Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1941)

2 Motion Picture Daily Monday, October 6, 1 Personal Mention Britain May Defer Theatre Usherettes London, Oct. 5. — An amicable solution of the labor problem of British exhibitors is seen in the willingness of authorities here to accept trade committee recommendations for the cancellation or deferment of Government service for girl ushers, on the plea of exhibitors. The move, started here, is seen by observers as a highly successful method of meeting the problem. Mich. Allied Opens Convention Today Detroit, Oct. 5. — Allied Theatres of Michigan will hold its 22nd annual convention beginning tomorrow for three days at the Hotel Book-Cadillac here. A vote is to be taken on national Allied's joint conference proposal. Abram F. Myers, Allied States chairman, and other leaders are scheduled to address the gathering. The new Federal admissions tax and operations under the industry consent decree will be other topics for discussion. Ray J. Branch, president, of Hastings, Mich., will have charge of the meeting. Officials expect an attendance of more than 100 exhibitors. The opening event is a dinner meeting of the board tomorrow evening. The first general business session will be Tuesday afternoon. Sessions, including the election of officers, will be held Wednesday morning and afternoon, with the annual banquet in the evening. Following the banquet the delegates will be guests at a Variety Club party at the hotel. RKO Sets Interstate And St, Louis Deals RKO has closed a deal with St. Louis Amusement Co. for its first two blocks of new season features, and with Interstate Circuit of Texas for the first block, Ned E. Depinet, distribution head, has announced. A total of 39 houses is included in the St. Louis Amusement deal, negotiated by A. W. Smith, Jr., sales manager, and Cresson E. Smith, Western sales manager, for RKO and Harry Arthur for the circuit. The Interstate deal, involving 150 Texas houses, was negotiated by Sol Sachs, RKO Dallas manager. Wobber Plans Tour Of All Exchanges Herman Wobber, general manager of distribution for 20th Century-Fox, now on the Coast, is expected to leave from there about the middle of this month on a tour of all exchanges of the company. He plans to spend at least a day in each city, it was said. The trip, his first such tour in about a year, will require about five weeks and will wind up in New York. Mallard in Own Practice William Mallard, formerly general counsel for RKO, has opened an office for the general practice of law at 60 Broadway, OSCAR MORGAN, . Paramount short subject sales head, left Friday for Kansas City, Cleveland and Toronto. He was accompanied by Monroe Goodman, his assistant. Manny Reiner, Paramount short subject publicity director, left Saturday for Toronto. • Phil Reisman, RKO foreign distribution manager, has returned from a Latin American trip. • Rosalind Terker has announced her engagement to Budd Getschal of Paramount's exploitation staff. • Norman H. Moray, short subjects sales head for Warners, has gone to the Coast for a week's visit prior to a tour of exchanges. He is scheduled to return here next month. Music Hall Is Host At Party for Koster Radio City Music Hall officials were hosts to Henry Koster, director of Universal's "It Started With Eve," at a cocktail party in the Music Hall studio apartment on Friday. Among those present were : Nate J. Blumberg, Gus Eyssell, J. Cheever Cowdin, Charles D. Prutzman, J. J. O'Connor, Damon Runyon, J. H. Seidelman, Sam Shain, John Joseph, Lou Pollock, J. J. Jordan, B. B. Kreisler, Dan Kelley, Fred L. Lynch, Morris Alin, Larney Goodkind, Fred Meyers, Anthony Petti, Ruth Morrow, Dave Garber and Mrs. Garber, C. C. Margon, Kelcey Allen, Lester Grady, Len Golos, Fortunat Baronat, Henry Linet, Marion Orford, Adolph Schimel, A. J. Sharick and C. R. Kirby. Warner Bros. Drops 8 Scheduled Films Hollywood, Oct. 5. — Warner Bros, over the weekend announced the elimination of eight pictures which were previously planned for the new season. These are "Kickoff," "Night Warning," "Across the Atlantic," "Fortunes of Mamie Q," "Murder with Music," "Three of a Kind," "The Black Gate" and "Man Killer." It was explained that the eight pictures had been planned as low budget films. Birdwell in London Russell Birdwell has arrived in London for a stay of five or six weeks on personal business. He went across on a British bomber. EARL HUDSON, president of United Detroit Theatres, and Jack Keegan were in town last week. • Mr. and Mrs. Murray Silverstone left for the Coast on Saturday by train. • John Moroney of Dallas is a New York visitor. • Larry Schanberger, owner and manager of Keith's, Baltimore, is in town. • Dave Biedermaxn returned to Beverly Hills over the weekend. • Norman Clark, film critic for the Baltimore News-Post, visited in Norfolk over the weekend. Para. Partners Hold Impromptu Session A group of Paramount theatre partners in town