The Film Daily (1948)

INII Friday, July 30, 1948 DAILY Canada Names Gov't Liaison for U.S. Pix Ottawa — A. H. Newman, of the Department of Trade and Commerce of the Dominion Government, has been named central liaison for all American film activities resulting from the accoi'd recently entered into by the Canadian Government and the American film industry, it is disclosed. Newman's office will serve in the future as a clearing house for all film matters to which the American film companies may be parties. It is expected that as a result of the Newman appointment there will be a stepping up of the production of short subjeabs and newsreel footage with Canadian locales and subjects, and that the shooting here, either wholly or in part, of Hollywood features will show progress. Vetlugin Named Producer For M-G-M's "East Side" West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Promotion of Valdemar Vetlugin, former editorial board member, to producer of "East Side," is announced by Louis B. Mayer, M-G-M production chief. At the same time it was announced that Kenneth MacKenna will resume his pre-war post as supervisor of the story department. He will continue as editorial assistant to Mayer and Dore Schary, vice-president in charge of production. RKO's "Mama" in 20 Chi. Spots at $2,250 Plus % (Continued from Page 1) scheduled in four houses, the Essaness Circuit in two houses and the rest are independent theaters. All engagements were based on bids. B&K and Warner houses are not included in this run. B&K will play "The Babe Ruth Story," film at their State Lake Theater next month. "Babe Ruth" Day-Date in Two Capital Spots "The Babe Ruth Story," has been booked for opening Aug. 12 a)t the Warner (formerly Earle) and Ambassador Theaters in Washington. UJEDDinG BELLS Helobicoi-Chakmakian May Helabian of the Columbia home office exploitation department will be married Sunday evening to Harry Chakmakian. Wolsh-iitzgerald Kathleen Walsh, secretary to A. W. Schwalberg, has become engaged to Charles Fitzgerald. Friday's Fade-Out • • • A THOUGHT FOR TODAY, AND TOMORROW, TOO: Why does not the industry, thru the instrumentctlity of the Academy or some other duly qualified agency, establish a Hall of Fame comparable to that of baseball's at up-state Cooperstown? A Motion Picture Hall of Fame would, among other things, permit the great American film audience and the industry to acknowledge their indebtedness to those pioneers, such as the late great David Work Griffith, Col. William N. Selig and the others, whose genius, imagination, inspiration and gifted leadership contributed so much to the motion picture's development, artistic and otherwise. T T T • • • HAVE YOU READ Roy (ex-MPPDA) Norr's "The Man in Hollywood's Hottest Seat" — Eric A. Johnston, natch — in the August issue of Salute magazine? It's hot, too Norr winds up with this: "It would not come as a shock to the insiders if Johnston decided to take Mike Romanoff's advice and return to his vacuum cleaners, electrical gadgets, bricks and lime But it will be on his own decision If he goes, he'll go with a bang and not with a whimper." ▼ TV • • • THE THEATER GUILD will bare its film plans at an industry press conference called for Monday by Lawrence Langner and Theresa Helbum. ... • Eagle Lion's thoughtful Max Youngstein's sending 'round copies of the official souvenir book of the Olympic Games of 1948 as solace to those who can't make the London trip And as a gentle hint mayhap that Eagle Lion will bring the Olympics here via "The 1948 Olympic Games," a Technicolored feature, in early FaU. . . . • Thought in Passing Dep't: Didja ever see a funnier scene than the salad-makmg one in Metro's "The Easter Parade"? They ought to give Jules Munshin, who plays the waiter, a special comedy "Oscar" Now it's rainbow<olored marshmallows that are reported clicking at theater candy coimters That Technicolor influence again? Latest in revival billing on a Broadvray marquee: "Premiere encore showing." ▼ ▼ ▼ • • • DIFFICULTIES confronting a small indie theater operator are outlined in the August issue of Fortune in an article, "What's Playing at the Grove?" Reporting on exhibitor troubles "at a time when his problems, and those of his industry, are approaching a crisis" Fortune reveals the tribulations of a small theater man