The Exhibitor (Jun-Nov 1944)

20 Konecoff (i Continued from page 6) secret one. He did not get a chance to see French racing steeds in action, but he did get in a look-see at one of the local tracks before leaving for Hollywood. Along with him on the trip were Joe De Rita, Jean Darrell, Darlene Garner, Buck Harris, and Earl Baxter. ASTAIRE DEPT.: Fred, Astaire also re¬ turned last week from a six week USO Camp Show Tour which took him into England, Belgium, Holland, and France. Playing before audiences that ranged any¬ where from 200 to 12,000, he improvised many dance routines that could be used almost anywhere, even in between the cots in many hospitals. He and Mike Olivieri, his accordionist, carried along a 6 x 12 dance mat so that he would be able to perform under all conditions. One time it was so dark that he couldn’t see the mat, so a soldier threw a flashlight beam on his feet, and soon every flashlight in the audience cast its light on his feet until he was blinded, and kept his balance pretty much through instinct. He performed within 500 yards of Aachen, and even un¬ derwent a bombing. According to Astaire, the boys were mostly interested in what it felt like to dance with Ginger Rogers, Rita Hayworth, etc., and to hold them in his arms. Among the films he saw that played the GI circuit were “Holiday Inn” and “The Sky’s The Limit.” Among the many souvenirs he brought back with him were some false teeth used by the Nazis, enemy uniform insignia, medals, etc. Astaire also revealed that latest reports in France had Maurice Chevalier and Danniele Darrieux completely cleared of any suspicion of col¬ laboration. The way that Astaire went out on this tour was that he had six weeks in between pictures, and when the studio heard that he would like to go on a USO tour, they gave him another two weeks off, in as much as the minimum period for a tour is eight weeks. The film that Astaire had completed prior to the tour was “Ziegfeld Follies,” for MGM, and his next, which goes into production almost immediately, is “Yolanda And The Thief,” in Techni¬ color. The first year of his three year con¬ tract with MGM has just been completed, and he expects to star in one film about every eight or nine months. He does not intend appearing in a Broadway show in the near future, nor does he expect to produce his own films. He admitted that he would like to do a film with Crosby, if it were at all possible. Astaire, who left for the coast over the week-end, brought back several hundred phone messages from soldiers overseas. He hopes to go out again anywhere the USO wants him to go as soon as picture commitments permit. THE METROPOLITAN SCENE: Some¬ time soon we will have to take a day off in order to digest the swell special product issue of the 20th Century-Fox Dynamo put out by dynamic Roger Ferri. This special exhibitor’s edition is all of 126 pages, chockful of production info, stills, sales information, etc., etc. . . . Loew’s State celebrated the 23rd birthday of the house as well as the 33rd anniversary of the Chinese Republic with a party and the screening of “Dragon Seed.” . . . Leon Fromkess, president, PRC, offered Walter Winchell $25,000 per week to enact top role in the newspaper biography of Russell Birdwell, which the company will produce. We have not yet heard Winchell’s reply. . . . Last Columbus Day saw 25.000 or 30,000 teen agers jamming Times Square, and especially the Paramount, to get a look at Frankie Sinatra. Additional details of police were continuously added to the THE EXHIBITOR Sinatra Becomes Target NEW YORK — Frank Sinatra's en¬ gagement at the Paramount continued to make the front pages last weekend when an egg thrower in the theatre selected him as a target. It was re¬ ported three were thrown, all hitting ‘The Voice.’ At Sinatra’s request, the thrower was released. Meanwhile, business continued very good. Kalmenson Promotes Two New York — Ben Kalmenson, general sales manager for Warners, announced over the week end that Stanley Hatch had been promoted to head the contract sales department, taking over the duties re¬ cently handled by Ralph Clark, elevated to Canadian division manager. Arthur S. Jones has been moved to con¬ tract department, filling Hatch’s former post. Hatch handled western sales for First National from 1921 to 1929, when he joined Educational Film Exchanges as sales man¬ ager. He came to Warners in 1937. Ralph Clark Feted Toronto — Ralph H. Clark, newly ap¬ pointed Canadian general manager for Warners, succeeding Wolf Cohen, was tendered a reception of welcome last week. Among those present from the home office were Ben Kalmenson, Norman H. Moray and Mort Blumenstock. Guests included officials of all film companies and theatre circuits in the Dominion. original patrol until several hundred police were on the scene. Many of the kids brought their lunch along, so that if they were lucky to grab a front row seat they could hold out for hours. ‘The Voice,” by the way, will be initiated into the Circus Saints And Sinners on Oct. 26. He also played host to Roy Rogers and Trigger. Service Paper Charges Rapped HOLLYWOOD — Film stars were in¬ censed last week when the Army newspaper CBI Roundup charged that several had quit entertaining soldiers in the China-Burma-India area be¬ cause “it was too tough.” Among those mentioned as “cutting their tours short” were Ann Sheridan, Joe E. Brown, A1 Jolson, Paulette Goddard, and Joel McCrea. All issued statements denying the accusations, and saying they “did their best.” Jolson said he had never been booked for that sector. In Washington, Major James H. Malone, Army’s Special Service Divi¬ sion, said entertainers in the CBI the¬ atre have done a good job, but that some of them “just don’t stay long enough.” He added that all perform¬ ers leaving for overseas know of the hardships they will face, and “agree to stick it out” for a minimum of 60 days in the case of the China-IndiaBurma theatre. WARNERS DEVELOP NEW MIKE BOOM New York — Development of a miniature microphone boom by engineers in the sound department for use in confined quarters was announced last week by Warners. The new boom requires an operating space of only 30 inches, and is described as “more versatile in its movements than any other microphone boom in use for re¬ cording today.” “The microphone,” according to the an¬ nouncement, “can be raised or lowered, moved in or out, panned sidewise in either direction, and the sensitive side of the microphone can be rotated through an arc of 400 degrees, all while the boom is travel¬ ing through rooms and doorways. “It possesses a revolutionary design in moving counter-weights, which keeps it under perfect balance during all move¬ ments, and is so quiet during operation that the slightest whisper from an actor’s voice can be recorded without hearing any noise from moving parts of the boom. It can be used in very small sets such as completely enclosed dens, closets, or bath¬ rooms, sounds from which previously were recorded by microphones on ‘fish poles’ handled by two or three men above the set.” "Barn Dance" Gets Bow Chicago — “The National Barn Dance,” Paramount film, was shown to a regular radio audience and invited guests at the broadcast of the radio show on which the picture is based at the WLS Eighth Street Playhouse on Oct. 14. The premiere was the high spot of the national promotion for the film over the radio networks. Covering a total of three weeks, prior to and following the radio premiere, the entire broadside will extend over the national release of the picture on Oct. 27. Weisfeldt-Rosenthal New York — The engagement of Ellen Rosenthal and Lieutenant Jerome M. Weisfeldt was announced over the week end. Miss Rosenthal is employed as secretary in the office of Jack Cohn, Columbia exec¬ utive vice-president, while Lieutenant Weisfeldt, formerly with 20th CenturyFox, is now a member of the Signal Corps Photographic Center. Lieutenant Weisfeldt is the son of M. J. Weisfeldt, Columbia sales executive. Para. Units Dismissed New York — Paramount Pictures and Paramount Film Distributing Corporation were last week dismissed with prejudice by stipulation from the anti-trust action brought by Rosyl Amusement Company, operating the Cameo, Jersey City, seeking triple damages under the Sherman AntiTrust Act for alleged restraint of trade, and naming 22 companies in the action. Beaudines Observe 30th New York — October 7 marked the 30th wedding anniversary of William Beaudine, Monogram film director, and the former Marguerite Fleischer, non-professional. October 18, 1944