The Film Daily (1944)

13% DAILY Thursday, August 31, 1944< United Tax Front Absence Worrying (Continued from Page 1) ended is beginning' to pose a problem. Curtailment, and in some instances the cessation, of war products manufacturing in many localities already is being felt at the boxoffices, especially in smaller situations. As further curtailment develops, exhibitors see a drastic decrease in box-office revenue due largely to the admission taxes. A lowering of the Federal tax, industry authorities pointed out, may be the signal for State legislatures to go to work on State admission taxes in order to take care of State soldier bonuses, hospitals and possibly unemployment problems. Theater interests are in favor of such projects, it was said, but they fear that the motion picture theaters are going to be singled out to carry the major portion of the necessary finances. It is the discriminatory aspects of any proposed levies that are causing some jitters in different parts of the country. Therefore, leaders contend, an industry organization that will seek the lowering of the Federal admission taxes at the proper time and protect exhibitors from being singled out for State taxes is an essential enterprise. NBC Drops Frisco and Denver Tele Proposals (Continued from Page 1) announced. Network still has pending applications for Washington, New York, Cleveland, Chicago and Los Angeles. Commission also revealed that it will consider the NBC petition against the former limit of three television licenses per licensee withdrawn in the light of the Commission's recent move upping the limit to five. Lt. Frederick Striby Killed Indianapolis — Lt. Frederick F. teu Striby, AUS, former RCA Vicfeg& tor Division employe, is reported killed in action in France by the War Dept. Chi. Utility on WBKB Chicago — B & K's television station WBKB has closed with Commonwealth Edison Co. for a weekly program. SEND BIRTHDAY GREETINGS TO... August 31 Silas E. Seadler John Carrick Fredric March Frances Kann Hugh Harman Phil Chang Joan Barclay ALONG THE * I All In The Day's Work • • • CINEMATIC SALMAGUNDI: Universal is making a short on Henry Ford's Greenfield Village and Menlo Park at Dearborn, Mich. • British Ministry of Information pix now in production in England which will be brought over shortly include 'lourney Together," RAF training story in which Edward G. Robinson appears, and "Western Approaches," shot in New York and Liverpool harbors in Technicolor. . . • When the 48th St. Cinema reopens on Saturday, patrons can ask for either Turkish or Swedish coffee in the lounge, and no charge! . . . • Didja know that Bureau of Mines educational pix have been viewed by 7,691,000 persons during the last 12 months? ... • Para.'s FWTB shortly opens a 10-week run in Rio. . . • And Para.'s "Till We Meet Again" in its opening day at the Rivoli topped the two-a-day opening of FWTB by 40 per cent That ought to further stimulate the debate over roadshow vs. normal operating policy. . . • Dave Bader postals Gloucester is very beautiful these late August days. . . • There's no 20th-Fox money back of the forthcoming Broadway show, "Tucker's People," although Jed Harris is co-producer. . . • Nor is Warner money behind "The Visitor," pix rights to which the company has just acquired. . . • Moss Hart's foot will be in a cast for the next seven weeks, which means he'll do the final cutting of "Winged Victory" at New Hope, Pa., not Hollywood. . . • Lt Com. Gregg Toland is due for a Navy discharge in November and then resumes with Sam Goldwyn. • Henry C. Potter is here from the Coast to direct the stage version of "A Bell for Adano" T ▼ ▼ • • • IN FROM LONDON has come the British edition of "What To Do With Germany" by Louis Nizer The foreword is by a most distinguished British legalist, Viscount Maugham The publishing house issuing the Nizer tome over there, and presumably in the possessions and nations of the Commonwealth, is Hamish Hamilton In addition to the U. S. and British editions, the Nizer book has been published in French, Russian, Sicedish, Spanish and Polish editions T T ▼ • • • ONE INDUSTRY WORKER has just had his fourth salary raise in two months — and no WLB or manpower commission can stop probable further raises His last boost iook him from $22,000 per week to S24.000 per week He's the exchange manager for one of the distribution companies, stationed in Chungking, China! Inflation has reached fabulous heights there and despite his S24.000 per week salary, the manager would probably prefer S100 per week in the good old USA Movie tickets sell (and sell plenty) in Chungking around $60 each in Chinese dollars (about $6 in American dollars!) A new shirt, if he can buy one, will set the movie man back a couple thousand dollars! Buy more War Bonds and curb inflation here! T ▼ ▼ • • • AH, THE DRAHMA STILL LIVES! Every N. Y. critic mentioned Marlene Dietrich's legs in reviews of "Kismet!" which currently is the Astor's newest record-breaker The more dignified critics just used the word "legs" while the others referred to "gams," "come-ons," "stems" and similar synonyms for the drama! ▼ ▼ T • • • ANYBODY KNOW whether Thanksgiving Day will be Nov. 30, as indicated by some calenders, or Nov. 23 as already determined by quite a few States? T T T • • • AVENGE PEARL HARBOR! Moves for Speedy Openings in Paris i Continued from Page 1) eral foreign department heads har applied for passports so that the;, could leave for Paris as soon athey were permitted. Meanwhile, the five newsreels art said to be selecting personnel foi the reopening of the continental offices. Fox Movetone is said to be sending Lt. Anthony De Titta to Paris shortly for the purpose of reestablishing its Paris bureau. Lt. De Titta will leave his post as assistant picture chief for the Navy Public Relations to become assistant European director, the same title he had while directing newsreel operations for Fox Movietone out of Paris from 1938 to 1940. It is believed that his will be the first permanent bureau assignment to Paris by any of the five newsreels. Austin Displays Model Of New Tele Station Chicago — Austin Company, of Cleveland, is displaying a working model of a new television station, designed for use in large and small communities, at the NAB convention. A combination one and twostory structure, the model station includes a large studio with 44-foot movable stages and twro smaller studios, all served by a common set of controls on a pivoting platform. Developed with the aid of General Electric, the' model station features flexibility to avoid unnecessary duplication of telecasting equipment. The large studio stage moves to right or left on a track for speedy scene changes and the control rooms serving all three studios are back-toback to centralize cable and wiring installation. Floor area has been laid out to facilitate transfer of cameras and microphones so that a minimum of standby equipment is required. Shirley, Byrne Coming Sam Shirley and John P. Byrne,. M-G-M district managers in Chicago and Detroit, respectively, will arrive in New York Sept. 25 when the company resumes its plan to bring two field executives into the home office for weekly visits. Plan will be suspended during William F. Rodgers' Coast trip which starts on Sept. 7. THEATER DEALS Philadelphia — Fays Theater, formerly operated by the Comerford Circuit and recently under lease to Sam Stiefel, with a vaude-film policy, wras reported sold to Morris Wax for $75,000. Wax, owner and operator of several theaters here, also ran this house for a short period, many years ago.