The Film Daily (1941)

10 dt DAILY Thursday, February 13, 19 Price-Cutting Coupons Under Fire in Detroit Detroit — "Some theater interests in Detroit have begun to threaten existing admission prices, by buying up several theaters and operating at 5 and 10-cent admissions," Carl R. Buermele, general manager of Cooperative Theaters of Michigan, declared here, in launching an attack on "special coupon arrangements" whereby certain houses have operated at considerably under nominal admissions, according to the charges. "This has a tendency to reduce admissions to the city generally," Buermele said. "Leading exhibitors, including Co-Operative members, on the contrary, feel that a raise in local admissions is ultimately called for, if anything." Local admissions have remained practically unchanged for a year past, but signs of a drop have appeared, notably in the last run houses, where 15-cent admissions have been adopted by such a house as the new Esquire. Boston Catholic Guild Retreat Set for April Boston — The next Retreat group of the Catholic Motion Picture Guild will be held week of April 4 at Campion Hall in North Andover, 20 miles north of Boston. Membership in this guild has reached a total of 46 film men. Among those who will attend Retreat are Ed Carroll, Maurice Corkery, Dr. J. Carroll, Jerry Crowley, Herb Higgins, Frank Lydon, Frank McManus, Mat Moriarty, Frank Rahilly, Joe Rahilly, Frank Wolf, Bimm Sampey and Patrick Gill. Overcome by Escaping Gas Lincoln, Neb. — Mrs. Avis Rutherford, office manager for the Capitol Theater, Bob Livingston's house, was overcome by escaping gas in her apartment. She was revived by firemen called to the scene. A theater employee, when she didn't come to work, went to her home, and found her lying on the floor. She apparently didn't know of the gas. Wausau to Ban Cash Bingo Wausau, Wis. — Law enforcement officials here have announced that Bingo played in taverns and clubs for cash prizes will not be tolerated. Probably Coney Buenos Aires 'By Air Mail) — They always come through, do Argentine press agents. When Rayo Films failed to receive press books for "Wolves of the Sea" from New York, the company's press agent stepped into the breach and dashed off his own release for the local press. Story told how the heroine, a young heiress, was tossed by the waves "on the deserted and solitary beach of Long Island." WHO'S WHO IN HOLLYWOOD • • • Introducing Interesting Personalities • • • CAMUEL MARX. Producer. Born Jan. 26, 1900, New York. First job after ** leaving Columbia University was with Universal in New York, and later in California, 1921, with Irving Thalberg. Has been film cutter, assistant director to Jack Conway, title writer, and office boy in old silent days. Was reporter and editor in New York for short period then became Story Editor of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1930, remaining in that capacity for seven years. Wrote original story "Night Mayor"; screenplay "Society Doctor" which introduced Robert Taylor; co-produced "A Family Affair" which was first of the Hardy series. Produced "Girls' School" for Columbia Pictures, and has just completed producing "Keeping Company" for M-G-M. Now preparing sequel called "Keeping Married." He is married to a non-professional and has two sons, one named after Irving Thalberg. Has dark eyes, dark hair, is tall and getting stout. Ark. Measure Proposes To License Bookmakers Little Rock, Ark. — A bill has been introduced in the House to legalize the placing of bets on horse races with licensed bookmakers. The license fee would be $50 annually. A tax of seven per cent would be levied on the total amount of bets accepted. Revenue would pay the cost of administering a proposed federal food stamp plan in Arkansas counties. A bill also has been introduced in the House to increase the privilege tax on money wagered in parimutuel machines at horse race tracks from the present five per cent to 15 per cent. The additional tax revenue would be allotted to payment of old age pensions. A bill has been introduced in the Senate which would require the state to collect two-thirds of the odd cents won on pari-mutuel horse and dog race tickets and to raise the privilege tax on horse and dog races by five per cent of monies wagered at the tracks. War-Time Restrictions Delay Franklin's Trip St. John, N. B.