The Film Daily (1948)

3fe Monday, March 8, 194! Feature Pix Seen as Tele "Time Fillers" (Continued from Page 1) ers could never expect to see first run films and that only the old pics might possibly be made available to the new and growing medium. The NBC topper saw three major sources of interest that would attract film producers to video — -(1) trailers as advertising that would help tap the vast audience of people who do not attend films, (2) video station operation by the majors, (3) production of films specifically for tele and completely apart from the feature film as it is known today. Thirty-one NBC affiliates, who are either engaged in tele operation now or will be sometime this year, will convene this Friday to discuss network arrangements, Mullen announced. He said further that a network would be established on the Pacific Coast within 18 months and reiterated his confidence that a Coast-to-Coast system would be in operation by 1950. Warner Theater Zone Ad Managers Meet Today Warners theater zone advertising managers begin a two-day meeting at the company's home office today to discuss campaigns on "To the Victor," "The Woman in White," and "Silver River." in addition to other current advertising matters. Participating in the confabs will be Harry Kalmine, Ben Kalmenson, Mort Blumenstock, Harry Goldberg, of the home office; J. Knox Strachan, Cleveland; Dan Finn, New Haven; George Kelly, Newark; Charles Smakwitz, Albany; Everett C. Callow, Philadelphia; James Totman, Pittsburgh; Frank LaFalce, Washington; Harry MacDonald, Milwaukee, and Irving Windisch, New York. Ben Wallerstein is expected. in from Hollywood. Equipment Convention In St. Louis Sept. 28-30 St. Louis — Annual convention and exposition of the Theater Equipment and Supply Manufacturers Association, Inc., will be held at the Jefferson Hotel here Sept. 28-30. Entire convention facilities of the hotel have been reserved. Foreign Policy for Pix Brandt's 900-seat Pix Theater on 42nd St., East of Broadway, becomes a foreign film house soon. \\ Send (Birthday | % Qreeting,A 7J< March 8 Jerome J. Cohen Hal Hode Jerry Cohen Claire Trevor Patti Brill Joe Miller C. H. Weaver Edgar B. Hatrick ' :-■ ;: t ■ ■■', ».* % i&t i>rT'~V\r^ <*** PHIL M. DALY "Let Us Pray ..." • O • DAVE FLEXER, opening his new Mi-De-Ga Theater in Waverly, Tenn.. the other night, invited the Rev. F. F. Moore, pastor of the local Methodist Church, to offer the invocation Leonard Shea, Memphis Eagle Lion manager, was in the audience So thrilled was he with what Pastor Moore had to say in tribute to the exhibitor, the theater and the industry that he sought a copy, forwarded it to Max Youngstein at the home, office with a covering note which commented, "To me. Pastor Moore made the most intelligent and comprehensive evaluation of the need for and good of the theater to a small community I believe I have ever heard In this day of adverse criticism towards our industry from all angles, it is refreshing to see a man thank an exhibitor for building a theater in his community." The prayer is at once gratifying and inspiring And lest there be those who think the opening of a new theater with prayer, as well as a picture, is strange, let it be remembered that the theater itself is the child of the church The earliest plays were religious in character Those concerned with one aspect of industry public relations would do well to see that Pastor Moore's prayer, and Exhibitor Flexer's thoughtfulness in inviting the clergy to deliver the invocation, alike are brought to the widest possible attention. ▼ TV • • • ANITA COLBY'S tour on behalf of Paramount's "The Emperor Waltz," which begins today, should pay off for both the picture and the Damon Runyon Cancer Fund The executive assistant to Henry Ginsberg will cover 31 cities, meeting the press, branch personnel and exhibitors Charity balls will be set up to coincide with the pic's opening in each city Miss Colby hopes to not only infuse editors with her own enthusiasm for picture making, but expects to carry back to the Coast helpful ideas from the people she meets. ▼ ▼ ▼ • • • SPYRO P. SKOURAS, chairman of the American overseas aid-U. N. appeal for children campaign has called a meeting at 20th Fox tomorrow evening