The Exhibitor (May-Oct 1945)

the exhibitor Konecoff— (Continued from page 6) SHORT STORY DEPT.: The following was supposed to have actually happened. During a perfmTnce of ‘Over 21” in the South Pacific, the cast was surprised by constant howling from the audience. However, all ‘he girls overseas ^are usedjo^the GI whistle and howl, and the performance went on. After the curtain, a GI with a dog in tow approached one of the girls, and apologized for his dog, saying the canine a n seen a white woman in a dress for three years. Combat fatigue. WHO CARES DEPT.: William Dieterle, director of “I’ll Be Seeing You,” is an ardent believer in astrology, and frequently consults astrological experts before starting work on a picture. He also wears white gloves while directing pictures. The press agent swears this is so, with his left hand on his heart. ... The life expectancy of park or sidewalk trees is only about 60 or 70 years. . . . Duncan Renaldo, who portrays The Cisco Kid for Monogram, is credited with revolutionizing the Southern California goat-raising industry, and changing the scenery near Hollywood. A few years ago in Africa, Renaldo was impressed with the creaminess of native goat milk, and it was attributed to the elephant grass on which the animals fed, so he brought back some seeds of the tall grass, which he planted in a small plot near Pasedena. The plant thrived, and soon American herds¬ men started using the grass in the feed of their goats, and now the plant is a very common sight, and the goats are even happier than before. . . . Ingrid Bergman had all her eyebrows plucked for her part in “Spellbound,” which is supposed to make her look sophisticated. (Don’t we have the darndest items?) (Brother, you do.— Ed.) THE METROPOLITAN SCENE: Lowell Thomas, Movietone News’ chief commentator, is due back in town in a few weeks. . . . Those “Salome, Where She Danced” ads are bringing in some ‘hot’ mail that may be turned over to the post office department. . . . Arthur Doyle, 20th Century-Fox manager for China, Japan, and the Philippines, recently released from a Manila concentration camp, tells us that he estimates that the war with Japan will go another 12 to 16 months at the rate we are going and he should know. . . . Walt Disney’s series of ‘Old Masters’ with Donald Duck has! been placed on exhibit in the lounge of the NYC Defense Recreation Committee for 10 days. . . . That annual financial report on the state of Paramount Pictures and its subsidiary companies is a; production in itself. . . . “San Pietro,” War Department three reeler, a tribute to the infantry, is a high rating and absorbing job. . . . Sid Kane, Loew publicist extrodinaire, will be married in June. . . . Danny Heiss (gad, but he is a wonderful production man) has completed recording on a series of Columbia shorts in Spanish and Portugese as well as work on a billiard short with one of the sport’s champions. . . . “The Enchanted Cottage,” experts tell us, is doing fine at the boxoffice. . i. . Home office quarters of Columbia’s publicity department are undergoing building renovations. . . . Dorothy Garland, sister of Judy Garland, will resume her career as a musical comedy vocalist under the name of “Miss Dorothy,” which she is legalizing. . . . May 1 issue of LO magazine is a neat job of fotos ’n stuff. . . . Fred Allen’s “It’s In The Bag” is doing a big biz in England under the title of “The Fifth Chair,” they say. ... A dozen Hollywood celebs are off to tour Army and Navy hospitals throughout the United States, among* them being Charles Coburn, Gail Russell, Diana Lynn, Jane Wyman, the Ritz brothers, Sonny Tufts, Ellen Drew, Carol Thurston, Billy De Wolfe, and Virginia Weidler. . . . The pressbook on “Diamond Horseshoe” is a colorful job. . . . Jimmy Durante’s sidekick, Garry Moore, has bought an original screen story, “That’s My Boy,” with a college background, which he will star in, and produce. This is outside of his contract with David O. Selznick. . . . We watched the public file by the Strand last week when License Commissioner Moss closed that theatre for part of two days, and, after reading the an¬ nouncement and reasons for the closure, what the public said should have made Moss’s ears burn. Some of it isn’t fit to print. . 