Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1941)

Call Upon Showmen lo Aid War Bond Sales Calgary — Theatre and film men of the Canadian Prairie, who have donated so generously of their services and cash to patriotic purposes since the war started, are to the fore again. The current campaign for the sale of War Savings Bonds has been taken up by prominent industrialists of the prairies, who have started an energetic drive for their sale. Quota for the Province of Alberta is $600,000 monthly. Calgary theatre exhibitors and branch managers have been formed into a publicity and stunt committee for the Province. Chairman appointed is Frank Kershaw, district manager of Famous Players Canadian Corporation, with Ken Leach, exhibitor, as vice-chairman. The two committeemen representing exhibitors are Pete Egan of the Palace and A1 Gold of the Tivoli while Vernon Skorey, 20th-Fox and Harvey Harnick of Columbia, represent Filmrow. A meeting of the officials appointed and all the staffs of city theatres and the film exchanges, was held in the Capitol Theatre Sunday. Various publicity plans were arranged for the district and a number of local stunts will be pulled during the month of February. This theatrical committee promises to put some life and punch in the War Savings Campaign and raise the languishing bond sale to the desired quota. Rag Matinees for Salvage Corps Set for Feb . 15 Winnipeg — At a meeting of the Manitoba Motion Picture Exhibitors it was decided to stage special children’s shows on February 15 with rags accepted as admission. The purpose is to collect rags which will be turned over to the Patriotic Salvage Corps, the proceeds to be used in Canada’s war effort. The meeting, which was presided over by J. Pearson, president, was addressed by George Wood, manager of the corps, who thanked the industry for the speed and enthusiasm with which it cooperated. The committee in charge of the show includes Don Gauld, Misha Triller, Bob Hurwitz, Sam Rosenblatt, Claire Fallis and A. M. Knowles. Calgary Theatremen Form War Fund Committee Calgary — Theatre and exchange managers were organized by W. Anderson of the War Savings Campaign personnel staff into a committee whose objective will be to aid in the promotion of the campaign. Officers of the committee are Frank Kershaw, chairman; and Ken Leach, vicechairman. Pete Egan and A1 Gold represent the theatres and Vernon Skorey and Harvey Harnick the exchanges. Would Sell Producers a Million in War Bonds Toronto — Canada will shortly float its largest war loan in history — a minimum of $500,000,000, according to advance information from a reliable source — and the suggestion is made that American moving picture producing companies should give immediate consideration to investment in Canadian war bonds on a substantial scale. The “tentative allotment” for the U. S. film producers, doing extensive business in the Dominion, is $1,000,000 collectively, this amount being divided into suggested $100,000 lots for each of the eight major Hollywood producers, with the balance of $200,000 to be shared by several other important companies. The major producers are listed as follows: Paramount, Columbia, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Warner Bros., 20th Century-Fox, United Artists, RKO and Universal, for each of whom the suggested investment is $100,000 or more. Republic, Monogram, Producers Releasing Corp. and Alliance are among those who can absorb the balance of the million-dollar investment in Canada. “It would be a judicious move on the part of the moving picture producers of the United States,” was the declaration of Col. John A. Cooper, chairman of the board of the Motion Picture Distributors of Canada, when the subject was brought to the attention of the administrative head of the distributors’ organization in the Dominion. This comment will find reflection in the eventual attitude of U. S. producers toward the “proposal.” Cite Revenue Freedom Several reasons have been advanced from semi-official sources for the prospective guidance of the American producers in considering the Canadian war loan. Reference has been made to the fact that Canada has not yet made any move to prevent the flow of revenue of film distributors to home offices in the States, although Great Britain and Australia have done so because of the foreign exchange situation and the desirability of retaining funds. In Britain last year half of the $35,000,000 revenue of U. S. producers was “frozen” while in Australia 50 per cent of Lavish in Praise for " Peoples of Canada " Montreal — National Film Board’s “Peoples of Canada,” which has just been completed by Associated Screen Studios, has been voted by those who witnessed the test screening, one of the greatest documentary films yet produced in Canada. Script writers, cutters, sound recordists, cameramen and a host of technicians attended the test. Gordon Sparling directed the picture. Help Stamp Sales Selkirk, Man. — To help launch the further sale of War Savings stamps, N. Rotshtein donated the use of the Roxy for a meeting of the Selkirk committee. Pictures were presented and the audience was addressed by the head of the local War Savings committee. the $6,200,000 film revenue was permitted to leave the country. In Canada, the gross revenue of film exchanges in recent years has averaged more than $10,000,000 per year and the excess revenue for export has averaged $6,000,000 for each of the past four years. This net is being sent out of the Dominion under permit regulations of the foreign exchange control board but it is known that some thought has been given to the restriction of money movement for sake of exchange conservation which is extremely important during the war period. A broad hint has been given that some restrictive policy is contemplated and if a 50 per cent limit is prescribed the film revenue to the States will be reduced to approximately $3,000,000. Have 90% of Market It has been pointed out that American companies control over 90 per cent of the Canadian moving picture market and goodwill for American product would be enhanced by important subscriptions in Canada’s war loan by the U. S. producers. The Canadian loan will produce three or 3Va per cent interest, which is higher than the rate of interest for similar U. S. bonds, it is stated. Canadian funds are at 11 per cent discount in relation to U. S. money and there is the prospect that this exchange difference will be wiped out in due course, thus adding to the attractiveness of the Canadian issue. There is also the fact that the Canadian government will be appreciative of substantial financial help from the U. S. film industry at this juncture. Investment in the approaching Canadian war loan by the film producers of the United States would be a splendid gesture on a voluntary basis. At the same time, the film industry has a substantial stake in the Dominion and its future in a business way while the revenue from the Canadian market has become relatively important in the face of trade difficulties in Europe, the Middle East and the Orient which cannot be righted for some years. It is contended that the future of both the United States and Canada follows at least a parallel path, apart from the possibility of an early move on the part of the Dominion which might freeze a portion of the funds, which might be diverted to another country, because of immediate needs. In a word, it would be good business for the film industry of the United States to invest in “Canada Preferred.” U '1 Eire Censors Ban "Great Dictator" Montreal — Eire censors have banned "The Great Dictator," which is now showing in English and Scottish provincial cities. A Belfast theatre manager wished to advertise the film in Dublin newspapers, but his advertisements were returned with a note that the Eire censorship would allow no publicity regarding the picture. =!> BOXOFFICE :: February 8, 1941 K 75