The Film Daily (1940)

ma Monday, June 17, 194( Exhib. Co-op In Revenue Crisis Praised By Sears Cites Response to Warner Sales Plan for ATAHT as Illustrating "Fine Spirit" (.Continued from Paijc \) displayed a fine spirit of co-operation in the matter of extended playing time for worthwhile attractions, in an endeavor to make this industry self-supporting and to continue the flow of high grade motion pictures." As a case in point, Sears called attention to Warners' own experience with exhib. response to ATAHT's merchandising plan which closely parallels that for GWTW. The Warner exec, said: 200 ATAHT Special Already Set "Despite the fact that we had already closed over 11,000 contracts for its showing, more than 200 exhibitors have already agreed to play the picture via special and roadshow engagements at advanced prices. Among them are such important accounts as Vince McFall, Buffalo; Comerford Theaters in Providence, Wilkes Barre and Scranton; the RKO Circuit, Bob O'Donnell (Interstate Circuit); Warner Circuit; Ike Libson, Cincinnati; and many others. "These showmen fully realize that it is only through their aid that this industry can continue to produce films of like quality and continue to make a profit despite the almost total loss of revenue from across the ocean. In this way, the exhibitors, producers, distributors and the motion picture public itself (which, in the final analysis, supports all branches of this great industry) are all the gainers. Says Films Are Pre-Sold "As for our contribution to this attempt to get the motion picture industry out of its present "nickelcdeon" stage, this company has gone to great lengths to secure the most important story properties available as the basis for our production lineup for the forthcoming season. This was all planned on the very practical theory that the home market must make up the difference in the losses effected by the situation abroad. In the main, our films for next season are pre-sold, audience-tested bestselling books and plays and designed "Porfcitig TicUets" Banned in Detroit Detroit — Publicity gag of giving "parking tickets" to cars in a neighborhood, which turn out to be plugs for a theater ran afoul of the law here when it was tried by the Drive-In Theater. One car owner took the sign seriously, without reading it further, and appeared at police headquarters to pay his fine thus bringing the matter to official attention. The corporation counsel is issuing a warning against such publicity stunts in the future, on the ground that if "simulates an official document." Wartiers to MaUe "Service with the Colors** To Stitnulate V. S. Army*s Recruiting Drive IVest Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Working in direct coordination with Maj. William A. Wright, chief of recruiting tor the U. S. Army, the second in Warners' new series of national defense featurettes will be "Service with the Colors," just scenarized by Owen Crump. Subject will be under the production wing of Cordon Hollingshead and will roll next week on location at the Army Presidio in San Francisco. Now shooting is "Young America Flies" at Palo Alto, with Jean Parker, Donald Woods and William Lundigan. S. Reeves Eason is directing. Charles Ross to Provide i Metro Issues Special GOP Lighting Equipment ' Mat Service on Product Arrangements were completed here on the week-end whereby Charles Ross, Inc., motion picture lighting expert and exclusive representative in the East for Mole-Richardson equipment, will handle the lighting for newsreel, still, and television coverage of the Republican Convention to be held in Convention Hall, Philadelphia June 24. Announcement of the awarding to Charles Ross, Inc., of the lighting contract was announced by Allyn Butterfield in behalf of the National Republican Committee. The equipment which Charles Ross will transport from New York to Philadelphia in two large trucks includes 14 Solarspot Lamps of 5,000 watts; 7,500 feet of cable and appi'oximately 50 additional pieces of equipment which require individual operators. It is estimated that the amount of electricity which will be consumed during the Convention would provide service for a town of 30,000 people. Full-page proofs in standard newspaper size of M-G-M's special summer announcement is being distributed to 1,250 newspapers and theaters in the U. S. and Canada as part of the company's free mat service. Page is highlighted by a story dealing with summer product and also includes a cartoon by Wiley Padan and space for ad copy. M-G-M's summer releases include "The Mortal Storm," "Susan and God," "New Moon," "Andy Hardy Meets a Debutante," "Pride and Prejudice," "We Who Are Young," "I Love You Again," "One Came Home," "Gold Rush Maisie," "Boom Town" and "Escape," which probably will be the first release of the 1940-41 season. Forde on "Charter PUot" H-'est Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Eugene Forde will direct "Charter Pilot," for 20th Century-Fox. Lynn Bari has been set for the feminine lead. Stanley Rauh is writing the script from an original by Lester Ziffron. to obtain the greatest possible domestic gross for a given season." Chicago Sales