 
••Fighting  Seabees"  (Rep.).  Nice  $7,500  on, 
moveover. 

Earle  (WB)  (2,240;  30^-90*) 
"Fighting  Seobees^^  (Rep.),  with  vaudeville. 
Nice  notices  helping  to  fine  $21,500. 


E  OF  THE  YEAR 


Edward  Ludwig— Director,  2nd  Unit,  Directed 
Howard  Lydecker,  Screenplay  by  Borden  Ciume  and 
MacKenzia,  OrisUua  Story  by  Borden  Omum!. 


52  MOTION    PICTURE    HERALD  February    19,  1944 

^'WHAT  THE  « 
PICTURE  DID  FOR  ME 


.  .  .  th«  original  cziiibiton  iwperts  d«partin«at,  •sfablltlied  October  14,  1916. 
Ib  it  tlieatremoB  torvo  one  onotlior  with  iafermatioB  aboat  tlio  bex>ofie*  par* 
formane*  of  product  —  providiag  o  torvice  of  tlio  oxiilbitor  for  tlio  whlbHer. 
ADDRESS  REPORTS:  What  tho  Pictaro  Did  for  tA;  MotioB  PIctaro  HoroM. 
Reciiefeiler  Center,  New  York  20,  N.  Y. 


Columbia 

BOSTON  BLACKIE  GOES  HOLLYWOOD:  Ches- 
ter Morris,  Richard  Lane— This  series  has  a  nice  week- 
end following.  We  double  billed  it  with  a  Blondie 
picture  and  really  went  to  town.  Played  Wednesday, 
Thursday,  Feb.  2,  3.— Harland  Rankin,  plaza  Theatre, 
Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 

CHANCE  OF  A  UFETIME:  Chester  Morris, 
Jeanne  Bates — Good  program  picture  for  double  bill. 
Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Jan.  7,  8. — Miss  Cleo  Man- 
ry,  Buena  Vista  Theatre,  Buena  Vista.  Ga.  Rural 
and  small  town  patronage. 

THE  HEAT'S  ON:  Mae  West,  Victor  Moore— Mae 
West  no  actress.  This  feature  is  nothing  extra. — 
E.  A.  Bolduc,  Majestic  Theatre,  Conway,  N.  H.  Gen- 
eral patronage. 

ITS  A  GREAT  LIFE:  Arthur  Lake,  Penny  Sing'le- 
ton — Blondie  certainly  is  popular  in  Tilbury.  This  pic- 
ture did  more  than  double  "Sahara."  Everybody  likes 
Blondie.  Played  Wednesday,  Thursday,  Feb.  2,  3. — 
Harland  Rankin,  Flaza  Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 

LOST  HORIZON:  Ronald  Colman— I  played  this 
very  late  as  a  reissue.  Some  of  my  patrons  com- 
plained that  a  lot  had  been  cut  out,  but  I  believe  it 
was  enjoyed  by  most  of  the  audience.  Stars'  names 
helped  to  sell  it,  but  I  do  not  believe  these  reissues 
get  the  business.  Good  entertainment.  Played  Sat- 
urday. Sunday,  Jan.  22,  23. — A.  L.  Dove.  Bengough 
Theatre.  Bengough,  Sask.,  Canada.  Rural  and  small 
town  patronage. 

RIDING  THROUGH  NEVADA:  Charles  Starrett— 
Charles  Starrett  Westerns  never  let  us  down  on  week- 
ends. Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Feb.  4,  5.— Harland 
Rankin,  Plaza  Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 

SAHARA:  Humphrey  Bogart,  Bruce  Bennett — This 
picture  was  well  produced,  but  failed  to  do  business 
anticipated.  Although  some  theatres  did  outstanding 
business,  we  could  see  no  reason  why  we  did  not  en- 
joy better  business.  Played  Monday,  Tuesday,  Jan. 
31,  Feb.  1.— Harland  Rankin,  Flaza  Theatre,  Tilbury, 
Ont.,  Canada. 

SILVER  CITY  RAIDERS:  Russell  Hayden— West- 
erns always  popular  on  weekends.  We  double  bill 
them  and  seem  to  do  about  the  same  on  them  all. 
Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Jan.  28,  29.— Harland  Ran- 
kin, Plaza  Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 

WHAT  A  WOMAN:  Rosalind  Russell,  Brian  Aherne 
— Excellent  in  every  respect.  Miss  Russell's  constant 
chatter  and  Mr.  Aheme's  droll  manner  make  a  fine 
pair.  Story  amusing. — E.  A.  Bolduc,  Majestic  Thea- 
tre. Conway,  N.  H.    General  patronage.  ^ 


Me+ro-Goldwyn-Mayer 

ABOVE  SUSPICION:  Joan  Crawford,  Fred  Mac- 
Murray — This  picture  did  grand  business  and  the  few 
who  saw  it  said  it  was  good.  Played  Monday,  Tues- 
day, Jan.  3,  4.— Miss  Cleo  Manry,  Buena  Vista  Thea- 
tre, Buena  Vista,  Ga.  Small  town  and  rural  patron- 
age. 

BEST  FOOT  FORWARD:  Lucille  Ball,  William 
Gaxton — Technicolor  will  draw  them  in  and  lots  of  ad- 
vertisement, but  we  had  very  many  disappointed  pa- 
trons. Business  good  first  night,  but  dropped  way 
down  second  night.  Played  Wednesday,  Thursday, 
Jan.  5,  6. — Miss  Cleo  Manry,  Buena  Vista  Theatre, 
I?uena  Vista,  Ga.    Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

DU  BARRY  WAS  A  LADY:  Red  Skelton— Money 
aplenty  was  put  into  this  picture,  but  it  was  silly 
and  the  story  was  impossible.  Virginia  O'Brien  num- 
ber was  very  good.  Played  Saturday,  Sunday,  Mon- 
day, Jan.  22,  23,  24.— Melville  Danner,  Kozy  Theatre, 
Granite,  Okla.    Small  town  patronage. 

GIRL  CRAZY:  Mickey  Rooney,  Judy  Garland- 
Business  OK.  This  is  not  their  best  picture  but  they 
still  draw  at  the  box  ofifice. — Mt.  Lookout  Theatre, 
Cincinnati,  Ohio.    Suburban  patronage. 

GIRL  CRAZY:  Mickey  Rooney,  Judy  Garland- 
Mickey  Rooney  is  not  as  popialar  as  in  the  past. 
This  story  didn't  help  either. — E.  A.  Bolduc,  Majestic 
Theatre,  Conway,  N.'  H.    General  patronage. 

THE  HUMAN  COMEDY:  Mickey,  RoOney,  Far 
Bainter — This  was  a  picture  for  the  books.    It  is  an 


employment  of  the  camera  for  the  analyzing  of  the 
American  citizen  under  the  stress  of  war.  This 
story  of  William  Saroyan  written  for  MGM  is  one  of 
the  best,  if  not  the  best,  that  it  has  been  our  pleasure 
to  witness  for  a  long  time.  Mickey  Rooney,  Fay 
Bainter  and  Frank  Morgan  were  "tops."  Flayed  Sat- 
urday, Sunday,  Jan.  1,  2.— A.  W.  Bates,  State  Prison, 
Raiford,  Fla.    Prison  inmate  patronage. 

THE  HUMAN  COMEDY:  Mickey  Rooney,  Frank 
Morgan— Not  what  Metro  made  it  out  to  be.  Played 
Saturday,  Sunday,  I>ec.  4,  5. — Otto  W.  Chapek,  Aiinex 
Theatre,  Anamoose,  N.  D.  Rural  and  small  town  pat- 
ronage. ' 

JOURNEY  FOR  MARGARET:  Robert  Young,  La- 
raine  Day,  Margaret  O'Brien — Very  good.  It  has 
laughs  and  sad  moments.  Should  draw  the  kids  be- 
cause of  O'Brien,  and  the  grownups  because  of  its 
story.  Laraine  Day  deserves  bigger  and  better  parts 
than  the  one  given  in  this  one.  Proved  that  in  "Mr. 
Lucky." — Frank  Raspa,  State  Theatre,  Rivesville,  W. 
Va.    Rural  patronage. 

LASSIE  COME  HOME:  Roddy  McDowaU— Techni- 
color is  beautiful  and  great  in  every  respect.  Ex- 
cellent for  young  and  old. — E.  A.  Bolduc,  Majestic 
Tlieatre.  Conway,  N.  H.    General  patronage. 

LOST  ANGEL:  Margaret  O'Brien,  James  Craig— 

Excellent.  Little  Margaret  O'Brien  a  grand  little 
actress,  who  captures  everyone's  heart.  Story  un- 
usual, but  very  entertaining. — E.  A.  Bolduc,  Majestic 
Theatre,  Conway,  N.  H.    General  patronage. 

MAN  FROM  DOWN  UNDER:  Charles  Laughton— 
Fine  acting,  story  very  good. — E.  A.  Bolduc,  Majestic 
Theatre.  Conway,  N.  H.     General  patronage. 

PRESENTING  ULY  MARS:  Judy  Garland— Good 
picture,  but  not  Judy's  best.  Did  average  business. 
Played  Saturday,  Sunday,  Monday,  Jan.  15.  16,  17. — 
Melville  Danner,  Kozy  Theatre,  Granite,  Okla.  Small 
town  patronage. 

TENNESSEE  JOHNSON:  Van  Hefiin,  Ruth  Hus- 
sey — Very  long,  very  draggy  and  very  boring.  No 
comedy  action,  just  talk.  Not  for  a  •  small  town. — 
Frank  Raspa,  State  Theatre,  Rivesville,  W.  Va.  Ru- 
ral patronage. 

THOUSANDS  CHEER:  Kathryn  Grayson,  Gene 
Kelly — We  cannot  speak  too  highly  of  this  picture's 
entertainment  value;  it  is  excellent  throughout.  It 
did  the  biggest  business  since  "Stage  Door  Canteen." 
which  we  played  in  October.  When  we  can  do  Oc- 
tober business  in  January  in  this  village,  brothers, 
we've  done  something.  Pleased  everyone.  Played 
Sunday,  Monday,  Jan.  30,  31. — Thomas  Di  Lorenzo, 
New  Paltz  Theatre,  New  Paltz,  N.  Y.  Small  town 
patronage. 


Monogram 

MR.  WISE  GUY:  East  Side  Kids— Just  fair.  Played 
Wednesday,  Thursday,  Jan.  26,  27. — ^Imperial  Theatre, 
Windsor,  Nova  Scotia,  Canada..  Small  town  patron- 
age. 


Paramount 

LET'S  FACE  IT:  Bob  Hope.  Betty  Hutton— Busi- 
ness good.  Ab»ut  as  wacky  and  screwy  as  possible 
to  hold  together  at  all,  but  our  people  came  to  see  it 
and  apparently  went  away  satisfied.  No  exhibitor 
should  have  anything  to  complain  about  under  such 
happy  circumstances.  Flayed  Sunday,  Monday,  Jan. 
30,  31. — A.  C.  Edwards,  Winema  Theatre.  Scotia,  Calif. 
Small  lumber  town  patronage. 

MIRACLE  OF  MORGAN'S  CREEK:  Betty  Hutton. 
Eddie  Bracken — Quite  silly,  but  the  audience  seemed  to 
enjoy  it. — E.  A.  Bolduc,  Majestic  Tlieatre,  Conway, 
N.  H.    General  patronage. 


MRS.  WIGGS  OF  THE  CABBAGE  PATCH:  Hugh 
Herbert,  Fay  Bainter — This  picture  did  very  well. 
Was  a  little  dubious  of  it,  but  will  say  it  did  well. 
Played  Sunday,  Jan.  23. — Harland  Rankin,  Plaza  Thea- 
tre, Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 

RIDING  HIGH:  Dorothy  Lamour— Fair.  Good  Tech- 
nicolor. Cass  Dailey  stole  the  show  with  her  musical 
numbers. — E,  A.  Bolduc,  Majestic  Theatre,  Conway, 
N.  H.    General  patronage. 

SOULS  AT  SEA:  Gary  Cooper,  George  Raft— Still 
a  good  show.  Business  was  fair.  Played  Tuesday, 
Ftb.  1.— E.  M.  Freiburger,  F'aramount  Theatre,  Dew- 
ey, Okla.    Small  town  patronage. 

STAR  SPANGLED  RHYTHM:  Betty  Hutton,  Bob 
Hope— Unlike  other  films  which  have  enrolled  a  multi- 
plicity of  stars,  this  one  has  a  plot.  With  Betty 
Hutton,  and  Victor  Moore  as  the  father,  it  is  a  clean 
comedy  treat.  A  real  musical,  and  surprisingly  fun- 
ny. Played  Saturday,  Sunday,  Jan.  8,  9. — A.  W. 
Bates,  State  Prison,  Raiford,  Fla.   Prison  inmates. 

SUBMARINE  ALERT:  Richard  Arien— This  was  a 
nice  little  action  picture  that  held  attention  from 
start  to  finish.  Played  Tuesday.  Wednesday,  Jan.  25, 
26.— Otto  W.  Chapek,  Annex  Theatre,  Anamoose,  N. 
D.    Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

TRUE  TO  LIFE:  Dick  Powell,  Mary  Martiii- Nice 
picture  that  gave  us  fair  midweek  business.  Did  bet- 
ter than  expected.  Flayed  Wednesday,  Thursday,  Jan. 
26,  27.— Harland  Rankin,  Plaza  Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont., 
Canada. 

TRUE  TO  LIFE:  Dick  Powell,  Mary  Martin— Quite 
entertaining.  Victor  Moore's  inventions  had  everyone 
laughing. — E.  A.  Bolduc,  Majestic  Theatre,  Conway, 
N.  H.    General  patronage. 


RKO 

BAMBI:  Disney  Feature  Cartoon — A  masterpiece, 
but  it  takes  more  tjian  kids  to  pay  for  a  feature  of 
this  sort.— Frank  Raspa,  State  ITieatre,  Rivesville, 
W.  Va.    Rural  patronage. 

FIGHTING  GRINGO:  George  O'Brien— This  is  the 
first  O'Brien  Western  I've  played  and  I  found  it  to  be 
very  good.  I  don't  known  about  its  drawing  power. 
—Frank  Raspa,  State  Theatre,  Itivesville,  W.  Va. 
Rural  patronage. 

FOLLIES  GIRL:  Wendy  Barrie— Pass  it  up.  Can't 
stand  alone  and  too  expensive  to  double  bill. — Frank 
Raspa,  State  Theatre,  Rivesville,  W.  Va.  Rural  pat- 
ronage, 

THE  IRON  MAJOR:  Pat  O'Brien,  Ruth  Warrick— 
Many  remarks  over  this  picture.  F'atrons  pleased. 
Played  Monday,  Tuesday,  Jan.  31,  Feb.  2. — Imperial 
Theatre,  Windsor,  Nova  Scotia,  Canada.  Small  town 
patronage. 

MR.  LUCKY:  Gary  Grant,  Laraine  Day— This  was 
the  most  enjoyable  picture  to  come  from  RKO  in  many 
a  moon.  Grant  really  bore  down  with  his  part  and 
Miss  Day  never  was  lovelier  since  her  exit  from  the 
Kildare  series.  Played  Wednesday,  Thursday,  Jan. 
26,  27.— A.  S.  Edwards,  Winema  Theatre,  Scotia, 
Cal.    Small  lumber  town  patronage, 

PETTICOAT  LARCENY:  Ruth  Warrick,  Joan  Car- 
roll— Very  good  comedy  virith  new  story.  Should  get 
you  all  the  kids  you  want,  probably  even  more,  and 
it  will  bring  in  grownups  also. — Frank  Raspa,  State 
Theatre,  Rivesville,  W.  Va.    Rural  patronage. 

PRIDE  OF  THE  YANKEES:  Gary  Cooper,  Theresa 
Wright — Went  into  a  nose-dive  Sunday  and  crashed 
Monday.  I  wish  someone  would  tell  me  why. — Frank 
Raspa.  State  Theatre,  Rivesville,  W.  Va.  Rural  pat- 
ronage. 

(Continued  on  page  54) 


1944 


PICTURES  INC. 

OMINC  SOON!    "MINSTREL  MAN"    The  Daddy  of  Musicals 

A  Great  Story  and  a  Great  Cast 

BENNY  FIELDS  BINNIE  BARNES  ALAN  DINEHART 

WILLIAM  FRAWLEY  GERRA  YOUNG  ROSCOE  KARNS 


54 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    19.  1944 


(Continued  from  page  52) 
THE  SKY'S  THE  LIMIT:  Fred  Astaire,  Joan  Les- 
lie— Not  as  good  as  I  had  expected.  Usually  all  of 
RKO  musicals  are  excellent  and  good  attractions. 
Good  thing  I  gave  it  a  big  buildup,  otherwise  it  would 
not  have  drawn  as  it  did  against  its  opposition.  De- 
pends on  name  draw.— Frank  Raspa,  State  Theatre, 
Rivesville,  W.  Va.    Rural  patronage. 

TOO  MANY  GIRLS:  Richard  Carlson— Here's  a 
repeat  that  should  do  more  business  now  than  be- 
fore. Why?  Look  at  the  cast,  Richard  Carlson, 
Lucille  Ball,  Ann  Miller,  Frances  Langford,  Van  John- 
son and  Eddie  Bracken.  Unknown  when  first  released 
and  now  they  are  the  fastest  growing  stars  in  the 
industry.  Besides  all  that,  it's  a  musical-football  pic- 
ture with  plenty  of  comedy.  Running  time,  85  min- 
utes. Drew  fairly  well.— Frank  Raspa,  State  Theatre, 
Rivesville,  W.  Va.    Rural  patronage. 


Republic 

DAYS  OF  OLD  CHEYENNE:  Don  "Red"  Barry 
—Average  Western  that  got  by  with  a  good  strong 
companion  feature.  Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Jan. 
28,  29.— Charles  A.  Brooks,  Ritz  Theatre,  Marshfield, 
Mo.    Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

DEERSLAYER,  THE:  Bruce  Kellogg,  Jean  Parker 
—Good  picture,  played  to  good  Friday  and  Saturday 
business.  Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Jan.  21,  22.— 
Melville  Danner,  Kozy  Theatre,  Granite,  Okla.  Small 
town  patronage. 

IN  OLD  OKLAHOMA:  John  Wayne,  Martha  Scott 
—Fair  Western.— E.  A.  Bolduc,  Majestic  Theatre, 
Conway,  N.  H.    General  patronage. 

IS  EVERYBODY  HAPPY?  Ted  Lewis,  Nan  Wynn 
—Gave  this  a  midweek  single  bill.  However,  it  is 
double  bill  material  and  would  have  been  OK  if  booked 
that  way.  Just  got  by  and  that's  alL  Played  Tues- 
day, Wednesday,  Thursday,  Jan.  25,  26,  27.— Charles 
A.  Brooks,  Ritz  Theatre,  Marshfield,  Mo.  Small 
town  and  rural  patronage. 

O  MY  DARLING  CLEMENTINE:  Frank  Albert- 
son,  Lorna  Gray— This  one  really  brought  them  out. 
The  radio  talent  in  this  show  sure  put  it_  over.  Had 
no  idea  that  so  many  people  followed  this  group  on 
their  radios.  Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Jan.  28,  29.— 
Charles  A.  Brooks,  Ritz  Theatre,  Marshfield,  Mo. 
Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

REMEMBER  PEARL  HARBOR:  Fay  McKeiizie, 
Don  Barry— This  seemed  to  please  my  Saturday  night 
customers  and  is  full  of  action  and  suspense.  Gives 
the  people  an  idea  of  what  the  boys  in  uniform  have 
to  go  through  in  a  very  mild  way.  Played  this  late, 
but  pleased  the  paying  guests  and  that  is  what  counts. 
Played  Saturday,  Jan.  29.— A.  L.  Dove.  Bengough  The- 
atre, Bengough,  Sask.,  Canada.  Rural  and  small 
town  patronage. 

SCREAM  IN  THE  DARK:  Robert  Lowery,  Marie 
MacDonald— Republic  has  made  a  small  mystery  pic- 
ture worth  while  playing.  Plenty  of  pleasing  comedy. 
—Frank  Raspa,  State  Theatre,  Rivesville,  W.  Va. 
Rural  patronage. 

Twentieth  Century- Fox 

BANJO  ON  MY  KNEE:  Joel  McCrea,  Barbara 
Stanwyck— Due  to  rainy  weather  crowd  business  was 
not  so  good,  but  it  was  a  grand  picture.  Played 
Sunday,  Jan.  Z— Miss  Cleo  Manry,  Buena  Vista  Thea- 
tre, Buena  Vista,  Ga.  Small  town  and  rural  patron- 
age. 

DANCING  MASTERS:  Laurel  and  Hardy— One  of 
their  best,  lots  of  laughs.  Business  good.  Played 
Wednesday,  Thursday,  Jan.  19,  20.— Imperial  Theatre, 
Windsor,  Nova  Scotia,  Canada.  Small  town  patron- 
age. 

DANCING  MASTERS:  Laurel  and  Hardy— Typi- 
cal Laurel  and  Hardy  slapstick.  Not  many  of  my 
customers  care  for  them.— E.  A.  Bolduc,  Majestic 
Theatre,  Conway,  N.  H.    General  patronage. 

DANCING  MASTERS:  Laurel  and  Hardy— This  is 
not  as  good  as  "Jitterbugs"  from  the  audience  stand- 
point. If  they  are  not  too  particular,  they'll  sit 
through  it.  We  coupled  it  with  Warner's  "Northern 
Pursuit,"  to  excellent  Friday  and  Saturday  business. 
I  hope  Laurel  and  Hardy  make  more  pictures,  but  not 
like  this  one.  Flayed  Friday,  Saturday,  Jan.  28,  29.— 
Thomas  Di  Lorenzo,  New  Paltz  Theatre,  New  Paltz, 
N.  Y.    Small  town  patronage. 

DANCING  MASTERS:  Laurel  and  Hardy— Good 
comedy  and  just  right  for  small  town  show.  Business 
good.  Played  Sunday,  Monday,  Jan.  30,  31. — E.  M. 
Freiburger,  Paramount  Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla.  Small 
town  patronage. 

GUADALCANAL  DIARY:  F'reston  Foster,  Lloyd 
Nolan — Very  good  picture.  Should  be  OK  anywhere. 
— Mt.  Lookout  Theatre,  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  Suburban 
patronage. 

HAPPY  LAND:  Don  Ameche,  Frances  Dee— A  dif- 
ferent sort  of  picture.  You  liked  it  a  lot  or  you 
didn't  like  it  at  all.  Business  fair.  We  played  it 
single  bill  here  and  it  played  all  around  us  on  a 
double  bill  program. — Mt.  Lookout  Theatre,  Cincinnati, 
Ohio.     Suburban  patronage. 


HEAVEN  CAN  WAIT:  Don  Ameche,  Gene  Tier- 
ney — Excellent  film  of  a  very  excellent  type.  Laird 
Cregar  gives  a  great  performance. — E.  A.  Bolduc,  Ma- 
jestic Theatre,  Conway,  N.  H.    General  patronage. 

HOLY  MATRIMONY:  Monty  Woolley,  Gracie 
Fields — Good  comedy.  Played  Wednesday,  Thursday, 
Feb.  2,  3. — Imperial  Theatre,  Windsor,  Nova  Scotia, 
Canada.    Small  town  patronage. 

JITTERBUGS:  Laurel  and  Hardy— Tlie  best  pic- 
ture from  this  pair  in  quite  some  time.  Business 
good.  Played  Tuesday,  Wednesday,  Thursday,  Jan. 
18,  19,  20.— Melville  Danner,  Kozy  Theatre,  Granite, 
Okla.    Small  town  patronage. 

MY  FRIEND  FLICKA:  Roddy  McDowall,  Preston 

Foster — Mary  O'Hara's  beautiful  story  reproduced  on 
the  screen  with  a  cast  of  stars  that  help  portray  this 
touching  and  clean,  wholesome  story  of  a  boy's  love 
for  a  horse.  This  picture  was  a  real  treat  and  it  was 
well  received  by  the  inmates.  Played  Saturday,  Sun- 
day, Jan.  22,  23.— A.  W.  Bates,  State  Prison  Theatre, 
Raiford,  Fla.     Prison  inmates  patronage. 

SWEET  ROSIE  O'GRADY:  Betty  Grable,  Robert 
Young — A  swell  show.  With  so  many  war  pictures 
produced,  my  public  seems  to  welcome  musicals  like 
this.  Above  average  business.  Everybody  well 
pleased.  Played  Sunday,  Monday,  Jan.  23,  24. — 
Charles  A.  Brooks,  Ritz  Theatre,  Marshfield,  Mo. 
Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

TONIGHT  WE  RAID  CALAIS:  Annabella,  John 
Sutton — Just  fair  program  and  not  strong  enough  for 
top  half  of  double  bill.  Business  ofif.  Played  Friday, 
Saturday,  Jan.  28,  29.— A.  S.  Edwards,  Winema  Thea- 
tre, Scotia,  Cal.     Small  lumber  town  patronage. 


United  Artists 

COLT  COMRADES:  William  Boyd— These  West- 
erns are  always  good.  Business  good.  Flayed  Fri- 
day, Saturday,  Jan.  21,  22.— Imperial  Theatre,  Wind- 
sor, Nova  Scotia,  Canada.    Small  town  patronage. 

CRYSTAL  BALL:  Pauline  Goddard,  Ray  Milland 
— This  picture  was  well  taken,  but  did  not  do  any 
business.  Played  Saturday.  Sunday,  Jan.  15,  16. — 
Otto  W.  Chapek,  Annex  Theatre,  Ajiamoose,  N.  D. 
Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

POWERS  GIRL:  George  Murphy— I  didn't  think 
this  was  so  bad  but  those  who  came  out  didn't  think 
so  much  of  it.  Played  Saturday,  Sunday,  Jan.  22, 
23.— Otto  W.  Chapek,  Annex  Theatre,  Anamoose, 
N.  D.    Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

TO  BE  OR  NOT  TO  BE:  Jack  Benny— This  should 
not  have  been.  Played  Saturday,  Sunday,  Nov.  27,  28. 
— Otto  W.  Chapek,  Annex  Theatre,  Anamoose,  N.  D. 
Rural  and  small  town  patronage. 

TWIN  BEDS:  George  Brent— Nice  picture  that 
brought  in  extra  business.  Played  Tuesday,  Wednes- 
day, Jan.  18,  19.— Otto  W.  Chapek,  Annex  Theatre, 
Anamoose,  N.  D.    Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

Universal 

FOLLOW  THE  BAND:  Leon  Errol,  Mary  Beth 
Hughes — Leon  Errol  really  lays  them  in  the  aisle  with 
laughter.  Double  billed  with  Western.  Do  nice  busi- 
ness. Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Feb.  4,  5.— Harland 
Rankin,  Plaza  Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 

HERS  TO'  HOLD:  Deanna  Durbin,  Joseph  Gotten- 
Patrons  were  well  pleased  with  this  picture.  Busi- 
ness good.  Played  Monday,  Tuesday,  Jan.  24,  25. — 
Imperial  Theatre,  Windsor,  Nova  Scotia,  Canada. 
Small  town  patronage. 

HIS  BUTLER'S  SISTER:  Deanna  Durbin,  Fran- 
chot  Tone — Broke  the  house  record  for  Sunday -Mon- 
day attraction  with  this  one.  This  is  still  the  screwi- 
est business  of  all,  when  we  look  back  at  all  the 
Durbin  pictures  that  we  played  here  and  not  one  did 
average  business  for  us.  Try  and  fig-ure  it  out. — Mt. 
Lookout  Theatre,  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  Suburban  patron- 
age. 

MISTER  BIG:  Donald  O'Connor,  F'eggy  Ryan-;- 
After  seeing  the  long  list  of  pictures  Universal  is 
making  with  Donald  O'Connor  and  the  excellent  re-  • 
ports  given  about  him,  I  took  for  granted  that  he's 
something  Big.  So,  I  gave  him  "A"  time  and  he 
certainly  is  big  with  a  capital  "B."  La-ughs  and  mu- 
sic, music  and  laughs  all  the  way  through  with 
O'Connor  in  the  middle  of  it.  He  and  Peggy  Ryan 
can  certainly  go  places.  I  may  be  marked  down  as 
one  of  the  exhibitors  who  are  saying,  "Give  me  more 
of  O'Connor."— Frank  Raspa,  State  Theatre,  Rives- 
ville, W.  Va.    Rural  patronage. 

PHANTOM  OF  THE  OPERA:  Susanna  Foster, 
Nelson  Eddy — Did  nice  business.  Better  than  I  ex- 
pected. Played  Monday,  Tuesday,  Jan.  24,  25.— Har- 
land Rankin,  Plaza  Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 

SHERLOCK  HOLMES  FACES  DEATH:  Basil 
Rathbone,  Nigel  Bruce — Good  cast  but  picture  did  not 
click  either  at  box  office  or  with  audience.  Used 
on  weekend  double  bill.  Played  Friday,  Saturday, 
Jan.  28,  29.— A.  C.  Edwards,  Winema  Theatre,  Scotia, 
Cal.    Small  lumber  town  patronage. 

STRANGE  DEATH  OF  ADOLF  HITLER:  Ludwig 


Donath — No  name  draw  and  a  weak  story.  Had  this 
had  some  name  draw  and  a  stronger  story  it  could 
have  been  a  second  "Hitler's  Children." — Famk  Ras- 
pa, State  Theatre,  Rivesville,  W.  Va.  Rural  patron- 
age. 

THUNDERING  TRAILS:  Three  Mesquiteers— 
Just  another  Western.  Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Jan. 
28,  29.— Imperial  Theatre,  Windsor,  Nova  Scotia,  Can- 
ada.   Small  town  patronage. 

TOP  MAN:  Donald  O'Connor,  Peggy  Ryan— Very 
good  musical  and  comedy  picture.  Business  good. 
Played  Monday,  Tuesday,  Jan.  17,  18.— Imperial  Thea- 
tre, Windsor,  Nova  Scotia,  Canada.  Small  town 
patronage. 


War  Activities  Connmittee 

REPORT  FROM  THE  ALEUTIANS:  Documentary 
— This  Government  film  in  Technicolor  runs  45  minutes 
and  most  of  my  customers  enjoyed  it.  I  ran  it  with 
Laurel  and  Hardy  in  "Dancing  Masters." — E.  M. 
Freiburger,  Paramount  Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla.  Small 
town  patronage. 


Warner  Brothers 

ACTION  IN  THE  NORTH  ATLANTIC:  Humph- 
rey Bogart,  Raymond  Massey — A  great  action  pic- 
ture as  only  W.B.  can  make  them.  Played  Saturday, 
Sunday,  Nov.  20,  21.— Otto  W.  Chapek,  Annex  Thea- 
tre, Anamoose,  N.  D.  Rural  and  small  town  pat- 
ronage. 

BACKGROUND  TO  DANGER:  George  Raft, 
Brenda  Marshall — A  good  action  picture  that  did  no 
business.  Played  Saturday,  Sunday,  Dec.  11,  12. — 
Otto  W.  Chapek,  Annex  Theatre,  Anamoose,  N.  D. 
Rural  and  small  town  patronage. 

CRIME  SCHOOL:  Dead  End  Kids  —  Good  picture 
and  excellent  business.  This  picture  was  made  back 
when  Warner  Bros,  were  making  box  office  pictures 
with  action.  Warners'  reissues  will  out-draw  their 
new  pictures.  Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Feb.  4,  5. — 
E.  M.  Freiburger,  Paramount  Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla. 
Small  town  patronage. 

NORTHERN  PURSUIT:  Errol  Flynn,  Julie  Bishop 
— This  proved  a  dandy  action  picture  for  our  theatre; 
played  to  capacity  both  days;  doubled  with  "Dancing 
Masters"  from  20th-Fox.  Everyone  enjoyed  the  show. 
Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Jan.  28,  29.— Thomas  Di 
Lorenzo,  New  Paltz  Theatre,  New  Paltz,  N.  Y.  Small 
town  patronage. 

PRINCESS  O'ROURKE:  Olivia  de  Hkvilland,  Rob- 
ert Cummings — Good  comedy.  Business  was  average. 
Those  who  came  liked  it.  Played  Wednesday,  Thurs- 
day, Feb.  2,  3. — E.  M.  Freiburger,  Paramount  ITiea- 
tre,  Dewey,  Okla.    Small  town  patronage. 

YANKEE  DOODLE  DANDY:  James  Cagney- James 
Cagney  at  his  best  in  this  one.  The  story  of  the 
American  stage's  most  beloved  of  actors,  as  well  as 
playwright.  The  fast  moving  story  of  Yankee  Doodle 
Dandy,  done  in  true  Warner  style,  is  another  winner 
for  this  producer.  Played  Saturday,  Sunday,  Jan.  15, 
16.— A.  W.  Bates,  State  Prison  Theatre,  Raiford,  Fla. 
Prison  inmates  patronage. 


Short  Features 
Columbia 

COMMUNITY  SING,  No.  1:  Community  Sing— Com- 
munity Sing  creates  a  fine  community  spirit.  Many 
patrons  come  to  us  and  tell  us  how  much  they  enjoy 
them. — Harland  Rankin,  Plaza  Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont., 
Canada. 

DIZZY  NEWSREEL;  Phantasies  Cartoon  —  Enter- 
taining and  different. — Harland  Rankin,  Plaza  Thea- 
tre, Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 

GARDEN  OF  EATIN:  All- Star  Comedy— Very  silly, 
but  children  liked  it. — E.  A,  Bolduc,  Majestic  TTieatre, 
Conway,  N.  H. 

A  GEM  OF  A  JAM:  An  All-Star  Comedy— An  aver- 
age Stooge  oflfering.  Their  .gags  are  getting  old  for 
my  customers,  but, they  seem  to  like  them. — Charles 
Brooks,  Ritz  'Theatre,  Marshfield,  Mo. 


Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 

FARM  HANDS:  Our  Gang  Comedy — ^A  very  clever 
Gang  comedy.  This  was  above  average,  in  my  opin- 
ion.   Charles  Brooks,  Ritz  Theatre,  Marshfield,  Mo. 

TIPS  ON  TRIPS:  Pete  Smith  Specialties— Very  en- 
tertaining. People  responded  well  to  questions  asked 
in  subject. — E.  A.  Bolduc,  Majestic  Theatre,  Conway, 
N.  H. 

TO  MY  UNBORN  SON:  Passing  Parade— ExceUent 
E.  A.  Bolduc,  Majestic  Theatre,  Conway,  N.  H. 

YANKEE  DOODLE  MOUSE:  Technicolor  Cartoon 
— Good  cartoon  in  color.    Metro  is  giving  us  better 
(Continued  on  following  page) 


February    19,  1944 

(.Continued  from  preceding  page) 

cartoons  than  they  did  a  year  ago. — Mt.  Lookout  Thea- 
tre, Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

Paramount 

CARIBBEAN  ROMANCE:  Musical  Parade— A  very 
well  received  short  subject. — Harland  Rankin,  Plaza 
Theatre,  Tilbury,  Out.,  Canada. 

HER  HONOUR  THE  MARE:  Popeye  The  Sailor- 
Seemed  to  be  well  liked.  —  Harland  Rankin,,  Plaza 
Theatre,  Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 


RKO 

DUKE  EIXINGTON  AND  ORCHESTRA:  Jam- 
borees— These  band  reels  don't  mean  a  thing  any  more, 
unless  they  are  the  band  of  the  hour.  This  one  is 
just  10  minutes  of  more  film. — Mt.  Lookout  Theatre, 
Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

VICTORY  VEHICLES:  Walt  Disney  Cartoon— In- 
teresting, the  kind  of  shorts  they  should  show  to  keep 
people  war  conscious. — Harland  Rankin,  Plaza  Theatre, 
Tilbury,  Ont.,  Canada. 


Twentieth  Century- Fox 

AND  THE^  JAPAN:  March  of  Time  —  Excellent 
screen  material  for  these  times;  proved  highly  inter- 
esting to  our  Sunday  and  Monday  audiences;  there  are 
a  few  who  get  up  and  walk  out  on  any  March  of  Time, 
but  I  still  play  them. — Thomas  Di  Loirenzo,  New  Paltz 
Theatre,  New  Paltz,  N.  Y. 

UPBEIAT  IN  MUSIC:  March  of  Time  —  Different 
from  the  usual  war  theme.  Interesting. — E.  A.  Bolduc, 
Majestic  Theatre,  Conway,  N.  H. 

YOUTH  IN  CRISIS:  March  of  Tim^Very  good, 
every  one  should  see  it.  March  of  Time  is  one  of  our 
top  short  attractions. — Mt.  Lookout  Theatre,  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio. 


Paramount 

MARDI  GRAS:  Musical  Parade— Done  in  beautiful 
Technicolor,  a  two-reeler  that  is  equal  to  lots  of  sec- 
ond features.    Mt.  Lookout  Theatre,  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 


Universal 

BOOGIE  WOOGIE  MAN:  Swing  Symphonies— A 
cartoon  that  is  just  another  cartoon,  nothing  out- 
standing about  this  one. — Mt.  Lookout  Theatre,  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio, 


Vitaphone 

COAL  BLACK  AND  DE  SEBBEN  DWARFS: 

Merrie  Melodie — A  good  cartoon,  but  it  was  old  and 
we  had  a  bad  print. — Charles  Brooks,  Ritz  Theatre, 
Marshfield,  Mo. 

CORNY  CONCERTO:  Merrie  Melodies  Cartoon— 
Merrie  Melodies  are  tops  here.  Very  seldom  we  see  a 
bad  one.  This  one  is  one  of  the  best. — Mt.  Lookout 
Theatre,  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

DUCK  OR  NOT  DUCK:  Looney  Tunes  Cartoon- 
Good  cartoon,  worth  playing. — Charles  Brooks,  Ritz 
Theatre,  Marshfield,  Mo. 

INKY  AND  THE  MINAH  BIRD:  Merrie  Melodies 
Cartoon — Good  color  cartoon. — E.  M.  Freiburger,  Para- 
mount Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla. 

OKLAHOMA  OUTLAWS:  Sante  Fe  Trail  Westerns 
— A  good  Western  two-reeler  and  some  good  cowboy 
music  in  these  would  really  put  them  in  a  class  by 
themselves.  In  the  future,  why  not  put  some  music  in 
these  with  lots  of  shooting  and  riding  and  this  would 
be  a  good  two-reeler  Western  for  any  program. — A. 
L.  Dove,  Bengough  Theatre,  Bengough,  Sask.,  Canada. 

WHAT'S  COOKIN',  DOC7:  Merrie  Melodies  Cartoon 
— Good  cartoon  in  color. — E.  M.  Freiburger,  Para- 
mount Theatre,  Dewey,  Okla. 

Serial 
Universal 

() 

ADVENTURES    OF    THE    FLYING  CADETS: 

Johnny  Downs,  Bobby  Gordon — I  started  this  serial 
just  before  Christmas  and  business  was  off.  I  got  off 
to  a  bad  start,  but  people  seem  to  enjoy  it.  The  older 
ones  seem  to  like  it  as  well  as  the  kids. — Charles 
Brooks,  Ritz  Theatre,  Marshfield,  Mo. 


Elliott  in  Appearances 

Prior  to  the  start  of  production  on  his  new 
series  of  Red  Ryder  Western  at  Republic,  Wild 
Bill  Elliott  is  making  a  personal  appearance 
tour  in  California  which  began  last  week. 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


SHORT  PRODUCT 
PLAYING  BROADWAY 

Week  of  February  14 

ASTOR 

Silver  Wings   20th  Cen+.-Fox 

The  Helicopter  20th  Cent.-Fox 

Feature:  Lifeboat   20th  Cent.-Fox 

CAPITOL 

Kid  in  Upper  Four  MSM 

Salt  Lake  Diversions  MGM 

Feature:  Swg  of  Russia.  .   .  .  MGM 

CRITERION 

Wizard  of  Autos  Universal 

Greatest  Man  in  Siam  Universal 

Feature:  Gung  Ho  Universal 

GLOBE 

My  Little  Buckaroo  Vitaphone 

Feature:    Where    Are  Your 

Children?  Monogranri 

HOLLYWOOD 

Dogie  Roundup  Vitaphone 

Meatless  Fly-Day   Vitaphone 

Feature:  Passage  to  Marseilles  .^QTner  Bros. 

MUSIC  HALL 

Figaro  and  Cleo   RKO  Radio 

Feature:  Jane  Eyre  20th  Cent.-Fox 

PARAMOUNT 

Ozark  Sportsmen   Paramount 

Tails  of  the  Border  Paramount 

Unusual  Occupations  Paramount 

Feature:  The  Miracle  of  Mor- 
gan's Creek  Paramount 

RIALTO 

Mary  Go  Round  Paramount 

Speaking  of  Animals  in  the 

Desert  Paramount 

The  Sleepwalker  RKO  Radio 

Feature:  Calling  Dr.  Death.  Universal 

ROXY 

Wreck  of  the  Hesperus. ...  20th  Cent.-Fox 

Realm  of  Royalty  20th  Cent.-Fox 

Feature:  The  Sullivans  20th  Cent.-Fox 

STRAND 

Baa  Baa  Black  Sheep  Vitaphone 

Hunting  the  Devil  Cat  Vitaphone 

What's  Cookin',  Doc?  Vitaphone 

Feature:  In  Our  Time  Warner  Bros. 


Nathanson  Now  General 
Manager  for  Berger 

Ben  Nathanson,  former  Minneapolis  Republic 
franchise  owner,  has  become  general  manager 
of  Berger  Amusement  circuit,  Minneapolis.  Mr. 
Nathanson  was  appointed  by  president  Ben 
Berger  to  succeed  Gil  Swenberger,  who  is  now 
in  the  armed  forces. 


Abandons  St.  Louis  Curfew  Plan 

Alderman  Jacob  Sellers  of  St.  Louis,  who 
last  autumn  sponsored  an  ordinance  to  establish 
a  10  P.M.  curfew  for  children  under  16,  has 
announced  that  he  is  abandoning  his  campaign 
to  obtain  enactment  of  the  ordinance.  Theatre 
owners  appeared  at  the  hearing  on  the  ordinance 
and  pointed  out  that  the  10  P.M.  curfew  would 
prevent  children  from  attending  night  shows. 


To  Film  Mexican  Fiestas 

Arnold  Albert  of  the  Warner  Brothers  short 
subject  production  staff  will  take  a  camera  crew 
to  Mexico  shortly  to  cover  the  fiestas  put  on 
during  the  Easter  holidays  for  a  two-reel  Tech- 
nicolor subject  titled  "Mexican  Fiesta,"  to  be 
made  under  the  supervision  of  Gordon  Hollings- 
head. 


55 


Mexico  City  in 
Drive  to  Promote 
Theatre  Safety 

by  LUIS  BECERRA  CELIS 

in    Mexico  City 

In  announcing  that  it  is  campaigning  for 
safety  and  hygiene  in  theatres  and  other  places 
of  public  amusement  here,  the  Municipal  Gov- 
ernment has  denied  published  reports  that  it  is 
pressuring  Virginia  Fabregas,  veteran  Mexican 
dramatic  actress  just  back  from  a  successful 
tour  of  Central  and  South  America,  to  convert 
her  venerable  stage  house  here  into  a  cinema,  so 
that  this  theatre  must  come  up  to  the  higher  hy- 
gienic and  safety  standards  for  film  houses. 

The  Government  explained  that  it  had  mere- 
ly requested  the  actress  to  improve  these  condi- 
tions in  her  house,  one  of  the  few  legitimate 
theatres  left  here  in  the  onrush  of  cinemas. 

Municipal  experts  have  reported  that  62  pub- 
lic entertainment  places  here,  many  of  them 
theatres,  are  veritable  fire  traps  because  they 
either  are  in  bad  condition  with  regard  to  safe- 
ty facilities  or  lack  fire  protection  services,  both 
of  which  are  violations  of  local  laws. 

V 

The  National  Cinematographic  Industry 
Chamber,  president  of  which  is  Jesus  A.  Grovas, 
prominent  producer,  is  saving  exhibitors  much 
time  and  some  little  expense  by  obtaining  for 
them,  without  charge  for  the  service,  renewals 
of  their  civic  licenses  or  changes  in  them. 
V 

The  picture  scenarists  union,  aflSliated  with 
the  National  Cinematographic  Industry  Work- 
ers Union,  is  moving  to  demand  of  producers 
double  their  present  stipend  of  $520  per  picture, 
contending  that  soaring  living  costs  make  it 
necessary  for  them  to  receive  $1,040  per  picture 
they  write  or  adapt. 

_  V 

The  National  Cinematographic  Journalists 
Association  has  made  the  first  presentation  of 
its  new  trophy  for  the  best  picture  of  the  year 
1943,  a  replica  in  bronze  of  the  famous  circular 
Aztec  calendar  stone,  graced  with  a  cinemato- 
graphic camera.  This  trophy  was  awarded 
"Dona  Barbara,"  based  upon  the  novel  of  that 
title  by  Romulos  Gallegos,  the  Venezuelan. 

V 

The  Academy  of  Cinematographic  Arts,  the 
screen  acting  school  the  industry  and  the  Min- 
istry of  Public  Education  conduct  here,  has  just 
graduated  52  students,  most  of  them  extras. 

V 

Miguel  Contreras  Torres,  producer  of  Mexi- 
co's monumental  historical  films,  including  "Si- 
mon Bolivar,"  tendered  a  banquet  here  to  Jose 
Ruben  Romero,  diplomat  and  author,  former 
Mexican  Ambassador  to  Cuba,  to  celebrate  the 
completion  of  the  picture  version  of  the  latter's 
"La  Vida  Inutil  de  Pito  Ferez"  ("Pito  Perez's 
Useless  Life"),  classic  novel  regarded  as  the 
tale  of  a  Mexican  Francois  Villon. 

The  picture  is  soon  to  have  its  world  pre- 
miere here  _  and  will  be  widely  exhibited  in 
Latin  America. 

V 

June  Marlowe  is  here  to  play  a  leading  role 
in  the  latest  Mexican  film,  "El  Cosario  Negro" 
("The  Black  Corsair"),  based  upon  the  histori- 
cal novel  of  that  name  by  Emil  Salgari,  to  be 
produced  by  Clasa  Films  with  Mauricio  de  la 
Serna  directing.  Miss  Marlowe  is  the  second 
Hollywood  actress  to  enter  Mexican  pictures 
within  a  year.  The  first  was  Sally  Blane,  wife 
of  Norman  Foster,  wso  is  successfully  directing 
in  this  country. 

V 

"Mashenka,"  the  Russian  picture  that  won  the 
Stalin  prize,  is  now  being  exhibited  at  the  Cine 
Princesa,  a  local  subsequent  run  theatre,  to  good 
business. 


56 

Canadian  Board 
Asks  Theatres 
Aid  Unity  Drive 

On  an  experimental  basis,  the  National  Film 
Board  of  Canada  is  starting  a  campaign  to  ob- 
tain the  cooperation  of  exhibitors  in  the  Atlantic 
provinces.  The  campaign  will  be  broadened  to 
embrace  all  parts  of  Canada,  with  the  regional 
activities  serving  as  a  sort  of  test  tube  for  the 
widening  of  operations.  Assigned  to  direct  the 
campaign  in  the  eastern  territory  is  Mitchell 
Franklin,  secretary  of  the  Franklin  &  Herschorn 
Theatres,  St.  John,  N.  B.,  and  who  has  been 
on  the  board  personnel  at  Ottawa  headquarters, 
before  being  transferred  to  St.  John,  for  the 
special  work.  He  was  released  from  the  Royal 
Canadian  Air  Force  several  months  ago  to 
join  the  Film  Board. 

Theatre  men  are  asked  to  cooperate  with  the 
board  as  their  contribution  to  a  movement 
toward  unifying  the  Dominion.  They  are  re- 
quested to  cooperate  with  the  board  for  morning 
programs  in  their  theatres  on  an  educational 
and  informative  basis.  The  board  supplies  the 
films,  on  such  subjects  as  health,  group  and 
individual ;  economic  stabilization ;  food  con- 
servation. 

The  morning  shows  are  to  be  open  to  the 
general  public  in  some  instances,  and  in  others 
to  be  restricted  to  members  of  specified  organi- 
zations and  fields.  By  way  of  example,  it  is 
proposed  to  bring  school  teachers  and  pupils 
together  on  topics  of,st)ecial  interest  to  them, 
with  discussions  of  the  open  forum  type  from 
the  floor  and  platform  to  follow  the  screening 
of  the  pictures,  all  arranged  by  the  board. 

Chairman  John  Grierson  of  the  board  is  par- 


MOTION    PICTU  RE  HERALD 

ticularly  interested  in  the  efforts  to  win  the  co- 
operation of  the  theatre  men.  His  aim  is  to 
have  the  board  and  its  products  function  as 
instruments  of  education  and  information,  and 
to  stress  the  part  of  Canada  in  the  war  and  in 
post-war  plans,  with  the  board  and  the  ex- 
hibitors joining  to  improve  conditions.  As  the 
special  emissary  of  the  board,  Mr.  Franklin  is 
contacting  theatre  owners  and  managers 
through  the  Maritime  Trovinces  and  arranging 
for  the  morning  programs  in  the  theatres.  He 
believes  the  cooperation  will  greatly  enhance 
tlte  status  of  the  theatres  as  community  bases. 


No  Freon  Gas  Available 
For  Theatres,  WPB  Says 

Production  of  Freon  gas  will  reach  4,800,000 
pounds  a  month  by  next  September,  four  times 
the  pre-war  rate,  but  there  will  be  none  avail- 
able for  theatre  cooling  plants,  it  was  announced 
in  Washington  this  week  by  the  War  Produc- 
tion Board. 

Two  new  plants  are  being  built,  one  to  go 
into  operation  April  1  at  a  rate  of  1,000,000 
pounds  a  month  and  another  to  go  into  produc- 
tion September  1,  at  2,000,000  pounds  monthly, 
the  WPB  said. 

Stressing  that  there  are  no  programs  now 
under  consideration  for  easing  the  restrictions 
on  the  manufacture  and  distribution  of  air-con- 
ditioning and  refrigeration  equipment,  the  WPB 
declared  that  "vastly  increased  demands  for  this 
refrigerant  gas,  to  be  used  in  essential  air-con- 
ditioning of  war  plants,  ships,  etc.,  will  not  per- 
mit relaxation  of  present  restrictions  on  its 
civilian  purchase." 


Fire  Destroys  Theatre 

The  Rose  theatre  in  Roslyn,  Wash.,  located 
in  the  Knights  of  Pythias  Building,  was  destroyed 
by  fire  February  10.  The  loss  was  estimated 
at  $50,000.  The  fire  was  due  to  a  faulty  furnace. 


February     19,  1944 


IN  NEWSREELS 


MOVIETONE  NEWS— Vol.  26,  No.  47— Heroes  of  the 
Week,  Lt.  Gerry  Elisters  and  Lt.  Kenneth  A. 
Walsh  .  .  .  Mobile  plane  repair  unit  .  .  .  Army  Air 
Corps  reunion  .  .  .  Hollywood  spotlight  .  .  .  Qiiang 
Kai-shek  and  Mountbatten  plan  war  moves  .  .  . 
School  for  U-boat  killers  .  .  .  Close  combat  training 
.  .  .  Silver  Skates  carnival. 

MOVIETONE  NEWS— VoL  26,  No.  4»-Marshall  inva- 
sion .  .  .  Synthetic  tires  are  coming  for  civilians  .  .  . 
Westminster  dog  show  at  Garden  .  .  .  Ping-pong 
exhibition. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY— Vol.  15,  No.  245— AlUes  at 
Metuna  face  grim  ordeal  .  .  .  U.  S.  Array  fights 
typhus  peril  threatening  war-torn  Naples  .  .  .  Yatjc 
miracle  saves  trapped  Chinese  army  .  .  .  Madame 
Chiang  Kai-shek  greets  Motuitbatten  in  China  .  .  . 
Mustering  out  pay  is  good  news  for  war  vets  .  .  . 
President  honors  heroes  of  two  fronts  .  .  .  Blades 
cut  the  ice  in  the  Silver  Skates  classic. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY-Vol,  15,  No.  24*-U.  S.  victory 
in  Marshalls  .  .  .  American  warship  for  French  .  .  . 
Winter  storms  sweep  nation  .  .  .  K-9  Corps  in  spot- 
hght  .  .  .  Fihn  Bulletin  No.  9:  "Help  Your  Grocer." 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS— No.  4«— Beachhead  supply  bat- 
tle ..  .  Cat  aids  dog-power  shortage  .  .  .  Earth 
swallows  infant  .  .  .  American  Minute  Men:  Lt. 
Kenneth  Walsh,  Lt.  Gerry  Kisters  .  .  .  Allies  halt 
Naples  epidemic. 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS— No.  4»-Argentina  neutrality 
puzzle — Historic  films  of  Marshall  Island  invasion 
.  .  .  Film  Bulletin:  "Help  Your  Grocer." 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS— VoL  15,  No.  50  —  Strengthen 

beachhead  at  Anzio  .  .  .  Heroes  win  Congressional 
Medals  .  .  .  Chinese  battle  Japs  in  Norti  Burma 
.  .  .  Fight  Naples  epidemic  of  typhus  .  .  .  Service- 
men get  muster-out  pay  .  .  .  Bombers  hit  targets 
in  France. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS-VoL  15,  No.  51  — Argentina 
breaks  with  Axis  .  .  .  Roosevelt  presents  ship  to 
France  .  .  .  Goumiers  join  in  Cassino  battle  .  .  . 
First  pictures  of  the  invasion  of  the  Marshalls. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREEL— Vol.  17,  No.  267— Fury  in 
the  Anzio  beachhead  .  .  .  War  birds  fixed  .  .  .  Giant 
flat-top  launched  .  .  .  Marshall  decorates  .  .  . 
Muster-out  pay  .  .  .  Bombing  of  Europe  .  .  .  Qieck 
epidemic  in  Italy  .  .  Roosevelt  decorates  heroes  .  ,  , 
Mangone  suits  beauties  .  .  .  Foot  business. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREE^-VoL  17,  No.  26S— Mar- 

shalls  victory;  first  Japanese  territory  taken  by 
U.  S.  .  .  .  Argentina  ousts  Axis  .  .  .  500  women  join 
colors  .  .  .  Snow  buries  Chicago  and  New  York  City 
.  . ,.  World  of  Sports:  the  dog  show;  table  tennis. 

ALL  AMERICAN  NEWS— Vd.  2,  No.  e»-He  creates" 
his  own  pin-up  girls  .  .  .  Kids  help  police  curb  de- 
linquency in  Washington  .  .  .  Nine-star  mother 
crowned  queen  of  Tennessee  .  .  .  Gray  ladies  serve 
on  home  front  .  .  .  Negro  farmer  must  treble  pro- 
duction, leaders  declare  .  .  .  March  of  Freedom: 
natives  build  American  air  field  in  India  .  .  .  Negro 
anti-aircrat  defense  in  Italy. 


Decency  Legion  Reviews 
Eleven  New  Pictures 

The  National  Legion  of  Decency  this  week 
reviewed  11  pictures,  and  placed  one,  "Passage 
to  Marseilles"  in  the  Class  B,  "objectionable  in 
part"  classification.  The  objection  was  that 
"in  one  sequence  the  unethical  killing  of  help- 
less enemies  is  sympathetically  presented." 

Placed  in  Class  A,  I,  unobjectionable  foi;  gen- 
eral patronage,  was  ">A''eekend  Pass ;"  in  Class 
A,  n,  unobjectionable  for  adults,  "Curse  of  the 
Cat  People,"  "Escape  to  Danger,"  "Ghost  That 
Walks  Alone,"  "The  Imposter,"  "Jane  Eyre," 
"Meet  the  People,"  "Men  on  her  Mind,"  "Pass- 
port to  Adventure,"  and  "Swing  Out  the  Blue." 


Report  on  Russian  Relief 

Officers  of  Russian  War  Relief  reported  to 
the  agency's  board  of  directors  this  week  at  a 
meeting  in  New  York  that  $16,781,333  worth  of 
relief  supplies  were  consigned  to  the  Soviet 
Union  during  1943.  A  total  of  $15,596,600 
worth  was  shipped  and  an  additional  $1,182,733 
worth  was  in  transit  at  the  year's  end. 


Sturdivant  Heads  Drive 

B.  V.  Sturdivant,  northern  California  division 
manager  of  Fox  West  Coast  circuit,  with  head- 
quarters in  San  Francisco,  is  the  new  vice- 
president  of  the  California  War  Chest  drive. 
He  also  is  president  of  the  California  Theatres 
Association. 


There  isn't  anything  so  very  unusual  about 
the  way  in  which  our  organization  operates. 
What  is  unusual,  we  think,  is  that  Altec 
Service  is  unbiased.  Our  chief  aim  is  to  sell 
a  service  that  will  keep  your  present  equip, 
ment  running  at  high  efficiency  100%  of  the 
time.  Our  knowledge  and  experience  with 
all  types  of  sound  and  projection  equipment 
also  qualifies  us  to  render  expert  advice 
when  and  as  new  and  improved  sound  equip- 
ment is  available.  An  Altec  Service  inspector 
will  be  glad  to  tell  you  how  an  Altec  Service 
Agreement  can  prevent  breakdown  losses. 


SKILL 
OF  THE 
SPECIALIST 


JILTEC 


250  WEST  57fh  STREET,  NEW  YORK  19,  N.  Y.' 


PROTECTING  THE  THEATRE 
OUR  •■FIRST  LINE.  OF  MORALE" 


February    19,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


57 


Army  Shows  Film 
On  Negro  at  War 

"The  Negro  Soldier,"  a  42-minute  documen- 
tary film  depicting  the  role  of  the  Negro  in  the 
current  war  and  in  the  development  of  the 
United  States,  was  shown  by  the  Army  this 
week  in  New  York  to  an  audience  of  press  and 
public.  The  picture  was  produced  for  the  Spe- 
cial Services  Division  of  the  U.  S.  Army  under 
the  supervision  of  Colonel  Frank  Capra.  A 
15-man  crew,  including  such  professionals  as 
Lt.  Paul  Vogel,  Universal  cameraman,  and  Stu- 
art Heisler,  who  directed  "Biscuit  Eater,"  tour- 
ed the  country  for  shots  of  camp  life,  basic  train- 
ing and  simulated  warfare.  These  sequences, 
together  with  recreations  of  historical  events 
and  footage  from  newsreels,  are  given  continu- 
ity as  illustrations  of  a  preacher's  sermon  to 
his  congregation. 

The  result  is  a  competent  job,  dramatically 
and  emotionally  effective.  The  educative  pur- 
poses of  the  film  have  been  furthered  by  good 
photography,  a  nice  variety  of  scene,  some 
flashes  of  humor  and  excellent  musical  back- 
ground. Carleton  Moss,  who  wrote  the  script, 
should  be  credited  also  with  fine  acting  as  the 
preacher. 

Present  plans  for  the  film  include  showings 
in  theatres  and  war  plants  as  well  as  distribu- 
tion in  16mm  by  the  OWI.  Its  release  by  the 
War  Activities  Committee  is  under  considera- 
tion.—E.A.C. 


Honor  Arthur  Cole 

Arthur  Cole,  Paramount  office  manager  in 
Kansas  City,  was  given  a  testimonial  dinner  at 
the  Hotel  Muehlebach  Monday,  upon  complet- 
ing 30  years  of  service  in  the  industry. 


'Liberty'  Magazine  Article 
Praises  Hollywood 

In  the  current  issue  of  Liberty  magazine,  in 
an  article  titled,  "What's  the  Matter  With  Hol- 
lywood?" Gretta  Palmer,  the  writer,  answers 
the  question,  which  is  to  the  affect  that  those 
who  are  finding  fault  with  the  industry's  pro- 
duction capital  are  wrong.  Writes  Miss  Palmer : 

"Hollywood  is  doing  a  job  of  which  every 
American  should  be  immensely  proud."  She 
takes  both  Hollywood  itself  and  its  critics  to 
task.  Of  Hollywood  she  says :  "it  has  the  worst 
collective  sense  of  inferiority  in  the  world  to- 
day." Of  the  industry's  critics  she  writes: 
"(Hollywood)  is  going  to  be  taken  very  serious- 
ly indeed,  some  day,  by  the  great-grandchildren 
of  the  people  who  now  say :  'To  think  that  those 
awful  people  should  have  so  much  power !' " 

The  article  further  states :  "Hollywood  is 
America's  most  cosmopolitan  town,  and  it's 
doing  a  job  we  should  applaud,  as  patriots.  For 
Hollywood  pictures  are  shown  all  over  the 
world.  We  Americans  have  more  than  80  per 
cent  of  the  world  film  market — and  don't  think 
other  nations  aren't  casting  sheep's  eyes  of  envy 
at  it." 


Fox  West  Coast  Runs  Four 
Theatres  All  Night 

The  Fox  West  Coast  Circuit  in  San  Fran- 
cisco is  going  to  great  lengths  to  accommodate 
late  crowds  of  defense  workers  and  servicemen 
unable  to  attend  theatres  in  regular  hours,  and 
is  now  operating  four  of  its  big  downtown 
houses  on  an  all-night  policy.  The  Warfield 
and  the  Paramount,  both  first  runs,  have  gone 
on  a  round-the-clock  schedule,  joining  the  State 
and  St.  Francis,  the  two  moveover  houses. 
Warfield,  which  shows  vaudeville  during  regu- 
lar hours,  goes  on  an  all-film  schedule  after 
11  P.M.  The  Esquire,  operated  by  the  Blumen- 
feld  circuit,  also  operates  all  night. 


20th-Fox  Has 
3,222  in  Service 

Twentieth  Century-Fox  and  subsidiaries,  in- 
'  eluding  National  Theatres,  have  3,222  in  the 
armed  services,  30  per  cent  of  whom  are  known 
to  be  overseas  at  battlefronts  and  bases. 

National  Theatres  leads  the  manpower  con- 
tributions to  the  various  services  with  a  total  of 
1,300;  the  studio  follows  with  545  and  the  home 
office  with  approximately  191.  Every  20th 
Century-Fox  exchange  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada  is  represented. 

Approximately  100  are  fighting  the  Nazis 
now  in  Italy.  Ten  participated  in  the  battle  of 
Tarawa,  including  Lyle  Veldman,  formerly  of 
the  Detroit  exchange,  who  was  wounded  and  is 
now  recovering  in  a  hospital  in  San  Francisco. 
Ernest  Reeves,  formerly  of  the  Dallas  exchange, 
is  another  veteran  of  the  Tarawa  invasion. 
Twenty-eight  distinguished  themselves  under 
fire.  Only  nine  of  the  hundreds  who  have  seen 
action  were  wounded,  with  one  death  reported. 

Eleven  are  prisoners  of  war;  nine  in  the  Pa- 
cific and  two  in  Europe.  Ensign  Stephen  L. 
Freeland,  formerly  of  the  home  office  publicity 
department,  was  awarded  the  Silver  Star  for 
helping  to  lead  ashore  the  first  wave  of  assault 
troops  at  Sicily,  during  the  first  Italian  invasion. 

Twenty  20th  Century-Fox  feminine  employees 
are  in  uniform,  12  with  the  Women's  Army 
Corps,  three  in  the  WAVES,  one  is  a  SPAR, 
one  a  Marine,  and  one  a  WREN,  the  Canadian 
equivalent  of  the  WAC. 


To  Televise  Golden  Gloves 

The  New  York  City  finals  in  the  Daily  News 
Golden  Gloves  boxing  tournament  February 
28  will  be  telecast  by  the  National  Broadcasting 
Company's  station,  WBNT. 


NOTICE  OF  TRADE  SHOWINGS 


2o* 

CENTURY-FOX  ; 


FOR  THE  BENEFIT  OF  EXHIBITORS  GENERALLY 


February  23rd  -  "PURPLE  HEART"  -  2:30  P.  M. 


ALBANY,  1052  Broadway 
ATLANTA,  197  Walton  St.,  N.  W. 
BOSTON,  105  Broadway 
BUFFALO,  290  Franklin  Street 
CHARLOTTE,  308  South  Church  Street 
CHICAGO,  1260  South  Wabash  Avenue 
CINCINNATI,  1638  Central  Parkway 
CLEVELAND,  2219  Payne  Avenue 
DALLAS,  1801  Wood  Street 
DENVER,  2101  Champa  Street 
DES  MOINES,  1300  High  Street  *  , 


(20lh  Cenlury-Fox  Projection  Room,  unless  otherwise  specified) 

DETROIT,  2211  Cass  Avenue 
INDIANAPOLIS,  326  North  Illinois  Street 
KANSAS  CITY,  1720  Wyandotte  Street 
LOS  ANGELES,  2019  South  Vermont  Ave. 
MEMPHIS,  151  Vance  Avenue 
MILWAUKEE,  1016  North  8th  Street 
MINNEAPOLIS,  1015  Currie  Avenue,  N. 
NEW  HAVEN,  40  Whiting  Street 
NEW  ORLEANS,  200  South  Liberty  Street 
NEW  YORK  CITY,  345  West  44th  Street 

OKLAHOMA  CITY,  10  North  Lee  Avenue 
*At  DES  MOINES  only  12:45  P.M. 


OMAHA,  1502  Davenport  Street 

PHILADELPHIA,  302  North  13th  Street 

PinSBURGH,  1715  Boulevard  of  Allies 

PORTLAND,  Star  Film  Exchange 
925  N.W.  19th  St. 

ST.  LOUIS,  Srenco  Screening  Room 
3143  Olive  St. 

SALT  LAKE  CITY,  216  East  1st  South  Street 

SAN  FRANCISCO,  245  Hyde  Street 

SEATTLE,  2421  Second  Avenue 

WASHINGTON,  932  N.  J.  Ave.,  N.  W. 


58 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    19.  1944 


PICTURE 
CROSSES 


A  statistical  compilation  and 
comparison  of  Box-Office  Per- 
formance in  first  run  theatres 


Rgures  directly  below  picture  title  compare  dollar  gross  with  average  gross  and  show  relative  percentage  of  all  engagements  tabulated. 

Rgures  opposite  theatre  names  represent  percentage  of  tabulated  grosses  to  average  weekly  business  based  on  the  six  months'  period 
ending  October  31,1 943. 

SYMBOLS:  (DB)  Double  Bill— associate  feature  title;  (SA)  Stage  Attraction;  (MO)  Move-Over  Run;  (AA)  Advance  Admission. 


MADAME  CURIE  (MCM) 

Final  Reports: 

Total  Gross  Tabulated  $1,435,400 

Comparative  Average  Gross  1,267,450 

Over-all  Performance  113.2% 

BALTIMORE— Century,  1st  week   133.3% 

BALTIMORE-Century,  2nd  week   94.2% 

BOSTON— Loew's  Orpheum,   1st  week   .   .   .  110.3% 

BOSTON— Loew's  Orpheum,  2nd  week   .   .   .  95.0% 

BOSTON— Loew's  State,  1st  week   136.7% 

BOSTON— Loew's  State,  2nd  week   125.0% 

CHICAGO— State  Lake,  1st  week   123.8% 

CHICAGO— State  Lake,  2nd  week   106.1% 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Capitol,  1st  week   .    .   .  180.0% 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Capitol,  2nd  week   .   .    .  125.0% 

CLEVELAND— Loew's  State,  1st  week   .    .    .  133.3% 

CLEVELAND— Loew's  State,  2nd  week  .   .    .  94.8% 

CLEVELAND— Loew's  Stillman,  MO,  1st  week  134.6% 

INDIANAPOLIS— Loew's,   1st   week   ....  145.4% 

INDIANAPOLIS— Loew's.  2nd  week      .   .   .  81.8% 

KANSAS  CITY— Midland,  1st  week   150.0% 

KANSAS  CITY— Midland,  2nd  week   ....  90.9% 

LOS  ANGELES— Chinese   101.4% 

LOS  ANGELES— Loew's  State   117.7% 

LOS  ANGELES— Uptown   97.0% 

LOS  ANGELES— Fox  Wilshire.  1st  week   .    .  106.4% 

LOS  ANGELES— Fox  Wilshire,  2nd  week   .   .  93.6% 

LOS  ANGELES— Fox  Wilshire,  3rd  week   .   .  106.4% 

LOS  ANGELES— Fox  Wilshire,  4th  week    .    .  82.5% 

LOS  ANGELE^Fox  Wilshire.  5th  week   .    .  70.0% 

NEW  HAVEN— Loew's  Poli   106.7% 

NEW  HAVEN— College,  MO,  2nd  week   .    .   .  137.1% 

NEW  YORK-Music  Hall,  1st  week     ....  112.8% 

(SA)  Radio  Qty  Music  Hall  Sta^e  Presentation 

NEW  YORK-Music  Hall,  2nd  week   ....  121.1% 

(SA)  Radio  City  Music  Hall  Stasre  Presentation 

NEW  YORK-Music  Hall,  3rd  week   .....  119.0% 

(SA)  Radio  City  Music  Hall  Stasre  Presentation 

NEW  YORK-Music  Hall,  4th  week   ....  105.5% 

(SA)  Radio  City  Music  Hall  Stafre  Presentation 

NEW  YORK-Music  Hall.  5th  week   .....  103.S% 

(SA)  Radio  City  Music  Hall  Staffe  Presentation 

NEW  YORK-Music  HaU,  6th  week   ....  111.8% 

(SA)  Radio  City  Music  Hall  Stage  Presentation 

NEW  YORK-Music  Hall,  7th  week   ....  96.2% 

(SA)  Radio  City  Music  Hall  Stage  Presentation 

PHILADLEPHIA— Boyd,  1st  week   139.4% 

PHILADELPHIA— Boyd,  2nd  week  ....  123.1% 

PHILADELPHIA— Boyd,  3rd  week   118.9% 

PITTSBURGH— Penn   142.8% 

PROVIDENCE— Loew's  State,  1st  week  .    .    .  154.8% 

PROVIDENCE— Loew's  State,  2nd  week  .   .   .  103.2% 

ST.  LOUIS— Loew's  State,  1st  week   ....  142.0% 

ST.  LOUIS— Loew's  State,  2nd  week  ....  94.6% 

ST.  LOUIS— Loew's  Orpheum,  MO,  1st  week  107.2% 

WASHINGTON- loew's  Palace,  1st  week   .   .  113.6% 

WASHINGTON— Loew's  Palace,  2nd  week  .   .  113.6% 

WASHINGTON— Loew's  Palace,  3rd  week  .   .  96.5% 

THE  NORTH  STAR  (RKO-Goldwyn) 

Final  Reports: 
Total  Gross  Tabulated  $850,050 
Comparative  Average  Gross  733,500 
Over-all  Performance  115.8% 


BALTIMORE— Hippodrome,  1st  week  ....  110.1% 

BALTIMORE— Hippodrome,  2nd  week    .   .   .  98.2% 

BOSTON— Keith's  Memorial    98.4% 

(DB)  Gildersleeve  on  Broadway  (RKO) 

BUFFALO— 20th  Century,  1st  week   151.2% 

BUFFALO— 20th  Century,  2nd  week   134.4% 

BUFFALO— 20th  Century,  3rd  week     ....  67.2% 

CHICAGO— Palace,  1st  week   140.07o 

(DB)  Sing  a  Jingle  (Univ.) 

CHICAGO— Palace,  2nd  week   105.0% 

(DB)  Sing  a  Jingle  (Univ.) 

CHICAGO^Grand,  MO,  1st  week   89.8% 

(DB)  Sing  a  Tingle  (Univ.) 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Capitol,  1st  week   .    .   .  230.7% 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Capitol,  2nd  week   .   .    .  123.0% 

CINCINNATI— Keith's,  MO  1st  week  ....  100.0% 

DENVER— Orpheum    100.0% 

(DB)  This  Is  Washington  (RKO) 

INDIANAPOLIS— Indiana    104.3% 


INDIANAPOLIS— Lyric,  MO,  1st  week    .    .    .  90.0% 

LOS  ANGELES— Egyptian.  1st  week  124.5% 

LOS  ANGELES— Egyptian,  2nd  week  ....  75.4% 

LOS  ANGELES— Egyptian,  3rd  week   ....  70.0% 

LOS  ANGELES— Los  Angeles,  1st  week  .   .   .  170.2% 

LOS  ANGELES— Los  Angeles.  2nd  week  .      .  130.7% 

LOS  ANGELES— Los  Angeles,  3rd  week  .   .   .  125.0% 

LOS  ANGELES— Ritz,  1st  week   157.3% 

LOS  ANGELES— Ritz,  2nd  week   102.9% 

LOS  ANGELES— Ritz,  3rd  week   95.5% 

MILWAUKEE— Warner   142.8% 

(DB)  She's  for  Me  (Univ.) 

MINNEAPOLIS— Orpheum   83.3% 

NEW  HAVEN— Loew's  Poli   80.6% 

(DB)  Headin'  for  God's  Ountry  (Rep.) 

NEW  HAVEN— College,  MO,  1st  week  .    .   .  115.6% 

(DB)  Headin'  for  God's  Oiuntry  (Rep.) 

NEW  YORK— Palace,  1st  week*   204.4% 

NEW  YORK— Palace,  2nd  week   190.9% 

NEW  YORK— Palace,  3rd  week   150.0% 

NEW  YORK— Palace,  4th  week   150.0% 

NEW  YORK— Palace,  Sth  week   113.6% 

NEW  YORK— Palace,  6th  week   100.0% 

NEW  YORK— Palace,  7th  week   77.2% 

NEW  YORK— Palace.  Sth  week   90.9% 

NEW  YORK— Palace.  9th  week   118.1% 

OMAHA— Brandeis   143.6% 

(DB)  Gildersleeve  on  Broadway  (RKO) 

PHILADELPHIA— Mastbaum,    1st    week   .    .  135.3% 

PHILADELPHIA— Mastbaum,  2nd  week   .   .  70.7% 

PROVIDENCE— RKO  Albee,  1st  week  .   .   .  131.9% 

(DB)  Sing  a  Jingle  (Univ.) 

PROVIDENCE— RKO  Albee,  2nd  week   .   .   .  81.4% 

(DB)  Sing  a  Jingle  (Univ.) 

SAN  FRANCISCO— Alcazar.  1st  week  ....  106.2% 

SAN  FRANCISCO-Alcazar,  2nd  week  ....  88.5% 

SAN  FRANCISCO-Alcazar.  3rd  week  ....  81.4% 

SAN  FRANCISCO-Alcazar.  4th  week  ....  75.2% 

SAN  FRANCISCO— Paratnount.  MO  1st  week  120.3% 

SEATTLE— Fifth  Ave.,  1st  week   102.6% 

SEATTLE— Fifth   Ave.,  2nd  week   62.4% 

SEATTLE— Music  Hall    76.3% 

ST.  LOUIS— Ambassador,  1st  week   136.0% 

(DB)  You're  a  Lucky  Fellow,  Mr.  Smith  (Univ.) 

ST.  LOUIS— Ambassador,  2nd  week   104.1% 

(DB)  You're  a  Lucky  Fellow,  Mr.  Smith  (Univ.) 

WASHINGTON— RKO  Keith's,  1st  week   .   .  169.4% 

WASHINGTON— RKO  Keith's,  2nd  week   .   .  127.1% 

WASHINGTON— RKO  Keith's,  3rd  week   .    .  80.5% 

*Advanced  admissions,  road  show,  premiere  only. 

THE  DESERT  SONG  (WB) 

First  Reports: 

Total  Gross  Tabulated  $412,800 
Comparative  Average  Gross  366,900 
Over-all  Performance  112.5% 

BALTIMORE— Stanley  ..........  112.3% 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Palace   101.3%, 

CINCINNATI— RKO   Shubert   116.0% 

DENVER— Denver   128.5%, 

(DB)  Wliispering  Footsteps  (Rep.) 

DENVER— Esquire   100.0% 

(DB)  Whispering  Foosteps  (Rep.) 
LOS  ANGELES— Warner's  Downtown, 

1st   week   136.3% 

LOS  ANGELES— Warner's  Downtown, 

2nd  week   93.0% 

LOS  ANGELES— Warner's  Hollywood, 

1st  week   105.9% 

LOS  ANGELES— Warner's  Hollywood, 

2nd  week   93.5% 

LOS  ANGELES— Warner's  Wiltern,  1st  week  149.6% 

LOS  ANGELES— Warner's  Wiltern,  2nd  week  84.7% 

NEW  HAVEN— Roger  Sherman,  1st  week   .  100.0% 

(DB)  Murder  on  the  Waterfront  (WB) 

NEW  HAVEN— Roger  Sherman,  2nd  week   .  81.2% 

(DB)  Murder  on  the  Waterfront  (WB) 

NEW  YORK— Hollywood,  1st  week   ....  104.3%, 

NEW  YORK— Hollywood,  2nd  week   ....  145.6% 

NEW  YORK^Hollywood,  3rd  week   ....  120.4% 

NEW  YORK— Hollywood,  4th  week   ....  90.0% 

NEW  YORK— Hollywood,  Sth  week   ....  80.4%, 

NEW  YORK— Hollywood,  6th  week   ....  78.2% 

NEW  YORK— Hollywood,  7th'  week   ....  '73.1% 

NEW  YORK— Hollywood,  Sth  week   ....  60.8%, 

PHILADELPHIA- Mastbaum   165.9% 


WHISTLING  IN  BROOKLYN  (MCM) 

Final  Reports: 

Total  Gross  Tabulated  $395,100 

Comparative  Average  Gross  404,100 

Over-all  Performance  97.7% 

BALTIMORE— Century   106.0% 

BOSTON— Loew's  Orpheum,  1st  week   .   .   .  99.1% 

(DB)  The  Cross  of  Lorraine  (MGM) 

BOSTON— Loew's  Orpheum,  2nd  week   .   .   .  90.0% 

(DB)  The  Cross  of  Lorraine  (MGM) 

BOSTON— Loew's  State,  1st  week   73.5% 

(DB)  The  Cross  of  Lorraine  (MGM) 

BOSTON— Loew's  State,  2nd  week   73.5% 

(DB)  The  Cross  of  Lorraine  (MGM) 

BUFFALO— Buffalo   82.8% 

(DB)  The  Man  From  Down  Under  (MGM) 

CINCINNATI-RKO  Palace   86.9% 

CTNaNNATT— RKO  Shubert,  MO,  1st  week   .  96.0% 

CLEVELAND— Loew's  State   92.3% 

CLEVELAND— Loew's  Ohio,  MO,  1st  week   .  115.3% 

DENVER-Orpheum   92  3% 

(DB)  The  Cross  of  Lorraine  (MGM) 

DENVER— Broadway,  MO,  1st  week   ....  138.8% 

(DB)  The  Cross  of  Lorraine  (MGM) 

INDIANAPOLIS— Loew's   77.2% 

(DB)  There's  Something  About  a  Soldier  iCol) 

KANSAS  CITY— Midland   118  7% 

(DB)  The  Adventures  of  Tartu  (MGM) 

LOS  ANGELES— Carthay  Circle   95  7% 

(DB)  The  Man  From  Down  Under  (MGM) 

LOS  ANGELES— Chinese   76  9% 

(DB)  The  Man  From  Down  Under  (MGM) 

LOSf  ANGELES— Loew's  State   91  3% 

(DB)  The  Man  From  Down  Under  (MGM) 

LOS  ANGELES— Uptown   75.0% 

(DB)  The  Man  From  Down  Under  (MGM) 

NEW  HAVEN— Loew's  Poli   75.2% 

(DB)  There's  Something  About  a  Soldier  (Cx>l.) 

PHILADELPHIA— Stanton   134  5% 

PHILADELPHIA— Arcadia,  MO,  1st  week   .  108.5% 

PITTSBURGH— Stanley   114.5% 

(SA)  Tony  Pastor's  Och.,  Berry  Brothers,  others 

SAN  FRANCISCO— Paramount    ......  IQS.3% 

(DB)  The  Cross  of  Lorraine  (MGM) 

SEATTLE— Paramount   132  ()% 

(DB)  The  Adventures  of  Tartu  (MGM) 

SEATTLE— Blue  Mouse,  MO,  1st  week   .    .  1304% 

(DB)  The  Adventures  of  Tartu  (MGM) 

ST.   LO'UIS-Loew's   State   103.5% 

(DB)  Swing  Out  the  Blues  (Col.) 

ST.  LOUIS— Loew's  Orpheum,  MO,  1st  week  101  4% 

(DB)  Swing  Out  the  Blues  (Col.) 

TORONTO— Loew's   123  1% 

(DB)  The  Kansan  (UA) 

WASHINGTON— Loew's  Capitol   109.0% 

(SA)  Vaudeville 
WASHINGTON— Loew's  Columbia.  MO  1st 

week   71.4%, 


LIFEBOAT  (20tli-Fox) 

First  Reports: 

Total  Gross  Tabulated  $234,800 
Comparative  Average  Gross  186,400 
Over-all  Performance  125.9% 

BALTIMORE— New   101  8% 

LOS  ANGELES— Chinese   96.7% 

(DB)  The  Ghost  That  Walks  Alone  (Cx>l.) 

LOS  ANGELES— Loew's  State   1.36.9% 

(DB)  The  Ghost  That  Walks  Alone  (Col.) 

