The Film Daily (1948)

Wednesday, September 15, 1948 Argentine Bank Head Due for Conferences , Miami, Fla. — Orlando Maroglio, ' president of the Argentine Central Bank, arrived here yesterday, en route to Washington and New York for consultations looking to a settlsS^nt of Argentina's growing excl -^e problem. Maroglio proceeded toiNew Orleans before moving north. Central Bank head is expected to consult Washington officials about prospects of obtaining dollars through EGA sales, before proceeding to New York for meetings with banks which hold an estimated $275,000,000 worth of unpaid Argentine letters of credit. Industry observers await developments of the Maroglio visit on the premise that frozen film earnings may be released earlier than anticipated if Argentina can work out its exchange difficulties. Meanwhile, James Bruce, U. S. Ambassador to Argentina, is in Washington trying to promote ase of Argentine products in the European recovery program. Streamlining Speeds Up Fox Sales Operations (Continued from Page 1) home office and the field, have proved to the advantage of the entire department. Smith pointed out that seven of the eight managerial promotions made by 20th-Fox in the past year involved men up from the ranks. The sole exception being in Canada where immigration laws forbid the importation of U. S. citizens to hold an executive position in the Dominion. Smith introduced the new managers, including Peter Myers, Toronto; Ralph Pielow, Jr., Des Moines; Gordon Halloran, St. Louis; Chilton L. Robinette, Portland; Alex W. Harrison, San Francisco; D. R. Houlihan, Albany; Sam Diamond, Philadelphia, and Tom 0. McCleaster, Indianapolis. ;:= ^'^ DAILY; Egypt Bars Robinson Films Cairo (By Cable) All pictures starring Edward G. Robinson have been banned in Egypt because of his reported activities in behalf of the Zionists, it is learned. A similar ban was imposed two months ago on pictures with Danny Kaye and Mickey Rooney. Universal Rehiring Laid-Off Personnel West Coast Bur.. THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Universal1 nfernational this week starts rehiring of personnel laid off in August, it is announced. Studio expects that about 750 of the 1,500 workers let out will be rehired by early October, when production of three features is slated. Starters will be "The Life of Riley," "The Amboy Dukes" and "The Story of Sam Bass." \/<rW PHIL M. DALY Mid-weeh Report • • • THOSE MAGIC LETTERS, M-G-M, which thus far have identified only motion pictures and talking machine records, move into a new realm, that of radio, tonight when Sta:ion WHN becomes WMGM wi:h a gala three-hour dedicatory program starting at 8 o'clock. . . . The first hour's show will originate from the station's new 711 Fifih Ave. studios, the second from the Culver City studios of Leo the Lion, while the final hour's show will be devoted to celeb, interviews and a special New York night club industry salute to WMGM. ... In the initial hour, Ted Husing emcees a documentary cavalcade of the station's history. . . . The e'U be specialties by Norman Brokenshi e. Ward Wilson, Arthur Q. Bryan, Morton Downey, Mary Jane Walsh, Vic Damone. . . . Joel Herron's ork will be heard, ditto Ray Bloch's chorus. . . . And Hizzoner, Mayor O'Dwyer, among others, will speak. T T T • • • WHEN LOUIS K. SIDNEY takes over the Hollywood hour at 9 o'clock. New York time, George Murphy will emcee. . . . On the progrom will be Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Betty Garrett, Esther Williams, Ben Gage, Red Skelton, Jane Powell, Greer Gourson, Waher Pidgeon, Ma io Lanza, Andre Previn, Richa-d Beavers. . . . George StoU will conduct the M-G-M recording ork and choral group. . . . Other programs to mark the switch in call letters of the Loew station will be crired from New York and the Coast tomorrow and Friday, and next Monday and Tuesday. ... It follows, natch, that Loew's has ambitious plans for WMGM. . . . You might keep an eye on the station if the potentialities of a close union oi film and radio intrigue. T ▼ T • • • YOU GOTTA HAND IT to the Rivoli's Monty Salmon when it comes to giving a leading Broadway picture theater that sense of patron intimacy which is so important a part of showmanship