The Film Daily (1945)

riday, March 2, 1945 -Dffil DAILY fliith Upholds FCCs elevision Findings II HOLLYWOOD SPEAKING — By RALPH WILK — (Continued from Page 3) gton for the FCC frequency allotion hearings. We believe that the 12 channels posed by the FCC for immediate mmercial television plus those iiich may later be added will enile several hundred stations to go I the air after the war and give a rge part of the public a regular levision program service on at ast one channel," Smith declared, ^any sections of the country will ,ve the benefit of programs from veral stations. "The commission's action can erefore be the basis for a large st-war industry and provide emDyment and opportunities for a eat many persons. We agree with e commission that years will be quired to develop television in the perimental band from 480 to 920 jgacycles to a point of commer i il usefulness. In our opinion, these I Bquencies, if and when developed, II supplement the television ser;e which is now being established the FCC in that part of the specam where the presently available ■ gineering and operating experi • ces lies. "There is, and there need be, no . ndamental conflict between the im. jdiate post-war television service d long-range developments any)re than there is now a conflict i sof ar as the public is concerned i tween AM and FM broadcasting, idoubtedly receivers will be deloped which will receive both ser I ;es just as joint AM and FM sound ' leivers are now available. The [ deral Communications Commis! • m's decisions regarding television j int the way to the fullest develment of the art both for the years ■ ead and the longer future." oyal Discusses Coast Tele tudios for L. A. and S. F. ■(f Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — It is believed that the Trent Coast trip of John F. Royal, 3C vice-president in charge of evision, involves discussions with HOLLYWOOD MAJ. ROBERT S. SPARKS, named to an executive post on the recently created Advisory Board at Universal, will co-ordinate all writing activities. He begins his duties Monday. Gwen O'Brien, story editor, and Ruth Barrett, head of the scenario department, will continue to function in their present capacities. • • DEPUBLIC has re-signed Frank McDonald and Leslie Selander to new contracts. McDonald's first assignment under the new setup will be "Man From Oklahoma," starring Roy Rogers. Selander's first job will be "The Trail of Kid Carson" with Allan Lane. • • A MERICAN naval officers, rescued by "^ Rangers in the daring raid on the Cabanatuan prison camp on Luzon, will be seen in scenes of RKO Radio's "The Invisible Army." Similar shots of more than a score of other American prisoners who were released from Cabanatuan will also be used in "The Invisible Army," one of the highlights of which will be a re-enactment of the sensational raid on the prison camp. IIOWARD ESTABROOK has been signed ' ' by Republic to write the screenplay of 'Dakota " which will be produced and directed by Joe Kane. • • MARCY McGUIRE and Glenn Vernon draw two top roles in "Ding Dong Williams," comedy musical scheduled by RKO Radio to start early in April. Based on the magazine series by Richard English, it concerns a zany clarinetist and his girl friend. PHIL RYAN has acquired screen rights to "Perilous Holiday, " Collier's weekly serial by Major Robert Carson, and plans to produce it in early Summer. No cast or release set as yet. Ryan produced "Secret Command " with Pat O'Brien for Columbia release. • • LINDSLEY PARSONS and James S. Burkett. Monogram producers will leave for Mexico City as soon as passports and transportation can be arranged, accompanied by cameraman Wm. A. Sickner. Parsons will secure exterior and background shots for his forthcoming musical comedy, "Casa Manana," and Burkett for his next Sidney Toler starring film, "Charlie Chan in Mexico City." • • PRD BRANDT, senior associate editor of •" the Saturday Evening Post has asked Raymond Chandler and Dwight Mitchell Wiley, Paramount writers, to do serials of their current Paramount originals. Chandler is doing "The Blue Dahlia," a dramatic love story, wth a murder mystery angle, and Wiley is writing "The Bride Wore Boots," a romantic comedy drama. r>INAH SHORE will be the first enter'^ tainer in America to receive the Citizenship Medal award of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. • • pHIL KARLSTEIN, Monogram contract di■ rector, this week is filming an untitled short subject for the OWI and the WAC on Lend Lease. Produced by Monogram, pic is joint effort with the R. R. C, which will share distribution expense. • e /"COLUMBIA has given a termer to George ^^ Macready. Tlieater Building Materials