The Film Daily (1940)

cffe Monday, December 23, 1940 THE WEEK IX REVIEW Decree Attacks Continue (.Continued from Page 1) ^^ its preferred stock, "U" sticks to its tender . . . 20th-Fox will finance new productions out of earnings and not borrow money . . . Howard Dietz, in keynote speech at NAA banquet marking premiere of Metro's "Flight Command" in Washington stated that creation of "morale-power" was pix industry's special job . . . Survey showed that fewer pix were available in 1940 than in 1939 . . . Arthur W. Kelly realigned UA's sales organization with Haskell Masters made Western division manager . . . Sales by exchanges in 1939 totalled $32,544,000, Bureau of Census, D of C announced . . . Admission tax collections for November soared $5,000,000 to $7,124,225 . . . War Dept. announced that Army theaters will observe present clearance . . . Wis. theaters face tax on games prizes . . . Ernest Kent, FWC exec, brother of Sidney R. Kent, died on the Coast . . . F & M won action against its former counsel. REVIEWS Of SHORT SUBJECTS "Skinnay Ennis and His Orchestra" (Melody Master) Vitaphone 10 mins. Good Band Turn Several well-known pieces played by Skinnay Ennis and his team, plus a jitterbug dancing couple and a vocalist add up to a diverting 10 minutes. The Bob Hope radio program orchestra plays "Lamplight," "Three Little Words," "Let's Do It," and "The Birth of the Blues." Jean Negulesco does a good directing job. "Shop, Look and Listen" (Merrie Melody) Vitaphone 7 mins. So-So Cartoon The further adventures of Little Blabbermouse on a package conveyor tour of a deserted department store, conducted by a W. C. Fields-type mouse. Idea was used in an earlier Leon Schlesinger cartoon and this one is not as funny as the original. Blabbermouse heckles the barker and threatens to spoil the tour until the irate mouse ties him up in the bundle wrapping department. Technicolor is first-rate. "California Thoroughbreds" (Sports Parade) Vitaphone 10 mins. Interesting Training Shots Thoroughbred breeding in the California climate gets a boost in this subject which will be welcomed by the many lovers of horses. The training of the animals from birth through their first races is shown in natural color and will maintain interest everywhere. Del Frazier wrote and directed the film. Industry Luncheon Will Climax Jewish Campaign (Continued from Page 1) $250,000 to meet the 1940 budgets of the 116 health and welfare institutions affiliated with the New York and Brooklyn Federations Of Jewish Charities. A luncheon for the entire industry to be held some time in January will climax the efforts of the Amusement Division, it was announced by David Bernstein, co-chairman with Maj. Albert Warner. The date and place of the luncheon will be decided this week. Among those present at Friday's luncheon were: Jack Alicoate, Irving Barry, Joseph Bernhard, O. O. Binder, Lawrence S. Bolognino, Harry Brandt, Leo Brecher, Harry Buxbaum, Irving Caesar, M. J. Fessler, Louis Frisch, Howard Dietz, Monroe W. Greenthal, Toby Gruen, Arthur Israel, Jr., J. J. Lee, Bud Lytton, John Manheimer, Benjamin S. Moss, Louis Nizer, A. P. Waxman, Louis Phillips, Gene Picker, Ralph I. Poucher, Hyman Rachmil, Sam Rinzler, Harold Rodner, Aubrey Schenck, Marvin Schenck, George H. Morris, Sam Shain, Charles Sonin, David Weinstock, Herbert J. Yates, Budd Rogers, Joe Vogel, William Klein, Bert Lebhar, and L. W. Schneider. Musicians Elect Hayden 34th Time Washington Bur., THE FILM DAILY Washington — Local 161, the Musicians Protective Union, has re-elected President Albert Hayden for the 34th time. Edward S. McGrath is vicepresident, Charles R. Brinton, secretary, and Harry C. Manwell, treasurer. Equity-Dramatists Guild Co-op for Tryout Theater (Continued from Page 1) the Theater's Joint Board will receive 5 per cent of the purchase price when experimental plays are sold for film production or radio presentation. The Board will split the 5 per cent with the sponsoring group, which, in turn, will pay off actors, directors, scenic artists, etc. Under the Experimental Theater plan, plays will be produced in central theaters which will be contributed rent free. The authors will waive all royalties, the actors, directors and producers will work free. No one play can give more than three performances a month, however. Only the stagehands and labor unions have insisted upon being paid full scale. When any one of the experimental productions is bought for commercial production, the Joint Board will receive 2 per cent of the Broadway grosses. This 2 per cent will be divided between the Board and the group which produced the play, the latter also paying off players, directors, scenic artists, etc. It is reported that approximately 30 play groups will actively function under the Experimental Theater setup. George Raft In Boston P. A. Boston — George Raft will make