The Film Daily (1943)

w DAILY Monday, June 21, 194: 100 Films Coming From Mex. Studios Studios in Mexico will make in the neighborhood of 100 pictures this year, approximately twice the number made in 1942, according to Norton Ritchey, Monogram's foreign manager, who returned recently from a visit to Mexico, Panama and Venezuela. Mexican production definitely is booming, Ritchey said, adding that the pictures are getting top playing time, causing deep concern among American distributors. Ritchey said, however, that he was taking a "long range viewpoint" of the progress made by the Mexican studios. While the competition now is keen and native pictures have been making strong inroads into the market, the final result will be to the benefit of all. Since Mexico started producing good pictures, attendance has been stimulated and new theaters have and are being built throughout the republic, thus eventually widening the market for American pictures. Two companies, Clasa and Film Mundiales, are among the strongest studios, both financed by the same banking house. The former plans 20 pictures for this year, while the latter is down for at least 12. All the studios appear to have plenty of money for production, Ritchey said. Theater business in both Panama and Mexico is record-breaking, Ritchey said, declaring there were not enough seats to accommodate the crowds. HOLLYWOOD OIOESL SIGNED MAXINE FIFE, termer, Paramount. ERIC ROLFE, termer, Columbia. ASSIGNMENTS RUDOLPH JOSEPH, associate producer, "The Moon, Their Mistress," Angelus for United Artists. JOHN CORNELL, screenplay, "Jive Junction," Atlantis for PRC. JOHN MURRAY ANDERSON, water ballet sequences, "Mr. Co-ed," M-C-M. DELMAR DAVES, director, "Destination Tokyo," Warners. STEVE SEKELY, director, "Hitler's Women," Monogram. HOUSTON BRANCH, screenplay, Hitler's Women," Monogram. CASTINGS TALLULAH BANKHEAD, "Life Boat," Universal; CLAUDETTE COLBERT, "Since You Went Away," M-G-M; PAT O'BRIEN, "Having Wonderful Crime," RKO; LON CHANEY and CALE SONDERCAARD, "Calling Dr. Death," Universal; CARY GRANT, "Destination Tokyo," Warners' NANCY COLEMAN, "In Our Time," Warners; .'AMES MILLICAN, "The Story of Dr. Wassell," Paramount; MAXINE FIFE, "Henry Aldrich's Little Secret," Paramount; CRANT MITCHELL, "Conflict," Warners; KEYE LUKE, "Blonde Trouble," M-C-M; JOHN WARBURTON and MARGARET ADDEN, "The White Cliffs of Jover," M-G-M; HARRY JAMES AND ORK., "Mr. Co-ed," M-G-M. SONNY TUFTS, "Government Girl," RKO; MAUREEN O'HARA and RAY MILLAND, "Tomorrow's Harvest," Paramount; LYNN MERRICK, "Doughboys in Ireland," Columbia; HAZEL SCOTT, "Broadway Rhythm," M-G-M; JOSEPH COTTEN, "For Us the Living," David O. Selznick; JOHN GARFIELD and JOHN R1DGELY, "Destination Tokyo," Warners; ELLEN HALL, "Outlaws of Stampede Pass," Monogram. STORY PURCHASES "Inner Sanctum" radio series title, Universal. CRAIG RICE's "Having Wonderful Crime," RKO. H. R. HAYS' "Stranger on the Highway," 20th Fox. NELSON BOND'S "Mystery Staircase," Republic. REOPTIONED OLIVER DRAKE, producer-writer, seven more Westerns, Universal. RUDOLF H JOSEPH, associate producer, Angelus for U. S. release. SCHEDULED "Hip, Hip, Hooray," producer, JOHN CRANT, Universal. "Tomorrow's Harvest," based on unproduced plays by ALFRED MAURY, Paramount. "For Us the Living," from STEPHEN LONG STREET's novel, "The Land I Love,' David O. Selznick. D of J Won't Refuse To Hear Just Plaints Vandals Operating In Downtown Newark Houses Warners to Tradeshow "The Constant Nymph' f National tradeshowing of Warners' "The Constant Nymph" has been set for June 28, it is announced by Ben Kalmenson, general sales manager. Pic is being placed on the general release schedule for this Summer. IN NEW POSTS DONALD BAECHER, manager, Genessee, Buffalo. GERALD WESTERGREN, director, advertisingpublicity, Basil Circuit, Buffalo. EARL ARNOLD, manager, Diana, Medina, N. Y. FRANCIS ANDERSON, acting manager, Century, Rochester, N. Y. CHARLES J. WALL, manager, Radio Theater, Baltimore, Md. CURTIS H. MILLER, manager, Victory, Tampa, Fla. CLIFFORD GUNNETT, manager, Queen, Wilmington, Del. DAVE KANE, manager, Garrick, St. Louis. W. B. JACOBY, manager, State, Altoona, Pa. S. KUNITZKY, booker, United Artists, Montreal. ARVID R. KANTOR, manager, National Screen Service, Detroit. MARVIN SHIPMAN, manager, Cinema Theater, Detroit. .J. HAROLD BOOTH, vice-president, Bell & Howell Co., Chicago. (Continued from Page 1) downtown houses as well, estimated damages of its handiwork conservatively runs into the thousands. In one theater the upholstery on the backs of 16 chairs was ripped almost beyond repair in a single night. In the same theater, a weighing machine was thrown completely out of order, necessitating new locks and indicator. Damage