Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1952)

Short Subjects BY B A R r UACY'S APPARANTLY is showing no ' I favoritism. Having given the motion picture industry a considerable boost with its movie-of-the-month spreads in the X. Y. dailies in which they told people why they -hould go to the movies, the store did a turnabout and told them why they should stay home, with a three-quarter page spread running across four consecutive pages in the X. Y. Times. The department store plugged the television shows and arranged for a bevy of top stars to appear at its "TV and music festival." It cannot be doubted that Macy's management is fully aware of the boost in sales it will enjoy from people going out. We have a sneaking suspicion, however, that the bulging inventory of TY sets that are gathering dust on their floors is the prime cause for this advertising splurge to boost TV sales. HIGHLIGHTING THE participation of the Amusement Division in Xational Brotherhood Week observance. Simon H. Fabian, head of Fabian Theatres; Richard E. W alsh. President of the IATSE and actress Celeste Holm will receive the Annual Brotherhood SI H. FABIAN Brotherhood ff inner \\\ards of the Xational Conference of Christians and Jews at a dinner at the Waldorf Astoria on Feb. 28. So enthused were the exhibitors in the Greater Xew York area, that they pledged to double the contributions they will raise for the fund drive. IN LINE with eacli Yariety Club's tradition I of selecting a pet charily, the Xew YorkTent adopted the Police Athletic League as it baby for the coming year. The decision was announced by Harry Brandt at the induction luncheon for incoming Chief Barker William J. German and retiring Chief Barker Fred J. Schwartz. CHICK LEWIS, Yariety Clubs' publicity director, is arranging for special trains to carry conventioneers in real style to the Variety Clubs' 16th Annual Convention to be held in Las Yegas in April. Private Pullman car will leave from the eastern seaboard, picking up conventionbound Barkers along the way. In most tent cities, the local Clnb will have two to five private cars that will originate in tho>.e cities. 16 SKOURAS & DSC WINNER Films Alone Mot Enough SPYROS SKOCRAS. whose aid to philanthropic and charitable efforts has set some sort of record, and who is now heading the motion picture activities of the forthcoming 1952 Greater Xew York Red Cross Fund apoeal, capsuled his motivation very simply: "We of the motion picture industry are keenlv aware of what our fellow Americans are thinking and doing. W e endeavor to provide them with the type of entertainment thev want. But as leaders in the entertainment field, this alone is not enough. W'e must also act as leaders in the field of public service. Ti e annual Red Cross Fund appeal gives all of us a splendid opportunity to contribute to the welfare of our community and our country." SECOND OF HGM's selections for "Promotion Prize of the Month." Howard Dietz's $1,000 per month exploitation campaign, is "Just This Once." It goes into release March 7. but exhibitors will have until June 30 to enter their campaigns, thus giving the subsequent runs ample chance to join the competition. THE REV. Bill Alexander, Oklahoma City minister, whose provocative talks at exhibitor meetings and Movietime gatherings scored so heavily with theatremen, has been snapped as a featured speaker at the banquet climaxing the third annual Xational Drivein Theatre Owners Convention in Kansas City, Mo., March 4-6. I ARTHUR RANK films are being tailored *. in the editing rooms to suit American tastes . . . and the pattern is drawn up after our preview audience evidence their preferences. At least so says Michael Truman who has made many such trips here in recent years for the purposes of final editing of pictures. JACK BRAUNAGEL, probably the nation's number one drive-in theatre enthusiast, is punching away again. After sparking last year's 24-sheet advertising campaign with 500 poster's in 17 states, Braunagel is inviting other operators to join in this year's campaign to spread the drive-in bug via 24shects throughout the nation. SCANNING OF the 20thFox press bod on "Viva Zapata" well in advance is must for those theatres playing the pictur Packed with an extensive assortment of a vertising mats, publicity stories, and explc tation and accessories extras, the speci press book is angled for campaigns in eve^ situation. Theatremen would do well to gra it now and utilize the long-range promote that are sure to pay off. Incidentally, tl company has completed its press books (| "Kangaroo" a full five months in advance | the picture's release, which gives an idea the thoroughness with which Charles EinfeJ & Co. is effecting his promise of long rand plan ning. UXIYERSAL IXTERXATIOXAL hi stacked $2,000 on top of the five Henry cars going to exhibitors from Coast to Coaj for the best promotional campaigns on U-I "Steel Town." The country's KaiserFraz| dealers are being urged to join local exn bitors in developing stunts, with an all-ej penses-paid trip to Hollywood as special i centive. l^^K-Sm X JAMES R. GRAINGER Paul Rerere if ilh Films OF MEX AXD THIXGS: Republic sa chief Jimmy Grainger is touring South and Southwest with prints of "Hoi lum F'inpire" and John Ford's "The Qtl Man" . . . Mrs. Gordon Douglas. 34, wife the Warner Bros, director, died at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital following! short illness . . . Louis Goldstein has resigj his post as managing director for Colundj Pictures International in Germany to erl the television film distribution field . I Arthur Anderson, Warner Bros, brafl manager in Minneapolis, i sitting ml district manager for the company's Pal District during Hall Walsh's illness . . . M \ oungstein is back from the coast after cl tabs with President Arthur Krim, sales I Bill Heineman and producers on the rehB of forthcoming UA product . . HeineiB recently announced that T. E. Laird rcj<B UA as Dallas branch manager on March I replacing Claude Y<.rk who has re-i-neoB enter another business . . . President Xecl Depinet is in Hollywood f<>r meetings \l Howard Hughes, production director, I C. J. Tevlin, studio operation VP. DepB i -lated to view RKO product. FILM BULLE tB