LOS  ANGELES— Uptown    104.7% 

(DB)  The  Ghost  That  Walks  Alone  (Col.) 

LOS  ANGELES— Fox- Wilshire   117.6% 

(DB)  The  Ghost  That  Walks  Alone  (Col.) 

NEW  HAVEN— Loew's   Poli   94.4% 

(DB)  O'  My  Darling  aementine  (Rep.) 

NEW  YORK— Astor,  1st  week   169.0% 

NEW  YORK— Astor.  2nd  week   144.9% 

NEW  YORK— Astor.  3rd  week   134.2% 

NEW  YORK— Astor.  4th  week   130.4%, 

SAN  FRANCISCO— Fox   102.5% 

(DB)  Charlie  Chan  in  Secret  Service  (Mono.) 


February    19,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


59 


MANAGERS* 

ROUND  TABLE 


international  association  of  showmen  meeting  zveekly 
in  MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD  for  mutual  aid  and  progress 


CHESTER  FRIEDMAN.  Editor 


GERTRUDE  MERRIAM.  Associate  Editor 


OP 


Back  to  Normal 


An  examination  of  the  advertising  material  in  the  press  books 
prepared  for  many  of  the  newer  pictures  shows  a  marked  return 
to  the  showmanship  style  of  display  ads  which  were  so  con- 
spicuous through  their  absence  in  recent  months. 

For  a  period,  all  display  ads  emanating  from  the  various  dis- 
tributor agencies  had  a  common  lack  of  ingenuity  and  punch 
that  had  begun  to  annoy  theatremen.  The  ads  took  on  a 
similarity  of  appearance,  accentuated  by  lack  of  illustrations 
with  monotonous  regularity.  It  was  a  fashion  for  a  period. 

The  situation  spread  into  a  regular  vogue,  with  each  company 
trying  to  discover  how  many  pictures  could  be  exploited  from 
the  single  device  of  using  a  reverse  block  title-slug  with  a  little 
gingerbread. 

It  is  quite  possible  that  a  few  people  still  feel  that  a  picture 
can  be  sold  by  advertising  only  the  title.  Most  showmen 
doubtlessly  feel  that  catch  copy  and  illustrations  add  punch 
to  and  increase  the  effectiveness  of  display  ads. 

The  discerning  theatre  manager  will  be  quick  to  note  the 
improvement  that  has  .been  effected  of  late  and  will  welcome 
the  change.  He  is  likewise  apt  to  discover  that  the  assortment 
of  display  ads  devised  for  most  of  the  recent  films  employs  the 
elements  of  good  showmanship. 

AAA 


It's  In  His  Blood 


Sergeant  E.  D.  Harris,  of  the  Public  Relations  Section,  U.  S. 
Marine  Corps,  in  San  Francisco,  passes  along  a  timely  sugges- 
tion that  should  meet  with  general  approval. 

Mr.  Harris  observes  that  the  trend  of  events  in  the  Pacific 
theatre  of  warfare  indicates  the  early  recapture  of  Wake 
Island.  Qualified  news  commentators  and  some  military 
observers  are  in  agreement. 

He  suggests  that  "Wake  Island"  be  re-booked  and  believes 
that  the  heroic  defense  of  the  island  will  have  unlimited  ex- 
ploitation possibilities  and  dynamic  box-office  results. 

Showmen  who  are  constantly  on  the  alert  for  just  such  oppor- 
tunities to  employ  their  showmanship  talents  will  recognize  the 
practicability  of  the  idea. 

The  reader  should  not  be  prompted  to  assume  that  Mr. 
Harris'  interest  in  the  project  comes  solely  from  his  pride  in 
the  Marine  Corps. 


Recently,  we  published  in  these  pages,  the  expressions  of 
the  men  in  the  field  regarding  the  helpfulness  and  benefits 
afforded  through  competition  in  the  Quigley  Awards. 

All  of  the  comment  praised  the  Competitions  and  mentioned 
the  added  prestige  attached  to  winning  the  Awards. 

Proof  that  to  the  distinction  and  honor  thus  achieved  comes 
substantial  recognition  from  the  higher-ups,  is  a  letter  received 
from  James  J.  King,  winner  of  the  Third  and  Fourth  Quarter 
Plaques,  in  1943.  King  writes: 

"Naturally,  we  place  the  plaques  in  the  most  con- 
spicuous spot  in  the  office  and  are  very  pleased  to  be 
able  to  point  them  out  to  all  and  sundry  visitors. 

"The  heads  of  the  circuit  were  certainly  interested  and 
complimented  me  highly  . .  .  they  also  gave  me  a  raise." 


More  likely,  his  inspiration  comes  from  his  former  experience 
as  manager  of  the  Fox  Slendale  theatre,  In'  Glendale,  Cal. 

AAA 


The  Hard  Way 


Lee  Kamern,  former  manager  of  the  Astor  theatre,  in  New 
York,  is  a  showman  of  whom  the  industry  may  well  be  proud. 

Mr.  Kamern  worked  his  way  up  through  the  ranks  of  the 
Loew  organization  as  an  usher.  He  was  liked  by  his  associates 
and  respected  by  his  superiors.  Everything  pointed  to  a  bright 
career  for  him. 

On  December  8,  1941,  the  day  after  Pearl  Harbor  was 
bombed  by  the  Japs,  Lee  put  personal  ambition  behind  him 
and  enlisted  in  the  Marines.  He  passed  up  a  chance  for  a 
commission  and  went  in  as  a  private. 

Lee  has  seen  action  in  the  Pacific.  He  was  in  the  spearhead 
which  invaded  Guadalcanal.  When  last  reported,  he  was  in 
Tarawa. 

Hospitalized  on  at  least  five  occasions  with  malaria,  his  nar- 
rowest escape  occurred  when  an  adjoining  barracks  suffered  a 
direct  bomb  hit.  Every  patient  in  that  section  was  killed. 

His  ability  as  a  leader  has  been  recognized.  Recently  he 
was  commissioned  a  Second  Lieutenant. 

As  in  civilian  life,  Kamern  came  up  through  the  ranks- — 
but  up.  ■  —CHESTER  FRIEDMAN 


60 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February     19.  1944 


PROMOTING  TICKET  SALES 


Part  of  the  at- 
tractive front 
Gertrude  Tracy 
designed  for 
"Wonnen  In 
Bondage"  at 
Loew's  Ohio, 
Cleveland. 


John  hieflinger, 
manager,  Valley 
theatre,  North  Hol- 
lywood, employed 
this  effective  street 
ballyhoo  for  "Leop- 
ard Men". 


(L  DEXTEFTS  fikMOUS  '^PiSTOLlACklN' wiwi 
)Aj>ED  WITH  GAY  TUNES-SPARKLING  ROM AHCI 


}  '  mm 

To  publicize  "Happy  Land"  and  promote  Bond  sales  at  the 
Stratford  theatre,  Doug  Taussig  had  sidewalks  stencilled  in  this 
in  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 


Another  of  J.  D. 
Woodard's  at- 
tractive fronts,  at 
the  Capitol,  At- 
lanta. Woodard 
is  advertising 
manager  for  the 
Lucas  &  Jenkins 
theatres  there. 


fash 


ion 


Manager  Ted  Emerson,  Paramount,  Omaha,  secured  16  prominent  win- 
dow displays  for  "Guadalcanal  Diary",  one  of  which  is  shown  above. 


Louie  Charninsky  is  still  turning  out  eye-arresting 
displays  at  the  Capitol,  Dallas.  Here  he  tied  in 
Jap  atrocities  with  "Scorched  Earth". 


February    19,    I  944 


MANAGERS'    ROUND  TABLE 


61 


^  Originality  is  expressed  in  these 
recent  examples  of  showmanship  ap- 
plied to  advertising  layouts  by  the  men 
in  the  field. 


TO  DAY ! 

^^^^ 


86>  ff      Stokowski   \\V~^  ' 

.     ;#  JAN 

^SAVITT 


/*  OiilslsndingSter  \| 
r*  of  Stage,  Screen,  \ 


^|^&  HIS  ORCHESTRA 


,}^anil  Radio..-.  ^ 

,PHIL . 
REGAN/ 


Lou  Mayer,  manager  of  the  RKO  Palace,  Cleveland, 
combines  a  multitude  of  selling  features  in  thi's  com- 
pact space  which  ran  four  columns  wide  by  65  lines  deep. 


LOEWS 


Les  Pollock  used  a  series  of  two-column  mats,  21 
lines  deep,  during  the  current  showing  of  "What 
A  Woman"  at  Loew's,  In  Rochester,  N.  Y. 


NOW  Playing  STANTON 


I6TH  AND  MARKET 

Boons  OPEIV 
10:45  A.  n. 


Irving  Blumberg,  director  of  advertising  and  publicity  for 
the  Warner  theatres,  in  Philadelphia,  capitalized  on  the 
timely  engagement  of  "Jack  London"  at  the  Stanton  theatre 
there.  Special  ad  mats  prepared  by  United  Artists'  home 
office  exploitation  department,  tied  in  with  recent  stories 
of  Jap  atrocities,  illustrated  above. 


II     SCREEN'S  FIRST 

Ul  INNER  SANCTUM  WYSTERY!  ^ 

I  dim  n 

'^j^^^^^^^^^^^^^^m^  CARROL  NA^SH 


LAST  Tl^^eS  TOOAV 

CARV  GRAl>IT 

40HM  &AI»Ft&l-D. 

"bESTIN/VnON  TOKYO' 


t YOUR  LAST  CHANCE 
TONIGHT 
'destination  TOKYO' 


Here's  a  striking  layout  on  a  horror  show  which  was  prepared  by  C.  J.  Appel, 
director  of  advertising  for  Odeon  Theatres,  Ltd.,  which  was  designed  for 
the  Palace  in  Hamilton,  Ont. 


C  A  N  A  0  I  A  N 
PREMIERE 

MISTER 
LONDON 

storring 

EDWARD  RIGBY 

ai  the  lovable  father,  Mr  Bunting 

GEORGE  ROBEY 

hii  platitudinous  business  assoctatt 

STANLEY  HOLLOWAY 

famous  English  Music  Hall  Comtt 


James  R.  Nairn,  advertising  director 
for  Famous  Players  Canadian,  is  responsible 
for  this  attractive  layout  which  was  . 
recently  used  at  the  Eglinton  theatre, 
in  Toronto. 


62 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February     19,  1944 


Exploiting  the  New  Films 


How  the  recent  pictures  are  being  sold  at 
the  first  run  and  pre-release  date  showings 


"DESERT  SONG " 

An  extensive  advertising  campaign  em- 
bracing radio,  nevi^spaper  and  special  promo- 
tion was  employed  by  manager  Jacob  Silver- 
man to  exploit  the  showing  of  "Desert 
Song"  at  the  Strand  theatre,  Altoona,  Pa. 

Transcriptions  and  spot  announcements 
were  used  six  times  daily  over  Station 
VVFBG  for  seven  days  in  advance  of  open- 
ing and  through  the  current  engagement. 

A  series  of  advance  display  ads  were  used 
in  the  local  dailies  building  up  in  size  as 
the  campaign  progressed. 

Silverman  flooded  the  city  and  surround- 
ing towns  with  sniping,  using  100  one-sheets, 
200  window  cards,  100  three-sheets,  six  24- 
sheets  in  addition  to  posting  street  car  and 
bus  cards. 

He  arranged  for  many  of  the  juke  boxes 
in  Altoona  to  feature  recordings  of  song  hits 
from  the  picture  and  sniped  the  music  boxes 
with  picture  and  theatre  credits.  Tieups  and 
window  displays  were  arranged  with  music 
and  phonograph  stores  with  several  of  the 
merchants  giving  the  picture  free  plugs  on 
their  own  radio  time. 

Utilizing  lithographs  from  the  picture 
with  star  enlargements,  an  attractive  lobby 
piece  was  built  in  the  lobby  and  displayed 
for  two  weeks  in  advance. 

NO  TIME  FOR  LOVE" 

Frank  LeBar,  Jr.,  manager  of  the  Im- 
perial theatre,  in  Asheville,  N.  C,  started 
running  a  trailer  advertising  "No  Time  for 
Love"  two  weeks  in  advance  of  the  picture's 
engagement.  Play  dates  were  superimposed 
while  the  trailer  was  running  through  use  of 
a  slide  and  stereopticon,  to  impress  the  dates 
more  firmly  in  the  minds  of  patrons. 

Special  art  displays  were  created  by  the 
theatre's  stafif  artist  which  were  designed  to 
move  outward  from  the  foyer  to  the  front 


mm  nm 


TODAY  -.  MON.  --  TUES.  •-  WED. 


^jp^.  j      *  JEANNE  BAKS  TnM 


BATES  !  TOM  NEAL 


WAR10AN 


display  cases  with  each  change  of  program. 
The  displays  were  illuminated  with  fluores- 
cent lamps  and  spotlights.  A  3-  by  20-foot 
banner  was  placed  across  the  entrance  doors 
facing  patrons  as  they  exited  and  later  used 
out  front. 

Radio  announcements  were  especially  pre- 
pared from  copy  in  the  press  book  and  broad- 


U.S.MARINES'MAP  TORTURE! 

SEE  Carlson's ,  Raiders 
wreak  vengeance  on  the  blood- 
thirsty" Sons  of  Nippon"! 


Walter  Wanger's 


GUMG 

mm^mW  RANDOLPH 

SCOTT 

fjOAH  BEERY,  Jr.  .  AUN  CURTIS  -  GRACE  McDONALO 

A  Universal  Picture 


3rd  THRILLING^  .,„. 


45th  ST. 


Above,  left,  an  effective  holdover  ad  employed  by  the  Criterion,  New  York,  for  "Gung  Ho". 
Right,  attractive  layout  on  Ben  Bay  background  was  used  to  publicize  "Desert  Song",  by 
Hank  Harold,  ad  head  for  Regent-State,  Springfield,  O. 


Reproduced  above  is  the  opening  day  display 
ad  used  by  Frank  LeBar,  Jr.,  manager  of  the 
Imperial  theatre,  Asheville,  N.  C,  to  publi- 
cize "No  Time  For  Love".  Jay  Wren,  direc- 
tor of  publicity  for  the  U.  S.  theatre,  in 
Paterson,  N.  J.,  designed  his  own  ad  layouts 
for  "Riding  High".  At  left  is  shown  one  of 
his  skillful  efforts. 


cast  over  Station  WWNC  from  Friday  be- 
fore opening  through  the  current  engage- 
ment. 

Newspaper  advertising  started  three  days 
before  opening  with  a  36-inch  display  break- 
ing the  day  before  opening. 

LeBar's  campaign  was  rounded  out 
through  use  of  24-sheets  and  six-sheets 
which  were  posted  in  the  most  prominent 
downtown  locations  where  they  were  visible 
to  about  90%  of  the  city's  traffic. 

"TRUE  TO  LIFE" 

In  addition  to  the  regular  newspaper  and 
radio  channels  utilized  for  promoting  pic- 
tures at  the  Princess  theatre,  in  Sioux  City, 
Iowa,  manager  William  Eagen  tied  up  with 
several  merchants  for  window  displays. 

Kresge's  devoted  a  full  window  to  a  dis- 
play of  sheet  music  from  the  attraction  with 
credit  lines  for  the  theatre  and  dates,  which 
was  streamered:  "Cheer  Up  —  See  a  Gay 
Musical,"  etc. 

As  an  advance  stunt,  Eagen  borrowed  a 
lounge  settee  from  a  local  furniture  house 
for  the  lobby.  He  placed  a  six-sheet  cutout 
of  Mary  Martin,  star  of  the  picture,  on  the 
settee  with  startling  results.  A  tiein  catch- 
line  turned  the  device  into  an  efifective  ticket- 
seller. 

Eagen  obtained  permission  to  post  trash 
cans  throughout  the  city  with  special  cards 
about  the  size  of  one-sheets. 


February    19,    I  944 


MANAGERS'    ROUND  TABLE 


63 


Lobbies  Promote  Ticket  Sales 


gg)  "Gildersleeve  On  Broadway"^ 

Carlo  Vannicola,  ad  head  for  RKO  in  Boston,  made 
the  layout  for  this  holdover  ad  on  "North  Star." 


State,  Minneapolis,  pre-sold  "Jane  Eyre"  with  this  strik- 
ing lobby  setpiece. 


At  the  Denham, 
Denver,  Col., 
publicist 
Margaret 
Goyette  had  this 
lobby  board  for 
"The  Miracle" 
two  weeks  in 
advance  of 
playdates. 


Manager  George 
Balkin's  smash  dis- 
play for  "Fight- 
ing SeaBees  ",  in 
the  lobby  of  the 
Stanley  theatre, 
in  Philadelphia. 


This  attractive  lobby  display  for  "Ali  Baba"  was  arranged  by 
Irving  Blumberg,  advertising  and  publicity  director  for  Warners, 
Philadelphia,  at  the  Stanley  theatre. 


Bob  Weitman  and  Jack  Mclnerney  designed  the  front  display  for 
"Miracle"  at  the  Paramount,  New  York. 


64 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    19.     I  944 


The  Selling  Approach 

ON  NEW  PRODUCT 

[The  material  below  reflects  press  books  now  in  preparation  and  represents  the  point  of 
view  of  the  distributors'  exploiteers  about  the  selling  points  and  special  merit  of  these  pictures.} 


KNICKERBOCKER  HOLIDAY  (United 
Artists):  The  showman  who  plays  to  an 
audience  with  a  specific  taste  for  certain 
types  of  entertainment  has  a  variety  of 
angles  to  exploit.  There  is  an  impressive 
cast,  the  fine  musical  score  and  song  hits, 
the  comedy  and  romance  or  the  historical 
value  of  the  picture  to  choose  from.  The 
heroine  loses  her  petticoat  as  the  story  un- 
folds, so  that  a  newspaper  contest  is  in 
order  for  readers'  "Most  Embarrassing 
Moments."  You  might  promote  a  radio  or 
newspaper  quiz  contest  tied  into  important 
dates  or  customs  connected  with  early 
American  history.  For  school  tieups  you 
can  use  an  essay  contest  on  the  "Life  of 
Peter  Stuyvesant"  or  a  coloring  contest. 
Neat  advance  lobby  stunt  is  to  build  a 
set  of  stocks  with  an  usher  imprisoned.  This 
can  later  be  used  as  a  street  ballyhoo  if 
mounted  on  a  flat  wagon.  Crawford  Music 
Corp.  has  published  "September  Song"  and 
"Love  Has  Made  This  Such  a  Lovely  Day," 


Concert  Precedes  Opening 
Of  "Phantonn  of  the  Opera" 

"Phantom  of  the  Opera"  was  sold  from 
the  class  angle  at  its  Cuban  premiere  which 
was  held  at  the  America  theatre  in  Havana 
by  Sr.  Jose  Valcarce.  The  presentation  was 
preceded  by  a  concert  in  which  some  of  the 
foremost  Cuban  singing  stars  took  part.  A 
tieup  was  made  with  Radio  Station  CMQ 
and  the  whole  proceedings  were  broadcast. 
The  tieup,  extended  over  the  whole  first 
week  of  tiie  picture's  run. 

A  souvenir  program  was  given  out  which 
was  made  from  the  special  covers  of  the 
Spanish  pressbook  prepared  by  Universal's 
foreign  publicity  department. 

Cohen  Offers  Bond  In 
"Lifeboat"  Contest 

Lou  Cohen,  Loew's  Poli,  Hartford,  rode 
the  waves  of  publicity  when  he  launched  a 
contest  for  his  current  feature,  "Lifeboat." 
Cohen  invited  patrons  who  had  seen  the 
picture  at  Loew's  Poli  to  write  a  letter  pro 
or  con  and  the  winner  received  a  War  Bond. 
Theatrical  members  of  the  local  press  were 
invited  to  a  special  early  morning  preview 
as  guests  of  the  management. 

Taylor  Launches  "Lassie" 
With  Essay  Contest 

An  extensive  exploitation  and  publicity 
campaign  was  put  over  recently  by  Charles 
B.  Taylor,  director  of  advertising  and  pub- 
licity for  the  Shea  theatres,  in  Buffalo,  in 
behalf  of  "Lassie  Come  Home."  The  high- 
light of  the  campaign  was  an  essay  contest 
promoted  in  connection  with  one  of  the  larg- 
est department  stores  there.     A  valuable 


two  of  the  song  hits  sung  by  Nelson  Eddy 
which  will  pave  the  way  for  music  tieups. 
A  "town  crier"  will  make  another  effective 
street  ballyhoo. 

THE  MIRACLE  OF  MORGAN'S  CREEK 
(Paramount):  A  large  portion  of  the  suc- 
cess you  can  achieve  with  this  picture  de- 
pends upon  keeping  the  surprise  ending  a 
secret.  Your  campaign  both  in  advance 
and  current  should  stress  this  point.  Start 
your  teaser  campaign  well  In  advance  of 
playdates  rotating  questions  pertinent  to 
the  Miracle,  the  Kockenlockers  and  the 
Ratsky-Watsky.  Merchants  can  be  tied  in 
with  co-op  ads  along  the  idea  of  "Miracle 
Buys  at  Miracle  Prices."  You  can  grab 
plenty  of  free  publicity  by  offering  $10,000 
in  cash  to  any  citizen  who  can  duplicate 
the  "Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek."  If  pos- 
sible try  to  get  the  newspaper  to  offer 
the  money  with  a  bona-flde  check  placed 
as  security  with  a  local  bank. 


collie  pup  -^yas  presented  to  the  child  submit- 
ting the  best  essay  on  the  subject  "Why  I 
Want  a  Dog  Like  Lassie." 

The  cooperating  merchant  promoted  the 
contest  through  a  series  of  radio  programs 
presented  under  the  title  "Children's  Theatre 
of  the  Air,"  which  started  three  weeks  in 
advance  with  additional  spot  announcements 
used  during  the  opening  week.  The  store 
also  used  window  displays  and  two  display 
ads  and  20,000  heralds  were  used  in  pack- 
ages sent  out. 

Dog  fanciers  and  kindred  organizations 
were  circularized;  posters  tying  in  with  a 
dog  food  were  used  in  stores  about  town; 
numerous  windows  promoted  and  all  book 
stores  put  on  special  window  and  counter 
displays  during  the  run. 


Victory  Amateur 
Talent  Contest 
Held  by  Mayer 

Reported  as  proving  highly  successful  for 
Louis  E.  Mayer  at  the  RKO  Palace  theatre, 
in  Cleveland,  is  the  Victory  Amateur  Con- 
test held  at  his  theatre  each  Tuesday  night 
for  a  period  of  a  month.  Each  Tuesday  is 
sponsored  by  a  different  war  plant,  which  in 
each  case  presents  several  amateur  acts. 
Each  week  there  are  two  winners,  first  prize 
being  a  $50  Bond ;  second  prize  a  $25  Bond. 
On  the  final  night  the  winners  of  the  six 
Tuesday  nights  competed  among  themselves 
for  a  first  prize  of  $150,  second  prize  $100, 
and  third  prize  of  $50  in  War  Bonds. 

An  effective  lobby  setpiece  was  con- 
structed for  the  contest  which  carried  a  list 
of  each  of  the  plants  and  the  nights  their 
contestants  would  appear  at  the  Palace.  Spe- 
cial screen  trailers  were  prepared  for  the 
series  of  sponsored  nights;  notices  planted 
on  bulletin  boards  of  the  various  plants ; 
stickers  provided  and  the  contest  plugged  in 
the  newspapers. 

Mayer  additionally  landed  publicity 
through  coverage  in  the  house  organs  of  the 
cooperating  war  plants. 


Imprints  Paper  Bags 
With  Bond  Sale  Copy 

As  part  of  his  effort  to  increase  Bond 
sales  at  the  Uptown  theatre,  in  New  York 
City,  Cliff  Loth  had  paper  bags  imprinted 
for  distribution  with  copy  reading:  "Please 
buy  your  War  Bonds  at  the  Uptown  thea- 
tre, official  issuing  agent.  Immediate  de- 
livery. Let's  all  Back  the  Attack." 

For  his  date  on  "Sweet  Rosie  O'Grady," 
Cliff  constructed  an  effective  setpiece,  which 
was  homemade  from  a  six-sheet. 


Scouts  Issue  Bulletin 

In  conjunction  with  the  opening  of 
"Happy  Land"  at  Loew's  Poli  Palace,  in 
Meriden,  Conn.,  Joe  Samartano  forwards  a 
bulletin  which  was  issued  by  the  head  scout 
executive  of  the  city  and  sent  to  all  local  and 
suburban  towns.  Scout  masters  and  troop 
leaders,  covering  about  5,000  people,  were 
urged  to  see  the  picture. 


ENTER  YOUR  BOND  CAMPAIGN 
FOR  QP  AWARD  COMPETITION 

Your  activities  in  behalf  of  the  Fourth  War  Loan  Drive  offer  oppor- 
tunity to  make  entry  for  the 

Annual  Quigley  Award  For  War  Showmanship 

The  earlier  entries  are  received,  the  better — that  they  may  become 
available  to  other  members  and  readers  of  the  Round  Table. 

Exceptional  performance  may  be  assured  exceptional  attention. 

Send  your  campaigns  for  the  Fourth  War  Loan  Drive  to  the  Round 
Table. 


February    19.    I  944 


MANAGERS'    ROUND  TABLE 


65 


The  Quigley 
Awards  Rules 


Quigley  Awards  Contenders 

The  men  and  women  listed  below  have  submitted  evidence  of  showmanship  within  the 
past  fortnight,  which  justifies  their  names  being  placed  on  the  list  of  outstanding 
showmen. 


GEORGE  BALKIN 
Stanley,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

MERLE  BLAIR 

Regent,  Cedar  Falls,  la. 

JOE  BOYLE 

Broadway,  Norwich,  Conn. 

LIGE  BRIEN 

Enright,  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

LOUIS  CHARNINSKY 
Capitol,  Dallas,  Tex. 

CARL  EAGAN 
Princess,  Sioux  City,  la. 

DICK  FELDMAN 
Keith,  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

MARGARET  GOYETTE 
Denham,  Denver,  Colo. 

ARTHUR  GROOM 
State,  Memphis,  Tenn. 


JOHN  HEFLINGER 

Valley,  North  Hollywood,  Calif. 

ELLIOTT  JOHNSON 
Maico,  Memphis,  Tenn. 

MEL  JOLLEY 

Marks,  Oshawa,  Ont.,  Canada 
JAMES  KING 

Keith  Memorial,  Boston,  Mass. 

SIDNEY  J.  KLEPER 
Bijou,  New  Haven,  Conn. 

FRANK  LA  BAR 
Imperial,  Asheville,  N.  C. 

CLIFF  LOTH 

Uptown,  New  York  City 

LOUIS  E.  MAYER 

RKO  Palace,  Cleveland,  O. 

J.  J.  PAUL 

Park,  Welland,  Ont.,  Canada 


GEORGE  PETERS 
Loew's,  Richmond,  Va. 

CARL  ROGERS 

Loew's  Esquire,  Toledo,  O. 

EARLE  RUTLEDGE 
Indiana,  Indianapolis,  Ind. 

JOE  SAMARTANO 
Palace,  Meriden,  Conn. 

DOUGLAS  TAUSSIG 
Stratford,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 

CHARLES  B.  TAYLOR 
Shea's,  Buffalo,  N.Y. 

GERTRUDE  TRACY 
Ohio,  Cleveland,  O. 

H.  F.  WILSON 

Regent,  Brockton,  Ont.,  Canada 
JAY  WREN 

United  States,  Paterson,  N.J. 


Entries  must  be  forwarded  as  soon 
as  possible  after  exploitation  is  com- 
pleted. 

There  are  no  classifications  of  population 
or  situation.  Every  entrant  starts  from 
scratch — circuit  or  independent,  first-run 
or  subsequent,  downtown  or  neighborhood, 
big  city  or  small  town. 

• 

Consistency  of  effort  is  a  paramount  con- 
sideration in  the  Quigley  Awards.  One-shot 
campaigns  or  ideas  are  not  eligible  for  con- 
sideration. 

• 

Whole  campaigns  need  necessarily  not  be 
submitted  but  are,  of  course,  acceptable. 
Single  ideas  or  promotions  are  eligible  for 
consideration  if  the  entrant  is  a  consistent 
contributor. 

• 

Entrants  most  often  represented  in  each 
Quarter  will  receive  first  consideration  for 
the  Quarterly  Awards. 

• 

A  single  promotion  may  include  more 
than  me  slant,  providing  all  slants  relate 
to  the  original  idea.  Thus,  a  single  contest 
promotion  may  be  carried  in  newspapers,  on 
the  radio,  in  windows,  ads,  lobby,  etc. 

No  fancy  entries  are  necessary.  Costly 
and  time-using  "Gingerbread"  decorations 
are  not  encouraged.  Showmanship  only 
coxmts. 

In  addition  to  exploitation  cm  pictures — 
features,  shorts  or  serials — entries  may  be 
made  on  institutional  promotions.  Exploita- 
tion on  stage  shows,  presentations,  etc.,  are 
also  definitely  eligible  for  consideration. 
• 

A  single  idea  may  be  confined  to  a  win- 
dow, contest,  newspaper  or  program  pub- 
licity, street  stunt,  lobby  display,  ad  or 
ad  series,  newspaper  section,  radio  tiein,  etc. 

• 

One  Plaque  and  seven  Scrolls  of  Honor 
will  be  awarded  each  Quarter.  Those  win- 
ning these  honors  will  be  entered  for  the 
Grand  Awards  competition.  In  addition, 
entries  of  merit  will  be  awarded  Citations. 

c 

Evidence  proving  authenticity  of  each 
entry  must  be  submitted,  such  as  photos, 
tear  sheets,  programs,  heralds,  ads,  let- 
ters, etc. 

Address  all  entries  to: 

Quigley  Awards  Committee 
Managers'  Round  Table 
1270  Sixth  Avenue 
New  York  20,  N.  Y. 


Special  Screenings  Arranged 
For  "Lassie"  by  Pulcipher 

In  advance  of  "Lassie  Come  Home"  at 
Loew's  Capitol,  in  Washington,  D.  C,  Jessie 
Pulcipher  arranged  special  screenings  of  the 
picture  for  the  Motion  Picture  Council 
members,  managers  of  book  stores  and  de- 
partment stores  and  writers  of  dog  columns, 
and  drama  critics. 

Life  size  cutout  of  Lassie  was  placed  in 
the  lobby  two  weeks  in  advance  of  the  open- 
ing, book  displays  were  landed  at  leading 
stores,  cooperative  ads  promoted  and  notices 
were  placed  on  the  bulletin  boards  of  29 
high  and  junior  high  schools,  following 
notice  to  them  with  the  cooperation  of  the 
Motion  Picture  Council. 

For  the  run  of  "Cross  of  Lorraine,"  an 
invitation  showing  was  held  at  the  last  show 
on  the  opening  day,  guests  having  been  in- 
vited from  a  list  submitted  by  Mrs.  Hans 
Habe,  wife  of  the  author  of  the  book.  The 
local  dailies  came  through  with  stories  and 
art  on  the  picture. 

"Lost  Angel"  was  sold  on  the  basis  of 
its  appeal  to  all  age  groups,  stressing  the 
personality  and  performance  of  its  juvenile 
star,  Margaret  O'Brien.  Jessie  supplied  the 
newspaper  critics  with  special  readers  and 
photo'graphic  material,  a  teaser  ad  campaign 
was  instituted  five  days  in  advance  and  700 
window  cards  featuring  a  Coca  Cola  tie- 
up  were  planted  about  town. 

Sinatra  Singing  Contest 
Tied  to  Stage  Show 

Rudy  Frank,  publicist  for  the  Harris 
Brothers'  State  theatre  in  Hartford,  fol- 
lowed up  his  Frank  Sinatra  Singing  Con- 
test, with  a  Frank  Sinatra-Bing  Crosby 
Singing  Contest  to  coincide  with  the  Louis 
Prima  and  band  booking.  The  winner  re- 
ceived a  War  Bond  and  the  opportunity  to 
audition  with  Arthur  Michaud,  manager  of 
Tommy  Dorsey. 

Rudy  Frank  also  arranged  for  the  entire 


State  stage  show,  including  Louis  Prima 
and  band,  Beatrice  Kay,  Pappy  Howard 
and  his  New  England  Hillbillies,  to  appear 
in  "This  Is  the  Army,  Mrs.  Jones"  show 
presented  at  a  leading  Hartford  department 
store  just  prior  to  the  State  opening.  Good 
publicity  breaks  resulted. 

Whitlock  Ties  Store 
To  Essay  Contest 

Brock  Whitlock,  of  Loew's  theatre,  Read- 
ing, Pa.,  tied  in  with  a  local  furniture  store 
to  promote  a  campaign  for  "Lost  Angel," 
and  at  the  same  time,  get  off  to  a  flying  start 
for  the  War  Bond  campaign.  The  store 
used  three-column  advertisements  in  the 
local  papers  to  announce  a  War  Bond  essay 
contest  for  youngsters  between  6  and  12 
years  of  age. 

Mr.  Whitlock  had  arranged  a  special 
showing  of  the  picture  for  the  children  of 
the  three  orphanages  in  the  city,  with  the 
local  girl  winning  the  essay  contest  desig- 
nated to  be  the  theatre's  hostess  in  welcom- 
ing the  children.  In  addition,  the  winner 
received  an  autographed  picture  of  Margaret 
O'Brien,  an  honorary  certificate  for  her 
school  from  Metro,  and  was  guest  of  honor 
at  a  dinner  held  at  a  leading  hotel. 


THEATRE  MANAGEMENT  RECORD 
AND  ANNUAL  TAX  REGISTER 

■  Easy  accounting  system  that  enables 
you  to  keep  an  accurate,  complete  and  up- 
to-the-minute  record  of  the  ^  ^  Q  Q 
business    of   your   theatre.      Mb  postpa^ 

QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP 

ROCKEFELLER   CENTER,   NEW   YORK  (20) 


66 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    19,  1944 


"Victory  Through  Air  Power" 
Tied  In  With  Defense  Plants 


H.  Campbell  Photos 


Major  de  Seversky,  author  of  "Victory  Through  Airpower",  autographs  copies  of  his 
book  in  one  of  Rochester's  largest  stores  to  exploit  the  showing  of  the  picttire  at  the 
Century  theatre. 


Francis  Anderson's  campaign  on  "Vic- 
tory Through  Airpower"  af  the  Century 
theatre,  in  Rochester,  utilized  increased 
newspaper  space,  23  spot  announcements 
on  Station  WSAY,  two  15-minute  transcrip- 
tions, and  a  special  announcement  follow- 
ing a  Chamber  of  Commerce  lecture  by 
Major  de  Seversky. 

Anderson  used  a  trailer  and  special 
lobby  display  three  weeks  in  advance  of 
the  opening.  A  cocktail  party  was  given 
in  honor  of  a  bomber  "Hell  Cat"  crew, 
followed  by  a  picture  preview  with  civic 
leaders  and  industry  officials  present.  350 
posters  were  placed  in  all  defense  factories 
in  the  area,  calling  attention  to  the  picture 


Merchants  Pay  Cost  of 
Novel  House  Program 

Manager  Chris  Chamales,  of  the  Roxy 
theatre,  Delphia,  Ind.,  gets  out  a  weekly 
house  program  which  is  paid  for  by  local 
advertisers. 

The  theatre  bookings  are  listed  on  both 
sides  of  the  page  with  the  center  devoted  to 
institutional  or  patriotic  quotations.  Small 
merchant  ads  on  the  bottom  pay  for  the  cost. 

M  arine  Color  Guard  Attends 
"Guadalcanal  Diary" 

As  part  of  Ed  J.  Kearney's  campaign  on 
"Guadalcanal  Diary"  at  the  Paramount 
theatre,  in  Syracuse,  the  Marine  Color 
Guard  attended  the  opening  night  in  a  body. 
Five  Marine  veterans  who  had  been  dis- 
charged and  seen  service  on  Guadalcanal 


and  tickets  available  at  special  rates  for 
the  employees;  the  tickets  were  placed  on 
sale  at  the  factories. 

Newsstands  and  trucks  were  placarded 
a  week  in  advance  with  posters  advertising 
the  picture  and  theatre  playdates.  A  de- 
partment store  devoted  four  adjoining 
windows  to  a  mammoth  display  of  planes, 
photos  and  art  material  on  the  attraction. 

Special  bookstore  and  window  displays 
were  arranged,  and  Major  de  Seversky 
autographed  copies  of  the  book  in  one  of 
the  city's  leading  department  stores.  2,000 
bookmarks  with  theatre  Imprint,  etc.,  were 
distributed,  in  addition  to  7,000  global 
maps. 


were  on  hand  and  money  was  provided  to 
present  them  with  gifts.  Spot  announce- 
ments were  had  over  radio  stations,  news- 
paper photographers  were  on  hand  to 'take 
pictures  of  the  opening  and  numerous  win- 
dow displays  were  landed. 


Star  Identification  Contest 
Sells  "As  Thousands  Cheer" 

As  a  special  promotion  for  "Thousands 
Cheer"  at  the  Lincoln  theatre,  in  Lincoln, 
Neb.,  Arlie  Crites  worked  out  a  contest. 
Photos  of  thirty  stars  and  leaders  of  three 
bands  featured  in  the  picture  were  put  on 
display  in  local  music  stores,  which  were 
plugging  the  picture's  song  hit  "I  Dug  a 
Ditch." 

To  anyone  who  could  name  all  the  stars, 
the  theatre  awarded  a  free  ticket  to  the 
show;  1,500  blanks  were  distributed. 


Goth's  "Pin  Up 
Contest  Gets 
Extra  Grosses 

Useable  as  an  excellent  business  stimulant 
in  any  theatre,  is  the  unique  "Pin  Up  Girl 
Contest"  reported  by  Edgar  Goth,  director 
of  advertising  and  publicity  for  Fabian 
Staten  Island  theatres,  in  New  York. 

Edgar  arranged  the  contest  at  the  St. 
George  theatre  to  combat  the  anticipated 
pre-Christmas  slump  in  business,  with  the 
results  far  exceeding  expectations. 

The  idea  is  a  natural  for  the  forthcom- 
ing Fox  production  "Pin  Up  Girl,"  but  can 
be  used  independently  to  bolster  any  weak 
evening's  business. 

To  present  a  better  visual  show,  the  con- 
testants were  designated  as  Bathing  Girl, 
Sweater  Girl,  Lingerie  Girl,  Boudoir  Girl, 
etc.  Each  girl  was  presented  with  suitable 
background  and  music;  the  Boudoir  Girl 
posing  in  front  of  a  dressing  table,  the  Ori- 
ental Girl  in  a  harem  setting,  etc. 

Musical  selections  played  as  each  girl  was 
presented  were  in  keeping  with  the  general 
scheme;  the  Western  girl  appearing  to  the 
strains  of  "Pistol  Packin'  Mamma,"  the  Ori- 
ental girl  to  the  tune  of  "Shiek  of  Araby," 
etc. 

The  judges  committee  was  composed  of 
servicemen  selected  from  the  audience,  and 
as  each  judge  was  called  to  the  stage,  he  was 
interviewed  by  the  master  of  ceremonies 
with  comedy  touches  injected. 

To  publicize  the  contest,  Goth  contacted 
various  local  columnists  and  feature  writers 
and  landed  numerous  squibs  and  stories. 

The  Staten  Island  Transcript  came 
through  with  announcements  and  art  breaks 
starting  two  weeks  in  advance,  featuring 
photos  of  the  contestants.  The  complete 
rules  of  the  contest  were  published  in  sub- 
sequent issues.  Special  hand-drawn  dis- 
play ads  were  run  several  days  in  advance 
and  right  up  to  the  day  of  the  contest. 

The  circuits'  seven  theatres  in  Staten  Is- 
land ran  trailers  and  displayed  40  by  60's 
in  the  lobby  to  advertise  the  event.  5,000 
novelty  cards  simulating  "C"  cards  were 
placed  under  the  windshield  wipers  of 
parked  autos  with  copy  tied  in  to  the  con- 
test in  novel  fashion. 


Edgar  Goth's  lobby  setpiece  advertising  the 
"Pin-Up  Girl  Contest"  at  the  Fabian 
St.  George  theatre,  Staten  Island,  N.  Y. 


February    19,  1944 


MANAGERS"    ROUND  TABLE 


67 


PERSONALS  ON  SHOWMEN 


FAREWELL  PARTY  was  tendered  James  E.  Tibbetts,  manager  of  Loeti/s  State, 
Boston,  by  employees  and  friends  prior  to  his  leaving  for  the  Army.  Shmon  in  the 
above  photo  with  him  are  Maurice  Wolfe,  district  manager  for  Metro  films  in 
New  England;  James  E.  Tibbetts;  George  Kraska,  new  manager  for  the  State,  and 
Charles  E.  Kurtzman,  division  manager  for  Loeu/s  Northeastern  theatres. 


JOHN  COMERFORD,  district  manager 
for  Comerford,  in  Pittston,  Pa.,  was  named 
district  manager  of  the  Wilkes-Barre  area 
succeeding  Thomas  V.  Killeen,  who  was  in- 
ducted into  the  U.  S.  Marine  Corps.  George 
Bittinger,  former  manager  of  the  Strand,  in 
Sunbury,  was  promoted  to  district  manager, 
in  Pittston,  while  Bruce  Hause,  former  man- 
ager of  the  Savoy,  Northumberland,  will 
succeed  Bittinger  in  Sunbury.  Albert 
Schaeffer,  manager  of  the  Stanley,  Selin- 
grove,  has  been  moved  to  the  Savoy,  North- 
umberland, and  John  Kenderling  has  been 
appointed  manager  of  the  Stanley. 

WAYNE  SHEPLER,  assistant  manager  of 
Loew's  State,  St.  Louis,  has  been  named 
manager  of  the  Majestic  theatre,  in  Evans- 
ville,  Ind.,  and  is  succeeded  by  Walter 
Young. 

JOHN  KURK  is  now  managing  the  Regent 
theatre,  in  Sudbury,  Ontario,  replacing  Max 
Phillips,  who  is  now  in  the  Canadian  Army. 

ROBERT  CARNEY  is  now  managing  the 
College  theatre,  in  New  Haven. 

BEN  ZIMMERMAN  is  the  new  manager 
of  the  Upsal  theatre,  in  Philadelphia. 

EDWARD  C.  DOUGLAS  has  been  ap- 
pointed manager  of  Loew's  State,  New 
York  City,  succeeding  Al  Rosen,  who  has 
resigned  to  enter  business  on  the  West 
Coast. 

PAUL  MURPHY,  manager  of  Loew's 
Ziegfeld,  moves  to  the  Prospect,  Flushing, 
and  Harry  Weiss  will  serve  as  temporary 
manager  of  the  Ziegfeld. 

H.  E.  KENNEDY  is  now  managing  the 
Bow  theatre,  at  Broken  Bow,  Neb. 


CHARLES  COHEN  has  resigned  from  the 
Metro  home  office  publicity  department  to 
join  Twentieth  Century-Fox. 

H.  H.  THOMAS,  of  Kingsley,  la.,  has  sold 
his  DeLuxe  theatre  to  Wayne  Strong. 

HOWARD  W.  HARVEY  has  resigned  as 
manager  of  the  Rialto  theatre,  in  Beatrice, 
Neb. 

HYMAN  HURWITZ  has  joined  the  stafif 
of  Loew's  theatre,  Reading,  as  student  as- 
sistant manager. 

MEYER  B.  STROUSE  has  been  promoted 
to  manager  of  Warner's  Grange  theatre,  in 
Philadelphia,  succeeding  Walter  Krisbell, 
who  left  the  Circuit. 

HARRY  NELSON,  formerly  at  the  Jay 
theatre,  in  Philadelphia,  is  now  managing 
the  Pearl  theatre  there,  succeeding  Paul 
Kleinman,  who  left  to  join  the  Army. 

AL  COGAN,  assistant  manager  of  the  Stan- 
ton, in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  has  been  promoted 
to  manager  of  the  Imperial-2nd  Street,  suc- 
ceeding John  Crawley,  who  joined  the  Navy. 

GEORGE  KRASKA  of  Loew's  home  office 
publicity  staff  has  succeeded  James  Tibbetts, 
manager  of  Loew's  State,  in  Boston,  the  lat- 
ter going  into  the  armed  forces.  Peter  Mc- 
Carty  succeeds  Kraska. 

LUCKY  FLACK,  former  owner  of  the 
Capitol  theatre,  in  Milford,  Conn.,  has  en- 
listed in  the  WAC. 

LESTER  KROPP,  booker  for  Fred  Wehr- 
enberg's  Circuit  and  manager  of  the  Melba 
theatre,  is  in  St.  Anthony's  Hospital,  con- 
valescing from  an  operation. 


CHARLES  LEVINSON,  assistant  manager 
of  Loew's  167th  Street  theatre,  has  been 
shifted  to  the  Metropolitan;  Sylvia  Sharf- 
man,  assistant  at  the  Burnside  theatre,  in 
the  Bronx,  goes  to  the  167th  Street  thea- 
tre; Margaret  Robinson  from  the  Dyckman 
to  the  Burnside;  Milton  Schwartz  from  the 
Premiere  to  the  Kings  and  Henry  Shamp 
from  the  Melba  to  the  Premiere. 

HAROLD  ZELTNER  has  joined  M-G-M's 
sales  force  in  the  Buffalo  Exchange. 

CARL  SIEGEL,  manager  of  the  RKO 
Greenpoint,  in  Brooklyn,  has  been  named 
manager  of  the  Midway.  Other  RKO 
changes  include :  James  McCarthy,  assist- 
ant manager  of  the  Kenmore,  in  Brooklyn, 
will  manage  the  Greenpoint ;  Nicholas 
Sachs,  assistant  at  the  Midway,  has  been 
transferred  to  the  Kenmore,  and  Morton 
Meyer,  Orpheum  assistant  manager,  becomes 
assistant  manager  and  treasurer  of  the  Mid- 
way theatre. 

IRVING  LESSER,  Roxy  managing  direc- 
tor, has  been  appointed  associate  general 
manager  of  the  house,  succeeding  the  late 
J.  A.  Partington. 

WILLIAM  MACK,  manager  of  the  Ad- 
miral theatre,  in  Omaha,  has  been  inducted 
into  the  Army. 

HARRY  LOUDER,  former  operator  for 
the  State  theatre,  Shenandoah,  la.,  is  now 
manager  of  the  Canton  theatre.  Canton,  S.  D. 

RALPH  FALKENBERG,  Jr.,  manager  of 
the  Majestic  theatre  at  Lexington,  Neb.,  has 
entered  the  Armed  Services. 

EDGAR  LYNCH  has  succeeded  John 
Hesse  as  manager  of  the  Roger  Sherman, 
in  New  Haven.  Hesse  has  been  promoted 
to  district  manager. 


HAPPY  BIRTHDAY 

February  20th 

Victor  J.  Rosen 
Bert  Nix 
H.  B.  Fox 
R.  W.  Eberhard 
Robert  Heining 
James  W.  Grantham 
Bernie  Beach 

21st 

Milton  L.  Kaiser 
Elmer  Amldon 
Stanley  Lambert 
Ewell  Bingham 
Paul  W.  Sreer 
Max  King,  Jr. 

22nd 

Abraham  L.  Lowenstein 
Jack  Matlack 
Harold  Blumenthal 
Lloyd  Murphy 
Norman  C.  Rolfe 
Richard  J.  Lud'wig 
William  Reiser 
Marvin  E.  Samuelson 
Joe  Scanlon 
Edward  Jacobson 

23rd 

Sidney  Seckler 
Harold  Gustafson 


February  23rd 

Jack  K.  Randall 
Clarence  E.  Watson 
Kenneth  Vohs 

24th 

Al  Unger 
F.  A.Williams 
Sim  E.  Heller 
S.  H.  Horowitz 
Leo  Raelson 
Jewel  B.  Callaham 

25th 

Dave  Schiller 
William  Busay 
George  Foster 
Joseph  Parrott 
William  C.  Keating 
E.  M.  Jennings 
Emory  T.  Warner 
Kenneth  R.  Davis 
Louis  Gianazza 
Kenneth  C.  Mead 
Rockey  T.  New-ton 
Les  Bowser 
John  Willadsen 
Clarence  E.  Fish 

26th 

Sam  Abrams 
Albert  E.  Brown 


68 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


CLASSIFIED  ADVERTISING 

Ten  cents  per  word,  money-order  or  check  with  copy.  Count  initials,  box  number  and  ad- 
dress. Minimum  insertion,  $1.  Four  insertions,  for  the  price  of  three.  Contract  rates  on 
application.  No  borders  or  cuts.  Forms  close  Mondays  at  5  P.  M.  Publisher  reserves 
the  right  to  reject  any  copy.  Film  and  trailer  advertising  not  accepted.  Classi- 
fied advertising  not  subject  to  agency  commission.  Address  copy  and  checks: 
MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD,  Classified  Dept.,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  (20) 


HELP  WANTED 


WANTED:  OPERATOR.  ALSO  COMBINATION 
operator  and  manager.  Must  be  sober  and  draft 
exempt.  FAIN  THEATRES,  Leesburg,  Fla.  


WANT  TWO  MANAGERS  AND  TWO  OPERA- 
tors  immediately  for  small  town  situations.  Permanent 
positions  with  excellent  future.  State  age,  experience, 
references,  salary  expected  and  draft  status.  Reply 
BOX  1301,  Knoxville,  Tenn. 


BOOKS 


COMPLETELY  REVISED  7TH  EDITION  OF 
Richardson's  Bluebook  of  Projection  with  treatise  on 
Television  and  complete  Sound  Trouble-Shooting 
Charts,  as  well  as  host  of  additional  up-to-the-minute 
text  on  sound  and  projection  equipment.  Order  Now! 
$7.25  postpaid.  QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP,  Rockefeller 
Center,  New  York  (20).  

SOUND  TROUBLE  SHOOTING  CHARTS.  A 
handy  tool  in  the  booth.  Gives  the  answers  to  all 
questions  regarding  trouble  shooting  on  every  type  of 
sound  equipment.  $1.00  postpaid.  QUIGLEY  BOOK- 
SHOP, Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  (20).  

MOTION  PICTURE  SOUND  ENGINEERING— 
547  pages;  illustrated;  covers  every  practical  method 
and  process  in  present-day  sound  engineering.  Leading 
engineers  explain  every  detail  of  apparatus  and  its  ar- 
rangement, with  diagrams,  tables,  charts  and  graphs. 
This  manual  comes  straight  from  the  workshops  of  the 
studios  in  Hollywood.  It  is  indispensable  to  everyone 
working  with  sound  equipment.  Price  $6.50  postpaid. 
QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York. 

NEW  567  PAGE  BOOK  ON  AIR  CONDITIONING, 
by  CHiarles  A.  Fuller,  authority  on  the  subject.  Avail- 
able for  theatre  owners  contemplating  engineering 
changes.  Book  is  cloth  bound  with  index  and  charts 
and  covers  every  branch  of  the  industry  as  well  as 
codes  and  ordinances  regulating  installation.  Order 
now  at  $4.00  a  copy  postpaid.  QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP, 
Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  (20). 


BOOKKEEPING  SYSTEM 


THEATRE  MANAGEMENT  RECORD  AND  TAX 
Register.  This  new  accounting  system  is  the  finest 
book  of  its  kind  ever  made  available  to  an  exhibitor. 
In  addition  to  being  complete  in  every  respect,  it  is 
simple — so  much  so  that  it  is  not  necessary  to  have 
had  bookkeeping  experience  in  order  to  keep  an  ac- 
curate, complete  and  an  up-to-minute  record  of  the 
business  of  your  theatre.  The  introductory  price  is 
only  $2.00  postpaid.  QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP,  Rocke- 
feller Center,  New  York  (20). 


STUDIO  EQUIPMENT 


STUDIO  GLOWLAMP  RECORDER,  35MM. 
stabilized  variable  density;  1000'  magazine;  two  optical 
systems;  noiseless  amplifier;  V.  I.  indicator;  dynamic 
microphone;  complete  $555;  Uhler  sound  reduction 
printer  35/16  mm.,  $750;  Hollywood  16mm.  recorder 
with  Maurer  type  galvanometer  complete,  $795;  Blue 
Seal  3  element  glowlamps,  $22.75.  Send  for  studio  and 
laboratory  equipment  listings.  S.  O.  S.  CINEMA 
SUPPLY  CORP.,  New  York  18. 


BUSINESS  BOOSTERS 


BINGO  CARDS,  DIE  CUT,  1  TO  100  OR  1  TO  75, 
$2.25  per  thousand,  $20.00  for  10,000.  S.  KLOUS,  care 
of  MOTION  PICrrURE  HERALD. 


TRAINING  SCHOOLS 


THEATRE  EMPLOYEES:  TRAIN  FOR  BETTER 
position.  Learn  modern  theatre  management  and  ad- 
vertising. Big  opportunities  for  trained  men.  Estab- 
lished since  1927.  Write  now  for  free  catalog.  THE- 
ATRE MANAGERS  SCHOOL,  Elmira,  New  York. 


THEATRES 


FOR  SALE,  200-SEAT  THEATRE.  BOX  1703,  MO- 
TION PICTURE  HERALD. 


WANTED  THEATRE.  OPERATING,  PROFTT- 
ible.  details.  BOX  170O,  MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD. 


FOR  SALE  AT  PUBLIC  AUCTION  ON  THE 
premises,  Wednesday,  March  1,  1944,  at  11  o'clock 
A.  M.,  the  New  Theater,  Frankfort,  Kentucky.  On 
above  date  and  time  I  will  sell  at  public  auction  the 
New  Theater,  a  three -story  brick  building  located  on 
Main  Street  in  Frankfort,  Kentucky,  the  Capital  of 
the  State,  together  with  all  furnishings  and  equipment 
used  in  the  operation  of  a  modern  motion  picture  thea- 
ter, now  in  daily  operation.  For  terms  and  full  descrip- 
tion, apply  to  J.  KEENE  DAINGERFIELD,  Trustee 
in  Bankruptcy  for  Harry  Swartz,  804  Security  Trust 
Company  Bldg.,  Lexington,  Ky. 


WANTED:  MOTION  PICTURE  THEATRE.  MUST 
be  up-to-date,  going,  paying  and  located  in  Florida  or 
other  Southern  coastal  state.  Give  full  particulars. 
JIM  CAMP,  Box  326,  Tallahassee,  Fla. 


FOR  SALE— MODERN  800- SEAT  THEATRE,  DO- 
ing  good  business  in  good  W.  Va.  manufacturing  town. 
Also  fine  dwelling.  Must  sell  due  to  health,  BOX  1704, 
MOTION  PICrrURE  HERALD. 


NEW  EQUIPMENT 


TWO  NEW  WENZEL  ACE^REAR  SHUTTER, 
Simplex  type  mechanisms.  Can  ship  immediately. 
MONARCH  THEATRE  SUPPLY  CO.,  492  So.  Second, 
Memphis,  Tenn. 


OPERADIO  COMPACT  PUBLIC  ADDRESS 
System,  2  speakers  and  microphone,  $39.50;  underwriters 
approved  2]S4  gallon  anti-freeze  fire  extinguishers, 
$14.95;  quart  pump  type,  $11.25;  two  quart,  $13.50; 
Wollensak  4"  Series  I  lenses,  $13.95;  box  office  bowl 
heaters,  $9.50;  pickup  pans  with  handle,  $1.27;  re- 
chargeable flashlight  batteries,  $2.20;  rectifier  bulbs, 
15  ampere  Gordos,  $6.95;  six  ampere  Westinghouse, 
$3.95;  Suprex  carbon  savers,  98c.  Winter  sale  bulletin 
ready.  S.  O.  S.  CINEMA  SUPPLY  CORP.,  New 
York  18. 


PATCHING  CEMENT  FOR  FABRIC  AND 
Leatherette.  Special  price,  $1,  3  ounce  bottle,  ALLIED 
SEATING  COMPANY,  36  West  13th  St.,  New  York 
City. 


USED  EQUIPMENT 


TWIN  SO  AMPERE  SUPREX  RECTIFIERS, 
rebuilt,  $297.50;  single  45  ampere  type,  $112.50;  imported 
carbons,  1/10  original  cest;  Series  O  lenses,  $Z95; 
Simplex  mechanisms,  incomplete,  $95;  Brandt  coin 
changers,  $119.50;  20/40  arc  generators,  $57.50;  reflec- 
tors, 50%  discount;  thirty  ampere  rectifiers  with  tubes, 
$99.50.  Winter  bargain  bulletin  ready — get  yours. 
S.  O.  S.  CINEMA  SUPPLY  CORP.,  New  York  18. 


MUST  MOVE  TWO  SIMPLEX  REAR  SHUTTER 
heads.  Like  new.  Factory  overhauled.  TWAIN 
THEATRE,  Mansfield,  Pa. 


600  STAFFORD  REBUILT  HEAVY  INSERTED 
recoated  panel  banks,  reupholstered  box  spring  cushion 
chairs,  $5.45;  230  American  ball  bearing  fully  up- 
holstered padded  red  figured  velour  backs,  red  leather- 
ette box  spring  cushions,  good  as  is,  $4.50  each. 
S.  O.  S.  aNEMA  SUPPLY  CORP..  New  York  18. 


WANTED  TO  BUY 


WANTED-PIPE  ORGAN  IN  FAIR  CONDITION. 
State  make,  stops,  etc.  ST.  STANISLAUS  CHURCH, 
118  N.  Market  St.,  Summit  Hill,  Pa. 


February    19,  1944 

Fashion  Shows 
Used  to  Promote 
''Lady  in  Dark^^ 

Paramount,  for  its  forthcoming  national  ic- 
k-ase,  in  Technicolor,  "Lady  in  the  Dark,"  last 
week  and  this  presented  live  trailers  in  New 
\'ork  and  Boston  through  the  medium  of  fash- 
ion shows,  previews  of  orginal  costumes  worn 
in  the  film,  in  advance  of  the  premieres.  The 
fasliion  show  in  New  York  was  held  last  week 
with  500  women  in  uniform  representing  all 
military  services  on  this  continent  assembled 
to  view  the  event.  The  New  York  premiere 
will  be  held  at  the  Paramount  theatre  Febru- 
ary 22.  The  Hub  city  viewed  the  fashion  show 
Monday.  The  premiere  there  is  scheduled  for 
March  9  at  the  Metropolitan  theatre. 

Following  the  world  premiere  of  "Lady  in 
the  Dark"  at  the  Paramount  theatre  in  Holly- 
wood last  week,  the  picture  opened  the  follow- 
ing day  at  the  Downtown  as  well  as  the  Holly- 
wood Paramount  and  at  both  theatres  broke 
opening  day  box-ofifice  records,  at  the  Los  An- 
geles theatre  by  48  per  cent  and  in  Hollywood 
by  40  per  cent. 

The  company  will  tradeshow  the  film  in  29 
exchange  centers  Monday,  February  28.  Neil 
Agnew,  Paramount's  general  sales  manager,  has 
set  up  all  showings  in  theatres,  and  ,in  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  the  screening  will  be  held  in  the 
U.  S.  Department  of  Interior  auditorium  in  the 
evening.  The  Boston  and  Philadelphia  show- 
ings also  will  be  in  the  evening.  Branch  man- 
agers are  inviting  selected  guests,  including 
fashion  editors,  music  critics,  fashion  designers 
and  buyers  of  department  stores. 

George  A.  Smith,  Paramount  western  divi- 
sion sales  manager,  and  Hugh  Owen,  eastern 
division  sales  manager,  are  currently  in  the 
field  conducting  meetings  with  branch  managers, 
salesmen  and  bookers  in  preparation  for  pre- 
mieres and  promotional  plans  for  major  product 
in  general  and  "Lady  in  the  Dark"  and  "The 
Story  of  Dr.  Wassell"  in  particular. 

Paramount's  "The  Navy  Way,"  will  have  its 
world  premiere  at  the  United  States  Naval 
Training  Station  at  Great  Lakes,  Illinois,  some- 
time next  month. 

RKO  Radio's  film  of  international  intrigue, 
"Action  in  Arabia,"  opened  at  New  York's 
RKO  Palace  Friday.  The  film  stars  George 
Sanders  and  marks  the  return  to  the  screen  of 
Virginia  Bruce  after  an  absence  of  18  months. 

Melvin  Hirsch,  president  of  Crystal  Pictures, 
distributors  of  "Adventure  in  Music,"  a  cinema 
concert,  has  announced  the  picture  will  have  its 
world  premiere  at  the  Little  Carnegie  Play- 
house in  New  York  following  the  run  of  "May- 
erling." 

Se+ay  Holdings  Go  to 
New  Company 

The  assets  and  liabilities  of  Setay  Company, 
Inc.,  have  passed  to  the  Associated  Motion  Pic- 
ture Industries,  Inc.,  with  the  exception  of  the 
latter's  interest  in  Republic  Pictures  Corpora- 
tion of  Delaware.  Associated's  formation  was 
disclosed  last  week  in  an  announcement  from 
the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  from 
Philadelphia.  Officers  of  the  nevi'  corporation 
include  Samuel  A.  Adamson  and  Frederick  R. 
Ryan  of  New  York  and  John  A.  Pfeifer  of 
Montville,  N.  J.  Directors  are:  Joseph  D. 
Eagan,  Carl  B.  Heine  and  Nat  K.  Loder  of 
New  York. 

Associated's  stockholders  include  Onsiud. 
Inc.,  Fort  Lee,  N.  J.,  21,597  shares  of  capital 
stock ;  J.  E.  Brulatour,  Inc.,  Fort  Lee,  16,178 ; 
Mr.  Ryan,  504;  Mr.  Loder,  20,  and  Mr.  Pfeifer, 
two.  J.  E.  Brulatour,  Inc.,  also  holds  318,317 
three  per  cent  notes  of  the  new  corporation. 

Setay  was  an  investment  firm  founded  some 
years  ago  by  H.  J.  Yates  and  associates — Setay 
is  Yates  in  reverse. 


Howson  Speaks  on  Films  ^  ,  r-  i    c  c-  •' ^     i   c- ^ 

^  ■  ■  Contemporary  Circle  of  Sinai  Temple  Sister- 

Albert  S.  Howson,  scenario  editor  for  Warner  hood,  at  the  Community  House,  Mt.  Vernon, 
Bros.,  spoke  on  "The  Eighth  Art"  before  the  N.  Y.,  on  Wednesday. 


February    19,    1944  MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


In  This  Week: 
SHOWMEN'S  REVIEWS 
ADVANCE  SYNOPSES 
SHORT  SUBJECTS  CHART 
SERVICE  DATA 
THE  RELEASE  CHART 


Passage  to  Marseille 

(Warner  Brothers) 
Vive  la  France 

Out  of  the  great  national  tragedy  of  the 
eclipse  of  France,  Warner  Brothers  set  out  to 
build  a  cinematic  tribute  to  a  gallant  people. 
It  was  a  difficult  task,  and  if  for  no  other  rea- 
son than  the  filming  of  one  particular  sequence, 
it  was  worth  the  effort. 

That  sequence  is  simple,  brief  and  profound. 
It  is  carried  by  Victor  Francen,  who,  at  least 
histrionically,  is  the  star  of  the  picture.  A  su- 
perb actor  in  pre-Nazi,  pre-Vichy  France,  M. 
Francen  is  a  superb  Frenchman  in  this  film. 
As  captain  of  a  freighter,  he  is  obliged  to  an- 
nounce to  all  those  aboard  that  France  has  ca- 
pitulated to  the  invading  Germans.  He  makes 
a  raeniForable  moment  in  world  history  memor- 
able in  screen  history. 

Exhibitors  perhaps  will  not  reap  box  office 
harvests  from  M.  Francen's  presence  in  the  cast, 
but  they  will  because  when  the  picture  has  ac- 
tion it  moves  swiftly,  and  because  it  has  Hum- 
phrey Bogart  for  the  marquees,  and  Claude 
Rains,  Sydney  Greenstreet  and  Peter  Lorre — • 
shades  of  "Casablanca" — all  playing  their  re- 
spective roles  to  the  hilt.  But  the  word'-of- 
mouth  advertising  of  the  picture  probably  will 
be  born  of  Francen's  presence  in  the  cast. 

The  story  has  to  do  with  a  French  freighter 
making  its  way  through  the  Caribbean  bound 
for  Marseille.  It  picks  up  five  men  adrift  on  a 
raft.  One  of  them,  in  the  secrecy  of  a  cabin, 
tells  their  story  to  a  Capt.  Freycinet,  played 
admirably  by  Claude  Rains.  The  five  men 
prove  to  be  fugitives  from  Devils  Island,  all  of 
them  French  patriots  sworn  to  return  to  France 
to  fight  the  Boche. 

The  super-patriot  of  the  five  is  Matrac, 
played  by  Humphrey  Bogart.  In  a  flashback 
his  story  is  told.  He  is  the  victim  of  a  trumped 
up  charge  of  murder  and  treason,  his  sentence 
to  Devils  Island  parting  him  from  his  beautiful 
and  understanding  wife,  Michele  Morgan,  who, 
at  every  opportunity,  raises  the  picture  to  con- 
siderable heights. 

Bogart,  as  the  editor  of  a  small  French  news- 
paper, was  at  odds  with  those  whom  he  regarded 
as  the  "appeasers  of  Munich."  At  this  point  the 
film  borrows  from  Emile  Zola,  with  Bogart 
writing  an  editorial  titled  "I  Accuse  Daladier." 
The  character  he  portrays  fails  to  ring  true. 

The  five  patriots  never  reach  Marseille.  The 
freighter  is  attacked  by  a  Nazi  plane  as  it  nears 
the  Mediterranean,  and  after  the  captain  has 
secretly  altered  the  course  towards  England.  A 
fascist  wireless  operator  has  radioed  their  posi- 
tion and  their  course  to  the  enemy.  One  of 
the  five  is  killed,  the  survivors  and  the  freighter 
make  England,  and  the  Frenchmen  go  into  bat- 
tle. At  the  conclusion  Matrac  is  killed  in  a 
raid  of  his  bomber  over  the  Continent. 

It  is  a  Hal  B.  Wallis  production  directed  by 
Michael  Curtiz,  who  might  have  cut  some  of 
the  lengthier  speeches  and  left  it  all  to  Victor 


Reviews 

This  department  deals  with 
new  product  from  the  point  of 
view  of  the  exhibitor  who  is 
to  purvey  it  to  his  own  public. 

(Running  times  in  all  instances  are 
the  official  times  given  by  the  dis- 
tributors.) 


Francen.  The  adaptation  was  written  by  Casey 
Robinson  and  Jack  Moffit  from  a  novel  by 
Charles  Nordhoff  and  James  Norman  Hall. 
Music,  which  was  commendable,  was  by  Max 
Steiner. 

Seen  in  the  home  office  projection  room.  Re- 
viewer's Rating :  Good. — Beet  Hicks. 

Release  date,  March  11,  1944.  Running  time,  109 
min.    PCA  No.  9359.    General  audience  classification. 

Matrac   Humphrey  Bogart 

Paula   Michele  Morgan 

Capt.  Freycinet   Qaude  Rains 

Philip  Dorn,  Sydney  Greenstreet,  Peter  Lorre,  John 
Loder,  George  Tobias,  Vladimir  Soko'off,  Edward  Ci- 
anelli,  Konstantin  Shayne,  Victor  Francen,  Helmut 
Dantine,  Louis  Mercier,  Monte  Blue,  Stephen  Rich- 
ards, Hans  Conreid,  Frederick  Brunn,  Billy  Roy, 
Charles  La  Torre. 


See  Here,  Private  Hargrove 

(  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  ) 

Experiences  of  a  Rookie 

Filmed  directly  from  the  pages  of  the  real 
Private  Hargrove's  best-selling  book  about  the 
experiences  of  a  newspaper  reporter  after  induc- 
tion into  the  Army,  this  is  a  smoothly  and 
steadily  amusing  comedy  which  neither  throws 
its  observers  into  the  aisles  in  stitches  nor  back 
onto  their  shoulderblades  in  boredom.  As  the 
first  doughboy  comedy  to  come  to  the  screen  in 
a  long  time,  and  profiting  by  the  wide  popularity 
of  the  book,  the  film  figures  to  prosper  at  most 
box  offices. 

Robert  Walker,  the  sailor  in  "Bataan,"  plays 
Private  Hargrove,  the  bumbling  reporter  who 
makes  good  as  a  soldier,  with  ease  and  charm, 
receiving  solid  support  from  Keenan  Wynn, 
as  the  doughboy  chiseler  who  gives  up  his  taking 
ways  under  the  influence  of  training.  Chill  Wills 
and  others.  Robert  Benchley  is  in  for  a  short 
scene,  thereby  providing  the  billing  value  of  his 
name.  Donna  Reed  disposes  of  the  heart-interest 
equation  pleasantly. 

Unlike  the  earlier  doughboy  comedies,  pro- 
duced before  the  War  Department  put  limita- 
tions on  the  manner  in  which  a  serviceman  may 
be  depicted,  this  picture  does  not  take  comic 
liberties  with  the  Army,  its  methods  or  its 


members,  but  preserves  the  approved  conception 
of  military  discipline,  efficiency,  decorum  and 
so  forth.  For  managing  to  stay  within  these 
limitations  and  still  turn  out  a  comedy  without 
serious  undertone  and  with  laughs,  producer 
George  Haight,  director  Wesley  Ruggles  and 
screenplaywright  Harry  Kurnitz  rate  a  special 
kind  of  credit. 

Previewed  at  the  Village  theatre,  Westwood, 
Calif.,  to  a  Friday  night  audience  which  inter- 
mittently laughed  its  approval.  Reviewer^s  Rat- 
ing :  Good. — William  R.  Weaver. 

Release  date,  Mar.,  1944.  Running  time,  100  min.  PCA 
No.  9721.  General  audience  classification. 

Private  Hargrove  Robert  Walker 

Carol  HoUiday  Donna  Reed 

Private  Mulvehill  Keenan  Wynn 

Robert  Benchley,  Ray  Collins,  Chill  Wills,  Bob  Crosby, 
Marta  Linden,  Grant  Mitchell,  George  Offerman,  Jr., 
Edward  Fielding,  Donald  Curtis,  William  "Bill" 
Phillips,  Douglas  Fowley. 


Chip  Off  the  Old  Block 

(Universal) 
Comedy  with  Music 

Donald  O'Connor's  upswinging  career  touches 
a  new  high  in  this  best  of  the  pictures  he's 
had  to  date.  Studded  with  eight  song  numbers 
which  come  along  in  stride  of  the  story,  which 
is  a  bright  little  narrative  about  backstage 
people  and  sailors,  Bernard  Burton's  production 
is  a  trim  and  tidy  entertainment  directed  with 
zip  and  go  by  Charles  Lamont. 

Peggy  Ryan  again  is  O'Connor's  running 
mate,  with  newcomer  Ann  Blyth  displaying  a 
pleasing  voice  in  the  romantic  spot.  The  sup- 
porting cast  is  composed  of  experienced  players 
whose  names  (Helen  Vinson,  Helen  Broderick, 
Arthur  Treacher  and  others)  carry  some  weight 
on  the  marquee.  Their  performances  mean  much 
to  the  success  of  the  proceedings  on  the  screen. 
So  does  that  of  Quiz  Kid  Joel  Kupperman,  a 
namje  not  to  be  omitted  from  exploitation 
billing. 

The  Eugene  Conrad-Lee  Townsend  script, 
from  a  story  by  Robert  Arthur,  concerns  a 
Naval  school  cadet  versed  in  song  and  dance 
who  falls  in  love  with  the  youngest  member 
of  a  famed  stage  family  and,  after  complications 
compounded  for  comedy,  wins  them  over  to 
favoring  his  suit.  It's  told  in  straightaway 
fashion  and  the  incidental  comedy  in  it  clicks 
steadily. 

Previewed  at  the  Pantages  theatre,  Holly- 
ivood,  where  it  gathered  ripple  upon  ripple  of 
pleased  laughter.  Reviewer's  Rating :  Good. — 
William  R.  Weaver. 

Release  date,  February  25,  1944.  Running  time,  81 
min.  PCA  No.  9803.  General  audience  classification. 

Donald  Corrigan  Donald  O'Connor 

Peggy  Peggy  Ryan 

Gloria  Marlow  HI  Ann  Blyth 

Helen  Vinson,  Helen  Broderick,  Arthur  Treacher, 
Patric  Knowles,  J.  Edward  Bromberg,  Ernest  Truex, 
Minna  Gombell,  Samuel  S.  Hinds,  Irving  Bacon,  Joel 
Kupperman. 


Product  Digest  Section   1 76 1 


The  Curse  of  the  Cat  People 

(RKO  Radio) 
Sequel  Without  Horror 

The  success  of  last  season's  "Cat  People" 
has  prompted  Val  Lewton  to  produce  a  sequel 
with  the  same  cast,  but  the  film  falls  far  short 
of  its  predecessor  in  interest  and  excitement. 
The  fact  that  the  central  character  of  the  first 
film,  played  by  Simone  Simon,  died  at  its  con- 
clusion, presented  the  chief  difficulty  to  script 
writer  De  Witt  Bodeen.  She  returns  in  this 
as  a  charming  wraith,  the  product  of  a  lonely 
child's  imagination,  but  the  unique  horror  of 
the  original  is  not  recaptured. 

Instead,  there  is  the  story  of  a  bewildered 
child  who  prefers  her  dream  world  to  reality 
in  spite  of  the  stern  disapproval  of  her  father. 
The  father  had  watched  Irena,  his  first  wife, 
torture  herself  with  groundless  fears  begun  in 
childhood,  and  found  a  strange  kinship  with  her 
in  his  second  wife's  little  girl.  The  child 
creates  her  own  playmate  in  the  likeness  of 
Irena,  insisting  that  she  is  real,  and  finally  run- 
ning from  her  home  into  the  snow  to  find  her.  _ 

This  simple  point  in  child  psychology  is 
brought  into  the  field  of  melodrama  with  the 
introduction  of  a  large,  shadowy  house  tenanted 
by  two  women — a  former  actress  who  recites 
the  legend  of  the  "Headless  Horseman"  and 
the  frustrated  girl  she  refuses  to  recognize  as 
her  daughter.  All  the  tricks  of  light  and 
sound  are  used  to  produce  an  effect  of  menace 
and  eerieness.  But  the  story  remains  confused, 
in  spite  of  the  earnest  efforts  of  the  cast. 

The  principal  role  is  played  by  young  Ann 
Carter  with  a  stiff  shyness  that  is  appealing. 
Kent  Smith  and  Jane  Randolph  are  competent 
as  her  parents,  and  Julia  Dean,  Eve  March, 
Elizabeth  Russell  and  Sir  Lancelot  all  do  well 
with  their  roles.  The  two  directors,  Gunther 
V.  Fritsch  and  Robert  Wise,  were  more  success- 
ful with  characters  than  plot. 

Seen  in  the  home  office  projection  room.  Re- 
viewer's Rating:  Mediocre. — E.  A.  Cunning- 
ham. 

Release  date.  Block  4.  Running  time,  70  min.  PCA 
No.  9618.    General  audience  classification. 

Amy   Ann  Carter 

Irena   Simone  Simon 

Alice  Reed   Jane  Randolph 

Oliver  Reed  Kent  Smith 

Elizabeth  Russell,  Eve  March,  Julia  Dean,  Erford 
Gage,  Sir  Lancelot,  Joel  Davis,  Juanita  Alvarez. 

Action  in  Arabia 

(RKO  Radio) 
Middle  East  Melodrama 

George  Sanders,  who  used  to  star  in  the 
"Falcon"  series  of  melodramas  for  RKO  Radio, 
is  starred  here  in  a  similar  type  of  story  pro- 
duced on  a  somewhat  larger  budget  and  with  a 
more  exploitable  list  of  supporting  players. 
The  film  may  be  described  as  bigger  than  the 
"Falcon"  pictures  but  not  better. 

Scene  of  the  project  is  Damascus,  about  1941. 
Sanders  plays  an  American  newspaper  man  who 
prevents  the  Nazis  from  recruiting  the  desert 
tribes  to  the  cause  of  the  Third  Reich.  The 
convolutions  of  the  plot  and  counterplots, 
wrought  by  screenplaywrights  Philip  MacDon- 
ald  and  Herbert  Biberman,  are  intricate  be- 
yond the  capacity  of  thumbnail  synopsis  to 
convey  and  sometimes  beyond  the  skill  of  the 
players  to  make  clear. 

Maurice  Geraghty  produced  the  picture,  which 
was  directed  by  Leonide  Moguy.  Both  men  get 
their  best  results  near  the  finish  when  they  blend 
desert  stock  shots  with  staged  action  most 
effectively. 

Previewed  at  the  studio.  Reviewer's  Rating: 

Mediocre.— W.  R.  W. 

Release  date,  Block  4.  Running  time,  75  min.  PCA 
No.  9754.  General  audience  classification. 

Gordon  George  Sanders 

Yvonne  Virginia  Bruce 

Lenore  Aubert,  *^ene  Lockhart,  Robert  Armstrong, 
H.  B.  Warner,  Alan  Napier,  Andre  Chariot,  Marcel 
Dalio,  Robert  Ariderson,  Jamiel  Hasson,  John  Hamilton, 
Rafael  Storm,  Mike  Ansaza. 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 

The  Ghost  that  Walks  Alone 

(  Columbia  ) 
Chiller  Comedy 

In  "The  Ghost  That  Walks  Alone,"  Producer 
Jack  Fier  and  Director  Lew  Landers  turned 
out  a  program  comedy  with  just  sufficient 
mystery  to  keep  Arthur  Lake's  strained  comic 
attempts  from  falling  entirely  flat  as  he  struggles 
with  lines  of  a  screenplay  by  Clarence  Upson 
Young  from  a  novel  by  Richard  Shattuck. 

Lake  plays  a  sound  effects  man  on  a  radio 
program  the  heartily  disliked  producer  of  which 
takes  the  cast  along  on  Lake's  honeymoon  when 
he  and  the  leading  lady  wed.  They  must  re- 
hearse the  show  to  have  it  in  shape  for  the  next 


VISITING  ST.  LOUIS  (M-G-M) 

Fitspatrick  Traveltalk  (T-515) 

The  inland  city  of  St.  Louis  is  the  subject  of 
the  Technicolor  camera  and  James  Fitzpatrick's 
riarration.  Points  of  interest  include  the  well- 
known  Zoological  Gardens  housing  a  huge  col- 
lection of  animals,  the  city's  Museum  of  Art 
and  the  famous  sculpture  by  Carl  Milles  sym- 
bolizing the  site  of  the  metropolis,  "Meeting  of 
the  Rivers." 

Release  date,  February  19,  1944         9  minutes 

HOME  MAID  (M-G-M) 

Fete  Smith  (S-562) 

Pete  Smith  goes  back  to  the  kitchen  where 
Polly  Patterson  provides  some  culinary  lore. 
The  household  hints  are  many  and  frequently 
helpful,  while  comedy  is  provided  in  the  plight 
of  an  exceptionally  innocent  young  couple.  Pete 
Smith  offers  the  usual  mixture  of  information 
and  humor  in  his  comments. 
Release  date,  February  19,  1944.        10  minutes 

SWEET  SWING  (Univ.) 

Musicals  (8126) 

Here's  Eddie  Miller's  orchestra  in  a  charac- 
teristic blend  of  sweet  and  hot,  with  Ray 
Eberle,  Martha  Tilton  and  the  Star  Dusters 
lending  support  in  the  vocal  choruses.  The 
songs  featured  are  "Boogie  Woogie  Maxine," 
"Once  in  a  While,"  "I've  Got  Sixpence"  and 
"Put  Your  Arms  Around  Me  Honey." 
Release  date,  February  23,  1944      15  minutes 

THE  CHAMPION  OF  JUSTICE  (20th.Fox) 

Terry  Toon  (4513) 

The  mice  had  come  into  a  fortune.  In  fact, 
they  were  bequeathed  the  house  which  they  had 
tenanted  without  legal  standing  for  many  years. 
The  disinherited  nephew,  however,  sought  to 
break  the  claim,  but  Mighty  Mouse  came  to  the 
rescue. 

Release  date,  March  17,  1944  6  minutes 

THE  FROG  AND  THE  PRINCESS 

(20th-Fox) 

Terry  Toon  (4514) 

Gandy  Goose  is  dreaming  again.  He  recalls 
an  old  fairy  tale  about  the  princess  and  the 
frog.  The  story  is  re-enacted  in  Technicolor, 
with  the  frog  turning  into  a  prince  under  the 
kindly  treatment  of  the  princess. 
Release  date,  April  7,  1944  minutes 


February    19,  1944 

broadcast  or  the}r'll  lose  their  sponsor.  Lake 
discovers  the  producer  murdered,  and  he  and 
two  others  hide  the  body  in  hope  of  finding  the 
murderer.  Through  the  aid  of  an  eccentric  visitor 
at  the  lodge,  where  the  slaying  occurred.  Lake 
unravels  the  crime  and  explains  away  his  antics 
to  his  bride,  Lynne  Roberts.  Janis  Carter  shines 
briefly  as  the  wife  of  the  slain  man.  Matt  Willis 
provides  the  menace,  but  isn't  the  slayer. 