1 . Deane Carroll, the USO’s favorite ‘Chin-Up Girl,’ opens at the Brown Derby, Palmer House, Chicago, on May 17 for a big three weeks. . . . Legit shows such as “Kiss And Tell,” “The Student Prince,” and “Life With Father.” which played the Comerford Circuit, came in for big advance sales and excellent public reaction, according to Abe Feinberg. ... It was SRO at the Embassy Newsreel Theatres, showing the atrocity reels. . . . Much big talent is signing up for the Cinema Lodge show due soon at Carnegie Hall, “All Out For The Wounded,” and it should be a sell-out. Proceeds go toward the outfitting of recreation facilities at one of the Army hospitals. . . . Will A. Whitney, the sage of Philadelphia, Washington, and other points, was in for a visit. Warner Asks Screenings NEW YORK — As pari of the Warner effort to stimulate purchases of war bonds, Harry M. Warner, president of the company, asked that the German atrocity pictures released by the news¬ reels last week be shown to all em¬ ployes both at the home office and in the branches and theatre zones. ALTEC ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT PLAN New York — Altec Service Corporation last week announced to its personnel the establishment of a retirement pension plan. The plan has been passed and approved by the Altec board of directors and stock¬ holders, respectively, and Treasury De¬ partment approval has likewise been secured. Under the plan, an employee is eligible for retirement at 60 (females, 55), pro¬ vided the employee has 20 years or more of service. To protect those of its em¬ ployees who have devoted many years of service in the sound motion picture field, and who might otherwise be unable to complete 20 years of service with Altec, approval has been secured for the grant¬ ing of past service credit for services rendered by those previously employed by Electrical Research Products, Inc., and who transferred to Altec upon its forma¬ tion in December, 1937. Altec is assuming the entire cost of the plan, which will provide a retirement ipcome equal to approximately 25 per cent of present salaries. In announcing the plan, G. L. Carring¬ ton, persident, Altec Service Corporation, said: “Ever since its formation, Altec has real¬ ized the importance of providing protec¬ tion and security not only for its cus¬ tomers but for its employees as well. Early in its history a group insurance plan was inaugurated. Later, group hospitalization was added including surgical benefits.” Stars Answer Call HOLLYWOOD — Kenneth Thompson, Hollywood Victory Committee chair¬ man, last week in response to the order of General Dwight D. Eisenhower to have entertainment units sent to Europe’s liberated and occupied coun¬ tries where our fighting personnel are stationed, and to rest centers and hos¬ pitals where entertainment is vitally needed by the G. I.’s in a huge post V-Day program, was speeding up ac¬ tivities to meet the necessity. A committee consisting of Y. Frank Freeman, Charles K. Feldman, Olivia Dellavilland, Bob Hope, Edward Mannix, and Sidney Stratz has been set up. It is understood stars can be used for shorter periods than the two to three months previously required for over¬ seas assignments, and the departure of players for Europe can now be sched¬ uled much faster. Ann Sheridan Honored Philadelphia — Ann Sheridan, Warner star, last week became the first Holly¬ wood actress to receive the coveted Sen¬ ate award of Northeast High School. Citation to the film star was in recogni¬ tion of “the beauty, charm, and intelligence which have combined to make Ann Sheri¬ dan one of the first ladies of the screen, and as a sincere tribute to her patriotic contribution to USO entertainment, espe¬ cially in the CBI field of war,.” Ross Sale Reported New York — It was learned last week that Harry Ross, Ross Federal, was considering the offer of a banking group for the out¬ right purchase of the company. Choral Group To Sing New York — The Paramount Pictures Choral Society will hold its spring concert at the Plaza Hotel on May 25, it was an¬ nounced this week. The Society, under the direction of Mrs. Edith Morgan Savage, is the only musical organization of its kind in the industry. Originally, it was a mixed group of men and women who work in the administrative office of Paramount Pic¬ tures, Inc., representing almost every department there. Joe Salmon Recovering New York — Joe Salmon, manager, Skouras Riverside for the past 16 years, was this week recuperating from a recent heart attack that he suffered some 10 days ago. May 9, 1945