The Exhibitor (Nov 1942-May 1943)

18 THE EXHIBITOR PHILADELPHIA POST GETS $25 DONATION Philadelphia — Vine Street’s drive to equip the sector air raid headquarters got a boost last week when a $25 contribution arrived at the office of Chief Air Raid Warden Charles Zagrans, RKO branch manager, attached to a story which ap¬ peared in a recent issue of The Exhibitor. The localite who gave the money re¬ quested that no publicity be given the donor, but it might be said that he is a prominent Vine Streeter, who, in the past, has also proved a financial godfather in many worthy cases. With this start, it is now expected that others will follow, anonymously or not. RCMH Surprise Bond Rally New York — In a surprise war bonds rally at the Radio City Music Hall last week, $35,600 worth of bonds were sold directly to the audience by a “flying brigade” of 125 AWVS members who en¬ tered the theatre during each of the two evening stage performances. Ben Grauer, NBC announcer, mounted the Music Hall stage to make the appeal. It's a Boy New York — Ed Schreiber, WAC pub¬ licity director, last week became the happy father of a seven pounds, 11 ounces son. New arrival, named Lawrence Mathew, and Mrs. Schreiber are doing well. Sports Plugs For "Jim" New York — Warners indicated last week that it was concentrating strongly on the sports angle in selling “Gentleman Jim,” with special screenings for sports writers, etc. "Ice Capades" Bows New York — “Ice Capades Revue,” Re¬ public’s show, opens for its premiere show¬ ing at the J. P. Harris, Pittsburgh, Pa., on Dec. 24, it was said last week. No Drastic Cuts— Hopper Hollywood — Harold Hopper was quoted as declaring last week that the Govern¬ ment does not contemplate any drastic cuts in film stock quotas. Hinchy Returns From Tour New York — Ed Hinchy, head of the Warner playdate department, returned from a tour of Warner exchanges in the eastern and central territories last week. uance Shots Features THE TRAITOR WITHIN. Republic. 60m. Donald M. Barry, Jean Parker, George Cleveland, Ralph Morgan. Fast-moving entrant for the duallers offers Barry in a new type of role. THE PAYOFF. PRC. 72m. Lee Tracy, Tom Brown, Tina Thayer, Evelyn Brent, Jack LaRue. Breezy melodrama makes a neat independent entry. Monogram May Stagger HOLLYWOOD — Inauguration of a novel method of “staggering” release dates in various parts of the country in order to save film is being con¬ templated by Monogram, it was indi¬ cated last week. Under the plan now being consid¬ ered, pictures would not be distrib¬ uted under a national release date, but would be set for the eastern ter¬ ritory on certain dates, with later dates for northern, southern, and western divisions. "Henry Browne— Farmer" Viewed Washington — “Henry Browne — Farmer,” Department of Agriculture film designed to show the contributions of the Negro farmer to the war effort, was screened last week end for Negro leaders and exec¬ utives at the 20th CentuTy-Fox screening room. National premiere of the 10-minute documentary, to be distributed by Re¬ public, through arrangement by OWI and WAC, will be held on Nov. 26 at Lichtman’s Booker T. Plans call for showing the film in both Negro and white theatres throughout the country. Van Rensselaer Sill, motion pic¬ ture director for the Agricultural Adjust¬ ment Administrator, produced the film, which features a score by Gene Forrell, narration by Canada Lee, and direction by Roger Barlow. Oliver Griswold, of the Department of Agriculture’s Film Section, and Fred S. Wallace, special assistant to Secretary Claude A. Wickard, addressed the group before the screening. What’s Being Shown Today? See The Exhibitor’s Territory Trade Screening Guide Every Issue. Columbia Charges $1 New York — Three Victory Shorts of one reel each will be produced by Columbia, and supplied to exhibitors at a flat rate of $1 per day, it was announced last week. “Wings For the FLedgling,” first com¬ pleted subject in the Victory series, is set for release on Dec. 31. Release dates for the second and third productions, “Weapons From Waste” and “Mr. Smug,” will be set later by the War Activities Committee. Reiner To OWI NEW YORK — Manny Reiner, short subjects and newsreel publicity man, ager for Paramount, was last week granted a leave of absence by the company to permit him to join the Overseas Operations Bureau of the Office of War Information. He began his new duties immediately in the New York office of the OWI, and shortly will be assigned to overseas duty. A member of the Paramount staff for the past few years, Reiner was formerly with Monogram, Metro, and Warners, and was publicity manager for the Quiz Kids. HEARINGS BEGIN ON PARAMOUNT BONUS New York — The AAA last week began hearings on the bonus dispute between Paramount and members of the company’s New York Screen Publicists Guild unit. The Paramount publicists have received only two of the four quarterly bonuses, devised by the company as a means of combating the higher cost of living. The dispute involves payment of bonuses for the third and fourth quarters of the year. Paramount contends that, in accordance with its policy of denying the bonus priv¬ ilege to employees belonging to collective bargaining groups, the company’s publi¬ cists cut themselves off from the extra payments when they negotiated a contract with the firm. The third-quarter bonus amounts to eight per cent on salaries up to $100 and four per cent on earning between $100 and $200 per week. The fourth quarter figures are 10 per cent and five per cent. Em¬ ployees earning above $200 per week are not entitled to bonus benefits. Philly WB Fetes Kiddies Philadelphia — The Warner Club last week completed arrangements for the Annual Kiddie Thanksgiving Party in Warner Club rooms and Little Theatre on Nov. 26. Youngsters of club members will attend a special screening, oddity re¬ freshment party, and watch the giant Gimbel Toyland Parade. They will also listen to a short talk on conservation of materials and importance of purchasing war stamps and bonds. Zone head Ted Schlanger heads the committee which consists of club prexy, A1 Zimbalist, J. Ellis Shipman, and Joseph Feldman. Exchangeites Aid Salvage New York — Employes of local exchanges last week launched their salvage drive. Virginia E. Aaron, Metro, has been placed in charge by the American Wo¬ men’s Voluntary Services with the fol¬ lowing named captains: Helen J. Fischer, NSS; Helen Duffy, Seymour Jonas, 20th Century-Fox; Bea Friedman, Metro; Lil¬ lian Bergson, Paramount; William Hart¬ man, RKO; Anne Turov, Warners; and Sylvia Zeitels, UA. Dr. Derenberg Leaves New York — Dr. Walter J. Derenberg, director of legal research of the AAA and for the motion picture arbitration sys¬ tem, last week resigned to accept the post of chief counsel of the Opinions and Re¬ search Bureau of the Office of Price Ad¬ ministration. Al Fhrier In Indiana Philadelphia — Al Fhrier, who was, up to time of his induction, projectionist at the local Upsal, Sid Kapner house, was recently advanced to Private First Class at Camp Atterbury, Ind. E. Z. Walters Back New York — E. Z. Walters, Altec Service comptroller, returned last week from an eight weeks’ stay on the coast. November 25, 1942