Seen  at  Grauman's  Chinese  theatre,  Holly- 
wood. Reviewer's  Rating :  Mediocre. 

Release  date,  February  10,  1944.  Running  time,  64 
min.  PCA  No.  9875.  General  audience  classification. 

Eddie  Grant  Arthur  Lake 

Sue  McGuire  Lynne  Roberts 

Enid  Turner  Janis  Carter 

Frank  Sully,  Warren  Ashe.  Arthur  Space,  Barbara 
Brown,  Matt  Willis. 


WILLOUGHBY'S  MAGIC  STRENGTH 
(Col.) 

Phantasies  (5705) 

Willoughby  would  be  a  veritable  Casper 
Milquetoast  without  his  hat.  But  that  headgear 
was  fashioned  from  the  shorn  locks  of  Samson, 
handed  down  through  the  centuries  by  Hercules, 
King  Arthur  and  Sitting  Bull.  He  has  no  fear  of 
Dangerous  Dan  McGrew,  saving  a  girl  from  his 
clutches  in  a  wild  ski  ride.  In  the  stress  of  the 
moment,  his  hat  comes  off  and  a  falling  acorn 
knocks  him  out. 

Release  date,  February  4,  1944  7  minutes 


SCREEN  SNAPSHOTS,  NO.  7  (Col.) 

(5857) 

The  camera  forsakes  Hollywood  for  Mexico 
City  in  a  tour  of  the  motion  picture  studios. 
In  addition  to  many  Mexican  film  stars,  the  reel 
shows  Dolores  Del  Rio  at  work.  Jinx  Falken- 
burg  on  a  good  will  tour  and  some  of  the 
personnel  of  the  Clasa  and  Azteca  studios.  A 
fiesta  for  Motion  Picture  Week,  showing  places 
of  interest  in  the  city,  completes  the  film. 
Release  date,  February  18,  1944          9  minutes 


IN  WINTER  QUARTERS  (Para.) 

Speaking  of  Animals  (Y3-2) 

The  animals  in  this  group  are  not  necessarily 
native  to  the  region  or  country  in  which  they 
were  photographed.  For  the  scene  is  Sarasota, 
Florida,  where  the  Ringling  Brothers-Barnum 
&  Bailey  circus  spends  the  winter  months.  The 
performing  animals  are  presented  in  familiar 
"Speaking  of  Animals"  style. 
Release  date,  January  28,  1944  9  minutes 


RADIO  BUGS  (M-G-M) 

0.ur  Gang  (C-499) 

The  idea  of  becoming  radio  entertainers  takes 
quite  a  hold  on  the  Gang.  They  survey  their 
assorted  talents— vocalists,  one  man  bands, 
dancers  and  comedians— and  set  out  to  sell  their 
variety  show  to  the  none-too-enthusiastic  sta- 
tions. Thinking  they  will  meet  a  better  reception 
with  a  sponsor  all  signed  up,  they  appoint  a 
committee  to  survey  the  merchandising^  field. 
But  the  glamour  fades  as  rapidly  as  the  difficul- 
ties mount. 

Release  date,  not  set  ,  10  minutes 


SHORT  SUBJECTS 

reviews  and  synopses 

(Running  times  are  those  quoted  by  the  distributors.) 


i  762  Product  Digest  Section 


February    19.    1944  MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 

ADVANCE  SYNOPSES 

and  information 


GOING  MY  WAY 
(Paramount) 

PRODUCER-DIRECTOR:  Leo  McCarey. 
PLAYERS:  Bing  Crosby,  Rise  Stevens, 
Barry  Fitzgerald,  Frank  McHugh,  Jean 
Heatfier,  James  Brown,  Fortunio  Bonanova, 
Eily  Malyon,  Anita  Bolster,  and  the  Robert 
Mitchell  Boy  Choir. 

MUSICAL  DRAMA.  This  Leo  McCarey 
story  and  production  offers  a  new  role  to  Bing 
Crosby.  The  singer  plays  a  priest,  sent  to  a 
parish  in  financial  difficulties,  who  succeeds  in 
straightening  these  out  and  several  others  as 
well.  Rise  Stevens,  at  home  in  the  role  of  an 
opera  star,  joins  the  project  and  adds  her  voice 
to  the  Johnny  Burke-James  van  Heusen  songs. 
Among  the  problems  settled  by  the  kindly  ef- 
forts of  the  young  priest  are  that  of  the  neigh- 
borhood kids,  the  mortgage  on  the  church  prop- 
erty and  the  burning  of  the  church  building. 

COWBOY  CANTEEN 
(Columbia] 

PRODUCER:  Jack  Fier.  DIRECTOR: 
Lew  Landers,  PLAYERS:  Charles  Star- 
rett,  Jane  Frazee,  Tex  Ritter,  Vera  Vague, 
Mills  Brothers,  Big  Boy  Williams,  Jimmy 
Wakely,  Max  Terhune,  Walter  ("Dub") 
Taylor,  Roy  AcufF,  Bill  Hughes,  Edith  El- 
Kott. 

MUSICAL  \yESTERN.  A  troupe  of  vaude- 
ville actors  decide  to  spend  a  vacation  helping 
on  a  ranch.  They  arrive  to  find  the  owner 
leaving  for  the  Army.  They  quickly  adapt 
themselves  and  decide  to  open  up  a  Cowboy 
Canteen  for  soldiers  from  nearby  posts.  The 
owner  is  sent  by  his  commanding  officer  to 
help  them  get  things  ready  and  a  feud  de- 
velops between  him  and  a  girl  in  the  troupe. 
The  canteen  is  a  success,  he  falls  for  the  girl, 
and  everything  works  out  to  a  happy  ending. 

SUNDOWN  VALLEY 
(Columbia) 

PRODUCER:  Jack  Fier.  DIRECTOR: 
Benjamin  Kline,  PLAYERS:  Charles  Star- 
rett,  Jeanne  Bates,  Dub  Taylor,  Grace  Len- 
ard,  Jessie  Arnold,  Wheeler  Oakman,  Clancy 
Cooper,  Joel  Friedkin. 

WARTIME  WESTERN,  Starrett,  a  vet- 
eran range  rider  and  gun  expert,  is  working  in 
a  gunsight  plant  on  the  prairies.  Saboteurs  try 
to  disrupt  the  plant.  He  discovers  the  plot  and 
rounds  them  up  in  fast  action  shooting  affrays. 
The  daughter  of  the  plant  owner  displays  inter- 
est in  the  hero  and  he  in  her.  It  ends  with 
-  victory  over  the  saboteurs  and  the  suggestion 
that  he's  won  the  girl. 

BRING  ON  THE  GIRLS 
(Paramount) 

ASSOCIATE  PRODUCER:  Fred  Kohl- 
mar.  DIRECTOR:  Sidney  Lanfield.  PLAY- 
ERS: Veronica  Lake,  Marjorie  Resmolds, 
Sonny  Tufts,  Eddie  Bracken,  Cecil  Kella- 
way,  Johrmy  Coy,  Peter  Whitney,  Huntz 
Hall,  William  Moss,  Phyllis  Brooks. 

TECHNICOLOR  MUSICAL.  Eddie  Brack- 
en is  the  world's  richest  young  man.  He  en- 
lists in  the  Navy  but  his  legal  advisors  insist 
the  youngest  member  of  their  firm  must  join, 
to  keep  watch  over  their  charge.  Bracken 
keeps  carefully  hidden  the  fact  he  is  wealthy, 
but  he  meets  a  cigaret  girl  and  they  become 
interested  in  each  other.  He  thinks  she  is  un- 
aware of  his  wealth,  but  she  is  an  old  sweet- 
heart of  Bracken's  watchdog  companion  _  and 
knows  all  about  the  young  man,  Marjorie 


Reynolds,  a  socialite  night-club  singer  who  is 
also  wealthy,  meets  Bracken,  and  the  two  are 
mutually  attracted.  She  wins  Eddie  when  he 
reaHzes  he  was  in  love  with  her  right  along 
and  that  she  has  no  possible  motive  for  seeking 
wealth. 


THE  MUMMY'S  GHOST 
(Universal] 

ASSOCIATE  PRODUCER:  Ben  Pivar. 
DIRECTOR:  Reginald  LeBorg.  PLAY- 
ERS:  John  Carradine,  Lon  Chaney,  Jr., 
Acquanetta. 

HORROR  DRAMA.  Egypt's  high  priest 
ordains  a  new  priest  for  the  specific  purpose 
of  locating  and  returning  to  her  tomb  the 
sarcophagus  of  Princess  Ananka,  who  died 
3,000  years  ago  accursed  for  falling  in  love  with 
Kharis.  Kharis,  kept  alive  by  the  Cup  of  Life, 
a  mystic  brew,  was  placed  in  the  tomb  to  de- 
stroy anyone  who  might  violate  it.  The  new 
priest  finds  the  Princess'  mummy  and  Kharis 
in  an  American  museum  and  also  that  the 
soul  of  the  princess  has  been  reincarnated  in 
Amina  El  Harun.  Kharis  murders  the  priest, 
steals  Amina  and,  attempting  to  escape  the 
curse,  changes  her  slowly  into  a  mummy  and 
both  are  lost  in  a  swamp. 

HOT  RHYTHM 
(Monogram] 

PRODUCER:  Lindsley  Parson.  DIREC- 
TOR: William  Beaudine.  PLAYERS:  Dona 
Drake,  Robert  Lowery,  Jerry  Cooper,  Harry 
Langdon,  Robert  Kent,  Tim  and  Irene,  Fred 
Sldiuier,  Fred  Cook,  Sidney  Miller. 

MUSICAL.  Two  young  fellows,  employed 
at  writing  commercial  singing  jingles  for  radio, 
meet  a  lovely  young  girl  ambitious  to  sing  with 
one  of  the  nation's  top  orchestras.  They  record 
an  orchestra's  music  off  the  air  for  her  to  sing 
with,  and  a  number  of  recordings  mistakenly 
are  offered  for  sale.  A  suit  is  threatened,  but 
when  the  band  leader  hears  one  of  the  records 
he  signs  the  girl,  who  has  fallen  in  love  with 
one  of  the  writers. 


LUMBER  JACK 
(Sherman-UA] 

PRODUCER:  Harry  Sherman,  DIREC- 
TOR: Lesley  Selander.  PLAYERS:  Wil- 
liam Boyd,  Andy  Clyde,  Jimmy  Rogers, 
Herbert  Rawlinson,  Ellen  Hall,  Ethel  Wales, 
Douglas  Dumbrille,  Francis  McDonald,  John 
Whitney,  Hal  Taliaferro,  Henry  Willis, 
Charles  Morton,  Frances  Morris,  Jack  Rock- 
well, Bob  Bums. 

HOPALONG  WESTERN.  The  53rd  in 
the  Hopalong  Cassidy  series  starring  Bill  Boyd 
is  a  lumberjack  yarn  in  which  the  villains  take 
advantage  of  a  defenseless  woman  in  the  lum- 
ber business.  Hopalong  steps  in  and  uncovers 
the  dirty  work  afoot.  He  makes  things  safe 
for  the  squatters  who  were  getting  the  raw  end 
of  the  deal.  The  mythical  character,  Buck 
Peters,  owner  of  the  Bar  20  ranch,  comes  to  the 
screen  for  the  first  time.  In  all  previous  Hop- 
alongs  he  is  talked  about  by  the  Bar  20  ranch 
hands  but  never  seen. 

NATIONAL  VELVET 
(M-G-M) 

PRODUCER:  Pandro  S,  Berman.  DIREC- 
TOR: Clarence  Brown,  PLAYERS:  Mickey 
Rooney,  Elizabeth  Taylor,  Jackie  Jenkins, 


Anne  Revere,  Reginald  Owen,  Donald  Crisp, 
Juanita  Quigley,  Mona  Freeman. 

DRAMA.  Mi  Taylor,  an  embittered  jockey, 
comes  to  a  small  English  village  where  he 
makes  the  acquaintance  of  a  sweet  little  girl, 
Velvet  Brown.  Her  sympathy  and  understand- 
ing and  unusual  control  over  an  unmanageable 
horse  cause  him  to  take  a  job  and  stay  in  the 
town.  The  girl  wins  the  horse  in  a  raffle,  dis- 
guises herself  as  a  boy  and  rides  it  to  victory 
in  the  Grand  National,  but  the  winner  is  ruled 
out  when  her  deception  is  discovered.  Although 
he  had  started  to  leave  town,  Mi,  Velvet  and 
the  horse  are  at  last  seen  as  one  in  the  fadeout. 

KELLY  TAKES  OVER 
(Universal) 

PRODUCER:  Frank  Gross.  DIRECTOR: 
Edvrard  LUley.  PLAYERS:  Eddie  QuiUan, 
Harriet  Hilliard,  Kirby  Grant,  Milbum 
Stone,  Samuel  S.  Hinds,  Roscoe  Kams, 
Ozzie  Nelson  and  Band,  Fuzzy  Knight, 
Betty  Kean,  specialty  acts. 

COMEDY  WITH  MUSIC.  Kelly  Clark  is 
given  a  royal  sendoff  to  go  to  Hollywood  where 
a  school  friend.  Dynamo  Carson,  has  promised 
her  a  radio  career.  She  bumps  into  King  Castle, 
famous  crooner,  and  they  are  impressed  with 
each  other.  She  meets  Carson,  discovers  he's 
only  a  radio  station  page  boy,  and  takes  a  job 
as  a  waitress.  Castle  is  her  first  customer.  Car- 
son engineers  a  radio  debut  which  almost  wrecks 
Castle's  career,  but  the  ensuing  fist  fight  in  a 
night  club,  arrest,  and  other  misadventures  end 
with  romance  for  all. 

YOU  CAN'T  RATION  LOVE 
(Paramount) 

PRODUCER:  Walter  MacEwen.  DIREC- 
TOR: Lester  Fuller.  PLAYERS:  Betty  Jane 
Rhodes,  Johnnie  Johnston,  Marie  Wiison, 
Bill  Edwards,  Mabel  Paige,  Marjorie 
Weaver,  D'Artega  and  Girl  Band,  Johnny 
"Scat"  Davis,  Roland  Dupree,  Christine  For- 
sythe, 

COMEDY  WITH  MUSIC.  So  many  of  the 
male  students  have  gone  to  war  that  the  Adams 
College  campus  has  70  percent  feminine  students 
in  1944.  The  girls  figure  out  a  date-rationing 
plan  and  issue  ration  points  for  the  few  male 
students.  Competition  is  keen,  and  when  the 
co-eds  engage  in  a  free-for-all  the  faculty  steps 
in,  sets  up  a  canteen  for  the  dateless  girl,  while 
two  campus  romances  threatened  with  disrup- 
tion go  smoothly  once  again. 

THE  HAIRY  APE 
(Jules  Levey  -  UA) 

PRODUCER:  Jules  Levey.  DIRECTOR: 
Alfred  Santell.  PLAYERS:  William  Bendix, 
Susan  Hasrward,  John  Loder,  Dorothy 
Comingore,  Roman  Behnen,  Tom  Fadden. 

DRAMA.  This  is  a  modernized  version  of 
the  stage  play  with  the  opening  scenes  laid  on  a 
freighter.  Susan  Hayward,  a  wealthy  and  spoiled 
socialite,  persuades  John  Loder  to  take  her 
below  decks  where  she  sees  William  Bendix, 
head  of  the  stokers.  Horrified  at  his  bestial 
appearance,  she  scathingly  calls  him  a  "Hairy 
Ape"  and  flees  the  stokehold.  Her  attitude  starts 
him  thinking.  He  tries  to  break  into  her  apart- 
ment in  New  York,  but  is  arrested.  Later  he 
sees  an  ape  in  a  sideshow,  hears  the  barker  say 
the  ape's  only  thoughts  are  to  kill.  He  again 
seeks  the  girl.  She  faints,  but  comes  to  as  he  is 
bending  over  to  kill  her.  She  lures  him  into 
making  love  to  her  and  he  leaves  to  return  to 
his  stokehold,  his  obsession  gone. 


Product  Digest  Section    \  763 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    19,    194  4 


SHORT  SUBJECTS  CHART 

index  to  reviews^  synopses 


COLUMBIA 

Prod.  Rel.  P.D. 

No.  Title  Date  Page 

ALL  STAR  COMEDIES 

(Averaa*  17  MIn.) 

5425  Shot  In  the   EiMpe  8-6-43  1535 

(Gilbert  t  Nuarro) 

5401  I   CaD   Hardly  Walt  8-13-43  1535 

(Stooges) 

5426  Farmer  for  a  Day  8-20-43  1535 

(Clyde) 

5427  Quack  Service   9-3-43  1534 

(Una  Merkel) 

5409  PItehIn'  In  th*  Kitchen.  .9-10-43  1543 

(Herbert) 

5402  Dizzy  Pilot*   9-24-43  1676 

(Stooges) 

5421    A  Rookie's  Cookie  10-8-43  1598 

(Brendel) 

5428  Garden  o»  Eatin'  10-22-43  1637 

(Summervllle) 

5429  You  Dear  Boy  11-4-43  1637 

(Vera  Vague) 

5403  Phony  Express   11-18-43  1637 

(Stooges) 

5430  He  Was  Only  Feudin'  12-3-43  1677 

(Clyde) 

5410  Who's  Hugh?   12-17-43  1697 

(Herbert) 

5404  A  Gem  of  a  Jam  12-30-43  1697 

(Stooges) 

5431  To  Heir  Is  Human  1-14-44  1743 

(Langdon) 

5432  Dr.  Feel  My  Pulse  1-21-44  1754 

(Vague) 

5405  Crash  Goes  the  Hash  2-5-44   

(Stooges) 

5433  Bachelor  Daze   2-17-44  .... 

(Summervllle) 

5434  His  Tale  U  Told  3-4-44  .... 

(Clyde) 

5406  Busy  Buddies   3-18-44  .... 

(Stooges) 

5435  Defective  Detectives   4-3-44  .... 

(Langdon) 


COLOR  RHAPSODIES 
(Average  7  Minutes) 
1511    A  Hunting  We  Wen't  Go.. 8-23-43  1472 

1943-44 

5501  The  Rocky  Ruin  to  Ruin.  10-22-43  1535 

5502  Imagination   11-19-43  1659 

5503  The    Herring  Murder 

Mystery   1-20-44  1743 

5504  Disillusioned  Bluebird  ...4-28-44  .... 


PHANTASIES  CARTOONS 
(Average  9  MIn.) 
4711    Dizzy   Newsreel   8-27-43  1472 

1943-44 

5701  Nursery  Crimes   10-8-43  1598 

5702  The  Cocky  Bantam  11-12-43  1837 

5703  The  Playful  Pest  12-3-43  1677 

5704  Polly  Wants  a  Doctor  1-6-44  1743 

5705  Willoughby's  Magic 

Strength   2-4-44  1762 

5706  Lionel  Lion   3-3-44  .... 


FOX  &  CROW 
(8  Minutes) 

5751  Room  and  Bored  9-30-43  1576 

5752  Way  Down  Yonder  in  the 

Corn   11-25-43  1659 

5753  The  Dream  Kids  2-25-44   


FILM  VODVIL 
(10  Minutes) 
5951    No.  I  Mouile    Powell  (-10-43  1597 


Prod. 

No. 


Title 


Rel. 
Date 


P.D 
Page 


For  information  on  short  subjects  turn  to  the  Product 
Digest  Section  pages  indicated  by  the  numbers  which 
follow  the  titles  and  release  dates  in  the  listing.  Product 
Digest  pages  are  numbered  consecutively  and  are  sepa- 
rate from  Motion  Picture  Herald  page  numbers.  For 
1942-43  short  subject  releases,  prior  to  August,  1943,  see 
pages  1510,  1511  and  1512. 


Prod. 
No. 


Title 


Rel.  P.D. 
Date  Page 


5952  N*.  2  Cootie   Williams. ...  10-8-43  IS98 

5953  N*.  3  Featuring  Zeb 

Carver   11-18-43  1637 

5954  No.  4  This  Is  Ft.  DIx. ...  1-7-44  1743 


COMMUNITY  SINO  (Series  7) 
(9  Minutes) 

5651  No.  1  On  a  Wing  and 

a  Prayer   7-29-43  1472 

5652  No.  2  Delta  Rhythm  Boys. 8-27-43  1535 

5653  No.  3  Patriotic  Songs  9-24-43  1543 

3654    No.  4  Baby  Smiles  at  Me.  10-22-43  1637 

5655  No.  5  Whistlln'  In 

Wyomin'   11-25-43  1743 

5656  No.  6  Pistol  Packln' 

Mama   12-10-43  1697 

5657  No.  7  Christmas  Carols. .  12-24-43  1697 

5658  No.  8  Alouette   1-28-44  1718 

5659  No.  9  Sunday,  Monday, 

Always   2-25-44   

PANORAMICS 
(Averate  9  Minutes) 

5901  Birds  on  the  Wing  8-26-43  1535 

5902  Babies  by  Bannister  10-1-43  1576 

5903  Camera  Digest   1-14-44  1743 

SCREEN  SNAPSHOTS  (Series  22) 
(10  Minutes) 

5851  Ne.  1   8-15-43  1534 

5852  No.  2   9-17-43  1543 

5853  No.  3   lO-lS-43  1597 

5854  No.  4   11-19-43  1637 

5855  No.  5   12-I7-4S  1639 

5856  No.  6   1-14-44  1754 

5857  No.  7   2-18-44  1762 

5858  No.  8   3-24-44   

WORLD   OF  SPORTS 
(10  Minutes) 

5801  Kings  of  Basketball  8-27-43  1535 

5802  Cue  Wizards   9-30-43  1576 

5803  Champ  of  Champions  10-29-43  1837 

5804  Ten    Pin   Aces  11-26-43  1659 

5805  Winged  Targets   12-24-43  1718 

5806  Follow  Through   2-18-44   

5807  Golden  Gloves   3-17-44   


LI'L  ABNER 

5601  Amoozin'  but  Confoozin' .  .2-17-44 

5602  Sadie  Hawkin's  Day  3-31-44 


M-G-M 


TWO    REEL  SPECIALS 
(Averao*  20  Minutes) 
A-403   Shoe  Shine  Boy  12-25-43  1718 

FITZPATRICK  TRAVELTALKS  (Color) 
(9  Minutes) 

T-421    Gllnpse*  of  Mexico  8-21-43  1535 

T-422    Over  the  Andes  9-25-43  1598 


Prod.                                 Rel.  P.D. 

No.          Title                  Date  Page 

1943-44 

T-511    Thru  the  Colorado 

Rockies   10-23-43  1637 

T-512    Grand  Canyon — Pride  of 

Creation   11-27-43  1877 

T-513   Salt  Lake  Diversions. ..  12-25-43  1697 

T-514    Day  In  Death  Valley. ...  I -22-44  174S 

T-515    Visiting  St.   Louis  2-19-44  1762 

T-516    Mackinac  Island   3-18-44   

PETE  SMITH  SPECIALTIES 
(Averaf*  9  Minutes) 

S-470   Scrap   Happy   9-4-43  1535 

S-471    FIxIn'  Trieks   9-18-43  1597 

S-472    FMtball  Thrills  of  1942.. S-25-43  1598 

S-473   Tips  on  Trips  11-13-43  1659 

S-474    Water  Wisdom   11-27-43  1697 

1943-44 

S-551    Practical  Joker   1-8-44  1743 

S-552    Home  Maid   2-19-44  1762 


PASSING  PARADE 

(Average  10  Minutes) 

K-488   Storm   10-23-43  1598 

K-489   To  My  Unborn  Son. ...  10-30-43  1637 

K-490   This  Is  Tomorrow  11-27-43  IU9 

MINIATURES 

(10  Minutes) 

M-58(    My  Tomato   12-4-43  1697 

M-582    Kid  In  Upper  Four. ...  12-25-43  1718 

M-583    No  News  Is  Good  News.  12-18-43  1697 

OUR    GANG  COMEDIES 

(Average  10  Minutes) 

C-497    Little  Miss  PInkerton... 9-18-43  1598 

C-4(I8   Threa  Smart  Guys  10-23-43  li»7 

C-499    Radio  Bugs    1762 

TECHNICOLOR  CARTOONS 
(Average  8  Minutes) 

W-451    One  Ham's  Family  8-14-43  1535 

W-452   War  Dogs   10-9-43  1598 

W-453    Stork's  Holiday   10-23-43  1598 

W-454    What's  Buzzio' 

Buzzard   11-27-43  IB5S 

W-455    Baby  Puss   12-25-43  1697 

W-456   Strange  Innertube   1-22-44  1743 

W-531    Zoot  Cat   2-26-44   

SPECIAL  RELEASE 

X-460    These  Are  the  Men  9-1-43  1496 


PARAMOUNT 

UNUSUAL   OCCUPATIONS  (Color) 
(Average  10  Minutes) 
L2-6    No.  6   9-17-43  IS76 

1943-44 

L3-I    No.   I   11-12-43  1659 

L3-2    No.  2   1-7-44  1726 

L3-3    No.  3   3-3-44   


HEADLINERS 
(Average  10  Minutes) 

A2-I1  Three  Bears  In  a  Boat.  .8-20-43  1535 

A2- 12. Yours  Truly   9-3-43  1576 

A2-13  Dawn  with   Everything. .  .9-24-43  1617 

MADCAP    MODELS  (Color) 
(Average   7  Minutes) 

U3-I    Jaaper  Goes  Fishing  10-8-43  1543 

U3-2    Goodnight  Rusty   12-3-43  1659 

U3-3   Package   for   Jasper  1-21-44  1735 

U3-4   Say  Ah  Jasper   3-10-44  1735 

POPCYE  THE  SAILOR 
(Average  7  Minutes) 
E2- 12  Cartoons  Ain't  Human..    .9-3-43  1543 

1943-44 

E3-1  Her  Honor  the  Mare. .. 1 1-26-43  1658 
E3-2   Mary   Go    Round  12-31-43  1726 

POPULAR  SCIENCE  (Color) 
(10  Minutes) 

J3-1    No.    1   10-15-43  1637 

J3-2    No.  2   12-10-43  1677 

J3-3    No.  3   2-4-44   

SPEAKING  OF  ANIMALS 
(Average  9  Minutes) 
Y2-5   Speaking  of  Aalaials  In 

the  Garden   8-20-43  1543 

Y2-6   SpeaklRo  of  Animals  In 

the  Desert   0-24-43  1817 

I943-44 

Y3-I    Tails  of  the  Border  12-17-43  1677 

Y3-2    In  Winter  Quarters  1-28-44  1762 

Y3-3    In  the  Newsreel   3-17-44   


SPORTLIGHTS 
(Average  10  Minutes) 

R2-10  All  Sails  Set  9-10-43  1506 

1943-44 

R3-I    Mermaids  on  Parade  10-22-43  1637 

R3-2    Ozark  Sportsmen   11-19-43  1637 

R3-3    G.  I.  Fun  12-24-43  1677 

R3-4   Swlmtapadei   I-I4-44  1726 

R3-5    Open    Fire!  2-18-44   


MUSICAL  PARADE 
(20  Minutes) 

FF3-I    MardI   Gnu   10-1-43  1506 

FF3-2   Caribbean    Romance  12-17-43  IB59 

FF3-3   Lucky  Cowboy   2-11-44  1735 

LITTLI  LULU 

03-1    Eggs  Don't  Bounce  1-28-44  1726 

D3-2    Hullaba-lulu   2-25-44   

03-3    Lulu  Gets  the  Birdie. ..  .3-31-44   


NOVELTOON 

P3-I    No  Mutton  fer  Nuttin'. .  1 1-26-43  1677 

P3-2    Hen  Pecked  Rooster  2-18-44   

P3-3    Cilly  Goose   3-24-44   


RKO 


WALT   DISNE>    CARTOONS  (Color) 
(7  Minutes) 
34,107    Reason  and  Emotion  8-27-43  1535 


1 764    Product  Digest  Section 


February    19,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


Prod.                                 Rel.  P.D. 

No.          Titlt                  Date  Pag* 

34.108  Figaro  and  Cleo  10-15-43  1597 

34.109  The  Old  Army  Game. ..  1 1-5-43  1637 

34.110  Home  Defease   11-26-43  1658 

34.111  Chicken    Little   12-17-43  1718 

34.112  The  Pelican  and  the 

Snipe   1-7-44  1728 

34.113  How  to  Be  a  Sailor  1-28-44  1743 

8P0RT8C0PE 
(Average  9  Minutes) 

44.301  Field  Trial  Champions.  .9- 16-43  1598 

44.302  Joe  Klrkwood   10-8-43  1598 

44.303  Stare  and   Strikes  11-5-43  1659 

44.304  Mountain  Anglen   12-3-43  <e77 

44.305  Co-ed  Sports   12-31-43  1726 

44.306  Basket  Wizards  1-28-44  1754 


HEADLINER  REVIVALS 
(Avtraia  18  Minutei) 

43.201  HarrI)  In  the  Sprllf  8-10-43  1543 

43.202  Rhythm  on  the 

Rampage   10-8-43  1578 

43.203  Romanelni  Along   11-5-43  1658 

43.204  Music  Will  Tell  I2-S-43  1677 


EDGAR  KENNEDY 
(Average  17  MIn.) 

43,401    Not  en  My  Aectunt  9-17-43  1598 

^.402    Unlucky  Dog   11.12-43  1637 

43,403   Prunes  and  Politics  I  •7-44  1728 


LEON  ERROL 
(Average  17  Minutes) 

43.701  Seeing  Nellie  Home  9-3-43  1598 

43.702  Cutle  on  Duty  10-29-43  1837 

43.703  Wedtime  Stories   12-24-43  1598 


Prod. 

No. 


Tiili 


VICTORY  SPECIALS 

34,204 

Oil  Is  Blood... 

 9-23-43 

1617 

FLICKER  FLASH  BACKS 

(Average  S 

Minutes) 

44,201 

1535 

44,202 

1576 

44,203 

No.  8   

 10-29-43 

1888 

44,204 

1658 

44,205 

No.  5   

 12-24-43 

1877 

14,206 

1718 

THIS  IS  AMERICA 
(Average  19  MIn.) 

33.111  Aretlo  Passage   8-28-43  1522 

33.112  Age  of  Flight  10-1-43  1576 

33,118   Children  tf  Mara  10-21-43  1606 

1943-44 

43.101  Sailors  All   11-19-43  1654 

43.102  Letter  to  a  Hero  12-17-43  1877 

43.103  New  Prisons— New  Men  1-14-44  1718 

43.104  Mall  Call   2-11-44  1754 


20TH  CENTURY-FOX 

MOVIETONE  ADVENTURES  (Calor) 
(Average  9  Minutes) 


4251 

,9-24-43 

1543 

4252 

SRowland  Sentinels  .... 

11-19-43 

1543 

4253 

Leathernecks  on  Parade. 

.1-14-44 

1718 

(Black  and  White) 

4201 

Sails  Aloft   

3-31-44 

1859 

4202 

Silver  Wing*   

.2- 18-44 

1735 

MAGIC  CARPET  (Color) 

(9  Minutes) 

4151 

Mormon  Trails   

.8-20-43 

1534 

4152 

Coast  of  Strategy  

10-15-43 

1543 

4156 

Kingdom   of  Treasure.. 

.12-3-43 

1658 

4154 

12-24-43 

1718 

4155 

1718 

4153 

Steamboat  on  the  River. 

.3-10-44 

1659 

SPORTS  REVIEWS 

(Avtraia  9  MIn.) 

4301 

1543 

4302 

10-29-43 

1576 

TERRYTOONS  (Technicolor) 
(7  Minutes) 

4501  Mighty  Mouse  Rides  Again  8-6-43  1535 

4502  Camouflage   8-27-43  1534 

4503  Somewhere  in  Egypt  9-17-43  1543 

4504  Down   with   Cats  10-7-43  1543 

4505  Aladdin's  Lamp   10-22-43  1576 

4506  Lion  and  the  Mouse  11-12-43  1637 

4507  Yokel  Duck  Makes  Good. 1 1-26-43  1659 

4508  The   Hopeful   Donkey. ...  12-17-43  1656 

4510  The  Helicopter   1-21-44  1697 

4509  The  Butcher  of  Seville  1-7-44  1658 

4511  Wreck  ef  the  Hesperus  2-11-44  1658 

4512  A   Day  In   June  3-3-44  1735 

4513  The  Champion  of  Justice.  .3- 17-44  1762 

4514  The  Frog  and  the 

Princess   4-7-44  1762 


Rel.     P.D.     Prod.                                 Rel.  P.D. 

Date    Paoi       No.          Title                  Date  Page 

MUSICALS 
(Average  15  MIn.) 

7132   South  Sea  Rhythms  8-25-43  1472 

1943-44 

8121  Hit  Tune  Serenade  9-29-43  1543 

8122  Sweet  Jam   10-27-43  1598 

8123  Choo-Choo  Swing   11-24-43  1658 

8124  Radio  Melodies   12-29-43  1658 

8125  New  Orleans  Blues..  1-26-44  1718 

8126  Sweet  Swing   2-23-44  1762 

8127  Fellow  on  a  Furlough. ..  .3-29-44   

TWO-REEL  SPECIAL 

8112   With  the  Marines  at 

Tarawa   3-1-44  .... 


Prod. 
No. 


Title 


Ret. 
Date 


P.D. 
Page 


MARCH  OF  TIME 
(Average   18  Minutes) 

VIO-I  Airways  to  Peaee  9-10-43 

V 1 0-2  Portugal— Europe's 

Crossrtads   10-8-43 

VIO-3  Youth  in  Crisis  11-5-43 

VIO-4  Naval  Log  of  Victory. ..  12-3-43 

VIO-5  Upbeat  in  Music  12-31-43 

VIO-6  Sweden's  Middle  Road..  1-28-44 

VIO-7  Post-war  Jobs   2-25-44 


UNIVERSAL 


.M3  VITAPHONE 


1666 
1606 
1658 

1697 
1726 


DRIBBLE    PUSS  PARADE 
(9  Minutes) 
4901    Fuss  and    Feathers  10-29-43  1617 


UNITED  ARTISTS 

WORLD  IN  ACTION 
(21  Minutes) 

....  War  for  Men's  Minds. ..  .8-13-43  1512 
....  >Tbe  Labor  Front  11-19-43  1858 

(12  Minutes) 
....    Raid   Report   11-12-43  1718 


1658 


COLOR  CARTUNE 
(Average  7  MIn.) 

8137    Meatless  Tuesday   12-20-48 

SWING  SYMPHONIES 
(Average  7  MIn.) 
7235    Pass  the  Biscuits  M  irandy.8-23-43  1512 
1943-44 

8231  Boogie  Woogie  Man  9-27-43  1557 

8232  Greatest  Man  In  Slam  3-27-44  1718 

PERSON— ODDITIES 
(Average  9  MIn.) 

7383   Cactus  Artist   8-23-43  1472 

1943-44 

8371  Wizard  of  Autos   9-20-43  1557 

8372  Farmer  Gene  Sarazen  I0-2S-43  1597 

8373  Fannie  Hunt  and  Her 

Pets   11-22-43  1637 

8374  World's  Youngest  Aviator.  12-29-43  1754 

8375  Mrs.  Lowell  Thomas  Fur 

Farmer   1-31-44  1735 

8376  The  Barefoot  Judge  2-28-44  .... 

8377  Aviation  Expert  Donald 

Douglas   3-20-44   

VARIETY  VIEWS 
(9  Minutes) 

7363    Yukon  Outpost   8-30-43  1512 

1943-44 

8351  Who's  Next   9-27-43  1535 

8352  i-A    Dogs   10-18-43  1557 

8353  Mister  Chimp  Raises 

rtain   11-29-43  1658 

8354  Wings  in  Record  Time. .  12-27-43  1697 

8355  Amazing    Metropolis  1-17-44  1726 

8356  Magazine  Model   1-24-44  1735 

8357  Animal  Tricks   2-21-44   

8358  Hobo  News   3-27-44   


TECHNICOLOR  SPECIALS 
(Average   19  Minutes) 

9001  Women  at  War  10-2-43 

9002  Behind  the  Big  Top. ...  1 1-27-43 

9003  Task   Force   12-11-43 

9004  Devil  Boats   4-1-44 

9005  Winners'  Circle   4-29-44 

FEATURETTES 
(20  Minutes) 

9101  Voice  That  Thrilled  the 

World   10-16-43 

9102  Over  the  Wall   12-25-43 

9103  Grandfather's  Follies   2-5-44 

9104  Italian  Frontiers   3-25-44 


1543 
1658 
1677 


1598 
1718 

1743 


SPORTS  PARADE  i 
(Average  10  Minutes) 

9501  Tropical  Sportiand   10-0-43  1697 

9502  Desert  Playground   11-13-43  1598 

9503  Into  the  Clouds  1-1-44  1718 

9504  Baa  Baa  Biacksheep  1-22-44  1735 

9505  Dogle   Roundup   2-26-44  1743 

9506  Chinatown  Champs   3-18-44   

9507  Backyard   Golf   4-22-44   

MELODY  MASTER  BANDS 
(10  Minute*) 

9601  Hit  Parade  of  the  Gay 

Nineties   9-18-43  1598 

9602  SweMheart  Serenade   10-23-43  1598 

9603  Cavalcade  of  the  Danes. .  1 1-20-43  1598 

9604  Freddie  Fisher  and  his 

Band   12-18-43  1598 

9605  Ted  Weems  and  Hit 

Merchant  Marine  Band.r-29-44  1735 

9606  Songs  of  the  Range  3-18-44   

LODNEY  TUNES  CARTOONS 
(Average  7  Minutes) 

8611  Porky  Pig's  Feet  7-17-43  1460 

8612  Daffy  the  Commando  11-20-43  1858 

8613  Puss  'N  Booty  12-11-43  1658 

BLUE    RIBBON    MERRIE  MELODIES 
(Average  7  Minutes) 

9301  A   Feud  There  Was  9-11-43  1543 

9302  Early  Worm  Gets  the  Bird  10-2-43  1576 

9303  My  Little  BuckarM  11-8-43  1637 

9304  Fighting  69'/,   12-4-43  1677 

9305  Cross  Country  Detours  1-15-44  1726 

9306  Hiawatha's  Rabbit  Hunt.  .2-12-44  1754 

9307  The  Bear's  Tale  3-11-44   

9308  Sweet  Sioux   4-18-44  .... 

MERRIE  MELODIES  CARTOONS  (Calor) 
(Average  7  Minutes) 

8720  Corny  Concerto   9-25-43  1535 

8721  Fin-n-Catty   10-23-43  1535 

8722  Failing  Hare   ie-80-4S  1807 

8723  Inki  and  the  Minah  Bird. 11-13-43  1637 

8724  An  Itch  in  Time  12-4-43  1658 

8725  Little  Red  Riding 

Babbitt   1-1-44  1659 

8726  What's  Cookin',   Doe7        1-8-44  1659 


9703  I've  Got  Plenty  of  Mutton. 3- 1 1-44 

9704  The  Weakly  Reporter  3-25-44 

9705  Tick  Took  Tuckered  4-8-44 

"BUGS  BUNNY"  SPECIALS 

9721  Bugs  Bunny  and  the  Three 

Bears   2-26-44 

9722  Bugs  Bunny  Nips  the 

Nips   4-22-44 

SANTE   FE  TRAIL  WESTERNS 
(Average  20  Minutes) 

9107  Oklahoma   Outlaws   9-4-43 

9108  Wagon  Wheels  West  10-30-43 

9109  Gun  to  Gun   1-8-44 

9110  Roaring  Gems   2-19-44 

9111  Wells  Fargo  Days  4-15-44 

VITAPHONE  VARIETIES 
(Average  9  Minutes) 

9401  Our  Alaskan  Frontier  11-13-43 

9402  Bees  A'Buzzin'   9-18-43 

9403  Hunting  the  Devil  Cat. ..  12-18-43 

9404  Struggle  for  Life  3-4-44 


1543 
1608 
1726 

1754 


1637 
1598 
1718 


OFFICIAL   U.  S.   VICTORY  FILMS 
(Distributed  by  Various  Malor  Exchanges) 

Wings  Up    1315 

Mission  Accomplished    1329 

Message  from  Malta   1387 

War  Town    1387 

Black  Marketing    IB35 

Glamour  Girls  of  1943   1557 

Last  Will  and  Testament  of  Tom  Smith  1576 

Day  of  Battle   1617 

Suggestion  Box    1617 

Chief  Nelly  Reports  to  the  Nation   1659 

Brothers  In  Blood   1659 

Family  Fued    1859 

Food  and  Magic   1659 

Destination:  Island  X   1697 

No    Exceptions    1728 

This  Is  Worth  Fighting  For  1743 

BRITISH   MINISTRY  OF  INFORMATION 

Silent  Village    1415 

In  the  Drink   1496 

These  Are  the  Men   1466 

The  Ust  Hazard   1496 

Common  Cause    1534 

Women  of  Britain   1534 

I  Was  a  Fireman   1677 

Before  the  Raid   1697 

Danger  Area    1718 

MISCELLANEOUS 
War  in  the  Mediterranean 

(English  Films)    1415 

Trade  Horizons  (Scheftei)   1677 

Avengers  Over  Europe   1697 

(Telenews) 


SERIALS 
COLUMBIA 


1943-44 

5120   The  Batman   7-16-43  1415 

(15  episodes) 
5160  The  Phantom  12-24-43  1697 

(15  epiteds*) 


REPUBLIC 


9701  Meatless 

9702  Tom  Turk 


1943-44 

Fly- Day  ... 

&  Daffy  


.1-29-44 

.2-12-44 


1735 
1743 


1943-44 

381  The  Masked  Marvel  11-6-43  1576 

(12  episodes) 

382  Captain  America   1-29-44  1718 

(15  episodes) 

383  Tiger  Woman  of  the  Amazon  

(12  episodes) 


UNIVERSAL 

1943-44 

8681-93    Dan  WInsiow  of  the 

Coast  Guard   

(13  episodes) 

8781-93    Adventures  of  the 

Flying  Cadets  . 
(13  episodes) 


.7-6-43  1227 


.9-7-43  1557 


Product  Digest  Section   1 765 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


SERVICE  DATA 

on  features 


February    19,    I  944 


Around  the  World  (RKO) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-1 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Jan.  22,  '44,  p.  55. 

Battle  of  Russia  (20th-Fox) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-2 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Dec.  18,  '43,  p.  64 ; 
Feb.  5,  '44,  p.  68 ;  Feb.  12,  '44,  p.  60. 

Destination,  Tokyo  (WB) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-1 
Picture  Gross,  Overall  Performance — 136.3% 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Dec.  4,  '43,  p.  56; 
Dec.  11,  '43,  p.  50;  Jan.  22,  '44,  p.  55;  Jan.  29, 
'44,  p.  57,  59. 

The  Fighting  Seabees  (Rep.) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-1 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Jan.  22,  '44,  p.  51 ; 
Feb.  12,  '44,  p.  61. 

Flesh  and  Fantasy  (Univ.) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-2 
Picture  Gross,  Overall  Performance — 117.9% 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Nov.  20,  '43,  p.  62 ; 
Dec.  4,  '43,  p.  54;  Dec.  18,  '43,  p.  60. 

The  Gang's  All  Here  (20th-Fox) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-2 
Picture  Gross,  Overall  Performance,  132.2% 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Dec.  18,  '43,  p.  63; 
Jan.  1,  '44,  p.  60;  Jan.  29,  '44. 

Girl  Crazy  (M-G-M) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-1 
Picture  Gross,  Overall  Performance — 119.5% 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Jan.  1,  '44,  p.  58; 
Jan.  29,  '44,  p.  59. 

Government  Girl  ( RKO ) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-2 
Picture  Gross,  Overall  Performance — 112.1% 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Dec.  18,  '43,  p.  63. 

Guadalcanal  Diary  (20th-Fox) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-1 
Picture  Gross,  Overall  Performance — 129.5% 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Nov.  13,  '43,  p.  54 ; 
Dec.  11,  '43,  p.  51;  Dec.  18,  '43,  p.  62,  63; 
Jan.  29,  '44,  p.  57. 

Gung  Ho  (Univ.) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-2 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Feb.  5,  '44,  p.  71. 

Happy  Land  (20th-Fox) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-1 
Picture  Gross,  Overall  Performance — 92.3% 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Nov.  18,  '43,  p.  65 ; 
Dec.  25,  '43,  p.  69 ;  Jan.  8,  '44,  p.  84. 


References  to  Round  Table  Exploi- 
tation, Picture  Gross  final  percent- 
ages, and  Legion  of  Decency  ratings 
with  audience  classifications  are 
listed  in  this  department. 

Index  to  Service  Data  may  be  found 
in  the  Release  Chart  starting  on 
page  1767. 


The  Heavenly  Body  (M-G-M) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-2 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Jan.  29,  '44,  p.  56. 

Henry  Aldrich  Haunts  a  House 
(  Para.) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-1 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Feb.  12,  '44,  p.  60. 

Higher  and  Higher  (RKO) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-2 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Jan.  22,  '44,  p.  50, 
51 ;  Jan.  29,  '44,  p.  57. 

His  Butler's  Sister  (Univ.) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-1 
Picture  Gross,  Overall  Performance — 125.9% 

Hostages  (Para.) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-2 

In  Our  Time(WB) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-1 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Feb.  12,  '44,  p.  64. 

Jack  London  (UA) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-2 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Dec.  11.  '43,  p.  52; 
Jan.  1,  '44,  p.  61 ;  Jan.  8,  '44,  p.  82 ;  Jan.  22, 
'44,  p.  51,  56;  Feb.  5,  '44,  p.  72. 

Lassie  Come  Home  (M-G-M) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-1 
Picture  Gross,  Overall  Performance — 112.8% 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Nov.  20,  '43,  p.  58 ; 
Dec.  18,  '43,  p.  60,  64;  Dec.  25,  '43,  p.  69; 
Jan.  29,  '44,  p.  56 ;  Feb.  5,  '44,  p.  68. 

Let's  Face  It  (Para.) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  B 
Picture  Gross,  Overall  Performance — 121.6% 
Round  Table  Exploitation — Sept.  25,  '43,  p.  56 ; 
Feb.  5,  '44,  p.  68. 


LEGION  of  DECENCY  Ratings 

class  A-1  Unobjectionable 

Class  A-2  Unobjectionable  for  Adults 

Class  B  Unobjectionable  in  Part 

Class  C  Condemned 


The  Lodger  (20th-Fox) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-2 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Feb.  12,  '44,  p.  64 

Lost  Angel  (M-G-M) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-1 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Jan.  22,  '44,  p.  54. 

Madame  Curie  (M-G-M) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-2 
Picture  Gross,  Overall  Performance — 113.2% 

None  Shall  Escape  ( Col.) 

Audience  Classification — Adult 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-2 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Jan.  29,  '44,  p.  59; 
Feb.  5,  '44,  p.  70 ;  Feb.  12,  '44,  p.  60. 

The  North  Star  (RKO) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  B 
Picture  Gross,  Overall  Performance — 115.8% 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Jan.  29,  '44,  p.  59. 

No  Time  for  Love  (Para.) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-2 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Feb.  12,  '44,  p.  64. 

Riding  High  ( Para.) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  B 
Picture  Gross,  Overall  Performance — 114.5% 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Jan.  1,  '44  p.  60. 

Thousands  Cheer  (M-G-M) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-2 
Picture  Gross,  Overall  Performance — 129.8% 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Jan.  1,  '44,  p.  59; 
Feb.  12,  '44,  p.  64. 

What  a  Woman  ( Col.) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-2 
Picture  Gross,  Overall  Performance — 103.9% 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Jan.  1,  '44,  p.  59; 
Jan.  22,  '44,  p.  55 ;  Feb.  5,  '44,  p.  71. 

Where  Are  Your  Children?  (Mono.) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-2 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Jan.  29,  '44  p.  59. 

Whistling  in  Brooklyn  (M-G-M) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-1 
Picture  Gross,  Overall  Performance — 97.4% 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Dec.  4,  '43,  p.  56; 
Jan.  1,  '44,  p.  58 ;  Jan.  29,  '44,  p.  59. 

Women  in  Bondage  (Mono.) 

Audience  Classification — Adult 

Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  B 

Round  Table  Exploitation— Jan.  29,  '44,  p.  58. 

Young  Ideas  (M-G-M) 

Audience  Classification — General 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating — Class  A-2 
Round  Table  Exploitation— Feb.  12,  '44,  p.  64. 


1 766  Product  Digest  Section 


February    19,    I  944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


THE  RELEASE  CHART 

Index  to  RevieivSf  Advance  Synopses  and 
Service  Data  in  PRODUCT  DIGEST  SECTION 


(*]  before  the  title  indicates  1942-43  product. 

Release  dates  and  running  time  are  furnished  as  soon  as  avail- 
able. Advance  dates  are  tentative  and  subject  to  change.  Run- 
ning times  are  the  official  times  supplied  by  the  distributor. 

All  page  numbers  on  this  chart  refer  to  pages  in  the 
PRODUCT  DIGEST  SECTION  of  MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD. 


Consult  Service  Data  in  the  PRODUCT  DIGEST  SECTION  for 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating,  Audience  Classification  and  Managers' 
Round  Table  Exploitation. 

Short  Subjects  Chart  with  Synopsis  Index  can  be  found  on 
pages  1764-1765. 

Feature  Product  Including  Coming  Attractions,  listed  by  Com- 
pany, in  order  of  release,  on  page  1 755. 


trod. 

Title  Company 

Numbe 

ABOVE  Suspicion 

M©M 

402 

Action  In  Arabia 

RKO 

Address  Unknown 

Col. 

Adventure  in  Iraq 

WB 

'304 

Adventures  of  a  Rookie 

RKO 

402 

Adventures  of  Mark  Twain 

WB 

Adventures  of  Tartu  (British) 

MGM 

406 

Ali  Baba  and  40  Thieves  (color) 

Univ. 

8003 

Always  a  Bridesmaid 

Univ. 

8023 

Amazing  Mr.  Forrest,  The 

PRC 

413 

American  Miracle  (color) 

MGM 

(formerly  America) 

And  Now  Tomorrow 

Para. 

And  the  Angels  Sing 

Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble 

Para. 

MGM 

Arizona  Trail 

Univ. 

808  i 

Arizona  Whirlwind 

Mono. 

Around  the  World 

RKO 

411 

At  Night  We  Dream  (color) 

Col. 

Release 

Start  Date 

Joan  Crawford-Fred  MacMurray  Sept.,'43 

George  Sanders- Virginia  Bruce  Block  4 

Paul  Lukas-Mady  Christians  Not  Set 

John  Loder-Ruth  Ford  Oct.  9.'43 

Wally  Brown-Alan  Carney  Block  I 

Fredric  March-Alexis  Smith  Not  Sot 

Robert  Donat-Valerie  Hobson  Oct.,'43 

Jon  Hall-Maria  Montez  Jan.  I4,'44 

Andrews  SIsters-PatrIc  Knowles  Sept.  24,'43 

Edward  E.  Horton-Jack  Buchanan  Feb.  24,'44 

Brian  Donlevy-Ann  Richards  Not  Set 

Lorotta  Young-Alan  Ladd  Not  Set 

Fred  MacMurray-Dorothy  Lamour  Not  Set 

Mickey  Rooney-Lewis  Stone  Not  Set 

Tex  Ritter-Fuzzy  Knight  Sept.  24,_'43 

Ken  Maynard-Hoot  Gibson  Mar.  7,'44 

Kay  Kyser-Joan  Oavis-Mischa  Auer  Block  3 

Merle  Oberon-Paul  Muni  Net  Set 


/—  REVIEWED 

M.  P.  Product 

Running         Herald  Digest 

Time             Issue  Page 

90m  May  I, '43  1546 

75m  Feb.  I9.'44  1762 

64  m  Sept.25.'43  1553 

64m  Aug.  21, '43  1547 

103m  Aug.'  7.'43  1546 

87m  Jan.  I5,'44  1713 

61m  Oct.  2.'43  1566 

57m   

Vim  Nov.'27.'43  1645 


Advane* 

Synopsis 
Page 
1081 
1746 
1695 
1530 
1471 
936 

i457 
1192 
1747 
1457 

1715 
1555 
1456 
1545 
1746 
1457 
1715 


Service 
Data 
Page 

1575 


617 


1655 


1766 


BANJO  on  My  Knee 

(Reissue) 
Bar  20 

Battle  of  Russia 

Beautiful  But  Broke 

Bell  Bottom  George  (British) 

Beneath  Western  Skies 

Best  Foot  Forward  [color] 

Between  Two  Worlds 

(formerly  Outward  Bound) 

Beyond  the  Last  Frontier 

Black  Hills  Express 

Blazing  Frontier 
'Blazing  Guns 

Bombers  Moon 

Boss  of  Rawhide 

Bridge  of  San  Luis  Rey,  The 

Bring  On  the  Girls 

Broadway  Rhythm  (color) 

Buffalo  Bill  (color) 
'Bullets  and  Saddles 


20th-Fox        407  Barbara  Stanwyck-Joel  McCrea 

UA    William  Boyd-Andy  Clyde 

20th-Fox        414  Documentary 

Col.       5022  Joan  Davis-Jane  Frazee 

Col   George  Formby 

Rep   Bob  Livingston-Smiley  Burnette 

MGM        405  Lucille  Ball-William  Gaxton 

WB    John  Garfield-Paul  Henreld 

Rep.        351  Eddie  Dew-Smiley  Burnette 

Rep.        362  Don  Barry-Wally  Vernon 

PRC        459  Buster  Crabbe-AI  St.  John 

Mono   Hoot  Gibson-Ken  Maynard 

20th-Fox        401  George  Montgomery-Annabella 

PRC        452  Dave  O'Brien-Jim  Newill 

UA       ....  Lynn  Bari-Akim  Tamiroff 

Para   Veronica  Lake-Sonny  Tufts 

MGM        419  George  Murphy-Ginny  Simms 

20th-Fox       ....  Maureen  O'Hara-Joel  McCrea 

Mono.       ....  Range  Busters 


Oct.  29,'43 

95m 

Dec.  5.'36 

1585 

Oct.  I,'43 

54m 

July  24,'43 

1559 

Nov.  5.'43 

80m 

Nov.  6,'43 

i6l5 

Jan.  25,'44 

72m 

Feb.  5,'44 

1742 

i696 

Not  Set 

97  m 

Jan,  29,'44 

1734 

Not  Set 

i746 

Oct..'43 

94  m 

July  3,'43 

1532 

1191 

Not  Set 

1646 

Sept.  I8,'43 

55m 

Sept.  II, '43 

1529 

Aug.  I5,'43 

55m 

Aug.  7,'43 

1546 

i457 

Sept.  I,'43 

59m 

1531 

Oct,  8,'43 

55m 

Sept.  I8,'43 

1542 

1509 

Aug.  6,'43 

70m 

July  I0,'43 

1532 

1305 

Nov.  20,'43 

59m 

1599 

Feb.  11, "44 

107m 

Feb.  5,'44 

1742 

1636 

Not  Set 

1763 

Mar.,'44 

llSm 

Jan.  22,'44 

i725 

1616 

Not  Set 

1531 

Oct.  29.'43 

54m 

Oct.  9,'43 

1573 

1531 

CALIFORNIA  jo.  Rep. 

Calling  Dr.  Death  Univ. 

*Campus  Rhythm  Mono. 
Candlelight  In  Algeria  (Br.)    Br.  Lion 

Cantarville  Ghost,  The  MGM 

Canyon  City  Rep. 

Casanova  in  Burlesque  Rep. 

Career  Girl  PRC 

Chance  of  a  Lifetime,  The  Col. 
Charlie  Chan  In  Secret  Service  Mono. 

Cherokee  Strip  (Reissue)  WB 

Clifp  Off  the  Old  Block  Univ. 

Christmas  Holiday  Univ. 

Cinderella  Jones  WB 

City  That  Stopped  Hitler  Para. 


365 
8026 


364 
333 
403 
5034 

333 


4331 


Don  Barry-Helen  Talbot 
Lon  Chaney-Patrlcia  Morison 
Gale  Storm-Robert  Lowery 
James  Mason-Caria  Lehmann 
Charles  Laughton-Margaret  O'Brien 
Don  Barry-Helen  Talbot 
Joe  E.  Brown-June  Havoc 
Frances  Langford-Craig  Wood 
Chester  Morris-Jeanne  Bates 
Sidney  Toler-Gwon  Kenyon 
Dick  Foran 

Donald  O'Connor-Peggy  Ryan 
Deanna  Durbin-Gene  Kelly 
Joan  Leslie-Robert  Alda 
Russian  Documentary 


Dec.  29.'43 

55m 

Jan.  8,'44 

1706 

Dec.  I7,'43 

63  m 

Dec.  I8,'43 

1673 

Nov.  I9.'43 

63  m 

Oct.  9.'43 

1574 

Not  Set 

85m 

Jan.  I,'44 

1694 

Not  Set 

Nov.  29,'43 

55m 

Nov.  I3,'43 

1626 

Feb.  I9,'44 

72m 

Jan.  29,'44 

1733 

Jan.  II, '44 

66m 

Dec.  I8,'43 

1674 

Oct.  26,'43 

66m 

Oct.  I6.'43 

1586 

Feb.  I4,'44 

6Sm 

Jan.  I5,'44 

1714 

Oct.  2,'43 

56m 

Feb.25.'44 

81m 

Feb.  I9,'44 

1761 

Not  Set 

Not  Set 

Special 

57  m 

Sept.  4.'43 

1521 

1675 
1635 
1545 

1635 
1599 
1676 
1634 
1545 
1599 

1715 
1695 
1746 


1655 


Product  Digest  Section    1 767 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    19,  1944 


REVIEWED  -> 


M.  P. 

Product 

Advance 

Service 

Prod. 

Keleate 

Running 

Herald 

Digest 

Synopsii 

Data 

Title 

Company 

Number 

Start 

Date 

Time 

Issue 

Page 

Page 

Page 

m  J- 

20th-Fox 

II    1  XJA 

404 

llom^nif  Kil/^G^iiirA_RnnArT  iminn 
L/Ui  uTiiy  ivic^^uiro*iwuori    ■  uun^ 

Seot    3  '43 

91m 

Aua  21  '43 

1558 

.... 

1655 

C.nAC'f  aI    (.nmnriAnH    1  RriTicn  1 

RKO 

Dnnim  Ant  Ar\/ 

Not  Set 

1  ^  V  1     WW  1 

60m 

Nov.  14  '42 

1  ^W  T  •     1  T^i 

1005 

Cobra  Woman  (color) 

Univ. 

Jnn  H All-K^/iriii  ^ontAT 

WVII    1   iCIII    IViai  Id  ITIVIMvai 

Not  Set 

1457 

1655 

Conflict 

WB 

H  iim  nhrAU  Rnn Art. A 1  av ic  Nnnitn 
1  1  Utii fiTirvy  vw^ai  i'^>iaAi>  v^iiiiiii 

Not  Set 

1  ^  Wl           V  1 

1456 

CorvoH*  K-225 

Univ. 

8007 

KAnnnlnn  S^ntt^lAmAC  nmwn 
i\o iiuui^ii            I ~wa iiio>  ui  V w II 

Oct.   1  ,'43 

99m 

Oct    2  '43 

1565 

1240 

1719 

Couragaous  Mr.  Penn  (Br.) 

Hoffberg 

III VI  u  tvaiid'i^ouuran  i\arr 

Doc  22''43 

78m 

Jan.  I,'44 

1694 

Cover  Girl,  The  (color) 

Col. 

Rit A  Hf^vwortn-GAn A  K aIIv 

l\lia      1   lUT  *■  V  pill           Ullw  IXwIlT 

Not  Set 

1  ^  w  1    w  W  1 

1416 

Cowboy  Canteen 

Col. 

5220 

ClnAPiAC  S^A rrntt-.l A n A  Fpataa 
v>i iaiic73   ^laiioii  w alio    11  a^oo 

Feb.  8,'44 

1763 

Cowboy  in  the  Clouds 

Col. 

5203 

C^nArlA<  StArrA4^>.liiliA  IJiin^An 

Dec  23  '43 

55m 

Jan.  8  '44 

1706 

1636 

Cowboy  and  the  Senorita,  The  Rep. 

Rov  Rodfirs-DAla  EvAnt 

IX  W  T      1 \J  W 1             Mlw  kTOII# 

Not  Set 

1  ^  W  1    WW  i 

1747 

Crazy  House 

Univ. 

8005 

CjIcAfi  A n/1  .Inn neon 
v^i>ori  a  iiu  w wii  n^uii 

Oct    8  '43 

80m 

Oct  23  '43 

w  1  «  \ 

1595 

1531 

1719 

Crime  by  Night 

WB 

Jane  Wyman-Jerome  Cowan 

Not  Set 

1091 

Crime  Doctor's  Strangest  C 

Bse  Col. 

5021 

Warner  Baxter-Lynn  Merrick 

Dec.  9.'43 

68m 

Jan.22,'44 

1725 

1654 

Crime  School  (Reissue) 

WB 

327 

Humphrey  Bogart-Dead  End  Kids 

Dec.  4,'43 

86m 

May  7.'38 

1626 

Cross  of  Lorraine,  The 

MGM 

414 

Pierre  Aumont-Gene  Kelly 

Jan.,'44 

90m 

Nov.  I3,'43 

1625 

i457 

1719 

Cross  Your  Fingers 

Univ. 

Grace  McDonald-Leon  Errol 

Mar.  I0.'44 

1746 

Cry  "Havoc" 

M6M 

Margaret  Sullavan-Ann  Sothern 

Feb..'44 

97m 

Nov.  6,'43 

I6i4 

1555 

Curly 

Col. 

Cary  Grant-Janet  Blair 

Not  Set 

1616 

Curse  of  the  Cat  People 

RKO 

Simone  Simon-Kent  Smith 

Block  4 

70  m 

Feb.  I9,'44 

1762 

1715 

DANCING  Masters,  The 

20th-Fox 

413 

Laurel  and  Hardy 

Nov.  I9,'43 

63m 

Oct.  30.'43 

1605 

1555 

Dangerous  Blondes 

Col. 

4016 

Evelyn  Keyes-Edmund  Lowe 

Sept.23,'43 

80m 

Oct.  23,'43 

1594 

1509 

Danger!  Women  at  Work 

PRC 

41! 

Patsy  Kelly-Mary  Brian 

Aug.  23,'43 

59m 

July  I7,*43 

1426 

Day  After  Day  (Russian) 

Artkino 

Documentary 

Nov.  I5,'43 

62m 

Nov.  20,'43 

1634 

Days  of  Glory 

RKO 

Tamara  Toumanova-Gregory  Peck 

Not  Sat 

1636 

Dear  Octopus  (British)  Gains.-Gen'l 

Margaret  Lockwood-Michael  Wilding 

Not  Set 

86m 

Sept.  I8,'43 

1542 

Death  Valley  Manhunt 

Rep. 

375 

Bill  Elliott-Gabby  Hayes 

Sept.  25,'43 

55m 

Aug.  28,'43 

1558 

1402 

Death  Valley  Rangers 

Mono. 

Hoot  Gibson-Ken  Maynard 

Dec.  3,43 

59m 

Dec.  I8,'43 

1674 

1555 

Demi  Paradise  (Br.)     Two  Cities-GFD 

Laurence  Olivier-Penelope  Ward 

Not  Set 

Il5m 

Dec.  I8,'43 

1673 

Deerslayer,  The 

Rep. 

306 

Bruce  Kellogg-Jean  Parker 

Nov.  22,'43 

67m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1615 

1599 

Desert  Song,  The  (color) 

WB 

310 

Dennis  Morgan-Irene  Manning 

Jan.  29,'44 

96m 

Dec.  I8,'43 

1673 

872 

Destination,  Tokyo 
Devil  Riders,  The 

WB 

309 

Cary  Grant-John  Garfield 

Jan.  I,'44 

135m 

Dec.  25,'43 

1685 

1530 

PRC 

460 

Buster  Crabbe-AI  St.  John 

Nov.  5,'43 

58m 

Feb.  I2,'44 

1754 

1566 

Double  Indemnity 

Para. 

Barbara  Stanwyck-Fred  MacMurray 

Not  Set 

1646 

Doughboys  in  Ireland 

Col. 

5031 

Kenny  Baker-Jeff  Donnell 

Oct.  7,'43 

6'lm 

Oct.  9,'43 

i574 

1545 

Dragon  Seed 

MGM 

Katharine  Hepburn-Walter  Huston 

Not  Set 

1675 

Drifter,  The 

PRC 

46i 

Buster  Crabbe-AI  St,  John 

Dec.  20,'43 

60m 

1606 

Dr.  Gillespie's  Criminal  Case 

MGM 

407 

Lionel  Barrymore-Van  Johnson 

Nov.,'43 

89m 

May  8,'43 

1546 

1192 

Dr.  Paul  Joseph  Goebbels 

Frank 

Paul  Andor-Claudia  Drake-Donald  Woods  Not  Set 

1599 

Drum*  of  Fu  Manchu 

Rep. 

305 

Henry  Brandon-William  Royle 

Nov.  27,'43 

68m 

Nov.  I3,'43 

i626 

1606 

EMPTY  Holsters  (Reissue)  WB 
Escape  to  Danger  (British)  RKO 
Eve  of  St.  Mark  20th-Fox 


334       Dick  Foran 
.  . .  .        Eric  Portman-Ann  Dvorak 
.  . .  .        Michael  O'Shea-Anne  Baxter 


Oct.  2,'43 
Block  4 
Not  Set 


62m 
83m 


Feb.  5,'44  1742 


1636 


FALCON  and  the  Coeds,  The  RKO 

Fallen  Sparrow.  The  RKO 

False  Colors  UA 

Fighting  Seabees,  The  Rep. 

Find  the  Blackmailer  WB 

Fired  Wife  Univ. 

Flesh  and  Fantasy  Univ. 

Follow  the  Leader  Mono. 

•  Footliqht  Glamour  Col. 

For  Whom  the  Bell  Tolls  (color)  Para. 

Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep  20th-Fox 

Frenchman's  Creek  (color)  Para. 

Frisco  Kid  (Reissue)  WB 

Frontier  Law  Univ. 

Frontier  Outlaws  PRC 

Fugitive  from  Sonora  Rep. 


410 

Tom  Conway-Jean  Brooks 

Block  2 

68m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1615 

1599 

401 

Maureen  O'Hara-John  Garfield 

Block  1 

93m 

Aug.  21, '43 

1547 

1 182 

1719 

William  Boyd 

Nov.  5.'43 

65  m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1614 

1431 

John  Wayne-Susan  Hayward 

Not  Set 

lOOm 

Jan.22,'44 

1725 

1616 

1766 

306 

Faye  Emerson-Jerome  Cowan 

Nov,  6,'43 

55m 

Oct.  23.'43 

1594 

8017 

Robert  Paige-Louise  Allbritton 

Sept.  3,'43 

73m 

Sept.  4,'43 

1521 

8062 

Charles  Boyer-Barbara  Stanwyck 

Oct.  29,'43 

94m 

Sept.  18,'43 

1541 

1058 

1766 

East  Side  Kids 

Not  Set 

1606 

4020 

Penny  Singleton-Arthur  Lake 

Sept.  30,'43 

68m 

Oct.  9.'43 

i573 

1531 

4338 

Gary  Cooper-lngrid  Bergman 

Special 
Mar.,'44 

168m 

July  17,'43 

1546 

855 

i7i9 

Kay  Francis-Carole  Landis 

1676 

Joan  Fontaine-Arturo  de  Cordova 

Not  Set 

1416 

325 

James  Cagney-Margaret  Lindsay 

Mar.  4,'44 

77  m 

Nov.  2,'35 

1726 

8082 

Russell  Hayden-Jennifer  Holt 

Nov.  5,'43 

55m 

1606 

462 

Buster  Crabbe-AI  St.  John 

Mar.  4,'44 

1746 

361 

Don  Barry-Lynn  Merrick 

July  1.'43 

55m 

July  10, '43 

1414 

I37S 

GANG'S  All  Here  (color)  20th-Fox 
Gangway  for  Tomorrow  RKO 
Ghost  Ship,  The  RKO 
Ghost  That  Walb  Alone,  The  Col. 
Gildersleeve  on  Broadway  RKO 
Girl  Craiy  MGM 
Girl  from  Monterrey,  The  PRC 
Girls  on  Probation  (Reissue)  WB 
Going  My  Way  Para. 
Good  Fellows,  The  Para. 
Government  Girl  RKO 
Great  Moment,  The  Para. 

(formerly  Great  Without  Glory) 
Great  Mr.  Handel,  The  (color) 

(British)  Midfilm 

1 768  Product  Digest  Section 


416 

Alice  Faye-Carmen  Miranda 

Dec.  24, '43 

103m 

Dec.  4.'43 

1653 

1530 

1766 

407 

Margo-Robert  Ryan-John  Carradine 

Block  2 

69m 

Nov  6, '43 

1614 

1566 

412 

Richard  Dix-Edith  Barrett 

Blocks 

69m 

Dec.  1 1  ,'43 

1666 

1646 

Arthur  Lake-Lynn  Roberts 

Feb.  10,'44 

64m 

Feb.  I9,'44 

1762 

1696 

409 

Harold  Peary-Billie  Burke 

Block  2 

65  m 

Oct.  23,'43 

1595 

1566 

409 

Mickey  Rooney-Judy  Garland 

Nov.,'43 

99m 

Aug.  7,'43 

1558 

1 191 

1766 

412 

Armlda-Edgar  Kennedy 

Oct.  4,'43 

61m 

Sept.  25,'43 

1554 

1509 

328 

Jane  Bryan-Ronald  Reagan 

Dec.  4.'43 

63m 

Oct.  29,'38 

1626 

Bing  Crosby-Rise  Stevens 

Block  4 

1763 

4302 

Cecil  Kellaway-Helen  Walker 

Block  1 

70m 

Aug.  I4.'43 

1559 

1 191 

408 

Olivia  de  Havilland-Sonny  Tuffs 

Block  2 

93  m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1614 

1416 

1766 

Joel  McCrea-Betty  Field 

Not  Set 

912 

Wilfred  Lawson-Eliiabeth  Allan 

Sept.,  9.'43 

89m 

Sept.  I8.'43 

1542 

February    19,    I  944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


r-  REVIEWED  -^ 

M.  P.       Product    Advance  Service 


Prod. 

Release 

Running 

Herald 

Digest 

Synopsis 

Data 

Title 

Company 

Number 

Start 

Date 

Time 

Issue 

Page 

Page 

Page 

Greenwich  Village  (color) 

20th-Fox 

Don  Amecha-Carmen  Miranda 

Not  Set 

1676 

Guadalcanal  Diary 

20th-Fox 

412 

Preston  Foster-Lloyd  Nolan 

Nov.  5.'43 

93m 

Oct.  30,'43 

1605 

1457 

1766 

Gung  Ho 

Univ. 

8064 

Randolph  Scott-Grace  McDonald 

Dec.  31. "43 

88m 

Dec.  25,'43 

1686 

1599 

1766 

Gunsmoice  Mesa 

PRC 

453 

Dave  O'Brien-Jim  Newill 

Jan.  3,'44 

59m 

1635 

Guns  of  the  Pecos  (Reissue) 

WB 

335 

Dick  Foran 

Oct.  2.'43 

56m 

Guy  Named  Joe,  A 

MGM 

416 

Spencer  Tracy-Irene  Dunne 

Mar..'44 

120m 

Dec.  25.'43 

1686 

1431 

Gypsy  Wildcat  (color) 

Univ. 

Maria  Montez-Jon  Hall 

Not  Set 

1675 

HAIL  the  Conquering  Hero  Para. 

Eddie  Bracken-Ella  Raines 

Not  Set 

.... 

1696 

Hail  to  the  Rangers 

Col. 

5201 

Charles  Starrett 

Sept.  I6,'43 

57m 

Nov.  27,'43 

1646 

1055 

Hairy  Ape,  The 

UA 

William  eendix-ousan  tiayward 

A  A           n  *  A  A 

May  Y,  44 

1 763 

Hands  Across  the  Border 

Rep. 

341 

Roy  Rogers-Ruth  Terry 

Jan.  5,'44 

73m 

Dec.  1 1,'43 

1665 

1545 

Happy  Land 

20th-Fox 

Al  R 

□on  Ameche-rrances  Dee 

Dec.  3, 43 

75m 

Nov.  1 3,  43 

1625 

1555 

1 766 

Harvest  Melody 

PRC 

4U* 

Rosemary  Lane-Johnny  Uowns 

Nov.  22, '43 

71m 

Oct.  9,  43 

1574 

t  e  AC 

1545 

Heat's  On,  The 

Col. 

en  AO 

Mae  West-Victor  Moore 

Dec.  2,  43 

79m 

Uec.  4,  43 

1653 

1 555 

1719 

Heaven  Can  Wait  (color) 

20th-Fox 

Don  Amecha-&ene  Tierney 

Aug.  13, '43 

1 12m 

July  24,  43 

1578 

1240 

1617 

Heavenly  Body,  The 

MGM 

AO  1 

William  Powell-Hedy  Lamarr 

A           *  A  A 

Apr.,  44 

94m 

1              I   *  A  A 

Jan.  1,44 

1693 

1555 

1766 

Henry  Aldrich,  Boy  Scout 

Para. 

40  1  1 

Jimmy  Lydon-Charlie  Smith 

Block  3 

oom 

Jan.  o,  44 

1 706 

\  696 

Henry  Aldrich  Haunts  a  House  Para. 

Jimmy  Lydon-Cherlie  Smith 

DlOCk  £ 

7^  rv* 

/ 

INOV.    O,  *tO 

I  ktA 
1  O  1  4 

1  OOO 

1  /OO 

Henry  Aldrich's  Little  Secret 

Para. 

Jimmy  Lydon-Charlie  Smith 

Not  Set 

1747 

Henry  Aldrich  Plays  Cupid 

Para. 

Jimmy  Lydon-Charlie  Smith 

Not  Set 

1431 

Her  Bachelor  Husband 

Mono. 

Johnny  Downs-Wanda  McKay 

Not  Set 

1747 

Her  Last  Mile 

PRC 

414 

Lionel  Atwill-Jean  Parker 

Mar.  I5,'44 

1746 

Here  Comes  Elmer 

Rep. 

303 

Al  Pearce-Dale  Evans 

Nov.  I5,'43 

74  m 

Oct.  I6,'43 

1585 

Her  Primitive  Man 

Univ. 

Louise  Allbritton-Robert  Paige 

Apr.  21, '44 

i675 

Hey,  Rookie 

Col. 

Ann  Miller-Larry  Parks 

Mar.  9,'44 

1654 

Hi  Diddle  Diddle 

UA 

Martha  Scott-Adolphe  Menjou 

Aug.  20,'43 

73m 

July  31, "43 

1559 

1375 

1617 

Hiaher  and  Higher 

RKO 

415 

Michele  Morgan-Frank  Sinatra 

Blocks 

90m 

Dec.  1 1,'43 

1665 

1616 

1766 

Hip,  Hip,  Hooray 

Univ. 

Stage  and  Screen  Entertainers 

Apr.  7.'44 

1635 

(formerly  Three  Cheers  for 
His  Butler's  Sister 

the  Boys) 

Univ. 

8004 

Deanna  Durbln-Franchot  Tone 

Nov.  26,'43 

93  m 

Nov.  I3.'43 

1625 

1555 

1766 

Hitler  Gang,  The 

Para. 

Robert  Watson-Victor  Varconi 

Not  Set 

1675 

Hi  Ya  Sailor 

Univ. 

8035 

Donald  Woods-Elyse  Knox 

Oct.  I5'43 

63  m 

Oct.  9.'43 

1574 

1531 

Holy  Matrimony 

20th-Fox 

403 

Monty  Woolley-Gracle  Fields 

Aug.  27,'43 

87m 

Aug.  28,'43 

1547 

1431 

i655 

Home  in  Indiana  (color) 

20th-Fox 

Walter  Brennan-Lon  McAllister 

Not  Set 

1634 

Hoosier  Holiday 

Rep. 

302 

Dale  Evans-George  Byron 

Sept.  I3'43 

72m 

Aug.  28,'43 

1547 

Horn  Blows  at  Midnight,  The 

WB 

Jack  Benny-Alexis  Smith 

Not  Set 

Vixk 

Hostages 

Para. 

4305 

Luise  Rainer-William  Bendix 

Block  1 

87  m 

Aug.  I4,'43 

1579 

1277 

1766 

Hot  Rhythm 

Mono. 

Dona  Drake-Robert  Lowery 

Apr.  7,'44 

1763 

Hour  Before  the  Dawn,  The 

Para. 

Veronica  Lake-Franchot  Tone 

Block  4 

1555 

1  DOOD  It 

MGM 

403 

Red  Skelton-Eleanor  Powell 

Sept.,'43 

102m 

July  31, '43 

1579 

1192 

1719 

1  Love  a  Soldier 

Para. 

Pauletta  Goddard-Sonny  Tufts 

Not  Set 

1675 

Impostor,  The 

Univ. 

8066 

Jean  Gabin-Allyn  Joslyn 

Feb.  II, '44 

94m 

Feb.  I2,'44 

i754 

1616 

Incendiary  Blonde  (color) 

Para. 

Betty  Hutton-Arturo  de  Cordova 

Not  Set 

1675 

In  Old  Chicago  (Reissue) 

20th-Fox 

406 

Alice  Faye-Tyrone  Power-Don  Ameche 

Oct.  29,'43 

94  m 

Jan.  8,'38 

1542 

In  Old  Oklahoma 

Rep. 

307 

John  Wayne-Martha  Scott 

Dec.  6, '43 

102m 

Oct.  23,'43 

1593 

1719 

In  Our  Time 

WB 

311 

Ida  Luplno-Paul  Henreld 

Feb.  I9,'44 

llOm 

Feb.  5.'44 

1741 

1416 

1766 

Iron  Major,  The 

RKO 

406 

Pat  O'Brien-Ruth  Warrick 

Block  2 

85m 

Oct.  23,'43 

1593 

1555 

1719 

Is  Everybody  Happy? 

Col. 

5016 

Ted  Lewis-Nan  Wynn 

Oct.  28,'43 

73m 

Nov.  27,'43 

1646 

1545 

1655 

Isle  of  Forgotten  Sins 

PRC 

401 

John  Carradlne-Gale  Sondergaard 

Aug.  15,  "43 

82m 

July  3,'43 

1532 

1339 

1617 

It  Happened  in  Gibraltar 

(Fr.)  Vigor 

Erich  von  Strohelm-Viviane  Romance 

Nov.  I5,'43 

Nov.  27,'43 

1646 

It  Happened  Tomorrow 

UA 

Dick  Powell-Linda  Darnell 

Feb.  25.'44 

i675 

JACK  London  UA  .... 

Jane  Eyre  20th-Fox  420 

Janie  WB  .... 

Jeannle  (British)  English   

Jive  Junction  PRC  407 

Johnny  Come  Lately  UA  .... 


Michael  O'Shea-Susan  Hayward 
Orson  Welles-Joan  Fontaine 
Joyce  Reynolds-Robert  Hutton 
Barbara  Mullen-Michael  Redgrave 
Dickie  Moore-TIna  Thayer 
James  Cagney-Grace  George 


Dec.  24,*43 

93m 

Nov.  27,'43 

1645 

1554 

1766 

Feb.,'44 

96m 

Feb.  5,'44 

1741 

1240 

1655 

Not  Set 

1747 

Oct.  I,'43 

85m 

Aug.  23,'4I 

1594 

Dec.  20.'43 

64m 

Nov.  20,'43 

1633 

1606 

Sept.  3,'43 

97m 

Aug.  28.'43 

1559 

1375 

1719 

KANSAN.The 

Kelly  Takes  Over 
Kings  of  the  Ring 
Kismet  (color) 
Klondike  Kate 
Knickerbocker  Holiday 


UA 

Richard  DIx-Jane  Wyatt 

Sept.  !0.'43 

79m 

June  I9,'43 

1547 

1182 

Univ  

Eddie  Quillan-Harriet  Hilliard 

Mar.  24,'44 

1763 

Lewis-Lesser  .... 

Fight  Film  Feature 

Jan.  22,*44 

95  m 

Jan.  29,'44 

i735 

MGM 

Ronald  Colman-Marlene  Dietrich 

Not  Set 

i635 

Col.  5029 

Ann  Savage-Tom  Neal 

Dec.  I6,'43 

62m 

Feb.  5.'44 

1742 

1636 

UA 

Nelson  Eddy-Charles  Coburn 

Jan.  28.'44 

1635 

LAD  from  Our  Town 
Ladles  Courageous 

(formerly  When  Ladies  Fly) 
Lady  In  the  Dark  (color) 
Lady,  Let's  Dance 
Lady  Takes  a  Chance,  A 


Artkino       ....  Russian  Feature  Oct.  6,'43 

Univ   Loretta  Young-Geraldine  Fitzgerald  Mar.  I7,'44 

Para.       4336  Ginger  Rogers-Ray  Milland  Special 

Mono   Bellta-James  Ellison  Apr.  1 1, '44 

RKO        405  Jean  Arthur-John  Wayne  Block  I 


65m       Oct.  I6,'43 


1 00m 
88m 
86m 


Feb.  I2,'44 
Jan.29,'44 
Aug.  2 1, '43 


1586 


1753 
1735 
1547 


1616 

1091 
1599 
1240 


Product  Digest  Section 


1655 

1769 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 

Feb 

r  u  a  r  y 

1  9. 