here, the manager points out, is all the more paradoxical inasmuch as the theater is one of the larger downtown houses. At Warners' Branford, a policy of not admitting boys under 16, singly or in groups, is being strictly adhered to. At another of the firstruns, two special policemen in uniform have been hired to patrol those sections of the theaters where the boys are more apt to congregate. Other managers, however, with an eye to future business, keep trying to temporize with the problem with little or no success. Music Hall Wins $1,079 Tax Action Over Talent Federal Judge Simon H. Rifkind on Friday in N. Y. Federal court entered $1,079 against the U. S. Government in favor of the Radio City Music Hall Corp., which had sued to recover taxes paid under protest in 1939. The Music Hall, in paying the taxes, had claimed that feature acts bi ought in by the management were not taxable because they were, "independent contractors," and not employes of the corporation. The action was dismissed in N. Y. Federal court, upon appeal, reversed by the Circuit Court of Appeals, which upheld the Music Hall contention. Texas War Plant Towns Hit By Theater Hoodlumism Dallas — Hoodlumism is affecting Texas theaters mainly in the war production areas, a survey of circuits indicates. A variety of control methods are being used but with varying success. R & R-United has discontinued special midnight shows in Corpus Christi, according to Don Douglas, but is keeping box-offices open later in the evening. This is similar to the plan fostered by Interstate in Dallas. Lynn Stocker, of the R. E. Griffith circuit, stated that balconies have been closed, with attendance restricted to ground floors and strict watchfulness maintained to keep order. Martin Cole, Cole Circuit, Rosenberg, said he has made arrangements with Boy Scouts to police and report on disturbances in his houses, with real success. Johnny Long, Long Circuit, Bay City, found the problem constant and requiring special services to supervise. {Continued from Page 1) although the Department is hoping to check many current distribution practices through its action in November at the end of the trial period of the New York consent decree, there is no actual policy against action in any other locality. s^^ Wright's attitude is that mosf the complaints he has heard thus rW are matters which can be corrected through the New York action, which binds throughout the country. He is also believed to feel that institution of legal proceedings in other areas will in most cases involve time and effort that might better be expended on the New York case. A decision in the New York case might be expected every bit as soon as final action on any case which might be brought elsewhere at this date. The Department has not flatly refused action, for instance, on the complaint of Don Guttman of North Central Allied, and is awaiting with interest a brief from Guttman. It is doubtful, however, that any purpose would be served by bringing a separate cast in Minnesota, since the abuses charged would probably be corrected by the New York decision. The Department is as interested as ever in hearing complaints from other exhibitor groups, since all these complaints are of value in determining the procedure to be followed in the New York case. New Orleans Exchange For Sack Enterprises Hoodlumism. Becoming Worse In Oregon, Wash. Houses Portland — Wave of hoodlumism in Oregon and Washington houses continues, in fact, is getting worse. Latest stunt is wanton ignoring of the city's no smoking ordinance. Capitol and Circle Theaters report that "sneak smokers" are daily found throughout the houses and, with help hard to get, policing is next to impossible. However, patrons at the four Vancouver, Wash, houses hit a new low. Managers dub them "oakies"; it seems they have never been "house broke" and that plumbing fixtures are non-essential. Dallas — A new exchange will be installed by Sack Amusement Enterprises in New Orleans at 218 S. Liberty St. Alfred Sack is now in New Orleans with C. E. Lindsey, formerly booker ' in the Dallas office, who will be the branch manager. Lindsey formerly was manager in Atlanta. Product will include the AFE franchise, Columbia re-issues, and an exclusive line of Negro cast releases. The ... . FEMME TOUCH MARIE SLATKOSKE, office manager-head booker, Monogram, Des Moines. VIRGINIA D'ADDIO, inspectress, M-G-M, New Haven. MRS. H. FLORIAN, manager, Strand, Winsted, Conn. WANDA deMUTH, assistant manager, Paramount Theater, Newport, R. I. IRENE ECONOME, chief steno.-biller. National Screen Service, Albany. JEAN DOWNS, cashier, Republic, Albany. INEZ NORTHRUP, stenographer, United Artists, St. John. DOROTHY MADSEN, cashier, United Artists, St. John.