Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1941)

Motion picture daily Friday, October 3, 194rf Affiliates Slow in Voting on Ascap; More Delays Seen Ascap contracts from NBC and CBS affiliates were reported by the networks yesterday as coming in "slowly." Some doubt was expressed by officials that it would be possible to have Ascap music back on the air by Oct. IS, the date tentatively set in the CBS letter to station affiliates. Meanwhile, the Ascap board yesterday again approved the unlicensed use of Ascap music on football broadcasts by the networks this weekend. Similar action was taken by the board for broadcasts of last week's games. An Ascap official said that, while there still is no definite indication of contracts with the major networks being closed, no criticism of the NBC and CBS procedure was voiced at yesterday's board meeting. It was stated that Ascap is satisfied that the delay is unavoidable and that the networks will make renewed efforts early next week to hasten acceptance of the new Ascap contracts by their affiliated stations if the volume of acceptances received by that time is not up to expectations. Networks, meantime, report no difficulty with sponsors because of the lack of the Ascap catalogues. It was pointed out that business has been steadily ahead of 1940, itself a record year, and that, with the end of the conflict in sight, there was no reason for holding off, in any event. BMI announced that Ed Craney's three Montana stations had taken out BMI licenses. Craney, long a stormy petrel in the music dispute, operates KGIR, Butte; KRBM, Bozeman, and KPFA, Helena. These bring the number of stations using BMI music to a total of 716. Seven New Stations Sign With Mutual Seven new stations have joined the Mutual network, four of the North Central Broadcasting System, bringing to 182 the number of MBS outlets. The four North Central stations are KTRI, Sioux City, and KVFD, Fort Dodge, both Iowa; WJMS, Ironwood, Mich., and WATW, Ashland, Wis. The others are WGBF, Evansville, Ind. ; WBBB Burlington, N. C, and WEIM, Fitchburg, Mass., the last an affiliate of the Yankee and Colonial networks. NBC Blue Gets Two New Stations Two stations in Manchester, N. H., will affiliate with NBC today, WMUR as a basic supplementary outlet for the Blue network, and WFEA the same for the Red. Chapman Doing Script Tedwell Chapman, now in the East from Hollywood, is doing a screen treatment for Alfred T. Mannon of Cine-Grand Productions. The story, tentatively titled, "Gargantua, Ltd.," is a jungle story to be filmed in Mexico. York Promotes Heckert Edgar F. Heckert of the York Ice Machinery Corp., which manufactures air-conditioning equipment for theatres, has been advanced from head of the service department to special assistant to the general works manager. Off the Antenna FM receivers now in operation around the country total about 70,000, according to a survey made by FM Broadcasters, Inc. Armstrong licensees are turning out about 1,000 units a day, according to report, and manufacturers expect the 100,000 mark in sets in operation to be passed by a considerable margin by Christmas. • • • Purely Personal: Frank Danzig, WMCA production man, will give a course in radio production at Long Island University. . . . Richard Krolik has been named assistant to Lester Gottlieb, Mutual publicity director, succeeding Ed Nickel. . . . Bill Sonneman, Jr., son of the assistant to Charles Van Loan, WOR auditor, will appear on the Mutual Playhouse show Saturday. • • • WJZ will celebrate its 20th anniversary on the air Sunday. • • • A new commercial program which will get under way Sunday, 5:155 :30 P.M., over 78 Mutual stations will feature music from Disney pictures exclusively. Parker Pen Co. will sponsor the show which will be called "Walt Disney's Song Parade." Music from "Dumbo," Disney's newest film, will be includeed. • • • Gene Autry, Republic Picture western star, and also featured player in "Melody Ranch," will be tendered a party by CBS at Toots Shot's restaurant next Wednesday evening fust before the opening of the Rodeo at Madison Square Garden, in which he appears. Theatre Changes Fox Intermountain Plans House Helena, Mont., Oct. 2. — Fox Intermountain plans a $200,000 theatre here, seating 1,200. The work will start shortly, according to Jack Edwards, circuit manager here. House Sold at Rodeo, Cal. Rodeo, Cal., Oct. 2. — The Rio Theatre here has been sold by Coniglio Brothers to C. A. J. Church. To Re-Equip House in Conn. East Haven, Conn., Oct. 2. — New equipment will be installed at the Capitol, recently acquired by Irving C. Jacocks, Jr., operator of the Branford. Open California House Lafayette, Cal., Oct. 2. — The Joseph Blumenfeld Circuit has opened its new 400-seat Park Theatre here, eight miles east of Oakland. Reopen Connecticut House Thompsonville, Conn., Oct. 2. — Peter Perakos has reopened the 900seat Franklin, Thompsonville, for weekend operation only, with 28-cent top admission, and combined first and second run policy. Perakos also operates the full-time 985-seat Strand. Building San Antonio Theatre San Antonio, Oct. 2. — A