The Exhibitor (Jun-Oct 1943)

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5 i 4. TRADE LEADERS HOLDING BIG SESSION Three Topics Highlight Agenda New York — In a meeting that will bring together for the first time the chairmen of exhibitor committees of the 31 exchange centers, the War Activities Committee’s national coordinating committee and the executive committee, theatres division, will convene on July 16 to discuss an ex¬ tremely important agenda. Representatives of all the WAC divi¬ sions have also been invited to attend the parley. Subjects to be brought to discussion in¬ cluded: Ways and means for providing an adequate program of war information through the screen; ways and means of co-operating with the Treasury Depart¬ ment in the Third War Loan Drive, sched¬ uled to be held from Sept. 9-20; and rela¬ tionship of the WAC to the National En¬ tertainment Industry Council. The floor will be thrown open for a gen¬ eral WAC forum and interchange of ideas. The Treasury Department, through Ted Gamble, has formally requested Fabian to ask that the industry participate in the Third War Loan to an aggressive, com¬ prehensive extent. The dozen-day cam¬ paign, in which the industry will partici¬ pate but not spearhead, will have as its goal a figure some where around $30,000,000. Kenneth Thomson, chairman, Holly¬ wood Victory Committee, and a member of the WAC Hollywood Division will, with WAC member John C. Flinn, be on hand. With the changed status of the Motion Picture Bureau of the Office of War In¬ formation and the resignation of its chief, Lowell Mellett, the question of supplying the theatres with a continuing program of war information films is a pertinent one. Harmon, who with Mellett, before Con¬ gress cut the OWI appropriation, fashioned the 52-week program of all gratis films which was to begin on Aug. 1, will pre¬ sent the situation as its stands. George Schaefer, who has been tempo¬ rary chairman, continuations committee, NEIC, will present the aims and purposes of that organization to the assembly. “A Victory Reel in Every Show.” Roh rs' Division Increased New York — Arthur Greenblatt, vicepresident of PRC in charge of sales, an¬ nounced last week that the exchanges in Dallas, Oklahoma City, and Little Rock have been added to the division now under the supervision of Fred A. Rohrs. Division now consists of Atlanta-Charlotte, Dallas, Little Rock, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, and Washington. July 14, 1943 Sears To Cleveland NEW YORK — Grad L. Sears, UA vice president, last week gave his re¬ ply to theatre operators in Cleveland, O., who had wired suggesting that UA provide prints of “Stage Door Canteen” without charge in return for which they would donate all receipts to the local USO. In his telegram to P. J. Wood, sec¬ retary, ITO of Ohio, who had signed the Cleveland exhibitors’ earlier wire. Sears said he was “afraid it will not be possible as a practical matter to comply with the proposal to turn over 100 per cent of the receipts of ‘Stage Door Canteen’ to the local USO”, called attention to the terms of Sol Lesser’s agreement with the Ameri¬ can Theatre Wing, said UA was “gen¬ uinely in accord with the Stage Door Canteen movement, and considered it an obligation ... to deliver a record gross” and added that the company feels, regardless of the charitable and patriotic angle, it is “asking just and reasonable terms in accordance with the straight commercial value of this picture.” BUSINESS GOOD ALONG B'WAY SECTOR New York — Business continued good in the Broadway first runs the past week end, with the break-down reaching The Ex¬ hibitor from usually reliable sources as follows: “CONEY ISLAND" (20th Century-Fox) — Roxy, with staere show headed by Enric Madrifruera and orchestra and Carmen Amaya, did $60,000 from Wednesday through Sunday, with the week estimatc^d at $74,000. “SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE” (UA)— Globe did $1,450 on Saturday and Sunday. “BACKGROUND TO DANGER” (Warners) — Strand, with stage show headed by Hal McIntyre and orchestra, Three Stooges, and George Tobias, did $24,150 on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. “MISSION TO MOSCOW" ( Warners ) —Holly¬ wood did $6,500 from Thursday through Sunday. “DIXIE” (Paramount) — Paramount, with stage show headed by Andrews Sisters and Mitch Ayres and orchestra, did $25,000 on Saturday and Sun¬ day, with the week estimated at $60,000. “THE YOUNGEST PROFESSION” (MGM) — Radio City Music Hall, with usual stage show, did $68,000 from Thursday through Sunday, with the week estimated to hit $102,000 or $103,000 Who’s Screening Today? See the Territory Trade-Screening Guide. Two NY Houses Close New York — Two local houses, the Reo and Century, were closed last week for alleged violation of the city’s safety and fire codes. Action was from Commis¬ sioner of Licenses Paul Moss. Houses had been playing “Bingo.” THE EXHIBITOR PARAMOUNT EXECS WILL OUTLINE POLICIES Company Sets First Block New York — Sales and releasing policies of “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and other Paramount product, including pictures for the new season and advertising plans, will be discussed at the company’s semi-annual sales meeting at the Hotel Pierre from July 15-17. Neil Agnew, general sales manager, will preside at the three-day session, and other home office executives will participate in the discussions. First block of pictures for 1943-44 will be announced. The first session will be addressed by Barney Balaban, president, and Adolph Zukor, board chairman. Agnew and Charles M. Reagan, assistant general sales manager, will discuss “For Whom the BeH Tolls” and other product, and Robert M. Gillham, advertising and publicity direc¬ tor, will outline the advertising and pub¬ licity plans. B. G. DeSylva, Paramount executive producer, will address the body also. Later program highlights include dis¬ cussions by Oscar A. Morgan, general sales manager, short subjects and Paramount News; and by Gillham, Stanley Shuford, advertising manager; A1 Wilkie, publicity manager; and Alex Moss, exploitation manager, on advertising and publicity campaigns for the first block. Louis Phil¬ lips, legal deparlment, and Claude Lee director of public relations, will also ad¬ dress the gathering. Later session will be devoted to further discussions of product and sales plans by Agnew, Charles M. Reagan, Hugh Owen, eastern division manager; and George A. Smith, western division manager. Moss will preside at a special session for the district advertising representadves. Screenings of new product will be held. The meeting will wind up with indi¬ vidual sessions of the district managers with the division heads. G. B. J. Frawley is in charge of arrange¬ ments for the sessions. District managers to be present are: William Erbb, Boston: M. S. Kusell. Nev-' York City: Harrv Goldstein, Cleveland E. W. Sweigert. Philadelnhia; John Kirby, Atlanta; Allen Usher. Chicago; R. C. LiBeau, Kansas City; Hugh Braly. Denver, Colo.; Del Goodman, Los Angeles; J. T. Donohue, Dallas; Gordon Lightstone, Tor¬ onto. District advertising representatives to attend include: Arnold Van Leer, Boston: Ed J. Wall Albany; Sid Mesibov, New York City; J. M. Joice. Cleveland; Charles C. Perry, Cincinnati; William Brooker, Philadel¬ phia; James Levine, Pittsburgh; E. G. Fitzgibbons, Chicago; M. D. Cohn, Kansas City; James Lundy, Denver; Ralph Ravenscroft, Los Angeles; W. C. Lewellen, Dallas; James C. Furman, Atlanta, and Win Barron, Toronto. Home office distribution executives who will attend, in addition to those mentioned, are: C. J. Scollard, J. A. Walsh, F. A. Leroy, H. J. Lorber, A. J. Dunne, and Jack Roper. The Legion of Decency Weekly Listing Is a Regular Feature of This Publication.