The Film Daily (1948)

51 !< londay, May 24, 1948 TW DAILY o Chance for Profit School Pix Field While the biggest single obstacle the path of school use of motion ctures is a lack of suitable films, lie field offers no profitable opportunity for commercial producers, it reported on the basis of a threesa Jjaching Films Survey. Market [>rl piool films is a "rather small 'tarket," report indicates, and its ;eds can be met only by a continug output of "by-product" subjects id subsidized films. Survey was made by Carroll Y. Jelknap for a group of seven publishers: Harcourt, Brace & Co., Harder & Bros., Henry Holt & Co., toughton Mifflin Co., Macmillan Co., ; Scholastic Magazines and Scott, 1'oresman & Co. It also reveals the Wperience of the publisher group in •j producing three experimental teachJ.lig films with the cooperation of fie MPAA. I Market for school films, report .hows, is concentrated in large cities !jnd a small number of film-lending libraries. While the field will probably double in size in the early 1950'_s, |i||he increase will come mainly in j'jlementary schools. f By 1950, it is estimated, ownership of 16 mm. sound projectors by "ublic elementary and secondary Ichools seems likely to rise to 32,000. In 1945, high-school ownership of wojectors had almost reached an Average of one projector per school, Ijvhile elementary school ownership, Iveraged a little more than oneourth projector per school. 'j Estimated average expenditure of i cross section of large city school "i.ystems for 1943-49 visual education frill be $18,000, nearly 50 per cent liver 1945. 2 ates Plans Republic Film Production in U. K. (Continued from Page 1) cures conclusively proved to British exhibitors how important American ilms are to English fans, Meyers repealed. Meyers said American pictures are given about 65 per cent of British playing time. He said Roy Rogers pictures play liin between 1,700 to 2,000 theaters in jthe United Kingdom and that "Angel land the Badman," and "Plainsman land the Lady," were among Republic's best grossers there in 1947. iMeyers expects "Red Pony," "Macjbeth" and "Moonrise" to be very |popular. | Send (Elrthdau a reeting,A Uo — | May 24 Robert Sinclair Creighton Hale Robert Mochrie Al Feinman Peter Whitney Ira Genet I ^/\rW PHIL M. DALY T T T Monday Morning Report • • © WILLIAM GOLDMAN. Philly theater operator, is reported weighing the invasion of the Comerford area oi up-state Pennsylvania At any rate, he's been touring there, with his architect in the party. ... • Raoul Walsh's "Fighter Squadron" unit arrives at Osconda Field, Mich., early this week for location shooting of aerial warfare. ... • Didja know that Victor Pons, who operates the Alcove restaurant in the Village, used to be a film actor in Italy?. ... • Looks like the quick click of "The Iron Curtain" is cueing a Hollywood cycle Edward Small's "FBI Meets Scotland Yard," rushed into production today on the Coast, is a Red spy thriller. ... • Broadway columnists hear the darndest things, witness Dorothy Kilgallen's line that Main Stem film houses, losing money, are mulling a switch to legit. ▼ ▼ T • • • WHO'S BUYING MONOGRAM STOCK? Unusual activity in the market last week, with 6,800 shares changing hands in one day. . . . • Now that a West Virginia school board has upheld a principal's right to whip pupils who come to school with onion-breath, isn't it possible to solve the same problem in movie theaters?. . . . • Samuel Goldwyn — and Lynn Farnol — might like to know that the Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser reviewed "The Bishop's Wife" editorially! You have to know Montgomery to fully comprehend that. . . . ... • Issue of Look mag. which hits the newstands tomorrow carries a four-page feature on Esther Williams, "Million Dollard Mermaid" a real pretty tieup for Metro's "On an Island With You." T T T • • • CONFIDENTAL REPORTS the other day re-elected all directors and officers. ... • Stunt o' the Month, insofar as Phil M is concerned, was that carton of Hudson River Valley apples which Walt Disney sent along to remind