The Film Daily (1940)

Tuesday, October 29, 1940 Fate of Pix Shipped To Greece Unknown (Continued from Page 1) per cent are said to be German and 22.7 per cent are reported to be French. These figures, it is understood, probably have undergone changes this year, but they are sufficient to show that the U. S. film industry probably has lost another market because of the war. Annual revenue to U. S. distributors from Greece is from $400,000 to $500,000. One of the large Greek circuits is managed by Thanos Skouras. Greece has 175 motion picture theaters, all wired for sound. A quota system, set up late in 1939, calling for 370 features to be imported yearly, was extended about a month ago to June 30, 1941. Greece Imports U. S. Film Cameras, Home Projectors Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — The U. S. Assistant Commercial Attache in Athens reported last week that there are now 200 16-mm. and 150 8-mm. U. S. amateur motion picture cameras in use in Greece, with about 150 8-mm. and 230 16-mm. home projectors, imported from America. This is exclusive of the number of projectors owned by the Bureau of Educational Cinematography, 25 of its recent purchases of 16-mm. projectors being of American make, the rest Swiss and Austrian. Most of these imports are reported as having been purchased from a single American firm which had carefully cultivated the Greek market. Elmer Shard Dead at 53 Cincinnati — Elmer Shard, 53, owner of the Monte Vista and Lyric Theaters, suburban houses, died following a short illness. His wife, Lilly, and son, Elmer F., survive. John Bartzen Dead Sheboygan, Wis. — John Bartzen, 56, a director of the Strand Theater Corp., is dead here. He is survived by his wife, three sons and a daughter. WEDDING BELLS Holyoke, Mass. — Ethyl C. Morrisey, cashier at the Suffolk Theater here, became the bride of Thomas F. Sheehan at Holy Cross Church. Denver — Larry Morahan, assistant manager at the Egyptian, and Rae Marie Giesler, cashier at the Oriental, were married. Havana (By Air Mail) — Eladio Novo Pita, manager of the Ibero America Films, and Celia Eoca Guinovart, daughter of Seleciones Capitolio's owner, have announced their engagement. Lowell Mayor Halts License Commission's Passes to Theaters After Exhibs. Corn-plain Lowell, Mass. — Mayor George T. Ashe has directed the License Commission not to issue any more season theater and amusement passes and to nullify all those issued since the first of the year in a determined effort to stop what he described as a "racket." At the same time the Mayor stated that Sunday theater and amusement licenses would be $20 instead of $10. As 10 such licenses are issued each Sunday the Mayor pointed out the city would receive $5,000 a year increase in revenue. "Theater managers have been complaining," the Mayor said "of the constant increase in passes being issued by the License Commission, each one of which would admit bearer and a friend to any theater in the city at any time. Investigation has convinced me of the justice of their complaints. The courtesy or privileges have been abused and I have decided to stop it forthwith." Six Companies to Discuss NBC L.A. Short Wave Plan (Continued from Page 1) the Coast to the advisability of sponsoring such a series, especially when they have garnered so much free time to date to plug releases in Latin and South America. Lunsford Yandell, head of the NBC International Division, who originally worked out the deal on the West Coast last Summer, stated that while no contracts had actually been signed, there existed verbal commitments which he felt sure would be met by the film concerns. Talks today will center around the type of broadcast to be used. It is believed that each firm will supply disks plugging new releases slated for the South American market, with disks to be cut on the Hollywood lots, and shipped East for rebroadcast purposes. Film reps, in New York yesterday stated that attendance at the meeting was indefinite, but a late check at NBC revealed that acceptances had been received from 6 firms. Warner May Do Spence Book as Legit, and Pix (Continued from Page 1) Kaufman and Moss Hart to dramatize for Broadway, "One Foot in Heaven — The Biography of a Practical Person," the Hartzell Spence best-seller. Kaufman and Hart are committed to one deal with Warners for the screenplay of their current stage hit, "The Man Who Came To Dinner." Completed negotiations between Warners and the Kaufman-Hart team would bring about the unusual situation of having *a stage version of "One Foot In Heaven" playing on Broadway while its screen version is exhibited over the entire country. On Allied Exhibitors Council St. John, N. B.— Added to the council of the Allied Exhibitors have been A. A. Fielding, of St. John, and P. J. Haley, of Halifax. Fielding is the chief assistant of F. G. Spencer, head of the Spencer circuit, and Haley is manager of the Family, in the center of Halifax, and in the Franklin & Herschorn circuit (Frankhorn Theaters). Alexander Advances Wolf Richmond, Va. — Frank Wolf, Jr. has been promoted to general district manager by Alexander Film Company. O. J. Hill is Eastern Virginia representative. Steam, UA Branch Head, Tops V. C. of Cleveland Cleveland — Bert Steam, UA district manager, has been elected chief barker of the Cleveland Variety Club succeeding Nat L. Lefton. Installations will take place on Dec. 14. New roster for the year, in addition to Steam, includes Lester Zucker, Columbia branch manager, 1st assistant chief barker; Frank D. Drew, Metro branch manager, 2nd assistant chief barker; Frank H. Boyd, American Seating Co., property man; I. J. Schmertz, 20th-Fox branch manager, dough boy. The crew is composed of Jerome Friedlander, attorney; M. B. Horwitz, general manager of the Washington circuit; Dave Miller, Universal district manager; Harry E. Goldstein, Paramount district manager; John D. Kalafat of the Associated Circuit and P. E. Essick of the Scoville, Essick & Reif circuit. Advisors to the crew are past chief barker Nat L. Lefton, Nat Wolf, Nat Holt and M. B. Horwitz. Hays, Kennedy Will Confer on U. K. Offer (Continued from Page 1) quainted with all your children before we get down to business." Kennedy, who returned to Ney York from Washington early yel^ terday, cancelled a press conference which had been called for 11:30 a.m. at the Waldorf-Astoria. The Ambassador speaks over CBS at 9 p.m. tonight. Conference with Hays will be at Kennedy's convenience, but is expected to be held at the earliest possible moment in view of the fact that the present remittance agreement terminates on Thursday. British proposals which Kennedy is understood to be bringing were outlined in The Film Daily last Thursday. Madeleine Carroll Ends P.A/s Montreal — Madeleine Carroll completed a NWMP p.a. tour here last night, following earlier visits to Toronto and Ottawa. Consolidated Theaters was host at a luncheon here. Star proceeds from here to New York. Kaltsas Heads Apollo Co. Worcester, Mass. — Dimitrios Kaltsas has been elected president of the Apollo Theater Co. here. Peter L. Bell is treasurer. A * M * P * A * cordially invites all in the industry to attend our luncheon meeting in honor of the 25th Anniversary of PAUL TERRYTUNES" TERRY and his pals Entertainment Surprises and Special Attraction— ftE"€| ADMA7 Star °f staSe and scree, l/b^l HIII1H4 in "TOO MANY GIRLS College Room — Hotel Edison Thursday, October 31 Serving Starts 12:45 Sharp — Guests $1.25