The Exhibitor (May-Aug 1948)

THE EXH I B I TO R NT-1 NEWS or THE l&tntfoM New York City * CROSSTOWN and, in addition, will enable the company to house and consolidate a number of departments now located in other premises. Congratulations were last week being tendered Arthur Mayer who again became a grandfather when Arthur Mayer, Jr. , was born to Michael and Janet Claster Mayer at White Plains Hospital. Otto Preminger, who will produce and direct 20th Century-Fox’ s “The Fan”, left last week for England on a talent search for the picture. . . . Ray Milland arrived this week to ap¬ pear on several radio programs.... Bing Crosby, who has been in the east for a month, left last week for Hollywood to attend the world pre¬ miere of “The Emperor Waltz” at the Hollywood Paramount. Babe Ruth, accompanied by his wife, daughter, and son-in-law, returned last week from Hollywood, where he gave final approval to Allied Art¬ ists’ film, “The Babe Ruth Story”.... Bernard M. Kamber, eastern adver¬ tising and publicity representative, Benedict Bogeaus Productions, left last week for Hollywood to discuss with coast executives the campaigns for “On Our Merry Way” and “Girl From Manhattan”, both UA releases. While on the coast, Kamber, who is also president, Wayne Country Club, Pocono Mountain resort, will contact various film stars interested in directing and acting in a summer stock company now being organized at his Tyler Hill, Pa., resort, which is being planned as an eastern counterpart of the La Jolla Players of California. Luana Patten, nineyearold Walt Disney child star, ushered in the 52nd year of Steeplechase Park, Coney Island, last week by christen¬ ing with an ice cream cone the novelty amusement boat, “Little Toot for Tots”, named in tribute to Dis¬ ney. . . .Anita Colby, Paramount studio executive, arrived here last week from her nationwide tour in behalf of “The Emperor Waltz”, and left for Hollywood to resume her duties at the studio. She visited 33 cities. Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Weiner, (he' s office manager, New York exchange, Film Classics, Inc.), became the parents of a daughter recently. The youngster’ s name is Abby Helene. Armand Schneck, president, Madison Pictures, and Harry Goldstone, Famous Pictures Film Exchange, last week announced the consummation of a deal for Famous to release Madison Pic¬ tures product in the metropolitan territory. The first combination now ready for release is Frank Buck’ s “Tiger Fangs” and “Nabonga”. National Screen Service last week announced that it had closed a con¬ tract for the purchase of 1600 Broad¬ way from Loew’ s International cor¬ poration. The new building will serve as headquarters for all home office activities and departments now lo¬ cated in the Film Center Building, Walt Disney Productions tied in with the National Apple Institute and its affiliates on an elaborate campaign on "Melody Time”, Astor. Headed by James Cagney, William Bendix and Jeanne Cagney, stars of “The Time Of Your Life”, the benefit premiere of the film at the Mayfair, last week had on hand one of the largest lists of stage, screen, and radio celebrities ever assembled. A host of others also came to aid the $1,000,000 campaign of the Wiltwyck School, sponsors of the benefit open¬ ing. Jane Wyatt arrived last week for a short vacation, having finished her acting assignment in Enterprise’s “No Minor Vices”. ... The responsibil¬ ity of parents toward their children is the theme of a documentary short Paramount's exchanges throughout New York State were well r epr e seated at the company's recent sales meeting in New York City. Attending from the Gotham branch , at top , were, left to right: Phil Isaacs , Nat Stern, Henry Randel, district manage r ; Uyron Sat tl er , branch manager; Eddie Bell, Gene Newman, and ■J. Perley. On hand in the center shot from Albany were, left to right: Ed Wall, James Uoore, Ed Ruff, branch manager, and Peter Holman, while M. Simon, Joon Good, Richard Carroll, and branch manager U.A. Brown repre¬ sented Buffalo in the bottom shot. film report now being produced by RKO Pathe here for the New York state Youth Foundation. The film is titled “Families First”. It will be distri¬ buted by the Commission. Capitalizing on the publicity ac¬ corded “The Iron Curtain” when it opened at the Roxy, Walter Reade The¬ atres recently prepared a herald ad¬ vertising the film as the “Headline Picture Of All Times”. The Screen Office and Professional Employees Guild, Local 109, United Office and Professional workers of America, CIO, last fortnight announced that salary increases ranging from $5 to $7.50, retroactive to Sept. 27, 1947, had been won through arbitra¬ tion for the employees at National Screen Service. David A. Cole was the impartial arbitrator. This award winds up the series of arbitrations between SOPEG and the industry. Morris Abrahams, 81, father of Phil Abrahams, head, Warners’ print de¬ partment, died last fortnight. Jerry Dale, advertising-publicity director, J. Arthur Rank Organizations, Inc. , returned last week after a month in England and France. Daniel T. O’Shea, president, Van¬ guard Films, and Ernest L. Scanlon, vice-president and treasurer, Van¬ guard Films, arrived last week from Hollywood for a series of conferences with David 0. Selznick; Neil Agnew, president, Selznick Releasing Organi¬ zation, and Milton Kusell vicepresident in charge of domestic and Canadian sales. Blanche Livingston, in charge of publicity for RKO out-of-town the¬ atres, -flew last week to New Orleans on a business trip. The first two German features to be made in the British Zone have been consigned by the British Film Section in Hamburg on behalf of the producers to British Information Services here, it was learned last week. BIS is now making arrangements to show the films, “In Jenen Tagen” and “Film Ohne Titel”, to distributors of foreign films here. The National War Trophy Safety Committee last week announced plans to make a film "Targets For Today” as part of its campaign to save the lives of citizens who might blow themselves to bits during the next few years. COMPLETE MARQUEE SERVICE DESIGN — FABRICATE — INSTALL MONROE SIGN CORP. Since 1921 Stainless Steel — Vitrolite — rPorcelain THEATRE FRONTS Drive-In Theatre Attraction Signs 253-9 Hackensack St. E. Rutherford, N. J. TEL. Rutherford 2-8200 Passaic 2-4600 June 2, 194fi New York