The Film Daily (1944)

Tuesday, April 4, 1944 Army Pictorial Top Spot to Coi. Munson DAILY (Continued from Page 1) ing' the common European invasion. Col. Munson, before the reorganization which created the APS last year, was in charge of the film op,-Nerations of the Special Service Di; Vision, and under his direction the ''^^'Why We Fight" series was turned out by Cols. Frank Capra and Emanuel Cohen. Status of his executive officer, Lt. Col. Frank Cahill, formerly of Warners, was not definitely known here, although it was believed he will continue in his present post. Col. Charles Stodter, assistant director under Col. Lawton, will remain at his post. Col. Stodter was liaison man for the Signal Corps in Hollywood for some time, working with the Research Council of the Academy. Assignment of Col. Lawton to London is believed to indicate that the Army intends to go "all-out" in an effort to provide first-rate combat coverage in the "big show" ahead. Three high-ranking officers — including Col. R. Ernest DuPuy— are already in London, working under General Dwight Eisenhower, and one of them will probably serve as liaison for the commercial newsreel pool cameramen. Take New Tax Baie in Stride No Dent Made in Normal Film Attendance properly the effect of the new levy, but early reports from Film Daily field representatives who have checked their respective territories reveal that no dent has been made in normal business. Broadway business continued at (Continued from Page 1) Nashville — A 12-hour bus strike, which ended yesterday, clipped week-end business in all 21 local theaters from 30 to 50 per cent, while in other affected communities, varying drops were reported. Major local theaters had previously lost heavily because of withdrawal of soldiers from the Tennessee maneuver area. 60 Ushers in Hub Suburb Strike for 50% Increase Boston — Sixty ushers in Maiden theaters, suburb of Boston, struck for higher wages over the week-end. All are high school boys. They demanded 60 cents an hour instead of 40 cents now being paid. Managers quickly sent out a call to old-time employes and to women relatives of men in service and went through a big week-end without apparent trouble. Striking ushers have no union but organized themselves into I coherent band last week. They ■,ave been notified their demands ivill be heard before a conference of managers this week. There was jio apparent difficulties in any of i --he theaters and none were picketed. a high level. The new Easter show at the Music Hall pulled in $75,000 in four days and is heading for a $120,000 week. Other houses reported business normal. In St. Louis, the increased Federal tax failed to retard patronage, Sunday was bright and most theaters there did exceptionally well in face of Palm Sunday and church activities. tendance despite new taxes and Palm Sunday. Downtown patrons not only accepted raised prices without kicks, but also contributed generously to holdover Red Cross collections. Only house experiencing a business drop was one in the colored district. Memphis Snaps Back In Memphis, Saturday business was slow but was back to normal on Sunday despite heavy rains. Palm Sunday and tax. Manager; ok for a dull week due to Eas< * nd not to the new tax. In Madison, Wis., t' -c holiday test for the new, 'jsion tax showed a drop-ojIMjCavenile attendance. Adul^ ^ ■ "jnd business was firm. _;rrTr=r A survey r__ ^ 'ximately one third of D VpCf leaters brought the unanim -*'*»»'.xion of managers IN NEW POSTS OU IJErNHEIMER, booker, )oe Stern Theaters, Chrcago. . V. WHITMAN, B & K managerial staff, Chicago. *"il MOYNAHAN, chief publicity writer, The March of Time. '■«^*u^'^^^^'-' s'liPP'ng department, 20th-Fox. Omaha. OB HARRINGTON, operator, Orpheum, Omaht 'AYNE STEVENS, Brandeis Theater, Omaha. *« SCHUSTER, Admiral Theater manager, Omaha. d* *'"^^'''''°NC, Warners home office publicity , ""Ti "OWELL, assistant manager, Rivoli, Toledo, 0. ^^I^ACE RUCKER, Paramount salesman, Dal No Dent in Omaha Not the slightest dent was felt in Omaha theaters, according to William Miskell, Tri-States district manager, and P. Mcllvaine of the Brandeis circuit. Business was normal at the Omaha, Paramount and Orpheum Theaters. "The raise wasn't much and people felt it was part of the war effort," Miskell said. Grosses in all Boston theaters were above average for the weekend and managers said there were few, if any, complaints from patrons who filled long lines at the box-offices. Managers appeared surprised at the absence of unfavorable reactions. Downtown deluxe houses reported business on Sunday at 15 per cent above that of a week ago. Large neighborhood theaters reported business slightly above normal. Increased prices failed to show any change in business at Des Moines theaters over the week-end. TriState Theater Corp. executives