The Film Daily (1943)

-~./--x rvi Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought -^PDAILY PILE COPY The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Five Years Old I t }L. 83, NO. 125 NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30. 1943 TEN CENTS SENATE COM. URGES END OF OWI FILM BUREAU Theater Biz Down in England; War Films a Factor Added Hour of Daylight Saving Also Contributes To Drop, Says Dave Rose Theater business in England has dropped off in the last 60 days, due, it is believed, to two primary causes, Dave Rose, Paramount's managing director in Great Britain, said yesterday in New York. Reasons for the decline, Rose said, were the overload of war pictures and the additional hour of daylight which became effective on May 3. England has two hours of daylight saving in the Summer and one hour during: the other three seasons. Rose arrived Saturday for a (Continued on Page 7) DAVID ROSE Metro's 12 Shooting Tops Coast Activity West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Nine new pictures are scheduled to go 'into production this week, bringing the total to 51. Metro, (.Continued on Page 8) A \W\ Detroit Lifts Riot Curfew on Theaters Detroit — A ■ new order lifts the curfew order entirely as far as theaters and amusement places are concerned, allowing houses today to stay open after 11 p.m. for the first time in a week. Week-end business at major theaters ran about normal in view of the excessive heat but considerably below a week ago. Exhibitors now anticipate the riots have ushered in a prolonged Summer slump. Total loss of theater business due to the riots is now estimated at around $250,000. WARNER FINANCING DEAL SAID SET Wall St. Hears Banking Syndicate Will Supply the Company $23,000,000 Loan Warners refinancing program looking to the retirement of all outstanding debentures, preferred stock and bank loans was reported in Wall St. as assured yesterday with the company said in financial circles to have completed arrangements with a banking syndicate for a loan of $23,000,000. While no confirmation was obtain able at the home office — executives were unavailable — sources close to the company said that a formal announcement might be only a matter of a few days, indicating that a call for $3.85 preferred stock will be issued during the week. Syndicate is understood to number some five or six banks, located {Continued on Page 3) Kalmenson Opens WB Regional Tomorrow First of three Warner regional sales meetings gets under way tomorrow in the Waldorf-Astoria, with Ben Kalmenson, general sales manager, presiding. In addition to home office and studio executives, the Eastern sessions will be attended by dis (Continucd on Page 3) Texas Exchange Workers Opposed to 48-Hour Week Corpus Christi, Tex.— WMC's 48hour work week is expected to be on the agenda of the Texas Federation of Labor (AF of L) at its convention in session here. Exchange (Continued on Page 3) Equipment Prospects Brighter— Green West End, N. J.— While he could not make any flat promises regarding the equipment situation, Walter Green, president of National Theatre Supply Co., told the New Jersey Allied annual meeting yesterday, that the prospects for the future (Continued on Page 6) $10,000,000 Gross Seen By Wallis for "Army" World premiere of Warners' film version of Irving Berlin's "This is the Army," now definitely set for July 28 at the Hollywood Theater on Broadway, will be an advanced{Continued on Page 8) FTC Order Hits Ad Pix Firms Exclusive Deals with Theaters Under Ban SPG and Five Majors to Arbitrate Pay Increase Differences between the Screen Publicists Guild of New York and five major film companies and two theater chains over the question of an over-all percentage salary increase will be submitted to arbitration, it was announced yesterday by the SPG, which has been carrying {Continued on Page 8) Washington Bureau, of THE FILM DAILY Washington — The Federal Trade Commission announced today that it had ordered five film advertising companies, two booking agencies and a trade association they organized to abandon any common action tending to restrain trade or promote a monopolistic control of the sale, lease, rental or distribution of advertising trailers. The five companies — said to con{Continued on Page 8) Committee Sets $3,000,000 For Four Bureaus and for The Office of the Director Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Elimination of the OWI motion picture bureau, headed by Lowell Mellett, will be recommended to the Senate for consideration today. The Senate Appropriations Committee reported the bill last night while the Senate was not in session, thereby insuring that it be the first order of business today. Despite strong industry support at the last minute, it appears that the Mellett office will close its doors today. The committee agreed to recommend $3,000,000 for OWI, to care {Continued on Page 6) Move to Solve Pa/s Operator Shortage Philadelphia — An amendment to the state regulations governing projectionists has been approved by the Industrial Board, lowering the age limit for apprentice operators and shortening the term of apprenticeship. The change was advocated and arranged by the Allied units in (Continued on Page 7) High Food Costs Hurting Movies — Rep. Barry to FDR Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Millions of white collar workers will ibe forced to stay away from theaters as the result of the Congressional moves to kill food subsidies, according to Rep. William (Continued on Page 8) Expect July 4 Biz To Boost Patronage Exhibitors look for better Fourth of July week-end business than ever, since pleasure driving is banned, and serious overcrowding of public conveyances is preventing travel even to beaches and resorts close by.