The Film Daily (1943)

DAILY Thursday, May 6, 19 Would Classify Mgrs. Operators as "Useful (Continued from Page 1) and projectionists as "useful," rather than as "essential" men. The recommendation does not apply to any other classes of employes. Considerable discussion was devoted to the fuel shortage, a report from Meyer Leventhal, of Baltimore, reporting on the prospects after an authoritative check. His report showed it is absolutely necessary that all theaters convert to coal, as fuel oil almost certainly will not be allotted to theaters next winter. While conversion was said especially imperative in the East, the necessity for a change-over is assumed to apply to the entire country. Leventhal's report indicates stokers will be available to all theaters which determine upon conversion now. Action on the annual report of Abram F. Myers, general counsel and board chairman was deferred until today when the New York consent decree will be the principal item of the agenda, delay will give all board members a further opportunity to study details of the report. Film Shortage Discussed Film shortage aroused much discussion at the afternoon session and the board authorized the president to appoint an investigating committee on the situation. The question is primarily whether the alleged shortage is a necessary result of WPB restrictions on film use and prints, or is "artificially created by distributors in order to increase clearance," Myers said. Film price discussion concentrated on reports from different regions, with details of the Caravan committee activity, which met here Tuesday. No formal action was taken. One of the most thoroughly discussed subjects was the handling of official films including "At the Front" and "Desert Victory." Consensus, but without official statement, was that exhibitor leaders believe the public is getting too much war scenes in films, particularly through newsreels and official shorts, presumably losing in the entertainment value of their shows. The 16 mm. situation was discussed and additional records thereon are being airmailed to amplify the discussion today. Juvenile Vandalism A lively discussion of vandalism and juvenile delinquency drew many suggestions and reports of specific incidents. The board authorized the chairman to appoint a small WEDDING BELLS Anna Gartsman of Warners' legal department is now the wife of Pfc. Moe M. Krasner. Wedding was perfoimed several days ago by the Jewish chaplain at Fort Bragg, N. C. Seattle, Wash. — Nate Lyons, manager of the Show Box Theater, was married to Virginia Taylor. Toronto — David Snider, projectionist and exploitation specialist, and Lillian Magder were married. Pottsville, Pa.— PFC Francis Toohey, former assistant manager of Hollywood Theater, was married to Adaline V. Collier in St. Stephen's Church, Port Carbon, Pa. To The Colors * DECORATED * LT. EDWARD F. BLUM, Air Corps, formerly, Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, Air Medal for anti-submarine patrol flights in the Atlantic war theater. TECH. SCT. JOHN DEMCOVICH, Air Corps, formerly, Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, Silver Star for gallantry in action in the Pacific. — • * CITATIONS * LT. COL. FRANK CAPRA, Signal Corps, USA, Legion of Merit in the degree of Legionnaire for planning and producing a series of orientation films for the Army. * COMMISSIONED * EDSON B. SNOW, USA, formerly, Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, commissioned a major. — * — * IN OFFICERS SCHOOL * CORP. LEONARD SPINRAD, USA, formerly Warner home office publicity department. — • — * PROMOTED * 2ND LT. LEONARD D. VOSS, Air Corps, former assistant manager, Palace, Milwaukee, to first lieutenant. Appoint Harold Postman Assistant to Rodgers (.Continued from Page 1) liam F. Rodgers, vice-president and general sales manager of Loew's, was announced yesterday. Postman has been with the organization since February, 1927, when he joined Loew's in the purchasing department. He came to the sales department shortly thereafter and for several years past has been assistant to E. K. "Ted" O'Shea, Eastern division sales manager. "Action in Atlantic" Gets Holiday Premiere Warner's "Action in the North Atlantic" will have its world premiere at the New York Strand on May 21, the day preceding National Maritime Day. committee to investigate the delinquency problem. Line or action is likely to be recommendation to producers to make a film or a series like "Crime Does Not Pay," to appeal directly to the affected age groups and try to solve the situation by an educational approach through the screen. About a dozen local exhibitors, including most directors of Michigan Allied, sat in with the national board during a large part of the session. Seeks More Leeway in Working Hours for Women West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Seeking more leeway in measures covering work of women in the theaters, Robert H. Poole, secretary of ITO of Southern California and Arizona, has written the following letter to the Industrial Welfare Commission which will hold hearings on wages and hours for the amusement and recreation industries in Los Angeles: "In view of fact that women are allowed to work any hour