The Film Daily (1943)

Tuesday, July 20, 1943 W"S? Hawaiian Troops Turn Against War Pix {Continued from Page 1) section of the Special Service Division of the Hawaiian Service of Supply. The section provides movies for all f^r- Hawaiian islands and some of i )34outlying Pacific bases and therefore is an accurate measure of "GI" opinion. The most popular pictures in recent months, based on the requests for bookings and audience reaction observed by the staff are as follows: "Road to Morocco," "Pride of the Yankees," "Mrs. Miniver," "Casablanca," "Yankee Doodle Dandy," "The Hard Way," "Commandos Strike at Dawn," "You Were Never Lovelier and "Somewhere I'll Find You." The Hawaiian premiere of "Stage i Door Canteen" was held in McKinley High School auditorium and the packed G.I. house applauded vigor' ously throughout. The various Army units in the vicinity of the school I were alloted a limited number of ' tickets. Areas near the school were i selected, because of the 10 p.m. curfew which requires that all persona, except those on official business, be off the streets at tbat hour. Following the original showing, "Canteen" made a tour of the major echelons, which took about a L week, and then went on tour of the outside islands. This will take about a month, after which it will be placed on the general circuit of Army posts and outposts on the island of Oahu. J SMPE Tech. Conference Set for Hollywood Oct. 18 (Continued from Page 1) f Oct. 18-22, inclusive, it is announced by the Board of Governors. Papers Committee chairman will be Dr. C. R. Daily, and personnel • of this committee and others will be announced shortly. Those intending to submit papers for the Conference should communicate as early as possible with Dr. Daily, at Para I mount Pictures, Inc., 5451 Marathon I St., Hollywood, Calif. WEDDING BELLS Cleveland — Announcement is made of the engagement of Tom Mooney, son of Milton A. Mooney of Co-operative Theaters of Ohio and Mrs. Mooney, to Marguerite Plunkett of this city. They plan to be married soon after Tom gets his pilot's wings next month in Miami, Fla. West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Dorothy McGuire and John Swope were married Sunday. T T T Old Shots and New Tahes: • • • RIGHT now, many oi our khaki and blueiacketed lads of filmdom are shooting laps in the far-flung Pacific In effect, it is, among other advantages, taking revenge for the apparently forgotten Tragedy of Francis Boggs If the current generation of celluloid gents doesn't clearly remember what happened to Mister Boggs, Phil M. can shed some light on the affair, thanks to a letter received yesterday from Michael Robach, veteran pic figure and historian The Robach missive is highly interesting in contents as well as its physical appearance, penned as it is in variegated shades of ink which lend it an atmosphere of Technicolor in the best Kalmus manner Mike, as Mister Robach is known to his intimates, declares that picture production in California was inaugurated by Francis Boggs and Thomas A. Persons for the Selig Polyscope Co., of Chicago "I find," he says "in the Moving Picture World, Volume 10, Nov. 11, 1911, page 455, that Boggs was shot through the heart by an 'insane' Japanese, while Col. W. N. Selig was only wounded by same, and was expected out of the hospital in a few days" Then Robach adds: "A later news item, not recorded in my notes on the subject, was, as I remember, 'Col. Selig made a trip to the Coast from Chicago to attend trial as witness. The Jap got a life sentence at Alcatraz' " t y t • • • THIS-A AND THAT-A: Br'r Nunnally Johnson is buckling down to do a dramatization of Erskine Caldwell's book, 'Georgia Boy," at the behest of Jed Harris. ... # Mrs. B. V . Sturdivant, wife of the supervisor of Fox West Coast Theaters of Northern California, has moved from Los Angeles to San Francisco to be with her husband. ... # George (Paramount Shorts) Harvey is loyal to his field,— wearing shorts while vacationing down Shelter Island Heights way, famed stamping ground of E. C. (Ascap) Mills. ... • Sam Cummins' Pix Theater in Washington, D. C, is, he pens, going great guns with a special Summer program christened Frank Capra's Cavalcade of Films Showing comprises, each pic running for a full week, "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town," "Lady for a Day," "It Happened One Night," "Lost Horizon," "Broadway Bill," "Mr. Smith Goes to Washintgon," and "Y.ou Can't Take It With You" Cavalcade commenced June 30 and winds up Aug. 11 T T T • • • OVER at epicurean "21" last evening, 20th-Fox hosted a dinner attended by Guest of Honor Charles Coburn and the Trade Press Immediately thereafter, all hands were swiftly transported to the RKO 23rd Street Theater for a special sneak preview of Ernst Libitsch's new, socko, and delightful comedy, "Heaven Can Wait" Dear Friend Exhib., — here's a HONEY Among those present at repast and showings were, from 20th-Fox, Sam Shain, Jack Goldstein, Chccrles Schlaifer, Roger Ferri and Mrs. Ferri, Dave Bader, and, from the Pic Fourth Estate, Don M. Mersereau, Chester B. Bahn, Charles "Chick" Lewis, Ben and Mrs. Shlyen, Bill Formby, Jimmy Cunningham, Frank Leyendecker, Chet Friedman, R. W. Barremore, Mel Konecoff, Al Picoult, Lou Pelegrine, Tom Kennedy, Jim Ivers, Jeannette Samuelson, John Stewart, Wanda Marvin, Jack Harrison, Mori Krushen, Floyd Stone, Morris (Metropolitan Photo Service) Leftoff, plus Alton (World Telegram) Cook Dinner was superb: Salmon; Chicken whisked up in chafing dish with cream and sherry; Watercress Salad; and for dessert. Blueberry Pie, Tom Connors, Bill Kupper; and Demi-Tasse T T T • • • AVENGE PEARL HARBOR! "This is the Army" Sold on 50% Terms (Continued from Page 1) mieres, exhib. 's share is to be 30 per cent, except in cases where the house can be prevailed upon to give more or all to Army Relief. Warner sales department is pointing out that, at the advanced prices and with the assured SRO on the opening night, exhibs. stand to get more on their 30 per cent than they would make on a regular picture with 70 per cent as their share. Pete J. Wood, ITO of Ohio secretary, in his latest bulleting to members, states the Warner terms for "Army" are 50 per cent up to the "Sergeant York" gross, after which different conditions apply. This could not be verified at the Warner home office yesterday, General Sales Manager Ben Kalmenson and other sales officials not having returned yet from the San Francisco regional meeting. Charles Einfeld, Warners' director of advertising and publicity, following conferences in New York with Army Emergency Relief officials, leaves tomorrow for Chicago for talks with Army Relief heads in that area concerning "Army's" Midwest premieres. Meanwhile, in the first several hundred playdates set for the picture the Warner sales department is understood to have had almost 100 per cent success in booking extended time for the engagement. Aim is to obtain the longest possible runs with a view of realizing maximum proceeds for Army Relief. Largest B'dway Signs Leased by WB for "Army" Broadway's two largest signs, the world-famous display at the north end of Longacre Square and the block-long Wrigley sign across the street from the Hotel Astor, have been leased for the world premiere engagement of Irving Berlin's "This is the Army," produced by Warners for Army Emergency Relief, it was stated yesterday by Mort Blumenstock, in charge of Warner Advertising and publicity in the East. New Civic Operating Co. Albany — Charter papers have been issued to 572 South Salina Corp., Syracuse, to conduct theater biz, concern having filed incorporation papers here with the Secretary of State's office. Subscribers of record are George E. Smith, V. S. Matthews and Mary A. Warrian, Syracuse. Company will operate the Civic. STORKS Cleveland — It's a second daughter for Tony Stern, Warner theater head booker and Mrs. Stern. She has been named Linda Joy.