Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1941)

Whitney to Coast On S.A. Film Plans John Hay Whitney, chairman of the motion picture division of the Office of Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs, left for California last night. He will be on the Coast about a week, during which he expects to meet with directors of the Motion Picture Society for the Americas, Inc., to report on his recent trip to South America and make preparations for his group's future plans. Darryl Zanuck Due For 'Valley' Opening Darryl F. Zanuck, vice-president in charge of 20th Century-Fox production, will arrive by American Airlines this morning from the Coast to attend the opening at the Broadway Rivoli tomorrow night of "How Green Was My Valley." Herman Wobber, general sales man ager, is due from the Coast tomorrow. Donald Crisp and Walter Pidgeon, of the film's cast, will arrive with Mrs. Pidgeon this morning by train from Hollywood. The opening will be sponsored by a committee headed by Mrs. Cushing Roosevelt for the benefit of the Navy Relief Society, and navy atmosphere will predominate. A U. S. Navy band will play before the theatre, and a vocal concert will be given in front of the house by the Welsh Women's Chorus, supplemented by a male chorus. They will sing Welsh songs as featured in the film. SPG Again Votes for Referendum on CIO The Screen Publicists Guild of New York has voted to hold a referendum immediately on the question of the organization's affiliation with the CIO Screen Office and Professional Employes Guild. A previous referendum scheduled had been canceled. LaGuardia Rally Today Personalities of the screen, stage and radio will hold a "stars party for Mayor LaGuardia" at 12:30 today at the Hotel Astor. The luncheon is under the auspices of the Theatrical, Motion Picture and Radio Committee for the Reelection of LaGuardia, McGoldrick and Morris. BROADWAY PLAYS "BRILLIANT! . . . MIRACULOUS!" — Danton Walker, News GERTRUDE LAWRENCE in the Musical Play "LADY IN THE DARK" ALVIN, 52 St. W. of B'way— Mats. Wed. & Sat. Mail Orders Promptly Filled Motion Picture Daily Personal Mention If RED QUIMBY, in charge of short * subjects at the M-G-M studio, arrived here over the weekend with Mrs. Quimby, via American Airlines' Mercury. • Arthur Lee is scheduled to arrive from a month's visit on the Coast today. • H. A. Starke of the Universal studi o on the Coast and Mrs. Starke are visiting in New York. • Gabriel Pascal flew here over the weekend from the Coast on a TWA Stratoliner. • L. M. Bleakley, Maurice Metzger, S. Anderson and R. Vandette have returned to Montreal after attending the SMPE convention here. • Herman Shiffrin, formerly of M-G-M, is now in the Army at Ft. Eustis, Va. LEO SPITZ returned yesterday from Chicago. • A. J. Seeley, Keith's Theatre, Syracuse, and J. W. Sawyer, Shea's Theatre, Buffalo, have returned from the SMPE convention here. • L. A. Brown, Eastern technical representative for J. E. Brulatour, Inc., is recuperating at Bedford, N. Y., after an operation at Mount Kisco Hospital. • Joseph Pasternak is due today from the Coast. • Angelo Cerroxe of Fishman Theatres, New Haven, and Lillian Siclari were married in New Haven yesterday. • William Waldholz, chief of motion picture distribution for the Federal Housing Administration, is on a trip to the Coast. Para. Meeting on 'Purchase' Nov. 14 Paramount will hold a meeting of district managers at the Drake Hotel, Chicago, Nov. 14-15, Neil Agnew, general sales manager, has announced. The meeting will be devoted to discussing merchandising plans for "Louisiana Purchase." In addition to Agnew, home office executives to attend will include Charles M. Reagan, assistant sales manager ; J. J. Unger and G. A. Smith, division managers ; Oscar A. Morgan, short subject sales manager; G. B. J. Frawley, Robert M. Gillham, director of advertising and publicity, and Alec Moss, exploitation. Roosevelt Permits Portrayal in Film Hollywood, Oct. 26. — President Roosevelt has granted permission to Warner Bros, to portray him as a character in "Yankee Doodle Dandy," to be based on the life of George M. Cohan. James Cagney will play the lead. The actor playing the part of the President will be seen in opening and closing sequences. Show Builder Unit Is Previewed by Metro Al-G-M's automotive unit No. 1, first of a proposed fleet of trucks, known as "show builder" units, and designed to tour the country with exploitation aids, was previewed at the Hotel Astor on Friday, with members of the trade press and M-G-M executives present. Maureen O'Sullivan, M-G-M star, christened the truck, followed by a brief talk by Howard Dietz, director of advertising and publicity, who conceived the exploitation plan. Introduced were H. M. Richey, William R. Ferguson, exploitation manager, and Edward Carrier, Ferguson's assistant. Other company executives present included : William F. Rodgers, E. K. O'Shea, E. M. Saunders, Si Seadler, Oscar Doob and C. K. Stern. Monday. October 27. 