The Film Daily (1942)

TSKSs Monday, August 10, 1942 I See Nazi Propaganda In Arg.-Spain Treaty Buenos Aires (By cable) — Under the provisions of a trade treaty between Argentina and Spain, Argentina will export three of its own pictures for one imported picture from Spain. Some foreign department executives on Friday expressed the opinion that Nazi influence could be detected in those provisions of the trade treaty relating to motion pictures. They asserted that Germany was spreading its propaganda through Spain-produced pictures and that the distribution of those pictures would have the desired effect in Argentina. nCUJS Of THC DAY New Haven — Sherman Germaine, former operator of the Fairmont, New Haven, is assistant manager at the College, New Haven. Meantime Peter Malvenda of the Meriden takes over at the Fairmount. Portland, Ore.— Leo Pally, of the Jefferson Theater here, and prominent member of Oregon Independent Theater Operators, has now added to his activities and will hereafter be known as "The Candy Kid," on account of supervising the "squirrel cages" which are receptacles placed in all Oregon theaters, and which each week are filled with a variety of bars, etc. for members of the Armed Forces. RKO 26-Week Net Loss Is Listed at $643,360 i) reserves'' {Continued from Pag studio write-offs and amounted to $633,804. For the corresponding period of 1941, a net profit of $485,605 was reported. Provision for income taxes in 1942 was listed at $752,787, compared with $213,456 in 1941. 'Dandy' Test Engagement In Providence Sets Record Providence, R. I. — In its first test engagement outside New York, "Yankee Doodle Dandy" set an opening day record for business at the Majestic Theater here. Audience reaction was enthusiastic. Playing at advanced scale, $1.10 top, the house took in approximately $5,000 the first day, with a waiting line throughout the day and evening. Blackout for Erie County Buffalo — Buffalo and suburban theaters are preparing to co-operate fully in Erie County's first complete unannounced blackout, scheduled to take place some time between Aug. 10 and 15. Another Harrisburg Test Harrisburg, Pa. — Another blackout test for Harrisburg is likely within the next fifteen days, it was indicated by Defense Co-ordinator John B. Warden, who said no specific date yet has been set. Toasting "Dandy" Latest addition to the growing list of items already named after "Yankee Doodle Dandy" — numbering about 30 to date and running all the way from a piece of candy to a box mattress— is a San Francisco bar which has just unveiled a big neon sign proclaiming itself the "Yankee Doodle Bar." Featured drink is advertised as "Yankee Doodle Brandy, It's a Dandy." Cleveland — Robert Yodice, assistant manager at Loew's State, and associated with the Loew organization for some 10 years, has resigned to go into another line of business. He is succeeded at the State by Marty Gallagher, transferred from Loew's Granada. Cleveland — Norman Levin, United | Artists city salesman, goes to work for Uncle Sam next week and A. M. Goodman, former branch manager who has spent the past year regaining his health, takes over the post. Louis Greenley is transferred to this territory from the Detroit office where he previously covered the Northern Michigan territory. Seattle — Fax Duncan, who was assistant manager of the Fifth Ave. Theater under the late James Clemmer, has just been named manager of the house. Seattle — Al Bloom has arrived from Los Angeles to succeed "Doc" Singelow as checking supervisor for Warners in the Northwest. Rochester — Wayne Shepler has come in from Boston to become assistant manager at Loew's Rochester. He succeeds Ira Beck, who has joined the Navy. Sidney, N. Y., House Wins Dismissal of Joelson's 1 1-Day Clearance Cut Suit Denied by Court Smalley Theaters, Inc., of Cooperstown, N. Y., won a reduction in clearance for its theater in Sidney, N. Y., when Joseph Rosch, arbitrator, entered an award in its favor. Smalley complained that the 14-day clearance granted to Schine's Colonial Theater, Norwich, over the Sidney was unreasonable. The arbitrator fixed the maximum clearance of the theaters involved at three days. Flint, Mich., Theater Asks Cut in Clearance Michigan Theater Co., Inc., operating the Michigan Theater, Flint, has filed a clearance complaint in the Detroit tribunal, naming Loew's, Paramount, 20th Century-Fox and Warner Bros. Complaint points out that Paramount, 