The Film Daily (1946)

^ DAILY Thursday, July 25, 194 Ask All-Out Support or UJA's Campaign IContinued from Page li leaders at the St. Moritz Hotel. The plea was made by Skouras, Nelson A. Rockefeller and Edward M. M. Warburg. Rockefeller is chairman of the Community Committee and Warburg is chairman of the United Jewish Appeal for Greater New York. Skouras' aid in the drive to raise $100,000,000, of which the New York goal is $35,000,000, was solicited by the committee. Skouras, who recently visited Europe, described the destitute condition of the surviving Jews of Europe. He paid tribute to his colleagues of all creeds in the entertainment industry who "have distinguished themselves by their generosity toward this cause." Rockefeller expressed gratification at the support which people of all faiths have given the drive on behalf of the United Jewish Appeal. He said the tragedy of the victims of Hitler's hate was not one for those of the Jewish faith alone, but was one for the whole community regardless of creed. Warburg, who sei-ved overseas with SHAEF and helped to establish a series of centers for displaced persons, said that the deepest tragedy was that these people had no authority, no government, no force to which to appeal, except the force of decency in the world at large. He said 70 per cent of the surviving 1,400,000 Jews of Europe must receive aid through the agencies which make up the United Jewish Appeal. Wright to Meet With Distrib. Lawyers (Continued from Page 1) the New York equity suit. Wright will put before the distribs., it is reported here, his thinking on methods of effectuating single-selling, while the distribs. will counter with proposals of their own which are already in Wright's possession. The Tuesday meeting, it is anticipated here, will be the first of a series leading to the deadline for filing of ideas on the decree, Sept. 15. Every effort will be made to iron out differences between the Government and the distributors prior to this deadline, leaving the court with a minimum to arbitrate. SEND BIRTHDAY GREETINGS TO: July 25 Harry H. Zehner Li la Lee Bob Wolff Al Pea rce Cy Seymour Mortimer D. Sackett William C. DeMille Phillipe DeLacy Johnny Mines Arthur Lubin Deceniher in July • • • JUNE IN JANUARY is okay, to be sure, but as for box officeminded Phil M, give him December in July And that's what Twentieth Century-Fox is doing these hot weather days, as you may easily determine for yourself by observing what certain pix bearing the company's trademark are doing for exhibs.. East, West and in between Darryl F. Zanuck's "Anna and the King of Siam," which starts its sixth week at Radio City Music Hall today, is also wowing 'em in three Los Angeles houses, and is getting top money in Frisco and in Boston When a pic can roll up an aggregate of about 5710,000 in five weeks at the Music Hall in the face of weather handicaps and sizeable competition, there's reason for believing it will stand among the year's top grossers across the country And show Phil M. a more likely "Ten Best" candidate at this stage of the gome! Along with "Anna," 20th-Fox has at least two certain box-office winners this Summer in "Centennial Slimmer" and "Smoky" On the Broadway scene, the former in its first terrific week at the Roxy garnered some SI 11,000 which, as they say up in New Hope, ain't hay It should be "Summer" at the Roxy for about five weeks "Smoky' has showed its strength in enough openings to qualify as a bright ornament on the December -in-July Christmas tree So — take off those Santa -whiskers, pal you can't fool Phil M you're just one of Tom Connors' salesmen T T T • • • CUFF NOTES: Mebbe you read that Hollywood columnist's report the other day that Joe Breen's London advent was a bit on the stormy side Well, you can take it from Ernest W. Fredman of London's Daily Film Renter that the PCA chief instead had a very good press conference, was expansive and created a very good impression "Freddie' was there, the Hollywood writer was not ... • The Eastern PIC's Glen Allvine will be back from a cruise over the weekend ... • While film stocks dipped this week. Standard & Poor's expects profits of most leading fihn companies to more than double this year and on that basis, believes more liberal dividend policies probably will be adopted ... • Paramount, Universal, Fox and Metro newsreels will film opening ceremonies for Warners' 20th anniversary of sound in Columbus Circle this noon ... • Didja know that the tentativ title of the pic about Glenn Miller, starring his band with Tex Beneke, is "In the Mood?" ... • Fred R. Sammis, Photoplay's editorial director, will guest today on the Elsa Maxwell Mutual show from Hollywood . . . • In its third week in nine stands, Goldwyn's "The Ed from Brooklyn" is ahead of the third week of "Wonder Man" by an aggregate of more than 340,000 Which is mighty nice going ... • Production on Andy Stone's "Strange Bedfellows" held up due to illness of Priscilla Lane Title, incidentally, is still uncertain as dispute with the Johnston office continues ... • It appears that Mayor O'Dwyer didn't pass up the fiim industry after all when designating that executive committee of his Business Advisory Committee Among the 28 named is Loew's Charles C. Moskowitz But how was Phil M. to know that the "Chcnrles Moscowitz" on the roster was the very able Loew exec? ... • Leo walks off vrith three pages of publicity on two of Metro's pictures in the new issue of Look Magazine One full page is devoted to Cyd Charisse rehearsing on the beach for "Ballerina" and two other pages are given to Van Johnson dancing with Lucille Bremer in "Till the Clouds Roll By" Acquires "Gorilla Woman" "Gorilla Woman," a United Screen Associates adventure film, has been acquired by Foreign Screen Corp., it was announced yesterday by H. Alban-Mestanza, president. Single Pic Selling Gets Started Today I Continued from Page 1) change its selling procedure and v. . continue as before, although no cor tracts will be taken on next season program until mid-August. Williar A. Scully, vice-president and d^ Lca^ sales manager, said there wocsr,.' b* no change in the sales formula unti the entire situation regarding th-"Little Three" had been clarified. I is believed that United Artists wii follow the same policy. While all of the affected companie have not prepared definite selling plans under the new arrangement, they have forwarded instructions tc their sales stafifs in the field. Paramount's went out this week in mime ograph form, while Metro's was sen last week in a three-page letter writ ten by W. F. Rodgers. All were saic to be similar in pattern and embodie: approximately the same instructions The non-defendants in the Govern ment case — Republic, Monogram an-PRC — will continue to sell on tht old basis, apparently until ordered to do otherwise by the court. It wa: pointed out that what was illega for the majors would be illegal foi the independents. Harry H. Thomas, president oj PRC, said that any new sales plai would not be announced until aftej the company's sales convention ii Atlantic City in September. Edwarc Morey, assistant to the president oJ Monogram, said the company's attorneys were wi-iting an analysis o1 the court's opinion from the standpoint of the independents and that nc policy would be adopted until aftei the analysis had been studied anc discussed. Three Washington State Theaters to Chas. Bishop Newport, Wash. — Charles Bishopowner of the Rex, has announced purchase of Cusick, lone, and Metalline Falls Theaters from Mrs. Marie Malkson. He purchased the Rex from Mrs. Malkson a year ago. This gives him ownership of all picture houses in Pend O'Reille County. Mi-s. Malkson o\\Tied the three theaters for the past 15 years. ' Edgar S. Hill Dead Athol, Mass.— Edgar S. Hill, 93, former president and treasurer of the Athol Amusement Co., which operated the old Athol and Lyric Theaters, died at his home in Dudley. FAMOUS FIRSTS Jlii 11)11 ii'!|iiiii:ii|i liiiniv.*O^J!!" ' '#Hli'H'''i|i' #'» tMkimg fhm^ THE first circuit to have a special Sound Servicing Department to look after sound equipment in theaters, recommend acoustical and structural changes, and work for improvement of sound reproduction in general was Warner Theaters. Colonel Frank E. Cahiil, Jr., set up the department and still heads it.