The Film Daily (1944)

"WS? Tuesday, February 15, 194 Mono. Preparing for Post-War Expansion {Continued from Page 1) of a large stage to accommodate the bigger productions planned for Monogram. This will make a total of four stages. The studio carpenter shop will be moved to larger quarters on the Monogram property, allowing room for a restaurant several times the size of the present commissary on the lot. Additional dressing rooms, cutting rooms and offices will be erected to house the fast growing Monogram organization. Expenditures for this work will be approximately $300,000. A short time ago, when Monogram acquired an office building on property located on Sunset Boulevard adjoining the Sunset Drive studios, it was felt this would take care of the entire personnel, but since then offices have had to be leased in the nearby Vista Theater Building to house part of the organization. Other plans for post-war expansion include the opening of an office in London, with a sales staff, to take care of sales in Europe. Monogram also expects to employ a representative to cover the South American territory continuously, and plans at the termination of its present agreements to open offices in numerous Latin-American countries, the first office to be opened in Mexico City. In the United States, expansion plans for the present year include the production of eight top pictures instead of six. There will be 20 pictures in addition to the eight specials. All low-bracket pictures have been eliminated from the Monogram program. "The 'quickie' picture is a thing of the past," said Johnston, "and from now on Monogram product will be of a calibre to meet major production quality in every way." "Acquaintance" Big in Canada Toronto — Warner's "Old Acquaintance" has turned in the biggest Dominion gross of the season, with exception of "This is the Army," according to Wolfe Cohen, Canadian district manager for Warner Bros. Comparisons in situations like Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Montreal and other spots show "Old Acquaintance" leading the field by anywhere from 37 to 80 per cent, Cohen states, and the tabulated figures show progressive box office increases for each of the last four Davis pictures. Annual WB Meeting Today Wilmington, Del. — Annual meeting of Warner Bros, stockholders will be held today at the corporate office of the company. Among business of the meeting will be the election of six directors to serve for a term of two years, due to expiration of the terms of Joseph Bernhard, Waddill Catchings, Robert W. Perkins, Albert Warner, Harry M. Warner and Jack L. Warner, all of whom have been nominated for re-election. reviews of new turns "Voodoo Man" with Bela Lugosi, John Carradine,, George Zucco (HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW) Monogram 62 Mins. THIS SPELLS A FIELD DAY FOR THE HORROR FANS, WITH EYE -FILLING FEMMES FOR GOOD MEASURE. Horror fans will be interested in this new offering produced by Sam Katzman and Jack Dietz. Bela Lugosi, George Zucco and John Carradine, past masters in the art of producing chills, have a field day, while Wanda McKay, Louise Currie and Ellen Hall are among the eye-filling femmes used in the supporting cast. William Beaudine turned in a capable job of directing, while Marcel Le Picard's photography is good. Robert Charles wrote the original story and screenplay. Lugosi, who is a doctor, conducts fantastic experiments in an effort to bring back to life his wife, whom he has kept as a zombie for 22 years. He makes several attempts to get a perfect "affinity" for his spouse and transfer the mind and soul of each of his "victims" to his wife. Just when he believes he has the right "affinity" in Wanda McKay, the police break in and fatally shoot Lugosi, who had fired first. CAST: Bela Lugosi, John Carradine, George Zucco, Wanda McKay, Louise, Currie, Michael Ames, Ellen Hall, Terry Walker, Mary Currier, Claire James, Henry Hull, Dan White, Pat McKee, Mici Gory. CREDITS: Producers, Sam Katzman and Jack Dietz; Associate' Producer, Barney Sarecky; Director, William Beaudine; Author, Robert Charles; Screenplay, same; Cameraman, Marcel Le Picard; Editor, Carl Pierson; Art Director, Dave Milton; Musical Director, Edward Kay. DIRECTION, Capable. