The Exhibitor (Jun-Nov 1944)

G THE EXHIBITOR EXHIBITORS POLLED ON SIXTH WAR LOAN New York — A canvass of the exhibitors throughout the nation is now in swing, to determine the men who will serve as state exhibitor chairmen for the forthcoming Sixth War Loan, it was declared at a meet¬ ing of the War Activities Committee last week. Plans were also discussed and a tenta¬ tive agenda outlined for the conferences on Sept. 12. MGM Schedules Meeting Kansas City — Charles K. Stern, assistant treasurer, Loew’s, will hold a two-day meeting of eight MGM office managers at the Muehlbach Hotel, here, starting on Sept. 24. This is the second of the intimate meetings planned, the first having been held in Boston several weeks ago. William F. Rodgers, vice-president-gen¬ eral sales manager, will attend the ses¬ sions, making the stopover on his way back from the coast. At the same time, William R. Ferguson, director of exploita¬ tion for MGM, will hold a district meeting on the same days with a number of field exploitation representatives. Lloyd To Cagney New York — Major Frank Lloyd, who will shortly be released from active duty with the Army Air Forces, will direct the James Cagney starring picture, “Blood On The Sun,” it was announced last week by William Cagney, president, William Cagney Productions. Major Lloyd will return to Hollywood from Washington on Sept. 14. James Cagney, just returned from Martha’s Vineyard with Edward McNam¬ ara, will immediately go into training for jiu jitsu and boxing bouts featured in the picture, which is for UA release. Warner Exec Back New York — Lieutenant Colonel Frank E. Cahill, Jr., former executive officer for the Pictorial Service of the Army Signal Corps, has been reverted to inactive duty, and he resumed his relationiship with Warners last week as director of sound for the company’s theatres. Livingston Joins FC New York — Maurice Livingston, form¬ erly associated with Warners, Pathe, UA, and RKO in France for more than 17 years, was appointed last week head of Film Classics’ foreign department. Hochstein Trial Begins Soon New York — The trial of Harry Hoch¬ stein, former Chicago morals inspector, will begin in Federal court on Sept. 16, following a postponement last week. Hoch¬ stein is charged with testifying falsely in last year’s motion picture extortion trials. Alan Cummings Returns New York — Alan F. Cummings, in charge of MGM exchange operations, re¬ turned to his work last week after absence due to illness. He will be assisted by Arthur Sterling, former field auditor. NEW YORK... with MEL KONECOFF BOB WOLFF, managing director for RKO in Great Britain, back in thb country as of last week, reported that when the buzz bombs started to fly over England the motion picture business was down to 35 per cent of normal, but that it was starting to return to normal, if not better, now, in the situations where the better films are being shown. He cited Goldwyn’s “Up In Arms” as one of the films shewing a good gross. Wolff said that “Business in the provinces and Scotland is terrific.” The overseas execu¬ tive is here to discuss RKO Radio product both as to the release of its American films in England and of the release of British-made product in the United States. Two features made in Britain by RKO that will be released in the United States during the 1944-45 season are “Hotel Reserve,” starring James Mason, which is already completed, and “Great Day,” starring Eric Portman, which is in production at present. Wolff believed that both films will be acceptable to American audiences. In fact, along those lines, Wolff revealed that his company is now spending from two to four times as much money as previously on their British-made product in order to cover the American market as thoroughly as local product. During the coming year, a minimum of two films are to be expected from the British branch of RKO Radio. Other observations made by Wolff, who expects to be in the United States for about five or six weeks are: that his company is ready to do business in all the European coun¬ tries as coon as the government gives the signal; that the U. S. Government has requested some Disney shorts for showing in France, where they have been missed greatly; that the British government has started turning back studios for commercial production as quickly as conditions permit; that the raw stock situation is very tight in England, and that he expects business in the post-war period to be “terrific” — even better than it is at present. A visit to Hollywood is on the program