The Exhibitor (Jun-Nov 1942)

9 WPB Conferring Monthly with Trade Conditions Necessitate Regular Sessions Hollywood — It was announced la^t week by Harold Hopper, chief of the Motion Picture and Photographic Division of the Consumers Durable Goods Branch of the War Production Board, that a series of monthly meetings will be held in Washington between WPB officials and advisory committees of motion picture producers and distributors. These meetings will keep the industry informed of conservation problems arising from rapidly changing conditions so that executives can immediately take whatever steps are deemed necessary. First Washington session will take place on June 23. Hopper expressed complete satisfaction with the voluntary and broad action already taken by the industry to conserve materials, and with its eagerness to serve in every possible way. Y. Frank Freeman, president, Association of Motion Picture Producers, announced that the industry leaders have agreed that there will be no alteration, additions, or improvements to any plant equipment for the duration. A survey of the industry’s conversation methods revealed that substitutes have been found for 19 vital materials without affecting production quality. Further conservation reported at meetings of the Film Conservation Committee include the reduced number of takes per scene, with it being recommended that all wardrobe and set tests being made with stills henceforth, and film only used in emergencies. It was announced that 20th CenturyFox has ordered the use of negative stock be reduced 35 per cent and positive by 25 per cent. Progress is reported in the transportation saving problem. Para. D. M/s Meet New York — Paramount district managers will meet as a committee at the Paramount home office on June 19 to discuss final details of the distribution compensation plan announced by Neil Agnew at the recent regional meetings of the sales force. The plan, retroactive to the beginning of Paramount’s 1941-42 selling program, has been tentatively mapped out, but its final approval and its administrative operation will be determined at the meeting on June 19. Warners On Victory Shorts NEW YORK — No special sales policy will be adopted by Warners for tbe Victory shorts which it will make from subjects suggested by the Government, it was indicated last week. Although other companies have indicated the Victory shorts will have individual policies, Warners will treat the shorts as an integral part of its regular shorts lineup, it is understood. War Heroes Continue Tour New York — Prominent motion picture executives in the key cities to be visited by the War Heroes Parade have been named co-ordinators for local committees by Spyros Skouras, president, 20th Century-Fox Film Corporation, head of the War Heroes Parade Committee, acting for the Department of Treasury upon appointment by Secretary Henry Morgenthau, it was announced last week. Starting here the parade is being repeated in 21 cities. Stirling Silliphant, Hal Horne’s publicity staff, is the advance agent ahead of the main party traveling by Army transport plane. Appearances in Chicago were cancelled because of a conflicting Treasury Department show with stage and screen stars, but the Chicago Committee completed all arrangements for the Heroes’ appearance there before notification of this cancellation. Showmen in the key cities who appointed their own local committees are: Marty Mullin and Sam Pinanski, Boston; Ted Schlanger, Philadelphia; Izzy Rappaport, Baltimore; Carter Barron, Washington; John Payette, Washington; John Harris, Pittsburgh, among others. Following is schedule of cities and dates of appearance; June 10, Boston; 11, Philadelphia; 12, Baltimore, 13, Washington; 14, rest; 15, Pittsburgh; 16, Cleveland, 17, Detroit; 18, Milwaukee; 19, rest; 20, Minneapolis, St. Paul; 21, rest; 22, Denver; 23, Salt Lake; 24, rest; 25, Seattle; 26, Portland; 27, San Francisco; 28, rest; 29, Los Angeles; 30, rest; July 1, San Antonio; 2, Dallas, Fort W'orth; 3, New Orleans; 4, St. Louis. Silver Leaving NSS New York — It was announced last week that Milt Silver is leaving National Screen Service after being with the company for nine years. Censorship Set By Government Incoming, Outgoing Films Examined Washington — The Office of Censorship announced last week that boards of review for the examination of motion pictures entering or leaving the country have begun to function in New York and Los Angeles. The boards will be responsible for keeping photographic information harmful to the war effort from being exported or imported. Byron Price, director of censorship, explained that the purpose of film censorship was to keep vital information about possible bombing objectives, military or economic conditions, or technical data from leaving the country. It also is designed, he said, to prevent enemy propaganda and information leading to subversive activities from entering the country. The New York board of review with offices at 244 Seventh Avenue, will mostly handle newsreels. The Los Angeles board has established headquarters in the Taft building, Hollywood. Members of the New York board are Richard R. Smith, Perry Arnold, and Captain George Ernest. Smith will be chairman. Los Angeles board is composed of Watterson R. Rothacker, Major Ralph W. Liddle, and a third member. Rothacker has been designated as chairman. A third board is also functioning at Rochester, N. Y., for examination of amateur film received from foreign countries for processing. Lieutenant James Todd, Jr., is administrative officer, and has charge. Moskowitz Review Refused Washington — Joseph H. Moskowitz failed last week to obtain a Supreme Court review of his conviction on a charge of attempting to evade Federal income taxes. Moskowitz was fined $10,000 and sentenced to imprisonment for a year and a day by the Federal District Court of New York. John W. Davis, attorney for Moskowitz, contended in the Supreme Court petition that evidence had been erroneously admitted, and that the jury was not correctly instructed on the law. Schenck was first sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, but it later was reduced to a year and a day on recommendation of the Justice Department after he had aided in the prosecution of Willie Bioff and George E. Bi'owne. Col. Changes Exploitation New York — Columbia announced last week that its exploitation department, headed by Frank P. Rosenberg, has undergone three new changes. Harry K. McWilliams, former publicity director. Paramount, Toledo, O., and Publix theatres in Dallas, Tex., replaces Leo Pillot. Abraham Bernstein, recently a field exploiteer, has been assigned to the Boston office as New England exploiteer. Samuel Geison, formerly with Tom Fizdale, Inc., has been added as a special writer. June 17, 1942 THE EXHIBITOR QUAD