Tighter (Continued from Page 3) shortage of construction manpower, accounts for the tough WPB policy on new theater construction, which is now almost at a standstill insofar as approval for present applications is concerned. The materials situation is also expected to affect production of booth equipment — particularly in the third quarter of this year. It is not likely that the schedule for this production— which has been the same for over a year — will be cut, but WPB Theater Equipment Chief Allen G. Smith anticipates that manufacturers will be forced by short materials supply to operate well behind the authorized schedules. He is not worried by this probability, however, since present inventories are adequate to stretch over a fairly long period without large-scale replenishment. Byrnes Holds Out Little Hope for Curfew Relief (Continued from Page 3) action seems to me to be a very small contribution to ask from the home front. Compliance is expected to be largely on a voluntary basis, and we can hardly expect voluntary co-operation from the rest of the country if exceptions are made for certain areas." TO THE COLORS! * DECORATED * ^P. FELIX SWIPES, former employe of the Shawnee Plymouth, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., a member of the Fifth Armored Division in France, has been awarded the Bronze Star for killing 15 Germans in one engagement. *ARMY* '\RENCE WILSON, former RKO salesman for San Antonio and Southern Texas. I \UNCEY STETSON, National Screen Service, Detroit. MERT W. STEWART. National Screen Service, Detroit. * NAVY * I IRY MAYER, Warner Brothers booker, Detroit. Sidney N. Strotz, vice-president in charge of NBC's Western division, concerning sites for tele studios in Hollywood and San Francisco in addition to problem of manpower for tele operations. A studio could be erected on ground adjoining NBC's Hollywood studio but it is thought other property will also be viewed during Royal's visit. The proposed Hollywood building would entail an investment of $1,000,000 while a like outlay will be needed for the proposed San Francisco studio. Royal stated that Washington may get initial studio with Chicago and Hollywood following simultaneously. He disclosed that NBC will spend $1,000,000 this year in tele operating costs. Royal declared manufacturers do not have any tele sets available and that the known market demand for first year's supply of tele receivers will exhaust the supply before sets are off the assembly line. He indicated NBC will soon issue a new rate card covering tele programs. Navy Producing Iwo-Jima Invasion Color Special Chi. Workers to Get Boost Chicago — Harry Blondenstein, business agent of local film employes, says WLB has approved a 10 per cent wage increase for members retroactive to December, 1943. (Continued from Page 3) was learned here yesterday. This film is not being produced specifically for public showing outside the services, but already it is considered likely that WAC will be invited to view it with the possibility of taking it into the theaters. Actual production is being handled by the Navy, with Capt. Gene Markey reported to be overseeing the job. Some of the best of the Iwo-Jima footage to come in thus far, including the first of the footage to be shot on shore, came from the U. S. Coast Guard, it was pointed out here yesterday. In a statement on this footage carried in The Film Daily yesterday, the Coast Guard cameraman responsible for several hundred feet of the first shore footage to come in was unintentionally ignored. He is Patrick McKnite, photographer's mate, first class, whose shore shots were the only shore material in the thousands of feet originally brought in by the Navy. Additional shore material from the Marine Corps came in Wednesday and was turned over to the newsreels yesterday. Navy "Drafts" Briskin For Film Assignment (Continued from Page 3) tion. His assignment marks another step by Navy Photographic Services, headed by Capt. Gene Markey, USNR, to effect a co-ordinated, well-rounded operation of Navy photographic activities, attuned to current war needs. STORK REPORTS Tom Walsh, general manager of Comerford's upstate New York theaters, has a new baby boy, his third West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — A second son was born Wednesday to Keenan Wynn, stage and screen actor, and Mrs. Wynn, the former Eve Abbott of the New York stage. This makes the second grandson for comedian Ed Wynn. The infant has been named Tracy Keenan Wynn after Spencer Tracy and Frank Keenan, veteran actor. Philadelphia — Herb Gordon, manager of the Forum theater here, and Mrs. Gordon have become the parents of a baby girl. Donna.