as exemplified by Weldon Allen, owner of the Grove Theater in Galesburg, III Article points out his difficulties in booking first runs in opposition to Public Great States lists grosses of a selection of pictures played by the Grove over a period of time and takes its readers on a trip to Chicago as Allen attempts to buy first runs instead of the second runs offered him Latter trip, incidentally, is a first-hand account by a Fortune reporter who accompanied Allen. ▼ ▼ T • • • LATEST IN BOOK-FILM TIE-UPS is the "background book," written specifically for the reader's greater enjoyment of films on the same subject RKO is trying the idea in the belief that background books will refresh the movie fan's memory of historic events The book will not be the same as the story of the film but will deal with the same historic period and characters The first author commissioned for the work is Frances Winwar who is rewriting her story of Joan of Arc, "The Saint and the Devil," as background for an Ingrid Bergman film about the French Saint Miss Winwar's book was selected from among many others on Joan because it is a detailed study of the period as well as the character The revised Winwar story will be published as a Bantam Book and will be released simultaneously with the showing of the film . Film Classics Sales Meeting Opens Today (Continued from Page 1) Theater for screenings of "Sofia" and "Miraculous Journey," to be followed by luncheon at the Astor. Sales confab will be called to order by B. G. Kranze, vice-pres'by ;it and general sales manager \ f^-Qi with Joseph BeiTihard, president i/i Cinecolor and Film Classics, will preside over the sessions. Other company executives from both coasts sitting in will include A. Pam Blumenthal. Albert Gundelfinger and Karl Herzog, all of Cinecolor; J. K. Chapman, assistant sales manager; Ted Btrnbaum, assistant to Kranze; Al Zimbalist, national advertising and publicity head; Gene Arnstein, executive assistant ti^easurer; Albert Mannheimer, dii'ector of exchange operations, and Syd Gross, Joseph Ende, David Weinei', Louis Bernhard, Herbert Stern, Arthur Reiman and William Markeilt. Delegates who will attend are Branch Managers Ralph McCoy. Atlanta: Nat Beier, Boston: Joseph Miller. Buffalo: B. A. Slaug-hter. Jr.. Charlotte: Edward Spiers, Chicag-o: Learitt Bugie. Cincinnati: Sanforcl Gottlieb. Cleveland: Ralph Peckham. Dallas: Tom Bailey. Denver: George Lefko. Detroit; Sam Abrams. Indianapolis: Leslie F. DvirJ; land. Kansas City: Robert P. Abelson. Los Angeles: R. M. Hammond. Jr.. Memphis. Also Max Mazur, Milwaukee: Richanl Stahl, Minneapolis: John McKenna. Ne^^l York, and Harrj Decker and Bob Bernhard. Xew York Exchange salesmen: Sol Reif. Omaha: Morton Magill. Philadelphia: Hyman Wheeler. Pittsburgh: William Shartin. Portland Seattle district manager: D. J. Edele. St. Louis: Sam Sobel. San Francisco, and Max Cohen. Washington. D. C. Attending division managers are: Jak' Lutzer, Southern : Max Roth, Midwestern ; Samuel Wheeler . Western. and Georgi Waldman. New York metropolitan District Manager, David Home, foreign sales manager now enroute from France, will head the foreign delegation consisting of I. H. Allen, Canada: Ralph DeBrito, Portugal: Samuel Bronston, Philippines, and C. Y. Tom. Hong Kong. Producers expected to' attend from Holly wood include Albert Jay Cohen, Sam X .-Vbarbanel and Alan H, Posner, Martin Mooney, John Reinhardt and Robert Pre: nell. Sr,, Sigmund Neufeld. W. Lee Wilder. Jack Bachman, Budd Rogers and John Rog ers. With them will be Dr. Zwillinger, fa mous finance expert, and Hatch. Root an.t Barrett, attorneys. Ccdvert Representing Nasser James Nasser, United Artists producer, has named Lowell Calvert to represent him in the East. Calvert also represents Samuel Bischoff. Intertnissions Boost Candy Counter Sales Detroit — Legitimate theater practice of an intermission has been adopted by the Senate Theater here, as a stimulus to business at the candy counter. A trailer at the end of each show, between features or other subjects, advises patrons that they will have a chance to go out to the concession booth for candy, popcorn, or soft drinks, and then the sign "three-minute intermission" is on the screen for that period, sometimes with house lights slightly up, while music comes off the sound track.