The Exhibitor (Nov 1939-May 1940)

8 THE EXHIBITOR “Wind” Stars to Appear At Atlanta Premiere Gable, Leigh, DeHavilland To Show on December 1 5 New York City — Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh, stars of “Gone with the Wind,” will attend the world premiere of the picture at Loew’s Grand, Atlanta, Georgia, December 15, it was announced last week. They will fly east from the Metro studios via a special plane, arriving in Atlanta December 14. They will be guests of honor at a Junior League ball that evening, will make personal appearances at the premiere the following night, and will fly back at once to the West Coast. Plans are now being worked out for other members of the cast of “Gone with the Wind,” and members of the Hollywood personnel of the Selznick International organization, to be present at the Atlanta opening. While prices for the premiere of “Gone With the Wind” at Loew’s Grand, Atlanta, December 15 are yet to be determined, 75 cents-$1.50 scale will prevail for the two-a-day run of the picture whch will start the following day, it was reported. General ticket sale will start November 18. Plans for the premiere are nearly complete. Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh and Olivia de Havilland will fly into Atlanta from the Coast by special plane December 14 and lead the grand march at the “Old South” ball to be given by the Atlanta Junior League at the Auditorium on the evening preceding the premiere. Kay Kyser will bring his “Let’s Dance Students” orchestra to Atlanta for the ball. Virtually all the leading players in the picture will move into Atlanta for the first showing of the film. Important visitors from Hollywood and New York will include David Selznick, producer, and Mrs. Selznick; John Hay Whitney and Mrs. Whitney; Nicholas M. Schenck, Louis B. Mayer, David Bernstein, W. F. Rodgers, Tom Connors, Howard Dietz, Joseph Vogel, Oscar A. Doob. Technicians and cameramen will accompany the stars to Atlanta. Arrangements are being made with the War Department at Washington and the Georgia National Guard for special troops to be present. Maurice S. Sprowles Passes Philadelphia — The trade was shocked to learn November 17 of the death of Maurice Stanford Sprowles, manager, Rockland, and for many years with the Hunt circuit. A film veteran, he had been ill for some time but was on his way to recovery when a relapse occurred. GN Closes Two Offices New Haven — Grand National suspended the local office as of last Saturday, with shipment henceforth being made from the Boston office. Also suspended was the Albany exchange, with the personnel incorporated with the Buffalo office. UA Folk to Hollywood New York City — Miss Dee Lowrance, feature writer and expert on fashion and beauty publicity in the United Artists publicity department, left last week for Hollywood where she will complete details for an extensive fashion promotion on the David O. Selznick production of “Rebecca.” Miss Lowrance will also confer with the Edward Small office on women’s page publicity for “My Son, My Son!” with the Samuel Goldwyn organization on “Raffles,” and to do some special work on the Hal Roach production of “Of Mice and Men,” directed by Lewis Milestone. A special publicity and exploitation folio on the Walter Wanger production of “House Across the Bay” is another and final assignment for Miss Lowrance. She will return to New York in about two weeks, after which Albert Margolies, publicity manager for the company, will go to Hollywood. Vogel Elected to Loew’s Board New York City — Joseph R. Vogel, executive in charge of Loew’s out-of-town theatre circuit, was elected November 17 a director of Loew’s, Incorporated. His appointment fills the vacancy on the board caused by the recent death of I. Frey. Vogel has been associated with Loew’s for 30 years, beginning as an usher in the company’s Yorkville when he was a high school student. Vogel was recently made a vice-president and director of Loew’s Theatre and Realty Company, Inc., a subsidiary. C. C. Moskowitz, head of Loew’s New York circuit, is likewise a director of Loew’s, Inc., and its subsidiary theatre and realty company. Anniversary Comment Big New York City — A report from the MPPDA last week end showed that 96.7 percent of the comment on the 50th anniversary of motion pictures was favorable, .5 percent adverse, while the remainder was neutral. Mayor Critics’ Award M.C. New York City — Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia will be master of ceremonies at the annual award presentation reception of the New York Film Critics at the Rainbow Room, January 7, it was announced last week. New Groton (Conn.) Opens Groton, Connecticut — The new Groton, operated by Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Hess, Moosup, Moosup, opened November 16, the first in the town. Plan NE Vaude-Dance Tour NEW YORK CITY— It was reported here last week that some New England men were trying to line up talent for a vaudeville tour which would consist of one and two night stands. The group would play auditoriums, arenas, etc., with a band, at $1 top, with dancing to follow the show. If there isn’t any dance floor, there naturally, would be no dancing. Five Year Union Peace Hinted in East Produces Trade Body Leaders Back LaGuardia Effort New York City — The Central Trades and Labor Council, representing the American Federation of Labor affiliates in Greater New York and vicinity last week, unanimously adopted a resolution “concurring in the action of the mayor ” after hearing that Mayor La Guardia wants a pledge from organized labor that there will be no union jurisdiction squabbles for at least five years if he can bring the cinema production industry back here. The resolution, presented informally in verbal form, made no specific promise of a five-year peace, but labor leaders took the floor and spoke enthusiastically of the mayor’s plan to create a Hollywood in New York. Thomas Murtha, business representative Local 4, elected president of the Central Trades and Labor Council, presiding over the meeting, introduced the subject with a recommendation that the council get behind the mayor’s plan. Then Sal J. Scoppa, business representative Local 52, Motion Picture Studio Mechanics, took the floor and asserted that every type of union in the council would benefit from the creation of a picture production industry in New York. New York Lodge Chartered New York City — Over 600 distinguished members of the film industry gathered in the Grand Ball Room of the Hotel Edison last week for the charter presentation meeting of the Cinema Lodge, No. 1365, B’nai B’rith. With A. W. Schwalberg, president, occupying the chair, a number of prominent speakers addressed the gathering, representatives of all religious faiths. Prominent industry members who attended included Neil F. Agnew, Joseph Bernhard, Clayton Bond, Jack Cohn, Carl Leserman, Abe Montague, John J. O’Connor, John Payne, William F. Rodgers, George Schaefer, Abe Schneider, William Scully, G. L. Sears, Herman Starr, Major L. K. Thompson, Jack Warner, Jr., Jesse Block, Harold Rodner, Leonard Schlesinger. Metro Men Meet Nov. 2 5 New York City — Mid-season sales meeting of Metro will be held in Chicago November 25-26, it was announced last week, with selling of “Gone With the Wind” the big topic. Picture opens in 10 spots around the Christmas holidays, most of them Loew houses. Home office execs, district and branch heads, as well as representatives of Selznick, will attend the session. Extend UA Answer Time New York City — UA was last week granted until November 30 to file answers to the government’s interrogatories in the suit against the majors. Similar stipulations for other defendants were believed likely to follow. November 22, 1939