Conclave Calls Warner Executives Chicago — Warner execs, here today for the opening of the company's second sales conclave at the Blackstone Hotel include: Gradwell L. Sears, general sales manager; Charles Einfeld, director of advertising and publicity; Carl Leserman, assistant general sales manager; Ben Kalmenson, Southern and Western sales manager; Roy T. Haines, Eastern and Canadian sales manager; Norman H. Moray, short subjects sales manager; Arthur Sachson, distribution executive; Al Schwalberg, supervisor of exchanges. Also from the home office are: Mitchell Rawson, Sid Rechetnik, Gil Golden and Lee Blumberg, of the publicity department; and Joe Kelly of the playdate department. Mort Blumenstock, in charge of Warner advertising and publicity in the East, who was scheduled to appear at the convention, cancelled to remain in New York to direct the campaign for the ATAHT opening at the Center Theater June 27. Sales force attending, includes: Fred M. Jack, Southern district manager with headquarters in Dallas, and his contingent: At lanta: R. L. McCoy, J. H. Black, H. R. Kistler, F. H. Rudolph, B. O. Weil, and Jack Goldsmith; Charlotte: J. A. Bachman, Dean S. TT^se, H. H. Jordon, H. Keeter; Dallas: Doak Roberts, Byron Adams, Paul M. Backus, Heny G. Krumm, Hiram Parks, W. O. Williamson, Sr. and Wm. Lewis; New Orleans: L. Conner, J. D. Jernigan, P. L. Spindler; Oklahoma: J. O. Rohde, W. C. Blackstone and J. W. Loewe. Rud Lohrenz, Midwest district manager, with headquarters in Chicago, and his contingent: Chicago: T. R. Gilliam, B. Allen, R. C. Herman, George Weinberg, B. Goldman, Max Koth, and F. Barto; Indianapolis: Fred Greenberg, C. W. McKean and R. S. Schrader ; Milwaukee: R. T. Smith, N. S. Bieringer and S. G. Honeck; Minneapolis: C. K. Olson. Myron B. Adcock, Wm. Grant, Ernie Hill, Chas. Jackson, E. D. Perkins and Leon Dizon. James Winn, Prairie district manager with headquarters in Kansas City, and his contingent: Des Moines: A. W. Anderson, J. M. Beatty, L. L. Wells and Paul Walsh; Kansas City: W. O. Williamson, Jr., E. M. Block, Russell Borg, W. Don Woods, Harry GafFney and M. Rubinger; Memphis: Homer Hisey, J. A. Carruth and A. W. Moore; Omaha: Sid Rose, F. J. Hannon and Leon Mendelson; St Louis: Hall Walsh. Lester N. Bona, W. K. Gleason, James Hill and D. J. Edele. Henry Herbel, West Coast district manager with headquarters in Los Angeles, and his contingent: Denver: E. A. Bell, W. A. Haefliger and R. P. Jamison; Los Angeles: W. E. Callaway, J. D. Burden, J. N. Howland, C. T. Charack, Sam Clark and M. Weiser; Portland: V. Stewart, M. F. Keller and T. M. McDougald; Salt Lake City: Wm. F. Gordon, M. H. Gustaveson, Keith K. Pack and Charles Saphro; San Franeisco: Al Shmitken, S. E. MacDonald, W. C. Wheeler and Al Oxtoby; Seattle: Wm. Shartin, Art GoUogon and C. W. Young. 25 Hours of Tele Programs for GOP (Continued from Page i) three telecasts daily during the five days the convention is expected t( be in session. With technical experts already in Philly, NBC's mobile tele station will be moved to the Quaker City tomorrow, to be followed on Thursday by NBC's new streamlined transportable apparatus. Televised activities on the floor will be interspersed with political commentaries from a special television studio, and informal interviews in or near the lobby of the building. NBC's convention commentators, among them H. V. Kaltenborn, Earle Godwin and Baukagc will probably appear one or more times before the television cameras. A technical and programming staff of 20 are assigned to the convention. The program crew will be headed by Thomas H. Hutchinson, NBC's manager of television programs; Burke Crotty, director of outside telecasts, and Roy Meredith. Ray Forrest, television announcer, will make frequent appearances during the week. Technical staff is under the supervision of Harold P. See, tele field supervisor. NBC will relay programs from Convention Hall over more than 90 miles of wire circuits for broadcast over Station W2XBS here. It is estimated that the television audience will approach 50,000 persons. Both in extent of air time and distance of relay, program outlined by Morton will make NBC's convention telecasts the largest undertaking of television anywhere in the world. Weisman Bond Slashed Federal Judge John C. Knox on Thursday granted the application of Milton C. Weisman to reduce his bond as receiver of Fox Theaters Corp. from $100,000 to $7,500. Weisman obtained the reduction because he had transferred the major part of Fox Theaters assets to Kenneth P. Steinreich and himself as trustees in the plan of liquidation. Little German Band In Script Blackout (Vest Coast Bur., THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Current feeling is being closely watched by the film industry and its pulse is having curious effects. In "The New Yorkers," which Paul Jones is producing for Paramount, the script called for a band of German street musicians, typical of old-time New York, to serenade the stars, Dick Powell and Ellen Drew. The scene was completely changed around on Jones' orders, and a band of very American musicians being used instead, playing very American music.