Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1940)

8 Motion Picture Daily Monday. October 21. 1940 Short Subject Reviews "Eyes of the Navy" (M-G-M) Timed for release when the nation's interest in the armed forces is at a peak, "Eyes of the Navy" is a highly interesting exposition of the training program instituted by the U. S. Navy to train pilots for the aerial wing of the seagoing forces. Filmed with the cooperation of the Navy, most of the footage was taken at the training bases at Pensacola and San Diego and there are additional shots of action at sea. The reel shows a farmer's son enlisting for the training and follows him until he wins his wings. Its entire tone is factual and there is no flag waving or exhortation. Striking scenes include target practice, dive bombing, catapult takeoffs, landings on board an airplane carrier and a final shot of planes flying in formation to spell out U.S.A. Running time, 20 mins. "The Sporting Everglades" (Paramount) The Everglades in Florida provide a number of interesting and exciting sequences in a splendid Grantland Rice Sportlight short. Crisp narration by Ted Husing accompanies the tour, which depicts wild life, Indian life and the excellent fishing therein. Running time, 10 mins. "King for a Day" (Paramount) A Max Fleischer series, featuring Gabby of "Gulliver's Travels" fame, is launched with an amusing cartoon. King Little, upon receiving a threatening letter, offers his crown to Gabby. Appearing on the scene at that point is another character thought to be an assassin, but who is really a photographer. The short is clever. Running time, 7 mins. "Listen to Larry" (Paramount) Larry Clinton and a versatile orchestra perform for this Headliner subject. The music is from one extreme to another, a Stephen Foster melody in contrast with some swing numbers and an amusing rendition of "Well All Right." Clinton's arrangement of "Study in Surrealism" is tops in swing. The short is highly entertaining. Running time, 10 mins. W PEN Dedicates Studios Wednesday Philadelphia, Oct. 20.— WPEN will dedicate its new studios on the 21st and 22nd floors of the 1528 Walnut Street Building next Wednesday. Herb Moore, president of Transradio Press, will highlight the opening service for the station. Arthur Simon, the station's general manager, will read messages from President Roosevelt and several South American ambassadors during the dedicatory program at 9 p.m. Off the Antenna JACK BANNER, formerly of Motion Picture Daily, was named publicity and special events director of WNEW over the weekend. He will take over active charge Wednesday, succeeding Richard K. Bard. The latter, an Army reserve officer, has been ordered to report for active duty at Camp Dix, N. J. • • • Purely Personal: Sterling Fisher, CBS director of education, will be one of the principal speakers at the 94th annual convention of Connecticut teachers Thursday. . . . Gerald A. Vernon has been transferred from the Nezv York office of NBC sales promotion department to Chicago. . . . James V. McConnell, NBC manager of spot and local sales, leaves for a month's trip around the country today. . . . David Lowe, WNEW film commentator, left over the weekend for a belated one-week honeymoon. . . . James MacCafJerty , WMCA operations supervisor, returned from his honeymoon at Lake George Friday • • • WABC, starting this morning, will open at 6:15 instead of 6:25. The additional 10-minute period will be used for a summary of the station's programs for the day and a brief news period. • • • The annual meeting of the National Independent Broadcasters gets under way today at the Waldorf-Astoria. As has been usual in broadcasters' meetings in recent months, the Ascap-BMI situation will occupy a large part of the deliberations. Other issues which will come up for discussion are labor matters, cooperation with the National defense program, and the radio monopoly report. Joseph DeLucca will entertain the delegates with the WHOM station orchestra. • • • Program News: Mutual will give Raymond Scott a full hour, from 12:30-1:30 A.M. weekly, beginning tonight, for an audience participation musical show from the Black Hawk Cafe, Chicago. . . . The Moylan Sisters aged six and eight years, celebrated their first anniversary on their own program over NBC-Blue yesterday. . . . "Information Please" -will have a CBS board member on its program tomorrow' evening in the form of Herbert Bayard Szuope. • • • Effective Nov. 15, the network rate for KFBK, Sacramento; KWG. Stockton; KERN, Bakersfield, and KOH, Reno, all NBC-Red, will be $220 per evening hour for the four stations combined. The rate will go to $240 on Nov. 15, 1941, and to $260 the following year. SMPE Opens Annual Fall Convention