1  944 

r-  REVIEWED  -a 

M.  P. 

Product 

t3$TVtC€ 

Prod. 

Reltate 

Running 

Herald 

Digest 

Synopsis 

Data 

Title  Company 

Number 

Stan 

Bate 

Time 

Issue 

Page 

Paee 

Pate 

Lamp  Still  Burns,  The  (British) 

Two  Ci+ies-Gen'l 

Rosamund  John-Stewart  Granger 

kl      X  (*  X 

Not  Set 

90m 

Nov.  20,'43 

1633 

.... 

.... 

Land  Beyond  the  Law  (Reissue] 

WB 

330 

Dick  roran 

Oct.  2,  43 

55m 

.... 

.... 

Larceny  with  Music 

Univ. 

8028 

All                  1                                  f                          I*  1 

Allan  Jones-Kitty  Carlisle 

Sept.  10, '43 

64m 

Sept.  II, '43 

1351 



Lassie  Come  Home  (color) 

MGM 

410 

Roddy  McDowall-cdmund  &wenn 

Dec.,'43 

90m 

Aug.  /  I,  4J 

1 546 

1240 

1766 

Last  Ride.  The 

WB 

Richard  Travis-cleanor  Parker 

Not  Set 

1 1 15 



Let's  Face  It 

Para. 

4301 

n    1     1  1           n    ■  I      i_i    1 « 

Bob  Hope-Betty  Hutton 

Di       1  i 

Block  1 

76m 

Aug.  /,  ^0 

1  ceo 

1277 

1766 

Lifeboat  20th-Fox 

4It 

VII    It      n       II           liAffll*            n  I* 

Tallulah  Bankhead-William  Bendix 

Jan.  28,'44 

96m 

Jan.  1 D,  4*t 

1710 

1616 

.... 

Life  and  Death  of  Colonel  Blimp 

(British)  Archers-Sen'l 

.... 

\A/IL          ID  1* 

Anton  Walbrook-Roger  Livesey 

kl    X  C  X 

Not  Set 

163m 

July  I0,'43 





Life  of  Simon  Bolivar,  The 

(Mexican)  Grovas-Mohme 

A       "        1     C  A 

Historical  Feature 

1       1  ■*  ■  ji<« 
June  17,  43 

152m 

June  26,'43 

1386 

Lodqer.  The  20th-Fox 

All 

417 

Laird  Cregar-Merle  Oberon 

Jan.  7,'44 

O  A 

84m 

1   O'AA 

Jan.  8,  44 

1  ^AC 

1705 

1636 

1766 

*Lone  Rider  in  Raiders  Red  Gap 

PRC 

368 

Bob  Livingston-AI  St.  John 

Sept.  30,'43 

54m 

Lost  Anqel 

MGM 

415 

Margaret  O'Brien-James  Craig 

Jan.,'44 

9im 

Nov.  6,'43 

1613 

1555 

1766 

Love  in  Jalisco  (Mex.)  Clasa-Mohme 

Jorge  Negrete-Maria  Elena  Marques 

Aug.  6.'43 

t28m 

Aug.  21, '43 

1496 

Lumber  Jack 

UA 

William  Boyd-Andy  Clyde 

Not  Set 

.... 

1763 

MADAME  Curie 

MGM 

490 

/-^               /-.                 »A/    lA         A*  J 

Greer  Garson-Walter  Pidgeon 

Feb.,'44 

124m 

NOV.  ZU,  43 

loJJ 

1416 

1766 

Mad  Ghoul,  The 

Univ. 

8038 

PI       Ai  rs'iD 

Evelyn  Ankers-Uavid  Bruce 

Nov.  I2,*43 

65  m 

/^^A    A^  'AO 

KJCT.  Li,  43 

1  CQA 

1586 

Make  Your  Own  Bed 

WB 

.... 

Jack  Carson-Jane  Wyman 

Not  Set 



.... 

1715 

Mummy's  Ghost,  The 

Unlv^ 

.... 

John  Oarradine-Lon  Chaney 

Not  Set 

.... 

1763 



Man  from  Down  Under,  The 

MGM 

41 1 

Charles  Laughton-Binnie  Barnes 

Dec.,'43 

103m 

Aug.   /,  4o 

1  CA7 
1  04/ 

.... 

•  Man  from  Music  Mountain 

Rep. 

257 

Roy  Rogers 

Oct.  30,'43 

71m 

oepT.  ZD,  *ri 

1  K.KA 
I004 

1402 

Man  from  the  Rio  Grande,  The 

Rep. 

363 

Don  Barry-Twinkle  Watts 

Oct.  I8,'43 

55m 

V^CT.    Z,  *tj 

1  000 

Man  in  Half  Moon  Street,  The 

Para. 

kl*l       A     ,1          LI    1          \A/  II 

Nils  Asther-Helen  Walker 

Not  Set 

.... 

.... 

1747 



Marine  Raiders 

RKO 

Pat  O  Brien-Ruth  Hussey 

Not  Set 



.... 

1696 

Marshal  of  Gunsmoke 

Univ. 

8083 

Tex  RiTTer-Russell  nayden 

Jan.  21, '44 

.... 

.... 

1676 

Mask  of  Dimitrios,  The 

WB 

.... 

Sydney  ©reensTPeet-reter  Lorre 

Not  Set 

.... 

.... 

1746 



Meet  Me  in  St.  Louis  (color) 

MGM 

Judy  6arland-Margaret  O  Brien 

Not  Set 

.... 

.... 

1715 

Meet  the  People 

MGM 

VN*    In          11  1        'll      n  II 

Dick  Powell-Lucille  Ball 

Not  Set 

1456 

Melody  Parade 

Mono. 

Mary  Bern  Hughes-Eddie  Cpuillan 

Aug.  27,'43 

73  m 

Aug.    /,  ni 

1  ceo 

1  OOt 

1339 

.... 

Men  on  Her  Mind 

PRC 

409 

ij         ntiu      i        ri          iki  * 

Mary  Beth  Hughes-Edward  Norrrs 

Feb.  I2,'44 

67m 

C.L,       C  'AA 

1  /40 

1715 

Million  Dollar  Kid 

Mono. 

East  Side  Kids 

Feb.  28,'44 

1676 

Millions  Like  Us  (British)  Gains.-Gen'l 

^*      n                    ni*e  ff\ 

Eric  Portman-Patricia  Roc 

Not  Set 

1 

103m 

vjCT.  *f3 

1  COC 
IOtO 

.... 

Minesweeper 

Para. 

4308 

n*   1        1    A   1        ■           A  1 

Richard  Arlen-Jean  Parker 

Block  2 

66m 

Mav     k  '41 
INOV.  O, 

1  AI  C 
1 0 1  O 

1606 

Ministry  of  Fear 

Para. 

.... 

n          k  jfll        Itj**       n  11 

Kay  Milland-Marjorie  Reynolds 

Not  Set 

1616 

.... 

Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek,  The 

Para. 

43 12 

Til*      n       1        nil.      i_t    1 1 

cddre  Bracken-BeTry  nutton 

Block  3 

99m 

Ian       n  '44 

Jan.  o,  77 

1 7nc 
1  fuo 

1079 

Mojave  Firebrand 

Rep. 

377 

Bill  EllioTT-&abby  Hayes 

Mar.  19,  44 

55m 

Jan.  Z7,  77 

1  /  ot 

.... 

.... 

Moonlight  and  Cactus 

Univ. 

Andrews  Sisters-Leo  Carilio 

Not  Set 

1746 



Moonlight  in  Vermont 

Univ. 

8025 

6ioria  Jean-ray  Helm 

Dec.  24, '43 

62  m 

Hoc  9R  '41 
L^ec.  zo,  7a 

1  AftA 
1  000 

1635 

.... 

Mr.  Co-ed  (color) 

MGM 

.... 

Red  Skelton-Esther  Williams 

Not  Set 

1635 

Mr.  Muggs  Steps  Out 

Mono. 

C      X    C*  J       IX*  J 

cast  Side  Kids 

Dec.  I0,'43 

A^ 

63  m 

Dec.  25,'43 

i686 

1555 

Mr.  SkefTmgton 

WB 

B    XX       FN       *                    1       n  * 

Bette  Davis-Claude  Rains 

Not  Set 

1654 

Murder  on  the  Waterfront 

WB 

302 

John  Loder-Ruth  Ford 

Sept.  I8.'43 

jl  A_ 

4Ym 

lulu  1  1  '41 

July  s  1 ,  7j 

1  C70 
10/7 

.... 

My  Best  Gal 

Rep. 

Jane  Withers-Jimmy  Lydon 

Not  Set 

1696 

My  Reputation 

WB 

n      1             ft                1  n 

Barbara  Stanwyck-&eorge  Brent 

Not  Set 

1695 



Mystery  Broadcast 

Rep. 

304 

Nils  Asther-Ruth  Terry 

Nov.  23,'43 

6Vm 

Oct.  23  '43 

1594 

1586 

•  Mystery  of  the  13th  Guest 

Mono. 

Dick  Purcell-Helen  Parrlsh 

Nov.  5,'43 

60m 

Oct.  I6,'43 

1586 

NABONGA 

PRC 

408 

Buster  Crabbe-rifi  Dorsey 

Jan.  25,'44 

.... 

1634 



(formerly  Jungle  Terror) 

National  Velvet 

MGM 

ki*l         n                li*  li* 

Mickey  Kooney-Jackte  Jenkins 

Not  Set 

.... 

.... 

1763 



Navy  Way,  The 

Para. 



n   i      ■   1               1          ff\  1 

Robert  Lowery-Jean  Parker 

Block  4 

1747 

.... 

•  Nearly  Eighteen 

Mono. 

1      d           n*ii   i  1 

©ale  Storm-Bill  Henry 

Nov.  I2'43 

61m 

Oct.  30,'43 

1605 

1545 

Never  a  Dull  Moment 

Univ. 

8030 

RItz  Bros.-Frances  Langford 

Nov.  I9,'43 

60m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1615 

1351 

.... 

Nine  Girls 

Col. 

Ann  Harding-Evelyn  Keyes 

Feb.  I7.'44 

1676 

None  Shall  Escape 

Col. 

5006 

Marsha  Hunt-Alexander  Knox 

Feb.  3,'44 

83m 

Jan.  I5,'44 

1713 

1695 

1766 

Northern  Pursuit 

WB 

307 

Erroi  rIynn-Julie  Bishop 

•  Nov.  13, '43 

94m 

Oct.  23,'43 

1593 

1471 

1719 

North  Star,  The  RKO-Goldv^/n 

451 

Walter  Huston-Anne  Baxter 

Special 

105m 

Oct.  I6,'43 

1585 

1305 

1766 

No  Time  for  Love 

Para. 

4309 

Claudette  Colbert-Fred  MacMurray 

Block  2 

oSm 

Nov.  I3,'43 

1625 

855 

1  ILL 

1766 

OKLAHOMA  Kid  (Reissue) 

WB 

330 

James  Cagney-Humphrey  Bogart 

Sept.  1 1  ,'43 

80m 

Mar.  1  o  37 

I4ez 

.... 

Old  Acquaintance 

WB 

308 

n    ■  ■             *     k  A*  *         II       1  * 

Bette  Davis-Miriam  Hopkins 

Nov.  27, '43 

1  lOm 

M>..*     A  'AI 
INOV.    0,  4 J 

1  A 1 1 

lots 

1 192 

1719 

•  Old  Barn  Dance.  The  (Reissue) 

Rep. 

2307 

Gene  Autry 

Oct.  I5,'43 

60  m 

|-_    1  c  '90 

Jan.  1 0,  30 

10/7 

O  My  Darling  Clementine 

Rep. 

308 

Frank  Albertson-Lorna  Grey 

Dec.  3 1  ,'43 

68  m 

Dec.  4,'43 

1653 

1636 

.... 

One  More  Tomorrow 

WB 

A        d      *  1                *      ill      *ii  1 

Ann  oheridan-Olivia  de  riavilland 

Not  Set 



1431 



(formerly  Animal  Kingdom) 

Our  Hearts  Were  Young  and  Gay  Para. 

Diana  Lynn-Gail  Russell 

Not  Set 

1746 

•  Outlaws  of  Stampede  Pass 

Mono. 

Johnny  Mack  Brown-Raymond  Hatton 

Oct.  15,43 

55  m 

Oct.  2,'43 

1566 

1402 



Outlaw  Roundup 

PRC 

454 

Dave  O'Brien-Jim  Newill 

Feb.  I0,'44 

1715 

Overland  Mail  Robbery 

Rep. 

376 

Bill  Elliott-Anne  Jeffreys 

Nov.  20,'43 

55m 

Oct.  23, 43 

1594 

PARIS  After  Dark  20th-Fox 

George  Sanders-Brenda  Marshall 

Oct.  15,'43 

oom 

Oct.  9,'43 

1573 

1  O^O 

Partners  of  the  Trail 

Mono. 

Johnny  Mack  Brown-Raymond  Hatton 

Mar.  I4,'44 

1747 

Passage  to  Marseille 

WB 

312 

Humphrey  Bogart-MIchele  Morgan 

Mar.  II, '44 

109 

Feb.  I9,'44 

i76i 

1616 

1 770  Product  Digest  Section 


February    19,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


Title  Company 

Passport  fo  Adventure  RKO 

Patrick  the  Great  Univ. 

Phantom  Lady  Univ. 

Pilebuck  Col. 

Pin  Up  Girl  (color)  20th-Fox 

Pistol  Packin'  Mama  Rep. 

Prairie  Thunder  (Reissue)  WB 

Pride  of  the  Plains  Rep. 

Princess  O'Rourke  WB 

Purple  Heart.  The  20th-Fox 


Prod.  Rfleate 

Numbtr               Stars  Date 

Eisa  Lanchester-Gordon  Oliver  Block  4 

Donald  O'Connor-Peggy  Ryan  Not  Set 

Ella  Raines-FranchotTone  Jan.  28,'44 

Pat  O'Brien-Ruth  Warrick  Not  Set 

Betty  Grable-Joe  E.  Brown  Not  Set 

310        Ruth  Terry-Bob  Livingston  Dec.  I5.'43 

332        DickForan  Oct.  2.'43 

353  Robert  Livingston-Smiley  Burnette  Jan.  5,'44 
305        Olivia  de  Haviiland-Robert  Cummings      Oct.  23, '43 

....        Dana  Andrews-Richard  Conte  Mar.,'44 


Running 
Time 

64m 


87m 


64m 
55m 
56m 
94m 


-  REVIEWED --^ 

M.  P.       Product    Aivtne*  Service 
Digest     Synopsis  Data 


Herald 
Issue 

Jan.  29,'44 
jan.'29.'44 


Dec.  4,'43 
Sept.  25.'43 


Page 
1734 

1733 


Dec.  1 1, '43  1666 


1653 
1553 


Page 

1636 
1675 
1675 

1654 


962 
1654 


P»gt 


1655 


QUEEN  Victoria  (British)  Rer 


Anna  Neagle-Anton  Walbrook 


Not  Set 


84m 


Jan.  I6,'43  1113 


RACKET  Man.  The  Col,  5036 

Raiders  of  the  Border  Mono.  .... 

Raiders  of  Sunset  Pass  Rep.  352 

Rainbow  Island  (color)  Para.  .... 

Rains  Came,  The  (Reissue)     20th-Fox  410 

Rationing  MGM  418 

Return  of  the  Ape  Man  Mono. 

Return  of  the  Rangers  PRC  45 

Return  of  the  Vampire  Col.  5024 

*  Revenge  of  the  Zombies  Mono. 

Rhapsody  in  Blue  WB 

Riders  of  the  Deadline  UA 

Riding  High  (color)  Para.  4307 

Road  to  Utopia  Para. 

Roger  Touhy,  Gangster  20th-Fox 

Rookies  in  Burma  RKO  414 
Rootin'.  Tootin' Rhythm  (Reissue)    Rep.  330 


Tom  Neal-Jeanne  Bates  >       Jan.  !8,'44 

Johnny  Mack  Brown  Jan.  3 1, '44 

Eddie  Dew-Smiley  Burnette  Dec.  20.'43 
Dorothy  Lamour-Eddie  Bracken  Not  Set 

Myrna  Loy-Tyrone  Power  Nov.  26,'43 
Wallace  Beery-Marjorie  Main  Mar..'44 
Bela  Lugosi-John  Carradine  Not  Set 

Dave  O'Brien-Jim  Newill  Oct.  26,'43 

Bela  Lugosi-Frieda  Inescourt  Nov.  1 1, '43 

John  Carradine-Veda  Ann  Borg  Sept.  I7,'43 
Joan  Leslie-Robert  Aida  Not  Set 

William  Boyd  Dec.  3.'43 
Dorothy  Lamour-Dick  Powell  Block  2 

Bing  Crosby-Bob  Hope-D.  Lamour  Not  Set 

Preston  Foster-Lois  Andrews  Not  Set 

Alan  Carney-Wally  Brown  Block  3 

Gene  Autry  Jan.  I5,'44 


65m 

Jan.  8.'44 

1706 

1676 

53m 

Jan.  I5.'44 

1714 

56m 

Dec.  25,'43 

1686 

1457 

1654 

95  m 

Sept.  9.'39 

i574 

93m 

Jan.  29.'44 

1734 

1616 

1606 

60m 

Oct.  I6,'43 

1585 

1545 

69m 

Feb.  5.'44 

1742 

1599 

61m 

Aug.  7.'43 

1471 

1391 

1530 

70m 

Jan.  !5.'44 

1714 

1696 

88m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1613 

1431 

1715 

1362 

62  m 

Dec.  II, '43 

i666 

1646 

61m 


SAHARA  Col. 

Saint  Meets  the  Tiger,  The  Rep. 

Sailor's  Holiday  Col. 

Salute  to  the  Marines  (color)  MGM 

San  Demetrio,  London  (British)  laiing 

Saratoga  Trunk  WB 

*  Scream  in  the  Dark,  A  Rep. 
See  Here,  Private  Hargrove  MGM 
Sensations  of  1944  (color)  UA-Stone 
Seventh  Cross,  The  MGM 
Seventh  Victim,  The  RKO 
Sherlock  Holmes  Faces  Death  Univ. 
She's  for  Me  Univ. 
Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon  WB 
Shipbuilders,  The  (Br.)  Br.  Nat'l-Anglo 
Show  Business  RKO 
Silver  City  Raiders  Col. 
Since  You  Went  Away  UA 
Sing  a  Jingle  Univ. 

•Smart  Guy  Mono. 

So  This  Is  Washington  RKO 

Son  of  Dracula  Univ. 

Song  of  Bernadette.  The  20th-Fox 

Song  of  Russia  MGM 
Song  of  the  Marimba  Clasa-Mohme 

Song  of  the  Open  Road  UA 

Song  of  the  Saddle  (Reissue)  WB 

So's  Your  Uncle  Univ. 

Spider  Woman  Univ. 

Spotlight  Scandals  Mono. 

Standing  Room  Only  Para. 

Story  of  Dr.  Wassell  (color)  Para. 

Strange  Confession  UA 
Strange  Death  of  Adolf  Hitler  Univ. 

Submarine  Base  PRC 

Sullivans.  The  20th-Fox 

Sultan's  Daughter,  The  Mono. 

Sundown  Valley  Col. 

•  Suspected  Person  (British)  PRC 
Sweet  Rosie  O'Grady  fcolor)  20th-Fox 
Sweethearts  of  the  U.  S.  A.  Mono. 
Swing  Fever  MGM 
Swing  Out  the  Blues  CoL 
Swing  Shift  Maisle  MGM 
Swingtime  Johnny  Univ. 


TAMPICO  20th-Fox 

Tarzan's  Desert  Mystery  RKO 
Tender  Comrade  RKO 


5003  Humphrey  Bogart-Bruce  Bennett 

301  Hugh  Sinclair-Jean  Gillis 

....  Arthur  Lake-Jane  Lawrence 

401  Wallace  Beery-Fay  Bainter 

....  Walter  Fitzgerald-Ralph  Michael 

....  Gary  Cooper-lngrid  Bergman 

229  Robert  Lowery-Marie  McDonald 

420  Robert  Walker-Donna  Reed 

  W.  C.  Fields-Eleanor  Powell 

....  Spencer  Tracy-Signe  Hasso 

403  Tom  Conway-Kim  Hunter 
8024  Basil  Rathbone-Nigel  Bruce 

8041  David  Bruce-Grace  McDonald 
....  Ann  Sheridan-Dennis  Morgan 
....  Clive  Brook-Morland  Graham 
....  Eddie  Cantor-George  Murphy 
5202  Russell  Hayden-Bob  Wills 

....  Colbert-Temple-Woolley-Cotten 

8034  Allan  Jones-June  Vincent 
Rick  Vallin-Wanda  McKay 

404  Lum  'n'  Abner-Mildred  Coles 
8013  Louise  Allbritton-Lon  Chaney 
....  Jennifer  Jones-Charles  Bickford 

422  Robert  Taylor-Susan  Peters 
....  Mexican  Feature 

....  Edgar  Bergen-"Charlie"-Bonita  Granville 

331  DickForan 

8042  Donald  Woods-Elyse  Knox 

8021  Basil  Rathbone-Nigel  Bruce 
....  Billy  Gilbert-Frank  Fay 

4314  Paulette  Goddard-Fred  MacMurray 

....  Gary  Cooper-Laraine  Day 

....  George  Sanders-Linda  Darnell 

8022  Ludwig  Donath-Gale  Sondergaard 

405  John  Litel-Alan  Baxter 

421  Anne  Baxter-Thomas  Mitchell 
....  Ann  Corio-Charles  Butterworth 
....  Charles  Starrett-Jeanne  Bates 

315  Clifford  Evans- Patricia  Roc 

408  Betty  Grable-Robert  Young 

....  Una  Merkel-Donald  Novfs 

423  Kay  Kyser-Marilyn  Maxwell 
5020  Bob  Haymes-Lynn  Merrlct 

404  Ann  Sothern-James  Craig 

8020  Andrews  Sister-Harriet  Hllilard 


.  . . .        Lynn  Barl-Edward  G.  Robinson 
413        Johnny  Weissmuller-Nancy  Kelly 
. . . .        Ginger  Rogers-Robert  Ryan 


Oct.  I4,'43 
July  29.'43 
Feb.  24,'44 
Sept..'43 

Not  Set 

Not  Set 
Oct.  I5.'43 

Mar..'44 
May  5.'44 

Not  Set 

Block  I 
Sept.  I7.'43 
Dec.  !0.'43 
Apr.  8.'44 

Not  Set 

Not  Set 
Nov.  4,'43 

Not  Set 
Jan.  7.'44 
Dec.  I7.'43 

Block  I 
Nov.  5.'43 

Not  Set 

Feb.,'44 
Aug.  20.'43 
Mar.  24.'44 
Oct.  2.'43 
Dec.  3.'43 
Jan.  2 1. '44 
Sept.  24.'43 

Block  3 

Not  Set 
Apr.  2 1. '44 
Sept.  I0.*43 
July  20,'43 

Feb..'44 
Jan.  24.'44 
Mar.  23,'44 
Nov.  29.'43 
Oct.  I. '43 
Mar.  7.'44 

Apr.,'44 
Jan.  20.'44 

Oct.,'43 
Feb.  4.'44 


Not  Set 
Block  3 
Block  4 


97m 

Oct.  2,'43 

1565 

1305 

1719 

70m 

Aug.  7,'43 

1471 

i696 

loVm 

July  31, '43 

1579 

1057 

i655 

105m 

Jan.  29,'44 

1734 

1431 

55m 

Oct.  30.'43 

1605 

1531 

lOOm 

Feb.  19, '44 

1761 

1616 

71m 

Aug.  21, '43 

1558 

68m 

Sept.  II, '43 

1529 

60m 

Dec.  M, '43 

1665 

90m 

Jan.29,'44 

1733 

55m 

Nov.  27,'43 

1646 

62m 

Jan.  I.'44 

1694 

63m 

Jan.  {,'44 

1695 

64m 

Aug.  21, '43 

1558 

80m 

Nov.  I3,'43 

1626 

157m 

Dec.  25.'43 

1685 

107m 

Jan.  I,'44 

1693 

I3lm 

Sept.  II. '43 

1530 

59  m 

Apr.  II, '36 

i482 

64m 

Dec.  4,'43 

1654 

63m 

Jan.  15.44 

1714 

73m 

July  24,'43 

1579 

83m 

Jan.  8,'44 

1706 

72m 

Sept.  4. '43 

1522 

65  m 

July  I0.'43 

1414 

lllm 

Feb.  5,'44 

1741 

64m 

Dec.  I8,'43 

1674 

78  m 

Jan.  I,'44 

1694 

76m 

Sept.  25,'43 

1553 

Vim 

Nov.  I3,'43 

i626 

70m 

Jan.  22.'44 

1726 

86m 

May  8,'43 

1546 

60m 

Jan.  I,'44 

1695 

Voni 

Dec.  II. '43 

1666 

lOlm 

Jan.  I,*44 

1693 

1746 
1715 
1471 

i635 
1457 

1675 

i635 
1654 
1599 
1471 
1241 
1416 
1416 

i695 

i635 
1675 
1351 
1616 
1530 
1747 

isbs 

1636 
1555 
1763 

iios 

1586 
1241 
1636 
1191 
1676 


1636 
1362 
1636 


1617 


Product  Digest  Section    \  77 1 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    19.  1944 


■  REVIEWED  ■ 


Title  Company 

Texas  Kid,  The  Mono. 
Texas  Masquerade  UA 
Thank  Your  Lucky  Sfars  WB 
That  Naity  Nuisance  UA 
There's  Something  About  a  Soldier  Col. 
They  Met  in  the  Dark  (British) 

Hellman-Gen'l 

•This  Is  the  Army  (color) 

This  Is  the  Life 
(formerly  Angela) 

Thousands  Cheer  (color) 

Three  Russian  Girls 

Thundering  Hoofs 

Tiger  Fangs 

Till  We  Meet  Again 

Timber  Queen 

Top  Man 

Tornado 

True  to  Life 
•Tumbling  Tumbleweed  (Reissue) 

Two-Man  Submarine 

Two  Sisters  and  a  Sailor 


Prod. 
Number 


303 
5017 


WB 

224 

Univ. 

MGM 

413 

UA 

UA 

PRC 

406 

Para. 

Para. 

43i3 

Univ. 

8009 

Para. 

4304 

Para. 

4303 

Rep. 

2308 

Col. 

MGM 

Stars 

Johnny  Mack  Brown 
William  Boyd 
Warner  Stars  Revue 
Bobby  Watson-Joe  Devlin 
Evelyn  Keyes-Tom  Neal 

James  Mason-Joyce  Howard 

Joan  Leslie-George  Murphy-Stage  Cast  Feb.  I5,'44 
Susanna  Foster-Donald  O'Connor 

Kathryn  Grayson-Gene  Kelly 
Anna  Sten-Kent  Smith 
William  Boyd 

Frank  Buck-Duncan  Renaldo 
Ray  Milland-Maureen  O'Hara 
Dick  Arlen-Mary  Beth  Hughes 
Donald  O'Connor-Peggy  Ryan 
Chester  Morris-Nancy  Kelly 
Mary  Martln-Franchot  Tone 
Gene  Autry-Lucile  Browne 
Tom  Neal-Ann  Savage 
Jimmy  Durante-Van  Johnson 


M.  P. 

Product 

Advance 

Service 

Release 

Running 

Herald 

Digest 

Synopsis 

Data 

Date 

Time 

Issue 

Page 

Page 

Page 

Nov.  26.'43 

57m 

Nov.  27,*43 

1645 

1545 

Not  Set 

59m 

Jan,  29,'44 

1733 

oept.  zb|4i 

127m 

Aug.  21,  43 

1559 

1058 

1719 

Aug.  6,'43 

42m 

June  I2,'43 

1546 

1019 

Nov.  30/43 

Bint 

Dec.  I8,'43 

1674 

1545 

Not  Set 

104m 

Sept.  4,'43 

1522 

Feb.  I5.*44 

Il4m 

July  31, '43 

1453 

1276 

i575 

Not  Set 

1416 

Jan.,'44 

126m 

Sept.  I8.'43 

1541 

1079 

1766 

Jan.  I4,'44 

80m 

Jan.  I.'44 

1694 

1457 

Not  Set 

1747 

Sept.  I0,'43 

59  m 

Sept.  25,'43 

i554 

1531 

Not  Set 

.... 

1676 

Block  3 

66m 

Jan.  8,'44 

1706 

1696 

Sept.  I7.'43 

82m 

Sept.  I8,'43 

1541 

1456 

Block  1 

80m 

Aug.  I4.'43 

1579 

1457 

Block  1 

93m 

Aug.  I4,'43 

1578 

1079 

i7i9 

Dec.  I,'43 

58m 

Mar.  I6,'44 

i746 

Not  Set 

1696 

UNCENSORED  (British)  20th-Fox  418 

Uncertain  Glory  WB  .... 

•  Underdog,  The  PRC  316 

Under  Two  Flags  (Reissue)  20th-Fox  411 

Uninvited.  The  Para.  4315 

Unknown  Guest  Mono.  .... 

Unpublished  Story  (British)  Col.  .... 

Up  in  Arms  (color)       RKO-Goldwyn  .... 

Up  in  Mabel's  Room  UA  .... 


Eric  Portman-Phyllis  Calvert 
Errol  Flynn-Pau!  Lukas 
Barton  MacLane-Charlotte  Wynters 
Ronald  Colman-Claudette  Colbert 
Ray  Milland-Ruth  Hussey 
Victor  Jory-Pamela  Blake 
Richard  Greene-Miles  Malleson 
Danny  Kaye-Dinah  Shore 
Marjorie  Reynolds-Dennis  O'Keefe 


Jan.  21,44 

83m 

Aug.  I,'42 

1714 

Apr.  22.'44 

i636 

Oct.  I0,'43 

67  m 

Oct.  9,'43 

i574 

1509 

Nov.  26,'43 

99m 

May  9.'36 

1574 

Block  3 

98m 

Jan.  8,'44 

1705 

1416 

Oct.  22,'43 

64m 

Aug.  28.'43 

1559 

Not  S«t 

91m 

Apr.  II. '42 

598 

Not  Set 

105m 

Feb.  I2.'44 

1753 

i457 

Apr.  7.'44 

1695 

VICTORY  Through 

Air  Power  (color)  UA-Disney 

Vigilantes  Ride,  The  Col. 

Virgin  of  Guadalupe  (Mex.)  Maya 

Voice  in  the  Wind  UA 

Voodoo  Man.  The  Mono. 


Disney  Aviation  Feature  Aug.  I3,'43  65m  July  I0,'43  1532  1375 

5204        Russell  Hayden-Shirley  Patterson  Feb.  3,'44  55m  Feb.  I2.'44  1754  1081 

Jose  Luis  JIminei  May  I4.'43  95m  May  22,'43  1325 

....        Francis  Lederer-Sigrld  Gurie  Mar,  I0.'44  ....    ....  1654 

  Bela  Lugosi-John  Carradine  Feb.  2I,'44      1676 


1617 


WATCH    on  the  Rhine 
We  Dive  at  Dawn  (British) 
Weekend  Pass 
Weird  Woman 
Westward  Bound 
»What  a  Man 
What  a  WomanI 
Where  Are  Your  Children? 
Whispering  Footsteps 
Whistling  in  Brooklyn 
White  Cliffs,  The 
Wilson  (color) 
Wintertime 

Woman  of  the  Town.  The 
Women  in  Bondage 
Women  in  War  (Reissue) 
World  of  Plenty  (British) 
Wyoming  Hurricane 


WB 

301 

Bette  Davis-Paul  Lukas 

Sept.  4,'43 

Il3m 

July  31, '43 

1579 

986 

1719 

Gains. 

John  Mills-Eric  Portman 

Not  Set 

98m 

May22,'43 

1326 

Univ. 

Martha  O'Driscoll-Noah  Beery.  Jr. 

Feb.  I8.'44 

63  m 

Feb.  5,'44 

1742 

1676 

Univ. 

Lon  Chaney-Anne  Gwynne 

Apr,  I4.'44 

1747 

Mono. 

Ken  Maynard-Hoot  Gibson 

Jan,  I7,'44 

59  m 

Jan.  15,'44 

iii-i 

1599 

Mono. 

Johnny  Downs-Wanda  McKay 

Jan,  31, '44 

73m 

Dec.  II, '43 

1666 

Col. 

5005 

Rosalind  Russell-Brian  Aherne 

Dec.  28,'43 

93m 

Dec.  II, '43 

1665 

i635 

l766 

Mono. 

Jackie  Cooper-Patricia  Morlson 

Jan,  I7,'44 

72m 

Nov.  27,'43 

1645 

1606 

1766 

Rep. 

309 

John  Hubbard-Rita  Quigley 

Dec.  30,'43 

55m 

1636 

MGM 

412 

Red  Skelton-Ann  Rutherford 

Dee.,'43 

87m 

Oct.  2,'43 

1565 

1431 

1766 

MGM 

Irene  Dunne-Roddy  McDowall 

Not  Set 

1586 

20th-Fox 

Alexander  Knox-Charles  Coburn 

Not  Set 

1676 

20th-Fox 

405 

Sonja  Henie-Jack  Oakie 

Sept,  I7,'43 

82'm 

Sept.  11, '43 

1529 

1431 

i655 

UA 

Albert  Dekker-Claire  Trevor 

Dec.  31, '43 

88m 

Dec,  18,'43 

1673 

1531 

Mono. 

Gail  Patrick-Nancy  Kelly 
Elsie  Janis-Wendy  Barrie 

Jan,  I0,'44 

72m 

Nov.  20,'43 

1634 

1554 

i766 

Rep. 

Jan.25,'44 

69m 

May  25,'40 

1726 

Rotha 

Documentary  on  Food 

Not  Set 

60m 

June  I9,'43 

1373 

Col. 

Russell  Hayden-Bob  Wills 

Not  Set 

i679 

YANKS  Ahoy  UA-Roach 
Yellow  Canary  (British)  Wilcox-RKO 
Young  Ideas  MGM  408 

You  Can't  Ration  Love  Para.  .... 

You're  a  Lucky  Fellow,  Mr.  Smith    Univ.  8033 


Joe  Sawyer- William  Tracy  July   I, '43 

Anna  Neagle-RIchard  Greene  Not  Set 

Mary  Astor-Herbert  Marshall  Nov.,'43 

Betty  Jane  Rhodes-Johnnie  Johnston  Block  4 

Allan  Jones-Evelyn  Ankers  Oct.  22,'43 


58m  Mar.  13,'43  1532 

98m  Nov.20,'43  1634 

77m  July  3 1, '43  1578 

64m  Oct,  9.'43  i573 


1019 

1240 
1763 
1531 


1766 


Feature  Product,  including  Coming  Attractions,  listed  Company  by  Company,  in 
Order  of  Release  on  page  1755. 


1 772   Product  Digest  Section 


WITH  CERTAINTY 


ON  MANY  FRONTS  where  vital  pictures 
arc  made  without  rehearsal,  the  camera- 
men have  utmost  confidence  in  the  un- 
varying high  quality  of  Eastman  films. 
This  certainty  is  built  on  a  half  century 
of  unexcelled  performance.  Eastman 
Kodak  Company,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

J.  E.  BRULATOUR,  INC.,  Distributors 
Fort  Lee  Chicago  Hollywood 


EASTMAN  FILMS 


SftOuT  HOORAY 


■■^-..■i-.r»t»sf 





(OR  THIS  GREAT  ARRAY 

of 


THE  VAGABONDS 


LARRY  PARKS 


Laugh-Sma 
Weeks  on  H 
36  times  fui 
on  fhe  screei 


1^ 


Screen  Play  by  Henry  Myers,  Edward  Eliscu  and  Jay  Gorney 
Directed  by  CHARLES  BARTON  •  Produced  by  IRVING  BRISKIN 

A  COLUMBIA  PICTURE 


FOURTH  WAR  LOAN. 
A  BOND  FOR  EVERY  SEAT! 


MOTION  PICTURE 


REVIEWS 

{In  Product  Dif-rst) 

Going  My  Way 
The  Purple  Hearf 
The  Navy  Way 
Million  Dollar  Kid 
Cowboy  Canteen 
Voodoo  Man 
Whispering  Footstep* 


Exhibitors  Buy  Packaged 
Shorts  as  Substitute  for 
Do uble  Bill  Progra m s 

Canadian  Trade  takes  first 
Step  toward  Self -Regulation 
under   War  Control  Board 


Balcon  demands  All-British 
Control  of  British  Films 

War  Plant   Use  of  Films  for 
Morale  Booms  16mm  Field 

Army  Uses  Censored  News  reel 
Footage  for  Official  Films 


VOL 


FEBRUARY  26,  1944 


IUU-,   Ai'i /.■i7t'//<')'  LciiUi,  A  1  it'  -1),   A.    i.    ,b  / 

nts.    All  contents  copyright  1944  by  Quigley  t'ttbHshi 


See  hercy  Mister  Exhibitor  —  The  phenomenal  World 
Premiere  at  Charlotte,  N,  is  the  tip-off!  Get  set  for  the 
first  BIG  Rookie  Comedy  of  the  war!  The  best-seller  on 
the  screen  is  funnier  than  ever.  A  natural  for  all  America. 


"Remember!  March  15th  Deadline  for  Honored 
Hundred  Bond  Reports  to  State  Chairmen!'" 


.  L.  Warner,  Executinte  Producer] 


REMEMBER!  March  15th  Deadline  for 
Honored  Hundred  Bond  Reports  to  State  Chairmi 


m  H9m  lhafs 


mom  L'. 

-rtwf  all  H&fi 


f 


-Lee 


20th  Century-Fox  presents  "THE  SULLIVANS"  with  ANNE  BAXTER, 
THOMAS  MITCHELL  and  Selena  Royle,  Edward  Ryanjrudy  Marshall, 
John  Campbell,  James  Cardwell,  John  Alvin,  George  Offerman,  Jr., 
Roy  Roberts,  Ward  Bond  •  Directed  by  LLOYD  BACON  •  Produced 
by  SAM  JAFFE  •  Associate  Producer  Robert  T.  Kane  •  Screen  Play  by 
Mary  C.  McCall,  Jr.  •  Story  by  Edward  Doherty  and  Jules  Schermer 


MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD 


COLVIN  BROWN,  Publisher 


MARTIN  QUIGLEY 
President  and  Editor-in-Chief 


TERRY  RAMSAYE,  Editor 


Vol.  154.  No.  9 


QP 


February  26,  1944 


PLANS  and  PAYROLLS 

W HILE  the  war  is  yet  to  be  won,  discussions  among 
statesmen,  politicians  and  industrialists  about  the 
shape  and  shaping  of  things  to  come  in  the  eco- 
nomic picture,  after  the  war,  are  welling  up  in  a 

rising  tide. 

How  much  of  this  is  entirely  political,  the  date  being  what  it 
is,  and  how  much  is  economic  concern,  in  the  large  sense,  may 
not  be  determined.  It  is  the  while  to  be  remembered  that  this 
is  the  decade  dedicated  to  planned  economy. 

The  immediate  topics  are  conversion  of  the  vast  war  Industry 
into  peace  industries,  and  employment,  employment  of  both 
the  war  workers  at  home  and  those  who  will  be  demobilized 
from  the  fighting  forces. 

The  actual  subject  is  payroll. 

Right  there  the  acute  interest  of  the  motion  picture  begins. 

The  long  experience  of  the  motion  picture  shows  that  the 
box  office  curve  follows  the  employment  and  payroll  curve. 
The  money  that  goes  through  the  wicket  Is  loose  cash  In  pocket 
among  the  multitudes. 

While  all  industry  and  all  retail  business  Is  concerned,  none 
others  are  so  Immediately  and  directly  parties  at  interest  as 
the  motion  picture  and  Its  exhibitors. 

THE  official  focus  now  Is  the  Baruch  plan,  accepted  by  the 
Administration,  in  the  face  of  developing  Congressional 
opposition.  That  Is,  to  be  sure,  not  a  closed  book.  Mr. 
Bernard  M.  Baruch,  the  author,  does  himself  contemplate  atten- 
tions by  the  Congress.  The  Issue  at  the  moment  seems  not  to 
be  so  much  what  is  to  be  done  as  who  is  to  do  it,  the  President 
or  the  Congress.  There  is  to  be  spending. 

The  fact  seems  to  be  that  there  Is  going  to  be  a  lot  of 
planning  of  a  lot  of  economy,  and  that  does  not  imply  that  It 
will  be  economical. 

The  employment  map  is  already  getting  spotty.  Some  bil- 
lions in  war  contracts  are  to  be  cancelled  between  now  and 
June.  Some  of  the  boom  towns  are  going  to  go  boom,  and 
their  boxofflces  with  them.  Not  many  at  first,  but  it  will  grow. 

The  fact  is  that  the  war  industry  has  given  the  United  States 
more  industry  than  it  ever  had  before,  and  if  anything  re- 
sembling the  payroll  flow  of  the  war  peak  production  period 
is  to  be  maintained  the  nation  will  have  to  do  a  lot  more 
consuming  of  industrial  products  than  ever  before. 

The  people  have  been  doing  a  lot  of  motion  picture  con- 
suming, the  while  too.  Admissions  have  climbed,  grosses  have 
climbed,  and  budgets  have  gone  with  them.  As  we  approached 
the  war  and  loss  of  foreign  revenues  there  was  deep  dismay 
about  the  future  and  how  million  dollar  "A"  pictures  could  be 
maintained.  Now  any  really  proud  announcement  of  a  produc- 
tion project  is  likely  to  rate  the  finished  negative  at  from  two 
to  three  millions.  Part  of  that  Is  a  new  level  of  production, 
part  of  it  Is  inflation.  The  attainments  of  the  art  may  be  main- 
tained, but  the  dollar  figures  may  have  to  pick  their  way  down- 


stairs. Inevitably  the  course  will  be  the  course  of  the  national 
economy. 

We  have  seen  In  this  industry  some  unpleasing  adjustments 
to  the  economy  In  those  depression  years  when  the  double  bill, 
Bank  Night,  free  dishes  and  Bingo  littered  the  scene.  They  did 
not  help  the  entertainment  business  Importantly,  save  that  they 
did  serve  as  desperation  devices  to  keep  theatres  open.  That 
experience  was  recent  enough  to  be  remembered,  with  its 
lessons,  if  any. 

Almost  certainly,  whatever  the  processes  of  adjustment  may 
be,  they  will  appear  first  and  marginally  among  the  independent 
theatres,  and  they  will  become  controlling  facts  by  their  appli- 
cation In  the  major  affiliated  circuits. 

In  these  earlier  days  of  the  approach  of  the  problem  of  the 
reconstruction  of  Industry  It  is  to  be  noted  that  there  are 
meetings,  discussions,  resolutions,  and  all  that  among  and 
represented  by  most  of  the  great  industries  of  the  land.  But 
one  Is  yet  to  discover  participation  by  the  motion  picture  and 
its  leaders.  This  industry  Is  a  great  party  at  interest.  It  is  of 
recognized  basic  importance  In  the  national  scene.  It  may 
well  have  something  to  say.  This  is  not  the  time  or  place  to 
stand  mute,  indifferent  or  intimidated. 

AAA 

HIS  NAME  WAS  JAKE 

WITH  two  productions  on  the  way,  Republic's  "Casanova 
in  Burlesque"  and  the  Leo  Spitz-William  Goetz  produc- 
tion of  "Casanova  Brown,"  for  RKO  distribution, 
before  the  cameras,  it  is  time  indeed  that  something  be  said 
in  behalf  of  Casanova. 

Time  and  tradition  have  done  him  dirt.  He  was  christened 
Giovanni  Jacopo  Casanova  de  Seingalt,  and  there  is  no  record 
that  he  ever  used  any  aliases  on  hotel  registers. 

One  may  not  with  assurance  guess  at  this  distance  what 
Hollywood  will  be  doing  to  the  memory  of  Jake  Casanova, 
gentleman  of  the  eighteenth  century,  but  It  may  be  set  down 
right  now  his  record  of  then  rates  favourably  with  some  of  now. 

Jake  seems  to  have  acquired  his  modern  repute  considerably 
more  from  his  pastimes  than  his  professions  and  scholarship. 
He  might  be  remenobered,  too,  as  a  journalist,  a  preacher,  and 
abbe  and  a  diplomat.  He  could  write  with  dynamic  grace,  and 
by  today's  references  would  be  rated  a  liberal.  He  was  born 
in  Venice  and  grew  up  in  London,  accumulating  several  kinds 
of  an  education  rapidly.  He  ran  the  French  state  lottery  for  a 
while  and  got  rich  at  it.  He  was  known  in  all  the  capitals  of 
Europe  and  enjoyed  the  courtesy  of  kings.  When  he  was  get- 
ting old,  and  maybe  tired,  he  wrote  a  tough  little  satirical 
piece  in  which  he  utterly  peglered  some  of  the  patricians  in 
Venice.  Then  he  had  to  get  the  hell  out  of  there.  So  his  old 
pal  Count  Waldenstein,  whom  he  had  met  in  Paris,  gave  him  a 
snug  harbour  berth  as  librarian  at  the  Chateaux  Dux  in  Bohemia. 
He  had  a  nice  time  there  with  his  books  and  his  memories, 
until  he  died  June  4,  1798,  aged  73,  indicating  he  had  kept 
his  health,  anyway.  He  was  an  excellent  librarian.  This  is  the 
first  kind  word  that  has  been  written  about  him  in  a  hundred 
and  forty-five  years.  — Terry  Ramsaye 


8 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    26,  1944 


THIS  WEEK  IN  THE  NEWS 


Holiday  Harvest 

CASH  registers  were  near  to  busting  Tues- 
day night  by  the  time  Broadway  managers 
got  around  to  counting  the  results  of  a 
Washington's  Birthday  rush  which  set  al- 
most all  of  their  holiday  records  spinning. 
Monday,  too,  set  some  fabulous  weekday 
figures,  after  the  Board  of  Education  closed 
schools  on  short  notice  to  save  fuel.  Some  of 
the  figures : 

Radio  City  Music  Hall,  with  "Jane 
Eyre,"  grossed  $21,000  in  five  Tuesday 
shows. 

Paramount,  opening  "Lady  in  the  Dark," 
smashed  18  years  of  first-day  records  with 
almost  $21,000. 

Warners'  Hollywood,  with  "Passage  to 
Marseille,"  hit  $8,000  Tuesday  to  close  the 
first  week  with  a  record  $53,000  for  the  1,- 
475~sG3.t  house 

Strand,  "In  Our  Time,"  hit  $8,500  Tues- 
day, and  $7,500  on  Monday. 

Roxv,  "The  Sullivans,"  with  almost  $19,- 
000  on  Tuesday,  ended  a  $93,000  second 
week. 

Capitol,  "Song  of  Russia,"  $14,000  for  a 
new  midweek  holiday  mark. 

Rivoli,  "Song  of  Bernadette,"  hit  capacity 
marks  of  $8,999  on  Tuesday  and  $8,390  on 
Monday. 

Astor,  "Lifeboat,"  scored  $4,075  and  $3,- 
500  for  Tuesday  and  Monday. 

Criterion,  "Standing  Room  Only"  paced 
the  film  title  with  a  record  of  $9,000  on 
Tuesday. 


Rank'Riskin 


A  RIPPLE  within  the  larger  turbulencies 
stirred  in  foreign  departments  by  recent 
news  from  London  this  week  appeared  to 
have  emanated  from  reports  that  Robert 
Riskin,  chief  of  the  OWI  Overseas  Motion 
Picture  Bureau,  had  been  chatting  with  J. 
Arthur  Rank.  Mr.  Rank  was  said  to  be  in- 
terested in  fortification  of  his  international 
position  by  the  loan  of  a  helping  hand  to 
OWI  in  the  distribution  of  its  product  over- 
seas. 


Honey  Fitz 


BOSTON'S  celebrated  ex-mayor,  Hon. 
John  F.  "Honey  Fitz"  Fitzgerald  was  in  the 
headlines. again  this  week  with  an  offer  for 
a  personal  appearance  at  the  Paramount 
theatre  on  Washington  Street. 

Known  from  coast  to  coast  for  his  rous- 
ing vocalizations  of  "Sweet  Adeline,"  Mayor 
Fitzgerald  was  celebrating  his  81st  birth- 
day last  week  in  the  Hotel  Statler  at  a  din- 
ner given  by  Maurice  J.  Tobin,  current 
mayor  of  the  Hub  City.  Quite  by  accident 
it  was  discovered  that  the  song's  composer, 
Henry  Armstrong,  an  octogenerian  himself, 
was  dining  in  the  same  room. 

"Honey  Fitz"  and  the  composer  took  over 
the  band  stand  with  the  strains  of  "Sweet 
Adeline"  in  duet.  Soon  the  entire  crowd  of 


EXHIBITORS  increase  use  of  short  subject 
packages  Page  1 3 

CANADIAN  industry  is  seeking  self-regula- 
tion program  Page  14 

CLARK  rounds  up  exhibitor  opinion  on 
Consent  Decree  Page  15 

ON  THE  MARCH  —  Red  Kann  records 
Academy  Award  guesses  Page  22 


SERVICE  DEPARTMEN 

Hollywood  Scene 

Page  37 

In  the  Newsreeis 

Page  42 

Managers'  Round  Table 

Page  47 

Picture  Grosses 

Page  46 

Shorts  on  Broadway 

Page  45 

BALCON  fights  for  British  control  of  all 
British  films  Page  27 

ARMY  uses  censored  newsreel  footage  for 
training  purposes  Page  28 

USE  of  films  by  war  plants  booming  sixteen 
millimeter  field  Page  29 

INDUSTRY  Bond-seat  sales  reach  total  of 
ten  million  Page  33 

TS 

What  the  Picture  Did  for  Me        Page  44 


IN  PRODUCT  DIGEST  SECTION 


Showmen's  Reviews 
The  Release  Chart 


Page  1773 
Page  1775 


500  had  joined  in  and  the  notes  of  "Adeline,  Setiate  Ho 
for  you  I  pine"  were  echoing  across  the 


Common.  It  was  front-page  copy  next  day 
and  Jack  Saef,  publicity  man  for  the  Para- 
mount, sent  the  ex-mayor  and  the  composer 
personal  appearance  contracts.  They  de- 
clined, with  regrets. 

While  mayor,  Mr.  Fitzgerald  encouraged 
the  construction  of  some  of  Boston's  most 
modern  theatres.  He  is  the  father-in-law 
of  Joseph  P.  Kennedy,  former  head  of  FBO 
and  more  recently  Ambassador  to  the  Court 
of  St.  James's. 


Black  Market  Exhibitor 

ACCORDING  to  a  story  published  in  the 
Illustre  of  Geneva,  Parisians  under  the 
watchful  eye  of  Nazis  so  hunger  for  Ameri- 
can film  fare  that  a  clandestine  theatre  lo- 
cated in  the  cellar  of  a  building  where  admis- 
sion is  by  password  and  prices  vary  between 
250  and  500  francs  a  sea;t,  is  defying  the 
invaders.  Favorites  of  the  patrons,  the 
Illustre  states,  are  "Mr.  Smith  Goes  to 
Washington,"  "You  Can't  Take  It  With 
You,"  "Citizen  Kane,"  "The  Gold  Rush," 
"Scarface,"  "Green  Pastures,"  and  other 
American  prints  hidden  from  the  Nazis  since 
the  invasion.  It  is  said  that  if  the  exhibitor 
could  only  book  Chaplin's  "The  Great  Dic- 
tator," his  public  would  be  willing  to  pay 
1,000  francs,  the  price  of  a  chicken  dinner 
when  a  chicken  dinner  can  be  found  at  any 
price.  The  franc — not  counting  black  mar- 
ket operations — has  been  pegged  in  Occupied 
France  at  50  to  the  American  dollar. 


SENATOR  Sheridan  Downey,  (D)  Cali- 
fornia, called  for  greater  unity  at  home  in  a 
speech  from  the  Senate  floor  this  week.  He 
demanded  unity  of  action,  as  exemplified  by 
the  fighting  Marines,  and  cited  the  record  of 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Evans  F.  Carlson,  who 
led  the  Makin  Island  raiders. 

The  Senator  urged  more  of  the  "so  called 
'Gung-Ho'  spirit."  This  is  "the  Chinese 
expression  of  harmoniously  working  to- 
gether and  which  is  exemplified  in  the  truly 
great  and  inspiring  film  of  the  same  name, 
'Gung  Ho',  recently  released,  produced  by 
Walter  Wanger,  president  of  the  Academy 
of  Motion  Picture  Arts  and  Sciences,  him- 
self a  soldier  in  the  first  World  War,"  said 
Senator  Downey. 

"Recently  I  had  an  opportunity  to  view 
this  film  and  to  me  it  brought  a  profound 
realization  of  the  dangers  and  sacrifices  of 
our  fighting  men.  .  .  .  Any  American  seeing 
this  film,  'Gung  Ho',  would  resolve  there- 
after for  more  harmonious  work  in  the  com- 
mon and  sacred  war  effort,"  he  advised  his 
Senatorial  colleagues. 


Importation 


Star  Candidate 

VIRGINIA  BRUCE,  screen  actress  and 
one  of  the  wives  of  the  late  John  Gilbert, 
announced  in  Hollywood  last  week  that  she 
would  run  for  the  California  legislature 
from  her  home  district,  Santa  Monica. 


FILM  CLASSICS  has  uncovered  a  foreign 
film,  an  importation  from  a  nation  hitherto 
not  known  for  its  film  production — Switzer- 
land. A  group  of  French  emigres  of  the 
film  industry  in  collaboration  with  Swiss 
produced  a  picture  titled,  in  its  English 
translation,  "A  Woman  Disappears."  By 
way  of  North  Africa  it  got  through  to  Film 
Classics.  It  stars  Francoise  Rosay,  who  is 
currently  making  pictures  in  Great  Britain, 
and  Claude  Dauphin,  and  was  written  by 
Jacques  Feyder.  Mile.  Rosay,  playing  the 
role  of  an  actress  seeking  pleasures, 
gives  a  screen  recording  of  late  Continental 
fashions. 


February    26,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


9 


Happy  New  Year 

RISING  nearly  $3,700,000  above  December 
and  $5,000,000  above  last  January,  Federal 
admission  tax  collections  of  $16,744,936  for 
the  first  month  of  1944  established  a  new 
high  record,  it  was  reported  Wednesday  by 
the  Internal  Revenue  Bureau. 

The  month's  collections  were  $245,000 
above  the  previous  record,  established  last 
October,  and  brought  the  total  for  the  first 
seven  months  of  the  current  fiscal  year  to 
$108,536,640,  compared  with  $92,240,739 
for  the  corresponding  period  a  year  ago,  the 
Bureau  reported. 

Nearly  $100,000  of  the  increase  over  De- 
cember was  centered  in  the  Third  New  York 
(Broadway)  District,  where  collections  of 
$3,290,906  were  nearly  five  times  the  $678,- 
382  recorded  in  January,  1943. 

In  that  district  increases  were  recorded  in 
every  category,  with  box  office  collections 
of  $3,033,552  comparing  with  $2,164,043  in 
December  and  $546,463  in  January  a  year 
ago;  tickets  sold  by  brokers,  $22,897  against 
$19,654 ;  tickets  sold  by  proprietors  in  excess 
of  the  established  price,  $1,795  against  noth- 
ing in  December  and  $484  last  January ;  per- 
manent use  or  lease  of  boxes  and  seats,  $510 
against  nothing  in  December  and  $480  last 
January,  and  admission  to  roof  gardens  and 
cabarets,  $232,151  against  $209,347  in  the 
preceding  month  and  $117,566  in  January, 
1943. 


Like  Father .  .  . 

DAUGHTERS  of  three  prominent  film  per- 
sonalities are  following  their  fathers  to  the 
cameras  and  the  sound  stages  of  Hollywood. 
Karen  Hale,  who  is  20  years  of  age  and  the 
daughter  of  Alan  Hale,  and  Ruth  Brennan, 
whose  father  is  Walter  Brennan,  are  making 
their  screen  debut  in  "Cinderella  Jones." 
LeRoy  Prinz,  the  director,  has  a  16-year-old 
daughter  Dolores,  who  is  making  her  film 
debut  in  "Janie." 


At  the  Front 

MARTIN  BURKE  of  the  United  States 
Coast  Guard  has  written  a  vivid  picture  of 
the  screen  as  entertainment  in  the  midst  of 
battle.  After  clearing  out  a  clump  of  coco- 
nut trees,  setting  up  a  projector  and  a  make- 
shift screen,  "there  is  Hollywood  and  mov- 
ies— the  boys  can't  get  enough  of  it."  Seated 
on  ration  containers,  crude  benches  and  logs, 
the  boys  settled  down  to  view  the  proceed- 
ings. 

"Sometimes,  like  at  the  place  we  were 
combat  loading  recently,  a  movie  drags  al- 
most interminably,  because  a  single  projec- 
tor means  changing  reels  while  the  audience 
waits. 

"  'Come  on,  kiss'  the  girl,'  somebody  im- 
patiently yelled  at  Young  Mr.  Pitt.  If  he 
did  (and  I  doubt  it)  we  never  got  to  see  it, 


NO  EXTRA  TAX 
BEFORE  APRIL  I 

There  will  be  no  increase  in  admission  tax 
rates  on  March  I. 

Veto  of  the  pending  revenue  bill  by 
President  Roosevelt  on  Tuesday  threw  the 
tax  problem  back  at  Congress  and  left  un- 
settled the  question  of  when  and  how  new 
taxes  would  be  applied  to  theatre  ad- 
missions. The  President's  veto  message  was 
caustic  in  its  criticism  of  the  bill  passed  by 
Congress. 

"Wholly  ineffective,"  the  President 
termed  the  law's  provisions,  declaring  that 
it  was  a  "tax  bill  providing  relief  not  for 
the  needy  but  for  the  greedy." 

Congress  was  to  vote  on  over-riding  the 
veto  Thursday.  A  close  vote  was  forecast, 
with  Capital  observers  expressing  doubt 
that  the  veto  could  be  beaten.  If  enacted 
over  the  President's  veto  the  new  taxes 
could  not  become  effective  until  April  I. 

The  President  suggested  that  the  in- 
creases in  excise  taxes,  including  the  pro- 
posed film  rate  of  I  cent  on  each  5  cents, 
be  passed  by  Congress  in  the  form  of  a 
resolution.  He  promised  to  sign  such  an 
interim  measure  pending  enactment  of  a 
new  bill. 

"Indefensible  special  privileges  to  fa- 
vored groups"  are  contained  in  the  bill, 
President  Roosevelt  said,  listing  as  ex- 
amples provisions  covering  lumber,  airline, 
mineral  and  gas  pipeline  Industries.  He 
said  that  the  $2,315,200,000  bill  actually 
raises  less  than  $1,000,000,000  of  the 
$10,500,000,000  In  new  revenues  which  the 
Administration  requested  from  Congress. 


for  just  then  the  air  raid  siren's  screech 
sent  us  all  bolting  out  of  the  movie  area.  .  .  . 
All  night  hell  broke  loose.  Fuel  dumps 
ashore  were  blown  up.  .  .  .  Purple  and  yel- 
low explosions  blasted  the  night  air.  .  .  . 

"Next  morning  came  the  all  clear  signal. 
As  we  had  hot  coffee  in  the  crew's  quarters, 
Edward  P.  Barry,  pharmacist's  mate,  first 
class,  of  Fort  Worth,  Texas,  uttered  the 
question  which  was  on  everyone's  lips :  'How 
in  hell  did  that  movie  wind  up  ?'  " 

Mr.  Burke  says  "There  is  truly  no  favorite 
among  stars — that  might  be  disappointing  to 
Hollywood,  but  on  the  other  hand  we  sit 
through  driving  rain  to  see  anything.  War 
and  sea  movies  get  a  cynical  going  over; 
most  war  exploits  pictured  in  celluloid  are 
regarded  by  these  men  as  sheer  boloney." 
Still — "movie  call  is  the  biggest  thing  out 
here." 


Quigley  Awards 

INDUSTRY  exhibition  and  distribution 
executives  will  assemble  Monday,  February 
28,  at  noon,  at  the  Hotel  Astor,  New  York, 
to  select  the  theatre  showmanship  winners 
of  the  Quigley  Awards  for  1943  sponsored 
by  Motion  Picture  Herald  through  the 
Managers'  Round  Table.  Entries  will  con- 
sist of  those  showmen's  promotions  which 
have  survived  the  quarterly  judgings  for 
the  Quigley  Awards'  11th  annual  competi- 
tion. In  addition,  the  second  Quigley  "War 
Showmanship  Award"  will  be  made. 

Martin  Quigley,  editor-in-chief  and  presi- 
dent of  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  will  preside 
at  the  luncheon. 

Awards  will  consist  of  the  Silver  Grand 
Award  and  the  Bronze  Grand  Award  and  a 
certificate  of  citation  for  the  outstanding  feat 
of  wa,r  showmanship.  Last  year's  winners 
were:  Louis  Charninsky,  Silver  Award  win- 
ner; Edward  Fitzpatrick,  Bronze  Award 
winner,  and  Jack  Matlack,  War  Showman- 
ship Award  winner. 


From  the  Right 

Hollywood  Bureau 

"IT  is  now  possible  in  some  studios  to  find 
associated  in  one  picture  a  writer,  a  director 
and  a  producer  who  are  at  least  sympathetic 
followers  of  Communism,"  it  was  charged 
Tuesday  by  James  K.  McGuinness,  executive 
committee  chairman  of  the  Motion  Picture 
Alliance  for  the  Preservation  of  American 
Ideals.  He  spoke  at  an  American  Legion 
Americanization  meeting  in  Los  Angeles. 

Mr.  McGuinness  declared  three  such  men 
could  control  the  insertion  of  propaganda 
into  films.  "We  intend  to  stop  this  misuse 
of  pictures,"  he  said.  "We  are  going  to 
make  our  fight  within  the  industry  because 
the  vast  majority  of  the  industry  is 
composed  of  loyal,  substantial,  freedom-lov- 
ing citizens." 

Sam  Wood,  president  of  MPA;  George 
Bruce,  executive  secretary;  Howard  E. 
Rogers,  vice-president,  and  Col.  Rupert 
Hughes  were  introduced.  Captain  Claris 
Gable  and  Captain  John  Lee  Mahin  also 
made  brief  talks. 


Racket 

DOWN  Mexico  way  in  the  municipality  of 
Pachuca,  there  is  much  silver  and  a  myriad 
of  "Judges  of  Spectacles."  At  theatre  box 
offices  exhibitors  welcome  the  silver,  but  not 
so  the  "Judges  of  Spectacles,"  whose  job  it 
is  to  inspect  theatres  and  other  amusement 
centers,  thereby  giving  them  the  right  of 
free  entrance.  Pachuca  exhibitors  are  com- 
plaining, not  that  their  theatres  are  being 
inspected,  but  of  the  number  of  "judges," 
who  far  too  frequently  outnumber  the  paid 
patrons,  and,  when  pleased  with  the  fare,  are 
given  to  returning  again  and  again. 


MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD,  published  every  Saturday  by  CPuIgley  Publishing  Company,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  City,  20.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100;  Cable  address  "Quigpubco, 
New  York."  Martin  Quigley,  President;  Calvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Terry  Ramsaye,  Editor;  James  D.  Ivers,  News  Editor; 
Ray  Gallagher,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Avenue,  Chicago,  5;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Building,  Hollywood,  28,  William  R.  Weaver, 
editor;  Toronto  Bureau,  242  Millwood  Road,  Toronto,  Ontario,  Canada,  W.  M.  GJadish,  correspondent;  Montreal  Bureau,  265  Vitre  St.,  West,  Montreal,  Canada,  Pat  Donovan, 
corresporvdent;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Square,  London  W  I,  Hope  Williams  Burnup,  manager;  Peter  Burnup,  editor;  cable  Quigpubco  London;  Melbourne  Bureau,  The  Regent 
Theatre,  191  Collins  St.,  Melbourne,  Australia,  Cliff  Holt,  correspondent;  Sydney  Bureau,  17  Archbold  Rd.,  Roseville,  Sydney,  N.S.W.,  Australia,  Lin  Endean,  correspondent; 
Mexico  City  Bureau,  Dr.  Carmona  y  Valle  6,  Mexico  City,  Luis  Becerra  Celis,  correspondent;  Buenos  Aires  Bureau,  J.  E.  Uriburi  126,  Buenos  Aires,  Argentina,  Notallo  Bruski, 
correspondent-  Rio  de  Janeiro  Bureau,  R.  Sao  Jose,  61,  C.  Postal  834,  Rio  de  Janeiro,  Brazil,  Alfredo  C.  Machado,  correspondent;  Montevideo  Bureau,  P.  O.  Box  664,  Montevideo, 
Uruguay,  Paul  Bodo,  correspondent;  cable  Argus  Montevideo.  Member  Audit  Bureau  of  Circulations.  All  conteiits  copyright  1944  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company.  Address 
all  correspondence  to  the  New  York  Office.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Better  Theatres,  Motion  Picture  Daily,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  and  Fame. 


10 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    26,  1944 


THIS  WEEK 


the  Camera  reports: 


"SHINE  ON,   HARVEST  MOON".    The  pair  above,  in 
Warner  musical  picturization  of  Nora  Bayes'  life,  are 
Ann  Sheridan  and  Dennis  Morgan. 


the 


I'/^f-'        AS  ^Vj 


THEY  RETURNED  FROM  TARAWA.  The  Marine  Corps 
photographers  who  covered  that  costly  landing:  Front, 
Tech.  Sgt.  Carlos  Steele,  Cpl.  Jack  Ely,  Sgt.  Ferman  Dixon, 
Sgt.  John  Ercole,  Cpl.  Obie  Newcomb,  Sgt.  Ernest  Diet. 
Second  row:  Pvt.  Chris  Demo,  Sgt.  Forrest  Owens,  Cpl.  Jim 
Orton,  Cpl.  Raymond  Matjaclc.   Rear:  Sgt.  Roy  Oland, 
Capt.  Louis  Hayward,  Gunner  John  Leopold  and 
Sgt.  Norman  Hatch.  Lieut.  Ernest  Matthews,  Jr.,  and 
Sgt.  Wesley  Kroenung,  Jr.,  were  killed. 


CONSTANCE  BENNETT,  actress,  signs  in  New  York 

as  a  PRC  producer  while  Leon  Fromkess,  vice-president  in 

charge  of  production  for  PRC  Pictures,  Inc.,  watches. 

Miss  Bennett  will  star  in  her  own  pictures. 

See  page  42. 


KILLED  "while  trying 
to  escape"  from  a  Jap 
prison  is  the  report  re- 
ceived in  America  of 
the  death  of  Julius 
Fisher,  right,  former 
director  of  the  Fisher 
circuit,  Singapore. 
Mr.  Fisher's  brother, 
Joseph,  Is  here,  lec- 
turing. 


TRANSFERS.   Edward  Lomba  and  Otto  Bolle, 
of  Twentieth  Century- Fox,  and  A.  A.  Lowe, 
United  Artists,  in  South  Africa.  Mr.  Lomba  succeeds 
Mr.  Bolle  there;  Mr.  Bolle  goes  to  Australia. 


February    26,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


FIRST  RUN  CONTRACT.  Jack  Osserman. 

RKO  Brazil  supervisor,  watches  Mario  Moura  de  Castro 

sign  for  the  de  Castro  circuit's  Empresa  Vital, 

in  Rio  de  Janeiro. 


LEE  KAMERN  pins  on  his  new 
Marine  Corps  lieutenant  bars,  at 
Rendova  Island,  South  Pacific,  where 
he  won  them  in  action.   He  was  formerly 
manager  of  the  Astor  theatre,  New  York. 


Staft  Photographer 

PUBLICITY  DIRECTOR  for  the  Industry's 

Red  Cross  drive,  March  23-29,  is  Charles  Smakwitz, 

New  York  state  assistant  zone  manager 

and  advertising  director  for  Warner  Theatres. 


IN  LONDON.  Greta  Gynt.  star  of  Two  Cities'  "Mr.  Emmanuel",  and 
H.R.H.  the  Duchess  of  Kent,  who  visited  the  studio  during  filming. 


MERVYN   LE  ROY,  director,  and   Frank   Ross,  producer,  will  make 
"The  Robe"  for  RKO.  Mr.  LeRoy  is  currently  directing 
MGM's  "30  Seconds  Over  Tokyo". 


MEETING  In  Portland,  Oregon,  where  Republic's 
"The  Fighting  SeaBees"  opened,  are  J.  H.  Sheffield, 
Republic  manager;  Jack  Flynn,  carpenter's  mate;  Jack  Matlack, 
J.  J.  Parker  circuit  publicity  director. 


12 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    26,  1944 


"GOING  MY  WAY".  A  scene  from  the  Paramount  production,  showing  Bing  Crosby 
and  Barry  Fitzgerald,  who  portray  priests.  (Review  in  Product  Digest  this  week.) 


MRS.  BERNARD  KREISLER,  wife  of 
Universal's  short  subjects  sales  manager, 
is  shown,  above  right,  supervising  the 
testing  of  an  electrically  heated 
flying  glove  in  New  York.  Wearing 
the  glove  while  donating  blood  is 
donor  Irene  Pyle;  watching  is 
Colonel  Earle  Boothe,  Red  Cross. 
Mrs.  Kreisler  is  vice-chairman  of  the 
nurses'  aides  at  the  Tiffany  branch 
Blood  Bank. 


FROM  BOMBAY  this  week  came  the  grouping  above,  Warners'  convention 
for  its  Indian  sales  staff.  Sitting  are  N.  A.  Kamath,  New  Delhi  manager; 
S.  V.  Aiyar,  accountant;  B.  N.  Nadkarni,  managing  director;  L.  F.  Noronha, 
Bombay  manager;  Michael  Shathin,  Far  Eastern  supervisor;  stand- 
ing: N.  Naganathan,  Madras  manager;  K.  V.  Pai,  secretary; 
V.  Ganesan,  Calcutta  manager. 


FULL  DIRECTOR.  That  Is  the  title  now  of 
Eddie  Salven,  shown  above  on  the  Paramount  lot 
with  Johnnie  Johnston  and  Barbara  Britton, 
who  will  star  in  his  "Showboat  Serenade". 


GOOD  LUCK.  Wishing  that,  at.  left,  to 
James  TIbbetts,  in  front  of  flag,  are  Maurice  Wolfe, 
MGM  New  England  district  manager;  Harry  Green- 
man,  manager  of  the  Loew's  Orpheum,  Boston; 
George  Kraska,  new  manager  of  the  Loew's  State, 
that  city;  Charles  Kurtzman,  Loew's  circuit  north- 
eastern division  manager,  and  Joseph  Longo, 
the  circuit's  Boston  publicity  director.    Mr.  Tibbetts 
was  given  the  party  in  Boston  before  he 
left  for  the  Army.  He  was  manager  of  the  State. 


February    26,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


EXHIBITORS  INCREASE  USE 
OF  SHORTS  PACKAGES 


Double  Bill  Theatres  Turn 
to  High  Budget  Shorts 
Instead  of  One  Feature 

The  trend  of  booking  short  subject  pack- 
ages, which  began  toward  the  end  of  last 
season,  has  developed  into  widespread  prac- 
tice this  season  for  exhibitors  on  double  bill 
territories,  according  to  home  office  short 
subject  sales  managers.  In  hundreds  of  in- 
stances throughout  the  31  exchange  areas, 
top-budget  shorts  of  the  major  companies 
are  being  booked  to  replace  the  second  fea- 
ture on  dual  bill  programs. 

Universal's  name  band  musicals,  accord- 
ing to  Bernard  Kreisler,  in  charge  of  short 
subject  sales,  are  being  packaged,  two  to  a 
program,  are  billed  as  "Carnival  of  Fun" 
shorts  in  theatres  on  the  west  coast  and  in 
other  areas,  and  are  booked  in  place  of  the 
second  feature. 

Packaging  Four  Walt  Disney 
Shorts  as  "Laugh  Revue" 

Harry  Michalson  of  RKO  reports  that 
exhibitors  in  dual  territories  are  packaging 
four  Walt  Disney  cartoons,  usually  a  Pluto 
or  a  Donald  Duck,  Mickey  Mouse  or  Silly 
Symphony,  billing  them  as  "Laugh  Revues," 
and  playing  them  instead  of  the  second  fea- 
ture. 

In  the  case  of  Paramount's  special  color 
musical  shorts,  "Mardi  Gras"  and  "Carib- 
bean Romance,"  two  of  a  series  of  six,  these 
subjects  are  being  booked  in  circuit  and  in- 
dependent theatres,  in  both  single  and  double 
bill  territories,  with  the  feature  attractions. 

Last  October,  Motion  Picture  Herald 
reported  that  short  product  was  getting  more 
playing  time  than  ever  before,  resulting 
from  the  improved  quality  of  the  subjects, 
the  reduction  in  feature  production,  and  the- 
decrease  in  distribution  of  Government-made 
shorts.  Consequently,  companies  found  it 
possible  to  give  new  production,  sales  and 
advertising  treatment  to  short  subjects,  com- 
parable to  that  of  "B"  product. 

According  to  George  Harvey,  short  sub- 
jects publicity  manager  for  Paramount, 
bookings  on  "Caribbean  Romance"  thus  far 
have  shown  an  increase  over  those  of  "Mar- 
di Gras,"  first  of  the  company's  color-musi- 
cal series.  Mr.  Harvey  said  that,  accord- 
ing to  present  indications,  the  second  short 
seemed  to  gain  a  little  over  the  preceding 
one  and  that  this  interest  would  be  sustained 
accordingly  for  the  succeeding  subjects. 
"Lucky  Cowboy,"  third  in  the  series,  has 
just  been  released.  "Show  Boat  Serenade," 
fourth,  is  completed;  "Fun  Time,"  the  fifth, 
is  now  being  finished,  and  "Half  Way  to 
Heaven,"  last  in  the  series,  is  currently  in 
production. 

"Caribbean  Romance"  Holds 
Long  Run  Record 

"Caribbean  Romance,"  incidentally,  holds 
the  record  for  the  longest  run  short  sub- 
jects. It  ran  16  weeks  at  the  Victoria  thea- 
tre. New  York,  where  RKO's  "North  Star" 
has  been  holding  over.  The  film  was  booked 
over  the  Century  and  Loew  circuits  in  New 


Technicolor  Releases  Reach 


High  Mark  This  Season 


A  high  mark  has  been  set  In  1943-44 
for  the  number  of  Technicolor  productions 
in  release  or  scheduled  for  release.  With 
major  companies  reducing  their  schedules 
this  year  from  last  season,  and  with  greater 
emphasis  on  "A"  productions,  studios  have 
Increased  their  use  of  Technicolor. 

Thus  far,  13  films  In  Technicolor  have 
been  distributed,  compared  to  15  for  the 
entire  1942-43  season.  Completed  or  In 
work  are  25  more,  many  of  which  probably 
will  not  be  distributed  until  next  season. 
Nevertheless,  at  least  10  of  the  25  are  ear- 
marked for  release  between  now  and  the 
end  of  the  season. 

Last  year  Twentieth  Century- Fox  led 
with  five  Technicolor  pictures:  "Black 
Swan",  "Crash  Dive",  "My  Friend  Fllcka", 
"Springtime  In  the  Rockies"  and  "Thunder 
Birds".  With  the  1943-44  season  past  the 
halfway  mark.  Twentieth  Century-Fox  al- 
ready has  released  three:  "The  Gang's  All 
Here",  "Heaven  Can  Walt"  and  "Sweet 
Rosle  O'Grady".  The  studio  has  four  more 
completed  or  In  work:  "Greenwich  Village", 
"Home  in  Indiana",  "PIn-Up  Girl",  "Wil- 
son" and  "BufFalo  Bill". 

In  1942-43  Paramount  had  four  In  Tech- 
nicolor: "Dixie",  "Forest  Rangers",  "Happy 
Go  Lucky"  and  "Reap  the  Wild  Wind". 
The  company  has  offered  three  thus  far 
for  1943-44:  "Riding  High",  "For  Whom 
the  Bell  Tolls"  and  "Lady  In  the  Dark",  just 
going  Into  release.  Five  more  are  ear- 
marked: "Frenchman's  Creek",  "Incendiary 
Blonde",  "Rainbow  Island",  "Bring  on  the 


Girls"  and  "Story  of  Dr.  Wassell".  Cecil  B. 
De  Mille's  production. 

Universal  had  two  In  Technicolor  last 
season:  "Phantom  of  the  Opera"  and 
"White  Savage".  This  season  one  already 
has  been  released,  "All  Baba  and  the 
40  Thieves".  "Cobra  Woman",  "Climax" 
and  "Gypsy  Wildcat"  are  scheduled. 

With  only  one  last  year,  "Desperadoes", 
Columbia  has  two  set  for  this  year:  "At 
Night  We  Dream"  and  "Cover  Girl". 

MGM  has  four  In  release:  "Best  Foot 
Forward",  "Lassie  Come  Home",  "Salute 
to  the  Marines"  and  "Thousands  Cheer". 
The  studio  has  completed  or  In  work  six 
more:  "American  Miracle",  "Kismet", 
"Broadway  Rhythm",  "Meet  Me  In 
St.  Louis",  "Mr.  Co-Ed"  and  "National 
Velvet". 

Two  came  from  RKO  last  season: 
"Bambl"  and  "Saludos  Amigos",  both  from 
the  Walt  Disney  Studios.  "Three  Cabelle- 
ros",  another  Disney  color  feature,  will  be 
released  by  RKO  soon.  The  company  also 
has  set  for  distribution  "Up  In  Arms",  the 
Samuel  Goldwyn  Technicolor  production. 

Last  season  Warners  released  only  one 
film  In  Technicolor,  "This  Is  the  Army". 
Thus  far  this  season,  "Desert  Song"  has 
come  from  the  Warner  studio. 

With  no  Technicolor  pictures  distributed 
In  1942-43,  United  Artists  has  two  this 
year,  one  already  In  release,  "Victory 
Through  Air  Power",  produced  by  Walt 
Disney,  and  "Sensations  of  1944",  which  will 
be  released  In  May. 


York  and  throughout  the  Famous  Players 
Canadian  circuit,  among  others. 

"Caribbean  Romance"  already  has  been 
booked  into  the  Fox  West  Coast  circuit  and 
has  followed  "Mardi  Gras"  in  the  number 
of  double-bill  theatres,  where  it  has  replaced 
second  features.  Recently,  the  Paramount 
theatre  in  Newark  and  the  U.  S.  in  Pater- 
son  played  "Caribbean  Romance"  in  place 
of  the  second  feature. 

In  addition  to  the  "Carnival  of  Fun"  Uni- 
versal shorts  packages  which  are  being 
shown  by  theatres  on  the  west  coast,  Mr. 
Kreisler  reported  that  an  exhibitor  in  Port 
Chicago,  Cal.,  Joseph  Meyer  of  the  Port 
Chicago  theatre,  has  established  a  "musical 
vaudeville"  attraction  for  the  second  half 
of  his  program.  Each  week  he  plays  two 
of  the  Universal  name-band  musicals  to  re- 
place the  second  feature  of  the  mid-week 
show. 

In  several  exchange  areas  of  the  country. 


exhibitors  have  requested  prints  of  Univer- 
sal's "Menace  of  the  Rising  Sun,"  a  22-min- 
ute  subject  about  Japan  which  was  released 
more  than  a  year  ago.  The  recent  Japan- 
ese atrocity  stories  gave  rise  to  renewed  in- 
terest of  the  public  in  this  subject,  Mr. 
Kreisler  reported,  especially  on  the  west 
coast,  where  discussion  has  been  especially 
sharp  since  Pearl  Harbor.  The  short  has 
been  replacing  second  features  in  all  in- 
stances. 

There  have  been  several  hundred  Walt 
Disney  package  shows  in  recent  months,  ac- 
cording to  Mr.  Michalson.  Theatre  opera- 
tors, both  circuit  and  independent,  have  been 
using  Donald  Duck,  Pluto,  Goofey,  Mickey 
Mouse  or  Silly  Symphony  cartoons,  in  pack- 
ages of  four,  to  bolster  their  feature  attrac- 
tions. A  package  of  four  shorts  runs  32 
minutes  and  in  some  cases,  where  the  exhibi- 
tor has  played  five  subjects,  the  second  half 
of  the  program  ran  over  40  minutes. 


14 


Toronto  Conference  Sets 
Basis  for  Formulating 
Conciliation  Plan 

Government  approval  of  the  Canadian  in- 
dustry's proposed  conciliation  and  self-regu- 
lation plan  was  given  at  Toronto  this  week 
following  conferences  between  distributors 
ajid  exhibitors  to  draft  an  all-industry  unity 
program. 

