The Film Daily (1948)

Wss? Friday, May 21, 1941 Mecca Building Sold To National Screen (Continued from Page 1) from Loew's International Corp. Deal had been reported exclusively in The Film Daily, May 13, as being under way. NSS will move all its h. o. activities and departments now located in the Film Center Building as soon as the Mecca tenants can move. According to reliable source, except for the stores on the street floor, present occupants of 1600 Broadway are on a month to month basis. Bonded Film Storage is one of the bigger tenants. Question is whether it will be forced to move. Howard Clothes, on the street floor, has a lease running till 1955 at an annual rental of $45,000 plus a four per cent slice to the landlord on sales above $1,300,000 a year. London Luggage, also on the street floor, has a lease till 1953, with a minimum rental of $16,250, paying 12 per cent above gross annual sales of about $162,500. Emergency rental for the upper floors is set at $175,000, but lease rentals are higher. Loew's International bought the Mecca a year ago for a reported sum of $1,300,000. Impasse created by the British ad valorem tax caused Loew's to change its plans about moving various scattered offices to the building. It is believed that the sales price to NSS ranges from $1,300,000 to $1,500,000. Public Relations Institute On Pix and Video Next Wk. (Continued from Page 1) afternoon will see a television clinic, with Albert Murray, consulting engineer here, as chairman, while Eddie Albert will chair a Wednesday afternoon session on films. Participating in the video panel will be Robert Maurer of Henry Kaufman and Associates, Washington; Burke Crotty, ABC; Charles Batson, NAB; Robert Smith of Richard W. Hubbell Associates; George Sandefer, WNBW-TV, Washington; and Lawrence Phillips, DuMont network director. Participating in the films discussion will be Al Sherman, president of the Sherman Plan; W. French Githens of Sound Masters, Inc.; Dr. Floyd Brooker of the U. S. Office of Education; Arch Mercy, editor of American Marine Engineer; and O. H. Coelln, Jr., Editor of Business Screen. OJEDDinG BELLS Blankenhorn-Newman Des Moines — Bob Newman, National Screen Service office manager, was married to Irene Blankenhorn. REVIEWS "Give My Regards To Broadway" with Dan Dailey, Charles Winninger, Nancy Guild, Charlie Ruggles, Fay Bainter 20th-Fox 89 Mins. VERY WELL DONE, MOVING STORY OF SHOW PEOPLE; IT HAS BOX OFFICE CLICK WRITTEN ALL OVER; ENHANCED BY TOP PERFORMING, TECHNICOLOR. Contemplating the demise and not quite successful resuscitation of vaudeville in terms of the family life of one "Albert the Great," this fine Technicolored production issues forth warmth, understanding, pathos, comedy bits and richly performed entertainment. It is lucidly set forth. Casting is excellent. The screenplay was written by the late Samuel Hoffenstein and Elizabeth Reinhardt from a story by John Klempner. The basic material which concerns a performer and the fall of vaudeville is familiar enough but here it has been given a fine transfusion of new plot material, fresh and bright, that is skillfully handled by top players in lines and situations. It evolves an all 'round pleasing and ingratiating show with click potentialities. They were halcyon days when this story starts. Winninger and his family, consisting of wife Fay Bainter, a son who later grows up to be Dan Dailey, and two baby daughters — subsequently Jane Nigh and Barbara Lawrence — have played the Palace with the big names. But at liberty when films are the coming entertainment medium, Winninger, to support his family takes a "temporary" job in New Jersey until he once more hears from his agent. That temporary job becomes the basis for the home life of the Norwicks. The children grow up. But always they are rehearsing and improving the act which offers songs, dances, juggling, comedy. The grown children are all employed. Miss Bainter manages a comfortable home and every one is happy and waiting for the day when they will once more trod the variety boards. It never comes. The girls marry. Then Dailey falls in love with Miss Guild, joins the company baseball team, wins a scholarship to MIT. Each time one of his children slips from his paternal domination Winninger throws tantrums until only Dailey and himself are left. Dailey loves Miss Guild, is torn between emotion and duty to his parent. Sig Ruman, "Dinkle, who never forgets," shows up after 20 years with a contract for 16 weeks in Denver with a carnival and he wants Winninger. It is a poignant moment when Dailey decides to give over to Miss Guild. Fairly broken Winninger resigns his now important job at the Boyd Appliance Co. and prepares to leave for Denver. Waiting at the station which adjoins a baseball field where Dailey is the star player in an important game in the industrial league, Winninger looks in, misses his train and, impressed, decides vaudeville is really dead and there is no place in its reincarnation for him. It is a well rounded story that is told here. Lloyd Bacon's direction derived full essence. CAST: Dan Dailey, Charles Winninger, Nancy Guild, Charles Ruggles, Fay Bainter, Barbara Lawrence, Jane Nigh, Charles Russell, Sig Ruman, Howard Freeman, Herbert Anderson, Pat Flaherty, Harry Seymour, Paul Haryey, Lela Bliss, Georgia