The Film Daily (1943)

I L— k^jj'^" H&CIU I IdlDto V^/UI I Ia . whole, progressive, patriotic and instructive, Roane Waring, national commander of Irhe American Legion said at a luncheon in his honor at the 20th-Fox studio. Waring, just back from a 27,000 mile official tour in North Africa I and military installations in this country, was joint guest of the studio and the American Legion Post. WillianrQdj^rppr^d^-jnd among those bresent were 75 executives, producers, directors, actors and others. O^^ /Mr-\->~ ^*Ur* 00 ~°T sS^vj. -1FDAILY 1 — \ 83. NO. 100 NEW YORK, TUESDAY, MAY 25. 1943 TEN CENTS EXCHANGES' MANPOWER PROBLEM WORRIES State AntiBlind Checking Bill Seen as Invalid . Opinion of California's j Attorney General Expected To Have a Wide Influence ■ 1 Because California's attorney-general has given a written opinion to the effect that the anti-blind checking bill which had been introduced in the state legislature was unconstitutional it is believed in film circles that similar measures in other states will have little chance of passing. Anti-blind checking bills were ininued on Page 8) Huston Finishing Aleutians Film .: Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Capt. John Huston, producer-son of Walter Huston, is in Hollywood now putting together his film on the Aleutians for showing to the Army. This film, shot after the trip to the Aleutians last year of Col. Darryl F. Zanuck, will be used (.Continued on Page 7) Firebug's Three Attempts Foiled by Femme Mgrs. Charlotte, N. C— Two of the specially trained women assistant managers being groomed by the WilbyKincey theaters in this city for top places when the drafting of fathers begins were put to a severe test, and (.Continued on Page 8) May Hear Suit vs. Ascap June 7 West Coast Bur., THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — At a meeting of ITO of Southern California and Arizona, Attorney Albert Law reported that a superior court hearing may be held on June 7 on the suit of individual members of the ITOA who are seeking triple damages from Ascap. Hugh W. Bruen, who attended Allied board meeting in Detroit as an observer, made a report as did Jack Y. .Berman, chairman of ITO's zoning and clearance committee. March of Dimes Collections in Theaters Pass $2,100,000 Mark to Hang l/p a Record Nicholas M. Schenck, national chairman of the industry's drive to help the infantile paralysis campaign, reported yesterday that the collections made in film theaters throughout the country now totalled $2,100,000, with tabulation still incomplete. This sets a new record. Last year's industry March of Dimes drive brought in $1,450,000. Schenck, in thanking the 45 state chairmen, pointed out that it is estimated that some 15,000,000 moviegoers contributed. When tabulations are completed, a check will be presented to President Roosevelt. Loew's 28-Week Net Rises to $6,376,228 Net profit of Loew's, Inc., for the 28 weeks ended March 18, 1943, was $6,376,228, after taxes. For the same period last year the net was $5,292,541. Per share earnings on the common stock, after deducting dividends on preferred stock in 1942 since retired, were $3.83, compared with $2.91 last year. Before provisions for contingencies, depreciation and (Continued on Page 7) Ala. Solons Turn Dawn Sunday Films for Troops Montgomery, Ala. — The lower House of the Alabama Legislature indefinitely postponed and thereby killed a bill that would have temporarily abrogated the blue laws of all communities in Alabama falling within a 50-mile radius of an Army (.Continued on Page 6) Pleasure Driving Ban Cuts Boston Biz 30% Boston — Newest "save gasoline" edicts, adding to restrictions on auto use, virtually doom some theaters in Boston suburbs and in surrounding towns to closing, operators declared yesterday, with the probability that the same fate awaits theaters in localities throughout New England. Business fell off at downtown Boston houses more than 30 per cent (Conti)iued on Page 8) Ark. ITO Elects, Hears Kuykendall's Address Little Rock — Ed Kuykendall, president MPTOA, told the Arkansas Independent Theater Owners yesterday that theater exhibitors want films sold in larger blocks and with more choice, at a "war conclave" attended by more than 100 exhibitors. Kuykendall added that exhibitors (Continued on Page 2) Floods Fail To Stop Truckers Make All Deliveries in High Water Area Bill to Hold City Ticket Taxes to 1% Dies in Ala. Montgomery, Ala. — A bill preventing municipalities from levying a tax in excess of one per cent on motion picture theater tickets was postponed indefinitely by the Senate Finance and Taxation Committee af (Continued on Page 8) St. Louis — The worst floods in the Mississippi, Missouri and Illinois valleys in 100 years have failed to prevent film trucking lines from keeping film service flowing to every theater in Southern Illinois, Eastern Missouri, Southeastern Iowa and Northwestern Kentucky. This accomplishment has been an (.Continued on Page 7) Femme Bookers Said Not "Tough" Enough; Shipper Shortage Major Difficulty Film exchanges, already hard hit for manpower in the booking and shipping departments, are expecting further difficulties between June 1 and July 1 when Selective Service plans to dip into the ranks of married men not already called up. Women are being hired for the bookers' desks and nearly every branch in the field has at least one feminine booker either being broken (Continued on Page 6) Camera Films Pix Without Use of Sets Washington Bureau of THE FILM 'DAILY Washington — Development of a new motion picture camera designed to cut production costs by eliminating the need for many elaborate sets was revealed yesterday in an Eng (Continued on Page 6) Goldwyn Said Top Bidder For Willkie's "One World" Samuel Goldwyn is reported to be the top bidder for the screen rights to Wendell Willkie's "One World," having offered $200,000 cash plus a (Continued on Page 8) Demand for Westerns Up 25% — Grainger West Coast Bur., THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Demand for westerns and outdoor pictures as evidenced by theater bookings and advance play dates is 25 per cent higher than ever before in the film industry, according to President James R. Grainger of Republic. He said circuits like Loew's are booking Roy Rogers' "Idaho" and breaking box office records. He pointed out that smalltown and country people working in city defense plants demand their usual fare of so-called horse operas.