Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1948)

'Joan o! Arc' to Open At Victoria Nov. 11 NEW YORK — “Joan of Arc,” Sierra Pictures production released by RKO, will open at the new Victoria Theatre Armistice Day, November 11, according to Walter Wanger, president of Sierra Pictures; Ned E. Depinet, president of RKO, and Robert W. Dowling, president of City Investing Co., ovmers of the Victoria. The picture, which stars Ingrid Bergman, runs more than two and one-half hours. It is in Technicolor and is based on Maxwell Anderson’s stage play, “Joan of Lorraine."” Negotiations for the presentation were conducted by Robert Mochrie, RKO vice-president in charge of domestic distribution, and Maurice Maurer, executive of City Entertainment Co., subsidiary of City Investing Co. The Victoria, now in process of reconstruction under the guidance of E. D. Stone, the architect who designed the interiors of Radio City Music Hall, will have a seating capacity of 1,100. It will virtually be a new showplace with air conditioning, lighting, seating, projection equipment and decorations. In the lobby will be huge murals depicting scenes from “Joan of Arc” with Miss Bergman and Jose Ferrer, Francis L. Sullivan, J. Carrol Naish, Ward Bond, Shepperd Strudwick, Hurd Hatfield, Gene Lockhart, Irene Rich, John Emery, George Coulonris, John Ireland and Cecil Kellaway. 'The opening will be preceded by a national advertising campaign. WE Names Will Whitmore Radio Advertising Head NEW YORK — Will Whitmore, advertising manager of Western Electric since May 1945, has been named radio advertising manager of the American Telephone and Telegraph Co. W. M. Reynolds, publications manager of Western Electric since 1946, will have charge of WE advertising. Whitmore, who is a member of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers, the Radio Executives Club and the Industrial Advertising Ass’n, is a native of Lockhart, Tex. He was graduated from the school of journalism at Northwestern University in 1926 and joined the Exhibitors’ Herald-World editorial staff in 1927. He entered the Western Electric Co. in 1929. The board of directors of Western Electric Co. has declared a dividend of $1 per share on outstanding capital stock payable September 30 to stockholders of record September 23. “Voice of Theatre Speakers" JOE HORNSTEIN has them! Fihnack CIVES YOU THE BEST VALUE IN ISPECIALI TRAILERS THREE COMPLETELY I EQUIPPED PLANTS ISEND US YOUR NEXT ORDER/ RKO CELEBRATION AT 21 CLUB — Following word of Ned Depinet’s appointment as president of RKO finds, left to right: Rutgers Neilson, RKO publicity manager; Harry Mandel, publicity manager for RKO Theatres; A. A. Schubart, manager of exchange operations; Depinet; S. Barret McCormick, national director of advertising, and Leon Bamberger, saies promotion manager. Schermerhorn New Head Of Reade Operations NEW YORK — Nick Schermerhorn has been named general manager of theatre operations for the Walter Reade Theatres. He was promoted to this newly created post from his previous job as district manager for southern New Jersey. Schermerhorn has been with the circuit 18 years. He will operate out of Asbury Park. Other circuit changes covered Guy Hevia, who was transferred to Asbury Park as city manager from his former post as Morristown manager; Ralph Lanterman, from Long Branch to Morristown as city manager, and John Belmer, manager of the Strand, Freehold, to Long Branch as city manager. John Kohler has resigned as manager of the Oxford, Plainfield. These changes were announced at the monthly managers meeting September 14. UA Ups Two Latin Heads, Names Denmark Manager NEW YORK— Walter Gould, United Artists foreign manager, has made two managerial promotions in Latin America and named a new manager for Denmark. J. Engelstoft, who has been appointed Denmark manager to succeed Viggo Ellemann, resigned, has been associated with Universal in Copenhagen for the past 12 years, serving successively as booker, salesman and office manager. Armand Bernal, former branch manager in Cali, Colombia, has been named general manager for the territory, with headquarters in Bogota. He succeeds James Raymond, resigned. Merrill Gooding, booker in the Port of Spain, ’Trinidad, office, has been named acting manager, succeeding Randolph DeSilva, resigned. MPA Picks Abner to Head Nominating Committee NEW YORK — Ben Abner was named chairman of the nominating committee of Motion Picture Associates at a meeting September 15. Other committee members are David Levy, Maury Miller, Seymour Florin and Leon J. Bamberger. Arthur Mayer, president, presided. The main ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria has been reserved for the annual dinner and dance May 6. A special welfare committee consisting of Saul Trauner, Cy Seymour and Jack Farkas has been set up. Maurice Wolf Speaks At Albany Kiwanis ALBANY — Maurice N. Wolf of MGM’s public relations department said here recently that the public has a misconception of the motion picture business. Lay people, he said, believe it is principally Hollywood and glamor, whereas 93 per cent of the $2,750,000,000 investment and 80 per cent of the 206,000 employes are outside the film capital and in 20,000 theatres scattered thi’ough 11,000 cities, villages and towns. Wolf spoke to the Albany Kiwanis club and later emphasized his statements in an interview over Station WPTR. He is touring the Albany exchange area, speaking on “Motion Pictures Are My Business.” The onetime MGM Albany manager said that glamor is only part of the motion picture business. He compared this with “the paint job on your automobile; it makes the car look attractive but you must lift the hood to see what is underneath.” EVERETT HAGLUND— General Manager, Gollos Theatre Circuit (9 theatres), Chicago, Illinois — writes: “RCA Service is ‘Johnny on the spot.’ It is a necessity just like insurance.” To get the benefits of RCA Service —write: RCA SERVICE COMPANY, INC., Radio Corporation of America, Camden, New Jersey. Adv. BOXOFFICE :: September 18, 1948 58.A