to discuss plans for the gigantic children's parade which will launch the drive on April 12. . . . • John Ford and Merian C. Cooper are independently financing "The Three Godfathers," the deal with Metro calling for distribution only. ... • Bernard Lewis has joined Allied Syndicates, public relations organization at 677 Fifth Avenue which represents Milton Berle among others. ... • There is lively bidding reported by several majors for Edward Small's Italian production of "Cagliostro." Small has distribution deals for other pix with both Columbia and Eagle Lion. ... • Universal-Int'l. is anticipating a healthy $5,000,000 gross domestically for "The Naked City." ... • And now it's giveaways for the kiddies Walter Reade's St. James Theater in Asbury Park has set one for its kiddie show Saturday. ... • Speaking of the kiddies theaters across the country are going in especially strong this year for Easter kiddie shows. ▼ ▼ ▼ • • • RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL'S famed cathedral pageant, "Glory of Easter," will have its 16th annual presentation, starting Thursday. . . . • New ultra-modern Boston offices of the Philip Smith Theatrical Enterprises are a production, no less Phil, by the way, will launch four new drive-ins this season — in Des Moines, Omaha, Chicago and Griffith, Ind. ... • Thought-in-Passing Dept.: There's nothing wrong with this business which more pictures like "The Naked City" can't cure. ... © Speaking of stories of the Big Town for the screen, there's Hollywood already interested in the forthcoming "Me — Abie Wall Street." ... • INS is claiming a tele newsreel scoop with last week's video presentation in New York, Chicago and Detroit of the first actual films of the Czechoslovakian crisis. M-G-M To Release 11 Pix in 5 Mos— Rodger (Continued from Page 1) could capture this potential audi ence, Rodgers revealed that the cor pany will place its product r"'» tl exhibitors' hands as soon _> po sible. Thus concluded a v sales meetings at the studit ie j all available pictures were screens for Louis B. Mayer, vice-president charge of production, E. J. Manni studio general manager, sales exec tives and division managers. Three pictures readied for Ap] release include the Frank Capr Liberty Films' "State of the Union "B. F.'s Daughter," and "Summ Holiday." "Homecoming" and "T Pirate" are scheduled to be releas in May. June releases will be "B City" and "On an Island With Yen; Set for July are "Easter Parad and "A Date With Judy." Augu will see the release of "Julia M: behaves" and "A Southern Yankee Previously announced for relea this month are "The Bride Go Wild" and "Alias a Gentleman." The Albany, Buffalo and Bost exchange forces meet Thursday the DeWitt Clinton in Albany, N. B with Hermann Ripps presiding a: the Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapol Omaha and Des Moines grou gather at the Ambassador in CI cago, with Burtus Bishop, Jr., a Ralph Maw holding forth. On Friday the St. Louis, Kans City and Indianapolis delegatio meet at the Coronado, St. Louis, wi Frank Hensler presiding; New Yoi New Jersey, Philadelphia and N< Haven branches at the Hotel Ast< New York, with John Byrne at t head; Dallas, New Orleans, Ok. homa City and Memphis grou meet at the Hotel Adolphus, Dall: with John Allen, presiding; Atlan Charlotte and Washington branch at the Statler. Washington, D. j with Rudolph Berger presiding, a the Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Cincinn; and Detroit delegations at the W: Ham Penn, Pittsburgh, with John Maloney presiding. On March 13, Portland, Seatt San Francisco and Los Angeles me at the St. Francis, San Francis* with George Hickey presiding, a Denver and Salt Lake meet at t Brown Palace in Denver with S; Gardner in the chair. U. K. Graphic Shows Fans What They Miss London (By Cable) — Elaborate layouts on films released in the U. S. but withheld from Britain because of the duty, are being published by the London Daily Graphic by arrangement with Paramount. Layouts include synopses, stills, portraits of stars and casts. First of the series is on "Dream Girl," to be followed by layouts on "Night Has a Thousand Eyes," "Whispering Smith," "The Paleface," "A Connecticut Yankee" and "My Own True Love."