Came, Matt McHugh. CREDITS: Producer, Walter Morosco; Director, Lloyd Bacon; Screenplay, Samuel Hoffenstein, TOA Readies Operations For Youth Month Drive (Continued from Page II showing of "Report for Action," TOA-financed documentary to local committees on civic welfare in 1,500 communities participating in the drive. Film will be available about June 1, to be screened in non-operating theater hours before field workers. Public impact of the campaign will be felt during September through national exhibitor coordination. Special juvenile programs are scheduled, while newsreels will highlight youth activities, and support has been promised by newspapers, magazine advertisers and radio commentators, in a drive to take a positive approach to youth problems and suggest concrete solutions. Serving; on Skouras' national committee are: William R. Griffin, Harry Naee. Dave Callahan. Dave Bershon, Paul Williams, George Nasser, Robert Selig\ George H. Wilkinson, Jr.. A. Julian Brylawski, Joseph De Piore, Milton C. Moore. J. H. Thompson. Virgil O'Dell. John Balaban, Dave Jones, Ken Collins, G. Ralph Branton, Homer S. Strowig, Guthrie Crowe, Harold Stoneman, C. J. Russell. Lawrence E. Gordon, James F. Sharkey. Charles W. Winchell, Max A. Connett. Also. Fred Wehrenberg. Elmer Rhoden, R. R. Livingston. Mel Morrison, Maury Miller, Ray Bartlett, Boyd Scott. Harry Lamont, Robert Hayman, Fred Schwartz, H. P. Kincey, Mike Cooper, Ron Gamble. Maurice White, Charles Preeman, W. H. Thedford, Lewen Pizor, M. A. Silver. Ed Pay, Ben L. Strozier, W. P. Ruffin, Walter L. Morris, Henry Reeve, Tracy Barham, Charles Klein, Frank Vennett, W. P. Crockett. Frank Newman, J. C. Shanklin, Harold J. Fitzgerald, Tom Brennan. Frank Larson, E. V. Richards, and Henry Pines. Future of Arbitration Tested in Conn. Case RKO Near Deal for Rhoden Interest in K. C. Main St. (Continued from Page 1) quisition of complete interest in the house are successful. RKO holds 50 per cent of the theater, balance being held by Elmer Rhoden, Fox Midwest head. Attorneys for both parties have been closeted periodically for some time in an effort to agree upon an equitable price for the Rhoden interest, and informed sources say that consummation of a deal is close at hand. House, which seats 3,049, has been dark since 1938. (Continued from Page 1 ) l decision of the U. S. Supreme Couii which threw out the mandatory ai* bitration system set up by the con ] sent decree, the result of the com plainant's demand will be ci^ si; watched by the industry as aP *^Ji cation of what course of action th distributors will take with regan; to this issue. Although it is conceded that de fendant distributors are no longe bound to arbitrate, the Court waj| specific in its recognition of arbitra tion by common consent of al parties. All five of the major defendants Loew's, Warners, 20th-Fox, Para mount and RKO are named in th Crown demand which seeks a 30 da clearance ceiling after first run Hart 11 ford. Complainant claims that pictures are not at present availabh to them until five or six months afte first run. Copies of the complaint have beei forwarded to the distributors in volved. Majors have until June 4 date on which a list of arbitrator; will be submitted, to take any actioi that would indicate their lack oi readiness to appear When queried by The Film Dail^i a week ago, informed spokesmen foi the majors indicated that the antici pated policy at that time was to continue to support arbitration as means of settling industry dispute.1of this nature. The Crown case, however, will force a definite decision in this respect, and is for that reason that distributor reaction is so eagerl> awaited Loew's Int'l Realigns Latin American Managers (Continued from Page 1) of promoting from within the ranks. Jack Tilden, now manager of Venezuela, moves up to the top post in Chile, succeeding Sidney Schwartz, travelling auditor, who has been temporary manager. Succeeding Tilden in Venezuela will be Myron D. Karlin, manager in Ecuador, who will be replaced by Robert Schmitt, current assistant sales chief of 16 mm. films at the home office. Assignment marks Schmitt's first overseas post. Elizabeth Reinhardt; Based on a story by John Klempner; Photography, Harry Jackson; Art, Lyle Wheeler, J. Russell Spencer; Musical direction, Lionel Newman; Arrangements, Gene Rose, Herbert Spencer; Sets, Thomas Little, Ernest Lansing; Editor, William Reynolds; Sound, Arthur L. Kirbach, Roger Heman. DIRECTION, Skillful. PHOTOGRAPHY, Very Wolfberg Reelected Prexy Of Rocky Mountain Allied (Continued from Page 1) ter Ibold is treasurer, and Joan Livingston, secretary. Directors elected include Robert Smith, Neal Beezley, E. K. Menagh, J. K. Powell, Fred Lind, Tom Knight, Lloyd Kerby, Carl Garitson, Marlin; Butler, Charles Flower, A. S. Kehr, and Hobart Gates. Voeller Heads Idaho Group Boise, Ida. — C. C. Voeller was elected president of the Idaho Theaters Association, succeeding Hugo Jorgensen. Others elected include Fulton Cook, vice-president; Harry Gordon, secretary, and Lawrence ' Nelson, treasurer. STORKS Arthur Mayer, recent owner of the Riaito Theater, became a grandfather for the first time yesterday when a son was born to Michael and Janet Claster Mayer at the White Plains Hospital. Youngster's mon; icker is Arthur Mayer, Jr.