The Film Daily (1945)

W*A DAILY: Monday, July 2, 19451 Metro to Starl Off Sales Meets July 12 (ConHnued from Page 1) 12. William F. Rodgers, vice-president and general sales manager, will conduct the conference, to be attended by a limited group of home office executives, sales managers and district managers. Attending from the home office will be Howard Dietz, vice-president and director of advertising, publicity and exploitation; Silas Seadler, director of advertising: William _ R. Fei guson, director oi exploitation; Eel win W. Aaron circuit sales man a g e r ; Hendei son M. Richey, a sistant to Rod gers and incharj;, of exhibitor rein tions; Charles Iv Stern, assistant | treasurer; AlanF. C u m i n g s , i . charge of exchange opera tions; William G. Brenner, in charge of exchange maintenance; and M. L. Simons, editor of The Distributor, the company's sales publication. Sales managers who will be on hand include E. K. (Ted) O'Shea, Eastern; John E. Flynn, Western; John J. Maloney, Central, and Rudolph Berger, Southern. District managers scheduled to attend are J. J. Bowen, New York; Herman Ripps, Albany; Maurice N. Wolf, Boston; John S. Allen, Washington; Robert Lynch, Philadelphia; John P. Byrne, Detroit; Sam A. Shirley, Chicago; Ralph W. Maw, Minneapolis; George A. Hickey, Los Angeles; Henry A. Friedel, Denver; Charles E. Kessnich, Atlanta; and Burtus Bishop, Jr., Dallas. WM. F. RODCERS UJEDDinG BELLS Baltzer-Newhuis Chicago — John Newhuis, U. S. Navy and formerly of the Lincoln Theater, Chicago Heights, was married to Rita Baltzer, in New Orleans. Paleogos-Mitchell Chicago — Miss Poppy Paleogos, secretary to Van Nomikos, was married to X. W. Mitchell, manager of atio Theater, who recently returned from two years service with the Marines. Hopkins-Lofink Des Moines — Lieut. Comdr. George Lofink, former Universal salesman here, was recently married in San Francisco. His bride is Patricia Hopkins. Industry Protests Mexico's SRO Ban Mexico City (By Air Mail) — A protest against the government's ban on standing room ticket sales has been sent to President Avila Camacho and Rojo Gomez, mayor of Mexico City, by a mixed industry committee. Charging that benefits resulting from the order forbidding sales of more tickets than the seating capacities of houses have been practically nil, members contend that on the other hand, a series of new and unforeseen difficulties have arisen, including the discomfort of outdoor waiting lines, and ticket scalping. Latter, committee claims, was unknown in the industry before the order was enforced. Unions May Parley In Chi. on Strike (Continued from Page 1) sters Union, whose Hollywood members have remained at work, as well as representatives of laborers and culinary workers who have remained at their posts, joined in the request for a meeting. Richard Walsh, lATSE president, was unavailable for immediate comment on whether his organization would be represented at the sessions. United Century Theaters Formed by Taylor and FPC (Continued from Page D was revealed in a statement from Nat Taylor of the formation by himself and Famous Playei's Canadian Corp. of United Century Theaters Co., Ltd., for joint operation of eight theaters in Ontario and the purchase of an interest in those theaters from his four original partners, Abe PolakofF, Sam Ulster, Ben Ulster and H. Freedman, who continue with other individual holdings. Taylor heads the new company in which several Famous Players executives also are officers. Eight theaters will continue to be operated as units of 20th Century Theaters of which Taylor remains directing official. The eight theaters are the Vanity at Windsor, Elgin at Ottawa, Centre at London, Circle at Toronto, Regent at Sudbury, Century at Trenton, Community at Welland and the Centre at Chatham. Taylor explained that the acquiring of his partners' interests did not stem from disagreement and that severance of their business relationship was entirely mutual and friendly with benefit for all concerned. "Africa Speaks" at World "Africa Speaks," first feature film release of United Screen Attractions opens a run today at the World Theater. Set Opening Engagement Plans for Pyle's "G.I." (Continued from Page D conference in UA board room, following trade showings which were held on Thursday in theaters which were engaged for that purpose in all sections of the nation. Participating in the press conference were Lester Cowan, president of Lester Cowan Pdoructions, George J. Schaefer, firm's board chairman m charge of distribution, and War Correspondents George Lait of INS