1 Trust Suit Revived Despite Settlemei Philadelphia, Oct. 26.— The ai trust suit filed in 1939 bv the Hat son Brothers in behalf of' their sub ban Lansdowne Theatre, seeking tri damages of $250,000 against the ei: major distributors and Warner Th tres will come up for final hear Nov. 10 in Federal District C here before Judge William H fa Patrick. To all intents and purposes the c; was considered settled out of c<. early last Summer and the new tt of events is considered most unusi in view of the fact that the settlem, included leasing of the Lansdow to the Warner circuit. Attorneys for the plaintiffs stat that the settlement with the distril tors has failed to prove satisfactory actual practice and that the action w proceed against them, with Vitagra (Warners) included and WanTheatres dropped as a defendant, was also stated that the Harris Brothers would seek only a moneta award since they no longer open the house. Subpoenas were issued for distri utor and exchange officials to appe at the trial as witnesses. George M. Cohan was reported as esting comfortably at Flower-Fifth Ave. Hospital over the weekend. Set Stork Club Preview Twentieth Century-Fox will hold a night club preview of the new film Hot Spot" at the Stork Club on Wednesday at 4:30 P.M. PRC Closes Deals For New Product Producers Releasing Corp. has closed several circuit deals on new season product. They include : Lightman Circuit, Warners and Ike Notes, Washington territory; Bijou Amusement Co., and Martin Circuit, Atlanta ; Indiana-Illinois Circuit and Gollos Brothers, Chicago, and P. J. D. Theatres in four towns, Seattle "A GREAT SHOW" — Herald Tribune 50C. $1 & $1 -50 PLUS TAX NO HIGHER 2ND YEAR — 2ND EDITION of the Sensational Musical Icetravaganza HAPPENS ON ICE at America's Only Ice Theatre Center Theatre, Rockefeller Center. CO 5-5474 Eves except Monday. Mats. Wed.. Sat. & Sun oQI Seats for Every Pert. 50c. EVGS. AT 8-40 It MITCHELL MAY, Jr. CO., INC. INSURANCE Specializing in requirements of the M otion Picture Industry 75 Maiden Lane, New York 510 W. 6th St. Los Angeles Irving Trust to Wind Up Payments to RKO Federal Judge William Bondy on Friday authorized the pavment by the Irving Trust Co. of $8,892 to RKO as the last funds due from the Irving Trust as former receiver to the film company. At the same time the court authorized the destruction of a number of papers and records still held by the receiver. Club Appeals for Tickets for Blin Detroit, Oct. 26.— The local Var ety Club, sponsoring the concert hei Wednesday of Alec Templeton, blir pianist, has appealed to Detroiters ( buy extra tickets so many of the city blind will be able to attend. Reque's have come to the Variety Club froi blind persons desiring to hear Ten pleton, and the Club has asked Si contributors send their checks fc tickets to motion picture editors of th city's newspapers. Proceeds from th concert will be used for charitv. Wins B&K Award Chicago. Oct. 26.— Milton Ofhcei manager of the Iris Theatre, has beei awarded the John Balaban gold tro phy for the best managing effort ii the past three months, together witl a cash prize of $100. Trophv i awarded every quarter bv Balaban t Katz. Press Room at State Al Rosen, manager of Loew's State on Broadway, is preparing a press room off the mezzanine of the theatre for the use of critics and other newspapermen covering the Times Square sector. Pages will be available to take copy to the newspaper offices, if necessary, Rosen stated. MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Published daily except Saturday, Sunday an holidays by Quigley Publishing Companv Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center New York City. Telephone Circle 7-3100 Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Mar tin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher Colvin Brown, Vice-President and Genera Manager; Watterson R. Rothacker, Vice President; Sam Shain, Editor; Alfred L Fmestone, Managing Editor; James A Cron, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau 624 South Michigan Avenue, C. B. O'Neill Manager; Hollywood Bureau, Postal Uniot Life Building, William R. Weaver, Editor Leon Friedman, Manager; London Bureau 4 Golden Square, London Wl, Hope Williams, Manager, cable address "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1941 by Quigley Publishing Company. Inc. Other Quigley publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac and Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N Y., under the act of March 3. 1879. Subscription rates per year $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign. Single copies 10c.