The Exhibitor (Jun-Oct 1943)

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6 THE EXHIBITOR MELLETT RESIGNS OWI-MPB POSITION Washington — With the activities of the Motion Picture Bureau, Office of War In¬ formation, virtually eliminated by recent Congressional action, Lowell Mellett re¬ signed on July 9 as chief of the bureau. Congress left the bureau only $50,000 of $1,200,000 sought to continue its work. Mellett, who served OWI without pay, still holds a $10,000-a-year position as one of six administrative assistants to Presi¬ dent Roosevelt, In announcing Mellett’s resignation, El¬ mer Davis, OWI director, said: “Our funds will not permit any produc¬ tion of motion pictures by OWI for do¬ mestic use. We will, however, continue to discharge our responsibility for the coordination of government films and for liaison between the government and the motion picture industry. “We are indebted to Mr. Mellett for the establishment of cordial and satisfactory relations with the industry, which we hope may continue. “Within a week or 10 days Palmer Hoyt, director of domestic operations, and I hope to sit down with the heads of the motion picture companies and discuss plans for our continued co-operation.” At least 10 of the 15 members of the Office of War Information Film Bureau, on the west coast, which will be closed on July 15, will be transferred to the overseas branch of the OWI to carry on the liaison with the studios for which the branch was set up. Among those scheduled for transfer are Warren Pierce, who served as chief Wash¬ ington liaison; William A. Cunningham, his assistant; and Mrs. Dorothy Jones, head, scenario reviewing staff. Century Offers Passes New York — It was announced last week that Century Circuit has offered a six months’ season’s pass for each one of their theatres to the child who sells the most War Savings Stamps during the month of July in current Shangri-La war stamps drive. New Stagehands Deal New York — It was reported last week that the major circuits in the city have signed a three-year deal with the The¬ atrical Protective Union No. 1. Stage¬ hands deal calls for $5 increases in addi¬ tion to retroactive pay and a second week of vacation with salary. Two Cagney Re-issues New York — Warners announced last week that two James Cagney films, “The Oklahoma Kid” and “Torrid Zone,” would be re-issued on next season’s lineup. First is tentatively down for a September re¬ lease. Daff Promoted By U New York — Alfred Daff, Universal FarEast supervisor, was last week appointed to the post of foreign sales supervisor by J. H. Seidelman, vice-president in charge of foreign affairs. He will make his head¬ quarters in the home office. "Bell" In NY Bow NEW YORK — Paramount’s “For Whom The Bell Tolls” was previewed by an invited audience composed of tradesters and others last night (July 13) at the Rivoli. First public showing takes place tonight (July 14) at the Rivoli, and the total proceeds from the sale of tickets will be donated to the National War Fund by Paramount. Member agencies of the National War Fund include the USO, United Seamen’s Service and 14 other agen¬ cies providing services to our own fighting forces and to our Allies. uance Shots Features HERS TO HOLD. Universal. 96m Deanna Durbin, Joseph Cotten, Charles Winninger, Evelyn Ankers. This comedy musical will get into the better money as it has popular appeal, and has been given a good production. FOLLIES GIRL. PRC. 72m. Wendy Barrie, Gordon Oliver, Doris Nolan, J. C. Nugent. Fair musical, with a trite story, will fit into the duallers. DANGER, WOMEN AT WORK. PRC. 60m. Patsy Kelly, Mary Brian, Isabel Jew¬ ell, Wanda McKay, Betty Compson, Cobina Wright, Sr., Warren Hymer, Vince Barnett. Mild comedy has been smoothly produced, and has some good dialogue. PETTICOAT FEVER. RKO. 60m. Joan Carroll. Ruth Warrick, Walter Reed. Mild entry about a child radio star is for the lower half. Shorts WHERE CACTUS GROWS. Paramount — Grantland Rice Sportlight. dVzm. Good. UNUSUAL OCCUPATIONS No. 5. Para¬ mount. 10m. Good. SECRET AGENT. Paramount — Super¬ man. 9m. Fair. THE TRUCK THAT FLEW. ParamountMadcap Models. 8m. Excellent. AT THE CAGE DOOR CANTEEN. Paramount — Speaking of Animals. 9m. Good. THE ARMLESS DENTIST. Universal— Person-Oddity. 9m. Good. BILL JACK VS ADOLPH HITLER. March of Time. Vol. 9, No. 12. 20th Cen¬ tury-Fox. 17y2m. Good. Special Copper Mats NEW YORK — To aid exhibitors publicize their now permanent copper, brass, and bronze program, the War Activities Committee has secured the cooperation of Betty Grable and Ilona Massey to pose for a set of three stills which point out to movie patrons im¬ portant aspects of the copper cam¬ paign, it was announced last week. These stills in mat form will be fea¬ tured in the copper press book, pre¬ pared by the national copper Salvage chairman Bob O’Donnell’s office, and will shortly be available to exhibitors free of charge from any National Screen Service exchange. SPG DEMANDS ACTION ON NEW CONTRACTS New York — The Screen Publicists Guild at its membership meeting last week unanimously voted to send telegrams to seven of the film companies demanding speedy action on the recently agreedupon arbitration in present contract nego¬ tiations. Wires also were sent to the two companies whose contracts did not con¬ tain arbitration clauses asking for im¬ mediate further meetings and to Warner Brothers for early re-opening of nego¬ tiations. The WB contract comes up for wage discussions next month. The union also unanimously elected Carl Rigrod, RKO, as second vice-presi¬ dent. He succeeds Lawrence H. Lipskin, who resigned because of the pressure of new responsibilities. Slander Action Ends New York — Supreme Court Justice Morris Eder last week dismissed the $1,000,000 slander action brought by the Scoop 14th Street Theatre Corporation, owners of the City, against Local 306. The court granted the corporation leave to file an amended complaint in a dam¬ age action against the union, also naming as a defendant, Herman Gelber, Local 306 head. The damage action seeks $2,200 a day for 22 days of an alleged unlawful strike called by the union on April 30. The court dismissed the slander action on the grounds that the corporation did not state sufficient facts to constitute a cause of action. Radio City Dispute Over New York — The dispute over dismissal of a window cleaner which last week caused a 55-minute elevator strike at Rockefeller Center has been settled, it was announced last week by Hugh S. Rob¬ ertson, general manager. Center. The dis¬ charged employe will be reinstated. The strike, which stranded thousands of film, company office workers just at quit¬ ting time, came about when the Center management dismissed John Birmingham at the request of A. L. Blek, director and business manager. Building Maintenance Craftsmen’s Union, for alleged nonpay¬ ment of dues. The ensuing strike was called a “wildcat strike” by Blek. ASCAP Case Up New York — Federal Judge Henry W. Goddard last week refused to strike out ASCAP’s defense of “unclean hands” on the part of the plaintiffs in the anti-trust suit filed by 150 independent theatres against that body. The court also denied a motion for dis¬ missal of the action, asked for individually by Gene Buck, Irving Berlin, Inc., and Carl Fisher, Inc. ASCAP’s defense is that the defendants, themselves, are guilty of violation through their complete control of the ITOA. The plaintiffs ask approximately $600,000. Keep in touch With the Arbitra¬ tion Cases In Your Area By Consult¬ ing The Weekly Report on Progress in Your District. July 14, 194'J