An  industry  spokesman  said  in  Toronto 
Tuesday  that  the  Wartime  Prices  and  Trade 
Board  "has  given  its  sanction  to  the  plan  to 
run  our  own  business,  solve  our  own  prob- 
lems, settle  our  own  differences  and  regulate, 
procedure." 

The  meeting  of  all-industry  interests  last 
weekend  followed  several  months  of  re- 
ported plans  by  the  independents  to  call 
upon  the  Canadian  Government  to  take  ac- 
tion to  regulate  the  business  and  to  iron 
out  differences  between  the  distributors  and 
exhibitors. 

Plan  Calls  for  United  Action 
For  Self -Regulation 

A  committee  comprising  two  representa- 
tives from  film  exchanges,  one  each  from 
Famous  Players  Canadian  and  Odeon  Thea- 
tres, four  from  independent  exhibitors,  and 
two  from  the  distributors,  adopted  a  policy 
establishing  regional  conciliation  boards  in 
six  key  distributing  cities  across  Canada, 
with  a  central  appeal  board  in  Toronto  to 
deal  with  disputes  and  grievances.  The  pro- 
gram was  to  be  submitted  to  the  distributing 
companies  for  approval. 

The  plan  calls  for  united  action  in  self- 
regulation  of  distribution  and  exhibition  of 
films  with  discouragement  of  any  control  of 
business  operations  by  Federal  or  provin- 
cial government,  presumably  other  than  cen- 
sorship, public  safety,  licensing  and  taxa- 
tion measures  which  generally  are  recog- 
nized as  legislative  functions. 

Constitution  and  Rules 
Are  To  Be  Drafted 

The  policy-planning  committee  designated 
Col.  J.  A.  Cooper,  chairman  of  the  Canadian 
Motion  Picture  Distributors  Association,  and 
Henry  Falk  of  the  National  Council  of  In- 
dependent Exhibitors,  to  draft  a  constitution 
and  rules  of  procedure  for  the  regional 
boards  and  for  the  central  appeal  board. 

The  appeals  board  and  the  regional  units 
are  to  have  a  "balanced  representation,"  with 
one  member  each  from  distributors,  circuits 
and  organized  exhibitors.  Where  there  are 
two  theatre  associations  in  a  territory,  each 
will  have  a  representative  on  the  regional 
committee. 

Prior  to  the  conference,  which  was  held 
at  the  King  Edward  Hotel,  a  meeting  sched- 
uled for  February  8  at  Ottawa  between  Ca- 
nadian independents  and  officers  of  the  War- 
time Prices  and  Trade  Board  had  been 
called  off  and  agreement  had  been  reached 
for  the  holding  of  the  Toronto  coriference. 

According  to  recent  reports,  the  indepen- 
dent exhibitors  for  some  time  had  warned 
that  they  would  lay  all  their  problems  before 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


the  Federal  authorities  with  a  request  that 
the  Government  officiate  as  referee.  Their 
contention  was  that  Government  control  of 
admission  prices,  film  contracts,  theatre  con- 
struction and  personnel  provided  the  op- 
portunity for  enforcement  of  reforms.  How- 
ever, other  observers  in  the  trade  pointed 
out  that  a  petition  to  the  Canadian  Gov- 
ernment might  touch  off  a  move  for  in- 
creased regulation  of  the  film  business  which 
would  have  been  nothing  less  than  inter- 
ference with  free  trade  and  unhampered 
progress  and  freedom  of  screen  expression. 

Agreement  on  harmonious  trade  compe- 
tition, therefore,  appeared  to  be  more  im- 
portant to  the  representative  leaders  of  the 
business  in  Canada.  Consequently  the  trade 
conference  in  Toronto  was  voted  a  success, 
with  all  interests  agreeing  that  the  situation 
was  ripe  for  the  advancement  of  coopera- 
tive action.  It  was  divulged  at  the  conclu- 
sion of  the  meeting  that  the  delegates  were 
taking  a  long-range  view  of  the  subject  of 
trade  unity  and  that  a  sincere  attempt  was 
being  made  to  iron  out  differences. 

Meanwhile,  the  post  of  Administrator  of 
Theatres  and  Films  in  the  Wartime  Prices 
and  Trade  Board  practically  has  ceased  to 
exist.  Several  months  ago  R.  G.  McMullen 
resigned  as  Administrator  and  no  one  has 
been  appointed  to  succeed  him. 

Delegates  present  at  the  Toronto  meeting 
were  A.  J.  Mason  of  Springhill,  N.  S.,  pres- 
ident of  the  National  Council  of  Indepen- 
dent Exhibitors  of  Canada;  A.  W.  Perry 
of  Empire  Universal  Films  and  Louis  Rosen- 
feld  of  Columbia  Pictures,  representing  the 
distributors;  B.  C.  Salamis  of  Montreal, 
Mr.  Falk  and  Ben  Freedman  of  Toronto, 
and  W.  P.  Mahon  of  Prince  Albert,  Sask., 
for  the  independents ;  J.  J.  Fitzgibbons,  Has- 
kell Masters  and  Morris  Stein  of  Famous 
Players  Canadian  Circuit;  Col.  Cooper  and 
E.  H.  Wells,  secretary  of  the  Film  Board 
of  Trade. 

Ameche  Appointed  to  Board 
Of  Relief  for  Italy 

The  President's  War  Relief  Control  Board 
has  announced  the  appointment  of  Don  Ameche 
to  a  temporary  Board  of  Trustees  for  American 
Relief  to  Italy.  Other  members  of  the  board 
are  Myron  Taylor,  American  representative  to 
the  Vatican ;  Arturo  Toscanini,  Dr.  Angelo 
Patri  and  Major  General  John  H.  Hilldring. 

The  board  will  be  authorized  to  employ  a 
small  staff  in  New  York  and  to  arrange  with 
the  National  War  Fund  for  sending  money  to 
Italy  for  relief  as  soon  as  conditions  permit. 

Mr.  Ameche's  appointment  to  the  board  was 
arranged  jointly  by  the  Hollywood  Victory 
Committee  and  the  War  Activities  Committee. 
Joseph  B.  Davies,  chairman  of  the  President's 
War  Relief  Control  Board,  in  announcing  the 
actor's  appointment,  expressed  the  hope  that  the 
board  would  be  the  forerunner  of  a  permanent 
organization  for  American  relief  in  Italy. 

Franz  Werfel  Cited 

The  National  Conference  of  Christians  and 
Jews  has  cited  Franz  Werfel,  author  of  "The 
Song  of  Bernadette,"  produced  for  the  screen  by 
Twentieth  Century-Fox,  and  the  Theatre  Guild's 
new  play  "Jacobowsky  and  the  Colonel."  Mr. 
Werfel  is  in  Hollywood. 


hebruary    26,  1944 

Seek  Resumption 
Of  Projector  and 
Seat  Making 

Washington  Bureau 

Resumption  of  the  manufacture  of  projectors 
and  seats  for  new  houses  is  being  sought  by  the 
recreation  section  of  the  Office  of  Civilian  Re- 
quirements to  enable  the  construction  of  theatres 
in  war  manufacturing  centers  where  there  is  an 
urgent  need  for  additional  facilities  but  where 
there  are  no  applicants  for  construction  author- 
izations who  have  booth  equipment  and  chairs 
in  their  possession,  as  now  required. 

Surveys  made  by  the  recreation  section  indi- 
cates that  a  number  of  such  situations  may  be 
developed  in  coming  months.  The  projector 
program,  as  a  whole,  contemplates  the  manufac- 
ture of  300  or  400  new  projectors  a  quarter  be- 
ginning the  latter  part  of  this  year,  to  provide 
replacement  equipment  for  machines  wearing 
out  beyond  repair,  replacements  for  burned-out 
booths  and  new  houses.  John  Eberson,  con- 
sultant to  the  section,  has  been  working  on  a 
seat-production  program  for  some  time,  to  the 
same  ends. 

It  was  explained  by  George  McMurphey,  chief 
of  the  section,  that  applications  for  new  houses 
so  far  granted  have  been  conditioned  upon  the 
ability  of  the  applicant  to  furnish  booth  equip- 
ment and  seats,  but  there  are  indications  that 
the  supply  of  used  equipment  will  be  insufficient 
to  provide  all  the  new  theatres  which  are 
needed  in  war-congested  communities  where 
lack  of  recreational  facilities  has  been  demon- 
strated to  be  a  handicap  to  the  recruitment  and 
retention  of  adequate  numbers  of  workers. 

Government  Unable  to  Get 
Fine  from  Kaufman 

Efforts  of  the  Government  to  collect  a  fine 
of  $10,000  from  Louis  Kaufman,  former  busi- 
ness manager  of  the  Newark  operators  union, 
have  been  fruitless,  Assistant  U.  S.  Attorney 
Martin  Klein  said  last  week. 

Kaufman  and  six  former  members  of  the 
Capone  gang  in  Chicago  were  convicted  recently 
of  extorting  more  than  $1,000,000  from  the  in- 
dustry. 

Mr.  Klein  said  he  had  examined  Kaufman 
on  several  occasions  but  could  locate  no  asset 
which  the  Government  could  attach.  In  the 
event  that  a  final  examination  shows  that  Kauf- 
man actually  is  penniless,  he  will  be  required 
to  sign  a  statement  to  that  effect,  Mr.  Klein 
said,  or  serve  an  additional  short  prison  term. 


Stanley  Theatre  to  Show 
"Before  the  Raid" 

"Before  the  Raid,"  a  British  Ministry  _  of 
Information  featurette  produced  in  cooperation 
with  the  Norwegian  government  in  exile,  had 
its  first  American  showing  Friday  at  the  Stan- 
ley theatre.  New  York.  It  is  being  shown  along 
with  the  world  premiere  of  "Norway  Replies," 
which  is  being  distributed  by  Hoffberg  Produc- 
tions. The  featurette  tells  the  story  of  the 
mutiny  of  Norse  fishermen  ordered  to  turn  over 
their  catch  to  the  Germans.  At  the  climax  the 
Norwegian  fishermen  destroy  their  Nazi  foe  and 
sail  to  join  a  group  of  British  and  Norwegian 
commandos. 


"Navy  Way"  Premiere  Set 

The  world  premiere  of  "The  Navy  Way"  is 
scheduled  for  March  24  at  Waukegan,  111.,  it 
was  indicated  last  week  in  Chicago  by  Allen 
Usher,  Paramount  district  manager.  Confirma- 
tion is  pending  the  expected  arrival  here  of 
William  Pine,  producer,  March  2.  Waukegan 
was  chosen  because  of  its  proximity  to  the 
Great  Lakes  Training  Station  where  the  fea- 
ture was  filmed. 


Canada  Trade  Seeks 
Self-Regulation 


February    26.    I  944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


15 


CLARK  ROUNDS  UP  THEATRE 
OPINION  ON  DECREE 


MPTOA  Bulletin  Sharply 
Critical  of  Distributor 
Decree  Proposals 

Tom  C.  Clark,  Assistant  Attorney  Gen- 
eral, was  in  California  and  Texas  last  week 
asking  independent  exhibitors  and  some  pro- 
ducers, too,  what  they  thought  about  the 
distributors'  proposed  revisions  of  the  Con- 
sent Decree. 

He  was  rounding  up,  it  appeared,  opinions 
which  closely  conformed  to  the  critical  blasts 
which  earlier  emanated  from  the  national 
command  of  both  Allied  States  Association 
and  the  Motion  Picture  Theatre  Owners  of 
America  and  were  echoed  by  regional  ex- 
hibitor groups  in  virtually  every  section  of 
the  nation. 

Mr.  Clark  himself  was  silent.  He  had 
none  of  his  usually  pungent  Texas  observa- 
tions for  interviewers  in  California  on  the 
state  of  decree  affairs. 

Reports  on  Coast  of  Possible 
New  Anti-Trust  Trial 

"The  independents  have  submitted  their 
suggestions,  including  changes  they  desired 
in  the  Consent  Decree  proposals  advanced 
by  the  majors,"  Mr.  Clark  said.  "I  will 
study  these  upon  my  return  to  Washington 
prior  to  calling  further  decree  conferences." 

Behind  this  non-commital  statement  there 
was  the  larger  shadow,  however,  of  a  report 
emanating  from  the  Department  of  Justice 
offices  in  downtown  Los  Angeles  that  talk  of 
a  possibility  of  a  film  trust  trial  had  been 
heard  in  the  wake  of  the  Texas  attorney's 
visit. 

At  least  one  person  who  had  talked  with 
Mr.  Clark  in  Los  Angeles  said  that  his  at- 
titude had  been  that  negotiations  were  "not 
very  successful"  and  that  there  was  still  a 
distinct  possibility  of  settlement  by  trial  of 
the  issues  of  motion  picture  anti-trust  legis- 
lation. 

Mr.  Clark  indicated  that  he  expected  to 
decide  finally  on  a  decree  course  in  about 
three  weeks. 

From  Los  Angeles  he  went  north  to  San 
Francisco  and  then  flew  back  to  his  native 
Dallas  for  a  brief  stopover.  His  Washing- 
ton offices  expected  him  back  by  midweek. 

MPTOA  Bulletin  Critically 
Disapproves  Proposals 

The  Motion  Picture  Theatre  Owners  of 
America  critically  disapproved  the  distribu- 
tor decree  proposals  Monday  in  a  general 
bulletin  from  Ed  Kuykendall,  president,  re- 
porting on  the  comments  of  the  leaders  of 
local  member  associations. 

"While  the  changes  in  the  new  decree  all 
seem  to  improve  the  old  it  is  a  question  as  to 
whether  there  is  enough  improvement  to 
make  it  worth  the  efifort,"  Mr.  Kuykendall 
commented. 

Omission  of  many  of  the  main  points  ob- 
jected to  by  exhibitors  in  their  early  com- 
munications to  Mr.  Clark  was  a  major 
ground  for  objection,  Mr.  Kuykendall  said. 
He  expressed  concern  lest  exhibitors  be  de- 
nied a  full  hearing  in  court  if  the  Depart- 


MPTOA  APPROVES 
TAX  UNITY 

The  proposal  for  a  joint  tax  con- 
ference committee  of  exhibitor  inter- 
ests has  "great  merit",  Ed  Kuykendall, 
president  of  the  Motion  Picture  The- 
atre Owners  of  America,  said  Monday 
in  a  general  bulletin.  The  plan  has 
been  referred  to  the  18  regional 
MPTOA  units  for  action. 

"Their  wholehearted  support  and 
cooperation,  because  of  their  coast- 
to-coast  strategic  location,  and  ex- 
tensive experience  in  this  field  can 
make  a  major  contribution  to  the 
success  of  this  new  plan,  which  may 
easily  be  of  supreme  importance  to 
the  future  existence  of  every  the- 
atre," he  said. 

Citing  effective  coordination 
among  exhibitors  in  recent  Federal 
tax  hearings,  Mr.  Kuykendall  said  that 
the  proposal  for  a  joint  committee 
unquestionably  would  make  joint 
action  more  effective.  He  pointed 
out  that  this,  however,  would  not 
supplant  existing  organizations. 


ment  of  Justice  accepts  the  distributor  pro- 
posals. 

Secrecy  surrounding  decree  negotiations 
between  the  consenting  companies  and  the 
Department  of  Justice  was  the  subject  of  a 
vigorous  blast  from  the  Columbus,  Miss., 
exhibitor  leader. 

Attacks  Secrecy  Covering 
Decree  Negotiations 

"It  is  unfortunate  but  perhaps  significant 
that  the  official  text  of  the  new  Decree  pro- 
posed to  replace  the  one  that  expired  last 
November  20  is  not  given  out  for  publica- 
tion so  that  the  rank  and  file  exhibitor  has 
a  chance  to  make  his  own  analysis  and  ap- 
praisal," Mr.  Kuykendall  wrote.  "The  ex- 
hibitor will  have  to  live  under  it  for  the 
next  10  years  if  it  is  eventually  entered  by 
the  Court,  and  it  does  seem  he  should  have 
the  text  of  the  new  Decree  to  study  and 
form  his  own  opinions  thereon." 

Many  other  exhibitors  echoed  the  criti- 
cism of  decree  secrecy  first  expressed  to 
Motion  Picture  Herald  by  Van  Nomikos, 
Illinois  operator,  in  the  issue  of  December 
12.  They  expressed  concern  at  having  been 
"left  out"  of  current  consultations.  A  cross 
section  of  exhibitors  surveyed  Monday  by 
Motion  Picture  Daily  at  New  York  showed 
that  few  had  any  first  hand  knowledge  of  de- 
cree contents. 

"Involved  language"  in  the  decree  draft 
sent  to  the  MPTOA  directors  by  Mr.  Clark 
also  was  attacked.  "It  is  loaded  with  lawyer 
language  that  is  more  impossible  for  the  av- 
erage exhibitor  to  understand  than  the  new 
income  tax  forms,"  Mr.  Kuykendall  said. 

The  exact  meaning  of  many  provisions  of 


the  proposals  could  be  subject  to  years  of 
debate  by  attorneys,  the  Appeal  Board  or  the 
court,  Mr.  Kuykendall  observed,  declaring 
that  a  serious  question  was  raised  as  to 
whether  the  industry  can  be  regulated  by 
negative  and  legalistic  decrees. 

MPTOA  repeated  its  warnings  that  the 
alternative  to  a  constructive  settlement  of 
trade  practice  problems  is  regulation  by  a 
Government  commission. 

The  worst  feature  of  the  proposed  decree, 
according  to  the  MPTOA  report,  is  the  lim- 
itation of  picture  sales  to  small,  trade  shown 
blocks.  Mr.  Kuykendall  demanded  return  to 
large  block  "wholesale"  selling  of  films,  with 
cancellation  rights. 

Still  Stands  on  Demand 
For  Four-Point  Revision 

The  report  praised  the  20  to  five  per  cent 
cancellation  feature  of  the  draft  as  its  "prin- 
cipal improvement,"  declaring  that  if  it  is 
carried  out  in  TOod  faith  it  will  destroy  com- 
pulsory block  booking. 

MPTOA  still  stands  on  its  demands  of 
last  year  for  a  four-point  revision  of  the 
decree.  Mr.  Kuykendall  said  that  the  pres- 
ent document  met  only  one  of  these  specifi- 
cations.   The  MPTOA  demanded: 

1.  Full  season  sales  with  adequate  can- 
cellation. 

2.  Organized  local  mediation  of  trade 
disputes  and  grievances. 

3.  Non-legalistic  arbitration  before  local 
arbitrators  experienced  in  industry  affairs 
if  mediation  fails. 

4.  A  simplified  standard  exhibition  con- 
tract, defining  fair  competitive  practices. 

MGM  District  and  Branch 
Managers  Will  Meet 

District  and  branch  managers  of  Metro- 
Goldwyn-Mayer  will  gather  at  the  Blackstone 
Hotel  in  Chicago,  March  11  to  IS,  for  a  business 
conference.  All  phases  of  distribution,  includ- 
ing the  company's  responsibility  to  the  Govern- 
ment during  the  war  emergency,  will  be  dis- 
cussed at  tbe  five-day  conference.  The  plans 
are  to  give  considerable  attention  to  the  com- 
pany's distribution  relations  with  the  Govern- 
ment as  well  as  the  company's  business  with 
exhibitors. 


U.  S.  Sues  AT&T,  Hotels 

The  Department  of  Justice,  through  Edward 
M.  Curran,  United  States  Attorney  for  the 
District  of  Columbia,  at  the  request  of  the  Fed- 
eral Communications  Commission,  last  Satur- 
day filed  suit  against  the  American  Telephone 
and  Telegraph  Company,  the  Chesapeake  and 
Potomac  Telephone  Company  and  27  hotels  in 
the  District  of  Columbia,  to  prohibit  the  prac- 
tice of  collecting  "surcharges"  or  "service" 
charges  on  interstate  and  foreign  long  distance 
calls  to  and  from  these  hotels.  The  Govern- 
ment has  asked  the  court  to  order  the  hotels 
to  cease  making  the  collections,  and  the  tele- 
phone companies  from  rendering  long  distance 
service  to  these  hotels  "as  long  as  they  continue 
the  illegal  practice." 

Beler  Joins  Columbia 

Leonard  Beier,  formerly  member  of  the  War- 
ner Bros,  press  book  department,  has  joined 
Columbia  Pictures  in  a  similar  capacity. 


22 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


ON  THE  MARCH 


February    26.  1944 

by  RED  KANH 


HOLLYWOOD 

THE  hour  is  approaching.   The  per-annum  excitement  over 
the  Academy  Awards  is  rising  noticeably.    War  or  no 
war,  this  continues  to  be  Hollywood's  biggest  single  event. 
The  ballots  are  in  the  throes.  Price,  Waterhouse,  as  usual,  will 
audit,  and  Grauman's  Chinese  Theatre  on  March  2  will  be  the 
scene  of  the  hopes,  the  disappointments  and,  perhaps,  the  sur- 
prises. 

Intrepid  or  otherwise,  dependent  upon  the  findings,  a  sketchy 
forecast  was  attempted  here  last  week.  If  not  sufficiently  crystal 
in  its  clarity,  it  should  have  been  remarked  very  pointedly  that 
this  particular  handful  of  peeks  into  the  unpredictable  was  drawn 
from  conversation,  drifts,  blue  sky  and  impressions  at  Academy 
headquarters,  where  no  more  information  is  available  than  else- 
where around  the  sprawling  town.  And,  while  your  purveyor 
agreed  in  part,  he  was  not  reflecting  all  of  his  own  opinion, 
guesses  or  what  you  will. 

Now,  however,  and  perhaps  to  his  ultimate  confusion,  he  pro- 
poses divulging  his  own  predictions.  They  represent  nothing  be- 
yond personal  opinion  based  on  personal  appraisal.  There  is  no 
inside  dope  involved  and  absolutely  no  pretense  that  there  is. 
Like  anyone  else,  he  is  entitled  to  his  viewpoint.  Unlike  many 
others,  he  happens  to  have  a  place  to  air  it. 


At  Precipice's  Perilous  Edge 


T 


EN  thousand  ballots  may  prove  him  an  awful  sucker,  but 
here  goes  this  uncertain  flying  in  the  face  of  fate : 


The  Most  Outstanding  Motion  Picture: 

The  Nominations:  "Casablanca,"  Warner;  "For  Whom  the 
Bell  Tolls,"  Paramount;  "Heaven  Can  Wait,"  Twentieth  Cen- 
tury-Fox; "The  Human  Comedy,"  MGM;  "In  Which  We 
Serve,"  UA ;  "Madame  Curie,"  MGM ;  "The  More  the  Merrier," 
Columbia;  "The  Ox-Bow  Incident,"  Twentieth  Century-Fox; 
"The  Song  of  Bernadette,"  Twentieth  Century-Fox,  and  "Watch 
on  the  Rhine,"  Warner. 

The  Winner:  "The  Song  of  Bernadette." 

The  Best  Performance  by  an  Actor  : 

The  Nominations:  Humphrey  Bogart  in  "Casablanca,"  Gary 
Cooper  in  "For  Whom  the  Bell  Tolls,"  Paul  Lukas  in  "Watch  on 
the  Rhine,"  Walter  Pidgeon  in  "Madame  Curie,"  and  Mickey 
Rooney  in  "The  Human  Comedy." 

The  Winner:  Paul  Lukas. 

The  Best  Performance  by  an  Actress: 

The  Nominations:  Jean  Arthur  in  "The  More  the  Merrier," 
Ingrid  Bergman  in  "For  Whom  the  Bell  Tolls,"  Jean  Fontaine 
in  "The  Constant  Nymph,"  Warner;  Greer  Garson  in  "Madame 
Curie"  and  Jennifer  Jones  in  "The  Song  of  Bernadette." 

The  Winner:  Jennifer  Jones. 

The  Best  Performance  by  an  Actor  in  a  Supporting  Role: 
The  Nominations:  Charles  Bickford  in  "The  Song  of  Berna- 
dette," Charles  Coburn  in  "The  More  the  Merrier,"  J.  Carroll 
Naish  in  "Sahara,"  Columbia;  Claude  Rains  in  "Casablanca"  and 
Akim  Tamiroff  in  "For  Whom  the  Bell  Tolls." 
The  Winner:  Akim  Tamiroff. 

The  Best  Performance  by  an  Actress  in  a  Supporting 
Role: 

The  Nominations:  Gladys  Cooper  in  "The  Song  of  Berna- 
dette," Paulette  Goddard  in  "So  Proudly  We  Hail,"  Paramount; 
Katina  Paxinou  in  "For  Whom  the  Bell  Tolls,"  Ann  Revere  in 
"The  Song  of  Bernadette"  and  Lucile  Watson  in  "Watch  on  the 
Rhine." 

The  Winner:  Katina  Paxinou. 

The  Best  Achievement  in  Direction  : 

The  Nominations:  Michael  Curtiz  for  "Casablanca,"  Ernst  Lu- 
bitsch  for  "Heaven  Can  Wait,"  ClareHce  Brown  for  "The  Hu- 
man Comedy,"  George  Stevens  for  "The  More  the  Merrier"  and 
Henry  King  for  "The  Song  of  Bernadette." 

The  Winner:  Henry  King. 


The  Best  Written  Screenplay: 

The  Nominations:  Julius  J.  Epstein,  Philip  G.  Epstein  and 
Howard  Koch  for  "Casablanca,"  Nunnally  Johnson  for  "Holy 
Matrimony,"  Twentieth  Century-Fox;  Robert  Russell,  Frank 
Ross,  Richard  Flournoy  and  Lewis  R.  Foster  for  "The  More  the 
Merrier,"  George  Seaton  for  "The  Song  of  Bernadette"  and 
Dashiell  Hammett  for  "Watch  on  the  Rhine." 

The  Winner:  George  Seaton. 

The  Best  Original  Screenplay: 

The  Nominations:  Dudley  Nichols  for  "Air  Force,"  Warner; 
Noel  Coward  for  "In  Which  We  Serve,"  Lillian  Hellman  for 
"The  North  Star,"  Goldwyn-RKO;  Norman  Krasna  for  "Prin- 
cess  O'Rourke,"  Warner,  and  Allan  Scott  for  "So  Proudly  We 
Hail." 

The  Winner:  Noel  Coward. 

The  Best  Original  Motion  Picture  Story: 

The  Nominations :  Guy  Gilpatric  for  "Action  in  the  North  At- 
lantic," Warner;  Steve  Fisher  for  "Destination  Tokyo,"  War- 
ner; William  Saroyan  for  "The  Human  Comedy,"  Robert  Rus- 
sell and  Frank  Ross  for  "The  More  the  Merrier,"  and  Gordon 
McDonell  for  "Shadow  of  a  Doubt,"  Universal. 

The  Winner:  William  Saroyan. 

Technological  classifications — they  include  awards  for  black- 
and-white  and  color  photography,  art  direction,  sound  effects, 
sound  recording,  music  and  film  editing — are  consciously  by- 
passed. They  hold  no  particular  interest  in  the  area  beyond 
Hollywood  and,  moreover,  require  specialized  knowledge  for 
proper  analysis. 


Three  Shorts,  Three  Hunches 


T 


HIS  brings  matters  to  short  subjects, 
to  the  dangerous  edge  again: 


It  also  brings  us 


The  Cartoon  Division  : 

The  Nominations:  "The  Dizzy  Acrobat,"  Walter  Lantz -Uni- 
versal; "The  500  Hats  of  Bartholomew  Cubbins,"  George  Pal- 
Paramount;  "Greetings,  Bait,"  Leon  Schlesinger-Warner ; 
"Imagination,"  Dave  Fleischer-Columbia;  "Reason  and  Emo- 
tion," Walt  Disney-RKO,  and  "Yankee  Doodle  Mouse,"  Fred- 
erick Quimby-MGM. 

The  Winner:  "'Reason  and  Emotion." 

The  One-Reel  Division: 

The  Nominations:  "Amphibious  Fighters,"  Grantland  Rice- 
Paramount;  "Cavalcade  of  Dance  with  Veloz  and  Yolanda," 
Gordon  Hollingshead- Warner ;  "Champions  Carry  On,"  Edmund 
Reek-Twentieth  Century-Fox;  "Hollywood  in  Uniform,"  Ralph 
Staub-Columbia,"  and  "Seeing  Hands,"  Pete  Smith-MGM. 

The  Winner:  "Amphibious  Fighters." 

The  Two-Reel  Division: 

The  Nominations:  "Heavenly  Music,"  Jerry  Bresler-MGM; 
"Letter  to  a  Hero,"  Frederic  Ullman,  Jr.,  RKO  Pathe;  "Mardi 
Gras,"  Walter  MacEwen-Paramount,  and  "Women  at  War," 
Gordon  Hollingshead- Warner. 

The  Winner:  "Letter  to  a  Hero." 

No  dice  on  the  documentaries.  Not  having  seen  all  of  those 
entered  in  nomination,  no  opinion  obviously  is  possible. 


•  Why  Producers  Grow  Old:  One  major  studio  edited  $400,000 
out  of  a  super  duper  to  bring  it  into  reasonable  release  length. 
The  footage  is  in  the  vault.  It  has  no  place  whatsoever  to  go. 
■  Something  New  Department:  There  is  that  circuit  operator 
who  rounds  up  the  week's  business  by  telephone  each  Sunday 
evening. 

"How  did  you  do  today?",  he  asked  the  manager  of  one  of  his 
small  town  houses. 
"We  broke  a  record.  Sold  $93  worth  of  popcorn." 


Interviewer:  Miss  Goddard,  do  you 
think  your  new  picture  can  main- 
'®      tain  Paramount's  terrific  comedy 
record  of  five  laugh  hits  in  a  row? 


I  see  the  "Hollywood  Reporter' 
says:  "If  SRO'  doesn't  live  up 
to  its  title  at  every  box  office  in 
this  country,  then  this  country 
has  gone  ofF  the  laugh  standard. 


mm 


Woshington''  sense 
„f  homor  must  b« 
lav   our  firs,  five 
Smiereaoys*- 
topped 


That's  a  swell  title.  1  hear 
it's  all  about  you  and  Fred 
playing  cook  and  butler  to 
get  a  room  in  Washington. 


Fttm  DoUy  says 
.^The  title  hints  the 
Wind  of  business 

it  wiW 


uoct  iob  J  '  "  says  Holiy  ^onberg 
"H'* ite  Blonde  '  «nd  KarH*'"'' 

AA,/  Favorite  ^  an"  , 


*  On  the  Kate  Smith  Hour 
over  121  Stations  reach- 
ing 25,000,000  listeners! 


February    26.    I  944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


27 


BALCON  FIGHTS  FOR  BRITISH 
CONTROL  OF  BRITISH  FILMS 


Producer  Move  Designed 
To  Counter  Expanding 
American  Influence 

by  PETER  BURNUP 

in  London 

Behind  the  recent  bland  announcements 
of  the  proposal  of  J.  Arthur  Rank  for  a 
grand  council  of  the  industry  to  resist  gov- 
ernment control  and  promote  industry  good 
will,  and  of  the  setting  up  by  the  Films 
Council  of  an  inquiry  into  the  dangers  of 
industry  monopoly,  lurks  still  the  pattern  of 
bitter  warfare. 

The  latest  move,  sponsored  by  Michael 
Balcon  and  his  friends  of  the  British  Pro- 
ducers' Association,  is  to  press  for  a  nar- 
rower, more  precise,  official  definition  of 
what  really  does  constitute  a  British  film. 
Suggests  Mr.  Balcon,  American  interests 
are  riding  roughshod  through  the  spirit  if 
not  the  letter  of  existing  legislation. 

Says  Control  of  British  Film 
Should  Be  in  British  Hands 

Protesting  that  he  welcomes  here  artists 
and  technicians  of  all  nationalities,  he  main- 
tains that  the  financial,  executive  control  of 
a  "British"  picture's  production  should  rest 
exclusively  in  British  hands.  Venturing  on 
his  own  essay  in  definition,  he  proposes  that 
the  Quota  Act  should  be  amended  to  pro- 
vide that  "A  British  film  is  a  film  made  by 
a  predominantly  British  company,  not  sub- 
sidiary to  foreign  capital,  direction,  influ- 
ence or  interests." 

A  question  was  forthwith  put  down  in  the 
House  of  Commons — Members  of  Parlia- 
ment at  the  moment  exhibiting  an  inordinate 
concern  in  the  industry's  affairs — to  which 
Hugh  Dalton,  president  of  the  Board  of 
Trade,  made  curt  reply.  "The  qualifications 
of  a  British  film,"  said  Mr.  Dalton,  "are  set 
out  in  Section  25  of  the  Cinematograph 
Films  Act  1938."  And  he  declined  to  be 
drawn  further. 

The  purpose  of  earnest,  vehement  Mr. 
Balcon's  latest  suggestion  is  readily  discern- 
ible. He  has  proclaimed  himself  at  open 
warfare  with  Hollywood;  maintains  that 
his  own  pictures  have  been  denied  an  Amer- 
ican market  through  some  sinister  influence ; 
prepares  himself  for  another  violent  battle 
now  set,  as  he  believes,  in  connection  with 
legislation  which  must  take  the  place  of  the 
present  Quota  Act  expiring  four  years 
hence. 

Government  Watching 
Situation  Closely 

He  is  not  alone  in  his  views.  Other  ques- 
tions have  been  asked  in  the  House  regard- 
ing future  legislation;  suggesting  the  ap- 
pointment of  yet  more  committees,  seeking 
Governmental  announcement  of  yet  further 
official  stimulus  of  native  production.  One 
M.P.  went  so  far  as  to  declare  in  the  House 
that  "there  is  a  possibility  that  control  of 
the  British  film  industry  may  ultimately  pass 
overseas."  In  answer  to  which  Mr.  Dalton 


countered  that  he  was  carefully  watching 
the  situation. 

Informed  observers  are  well  aware  of  the 
Government's  preoccupation  with  the  "situ- 
ation." Mr.  Dalton's  request  that  the  Films 
Council — body  appointed  under  the  Quota 
Act  to  advise  the  Board  of  Trade  on  film 
industry  matters — should  consider  and  re- 
port on  alleged  monopolistic  tendencies  is  a 
sure  indication. 

What  is  not  at  the  moment  so  com- 
monly known  is  that  Mr.  Rank's  own  sug- 
gestion of  a  trade  cotmcil  arose  after  cer- 
tain discussions  he  had  with  Mr.  Dalton 
himself. 

The  multitude  of  trade  organizations,  of- 
ficial and  semi-official,  each  with  its  own 
panacea  for  the  industry's  ills,  but  each 
pich  hitting  for  its  own  particular  coterie, 
threatened  to  overwhelm  Mr.  Dalton  and 
his  civil  service  advisers.  He  has  hinted 
more  than  once  that  a  united  approach  from 
the  trade  to  Whitehall  would  be  acceptable. 

Hence  the  proposal  by  Mr.  Rank  for  the 
immediate  embodiment  of  the  council. 

That  the  proposition  will  meet  with  vio- 
lent criticism  is  a  foregone  conclusion.  Al- 
ready, there  have  been  vague  threats  of 
resignation  from  the  constituent  bodies  of 
the  proposed  tribunal.  It  is  a  safe  prophecy, 
however,  and  opposition  despite,  that  the 
council  will  be  functioning  in  a  very  short 
time. 

Less  Vocal  Industry 
Members  Welcome  It 

Workaday,  less  vocal  members  of  the 
industry  welcome  it.  Henry  Simpson,  presi- 
dent of  the  Cinematograph  Exhibitors  Asso- 
ciation, already  has  received  congratulations 
on  his  own  part  in  the  preliminary  discus- 
sions. In  a  few  weeks'  time  Mr.  Simpson's 
presidential  term  will  come  to  an  end.  Not 
only  CEA  members,  but  responsible  persons 
in  other  branches  of  the  industry  are  dis- 
posed to  regard  his  year  in  office  as  memor- 
able. Without  his  patient  statesmanship,  they 
say,  the  joint  renter-exhibitor  conciliation 
committee  would  never  have  come  into  being. 

Only  Six  British  Films  on 
Stages  at  One  Time 

The  Denham  Studio  currently  is  one  of 
those  great,  wide  open  spaces;  not  one  of 
its  eagerly  sought  for  stages  has  this  week 
of  writing  been  in  occupation.  Six  films 
only,  indeed,  are  now  in  studio  production 
in  this  country.  Cynical  observers  make 
caustic  comment  on  the  astonishing  phe- 
nomenon; remarking  acidly  that  Mr.  Rank 
should  set  up  a  sort  of  clearing-house  for 
the  various  production  lots  under  his  con- 
trol, should  insist  on  producers  who  seek  to 
utilize  his  studios  starting  up  their  cameras 
on  some  previously  fixed  date. 

Maybe  that  will  be  one  of  the  jobs  Brit- 
ain's screen  colossus  will  tackle  as  soon  as 
certain  other  pressing  matters  are  dealt  with 
by  him. 

In  the  meantime,  the  names  of  that  for- 
lorn list  of  six  merit  chronicling.  They  are: 


Gainsborough's  "Love  Story";  Michael  Bal- 
con's "The  Return  of  the  Vikings"  and 
"They  Came  to  a  City"  (Ealing  Studios) ; 
British  National's  "The  Golden  Road" 
(Elstree)  ;  Two  Cities'  "Mr.  Emmanuel" 
(Teddington) ;  and  Two  Cities'  "Don't 
Take  It  to  Heart"  (Hammersmith). 

There  had  been  high  hopes  that  the  first 
of  the  Korda  mighty  epics — "The  Perfect 
Strangers" — would  be  on  the  floor  at  Den- 
ham on  the  latest  of  the  oft-postponed  dates, 
February  15.  Wesley  Ruggles,  commissioned 
to  direct  the  piece,  said  as  much  on  the  day 
of  his  arrival  here  recently.  Says  Mr.  Rug- 
gles now,  however:  "How  can  I  shoot  a 
film  without  a  script?  I've  only  got  10 
pages  as  yet." 

Shaw  Enthusiastic 
About  Vivien  Leigh 

That,  incidentally,  is  no  reflection  on  Sir 
Alexander  Korda's  script  writers;  rather,  a 
commentary  on  wartime  difficulties  in  com- 
munication. Mr.  Ruggles  is  wildly  enthusi- 
astic on  the  film's  theme  and  story ;  hopes  to 
make  a  great  picture  of  it.  But  he  just 
isn't  satisfied  with  the  shooting  script  as 
handed  to  him. 

Britain's  impending  major  production — 
Gabriel  Pascal's  version  of  Bernard  Shaw's 
"Caesar  and  Cleopatra" — cannot  get  on  the 
floor  until  mid-April,  although  screen  tests 
have  been  arranged  to  start  February  2S. 
Mr.  Shaw,  in  his  eighties,  takes  a  greater 
interest  than  ever  in  this  production;  is  in 
almost  daily  script  and  casting  conferences 
with  Mr.  Pascal;  declares  that  in  Vivien 
Leigh  he  has  discovered  the  ideal  Shavian 
actress. 

Moreover,  the  elderly  sage  has  consented 
to  break  his  invariable  rule  and  attend  a 
party  designed  to  publicize  the  film.  He  and 
Miss  Leigh  will  be  the  guests  of  honor  at 
a  gathering  expected  to  be  in  the  U.  S.  Em- 
bassy. It  should  be  an  occasion. 


Larry  Kent  to  London 
To  Assist  Skouras 

Larry  Kent,  executive  assistant  to  Spyros 
Skouras,  president  of  Twentieth  Century-Fox, 
left  last_  weekend  for  London.  While  there  he 
will  assist  Mr.  Skouras,  now  in  London,  in  the 
study  of  20th-Fox's  post-war  possibilities  in 
both  Great  Britain  and  Europe,  arranging  for 
British  production  and  conferring  with  J.  Ar- 
thur Rank,  British  film  industry  leader,  on  the 
affairs  of  Gaumont-British,  in  which  2()th  Cen- 
tury-Fox has  an  interest. 

Peggy  Blealcley  Promoted 

Peggy  Bleakley  is  now  home  office  story  edi- 
tor for  the  William  Cagney  Productions.  She 
was  promoted  to  the  post  from  assistant  to 
Joseph  Shea^  eastern  publicity  director.  Prior 
to  the  opening  of  the  New  York  office  Miss 
Bleakley  was  with  David  O.  Selznick  and  Hunt 
Stromberg. 

Pal  Finishes  Army  Film 

"Tank  Platoon  Fundamentals  of  Attack," 
produced  by  George  Pal  of  Paramount  for  the 
U.  S.  Signal  Corps  under  the  supervision  of 
Lt.  Lester  Nichols,  has  been  completed  and 
delivered  to  the  Signal  Corps. 


28 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    26,  1944 


Army  Uses  Censored  Expect  Quicker 

^-  I    H      _  Screening  of 

Newsreel  Footage  warPictures 


Oliver,  ''Pool"  Cameraman, 
Reports  Only  Half  His 
Clips  Reach  Screen 

Only  half  of  the  footage  in  the  37  stories 
he  made  in  Italy  and  England  reached  his 
home  office,  David  Oliver,  Pathe  News 
cameraman,  who  represented  the  U.  S. 
Newsreel  "pool"  in  Italy  from  November  9 
to  last  week,  reported  at  the  Pathe  New 
York  headquarters  Monday  morning. 

Mr.  Oliver  further  said  that  the  footage 
snipped  by  the  censors  was  not  thrown 
away  but  was  retained  by  the  U.  S.  Army, 
and  used  for  training  troops  and  for  infor- 
mational archives.  It  was  for  that  reason, 
he  explained,  that  newsreel  cameramen  now 
were  allowed  to  shoot  freely. 

"There  are  no  restrictions,"  he  said. 
"Once,  when  we  were  shooting,  an  officer 
would  tell  us  this  or  that  was  restricted. 
Now,  they  tell  us,  'go  ahead  and  shoot  what 
you  like.'  And  so  I  make  up  my  stories, 
knowing  only  occasionally  that  what  I  shoot 
will  not  reach  the  theatre  screen." 

Negative  for  Newsreels  Now 
Drawn  from  Army  Stores 

In  England  earlier,  with  the  United  States 
Eighth  Air  Force,  Mr.  Oliver  also  shot  a 
story  for  General  Ira  Eaker  "as  a  favor" 
and  has  done  other  stories  for  the  Army 
on  that  basis,  he  said.  The  film  so  used 
for  official  purposes  comes  from  the  news- 
reel  allotment  and  to  his  knowledge  this 
allotment  is  not  replaced. 

He  also  noted  that  negative  is  now  drawn 
from  the  Army  stores,  not  sent  from  news- 
reel  companies  in  America.  It  is  credited  to 
their  account  in  bookkeeping  in  this  coun- 
try, he  pointed  out. 

In  England,  Mr.  Oliver  went  on  three 
bombing  missions,  two  of  them  over  Ham- 
burg. Later,  he  transferred  to  the  Royal 
Air  Force,  covering  PT  boat  operations. 
He  then  received  word  from  Pathe  to  go 
to  Naples  to  replace  Neil  Sullivan,  wound- 
ed in  the  Naples  Postoffice  explosion. 

In  Italy,  he  covered  the  occupation  of 
three  towns,  and  was  in  the  thick  of  fight- 
ing. 

Barely  Escaped  Death 
Twice  in  Italy 

He  reported  barely  escaping  death  twice 
in  Italy,  and  once  in  England.  The  escape 
in  England  was  on  an  airfield.  Bombs  were 
being  loaded  into  planes.  He  drove  away. 
He  had  traversed  one  mile  when  the  last 
bomb  load  he  had  seen,  and  which  he  had 
photographed,  went  off,  killing  28  men.  In 
Italy,  he  left  a  fox-hole  seconds  before  a 
shell  hit  it,  killing  seven  soldiers;  and,  in 
another  instance,  at  an  observation  post,  a 
shell  crippled  a  lieutenant  next  to  him,  but 
merely  covered  him  with  mud. 

The  Army's  16mm  mobile  unit,  the  first 
of  its  kind,  and  the  only  one,  a  traveling 
theatre  on  wheels,  complete  with  screen, 
sound  and  projector,  and  so  constructed  that 
5,000  might  see  a  show  at  one  time,  was 


Bt«a  Photo 


DAVID  OLIVER 

operating  only  five  miles  behind  the  front 
in  Italy,  he  said.  He  saw  two  features  shown 
in  the  vehicle,  one  of  them  "Quadalcanal 
Diary." 

Mr.  Oliver  said  soldiers  like  war  pictures. 
"You  can  show  them  anything,  so  long  as 
it's  on  a  screen,"  he  said. 

Naples  theatres,  and,  indeed,  all  theatres 
in  occupied  Italy,  began  functioning  again 
immediately  the  front  lines  went  beyond 
them.  In  Naples,  American  films  are  being 
shown  "straight";  no  subtitles,  he  said;  and 
the  Italians  like  them  that  way.  Mr.  Oliver 
reported  that  there  are,  however,  few  film 
theatres  in  Italy;  only  in  larger  towns. 

Played  Santa  Clans  at 
European  Base  Hospital 

Mr.  Oliver,  a  former  entertainer,  played 
"Santa  Claus"  at  a  base  hospital  Christmas 
Day.  Dressed  in  the  usual  fashion,  he  passed 
out  1,500  presents  to  the  wounded,  he  re- 
ported. In  England,  he  appeared  on  a  field 
stage  with  Bob  Hope.  Mr.  Hope,  he  said, 
is  the  most  popular  USO  entertainer,  hav- 
ing all  the  others  "beat  by  far." 

Mr.  Oliver,  if  he  does  not  return  to  Holly- 
wood as  an  actor,  possibly  for  Paramount, 
expects  to  go  back  to  Italy  for  Pathe,  as  a 
cameraman.  He  has  been  with  the  company 
14  years,  and  in  the  film  industry  23.  In 
1936,  as  a  Pathe  cameraman,  covering  the 
Irish  Sweepstakes,  he  posed  as  a  "loser," 
because  he  was  unable  to  find  anyone  in 
the  crowd  at  the  racetrack  who  would  admit 
to  that  plight. 

The  performance  appeared  on  the  screens 
here,  and  he  received  a  Hollywood  offer, 
going  there  that  year,  and  appearing  as  a 
comic  stooge  and  in  similar  roles  in  73 
pictures  until  two  years  ago,  when  he  re- 
joined Pathe  as  a  cameraman.  This  was  his 
first  trip  overseas  in  this  war. 


Reopen  San  Francisco  House 

The  old  Green  Street  theatre  in  San  Fran- 
cisco, scene  of  many  prohibition  day  triumphs, 
such  as  the  racy  French  bedroom  farce,  "Easy 
for  Zee  Zee,"  has  been  reopened  on  North 
Beach,  the  Italian  quarter. 


With  delivery  to  theatres  Tuesday  of  a  full 
story  of  the  Marshall  Islands  invasion  within 
15  days  of  the  event,  newsreel  editors  found 
new  hope  that  they  would  be  permitted  to  re- 
port forthcoming  European  and  Pacific  of- 
fensives with  current  camera  coverage. 

Editors  reported  that  Washington  officials 
at  last  had  recognized  the  importance  of  thor- 
ough camera  coverage,  cleared  through  censor- 
ship and  released  to  the  commercial  newsreels 
as  quickly  as  security  and  shipping  permit.  They 
said  Stanton  Griffis,  head  of  the  film  division 
of  the  Office  of  War  Information,  had  been 
most  helpful  in  presenting  the  newsreel  case  te 
service  commanders. 

Relations  between  pool  cameramen  and  fielcf 
commanders  in  both  the  Navy  and  the  Army 
also  have  greatly  improved,  according  to  edi- 
tors and  cameramen  who  have  returned  recently 
from  overseas. 

Additionally  the  quality  of  film  from  service 
photographic  units  has  been  raised  to  profes- 
sional standards.  They  pointed  out  that  many 
experienced  newsreel  men  and  Hollywood 
camera  experts  had  been  promoted  to  key  posts 
in  the  field  camera  units. 

Marshalls  Invasion  Forms 
Bulk  of  New  Issues 

The  full  story  on  the  Marshalls  invasion  com- 
prised the  bulk  of  the  Tuesday  newsreel  re- 
leases, accounting  for  between  465  and  550  feet 
in  each  of  the  five  issues.  Pictures  were  made 
by  the  U.  S.  Navy  and  the  Coast  Guard. 

The  Marshalls  sequences,  according  to  edi- 
tors, were  sufficient  in  length  and  variety  of 
material  to  permit  the  newsreels  to  carry  a  full 
account  of  the  operation.  Scenes  began  on  the 
approaching  task  force,  showed  the  bombard- 
ment of  Kwajalein  by  sea  and  air  and  followed 
landing  barges  ashore  to  picture  the  marines 
and  soldiers  digging  in  and  then  blasting  the 
Japs  oflf  the  island. 

Some  of  the  most  spectacular  naval  gunfire 
sequences  and  infantry  action  yet  filmed  was 
contained  in  the  official  clips,  it  was  reported. 

Tuesday  film  from  the  Italian  front  showing 
the  bombardment  of  the  Monte  Cassino  monas- 
tery was  expected  momentarily  by  newsreel 
editors.  Army  press  officers  in  Washington 
had  informed  them  that  pictures  from  Cassino 
and  from  the  Nettuno  beachhead  were  on  the 
way  to  this  country  and  would  be  released  as 
quickly  as  possible. 

Current  release  policies  are  viewed  as  a  great 
improvement  by  newsreel  men.  They  cited  the 
delay  of  several  months  which  elapsed  before 
the  first  comprehensive  pictures  of  the  African 
campaign  were  released  just  prior  to  the  "At 
the  Front"  color  special  edited  by  Colonel 
Zanuck.  Pictures  of  the  Solomons  battle  of 
August  13, 1942,  were  not  released  until  October 
26,  1942,  and  although  there  was  some  Guadal- 
canal footage  cleared  10  days  after  the  landings 
on  August  7,  1942,  it  was  many  months  before 
a  full,  coordinated  screen  story  could  be  told. 

Under  the  current  policy,  newsreels  are 
granted  access  to  all  usable  footage.  None  is 
held  out  for  exclusive  Government  release. 
Newsreel  men  cited  the  March  2  release  of  the 
two-reel,  color  Marine  pictures  of  Tarawa  as 
proof  of  their  contention  that  newsreel  release 
does  not  take  the  edge  off  good  war  informa- 
tion material. 

The  Tarawa  pictures,  for  which  two  members 
of  the  15  man  Marine  camera  crew  paid  with 
their  lives,  will  be  distributed^  by  the  War  Ac- 
tivities Committee  through  Universal  exchanges. 
Pictures  exhibited  to  the  press  on  Thursday, 
are  reviewed  in  this  week's  Product  Digest  sec- 
tion. 


February    2  6,-1  944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


29 


WAR  PLANT  USE  OF  FILMS 
BOOMS  16MM.  FIELD 


Wide  Post 'War  Expansion 
of  Medium  Is  Seen;  4,000 
Plants  Have  Projectors 

The  establishment  since  Pearl  Harbor  of 
film  production  departments  and  16mm  thea- 
tres in  America's  largest  industrial  plants, 
indicates  large-scale  expansion  after  the  war 
for  16mm  equipment  maiiufacturers  and  film 
producers  and  points  to  a  new  distribution 
medium  for  major  companies  of  their  16mm 
product. 

Utilization  by  the  Army,  Navy  and 
other  Governmeint  agencies'  of  35  and 
16mm  motion  pictures  to  train  servicemen 
and  women  and  war  workers  opened  the 
field  for  the  circulation  of  morale  and  en- 
tertainment films. 

Currently  there  are  more  than  4,000 
war  plants  throughout  the  country  which 
have  their  own  16mm  projectors. 

About  20  of  the  nation's  biggest  war 
industries  now  are  producing  their  own 
training  and  morale  films  and  have  their 
own  theatres.  Thousands  of  other  fac- 
tories are  using  Government  training  pic- 
tures and  U.  S.  war  effort  short  subjects. 

Through  16mm  outlets  these  same 
workers  and  their  families  are  seeing  war 
propaganda  films  of  the  U.  S.  and  the 
United  Nations,  supplied  through  the 
Office  of  War  Information  to  their 
schools,  clubs,  churches,  libraries,  trade 
unions  and  fraternal  organizations. 

Commercial  16mm  distributors  constantly 
are  adding  product  from  major  companies 
to  their  catalogs  to  keep  a  steady  flow  of 
entertainment  films  supplied  to  the  ever- 
growing 16mm  outlets.  Roshon  Films,  Inc., 
for  example,  one  of  the  larger  distributors, 
recently  contracted  for  52  Walt  Disney  car- 
toons, sure-fire  screen  fare  for  war  workers. 

According  to  commercial  16mm  producers 
and  distributors,  the  post-war  period  should 
bring  a  high  point  in  film  production  among 
industrial  plants.  Nearly  every  large  com- 
pany which  made  films  for  its  sales  forces 
prior  to  the  war,  has  been  forced  to  abandon 
this  kind  of  production  because  of  raw  stock 
restrictions.  After  the  war,  production  on 
sales-and-message  pictures  will  boom,  they 
point  out.  Morale  or  labor-relations  films, 
pictures  used  to  instruct  new  employees  and 
films  for  educating  workers  to  the  use  of 
new  products  will  be  in  great  demand,  as 
will  entertainment  pictures  in  16mm  for 
showings  during  lunch  periods  and  between 
shifts,  it  is  indicated. 

Producing  Units  Developed 
By  Industrial  Units 

A  significant  development  arising  out  of 
the  nation's  wartime  production  needs  is 
the  establishment  of  complete,  modern  mo- 
tion picture  production  units  by  industrial 
companies.  Before  Pearl  Harbor,  only  a 
few  maintained  their  own  production  de- 
partments, such  as  General  Electric,  East- 
man Kodak  and  Bell  &  Howell. 

In  the  past  year  or  more,  several  impor- 


PLANS  SOUND  SLIDE 
FILMS  FOR  SCHOOLS 

Westinghouse  Electric  &  Manufac- 
turing Company  of  Pittsburgh,  which 
has  been  using  sound  slide  films  for 
two  years  to  train  sales  and  technical 
personnel,  plans  to  make  sound  slide 
pictures  for  educational  purposes  in 
the  near  future,  to  be  distributed  to 
schools  throughout  the  country. 

Westinghouse  has  combined  sound 
with  most  of  the  slide  films  "because 
at  the  time  it  was  possible  to  make  a 
complete  presentation  of  the  subject 
matter  which  we  were  using  upon  a 
record,  and,  secondly,  because  we 
felt  that  a  good  'canned'  presentation 
often  is  better,  than  a  poorly  pre- 
sented personal  presentation  where 
wide  distribution  is  made,"  an  execu- 
tive reported. 

In  addition  to  sound  slides,  West- 
inghouse is  planning  pictures  promot- 
ing post-war  sales  and  post-war  labor 
relations.  The  company  farms  out 
work  to  industrial  producers.  Para- 
mount Pictures  recently  completed  a 
two-reeler  for  Westinghouse  titled 
"On  the  Air." 


tant  industries  have  come  to  the  fore  with 
their  own  16mm  producing  departments. 
Bell  Aircraft  Corporation  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y., 
for  example,  has  developed  one  of  the  best 
equipped  units  in  the  country.  The  company 
not  only  makes  its  own  training  and  morale 
films,  but  maintains  a  theatre  at  its  Buffalo 
plant  for  practically  continuous  showings. 
From  5,000  to  8,000  workers  a  week  attend. 

The  Bell  Aircraft  film  division,  under  the 
direction  of  Norman  Matthews,  has  com- 
pleted 30  films  on  the  P-39  (Army  Aira- 
cobra)  for  the  U.  S.  Army  Air  Force.  It 
also  has  made  documentaries  and  labor  re- 
lation pictures  for  company  use.  A  central- 
ized educational  film  library  of  prints  and 
slides  makes  these  subjects  available  to  all 
Bell  plants,  with  projection  equipment  and 
operators  supplied.  Carefully  selected  pro- 
grams for  training,  morale  building  and  en- 
tertainment are  presented  regularly  for  all 
employees.  In  addition,  the  film  division  uses 
war  effort  shorts,  Army  and  Navy  incentive 
films,  cartoons  and  newsreels  for  its  Buffalo 
theatre  and  other  plant  screenings. 

Other  airplane  manufacturing  companies 
which  have  established  their  own  film  de- 
partments include  Lockheed,  Glenn  Martin, 
Pratt- Whitney  and  Wright  Aeronautical. 
Vultee,  Vought-Chance,  Fairchild  Aircraft, 
Republic  Aviation  and  Kellet  Autogyro, 
among  others,  maintain  16mm  projectors  for 
their  plants  and  use  Government  agencies 
as  well  as  existing  commercial  and  educa- 
tional film  libraries  to  supply  their  needs. 

Several  large  industrial  units  which  have 


their  own  producing  units  and  utilize  regu- 
lar 16mm  screenings  for  training  and  mo- 
rale purposes  are :  American  Telephone  and 
Telegraph,  Otis  Elevator,  International  Har- 
vester, Allis  Chalmers,  Caterpillar  Tractor, 
International  Business  Machine,  Lukens 
Steel  Company,  Carborundum  Corporation, 
Warner-Swazey,  Standard  Oil  Company  of 
New  Jersey,  Cincinnati  Milling  Machine, 
Alleghany  Ludlum  Steel,  Goodyear,  Chrys- 
ler, Ford,  Norfolk  and  Western  Railroad, 
Union  Pacific  Railroad,  the  New  York  Cen- 
tral and  the  Aetna  Casualty  Life  Insurance 
Company. 

Daily  Film  Program 
Maintained  for  Workers 

According  to  William  F.  Kruse,  head  of 
the  Bell  &  Howell  film  division,  the  com- 
pany uses  motion  pictures  for  a  wide  vari- 
ety of  purposes.  Its  sales  story  is  told  in  a 
one-reeler,  "How  Motion  Pictures  Move 
and  Talk,"  and  its  own  "Filmsound  Li- 
brary" services  are  used  to  provide  recrea- 
tional films  for  employees  at  lunch  periods 
and  shift  changes.  These  are  almost  always 
10-minute  shows.  A  serial  chapter  is  spread 
over  Monday  and  Tuesday;  a  war  news 
film  is  shown  Wednesday;  a  cartoon  Thurs- 
day; an  OWI  or  United  Nations 'film  Fri- 
day; comedy  Saturday,  and  a  musical  Sun- 
day. Attendance  has  improved  since  this 
program  went  into  effect,  Mr.  Kruse  said, 
"especially  on  the  days  the  chapter  plays 
are  shown." 

Training  films  on  optical  craftsmanship 
"helped  materially  to  develop  an  average  un- 
skilled labor  group  into  precision  artisans," 
Mr.  Kruse  reported.  Existing  "education- 
als"  are  being  used,  pending  completion  of 
the  new  series  on  "Optical  Craftsmanship" 
now  in  production  under  joint  auspices  of 
the  U.  S.  Office  of  Education,  at  the  Bell  & 
Howell  Lincolnwood  plant.  Films  also  are 
used  for  operating  instructions  for  new 
users  of  the  company's  products. 

Bell  &  Howell  Offers  4,000 
Films  for  Rent  or  Sale 

In  addition.  Bell  &  Howell  offers  more 
than  4,000  films  for  rental  and  sale  to  com- 
munity groups  through  its  Filmsound  Li- 
brary. Subject  matter  ranges  from  18-month 
old  features  from  major  companies  to  school- 
made  teaching  shorts.  Distribution  channels 
comprise  chiefly  a  network  of  some  3,000 
retail  and  specialist  dealers. 

Among  the  industrial  companies  which 
have  made  films,  through  outside  producers 
or  through  their  advertising  agencies,  and 
have  distributed  them  both  theatrically  and 
non-theatrically,  are  the  following:  General 
Motors,  Westinghouse,  Curtiss- Wright, 
Kearney  &  Trecker,  Rockford  Sprinkler, 
South  Bend  Lathe  Works,  Modern  Plastics, 
Aluminum  Company  of  America,  Bausch 
&  Lomb,  American  Brass  Company,  Johns- 
Manville,  St.  Joseph  Lead  Company,  Amer- 
ican Oil  Company,  Sinclair  Refining,  Beth- 
lehem Steel,  U.  S.  Steel,  Quimby  Pump 
Company,  E.  I.  duPont  de  Nemours,  U.  S. 

(Continued  on  page  32,  column  1) 


SAMUEL  GOLDWYN'S 


DANNY  KAYE 

DINAH  SHORE  •  DANA  ANDREWS 

CONSTANCE  DOWLING 
and  the  gorgeous  GOLDWYN  GIRLS 

Associate  Producer  DON  HARTMAN  •  Directed  by  ELLIOTT  NUGENT 

Original  Screen  Play  by  Don  Hartman,  Allen  Boretz  and  Robert  Pirosh 

Released  Through  RKO  RADIO  PICTURES,  INC. 

Songs  by  Harold  Arlen  &  Ted  Koehler  — Sylvia  Fine  &  Max  Liebman 


IF  YOU  DON' 
BELIEVE  US 
READ  'EM! 

M.  P.  HERALD: 

"Danny  Kaye  clicks  with  a  to 
click  and  establishes  himself 
a  star  in  his  first  picture/' 

VARIETY; 

'Picture  is  fine  and  will  I 
healthy  biz  and  holdove 
Danny  Kaye  definitely  si 
material." 

M.  P.  DAILY: 

''Real  entertainment  thai  v 
please  the  exhibitor  as  much 
his  customers." 

FILM  DAILY: 

"Danny  Kaye  is  tremendous 
his  picture  bow . .  .  An  enf 
tainment  bombshell  headed  i 
top  grosses." 

BOXOFFICE: 

"Gay,  glittering,  glamorous . 
it's  a  long  time  since  films  ha 
witnessed  debut  of  a  more  v 
satile  comedian  than  Dan 

Kaye." 

SHOWMEN'S  Tft.REVI£W 

It's  lavish,  stunning,  full 
melody  and  —  most  of  all  —  i 
hilarious.  A  guaranteed  ci 
for  any  sour-puss." 

HOLLYWOOD  REPORTED 

"It's  in  the  bag  —  and  in  t 
ney  .  .  .  Should  write  m 
box-office  history." 

HOliriVOOD  VARIETY: 

"Danny  Kaye  socks  with  I 
brisk,  antic,  highly  personaliz 
brand  of  comedy." 

FILM  BULLETIN: 

Put  down  Danny  Kaye  as  t 
great  comic  discovery  of  rece 
years." 


Nexf  Attractio 
RADIO  CITY 
MUSIC  HALL 


32 

War  Industries 
Extend  Use  of 
16mm.  Films 

{Continued  from  page  29) 

Electrical  Motors,  John  A.  Roebling,  Amer- 
ican Institute  of  Steel,  Jeffrey  Manufactur- 
ing Company,  Jones  &  Lamson  Machine, 
New  Jersey  Zinc,  McKenna  Metals,  Rey- 
nolds Metal  and  Bendix  Aviation. 

Distribution  of  industrial  films  before  the 
war  was  concentrated  for  the  most  part  with 
several  large  16mm  distributors,  such  as 
Castle  Films,  Walter  Gutlohn,  Inc.,  Mod- 
ern Talking  Pictures,  and  Films,  Inc., 
among  others.  The  industrial  company 
which  made  a  motion  picture,  for  theatrical 
as  well  as  non-theatrical  exhibition,  usually 
farmed  out  the  production  and  the  distribu- 
tion of  the  subject. 

Experience  in  handling  motion  pictures 
since  the  war,  however,  has  led  many  indus- 
trial firms  to  experiment  with  their  own 
distribution  systems.  The  New  York  Cen- 
tral System,  for  example,  has  achieved  nota- 
ble success  in  circulating  its  two-reeler 
called  "The  Freight  Yard,"  made  last  year 
by  the  company's  own  film  division,  of 
which  Frederick  G.  Beach  is  supervisor. 

Its  latest  picture,  "The  Steam  Locomo- 
tive," also  produced  by  Mr.  Beach,  will  be 
handled  the  same  way.  About  30  prints  of 
"Freight  Yard"  were  distributed  to  129 
16mm  film  libraries  throughout  the  country, 
and  prints  for  the  new  film  will  be  handled 
similarly.  The  Army  and  Navy  have  taken 
negatives  of  "Steam  Locomotive"  and  have 
made  prints  for  use  in  training  transport 
troops.  According  to  Mr.  Beach,  distribution 
control  by  the  company  has  saved  the  New 
York  Central  several  thousands  of  dollars 
annually  without  any  loss  in  attendance. 


File  New  Case; 
Settle  Two 

New  York's  53rd  arbitration  case,  and  the 
first  in  1944,  is  a  clearance  action  filed  last 
week  by  the  M  &  M  Amusement  Company,  op- 
erator of  the  Elgin  theatre,  Eighth  Avenue 
and  17th  Street,  New  York. 

Naming  Warners,  20th  Century-Fox  and 
RKO,  the  complaint  charges  that  the  present 
seven-day  clearances  of  the  8th  Street  Play- 
house and  Art  Theatres  operated  by  the  Ru- 
goff  and  Becker  circuit,  are  unreasonable. 

A  clearance  reduction  to  17  days  after  first 
run  Niagara  Falls  was  won  by  Basil  Brothers 
for  their  La  Salle  Street  theatre,  Niagara  Falls, 
in  the  24th  Buffalo  case  last  week.  The  five 
consenting  distributors  were  defendants.  Wil- 
liam E.  Barrett,  arbitrator,  ruled  that  the  pres- 
ent margins  of  35  and  30  days  granted  the  Cat- 
aract Theatre  Corporation  and  Buffalo  The- 
atres, Inc.,  are  unreasonable. 

In  Boston  consent  award  between  Montello 
Amusement  Company  operating  the  Park  in 
Brockton  and  the  five  distributors  set  new  mar- 
gins behind  first  run  houses.  Paramount  was 
dismissed.  It  set  45  days  maximum  for  the 
Colonial,  Brockton  and  Rialto  theatres  over 
the  Park's  second  run. 


Modesto  Opens  New  Theatre 

The  Modesto  State  Theatre  circuit,  operators 
of  four  theatres  in  Modesto,  Cal.,  has  opened  a 
new  theatre. 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 

Suit  to  Split  Local  306 
And  Empire  Dismissed 

Following  a  five-week  trial,  the  action  brought 
by  three  members  of  Empire  State  Operators 
Union  to  prevent  it  from  continuing  its  merger 
with  lATSE  projectionists'  Local  306  was  dis- 
missed in  New  York  last  Thursday  by  Judge 
Charles  S.  Colden  of  Kings  County  Supreme 
Court.  The  union  members  charged  a  con- 
spiracy to  destroy  Empire  and  to  misappropriate 
its  funds.  Judge  Colden  ruled  that  the  plain- 
tiffs "failed  to  establish  either  that  unlawful 
means  were  used  or  that  an  unlawful  end  was 
sought  by  the  defendants."  The  defendants, 
represented  by  Nathan  Frankel  and  Herbert 
Schrank,  included  former  officers  of  Empire  and 
306  officers. 


Exchange  Union 
Gets  Wage  Rise 

Retroactive  wage  increases  of  15  per  cent  for 
105  front  office  employees  in  the  New  York  ex- 
changes of  Loew's,  Twentieth  Century-Fox  and 
United  Artists,  represented  by  the  Screen  Of- 
fice and  Professional  Employees  Guild,  Local 
109,  were  approved  this  week  by  the  regional 
Warj  Labor  Board.  The  order  followed  recent 
application  by  the  SOPEG  to  the  WLB  for 
"determination"  of  a  dispute  with  the  three 
companies  on  new  contract  terms. 

A  retroactive  date  of  May  6,  1943,  was  set  on 
a  IS  per  cent  general  increase  to  all  of  the 
employees.  It  is  further  retroactive  to  Septem- 
ber, 1942,  in  the  case  of  Loew's  and  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox and  to  December,  1942,  in  the  case 
of  United  Artists.  The  companies  and  SOPEG 
were  ordered  to  work  out  a  system  of  job  classi- 
fications and  evaluations.  The  regional  board 
will  appoint  an  arbitrator  or  panel  to  determine 
the  issue  if  the  parties  fail  to  reach  an  agree- 
ment within  30  days. 

The  WLB  also  awarded  SOPEG  a  mainte- 
nance-of-membership clause  and  the  right  to 
arbitrate  all  disputes  with  the  New  York  State 
Mediation  Board  as  arbitrator. 

Some  3,000  "backroom"  workers  in  all  of  the 
major  company  branches  in  the  31  exchange 
centers  will  receive  the  same  terms,  permitting 
increased  earning  opportunity,  as  those  received 
by  350  such  employees  in  the  New  York  ex- 
changes last  week  after  strike  prevention  con- 
ferences between  lATSE  officials  and  company 
representatives.  The  terms  provide  for  a  five- 
day  40-hour  week  with  an  extra  four  hours  per- 
mitted on  Saturdays  at  overtime  rates. 

A  telegram  to  all  locals  from  Richard  F. 
Walsh,  lATSE  president,  informed  the  mem- 
bers that  the  strike  had  been  called  off  and 
gave  the  terms  of  the  agreement. 

Members  of  lATSE  Local  B-4S,  representing 
"backroom"  employees  in  Chicago,  met  there 
last  Thursday  night  to  consider  the  acceptance 
of  the  New  York  formula,  after  discussing  a 
similar  strike  call.  Recent  decisions  of  ex- 
change workers  in  Detroit  and  Seattle  to  call 
off  strikes  pending  action  by  lATSE  officials 
also  fell  in  line  with  the  New  York  settlement. 
Boston  and  Atlanta  workers  were  reported  to 
have  thrown  out  a  strike  call. 

Philadelphia  Film  Exchange  Employees 
Union,  Local  B-17,  lATSE,  rejected  a  propo- 
sal that  the  workers  go  on  a  44-hour  work 
week,  which  would  include  four  hours  overtime. 


Shuford  in  Hollywood 

Stanley  Shuford,  Paramount  advertising  man- 
ager, is  in  Hollywood  conferring  with  Robert 
M.  Gillham,  advertising  and  publicity  director, 
at  the  company's  studios.  Rans  are  being  rnade 
for  the  advertising  campaigns  on  "The  Hitler 
Gang,"  Cecil  B.  De  Milk's  production,  "The 
Story  of  Dr.  Wassell,"  and  "Going  My  Way  " 
Mr.  Shuford  is  expected  to  return  to  the  home 
office  in  about  two  weeks.  "The  Hitler  Gang" 
will  be  trade  shown  March  24. 


February    26,     19  44 

Bergman  Urges 
Exhibitors  to 
Drop  "Ballyhoo'' 

Recommendation  that  exhibitors  of  the  nation 
adopt  a  constructive  policy  of  theatre  advertis- 
ing and  discard  the  viewpoint  that  advertising 
is  merely  a  "ballyhoo"  technique,  was  made 
Wednesday  in  New  York  by  Maurice  A.  Berg- 
man, eastern  advertising  and  publicity  director 
for  Universal,  at  a  luncheon  held  by  the  Asso- 
ciated Motion  Picture  Advertisers  at  the  Hotel 
Edison.  Mr.  Bergman  is  a  former  president 
of  AMPA. 

"Unless  the  exhibitor  starts  to  understand  that 
merchandising  a  theatre  is  the  new  type  of 
showmanship  and  unless  he  understands  that 
to  merchandise  a  theatre  he  has  to  think  a  little 
about  advertising  as  a  principle  and  not  just  as 
an  instrument  for  ballyhooing,  he  will  never 
be  a  real  advertiser,"  Mr.  Bergman  said,  adding, 
"and  my  prediction  is  that  unless  he  does  de- 
velop this  advertising  psyche,  he  will  find  him- 
self losing  not  only  prestige  but  business." 

He  contended  that  the  "day  of  ballyhoo  has 
given  way  to  the  day  of  merchandising  and 
advertising"  and  that,  therefore,  "advertising 
becomes  a  major  project  in  any  type  of  show- 
manship." Mr.  Bergman  offered  several  con- 
tentions that  "exhibitors  are  failing  to  institu- 
tionalize the  theatre;  to  make  advertising  re- 
freshing ;  to  break  away  from  conventions ;  to 
spend  enough  money  and  to  have  a  long  range 
view." 

The  theatre  operator,  in  his  opinion,  has  the 
"great  opportunity  and  responsibility  to  keep 
this  business  alive  and  interesting.  To  keep  it 
from  becoming  a  stereotype  or  a  dull  busi- 
ness, he  must  realize  that  after  50  years  we 
have  grown  out  of  the  stage  of  the  idiom  in 
advertising,  and  we  have  arrived  at  the  age 
when  advertising  must  depart  from  the  conven- 
tion or  norm  of  the  past  and  establish  new 
standards. 

"These  standards  represent  the  new  era  in 
showmanship  which  must  essentially  keep  pace 
with  the  showmanship  used  by  commercial  ad- 
vertisers. We  should  be  at  least  as  interesting 
as  a  soap  ad,"  he  asserted. 

To  illustrate  his  point  on  showmanship,  Mr. 
Bergman  posed  some  questions.  "What  has 
happened  to  the  institutional  ad  in  this  busi- 
ness— those  good  ads  which  exhibitors  used  to 
proudly  announce  a  succession  of  hits?  What 
has  happened  to  that  old  spirit  that  used  to  tell 
the  public  that  the  movies  are  the  best  fun  for 
the  least  money?" 

Despite  the  attempt  of  exhibitors  to  prove 
that  the  public  is  weary  of  war  pictures.  Univer- 
sal, believing  in  advertising,  took  page  ads  on 
"Gung  Ho!"  Mr.  Bergman  said,  adding,  "Per- 
haps these  page  ads  had  something  to  do  witli 
'Gung  Ho !'  becoming  Universal's  biggest  pic- 
ture. 

Among  the  industry  leaders  who  were  present 
at  the  AMPA  luncheon  were  Arthur  S.  Mayer, 
Barret  McCormick,  Hal  Horne,  Dave  Wein- 
stock,  Charles  McDonald,  Mike  Rosen,  Max  A. 
Cohen,  Leonard  Goldenson,  Sam  Rinzler,  Rob- 
ert Weitman  and  Fred  Schwartz.  James  B. 
Zabin,  AMPA's  vice-president,  presided. 


Automatic  Penny  Changers 
Will  Be  Manufactured 

As  a  result  of  the  War  Production  Board 
granting  permission  to  automatic  change  ma- 
chine manufacturers  to  convert  some  of  their 
models  into  machines  for  handling  pennies,  the 
Brandt  Automatic  Cashier  Company,  according 
to  H.  C.  Roberts,  sales  manager,  should  have 
a  limited  number  of  Model  81  penny  machines 
within  two  months.  It  will  be  the  first  oppor- 
tunity exhibitors  have  had  to  purchase  penny 
devices  for  over  a  year. 


February    26,  1944 

Bond-Seat  Sales 
For  Industry 
Hit  10,000,000 

As  the  industry  entered  its  epilogue  to  the 
Fourth  War  Loan  drive,  the  number  of  Bond- 
seats  sold  up  to  last  week  had  been  estimated  at 
10,000,000  out  of  11,500,000  total  seats  through- 
out the  nation,  with  reports  still  coming  in  and 
the  drive  continuing  to  the  end  of  this  month. 
This  estimate  was  arrived  at  through  the  re- 
ports and  consultation  with  Treasury  officials 
by  Charles  P.  Skouras,  the  industry's  national 
chairman  of  the  Fourth  War  Loan  campaign. 

Monday  Warner  Brothers  announced  a  com- 
pany purchase  of  Bonds  totaling  $5,410,000,  ex- 
cluding more  than  $315,000  in  Bonds  bought  by 
employees.  The  company's  quota  for  its  em- 
ployees was  $250,000. 

In  Waynesboro,  Va.,  a  special  War  Bond 
show  at  the  Wayne  theatre  packed  the  house  and 
brought  a  sale  of  $42,325  in  Bonds  and  a  lauda- 
tory editorial  in  the  Waynesboro  News-Vir- 
ginian,   in    which    the    lead    sentence  said: 
"Waynesboro's  theatres  last  night  gave  further 
evidence  of  the  extent  to  which  they  have  gone 
'all  out  for  the  war.' "  The  last  sentence  of  the 
editorial  connected  directly  with  the  lead  sen- 
tence :  "The  rest  of  us  can  do  no  less." 
In  Chicago  a  capacity  audience  viewed  "Gov- 
,  ernment  Girl"  at  the  RKO  Grand  Thursday  of 
"  last  week,  and  bought  $1,126,375  worth  of  Bonds 
for  the  privilege  of  attending  the  premiere. 

War  Bond  premieres  at  the  seven  Warner 
circuit  houses  in  Philadelphia  resulted  in  the 
sale  of  $6,942,260  in  Bonds,  according  to  Ted 
Schlanger,  Warner  zone  head.  The  premieres 
were  topped  by  the  Boyd  theatre,  with  "Jane 
Eyre"  sponsored  by  the  Navy  League  Service, 
and  sales  reaching  $3,500,000. 

Co-chairmen  of  the  state  of  Virginia  report 
their  state  held  29  premieres.  At  Warner 
Brothers'  Virginia  theatre  in  Harrisonburg,, 
more  than  1,000  persons  bought  a  Bond  for 
every  seat.  In  the  District  of  Columbia  the 
Apex  theatre  of  the  K-B  Amusement  Circuit, 
was  the  third  Washington  theatre  to  exceed  its 
goal  of  a  Bond  for  every  seat  with  the  sale  of 
1,150  Bonds.  The  house  seats  1,050.  Warner 
Brothers'  Capitol  theatre  in  Winchester,  Va., 
held  a  premiere  and  sold  a  Bond  for  every  seat. 

Returns  from  the  state  of  Oregon  as  the  drive 
neared  the  end  showed  a  total  sale  figure  of 
$92,282,564,  with  indications  pointing  towards 
a  final  figure  of  $99,000,000  or  more. 

The  Smalley's  theatre  premiere  at  Coopers- 
town,  N.  Y.,  where  the  seating  capacity  is  726, 
brought  the  extraordinary  figure  of  $555,475  in 
sales.  An  auction  was  included,  one  pound  of 
butter  going  for  $2,000  in  Bonds. 

In  Kansas  City  Loew's  Midland,  a  3,600-seat 
house,  captured  $592,000  in  Bond  dollars  at  a 
premiere,  and  the  Fairway,  a  702-seat  suburban 
house  of  Fox  Midwest,  by  February  13  had  sold 
more  than  twice  its  seating  capacity,  1,785  Bonds 
in  all,  for  a  total  of  $659,107. 

E.  B.  Studivant,  operator  of  the  Lyric  and 
Orpheum  theatres  in  Yuma  and  the  Somerton 
theatre  in  Somerton,  Ariz.,  and  brother  of  B.  V. 
Sturdivant,  the  industry's  national  campaign 
director,  Monday  wired  his  brother  that  the 
Lyric  theatre  sold  850  Bonds  in  ratio  to  the  494 
seats,  and  he  promised  that  before  the  end  of  the 
month  his  Orpheum  theatre  would  exceed  its 
quota. 


Sculpture  for  "Desert  Victory" 

An  invitation  showing  of  a  new  sculpture  by 
Jo  Davidson,  "Desert  Victory,"  will  be  held  at 
the  Museum  of  Modern  Art  in  New  York 
Thursday  evening,  March  2.  The  figure  is  a 
bronze  head  of  one  of  the  soldiers  of  the  British 
Eighth  Army.  Major  General  A.  H._  Gate- 
house will  be  guest  of  honor.  Following  the 
ceremony  the  film  "Desert  Victory"  will  be 
shown. 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


Progress  for  Radio  Facsimile 
Recorders  Seen  in  Research 

E.  W.  Engstrom  of  Princeton,  N.  J.,  research 
director  of  RCA  Laboratories,  said  late  last 
we5k  that  the  world  could  look  forward  to  a 
post-war  era  which  would  include  reliable  home 
and  office  type  radio  facsimile  recorders  capable 
of  printing  news  at  the  rate  of  several  hundred 
words  a  minute,  and  pictures  equal  in  quality 
to  the  best  found  in  newspapers,  placing  this 
new  kind  of  radio  service  along  with  television 
and  frequency  modulation  broadcasting  as  a  defi- 
nite possibility  for  expansion  following  the  war. 

Sherry,  Star  of 
"Raffles, "  Dies 

J.  Barney  Sherry,  who  starred  in  1905  in 
"Raffles,"  one  of  the  early  one-reel  narrative 
films,  made  by  Vitagraph,  died  February  22  at 
Fitzgerald  Mercy  Hospital,  Darby,  Pa.  He 
was  73  years  old. 

Mr.  Sherry  was  one  of  the  first  actors  to 
foresake  the  New  York  stage  for  a  motion  pic- 
ture career.  Following  the  success  of  "Raffles" 
he  joined  one  of  the  first  companies  sent  to  Los 
Angeles  by  the  New  York  Motion  Picture 
Company.  His  screen  career  reached  a  climax 
in  1915  in  stardom  with  the  Triangle  Film  Cor- 
poration. 