reported that box-office receipts were normal. Some exhibitors feel, however, that upped prices will affect week-day business. Baltimore Biz Normal In Baltimore, first-run theaters reported no ill effects from the new tax. Managers said that some patrons were slightly confused at the new prices but business was normal and probably would have been better if it hadn't been for heavy weekend rains. Neighborhood managers said the only complaints received were those from the children. Cleveland patrons were warned in advance via trailers of the new tax and they accepted the higher admissions without complaint or comment. Downtown and neighborhood theaters reported average week-end at I that the nt 'fr had practically no effect on wet " v;nd business. Increase in neighborhood prices is so small as to be negligible, according to David Newman, counsel for Co-operative Theaters of Michigan. First-runs showed no drop attributed to the tax, although som<9 slump may have been caused by Hoiy Week. Managers of the 19 United Detroit Theaters reported they received no complaints. In Stride in Rochester Rochester, N. Y., patrons took the rncreased Federal tax in their stride and business, according to managers, was as big as ever. Tax boost had little or no effect, it was said, and there were very few complaints. Pittsburgh theater operators felt it was too early to get a true effect of the new tax because of Holy Week when secondary pictures were being shown. However, there was no serious decline in downtown attendance. Managers said the effect of the new tax would be determined better in two weeks. In Minneapolis territory, theaters did the usual near-capacity weekend biz and there were no complaints from patrons over the slight tilt in total admission prices. In Buffalo, both downtown and nabes reported business on par or better, with one small community circuit reporting grosses up 20 to 50 per cent better than a year ago. Week-end attendance in Albany compared very favorably with the similar Lenten period last year. In the Dallas territory, business held firm. In some instances, children appeared at box-offices with only a dime, due to misunderstanding. Houses absorbed the difference for the once. With only one new feature opening last week in a major downtown Washington house, it was difficult to judge the effect of the new tax scale. The veek-end was good downtown, howe ar, and the consensus was that the new scale has not meant any great falling off. Nabes UA to Open Six Foreign Pub. Offices (Continued from Page 1) manager. First office to be started under this plan will be in Mexico City with Leonard Daly, who has been a member of home office foreign publicity in charge. Following the war, Gould plans to establish six publicity offices in the Near East, Far East, Latin America, and the continent. The branch publicity managers, American trained, would be expected to adapt UA publicity material to local needs. were not seriously hurt, it appeared. Hollywood Biz Normal Circuit and first-run operators in Hollywood reported that the new Federal tax did not affect business adversely and that the week-end attendance was normal. They reported that public is tax-conscious and that there were very few complaints. Some neighborhood exhibitors also reported normal business, but Robert H. Poole, executive secretary of IMPTO of Southern California and Arizona, said the real effect of new tax could not be learned for two weeks inasmuch as this week's business should be exceptionally good due to the Los Angeles schools being closed for the Easter vacation. Chicago theaters, both circuit and independent, reported few complaints from the increased amusement tax. Business, despite Palm Sunday, held in good volume. B & K reported standout business at its Loop houses, especially at the UA Theater, which opened with "A Guy Named Joe," and the Chicago Theater, which is showing its first horror film, "The Uninvited." RKO reported increased tax not hurting its business. No immediate effects of the new Federal admission tax were noticeable in Milwaukee for the week-end business. Managers report the tax is taken favorably and no changes were visible in grosses as compared with pre-tax figures for similar shows. The attitude of theatermen IS one of complete satisfaction at the result. FEfllfllE TOUCH EVELYN MILES, booker's stenographer, Paramount, Memphis. MRS. TRESTON SELLERS, organist. Oriental, Chicago. MRS. MARGARET STEINHARDT, assistant manager, Rialto, Brooklyn. ZONA BOSEK, booker's stenographer, Warners, Omaha. IRENE KOSIET, Paramount hello girl, Omaha. DORIS WILLIS, utility clerk, 20th-Fox, Seattle. RHODA WATERS, ad sales staff, 20th-Fox Seattle. BEA DAVIS, biller, 20th Century-Fox, Seattle. ETHEL DONKIN, office staff, 20th-Fox, Seattle. MARGARET CUSTAFSON, assistant cashier, 20thFox, Seattle.