of day or night in war industries, and further in view of fact that theaters are necessary to all communities in order to maintain the high morale necessary as well as to present to the American people through the medium of the theater screen urgent messages directed from our Government, it is our urgent request that women be allowed to work any hour of the day or evening in our theaters. "Due to the shortage of manpower it is now found necessary to employ women as i heater managers and usherettes and in order to keep theaters open it is important that there be a greater flexibility in laws regulating the number of hours and time of day women can work this, at least, for the duration of the war." Jack Y. Berman will represent ITO at Leserman Names Schnitzer Western Division Manager (Continued from Page 1) Western division manager, succeeding Bert M. Stearn, resigned Other important changes in the sales setup, which Leserman revealed at the company's district managers' meeting at the home office were: Sam Lefkowitz, former New York branch manager, replacing Schnitzer as supervisor of District No. 1 embracing New York, Philadelphia and Washington; and James Winn, district manager for District No. 2 covering the Boston, Buffalo and New Haven territory. Successor to Lefkowitz at the New York exchange will be announced later. SMPE Told of New Film Preservation Process Spotlight at yesterday's sessions of the current Spring Meeting of SMPE in the local Hotel Pennsylvania, which conclave concludes tonight, fell for the most part on the 16 mm. field and aspects of cataloguing and rehabilitating motion picture film. In connection with the latter, Carl L. Gregory, of the National Archives, Washington, D. C, announced that he had evolved a new process for resurrecting and preserving old footage of early silent days, and permitting perpetuation and projection of scenes and sequences of historical importance. His paper, entitled "Resurrection of Early Motion Picture Paper Prints," told of this process. At the morning session in the Salle Moderne, following reports by John W. Boyle and John A. Maurer, chairmen respectively of the Cinematography and Non-Theatrical .Equipment Committees, Lloyd Thompson, of the Calvin Co., spoke on "Some Suggested Standards for Direct 16 mm. Production"; W. H. Offenhauser, Jr., of Precision Laboratories, on "Some Notes on the Application of FineGrain Film to 16 mm. Motion Pictures"; and E. W. Kellogg, RCA Mfg. Co., of "Character of Waves Produced by Explosions." In addition to Gregory's paper, the following were presented at the afternoon session : "Wartime Cataloguing of Films," John Bradley, National Archives ; "Film Incunabula in the Library of Congress," Howard Walls, Library of Congress "Conservation of Photographic Chemicals," Allan Haines, Pathe Laboratories, Los Angeles . and "A Compact Production Unit for Specialized Films," O. W. Hungerford, Washington, D. C. In the evening was held the Society's 53rd Semi-Annual Dinner Dance. WAR SERVICE . . .on the Film Front UU'. i Honolulu, Hawaii (By Air Mail — Pas by Censor) — More than 1500 service n and war workers were turned away I cause of a jammed house at the first o series of War Bond shows to be conduc in the International Theater. Show was sponsored by the Arm; Bond office and featured a film progr and a three-quarter-of-an-hour stage sh by Major E. I. Marshall and his swing b, and the Regimental Choir of 40 Ne soldiers. Management donated the ho and the Royal Amusement Co. waived f rentals. Bond sales amounted to more tl $6,000. . . ._ v. , .— Cleveland — Aimee Lewis, local M-G booker, is a six-time blood donor, wh puts her at the head of the list of the g on Rilm Row . . . — V. . .— Montgomery, Ala. — When the final figu on the Red Cross War Fund drive showe total of nearly $125,000 against a quota $107,000, major credit was given the pi 1 licity, handled by Mildred Smith, Fl DAILY local correspondent. An open I ter of commendation was sent the publis of the Montgomery Advertiser by the Mo gomery Red Cross Chapter. May Permit Actors to Switch Jobs With No W< (Continued from Page 1) another at higher pay without bei required to take a 30-day layoff, a this plan is expected to be appm by WMC area committee in I Angeles. If the plan is approved by t committee it is also expected to submitted to industry's Labor-M: agement Committee for its apprcv Sidney Barrows Joins Army Intelligence Div. Sidney Barrows, member of Warners' legal staff, has received appointment in the Army's milifa intelligence division and leaves n week for Ann Arbor, Mich., to be; his course of instruction. In ad tion to his legal background, B rows is conversant with the Japan language. Bailey Heads L.A.'s TDB West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAI Los Angefles — Tom W. Bailey 1 been elected director of the Amu ment Industry Committee and 1 ater Defense Bureau and his na will be submitted to Mayor Fletcl Bowron and the city defense coui for confirmation. Bailey will dev all his time to his new position a will be on a salary. At the same time, Jack H. Lo^ executive assistant to Charles Skouras of National Theaters, v named assistant director by the t ater men's defense organizatio ,