Pictures  in  which  he  played  leads  included 
"The  White  Sister,"  made  in  Rome  with  Lillian 
Gish ;  "The  Eternal  City,"  in  which  he  appeared 
as  the  Pope ;  "Ben  Hur"  and  the  first  screen 
version  of  "Dixie." 

Until  his  death  Mr.  Sherry  lived  at  the  Ed- 
win Forrest  Home  for  Actors  in  Philadelphia. 
He  leaves  a  niece,  Mrs.  Catherine  Hulme  of 
White  Marsh,  Pa. 


■  33 


Service  Morale 
Films  Shown 

On  Thursday  night  of  last  week  the  Morale 
Services  Division  of  the  U.  S.  Army  gave  a 
showing  of  the  Army-Navy  Screen  Magazine 
to  a  handfuU  of  invited  civilians  at  the  Museum 
of  Modern  Art,  New  York.  There  were  five 
presentations  on  the  program,  including  Issues 
number  7,  10  and  22,  a  presentation  of  "Special 
Subjects,"  and  Issue  No.  20,  the  current  release. 
There  was  also  an  introductory  talk  by  Major 
General  Frederick  H.  Osborn,  director  of  the 
division,  in  which  he  praised  the  motion  picture 
industry  and  the  radio  for  their  contributions  to 
army  morale. 

The  Screen  Magazine  was  originated  by  Col- 
onel Frank  Capra  and  Colonel  E.  L.  Munson, 
Jr.  Its  purpose  is  to  keep  the  troops  of  the 
U.  S.  Army  informed.  Each  issue  runs  20 
minutes,  and  is  released  to  Army  posts  every 
two  weeks.  The  first  issue  was  released  May 
8,  1943. 

The  subject  matter  varies.  A  frequent  fea- 
ture is  titled  "I  Was  There,"  wherein  a  service 
man  who  has  shared  in  a  battle  is  narrator  to  a 
series  of  newsreel  shots  of  the  battle,  taken  by 
the  Army  Signal  Corps.  There  is  often  a  car- 
toon, as  pertinent  as  it  is  amusing. 

Another  regular  feature  is  the  camera  re- 
cording action  on  various  United  Nation  fronts 
and  training  posts.  "The  Story  of  Malta,"  for 
example,  is  a  vivid  and  dramatic  recording  of 
the  story  of  civilian  life  on  Malta  when  the 
island  was  fighting  with  its  back  to  the  wall. 

The  next  issue,  No.  22,  features  "Burma  Out- 
post," "A  Few  Quick  Facts,"  "Quentin  Rey- 
nolds Talks  About  GI  News,"  and  "Letter  from 
Iran."  The  release  date  for  the  issue  is  Feb- 
ruary 26,  1944. 


Bond  Chairman  Praises  Aides 


staff  Photo 


More  than  60  film  industry  leaders  came  to  the  21  Club  in  New  York  Monday 
night  as  guests  of  Charles  Skouras,  national  chairman  of  the  industry's  Fourth  War 
Loan  Drive,  and  there  heard  Mr.  Skouras  and  Ted  Gamble,  chairman  of  the  War 
Finance  Division  of  the  Treasury,  praise  their  voluntary  work.  Mr.  Skouras,  above, 
greets  Ned  Depinet  and  Joseph  Bernhard. 

Mr.  Skouras  tendered  them  dinner  as  a  testimonial  to  the  leadership  of  the  motion 
picture  companies  and  circuits  who  were  responsible  for  the  vigor  and  success  of 
the  drive.  He  paid  special  tribute  to  Mr.  Depinet,  president  of  RKO  Radio  Pictures 
and  chairman  of  the  drive's  distribution  divlson. 

Among  those  present  were  William  F.  Rodgers,  Gradwell  Sears,  Ben  Kalmenson, 
A.  Montague,  Tom  Connors,  Edward  Alperson,  Joseph  Vogel,  Leonard  Soldenson, 
Major  Leslie  Thompson,  Carl  Leserman,  John  Caskey,  William  C.  Michel,  Charles 
Reagan  and  Frank  Ricketson. 


w^, .mtngue,  £si 

^Beauty  baits  tke  trap   for  a  ^ay  youn^ 
%  American    on    a    secret    mission  in 
SCUS9  sinister  city  of  dangerous 
women  and  desperate  men!«««A  romantic 
adventure 


a 


R  ;<  o 

RADIO 

PICTURES 


Produced  by  Maurice  Geraghty 
Directed  by  Leonide  Moguy 

Orignra]  SCTeen  Pkiy  by  Philip  MocDonald  and  Herbert  Bibernraa 


NDERS 


H.  B.  WARNER 


—2,000  camels  in  spectacu- 
lar  dash  across  the  desert! 

—2,500  Arabian  steeds 
racing  at  top  speed  over  the 
swirling  sands! 

— 3,000  native  warriors,  rep- 
resenting every  tribe  in  Syria! 


—  Arabian  Beauties- 
Oriental  Dances— Palace  of  the 
Sheik— A  World  of  Thrills  and 
Wonders! 


PATRIOTIC.  SHOWMEN:  RED  CROSS  DR 
MARCH  23  THROUGH  MARCH  29f 


36 


Breakfast-Rally 

Opens  Campaign 
For  Red  Cross 

About  1,000  members  of  the  industry  repre- 
senting both  exhibition  and  distribution  gathered 
Thursday  morning  in  the  Grand  Ballroom  of  the 
Hotel  Astor,  New  York,  for  the  opening  gun 
breakfast  in  the  industry's  Red  Cross  Drive, 
which  runs  from  March  23  to  29. 

Plans  for  promoting  and  conducting  the  drive 
were  discussed  informally  and  by  speakers.  _  It 
was  announced  that  all  theatres  would  im- 
mediately start  receiving  service  on  the  cam- 
paign materials. 

Prior  to  the  breakfast  it  was  announced  that 
pledges  have  been  received  from  more  than  4,000 
theatres,  one-fourth  of  the  national  total,  giving 
assurance  of  their  participation  in  the  drive. 

In  31  exchange  centers  from  coast  to  coast  for 
the  two  weeks  starting  Monday,  meetings  of 
exhibitors  will  be  held  to  lay  drive  plans  and 
hear  volunteer  speakers  touring  exchange  cen- 
ters. The  speakers,  most  of  whom  left  this 
weekend  for  the  tour,  are:  Ben  Kalmenson  of 
Warners,  Sam  Denbow  of  Paramount  Thea- 
tres, Si  Fabian  of  Fabian  Theatres,  Edward  L. 
Alperson  of  RKO  Theatres,  Gradwell  L.  Sears 
of  United  Artists,  Francis  S.  Harmon,  execu- 
tive chairman  of  the  War  Activities  Committee, 
Ned  E.  Depinet  of  RKO,  Ben  Shlyen  of  Box- 
office,  Harry  Brandt  of  Brandt  Theatres,  Mar- 
tin G.  Smith,  president  of  both  the  national  and 
Ohio  Allied  exhibitor  associations,  and  Harry 
M.  Kalmine  of  Warner  Theatres.  They  are 
grouped  in  four  units  of  three  speakers  each. 

The  complete  executive  staflf  which  will  work 
under  Mr.  Bernhard  was  announced  Wednes- 
day by  Mr.  Bernhard. 

Harry  Brandt,  president  of  Brandt  Theatres, 
will  be  field  director ;  Ned  E.  Depinet,  president 
of  RKO  Radio  Pictures,  is  distributor  chair- 
man, and  Herman  Robbins,  president  of  Na- 
tional Screen  Service,  has  been  named  cor- 
porate gifts  chairman.  Leon  J.  Bamberger, 
promotion  manager  for  RKO  Radio  Pictures, 
will  assist  Mr.  Depinet  in  the  distributors'  divi- 
sion, which  will  embrace  the  following  district 
chairrrien : 

Metropolitan  District:  New  York,  Ralph  Pielow,  B. 
Abner  and  Jack  Bowen. 

Northeastern  District:  Buffalo,  M.  A.  Brown;  Bos- 
ton, William  Erbb  and  A.  M.  Kane;  New  Haven,  Ed 
W.  Ruff;  Albany,  C.  G.  Eastman. 

Eastern  District:  Charles  Zagrans  and  R.  J.  Folliard, 
Philadelphia;  H.  H.  Greenblatt,  Pittsburgh;  J.  B. 
Brecheen,  Washington. 

Eastern  Central  District:  Harris  Dudelson,  Cincin- 
nati; Maury  Orr,  Cleveland;  M.  Dudelson  and  Jack 
Goldhar,  Detroit. 

Southeastern  District:  Fred  R.  Dodson  and  Paul 
Wilson,  Atlanta;  John  E.  Holston,  Charlotte;  E.  V. 
Landaiche,  New  Orleans. 

Southwestern  District:  J.  B.  Underwood,  Dallas; 
J.  J.  Rogers,  Memphis;  C.  A.  Gibbs,  Oklahoma  City. 

Midwestern  District:  W.  E.  Banford  and  Sam  Shir- 
ley; Chicago,  W.  H.  Workman,  Minneapolis;  H.  J. 
Shumow,  Milwaukee. 

Indiana-Kentucky  District:  WiUiam  Marriott,  In- 
dianapolis. 

Prairie  District:  Harry  Hynes,  St.  Louis;  Jack  Lan- 
gan  and  J.  E.  Garrison,  Kansas  City;  Lou  Levy,  Des 
Moines;  H.  B.  Johnson,  Omaha. 

Rocky  Mountain  District:  Tom  Bailey  and  Len 
Gruenberg,  Denver;  C.  Davison,  Salt  Lake  City. 

West  Coast  District:  Vete  Stewart,  Seattle;  Al 
Oxtoby,  Portland;  Al  Shmitken,  San  Francisco;  Henry 
Herbel  and  Fred  Greenberg,  Los  Angeles.  _ 

With  Charles  A.  Smakwitz  as  publicity  direc- 
tor, working  out  of  New  York,  the  following 
key  city  representatives  have  been  named: 

Atlanta,  Harold  Martin;  Boston,  Harry  Browning; 
Buffalo,  Charles  B.  Taylor;  Charlotte,  Roy  L.  Smart; 
Chicago,  W.  K.  Hollander;  Cincinnati,  E.  V,  Diner - 
man;  Cleveland,  Ed  J.  Fisher;  Dallas,  Frank  Starz; 
Denver,  Harold  Rice;  Des  Moines,  Dale  McFarland; 
Detroit,  Alice  Gorham;  Indianapolis,  William  Elder; 
Kansas  City,  Jerry  Zigmond;  Los  Angeles,  Thornton 
Sargent;  Memphis,  Maurice  Druker;  Milwaukee,  Don 
Demien;  Minneapolis,  Charles  Winchell;  New  Haven, 
Lou  Brown;  New  Orleans,  Maurice  Barr;  New  York, 
Harry  Mandel;  Oklahoma  City,  Robert  Busch;  Omaha, 
Ted  Emerson;  Philadelphia,  James  Ashcraft;  Pitts- 
burgh, James  Totman;  Portland,  Ore.,  M.  M'.  Mesher; 
St.  Louis,  J.  L.  Kaufman;  Salt  Lake  City,  Helen 
Garritv;  San  Francisco,  Phil  Phillips;  Seattle,  Vic 
Gauntlet;  Washington,  Frank  La  Falce. 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 

March  of  Dimes  Total  Far 
Ahead  of  Expectations 

Encouraging  reports  of  March  of  Dimes  col- 
lections are  pouring  into  the  national  head- 
quarters of  the  theatres'  committee,  it  was  said 
this  week.  Almost  complete  reports  from  chair- 
men in  17  states  reveal  that  collections  ran  far 
ahead  of  the  most  optimistic  expectations. 

Following  are  comparative  totals,  by  states : 
Florida,  $74,179,  $9,724  in  1943;  Oklahoma, 
$54,000,  $20,998  in  1943 ;  North  and  South  Caro- 
lina, $60,000,  $8,466  in  1943;  North  California, 
$230,000 ;  last  year  the  entire  state  collected 
$260,000 ;  Connecticut,  $69,550,  $54,493  in  1943 ; 
Illinois,  $214,000,  $107,414  in  1943. 

Kansas,  $84,000,  $44,000  in  1943;  Kentucky, 
$28,000,  $19,000  in  1943;  Michigan,  $210,323, 
$130,270  in  1943;  Rhode  Island,  $30,946,  $19,110 
in  1943;  Tennessee,  $60,000,  $32,270  in  1943; 
Virginia,  $60,000,  $27,945  in  1943 ;  Texas,  $200,- 
000,  $11,000  in  1943;  Western  Pennsylvania  and 
West  Virginia,  $150,000,  $81,000  in  1943. 

Mary  Pickford  Withdraws 
Bid  for  "Junior  Miss" 

Mary  Pickford  announced  late  last  week  that 
she  had  called  off  all  negotiations  for  the  pur- 
chase of  the  screen  rights  to  the  Broadway  play, 
"Junior  Miss."  Her  decision  followed  several 
months  of  negotiations  and  was  the  result  of 
the  limitations  and  restrictions  placed  on  the 
grant  of  picture  rights  to  her. 

Representatives  of  Miss  Pickford  explained: 
"When  the  contract  in  its  finished  form  was 
presented  to  our  client,  she  could  only  reach  the 
judgment  that  she  was  not  receiving,  under  the 
proposed  deal,  the  rights  for  which  she  had 
made  her  offer." 

When  negotiations  were  started  last  summer 
it  was  announced  that  Miss  Pickford  had  ofifered 
$355, OfX),  plus  a  percentage  of  the  net,  for  com- 
plete motion  picture  control  of  the  property. 

Noble  on  Coast  to  Study 
Expansion  of  Blue 

Looking  to  a  further  expansion  of  the  use 
of  Hollywood  talent  by  the  Blue  Network,  Ed- 
ward J.  Noble,  chairman  of  the  board,  arrived 
in  Hollywood  last  week  to  confer  v^ith  Mark 
Woods,  Blue  president,  who  has  been  in  Holly- 
wood several  weeks,  and  Don  E.  Gilman,  in 
charge  of  the  western  division. 

According  to  Mr.  Woods,  Hollywood  will  in 
time  become  the  center  of  Blue  operations  with 
production  concentrated  there.  The  purpose 
of  Mr.  Noble's  visit  at  this  time  is  to  seek 
a  site  for  the  Blue's  own  Hollywood  studios. 

Production  on  new  studios  will  get  under 
way  as  soon  as  possible  after  the  war,  accord- 
ing to  Mr.  Wood.  The  Blue  can  continue  to 
operate  its  present  quarters  under  '  agreement 
with  National  Broadcasting  until  two  years 
after  equipment  becomes  available,  after  the 
war  ends,  for  new  studios  and  installation. 

Schnitzer,  U.A.  Western 
Manager,  on  Vacation 

Edward  Schnitzer,  United  Artists  western 
division  manager,  is  in  Florida  on  an  ex- 
tended vacation  for  his  health.  J.  J.  Unger, 
who  recently  joined  the  company,  has  taken 
his  place.  On  his  return  to  the  New  York 
home  ofifice  Mr.  Schnitzer  will  assume  new 
duties. 


Raft  Returns  from  Overseas 

George  Raft,  who  returned  this  week  from  a 
two-month  tour  overseas  for  USO-Camo 
Shows,  reported  that  soldier  morale  was  high  in 
the  British  Isles,  Tunis,  Algiers,  Naples  and 
other  zones  he  visited.  Mr.  Raft  was  expected 
to  leave  for  the  coast  immediately  to  present  to 
Dr.  C.  H.  Montgomery  in  Beverly  Hills,  the 
Air  Medal  which  Lieut.  Douglas  Montgomery, 
former  screen  actor,  requested  that  Mr.  Raft 
take  to  his  father. 


February    26,  1944 

Reisman  Voices 
Satisfaction  with 
British  Setup 

RKO  operations  in  Great  Britain  are  in  an 
"exceptionally  satisfactory"  state,  Phil  Reis- 
man, vice-president  in  charge  of  foreign  opera- 
tions for  the  company,  told  reporters  in  New 
York  Monday  following  his  return  from  his  first 
visit  to  London  since  the  outbreak  of  war. 

In  England  for  six  weeks,  Mr.  Reisman 
studied  distribution  of  films  to  American  troops 
in  training  there  and  surveyed  RKO  operations 
in  the  United  Kingdom.  He  presided  at  a  gen- 
eral RKO  sales  meeting  in  London. 

He  will  submit  a  report  to  the  Army  Special 
Service  forces  and  to  the  War  Activities  Com- 
mittee on  the  success  of  the  industry's  free  film 
program,  which,  Mr.  Reisman  said,  brings  an 
average  of  three  new  programs  a  week  to  troops 
overseas. 

J.  Arthur  Rank  "is  a  very  serious  and  de- 
termined" factor  in  the  post-war  film  outlook, 
the  RKO  executive  said.  He  conferred  with  the 
head  of  the  largest  British  circuits  and  produc- 
ing companies  several  times  but  said  that  neither 
RKO  nor  Mr.  Rank  had  proposed  any  joint 
operations. 

As  soon  as  transportation  can  be  arranged, 
Robert  Wolff,  New  York  manager  for  RKO, 
will  go  to  England  to  assume  the  post  of  man- 
againg  director,  Mr.  Reisman  said.  He  re- 
places Ralph  Hanbury,  killed  in  a  bombing  raid, 
and  there  will  be  no  changes  in  the  present 
RKO  London  staff,  according  to  Mr.  Reisman. 

Business  in  British  theatres  has  recovered 
from  the  summer  slump  and  is  again  at  levels 
proportionate  to  the  spectacular  highs  recorded 
by  many  key  situations  in  this  country,  the  for- 
eign head  said.  He  would  not  discuss  rental 
or  sales  problems  other  than  to  say  that  there 
were  no  difficulties  in  the  withdrawal  of  Ameri- 
can funds  and  that  quota  regulations  were  work- 
ing no  hardship  on  RKO. 

At  least  two  features  will  be  produced  this 
season  by  RKO  at  Denham  under  the  super- 
vision of  Victor  Hanbury,  Mr.  Reisman  said. 
"Hotel  Reserve,"  described  by  the  executive 
as  an  excellent  spy  picture,  has  just  been  com- 
pleted by  Mr.  Hanbury. 

British  production  had  been  greatly  bene- 
fited by  the  excess  profits  tax  which  confiscates 
all  earnings  over  1936  averages,  Mr.  Reisman 
added.  In  consequences  producers  have  turned 
a  much  larger  proportion  of  their  revenue  back 
into  production,  greatly  improving  picture  qual- 
ity, he  said. 


Astra  Pictures  Sues  Selznick 

Astra  Pictures,  Inc.,  of  New  York,  sued 
David  O.  Selznick  in  New  York  Supreme 
Court  last  week  for  alleged  breach  of  contract 
for  the  reissue  rights  to  "Prisoner  of  Zenda," 
"Adventures  of  Tom  Sawyer"  and  "Garden  of 
Allah."  In  the  story  of  the  suit  reported  to 
Motion  Picture  Herald  of  February  19,  the 
name  of  the  company  was  misprinted  as  Astor 
Pictures.  The  latter  company  is  headed  by 
R.  M.  Savini.  It  has  never  been  sued  nor  has 
it  brought  suit  in  its  14-year  history.  Astra,  of 
which  Mrs.  Gertrude  Everson  is  president,  be- 
gan business  in  the  reissue  field  about  two  years 
ago. 


Two  Writers  Sue  RKO 

Two  writers,  Samuel  R.  Goldberg  and  Nor- 
bert  Faulkner,  have  filed  a  suit  against  RKO, 
Val  Lewton,  Leo  Mittler  and  Donald  Hender- 
son Clark  charging  plagarism  in  the  produc- 
tion "Ghost  Ship."  The  complainants  seek 
$150,000,  alleging  theft  of  plot  and  parts  of  their 
original  story  "Bermuda  Blow,"  which  they 
claim  was  submitted  to  the  studio  in  1941. 


February    26,    1944  MOTION    PICTURE    HERALD  37 

THE  HOLLYWOOD  SCENE 


Studios  Relax  Production  Pressure 


fron.  HOLLYWOOD  BURIAU 


The  statistics  on  your  right,  denoting  a 
new  low  in  the  number  of  pictures  in  the 
shooting  stage,  point  more  directly  and  elo- 
quently than  printed  announcements  to  the 
fact  that  the  heat  is  off,  so  to  speak,  in  the 
matter  of  maintaining  full-tilt  headway  in 
the  manufacture  of  pictures. 

The  heat  is  off,  by  the  evidence  although 
not  by  anybody's  official  statement  to  this 
effect,  for  the  reason  that  pressures  are  re- 
laxed all  along  the  line  from  box  office  to 
shooting  stage  and  from  Washington  to  the 
offices  where  shooting  schedules  are  made 
up  and  implemented. 

The  need  for  using,  in  one  quarter,  as 
much  raw  stock  as  might  be  wanted  for  the 
next  quarter,  which  was  the  system  in  force 
during  most  of  1943,  passed  with  the  relaxa- 
tion of  the  quota  system  by  the  War  Pro- 
duction Board. 

Pressure  Accounted  for 
Last  Year's  Splurge 

The  pull  of  the  war  plants  on  the  man- 
power pool  from  which  studios  draw  their 
workmen  no  longer  compels  producing  com- 
panies to  keep  large  staffs  of  men  at  work 
doing  something,  or  just  drawing  paychecks, 
between  the  times  when  they  need  them  for 
necessary  work  on  pictures. 

These  pressures  and  others  like  them  ac- ' 
counted  for  the  unprecedented  splurge  of 
production  last  year  which  resulted  in  the 
building  up  of  product  backlogs  equal,  in 
the  case  of  most  studios,  to  the  release  de- 
mands of  any  predictable  six  months  or  year 
to  come. 

The  back-up  of  releases,  due  to  longer 
runs,  was  a  force  in  the  same  direction. 

It  is  no  secret  that  a  number  of  studios 
in  Hollywood  could  close  their  doors  for  a 
considerable  period  of  work-holiday  with- 
out crippling  themselves,  product-wise,  so 
far  as  mere  number  of  pictures  to  release 
is  concerned.  Neither  is  it  a  secret,  of  course, 
that  this  would  be  a  very  bad  kind  of  busi- 
ness procedure  and  that  it  is  not  going  to 
occur,  for  many  reasons  which  suggest  them- 
selves at  once  to  anybody  familiar  with  the 
ingredients  of  the  process  which  is  called 
"maintaining  a  going  business." 

Expectancy  is  that  the  number  of  pic- 
tures in  the  shooting  stage  will  not  be  sky- 
rocketing, save  perhaps  momentarily,  until  a 
substantial  proportion  of  the  completed  prod- 
uct on  studio  shelves  has  been  moved  into 
release.  It's  expected  that  enough  produc- 
tion to  keep  the  machinery  well  oiled  and 
functioning  smoothly  and  personnel  em- 
ployed, will  be  carried  on. 

Preston  Sturges  and  Hughes 
Establish  Company 

Preston  Sturges,  former  Paramount  pro- 
ducer-writer-director, and  Howard  Hughes, 
mining-tool  tycoon,  whose  last  production 
venture  was  the  still  unreleased  three-year- 
old  "The  Outlaw,"  have  formed  a  produc- 
tion company,  as  yet  unchristened,  and 
leased  space  at  the  California  studio  to  pro- 


Studios  at  New  Low 


The  completion  of  nine  pictures,  offset 
by  the  start  of  shooting  on  but  five, 
brought  the  shooting  index  to  a  ten-month 
low,  with  36  features  in  camera  stage. 

International  Pictures,  releasing  through 
RKO  Radio,  started  its  first  picture, 
"Casanova  Brown,"  with  Sam  Wood  di- 
recting and  Nunnally  Johnson  producing. 
Gary  Cooper,  Teresa  Wright,  Frank 
Morgan,  Anita  Louise  and  Patricia  Colllnge 
are  among  the  principals 

Twentieth  Century-Fox  started  "A  Wing 
and  a  Prayer,"  directed  by  Henry  Hath- 
away for  producers  William  Bacher  and 
Walter  Morosco,  with  Don  Ameche,  Dana 
Andrews,  William  Eythe  and  Charles  Bick- 


ford  among  the  players  who  are  In  the 
leading  roles. 

Universal  launched  "Jungle  Woman," 
produced  by  Will  Cowan,  with  Reginald 
LeBorg  directing,  which  presents  Acqua- 
netta,  Evelyn  Ankers  and  Milberun  Stone. 

RKO  Radio's  new  undertaking  is 
"Heavenly  Days,"  the  Fibber  McGee  and 
Molly  picture,  which  Howard  Estabrook  is 
directing  for  producer  Robert  Fellows. 

PRC  started  "Shake  Hands  with  Murder," 
produced  and  directed  by  Al  Herman,  with 
Iris  Adrian,  Frank  Jenks  and  Douglas  Fow- 
ley  in  the  cast. 

The  produtcion  scene  at  large  as  of  the 
weekend: 


COMPLETED 

Columbia 

Girl  in  the  Case 
PRC 

Devil's  Apprentice 
Guns  of  the  Lawless 
Dixie  Showboat 

RKO  Radio 

One  Exciting  Night 

Republic 

Man  from  Brooklyn 
UA 

Song  of  the  Open 
Road  (Rogers) 

Universal 

Pardon  My  Rhythm 
Invisible  Man's 
Revenge 


STARTED 
PRC 

Shake  Hands  with 
Murder , 

RKO  Radio 

Casanova  Brown 

Heavenly  Days 

20fh-Fox 

Wing  and  a  Prayer 

Universal 

Jungle  Woman 

SHOOTING 

Columbia 

Mr.  Winkle  Goes  to 

War 
Pilebuck 

At  Night  We  Dream 
Mission  36 


MGM 

Marriage  Is  a  Private 

Affair 
National  Velvet 
Meet  Me  in  St.  Louis 
Seventh  Cross 
Dragon  Seed 
Monogram 

Detective  Kitty  O'Day 
(formerly  "Detective 

Kitty  Kelly") 
Paramount 

Practically  Yours 
Bring  on  the  Girls 
And  Now  Tomorrow 
Road  to  Utopia 
Incendiary  Blonde 

PRC 

Minstrel  Man 
RKO  Radio 

Manhattan  Serenade 


Republic 

Silent  Partner 
Candlelights  of  Lis- 
bon 

20th-Fox 

Keys  of  the  Kingdom 
Sweet  and  Low  Down 
Wilson 

In  the  Meantime, 
Darling 

UA 

Hairy  Ape  (Levey) 
Sensations  of  1944 

(Stone) 
Universal 
Slick  Chick 
Climax 

Warners 

Cinderella  Jones 
Mr.  Skeffington 
My  Reputation 
Janie 


duce  an  undeclared  number  of  pictures  for 
undetermined  release. 

Discussing  his  return  to  production,  Mr. 
Hughes  said,  "I  want  to  make  one  thing 
clear.  I  cannot  devote  any  time  whatsoever 
to  the  motion  picture  business  until  the  war 
is  over.  I  had  therefore  abandoned  com- 
pletely all  of  my  company's  motion  picture 
activities  for  the  duration. 

"I  did  not  know  of  anyone  whom  I  was 
willing  to  trust  to  carry  on  this  business 
without  any  attention  on  my  part.  Then  the 
opportunity  presented  itself  to  make  an  as- 
sociation with  Preston  Sturges,  whose  work 
I  have  admired  for  many  years  but  who  has 
always  been  unavailable  because  of  his  con- 
tract with  Paramount.  Here  is  one  man  in 
whom  I  have  complete  confidence.  I  am 
happy  to  turn  over  to  him  the  full  control 
and  direction  of  all  my  motion  picture  ac- 
tivities." 

V 

Trem  Carr,  Monogram  executive  director 
in  charge  of  production,  disclosed  last  week 


that  the  studio  had  completed  20  of  the  26 
pictures  on  its  1943-44  schedule. 

He  said,  "Never  before  in  the  history  of 
Monogram  have  we  recorded  such  a  high 
percentage  of  completions  so  early  in  the 
season,  and  this  is  true  in  spite  of  the  fact 
that  our  current  schedule  is  more  ambitious 
in  every  respect  than  ever  before.  ...  As 
the  Monogram  program  for  1943-44  excels 
our  output  for  the  previous  year,  so  will  the 
1944-45  schedule  constitute  an  important  ad- 
vance over  the  current  season,  embracing 
every  item  which  enters  into  production." 


S+romberg  Signs  Pereira 

Rapidly  expanding  his  organization  for  the 
production  of  three  pictures  this  year  for  United 
Artists  release.  Hunt  Stromberg  has  signed 
William  Pereira,  production  designer,  to  a  long 
term  contract.  Mr.  Pereira's  first  assignment  is 
the  Broadway  play,  "Dishonored  Lady."  "Guest 
in  the  House,"  next,  is  scheduled  to  go  before 
the  cameras  March  8  under  the  direction  of 
Lewis  Milestone. 


1^ 


"1^ 


Screen  Play  by  Henry  Myers,  Edward  Eliscu  and  Jay  Gorney 
Directed  by  CHARLES  BARTON  •  Produced  by  IRVING  BRIS 
A  COLUMBIA  PICTURE 


40 

Three  Programs 
Weekly  Present 
ETO  Maximum 

Washington  Bureau 

'  A  service  of  three  motion  picture  programs  a 
week,  now  in  operation  throughout  all  of  the 
European  theatre  of  war,  is  seen  by  Army  offi- 
cials as  representing  the  maximum  which  can  be 
attained  under  present  conditions  of  industry 
production  and  limitations  on  raw  stock  and 
printing  equipment. 

Although  efforts  have  been  made  to  increase 
the  number  of  program  changes,  officials  of  the 
Army's  special  services  division  concluded  this 
week  that  it  was  impossible,  although  they  com- 
forted themselves  with  the  thought  that  three 
new  pictures  a  week  is  more  than  the  average 
soldier  saw  in  civilian  life. 

The  situation  was  summed  up  by  Colonel  O. 
N.  Solbert,  chief  of  special  service  in  the  Euro- 
pean theatre  of  operations,  in  this  way : 

"Unfortunately  movies  are  not  unlimited. 
There  is  a  limit  to  the  pictures  Hollywood  can 
produce,  especially  the  good  pictures.  There 
is  a  limit  to  the  raw  stock  for  printing.  There 
is  a  limit  to  the  printing  capacity.  There  is  a 
limit  to  the  capacity  of  projector  manufacturers. 
There  is  a  limit  to  the  supply  of  spare  parts. 

"It  is  well  to  face  the  facts  frankly.  There  are 
not  enough  good  pictures  made  or  enough  prints 
of  them  printed,  nor  enough  projectors  built,  to 
provide  a  first  rate  and  different  picture  every 
night  in  the  week  for  all  U.  S.  forces  overseas." 

Forty-two  prints  of  each  picture  selected  are 
provided  for  all  overseas  theatres,  rendering  it 
impossible  to  show  them  to  all  soldiers  in  all 
areas  at  the  same  time.  Twelve  of  the  prints  go 
to  the  European  theatre. 

While  the  number  of  prints  is  thus  limited, 
the  number  of  pictures  available  also  is  re- 
stricted, it  was  explained.  Hollywood,  it  was 
pointed  out,  currently  produces  about  350  fea- 
ture pictures  a  year,  of  which  possibly  100  are  in 
the  "A"  category.  Of  that  100  at  least  30  will 
be  in  Technicolor,  and  because  of  technical  rea- 
sons not  more  than  a  dozen  of  the  latter  will  be 
available  in  the  16mm  size  used  most  generally 
by  the  Army. 

Thus  a  total  of  about  82  "A"  pictures  are 
available  for  overseas  distribution,  and  it  is 
necessary  to  select  some  74  fijst  rate  "B"  pic- 
tures to  maintain  the  current  weekly  quotas. 

Every  effort  is  made  to  get  the  pictures  to  the 
soldiers  as  quickly  as  possible.  It  is  pointed  out 
that  of  30  programs  recently  released  to  men  in 
England  over  a  seven-week  period,  eight  were 
released  in  advance  of  their  commercial  show- 
ing in  the  United  Kingdom,  six  others  were  re- 
leased simultaneously  with  the  first  showing  in 
London's  most  exclusive  theatres  and  the  other 
16  were  released  simultaneously  with  their  gnn- 
eral  release  in  English  theatres. 

In  the  European  theatre  of  operations,  the 
special  services  division  has  in  circulation  a 
16mm  film  library  of  approximately  525  pro- 
grams and  maintains  mobile  16mm  units  on 
regularly  scheduled  visits  to  field.  Air  Force 
and_  service  units  not  equipped  with  their  own 
projectors.  Projectors,  both  static  and  mobile, 
are  issued  at  the  rate  of  one  for  every  1,000 
troops. 

The  only  use  made  of  35mm  prints  is  in  11 
large  playhouses,  most  of  which  are  located 
at  large  permanent  posts  and  convalescent  hos- 
pitals, it  is  said. 


Forms  Philadelphia  Branch 

Film  Classics,  Inc.,  has  granted  a  franchise 
for  the  setting  up  of  an  exchange  in  Philadel- 
phia. Jack  Engel,  former  RKO  salesman,  will 
manage  the  Philadelphia  exchange,  organized 
primarily  for  the  release  of  reissues.  Associated 
with  Mr.  Engel  will  be  Jack  Greenberg  and 
Saul  J.  Krugman. 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 

Sixty  Cities  View  Revival 
Of  "Snow  White"  Film 

Sixty  cities  in  Ohio,  Indiana,  West  Virginia 
and  Kentucky  are  on  the  way  to  viewing  the 
revival  of  "Snow  White  and  the  Seven  Dwarfs," 
on  the  heels  of  pre-opening  publicity  campaigns 
and  with  the  Grand  theatre  in  Cincinnati  as  the 
hub  of  the  activities  with  its  grand  opening  on 
Tuesday.    RKO  Radio  is  releasing  the  picture. 

The  openings  climax  a  promotional  campaign 
of  four  weeks  highlighted  by  full  newspaper  and 
billboard  coverage,  daily  hour,  half-hour  and 
quarter-hour  programs  over  WLW,  and  per- 
sonal appearances  throughout  the  four  states  by 
traveling  units  consisting  of  Adriana  Casse- 
lotti,  the  original  Snow  White  voice  of  the  pic- 
ture, and  the  voices  of  Donald  Duck,  the  Seven 
Dwarfs  and  a  group  of  animators  from  the  Dis- 
ney Studious  in  Hollywood. 

A  representative  from  the  studio  and  RKO 
home  office  executives  attended  the  Snow  White 
Coronation  dinner  held  Thursday  night  at  Cin- 
cinnati's Netherlands  Plaza  Hotel  under  the 
sponsorship  of  the  local  Variety  club.  The  win- 
ners of  the  Snow  White  and  cartoonists  con- 
tests held  over  WLW  were  crowned.  Guests  of 
honor  were  the  governors  of  the  four  states. 


"Lady  in  Dark^^ 
Breaks  Records 

In  Hbllywood  and  Los  Angeles  "Lady  in  the 
Dark,"  in  its  second  week,  smashed  box  office 
records  by  playing  to  122,000  persons  in  its  first 
week,  breaking  in  all  16  different  records,  in- 
cluding weekly  gross  for  each  theatre,  and  indi- 
vidual daily  grosses  for  each  house,  cracking  the 
"Star  Spangled  Rhythm"  record  by  40  per  cent, 
it  was  said  by  Paramount. 

According  to  Charles  M.  Reagan,  Paramount 
assistant  general  sales  manager,  in  its  first  three 
engagements  in  the  New  York  metropolitan  area 
following  the  Rivoli  theatre  run  of  six  months 
on  Broadway,  "For  Whom  the  Bell  Tolls" 
cracked  every  existing  record  in  Brooklyn, 
Newark  and  Paterson,  N.  J.,  for  advanced  price 
features.  The  picture  ran  four  weeks  in  Brook- 
lyn, four  in  Newark  and  two  weeks  in  Paterson. 
In  Oakland,  Cal.,  the  picture  is  reported  to  have 
broken  every  existing  record  for  gross  in  that 
city,  where  it  ran  three  weeks,  two  weeks  at  the 
Fox  theatre  and  one  week  at  the  Grand  Lake 
theatre. 

Republic's  "The  Fighting  SeaBees"  recorded 
the  biggest  Wednesday  opening-day  gross  in 
the  history  of  the  Fulton  theatre  in  Pittsburgh 
last  Wednesday. 

The  world  premiere  of  Warners'  "Passage  to 
Marseille"  at  the  Hollywood  theatre  in  New 
York,  got  off  to  a  bigger  start  than  did  "This 
Is  the  Army,"  the  theatre  reported  last  week. 

20th-Fox  To  Release  Two 
Films,  Block  8  in  March 

The  March  releases  of  Twentieth  Century- 
Fox,  scheduled  as  Block  number  8,  and  includ- 
ing "The  Purple  Heart"  and  "Four  Jills  in  a 
Jeep,"  were  announced  late  last  week  by  Tom 
Connors,  vice-president  in  charge  of  world  wide 
distribution.  "The  Purple  Heart"  was  produced 
by  Darryl  F.  Zanuck  and  directed  by  Lewis 
Milestone.  "Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep"  was  produced 
by  Irving  Starr  and  directed  by  William  A. 
Seiter. 


Warner  Artist  Has  Exhibit 

Captain  Milton  Marx,  who  was  in  the  ad- 
vertising department  of  Warner  Brothers'  home 
office  before  entering  the  Army's  camouflage 
corps  about  two  years  ago,  had  an  exhibition 
of  85  African  paintings  last  Monday  in  the 
National  Gallery,  Washington,  D.  C.  Captain 
Marx  also  is  giving  an  exhibition  of  35  British 
paintings  in  England,  where  he  is  now  stationed. 


February    26,  1944 

Grant  Funds  for 
StateDepartment 
Film  Operations 

Post-war  motion  picture  operations  of  the 
U.  S.  State  Department,  involving  reorganiza- 
tion of  the  department  and  the  establishment 
of  a  new  film  section,  will  cost  an  additional 
$500,000,  it  was  learned  in  Washington  last 
Wednesday  when  the  House  Appropriations 
Committee  reported  the  Department's  $44,234,- 
500  appropriation  for  1944-45. 

In  addition  to  the  $500,000  which  will  be 
incorporated  in  the  budget  before  final  en- 
actment, the  House  Committee  gave  the  State 
Department  slightly  more  than  its  estimates 
for  its  regular  work,  including  authority  to  use 
money  from  its  contingent  funds  for  the  pur- 
chase, rental,  distribution  and  operation  of 
motion  picture  projectors. 

Announcement  of  the  department's  reorgani- 
zation to  include  extensive  motion  picture  oper- 
ations was  made  in  January,  by  Secretary  Hull. 
Details  of  the  new  setup  have  not  yet  been 
formally  announced  but  space  for  the  section 
was  left  in  the  Telecommunications  Division 
under  Francis  C.  De  Wolf.  Initially,  the  motion 
picture  work  will  require  only  a  small  staff, 
headed  by  George  R.  Canty,  who  represented 
the  Department  in  film  matters  abroad  for  a 
number  of  years.  Currently,  the  most  important 
film  operations  is  being  done  by  the  motion  pic- 
ture and  radio  division  of  the  Office  of  Public 
Information,  under  John  M.  Begg. 

The  Department's  appropriation  for  coopera- 
tion with  the  American  republics,  under  which 
it  is  authorized  to  make  free  distribution  or 
loan  of  motion  pictures  and  radio  transcriptions, 
was  reduced  from  an  estimated  $4,500,000  to 
$3,450,000,  with  a  view  to  deferring  certain 
programs  not  believed  to  be  of  immediate  neces- 
sity. 

Also  included  in  the  measure  were  appropria- 
tions for  the  Departments  of  Justice  and  Com- 
merce, with  the  House  committee  cutting  the 
fund  for  the  Justice  Department's  anti-trust 
division  to  $1,390,000  from  an  estimated  $1,400,-  • 
000  and,  a  current  appropriation  of  $1,600,000. 
The  total  for  the  criminal  division,  headed  by 
Assistant  U.  S.  Attorney  General  Tom  C.  Clark, 
who  is  in  charge  of  film  matters,  was  reduced 
$13,500  from  the  estimates  to  $1,250,000,  but  is 
nearly  double  the  $653,000  available  for  this 
year. 

The  House  committee  allowed  the  Depart- 
ment of  Commerce  the  estimate  of  $1,905,000 
for  the  Bureau  of  Foreign  and  Domestic  Com- 
merce, including  the  motion  picture  section,  rep- 
resenting an  increase  of  $251,000  over  the  pres- 
ent appropriation. 

Legion  of  Decency  Reviews 
Seven  Films  This  Week 

The  National  Legion  of  Decency  reviewed 
seven  pictures  this  week  and  placed  six  in  Class 
A — Section  One,  Unobjectionable  for  General 
Patronage.  The  seventh,  "Bridge  of  San  Luis 
Rey,"  was  classified  as  Unobjectionable  for 
Adults.  The  other  six  pictures  were :  "Beneath 
Western  Skies,"  "Chip  Off  the  Old  Block," 
"Frontier  Outlaws,"  "Mojave  Firebrand,"  "The 
Sullivans,"  "Wyoming  Hurricane." 


Set  Uniform  Prices 

New  Haven  downtown  theatres  simultan- 
eously last  week  changed  to  a  uniform  balcony 
and  orchestra  admission  price  afternoons  and 
evenings.  This  brings  the  matinees  to  40  cents 
all  over  the  house,  and  the  evenings,  50  cents 
pt  all  but  the  Paramount,  which  has  been  up  to 
55  cents  for  many  months.  Managers  state  this 
will  enable  them  to  shut  off  the  balcony  and 
save  manpower  and  supervision  several  after- 
noons each  week. 


The  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT  presents 


THE  REAL  THING  AT  LAST  .  .  . 

Actual,  living  pictures  of  the  battle  that  has  been  talked  about, 
written  about,  wondered  about  by  every  man,  woman  and  child 
in  America  old  enough  to  read  or  listen  to  the  radio  .  .  . 

THE  REAL  THING  AT  LAST  .  .  . 

The  Marines'  own  story  photographed  under  fire  by  the  Marines' 
own  photographers  ... 


THE  REAL  THING  AT  L 

The  epic  battle  that  will  take  its  pi* 
Stalingrad  and  the  Battle  of  Lond' 

NO  PUNCHES  PULLED... NO  GORY  ^..ma^  OMITTED 


•    •  • 


ith  Alamein, 


IT  t"^A^O  I 


42 

PRC  to  Release 
40  Films  Next 
Year:  Fromkess 

The  same  quantity,  but  greatly  increased 
production  quality  for  PRC  Pictures,  Inc.,  re- 
leases next  season  was  promised  Thursday  by 
Leon  Fromkess,  vice-president  in  charge  of 
production,  during  an  interview  at  the  New 
York  office  of  the  company. 

PRC,  he  said,  would  release  24  features  and 
16  Westerns  on  its  1944-45  program,  according 
to  present  plans.  Budgets  on  several  of  the  key 
features  would  run  as  high  as  $300,000,  Mr. 
Fromkess  said,  and  all  releases  would  benefit 
from  longer  range  planning  and  sounder  finance. 
Top  budgets  will  be  10  times  the  amount  avail- 
able for  the  first  PRC  releases  three  years  ago. 
Western  budgets  will  remain  at  about  $17,000 
each. 

Mr.  Fromkess  has  been  in  New  York  to  at- 
tend meetings  of  the  PRC  directorate  and  to 
discuss  company  plans  with  franchise  holders. 
New  officers  will  be  elected  at  a  directors  meet- 
ing before  Mr.  Fromkess  returns  to  California. 
His  election  to  succeed  O.  Henry  Briggs,  who 
resigned  recently  as  president,  was  anticipated 
by  company  officials. 

Outside  producers  would  contribute  about 
half  of  the  PRC  product  next  year,  Mr.  From- 
kess said.  Leading  the  new  production  alliance 
is  Constance  Bennett,  who  will  produce  and 
star  in  at  least  two  releases.  Sigmund  Neufeld, 
Jack  Schwartz,  Alexander  and  Stern,  and  Al- 
bert Herman  will  contribute  releases. 

Franchise  holders  reported  an  increasing  first 
run  and  key  circuit  market  for  PRC  pictures, 
Mr.  Fromkess  said.  He  cited  recent  double 
bill  bookings  for  the  company's  "Men  on  Her 
Mind"  with  "Jane  Eyre"  at  the  Carthay  Circle, 
Grauman's  Chinese,  Loew's  State  and  Uptown 
theatres  in  Los  Angeles. 

Entertainment,  with  music,  comedy  and  pos- 
sibly a  color  picture  would  keynote  next  year's 
program,  he  said.  Mr.  Fromkess  said  that  PRC 
would  minimize  war  material. 

Exhibitors  Face  New  Crisis 
On  Oil  for  Heating 

Eastern  exhibitors  who  heat  their  theatres 
with  oil  were  given  a  hint  of  an  impending 
new  crisis  in  the  fuel  situation  last  week  when 
Petroleum  Administrator  Harold  L.  Ickes  is- 
sued an  order  further  restricting  heating  oil 
deliveries. 

Under  the  order  consumers  using  heating  oil 
in  other  than  private  dwellings  may  not  accept 
deliveries  of  additional  oil  if  they  have  as  much 
as  a  10-day  supply  on  hand.  A  similar  order 
was  imposed  last  winter,  and  was  revoked  in 
May. 

Heating  oil  supplies  are  tight  in  many  sec- 
tions of  the  east  and  the  order  is  designed  to 
permit  available  stocks  to  be  spread  more  even- 
ly. Officials  hope,  however,  to  be  able  to  get 
through  the  winter  without  any  cut  in  rations 
for  exhibitors  or  other  consumers. 


United  Artists  Film  Booked 

Carl  Leserman,  general  sales  manager  for 
United  Artists,  announced  Wednesday  that 
Benedict  Bogeaus'  forthcoming  United  Artists 
release,  "The  Bridge  of  San  Luis  Rey,"  has  been 
booked  for  early  March  engagement  in  23  key 
city  Loew  theatres  throughout  the  country. 


Phiico  Votes  Dividend 

The  board  of  directors  of  Phiico  Corpora- 
tion last  week  declared  a  dividend  of  20  cents 
per  share  on  the  common  stock,  payable  March 
13,  1944,  to  stockholders  of  record  February 
26.  In  the  first  quarter  last  year,  a  dividend  of 
15  cents  per  share  was  declared. 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


IN  NEWSREELS 


MOVIETONE  NEWS— Vol.  26,  No.  49— U.  S.  forces 
mop  up  Kwajalein  Atoll;  Truk  attacked  .  .  .  War 
flashes  from  Europe  .  .  .  Hero  of  the  week,  Sergeant 
Charles  Vondrachek  .  .  .  Negro  paratroops  and 
WACS  for  overseas  .  .  .  Basketball  and  Roller  skat- 
ing. 

MOVIETONE  NEWS--V0I.  26,  No  S»-Allies  smash 
Nazi  attacks  on  Anzio  beachhead  in  Italy  .  .  .  News 
flashes  of  the  war:  Norway,  Bougainville,  England. 
Washington,  Australia  .  .  .  Sports:  Girls  cheer 
wounded  .  .  .  Service  boxing  show. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY— Vol.  IS,  No.  247— Eisenhower 
and  aides  ready  for  invasion  .  .  .  Armed  for  the  day 
.  .  .  Latest  films  from  Nettuno  imd  Cassino  fronts  in 
Italy  .  .  .  Americans  tighten  grip  on  Jap  islands  in 
Marshalls  .  .  .  lOO  artists  and  one  model  .  .  .  Fisrt 
Negro  paratroopers  take  jumps  for  Uncle  Sam  .  .  . 
Roller  skating  goes  top  hat  .  .  .  New  beauty  for 
your  home. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY— Vol.  IS.  No.  24&-Knox  hails 
victory  in  U-boat  war  .  .  .  General  Qark  flies  to 
embattled  Anzio  .  .  .  Jap  artillery  batters  Yank  gun 
positions  on  Bougainville  .  .  .  Yugo-Slavs  escape  to 
Italy  in  flight  from  Nazi  terror  .  .  .  Meet  the  Navy, 
Canadian  style  .  .  .  Yanks  win  in  Australian  ring 
battles. 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS— No.   SO-News    flashes  from 
over  there  .  .  .  German  defeat  .  .  .  Invasion  Plan- 
ners .  .  .  Negro  WACS  win  praise  .  .  .  First  Negro 
paratroopers  .  .  .  Marshall  Islands — Kawajalein  clean-' 
up  .  .  .  Cinderella  story  comes  true. 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS— No.  SI— Colorado  ski  jinks  .  .  . 
Explosion  shakes  Oslo  .  .  .  Armor  keeps  'em  flying 
.  .  .  Yugo-Slav  patriots  rescued  .  .  .  Honeymoon  in 
jail. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS— Vol.  15,  No.  S2— First  pictures 
of  Allied  High  Command  .  .  .  Fifth  Army  advances 
at  Nettuno  .  .  .  Glass  highlights  room  of  future  .  .  . 
Show  old  time  "secret  weapons"  .  ,  .  Negro  WACS 
serve  at  Army  hospital  .  .  .  Yanks  complete  con- 
quest on  Roi  and  Namur. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS— Vol.  15,  No.  53-Baruch  plans 
post-war  adjustment  .  .  .  Allies  aid  to  Yugo-Slav 
refugees  .  .  .  Steel  vests  save  bomber  crew  men 
.  .  .  Train  new  men  for  Italy's  navy  .  .  .  Models 
demonstrate  war  strategy  .  .  .  War  planes  repaired 
for  combat  .  .  .  Girls  drill  in  Army  hospital. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREELr-Vol.  17,  No.  269-Yanks 
in  Kwajalein  .  .  .  Gaptpured  Nazis  .  .  .  250,000  pen- 
nies .  .  .  Glass  houses  .  .  .  B-17's  over  Rome  .  .  . 
Eisenhower  and  staff  .  .  .  Warehouse  razed  .  .  . 
Negro  paratroopers    .  .  Roller  skating  show. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREEL— VoL  17,  No.  27(>-Aussies 
come  home  .  .  .  Bombs  again  blast  Reich  .  .  .  Hope 
for  veterans  .  .  .  Young  America  .  .  .  Things  to 
come  .  .  .  World  of  Sports :  Boxing  .  .  .  Canada's 
war  show  terrific. 

ALL  AMERICAN  NEWS— Vol.  2,  No.  70— India 
demonstrates  a  "jive"  unit  .  .  .  World  told  of  Ne- 
groes' progress  .  .  .  Navy  trains  new  kind  of 
experts  .  .  .  Paul  V.  McNutt  says  "There  will  be 
jobs  for  vets"  .  .  .  Paratroopers  make  their  debut 
in  air. 


Johnston  Views  U.  S.  as 
World  Film  Leader 

Come  peace  and  the  United  States  will  be 
"established  as  never  before  as  the  undisputed 
leader  in  the  motion  picture  market  of  the 
world,"  W.  Ray  Johnston,  president  of  Mono- 
gram Pictures,  stated  in  New  York  last  week 
while  there  on  a  brief  visit  to  the  home  office. 
His  company,  Mr.  Johnston  explained,  had 
made  plans  accordingly.  "Ever  since  the  start 
of  the  war,  the  Monogram  foreign  department 
has  maintained  and  enlarged  its  plans  for  the 
resumption  of  its  European  activities  whenever 
the  conflict  ends,"  he  said. 


"Purple  Heart"  Opens  March  I 

Tom  Connors,  vice-president  in  charge  of 
world  wide  distribution  of  Twentieth  Century- 
Fox,  announced  Wednesday  that  Darryl  F. 
Zanuck's  "The  Purple  Heart"  will  have  its 
world  premiere  at  three  theatres  in  Florida, 
March  1.  The  theatres  are  the  Lincoln,  Miami 
Beach ;  the  Capitol  and  Miami  theatres,  Miami. 
Lo*u  Goldberg,  who  himself  was  awarded  the 
Purple  Heart  last  year  for  woiinds  suffered  in 
Guadalcanal,  is  in  Miami  to  supervise  the  cam- 
paign. 


February    26,    I  944 

See  Need  for  23 
New  Theatres  in 
War  Centers 

Washington  Bureau 

A  possible  need  for  as  many  as  25  new  thea- 
tres in  war  centers  in  various  sections  of  the 
country  is  seen  in  reports  of  field  agents  of  the 
Office  of  Civilian  Requirements  to  John  Eber- 
son,  consultant  to  the  recreation  section. 

A  survey  of  the  indicated  needs  of  the  war- 
congested  manufacturing  centers,  put  under  way 
some  weeks  ago,  Mr.  Eberson  said,  indicated 
that  extensive  building  of  new  recreational 
facilities  was  required  in  many  areas. 

The  first  reports,  received  earlier  this  month, 
indicated  possibilities  for  new  film  houses  in  a 
dozen  communities  in  Kansas,  Nebraska  and 
Arkansas.  About  twice  that  number  are  seen 
needed  in  Oklahoma,  Louisiana,  Texas,  Wash- 
ington, Oregon  and  Connecticut  in  reports  sub- 
mitted this  week. 

In  Oklahoma,  it  was  reported,  there  might  be 
a  need  for  a  new  downtown  theatre  in  Okla- 
homa City  and  both  downtown  and  suburban 
houses  in  Tulsa,  together  with  a  house  in  Pryor 
and  a  theatre  for  Negroes  in  McAlester. 

In  Louisiana,  Lake  Charles  and  Maplewood 
were  mentioned  as  possibly  needing  large  houses, 
with  a  small  200-  to  300-seat  house  suggested 
in  Doyline  and  a  house  in  Leesville  with  provi- 
sion for  Negro  patrons. 

A  'number  of  locations  need  new  facilities  in 
Texas,  including  Delias,  Sweeny,  Freeport,  Port 
Neches,  Grand  Prairie,  Fort  Worth,  Borger, 
Buena  Vista,  Phillips  City  and  Beaumont.  In 
San  Antonio,  several  neighborhood  houses  are 
indicated,  including  something  for  Mexican 
patrons ;  in  Commerce,  facilities  for  Negroes  are 
needed,  as  well  as  in  Corsicana,  while  in  Hous- 
ton a  theatre  showing  Spanish-language  films 
exclusively  could  be  used. 

Other  possible  locations  for  new  theatres  in- 
cluded Bremerton,  Wash. ;  Albany,  Ore.,  and 
the  New  London-Groton  area  in  Connecticut. 


Boasberg  Succeeds  Wolff 
As  RKO  District  Head 

Charles  Boasberg,  RKO  Radio  eastern  cen- 
tral district  manager,  and  the  captain  of  the 
1944  Ned  Depinet  Drive,  has  been  appointed 
metropolitan  district  manager,  it  was  announced 
Monday  by  Robert  Mochrie,  general  sales  man- 
ager. Mr.  Boasberg  succeeds  Robert  Wolff 
who,  as  was  announced  some  time  ago,  will  leave 
shortly  for  England  to  assume  the  post  of  man- 
aging director  for  RKO  Radio  in  Great  Britain. 

Mr.  Mochrie  also  announced  that  in  line  with 
the  company's  policy  to  make  promotions  froin 
within  the  ranks,  Phil  Hodes,  member  of  the 
company's  New  York  branch  sales  staff,  had 
been  promoted  to  branch  manager  of  the  same 
office. 

Other  promotions  announced  were  B.  G. 
Kranze,  Cleveland  branch  manager,  to  succeed 
Mr.  Boasberg  as  eastern  central  district  man- 
ager. A  long  time  employee  of  RKO  Radio, 
Mr.  Kranze  formerly  was  manager  of  the  Al- 
bany branch,  and  before  that  a  salesman  in  the 
New  York  branch.  Succeeding  Mr.  Kranze  at 
Cleveland  will  be  Al  Kolitz,  former  branch 
manager  at  Denver,  whose  successor  at  Denver 
was  announced  last  week  as  Tom  Bailey,  former 
salesman  in  the  same  office. 


Monogram  Filnn  at  Hawaii  Theatre 

The  Hawaii  theatre  in  Hollywood  has  booked 
Monogram's  film,  "Women  in  Bondage,"  with 
the  opening  date  set  at  March  2.  The  Mono- 
gram comedy  "Hot  Rythm"  will  share  the  bill. 
Both  will  be  in  their  first  run  in  the  Los  An- 
geles territory. 


THE  FUNNIEST  PICTUl 


W  WE  YEAR 


/a 


\ 


with 

JUNE  HAVOC  •  DALE  EVANS 

and 

MARJORIE  GATESON  •  LUCIEN  LITTLEFIELD 
IAN  KEITH  •  ROGER  IMHOF 
LESLIE  GOODWINS  — Director 

Original  Screenplay  by  Frank  Gill,  Jr. 
Based  On  a  Story  idea  by  John  Wales 


44  MOTION    PICTURE    HERALD  February    2  6.  1944 

''^WHAT  THE 
PICTURE  DID  FOR  ME 


.  .  .  the  original  •xhlbitort'  reperft  department,  •ttabiitlied  October  14.  1914. 
In  it  tliftatremen  serve  one  anotiier  with  information  about  tlie  boi-ofBee  per- 
formance of  product  —  providing  a  service  of  tlie  exiiibitor  for  the  exhibitor. 
ADDRESS  REPORTS:  What  the  Pictare  Did  for  iwle.  IMotlon  Picture  Herald. 

Rockefeller  Center.  New  York  20.  N.  Y. 


Columbia 

BOY  FROM  STALINGRAD:  Bobby  Samarzich, 
Conrad  Binyon — This  broke  all  records.  Don't  know 
why.  I  didn't  advertise  it,  but  they  really  came  to 
see  it.  Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Nov.  13,  14. — May 
H.  Turner,  Royal  Theatre,  Iowa  Park,  Tex.  Small 
town  and  rural  patronage. 

COMMANDOS  STRIKE  AT  DAWN:  Paul  Muni, 
Lillian  Gish— Did  average  business  with  this  picture. 
Many  liked  it  and  said  so.  We  still  do  not  get  such 
good  results  from  war  pictures.  Played  Friday,  Sat- 
urday, Feb.  4,  5. — K.  John,  Legion  Theatre,  Bienfait, 
Sask.,  Canada.    Small  town  patronage. 

HERAT'S  ON,  THE:  William  Gaxton,  Victor  Moore, 
Mae  West,  Hazel  Scott — Fine  singing,  especially  the 
Wabash  number,  and  Hazel  Scott  with  hot  piano  play- 
ing. Just  a  thread  of  a  worn  story  that  was  draggy. 
Good  dance  team  and  music.  Moore  and  Gaxton  are 
seasoned  performers  and  should  have  better  material 
than  this.  Mae  West  is  still  O.K.,  but  this  picture 
was  a  bad  comeback  for  her.  Good  business;  com- 
ments good  and  bad,  but  I  have  played  worse. — W. 
Haney,  Milan  Theatre,  Milan,  Ind. 

SAHARA:  Humphrey  Bogart,  Bruce  Bennett— This 
was  in  Columbia's  top  bracket  and  they  should  have 
paid  us  to  run  it  for  them.  Lowest  grossing  picture 
to  play  this  house.  Lost  my  shirt.  Played  February, 
Saturday,  Sunday,  5,  6. — Eugene  L.  Boggs,  Jax  Thea- 
tre, Jacksonville,  Ark.  Rural  and  small  town  pat- 
ronage. 

VIGILANTES  RIDE:  Russell  Hay  den— Not  up  to 
average  Western.  No  draw.  Did  not  please  even  the 
regular  Western  fans.  Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Feb. 
11,  12.— Charles  A.  Brooks,  Ritz  Theatre,  Marshfield, 
Mo.    Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 


Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 

BATAAN :  Robert  Taylor,  Thomas  Mitchell— Here  is 
a  dandy  that  did  extra  business  for  us.  People  still 
enjoy  a  well-made  war  picture  and  this  one  proved 
very  timely  with  the  stories  that  have  come  from 
Bataan  the  past  few  years.  Played  Tuesday,  Wednes- 
day, Thursday,  Feb.  8,  9,  10.— Charles  A.  Brooks,  Ritz 
Theatre,  Marshfield,  Mo.  Small  town  and  rural  pat- 
ronage. 

DR.  GILLESPIE'S  CRIMINAL  CASE:  John  Barry- 
more,  Van  Johnson,  Marilyn  Maxwell — The  best  pic- 
ture of  the  Kildare  or  Gillespie  series.  It  will  do  you 
good  to  watch  that  girl,  Marilyn  Maxwell,  especially 
if  there  are  male  customers  in  the  audience,  because 
she  has  everything  and  talent  besides.  Played  Sun- 
day, Monday,  Jan.  9,  10. — Lee  Gunthrie,  Rogue  Thea- 
tre, Wheeler,  Tex.    Small  town  general  patronage. 

LASSIE  COME  HOME:  Roddy  McDowall,  Donald 
Crisp — This  is  one  of  the  best  produced  pictures  of  the 
animal  type  we  have  ever  played.  Performances  by 
Roddy  McDowall  and  Donald  Crisp  were  excellent, 
and  the  part  played  by  Lassie  was  also  good.  We  did 
better  than  average  business  for  midweek  and  our 
folks  liked  it.  Played  Tuesday,  Wednesday,  Thursday, 
Jan.  18,  19,  20.— O.  T.  McGinley,  Ritz  Theatre,  Mc- 
Gregor, Tex.    General  patronage. 

MAN  FROM  DOWN  UNDER,  THE:  Binnie  Barnes. 

Charles  Laughton — Charles  Laughton  did  a  fine  job  in 
this  ope;  comments  of  all  were  good.  Played  Sunday, 
Monday,  Feb.  6,  7. — Leonard  J.  Leise,  Rand  Theatre, 
Randolph,  Neb.    Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

SALUTE  TO  THE  MARINES:  Wallace  Beery,  Fay 
Bainter — One  of  the  few  war  pictures  that  was  received 
well.  The  color  and  locale  are  very  good.  Did  excel- 
lent, midweek  business.  Played  Wednesday,  Thursday, 
Feb.  2,  3.— J.  B.  Stout,  Ritz  Tlieatre,  Nocona,  Tex. 
Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

WHISTLING  IN  BROOKLYN:  Red  Skelton,  Ann 
Rutherford — The  worst  picture  "Red"  ever_  made,  and 
our  customers  said  so.  If  he  is  as  bad  in  "I  Dood 
It,"  he  will  sure  enough  have  dood  it,  or  rather  died  it. 
Why  Metro  should  butcher  a  popular  star  like  Skelton 
is  more  than  we  can  guess.  Played  Sunday,  Monday, 
Jan.  23,  24.— Lee  Gunthrie,  Rogue  Theatre,  Wheeler, 
Tex.    Small  town  general  patronage. 


Paramount 

HENRY  ALDRICH  GETS  GLAMOUR:  Jimmy  Ly- 


don,  Charlie  Smith — This  did  good  business.  One  of 
his  best.  Played  Saturday,  Sunday,  Monday,  Oct.  2, 
3,  4.— May  H.  Turner,  Royal  Theatre,  Iowa  Park.  Tex. 
Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

HOSTAGES:  Louise  Rainer,  William  Bendix— Wehad 
to  spot  book  this  one  on  short  notice.  Was  bought 
right  and  really  did  business  at  box  office.  It  is  really 
worth  playing,  and  William  Bendix  steals  the  show. 
Played  Saturday,  Sunday,  Jan.  8,  9. — Eugene  L.  Boggs, 
Jax  Theatre,  Jacksonville,  Ark.  Rural  and  small  town 
patronage. 

MINE  SWEEPER:  Richard  Arlen,  Jean  Parker— A 
big  surprise.  Lends  itself  to  publicity  very  well.  Build 
it  up  as  an  authentic  Navy  story.  People  ate  up  pub- 
licity, and  almost  broke  house  record  with  it.  All 
customers  were  satisfied. — Jay  G.  Williams,  Liberty 
Theatre,  Sharon,  Pa.    GeneraJ  patronage. 

NOTHING  BUT  THE  TRUTH:  Bob  Hope,  Paulette 
Goddard — This  was  a  pretty  fair  Hope  picture,  with 
the  usual  Hope  wisecracks  that  pleased.  Did  a  fair 
business.  Played  Friday,  Dec.  31,  Saturday,  Jan.  1. — 
K.  John,  Legion  Theatre,  Bienfait,  Sask.,  Canada. 
Small  town  patronage. 

ROAD  TO  MOROCCO:  Bob  Hope,  Bing  Crosby, 
Dorothy  Lamour — This  is  a  swell  picture  that  pleased 
all.  Paramount  pictures  are  top  draw  here.  Give  us 
more  like  this  one,  and  less  war.  Played  Saturday, 
Sunday,  Jan.  29,  30.— Eugene  L.  Boggs,  Jax  Theatre, 
Jacksonville,  Ark.    Rural  and  small  town  patronage. 

TRUE  TO  LIFE:  Mary  Martin,  Dick  Powell,  Fran- 
chot  Tone — Here  is  a  swell  comedy  that  is  good  for 
your  best  days.  It  has  a  good  story  and  performances 
by  all  principles  are  fine.  We  like  to  play  good  com- 
edies and  our  patrons  like  them  too.  Give  us  more, 
Paramount.  Played  Sunday,  Monday,  Feb.  6,  7. — O. 
T.  McGinley,  Ritz  Theatre,  McGregor,  Tex.  General 
patronage. 


PRC  Pictures 

DANGER,  WOMEN  AT  WORK:  Patsy  Kelly,  Mary 
Brian — This  is  a  good  comedy,  enjoyed  by  all.  Cus- 
tomers pleased.  Above  average  business.  Played 
Tuesday,  Wednesday,  Thursday,  Jan.  18,  19,  20.— May 
H.  Turner,  Royal  Theatre,  Iowa  Park,  Tex.  Small 
town  patronage. 


Republic 

HOME  IN  WYOMIN':  Gene  Autry— Just  another 
Autry,  if  you  like  them.  We  did  O.K.  and  no  com- 
plaints. Played  Monday,  Jan.  31,  Tuesday,  Feb.  1. — 
K.  John,  Legion  Theatre,  Bienfait.  Sask.,  Canada. 
Small  town  patronage. 

IN  OLD  OKLAHOMA:  Martha  Scott,  John  Wayne- 
Martha  Scott  and  John  Wayne  in  the  best  picture  that 
Republic  ever  made.  It's  a  honey.  Give  it  all  the 
publicity  you  can  and  wait  at  the  door  when  the  show 
is  over  and  listen  to  the  good  comments.  You  can't 
go  wrong  on  this  baby.— W.  J.  Haney.  Milan  Theatre, 
Milan,  Ind. 

KING  OF  THE  COWBOYS:  Roy  Rogers— Roy 
doesn't  go  over  so  big  here.  They  say  he  is  a  sissy. 
My  folks  don't  like  sissy  Westerns.  Played  Friday, 
Saturday,  Dec.  17,  18.— May  H.  Turner,  Royal  Theatre, 
Iowa  Park,  Tex.   Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 


RKO 

BEHIND  THE  RISING  SUN:  Margo,  Tom  Neal, 
Robert  Ryan — A  poor  picture  and  uninteresting.  No 
comparison  to  "Hitler's  Children."  You  will  make 
money  by  paying  for  it  and  not  running  it.  Played 
Monday,  Tuesday,  Feb.  7,  8.— Lee  Gunthrie,  Rogue 
Theatre,  Wheeler,  Tex.    Small  town  general  patronage. 


BOMBARDIER:  Pat  O'Brien,  Randolph  Scott,  Anne 
Shirley— This  was  a  dandy  flying  picture  which  pleased 
all.  Did  not  do  so  well  on  this  but,  no  doubt,  owing 
to  the  lull  after  Christmas.  Played  Monday,  Tuesday, 
Jan.  3,  4.— K.  John,  Legion  Theatre,  Bienfait,  Sask., 
Canada.    Small  town  patronage. 

MR.  LUCKY:  Gary  Grant,  Laraine  Day— Good  pic- 
ture, everyone  liked  it,  but  weather  against  me.  Played 
Saturday,  Sunday,  Monday,  Jan.  1,  2,  3.— May  H. 
Turner,  Royal  Theatre,  Iowa  Park,  Tex.  Small  town 
and  rural  patronage. 


Twentieth  Century- Fox 

CLAUDIA:  Robert  Young,  Dorothy  M'cGuire — Every- 
one enjoyed  this  picture.  Did  fair  business,  despite 
weather.  Played  Wednesday,  Thursday,  Feb.  9.  10.— 
J.  B.  Stout,  Ritz  Theatre,  Nocona,  Tex. 

CONEY  ISLAND:  Betty  Grable.  Cesa.r  Romero. 
George  Montgomery— This  did  not  even  make  ex- 
penses. Played  Friday  Saturday,  Sunday,  Dec.  18,  19, 
20.— May  H.  Turner,  Royal  Theatre,  Iowa  Park,  Tex. 
Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

GUADALCANAL  DIARY:  Lloyd  Nolan,  WilUam 
Bendix — Here  is  a  war  picture  that  your  patrons  will 
like.  It  is  war  at  its  grimmest  and  most  realistic.  It 
is  especially  timely  at  this  time  with  atrocity  stories 
in  the  headlines.  This  film  should  be  played  in  every 
town.  It  will  teach  our  people  to  hate  the  Japs  as 
they  should  be  hated  and  as  I  am  sure  our  boys  in  the 
Pacific  already  hate  them.  Played  Sunday,  Monday. 
Jan.  30,  31.— O.  T.  McGinley.  Ritz  Theatre,  McGregor. 
Tex.    General  patronage. 

MY   FRIEND   FLICKA:    Roddy    McDowell  — Full 

house  each  night.  Did  way  above  average  business. 
Played  Tuesday,  Wednesday,  Thursday,  Nov.  23,  24, 
25.— May  H.  Turner,  Royal  Theatre,  Iowa  Park,  Tex. 
Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

PARIS  AFTER  DARK:  George  Sanders,  Brenda 
Marshall — An  excellent  picture.  A  gripping  drama  of 
the  French  underground.  Held  the  audience  tense  all 
the  way  through.— Jay  G.  Williams,  Liberty  Theatre, 
Sharon,  Pa.    General  patronage. 

SPRINGTIME  IN  THE  ROCKIES:  Betty  Grable. 
John  Payne — Pretty  good  musical  and  fine  color.  Just 
can't  see,  personally,  that  this  is  as  good  as  many  we 
have  shown,  but  our  patronage  sure  came  to  see  it  and 
seemingly  enjoyed  it.  Good  weather  and  so  played  to 
one  of  the  best  houses  we  have  yet  had,  and  that's 
what  counts.  Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Jan.  7,  8.— K. 
John,  Legion  Theatre,  Bienfait,  Sask.,  Canada.  Small 
town  patronage. 

THEY  CAME  TO  BLOW  UP  AMERICA:  George 
Sanders,  Anna  Sten — Used  this  on  top  half  of  weekend 
double  bill.  Held  interest  very  well,  but  business  oflf 
badly.  Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Feb.  4,  5.— A.  C. 
Edwards,  Winema  Theatre,  Scotia,  Cal.  Small  lumber 
town  patronage. 


Universal 

CALLING  DR.  DEATH:  Lon  Chancy- Here  is  swell 
picture  no  one  will  regret  running.  Lon  Chaney  does 
some  fine  acting  in  this  one;  suspenseful  with  plenty 
of  mystery.  Good  comments.  Doubled  with  a  West- 
ern, Friday,  Saturday,  Feb.  11,  12.— Leonard  J.  Leise, 
Rand  Theatre,  Randolph,  Neb.  Small  town  and  rural' 
patronage. 

CRAZY  HOUSE:  Olsen  and  Johnson— I  would  say 
that  ■  Olsen  and  Johnson  were  fairly  good  although 
nothing  to  shcmt  about;  a  good  deal  of  music  making 
it  more  of  a  musical  than  a  comedy.  Perhaps  too 
much  was  expected.  Played  Sunday,  Monday,  Feb. 
13,  14. — Leonard  J.  Leise,  Rand  Theatre,  Randolph,. 
Neb.    Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

{Continued  on  follcmnng  page)  ' 


February    26,  1944 


(Continued  from  preceding  page) 
FIRED  WIFE:  Robert  Paige,  Louise  AUbritton— 
All  I  can  say  is,  this  deserves  your  top  playing  time. 
Just  what  small  town  ordered.  Played  Wednesday, 
Thursday,  Feb.  2,  3. — Eugene  L.  Boggs,  Jax  Theatre, 
Jacksonville,  Ark.    Rural  and  small  town  patronage. 

FIRED  WIFE:  Robert  Paige,  Louise  AUbritton— 
This  is  a  nice  program  picture.  Everyone  was  satis- 
fied. Played  Feb.  8.— J.  B.  Stout,  Ritz  Theatre,  No- 
cona,  Tex.    Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

FLESH  AND  FANTASY:  Charles  Boyer,  Barbara 
Stanwyck — Sunday  night  business  was  fair,  but  the 
audience  reaction  was  mixed.  As  a  finished  produc- 
tion this  picture  was  creditable,  but  we  would  not  care 
to  book  another  similar  one.  Played  Sunday,  Monday, 
Feb.  6,  7.— A.  C.  Edwards,  Winema  Theatre,  Scotia, 
Cal.    Small  lumber  town  patronage. 

LARCENY  WITH  MUSIC:  Allan  Jones,  Kitty  Car- 
lisle— Used  on  weekend  double  bill.  Just  a  waste  of 
supposedly  scarce  film.  Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Feb. 
4,  5. — A.  C.  Edwards  Winema  Theatre,  Scotia,  Cal. 
Small  lumber  town  patronage. 

NEVER  A  DULL  MOMENT:  Ritz  Brothers— There 
wasn't  very  much  of  a  plot  to  this  picture,  and  it  didn't 
draw  well  or  go  over  very  strong.  However  a  real 
efifort  was  made  by  Universal  to  create  entertainment 
and  there  really  weren't  any  dull  moments.  Played 
Wednesday,  Thursday,  Feb.  2,  3.— A.  C.  Edwards, 
Winema  Theatre,  Scotia,  Cal.  Small  lumber  town 
patronage. 

SON  OF  DRACULA:  Louise  AUbritton,  Lon  Chaney 
— ^A  little  far  fetched  and  too  eerie,  but  not  a  poor  pic- 
tiure  of  its  type;  no  comments  and  no  kickbacks. 
Played  to  good  crowd  considering  the  weather. 
Played  Wednesday,  Thursday,  Feb.  9,  10. — Leonard  J. 
Leise,  Rand  Theatre,  Randolph,  Neb.  Small  town  and 
rural  patronage. 


Warner  Bros. 

ADVENTURES  IN  IRAQ:  John  Loder,  Ruth  Ford 
— Played  on  a  weekend  double  bill.  Although  not  a 
bad  picture,  in  my  opinion,  it  had  no  draw  and  our 
weekend  business  was  off  25  per  cent.  Some  of  the 
dissatisfaction,  however,  was  the  fault  of  the  Western 
that  I  played  with  this.  Played  Friday,  Saturday, 
Feb.  11,  12.— Charles  A.  Brooks,  Ritz  Theatre,  Marsh- 
field,  M'o.    Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

CASTLE  ON  THE  HUDSON,  THE:  Pat  O'Brien. 
John  Garfield,  Ann  Sheridan — This  did  good  business. 
All  liked  it.  Need  more  like  them.  Played  Saturday, 
Sunday,  Monday,  Jan.  29,  30,  31.— May  H.  Turner, 
Royal  Theatre,  Iowa  Park,  Tex.  General  small  town 
patronage. 

CRIME  SCHOOL:  Humphrey  Bogart,  Gale  Paige— 
This  is  a  fine  picture  that  did  terrific  business  for  me 
Friday  and  Saturday.  Double  billed  with  "Girls  on 
Probation."  Sound  on  this  film  very  bad,  but  good  on 
"Girls  on  Probation." — W.  J.  Haney,  Milan  Theatre, 
Milan,  Ind. 

DESERT  SONG:  Dennis  Morgan,  Irene  Manning— A 
dressed  up  Western  with  music.  Fell  short  of  expec- 
tations, but  fairly  good.  The  one  best  quality  was  the 
Technicolor;  the  loveliest  I've  seen.  Good  house, 
crowds  happy. — Jay  G.  Williams,  Liberty  Theatre, 
Sharon,  Pa.    General  patronage. 

EDGE  OF  DARKNESS:  Errol  Flynn,  Ann  Sheridan 
— This  is  a  pretty  good  picture  which  pleased  our 
patrons.  We  did  only  average  business  although  we 
have  no  complaint  at  all.  Lots  of  action  and  swell 
sound.  Played  Monday,  Tuesday,  Jan.  10,  11. — K. 
John,  Legion  Theatre,  Bienfait,  Sask.,  Canada.  Small 
town  patronage. 

GEORGE  WASHINGTON  SLEPT  HERE:  Jack 
Benny,  Ann  Sheridan — This  is  Benny  and  Sheridan  at 
their  best.  A  comedy  that  does  Warners  credit. 
Everyone  thoroughly  enjoyed  this  picture,  although 
the  box  office  was  not  so  strong  on  account  of  heavy 
roads.  Good  for  any  spot.  Played 'Monday,  Tuesday, 
Feb.  7,  8.— K.  John,  Legion  Theatre,  Bienfait,  Sask., 
Canada.    Small  town  patronage. 

GIRLS  ON  PROBATION:  Jane  Byran,  RoTiald  Rea- 
gan— This  is  a  real  good  picture  that  did  terrific  busi- 
ness Friday  and  Saturday  for  me  and  gave  the  best  of 
satisfaction.  Double  billed  with  "Crime  School." — W. 
J.  Haney,  Milan  Theatre,  Milan,  Ind. 

PRINCESS  O'ROURKE:  Olivia  de  Haviland,  Rob- 
ert Cummings — This  proved  one  of  the  most  entertain- 
ing pictures  we  have  played  in  some  time.  Not  a  big 
grosser  in  my  town  but  it  will  entertain  and  take 
your  mind  oflf  war.  It's  tops  in  entertainment  for  most 
all  patrons.  Played  Sunday,  Monday,  Feb.  6,  7.— 
Charles  A.  Brooks,  Ritz  Theatre,  Marshfield,  Mo.— 
Small  town  and  rural  patronage. 

THANK  YOUR  LUCKY  STARS:  Bette  Davis,  Al- 
len Hale,  Jack  Carson,  Eddie  Cantor— A  big  rnusical 
with  too  much  Eddie  Cantor.  Bette  Davis  singing 
could  easily  be  left  out,  as  well  as  the  specialty  of 
Allen  Hale  and  Jack  Carson,  and  several  other  num- 
bers that  made  it  too  long  and  draggy.  Did  not  give 
satisfaction  and  did  not  do  the  business  expected. — 
W.  J.  Haney,  Milan  Theatre,  M'ilan,  Ind. 

WINGS  FOR  THE  EAGLE:  Ann  Sheridan,  Dennis 
Morgan — A  nice  little  picture.  Some  were  disappointed 
that  it  was  not  just  what  they  expected,  inasmuch  as 
there  was  not  much  flying.    We  thought  it  was  none 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


SHORT  PRODUCT 
PLAYING  BROADWAY 

Week  of  February  21 


ASTOR 

Silver  Wings   20+h  Cent.-Fox 

The  Helicopter  20th  Cent.-Fox 

Feature:  Lifeboat  20th  Cent.-Fox 

CAPITOL  ^ 

Kid  in  Upper  Four  MSM 

Salt  Lake  Diversions  MGM 

Feature:  Song  of  Russia  MGM 

CRITERION 

No  News  Is  Good  News ....  MGM 

Strange  Innertube   MGM 

Feature:  Standing  Room  Ow/y.Paramount 

GLOBE 

Three  Bears  in  a  Boat  Paramount 

Freddie  Llsher  and  His  Band.VItaphone 
Feature:  The  Uninvited  Paramount 

HOLLYWOOD 

Dogle  Roundup  Vltaphons 

Meatless  Fly-Day   Vltaphone 

Feature:  Passage  to  Marseilles.^ arner  Bros. 

MUSIC  HALL 

Screen  Snapshots   Columbia 

Figaro  and  Cleo  RKO  Radio 

Feature:  Jane  Eyre  20th  Cent.-Fox 

PARAMOUNT 

G.  I.  Fun   Paramount 

Popular  Science,  No.  2  Paramount 

Fe-ature:  Lady  in  the  Dark  .  .  Paramount 

RIALTO 

Mary  Go  Round  Paramount 

Speaking  of  Animals  in  the 

Desert  Paramount 

The  Sleepwalker   RKO  Radio 

Feature:  Calling  Dr.  Death  .  Universal 

ROXY 

Wreck  of  the  Hesperus  20th  Cent.-Fox 

Realm  of  Royalty  20th  Cent.-Fox 

Feature:  The  Sullivans  20th  Cent.-Fox 

STRAND 

Baa  Baa  Black  Sheep  Vltaphone 

Hunting  the  Devil  Cat  Vltaphone 

What's  Cookin',  Doc?  Vltaphone 

Feature:  In  Our  Time  Warner  Bros. 


the  worse  for  that  and  Sheridan,  Morgan,  and  Carl- 
son were  very  good.  Many  good  wisecracks  and  a 
good  midweek  show.  Played  Friday,  Saturday,  Jan. 
28,  29.— K.  John,  Legion  Theatre,  Bienfait,  Sask., 
Canada.    Small  town  patronage. 