20th-Fox and Warners give first run houses in Flint 74 days clearance over the Michigan and 14 days clearance to second-run houses. Loew's, the complaint asserts, grants 67 days clearance to first-run and seven days to second-run. Complainant wants the maximum clearance for first-run fixed at 30 days and not more than one day clearance to second-run over the Michigan. Expect Warner Bros. To Sell in Blocks-of-5 (Continued from Page 1) Thursday and Friday of this week. It is understood that if the UMPI plan is approved, a block of eight pictures, identified by cast, synopsis, etc., will be added to the group of five. Pictures to be shown are "Across the Pacific," "Now, Voyager," "Desparate Journey," "Secret Enemies" and "The Busses Roar." New York Supreme Court Justice Benjamin F. Schreiber on Friday denied an application of William and Hairy Brandt and Max Cohen to dismiss an anti-trust suit brought against them and the eight majors by Julius Joelson, operator of J. J. Theaters, Inc. Joelson brought his suit in the state couit claiming that his theater, the Times, had suffered a $50,000 drop in revenue because of an alleged conspiracy on the part of the defendants to maintain a monopoly in the Times Square area. Justice Schreiber said that though there was doubt in his mind "that many of the allegations of the complaint compel or justify the inferences drawn therefiom," he was denying the motion because on an application of this type the plaintiff was entitled to the most favorable inferences to sustain the complaint. Too Efficient New Haven — Emergency lighting unit for theaters on sale at National Theatre Supply Co. here had an unexpected test when the main switch of the Film Building was pulled during a surprise blackout. The emergency light went on automatically and shone brightly throughout the hour blackout. The air raid wardens who couldn't reach the manager, were not enthusiastic. B & L Profits Steady Rochester — Bausch & Lomb Optical Co. earned net profit for the first six months of this year of $1,037,733, M. Herbert Eisenhart, president, reported. This was equal to $2.46 per share on the common stock compared with net profit of $1,066,233, or $2.51 per share earned in the like period of 1941. THE WEEK IN REVIEW Sales Plan Jitters i^_^_^ (Continued from Page 1 ) ^^^^; — a record for length of run and for gross. Gus Eyssell, managing director, stated that the "Mrs. MM iver" lun was brought to an end o^J" because of the contracted-for-pix awaiting showing. * * * STRIKE: Strike of MPOE, AFL fci affiliate, at Warner Bros, home office was in status quo at the week-end despite efforts of the NLRB to bring about a settlement. Union and company each chaiges the other with not living up to verbal agreements. . . . Strike call was voted by Local 306, operatois against h.o. screen offices. THIS AND THAT: Army and Navy Emergency Relief received industry check for more than $2,000,000 from its drive for funds for that purpose, aside from the receipts of the great Madison Square Garden show. . . . U. S. distribs. were warned that they must withdraw from unoccupied France and the French colonies. Distribs. perceived Nazi influence behind the order. . . . Wall Street sources forecast record earnings for Warner Bros, for the year. . . . Twentieth-Fox announced many p: omotions in the field staff. William Sussman, former Eastern divisions manager for the company, resigned. . . . Distribs. study drive to reinstate unplayed pix of 1940-41. They also are seeking de-freezing of more of the $50,000,000 cash tied up in England. . . . More than 75 Hol'ywood actors are in various branches of the armed service. . . . Entire West Coast affected by new Army dim-out orders for 150 miles inland from Coast. . . . MPPDA seeks reLurn, through the War Department of films repoited salvaged from invaded by the Japanese. TO THE COLORS! Max Nesvetsky, assistant at the Loew-Poli, Worcester, leaves for U. S. Army service Aug. 15. No new appointment has been made. East Liverpool, O. — George W. Otte, formerly manager of the American and State Theaters, has been commissioned a second lieutenant at Fort Benning, Ga. He is the son of George S. Otte, prominent Wheeling, W. Va., exhibitor. Akron, O. — Frank King, former manager of the Colonial Theater here and in the Navy during World War I, has resigned his post with the Shea theater circuit and enlisted in the Navy. He will be assigned to a post in Massachusetts. K OBfl