The Film Daily (1942)

Wednesday, October 7, 1942 Argentine Film Biz Scores 1942 Gains (Continued from Page 1) hibition field is roundly evidenced by the fact that the number of tickets sold rose from 12,200,000 in the six-month period to 13,400,000 this year, and average admission price swung upward from 78 centavos to 85 centavos (10 centavos are approximately 2.2 cents), producing an aggregate "take" of 11,300,000 pesos in the first half of 1942 compared with 9,500,000 pesos in the 1941 period. Analysis of the situation by industry experts here is declared to prove this tendency, — namely that film fans apparently prefer to patronize the larger stands with attendant higher admission prices than go to the smaller houses for less money. Last month a temporary factor effected this trend inverselv. This was when small bus transportation underwent a strike, and forced many potential patrons of larger theaters to patronize the nabe houses. However, upon settlement of this labor dispute, the tide began running the other way. — Get in the Scrap! — Einfeld Plans Eastern Stay on His Next Trip (Continued from Page 1) days and then return to the studio. Einfeld expects to make another trip East in about three weeks and at that time will headquarter in New York for a month, it is understood. — Get in the Scrap! — Balto. Drive-in Folds Baltimore — 'Governor Ritchie drivein theater, opened in 1938, has been closed for the duration, a war casualty. Gas and tire rationing killed biz. WEDDING BELLS Atlanta — George Mullins of the ad sales department in the Warner exchange here is now a benedict. The bride is the former Jo Celia Eberhart of this city. Marriage of Ruth Florence Freckleton to Berne N. Fisher in Newark on Sept. 25 was announced yesterday. The bride is secretary to Max Cohn of Columbia Pictures and was previously head of the print department for Gaumont British. Groom is chief production engineer at General Instrument Co., radio manufacturing organization, in Elizabeth, N. J. They will reside in the latter city. Sanbornville, N. H. — Florence M. Sanborn, daughter of Ansel Sanborn, film circuit owner and member of the Governor's Council, has become the bride of Kenneth N. Emerson of Rochester. "I Know Dlow Democracy Is Worhing" • • • THE "Stars Over America" War Bond sales drive is over — but the memories linger on probably will for many years to come in the minds of the more than 60 Hollywood personalities who in the month of September have visited a total of more than 300 cities selling Bonds, more Bonds, and still more Bonds — a billion dollars' worth. A lot of things happened on those tours things never heard of or seen before. .... -For example T T T • • • JAMES CAGNEY appeared before several thousand steel mill workers in Gary, Hammond and East Chicago They expected entertainment. "Look, you guys," said Cagney, "I didn't come here to entertain you / came here to give you hell There's a war on, and you fellows have only allotted four per cent of your salaries for Bonds to foot the bill We can't win the war that way you've got to invest 10 per cent" Cagney said a lot more and when he had finished he received an ovation such as is rarely experienced by any man and the workers began boosting their allotments they boosted them to more than 10 per cent an increase representing $6,000,000 during the coming year T T T • • • GREER GARSON'S eyes filled with tears when she reached the little town of Williamson, West Virginia, for she was greeted by 600 War Mothers women with 800 sons in the Service At Springfield, Mass., Charles Laughton, Ann Rutherford and Virginia Gilmore "refereed" a contest between Management and Labor Executives of the Van Norman Tool & Machinery Company pledged $250,000 worth of Bonds if the employes would match the sum Management lost, for the workers went away and above that figure On a Sunday in Mitchell, South Dakota, Ralph Bellamy, Richard Arlen, Peggy Diggins and Dorothy Cordray auctioned off so much of their personal clothing for Bond sales that the merchants had to open several stores so they could buy enough replacements to leave town the girls had even sold their shoes ▼•▼..▼ 9 0 0 AT Columbus, Ohio, Fred Astaire set a precedent when he did a dance routine on four tables in the Capitol building while a swing band gave out with all it had and Governor Bricker led the applause An enterprising mortician at Asheville, N. C, sent a note by special messenger to Jane Wyman and John Payne saying, "You're doing great, but at a pace that will bring me to you— and quickly" Ilona Massey at a rally of steel workers in an Ohio steel mill kissed a grease-covered worker when he bought a Bond "That's Democracy," exclaimed the factory manager, "A great star kisses a lowly worker" ..... ."You're wrong," replied Miss Massey, "I'm not a great . star . . . I was born poor . . . I'm just one of you" At Charleston, South Carolina, Veronica Lake's throat filled as she was introduced to Chief Boatswain's Mate Charles Scaffe, sole survivor of the U. S. Destroyer Ingraham, who gave her a miniature replica of the boat T T T • • • AT Birmingham. Alabama, the first man to step up and buy a Bond from Laraine Day was none other than the great Sergeant York as she autographed his Bond she asked him for HIS autograph "You really did something for your country," she exclaimed "Shucks, you embarrass me," replied the Sergeant and Andy Devine and Zorina led the cheers that followed . .Those are things you can't forget Hugh Herbert, who doesn't like automatic elevators, won't forget being stuck in one between floors in a factory at Cincinnati (.Continued on Page 6) New Havana Levy Ruinous, Say Exhibs. (Continued from Page 1) daily on houses with admissions up to a 50c top, and $5 on admissions from 50c up in the instance of firstrun stands. There is a 50 per cent reduction in the tax in those stances and situations where Cij films are exhibited; a 75 per reduction for all foreign pictures in the Spanish language. However, should a Cuban attraction or a foreign picture in the Spanish language be exhibited with a picture in English or any other foreign language, the full tax is payable. Houses with stage shows which use only Cuban artists in their cast, get a 50 per cent tax concession. The exhibitors in their petition call attention to the greatly reduced business they have been doing in the past few months, and that the levy is onerous additionally for the reason that stands now, because of the war, open much later and shutter much earlier than normally, thus cutting heavily into attendance. It is pointed out that the municipal amusement taxes spell ruin for the industry if enforced. The petition calls executive attention to the allegation that motion pictures comprise the only Cuban industry asked to bear as many restrictions and emergency regulations, resulting in "depressed business conditions" as exemplified by third-run situations obliged to slash their 20-10 scales in half to lure patronage. Local showmen also memorialize the Mayor that they have been subjected to a boost in accessories prices which have reduced exhibition revenues, among the items being posters, carbons and tickets, while employes' salaries raised by presidential decree represent another recent drain on income. Other factors which, the petition says, will make for widespread shutdown of theaters unless alleviation is forthcoming are (1) transportation difficulties patrons face, due primarily to shortage of gasoline; (2) prohibition in use of private cars, now effective; (3) partial blackout in the suburbs with result that box-office "takes" have gone gradually and discouragingly downhill ; and (4) the fact that patrons are, as a consequence of hardships and regulations, losing movieattendance habits. It is strongly argued that, should the theaters have to close, the taxes cannot be enforced, and, further, that in eliminating screen entertainment the country would be taking away an invaluable morale and recre — Get in the Scrap 1 — NAMPI to Act Today on Clearing House Proposal (Continued from Page 1) pendents will be held today to consider a recommendation to establish the association as a clearing house for its members' raw stock requirements. The meeting also will take up the appointment of a special agent in Washington to expedite the issuance of priorities. Among the other topics on the agenda is the constitution and bylaws, approval of which will be asked. —Get in the Scrap!— Sol Lesser Signs Rich Sol Lesser has engaged Freddie Rich, CBS conductor, as general musical director for "Stage Door Canteen," which UA will release.