The Film Daily (1943)

"<?i{< MRV Friday, July 9, 1943 Magic Bridge Speeds Post-War Equipment (Continued from Page 1) by National, it provides to the theater owiier or operator a practical span between his post-war needs and their rapid realization. Company officials yesterday described the step as a special Equipment Survey covering a theater's future requirements of projection and sound, generators and rectifiers, chairs, carpets, screens, lenses, marquees, ventilating and all other new equipment that may be needed for replacement, modernization or complete new installations, once the war has been won. In announcing the new plan yesterday, Walter E. Green, president of NTS, lauded the recent statement of Col. H. A. Cole of Texas Allied who urged exhibitors to see their equipment dealers and survey their future needs with them. Green asserted that via the "Magic Bridge" plan "exhibitors can now tell us what they want in the way of post-war equipment, and we, in turn, will arrange our manufacturing and delivery schedules to provide all the equipment they need when peacetime production is resumed." The NTS exec, added that, in the company's opinion, the survey is the medium which will best insure ample quantities of this new equipment, because it is based on the exhibitor's individualized requirements, and, furthermore, it provides a most accurate estimate of the quantity of new equipment National's manufacturing' units will need to make in order to give prompt deliveries when production is resumed. Stressed by National in its announcement of the "Magic Bridge" Equipment Survey is that fact that it entails no obligation on the part of the exhibitor. "National does not want any exhibitor's money now for future equipment," Green explained, "for this war must be won first, and the place for an exhibitor's excess funds is in War Bonds rather than in anything else. In offering theater owners the 'Magic Bridge' for postwar equipment, no advance payments of any kind are involved, because through the continuous purchase of War Bonds exhibitors can create their own post-war equipment fund." Green said that any exhibitor can use the plan simply by asking National to enter his theater's survey as a reservation on National's post-war delivery schedules. The 17 years of National's experience in the equipment field is "positive assurance that exhibitors will be able to get all the National equipment they need when the war has been won," Green concluded. Complete information on the "Magic Bridge" plan has just been mailed to theater interests and executives throughout the country. WAR SERVICE . . . on the Film Front Buffalo — Seven classes, totaling 171 nurses' aides, of the Volunteer Nurses' Aide Corps of the Buffalo Red Cross, were graduated in public evening ceremonies between programs on the stage of Shea's Buffalo Theater — the first time in the chapter's history that a theater auditorium was used for such ceremonies. It was designed to further acquaint the public with the organization's work. TO THE COLORS! * DECORATED * 2ND LT. HERBERT I. WEINER, USAAF, formerly Columbia branch manager, Philadelphia, awarded the Soldier's Medal. -• — PROMOTED MARY TENSAR, WAC, formerly with Comerford, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., to corporal. • ARMY * STAN BLACKBURN, manager, Paramount Theater, Des Moines. JAMES CALLACHER, Granada, Olyphant, Pa. COMER JONES, Comerford, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. — • — * COAST GUARD * TOMMY HOGAN, Rialto, Scranton, Pa. Manpower Shortage Growing Graver Problem Likely, WB Sales Meet Told (Continued ft opening session, also reiterated Warners' "open door" policy, with the sales force urged to take care of every exhibitor whose case is deserving and to exercise careful judgment in distinguishing between genuine grievances and unjustified complaints. With the manpower situation likely to grow worse, Bernhard said the principal aim these days is to keep the organization going, to keep the ship afloat, until return of normal staffs and normal working conditions. Bernhard also gave the men a clear picture of the general business situation under wartime conditions and Government controls, while '"Kal om Page 1) menson spoke on sales policies and the adaptation of number of releases to meet any market conditions. In the afternoon, Boy Haines conducted separate group meetings of his Midwest and Southern division, with Arthur Sachson, Howard Levinson, Norman H. Moray, A. W. Sehwalberg, Jules Lapidus, Ed Hinchy, Mike Dolid, Ralph L. McCoy, Hall Walsh and others participating. Special messages from Jack L. Warner, Maj. Albert Warner, Charles Einfeld and Mort Blumenstock were read at the morning session. Two new season's pictures, "Watch on the Rhine" and "Thank Tour Lucky Stars" were screened in the evening, using both Warner and Universal screening rooms to accommodate delegation of more than 110. This morning, Kalmenson will present the new season's product lineup, with Albert Howson describing the pictures. Main business sessions wind up that afternoon with some small group meetings tomorrow. Mellett, Army in "Aleutians" Dispute (Continued from Page 1) with the Army. Again taking the part of the industry, Mellett has refused to clear for public release the 50-minute Army film "Report