The Exhibitor (Nov 1948-Feb 1949)

THE EXHIBITOR PRODUCTION TELEVISION Hollywood — Hal Wallis has acquired Niven Busch’s “The Furies,” and will make it into a Barbara Stanwyck starrer, with Don DeFore in the role opposite. . . . Wil¬ liam Powell has been signed by U-I to appear in “One False Step.” Barbara Hale plays opposite Larry Parks in Columbia’s “Jolson Sings Again.” . . Walter Mirisch, Monogram, plans to use Johnny Sheffield and Peggy Ann Gar¬ ner in the second of the “Bomba, the Jungle Boy” series. ... At Monogram, producer Barney Gerard plans to film the life story of George McManus, cartoonistcreator of the “Jiggs And Maggie” car¬ toon. . . . Roland Winters, “Charlie Chan,” has a leading heavy part in AA’s “Tuna Clippei',” starring Roddy McDowell. . . . Producer Sam Katzman has signed a deal with Columbia to make four a year for seven years under banner of Kay Pictures, Inc., and four serials a year under Esskay Banner. Lindsley Parsons, Monogram, has a crowded schedule, what with “Tuna Clip¬ per,” “American Rhythm,” and “David Balfour.” . . . U-I announces a story buy in “Sing Your Way Out,” original musicomedy by Maxwell Shane, who will direct, Leonard Goldstein producing. “The Son Of Billy The Kid” went before cameras for Screen Guild. . . . Eagle Lion is making a story about the Treasury De¬ partment to succeed “T-Men,” and tenta¬ tively titled “Border Incident.” . . . RKO ''Jackrabbir Drive-Ins Giving Free Shows MINNEAPOLIS— Exhibitors in the area were concerned last fortnight over jackrabbit drive-ins with pricecutting tactics. One such drive-in near Aberdeen, S. D., announced a no ad¬ mission charge policy, with the stand depending solely on free will offerings. Owners of conventional theatres were looking for cooperation from the distributors of 35mm. films, although they know that they cannot expect to exert any pressure on the 16mm. distributors. North Central Allied has complained to the state fire marshal that some mobile units are not com¬ plying with state fire regulations. Consolidation Motion Asked St. Louis — Warners, RKO, U-I, UA, Co¬ lumbia, and other defendants last week made a motion to consolidate the anti¬ trust actions filed by D’Arcy and Mossotti against Fanchon and Marco, et. al. A similar motion of Loew’s has been filed to the next motion docket. All defendants have been given 10 days to plead an amended complaint filed by plaintiffs, while the defendants have withdrawn a joint motion to strike and dismiss the amended complaint. has named Frederic Ullman, Jr., to pro¬ duce the screen version of “Sam Wynne.” . . . Paramount announces the buy of an original story, “An Eye For An Eye.” New York — J. R. Poppele, president. Television Broadcasters Association, Inc., announced last fortnight that television broadcasting will represent an investment of $243,591,000 by private interests during the next seven years. He forecast a mini¬ mum of 1,000 stations by the end of 1955, over half of which will be “satellite” stations to serve rural areas and smalki communities. He estimated that by the end of next year there would be 134 TV stations on the air. The production of television receivers soared to a new monthly peak in Septem¬ ber when 88,195 TV sets by RMA membercompanies brought their output for the year up to 488,133. The television box-score at the end of October showed 41 stations operating; 83 CP’s granted, and 310 applications pend¬ ing. The National Television Film Council announced that installation of its newly elected officers would take place at a large combined industry-wide dinner to be held next month. Officers to be installed are Melvin L. Gold, president; Burt Balaban, vice-presideiit; Robert H. Wormhoudt, secretary; Robert M. Paskow, treasurer, and 11 members of the board of directors. Richard Rawles, American Broadcasting Company manager of television operations, stated last week television can not com¬ pete with the production techniques and results obtained by the movies. COLUMBIA'S SMASH SERIAL FOUOW-UP TO mERMAH! Thrill -favorite of millions of ACTION COMICS Magazine readers! s. v'''‘ ^ High -geared for top exploitation hy NAT’L COMICS PUBLICATIONS, INC.! KING OF THE JUNGLE Based upon the comic strip, "Congo Bill," appearing in "Action Comics magazine, created by WHITNEY ELLSWORTH Screenplay by George H. Plympton, Arthur Hoerl and Lewis Clay Directed by SPENCER BENNET and THOMAS CARR / Produced by SAM KATZMAN , . f Follow SUPERMAN with CONGO BILL... Keep those serial sects filled! A COLUMBIA SERIAL November 10, 194H