Canadian Film Weekly (Jul 15, 1942)

Page 6 United Artists in Important Session The meeting of executives and owners of United Artists in Hollywood may result in tremendous changes in the character of the organization. Past reports had it that the company was very interested in the possibilities of theatre operation and production, both now ventures. The war and other factors caused the matter of theatre operation to be dropped but the meeting may serve to put United Artists in the production field. A talent pool is being organized. Edward Raftery, Grad Sears and Arthur Kelly are at the meeting. Also George Bagmall, vicepresident and chairman of the production committee; Lloyd Wright, secretary, and the owners, Mary Pickford. Charles Chaplin, David O. Selznick and Alexander Korda were present at the conference. A bank loan of three to four million dollars is reported to have been arranged by Kelly for the production venture. One of the most important moves by the motion picture outfit may be the addition of Orson Welles to the producer list. Welles has had numer ous conferences with United Artists officials and his complete severance from RKO following his “Tt’s All True,’’ makes his signing with United Artists a strong possibility. Others under discussion were Gregory Ratoff, Clarence Brown, Robert Sherwood and Richard Rowland. Rowland gave United Artists “Cheers for Miss Bishop” on its 1942 schedule. Brown has been signed for a one-feature contract by MGM, but there is no doubt that he can join United Artists when he completes this film. It is expected that the company will have an unusually large schedule for the coming year with as many as 26 feature productions on the list as well as 10 streamliners and three features from the Ealing Studios in England. Beverley to Slick Up The Beverley, Toronto, owned by Goldhar and Solloway, has been closed temporarily. The house will be altered and decorated. Theatre Equipment and Supplies COLEMAN ELECTRIC CO. 258 VICTORIA ST:, Toronto, Ont. Complete > Canadian FILM WEEKLY SZ! CONTRIBUTED BY CANADIAN SHOWMEN FOR CANADIAN SHOWMEN Contributions to this column will be greatly appreciated from any member of the motion picture industry, from coast to coast, whether he has chain affiliations or is strictly independent. Address all letters to “What Did You Do?” c/o Film Weekly 21 Dundas Sq., Toronto, Ont. ILL PAYNE of the Granada, St. Thomas, stepped up on “Mr. V” in this manner. After the Sunday Midnite show and with the help of his able projectionist, Clifford Mills, who cut out stencils in the outline of a large foot, with copy, “Mr. V,” in the centre. They stencilled the pavements throughout the town, with all footsteps pointing towards the theatre. Bill tells us this caused more comment throughout the city than any stunt they have pulled for some time. * u eo N “Flight Command” Leo Coyle f of the Granada, St. Catharines, brought out a 10 ft. aeroplane model, which he had used on some previous occasion, had this repainted and placed on top of his marquee, to appear as though it had crashed. This was a real snappy eye-catcher. oe +e ae (pba Sgae managers in St. Catharines took a very prominent part in Army Week celebrations. On Thursday five of the managers were on the committee at Port Dalhousie, entertaining the soldiers’ wives and children. It was a great success all around. ne * * ORNE MOORE, of the Melrose Theatre, North Bay, arranged a cooperative page during Army Week, with the page captioned “VY for Victory—We Honor Army Week.” Half the page was used to push the outstanding film “Mr. V,” along with this a special contest for the citizens of North Bay, in conjunction with the picture, to create a stronger interest. All the local merchants on the page laid stress on ‘Mr. V’”’ and Army Week. In addition to this and prior to the opening Lorne pushed out 2,000 novel V doorknob hangers. ae w ss Boe BROWN, Vanity, Windsor, used four windows with large piles of broken records and backed by copy which read “Still breaking all records. The funniest picture ever made, etc.’ Two small boys with wagons riding through the business section in different directions with a large rock in each wagon, sign on each wagon read “You should rush to the Vanity Theatre to see the Gold ‘Rush’ too.” | easces the Regent, Sudbury, Max Phillips writes that for ‘‘Saboteur” he played up the “sensational — sabotage — man behind your back” angle. Flame-colored heralds delivered to the homes, an attractive front, a six-sheet cutout display on the main business intersection and eye-catching cards throughout the city and district spread the news far and wide. Max is starting his Victory Legion Salvage Campaign, reaching children through motion picture lobby display, also sending heralds to their homes. This should prove an added inducement to keep the children coming to the theatre through the hot summer. On “Ships with Wings” Max promoted six small model planes, and with a campo board replica of aircraft carrier, butl up an attractive lounge display. Allied and enemy planes suspended in fighting position gave a realistic effect to the display. a oo * (Caan SMITH, Royal, North Bay, cooked up an “Irish Stew” on “Top Sergeant Mulligan.” Three and six sheets displayed in good spots throughout the city, advance newspaper and radio publicity well in advance helped things along. Free passes to local residents by the name of Mulligan were given out and a downtown restaurant added “Top Sergeant Mulligan Stew” to its menu during the playdate. Chuck flashed his smiling personality on the Army Training camp and they did a hunk of boosting. * He * JRALPH TIEDE, Century, Tren ton, had a tieup with a local dry cleaner, who paid the admission price for each child bringing the required number of wire coat hangers to the theatre. The coat hangers constituted the child’s admission. The cleaner stood all expenses. Window cards were spotted and heralds distributed to the schools. For the “Pittsburg Kid’ Ralph made a 40 x 60 display for the front, using material obtained from the American Weekly pictorial section, which contained pictures and copy of Billy Conn’s personal history and affairs. The sign painter added the rest of the copy. July 15th, 1942 Universal Film on Canadian Navy With Universal having the revised script of Howard Hawks’ ‘‘Corvettes in Action” back with an Ottawa okay, Canada will soon see another branch of her armed services honored by a Hollywood picturization. Though no player announcements have been made yet, the studio has been preparing carefully for a top production of the Dominion’s famed sea service. The script, after being scrutinized by authorities at the capital, was mailed back with their blessing by Admiral Percy W. Nelles, Commander in Chief of the Royal Canadian Navy and Commander Brand, chief naval intelligence officer. The script was written by Edward Chodorov, one of the cinema city’s best writers, with the collaboration of another Canadian navy officer, Lieutenant John Royal Sturdy. The officer has been working with Chodorov for over a month. Directing the story of Canada’s navy at war will be another outstanding film craftsman, Harold Rosson, who has been in Canada before and is much interested in things here. Rosson, when Admiral Nelles gives the official sanction, will bring his camera crews to a Canadian port and they’ll join a convoy to get real action shots. Lieutenant Sturdy will be with them. 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