The Exhibitor (May-Aug 1948)

NT-2 THE EXH I B I TO R A new documentary film hailing the new era of Christianity in China was announced last week by Paul F. Heard, executive secretary, Protestant Film Commission. The film, “My Name Is Han”, is the second produced jointly by major Protestant denominations of the U.S. and Canada. As a surprise entertainment for the television motion picture and ad¬ vertising agencies executives who attended the organization meeting of the Television Films Coordinating Committee luncheon at the Hotel Astor last week, Melvin L. Gold, director of advertising and publicity, National Screen Service, temporary chairman of the committee, arranged for the first public performance of the song, “If I Had A Camera, I’d Televise You”, said to be the first song writ¬ ten expressly for television. The first film produced specifically for a UNESCO objective, “Hungry Minds”, was released last week by Brandon Films, U.S. distributors of the film. The picture is sponsored by the commission for International and Educational Reconstruction, which held a preview in Washington early this month In cooperation with the UNESCO relief staff, Department of State. The film was produced by the National Film Board of Canada for the Canadian council on Reconstruction for UNESCO. The Eagle Lion softball team again defeated Warners by a score of 5-3 in a return match. .. .Frank p. Rosenberg arrived last week from California to confer with U-I executives William A. Scully, vice-president and general sales manager, and Maurice A. Bergman, eastern advertising and publicity director, on releasing and promotion plans for “Man Eater Of Kumaon”, which he produced in association with Monty Shaff for U-I release. Warner home office executives recently tendered a buffet dinner and cocktail party to Jack L. Warner, Jr., at the Warwick Hotel, celebrating his forthcoming’ marriage to Barbara Richman, New Haven. The wedding took place on May 30 at the Hotel Pierre, with the Rev. Dr. Edgar E. Siskin, Temple Mishkan Israel, New Haven, officiating. Barney Balaban, president, Para¬ mount, accompanied by company at¬ torney Ed Weisel, left by plane for Hollywood last week for conferences with Henry Ginsberg, vice-president in charge of production. Harold Salkey. adjutant, Film Post No. 1292, American Legion, an¬ nounced last week that this post of Local 306 is now throwing open its membership to all IATSE veterans of past wars residing in New York and New jersey. The post is now in the process of opening a new club room in the Adler building, 249 West 42nd Street, third floor. Applications can be obtained by communicating with Edgar Heidelberg, finance officer, 2800 Jerome Avenue. Bronx, 58, New York. While making a personal appearance re¬ cently at the Rivoli, New York, for the world premiere of her new film for Universal-International, * Another Part of the Forest”, Ann Blyth auctioned off her hat to help raise funds for the American Overseas Aid-United Nations Appeal for Children. Highest bidder was Vickie Hayes, who is congratulated by Hiss Blyth, holding the hat. At left is Bud Swe eney , auctioneer. White Uonty Salmon, Rivoli managing director, stands at the right, quite pleased. Budd Rogers, Realart vice-presi¬ dent, left last week on a two-week circuit tour. ... Favorite Films cor¬ poration announced last week that it had acquired for distribution two Italian features, “Sperdutti Nel Buio” and “Dove Sta Zaza”. One of the most successful pro¬ motions in the history of the Skouras Roosevelt was the "Cutest Child Con¬ test”, conducted in conjunction with the Hawthorne Studio, Flushing, L. I. Prizes were given in two groups: children up through three years and from four through 12. The first prize in each group was $25.00, second, $15.00, and third, $10. All photos entered went on exhibition in the theatre mounted on a huge display frame, no expense was run up by the theatre, and the judges were selected from model agencies, magazines, news¬ papers, etc. Five thousand heralds each containing an entry blank were distributed through the 22 public and parochial schools over a 22 mile area, and an attractive trailer invited parents to show off their youngsters. The gala spring Party of the Ameri¬ can Television Society and the closing luncheon meeting of the 1947-48 series took place last week in the Coral Room of the Hotel Astor.... NBC Tele¬ vision last week received the first annual citation of the Radio-Tele¬ vision critics’ Circle "for doing the most to promote television in the past year”. . . . “Films and Labor”, first of a series of discussions on the use of non-theatrical films, was the theme of the conference luncheon of the New York Film Council held last week at the Williams Club. David A. Lipton, U-I studio co¬ ordinator of advertising and promotion, arrived last week from California to participate in mapping advertising campaigns on forthcoming U-I releases .... Columbia star Rita Hayworth sailed last week for Europe. Norman Serphos. president, Scott Stamp and coin com¬ pany, Inc. , was guest speaker at a meeting of the Cinema stamp Collectors in the Nimrod Room, Hotel Astor, re¬ cently .... The veteran Paul Hol¬ lister, RKO national publicity dir¬ ector, returned last week following two weeks of studio conferences with production executives on forthcoming releases. ... Fred Ahern, production manager, Transatlantic Pictures, ar¬ rived last week to supervise final preparations for background shots on the trailer for "Rope”, for Warner release. New Jersey NEWAR K Edward Batlan, Essex County district manager, Warner Theatres, was back at his desk after being confined to his home due to a minor operation. Vacationers from the WB office in¬ cluded Doris Sheffer andSam Jenefsky, contact department, John Stanek, book¬ ing department; Jerri Walsh and Kay Wondracek, and Reggie Vitiello, who returned from a vacation spent in her new home. UN I ON The Union, which runs Junior Fun Shows every Saturday matinee, had as an added attraction Gus Lesnevich, the light, heavy weight champion. He pre¬ sented to one of the children cele¬ brating a birthday that day, a pair of boxing gloves, which he autographed. New York State ALBANY Plans for the annual golf tournament of the Variety Club, Tent 9, were made at a meeting of the crew prior to the weekly dinner in Keeler* s Restaurant. Nate Winig was named chairman of the affair, which will be held on June 21 ....Harry Colburn, Jr./ Columbia home office representative, is spending several weeks in the exchange. . . . Warren Towle, manager, Heilman’ s Saratoga Drive-In, Lathams, resigned. George Lourinia replaces. ... Condolences are being extended to Helen Davis, Warner Theatres’ telephone operator, upon the death of her brother, Frank. ... Jack Bullwinkle, Columbia branch manager, went to Oneida to confer with Kallett ....Harry Alexander, Eagle Lion branch manager, and Gordon Bugie, salesman, attended a meeting of the 10 eastern branches in New York City. . . . Elizabeth Hilles, 20th-Fox inspectress, was va¬ cationing. ... Sidney Kallett, Kallett Circuit, made a business trip to Boston .... Ray Smith, Warners’ branch manager, was on a week’ s trip through the North Country. . . . James 0' Gara, Republic division manager, was a visitor.... Charlah McDonald, Loew’ s bookers' secretary, returned from a vacation in Oneonta, and Louisa Bike, contract clerk, was absent for several weeks due to the illness of her father. The Aust Drive-In, Glens Falls open¬ ing, scheduled for May 14, was post¬ poned until May 21 due to the delay in the arrival of equipment. ... Mrs. Voumakis, wife of Peter, owner Liberty and Strand, Watertown, is recuperating at the Good Samaritan Hospital after undergoing an operation. ... Mr. and June 2, 1948