The Film Daily (1942)

M. P. P i?ni3. in st 2 1 FL. 2 HW 4-4 ST . Intimate in Character | International in Scope Independent in Thought ?DAILY The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Four Years Old U 82, NO. 117 NEW YORK. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17. 1942 TEN CENTS IPECIALFILM ALLOTMENTS FOR NEWSREELS Nabes Slow to Bid for New Population Patronage Editorial Scratch-Pad . . . jottings =— By CHESTER B. BAHN = I IF YOUR memo pad doesn't show anything special to worry about today, you might give a thought or two to some phases of the manpower problem shaping up. . . . First, you're hearing much — and you'll hear still more in the months immediately ahead I — about the drafting of labor from nonessential fields to fill the urgent needs in those fields deemed essential or more essential tc the war effort. ... It is pointed out in some quarters that Paul V. McNutt's Commission thus far has no power to draft labor. . . . That is true .... But don't forget that his control of hiring exercised v'a the U. S. Employment Service plus his jut'nority over Selective Service make the kbor-draft question virtually academic. . . . A S YOU first read in your favorite trade ** newspaper, the WMC thus far is restricting the essentiality accolade to production occupational classifications. . . . In late October, seven technical groups in the newsreel field were given the nod. . . . List week, THE FILM DAILY disclosed that 11 categories in production had been added. . . . This week, the list was increased by one, the addition being film editors. . . . The original list of proposed exemptions formulated by the studios spanned 75 ckss'fications it is understood. . . . XA/ILL the WMC subsequently find groups ~ ' in distribution and exhibition essential? . . . The odds heavily are against that. . . . The Commission is said to feel that femmes should be widely employed in both of those industry spheres. . . . The extent?. . . . Well, the Commission hasn't sad ... But the Commission has indicated that in 1943 it will be necessary to provide war industries with 5,000,000 nfw workers ... Of the latter, some 2,000 000 will be femmes, it is expected. . . . That would mean a total of 6,000,000 women employed in war industries. . •. . DEARING upon this situation, it is inU teresting to recall that after the last war, a majority of women who had found nlates in business — the total was about 7 000 000— retained them. . . . Will that hold true at the end of World War II? . . . There is one s:zeable hurdle for the femmes. . . . Selective Service men who return have a legal claim to their old nued on Page 2> Operating Policies in Detroit Subsequents Found In Pre-Pearl Harbor Stage By H. F. REVES FILM DAILY Staff Correspondent Detroit — This city's widelyreported huge population increase because of war production has not been evenly distributed among local theaters in box-office receipts, largely due to the fact that comparatively few neighborhood exhibitors have made any serious attempt to draw this new population of tens of thousands into their houses. Thus, the added profits have been concentrated generally in the downtown houses. Operating policies in most neigh ( Continued on Page 5) AEF Troops to See "Rhythm" Christmas Washington Bureau, of THE FILM DAILY Washington — A Christmas gift from the motion picture industry to America's fighting men was delivered yesterday to Gen. Frederick H. Osborne, Chief of the Army's Special Services Division, by Francis S. Harmon, executive vice-chairman of the WAC. The gift consisted of (Continued on Page 5) Major Southern Circuits Take First 3 RKO Blocks RKO's first three 1942-43 blocks totalling 15 features have been set with five major southern circuits, it was announced yesterday by Robert (Continued on Page 5) HONOR WILLKIE FOR SERVICE Rubin Makes NCCJ Presentation at MP Division Luncheon "For distinguished service to American unity and earnest efforts in the promotion of universal brotherhood and good-will," Wendell Wendell L. Willkie J. Robert Rubin L. Willkie, at yesterday's luncheon in the Hotel Astor, sponsored by the Motion Picture Division of The National Conference of Christians and (Continued on Page 6) Canadian Film Industry's Essentiality Up Monday Toronto — Behind closed doors, the Industry's Advisory Council will meet here Monday with the administrators of the Wartime Prices and Trade Board. High on the agenda, it is understood, is the Canadian industry's essentiality status. JJ Big" Pix tor Holidays Ott Numerically Fewer This Year, Bookers Say $541,000 In Bond Sales Reported by RKO Houses The RKO theater circuit has sold $541,000 in "E" Bonds and the maturity value will bring the figure to almost $750,000, Harry Mandel reported yesterday as sales were reported from all part of the country (Continued on Page 6) Shortage of so-called "big" pictures for the holiday period is prevailing, according to several circuit bookers. There appears to be plenty of quality in the available pictures but the quantity is lacking this year, they say. It is contended by some bookers that the distributors apparently are holding back their bigger pictures (Continued on Page 8) Producers Will Not Be Allowed to Use This Film for Other Purposes Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Although it may not appear in the film limitation order due this week-end, The Film Daily learned yesterday that film for newsreels will be specially earmarked for use by the newsreels, and that producers will not be allowed to use this stock for other purposes. Although newsreels have (Continued on Page 8) Ask Extra "Gas" on Merit, Salesmen Told Because each gasoline rationing board is empowered to make its own decision on the issuance of "A," "B" or "C" cards, film salesmen have been informed by their companies (Continued on Page 6) Benny May Start First For UA in Next 3 Months Jack Benny's first feature via Jack Benny Prod, for UA probably will go into work on the Coast in (Continued on Page 5) Expect Labor Move To Retain Ceiling Washington Bur., THE FILM DAILY Washington — Strong labor pressure upon Congress for the retention of the $25,000 salary ceilings was looked for by observers here after the announcement that the CIO United Automobile Workers has resolved that if the limitation is killed it will no longer consider itself bound by its no-strike pact. The UAW position is that if there no longer exists enough of an emergency to make the ceilings necessary, there is no longer enough of an emergency to make a no-strike pact necessary. Washington circles have been wondering how long it would be before some union group would take such a stand.