Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1941)

Motion Picture daily Thursday, August 21, 1% 21 Mexican Stations Join NBC Network Twenty one Mexican stations yesterday became affiliated with the Pan-American network of NBC, described as another step in the development of a unified inter-continental broadcasting service by Frank E. Mullen, NBC vice-president and general manager, who made the announcement. Arrangements for the affiliation were made with Don Emilio Azcarraga, president of XEW, largest station in Mexico. It now operates on 100,000 watts, and its power will be increased soon to 200,000 watts, making it the most powerful station in the Western Hemisphere. Mullen was advised of the affiliation by John F. Royal, vice-president of the international relations department, who is on an air tour of Central and South American countries. Charles W. Horn, vice-president of the department, completed details of the contracts in Mexico City. Mullen stated the affiliation is part of the company's cooperation with the Government's "good neighbor" policy. Exchange programs are included in the plan, Mullen said, and many programs broadcast regularly in this country will be made available to the Mexican stations. Theatre Changes Reopen A. C. House Atlantic City, Aug. 20. — The Embassy, formerly operated by the Weilland-Lewis interests has reopened as the Empress for the presentation of foreign, and unusual pictures. The house was leased by M. E. Blatt, local department store owner, and will be operated by Seymour Vorziner, Oliver Unger and Louis Levine. Two Changes in Frisco San Francisco, Aug. 20. — After 10 years partnership, Peter Kyprios has bought the interest in the Ellis Theatre of John Vasconcellos, who will return to Nebraska. In September, A. Zerga will take over the Union Theatre, a neighborhood house. Refurnishes Portland House Portland, Aug. 20. — J. J. Parker is re-equipping his first-run theatres here, the Broadway and United Artists. He has contracted with the Seattle branch of National Theatre Supply for $30,000 worth of new chairs. Re-Equip Loew-Poli Houses New Haven, Aug. 20. — Harry F. Shaw, Loew-Poli division manager, reports all Poli houses will have new Simplex E-7 mechanisms and lamp houses installed. New Equipment Installed Spokane, Wash., Aug. 20. — Evergreen Theatre Corp. has spent $5,000 on new sound equipment and a new screen for the Fox bere. For a knight at the court of Louis XII Mechanized defense takes a different form in America today ; indeed, takes many different forms. In the projection room, the Altec Service man provides a scientifically mechanized defense against the undue wear and premature wear-out of the equipment and its parts. When, under pressure of priorities, the business watchword is "Conserve!" — then Altec Service assumes an importance that is becoming increasingly clear to foresighted exhibitors. JUTEC 250 West 57 th Street New York City ALTEC SERVICE SAVES, THE EQUIPMENT . . . Engraved and gilded French armor and equestrian armor, made in 1527. From the collection of historic arms and armor, Metropolitan Museum of Art. PROTECTS, PRESERVES . . AND ALL ITS PARTS Open New Wichita House Wichita, Kan., Aug. 20. — The Dunbar Theatre here, first unit of American Enterprises, Inc., has been opened here. The theatre is understood to represent an investment of $50,000. Plan Norfolk Open Air Norfolk, Va., Aug. 20. — A sixteenacre tract on the Virginia Beach boulevard recently was purchased by the Georgia Amusement Company, with which R. J. Reynolds, Jr., is connected. Purchasers plan to operate an open-air motion picture house on part of the property, and develop the rest as a suburban residential subdivision. Enters Distribution Billings, Mont., Aug. 20. — Murray McBride, assistant manager of the Rio in Billings, has gone to Salt Lake City to become an assistant booker for Columbia there. Yost at Oakland Palace Oakland, Aug. 20. — George Yost, former manager of the Dimond here, has been appointed manager of the Palace. Frank Hayward replaces him at the Dimond. Improve Milwaukee House Milwaukee, Aug. 20. — The Colonial, local independent neighborhood house, is being equipped with a new box-office, neonized canopy and improved lobby. Takes House at Abilene Abilene, Tex., Aug. 20. — William Morrow, Jr., has taken over the Rio in Dimmitt. He also operates the Star here. First Pa. FM Station Will Open on Aug. 28 Pittsburgh, Aug. 20. — Pennsylvania's first FM station, W47P, will begin broadcasting Aug. 28, Frank Smith, manager, has announced. The transmitter was finished last week, test broadcasts are being conducted currently, and full-time schedule begins on Aug. 28, operating up to 3,000 watts over 8,400 square miles. More than $30,000 worth of equipment was installed by WWSW, owner-station, which will be heard Sept. 25 by the FCC in an appeal for 5,000 watts on 970 kilocycles. WWSW now operates on 1,490 kilocycles, KDKA on 1,020. Columbia Artists' Name Is Changed Albany, Aug. 20. — Columbia Artists, Inc., talent management subsidiary of CBS, whose sale to Music Corp. of America was recently authorized by a special stockholders' meeting, has filed a notice of change of name to Management Corp. of America with the Secretary of State. Gubb Philco Chairman Larry E. Gubb, executive vice-president of Philco Corp., has been elected chairman of the board. He formerly was president of Philco Radio & Television Corp., now a subsidiary. Other promotions of company officials have been made. Commentator Will Be Callec In Senate Qui; (Continued from paae 1) and radio propaganda in favor of wa have not progressed beyond the senc ing of the 15 invitations, it wa*ji ai today by Senator D. Worth C mt Idaho, chairman of the subcomrHfUe in charge of the inquiry. Although no other invitations t testify have been sent out, it i planned to call a number of othe<Senator Clark indicated, who may n able to shed some light on the charge in the resolution that there is a defir ite propaganda in motion pictures an broadcasting for American interver tion in the war. CBS Gets Permit for St. Louis FM Statioi\ Washington, Aug. 20. — A construction permit for a new FM station i ,1 St. Louis was granted Columbi. Broadcasting System today by th j Federal Communications Commission which also moved to speed up the de velopment of commercial television ii! Philadelphia. The St. Louis station will operaC on 45,900 kilocycles, to serve 13,001 square miles with more than 1,800,0(11 j population. Seeking to expedite scheduled tele I vision in the Philadelphia area, thi ' commission granted special authoriza tion to the Philco Radio & Televisioi J Corporation to operate its experi 1 mental station W3XE on Channel No; 3 for a period of 60 days, pending th< furnishing of additional engineering data required before the company'' pending application for a constructiot permit for a commercial station cat' be passed on. TBS Stockholders' Claims Are Settled Wilmington, Aug. 20. — Elliott Roosevelt received $25,486 out of $63.-J 715 distributed to all Class A stockholders in settling the affairs otf Transcontinental Broadcasting System, according to a report of Daniel; F. Wolcott and Harry H. Stehmam; receivers, filed in the Court of Chancery here. Fees, payments to stockholders and'j; other claims totaled $70,345, leaving a total of $24,528 now held by the receivers out of cash assets amounting to $94,784. Chancellor W. W.: Harrington, on the advice of ViceChancellor George Burton Pearson, set Sept. 2 as the deadline for filing' exceptions to the report and sched-'1 uled hearings for Sept. 3. John David Closes For NBC Television John David, Inc., which operates a chain of retail men's clothing shops here, yesterday signed a 13-week contract with NBC television for a halfhour program Wednesdays, 9-9:30 P.M. The program will consist of variety produced to appeal particularly to men. Manufacturers will be asked to cooperate on the program, it was said, and newspaper advertisements will be used to call attention to ' the program.