The Exhibitor (Nov 1943-May 1944)

the exhibitor 25 PRODUCTION PERISCOPE Hollywood — Benny Fields arrived here recently for his first starring film role, PRC’s “Minstrel Man,” under the direc¬ tion of Wallace W. Fox. . . . Leslie Fen¬ ton, first Hollywood director to return from World War II, wounded in combat, has been signed as director by Lester Cowan. . . . Fred MacMurray will star in Paramount’s “Girls’ Town.” . . . Currently in preparation at PRC are “Dixie Showboat," “Minstrel Man,” “First Illusion,” “When the Lights Go On Again,” “For¬ gotten Children,” “The Devil’s Apprentice,” “Bluebeard,” “Waterfront,” “At the Post,” “Gertie From Bizerte,” “He’s My Uncle,” “Hollywood and Vine,” “The Contender,” “Natal,” “Records For Romance,” and “The Wife of Monte Cristo.” . . . Roddy McDowall and Anne Baxter are remain¬ ing with 20th Century-Fox. McDowell is currently working in “The Keys Of the Kingdom,” and Miss Baxter has just com¬ pleted the leading feminine role in “The Sullivans.” . . . William Bendix and Dennis O’Keefe are slated for the leads in Ed¬ ward Small’s “Abroad With Two Yanks,” scheduled for early production for UA release. Lena Horne has signed a new long term contract with Metro. . . . Donald Curtis has been added to the cast of Metro’s “Meet Me In St. Louis.” . . . Promotion of James V. Kern from writer to director gives Warners a total of 16 directors. Kern will make his directorial debut guiding “The Doughgirls” for producer Mark Hellinger. . . . First casting assignment by Jack L. Warner for “The Doughgirls” is Ann Sheridan. . . . Frances Langford and Vera Vague have signed RKO contracts calling for their appearance in two films yearly for the studio. ... At the sugges¬ tion of Bette Davis, Warners has changed the name of Douglas Drake to Johnny Mitchell, the name of the character he plays in “Mr. Skeffington.” . . . Elmo Lin¬ coln, who played the first Tarzan role in Hollywood in 1919, has been added to the cast of Jules Levey’s “The Hairy Ape,” being filmed for UA release. . . . Brian Donlevy will play a star character role in Paramoulnt’s “Two Years Before the Mast.” . . . Cecil Kellaway has been chosen for one of the top roles in “Prac¬ tically Yours,” the comedy drama which will co-star Fred MacMurray and Claud¬ ette Colbert for Paramount. . . . Houston Branch has been signed by Monogram to write the screen play for “The Right To Live,” an original story by James Fielding. Jeffrey Bernard will produce the film as part of the 1943-44 program. . . . Tim Ryan and Victor Hammond have turned in to Monogram producer Lindsley Parsons the final draft of the mystery comedy, “Detective Kitty Kelly,” and go to work immediately on another comedy, as yet untitled, for the same producer. William Beaudine will direct. Mordecae Gorelick has finished “Woman Of the Air” for producer George Auer¬ bach at Republic. . . . Republic has lifted its option on Janet Martin, 14-year-old actress-singer who appeared in “Hands Across the Border” and “The Monster’s Castle.” . . . George Callahan has been signed by Krasne-Burkett Productions to Tax Finally Set WASHINGTON — House and Senate conferees last week gave final ap¬ proval to the Senate proposal for an admission tax to be collected at the rate of one cent on each five cents of the admission price, or major fraction thereof. The House had earlier voted a rate of two cents on each 10 cents or fraction thereof. The rate approved is expected to bring in an additional $135,000,000. The bill is expected to come before the Senate and House for final vote this week. MONOGRAM SCHEDULES SEVERAL MEETINGS New York — An intensive sales drive, designated by the slogan, ”50 Years Of Service,” is getting under way at Mono¬ gram headquarters, celebrating president W. Ray Johnston’s 30 years’ activity in the motion picture industry and the 20 years of general sales manager Steve Broidy, it was announced last week. The campaign will be inaugurated by suc¬ cessive meetings in Chicago and New York, to bring together franchise holders, exchange managers, salesmen, and book¬ ers from practically every Monogram ex¬ change center east of the Rockies. First meeting will be held at Chicago on Feb. 5 and 6, with Broidy presiding. Johnston wiU leave Hollywood soon to preside at the New York meetings, which will be held on Feb. 12 and 13. Partici¬ pants will include Harry H. Thomas, eastern sales manager; H. E. Morey, sup¬ ervisor of exchanges; Lloyd L. Lind, as¬ sistant to Broidy; J. J. Felder, New York exchange; Robert Adler, Buffalo, N. Y.; Herman Rifkin and Ben Abrams, Boston; H. L. Berkson, Buffalo, N. Y.; Ben Welansky and Mark Goldman, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Sam Rosen, Philadelphia; and Harry Brown, Washington. WB Has 3214 In Service New York — A total of 3214 Warner em¬ ployes are in the service, it was announced last week. Number of casualties totals 20. prepare an original screenplay for the Charlie Chan series starring Sidney Tolar. . . . “The Face Of Marble,” a horror tale, has been purchased by Monogram for early production. Frank Bentick Wisbar has been assigned by producer Lindsley Parsons to prepare the screen play. . . . Bette Davis, now completing “Mr. Skef¬ fington” at Warners, will start work next in “The Corn Is Green,” from the Broadwage stage hit. . . . Ben Hecht has been signed by Vanguard Films, Inc., to a long-term writing contract, it was an¬ nounced by Daniel T. O’Shea, president of the company. His first assignment will be on the script of ‘"The House of Dr. Edwardes,” which Alfred Hitchcock will direct as a Selznick International film for UA release. Production is scheduled for early May. Joseph Gotten will star. SMARTEST HORSe IN THR MOVIES are coming to de¬ light their millions of fans in their newest and greatest musical adventure — a gay fiesta of fun and excitement. ^HDS ACROSS T+IE 'k BORDER with RUTH TERRY Guinn “Big Boy” Williams Onslow Stevens T Mary Treen /' \ The Wiere Brothers ^ J BOB NOLAN and THE SONS OF THE PIONEERS ROY SINGS Hoagy ("Stardvit")Carmichoel'i groat hlt^ Hands Across tho Bofdo^f,'^ and "Dreaming to Mvsee, * When Your Heort‘s on Eo»y Street," "The Girl with the High^> Buttoned Shoes." "HeyHey" ond "Cool Woter " BUY WAR BONDS ond STAMPS A REPUBLIC PICTURE 1 February 2, 1944 Ad No. 324