in the hinterlands. . . . Salmon, smartly and wisely, frequently employs the same devices which astute provincial operators, including those in the larger cilies, use to stir patron interest either directly or indirectly. . . . Too many Broadway showmen pass 'em up, forgetting that Broadway, after all, is only an over-sized Main Street. . . . (As a matter of fact, Broadwcty stands for plenty that Main Street never would; you don't find Main Street resembling a carnival or Coney Island.) . . . One of the best ideas that Monty has come up with o' late is his "How I Would Run A Movie Theater" essay contest for the younger movie-goers. . . . Tomorrow, the winners take over as the Rivoli's "Youth Theater Staff For A Day," a neat tie-in with "Salute To Youth" Month. . . . And on Friday, the Rivoli again observes Constitution Day with a special program for which the Ame-ican Legion will provide a color guard. . . . The industry— and its public relations — would be the better for it if there wete more of that sort of thing. ... So a doff of Phil M's chapeau io you, Monty. T T T • • • AND ANOTHER DOFF, if you please, to Dick Pitts, film critic of the Charlotte, N. C, Observer, who has penned a series of 20 daily columns, to be published next month, under the general title, "What's Right Wi'h Ho'lywood." . . . There could be mo-e of that approach, too, don't you think? ... • Parents of Carl (Loew's) Fishmon mark their go'den wedding anniversary Sunday night with a reception at Brooklyn's Melrose Mansion. . . . • Deon DeTitta, chief home office projectionist at 20th-Fox, today Celebrates his 36th wedding anniversary and his 32nd year with 20th-Fox. WE to Pay Dollar Dividend Western Electric's board of directors yesterday declared a dividend of $1 per share on outstanding capital stock payable on Sept. 30 to stockholders of record Sept. 23. "Big Clock" Third Time Paramount's "The Big Clock" has been booked into the Normandie Theater for the third time within one month, it was announced yesterday. Pic will play Sept. 22-23. "Joan" to Premiere Nov. 11 at Victoria (Continued from Page 1 ) vice-president in charge of domestic distribution, and Maurice Maurer, executive of City Entertainment Co., City Investing subsidiary. "Joan" has a running time in excess of two and a half hours. Number of daily performances has not been set. Victoria is being completely reconstructed under the guidance of E. D. , Stone, architect of the Music Hall interiors. When completed, the house, will virtually be a new showplace, with modern air-conditioning, lighting, seating, projection and decorations. It will seat 1,100. Armistice Day premiere is to be preceded by an intensive national advertising campaign. 16 mm. Distributors Adopt "Non-Interference" Policy Non-interference with regular commercial theater business was agreed upon here yesterday by a group of 16 mm. distributors meeting for the first time in the Hotel Astor. Session, the first of periodic get-togethers, devoted itself to an open discussion of problems facing the narrow gauge field. Meeting discussed the validity of present minimum rentals now part of the standard lease agreement between distributors and film libraries and the question of their legal enforcement. Also discussed was the maintenance of minimum price rentals and cooperation to eliminate cutthroat competition. Among those present yesterday were Jacques Kopfstein, Astor Pictures; Harry Post, Post Pictures; Sam Goldstein, Commonwealth; George Bonwick, Pictorial, and a representative of Film Highlights. Meetings to discuss further problems have been set for the second Tuesday of each month. Coast Projectionists To Seek Pension Plan West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — lATSE projectionists Local 150 of Los Angeles has indicated that when it negotiates its next contract it will seek to incorporate a pension plan into the pact. Question of pensions arose at the lA's 39th Convention at Cleveland last month, and it was decided that pension plans should be worked out on a local basis. To strive for an overall national pension plan would mean the sacrifice of local autonomy. STORKS Grand Island, Neb. — Robert Hoffa, manager of the Grand Theater, has a new son.