a P.A. at the RKO Boston theater Christmas Day and for the week to follow, starring in a musical revue. Engagement is at the urging of Manager Harry McDonald, a personal friend of Raft. Industry Holiday Parties Rule the New Haven Scene Council Bluffs House Burns Omaha— Fire caused by a short in electric switch room damaged the Broadway Theater in Council Bluffs, la., to the extent of $25,000. Earl Kerr, manager, said the house would reopen in January. Everett Takes Beaufort Beaufort, N. C— Beaufort Theater here, has been taken over by H. H. . Everett Enterprises. R. G. Lang [ formerly operated. New Haven — Though the show went on, the party spirit gave filmites some surcease from labors. Columbia exchange had an annual Xmas dinner party at the Seven Gables Inn, with Mr. and Mrs. Tim O'Toole, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Lourie, and Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Swirsky and the staff in attendance. I. J. Hoffman, New England Warner zone manager, was host to all theater managers, representatives of the theater department and exchange, at an annual party at Waverly Inn Cheshire. The party was preceded by an important managers' meeting, The Metro Pep Club and the Paramount exchange held dinner parties at the Oakdale Tavern, Wallingford, Metro had Maurice N. Wolfe, division manager at Boston, Thomas G Donaldson, manager, recently promoted to Boston, and Morey Goldstein who will succeed Donaldson at New Haven as of Jan. 1, as hon ored guests. George Weber was in charge of arrangements. Roy Callahan, Edward Fitzgerald, and William Nutile were in charge of the Paramount party. The Loew-Poli division, headed by Harry Shaw, manager, and Lou Brown, publicity chief, will gather for a Christmas feast and dancing tonight at the Hotel Taft. Assistants and their wives will join the party at midnight for buffet supper and dancing. Baltimore Police, Exhibs, Join to Aid the Needy Baltimore — Continuing an annual Yuletide practice, the Baltimore film theater owners and Police Department co-operated in sponsoring a gigantic benefit theater party to provide Christmas baskets for the city's needy families. Virtually every movie house in the city cooperated. Tickets were sold by the police, to be honored by any theater chosen by the purchaser. HCLLyWCCD Speaking— — By RALPH WILK — —HOLLYWOOD PARAMOUNT is considering Technicolor ' for "Pioneer Woman," which William A. Wellman will produce. Decision rests on color tests of Barbara Stanwyck, now at the home office for exec, consideration. • • JAMES CAGNEY will play the leading role in "Dive Bomber," an original story by Commander Frank Wead, which Warner Bros, has purchased for spring production. George Brent and Ronald Reagan are the other topliners. "Dive Bombers" will follow "The Bride Came C.O.D." on Cagney's schedule. Lloyd Bacon will direct the Wead story. • • ^^AST of Paramount's forthcoming "Sky^■^ lark" moved another step closer to duplicating the cast of the recent "Arise My Love" when Walter Abel was given a leading role in support of Claudette Colbert and Ray Milland. • • I ITERARY talents at Warners aren't con'"■ fined to the scenario writers. Errol Flynn, Cornell Wilder and Jane Wyman of the acting roster are all published authors and Frederick Hollander, a member of the studio music department, has just completed a romantic novel called "Those Torn From Earth." Liveright will publish. • • pKO Studio Club of which Errol Sanders ■ * is president, has put out a beautiful two-color publication as the Christmas number of its monthly News. Sixty-four pages are devoted to the various activities of the studio, along with contributions from the New York home office. The number which carries a message from President George J. Schaefer, reveals that 236 employes of the Studio have been employed there for 10 or more years and that 134 workers at the Home Office are in that classification. • • I AST of this season's schedule of two*~ reel preparedness short subjects which Warner Bros, is producing in Technicolor will deal with the Cavalry at Fort Riley, Kansas. "Wings of Steel," dealing with the Air Corps, is now being completed at the Burbank studio. • • I OU LEVY, manager of the Andrews Sis•"■ ters, who are appearing in "Buck Privates," at Universal, their second stint for that company, has won featured spots for Don Raye and Hughie Prince,, song smiths, in the film. Raye and Prince, former vaudevillians, were demonstrating their new tunes for the producer on the set, and their work was so convincing that they are to appear in the picture. • • I^AVID BUTLER will direct the Bob Hope*~ Dorothy Lamour comedy, "Caught in the Draft" for Producer B. G. DeSylva at Paramount. • • ^OLUMBIA has bought Harry Segall's ^■^ unproduced play, "Heaven Can Wait." Cary Grant has first choice at the leading role. Everett Riskin will produce. i