The Film Daily (1943)

THE DAILY; Friday, April 16, 19<H Welansky Sentenced To 12 to 15 Years (Continued from Page 1) motions intended to postpone or avert the sentence of Welansky or to delay his serving his term. Welansky's attorney had served notice of appeal for a new trial and this, too, was denied by the presiding judge. There remains the possibility of an appeal to the Supreme Court, of course. James Welansky, his brother, and Jacob Goldfine, wine steward, who were co-defendants and who were acquitted were in the court when sentence was pronounced. Attorney General Robert T. Bushnell made a 37-minute speech praising the jury for its work and its findings and promised there would be immediate action on the indictments against seven others indicated along with the Welansky Brothers and Goldfine but to be tried separately. More than 490 persons lost their lives in the fire, among them Buck Jones and 20 film industry officials and wives. New Hampshire House Votes Safety Measure Concord, N. H. — The so-called "Cocoanut Grove" bill, sponsored by a special committee named by Gov. Robert 0. Blood last December and intended to prevent such a tragedy as occurred at the Boston night club with a loss of more than 500 lives, has been approved by the House of Representatives here. The bill approved requires licensing of places of assembly, fire-proofing of combustible materials, and protection of aisles, exits, doors, etc. The measure applies only to existing places of assembly, and a companion bill, designed to cover future construction, was given an adverse report by the committee on revision of statutes. MPPDA Officers and Board Members are Re-elected (Continued from Page 1) its policy on the Production Code Administration. Joe Amstead Recovers Worcester, Mass.— Joe Amstead, ill in the hospital for many months, is now back at the Elm Street as manager. IN NEW POSTS DAN GOULD, JR., Interstate circuit publicist, Forth Worth, Tex, ALEX PARIZER, shipper, Columbia, New York. ROBERT CREENBERC, shipper, Columbia, New Haven. MICHAEL STRANGER, assistant, Palace, Hartford, Conn. PHIL SOLOMON, manager, B & K Drake, Chicago. More Lines Off a Reporter's Cuff • • • UNDER the patriotic aegis of A. H. Blank, big gun of TriStates and Central States Theaters, the lads of our armed forces have a solid link with their co-workers on the home front via "War-Time Broadcaster," published co-operatively by these circuits The magazine is an excellent job throughout, packing plenty of bright human interest What Phil M. particularly admires is the tribute by Rabbi Eugene Mannheimer to the late Raymond Blank ... • National Screen Service's three-day regional, under way this morning in the WaldorfAstoria, is bound to be the most important local huddle in org's annals, considering that the proceedings are so closely linked with filmland's current and future war effort contributions ... • Oscar Serlin Associates are now established in new quarters. — 1270 Sixth Ave., and, for Film Row's records the telephone number is Circle 5-6371 ... • Leo the Lion is reported to have under test the Metropolitan tenor. Charles Kullman, for a warbling hero's role in a forthcoming M-G-M musical . . . • Anent sharps and flats, Benny Goodman is domestically swinging away from jive to practicing on lullaby stuff, for he and his spouse are expecting an heir at the end of the month ... • Mayor LaGuardia and Mrs. Vincent Astor have, purchased the first tickets for the Greek War Relief Show to be held in Madison Sq. Garden on May 18 Pasteboards went on sale yes'day T T T • • • EXPANSION of Altec Lansing's war production activities has necessitated opening of executive offices on the 12th floor of the Taft Building, 1680 North Vine St., Hollywood ... • "The Angels' Table" o'er at the Stage Door Canteen is becoming an institution in itself At it can park each night just a few civilians, each of whom has to contribute a stipulated sum of money to the Canteen's support It's the only way in which any outsider {not a member of the armed forces) can get a literal or figurative "look in" One of the most enthusiastic of the Angels is Thomas P. Durell, member of RKO's board ... • Walt Goldman, West Coast music publisher, vended $2,800 in War Bonds at a recent private party he hosted in L.A.'s Ambassador Hotel Songwriters Lou Pollack, Al Sherman, and Harry Tobias were 'rnong those who tossed cash on the line . . . 9 Ted Steele flirting with Columbia Pix, but his heart belongs to 20th-Fox and Betty Grable ... • Lillian Roth will head the long line of big-time names who once attended the Professional Children's School and who will return to roost at their Alma Mater's benefit show on the night of April 26 at the Royale ... • Hats off to the members of lATSE's Film Exchange Employes Union, Local F-51, for passing a resolution at the Hotel Lincoln huddle on Tuesday whereby each of them will contribute one day's pay to the New York Labor War Chest (covering Red Cross, USO, and Greater New York Fund) and all war funds of the various Allied nations ... # To give overseas-bound troops something pleasant to remember as their last impressions of the U. S. A., and something they'll want to fight hard to come back to soon, ports of embarkation in this country have set up recreation centers generously decorated with posters, cartoons, photos, etc., including a supply of cinema cheesecake And, according to letters of appreciation from commanders of the embarkation points to Bernard R. Goodman, Warners' advertising accessories sales manager (who has been supplying a good deal of this material), the favorite impressions are those provided by the pin-up type pictures of Hollywood stars They prove a great "lift" to morale T ▼ T • • • AVENGE PEARL HARBOR! Studios Film More Original Stories (Continued from Page 1) 401, or 73.2 per cent were original For 1941, 63 per cent of approve features were original material ai in 1940, 61.8 per cent. Novels adapt* for the screen were in second pla> each year. In 1942, 10.4 per cei were in this category; 1941, 10.2 pi cent and 1940, 20.8 per cent. Comparison also indicates th stage plays dropped off as a S/4H of motion picture screenplays, ure for 1942 was 5.7 per cent; "fi 1941, 10 per cent and 1940, 9.8 p> cent. Source percentages of the balan of 1942 features are: short storie 5.3; biographies, 1.3; documentar historical, 1.1; source unknown, 7, and miscellaneous, 1.6. Metiers and Westerns Top PC A Analysis of Features Melodramas head the lists of typ of features approved by the PCA both 1941 and 1942 it is shown by ; analysis of types included in W Hays' annual MPPDA report. In bo years Westerns were in second plac followed by Dramas in 1942 ai Comedies in 1941. Figures, according to the surve are: Melodramas, 1941, 223 — 19^ 215; Westerns, 1941, 119—1942, 11 Dramas, 1941, 62—1942, 80; Coi edies, 1941, 83—1942, 65; Crin 1941, 25—1942, 17; Miscellaneoi 1941, 63—1942, 57. Report also notes that three fe tures were rejected by the PCA di ing 1942 and that 18 pictures, ori inally rejected, were revised a approved. Basils to Take Buffalo Lafayette About July 4 Buffalo — A. Charles Hayman, he of the Hayman circuit and pre dent of MPTO of New York Sta: Inc., will bow out of the local tl ater scene on or about July 4, wh his Lafayette, downtown first-rvl will be taken over by the Basil c cuit, under terms of a deal just co pleted. Hayman, who also has t Niagara Falls theaters, has operal the Lafayette for the last 13 yea j Nicholas J. Basil, secretary s treasurer of Basil Enterprises, Ii handling the circuit's real estaj said he will be president of the ne ■ ly-organized Basil Realty Co. whin 30 days will take over mana^; ment of the building and 60 d£ after that will assume operat: of the film house. The ... . FEMME TOUCH ANCELA CORiRADO, assistant, Loew-Poli, H, ford, Conn. PEGGY VILLENAVE, acting assistant, loew-'j Springfield, Mass.