for Wolff, where he will discuss British production plans for the company. INTRODUCTION DEPT.: When we received an invite from Columbia to attend a cocktail party last week in honor of Cornel Wilde at the Hotel Pierre, we tried to find out who Wilde was, and got all sorts of answers, including a statement that he was a long-lost cousin to Oscar Wilde, but after meeting and speaking with the said Mr. Wilde, we have come to the conclusion that although people have heard little of him in the past, they are bound to become blinded by the said Mr. Wilde in the future. He is a clean-cut, handsome looking chap with a pleasant personality and can take the con¬ tinuous round of introductions like a veteran. He has appeared in “Life Begins At EightThirty,” “Wintertime,” and more recently in Columbia’s “A Song To Remember,” where he appears with Paul Muni and Merle Oberon. Present at this shindig were: Frank Rosenberg, Hortense Schorr, Harry McWilliams, Henry Spiegel, George Ettinger, Bernice Gobel, Miriam Teichner, Alton Cook, Paula Stone, Adrienne Ames, Maxine Keith, Dick Rofiman, Lester Grady, A. Dillenbeck, Paul Hunter, Eve Stanley, Julie Neal, Jesse Zunser, Terry Harnan, Paul Marcus, Floret Robinson, Mrs. E. Little, Julia McCarthy, Muriel Stafford, etc., etc. BACK HOME DEPT.: Hey Boys! Annie is back home. Annie who? Why the Oomph girl, Annie Sheridan. Sure, she just got back from a humdinger of a USO-CAMP SHOW tour on which were also Ben Blue, Jackie Miles, Mary Landa, and Ruth Denas, and she told us, “Speaking for the whole crew — it’s good to be home.” The troupe traveled 60,000 miles, playing in Casablanca, Oran, Algiers, Cairo, etc., spent two weeks in India, then flew over the Hump into China, and thence into the Burma jungles. During this accumu¬ lation of mileage and fans, the entertainers noticed that the boys were looking at the following films, among others: “Going My Way,” “Doughgirls,” “Gaslight,” “Shine On Harvest Moon,” “Thank Your Lucky Stars,” etc. In China, they noticed that the equip¬ ment (projectors, sound, etc.) would often as not fail. In many cases, a film was shown the G.I.’s after the Sheridan show, keeping alive even in the wilds of Burma and China the two-for-one policy. In Annie’s opinion, the future of the motion picture is assured in such spots as the interior of China, India, and Burma, where the natives are getting their first glimpses of a motion picture, and going really wild over it. The show that the troupe put on ran on an average of an hour and a half, and totaled more than 50 such shows in addition to hospital visits. Miles emceed, and sang comedy songs, and Annie did a comedy skit with Blue (who had to leave for the coast immediately upon his arrival in New York) and she also sang a couple of songs. Miss Landa came through with some solo dance routines, and Miss Denas accompanied all the acts as well as singing, on her accordion. In China, Captain Melvyn Douglas accompanied the group as Special Service Officer, and, according to Annie, he wants to remain on active duty in China for the duration, and he also wants to delay any action about his future in films until the war is over. Audiences ranged from 70 to 5,000 G.I.’s and natives, who, although in many cases did not understand what was being said, nevertheless enjoyed the show tremendously (who wouldn’t, with oomph Annie and two other American beauties therein) . Any thing that reminded the G.I.’s of home was called “stateside,” and la Sheridan certainly was “stateside” with a loud whistle from the boys. Other things that rated this classification were Miles’ civilian suit, real butter, canned beer (American), pin-up photos, home-town newspaper clippings, and above all mail from home. Annie, who lost 12 pounds on this eight-week jaunt, and she showed where, wants to rest up in town until October, and thence back to Hollywood and the brothers Warner for another feature. After this is completed, the star wants to go out on another USO tour, and would prefer another theatre of operations. Annie stated that she would like to see many more stars go out becauce they are a “touch of home” to the boys, and this is what they need urgently. She told us that “they are the most appreciative audience I’ve ever played to,” and that they insisted on loading each of the performers down with souvenirs and hand¬ made gifts. One soldier told them that it was worth being stuck there for 29 months just to see the show, which is a damn swell compliment. ( Continued on page 10) ) Crumpets Konecoff September 13, 1944