Canadian Film Weekly (Oct 27, 1943)

Page 6 October 27, 1943 RKO Production Canadian FILM WEEKLY WAC Worried by Juve Vandalism Thing It s— Tickles Depinet Ned E. Depinet, RKO president, recently returned from the coast, was greatly enthused over the company’s coming product at a trade press interview last week. Said Depinet, ‘I have never had a more satisfying trip to the studio . the pictures coming out of the studio are as good as any.” Referring to coming product releases, Depinet announced that the latest Pat O’Brien vehicle, ‘The Iron Major,” had a big premiere in New England on Oct. 26, and that this film will try to be sold throughout the country before the expiration of the football season. Forty pictures will be the average for the 1943-44 season, with a similar amount in the offing for the 44-45 period. RKO will continue to show product in groups of five, according to Depinet, since the company believes thus will exhibitors receive fair treatment. “Frank Sinatra will be bigger in pictures than on the air,’”’ said the RKO executive, as he outlined the plot of “Higher and Higher,” Sinatra vehicle, which will be released sometime around Christmas. In Depinet’s words: “It will do one hell-of a business.” Other coming RKO products are: “Tender Comrade,” starring Ginger Rogers; “Government Girl,” with Sonny Tufts; “North Star,” made by Sam Goldwyn; “Up In Arms,” also a Goldwyn production, slated for release early next year; ‘“Let’s Go Latin,’ from the Disney studios, a full-length feature, where animated characters and live characters mix it | up, and which will be released in February or March; and “Around the World,” the Kay Kyser film. Two films are expected from | England, “Yellow Canary,” starring Richard Greene, and “Escape to Danger,” with Ann Dvorak, according to the present product schedule, Seating Rule Dropped In Nova Scotia The Provincial Government of Nova Scotia has gone over the heads of the censors and eliminated the order calling for 32 inches back to back on all theatre seats. The Allied Exhibitors have protested strongly against this and many regulations of the censor board but no attention has been paid to the complaints until the insurance agents handling theatre risks joined in the protests. It has been pointed out that with most of the theatres in Nova Scotia in buildings erected many years ago, it has been impossible to comply with the 32 inches demand of the censors. undisciplined rowdies who crash the gate, slash seats, remove everything loose, provoke fights, annoy other patrons and deface walls. Theatres are the main targets for their mischief. On this side of the border, according to figures released by Ottawa a few weeks ago, the convictions per 100,000 population were i101 in 1942 as against 67 in 1939. Dr. Kenneth Rogers, general secretary of the Big Brother Movement, on examining the figures, said that the state was responsible because no concrete attempts at solution have been undertaken to deal with a situation which grew out of wartime working methods. The figures showed that Ontario and Quebec, the two most industrialized provinces in the Dominion, were affected more than the others. He suggested that provincially organized systems of family courts with juvenile divisions under trained probation officers would help. “This is a minimum requirement,” he said, “and our obvious first step if we are going to be at all serious about doing something in the way of treatment in connection with juvenile delinquency problems.” A broad educational policy, centrally directed for the whole of Canada, would help. Adequate and suitable recreation, he stated, was a fundamental requirement of healthy childhood. The War Activities Cominireee of the Motion Picture Industry! has provided the USA Office of War Information with a report, part of which reads: “A popular form of juvenile vandalism in theatres is setting fires. Boys flip cigarettes from the balcony to the lower floor and throw lighted matches into the paper towel containers in the rest rooms. More serious is the practice of ripping open theatre seats, stuffing burning cigarettes into the slashed upholstery and leaving them to smolder, flaring into flame after the theatre has closed for the night. California has had serious trouble of this sort. A Berkeley theatre had a $35,000 fire. Attendants at an Oakland movie house put out smoldering fires on four successive nights. Many exhibitors throughout the State have hired after-hour fire watchers.” Another eye-opening revelation of the report, which was based on information supplied the OWI by the motion picture industry War Activities Committee, is that “gangs of movie thieves’ are operating in some cities. “One Philadelphia theatre,’ it stated, |“reported such a gang led by a six-year-old boy who crawled un-| (Continued from Page 1) der seats, opened purses in the dark, and pocketed the contents. This band of youngsters eluded police until the leader appeared at the ticket counter with two fiveyear-old girls and a $5 bill.” In an effort to counteract this situation, the WAC, in conjunction with child welfare organizations, has under consideration a plan for the formation of a chain of boys’ clubs throughout the country. The youthful members, who would apparently constitute an unofficial police force, would take a pledge and receive badges and buttons. This activity, under proper guidance, would be effected through co-operation of neighborhood theatres. Some small towns have reportedly adopted curfews to keep youths off the streets after dark, thus making it unlawful for them to attend theatres unless accompanied by parents or a guardian. Theatre owners are, however, making some headway in correcting the situation by directing appeals to local civic organizations and clubs. Older boys who are well behaved have protested against blanket curfew and are offering to assist in any way they can to curb delinquency. $) . ’ ¢ aN Ss iL ) ; ae r P ““ AAO Taal 7 " * awe 00 STUFF 2 FEATURE + oe PERO ONE STINKEROD “Same old stuff—2 features— one piperoo—one stinkeroo,” this San Francisco exhibitor confesses candidly, lf It Isnt One The Strand Theatre, Prince Albert, British Columbia, had a mighty busy few days recently and the boys are beginning to hold their breaths and wonder what next. In the same week that the theatre company which runs the Strand was charged with offering to violate the WPTB ceiling on admissions a fire broke out in the projection room. The company is charged with having offered to sell to Arthur A. Ball of Prince Albert, at or about 6:30 p.m. on the evening of May 17, 1943, two children’s ticlets for admission to the Strand Theatre at the price of 45 cents each child, this price being in excess of the price established for that location in that theatre for the basic period, contrary to regulations of the wartime prices and trade board. J. H. Lindsay, K.C., is appearing for the prosecution and C. S. Davis, K.C., is defence counsel. The day before the case was due to be tried a fire broke out in the projection room which was quickly controlled. Damage was light. The audience left in an orderly manner. ; Latin American Market Booming Expansion of film business in Latin America after the war as 2 result of the anticipated commercial development of that territory was forecast recently by A. L. Pratchett, Paramount’s Central America manager. A member of the Co-ordinator of Inter-American Affairs Committee for Mexico, he makes his headquarters in Mexico City and also has the West Coast of South America under his supervision. The present cordial relations between North and South America, particularly between the film industries of both continents, will continue on a firm basis after the war, Pratchett predicted at a conference in New York with Paramount foreign department officials. Extension of airlines is opening hitherto inaccessible interiors, the commercial development of which will provide a new source of revenue for the film industry and further strengthen the position of distributors in Latin America in the post-war period, he said. Pratchett reported that Mexican producers are experimenting with superimposed English subtitles with the aim of expanding their North American market. 7°