The Film Daily (1945)

Tir THE • % DAILY Monday, Juiy 16, V.? RKO Starts Rumors (Continued from Page 1) ing the delivery of his fifth production under his owner-member deal. In Hollywood, however, representatives of Selznick denied that he would not deliver any more pictures for United Artists release beyond "Duel on the Sun," now in production. The report that Selznick would make no more pictures for UA after "Duel in the Sun" plus the transfer of three of his story properties to RKO for production stirred up the rumor market during the week-end. While some saw no great significance in the transfer, others linked it to a long-reported rumor that Selznick and Samuel Goldwyn would tie Up a new distribution organization to include J. Arthur Rank's British and American interests. Goldwyn also is a producer for RKO release and Rank's partnership deal with RKO is announced in today's issue of I'HE Film Daily. Those who saw no significance of great importance pointed out that previously Selznick transferred stories and stars to 20th CenturyFox. As for the distribution reports, there were speculative comments to the efi'ect that inasmuch as Selznick reportedly owns a one-fourth interest in Columbia, he may seek to buy the remaining interest in order to control and own his own distributing company. Similar speculative reports in the past have brought emphatic denials from the Columbia side of the fence. Hub Bandits Hold Up Theater in Dorchester Boston — Two bandits entered the second-floor office of the Franklin Park Theater, Dorchester, held up three employes at gun-point and fled with $2,500 in cash. Of that amount, $1,300 was the proceeds of a War Bond sale held earlier in the evening and the rest was the day's receipts. THEATER DEALS Dickering to Lease 3 Houses Ifcsf Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Phil Isley and H. J. Griffith, who operate the Meralta, Culver City, are negotiating for leases on the Vista, Hunley and Campus Theaters in Hollywood. Deal is in escrow with leases now held by P. G. Cameron of Texas. Bowen's Lyric Sold Bowen, 111. — The Lyric here has been purchased by A. J. Field from Ray Coats and his mother, Mrs. Emma Coats, who had operated the house for some six years. It is a 200seater. BRIEfl Seeks Television Station IVashituitou Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — The FCC has received an application for television operation on 60-66, 210-216 and 480492 mc. from the Midlands Broadcasting Co. of Kansas City, Mo. Playing "Wildfire" as Single Philadelphia — After a test run, Warners has booked Screen Guild's "Wildfire" on "A" time over the entire circuit as a single bill. It is pointed out that this is unique in a double-bill territory. Newsreels Echo City Hall Howl All the newsreels released Friday, with the exception of Pathe, featured Mayor F. H. LaGuardia reading the Dick Tracy comic strip to air listeners in New York who are handicapped in following this daily cartoon feature due to the cui'rent newspaper deliverymen's strike. Silenl Bandit Gets $250 Chicago — A silent bandit thrust a note in to the cashier of the Loop Monroe Theater demanding money. The cashier gave him $250. Warner Theaters report two similar robberies. Theater owners may put on private guards. Bell Re-issuing 24 Westerns Bell Pictures Corp. will release a series of 24 Westerns, starring Johnny Mack Brown and Bob Steele, formerly released by Republic. Exchange has rights for New York, Albany and Buffalo. Ampa Seeking Femmes Dave Bader, president of Ampa, has appointed Grace Rosenfield, secretary, to head the Women's Membership Drive. Committee includes Evelyn Koleman, Sally Perle, Gertrude Merriam, Blanche Livingston and Paula Gould. Neilson Re-elected Rutgers Neilson, RKO Radio publicity manager, has been re-elected a member of the board of governors of the Circus Saints and Sinners Club of America, at its annual meeting. Fire Damages Hobbs' House East St. Louis — Fire, apparently caused by the igniting of some excelsior in an alley beside the 40th St. Theater, caused $10,000 damage to that house. The theater is owned and operated by Dr. G. J. Hobbs. Product, Sales Policies Highlight Mono. Meeting Monogram's product and sales policies for the forthcoming season as well as discussions concerning the balance of the present year's output highlighted the two-day Eastern regional meeting which ended yesterday