The Film Daily (1942)

Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Oi Motion Pictures Twenty-Three Years Old -^FDAIL :== &L. 81, NO. 62 NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY. APRIL 1. 1942 ^ TEN CENTS AGREEMENT REPORTED ON % Industry's Studio Committee Named by WPB Balaban is Chairman; Meets in Washington April 7 on Priorities Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — A long organizational stride was taken here last night toward clarification of materials' availablity for film production when M. D. Moore announced officially the personnel of the motion picture industry's Studio Committee which will work in close contact with the War Production Board. Moore is Chief of Section 4 of the Consumers Durable Goods (Continued on Page 4) Brauer, Lamantia as "U" Branch Mgrs. Appointments of Roy Brauer as Universal branch manager in Memphis and N. Lamantia as manager in New Orleans were announced yesterday by William A. Scully, general sales manager. Brauer currently is manager in (Continued on Page 5) Clearance Reasonable is Award in Koczaks' Case Arbitration case filed by John and Grace Koczaks who sought better clearance for their Earle Theater, (Continued on Page 3) Para. Honolulu Plan Brings Quick Counter Honolulu (By Air Mail — Passed by Censor) — Announcement that Paramount would invade the territorial theater field here with a $300,000 de luxe house, to be erected as soon as war conditions permit, drew a quick counter, with Royal Amusement Co. disclosing plans for a $250,000 downtown theater. RoyaPs site is opposite the Princess, leading downtown house j of Royal's competitor, Consolidated Amusement Co. Site is now used as a parking lot. IV© Further Congressional Move to "Sat?e" Daglight in Prospect, Asserts Rep. Lea Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Rep. Clarence F. Lea, chairman of the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, predicted yesterday that no action would be taken by Congress to move the clock up another hour. Author of the present "war time" law, the California Congressman said that no necessity had yet been shown for another legislative move of the clock. J. A. Krug, Chief of Power Section of WPA, said yesterday no further change in time was necessary. Bronx Blackout Cuts Grosses Up to 50% Theater grosses took a tumble as much as 50 per cent last night in New York's biggest blackout to date, affecting eight square miles in the Lower Bronx, an area in which live 1,000,000 persons. That business was not worse was due in great part to advance preparations made by many theaters in the district to counteract the widely prevalent misconception of many (Continued on Page 5) Summer Problem Crops Up At Warner Zone Parley The double 1942 Summer problem of the heat plus new conditions brought about by the wartime economy was among the principal subjects discussed at the meeting of Warner Theaters zone managers (Continued on Page 3) Gas, Tire Rations to Add More Salesmen Effect of tire and gasoline rationing on film selling in the Pacific Northwest may spread to other parts of the country. Restrictions on use of automobiles has caused two major distributors in Seattle to add one salesman each to their staffs. Salesmen are leaving their cars at _ home and are covering their territories by buses and trains. Slow-up in contacting exhibitor (Continued on Page 5) Metro Receives Many "Kildare" Cancellations UMPI Sub-Committee Puts Off Cancellation Discussions Until Today Because of a temporary snag in reaching an agreement on a formula for cancellation in the UMPI sales plan, the sub-committee on trade practices yesterday turned its attention to the quesiton of identification and allocation of pictures, upon which, it was unofficially reported, an agreement in principle was reached. The cancellation issue was pigeonholed temporarily and may be taken (Continued on Page 8) Shipment Priority To American Films American motion pictures will be given priority rating on ships going throughout the world along with munitions. This was told to foreign department managers yesterday by (Continued on Page 8) M-G-M is reported to be granting all requests for cancellation on the "Dr. Kildare" pictures as a result of Lew Ayres' declaration as a conscientious objector. Reports from the field yesterday revealed that (Continued on Page 8) Wolcott Haps 5 -Block Selling Plan Hurts Small Operators, lowan Holds First Femme Bookers In Memphis Branches Memphis — The honor of being the first women bookers in Memphis goes to Gerry Clifton of Paramount, and Mary Blanche Mobley of "Warners. Miss Clifton succeeds to Draftee Tom Donohue's place at Paramount, and Miss. Mobley moves into Lonnie Davis' spot. 'Davis succeeds Harold (Continued on Page 5) By OTTO WEBER FILM DAILY Staff Correspondent Eldora, la. — Elimination or drastic changing of the five-picture selling plan under the consent decree to make it possible for the small independent theater exhibitor to stay in business, is urged by Leo P. Wolcott of Eldora, president of the AlliedIndependent theater owners of IowaNebraska, in a special bulletin. Bulletin advises members to write (Continued on Page 4) U. S. Distribs. and Kin Held by Japs in Manila Announcement by Francis B. Sayre, U. S. High Commissioner to the Philippines, of the names of 1,500 (Continued on Page 5) Rrylawski Resigns His Post With WPR Washington Bur., THE FILM DAILY Washington — A. Julian Brylawski, who has been working on film industry priorities matters with WPB since the absorption of OPM, has resigned, it was revealed here last night. WPB officials, declaring that Bi-ylawski will remain as a consultant, praised the work which had been done by the outgoing official who came to Washington from Warner Bros, realty interests to assist the nation's war effort. M. D. Moore and his group of assistants will absorb the former duties of Brylawski.