The Film Daily (1943)

Thursday, July 8, 1943 DAILY Davis to Meet Film Reps, on OWI Future \i (Continued from Page 1) ture bureau will depend largely upon this conference. As yet the OWI does not know definitely how much of a job it can do on motion pictures, and it appears that the procedure will be to put it up to the industry as to how much aid is needed. A proposed plan for the organization of the bureau, providing for only one separate office in Washington, is already drawn up and Lowell Mellett, bureau chief, said yesterday he expects a decision on it within another week or so. Mellett refused to comment on reports that he was leaving: OWI. Other officials of the domestic branch were also unwilling' to comment on Mellett's status, although it is definitely known that his remaining with the agency is a red hot issue at the moment. Mellett is believed to wish to remain with the agency while there is reportedly a strong movement on hand to move him out. His strong personal prestige overshadowing that of some of his superiors, is reported to be one of the reasons he has been asked to step out. The Hollywood work-liaison and script clearance, it appears now, will be handled by Ulric Bell, who represents the overseas branch of the motion picture bureau on the Coast. Bell, a former newspaper man like Poynter, works under Robert Riskin, head of the overseas pix bureau. He has been alone in Hollywood until now, using the office facilities of the domestic bureau, but it is probably now that he will have a staff of his own. Nelson Poynter, Mellett representative in Hollywood, is out, and it seems almost certain that the script clearance activities of OWI will be sharply curtailed. Bell will continue to advise on scripts destined for overseas showing, and may take over on his own responsibility for advice on other scripts — thus providing to a lesser extent the same service for which Poynter was responsible. Bell will probably get his own staff since he will no longer have the facilities of the Coast OWI office. Thus there may be in Hollywood something which some industry quarters have long felt would be desirable — a single OWI contact rather than separate contacts for the domestic and the overseas branch. That this may became officially the ease here in Washington and New York, too, is a possibility, although there is strong resistance within OWI to that plan. Here in Washington the only "must" jobs for OWI in moving pictures are the co-ordination of Government films and the channelling of Government agencies' requests to the industry. Because funds are plentiful for any of the Government agencies aside from the military, the former task should not prove too difficult. Artkino to Offer four Artkino Pictures will release five features comprising four dramas and a documntary during the first period of the 1943-44 season. Titles are "Black Sea Fighters," a documentary; "She Defends Her Country," "A Lad from Our Town," "Guerrillas," and "It Started in Odessa." The ... . FEMME TOUCH THELMA WASHBURN, booker, RKO exchange, Des Moines. MRS. VERA DECKER, in charge of Schine Theaters candy sales in Western New York, Rochester. MARTHA SCOTT, assistant manager, Hub, Rochelle, III. Theater Minute Man Plan Clicks in Cincy: War Manpower Commission to Extend Setup Cleveland — Trial plan to recruit employes for war production plants via one-minute speakers at movie houses proved so successful that it will be extended throughout this area, Synth ia Ware, head of the publicity department of the WMC in this area declared, yesterday. With one-minute speakers recruited for industry making a single appeal from the stages of seven selected theaters and a United States Employment Service representative in the lobby to follow-up, 40 employes, more than 50 per cent women, were recruited. The WMC is delighted with this new avenue approach to labor and will extend it materially, said Miss Ware, who was enthusiastic over the hearty co-operation rendered by G. W. Erdmann, secretary of the CMPEA and all of the participating theater managers. $50,000 Bond Required For Lease Suit Appeal Youngstown, O. — Bond of $50,000 must be posted by any party or parties wanting to appeal the recent decision granting lease rights of the Palace Theater, beginning Aug. 1, to the Dallmer Co., headed by Attorney Gerald F. Hammond, according to a recent ruling by Judge Erskine Maiden, Jr. The suit, heard here in April, was brought by the Dellmer Co. to determine whether it or the Public Square Theater Co., present holder of the lease, is entitled to the new lease. New York Life Insurance Co., as mortgagee-in-possession, planned to renew its lease with Public Square, while the Palace Realty Co., owner of the property, gave a tenyear lease to Dallmer. Judge Maiden decided in favor of Dallmer. It was decided that posting of bond to cover any losses would be the best method of assuring operation of the theater during pendency of the suit. The $50,000 bond covers only damages which the Dallmer Co. if upheld in higher court, may suffer by being prevented from operating the theater during the expected 10month litigation in higher courts. Franconi-Fidler Interests Take Mono. K.C. Franchise Dallas — Integration of the Monogram franchise office in Kansas City, with those in Dallas, Denver, and Salt Lake City, making a four-branch operation, said to be the most extensive in the Monogram system of franchises, is announced here by John L. Franconi. Franconi, and his co-partner Edwin Blumenthal, owners of the Dallas Monogram franchise, in association with Lon T. Fidler, Monogram franchise owner for Denver and Salt Lake City, have purchased the Kansas City franchise, possession being taken yesterday. Leland Allen, former buyer for Commonwealth Theaters, Kansas City, has been appointed branch manager, and Ralph Heft office manager and city salesman. Fidler and Franconi will take turn-about for one week in each month for general supervision. Cincy V. C. Outing July 19 Cincinnati — The Queen City Variety Club's annual family outing is set for July 19 at the Summit Hills Country Club, Dixie Highway. A. G. Allen Resigns as Chairman of ABC (Continued from Page 1) a possible deal for control of the circuit in which Warner Bros, are financially interested. There have been persistent reports during the last few months that A. J. Rank was angling for control through purchase of the dominant Maxwell estate interest. ABC has two joint managing directors, Max Milder, representing Warners, and E. Lightfoot, acting for the British interests. Allen, who is an attorney, had been chairman of Associated British Cinema since the Maxwell estate sold half of its interest in ABC about 18 months ago to Warner Bros. He had also been associated with the late John Maxwell, who in addition to his vast motion picture holdings, had also been an attorney himself. It is believed Allen held very little stock in ABC. Metro Minneapolis Branch Plaque Honors 5 in Service Minneapolis — Five employes of Metro's local branch now in the armed service, were honored when a plaque inscribed with their names, was dedicated at the office here iri the presence of relatives of the quintet. The plaque, of walnut topped by a silver spread eagle, contains the names of Lt. Oliver Lener, Pvt. Robert Hazelton, Corp. Melvin Turner, Pvt. Ray Haberland and Pvt. William Donaldson. Lerner already is overseas. W. H. Workman, branch manager unveiled the plaque. WLB Finally Approves SOPEG Contract With UA War Labor Board finally has approved the SOPEG contract with United Artists covering home office white collar workers. Pact, signed last January, provides for a raise increase of approximately 15 per cent, retroactive to Nov. 21 last. BACK IN CIVVIES Honorably Discharged KENNETH THOMAS, from the Army, to Paramount Theater, Hammond, Ind. BIG PICTURE p^SBS*' ***** BARTON MacLANE HARRY SHANNON PAT BRADV ARLINE JUDGE and BOB NOLAN ■nd THE SONS OF J0SEPH k»ne. Dlredor THE PIONEERS ^'^T^^SlZ^' Buy War'Bonds ! "ssoc,a,e Producer' "ABRlf GREY It's a REPUBLIC PICTURE