and Hal Boyle of AP, members of the special editorial board set up in connection with the film's production, and both of whom had served in various war theaters with Pyle. Schaefer revealed that a single performance of "G. L Joe" will be held July 3 at the Palace Theater, Washington, D. C, under sponsorship of the National Press Club and chat a bust of Ernie Pyle by Jo Davidson will be presented as part of the programmed ceremonies. Official Washington will attend by invitation. Indianapolis Premiere On July 6, the first public performance of the film will be held at Loew's, Indianapolis, and this will be attended by Ernie Pyle's father and his Aunt Mary. This premiere will be the "kick-off" for others in various situations, notably in the Dana Theatei', Dana, Ind., the little 264-seater in Pyle's birthplace. On July 12, picture will bow in two houses at Albuquerque, N. M., the Kimo and Sunshine, day and date. This is Pyle's home town, and his widow will attend the dual premiere. Repeating his recent prediction that "G. I. Joe" would do $6,000,000 nationally, and adding that the interest demonstrated by showmen, press and public in the attraction during the past two weeks has served to substantiate the prediction, Schaefer pointed out that the entire Warner chain has been contracted to show the film, with opening engagements, led by the Stanley, Philadelphia, the week of July 18 or possibly the week of July 25. On July 18, "G. I. Joe" goes into the United Artists Theater, San Francisco, for a run. August 2, a two-weeks' engagement starts at the Earle, Washington, D. C, with the Ambassador playing the attraction simultaneously during the period. The State, Detroit, opens the picture for a run on Aug. 3. Interstate circuit, Texas, starts it the second week in August, at the Majestic, Dallas; Majestic, San Antonio; Worth, Ft. Worth; Plaza, El Paso; and also at Amarillo and Houston. Stands of Interstate in Galveston, Austin, Waco, Wichita Falls, Abilene and Tyler will play it commencing Aug. 16, with the rest of the chain following. $250,000 Ad Budget Advertising budget for the film will run over $250,000, Schaefer said, with $160,000 of this sum going into newspaper and magazine space, exclusive of any local expenditures, and that $25,000 is being spent on radio. Latter medium will be heavily Warner Release Date: ebruary (Continued from Page 1) is Green," and "Christmas in Con necticut" next month, was announcei' as follows: Sept. 1, "Pride of the Marines", Sept. 29, "Rhapsody in Blue"; Oc{ 13, "Three Strangers"; Nov. 24, "Devotion"; Dec. 29, "The Time, the Place and the Girl"; Jan. 13, "Danger Signal"; Jan. 26, "Saratoga Trunk"; Feb. 9, "Shadow of a Woman" and Feb. 23, "Cinderella Jones." Releases for the following six months have been tentatively set, Kalmenson said, but final decision in some instances will be governed by market conditions. Warner field representatives, who were attending a series of meetings with Mort Blumenstock, Eastern director of advertising-publicity, also attended the final district managers'; session. Charles Einfeld, vice-president in charge of advertising and publicity, and Blumenstock outlined merchandising plans for early releases, while Joseph Bernhard, Warner Theaters general manager, cited the more intensive showmanship that will be required of both field men and exhibitors when rationing and priorities are ended and curtailed amusements come back to compete for audiences. Norman H. Moray, short subject sales manager, outlined the coming lineup of shorts. BEN KALMENSON harnessed. One world-wide broadcast has been set, and 23 network shows have either given or offered time, including Hedda Hopper, We the People, Frances Langford, Hildegarde. Maxwell House, Radio Readers Digest, etc. The Treasury Department will conduct a salute to Pyle, commencing July 5, and over a concentrated period 7,000 playings or broadcasts will be aired by some 900 stations. About 50 important publicity tie-ups have also been effected. A survey, already conducted, shows that 85 per cent of people nationally want to see "G. I. Joe," Schaefer said. ] Cowan told the trade press representatives how an editorial board of War Correspondents and G. I.'s saw to it that every detail of the film would be authentic. George Lait called it "the most genuine war picture I've ever seen" and said that 1,000 letters came back from editors when asked that they give ideas of what the film should be. Newspapers that did not carry the Pyle column showed, he said, as much if not more interest and cooperation than those which did.