primarily to attend the world's series held an impromptu business meeting at the Paramount home office at the weekend. Among those attending the conferences held with Barney Balaban. Paramount president, and Leonard Goldenson, head of theatre operations, were R. J. O'Donnell of Interstate Circuit, Martin Mullin and Sam Pinanski of M & P Theatres, Hunter Perry of Virginia, and A. H. Blank and Ralph Branton of Tri-States Theatres. I A Unions Resume Pact Talks Today The IATSE studio unions will resume negotiations today with producers' labor representatives at the offices of Pat Casey following a recess in the negotiations since last Tuesday. In the interim, the producers' representatives have been studying the various demands of the studio locals and have prepared counter proposals and specific responses to those demands. The replies will be submitted to the locals' representatives beginning with today's meeting. Casanave Opens Office Charles L. Casanave, formerly vicepresident and general manager of National Screen Accessories, has opened offices in the Bank of Manhattan Building, according to an announcement. He stated that he has acquired the rights to a new neon effect sign. Sylvaine Comedy to Open Here Tonight ' "All Men Are Alike," a new ! comedy by Vernon Sylvaine, opens at the Hudson tonight * with Bobby Clark and Reginald Denny in the top roles. 1 Lee Ephraim is the producer » and Harry Wagstaff Gribble the director. No Early Closing r Seen in Engldn] London, Oct. 5. — Despite plans f joint industry-Government discussio over a proposed film theatre curb it is understood any sudden move the Government affecting all theatr in the country is unlikely. Following the postponement of proposed conference between the Cir matograph Exhibitors Association a the Ministry of Transport, the CP now indicates it will go directly to t Prime Minister. However, it is 1: lieved the Home Office will not set j a general curfew. It is indicated til Government will warn local authofll ties which have set early closing houil that such action is considered hasty J the Government. Officials in the Mitf lands have ordered theatres to clol at 7 P.M. beginning next month. Associated British Net Equals $770,0C London, Oct. 5. — Associated Briti Pictures has reported for the yej ended March 31, last, operating pro of £1,427.157 (approximately $5,70' 000), which is an increase of abo. $25,000 over last year. Net profit f the most recent period was £192,2 (approximately $770,000). No coi mon dividend was declared. Wisconsin ITPA To Meet on Nov. Milwaukee, Oct. 5.— The ITP of Wisconsin has set Nov. 4 and as the dates for its annual conventic to be held at the Hotel Schroed here. Charles W. Trampe, Milwa kee, is entertainment chairman for t affair. Bette Davis to Coast Bette Davis, who has been recupe ating at her New Hampshire hon left for California over the weeken MOTION PICTURE DAILY {Registered U. S. Patent Office) Published daily except Saturday. Sunday a holidays by Quigley Publishing Compar Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue. Rockefeller Cent' New York City. Telephone Circle 7-3 1( Cable address, "Quigpubco. New York." Mi tin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisht Colvin Brown, Vice-President and Genei Manager; Watterson R. Rothacker. Vic President; Sam Shain, Editor; Alfred Finestone, Managing Editor; James Cron, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bursa 624 South Michigan Avenue, C. B. O'Nei Manager; Hollywood Bureau. Postal Uni Life Building, William R. Weaver, Edito Leon Friedman, Manager; London Burea 4 Golden Square, London Wl ; Hope W Hams, Manager, cable address "Quigpubc London." All contents copyrighted 1941 Quigley Publishing Company, Inc. Oth Quigley publications: Motion Picture Hera] Better Theatres, International Motion P ture Almanac and Fame. Entered as secoj class matter. Sept. 23, 1938, at the pc office at New York. N. Y.. under the act March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per ye $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign. Sins copies 10c. Theatre Authority Ends Free Shows By Union Actors at Military Camps Members of the actors' union affiliated with the Associated Actors and Artistes of America are forbidden to perform without pay at any Army or Navy camp, under an order issued by the Theatre Authority of New York and Hollywood. Alan Corelli, executive secretary of the theatre Authority in the East, stated Saturday that resolutions to that effect have been adopted by both branches. Free shows have been provided at camps under an understanding with Government officials that such a plan would be in effect for an emergency period, but that after a year the Government would provide compensation for the actors. However, he said, nothing has been done. As a result, Corelli stated, the shows at all camps will be on a paying basis. Soldiers at Fort Monmouth, N. J., will pay 10 cents admission beginning tonight.