The Film Daily (1945)

Tuesday, July 3, 1945 Cr"\Miiy: $489,352 Net for Pathe Industries A net profit of $489,352 for the year ended December 31, 1944, was reported yesterday by Pathe Industries, Inc., and subsidiaries, among which are PRC Pictures, PRC Productions and PRC Studios. The reIport was the first annual statement by the company following the adoption of the present corporate name and the merger of Pathe Laboratories of New Jersey and Pathe Laboratories of California. Gross receipts, including sales, rentals and services, totaled $4,453,238. Surplus at the close of last year stood at $1,047,437, which compares with $846,825 on January 1, 1944. Cost of released productions, less amortization, was $1,660,534. The report disclosed that PRC increased its budget per picture "an average of approximately 100 per cent over the corresponding budgets for the previous season." "The increase in the number, . of outlets for PRC films is resulting in a larger average gross revenue per production," the financial statement continued. "This permits PRC to appropriate a larger average amount for its films with a consequent improvement in the quality of its product." NTS Has Drive-In Book Steadily increasing interest in' Drive-in theaters has brought from National Theatre Supply Co. a new 24-page book on this subject to assist prospective outdoor theater owners in planning such projects. Volume, which contains numerous and unusual features in design and equipment, is available through NTS branches in all principal cities from Coast to Coast, it is announced by A. J. Lindsley of t'he company's sales promtion department. Hold UA Meet in Texas Port Arthur, Tex.— Fled M. Jack, recently appointed, United Artists Southern division manager, is conducting a sales meeting here, . attended by 22 branch managers and salesmen from Atlanta, Charlotte, New Orleans and Dallas. Edward M. Schnitzer, home office sales representative, is attending the sessions. mm BIRTHDAY GREETINGS TO: July 3 George Sanders Leon Errol Luther Reid July Louis B. Mayer Gertrude Lawrence George Murphy Irving Caesar Gloria Stuart Joe V. Hornstein Ed Savin Harvey Thew Wynne Gibson Florence Miles Alicoate Al Perrin 4 Henry Armetta Mrs. Thomas Meighan Mary Patricia Alicoate Vince Barnett Barbara Weeks Joseph Ruttenberg Helen Gilbert Henri Elman ]%ews and Views o' the Day • • • CUFF NOTES: Herbert Wilcox is prolonging his New York sojourn another eight days. . . • Republic's advertising-publicity boys and gals can take a bow for that impressive 10th Anniversary souvenir book now being disributed to theater operators Ihruout the world. . . • Margaret Kent joined Lynn Famol's staff yesterday as Sam Gold wyn's director of radio relations Miss Kent formerly was with the Lyons Agency. . . • The vera efficient Mildred Ferber has resigned from "Skip" Weshner's office to become a camp counsellor during the Summer period. . . • Didja know that "The Great John L." is giving the Frisco Orpheum a new record? ... • Sgt. Bob Clemens, formerly Hollywood publicist, who until his honorable discharge last week was editor of the Camp Hood weekly, is in town with his bride, Irma They head for the Coast this week. . . • The Soviet Government hos asked the National Film Board of Canada to make a short, "This is Canada," ' for exhibition in Russicyi-*stliools The Dominion NFB, by the way, is making 14 shorts in' Danish and Portuguese for LatinAmerican distribution. . _. ^0 "Skip" Weshner very proud these days — his youngster was one of 250 out of 1,541 to pass exams, for appointment as cadet midshipman in ;ttie; Merchant Marine. . . • Maxson F. Judell, veteran industry' publicist and account ^xec, is leaving an aircraft war job after three years to re-enter films in Hollywood. . . ©Navy's new air show, which bows' in over NBC a wfeek from tonight, will be emceed by Lt. Robert Taylor, USNR ...... :| • • • THIS, THAT AND T'OTHER: lasi off the presses is a comprehensive institutional ad booklet on Paramount short subjects, which tells the whole story about Paramount shorts, paist, present and future^ For a neat job from cover,, to cover George Harvey can take d bow And speaking of George, he and his dancing daughter, Jackie^ are being interviewed by Adelaide Hawley over WEAF at 9:30 Thursday morning. . . • Paramount's Loii Phillips leaves for a Quebec vacation on Thursday. . . • Sidelights on the publicity industry are told in the August issue of This Mpnth Mag'azine which features some of the stunts put over by Howard Dietz, Russell Birdwell and Harry Reichenbach, among others. . . • The strike Qf the newspaper delivery service men was a hard blow to the press ag«nts of the industry who had planted choice material in Sunday edition^, only a few of which ever reached the public. . . • Grant Mitchell, veteran actor, doesn't believe in standing on protocol when our GI's are involved T'other night he hied over to the Silver Screen Canleen, SOPEG's entertainment oasis for our fig[hting men, and entertained .;.... Appreciative of his efforts, the Canteen solons sat down the following mom to write him a "thank you" epistle They were too late.-. ... .Mitchell, immediately after leaving the Canteen, wrote a "thank 'you" letter "for having invited me" Pinned to it was a check to help the Canteen carry on! ▼ T T • • • CORKING is the adjective that applies to these three Wor Dept. shorts, two training films, the third an incentive documentary, which were shown at the Normandie yesterday for members of the Publishers Association of New York and industry press reps Pix are designed for war workers, although one, "Diary of a Sergeant," may find its way to theaters later via the WAC Latter, running 22 minutes, spells courage and faith for soldier amputees Direction and editing are admirable Other two subects, "Special Delivery" and "Camouflage" are interest-holding Brig. Gen. E. L. Munson, Jr., chief of the Signal Corps Army Pictorial Service, spoke briefly at the screening, arranged by Metro's Si Seadler at the request of Moj. Monroe Greenthal, formerly of U A T T T • • • WE'RE AVENGING PEARL HARBOR! Griffitit Managers In 'New Jones Circuit' (Continued from Page D cipal stockholders a group of theater managers, most of them Griffith theaters veterans, Ted Jones, president and general manager, revealed. Corporation was conceived by the late R. E. Griffith and Jones but was put aside when Griffith died. Jones revived the project late in 1944 and the company has acquired six theaters thus far. Project is unique in that an investment opportunity is provided theater managers while the men keep their spots with the Griffith organization. H. J. Griffith, president of R. E. Griffith Theaters and Westex, is offering his assistance in seeing that the new company is a success. Officers, in addition to Jones, include Tom P. Blair, 1st vice-president; Frank Maxey, 2nd vice-president; Wayne . W. Patterson, secretary-assistant treasurer, and W. G. McKinney, treasurer-assistant secretary. McKinney, who is also film buyer and booker, has an office in Los Angeles, while Jones maintains his office here. Initial theater acquisitions afe the Glendoi-a, Glendora; Upland, "; Upland; Brea, Brea; LaHabra, LaHabra; Orange and Plaza, Orange'i In addition a plat has been purchased in Upland for a second house there. Group plans to expand throughout California, Oregon and Arizona.'; It is anticipated that all the Griffith men who left the !Kew Mexico and West Texas district for the armed services can be absorbed by Griffith and the new conjpany. Voorhees Defends H'wood Against "Red" Probe (Continued from Page 1) alleged "Red plotting" in Hollywood. This study, which may result in hearings later in the Summer by members of the Committee, was sparked by Representative John Rankin of Mississippi, wTio charged Saturday that Hollywood appears to be "the greatest hot-bed of subersive activity in the country." His statement drew sharp criticism from Representatives Helen Gahagan Douglas, Ellis E. Patterson, Ned Healy and Chet Holifield, all of Los Angeles. To Service Vet. Hospitals A contract to furnish sound film service to 91 veterans' hospitals and facilities throughout the country has been awarded to Universal's nontheatrical department. A similar contract for features and shorts was granted last year. Short, Short Story! Vancouver, WasR. — Marquee note: Van Johnson In "Between Two Women" And "Nothing But Trouble"