Short  Features 
Paramount 

EGGS  DON'T  BOUNCE:  Little  Lulu  Cartoon— A 
swell  new  series  of  cartoons.  Give  us  more  like  them. 
—Eugene  L.  Boggs,  Jax  Theatre,  Jacksonville,  Ark. 

JASPER'S  MUSIC  LESSON:  Madcap  Models— Play 
It  by  all  means.  A  swell  cartoon.— Eugene  L.  Boggs, 
Jax  Theatre,  Jacksonville,  Ark. 


Warner  Bros. 

YANKEE  DOODLE  DAFFY:  Looney  Tunes  Car- 
toon—A good  one  of  this  series.— Charles  A.  Brooks, 
Ritz  Theatre,  Marshfield,  Mo. 


Serial 
Columbia 

BATMAN,  THE;  Serial— This  is  a  swell  serial  en- 
joyed by  all.  I  enjoyed  it  myself.— Eugene  L.  Boggs, 
Jax  Theatre,  Jacksonville,  Ark. 


45 

Special  Master 
Ordered  to  Hear 
E.  M.  Loew  Suits 

Federal  Judge  Haley,  presiding  in  Boston  at 
the  "trial  of  suits  by  the  eight  major  companies 
against  the  E.  M.  Loew  circuit  for  alleged  falsi- 
fication of  reports  on  percentage  engagements, 
last  week  said  he  would  assign  a  special  master 
to  hear  the  case  on  the  ground  that  it  involved 
so  many  complex  issues  of  law  that  it  would 
take  too  much  of  the  court's  time  to  decide.  The 
master  will  determine  whether  any  liability  or 
basis  for  damage  exists  on  the  part  of  the  E.  M. 
Loew  circuit. 

Judge  Haley's  ruling  came  at  the  close  of 
Thursday's  testimony  which  brought  out  that 
all  contracts  were  under  the  block  booking  sys- 
tem. Joseph  Abrams,  attorney  for  the  circuit, 
immediately  raised  the  point  that  the  plaintiffs 
could  not  recover  because  the  contracts  were 
illegal.  The  statute  of  limitations  also  was  in- 
voked by  the  defense,  claiming  that  many  of 
the  contracts  under  surveillance  were  made  as 
long  ago  as  10  years,  while  the  court  held  that 
the  investigation  of  the  books  should  cover  a 
period  of  only  the  past  several  months. 

The  action  against  the  circuit  is  the  first  of 
many  which  the  distributors  plan  to  file,  accord- 
ing to  reports.  The  plaintiffs  seek  an  account- 
ing of  sums  alleged  to  be  due  them  and  they 
ask  that  the  defendant  be  enjoined  from  dispos- 
ing of  the  circuit's  books  and  records. 

Cincinnati  Cinema  Club 
Officers  Installed 

Approximately  ISO  members  and  guests  at- 
tended the  annual  installation  dinner  of  the 
Cinema  Club  of  Cincinnati  in  the  Cincinnati 
Variety  Club  quarters  last  week,  at  which  the 
following  officers  for  1944  were  installed :  Ross 
Williams,  president ;  Robert  Burns  and  Marc 
Cummings,  first  and  second  vice-presidents, 
respectively,  and  Peter  Niland,  secretary  and 
treasurer.  Rudolph  Knoepfle,  retiring  presi- 
dent, who  was  made  president  emeritus  a  few 
weeks  ago,  was  presented  with  a  reading  lamp. 

Bogart  Says  Filnns  Rate 
With  Food  for  Morale 

"Motion  pictures  rate  with  food  and  mail 
fiom  home  as  vital  elements  to  morale  in  com- 
bat areas,"  Humphrey  Bogart,  actor,  reported 
in  Hollywood  last  week,  after  returning  from 
a  3S,000-mile  three-month  USO  tour  of  Italy 
and  North  Africa.  Mr.  Bogart  said  that  in 
Italy  "we  played  most  shows  within  three  or 
four  miles  of  the  front"  and  there  found  soldiers 
seeing  16mm  films  given  gratis  to  the  Army 
Special  Services  division  by  the  motion  pic- 
ture industry. 

Broadcasters'  Profits 
Declined  in  1942 

Revenues  of  broadcasters  during  1942  were 
less  than  in  1941,  the  Federal  Communications 
Commission  reported  from  Washington  last 
week.  Although  sales  of  time  represented  a 
revenue  increase,  the  operating  expenses  rose 
sharply.  Broadcasters'  income  was  $206,788 
less  in  1942  than  in  194L 


3 1  Shorts  Made  for  U.  S. 

At  the  request  of  various  Washington 
agencies,  including  the  Office  of  War  Infor- 
mation, War  Production  Board  and  Army  and 
Navy  headquarters,  31  special  short  subjects 
were  made  by  Warner  Bros,  in  the  past  year, 
it  was  announced  by  Jack  L.  Warner,  execu- 
tive producer. 


46 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    26,  1944 


PICTURE 
CROSSES 


A  siatistical  compilation  and 
comparison  of  Box-Office  Per- 
formance in  first  run  theatres 


Rgures  directly  below  picture  title  compare  dollar  gross  with  average  gross  and  show  relative  percentage  of  all  engagements  tabulated. 

Hgures  opposite  theatre  names  represent  percentage  of  tabulated  grosses  to  average  weekly  business  based  on  the  six  months'  period 
ending  October  31,  1943. 

SYMBOLS:  (DB)  Double  Bill— associate  feature  title;  (SA)  Stage  Attraction;  (MO)  Move-Over  Run;  (AA)  Advance  Admission. 


NO  TIME  FOR  LOVE  (Para. 

Final  Reports: 
Total  Gross  Tabulated 
Comparative  Average  Gross 
Over-all  Performance 


$721,700 
688.900 
104-7% 


BALTIMORE— Stanley,  1st  week   100.5% 

BALTIMORE— Stanley,  2nd  week   89.9% 

BOSTON— Fenway    108.3% 

(DB)  Henry  Aldrich  Haunts  a  House  (Para.) 

BOSTON— Paramount   162.7% 

(DB)  Henry  Aldrich  Haunts  a  House  (Para.) 

BUFFALO— Great  Lakes   102.4% 

(DB)  Henry  Aldrich  Haunts  a  House  (Para.) 

BUFFALO— Hippodrome,  MO  1st  week  .   .   .  137.2% 

(DB)  Henry  Aldrich  Haunts  a  House  (Para.) 

CHICAGO— Chicago   93.0% 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Grand,  1st  week  ....  163.2% 

CINaNNATI— RICO  Grand,  2nd  week     .    .    .  134.1% 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Grand,  3rd  week     ...  96.1% 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Lyric,  MO  1st  week    .    .  107.1% 

CLEVELAND— Loew's  State   102.5% 

CLEVELAND— Loew's  Stillman,  MO  1st  week  136.8% 

CLEVELAND— Loew's  Ohio,  MO  2nd  week    .  134.6% 

DENVER— Denham,  1st  week   123.9% 

DENVER— Denham,  2nd  week   119.7% 

DENVER— Denham,  3rd  week   119.7% 

(DB)  Henry  Aldrich,  Boy  Scout  (Para.) 

INDIANAPOLIS— Indiana    104.3% 

(DB)  Minesweeper  (Para.) 

INDIANAPOLIS— Lyric,  MO'  1st  week    .   .    .  81.6% 

(DB)  Minesweeper  (Para.) 

KANSAS  CITY— Newman,  1st  week    ....  163.6% 

KANSAS  CITY— Newman,  2nd  week  ....  109.0% 
LOS  ANGELES— Paramount  Downtown, 

1st  week   146.2% 

(DB)  Toronato  (Para.) 

LOS  ANGELES— Paramount  Downtown, 

2nd  week   122.3% 

(DB)  Tornado  (Para.) 

LOS  ANGELES — Paramount  Downtown, 

3rd  week   95.7% 

(DB)  Hands  Across  the  Border  (Rep.) 
LOS  ANGELES— Paramount  Hollywood, 

1st  week   136.7% 

LOS  ANGELES— Paramount  Hollywood, 

2nd  week   127.3% 

LOS  ANGELES— Paramount  Hollywood, 

3rd  week   108.4% 

MINNEAPOLIS— State    125.0% 

MONTREAL— Palace   104.1% 

NEW  HAVEN— Paramount   94.1% 

(DB)  Tornado  (Para.) 

NEW  YORK— Paramount,  1st  week     ....  98.3% 

(SA)  Woody  Herman's  Orch.,  Marion  Hutton 

NEW  YORK— Paramount,  2nd  week   ....  78.6% 

(SA)  Woody  Herman's  Orch.,  Marion  Hutton 

NEW  YORK— 3rd  week   68.8% 

(SA)  Woody  Herman's  Orch.,  Marion  Hutton 

OHAHA — Paramount    153.6% 

PHILADELPHLA.— Boyd,  1st  week   83.1% 

PHILADELPHIA— Boyd,  2nd  week     .   .    .    .  90.5% 

PROVIDENCE— Strand,  1st  week   140.0% 

(DB)  Minesweeper  (Para.) 

PROVIDENCE— Strand,  2nd  week   94.0% 

(DB)  Minesweeper  (Para.) 

SAN  FRANCISCO-Fox   120  3% 

(DB)  The  Good  Fellows  (Para.) 

SAN  FRANCTSCO— State,  MO  1st  week     .   .  111.5% 

(DB)  The  Good  Fellows  (Para.) 

SAN  FRANCISCO-State,  MO  2nd  week    .    .  95.0% 

(DB)  The  Good  Fellows  (Para.) 

ST.  LOUIS — Ambassador   13Z0% 

(DB)  So's  Your  Uncle  (Univ.) 

TORONTO-Imperial    111.9% 


THE  HEAT'S  ON  (Col.) 

Final  Reports: 
Total  Gross  Tabulated  $270,300 
Comparative  Average  Gross  250,400 
Over-all  Performance  104.7% 

BALTIMORE— Hippodrome   107.1% 

(SA)  Vaudeville 

BOSTON— RKO  Boston   116.7% 

(SA)  Vaudeville 

BUFFALO— Lafayette   113.0% 

(DB)  One  Dangerous  Night  (Col.) 

CHICAGO— Wood,  1st  week   140.0% 

CHICAGO— Wood,  2nd  week   130.0% 

CINCINNA-n- Keith's   116/0% 

(DB)  The  Battle  of  Russia  (20th -Fox) 

CLEVELAND— RKO  Palace   103.7% 

(SA)  Vaudeville 

DENVER— Paramount   86.0% 

(DB)  Uncensored  (20th- Fox) 

LOS  ANGELES— Egyptian,  1st  week     .    .   .  104.7% 

(DB)  Is  Everybody  Happy?  (Col.) 

LOS  ANGELES— Egyptian,  2nd  week  ....  56.6% 

(DB)  Is  Everybody  Happy?  (Col.) 

LOS  ANGELES— Los  Angeles,  1st  week    .    .  161.5% 

(DB)  Is  Everybody  Happy?  (Col.) 

LOS  ANGELES— Los  Angeles,  2nd  week    .   .  100.0% 

(DB)  Is  Everybody  Happy?  (Col.) 

LOS  ANGELES— Ritz,  1st  week   109.3% 

(DB)  Is  Everybody  Happy?  (Col.) 

LOS  ANGELES-Ritz,  2nd  week   56.2% 

(DB)  Is  Everybody  Happy?  (Col.) 

MINNEAPOLIS— Gopher   107.8% 

OMAHA— Brandeis   98.1% 

(DB)  Crime  Doctor's  Strangest  Case  (Col.) 

PITTSBURGH— Senator   96.8% 

PROVIDENCE— Strand   100.0% 

(DB)  Doughboys  in  Ireland  «3ol.) 

SAN  FRANCISCO— Orpheum   145.6% 

(DB)  The  Chance  of  a  Lifetime  (Col.) 

SEATTLE-Liberty   92.3% 

(DB)  The  Chance  of  a  Lifetime  (.Co\.) 

• 

CUNG  HO  (Univ.) 

First  Reports: 
Total  Gross  Tabulated  $153,751 
Comparative  Average  Gross  107.900 
Over-all  Performance  142.5% 

CINCINNATI— RKO  Palace   122.4% 

KANSAS  CITY— Esquire   125.2% 

KANSAS  (HTY— Uptown   97.2% 

NEW  HAVEN— ROGER  SHERMAN  ....  107.1% 

(DB)  Sing  a  Jingle  (Univ.) 

NEW  YORK— Criterion,  1st  week   197.3% 

NEW  YORK— Criterion,  2nd  week   157.8% 

PITTSBURGH— Fulton    172.8% 

ST.  LOUIS— Fox   106.9% 

(DB)  Moonlight  in  Vermont  (Univ.) 


NEW  BASE  LINE 

Beginning  in  this  issue,  the  average, 
or  100  per  cent,  line  of  these  tabu- 
lations is  the  average  weekly  busi- 
ness of  the  theatres  concerned  for 
the  six  months  ending  January  31. 
1944.  The  previous  period  ended 
October  31,  1943.  This  brings  into 
the  new  base  a  recognition  of  cur- 
rent economic  conditions  as  they 
affect  box  office  performance. 


THE  LODGER  (20th-Fox) 

Intermediate  Reports: 

Total  Gross  Tabulated  $566,100 

Comparative  Average  Gross  474.200 

Over-all  Performance  119.3% 

BALTIMORE— New,  1st  week   113.4% 

BALTIMORE— New,  2nd  week   113.4% 

BALTIMORE— New,  3rd  week   92.7% 

BUFFALO— Buffalo    100  0% 

(DB)  Henry  Aldrich.  Boy  Scout  (Para.) 

CHICAGO-Apollo    105.2% 

CHICACX) — Garrick   107.8% 

CINCINNATT— RKO  Albee   ....              '  145  0% 

(SA)  Vaudeville  '   '  ' 

DENVER— Denver    107.1% 

(DB)  Sing  a  Jingle  (Univ.) 

DENVER— Esquire   74  4% 

(DB)  Sing  a  Jingle  (Univ.) 

DENVER— Aladdin,  MO  1st  week    ....  833% 

(DB)  Sing  a  Jingle  (Univ.) 

INDIANAPOLIS-Circle   120  5% 

(DB)  The  Ghost  Ship  (RKO) 

KANSAS  CITY— Esquire   98.4% 

KANSAS  OTY- Uptown    104.1% 

MILWAUKEE— Wisconsin,  1st  week  ....  147.6% 

(DB)  Swing  Out  the  Blues  (Col.) 

MILWAUKEE— Wisconsin,  2nd  week  ....  100.0% 

(DB)  Swing  Out  the  Blues  (Col.) 

M'lLWAUKEE^Strand,  MO  1st  week     .   .   .  116.1% 
(DB)  What  a  Woman  (Col) 

NEW  YORK— Roxy,  1st  week   15Z3% 

(SA)  Lower  Basin  St.  Airshow,  Paul  Lavalle, 
others 

NEW  YORK— Roxy,  2nd  week     ......  130.6% 

(SA)  Lower  Basin  St.  Airshow,  Paul  Lavalle, 

others 

NEW  YORK— Roxy,  3rd  week   107.47o 

(SA)  Lower  Basin  St.  Airshow,  Paul  Lavalle, 
others 

NEW  YORK— Roxy,  4th  week   105.2% 

(SA)  Lower  Basin  St.  Airshow,  Paul  Lavalle, 
others 

PITTSBURGH— Harris    154.3% 

PITTSBURGH— Senator,  MO  1st  week   .   .   .  88.2% 

ST.  LOUIS— Missouri   178.0% 

(DB)  O  My  Darling  Clementine  (Rep.) 

WASHINGTON— Capitol   107.4% 

LOST  ANGEL  (MGM) 

First  Reports: 

Total  Gross  Tabulated  $147,500 

Comparative  Average  Gross  147,900 

Over-all  Performance  98.7% 

BALTIMORE— Century   109.0% 

BUFFALO— Great  Lakes   87.8% 

(DB)  Pistol  Packin'  Mama  (Rep.) 

CLEVELAND— Loew's  State   110.5% 

CLEVELAND— Loew's  Stillman   95.0% 

INDLANAPOLIS— Loew's    86.9% 

(DB)  Beautiful  but  Broke  (Col.) 

KANSAS  CITY— Midland   89.8% 

(DB)  Beautiful  But  Broke  (Col.) 

NEW  HAVEN— Loew's  Poli   116.6% 

(DB)  The  Racket  Man  (Col.) 

PROVIDENCE-Loew's  State   107.3% 

(DB)  Swing  Out  the  Blues  iCol) 

PROVIDENCE— Karlton,  MO  1st  week  .    .   .  115.0% 

(DB)  Swing  Out  the  Blues  (Cbl.) 

ST.  LOUIS— Loew's  State   92.5% 

(DB)  Jeannie  (English) 

ST.  LOUIS— Loew's  Orpheum,  MO  1st  week  .  112.6% 

(DB)  Jeannie  (English) 


February    26,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


47 


MANAGERS* 

ROUND  TABLE 


international  association  of  showmen  meeting  zveekly 
in  MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD  for  mutual  aid  and  progress 


CHESTER  FRIEDMAN.  Edi+or 


GERTRUDE  MERRIAM.  Associate  Editor 


OP 


Mr.  Fisher  Sheds  Some  Light 

"Singapore"  Joe  Fisher  was  a  visitor  to  the  Round  Table 
last  week. 

For  the  past  two  years  Mr.  Fisher  has  been  a  lecturer  and 
exhibitor,  traveling  from  city  to  city  with  filnns  and  a  remark- 
able personality.  He  has  been  acquainting  the  public  with  the 
beauties  of  former  British  colonies  in  the  East  and  showing 
documentary  pictures  which  he  made  of  the  war  in  Asia  before 
American  entry  into  the  conflict. 

Previously  he  and  his  brother,  Julius,  operated  Fisher  The- 
atres, Ltd.,  a  circuit  of  some  30-odd  theatres  with  headquarters 
in  Singapore,  extending  deep  into  the  Malay  peninsula. 

Joe  Fisher  was  vacationing  in  this  country  when  the  Japs 
struck  in  the  Pacific,  which  accounts  for  the  fact  that  he  is  alive 
today.  His  brother  was  not  as  fortunate;  he  lost  his  life  after 
the  fall  of  Singapore. 

Mr.  Fisher  discussed  some  interesting  aspects  of  theatre 
operation  in  the  Orient. 

The  most  important  promotional  activity  was  the  prepara- 
tion of  printed  synopses  of  the  pictures,  in  six  or  eight  native 
dialects,  with  the  ending  of  the  picture  omitted. 

The  synopses  sheets  for  the  current  films  were  distributed 
in  front  of  the  theatre.  The  success  of  a  picture  depended  in 
great  measure  upon  how  much  patron  appeal  the  advertising 
man  put  Into  this  effort.  It  was  not  uncommon  for  the  pros- 
pective theatregoer  to  read  the  pamphlet,  then  turn  away, 
grumbling:  "This  picture  is  no  good". 

It  is  not  surprising  that  pictures  like  "Tarzan"  did  excellent 
business.  Incredible  though  it  sounds,  "The  Women"  was  one 
of  the  greatest  grossers  In  the  theatres  there. 

Mr.  Fisher  explains  this  by  saying  that  the  husbands  brought 
all  of  their  wives  along  to  show  them  that  the  "white  women 
are  no  worse  than  they",  the  natives. 

Before  the  bombing  of  Singapore,  the  Capitol  theatre  there, 
flagship  of  the  circuit,  was  probably  one  of  the  most  modern 
movie  houses  in  the  world,  and  one  of  the  most  comfortable. 

In  the  original  seating  arrangement,  400  chairs  were  sacri- 
ficed from  capacity  to  provide  ample  leg  room  and  passage- 
way. To  eliminate  the  discomfort  of  elbowing  your  neighbor 
for  possession  of  the  arm  rest,  two  arm  rests  were  provided 
on  every  seat.   All  of  the  theatre  equipment  was  the  latest 


Improved  type,  including  a  Carrier  refrigerating  system  for 
cooling. 

Five  restaurants  were  on  the  premises  and  hungry  or  thirsty 
patrons  could  be  served  In  their  seats  by  Chinese  usherettes 
in  costume. 

The  theatre  was  the  real  center  of  community  activity  in 
Singapore,  a  fact  of  which  the  Fisher  brothers  were  ever  proud. 

Mr.  Fisher  Is  not  impressed  by  management  In  this  country. 
He  claims  he  has  been  unable  to  enjoy  a  picture  here  because 
In  every  city  he  has  visited  the  hoodlum  element  precludes 
that  possibility. 

He  discussed  this  with  several  managers,  who  merely 
shrugged  their  shoulders  and  replied:  "There's  nothing  can  be 
done  about  it".  Mr.  Fisher  cannot  understand  such  an  Indif- 
ferent attitude  for  such  an  Intolerable  situation.  He  believes 
that  it  was  a  more  difficult  problem  to  teach  Ignorant  natives 
how  to  conduct  themselves  properly  In  Singapore  and  Malaya. 
Yet  that  was  accomplished. 

He  considers  that  most  of  our  theatres  are  too  dark  and 
that  this  tends  to  encourage  vandalism  and  hoodlumlsm.  He 
recommends  brighter  interior  illumination  and  Increased 
vigilance  on  the  part  of  the  theatre  staff. 

AAA 

Box  Office  Stimulants 

After  more  than  a  year  of  operating  without  games. 
New  York  theatremen  are  convinced  that  elimination  of  the 
games  has  cut  down  attendance.  This  Is  true  In  many  neighbor- 
hood and  subsequent  run  houses. 

Increased  admission  prices  have  held  up  grosses  generally, 
but  many  are  convinced  that  a  portion  of  their  regular 
patronage  has  drifted  to  the  first  run  houses. 

Amateur  nights  and  various  other  forms  of  amusement  have 
been  innovated  with  excellent  results  in  many  out-of-town 
theatres. 

The  surprising  part  of  the  situation  is  that  no  one  has 
attempted  to  adapt  the  numerous  radio  programs  which  are 
currently  so  popular. 

There  are  a  number  of  practical  variations  to  the  Quiz  con- 
test and  a  program  called  "People  Are  Funny",  which  might 
help.  —CHESTER  FRIEDMAN 


48 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    26,  1944 


EFFECTIVE  SHOWMANSHIP 


;3I 

0 

HUXmt  SLOSSEHJW PERSO K  ^^£ARUtQ:OF  AjHtfAtST 


JU 

IN  TBCHmOLORf  " 


 '.XME 

Gil  LWii    OViiS  nUEY 

Mnr  BwrTOf  &  b».vd 


Elliof  Johnson,  advertising  manager,  Maico  theatre,  Memphis, 

had  the  theatre  artist  make  these  colorful  enlargements  and  a  42-foot 

overhead  on  "Riding  hiigh,"  which  were  used  out  front. 


Left,  Manager  J. 
Goldstein  utilized 
this  effective  dis- 
play to  publi- 
cize "What  a 
Woman"  in  the 
lobby  of  the 
Boyd,  Philadel- 
phia. 


Manager  Ted  Emerson,  of  the  Orpheum,  Omaha, 
built  a  full  lobby  showing  for  "Guadalcanal."  One 
of  the  displays  is  pictured  above. 


At  right,  huge  cutout 
letters  were  pinned  to 
the  stage  traveler  at 
the  RKO  Palace,  Cleve- 
land, by  manager  Lou 
Mayer  as  an  advance 
plug  for  "Son  of  Dra- 
cula."  A  transcription 
plugged  the  dates. 


1/ 


W€  m^R  POINTS... 
ATCHILmti...OR  PARiNTSt  I 

^  YOflR  QMmm 

TMf  STO«  OF  JUVENILE  DELIQUEHCr 
JACKIE.      CrALC  J  O  U  N 


At  Loew's  Ohio,  Cleveland,  publicist  Gertrude  Tracy  tied  local 
news  headlines  to  good  advantage  in  this  lobby  setpiece  for 
"Where  Are  Your  Children?" 


Charlie  Pincus  used  two  30-foot  banners  in  the  lobby  of  the 
Utah  theatre.  Salt  Lake  City,  to  promote  his  next  attraction. 


Februa  ry    2  6,     1  944 


MANAGERS'    ROUND  TABLE 


49 


Exploiting  the  New  Films 


"SKOW  WHITE  AND  THE 

SEVEN  DWARFS"  (Reissue) 

As  a  phase  of  the  vast  promotion  which 
was  given  to  "Snow  White  and  the  Seven 
Dwarfs"  in  the  four  state,  60-city  premiere 
in  the  middle  west,  RKO  Radio,  in  coopera- 
tion with  radio  station  WLW  of  Cincinnati, 
currently  sponsored  two  talent  contests  that 
garnered  an  unprecedented  amount  of  pub- 
licity for  the  picture. 

With  one  contest  seeking  to  find  a  local 
Snow  White  whose  voice  comes  closest  to 
that  of  the  Snow  White  in  the  picture,  and 
the  other  contest  searching  for  the  best  car- 
toonist in  J;he  four  state  area,  each  manager 
of  the  sixty  theatres  participating  in  the 
premiere  headed  the  local  campaign.  This 
included  newspaper  and  radio  sponsorship, 
and  cooperation  from  the  schools  which  con- 
sisted mainly  of  the  circularization  of  the 
students  and  the  posting  of  ballyhoo  cards 
on  the  school  bulletin  boards. 

Winning  Candidates  Compete 
In  Semi-finals 

Each  city  picked  its  own  candidate  for 
Snow  White  and  the  winners  were  sent  to 
key  cities  for  the  semi-finals.  Those  from 
Ohio  went  to  Columbus,  from  West  Vir- 
ginia to  Charleston,  from  Indiana  to  Indi- 
anapolis, and  from  Kentucky  to  Lexington. 
From  the  state  semi-finals  four  candidates 
were  chosen  and  these  were  sent  to  Cincin- 
nati for  the  final  selection  which  took  place 
on  February  22nd,  the  date  of  the  premiere, 
over  radio  station  WLW,  with  Deems  Tay- 
lor as  the  judge.  The  name  of  the  winner 
was  kept  secret  until  the  evening  of  Febru- 
ary 24th,  when  it  was  revealed  at  the  Snow 
White  Coronation  dinner  at  the  Netherlands 
Plaza  Hotel,  under  the  sponsorship  of  the 
local  Variety  Club,  with  the  governors  of 
Ohio,  Kentucky,  Indiana,  and*  West  Vir- 
ginia as  guests  of  honor. 

Scholarship  as  Alternate  Prize 
In  Art  Contest 

In  the  cartoonist  contest,  which  ran  con- 
currently with  the  Snow  White  contest,  each 
of  the  sixty  cities  conducted  its  own  cam- 
paign with  all  the  drawings  submitted  sent 
to  Cincinnati  for  final  judging  by  a  local 
committee  of  authorities  on  art.  The  winner 
of  this  contest  was  also  announced  at  the 
-Coronation  dinner. 

Prizes  in  both  contests  were  trips  to  Hol- 
lywood with  all  expenses  paid  for  the  win- 
ner and  parent  or  guardian.  In  the  car- 
toonist contest  there  was  an  alternative 
prize  of  an  art  scholarship. 

A  colorful  window  card  was  prepared  to 
publicize  the  Snow  White  Contest.  The  card 
explained  the  general  details  of  the  contest 
and  listed  the  prizes.  Each  theatre  was  sup- 
plied with  quantities  of  the  cards  for  distri- 
bution in  windows,  schools  and  other  prom- 
inent places.   Space  was  provided  for  the 


How  the  recent  pictures  are  being  sold  at 
the  first  run  and  pre-release  date  showings 


PIIIWIJKrnililTIIISIlELVPRIiESS? 

111!  m  uv. 

fF  YOU  ARI,YOU  WILL  APPEAR  ON  THE  STAGE  WITH  ONE  OF  THE  MOST  WONDERFUL  PICTURES  EVER  HUSED 

s^ini  MiiiTE    TiiK  mu  \mm 

and  you  will  aLio  tece-ive  a 

TRIP  TO  HOLLYWOOD 

NEXI  SUMMER.  SUSJtCI  10  tH[  AVAIISBILITK  Of  T8SNSP(19T4J10N 
ACCOMMODAIIONS,  WITH  YOUH  MOIHER  OS  (SUAaDIAN,  WIIH  (SLl  RESSONABU 

EXPENSES  PAID 

FOR  BOTH  OF  YOU 

\  <^OM  will  kade  a 

^    ROYAL  GOOD  TIME 

PLSNNED  TO  SUIT  ft  PRINCESS'  TASTE.  VOII  Will 

VISIT  THE  RKO 
AND  WALT  DISNEY  STUDIOS 

¥0U  Will 

MEET  FAMOUS  MOVIE  STARS| 

YOU  WILL  BE 

GUEST  OF  HONOR 


ST  HOLIVWOOD'S  NOTED 

SHOV^  PLACES  . 

RAOB  STSIBH  Al*  RKO  MOtO  flCIUMS,  WC.,  m  WStT  DISKET  m.  SEAKCHItiC  fOR  A  mu  ISA 

SMH  mm.  If  yeu  CAH  stNG.  roil  H«f  BE  THAT  Giiu,  mum  blonde,  mmn  or  ftu  h£si).  von 

80  m  HAVE  TO  BE  imm,  OR  HAVE  m,  VOCAl  lESSOHS.  EVERT  QRl  IS  EUHSIE  EXCEPT  EPIPWT- 
E£S  m  MUEBIATt  FAMIUES  Of  EMPIOTEES  OF  WIW,  RKO,  WAIT  OtWEY.  EXKIBilORS  Of  THE  HCIUIIE 
"Sim  WWTE  SNO  Tiff  SEKN  DWARFS"  OR  ANY  OTNER  AGEHCT  CONHECTEB  WTIH  IMS  COKTtST. 


FOR  FULL  DETAILS,  GET  YOUR  ENTRY  BLANK  TODAY  AT 


THIS  COfiJEST  OPENS  FEBRUARY  1,1944.  YOU  MUST 
BRING  YOUR  ENTRY  BLANK  WITH  YOU,  FULLY  FILLED  IN, 
IN.ORDER  TO  QUALIFY  FOR  THE  CONTEST. 

THE  FIRST  AUDITION  WILL  BE  HELD  ONJ  AT_ 

AT 


individual  theatres'  imprint  and  audition 
dates. 

Supervised  by  S.  Barret  McCormick, 
RKO  Radio  director  of  advertising  and  pub- 
licity, the  entire  campaign  was  handled  by 
Terry  Turner,  exploitation  head,  and  field 


staff  members  Robert  Hickey,  Harry  Rein- 
ers,  Fred  Ford,  Ted  Wynn,  Bucky  Harris, 
Ralph  Banghart  and  Toni  Spitzer,  eastern 
publicity  representative  for  Walt  Disney, 
with  a  heavy  assist  from  Roger.  Baker  and 
the  public  relations  staf¥  of  WLW. 


50 


1^ 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    26,  1944 


Honored  Hundred"  Is 
Coal  of  Showmen 


Activities  Indicate  Extra 
Effort  by  Theatremen  to 
Exceed  Individual  Quota 

The  industry's  plan  to  recognize  the  Hon- 
ored One  Hundred  theatremen  for  excep- 
tional results  in  the  Fourth  War  Loan  Drive 
provided  extra  incentive  and  inspired  the 
men  in  the  field  to  exert  every  avenue  of 
promotion. 

Reports  from  all  parts  of  the  country  in- 
dicate that  all  of  the  tried  devices  of  former 
campaigns  and  many  new  ideas  have  been 
introduced  in  order  to  reach  and  exceed  the 
established  quota  of  a  Bond  for  every  seat. 

Mr.  William  C.  Smalley,  general  manager 
of  Smalley  theatres,  Cooperstown,  N.  Y., 
sponsored  a  premiere  and  auction  in  that 
town  which  netted  Bond  sales  of  $555,475. 
The  theatre  seats  726  people,  a  remarkable 
figure  for  so  limited  capacity.  A  pound  of 
butter  was  auctioned  to  a  bidder  who  bought 
$2,000  worth  of  Bonds. 

The  theatre  bought  full  page  ads  in  the 
local  papers  with  large  head  cuts  of  Hitler 
and  Tojo,  captioned,  "They  haven't  quit 
yet — Have  You?"  The  balance  of  space  was 
devoted  to  plugging  the  show  and  the  pre- 
mieres. 

Two  Washington  Theatres 
Pass  100%  Mark 

In  Washington,  D.  C,  Jack  Foxe,  of 
Loew's  Columbia  theatre,  earned  the  distinc- 
tion of  being  the  first  manager  in  the  city 
to  reach  his  quota.  By  February  12,  Foxe 
had  sold  2,353  Bonds.  The  Columbia  seats 
1,174. 

Fred  Thomas,  manager  of  Warner's  Earl 
theatre,  in  Washington,  with  2,154  Bonds  to 
his  account  for  his  quota,  also  went  over 
the  top  on  Lincoln's  Birthday. 

Robert  Beamer  at  the  Pulaski  theatre,  in 
Pulaski,  Va.,  arranged  a  War  Bond  Pre- 
miere and  Auction  at  his  house  and  reports 
that  they  were  the  first  in  the  State  of  Vir- 
ginia to  sell  more  than  one  Bond  per  seat. 
The  house  has  a  total  of  845  seats.  The  front 


of  the  theatre  was  decorated  for  the  occasion 
as  was  the  lobby  which  featured  an  Honor 
Roll  of  men  and  women  in  service  and  rep- 
resented each  seat  in  the  theatre.  A  pair  of 
Nylon  hose  and  a  letter  from  Betty  Grable 
brought  a  total  of  $111,500  in  War  Bonds. 

A  jeport  from  Harvey  Cocks,  general 
manager  of  the  Quimby  Theatres,  Fort 
Wayne,  Ind.,  advises  that  the  circuit  theatres 
are  making  every  effort  to  exceed  their 
quotas. 

An  Honor  Roll  was  erected  in  the  lobby 
of  the  Emboyd  theatre  listing  the  name  of 
every  local  boy  in  Service.  Patrons  were 
asked  to  purchase  a  Bond  in  the  name  of 
a  relative  or  friend  whose  name  was  then 
honored  by  having  a  star  afl&xed  to  the 
board. 

The  Palace  theatre  arranged  an  all  soldier 
show,  called,  "Present  Arms,"  to  which  ad- 
mission was  by  purchase  of  a  Bond.  The 
entire  house,  seating  2,000  was  sold  out. 

Sells  985  Bonds 
In  300-Seater 

An  outstanding  record  of  Bond  sales  was 
accomplished  by  C.  L.  Martin,  of  the  Re- 
public theatre,  in  Republic,  Mo.  With  a  town 
population  of  841,  and  the  theatre  seating 
300,  he  sold  985  Bonds.  Mr.  Martin  en- 
larged on  the  "Bond  for  Every  Seat"  slogan 
and  made  it  read:  "A  Bond  for  Every  Man, 
Woman  and  Child  in  Town."  Then  he  set 
out  to  go  over  his  self-imposed  quota  and 
the  985  Bond  sale  only  represented  the  first 
week's  work  of  the  drive. 

A  three  column  story  break  with  art  was 
landed  by  J.  G.  Samartano  at  the  Palace 
theatre,  in  Meriden,  Conn.,  when  a  Gold 
Star  father  purchased  the  first  Fourth  War 
Loan  Bond  in  the  lobby  of  the  theatre. 
Eleven  local  boys  home  on  leave  from  the 
Solomons  campaign  attended  the  premiere 
opening,  which  was  also  good  for  a  story. 
Joe  also  secured  a  story  in  the  sports  col- 
umn of  the  paper  in  connection  with  a  se- 
quence in  the  Fox  Movietone  News  current- 
ly playing. 

Of  interest  to  note  is  the  tieup  with  a  local 


Joseph  Steiner, 
manager  of  the 
RKO  Capitol,  in 
Union  City,  N.  J., 
utilized  the  lobby 
to  promote  sale  of 
War  Bonds.  At 
left  is  seating 
plan  to  get  across 
the  "Bond  a  Seat" 
idea.  Right:  Con- 
testants' photos 
were  displayed  for 
Baby  Beauty 
Bond  Contest. 


Chuck  Shannon,  manager  of  the  Columbia 
.theatre,  Sharon,  Pa.,  decorated  the  lobby 
with  "clearance  sale"  pennants  offering 
$25.00  Bonds  for  $18.75,  etc.  The  seating 
plan  shown  here  is  Chuck's  second^,  the  first 
having  been  completely  filled. 

bank  which  was  had  by  Gertrude  Tracy  at 
Loew's  Ohio,  in  Cleveland,  whereby  all  late- 
comers, that  is,  people  wishing  to  purchase 
Bonds  after  2  p.m.,  were  sent  to  the  theatre. 
Gertrude  mailed  postcards  urging  purchase 
of  Bonds  to  over  1,000  former  Bond  buyers ; 
employees  at  the  theatre  pledged  themselves 
to  buy  one  extra  Bond;  plants  were  covered 
and  the  telephone  operator  was  instructed  to 
answer  all  calls  with :  "Loew's  Ohio  theatre. 
Buy  Your  Fourth  War  Loan  Bonds  Here." 

Stages  Rally  and  Parade 
In  Brooklyn 

To  usher  in  his  Fourth  Loan  drive  at  the 
Harbor  theatre,  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  Mack 
Shapiro  staged  a  parade  which  included  the 
Fort  Hamilton  Army  Band,  AWVS  women, 
300  girls  from  the  USO  and  Army  trucks. 
The  parade  was  held  at  night  and  the  girls 
carried  election  flares  and  bannerettes  an- 
nouncing the  Drive.  In  addition  an  outdoor 
rally  was  held  by  the  Bay  Ridge  neighborhood 
theatres,  James  Bergen  acting  as  chairman, 
with  two  distinguished  movie  stars  to  help 
spur  the  sale  of  Bonds.  Close  to  4,000  people 
turned  out  to  see  Jeannette  MacDonald  and 
Lloyd  Nolan  in  person. 


f ebruary    26,    I  944 


MANAGERS'    ROUND  TABLE 


51 


ATTRACTIVE  DISPLAY  ADS 


1 08  6MT 


AS_  MATRAC.TJBMyOTEb... 


G[fl.Ill8IHMilllilll.iillS  MUm-Dim  6^  111  Mil 


CONTINUOUS  POPULAR  PRICES 


OPENS  9  A.M.-B-WAY  AT  51«  .  BUY  WAR  BONDSI 


Here  is  the  attractive  eye-arrester  used  on  opening 
day  of  "Passage  to  Marseille"  at  the  Hollywood  the- 
atre, New  York. 


For  The  Fitst 
Time  On  The 
Screen  ...  You 
See  The  Navy's 
Supermen  In 
Action ! 


The  Ohio  theatre,  Springfield,  exploited  a  recent 
four-unit  show  in  this  manner.   Layout  is  by  Hank 
Harold,  ad  head  for  Regent-State  theatres. 


KOmW^  Of  THE  SiVEN  $£A$f 

Lusty,  lovable,  virile  fighters  I  Roaring 
into  adventure  with  the  thrilling  cry: 

ft 


Advance  ad  for  "Action  in  Arabia"  for  New  York  prenniere 
at  the  Palace. 


The  Schine  theatres,  Sloversville,  N.  Y.,  are  using  special  layouts 
to  advertise  "The  Fighting  Sea  Bees,"  which  were  prepared  by 
Seymour  Morris,  circuit  publicity  director. 


52 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    26,     I  944 


Gilman  Employs 
Teaser  Device 
For  'Lost  Anger 


Several  days  before  the  opening  of  "Lost 
Angel"  at  Loew's  theatre,  in  Harrisburg, 
Sam  Gilman  started  his  teaser  campaign 
with  copy  "An3-one  knowing  the  where- 
abouts of  the  Lost  Angel,  please  contact  me 
at."  This  was  followed  by  the  theatre's 
street  address.  One  of  the  highlights  of 
Sam's  campaign  was  the  landing  of  a  strip 
across  the  bottom  of  the  front  page  of  the 
second  edition  of  the  local  paper.  Title 
underlines  were  carried  in  all  ads  for  two 
weeks  in  advance;  a  private  screening  was 
held  for  newspaper  and  radio  representatives 
and  heads  of  civic  organizations,  and  rave 
reviews  were  had  as  a  result. 

One  of  the  leading  department  stores 
which  conducts  a  one-hour  radio  jamboree 
every  Saturday  morning,  chose  "Lost  An- 
gel" as  the  picture  of  the  week  and  gave  a 
complete  review  thereof,  with  several  plugs 
throughout  the  program.  Novelty  calendars 
with  a  cut  of  Margaret  O'Brien  were  dis- 
tributed, while  for  his  street  ballyhoo  Sam 
used  a  lad  to  lead  a  blanketed  dog  about 
town,  copy  on  the  blanket  reading  "Even  I 
am  going  to  see,"  etc.  High  spot  of  the 
campaign  was  the  Coca-Cola  tieup,  whereby 
stills  of  Craig  and  O'Brien  drinking  the  soft 
drink  were  distributed  by  the  agency's  driv- 
ers and  salesmen  and  pasted  to  fountain  mir- 
rors, store  windows,  etc. 


Bond  Buyers  Crown  Nazi 


Feld  man  Honors  Boy  Scouts  at 
"Henry  Aldrich — Boy  Scout" 

Abundant  newspaper  coverage,  which  in- 
cluded stories  and  art  breaks,  were  landed  by 
Dick  Feldman  at  Keith's  in  Syracuse,  in 
connection  with  his  hosting  local  Boy  Scouts 
at  the  opening  of  "Henry  Aldrich — Boy 
Scont."  Not  only  did  the  papers  plug  that 
picture,  but  came  through  with  mention  on 
the  second  feature,  and  two  of  the  papers 
also  devoted  editorial  space  to  the  film. 

For  the  run  of  "North  Star"  Dick  cov- 
ered book  stores  with  tiein  cards,  sent  out 
government  postcards  to  a  select  list  and 
landed  editorials  and  other  newspaper  sto- 
ries. In  addition,  through  the  cooperation 
of  one  of  the  leading  stores,  guest  tickets  to 
the  picture  were  offered  to  each  Bond  pur- 
chaser. 


Thoroughbred  Collies  In  Lobby 
Help  Sell  "Lassie  Come  Home" 

As  part  of  his  advance  campaign  on 
"Lassie  Come  Home"  at  Loew's  Vendome, 
in  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Tommy  Delbridge  bor- 
rowed three  thoroughbred  collies  from  the 
Nashville  Kennel  Club  for  display  purposes 
in  his  lobby  and  for  street  ballyhoo.  Super- 
intendent of  Schools  sent  bulletins  to  the  ef- 
fect that  credit  for  one  of  the  book  reviews 
would  be  given  to  children  seeing  the  pic- 
ture, 2000  postcards  were  mailed  to  PTA 
members  urging  them  to  see  the  film  and 
various  other  clubs  were  circularized. 

Window  displays  were  promoted,  10,000 
llookrnarks  were  distributed  through  the 
public  libraries  and  all  downtown  rental  li- 
braries and  500  arrows  posted  on  lampposts 


mimwm 

THE  STORY  OF 
eTCf  HITLERS  WOMEU 

WOMEN 'N 
BONDAGE' 

GAILPATRia-NANCYKaiY 


As  part  of  her  campaign  cm  "Women  in  Bondage"  at  Loen/s  Ohio  theatre,  in 
Cleveland,  Gertrude  L.  Tracy  planted  a  figure  of  a  Nazi  soldier  in  her  lobby.  Each 
Bmid  purchaser  was  permitted  to  break  the  sign  over  the  soldier's  head.  The  stunt 
which  was  ptdled  several  times  a  day  for  three  days  in  advance  of  the  opening  helped 
to  sell  nnmermis  bonds. 


in  the  downtown  section  pointed  to  Loew's 
with  picture  copy.  Delbridge  invited  a 
juvenile  judge  to  see  the  picture  after  which 
he  gave  a  special  radio  talk  on  WSil  urg- 
ing all  juveniles  to  see  it.  He  also  ordered 
six  boys  from  court  to  see  the  picture  and 
wrote  a  letter  to  newspaper  publishers  on 
the  picture. 


Local  Boy  Tied  to  Opening 
Of  "This  Is  the  Army" 

For  the  repeat  run  in  Amsterdam,  N.  Y., 
of  "This  Is  the  Army,"  Clayton  S.  Cornell 
at  the  Strand  theatre  underlined  the  title  in 
ads  four  days  before  the  opening  and  broke 
daily  with  picture  and  story  of  Irving  Ber- 
lin posed  with  local  boy,  member  of  the  show 
cast  and  a  resident  of  Amsterdam.  A  new 
false  front  was  constructed  for  the  run  of 
cutout  lithos  and  cutout  compo  board.  200 
window  cards  were  spotted  strategically 
about  town  and  special  still  displays  were 
posted  in  leading  store  windows  in  the  down- 
town area. 

Clay  further  contacted  five  leading  mer- 
chants for  cooperative  ad  assistance  in  their 
regular  newspaper  advertising  and  promoted 
a  window  in  a  leading  record  shop  using  a 
set  of  11  by  14s  and  stills. 

Ackery  Directs  "Tokyo" 
To  Chinese  Attention 

Ivan  Ackery,  manager  of  the  Orpheum,  in 
Vancouver,  B.  C.  highlighted  his  selling  of 
"Destination  Tokyo"  with  a  separate  cam- 
paign aimed  at  the  12,000  residents  of  Van- 
couver's Chinatown. 

Ads  in  the  Chinese  Times  and  2,000 
throwaways  are  reported  to  have  turned  a 
big  Chinese  attendance  into  the  Orpheum. 
Ackery  rounded  out  his  advance  ef¥ort  with 
a  special  screening  and  a  heavy  schedule  of 
radio  spots  on  all  three  local  stations. 


Lad  in  Cap  and  Gown  Helps 
Kleper  Exploit  "Young  Ideas" 

In  advance  of  "Young  Ideas"  zl  the  Poli 
Bijou,  in  New  Haven,  Sid  Kleper  dressed 
one  of  his  staff  in  cap  and  gown  carrying  a 
sandwich  sign  and  had  him  parade  the  streets 
to  help  exploit  the  date.  Numerous  window 
cards  were  •  planted  about  town ;  displays 
landed  in  hotels,  music  stores,  YM's  and 
stores.  Special  throwaways  directed  at 
school  children  were  distributed,  paper  bags 
imprinted,  and  advance  art  layouts  promoted 
in  both  dailies  and  weeklies. 


McLennan's  Anniversary  Campaign 

As  part  of  the  30th  anniversary  celebra- 
tion of  the  Capitol  theatre,  in  Brockville, 
Ontario,  Jack  ^McLennan  promoted  a  coop- 
erative page  of  ads,  each  of  which  carried 
congratulatorj'  message  to  the  theatre.  In 
addition,  a  four-column  story  was  landed  in 
the  papers,  which  included  cuts  of  the 
Famous  Players  officials  in  addition  to  one 
of  Jack.  The  story  included  highlights  of 
the  history  of  the  theatre,  and  a  special  pro- 
gram was  printed  for  the  occasion. 


THEATRE  MANAGEMENT  RECORD 
AND  ANNUAL  TAX  REGISTER 

■  Easy  accounting  system  that  enables 
you  to  keep  an  accurate,  complete  and  up- 
to-the-minute  record  of  the  ^  Q  Q 
business    of   your   theatre.  ^^^^ 


QUICLEY  BOOKSHOP 

ROCKEFELLER   CENTER,   NEW   YORK  (20) 


February    2  6,    1944  .MANAGERS'    ROUND    TABLE  53 


PERSONALS  ON  SHOWMEN 


Former  Operator  Eager 
To  Get  Into  War  Zone 

Sgt.  Elmer  E.  Foust,  stationed  at  the 
Marine  Base  in  Camp  Elliott,  San  Diego, 
Cal.,  before  entering  the  service,  was  as- 
sistant manager  for 
Fox  Inter  Mountain. 
Elmer  started  with 
this  organization 
during  his  last  years 
of  high  school,  1938, 
1939,  at  Cheyenne, 
Wyo.,  as  doorman 
and  chief  of  staff. 
Fred  Glass  was  his 
city  manager  during 
the  latter  part  of 
this  time.  Mr. 
Foust  later  made  the 
'  m  o  V  e  to  Denver, 
Colo.,  as  assistant  to  H.  A.  Goodridge'at  the 
Ogden  theatre  there.  As  the  sergeant  so 
aptly  puts  it,  "about  that  time  all  things  were 
looking  up  until  the  little  slant-eyes  ran  in 
the  cold  deck  and  that's  about  it.  This 
leaves  me  waiting  at  the  dock  to  go  into 
this  new  theatre  and  I  hope  I  will  be  able 
to  catch  all  of  this  bill  and  at  least  get  in 
on  the  last  reel  of  the  one  over  on  the  other 
face  of  the  world." 


JACK  WEINSTEIN,  Brooklyn  division 
manager  for  Century  Circuit,  leaves  for  the 
Army.  His  territory  will  be  absorbed  by 
Edward  Freiberger,  Leonard  Freund  and 
L.  W.  McEachern.  Other  circuit  changes 
include  Ruth  Beckerman,  formerly  assistant 
manager  at  the  Elm  theatre,  has  been  pro- 
moted to  manager.  Cortlandt  Clarkson, 
manager  of  the  Plaza,  has  been  transferred 
to  the  Strand,  in  Rockville  Center,  as  man- 
ager, replacing  McKendree  Williams,  who 
leaves  for  the  Army.  John  Hofeditz,  former 
assistant  manager  at  the  Grove,  is  managing 
the  Plaza;  Charles  Yotte  is  now  assistant 
manager  of  the  Grove.  William  Kellam,  who 
was  assistant  manager  at  the  Huntington,  is 
at  the  Mayfair ;  Owen  Kaufman,  formerly 
assistant  manager  at  the  Mayfair,  is  now  as- 
sistant at  the  Elm  and  James  McNally  is  the 
new  assistant  manager  at  the  Huntington. 

DEAN  R.  BARRETT  has  been  appointed 
to  the  post  of  assistant  manager  of  the  War- 
ner Regal  theatre,  in  Hartford,  following  an 
honorable  medical  discharge  from  the  Army. 

R.  RAIMO,  manager  of  Warner's  Rialto,  in 
South  Norwalk,  Conn.,  has  been  inducted 
into  the  Army. 


JAMES  CHARLES,  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ben 
Griefer.  Dad  is  the  managing  director  of 
the  Paramount-Adams  theatre,  in  "Newark, 
N.J. 

MARIAN  BLANCHE,  on  Wednesday,  Feb- 
ruary 9,  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gabriel  Rosenthal. 
The  proud  father  manages  the  Highway 
theatre,  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 


SHOWMEN'S 
TIE-UP  DATES 

April  1st 

All  Fool's  Day 
2nd 

U.  S.  Mint  Established— 1792 
6th 

Peary  Discovered  North  Pole— 1909 
Army  Day 

8th 

Louisiana  Admitted  to  Union — 1812 
Ponce  de  Leon  Landed  in  Florida — 1513 

14th 

Assassination  of  President  Lincoln — 1865 
First  Edition  of  Webster's  Dictionary  Published — 
1828 

18th 

Paul  Revere's  Famous  Ride — 1775 
19th 

Patriot's  Day 
22nd 

Oklahoma  Opened  to  White  Settlement — 1889 
23  rd 

William  Shakespeare  Born — 1564 
26th 

Slavery  Abolished  in  U.  S. — 1865 
27th 

General  Grant  (18th  President)  Born— 1822 
Samuel  F.  Morse,  Telegrapher,  Born — 1791 

30th 

George  Washington  Became  1st  President — 1789 
Boston  Settled  by  Winthrop— I  630 
Rhode  Island  Settled— 1636 


Paul  Started  Career 
With  Regal  Films 

Joseph  J.  Paul,  who  is  the  manager  and 
supervisor  of  the  Community  theatre,  in 
Welland,  Ontario,  is  married  and  the  father 
of  one  child.  Paul  started  in  show  business 
in  1918  and  worked  for  the  Regal  Films, 
Ltd.,  out  of  their  Toronto  office  as  a  sales- 
man. Joe  later  assisted  his  brother  in  the 
opening  of  the  Mayfair  theatre,  in  Toronto, 
then  drifting  away  from  the  business  to  re- 
turn later  to  open  the  Elgin  theatre,  in  Ot- 
tawa. After  a  period  at  that  house,  Paul 
went  to  Welland  and  his  present  assignment. 

JOE  CITRON,  assistant  manager  at  Loew's 
State,  New  York,  has  been  appointed  man- 
ager of  the  Apollo,  succeeding  Larry  Sam- 
uels, who  has  entered  the  Navy.  Edward 
Schwartz,  assistant  at  the  Met,  in  Brooklyn, 
takes  over  the  Citron  post.  Harold  Zeitner, 
assistant  at  the  Kings,  has  resigned  to  be- 
come a  film  salesman  for  Metro  in  Buffalo. 

WILLIAM  ELDER  has  succeeded  John 
McManus  as  manager  of  Loew's  Midland 
theatre,  in  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

BILL  AIKEN,  manager  of  the  Broad,  in 
Columbus,  Ohio,  is  now  managing  Loew's 
Grand,  in  Atlanta. 

JACK  MITCHELL  has  been  named  man- 
ager of  the  Aztec  theatre,  in  San  Antonio, 
Tex.,  replacing  Homer  Le  Tempt. 


Dickler  Had  Own  Radio 
Progrann  in  Early  Days 

Upon  returning  to  civilian  life  after  serv- 
ing in  the  Armed  Forces,  Sid  J.  Dickler 
joined  the  Warner  Circuit  as  manager  of 

their  Belmar  thea- 
tre, in  Pittsburgh. 
Sid's  previous  ex- 
perience in  the  busi- 
ness started  as  band- 
leader in  that  terri- 
id  tory,  which  post  he 

held  for   about  fif- 
J         teen  years.    Sid  had 
4        several    radio  com- 
mercials,   was  staff 
maestro  at  WWSW 
and    his  orchestra 
*  *         ,    :   vvas  reportedly  one 

of  the  first  two 
dance  bands  on  the  air  from  Pittsburgh  in 
the  early  days.  About  ten  years  ago,  Mr. 
Dickler  handled  public  relations  for  local 
night  clubs  and  hotels  and  had  his  own  radio 
program  called  "Sid  Dickler's  Bandwagon" 
in  the  early  days.  About  four  years  ago, 
Dick  forsook  his  orchestral  activities  and 
took  one  night  stands  in  the  territory  until 
he  was  called  into  the  Army.  Now  that  he 
is  out  and  managing  a  theatre,  he  says  his 
experience  in  the  show  business  as  a  band- 
leader and  public  relations  man  has  come  in 
mighty  handy. 


GEORGE  GROSS,  for  many  years  associ- 
ated with  the  Wilmer  &  Vincent  circuit,  in 
the  South,  has  returned  to  the  circuit  as  as- 
sistant manager  of  the  Embassy  theatre,  in 
Reading,  Pa. 

IRVING  PHILLIPS,  manager  of  the  S6th 
Street  theatre,  in  Philadelphia,  was  inducted 
into  the  Army. 

DOMINIC  BARRECCA  is  now  managing 
the  Alvin  theatre,  in  Gutenberg,  N.  J. 

ED  SIEGAL,  formerly  with  Warner's  in 
Pittsburgh,  was  a  Round  Table  visitor. 


HAPPY  BIRTHDAY 


February  27th 

Charles  L.  Hyde 
Cecil  W.  Curtis 
Carroll  M.  Bradley 

28th 

Jack  Wright 
C.  H.  Simpson 
Don  R.  Stevenson 
Vern  Austin 
Victor  G.  Geisel 

29th 

Samuel  Sposato 
William  F.  O'Brien 
Ed  Lamoureux 
Herschel  A.  Wheeler 

March  1st 

J.  P.  Schnitzer 
Harold  C.  Stanzler 
Jerome  Gordon 
Edward  L.  Bissler 
Herb  Gatzke 


March  2nd 

E.  R.  Toerpe 
J.  M.  Ensor 
John  B.  Shearer 
Lloyd  Miller 
Dallas  R.  Page 
Joe  F.Wright 
Paul  Maines,  Jr. 

3rd 

Stanley  Foreman 
Edward  A.  Hussong 
Al  Zimbalist 
Lester  Neely 
Charles  Rind 
Louis  D.  Glinner 

4th 

J.  E.  Stribling,  Jr. 
Joseph  Dondis 
Burton  L.  Prince 
R.  H.  Ouellette 
Sam  Harris,  Jr. 


54 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    26,  1944 


CLASSIFIED  ADVERTISING 

Ten  cents  per  word,  money-order  or  check  with  copy.  Count  initials,  box  number  and  ad- 
dress. Minimum  insertion,  $1.  Four  insertions,  for  the  price  of  three.  Contract  rates  on 
application.  No  borders  or  cuts.  Forms  close  Mondays  at  5  P.  M.  Publisher  reserves 
the  right  to  reject  any  copy.  Film  and  trailer  advertising  not  accepted.  Classi- 
fied advertising  not  subject  to  agency  commission.  Address  copy  and  checks: 
MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD,  Classified  Dept.,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  (20) 


HELP  WANTED 


WANT  TWO  MANAGERS  AND  TWO  OPERA- 
tors  immediately  for  small  town  situations.  Permanent 
positions  with  excellent  future.  State  age,  experience, 
references,  salary  expected  and  draft  status.  Reply 
BOX  1301.  Knoxville,  Tenn. 

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by  Charles  A.  Fuller,  authority  on  the  subject.  Avail- 
able for  theatre  owners  contemplating  engineering 
changes.  Book  is  cloth  bound  with  index  and  charts 
and  covers  every  branch  of  the  industry  as  well  as 
codes  and  ordinances  regulating  installation.  Order 
now  at  $4.00  a  copy  postpaid.  QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP, 
Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  (20). 

BOOKKEEPING  SYSTEM  ' 

THEATRE  MANAGEMENT  RECORD  AND  TAX 
Register.  This  new  accounting .  system  is  the  finest 
book  of  its  kind  ever  made  available  to  an  exhibitor. 
In  addition  to  being  complete  in  every  respect,  it  is 
simple — so  much  so  that  it  is  not  necessary  to  have 
had  bookkeeping  experience  in  order  to  keep  an  ac- 
curate, complete  and  an  up-to-minute  record  of  the 
business  of  your  theatre.  The  introductory  price  is 
only  $2.00  postpaid.  QUIGLEY  BOOKSHOP.  Rocke- 
feller Center,  New  York  (20). 

STUDIO  EQUIPMENT 

TWO  RCA  16MM.  NEWSREEL  RECORDING  CAM- 
■sras,  shoots  picture  and  records  sound.  One  complete 
with  two  microphones:  spring  motor;  extra  studio  gal- 
vanometer; recording  amplifier;  three  lenses,  including 
telephoto;  visual  finder;  all  cables;  headphones;  carry- 
ing cases  and  batteries,  $975.  Other  has  one  F3.5  lens; 
4  stage  amplifier  with  Western  Electric  pre-amplifier; 
Veeder  counter;  microphone;  cables;  headphones; 
cases,  $625.  Both  excellent  condition.  Send  for  bulletin. 
S.  O:  S.  CINEMA  SUPPLY  CORP.,  New  York  18. 

POSITIONS  WANTED 

DISTRICT  MANAGER,  BOOKER,  SUPERVISOR, 
with  independent  circuit.  Army  discharged.  Now  em- 
ployed. Offer  considered.  Box  1706,  MOTION  PIC- 
TURE HERALD. 

SMART,  INTELLIGENT,  SHOWMANSHIP 
ability,  backed  by  over  19  years'  in  many  phases  of 
showbusiness.  Independent  and  circuit  operation  stage 
and  _  screen  houses.  General  management,  buying, 
booking,  building  and  equipping  theatres.  First  class 
advertising  man.  Advancing  road  attractions.  My 
experience  and  ability  will  be  valuable  to  any  company 
who  will  place  me  in  a  position  where  my  efforts  will 
show.^  Will  locate  anywhere  but  only  first  class 
situations  considered.  Age  36,  married,  draft  exempt. 
BOX  1705,  MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD. 

TRAINING  SCHOOLS 


THEATRE  EMPLOYEES:  TRAIN  FOR  BETTER 
position.  Learn  modern  theatre  management  and  ad- 
vertising. Big  opportunities  for  trained  men.  Estab- 
lished since  1927.  Write  now  for  free  catalog.  THE- 
ATRE  MANAGERS  SCHOOL.  Elmira,  New  York. 

WANTED  TO  BUY 


WANTED— PIPE  ORGAN  IN  FAIR  CONDITION. 
State  make,  stops,  etc.  ST.  STANISLAUS  CHURCH 
118  N.  Market  St.,  Summit  Hill,  Pa 


OPEN  AIR  THEATRE  EQUIPMENT  IF  COM- 
plete.  Give  details,  location  and  price.  T.  C.  WIL- 
BOURN,  Box  988,  jjaton  Rouge.  La. 


BUSINESS  BOOSTERS 


BINGO  CARDS,  DIE  CUT,  1  TO  100  OR  1  TO  75, 
$2.25  per  thousand,  $20.00  for  10,000.  S.  KLOUS,  care 
of  MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD. 


THEATRES 


FOR  SALE,  200-SEAT  THEATRE.  BOX  1703,  MO- 
TION PICTURE  HERALD. 

WANTED  THEATRE,  OPERATING.  PROFIT- 
able.  details.  BOX  170O,  MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD. 

WANTED:  MOTION  PICTURE  THEATRE.  MUST 
be  up-to-date,  going,  paying  and  located  in  Florida  or 
other  Southern  coastal  state.  Give  full  particulars. 
JIM  CAMP,  Box  326,  Tallahassee,  Fla. 

FOR  SALE-MODERN  800-SEAT  THEATRE,  DO- 
ing  good  business  in  good  W.  Va.  manufacturing  town. 
Also  fine  dwelling.  Must  sell  due  to  health.  BOX  1704, 
MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD. 

UTAH:  BOOM  MINING  AND  RAILROAD 
center;  brick  building  SOO-seat  theatre  including  equip- 
ment; two  stores,  rent  $67.50;  basement  equipped  for 
Tavern,  Dance  and  Club;  17  hotel  rooms  and  9  apart- 
ments completely  furnished,  income  $793  a  month. 
Price  $65,000  for  land,  building  and  equipment.  Cash 
$35,000.  Possession  of  all  for  operator.  Two  sons  in 
service;  widowed  mother  can't  operate.  We  also  have 
buyers  for  theatres,  the  larger  the  seating  capacity 
the  better.  RALPH  H.  JACKSON  &  CO.,  77  W.  Wash- 
ington, Cliicago  2,  111.    20th  year  at  this  address. 

WANTED  TO  LEASE  THEATRE  IN  SMALL 
town  or  community.  With  or  without  equipment. 
Prefer  East.  BOX  1707,  MOTION  PICTURE.  HERALD. 

NEW  EQUIPMENT 

CRYSTAL  BEADED  SOUND  SCREENS, 
39^c.  sq.  ft. ;  Flextone  w&shable,  30^c.  chrome 
diffusive,  2354c. ;  changeable  letter  admission  signs  with 
SO  characters,  $6.45;  rear  shutters  for  Simplex,  $77.50; 
shelf  worn  boxoffice  heaters,  $6.95;  21^  gallon  fire 
extinguishers,  $14.95;  quart  pump  type,  $11.25;  two 
quart,  $13.50;  WoUensak  4"  Series  I  lenses,  $13.95; 
rechargeable  flashlight  batteries,  $2.20;  rectifier  bulbs, 
15  ampere  Gordos,  $6.95;  six  ampere  Westinghouse, 
$3.95;  Suprex  carbon  savers,  98c.  S.  O:  S.  CINEMA 
SUPPLY  CORP.,  New  York  18. 

SIGN  PAINTING.  EASY  WAY  TO  PAINT 
signs.  Use  letter  patterns.  Avoid  sloppy  work,  wasted 
time.  No  experience  needed  for  expert  work.  Free 
sample.  JOHN  RAHN,  A1329  Central  Ave.,  Chicago,  51. 

USED  EQUIPMENT 

200  AMERICAN  SEATING  CHAIRS  HEAVY 
seven  ply  back,  five  ply  seat,  late  model,  rebuilt, 
$4.50;  100  American  Seating  veneer  back,  squab 
padded  cushion,  reupholstered,  $3.50.  Limited  quantities 
full  upholstered  and  panel  back  spring  cushion  chairs. 
Wire  now.  S.  O.  S.  CINEMA  SUPPLY  CORP.,  New 
York  18. 

HAVING  BECOME  A  MEMBER  OF  OUR  ARMED 
forces,  owner  wishes  to  sell  the  following  equipment  1 
No  priority  necessary!  Buy  direct  from  exhibitor!  Two 
projection  and  sound  equipments — Equipment  No.  1: 
Western  Electric  sound  system  (1500  seat  capacity) 
completely  modernized  by  Altec.  Includes  large  sup- 
ply of  spare  parts  and  tubes;  pair  new  Simplex  Hi 
lamphouses  in  original  crates;  pair  new  National 
four-tube  rectifiers  in  original  crates;  pair  factor 
rebuilt  genuine  Super  Simplex  mechanisms;  pair 
Simplex  three-point  pedestals  with  braces;  two  pair 
Simplex  18"  magazines;  pair  Bausch  &  Lomb  Series  I 
Cinephor  lenses — Total)  price  f.o.b.  Boulder  City, 
Nevada,  $4,500.  Equipment  No.  2:  Western  Electric 
Universal  base  system  (1,000  seat  capacity)  completely 
modernized  by  Altec;  Universal  bases  and  lower 
magazines;  pair  rebuilt  Peerless  L.  I.  lamphouses  with 
1054"  mirrors;  pair  two  tube  rectifiers;  pair  Simplex 
16"  upper  magazines;  new  Walker  plastic  molded 
screen,  size  10'0"xl3'0" — Total  price  f.o.b.  Boulder 
City,  Nevada,  $2,300.  For  further  information  contact 
MRS.  EARL  J.  BROTHERS  at  Boulder  Theatre. 
Boulder  City,  Nev. 

CLOSING  OUT  PUBLIC  ADDRESS  EQUIPMENT 
(send  for  list) ;  Simplex  SI  latest  type  mechanisms, 
$475;  rebuilt  Electrolux  vacuum  cleaner,  $69.50;  Sim- 
plex SP  2,000'  sound  projectors,  $325;  twin  50  ampere 
Suprex  rectifiers,  rebuilt,  $297.5();  single  45  ampere 
type,  $112.50;  20/40  arc  generators,  $57.50.  Winter 
bargain  bulletin  ready — get  yours.  S.  O.  S.  CINEMA 
SUPPLY  CORP.,  New  York  18. 


Child  Attendance 
Ban  Extended  to 
Camden  County 

Extension  of  the  child  attendance  ban  ordered 
recently  by  Gene  Mariano,  county  prosecutor  in 
Camden,  N.  J.,  was  made  last  week  to  the 
entire  county.  The  order  prohibiting  children 
under  14  from  attending  theatres  at  any  time 
unless  accompanied  by  adults  invoked  a  33-year- 
old  law.  Its  extension  hits  nearly  as  many 
houses  in  the  neghboring  towns  as  the  24  thea- 
tres affected  in  Camden. 

Last  week,  despite  exhibitor  protests,  Mr. 
Mariano  mailed  notices  of  the  order  to  chiefs  of 
police  and  directors  of  public  safety  in  each 
town,  advising  them  to  enforce  the  ban  im- 
rnediately. 

Representatives  of  local  theatres,  including 
Joseph  E.  Murdoch,  manager  of  the  Stanley, 
one  of  four  Warner  houses  in  Camden,  and 
Joseph  Varbalow  of  the  Savar  Amusement 
Company,  operator  of  four  other  large  city 
theatres,  met  with  the  county  prosecutor  last 
Thursday  in  a  vain  effort  to  get  him  to  revise 
the  order.  The  prosecutor  told  them  that  in 
an  effort  to  stamp  out  juvenile  delinquency,  the 
ban  would  be  rigidly  eforced. 

This  week,  representatives  of  50  theatres  in 
the  county  promised  full  cooperation  to  Mr. 
Mariano.  Mr.  Varbalow,  acting  as  spokesman 
for  the  exhibitors,  said,  "If  necessary,  additional 
supervision  will  be  placed  in  theatres  to  enforce 
the  ban." 

Hartford  exhibitors  this  week  protested 
against  the  recent  proposal  of  Alderman  Peter 
Stewart,  who  recommended  to  Joseph  B.  Griffin, 
corporation  counsel,  that  a  special  section  in 
Hartford  theatres  be  "roped  off"  on  Saturday 
afternoons  and  other  days  when  children  attend 
in  large  numbers,  and  that  an  usher  or  matron 
be  assigned  to  supervise  the  section. 

Exhibitors  were  not  in  favor  of  the  plan, 
which  Mr.  Stewart  said  had  worked  "satisfac- 
torily" in  New  York,  Boston  and  other  cities. 
Their  main  objection  was  that  the  current  labor 
shortage  made  it  difficult  to  obtain  proper  per- 
sonnel for  the  supervision  of  a  children's  section 
in  theatres. 


Eastman  Kodak  Official, 
Virgil  M.  Palmer,  Dies 

Virgil  M.  Palmer,  62,  superintendent  of  the 
industrial  engineering  department  of  Eastman 
Kodak,  died  in  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  on  Wednesday 
of  last  week.  He  was  with  the  company  31 
years.  Before  becoming  associated  with  East- 
man Kodak,  Mr.  Palmer  was  an  automotive 
engineer.  He  was  president  of  the  Society  of 
Industrial  Engineers.  Surviving  are  his  wife, 
two  sons  and  a  brother. 


Bequeaths  Church  Films 

Probate  of  the  will  of  the  late  William  E. 
Butler,  veteran  Philadelphia  exhibitor  who  died 
last  month,  provided  for  an  annuity  of  $300  to 
be  set  up  for  the  rental  of  films  to  be  shown 
in  the  House  of  the  Good  Shepherd.  His  total 
estate  was  valued  at  $212,000  and  he  provided 
for  the  erection  of  an  altar  to  cost  $10,000  in 
St.  Martin's  Roman  Catholic  Church  in  memory 
of  his  family. 


James  R.  Joy 

James  R.  Joy,  a  veteran  exhibitor  of  Toronto, 
owner  of  the  Euclid  and  the  Toronto  for  many 
years,  died  last  Sunday. 


Trenton  Theatre  Sold 

The  Victory  theatre,  Trenton,  N.  J.,  erected 
nearly  40  years  ago,  was  sold  by  Mary  Loretta 
O'Malley  for  use  as  a  fur  storage  plant. 


February    26,     I  944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


Going  My  Way 

(Paramount) 

A  Portrait  of  Humans 

Hollywood  can  hardly  exceed  the  richness,  the  warmth  and  the  captivation  which 
distinguish  "Going  My  Way,"  and  which  make  of  it  superlative  entertainment. 


No  one  should  get  the  idea  that  this  is 
an  attraction  which  is  stilted  and  pious  be- 
cause its  two  central  characters  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Roman  Catholic  clergy.  Far 
from  it.  Barry  Fitzgerald,  as  the  crotchety 
old  Father  Fitzgibbon,  and  Bing  Crosby,  as 
the  young  and  progressive  curate,  are  very 
much  the  human  beings.  Always  within  the 
tenets  of  their  religion  and  constantly  faith- 
ful to  its  mandates,  nevertheless  they  evi- 
dence a  penetrating  awareness  of  the  joy 
of  living. 

"Going  My  Way"  is  a  simple  motion  picture 
with  an  appeal  undeniably  universal.  It  deals 
with  unassuming  people  out  of  the  vivid-  stream 
of  humanity  in  New  York  and  portrays  how  the 
understanding  and  the  kindliness  of  the  two 
priests  aid  these  individuals  to  clear  their  lives 
of  some  of  their  encumbrances. 

This  objective  is  reached  in  entirely  different 
ways.  Fitzgerald  has  been  charged  with  the 
parish  of  St.  Dominic  for  over  40  years.  His 
job  has  been  a  good  one  on  the  side  of  morals, 
if  unsuccessful  on  the  side  of  a  balanced  budget. 
In  his  day  and  in  his  time,  his  career  has  been 
an  unquestioned  success.  Crosby  enters  the  situ- 
ation as  a  disciple  of  the  newer  and  more  pro- 
gressive clerical  order.  His  is  the  twin  objec- 
tive of  guiding  the  parish  and  placing  it  on  a 
firmer  financial  basis,  making  the  receding  days 
of  the  old  priest's  life  less  arduous. 

There  develops  an  early  clash.  But  it  is  a 
clash  not  predicated  on  clerical  lines  nearly  so 
much  as  it  is  on  the  set,  established  ways  of  the 
older  generation  in  inevitable  conflict  with  the 
new.  Fundamentals  are  not  threatened  because 
they  are  never  involved. 

The  elder  priest  merely  fails  to  understand 
what  the  young  curate  is  about.  Crosby  writes 
music.  He  develops  a  choir  among  the  rebellious 
kids  of  the  neighborhood.  And  he  does  this  in 
the  baseball  suit  given  him  by  the  St.  Louis 
Browns.  With  Frank  McHugh  as  Father 
O'Dowd,  he  sheds  the  austerity  of  clerical  dress 
for  golf  clothes  and  knocks  the  pill  around  the 
fairways.  He  sings,  of  course,  but  it  is  not 
always  hymns.  In  fact,  almost  always  it  is  not 
hymns  at  all.  Fitzgerald  cannot  make  it  out. 

But  with  all  of  this  unorthodox  behaviour, 
Crosby  does  his  job,  and  he  does  it  with  great 
effectiveness.  By  his  good  sense,  his  good 
humor  and  his  qualities  of  understanding,  he 
endears  himself  to  the  parish  and,  of  course,  to 
Fitzgerald.  They  become  fast  friends,  their  at- 


tachment bridging  the  gap  of  their  intervening 
years. 

When  the  church  burns,  it  is  Crosby  who  en- 
deavors to  raise  funds  to  rebuild  by  selling 
"Going  My  Way,"  his  composition.  THey're 
not  going  for  "schmaltz"  that  season,  and  thus 
the  effort  fails.  But  when  he  plays  a  livelier, 
non-choirlike  tune  with  his  choir  pitching  in, 
the  song  publishers  go  for  it  and  the  situation  is 
well  in  hand.  The  final  and  touching  scene, 
typical  of  the  entire  film,  brings  Fitzgerald  and 
his  90-year-old  Irish  mother  together.  It  is  a 
concluding,  heart-warming  bit  of  plotting  on 
Crosby's  part  as  his  assignment  at  St. 
Dominic's  is  completed  and  he  goes  on  his  way 
to  the  next. 

Comedy  is  intermingled  with  drama,  but  it  is 
comedy  which  dominates.  Delightful  at  every 
turn,  it  frequently  becomes  hilarious.  Primarily, 


In  This  Week: 


SHOWMEN'S  REVIEWS 


SHORT  SUBJECTS 


THE  RELEASE  CHART 


It  is  Fitzgerald  who  is  responsible.  His  charac- 
terization of  the  old  priest  is  cameo-etched  and 
enormously  entertaining.  Author,  producer  and 
director  Leo  McCarey  could  not  have  arrived  at 
a  more  fortunate  choice ;  in  fact  no  other  choice 
occurs  readily  to  mind. 

Crosby,  in  a  type  of  role  never  before  at- 
tempted by  him,  is  excellent.  Under  McCarey's 
guidance  he  achieves  a  blending  of  the  necessary 
compounds  without  overextending  himself,  and 
hurdles  the  extremely  difficult  role  of  the  sing- 
ing priest  with  ease.  Always  thoroughly  be- 
lievable, this  is  Crosby  in  the  best  role  of  his 
career. 

Rise  Stevens,  Metropolitan  Opera  contralto, 
sings  several  numbers,  including  an  aria  from 
"Carmen,"  with  distinction  and  competence. 
Others  in  the  cast  are  of  secondary  importance, 
yet  all  are  good.  The  screenplay  by  Frank 
Butler  and  Frank  Cavett  attests  to  the  merit  of 
their  writing  endeavors. 

Seen  in  the  studio  projection  room.  Reviewer s 
Rating  :  Excellent. — Red  Kann. 

Release  date,  Block  4.  Running  time,  125  min.  FCA 
No.  9613.    General  audience  classification. 

Father  O'Malley  Biner  Crosby 

Father  Fitzgibbon  Barry  Fitzgerald 

Father  O'Dowd  Frank  McHugh 

Genevieve  Linden  Rise  Stevens 

Gene  Lockhart,  Tames  Brown,  Jean  Heather,  Porter 
Hall.  Fortunio  Bonanova,  Emily  Malyon  and  the 
Robert  Mitchell  Boys  Choir. 


The  Purple  Heart 

(Twentieth  Century -Fox) 
After  the  Tokyo  Raid 

One  of  the  most  spectacular  feats  of  the  war  against  Japan  has  received  becom- 
ing tribute  from  Darryl  F.  Zanuck  and  Lewis  Milestone,  who  produced  and  directed 
"The  Purple  Heart". 

participates  in  the  confusion,  indignation  and 
suffering  of  the  fliers,  wrestles  with  the  problem 
of  disclosing  the  base  of  the  attack  and  casts  its 
vote  in  the  final  decision.  Dialogue  is  scant, 
but  the  performances  of  the  cast  are  superbly 
revealing.' 

Dana  Andrews,  as  the  superior  officer,  makes 
his  leadership  evident  without  commanding. 
Richard  Conte,  Charles  Russell,  Donald  Barry, 
Kevin  O'Shea,  Sam  Levene,  John  Craven  and 
Farley  Granger  give  tersely  differentiated  por- 
traits, finely  etched.  The  two  women  in  the 
cast,  Trudy  Marshall  and  Tala  Birell,  appear 
briefly  and  say  little. 

On  the  Oriental  side,  characterizations  are 
not  completely  satisfactory.  Richard  Loo,  Peter 
Cheng,  H.  T.  Tsiang  and  Key  Chang  are  prop- 
erly malevolent  and  obviously  vicious  without 
becoming  persons. 

There  might  be  some  objection,  too,  to  the 
fact  that  Jerome  Cady's  screenplay  from  a 
story  by  Melville  Grossman,  provides  for  little 
action  of  the  type  usually  associated  with  war 

Product  Digest  Section  1773 


The  principal  characters  are  eight  men 
who  flew  with  Capt.  Doolittle  as  far  as  occu- 
pied China  and  the  Japanese  captors  who 
sentenced  them  to  death  for  murder.  Cover- 
ing the  few  days  of  their  trial — a  travesty 
on  the  name —  it  contrasts  courage  and 
brutality,  integrity  and  deviousness,  in  a 
manner  that  will  leave  few  persons  un- 
affected. 

As  the  first  production  featuring  the  Japanese 
treatment  of  American  soldiers  since  the  re- 
cent disclosures  of  atrocities  after  Bataan  and 
Corregidor,  it  may  attract  the  morbidly  curious 
but  it  does  not  pander  to  them.  Few  overt  acts 
are  presented  on  the  screen,  but  few  were 
needed.  The  cumulative  effect  is  the  more 
powerful  for  its  restrained  presentation. 

From  the  opening  outside  a  Tokyo  courtroom 
to  the  close  when  the  victors  march  out  proudly 
under  sentence  of  death,  the  emphasis  is  on 
suggestion  rather  than  statement.  The  audience 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    26,  1944 


in  the  Pacific.  But  the  purpose  of  the  film  is 
splendidly  achieved,  and  with  a  dignity  that 
should  set  a  standard  for  the  films  to  follow 
in  its  general  course. 
Seen  in  the  home  office  projection  room. 


Reviewer's  Rating :  Excellent.  —  E.  A.  Cun- 
ningham. 

Release  date,  March,  1944.  Running  time,  99  min. 
General  audience  classification. 

Captain  Harvey  Ross  Dana  Andrews 

Lieutenant  Angelo  Canelli  Richard  Conte 

Sergeant  Howard  Clinton  Farley  Granger 

Sergeant  Jan  Skvoznik  Kevin  O'Shea 

Lieutenant  Wayne  Greenbaum.  Sam  Levene 

Lieutenant  Kenneth  Bayforth  Charles  Russell 

Lieutenant  Peter  Vincent  Donald  Barry 

Sergeant  Martin  Stoner  John  Craven 


Trudy  Marshall,  Tala  Birell,  Richard  Loo,  Peter 
Cheng,  Gregory  Gaye,  Torben  Meyer,  Kurt  Katch, 
Martin  Garralaga,  Erwin  Kaiser,  Igor  Delgaruki, 
Nestor  Paiva,  Alex  Papana,  H.  T.  Tsiang,  Benson 
Fong,   Key   Chang,  Allen  Jung. 