on Coast Today Hollywood, Oct. 20. — The Society of Motion Picture Engineers will open its annual Fall convention at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel here tomorrow. The five-day meeting, attended by technical experts from all parts of the country, will include the presentation of papers on filming, recording and reproducing problems and related subjects, such as television. The 1940 S.M.P.E. Progress Medal and the Journal Award will be presented at the 47th semi-annual banquet on Wednesday evening. The medal is given for the year's outstanding contribution to motion picture technology, and the award is for the best paper published in the S.M.P.E. Journal during the year. Officers will be elected as the first order of business tomorrow. At an informal luncheon tomorrow, Frank Capra, director, as an official representative of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, will address the delegates. Mary Martin will sing. At 11 technical sessions during the convention, nearly 50 papers by technical experts of the industry's laboratories, studios and equipment manufacturers will be read. Two sessions will be given over to sound, one to sound recording, one to disc recording, two to laboratory subjects, one to tele vision and four to general subjects. A number of other activities are planned, including a visit to the 20th Century-Fox studio Tuesday afternoon and to another studio later in the week. Wednesday afternoon will be devoted to sightseeing. The convention will conclude with the television session on Friday evening. The terms of the following officers will expire on Dec. 31 : E. A. Williford, president ; Nathan Levinson, executive vice-president ; J. I. Crabtree, editorial vice-president ; W. C. Kunzmann, convention vice-president ; J. Frank, secretary, and R. O. Strock, treasurer. With the exception of the secretary and treasurer, who serve one-year terms, all the officers have served for two vears. Fight Sunday Films Hattiesburg, Miss., Oct. 20.— Baptist and Methodist ministers of Hattiesburg and vicinity have entered the fight against Sunday shows here. The four local theatres are seeking a test of the issue.' Halliday to Agency Hollywood, Oct. 20.— Richard Halliday, who resigned recently as Paramount story editor, has joined the Frank W. Vincent talent agency to handle the story and writer departments. Theatre Changes Shift Commonwealth Men Kansas City, Oct. 20.— C. A. Schultz, head of Commonwealth Theatres, has made several shifts in managements. The shifts move Jack Kempton, Royal, Hoisington, to the Granada, Lawrence ; Ray Holmes, Granada, to the Kansan, Great Bend;' Elton Kurlman, Kansan, to the Sherman, Goodland, and John Tarr, Jr., Sherman, to the Royal, Hoisington. Opens Cincinnati Suburban Cincinnati, Oct. 20. — Maurice A.' Chase has opened the 400-seat Vogue in suburban Hartwell. Chase, who formerely conducted an independent exchange here, also operates the suburban Woodlawn and Crescent. Sells Wisconsin House Fennimore, Wis., Oct. 20.— E. H. Brechler has disposed of the Fenway here to Eskin Theatres, Inc. A. O. Wirth will manage the house, which will be renovated by the new operators. To Renovate Texas Theatre Beaumont, Tex., Oct. 20. — The Peoples, one of the oldest picture houses in Texas, will be renovated. The theatre is owned by the Jefferson Amusement Co. A. R. Swabke is man Plans Louisiana House Lake Charles, La., Oct. 20. — S. M. DeBakey has completed plans for construction of a new 2,000-seat theatre and store building here. Joins Rochester House Staff Rochester, Oct. 20. — Jack Danks. formerly with Warners in Elmira, is new assistant manager of the Riviera here. Remodels Iowa Theatre Davenport, la., Oct. 20. — Julius Geertz has completely remodeled the Zenith Theatre here. Ascap Will Sponsor Festival at Fair Ascap will sponsor a music festival, "Cavalcade of American Music," at the World's Fair on Thursday, it was announced over the weekend by Gene Buck, president. A concert will be given in the afternoon and another in" the evening. In addition to leading composers, orchestras and conductors in the East, a number of Hollywood music directors, composers and singers will appear. World's Fair officials said no plans for broadcasts have as yet been made. A similar festival was held at the San Francisco Fair. Seek Third Loop House for 'Police' Chicago, Oct. 20. — With all seats for the American premiere here of "North West Mounted Police" sold out at both the Chicago and State-Lake theatres, B. & K. is endeavoring to obtain a third Loop house to meet the demand for tickets. The premiere will be held here Thursday. World premiere of the picture will be held in four Regina Saskatchewan, theatres tomorrow night.