— J. M. Franklin, president of Franklin & Herschorn, operating a theater circuit in the maritime provinces, and formerly RKO general manager for Canada, has overcome the prevailing border crossing and currency exchange restrictions, and is in his usual Winter stay at Miami Beach. His Southern trek was delayed about a month by the war-time restrictions. Hampered by stomach ulcers for many years, the Florida sojourn is essential for his health, which is affected by the Northern intense cold and blizzards. Try Singles at Night Detroit— The Fox Theater is tryingout single bill policy for evenings only this week. "Back Street" is run for five shows a day, with added shorts at the night shows, while "Youth Will Be Served" is run off three times for the matinee trade only, up to the supper show. Stitt Reorganizes UDT Publicity Department Detroit — Publicity department of United Detroit Theaters Circuit, in charge of Ralph Stitt, is being reorganized, following recent split of the circuit into three groups under supervisors for each section of theaters. Bill Hendricks has been placed in charge of publicity and advertising for West Side theaters, Cliff Brown of East Side, and downtown houses, including the first-runs, will be directly under Stitt. Alice Gorham will handle special publicity work. Orders Grand Jury Probe Of Bank Night Fraud Springfield, Tenn. — Judge Dancey Fort has ordered the Robertson County grand jury to investigate a recent Bank Night fraud at the local Capitol Theater, owned by the Crescent Amusement Co.. of Nashville. Two people are waiting trial on charges of winning a $600 Bank Night prize by substituting bogus tickets. S-W Detroit Offices Shift to Philadelphia Wilmington, Del. — A. J. Vanni, Stanley-Warner district manager, has returned his headquarters from here to Philadelphia in assuming direction of the enlarged territory. Local division of the district under Vanni's supervision will be headed by John L. Mulhall, who makes his headquarters in West Chester, Pa. Ben Schwartz Rejoins WB Cleveland — Ben Schwartz has resigned as manager of the Capitol Theater, an Associated Circuit house, to rejoin the Warner circuit as manager of the Ohio Theater in Canton. He succeeds William D. Harwell who o-oes to Mansfield a city manager. William Dworski, who has been handling Mansfield, has resigned. HCLI_y\VCCD Speaking— By RALPH WILK — ^ — HOLLYWOCll COL LESSER has signed Frances Marjl *^ one of Hollywood's ace scenarists,^! write the screen adaptation of "StranI Victory," scheduled as Lesser's next pil duction for United Artists release. Tl producer plans to start actual shooting ; the picture next month. I/AY KYSER, radio and movie star, '^ conferring in Hollywood with RKO R dio executives on his next feature pictm which will be his third with this compai DONALD CRISP will join the cast "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," the nc Spencer Tracy starring vehicle for Meti With his appearance in this Robert Loi Stevenson thriller, Crisp will round out years on the American stage and scree Incidentally, Lana Turner's role in tl new production is entirely different frc anything she has yet played on the scree "FATHER TAKES A WIFE" has be. ' selected as the title of the story whii Herbert and Dorothy Fields are writing f RKO. Anne Shirley and Adolphe Menjc are the first members of the cast to I chosen. rvARRYL HICKMAN, sevenyear -o ■"^ youngster who director Norman Tai rog predicts will be a sensation in "M«* of Boys' Town," has been signed to long-term contract by M-G-M. Your Hickman played one of the Joads in tl) "Grapes of Wrath." ANN MILLER has been engaged by C< lumbia for a leading role in "Sho Business." in which Rudy Vallee and Gle Gray and his Band will be seen. Pix wi be directed by Sidney Salkow, with Irvin Starr as the producer for Columbia. • • lirREE AND EASY" has been designate * the final title of M-G-M's productio based on Ivor Novello's stage hit, "Th Truth Game." George Sidney is directin the film which features Robert Cumming! Ruth Hussey, Nigel Bruce and Reginal Owen. • • KATHERINE STEVENS, daughter of Sar Wood, the director, draws the secon feminine lead with Barbara Stanwyck ani Joel McCrea in "Pioneer Woman." Willian A. Wellman will produce and direct fo Paramount. • • "CARIBBEAN LOVE SONG," by Roge ^ Edens and Ralph Freed has beer added to the already elaborate musical score of M-G-M's "Ziegfeld Girl." • • HICHARD DE MILLE, 18, son of Cecil B '^ De Mille and now a student at Columbia I University, has been cast in a sunnortin? \ role in "Reap the Wild Wind," hi*] father's next production for Paramount.