The Exhibitor (May-Aug 1948)

PEOPLE Washington— Carter T. Barron, eastern division manager, Loew’s Theatres, last week announced the promotion to new assignments of three Loewmen. Jack Foxe, formerly manager, Loew’s Colum¬ bia, has been appointed director of pub¬ licity and advertising for the three Wash¬ ington theatres. Irving Martin, formerly assistant manager, Loew’s Capitol, has been moved up to the manager’s post, Colum¬ bia. William Riding has been assigned to replace Martin as assistant manager, Capitol, under the supervision of Gene Ford and Joel Margolis. Riding was for¬ merly with Loew’s, Reading, Pa. Detroit — The resignation of Arvid Kantor as branch manager for National Screen Service was announced last week. Kantor held that position for five years, having started with the company three years be¬ fore. He is a former Chief Barker, Variety Club of Michigan and is now president, Cinema Lodge, B’nai B’rith. Hollywood — The appointment of William Peirce, Jr., as advertising and publicity director of Norma Productions was an¬ nounced last week by Harold Hecht. Norma has completed “The Unafraid” (formerly “Kiss The Blood Off My Hands”) for U-International release. Downing In RCMH Post New York — Appointment of Russell V. Downing to the position of executive vicepresident, Radio City Music Hall Corpora¬ tion was announced last week by G. S. Eyssell, president. He was formerly vicepresident and treasurer. Eyssell, named executive manager, Rockefeller Center, Inc., also announced the promotion of James Gould, assistant treasurer, to treasurer. Downing has served on the Music Hall staff since 1933, prior to that being assist¬ ant to tne president of Tidewater Oil Company and later treasurer of the Pru¬ dence Company, large financial organiza¬ tion. Jacques Feyder Passes New York — Jacques Feyder, 54, famed French film producer and director, died last week at Rives de Prangins in the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland. Feyder worked in Hollywood several times, hav¬ ing directed “Son Of The Rajah,” with Ramon Navarro. He also made the French and German versions of “Anna Christie,” with Greta Garbo, and the French classic, “Carnival In Flanders.” WB Buys Stations Los Angeles — Warners last week closed a deal with Dorothy Thackrey for the purchase of two stations, KLAC, San Francisco, and KYA here, plus a video construction permit in this city. Price was $1,045,000. Mississippi Meeting Set Biloxi, Miss.— The Mississippi Theatre Owners convention will be held at the Buena Vista Hotel on June 20-21. THE EXHIBITOR Arizona Seeks Change In Compensation Laws Phoenix, Ariz. — Petitions for a change in the Arizona workmen’s compensation law were being circulated last week throughout Arizona in an effort to change a ruling that is keeping Hollywood motion picture companies from location work in Arizona. The petitions call for the placing of a measure on the November ballot that would change the prevailing law by limit¬ ing compensation payments to motion pic¬ ture employes, among others, to $1,000 a month. Arizona’s current compensation law allows the payment of 65 per cent of income as payment for compensation for injury suffered during employment in the state. A recent Arizona Industrial Commis¬ sion ruling set a ceiling of $3,000 a month as the maximum salary under which the commission would insure a motion pic¬ ture company employe. In establishing the rule, the commission claimed a ceiling figure was necessary to protect itself against death or injury of a high-salaried motion picture star. Such an incident, the commission pointed out, might well “break” the workmen’s compensation fund. At present, Arizona is paying one movie actor $235 weekly as the result of , injuries suffered in falling from a horse during the filming of a production in the state. An¬ other expensive accident like that one, the commission stated, might wipe out the state’s compensation fund. Meanwhile, Columbia announced that it would postpone the shooting of “Bonanza” in Mesa, Ariz., pending the outcome of a “friendly suit” by Gene Autry against the Arizona Industrial Commission. Staten Island Drive-In Opens New York — The Department of Licenses last fortnight granted Fabian Theatres Corporation a license to operate a drive-in near the Staten Island airport after a series of hearings. The theatre opened immediately, since it had been in readiness awaiting the okeh. The opposition was based on the conten¬ tion that the operation was too close to the airport, but when the Department of Marine and Aviation notified Edward Mc¬ Cormick, president of the airport, that henceforth the field could only be oper¬ ated between sunrise and 7.30 p. m., the Department of Licenses gave the drive-in the okeh. McCormick said he planned a Supreme Court action to void the new operating hour schedule, and that he might seek a similar action against the License Department charging the theatre is too close to the airport for general safety. "Shaggy" Gets Denver Bow Denver — World premiere of “Shaggy,” Pine-Thomas color production for Para¬ mount, will be held at the Denham on June 11. Brenda Joyce, the film’s leading lady; Shaggy, the dog star, and guest star Martha Vickers will make personal ap¬ pearances in conection with the opening. Bill Pine, co-producer, will also be at the opening. THE SCORE BOARD (In this department will he found a rating of pictures screened by Warners, MGM, Paramount, RKO, and 20th CenturyFox under the decree. Complete reviews appear in The Pink Section. — Ed.) 20th-Fox “Mine Own Executioner”— Import has limited appeal. MGM “Easter Parade” — Money show. Indianapolis Officers Cleared Indianapolis — Officials of three Indian¬ apolis corporations last fortnight were cleared of charges made by three stock¬ holders that they mismanaged a Gary, Ind., theatre building. Judge Robert C. Baltzell ruled in federal court that the stockholders are not entitled to $200,000 damages asked because of alleged sub-standard rates charged in the rental of the building. The officials head both owning and leasing firms of the building. Defendants were Vemer U. Young, Gary, Ind., president, Fiftyler, Inc., Montgomery Theatre Corporation, and Y and W Man¬ agement Corporation, all of Indianapolis; Robert R. Young, secretary of the firms, and Marc J. Wolf, and Albert R. Blocker, both directors of the three firms. Charles F. Wooley, Charles C. Wooley, and Edna G. Ward, all of Long Beach, Cal., stock¬ holders in Fiftyler, Inc., brought the suit on Jan. 28, 1947. Judge Baltzell ruled also that interlock¬ ing operations of officers and directors of the three firms “is not detrimental or un¬ fair” to Fiftyler or its shareholders. The suit asked a receivership for Fiftyler. Serkowich Handles "Man Eaters" New York — The recently organized firm of Benjamin H. Serkowich has been en¬ gaged by Universal-International to handle a special promotion campaign for the forthcoming Monty Shaff-Frank Rosen¬ berg production, “Man Eaters Of Kumaon,” it was announced last week by Maurice A. Bergman, U-I eastern advertising and publicity director. Serkowich, most recently advertising, publicity, and exploitation director of Co¬ lumbia, assisted by a special field staff, will help develop special promotions in connection with key city openings of “Man Eaters Of Kumaon,” which U-I is releas¬ ing. RKO Quarter Dips New York — It was announced last week that consolidated net profit of RadioKeith-Orpheum Corporation and subsid¬ iary companies for the first quarter of 1948 was $1,345,327 after taxes and all other charges, equivalent to approxi¬ mately 34 cents per share on the 3,899,914 shares of common stock outstanding at the end of that quarter, as compared with consolidated net profit of $2,270,683 for the first quarter of 1947, equivalent to approximately 58 cents per share on the 3,899,912 shares of common stock out¬ standing at the end of such quarter. June 9, 1948