at the Hotel Warwick. Yesterday was devoted to individual meetings of the branch managers with their own personnel. Edward Morey, assistant sales manager, and Morey Goldstein, Eastern sales manager, presided. Other speakers included Arthur Greenblatt, Central district manager, and Si Borus, in charge of the New York contract department. Others attending from the New York branch were Nat Furst, Jack Farkas, J. Pavone, Meyer Solomon, N. Tabackman, Etta Segall and Dave Bass. Represented at the meeting were Herman Rifkin, Ben Abrams, George Rabb, Harry La Vine, Frank Dervin, Nate Levin, Al Poulton, Jack Israelson and Dick Cohen, all of Boston; H. L. Berkson and H. W. McPherson, Buffalo; E. E. Lowe and Bob Adler, Albany; Al Davis, William Schwartz, Harry Dressier, Sam Palan and R. M. Katz, Philadelphia; Jack Safer, Harry Goldman, Hy Bettinger and Bill Gearing, Washington; Sam Fineberg, Messrs. Wayne, Conrad and Dana, Pittsburgh; William Onie, Milton Gurian, Ezra Skirboll and Frank Decker, Cincinnati; Nat Schultz, Sam Schultz, Nate Garson and Carl Schenck, Cleveland. Clark Tribute to Cole Marks Para. K, C. Party Kansas City — Tribute was paid Friday to Arthur H. Cole, Paramount office manager and "dean" of local film row, by Duke Clark, Dallas district manager and Paramount Month co-captain. Occasion was a Paramount "One Third of a Century" celebration meeting at the exchange. Clark also lauded Jim States, booking manager, with the exchange 29 years; Bill Bruegging, head shipper, 27 years; Floyd Goode, shipper, 27 years; Miss Billy Mistele, 26 years, and Helen Wolfe, 25 years. Para. Honors Veterans St. Louis — John Koenig, Paramount chief accountant, and oldest St. Louis exchange employe, with a record of 30 years, was introduced at a "Third of a Century" meeting in the exchange. Others cited were Maurice Schweitzer, branch manager, 21 years; Edna Boyne, booking department; Minnie Scheberle, chief inspectress, and Terry Boheim, Schweitzer's secretary. Stuve's Service Marked Pittsburgh — Dave Kimelman, Paramount branch manager, was host at the "One Third of a Century" celebration Friday, honoring Edward M. Stuve, 28 years an employe, and a number of local showmen. 25-Ct. Technicolor Dividend Technicolor has declared a dividend of 25c per share payable Sept. 1, to stockholders of record at the close of business on Aug. 15. Set Pre-Helease Run For "Rhapsody" in A. C. First out-of-town engagement ji "Rhapsody in Blue," which is haA''i its world premiere run at the He ■ wood Theater, New York, has h set for the Warner Theater, Atla City, starting Aug. 3. Picture wiL given an indefinite run there, extel ing through the Labor Day holicl General release is not slated u|| Sept. 29. Film Daily's Year Book Just Off Press! Is Valuable Edition! The twenty-seventh edition of Film Daily's Yearbook of Mot Pictures, just off the press, mi prove most valuable to the ent film industry as well as to newsrt] and others fortunate to own a co; Due to wartime paper restrictio the edition is strictly limited. "It must be apparent," as Ji Alicoate, editor of the book, said his foreword, "that the writing a compilation of the volume represei the work of many admirably formed and able co-workers." Chester B. Bahn, editor of Fi Daily, gives some interesting ne highlights for 1944. This is follow by motion picture industry statist which states that the capital vested in the U. S. film industry estimated at over two billion, wi| 205,000 people employed, with t total industry payroll being es mated at $382,726,750. The film dustry expenditures of U. S. adv€ tising in 1944 being estimated $60,850,000, and number of ads plao daily in various U. S. media est mated at 15,500. Top price paid f a produced Broadway play in 19' (down payment) $500,000, whiij was Oscar Serlin's "Life Wi Father," acquired by Warner Brc on a profit-sharing agreement. Tl top price paid for a book in 19^, was $200,000 for A. J. Cronin's "Tl, Green Years," acquired by Metr< Goldwyn-Mayer. The average weekly attendance (i U. S. film theaters in 1944 was est mated at 95,000,000, and the ave: age attendance per film theatre 80' There were 20,355 theatres opera ing in 1944 with a seating capacit of 12,539,887. All the filin houses throughor the country are listed with their sea' ing capacity, also the Film Daily best ten pictures each year sine 1922. REPRINTED FROM THE SHREVEPORT JOURNAL JUNE 18, 1945