The  Navy  Way 

(Paramount) 
Service  Story 

Stepping  forth  in  the  direction  of  bigger-and- 
better  things,  producers  William  Pine  and  Wil- 
liam Thomas  present  here  an  armed-service  pic- 
ture which  is  not  a  melodrama,  as  most  of  their 
pictures  have  been,  but  accounts  for  its  74  min- 
utes of  running  time  with  more  entertainment 
than  the  company's  65-minute  enterprises  have 
averaged.  The  film  introduces  Robert  Lowery 
as  a  P-T  star,  whose  performance  stacks  up 
with  the  best,  and  surrounds  him  with  depend- 
ables  who  round  out  a  smoothly  functioning  cast. 

The  setting  is  the  Great  Lakes  Naval  Train- 
ing Station  and  the  script,  an  original  by  Max- 
well Shane,  tells  the  stories  of  four  sailors  who 
react  to  discipline  in  various  ways.  Lowery 
plays  the  nonconformist,  who  learns  the  hard 
way  what  the  Navy  stands  for,  but,  for  a  switch, 
doesn't  get  the  girl. 

The  picture  deals  with  training  but  not  with 
warring,  concentrating  on  training  methods  and 
on  the  personal  story  running  through  the 
presentation  rather  than  on  the  enemy  or 
battling.  Heroics  are  held  at  a  minimum  and 
points  are  allowed  to  register  without  flag- 
waving  underscoring.    It's  a  trim  job. 

William  Berke  directed  competently,  with  L. 
B.  Merman  serving  Pine  and  Thomas  as  asso- 
ciate producer. 

Previewed  at  studio.  Reviewer" s  Rating : 
Good— William  R.  Weaver. 

Release  date.  Block  4.  Running  time,  74  min.  PCA 
No.  9791.   General  audience  classification. 

Johnny  Jersey  Robert  Lowery 

Ellen  Sayre  Jean  Parker 

Bill  Henry,  Roscoe  Karns,  Sharon  Douglas,  Robert 
Armstrong,  Richard  F'owers,  Larry  Nunn,  Mary  Treen. 

Cowboy  Canteen 

(  Columbia  ) 

Musical,  Western  Style 

Columbia  here  effects  a  merger  between  the 
minor  musical  formula  and  the  Charles  Starrett 
Western  series,  which  leans  heavily  on  the  first 
component  and  may  prove  a  disappointment  to 
followers  of  the  second.  Plot  interest  and  gun 
battles  are  replaced  by  the  close  harmony  of 
Roy  Acuff  and  his  Smoky  Mountain  Boys  and 
the  comedy  of  Vera  Vague.  On  the  musical 
.side,  however,  the  presence  of  Jane  Frazee  and 
the  Mills  Brothers  can  be  exploited  profitably. 

Charles  Starrett  emerges  as  little  more  than 
the  romantic  foil,  playing  a  ranch  owner  who 
is  called  into  the  Army  while  a  group  of  vaude- 
ville performers  takes  over  operations.  Of 
course,  he  falls  for  the  pretty  blonde  who  had 
stood  up  to  him,  and  leaves  for  duty  with  her 
promise  to  wait  for  him. 

The  ranch,  meanwhile,  has  been  transformed 
into  a  canteen  for  soldiers  from  a  nearby  camp. 
A  gala  opening  provides  a  setting  for  the  talents 
of  the  Mills  Brothers,  Max  Terhune  and 
"Eliner,"  Jimmy  Wakely  and  the  Tailor  Maids. 
Miss  Frazee  and  the  Smoky  Mountain  Boys 
sing  at  regular  intervals,  often  without  any 


excuse  but  the  catchy  songs  of  Saul  Chaplin  and 
Walter  G.  Samuels. 

Jack  Fier  produced  the  film  and  Lew  Landers 
directed  from  a  script  by  Paul  Gangelin. 

Seen  at  Loeix/s  42nd  Street  theatre  in  New 
York.    Reviewer's  Rating :  Fair. — E.  A.  C. 

Release  date,  February  8,  1944.  Running  time,  72 
min.  General  audience  classification. 


Steve  Charles  Starrett 

Connie  Jane  Frazee 

Vera  Vera  Vague 

Tex  Tex  Ritter 


Max  Terhune,  Dub  Taylor,  Guinn  Williams,  Edythe 
Elliott,  Emmett  Lynn,  the  Mills  Brothers,  Jimmy 
Wakely,  Roy  Acuff,  Bill  Hughes,  the  Tailor  Maids 
and  Buck,  Chickie  and  Buck. 

The  Million  Dollar  Kid 

(Monogram) 
East  Side  Kids  Item 

By  way  of  varying  the  wave  length  on  which 
the  East  Side  Kids  have  been  broadcasting  their 
wares,  producers  Sam  Katzman  and  Jack  Dietz 
have  introduced  moments  of  pathos  into  this 
item  in  their  series.  These  throw  the  young  men 
out  of  step,  so  to  speak,  and  let  the  picture  down 
toward  the  finish  after  a  typical  beginning,  pos- 
sibly not  enough  so  to  dent  their  popularity  but 
hardly  to  their  profit. 

This  time  the  tough  guys  with  hearts  of  gold 
meet  a  man  of  wealth  who  gives  them  the  liberty 
of  his  home.  They  discover  that  his  son  is  en- 
gaging with  minor  mobsters  in  a  series  of 
stickups,  out  of  boredom  or  something,  and  they 
proceed  by  the  method  they  know  best  to  put 
him  back  on  the  path  of  respectability.  On  this 
thread  are  strung  secondary  happenings  of  vari- 
ous kinds  and  qualities. 

Barney  Sarecky  served  as  associate  producer 
and  Wallace  Fox  directed  from  a  story  and 
screenplay  by  Frank  H.  Young. 

Previewed  at  the  Campus  theatre,  Hollywood, 
to  a  Thttrsday  night  audience  which  laughed 
heartily  at  the  East  Side  Kidfs  characteristic 
passages  and  booed  some  of  the  film's  intendedly 
serious  sequences.  Reviewer's  Rating :  Fair. 

Release  date,  February  28,  1944.  Running  time,  65 
min.    PCA  No.  9638.    General  audience  classification. 

Muggs  Leo  Gorcey 

Glinipy   Huntz  Hall 

Gabriel  Dell,  Billy  Benedict,  Louise  Currie,  Noah 
Beery,  Iris  Adrian,  Herbert  Hayes,  Robert  Greig, 
Johnny  Duncan,  Stanley  Brown,  Patsy  Moran,  Mary 
Gordon,  Al  Stone,  Dave  Durand,  Bud  Gorman,  Jimmy 
Strand,  Pat  Costello. 

Voodoo  Man 

(Monogram) 
More  About  Zombies 

The  zombies  in  this  melodrama  are  feminine, 
fair  and  attired  in  frills,  which  is  a  change  of 
menu  for  followers  of  scare  films  and  the  chief 
distinguishing  difference  between  this  and  most 
of  them.  Where  names  like  Bela  Lugosi,  John 
Carradine  and  George  Zucco  sell  tickets,  this 
Sam  Katzman- Jack  Dietz  production  belongs. 

The  setting  of  Robert  Charles'  screenplay, 
based  on  his  own  story,  is  a  doctor's  house  near 
a  lonely  road  where  young  ladies  driving  their 
cars  unaccompanied  disappear  in  steady  se- 
quence. Lugosi  plays  the  doctor  who  abducts 
them,  mesmerizes  them  into  a  zombie  condition 
and  tries  to  transfer  their  minds  into  the  body 
of  his  wife,  dead  these  22  years  but  still  walk- 
ing around.  A  Hollywood  scenarist  blunders 
into  the  situation  and  recruits  a  sheriff  who, 
at  the  picture's  end,  kills  the  doctor  and  thus 
liberates  a  bevy  of  lovely  zombies  who've  sur- 
vived the  doctor's  experiments. 

William  Beaudine  directed  the  picture,  which 
contains  no  comedy,  and  Barney  Sarecky  was 
associate  producer. 

Previewed  at  the  studio.  Reviewer's  Rating: 
Fair—W.  R.  W. 

Release  date,  February  21,  1944.  Rimning  time,  62 
min.    PCA  No.  9765.    General  audience  classification. 

Dr.  Marlowe  Bela  Lugosi 

Job   John  Carradine 

Nicholas   George  Zucco 

Michael  Ames,  Wanda  McKay,  Ellen  Hall,  Louise 
Currie,  Henry  Hall,  Dan  White,  Pat  McKee.  Terry 
Walker,  Ethelreda  Leopold,  Claire  James,  Dorothy 
Bailer. 


Whispering  Footsteps 

(  Republic  ) 
Fear  Complex 

"Whispering  Footsteps,"  produced  by  George 
Blair  with  Howard  Bretherton  directing  from 
a  script  by  Gertrude  Walker  and  Dane  Lussier, 
fails  to  provide  horror,  mystery,  or  opportunity 
for  its  competent  players  to  prove  their  worth. 

In  a  dragging  story,  based  on  the  fear  com- 
plex which  has  a  young  bank  teller  in  its  grip, 
a  series  of  girl  murders  are  committed.  All 
evidence  points  to  him  until — unexplained  and 
with  jarring  suddenness — the  radio  blares  forth 
news  that  a  man,  who  has  not  appeared  in  the 
story  at  any  time,  has  *been  arrested  for  the 
crimes  and  has  confessed  his  guilt. 

John  Hubbard  as  the  teller,  and  Rita  Quigley 
as  the  banker's  daughter  in  love  with  the  teller 
and  believing  in  him,  struggle  through  some 
moments  as  trying  on  the  audience  as  they  ap- 
parently were  on  the  players,  as  she  tries  to 
bolster  his  courage.  Joan  Blair  has  a  bit  as  a 
hardened  young  business  woman  carrying  on 
an  affair  with  the  banker,  while  the  others  in 
the  cast  are  handicapped  by  the  flimsy  story. 

Seen  at  Grauman's  Chinese  theatre,  Holly- 
wood, where  it  was  second  on  a  bill  topped  by 
"Song  of  Russia."  Reviewer's  Rating:  Poor. 
— Jack  Cartwright. 

Release  date,  December  30,  1943.  Rimning  time,  55 
min.    PCA  No.  9694.    General  audience  classification, 

Marcus  Borne  John  Hubbard 

Brooke  Hammond  Rita  Quigley 

Toan  Blair,  Juanita  Quigley,  Cy  Kendall,  William 
Benedict,  Matt  McHugh.  Marie  Blake,  Dick  Elliott, 
Mary  Gordon,  Elizabeth  Valentine,  Madeline  Gray. 

SHORT  SUBJECTS 

WITH  THE  MARINES  AT  TARAWA 
(Univ.) 

War  Activities  Committee 

In  two  Technicolor  reels  the  Marine  Corps 
shows  the  death,  sweat  and  destruction  required 
to  win  the  pink  and  blue  beachheads  of  Tarawa 
atoll  in  the  Gilbert  Islands.  It  is  the  most  vivid 
official  screen  battle  report  yet  released. 

Beginning  with  embarkation  day  Marine 
cameras  follow  the  attack  through  planning, 
convoy,  bombardment  and  landing  stages  to  the 
final  mop  up  of  Jap  snipers.  For  the  first  time, 
in  glimpses  of  the  wounded  and  of  American 
bodies  in  the  sand  or  face  up  in  the  surf  the 
cost  of  victory  is  brought  home  to  theatre  audi- 
ences. It  should  make  Americans  think,  and 
keep  bond  booths  busy. 

The  15  men  of  the  Marine  camera  crew  were 
in  the  fore  of  the  attack  and  their  5,000  feet  of 
color  film  showed  it.  So  did  the  casualty  rec- 
ords, for  Lieut.  Ernest  E.  Matthews,  Jr.  of 
Dallas  and  Staff  Sgt.  Wesley  Lee  Kroenung, 
Jr.,  died  in  action.  This  official  release  is  dis- 
tributed without  profit  bv  Universal  for  the  War 
Activities  Committee.  Scoring  and  editing  were 
done  at  the  Warners  studio.  Exhibitors  should 
feel  an  obligation  to  show  it. — J.  S.,  Jr. 
Release  date,  March  2,  1944.         19  mirmtes 

POST-WAR  JOBS?  (20tli-Fox) 

March  of  Time 

The  widespread  fear  of  unemployment  at  the 
close  of  the  present  war  is  recognized  in  the 
latest  March  of  Time  issue,  and  no  attempt 
is  made  to  show  that  it  is  without  foundation. 
Instead  the  editors  suggest  that  consciousness 
of  the  problem  may  be  the  first  step  in  solv- 
ing it.  Public  and  private  agencies  are  already 
at  work  planning  for  the  transitional  stage 
when  war  contracts  are  no  longer  supporting 
expanded  industrial  plants  and  the  transfer  to 
consumer  goods  has  not  yet  been  made.  In- 
dustry also  views  the  problem  with  alarm  from 
the  viewpoint  of  idle  shops  and  shrinking 
profits.  In  spite  of  the  shortage  of  materials, 
many  plants  are  already  devoting  time  and 
money  to  developing  new  products  and  new 
techniques  for  post-war  manufacture. 

The  material  preserited  should  prove  to  be 
of  interest  throughout  the  country. 
Release  date,  February  25,  1944     19  minutes 


I  774  Product  Digest  Section 


February    26,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  h^ERALD 


THE  RELEASE  CHART 

Index  to  Reviews,  Advance  Synopses  and 
Service  Data  in  PRODUCT  DIGEST  SECTION 


(•)  before  the  title  indicates  1942-43  product. 

Release  dates  and  running  time  are  furnished  as  soon  as  avail- 
able. Advance  dates  are  tentative  and  subject  to  change.  Run- 
ning times  are  the  official  times  supplied  by  the  distributor. 

All  page  numbers  on  this  chart  refer  to  pages  in  the 
PRODUCT  DIGEST  SECTION  of  MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD. 


Consult  Service  Data  in  the  PRODUCT  DIGEST  SECTION  for 
Legion  of  Decency  Rating,  Audience  Classification  and  Managers' 
Round  Table  Exploitation. 

Short  Subjects  Chart  with  Synopsis  Index  can  be  found  on 
pages  1764-1765. 

Feature  Product  Including  Coming  Attractions,  listed  by  Com- 
pany, in  order  of  release,  on  page  1755. 


Title  Company 

ABOVE  Suspicion  MGM 

Action  in  Arabia  RKO 

Address  Unknown  Col. 

Adventure  in  Iraq  WB 

Adventures  of  a  Roolcie  RKO 

Adventures  of  Mark  Twain  WB 

Adventures  of  Tartu  (British]  MGM 

Ali  Baba  and  40  Thieves  (color)  Univ. 

Always  a  Bridesmaid  Univ. 

Amazing  Mr.  Forrest,  The  PRC 

American  Miracle  (color)  MGM 

(formerly  America) 

And  Now  Tomorrow  Para. 

And  the  Angels  Sing  Para. 

Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble  MGM 

Arizona  Trail  Univ. 

Arizona  Whirlwind  Mono. 

Around  the  World  RKO 

At  Night  We  Dream  [color)  Col. 


Prod. 
Number 

402 
420 

'304 
402 

406 
8003 
8023 

413 


8081 
41  i 


Releaie 

Stars  Date 

Joan  Crawford-Fred  MacMurray  Sept.,'43 

George  Sanders-Virginia  Bruce  Block  4 

Paul  Lukas-Mady  Christians  Not  Set 

John  Loder-Ruth  Ford  Oct.  9.'43 

Wally  Brown-Alan  Carney  Block  I 

Fredric  March-Alexis  Smith  Not  Set 

Robert  Donat-Valerie  Hobson  Oct.,'43 

Jon  Hall-Maria  Montez  Jan.  I4,'44 

Andrews  Sisters-Patric  Knowles  Sept.  24,'43 

Edward  E.  Horton-Jack  Buchanan  Feb.  24,'44 

Brian  Donlevy-Ann  Richards  Not  Set 

Loretta  Young-Alan  Ladd  Not  Set 

Fred  MacMurray-Dorothy  Lamour  Not  Set 

Mickey  Rooney-Lewis  Stone  Not  Set 

Tex  Ritter-Fuzzy  Knight  Sept.  24, '43 

Ken  Maynard-Hoot  Gibson  Mar.  7,'44 

Kay  Kyser-Joan  Davis-Mischa  Auer  Block  3 

Merle  Oberon-Paul  Muni  Not  Set 


r-  REVIEWED  -> 

M.  P.  Product 

Running         Herald  Digest 

Time             Issue  Page 

90m  May  I. '43  1546 

75m  Feb.  I9,'44  1762 

64  m  Sept.25,'43  1553 

64m  Aug.  2 1, '43  1547 

1 03m  Aug."  7,'43  1546 

87m  Jan.  I5,'44  1713 

61m  Oct.  2,'43  1566 

57m  .... 

Vim  Nov.27,'43  1645 


Advanc*  Service 
Synopsis  Data 


Page 
1081 
1746 
1695 
1530 
1471 
936 

1457 
1192 
1747 
1457 

1715 
1555 
1456 
1545 
1746 
1457 
1715 


Page 
1575 


161 


655 


1766 


BANJO  on  My  Kne* 

(Reissue)  20th-Fox 

Bar  20  UA 

Battle  of  Russia  20th-Fox 

Beautiful  But  Broke  Col. 

Bell  Bottom  George  (British)  Col. 

Beneath  Western  Skies  Rep. 

Best  Foot  Forward  (color)  MGM 

Between  Two  Worlds  WB 

(formerly  Outward  Bound) 

Beyond  the  Last  Frontier  Rep. 

Big  Show,  The  (Reissue)  Rep. 

Black  Hills  Express  Rep. 

Blazing  Frontier  PRC 

*  Blazing  Guns  Mono. 
Bombers  Moon  20th-Fox 
Boss  of  Rawhide  PRC 
Bridge  of  San  Luis  Rey,  The  UA 
Bring  On  the  Girls  Para. 
Broadway  Rhythm  (color)  MGM 
Buffalo  Bill  (color)  20th-Fox 

•  Bullets  and  Saddles  Mono. 


407 

Barbara  Stanwyck-Joel  McCrea 

Oct.  29,'43 

95m 

Dec.  5,'36 

1585 

William  Boyd-Andy  Clyde 

Oct.  I.'43 

54m 

July  24,'43 

1559 

414 

Documentary 

Nov.  5.'43 

80m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1615 

5022 

Joan  Davis-Jane  Frazee 

Jan.  28,'44 

72m 

Feb.  5.'44 

1742 

i696 

George  Formby 

Not  Set 

97m 

Jan.  29,'44 

1734 

354 

Bob  Livingston-Smiley  Burnette 

Mar.  3,'44 

1746 

405 

Lucille  Ball-William  Gaxton 

Oct.,'43 

94  m 

July  3,'43 

1532 

1191 

John  Garfield-Paul  Henreid 

Not  Set 

1646 

351 

Eddie  Dew-Smiley  Burnette 

Sept.  I8,'43 

55m 

Sept.  II, '43 

1529 

3302 

Gene  Autry 

Mar.  I,'44 

362 

Don  Barry-Wally  Vernon 

Aug.  I5,'43 

55  m 

Aug.  7.'43 

i546 

i457 

459 

Buster  Crabbe-AI  St.  John 

Sept.  I,'43 

59m 

1531 

Hoot  Gibson-Ken  Maynard 

Oct.  8.'43 

55  m 

Sept.  I8,'43 

1542 

1509 

40\ 

George  Montgomery-Annabella 

Aug.  6,'43 

70m 

July  I0,'43 

1532 

1305 

452 

Dave  O'Brien-Jim  Newill 

Nov.  20,'43 

59m 

1599 

Lynn  Bari-Akim  Tamiroff 

Feb.  II. '44 

107m 

Feb.  5,'44 

i742 

1636 

Veronica  Lake-Sonny  Tufts 

Not  Set 

1763 

419 

George  Murphy-Ginny  Simms 

Mar.,'44 

11 5  m 

Jan.  22,'44 

i725 

1616 

Maureen  O'Hara-Joel  McCrea 

Not  Set 

1531 

Range  Busters 

Oct.  29,'43 

54m 

Oct.  9.'43 

1573 

1531 

766 


1617 


CALIFORNIA  Joe  Rep. 

Calling  Dr.  Death  Univ. 

•  Campus  Rhythm  Mono. 
Candlelight  in  Algeria  (Br.)     Br.  Lion 

Canterville  Ghost,  The  MGM 

Canyon  City  Rep. 

Casanova  in  Burlesque  Rep. 

Career  Girl  PRC 

Chance  of  a  Lifetime,  The  Col. 
Charlie  Chan  in  Secret  Service  Mono. 

Cherokee  Strip  (Reissue)  WB 

Chip  Off  the  Old  Block  Univ. 

Christmas  Holiday  Umv. 

Cinderella  Jones  WB 

City  That  Stopped  Hitler  Para. 


365 
8026 


364 
333 
403 
5034 

333 
8011 


4331 


Don  Barry-Helen  Talbot 
Lon  Chaney-Patricia  Morison 
Gale  Storm-Robert  Lowery 
James  Mason-Caria  Lehmann 
Charles  Laughton-Margaret  O'Brien 
Don  Barry-Helen  Talbot 
Joe  E.  Brown-June  Havoc 
Frances  Langford-Craig  Wood 
Chester  Morris-Jeanne  Bates 
Sidney  Toler-Gwen  Kenyon 
Dick  Foran 

Donald  O'Connor-Peggy  Ryan 
Deanna  Durbin-Gene  Kelly 
Joan  Leslie-Robert  Alda 
Russian  Documentary 


Dec.  29.'43 

55m 

Jan.  8,'44 

1706 

1675 

Dec.  I7.'43 

63  m 

Dec.  I8,'43 

1673 

1635 

Nov.  I9.'43 

63m 

Oct.  9,'43 

1574 

1545 

Not  Set 

85m 

Jan.  I,'44 

1694 

Not  Set 

1635 

Nov.  29.'43 

55  m 

Nov.  I3.'43 

1626 

1599 

F^'eb.  I9.'44 

72m 

Jan.  29,'44 

1733 

1676 

Jan.  II, '44 

66m 

Dec.  I8,'43 

1674 

1634 

Oct.  26,'43 

66m 

Oct.  I6,'43 

1586 

1545 

Feb.  I4.'44 

65  m 

Jan.  I5,'44 

1714 

1599 

Oct.  2,'43 

56m 

Feb.  25.'44 

81m 

Feb.  I9,'44 

1761 

i7i5 

Not  Set 

1695 

Not  Set 

1746 

Special 

57  m 

Sept.  4,'43 

i52\ 

1655 


Product  Digest  Section    1 775 


MOTION  PICTURE 

HERALD 

Feb 

r  u  a  r  y 

26. 

1  944 

r-  REVIEWED  -> 

M.  P. 

Product 

Advance 

Service 

Prod. 

n  1 

Release 

Running 

Herald 

Digest 

Synopsis 

Data 

iy  mTwrnVCJ 

Titnc 

Is  Site 

Pate 

rage 

rage 

20th-Fox 

404 

Dorothy  McGuire-Robert  Young 

Sept.  3,'43 

91m 

Aug.  21, '43 

1558 

1655 

Coastal  Command  (Briiish) 

RKO 

Documentary 

Not  Set 

60m 

Nov.  I4,'42 

1005 

\  •  •  * 

Cobra  Woman  (color) 

Univ. 

Jon  Hall-Maria  Montez 

May  I2,'44 

1457 

1655 

Conflict 

WB 

Humphrey  Bogart-Alexis  Smith 

Not  Set 

1456 

.... 

Corvette  K-225 

Univ. 

8007 

Randolph  Scott-James  Brown 

Oct.  I,'43 

99m 

Oct.  2,'43 

1565 

1240 

1719 

Courageous  Mr.  Penn  (Br.) 

Hoffberg 

Clifford  Evans-Deborah  Kerr 

Dec.  22,'43 

78m 

Jan.  I,'44 

1694 

Cover  Girl,  The  (color) 

Col. 

Rita  Hayworth-Gene  Kelly 

Apr.  6,'44 

.... 

.... 

i4i6 

.... 

Cowboy  Canteen 

Col. 

5220 

Charles  Starrett-Jane  Frazee 

Feb.  8,'44 

72m 

Feb.  26,'44 

1774 

1763 

.... 

Cowboy  in  the  Clouds 

Col. 

5203 

Charles  Starrett-Julie  Duncan 

Dec.  23,'43 

55m 

Jan.  8.'44 

1706 

1636 

Cowboy  and  the  Senorita,  Tli 

e  Rep. 

Roy  Rogers-Dale  Evans 

Not  Set 

1747 

Crazy  House 

Univ. 

8005 

Olsen  and  Johnson 

Oct.  8,'43 

80m 

Oct.  23, '43 

1595 

1531 

1719 

Crime  by  Night 

WB 

Jane  Wyman-Jerome  Cowan 

Not  Set 

1091 

Crime  Doctor's  Strangest  Case  Col. 

562! 

Warner  Baxter-Lynn  Merrick 

Dec.  9,'43 

68m 

Jan.  22,'44 

1725 

1654 

Crime  School  (Reissue) 

WB 

327 

Humphrey  Bogart-Dead  End  Kids 

Dec.  4,'43 

86m 

May  7,'38 

1626 

Cross  of  Lorraine,  The 

MGM 

414 

Pierre  Aumont-Gene  Kelly 

Jan. ,'44 

90m 

Nov.  I3,'43 

1625 

1457 

1719 

Cry  "Havoc" 

MGM 

417 

Margaret  Sullavan-Ann  Sothern 

Feb.,'44 

97m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1614 

1555 

Curly 

Col. 

Cary  Grant-Janet  Blair 

Not  Set- 

1616 

Curse  of  the  Cat  People 

RKO 

418 

Simone  Simon-Kent  Smith 

Block  4 

70  m 

Feb.  I9,'44 

1762 

1715 

DANCING  Masters.  The 

20th-Fox 

413 

Laurel  and  Hardy 

Nov.  19.'43 

63  m 

Oct.  30,'43 

1605 

1555 

Dangerous  Blondes 

Col. 

4016 

Evelyn  Keyes-Edmund  Lowe 

Sept.23,'43 

80m 

Oct.  23, '43 

1594 

1509 

Dangerl  Women  at  Work 

PRC 

411 

Patsy  Kelly-Mary  Brian 

Aug.  23,'43 

59m 

July  I7,'43 

1426 

Day  After  Day  (Russian) 

Artkino 

Documentary 

Nov.  I5.'43 

62m 

Nov.  20,'43 

1634 

Days  of  Glory 

RKO 

Tamara  Toumanova-Gregory  Peck 

Not  Set 

1636 

Dear  Octopus  (British)  Gains.-Gen'l 

.... 

Margaret  Lockwood-Michael  Wilding         Not  Set 

86m 

Sept.  I8,'43 

1542 

Death  Valley  Manhunt 

Rep. 

375 

Bill  Elliott-Gabby  Hayes 

Sept.  25,'43 

55m 

Aug.  28,'43 

1558 

1402 

Death  Valley  Rangers 

Mono. 

Hoot  Gibson-Ken  Maynard 

Dec.  3,43 

59m 

Dec.  I8,'43 

1674 . 

1555 

Demi  Paradise  (Br.)     Two  Cities-GFD 

Laurence  Olivier-Penelope  Ward 

Not  Set 

Il5m 

Dec.  I8,'43 

1673 

Deerslayer,  The 

Rep. 

306 

Bruce  Kellogg-Jean  Parker 

Nov.  22,'43 

67m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1615 

1599 

Desert  Song,  The  (color) 

WB 

310 

Dennis  Morgan-Irene  Manning 

Jan.  29,'44 

96m 

Dec.  I8,'43 

1673 

872 

1719 

Destination,  Tokyo 

WB 

309 

Cary  Grant-John  Garfield 

Jan.  I.'44 

135m 

Dec.  25, '43 

1685 

1530 

1766 

Devil  Riders,  The 

PRC 

460 

Buster  Crabbe-AI  St.  John 

Nov,  5,'43 

58m 

Feb.  12, '44 

1754 

1566 

.... 

Double  Indemnity 

Para. 

.... 

Barbara  Stanwyck-Fred  MacMurray 

Not  Set 

.... 

1646 

Doughboys  In  Ireland 

Col. 

5031 

Kenny  Baker-Jeff  Donnell 

Oct.  7,'43 

61m 

Oct.  9,'43 

i574 

1545 

Dragon  Seed 

MGM 

Katharine  Hepburn-Walter  Huston 

Not  Set 

1675 

Drifter,  The 

PRC 

46i 

Buster  Crabbe-AI  St.  John 

Dec.  20,'43 

60m 

1606 

Dr.  Gillespie's  Criminal  Case 

MGM 

407 

Lionel  Barrymore-Van  Johnson 

Nov.,'43 

89m 

May  8,'43 

1546 

1192 

Dr.  Paul  Joseph  Goebbels 

Frank 

Paul  Andor-Claudia  Drake-Donald  Woods  Not  Set 

1599 



Drums  of  Fu  Manchu 

Rep. 

305 

Henry  Brandon-William  Royle 

Nov.  27.'43 

68m 

Nov.  I3,'43 

1626 

1606 

EMPTY  Holsters  (Reissue) 

WB 

334 

Dick  Foran 

Oct.  2.'43 

62m 

•  >  •  ■ 

Escape  to  Danger  (British) 

RKO 

419 

Eric  Portman-Ann  Dvorak 

Block  4 

83m 

Feb.  5,'44 

1742 

Eve  of  St.  Mark 

20th-Fox 

Michael  O'Shea-Anne  Baxter 

Not  Set 

i636 

FALCON  and  the  Coeds,  The  RKO 

410 

Tom  Conway-Jean  Brooks 

Block  2 

68m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1615 

1599 

Fallen  Sparrow,  The 

RKO 

401 

Maureen  O'Hara-John  Garfield 

Block  ! 

93m 

Aug.  21, '43 

1547 

1182 

1719 

False  Colors 

UA 

.... 

William  Boyd 

Nov.  5,'43 

65m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1614 

1431 

Fighting  Seabees,  The 

Rep. 

John  Wayne-Susan  Hayward 

Not  Set 

lOOm 

Jan.22,'44 

1725 

1616 

i766 

Find  the  Blackmailer 

WB 

306 

Faye  Emerson-Jerome  Cowan 

Nov.  6,'43 

55m 

Oct.  23,'43 

1594 

.... 

.... 

Fired  Wife 

Univ. 

8017 

Robert  Palge-Loulse  Allbritton 

Sept.  3,'43 

73m 

Sept.  4, '43 

1521 

Flesh  and  Fantasy 

Univ. 

8062 

Charles  Boyer-Barbara  Stanwyck 

Oct.  29,'43 

94m 

Sept.  I8,'43 

1541 

1058 

1766 

Follow  the  Boys 

Univ. 

.... 

Stage  and  Screen  Entertainers 

Apr.  7,'44 

.... 

1635 

.... 

(formerly  Three  Cheers  for 

the  Boys) 

Follow  the  Leader 

Mono. 

East  Side  Kids 

Not  Set 

1606 

Footlight  Glamour 

Col. 

4020 

Penny  Singleton-Arthur  Lake 

Sept.  30,'43 

68m 

Oct.  9,'43 

1573 

[531 

For  Whom  the  Bell  Tolls  (color)  Para. 

4338 

Gary  Cooper-lngrid  Bergman 

Special 

168m 

July  I7,'43 

1546 

855 

\7\9 

Four  Jills  In  a  Jeep 

20th-Fox 

423 

Kay  Francis-Carole  Landis 

Mar.,'44 

1676 

.... 

Frenchman's  Creek  (color) 

Para. 

Joan  Fontalne-Arturo  de  Cordova 

Not  Set 

1416 

.... 

Frisco  Kid  (Reissue) 

WB 

325 

James  Cagney-Margaret  Lindsay 

Mar.  4,'44 

77m 

Nov.  2,'35 

1726 

.... 

.... 

Frontier  Law 

Univ. 

8082 

Russell  Hayden-Jennlfer  Holt 

Nov.  5,'43 

55m 

1606 

.... 

Frontier  Outlaws 

PRC 

462 

Buster  Crabbe-AI  St.  John 

Mar.  4.'44 

1746 

Fugitive  from  Sonora 

Rep. 

361 

Don  Barry-Lynn  Merrick 

July  l,'43 

55m 

• 

July  10, '43 

1414 

1375 

GANG'S  All  Here  (color) 

20th-Fox 

416 

Alice  Faye-Carmen  Miranda 

Dec.  24,'43 

103m 

Dec.  4,  43 

1653 

1530 

1766 

Gangway  for  Tomorrow 

RKO 

407 

Margo-Robert  Ryan-John  Carradine 

Block  2 

69m 

Nov  6,'43 

1614 

1566 

Ghost  Ship,  The 

RKO 

412 

Richard  DIx-Edlth  Barrett 

Blocks 

69m 

Dec.  II, '43 

1666 

1646 

Ghost  That  Walks  Alone,  The  Col. 

Arthur  Lake-Lynn  Roberts 

Feb.  I0,'44 

64m 

Feb.  I9,'44 

1762 

1696 

.... 

Gildersleeve  on  Broadway 

RKO 

409 

Harold  Peary-Billie  Burke 

Block  2 

65  m 

Oct.  23, '43 

1595 

1566 

Girl  Crazy 

MGM 

409 

Mickey  "Rooney-Judy  Garland 

Nov.,'43 

99m 

Aug.  7,'43 

1558 

1 191 

1766 

Girl  from  Monterrey,  The 

PRC 

412 

Armida-Edgar  Kennedy 

Oct.  4,'43 

61m 

Sept.  25,'43 

1554 

1509 

.... 

Girls  on  Probation  (Reissue) 

WB 

328 

Jane  Bryan-Ronald  Reagan 

Dec.  4,'43 

63  m 

Oct.  29,'38 

1626 

Going  My  Way 

Para. 

4319 

Bing  Crosby-Rise  Stevens 

Block  4 

125m 

Feb.  26,'44 

1773 

1763 

.... 

Good  Fellows.  The 

Para. 

4302 

Cecil  Kellaway-Helen  Walker 

Block  1 

70m 

Aug.  14,  43 

1559 

119! 

Government  Girl 

RKO 

408 

Olivia  de  Havilland-Sonny  Tuffs 

Block  2 

93  m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1614 

1416 

1766 

Great  Moment,  The 

Para. 

Joel  McCrea-Betty  Field 

Not  Set 

912 

(formerly  Great  Without  Glory) 

Great  Mr.  Handel,  The  (color) 

(British) 

Midflim 

Wilfred  Lawson-Elizabeth  Allan 

Sept.,  9,'43 

89m 

Sept.  I8,'43 

1542 

I  776  Product  Digest  Section 


February    26,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


-  REVIEWED—^ 

M.  P.        Product    Advance  Service 


Prod. 

Release 

Running 

Herald 

Digest 

Synopsis 

Data 

Title 

Company 

Number 

Stars 

Date 

Time 

Issue 

Page 

Page 

Page 

Greenwich  Village  (color) 

20th-Fox 

Don  Ameche-Carmen  Miranda 

Not  Set 

1676 

Guadalcanal  Diary 

20th-Fox 

412 

Preston  Foster-Lloyd  Nolan 

Nov.  5.'43 

VSm 

Oct.  30,'43 

1605 

1457 

1766 

Gung  Ho 

Univ. 

8064 

Randolph  Scott-Grace  McDonald 

Dec.  31, '43 

88m 

Dec.  25,'43 

1686 

1599 

1766 

Gunsmoke  Mesa 

PRC 

453 

Dave  O'Brien-Jim  Newill 

Jan.  3,'44 

59m 

1635 

Guns  of  the  Pecos  (Reissue) 

WB 

335 

Dick  Foran 

Oct.  2,"43 

56m 

Guy  Named  Joe,  A 

MGM 

416 

Spencer  Tracy-Irene  Dunne 

Mar.,'44 

120m 

Dec.  25,'43 

1686 

1431 

Gypsy  Wildcat  (color) 

Univ. 

Maria  Montei-Jon  Hall 

Not  Set 

1675 

HAIL  the  Conquering  Hero 

Para. 

Eddie  Bracken-Ella  Raines 

Not  Set 

1696 

Hail  to  the  Rangers 

Col. 

5201 

Sept.  16, '43 

57m 

Nov  27  '43 

1646 

1055 

Hairy  Ape,  The 

UA 

^^illiam  Bendix-Susan  Hayward 

May  9,'44 

1763 

Hands  Across  the  Border 

Rep. 

341 

Rftv   Rrtnftr^-Riitn  Tprrv 

Jan.   5, '44 

73  m 

Dec  1  1  '43 

1665 

1545 

Happy  Land 

20th-Fox 

415 

Don    Am<^pno-FrA  nc"  Dpft 

Dec.  3!'43 

75m 

Nov.  I3,'43 

1625 

1555 

1766 

Harvest  Melody 

PRC 

402 

Rosemary  Lane-Johnny  Downs 

Nov.  22, '43 

71m 

Oct.  9,'43 

1574 

1545 

Hat-Check  Honey 

Univ. 

8031 

Grace  McDonald-Leon  Errol 

Mar.  I0,'44 

1746 

(formerly  Cross  Your  Fingers) 

Heat's  On,  The 

Col. 

5009 

Mae  ^Vest-Victor  Moore 

Dec.  2,'43 

79m 

Dec.  4,'43 

1653 

1555 

1719 

Heaven  Can  Wait  (color) 

20th-Fox 

402 

Don  Ameche-Gene  Tierney 

Aug.  13, '43 

1 1 2m 

July  24,'43 

1578 

1240 

1617 

Heavenly  Body,  The 

MGM 

421 

^/illiam  Powell-Hedy  Lamarr 

Apr.,'44 

94m 

Jan.  I,'44 

1693 

1555 

1766 

Henry  Aldrich,  Boy  Scout 

Para. 

43 II 

limmu  1  vnnn-CnA rl  1 A  Smith 

Block  3 

66m 

Jan.  8,'44 

1706 

1696 

Henry  Aldrich  Haunts  a  House  Para. 

4306 

Jimmy  Lydon-Charlie  Smith 

Block  2 

73  m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1614 

1566 

1766 

Henry  Aldrich's  Little  Secret 

Para. 

Jimmy  Lydon-Charlie  Smith 

Not  Set 

1747 

Henry  Aldrich  Plays  Cupid 

Para. 

Jimmy  Lydon-Charlie  Smith 

Not  Set 

1431 

Her  Bachelor  Husband 

Mono. 

Johnny  Downs-Wanda  McKay 

Not  Set 

1747 

Her  Last  Mile 

PRC 

4i4 

Lionel  AtwIII-Jean  Parker 

Mar.  15,'44 

1746 

Here  Comes  Elmer 

Rep. 

303 

Al  Pearce-Dale  Evans 

Nov.  I5,'43 

74  m 

Oct.  I6.'43 

1585 

Her  Primitive  Man 

Univ. 

Louise  Allbritton-Robert  Paige 

Apr.  21, '44 

i675 

Hey,  Rookie 

Col. 

Ann  Miller-Larry  Parks 

Mar.  9,'44 

1654 

Hi  Diddle  Diddle 

UA 

Martha  Scott-Adolpho  Menjou 

Aug.  20,'43 

73  m 

July  31, '43 

1559 

1375 

1617 

Hi  Good-Lookin' 

Univ. 

8044 

Eddie  Quillan-Harriet  Hilliard 

Mar.  I7,'44 

1763 

(formerly  Kelly  Takes  Over 

Hiaher  and  Higher 

RKO 

415 

Michele  Morgan-Frank  Sinatra 

Block  3 

90m 

Dec.  1 1,'43 

1665 

1616 

1766 

His  Butler's  Sister 

Univ. 

8004 

Deanna  Durbin-Franchot  Tone 

Nov.  26,'43 

93m 

Nov.  I3,'43 

1625 

1555 

1766 

Hitler  Gang,  The 

Para. 

4320 

Robert  Watson-Victor  Varconi 

Not  Set 

1675 

Hi  Ya  Sailor 

Univ. 

8035 

Donald  Woods-Elyse  Knox 

Oct.  1 5'43 

63  m 

Oct.  9.'43 

1574 

1531 

Holy  Matrimony 

20th-Fox 

403 

Monty  Woolley-Gracie  Fields 

Aug.  27,'43 

87m 

Aug.  28,*43 

1547 

143! 

i655 

Home  in  Indiana  (color) 

20th-Fox 

Walter  Brennan-Lon  McAllister 

Not  Set 

1634 

Hoosier  Holiday 

Rep. 

302 

Dale  Evans-George  Byron 

Sept.  I3'43 

72m 

Aug.  28,'43 

i547 

Horn  Blows  at  Midnight,  The 

WB 

Jack  Benny-Alexis  Smith 

Not  Set 

i7i5 

Hostages 

Para, 

4305 

Luise  Rainer-William  Bendix 

Block  1 

87m 

Aug.  I4,'43 

1579 

1277 

1766 

Hot  Rhythm 

Mono. 

Dona  Drake-Robert  Lowery 

Apr.  7,'44 

1763 

Hour  Before  the  Dawn,  The 

Para. 

4317 

Veronica  Lake-Franchot  Tone 

Block  4 

1555 

1  DOOD  It 

MGM 

403 

Red  Skelton-Eleanor  Powell 

Sept.,'43 

102m 

July  31, "43 

1579 

1 192 

1719 

1  Love  a  Soldier 

Para. 

Paulette  Goddard-Sonny  Tufts 

Not  Set 

1675 

Impostor,  The 

Univ. 

8066 

Jean  Gabin-Allyn  Joslyn 

Feb.  II, '44 

94  m 

Feb.  I2,'44 

i754 

1616 

Incendiary  Blonde  (color) 

Para. 

Betty  Hutton-Arturo  de  Cordova 

Not  Set 

1675 

In  Old  Chicago  (Reissue) 

20th-Fox 

406 

Alice  Faye-Tyrone  Power-Don  Ameche 

Oct.  29,'43 

94  m 

Jan.  8,*38 

i542 

In  Old  Oklahoma 

Rep. 

307 

John  Wayne-Martha  Scott 

Dec.  6,'43 

102m 

Oct.  23,'43 

1593 

1719 

In  Our  Time 

WB 

31! 

Ida  Lupino-Paul  Henreid 

Feb.  I9,'44 

1  lOm 

Feb.  5,'44 

1741 

1416 

1766 

Iron  Major,  The 

RKO 

406 

Pat  O'Brien-Ruth  Warrick 

Block  2 

85m 

Oct.  23,'43 

1593 

1555 

1719 

Is.  Everybody  Happy? 

Col. 

5016 

Ted  Lewis-Nan  Wynn 

Oct.  28,'43 

73  m 

Nov.  27,'43 

1646 

1545 

1655 

Isle  of  Forgotten  Sins 

PRC 

401 

John  Carradine-Gale  Sondergaard 

Aug.  15,  "43 

82m 

July  3,'43 

1532 

1339 

1617 

It  Happened  in  Gibraltar 

(Fr.)  Vigor 

Erich  von  Stroheim-Viviane  Romance 

Nov.  15. '43 

93m 

Nov.  27,'43 

1646 

It  Happened  Tomorrow 

UA 

Dick  Powell-Linda  Darnell 

Feb.  25.'44 

i675 

JACK 

London 
Jane  Eyre 
Janie 

Jeannie  (British) 
Jive  Junction 
Johnny  Come  Lately 


UA 

Michael  O'Shea-Susan  Hayward 

Dec.  24,'43 

93m 

Nov.  27,'43 

1645 

1554 

1766 

20th-Fox 

420 

Orson  Welles-Joan  Fontaine 

Feb.,'44 

96m 

Feb.  5,'44 

1741 

1240 

1655 

WB 

Joyce  Reynolds-Robert  Hutton 

Not  Set 

1747 

English 

Barbara  Mullen-Michael  Redgrave 

Oct.  I,'43 

85m 

Aug.  23,'4I 

1594 

PRC 

407 

Dickie  Moore-Tina  Thayer 

Dec.  20,'43 

64m 

Nov.  20,'43 

1633 

1606 

UA 

James  Cagney-Grace  George 

Sept.  3, "43 

97m 

Aug.  28,'43 

1559 

1375 

i7i9 

KANSAN.The 

UA 

Richard  Dix-Jane  Wyatt 

Sept.  I0.'43 

79m 

June  I9.'43 

1547 

1182 

Kings  of  the  Ring 

Lewis-Lesser  .... 

Fight  Film  Feature 

Jan.  22,'44 

95m 

Jan.  29,*44 

1735 

Kismet  (color) 

MGM 

Ronald  Colman-Marlene  Dietrich 

Not  Set 

1635 

Klondike  Kate 

Col.  5029 

Ann  Savage-Tom  Neal 

Dec.  I6,'43 

62  m 

Feb.  5,'44 

1742 

1636 

Knickerbocker  Holiday 

UA 

Nelson  Eddy-Charles  Coburn 

Not  Set 

1635 

LAD  from  Our  Town  Artkino  .... 

Ladies  Courageous  Univ  

(formerly  When  Ladies  Fly) 

Lady  in  the  Dark  (color)  Para.  4336 

Lady,  Let's  Dance  Mono  

Lady  Takes  a  Chance,  A  RKO  405 


Russian  Feature  Oct.  6,'43 

Loretta  Young-Geraldine  Fitzgerald  Mar.  I7,'44 

Ginger  Rogers-Ray  Milland  Special 

Belita-James  Ellison  Apr.  II, '44 
Jean  Arthur-John  Wayne  Block  I 


65m       Oct.  I6,'43 


100m 
88m 
86m 


Feb.  I2,'44 
Jan.  29,'44 
Aug.  2 1, '43 


1586 


1753 
1735 
1547 


1616 

1091 
1599 
1240 


Product  Digest  Section 


1655 

1777 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    26,  1944 


REVIEWED 


Prod. 

M.  P. 

Product 

Advance 

Release 

Running 

Herald 

Digest 

Synopsis 

Title  Company 

'Number 

Stan 

Date 

Time 

Issue 

Page 

Page 

Lamp  Still  Burns,  The  (British) 

Two  Cities-Gen'l 

Rosamund  John-Stewart  Granger 

Not  oet 

90m 

Nov.  20,  43 

1633 

Land  Beyond  the  Law  (Keissue)  WB 

0  JO 

Dick  Foran 

(Jet.   i,  4j 

55m 

Larceny  with  Music  Univ. 

ouzo 

All       1         i/"iA          I"  1 
Allan  Jones-Kitty  Uarlisle 

bept.  10,  43 

64m 

Sept.  1 1,'43 

1530 

1351 

Lassie  Oome  nome  Icolorj  mctm 

410 

Koddy  McUowaii-tdmund  owenn 

uec,  'rj 

7Um 

Aug.  zi,  4J 

1546 

1  *}Af\ 

lz4U 

■        •     r\>  1        Tl  \A/D 

Last  Ride,  The  WB 

r)»   1  1   T        '     CI                n  L 

Richard  Iravis-bleanor  Parker 

Kl -.X  C— X 

Not  bet 

1 1 15 

Let's  Face  It  Para. 

00b  nope-Detry  Mutton 

Block  1 

76m 

Aug.  7,  43 

1559 

1277 

Lifeboat  zOtn-rox 

*f  IT 

T.II..I.L                       \A/:ll:._   D.  —  Jt.. 

lallulah  Dankhead-Vviliiam  Bendix 

Jan.  ^0,  44 

96m 

Jan.  15,  44 

1713 

1616 

Lite  and  Ueath  ot  Oolonei  Diimp 

iDritishJ                      Arcners-^^en  i 

•  •  •  • 

AX         \A/    IL         L  D               1  • 

Anton  Walbrook-Koger  Livesey 

kl-X  C_x 

iNot  oet 

1  oom 

July  lU,  4J 

1413 

Life  ot  oimon  bolivar,  Ine 

• 

1  1 VI 6X1  Ca n  1                                 u V aa  ivi  VII 1  no 

Hl^trtrir/il  Fp;*tiirfi 

June  17  '43 

152m 

lima  7A  '43 

Lodger,  The  20th-Fox 

Laird  Cregar-Merle  Oberon 

Jan.  7.'44 

84m 

Jan.  8,'44 

1705 

1636 

•  Lone  Rider  in  Raiders  Red  Gap  PRC 

368 

Bob  Livingston-AI  St.  John 

Sept.  30,'43 

54m 

Lost  Angel  MGM 

415 

Margaret  O'Brien-James  Craig 

Jan.,'44 

91m 

Nov.  6.'43 

'1613 

1555 

Love  in  Jalisco  (Mex.)  Clasa-Mohme 

Jorge  Negrete-Maria  Elena  Marques 

Aug.  &,'43 

128m. 

Aug.  21. "43 

1496 

Lumber  Jack  UA 

William  Boyd-Andy  Clyde 

Not  Set 

1763 

Data 
Page 


MADAME  Curie 

Mad  Ghoul,  The 

Make  Your  Own  Bed 

Man  from  Down  Under,  The 
•Man  from  Music  Mountain 

Man  from  the  Rio  Grande,  The 

Man  in  Half  Moon  Street,  The 

Marine  Raiders 

Marshal  of  Gunsmoke 

Mask  of  Dimitrios,  The 

Meet  Me  in  St.  Louis  (color) 

Meet  the  People 

Melody  Parade 

Men  on  Her  Mind 

Million  Dollar  Kid,  The 

Millions  Like  Us  (British)  Gains 

Minesweeper 

Ministry  of  Fear 

Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek,  The 

Mojave  Firebrand 

Moonlight  and  Cactus 

Moonlight  in  Vermont 

Mr.  Co-ed  (color) 

Mr.  Muggs  Steps  Out 

Mr.  Skeffington 

Mummy's  Ghost,  The 

Murder  on  the  Waterfront 

My  Best  Gal 

My  Reputation 

Mystery  Broadcast 
•Mystery  of  the  13th  Guest 


MGM 

490 

Univ. 

8038 

WB 

MGM 

4ii 

Rep. 

257 

Rep. 

363 

Para. 

RKO 

Univ. 

8083 

WB 

MGM 

MGM 

Mono. 

PRC 

409 

Mono. 

.-Gen'l 

Para. 

4308 

Para. 

Para. 

4312 

Rep. 

377 

Univ. 

Univ. 

8025 

MGM 

Mono. 

WB 

Univ. 

WB 

'362 

Rep. 

WB 

Rep. 

304 

Mono. 

Greer  Garson-Walter  Pidgeon  Feb.,'44 

Evelyn  Ankers-David  Bruce  Nov.  1 2, '43 

Jack  Carson-Jane  Wyman  Not  Set 

Charles  Laughton-Binnie  Barnes  Dec.,'43 

Roy  Rogers  Oct.  30,'43 

Don  Barry-Twinkle  Watts  Oct.  I8,'43 

Nils  Asther-Helen  Walker  Not  Set 

Pat  O'Brien-Ruth  Hussey  Not  Set 

Tex  Ritter-Russell  Hayden  Jan.  2 1, '44 

Sydney  Greenstreet-Peter  Lorre  Not  Set 

Judy  Garland-Margaret  O'Brien  Not  Set 

Dick  Powell-Lucille  Ball  Not  Set 

Mary  Beth  Hughes-Eddie  Quillan  Aug.  27,'43 

Mary  Beth  Hughes-Edward  Norris  Feb.  1 2, '44 

East  Side  Kids  Feb.  28,'44 

Eric  Portman-Patricia  Roc  Not  Set 

Richard  Arlen-Jean  Parker  Block  2 

Ray  Milland-Marjorie  Reynolds  Not  Set 

Eddie  Bracken-Betty  Hutton  Block  3 

Bill  Elliott-Gabby  Hayes  Mar.  I9,'44 

Andrews  Sisters-Leo  Carillo  Not  Set 

Gloria  Jean-Fay  Helm  Dec.  24, '43 

Red  Skelton-Esther  Williams  Not  Set 

East  Side  Kids  Dec.  10, '43 

Bette  Davis-Claude  Rains  Not  Set 

John  Carradine-Lon  Chaney  Not  Set 

John  Loder-Ruth  Ford  Sept.  I8,'43 

Jane  Withers-Jimmy  Lydon  Not  Set 

Barbara  Stanwyck-George  Brent  Not  Set 

Nils  Asther-Ruth  Terry  Nov.  23,'43 

Dick  Purcell-Helen  Parrish  Nov.  5,'43 


124m 

Nov.  20,'43 

1633 

1416 

65m 

Oct.  23,'43 

1594 

1586 

1715 

103  m 

Aug.  7,'43 

i547 

71m 

Sept.  25,'43 

1554 

1402 

55m 

Oct.  2,'43 

1566 

1766 


73m 

Aug.  7.'43 

1559 

67m 

Feb.  5,'44 

1743 

65m 

Feb.  26,'44 

1774 

103m 

Oct.  23'43 

1595 

66  m 

Nov.  6.'43 

1615 

99'm 

Jan.  8,'44 

1705 

55m 

Jan.  29,'44 

1734 

62  m 

Dec.  25,'43 

i686 

63  m 

Dec.  25/43 

1686 

49  m 

July  31, '43 

1579 

63m 

Oct.  23,'43 

i594 

60m 

Oct.  I6,'43 

1586 

1747 
1696 
1676 
1746 
1715 
1456 
1339 
1715 
1676 

1606 
1616 
1079 

i746 
1635 
1635 
1555 
1654 
1763 

i696 
1695 
1586 


NABONGA 

PRC 

408 

Buster  Crabbe-Fifi  Dorsey 

Jan.  25,'44 

1634 

(formerly  Jungle  Terror) 

National  Velvet 

MGM 

Mickey  Rooney-Jackie  Jenkins 

Not  Set 

1763 

Navy  Way,  The 

Para. 

43i6 

Robert  Lowery-Jean  Parker 

Block  4 

74m 

Feb.  26,'44 

1774 

1747 

Nearly  Eighteen 

Mono. 

Gale  Storm-Bill  Henry 

Nov.  I2'43 

61m 

Oct.  30.'43 

1605 

1545 

Never  a  Dull  Moment 

Univ. 

8030 

Ritz  Bros.-Frances  Langford 

Nov.  I9,'43 

60m 

Nov.  6.'43 

1615 

1351 

Nine  Girls 

Col. 

Ann  Harding-Evelyn  Keyes 

Feb.  I7,'44 

1676 

None  Shall  Escape 

Col. 

5006 

Marsha  Hunt-Alexander  Knox 

Feb.  3, "44 

85m 

Jan.  15,'44 

\7\i 

1695 

I76& 

Northern  Pursuit 

WB 

307 

Errol  Flynn-Julie  Bishop 

Nov.  I3,'43 

94m 

Oct.  23,'43 

1593 

1471 

1719 

North  Star,  The  RKO-Goldwyn 

451 

Walter  Huston-Anne  Baxter 

Special 

105m 

Oct.  I6,'43 

1585 

1305 

1766 

No  Time  for  Love 

Para. 

4309 

Claudette  Colbert-Fred  MacMurray 

Block  2 

83m 

Nov.  I3,'43 

1625 

855 

1766 

OKLAHOMA  Kid  (Reissue) 

WB 

330 

James  Cagney-Humphrey  Bogart 

Sept.  11, '43 

80m 

Mar.  I8'39 

1482 

Old  Acquaintance 

WB 

308 

Bette  Davis-Miriam  Hopkins 

Nov,  27.'43 

110m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1613 

1192 

Old  Barn  Dance,  The  (Reissue) 

Rep. 

2307 

Gene  Autry 

Oct.  15.'43 

60m 

Jan.  15.'38 

1574 

0  My  Darling  Clementine 

Rep. 

308 

Frank  Albertson-Lorna  Grey 

Dec.  31. '43 

68m 

Dec.  4. '43 

1653 

i636 

One  More  Tomorrow 

WB 

Ann  Sheridan-Olivia  de  Havilland 

Not  Set 

1431 

(formerly  Animal  Kingdom) 

Our  Hearts  Were  Young  and  Gay 

Para. 

Diana  Lynn-Gail  Russell 

Not  Set 

1746 

Outlaws  of  Stampede  Pass 

K^ono. 

Johnny  Mack  Brown-Raymond  Hatton 

Oct.  15,43 

55m 

Oct.  2.'43 

1566 

1402 

Outlaw  Roundup 

PRC 

454 

Dave  O'Brien-Jim  Newill 

Feb.  10.'44 

1715 

Overland  Mail  Robbery 

Rep. 

376 

Bill  Elliott-Anne  Jeffreys 

Nov.  20.'43 

55m 

Oct.  23.'43 

1594 

PARIS  After  Dark 
Partners  of  the  Trail 
Passage  to  Marseille 


20th-Fox  409 

Mono.  .... 
WB  312 


1778   Product  Digest  Section 


George  Sanders-Brenda  Marshall  Oct.  15,'43  85m       Oct.  9.'43       1573  1545 

Johnny  Mack  Brown-Raymond  Hatton    Mar.  I4.'44  ....    ....  1747 

Humphrey  Bogart-Michele  Morgan        Mar.  I1,'44         109m       Feb.  I9,'44       1761  1616 


February    26,  1944 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


Title 


Prod. 

Company  Number 


Passport  to  Destiny 

RKO 

417 

(formerly  Passport  to  Adventure) 

Patrick  the  Great 

Univ. 

Phantom  Lady 

Univ. 



Pilebuck 

Col. 

Pin  Up  Girl  (color) 

20th-Fox 

Pistol  Packin'  Mama 

Rep. 

iio 

Prairie  Thunder  (Reissue) 

WB 

332 

Pride  of  the  Plains 

Rep. 

353 

Princess  O'Rourke 

WB 

305 

Purple  Heart,  The 

20th-Fox 

422 

QUEEN  Victoria  (British) 

Renown 

Release 

Stars  Date 
Elsa  Lanchester-Gordon  Oliver  Block  4 

Donald  O'Connor-Peggy  Ryan  Not  Set 

Ella  Raines-Franchot  Tone  Jan.  28, '44 
Paf  O'Brien-Ruth  Warrick  Not  Set 

Betty  Grable-Joe  E.  Brown  Not  Set 

Ruth  Terry-Bob  Livingston  Dec.  I5,'43 

DickForan  Oct.  2,'43 

Robert  Livingston-Smiley  Burnette  Jan.  5, '44 

Olivia  de  Havilland-Robert  Cummings  Oct.  23, '43 
Dana  Andrews-Richard  Conte  Mar.,'44 


Anna  Neagle-Anton  Walbrook  Not  Set 


r-  REVIEWED 

M.  P.        Product  Advance  Service 

Running          Herald       Digest  Synopsis  Data 

Time              Issue          Page          Page  Page 


64m       Jan.29.'44  1734 


87m 


64m 
55m 
56m 
94m 
99m 


Jan.29.'44  1733 


Dec.  1 1, '43  1666 


Dec.  4,'43 
Sept.  25,'43 
Feb.  26,'44 


1653 
1553 
1773 


1636 

1675 
1675 

issi 

1654 


962 
1654 


1655 


84m       Jan.  I6,'43  1113 


RACKET  Man,  The 
Raiders  of  the  Border 
Raiders  of  Sunset  Pass 
Rainbow  Island  (color) 
Rains  Came,  The  (Reissue 
Rationing 

Return  of  the  Ape  Man 
Return  of  the  Rangers 
Return  of  the  Vampire 
•  Revenge  of  the  Zombies 
Rhapsody  in  Blue 
Riders  of  the  Deadline 
Riding  High  (color) 
Road  to  Utopia 
Roger  Touhy,  Gangster 
Rookies  in  Burma 
Rootin',  Tootln'  Rhythm  (Re 


Col. 
Mono. 
Rep. 
Para. 
20th-Fox 
MGM 
Mono. 
PRC 
Col. 
Mono. 
WB 
UA 
Para. 
Para. 
20th-Fox 
RKO 
issue)  Rep, 


5036 

352 

410 
418 


45 
5024 


4307 


414 
330 


Tom  Neal-Jeanne  Bates 
Johnny  Mack  Brown 
Eddie  Dew-Smiley  Burnette 
Dorothy  Lamour-Eddie  Bracken 
Myrna  Loy-Tyrone  Power 
Wallace  Beery-Marjorie  Main 
Bela  Lugosi-John  Carradine 
Dave  O'Brien-Jim  Newill 
Bela  Lugosi-Frieda  Inescourt 
John  Carradine-Veda  Ann  Borg 
Joan  Leslie-Robert  Alda 
William  Boyd 

Dorothy  Lamour-Dick  Powell 
Bing  Crosby-Bob  Hope-D.  Lamour 
Preston  Foster-Lois  Andrews 
Alan  Carney-Wally  Brown 
Gene  Autry 


Jan.  I8,'44 

65m 

Jan.  8,'44 

1706 

1676 

Jan.  31. "44 

53m 

Jan.  I5.'44 

1714 

Dec.  20,'43 

56m 

Dec.  25,'43 

1686 

1457 

Not  Set 

1654 

Nov.  26,'43 

95  m 

Sept.  9,'39 

i574 

Mar.,'44 

93  m 

Jan.  29,'44 

1734 

i6i6 

Not  Set 

1606 

Oct.  26.'43 

60m 

Oct.  I6,'43 

1585 

1545 

Nov.  II. '43 

69m 

Feb.  5,'44 

1742 

1599 

Sept.  I7,'43 

61m 

Aug.  7.'43 

1471 

1391 

Not  Set 

1530 

Dec.  3,'43 

70m 

Jan.  I5.'44 

1714 

1696 

Block  2 

88m 

Nov.  6,'43 

1613 

1431 

Not  Set 

1715 

Not  Set 

1362 

Block  3 

62  m 

Dec.  II, '43 

i666 

1646 

Jan.  I5,'44 

61m 

SAHARA  Col. 

Saint  Meets  the  Tiger,  The  Rep. 

Sailor's  Holiday  Col. 

Salute  to  the  Marines  (color)  MGM 

San  Demetrio,  London  (British)  Ealing 

Saratoga  Trunk  WB 

•  Scream  in  the  Dark,  A  Rep. 

See  Here,  Private  Hargrove  MGM 
Sensations  of  1944  (color)  UA-Stone 

Seventh  Cross,  The  MGM 

Seventh  Victim,  The  RKO 

Sherlock  Holmes  Faces  Death  Univ. 

She's  for  Me  Univ. 

Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon  WB 
Shipbuilders,  The  (Br.)  Br.  Nat'l-Anglo 


Show  Business 
Silver  City  Raiders 
Since  You  Went  Away 
Sing  a  Jingle 
•Smart  Guy 
So  This  Is  Washington 
Son  of  Dracula 
Song,  of  Bernadette,  The 
Song  of  Russia 
Song  of  the  Marimba 


RKO 
Col. 
UA 
Univ. 
Mono. 
RKO 
Univ. 
20th-Fox 
MGM 
Clasa-Mohme 


Song  of  the  Open  Road  UA 

Song  of  the  Saddle  (Reissue)  WB 

So's  Your  Uncle  Univ. 

Spider  Woman  Univ. 

Spotlight  Scandals  Mono. 

Standing  Room  Only  Para. 

Story  of  Dr.  Wassell  (color)  Para. 

Strange  Confession  UA 
Strange  Death  of  Adolf  Hitler  Univ. 

Submarine  Base  PRC 

Sullivans,  The  20th-Fox 

Sultan's  Daughter,  The  Mono. 

Sundown  Valley  Col. 

•Suspected  Person  (British)  PRC 

Sweet  Rosie  O'Grady  (color)  20th-Fox 

Sweethearts  of  the  U.  S.  A.  Mono. 

Swing  Fever  MGM 

owing  Out  the  Blues  Col. 

Swing  Shift  Maisie  MGM 

Swingtime  Johnny  Univ. 


5003  Humphrey  Bogart-Bruce  Bennett  Oct.  14, '43 

301  Hugh  Sinclair-Jean  Gillis  July  29,'43 

....  Arthur  Lake-Jane  Lawrence  Feb.  24,'44 

401  Wallace  Beery-Fay  Bainter  Sept.,'43 

  Walter  Fitzgerald-Ralph  Michael  Not  Set 

....  Gary  Cooper-Ingrid  Bergman  Not  Set 

229  Robert  Lowery-Marie  McDonald  Oct.  I5,'43 

420  Robert  Walker-Donna  Reed  Mar.,'44 

  W.  C.  Fields-Eleanor  Powell  May  5,'44 

....  Spencer  Tracy-Signe  Hasso  Not  Set 

403  Tom  Conway-Kim  Hunter  Block  I 
8024  Basil  Rathbone-Nigel  Bruce  Sept.  I7,'43 

8041  David  Bruce-Grace  McDonald  Dec.  I0,'43 
....  Ann  Sheridan-Dennis  Morgan  Apr.  8, '44 
....  Clive  Brook-Morland  Graham  Not  Set 
....  Eddie  Cantor-George  Murphy  Not  Set 
5202  Russell  Hayden-Bob  Wills  Nov.  4,'43 
....  Colbert-Temple-Woolley-Cotten  Not  Set 
8034  Allan  Jones-June  Vincent  Jan.  7.'44 

Rick  Vallin-Wanda  McKay  Dec.  I7,'43 

404  Lum  'n'  Abner-Mildred  Coles  Block  I 
8013  Louise  AIlbritton-Lon  Chaney  Nov.  5,'43 
....  Jennifer  Jones-Charles  Bickford  Not  Set 

422  Robert  Taylor-Susan  Peters  Feb., '44 
....  Mexican  Feature  Aug.  20,'43 
....  Edgar  Bergen-"Charlie"-Bonita  Granville  Mar.  24,'44 

331  DickForan  Oct.  2.'43 

8042  Donald  Woods-Elyse  Knox  Dec.  3,'43 

8021  Basil  Rathbone-Nigel  Bruce  Jan.  2 1, '44 
Billy  Gilbert-Frank  Fay  Sept.  24,'43 

4314  Paulette  Goddard-Fred  MacMurray  Block  3 

....  Gary  Cooper-Laraine  Day  Not  Set 

....  George  Sanders-Linda  Darnell  Apr.  2 1, '44 

8022  Ludwiq  Donath-Gale  Sondergaard  Sept.  I0,'43 

405  John  Litel-Alan  Baxter  July  20,'43 

421  Anne  Baxter-Thomas  Mitchell  Feb.,'44 
....  Ann  Corio-Charles  Butterworth  Jan.  24,'44 
....  Charles  Starrett-Jeanne  Bates  Mar.  23,'44 

315  Clifford  Evans-Patricia  Roc  Nov.  29, '43 

408  Betty  Grable-Robert  Young  Oct.-  I, '43 

....  Una  Merkel-Donald  Novis  Mar.  7, '44 

423  Kay  Kyser-Marilyn  Maxwell  Apr., '44 
5020  Bob  Haymes-Lynn  Merrick  Jan.  20,'44 

404  Ann  Sothern-James  Craig  Oct.,'43 

8020  Andrews  Sister-Harriet  Hilliard  Feb.  4, '44 


97m 

Oct.  2, '43 

1565 

1305 

1719 

70m 

Aug.  7,'43 

1471 

1696 

loVm 

July  31. '43 

1579 

1057 

i655 

105m 

Jan.  29.'44 

1734 

i43l 

55m 

Oct.  30,'43 

1605 

1531 

lOOm 

Feb.  I9,'44 

1761 

1616 

71m 
68m 
60m 

Vom 

55m 

62  m 
63m 
64m 
80m 
157m 
107m 
I3lm 

59m 
64m 
63m 
73m 
83m 


Aug.  2 1, '43 
Sept.  1 1, '43 
Dec.  1 1. '43 

jan.'29,''44 

Nov.27,'43 

Jan.  I, '44 
Jan.  {,'44 

Aug.  2 1, '43 

Nov.  I3,'43 
Dec.  25,'43 
Jan.  {,'44 

Sept.  I  I, '43 

Apr.  1 1, '36 
Dec.  4,'43 
Jan.  15,44 
July  24,'43 
Jan.  8,'44 


1558 
1529 
1665 

1733 

i646 

1694 
1695 
1558 
1626 
1685 
1693 
1530 

1482 
1654 
1714 
1579 
1706 


1746 
1715 
1471 

i635 
1457 

1675 

i635 
1654 
1599 
1471 
1241 
1416 
1416 

i695 

i635 
1675 
135! 
1616 
1530 
1747 


72m 

Sept.  4, '43 

1522 

65  m 

July  I0.'43 

1414 

1305 

1  Mm 

Feb.  5,'44 

174! 

1636 

64m 

Dec.  I8,*43 

1674 

1555 
1763 

78m 

Jan.  l,'44 

1694 

76m 

Sept.  25,'43 

1553 

1305 
1586 

i7l9 

Vim 

Nov.  I3.'43 

1626 

1241 

70m 

Jan.22,'44 

1726 

1636 

86m 

May  8,'43 

1546 

1191 

1617 

60m 

Jan.  I.'44 

1695 

1676 

TAMPICO  20th-Fox 

Tarzan's  Desert  Mystery  RKO  413 

Tender  Comrade  RKO  416 


Lynn  Bari-Edward  G.  Robinson 
Johnny  Weissmuller-Nancy  Kelly 
Ginger  Rogers-Robert  Ryan 


Not  Set 
Block  3 
Block  4 


70m 
lOlm 


Dec.  II, '43 
Jan.   I, '44 


1636 

1666  1362 
1693  1635 


Product  Digest  Section    \  779 


MOTION    PICTURE  HERALD 


February    26.    I  944 


REVIEWED  ■ 


Title 


Company 


Texas  Kid,  The  Mono. 
Texas  Masquerade  UA 
Thank  Your  Lucky  Stars  WB 
That  Nazty  Nuisance  UA 
There's  Something  About  a  Soldier  Col. 
They  Met  in  the  Dark  (British) 

Heilman-Gen'l 

•  This  Is  the  Army  (color) 

This  Is  the  Life 

(formerly  Anqela) 

Thousands  Cheer  (color) 

Three  Russian  Girls 

Thundering  Hoofs 

Tiger  Fangs 

Till  We  Meet  Again 

Timber  Queen 

Top  Man 

Tornado 

True  to  Life 
•Tumbling  Tumbleweed  (Reissue) 

Two-Man  Submarine 

Two  Sisters  and  a  Sailor 


Prod. 
Number 


303 
5017 


M  P. 


Product    Advance  Service 


WB 

224 

Univ. 

MGM 

413 

UA 

UA 

PRC 

406 

Para. 

Para. 

43i3 

Univ. 

8009 

Para. 

4304 

Para. 

4303 

Rep. 

2308 

Col. 

MGM 

Stars 

Johnny  Mack  Brown 
William  Boyd 
Warner  Stars  Revue 
Bobby  Watson-Joe  Devlin 
Evelyn  Keyes-Tom  Neal 

James  Mason-Joyce  Howard 
Joan  Leslie-George  Murphy-Stage 
Susanna  Foster-Donald  O'Connor 

Kathryn  Grayson-Gene  Kelly 
Anna  Sten-Kent  Smith 
William  Boyd 

Frank  Buck-Duncan  Renaldo 
Ray  Milland-Maureen  O'Hara 
Dick  Arlen-Mary  Beth  Hughes 
Donald  O'Connor-Peggy  Ryan 
Chester  Morris-Nancy  Kelly 
Mary  Martin-Franchot  Tone 
Gene  Autry-Lucile  Browne 
Tom  Neal-Ann  Savage 
Jimmy  Durante-Van  Johnson 


Release 

Running 

Herald 

Digest 

Synopsis 

Data 

Date 

Time 

Issue 

Page 

Page 

Page 

Nov.  26.'43 

57m 

Nov.  27.'43 

1645 

1545 

Not  Set 

59m 

Jan.29.'44 

1733 

C„-,l   oc  At 
oept.  ZOi'rj 

\i/m 

Aug.  Zl ,  43 

1  C  CO 

1 058 

1719 

Aug.  6,'43 

42  m 

June  I2,'43 

1546 

1019 

Nov.  30:'43 

aim 

Dec.  I8.'43 

1674 

1545 

Not  Set 

104m 

Sept.  4.'43 

1522 

Cast  Feb.  I5.'44 

II  5m 

July  31, '43 

1453 

1276 

1575 

Not  Set 

1416 

Jan..'44 

126m 

Sept.  I8.'43 

1541 

1079 

1766 

Jan.  I4.'44 

80m 

Jan.  I.'44 

1694 

1457 

Not  Set 

1747 

Sept.  I0,'43 

59  m 

Sept.  25.'43 

1554 

1531 

Not  Set 

1676 

Block  3 

66m 

Jan.  8,'44 

1706 

1696 

Sept.  I7.'43 

82m 

Sept.  I8,'43 

1541 

1456 

Block  1 

80m 

Aug.  I4,'43 

1579 

1457 

Block  1 

93  m 

Aug.  I4,'43 

1578 

1079 

i7l9 

Dec.  I.'43 

58m 

Mar.  I6.'44 

1746 

Not  Set 

1696 

UNCENSORED  (British) 

20th-Fox 

418 

Eric  Portman-Phyllis  Calvert 

Jan.  21,44 

83m 

Aug.  I.'42 

1714 

Uncertain  Glory 

WB 

Errol  Flynn-Paul  Lukas 

Apr.  22,'44 

1636 

•  Underdog,  The 

PRC 

316 

Barton  MacLane-Charlotte  Wynters 

Oct.  I0,'43 

67  m 

Oct.  9,'43 

1574 

1509 

Under  Two  Flags  (Reissue) 

20th-Fox 

41 1 

Ronald  Colman-Claudette  Colbert 

Nov.  26, "43 

99m 

May  9,'36 

1574 

Uninvited,  The 

Para. 

4315 

Ray  Milland-Ruth  Hussey 

Block  3 

98m 

Jan.  8,'44 

1705 

1416 

Unknown  Guest 

Mono. 

Victor  Jory-Pamela  Blake 

Oct.  22."43 

64m 

Aug.  28,'43 

1559 

Unpublished  Story  (British) 

Col. 

Richard  Greene-Miles  Malleson 

Not  Set 

91m 

Apr.  II, '42 

598 

Up  in  Arms  (color)  RKO-Goldwyn 

Danny  Kaye-Dinah  Shore 

Not  Set 

105m 

Feb.  I2,'44 

1753 

1457 

Up  in  Mabel's  Room 

UA 

Marjorie  Reynolds-Dennis  O'Keefe 

Apr.  7.'44 

1695 

VICTORY  Through 

Air  Power  (color) 

UA-Disney 

Disney  Aviation  Feature 

Aug.  I3,'43 

65  m 

July  I0,'43 

1532 

1375 

Vigilantes  Ride,  The 

Col. 

5204 

Russell  Hayden-Shirley  Patterson 

Feb.  3,'44 

55m 

Feb.  I2,'44 

1754 

1081 

Virgin  of  Guadalupe  (Mex. 

Maya 

Jose  Luis  Jiminez 

May  I4,'43 

95m 

May  22,'43 

1325 

Voice  in  the  Wind 

UA 

Francis  Lederer-Sigrid  Gurie 

Mar.  I0.'44 

i654 

Voodoo  Man,  The 

Mono. 

Bela  Lugosi-John  Carradine 

Feb.  21. '44 

62m 

Feb.  26.'44 

1774 

1676 

1617 


WATCH    on  the  Rhine 
We  Dive  at  Dawn  (British) 
Weekend  Pass 
Weird  Woman 
Westward  Bound 
•What  a  Man 
What  a  WomanI 
Where  Are  Your  Children? 
Whispering  Footsteps 
Whistling  in  Brooklyn 
White  ClifFs,  The 
Wilson  (color) 
Wintertime 

Woman  of  the  Town,  The 
Women  in  Bondage 
Women  in  War  (Reissue) 
World  of  Plenty  (British) 
Wyoming  Hurricane 


WB 

301 

Bette  Davis-Paul  Lukas 

Sept.  4.'43 

1  13m 

July  31. "43 

1579 

986 

1719 

Gains. 

John  Mills-Eric  Portman 

Not  Set 

98m 

May  22,'43 

1326 

Univ. 

8029 

Martha  O'Driscoll-Noah  Beery,  Jr. 

Feb.  I8.'44 

63  m 

Feb.  5.'44 

1742 

i676 

Univ. 

Lon  Chaney-Anne  Gwynne 

Apr.  I4,'44 

1747 

Mono. 

Ken  Maynard-Hoot  Gibson 

Jan.  I7.'44 

59m 

Jan.  I5.'44 

1714 

1599 

Mono. 

Johnny  Downs-Wanda  McKay 

Jan.  31, "44 

73m 

Dec.  1 1  .'43 

1666 

Col. 

5005 

Rosalind  Russell-Brian  Aherne 

Dec.  28.'43 

93  m 

Dec.  II. "43 

1665 

i635 

1766 

Mono. 

Jackie  Cooper-Patricia  Morison 

Jan.  17.'44 

72m 

Nov.  27.'43 

1645 

1606 

1766 

Rep. 

309 

John  Hubbard-Rita  Quigley 

Dec.  30.'43 

55m 

Feb.  26,'44 

1774 

1636 

MGM 

412 

Red  Skelton-Ann  Rutherford 

Dec..'43 

87m 

Oct.  2.'43 

1565 

1431 

1766 

MGM 

Irene  Dunne-Roddy  McDowall 

Not  Set 

1586 

20th-Fox 

Alexander  Knox-Charles  Coburn 

Not  Set 

1676 

20th-Fox 

405 

Sonja  Henie-Jack  Oakie 

Sept.  I7.'43 

82m 

Sept.  II. '43 

i529 

1431 

■  1655 

UA 

Albert  Dekker-Claire  Trevor 

Dec.  31, "43 

88m 

Dec.  I8,'43 

1673 

1531 

Mono. 

Gail  Patrick-Nancy  Kelly 

Jan.  I0.'44 

72  m 

Nov.  20,'43 

1634 

1554 

i766 

Rep. 

Elsie  Janis-Wendy  Barrie 

Jan.25,'44 

69m 

May  25,'40 

1726 

Rotha 

Documentary  on  Food 

Not  Set 

60m 

June  I9,'43 

1373 

Col. 

Russell  Hayden-Bob  Wills 

Not  Set 

1679 

YANKS  Ahoy  UA-Roach   

Yellow  Canary  (British)  Wilcox-RKO   

Youna  Ideas                               MGM  408 

You  Can't  Ration  Love                Para.  4318 

You're  a  Lucky  Fellow,  Mr.  Smith     Univ.  8033 


Joe  Sawyer- William  Tracy  July    I. "43 

Anna  Neagle-Richard  Greene  Not  Set 

Mary  Astor-Herbert  Marshall  Nov..'43 

Betty  Jane  Rhodes-Johnnie  Johnston  Block  4 

Allan  Jones-Evelyn  Ankers  Oct.  22, '43 


58m 
98m 
77m 


Mar.  I3.'43 
Nov.  20.'43 
July  3 1, '43 


64m       Oct.  9.'43 


1532 
1634 
1578 

1573 


1019 

1240 
1763 
1531 


1766 


Feature  Product,  including  Coming  Attractions,  listed  Company  by  Company,  in 
Order  of  Release  on  page  1755, 


1780  Product  Digest  Section 


A  MESSAGE  FROM  THE 


MERICAN  EXHIBITORS 


^We  in  the  American  Motion  Pioture  Industry,' 
all  of  us,  are  keenly  and  constantly  aware  of 
our  patriotic  duty.  And  willingly  we  meet  it. 
But  all  that  we  do  —  as  -often  as  called  upon  — 
is  still  small  in  measure  when  compared 
with  our  fighting  sons  who  are  giving  their 
last  measure  of  devotion. 

■^Yes,-  there  was  a  lot  of  hard  work  in  the 
March  of  Dimes  and  in  the  Fourth  War  Loan 
and  all  the  others.  But  the  war  goes  on  and  we 
want  to  go  on  helping. 


.    .    .   so  hring  on  the  Motion  Picture 


Industry's  Red  Cross  Week,.  March  23  -  £9. 

^  We  know  what  the  Red  Cross  means  to  our  Boys. 
Those  Boys  never  say  ^^no"  when  they^ve  a  joh 
to  do.  The  Red  Cross  never  says  "no"  when 
they^ve  a  joh  to  do.  We  Exhihitors  wonH  say 
"no"  to  the  job  we've  got  to  do. 


WAR  ACTIVITIES  COMMITTEE    MOTION  PICTURE  INDUSTRY 


1\  ^ 


Not  for  a  day.  Not  for  a  week. 
Not  for  a  month.  Not  for  1  year. 
But  for  24  years,  have  Trailers 
been  the  best  sellers  for  pictures. 
The  one  seller  proved  by  statistics 
to  be  never  in  the  cellar.  Still 
supreme  in  arousing  consumer 
interest;  entertaining  as  it  sells; 
selling  as  it  entertains.  The  big 
magnet  that  pulls  'em  in,  draws 
'em  in,  gets  'em  in.  That  makes 
houses  sell  out  and  people  shell 
out.  The  best  seller  of  all  best 
sellers.  Little  old  trailer  .  .  .  the 
empty  seat's  worst  enemy. 


PRIZE  BBBr  OF  THE  mOUSTRY 

STANDARD     ACCESSORIES    -    TRAILERS    •    SPECIAL  ACCES 


i 


T