From the Aleutians," made by Capt. John Huston, former Hollywood writerdirector and son of actor Walter Huston. Mellett has recommended for OWI approval a shorter two-reel version of the same film, but the Army is holding out for the longer picture. In fact, Mellett admitted yesterday, he has not even been asked by the Army to clear the shorter version for public showing, nor to recommend it to the WAC. The two-reel version was prepared because the Army anticipated exhibitor complaints concerning the length of the film, but it was later decided that too much was lost from the picture by the extreme reduction in length. The Army apparently feels that not enough is left in the two-reeler to make it worth while showing it. Mellett, on the other hand, says that the shorter version is surprisingly good, and points out that because it offers no great difficulties in the matter of programming it can be seen by far more people far sooner than in the longer version. It is important that this film get into distribution soon, he holds. He has recommended to OWI Director Elmer Davis and officials of the domestic branch that the short version be approved for public showing, and has refused to pass on the Army's recommendation that the longer version be offered the industry. This incident is reminiscent of that only a few months ago when Mellett held out to the end against public showing for Col. Frank Capra's "Prelude to War" with the Army Goldwyn, Mulvey to Host RKO Convention Delegates (Continued from Page 1) guests of Samuel Goldwyn and James Mulvey at a baseball party on Sunday. Invitations have been extended to more than 300 delegates to attend the double header scheduled between the Dodgers and Pittsburgh at Ebbets Field. Between games, the guests will be hosted at the Press Club in the ball park where a buffet luncheon and refreshments will be served. Sales meeting will start Monday, with a screening of two top A features, "Behind the Rising Sun" and "The Sky's the Limit," at the TransLux theater, starting promptly at 8:55 a.m. Following the screening, the delegates will assemble for luncheon in the Wedgewood Room of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, and at 2 p.m. they will begin their first business session in the Sert Room, with Prexy Ned E. Depinet presiding and A. A. Schubart, exchange operations chief, calling the roll. Walt Disney organization will be represented at the sessions by Roy Disney, James Finey, Kay Kamen, Gunther Lessing, William Levy, W. Lowenberg, Leo Samuels and F. Waldheim, while acting for Sam Goldwyn will be James Mulvey, Lester Rawson, W. Heineman, B. Fish and Mort Nathanson, Louis Hyman and Seymour Poe will sit in for Sol Lesser. RKO Pathe's contingent will include Frederic Ullman, Jr., Walton C. Ament, Jay Bonafield, Dudley Hale and Frank Eaton. insisting that the film be offered theaters. One of Mellett's chief objections then, and also the industry's chief objection, was the length of the film — about the same as the longer version of "Report From the Aleutians." In the face of strong Army pressure. Mellett was over-ruled by OWI director Davis and Gardner Cowles, Jr., then domestic director. ncuywccD DIGEST < SIGNED LOU EDELMAN, producer, Columbia. SALLY BENSON, screenplay, "Experiment Perilous," RKO. JOHN MURRAY ANDERSON, termer, MTOM LONDON, termer, Republic. ASSIGNMENTS LESLIE STORM and LESTER SAMUELS, screenplay, "Heart of a City," Columbia. HOWARD ESTABROOK, screenplay, "The Hairy Ape," Jules Levey-UA. LEE CARMES, cameraman, "Jack London," Samuel Bronston-UA. CASTINGS DICK PURCELL, TIM RYAN and FRANK FAYLEN, "The Thirteenth Cuest," Monogram; PAUL MUNI, "At Night We Dream," Columbia; RITA HAYWORTH and JAMES BLAIR, "Heart of a City," Columbia; RITA JOHNSON, "Ministry of Fear," Paramount; ANNE BAXTER, "Ambassador Dodd's Diary," 20th-Fox; DOUGLAS FOWLEY, "See Here, Private Hargrove," M-C-M; MARIA PALMER, "Revenge," RKO; HARRY CAREY, "Ambassador Dodd's Diary," 20th-Fox HORACE MacMAHON, "Timber Queen," Paramount; FRANKLIN PANGBORN, "Hair the Conquering Hero," Paramount; LOUISE CURRIE, "The Masked Marvel" (serial', Republic V REOPTIONED LIONEL BARRYMORE, M-C-M. SCHEDULED "The Honor System," producers, SAM KATZ MAN-JACK DIETZ, Monogram. "The Voodoo Man," producers, SAM KATZMAN JACK DIETZ, Monogram. "Romance of Avenue B," producers, SAM KATZ MAN-JACK DIETZ, Monogram. "Harvest Melody," producer, WALTER COLMES, PRC. Reisman Appoints Beja RKO's Chilean Manager Appointment of Rene Beja as manager of RKO Radio's Chilean office with headquarters in Santiago is announced by Phil Reisman, vice-president of RKO Radio in charge of foreign distribution. Beja, who replaces Dan Greenhouse who resigned to enter the U. S. Army, has been with RKO Radio's foreign service for a number of years and formerly managed the organization's office in Mendoza, and, previously, the Portugal branch in Lisbon. His successor at Mendoza is J. M. Calveira. Single Bills In Two Buffalo — The two biggest downtown first-runs are currently playing single bills — the first time in years both have done so in the same week. Shea's Buffalo has "Action in the North Atlantic" and Shea's Great Lakes offers "Stage Door Canteen." The FEMME TOUCH MRS. PEARL FORT, manager, Eastown, Dei Moines. MILLICENT SMITH, B. F. Shearer Office, Seat-. tie. *