National Box Office Digest (Jan-Dec 1945)

BOX OFFICE DIGEST *3 F-L-A-S-H-E-S . . . ( Continued from Page 8) productions. Action by Leon Fromkess came after looking at first cut of Mooney’s “Crime, Inc.,” on which he was not only producer but also author of the sensational newspaper expose which inspired the picture’s story. ★ ★ ★ “Enchanted Forest,” soon to start rolling, calls for the biggest interior set ever used at PRC studios. Two sound stages merge to reproduce the Redwood forest background. Lew Landers is director on “Enchanted Forest,” with Jack Schwartz producing and Lou Brock as his associate. It will be in Cinecolor. ★ -k ★ The studio received word from Leo McCarthy, general sales manager, that four top midwest circuits have closed for the entire 1944-45 program, the list including Balaban and Katz Great States, Illinois and Indiana, Schoenstadt and Sons, and Van Nomikas. Addition shows that the quartette totals 160 houses. J Universal * * * * ★ ★ ★ Universal has purchased rights to “The Third Eye,” and assigned the novel to producer Joan Harrison, who has “Uncle Harry” next on her schedule, the latter being from a play which had a year’s run on Broadway. ★ ★ ★ Frank Strayer has been assigned the directing chores on “Have A Heart,” which will feature Allan Jones and Bonita Granville, with Phil Cahn producing. ★ ★ ★ Consistent upping grosses on the Sherlock Holmes series under the producerdirector guidance of Roy William Neill has resulted in decision to up the production budget for future numbers. Next on the schedule is “Invitation to Death.” ★ ★ ★ January sees six pictures in the works at the studio, two winding up and four getting under way. The new ones include, Abbott and Costello in “The Naughty Nineties,” Edmund Hartman producing ; Deanna Durbin’s “Lady On A Train,” Felix Jackson producing and Charles David directing ; “Have A Heart,” Frank Strayer directing, and “Invitation to Death.” M-G-M ☆ ☆ ☆ ★ ★ ★ Joe Pasternak enthused over reports from New York on “Music for Millions,” where it closed a first week with a $75,000 take. ★ ★ ★ Quite a celebration welcoming Louis B. Mayer back to the studio. Other front office news included conferences between Mayer, Ben Goetz, and the newly-arrived Sir Alexander Korda, chieftain of Leo’s British production. ★ ★ ★ A1 Shenberg has been promoted to the post of production assistant to M. J. Siegel, after many successful years in the production department. ★ ★ ★ Pete Smith is working up a Technicolor short telling the favorite cooking recipes of Hollywood stars with the tricky title of “Batter Up.” Get it? No, it has nothing to do with baseball. ★ ★ ★ Eddie Mannix spent a week in the hospital after a pluerisy attack, but is expected back at the studio this week. Dr. Myron Prinzmetal handled the patient whose condition was complicated by excessive application of home light treatment. Eddie should be old enough in the picture business to handle lights. Columbia * * * ★ ★ ★ Del Lord has been assigned to direction of “Gertie From Bizerte,” which Ted Richmond will produce, with Feb. 12th set for the starting date. ★ ★ ★ Columbia has just paid a top price for screen rights to “Tomorrow Will Sing,” novel to be published next month, and bought from the galley proofs. Tells of an American aviator, of Italian backgrounding, stationed in a section of Italy where family connections are many. ★ ★ ★ Another recent story purchase was an original, by F. Hugh Herbert, “When I Came Back,” tale of a young marine returning home and the troubles he meets adjusting himself. ★ ★ ★ Director William Wright and the front office came to an amicable agreement when the megaphonist asked for a release on his two-year contract. ★ ★ ★ Judy Canova’s next will be tagged “Hayfoot, Strawfoot.” Paramount * * * ★ ★ ★ Henry Ginsberg, studio tops, starts the New Year with new energy gained by a week’s vacation at Phodenix, Arizona, first breathing spell the executive has had in a long time. ★ ★ ★ Frank Freeman is in New York for conference with Barney Balaban. ★ ★ ★ David Rose, Paramount’s managing director in Great Britain, is a studio visitor for conferences, along with S. E. Pierpont, Brazil representative. ★ ★ ★ Ralph Ravenscrot has taken over the desk as West Coast publicity representative for short subjects and the Paramount News. He formerly worked from the local Paramount exchange. ★ ★ ★ John Berry is shooting on “Too Good To Be True,” which Harry Tugend is producing after having also written the screenplay. The picture co-stars Betty Hutton and Sonny Tufts. ★ ★ ★ Mitchell Leisen is under way on “Masquerade in Mexico” on which Karl Tunberg is holding the producer reins. ★ ★ ★ Other January entries for the stages include “The Well Groomed Bride,” starring Ray Milland and Olivia DeHaviland ; “Our Hearts Were Growing Up,” starring Brian Donlevy, Gail Russell, and Diana Lynn. ★ ★ ★ Paul Jones has wound up “The Virginian,” and expects a mid-January start for “Good Intentions.” ★ ★ ★ Bing Crosby’s “Going My Way” won a whole bouquet of awards from the New York newspaper critics in their Annual poll. First the picture, then Leo McCarey’s direction, and then Barry Fitzgerald’s acting. Monogram * * * ★ ★ ★ The company has five releases going out to the marquees for January. List is : “The Navajo Trail,” “Army Wives,” “Adventures of Kitty O’Day,” “They Shall Have Faith,’ and “The Jade Mask.’ ★ ★ ★ Sam Katzman and Jack Dietz are getting under way on “Three To Get Ready” as next in their series featuring Billy Gilbert, Shemp Howard, and Maxie Rosenbloom. Here & There * * » ★ ★ ★ The New Year saw Alex Evelove, western publicity director for Warners, completing his sixteenth year with that organization. Publicist started with the music publishing unit and transferred to Charles Einfeld’s staff in 1936. ★ ★ ★ Annual Academy Award presentations have been announced for March 15th, at the Chinese Theater. ( Continued on Page 19)