The Film Daily (1943)

PILE COPY intimate in Character international in Scope ndependent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Four Years Old sf 83, NO. 79 u NEW YORK, MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1943 TEN CENTS WAR-TIME POPULATION SHIFT UNDER 3% •2,444,827 Admissions Jump Boosts K A-O Net et Profit at $2,017,433; Dmmon Stockholders Got ost of Year's Dividends Reflecting a hike of over two milti dollars in box-office receipts, net >fits of KeithAlbee-Orpheum Corp. i subsidiary companies last year nped to $2,017,433.65, an increase $1,279,338 over 1941, the company >orted Friday. In both cases, fig?s are after provision for income :es but no provisions for Federal ^ess profits tax were considered :essary. rheater admissions reported in the (Continued on Page 5) sb. Admission Tax illections Show Gain skington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — February admissions e only slightly from a comparably low January admission tax lection, figures released by the reau of Internal Revenue show. 2 nation-wide collection amounted (Continued on Page 6) ass. Senate Would Probe x Ticket Speculators Boston — The Massachusetts Sen, after listening to charges that rons of theaters in this state are ng made victims of ticket agen(Continued on Page 6) Woetz Leaving 20th to Form Own Company William Goetz, vice-president of ZOth-Fox in charge of production, s resigning to form his own producion company, it was announced aver the week-end by President Spyros Skouras. His resignation has 3een tendered to and accepted with deep regret by the board of directors, fo become effective at the conclusion of his currently scheduled 10 inductions. Goetz was one of the founders of the organization that now stands as 20th-Fox. Gable Bach on Screen Via Air Forces Short Washington Bur., THE FILM DAILY Washington — Public showing through WAC distribution, is in the cards in the near future for the Army Air Forces film featuring Clark Gable. A two-reeler made several months ago, this short was screened for members of the WAC Theaters Division late last week by O.W.I. motion picture chief Lowell Mellerr, and met with general approval. No formal request has yet been made through WAC, but it is likely that Mellett will suggest soon that the Gable film be programmed as part of the O.W.I. -WAC series of shorts. Capt. Gable is now on duty in England with the AAF. Film Salesmen May Gel Additional "Gas Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Film salesmen throughout most of the country may yet be granted preferred gas rations, it appeared here Friday. After considerable confusion regarding a letter supposedly sent William F. Rodgers, M-G-M sales (Continued on Page 5) Peskay Named Ealing's American Representative Edward J. Peskay has been named Ealing Studios' representative in North and South America, succeeding the late Arthur Lee who died (Continued on Page 5) Average Changes for Film Territories Are Less Than 3 Per Cent, Both Up and Down; Major Beneficiary Was Washington Up 25 Per Cent Population shifts throughout the United States in the past year, resulting from wartime employment conditions, amounted to less than 3 per cent for the country as a whole, it is revealed in census data compiled by the Department of Commerce and various private agencies including retail merchant associations, banking groups and others. Average territorial changes, figured by film exchange centers, also was less than 3 per cent either up or down, the average being low because the highest percentage changes took place in areas with relatively small population. Total number of residential changes was approximately 3,700,000 out of the country's 135,000,000 population. Major beneficiary was Washington, D. C, which had a gain of 25 (Continued on Page 6) Loew's Over the Top In War Bond Quota Loew-M-G-M has topped its quota of $5,275,000 in 2nd War Loan Bond sales to the company, executives and employes, according to David Bernstein, vice-president and treasurer. Indications are that between 90 per cent and 95 per cent of the company's home office employes will have signed pledges for additional Bond purchases in April. The company is buying the Bonds immediately in the employes' names, putting them in escrow, and deducting the cost from pay checks over a period of one year. The Loew-M-G-M campaign was (Continued on Page 5) OWI and Army Reported At Odds on Film Policy Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — The OWI and the Army are reported to be at odds over the releasing of the Frank Capra and other Government films. The OWI, it is said, does not believe that "Prelude to War" is right in its present form and will not approve it without several changes. The changes, it is understood, had (Continued on Page 5) Crescent Suit Wind-Up May 6 Court Sets Deadline for Filing Objections Kalmenson Ups Eiseman To N. Y. Branch Manager Clarence Eiseman, formerly of Warners sales staff in Cleveland, has been promoted by Ben Kalmenson, general sales manager, to the post (Continued on Page 5) Nashville — After waiting 15 months to render a decision in the case, Judge Elmer Davies has apparently decided to wind up the Government's anti-trust suit against Crescent Amusement Co. and the rent a i n i n g distributor defendant, United Artists Corp., as quickly as (Continued on Page 6) Quincy, Mass., Award Modified on Appeal Although an arbitrator reduced the 28-day clearance of the Boston firstruns over the Strand Theater in Quincy, Mass., the motion picture appeal board modified the award and fixed the clearance at 21 days. Case had been brought by the Hancock Theater Co., operating the Strand and two others in Quincy, against the five consenting companies. Intervenor were the operators (Continued on Page 6) Film Execs. Confer With McNutt Aide Washington Bur., THE FILM DAILY Washington — Francis S. Harmon, Harry Brandt and Si Fabian, all here Thursday for the WAC-OWI-Army meeting, spent several hours Friday afternoon with Bruce Smith, assistant to Paul V. McNutt, WMC chief. Although it is not believed they had any specific proposals to put forth, they were anxious to clarify the status of theaters in WMC eyes. YOUR WAR BOND MONEY HELPS TO PLACE A SHIELD AROUND OUR FIGHTING MEN