theatre is being erected here by E. D. Edwards of Oklahoma. Plans New Orleans Drive-In New Orleans, Oct. 2. — James Cooper, night club operator here, is planning construction of a combination drive-in and outdoor theatre near the lake front. The theatre will have both drive-in facilities and seats for anyone who cares to use them. Manages House in Maine Calais, Me., Oct. 2. — A change has been made in the managership at the State here, a Lockwood-Gordon house. Edward Haskins has returned as manager. He succeeds Arthur Laplante, resigned. Connecticut Theatre Changes The Tremont at Ansonia, Conn., and the Victory in New Haven, have reopened, the latter operated by Mike Tomasino. The New Colony, at ^ound View, Conn., has closed for the Winter. Manages Tampa House Tampa, Oct. 2.— H. B. Fuller, Jr., associated with the Sparks, Orlando, and the Paramount, Melbourne, during the past 11 years, has been made manager of the Tampa, succeeding Vincent B. Wade. Improve Spokane House Spokane, Oct. 2. — Improvements estimated at $2,000 were made at the Granada in advance of its recent reopening on a new first-run, singlebill policy. H. D. McBride is manager. Join Evergreen Staff Spokane, Oct. 2. — Robert Anderson and Robert Polley have been added to the staff of Evergreen Theatres Corp. Manages Newport House Newport, R. I., Oct 2.— Ralph Tully, formerly manager of the M. & P. house in Jamaica Plain, Mass., has succeeded David Dugan, resigned, as manager of the Strand theatre here. The Strand also is part of the M. & P. circuit. Managing House in Conn. Newington, Conn., Oct. 2. — John Sirica, former manager of the Lido, Waterbury; Palace, New Britain, and Strand, Thompsonville, has been appointed manager of the New Newington Theatre here, operated by Fred Quatrano, Robert Schwartz and William Sirica. Poorman Promoted St. Clair, Oct. 2. — Charles Poorman, manager of the Hollywood, Mark Rubinsky house, here, and formerly manager of the circuit's Lyric, Newsmanstown, has been promoted to circuit road manager. More Than 100 to Attend Col. Meet In Chicago Toda^ Chicago, Oct. 2. — More than K>) p members of Columbia's sales organization from the home office and 15 Midi western and Southern exchanges will attend the company's three-day re-* gional sales meeting opening here to-r morrow. / • 1 Those scheduled to attend in *f? ' P tion to the home office delegatioi headed by Abe Montague, genera sales manager, announced earlier, in elude the following from the field or ganization : Chicago: Phil Dunas, C. W. Phillips, T I Greenwood, F. Flaherty, M. Delano, W. J r Kahl; Minneapolis: H. J. Chapman, M E. Mazur, I. Marks, D. H. Conley, M. W Sgutt, A. L. Aved, W. Evidon; Omaha. '\ J. H. Jacobs, E. Dunas, J. Zide, R. Adlert M. Shackelford; Milwaukee: O. J. Ruby J T. J. MacEvoy, S. R. Chapman, D. V Chapman; Des Moines: M. H. Evidon. A B. Leake. M. Goodman, O. Miller. H. B Thomas; Detroit: Carl Shalit, H. R| Schilds, R. F. Cloud, G. L. McCoy. C. H Townsend, C. Baker. Indianapolis: W. G. Craig, H. Kaufman C. Butler, A. J. Gelman, L. Shubnell, I Hanover; St. Louis: C. D. Hill. L. A LaPlante. J. Bradford, C. Ferris, R. Mor tensen, D. E. Pratt; Kansas City: B. C Marcus, T. Baldwin, Stanley Goldberg, H S. Stulz, S. Frank, I. Altshuler; Atlanta S. Moscow, R. J. Ingram, B. A. Wallace U. T. Koch, A. Rook, J. S. Laird; Mem phis: J. J. Rogers, H. Christman. E. P Doherty, C. Kornegay; New Orleans: H Duvall, J. Winberry, J. J. Fabacher anc R. A. Kelly; Dallas: J. B. Underwood H. Craver, W. L. Penn, J. L. McKinnev A. M. Whitcher, O. L. Wilkes. F. J Barry; Oklahoma City: C. A. Gibbs, J. A Smith, S. Gibbs, J. P. Hudgens; Charlotte J. Gins, G. Roscoe, R. D. Williamson. C Patterson. 'Ladies' and 'Jordan' Capture Mpls. Lead Minneapolis, Oct. 2. — "Here Comes Mr. Jordan" at the Orpheum and "When Ladies Meet" at the State were the box office leaders here this week, taking $8,500 and $9,000, respectively. Estimated receipts for the week Sept. 26-27: "Dance Hall" (Fox) GOPHER — (998) (28c) 7 days. Gross $2,400. (Average, $2,500) "Three Cockeyed Sailors" (U. A.) WORLD — (350) (28c-39c-44c-55c) 7 days. Gross: $1,200. (Average, $1,600) "Here Conies Mr. Jordan" (Col.) ORPHEUM — (2,800) (28c-39c-44c) 7 daysrf..Gross: $8,500. (Average. $5,500) "Hold That Ghost" (Univ.) CEXTURY— (1,600) (28c-39c-44c) 7 days 2nd week. Gross: $6,500. (Average. $4.000 1 "When Ladies Meet" (M-G-M) STATE — (2,300) (28c-39c-44c) 7 days. Gross: $9,000. (Average. $6,000) "Three Sons O' Guns" (W. B.) 3 days "Very Young Lady" (Fox) 3 days "A Dangerous Game" (Univ.) 4 days "They Meet Again" (RKO) 4 days ASTER— (900) (15c -28c) 7 davs. Gross: $1,700. (Average, $1,800) 0 Ernst Warns FCC on Link of Press, Radio (Continued from page 1) trol over the air, he had even greater fear of Government ownership of. radio. Ernst said that radio stations gen-^ erally refused to accept controversial programs on what he described as "the time-worn excuse that they were libelous or smacked of scandal." Charging that there was a domination of radio by advertising, he urged that some means be found through which the FCC would have some power over program material.