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. Circuits in Met. N. Y. Double '43 Dimes "Take' Metropolitan New York circuit collections during the 1944 March of Dimes week in nearly all cases ran 100 per cent ahead of 1943, according to figures made available yesterday by Walter Vincent, national treasurer of the theaters' committee. Following are circuit reporst: Century $26,242 ($13,934 in '43); Skouras $42,256 ($29,583 in '43); Randforce $25,216 ($9,138 in '43); Loew's $443,782 ($212,142 in '43); RKO $227,500 ($116,249 in '43); Fabian $22,979 ($16,703 in '43); Cinema $7,887 ($3,535 in '43); Brandt $40,000 (approx.) $16,000 in '43; Walter Reade $13,076 ($7,178 in '43); Rugoff and Becker $6,893 ($2,323 in '43). Elmer C. Rhoden, state chairman for Kansas, reports total collections of $84,000, against $44,000 in 1943. To date, 2,128 theaters, located in various sections of the country have reported $688,414.97 in the 1944 March of Dimes campaign. Miller, Donaldson & Co., certified public accountants, have again volun * SHORTS * "Baa Baa Black Sheep" (Sports Parade) Warner 10 mins. Packed With Interest Sheep raising on the broad lands of the West is the subject of this short, which is instructive and highly interesting at the same time. The footage shows every operation from herding to the shipping of the wool. A little black lamb figures prominently in the action. Photographed at the foot of the American Rockies, the film has great pictorial appeal. Technicolor serves its purpose beautifully in this instance. Andre DeLaVarre directed. "Doctor, Feel My Pulse" Columbia 18 mins. Fast Pulse There are enough funny lines and situations to put this comedy short on the right side of the ledger. Vera Vague gives a good account of herself in the second of the series she is making for Columbia. The comedienne appears as a hypochondriac who makes things tough for everyone. Her experience with a nut impersonating a doctor brings her to the realization that what she's doing is all wrong. The Felix Adler script was directed at a feverish pace by Jules White, who also produced the short. This comedy briefie has much to recommend it. Negro Leaders, Reporters See "The Negro Soldier" Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Negro leaders and reporters were guests of the Army's Bureau of Public Relations yesterday for a showing of "The Negro Soldier," four-reel documentary prepared under the direction of Col. Frank Capra. The film has been offered WAC for public showing, and early distribution is expected. As yet, there has been no confirmation from WAC. Col. Curtis Mitchell, head of the Pictorial Section of the Army's Bureau of Public Relations, arrived yesterday in Hollywood, where he will remain for a week. The film was shown at 20th-Fox's home office yesterday for the New York press and others. L. Smiler Dies Chicago — L. Smiler, father-in-law of Larry Stein, Warner Theaters advertising manager, is dead. His widow and three children survive. teered their services in auditing the March of Dimes accounts. Alliance Circuit, Chicago, collected more than $7,500, exceeding expectations. Atlas' RKO Holdings Total $17,927,283 {Continued from Page 1) $7,273,344 and $6,477,735, respective ly. RKO securities in the portfoli in 1942 totaled $7,715,849, while i 1941, the total was $6,556,588. _. With regard to RKO, Odlum'sT^ port says the corporation "is «m tinuing to do well in all branches o its business." He points out tha the company on Feb. 1 paid all divi dends in arreai's on its outstandinj preferred, with Atlas receiving $888, 770 "which will be reflected in th income account for the year 1944J Holdings of amusement issues a, listed in the current sport, follow: Preferred Stocks based on Dec. 31 1043 markc quotation* Shares Amounts 56,400 RKO Corp. 6% Cum. Conv $5,640,00 2,000 20th-Fox $1.50 Cum. Conv 57.75 22,850 Walt Disney Prod. 6% Conv 251,35 Common Stocks 49,983 Paramount $1,187,09' 1,329,078 RKO 11,795,56' 327,811 RKO Warrants 49,71' 37,991 20th-Fox 821,55' Changes of industry interest ii the Atlas portfolio over the cours of the last 12 months are indicate< by this comparison with film securi ties held by the corporation as o: Dec. 31, 1942: Preferred Stocks based on Dec. 31 1942 markc quotationf Shares Amounts 56,400 RKO Corp. 6% Cum. Conv $3,017,40 3,500 20th-Fox $1.50 Cum. Conv 91,00 18,978 Walt Disney Prod. 6% Cum. Conv... 123,35 Common Stocks 30,000 Paramount Pictures . 502,50' 1,324,853 RKO Corp 4,636,98' 327,811 RKO Corp. option warrants 61,46 10,000 20th-Pox 141,25' Indicated assets value of the com mon stock of Atlas Corporation in creased $6.45 in the 12 months ende< Dec. 31, 1943, Odium told stockhold ers. Asset value of the common stocl at the end of the year was $19.0 per share, a 51 per cent increase ove: the asset value of $12.56 per shan at the end of the previous year, Dec 31, 1942. Odium told stockholders the cor poration is studying possibilities fo: the use of its capital in post-wa: "reconstruction, reconversion and de velopment both at home and abroad.' Gross assets at the end of the yea: were $64,912,867.92, compared witl $48,913,474.16 at Dec. 31, 1942. A dividend of 25 cents per commoi share has been declared payabl March 10, to stockholders of record at the close of business on Feb. 15 Regular quarterly dividend of 71 cents per share on preferred stocl has also been declared for paymen on March 1, to stockholders of rec ord at the close of business Feb. IE Atlas' annual meeting will be hel Apr. 5. f