The Film Daily (1945)

DAILY Friday, July 13, 194j! Early Johnston Reply To MPPDA Proxy Offer (Continued from Page 1) 1946, but said this would not prevent him from becoming active in the motion picture industry in the Fall if he became affiliated with the Association. He feels the industry needs greater voluntary self-regulation and a stronger common objectivity if future Federal and State regulation is to be avoided. Johnston emphasized a united industry is needed to face many problems, including taxes and foreign business. Here he will confer with representatives of various film guilds, SIMPP and Independent MP Producers Assn., and in answer to a question said that the formation in the future of a Film U. S. Chamber of Commerce to embrace the current organizations might be a possibility. Warner Theater Bii Up 10% to New Peal( (Continued from Page 1) the same week last year. The increase was described as typical of the country in general, since the Warner houses are scattered throughout a representative number of big cities and small towns in the East, Midwest and Far West. Aside from continued stability of attendance, the rise in receipts is credited to an unusual number of above-average pictures in release for this time of the year. Thousands of returning doughboys also have proved a helpful factor. On Broadway, the two Warner houses set new records in the past week with the premiere of "Rhapsody in Blue" at the Hollywood and "Conflict" at the Strand. Latter picture, along with "Corn is Green" and "Pillow to Post" also are giving Warners big grosses in other spots around the country. Another aid to the Warner business is the company's annual sales drive, which has been running well above quota since it got under way in April. RKO Takes Over Three Vanguard Story Properties (Continued from Page 1) Must Watch," "They Dream of Home" and "Notorious." Alfred Hitchcock has been loaned to produce and direct "Notorious" and Dore Schary has also been loaned to produce "Some Must Watch" and "They Dream of Home." Although RKO Radio will release the pictures. Vanguard has not made an outright sale of these properties to RKO. A few details remain to be worked out, but negotiations are pending whereby a few David 0. Selznick personalities will appear in these pictures. A Breath of Old Baghdad • • • A STRONG BREATH of Old Baghdad blew into New York this week in the person of Columbia's Technicolor, "A Thousand and One Nights," doing very nicely, thank you, in the Criterion Phil M. has been well aware (as who hasn't) of the coming of the film for the past few months New York newspapers, fan and national magazines being generously filled vnlh pages of news and pictures, of Cornel Wilde^ Evelyn Keyes, Adele Jergens ond Phil Silvers, some of the most noteworthy of which were the eight pages in color in the August-September issue of Pageant and the fullpage stories on "Eyeful" Adele the Sunday Mirror and the Saturday Home Magazine carried a few weeks back Now that the pic is playing in town, Coumbia's publicity and exploitation boys and gals have rubbed their magic lamps and made sure that any non-reading New Yorkers (and there are plenty these days) would still know where to go to learn obout Aladdin and his wonderful lamp Eight full windows, the whole Fifth Ave. length of Bonwit-Teller, are devoted to "A Thousand and One Nights" The windows went on display Wednesday, opening day of the film, and will continue for the run's length. And for the advantage of the New Yorkers who don't pass Bonwit-Teller, there are window displays, counter-displays, etc., all over town, ranging from the 150 Nedick's stands throughout the metropolitan area to F. O. A. Schwartz on Fifth Avenue Tompkins Square Branch of the Public Library is reminding the book-readers with a display at its main entrance, and visitors to the city are taken core of by the display in the lobby of the Dixie Hotel T T T • • • CLIMAX OF THE ATAON CAMPAIGN came on opening day when the WOR-Mutuol radio show (260 stations) "Queen For a Day" tied-in with the film, and WHN broadcast the party given by Columbia in the lounge, of the Criterion for 25 returned servicemen Twenty-five Powers models acted as "dates" for the evening That's rubbing the old magic lamp! Just to make sure all radio listeners got the chance to hear about the picture, a five-day "A Thousand and One Nights" contest was set for WHN starting yesterday Phil M. hears tho' that the boys at Columbia are happiest about one thing this wasn't a hand-tailored contest for just New York it was the result of taking 23 ideas from the pressbook and turning them into a campaign that has New York seeing genies. Practically all of them can be used by any smart exhib. to get the same results the Criterion is enjoying ▼ ▼ ▼ • • • WE'RE AVENGING PEARL HARBOR! Portion of Rose's Suit Against Loew Dismissed Supreme Court Justice William C. Hecht yesterday dismissed that portion of Billy Rose's $500,000 action against Loew's dealing with the profits of the Ziegfeld Theater which Rose took over from Loew. When Loew leased the Ziegfeld in 1933 from the Sixth Avenue Amusement Co., the contract called for a rental of $50,000 a year plus 50 per cent of the yearly profits. Rose claimed that the theater showed a profit of $500,000 up to the time he took over the house last year, but Loew's showed evidence that the theater made a profit only in 1933 "Pride of Marines" Tradeshowing Aug. 6 "Pride of the Marines," starring John Garfield with Eleanor Parker and Dane Clark, will be nationally tradeshown by Warners on Aug. 6. Picture will be the company's first release for 1945-46, with a special world premiere in Philadelphia on Aug. 10. and in 1943. He asked $250,000. Judge Hecht found that Loew's had complied with its lease and granted Loew's motion for dismissal. Two other causes of action brought by Rose are still pending. They ask for $250,000 for Loew's alleged failure to keep the theater in condition. Indie Carrier Union Seen on tlie Way Out (Continued from Page 1) now affiliated with the independen Film Drivers and Helpers Union i expected to end the existence of th latter labor organization, it wa learned yesterday. The disclosure was made that thi teamsters' local filed the petitioi with the SLRB after the membershij of the Film Drivers and Helpen Union had voted in favor of dissolv ing and seeking representation bj Local 817-B. The FDHU has 6^ members. If the teamsters' union is successful in winning recognition as the bargaining agent for the film carriers it will take steps to open negotiations with the Film Carriers Association for a new agreement, a spokesman for Local 817-B disclosed. Such negotiations, he said, would not be started before Jan. 1, 1946, when the present contract between the film deliverymen and the employers will have expired. The Local 817-B rep resentative made it clear that every attempt would be made to respect the contract now in force. The membership of the Film Carriers Association is composed of the film carrier services in this area. Rodgers Ups Hi(l(ey To W. C. Sales Mgr. (Continued from Page 1) M-G-M and its predecessor company for 27 years. Metro District Managers To Meet With Branch Heads Chicago — Because of the limited field and home office executives attending the M-G-M conference here and because of the importance of the topics being discussed, district managers will hold two-day meetings on their return to their headquarters with branch managers under their supervision and explain all phases of the agenda taken up here. Scheduled for talks today are Howard Dietz, William Gleicher, William G. Brenner and several others. There will be an exhibitor luncheon today with 25 prominent local theater owners and circuit heads invited as guests of Rodgers in addition to the trade press. UlEDDinG BELLS Roller-Rush Detroit — Lt. Carl Rush, Jr., son of Carl Rush, veteran Detroit operator, was married at Christ Methodist Church here to the former Ruth Roller of Tulsa, Okla. They will make their home at Wilmington, Del., where he is stationed.