The Exhibitor (Nov 1942-May 1943)

8 THE EXHIBITOR WE GIVES NOTICE ON PATENTS TO LICENSEES New York — T. K. Stevenson, vice-presi¬ dent, Western Electric Company, an¬ nounced this week that contractual notice had been given of the company’s inten¬ tion to terminate two years hence its license contracts with the motion picture producers in this country operating under Bell System sound recording patents. This is the well-known Western Electric sound system. Stevenson said that early in 1941, as the time approached when notice of cancella¬ tion could first be given under existing contracts, Western Electric advised its licensees that if and when it terminated the present contracts there would be available to its licensees another form of contract which would continue to make available Bell System patents for sound recording in the motion picture field. The new contract, a draft of which will shortly be presented to licensees, will run to the end of 1954, and will provide for substan¬ tially lower recording fees. Firemen Make Talks New York — Broadway’s legitimate the¬ atres and about 500 motion-picture houses throughout the metropolitan area had an added feature last week that will con¬ tinue for the duration of the war. Fire¬ men, assigned to these amusement cen¬ ters, before curtain time delivered brief addresses to audiences, stressing public safety, and outlining methods that would avert disaster caused by fire or panic. The brief talks, a standard form of delivery, were the result of a recent special order issued by Fire Commissioner Patrick Walsh. The talks included such advice as “Please notice the exit nearest your seat, if you must leave quickly use that exit”; “Do not attempt to reach the cloak room for your clothing”; “Walk, do not run.” Subway Cards For UN New York — It was announced last week that space on stations of the Greater New York subway lines has been donated for United Nations Week posters. The office of War Information also has provided 18,000 reproductions of the “Declaration By United Nations” and the signatures of the representatives of each government for use in all theatres during United Nations Week. Copies of this historic document are now available, and can be had by apply¬ ing to any National Screen exchange. EXPERTS . . . in every field of theatre design and maintenance will be found listed in the THE EXHIBITOR’S PAGES THE OWI has furnished over 50,000 of the above posters for use by theatres celebrating United Nations Week, Jan. 1420. One-sheets, three-sheets, and 40x60’s are available. Indictments Follow Boston Fire Boston — Eleven indictments in connec¬ tion with the Cocoanut Grove fire disaster were returned by a grand jury here last week. The grand jury issued a series of find¬ ings and recommendations charging “lax¬ ity, incompetence, failure to fulfill pre¬ scribed duties effectively, and also lack of complete knowledge of duties” among a number of various city departments. Among those indicted were Barnet Welansky, owner; James Welansky, in charge at the time of the fire; the build¬ ing commissioner, the designer of the Grove, the contractor, and others. Einfeld and Aides Eastbound New York — Charles Einfeld, director of advertising and publicity for Warners, is scheduled to leave the coast this week for Chicago, Washington, and New York. Mitchell Rawson, eastern publicity man¬ ager, at the studio for the past several weeks, returns with Einfeld. Alex Evelove, in charge of studio pub¬ licity, also comes east. Oscar Dinner March 4 Hollywood — The Motion Picture Acad¬ emy’s board of governors announced last week that March 4 has been set as the date for the annual awards banquet. Mass. Group Raps Duals WORCESTER, MASS.— The Better Films Council has adopted a resolu¬ tion, and forwarded it to the Will Hays office, urging that double features be suspended for the duration to save time, critical materials and manpower, it was announced this week. Mrs. Howard S. Shepard, president, says the council opposes government censorship of films, believing that such regulation should come from the industry itself. BROADWAY GROSSES REACH NEW PEAKS New York — Holiday business was ter¬ rific in the Broadway first-runs last week, according to usually reliable reports reaching The Exhibitor. The Roxy, on New Year’s Eve, garnered the greatest amount of money ever taken in by any theatre for one day, $30,010.83 for five shows. The break-down is as follows: “YANKEE DOODLE DANDY” (Warners) — Strand, witF stage show headed by Jimmy Dorsey and Orchestra, reports $33,100 on Friday, Satur¬ day, and Sunday. “CASABLANCA” (Warners) — Hollywood did $23,500 from Thursday through Sunday. "JACARE” (UA) — Globe got $6,000 Saturday and Sunday with the first week of the jungle pic¬ ture getting $19,000. "RANDOM HARVEST” (MGM) — Music Hall, with usual stage show, got $85,000 from Thurs¬ day through Sunday. “IN WHICH WE SERVE” (UA) — Capitol, with the film adjudged by the New York review¬ ers as 1942's best, reported $59,000 from Thurs¬ day through Sunday. “STAR SPANGLED RHYTHM” (Paramount) — Paramount, with stage show headed by Benny Goodman and Orchestra, did $52,000 on Saturday and Sunday, with the first week estimated at $125,000. “THE BLACK SWAN” (20th Century-Fox) — The Roxy, with stage show headed by Carmen Miranda, garnered $83,300 from Thursday through Sunday with an excellent $115,000 estimated for the week. Fumes Overcome Patrons New Freedom, Pa. — Fumes escaping from a heating system overcame 30 per¬ sons at the New Year’s Day midnight per¬ formance in the New. Most of those over¬ come were children. J. Albert Shettel, supervising inspector of the State Department of Labor and Industry, announced that an investigation has been started. Approximately 250 patrons were evac¬ uated when the gas was detected. Those too ill to leave were helped by theatre attendants and others. Gail Silleg Engaged New York — Gail Silleg, executive sec¬ retary to Mort Blumenstock, in charge of Warner advertising and publicity in the east, has become engaged to Alfred Gold¬ stein, well-known Washington lawyer, now a Chief Specialist in the Coast Guard, it was disclosed last week. Date for the wedding will be announced later. Only This Publication Gives You The Exclusive Screening Guide. It Tells You What Is Being Screened. Colonel Zanuck Reports Washington — Colonel Darryl F. Zanuck described last week in a report to the War Department how the war in North Africa was being filmed by his unit. Zan¬ uck will edit and assemble the film record of the African operations. Weekly Newsreel Information Is a Regular Feature of This Publication. Hunt-Vergesslich New York — Lorraine Vergesslich, daughter of Joe Vergesslich, local War¬ ner sales staff, was married last week to Arthur Hunt, Naval Intelligence Service. Have You Seen The Service Kit? January 6, 1943