Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1940)

Reel on Republic Steel Clash Was ''Withheld'^ by Censors (( ' — M, U. Talent Heads Fox Stage Show St. Louis — Student talent from the University of Missouri, headed by Count Solomon's campus band, is being featured in the pre-Christmas stage show which opened at Fanchon & Marco's Fox here December 20 for a five-day run. The show provides a 13-act, 50-minute jamboree. VS— ■ -—JJ Ainsworth Appoints ITPA Committees Milwaukee — Committee appointments for the new year have been made by William L. Ainsworth, Pond du Lac, president of the ITPA of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan and announced by Business Manager Harry Perlewitz as follows: Legislative, Charles Trampe, Milwaukee; F. J. McWilliams, Portage; Henry Ringling, Baraboo; John Adler, Marshfield, and Milt Ellis, Beloit: convention, Trampe, Bert Nathan and Oliver Schmidt, all of Milwaukee: finance, A. C. Gutenberg and Oliver Trampe, Milwaukee, and A. C. Berkholtz. West Bend; membership, Mark Morgan, Cedarburg; Mrs. Frank Eckhardt, Wisconsin Rapids, and George Langheinrich, Milwaukee. In each instance, the first person named is the chairman of the respective committees. Louis Orlove, M-G-M exploiteer, was named publicity man for the association. Under a new dues arrangement agreed upon, the state members in the future will be billed monthly and the city on a weeklj basis. However, state exhibitors can still pay on a quarterly basis, if they so desire, Perlewitz stated. Milwaukee Barkers Elect L, F, Gran Their Chiei Milwaukee— ^L. F. Gran, Standard Theatres, has been elected chief barker of the Variety Club here succeeding Oscar Olson, who was presented with a gold watch in appreciation for his services. Other officers named are as follows: H. J. Fitzgerald, Pox Wisconsin Amusement Corp., first assistant chief barker; Alfred D. Kvool, Wamer-Saxe Theatres, second assistant chief barker; Ben.iamin J. Miller, re-elected secretary; Arthur N. Schmitz, RKO, treasurer and Fitzgerald, Gran, Kvool, Harold J. Mirisch, George Fischer, Roy Pierce, Harry McDonald, Edward Alperson and Oscar J. Ruby, members of the board. Holdover board members are Olson, Sam Shurman, E. J. Weisfeldt and Charles Trampe. Eight Equip St. Louis — Recent installations of new booth equipment have been made at the Liberty in Sedalia, Mo.; the Uptown at Mt. Carmel, 111.; Gem, I. W. Rodgers circuit, Cairo, 111.; Havana and Lawford theatres, Havana, 111.; Fairy, St. Louis; Paramotmt exchange, St. Louis, and Orris Theatre, St. Genevieve, Mo. The L. T. Rockenstein Co. made the installations. Chicago — ^In the third of a series of public hearings being held on the proposed amendment to the present film censorship ordinance, newsreel censorship was the major subject of discussion. The hearings, taking place in the City Hall, are being presided over by Alderman H. L. Brody, chairman of the Chicago City Council committee on judiciary and state legislation. At the third public session, held Monday, Irving Meyers, appearing as spokesman for the CIO provisional council, charged that Chicago’s censorship board had refused a permit to a newsreel picture of the clash between police and strikers at the Republic Steel mills on Memorial Day, 1937. Meyers charged: “The Paramount Film company made a newsreel of the Memorial Day happening which was verified Springiield Exhibitors Have Many Headaches Springfield, III. — Local exhibitors are having their ups and downs these days. Following a slow summer, made so by the introduction of daylight saving, prospects brightened when the local citizenry in the November election voted against “fast” time for next summer. But that same election indicated a change from Democratic to a Republican state administration, and so thousands of concerned employes, most of them potential theatregoers, are sitting tight and spending less on amusements. Likewise, with the close of an administration, many restrictions have been relaxed, and gambling and other games are flourishing, thus taking business away from theatres. Add to these headaches, the usual preChristmas slump and the application of an old curfew law to help curb juvenile vandalism, keeping children under 14 off the streets after 9:30 p. m. unless accompanied by parents, and likewise keeping many of them away from the theatres. Two Merchants Sponsor Kid Party in Chicago Chicago — Robert H. Busch, manager of the Jefferey, lined up to merchants, contacted by E. J. Friedwald, assistant manager, to put up $25.00 apiece and sponsor a Christmas Kiddie Party. A Santa Claus, hooked up by means of a two-way address system, spoke to children in the lobby, ten days in advance of the party, telling them all about it. Warnerites Contribute Chicago — Contributions to the British Ambulance F\ind, as made by the Warner houses in the Chicago zone and reported in Charles H. Ryan’s Exploitation Bulletin now total $58.35. Seven houses have contributed. Individual contributions have been made by Charles H. Ryan, H. A. Turrell, H. W. Wheeler, L. S. Stein. Assign Ray McCarey Hollywood — Ray McCarey will direct “The Cowboy and the Blonde” for Fox. and shown elsewhere but not in Chicago. We are opposed to censorship in general, and in particular to censorship by the police board and by any board with police representation . ” In rebuttal, Lieut. Harry Costello, head of the censor board, declared the aforementioned newsreel was not submitted for a permit but was “held up by the Paramount people themselves.” Apparently referring to the CIO, Costello said: “They are making a statement that we have a police censor board. There is no connection between the board and the police department except that the board is working under the direction of the police commissioner. I’m the only police officer and I don’t vote on pictures.” The fight to amend the present ordinance is led by Ira M. Latimer, executive secretary of the Chicago Civil Liberties Committee. The actual amendment was introduced in the city council by Alderman Earl B. Dickerson. In the proposed amendment all films to be shown to people over 21 — with the exception, of course, of those showing obscene scenes, vulgarity, immorality and similar objectionable fare — would not be subject to censorship. Films for boys and girls under 21 would be either passed or censored by a five-man board to be appointed by the mayor. The board, to be appointed for a four-year period, would be selected for special qualifications based on training and experience in psychology, education and such other fields as would competently enable them to do their duty. Civil Service Employes on Board The present censorship board consists of civil service employes. Their names, together with the number of years they have served on the board: Anna M. Gastello, 22 years: Edith E. Kerr, 25; Amy Louise Adams, 21; William A. Foust, 20, and Cora C. Doolittle, 12. Another speaker at the last public hearing was Mrs. Charles E. Merriam. She urged that in regulating the exhibition of films, more emphasis be placed on the viewpoint of the child, and that the proposed new board of review include a mother, a teacher and a child specialist. She quoted a League of Nations report to the effect that virtually nowhere in the United States are films regulated for children. Mrs. Merriam said: “I would like to see a different angle. Will Hays says that most films are made for adult interest; in that case parents are very remiss to Jet their children go to most pictures. Why is not the same care taken with children’s films as with books in the library? Nearly every other country regulates children’s films except the United States.” Alderman Dickerson asked Mrs. Merriam if she thought it would be alright for such a board to be appointed by the mayor. She replied in the affirmative. The next public hearing on the proposed amendment will be held January 13. At that time local motion picture people, including Jack Kirsch, president of Allied Theatres of Illinois: Clyde Eckhardt, head of the 20th Century-Fox exchange here, and other film executives are expected to state their views and tell how the present system of censorship operates. Representatives of the American Legion are also expected to state their views. BOXOFFICE :; December 21, 1940 C 41