The Film Daily (1945)

Tuesday, September 18, 1945 13^ 15 Pound Devaluation By Britain Denied Washington Burean of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Stories that the British are planning a 25 per cent devaluation of the pound are completely false according to an official British source here. "What is hapDening," it was said, "is that on l^ept. 30 the guarantee of the exchange rate of $4.02% is coming to an end." The British official stated that "exchange control could not possibly be lifted at the present time, and there will be no free market in sterling. The guaranteed exchange rate dates back to the difficult times of July, 1940, when the system of special and registered accounts was instituted. Holders of registered sterling were given a guarantee that they would be able to transfer their balances at any time at the rate of $4.02%. This step was taken at a time when Britain was under threat of invasion and was done to lessen the difficulties of commercial and financial intercourse. It encouraged those dealing with Britain to leave the balances in sterling. It was a very unusual expedient for a special purpose, and the time has come to return to more normal methods." G. Ralph Branton Heads Des Moines Variety Club Des Moines, la. — G. Ralph Branton, general manager of Tri-State Theater Corp., yesterday was elected chief barker of the recently reorganized Variety Club of Iowa. The Club also named A. H. Blank, head of Tri-State, to a specially created post of Chief Barker-Emeritus. Other officers elected inncluded E. J. Tilton as first assistant chief barker; Stanley J. Mayer, second assistant chief barker; Nate Sandler, property master, and Jack Segal, dough guy. Branton announced that the Club currently had 77 officially enrolled members and had set a goal of 125 barkers by next meeting, scheduled for Sept. 28. Harry Gottlieb was named membership chairman; Nate Sandler, rules and by-laws chairman; Lou Levy; entertainment chairman, Dale McFarland; publicity and public relations; and Russ Fraser, in charge of press relations. Ampro Corp. Gets an "E" Chicago — An Army-Navy "E" has been awarded the Ampro Corp. Award ceremony will take place Friday. Afc, Peacelll Springfield, Mass. — Gradual return of chocolate bars, missing during the war years, has caused a more than 50 per cent increase in sales at candy counters in local movie houses in the past four weeks, theater managers report. THE RIALTO 'tm Tuesday Tidings • • • RIGHTO! Bosley Crowther. the N. Y. Times' erudite iilm critic, said a couple of mouthiuls Sunday when he pointed out that "Hollywood seldom makes pictures about life on the American farm" Sure, we do get films occasionally which make a curtsey of sorts in the direction of the farm, but for a real "dirt farmer" saga you'll look in vain Yet the dramatic opportunities are there Dozens of 'em...... As one who has lived on a Skaneateles Lake farm is prepared to testify T T T • • • ROOTS AND SADDLE: lack Trop, producer of Western films, now operating the Vitamaster here, a successful food shop, will spread his grass, fruits, and vegetable idea to locations in Chicago and Miami Incidentally, you might get a kick out of Ruth Carson's interview with Tack in the Sept. 15 issue of Collier's T ▼ T • • • CORKING PROMOTION. Credit RKO Radio with a nifty promotional idea in that Victory Map of the Pacific, embodied in the "First Yank into Tokyo" display folder. . . • And ditto to William Goetz of International Pictures for the novel use of film clips from "Tomorrow Is Forever" to spotlight the picture's personalities T T T • • • PUBUCITY CLUB OF N. Y.— BEWARE!: After being publicized as a singer for 20 years, Wilbur Evans feels he's acquired the press agents' gift and will compete with his space stealers after his Broadway run in "Up in Central Park," by giving new star material a buildup * * * Incidentally, Will Yolen, of Warners, president of the club, is attempting to parallel Sardi's fame as a theatrical retreat by instigating a spot for publicists where they can practice blurbs on each other T T T • • • FOX HOLD: "The Late George Apley," Max Gordon's Broadway hit, is the target for a film rights deal between the producer and 20th-Fox with very attractive moolah in the six figures waving back and forth Twentieth is also said to be dipping its fingers into the legit pie with a sizeable interest in the stage version cl their properly "Nymph Errant," now being revised for Gertrude Lawrence. T T T • • • WELL DESERVED: For "his zeal and interest in supporting our religious hoven," Bob Weitman, the N. Y. Paramount's managing director, has been elected to a life membership in the Congregation Ezrath Israel, the Actors' Temple T T T • • • TIP TO LEO. If Metro wants a technical director for its projected feature glorifying the Army's newspaper, the Stars & Stripes, it has a "natural" available in the FILM DAILY'S M/Sgt. Dave Golding, managing editor of the famed Mediterranean edition T T ▼ • • • AERIAL HONORS: Lt. Beveriy Miller, PRC's Kansas City franchise holder and Lt. Charlie Siebenthaler of Kansas City's A.A.A. Photo Service, both officers in the Civil Air Patrol, played important roles in winning first place for their Squadron 2 in the patrol competition at Fairfax oirport ...... Miller piloted his own plane in the message pickup test with Siebenthaler manipulating the equipment to land first place in thai event They finished second in simulated bombing. Two other KC Filmrow CAP members, Lt. Kenneth Levy, AAA, and Cpl. Betty Hunt, Paramount, participated. Levy in acrobatic flying and Betty as an observer in pattern bombing...... T ▼ T • • m NOW LET'S WIN THE PEACE! ! ! Goldman Fiies New (Continued from Page 1) versal and United Artists Corp. as defendants. Both of these theaters were purchased by Goldman in the past two years, having previously been operated by StanleyWarner under lease. In the new suit just filed, Goldman alleges that both these theaters during Stanley-Warner operation were frequently used for exhibition on first-run of first-class motion pictures, but that since Goldman's acquisition the defendants, acting in concert, have refused to allow Goldman to have any pictures whatsoever for first-run exhibition. In a decision handed down by the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit on Aug. 2, the court concluded that in a similar suit, based upon the refxisal of the defendants to allow first-run pictures for the Erlanger, the Goldman Co. sustained its charges of an unlawful conspiracy "as each of the distributor defendants knew that its refusal to lease pictures to the plaintiff together with refusal of all, would result in the creation of an illegal monopoly in the business of exhibiting first-run pictures in Philadelphia by Warner Bros." In that opinion the Circuit Court further concluded that the Goldman Co. had proved its charges that "Warner Bros, have attempted to and are monopolizing such business." The new suit, based on refusal to allow first-run pictures for Keith's and the Carlton, was filed by Barnes, Dechert, Price, Smith, William A. Gray and F. T. Anderson, attorneys for Goldman. As to the Keith's and Carlton Theaters, the Goldman Co. seeks relief for itself and the public from "the present intolerable situation" through a request for the granting of an injunction, but in this new bill it is not seeking any monetary damages. Mexican Raw Stock Shortage Nears End (Continued from Page 1) situation, declared: "It is a fact that raw stock will stop being an article of luxury for producers, and I am glad to convey this good news to the leaders of Mexico's film industry." Singles for Guilford Guilford, Conn. — The Guilford Theatre goes into a single-feature policy Oct. 1. Alt, Peace!!! Minneapolis — The war MUST be over. A theater here for months has been displaying a sign, "Ushers Wanted." The sign was changed recently. Now it reads: "Neat Appearing Ushers Wanted."