that the very excellent "Melody Time" introduces Johnny Appleseed of American folk lore Phil M's an old apple-knocker himself. . . • And speaking of "Melody Time." let Phil M go on record as believing the film's concluding number, "Pecos Bill" is one of the best Disney creations ever. ... .There never was a cowpoke like "Pecos." He is Superman in Texas His gal was "Sluefoot Sue" They are a pair. ... .Musically, and in the animation department, "Pecos" is one of the most entertaining bits of its genre. ▼ TV • • • "THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE" benefit premiere for the Wiltwyck School for Boys at the Mayfair Wednesday night will attract a galaxy of celebs and "names" James Cagney, William Bendix and Jeanne Cagney, who top the cast, will be among those present as will Dorothy Lamour, Marlene Dietrich, Burgess Meredith, Montgomery Clift, Diana Barrymore, Henry Morgan, James Barton, Donald Buka, Eddie Dowling, Jock Whitney. ... • Don't blame RKO for that corny "Mama has boy trouble Mama has girl trouble" theater display copy for "I Remember Mama" which has appeared in some sections. ... • Text originated with exhibs. . . . • And now Robert R. Young would merge the New York Central and the Virginian Railway with the C & O. . . . • Metro is reported considering a screen treatment by Sy Gomberg based on the Bowery Comeback Ass'n. ... • Jam Handy's Frank A. Gauntt is a new member of both the board and executive committee of the National School Service Institute. ... • Thomas Gomez is passing up Broadway for a role in Enterprise's "Tucker's People." ▼ T ▼ • • • "BOYS FLY STOLEN PLANE; COMICS TAUGHT 'EM HOW" — Headline in the New York World-Telegram Come, come, you really mean to say that they're not blaming the movies this time? ▼ ▼ ▼ Theater Com. Mulls Three Jubilee Plans Only slightly deterred by Mayor O'Dwyer's insistence that the New York City Golden Jubilee be publicized economically, educationally, yet entertainingly, the New York Theater Committee is mulling over three tentative plans with which to put over the Jubilee. First suggestion was to arrange a joint legit and cinema show at Madison Square Garden; second was to be a one shot affair of some kind at one of the big ball parks; third would be the production of a film depicting the growth of New York City since 1898 when the five boroughs united to become one city. Film would emphasize the effect of the entertainment world upon New York, and vice versa. Committee consists of the legit half headed by Lee Shubert with a membership of 26, and the motion picture half headed by J. Robert Rubin. Members of the motion picture committee are: A. J. Balaban, Harry Brandt, Harry Cohn, Gus Eyssell, Si Fabian, Leon Goldenson, Harry Kalmine, Malcolm Kingsberg, C. C. Moskowitz, John O'Connor, George Skouras, Fred Schwartz, John Phillips, Morton Sunshine. Screen Guild Releasing UN Film Board Shorts Theatrical distribution of two shorts produced by the United Nations Film Board has been assigned to Screen Guild, Beresford Seligman, chief distribution officer for UN, revealed at the weekend. Duo comprises "Clearing the Way," a 38-minute semi-fictional piece which will be aimed at the second-half of lengthy dual bills, and a two reel documentary, "Searchlight on the Nations." Seligman said that UN would complete 14 pictures this year, several of which will be made abroad. Four nations have already been selected for specific productions — Belgium, Mexico, Poland and the U. S. S. R. The UN film distribution chief was enthusiastic about the results obtained in non-theatrical circles by the distribution of the "The People's Charter" and "First Steps." Former has already been seen in 32 countries, while the latter was the winner of an Academy Award in the documentary field. Midwest in Cincinnati Cincinnati — Midwest Theater Supply has opened a new branch at 448 N. Illinois St. J. Charles Clickner is manager. DEATHS DANIEL NOLAN, one time RKO home office rep. and brother of Joseph Nolan, vice-president in charge of commitments at the RKO Studio, in Arcadia, Calif.