Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1941)

Motion Picture Daily Monday, October 27 Kalmenson Is WBSalesHead; Sears Resigns (Continued from page 1) short time to fill the post he left. He added that any appointments he makes will be from within the Warner ranks. On the day before, Warner Bros, announced that Sears was continuing with the company, following the ending of Sears' discussions with U.A. representatives relative to the presidency of U.A. It was indicated then that Bernhard would be general manager and it was known that Kalmenson was slated as his assistant in charge of sales, in effect sales manager. However, three hours hardly had elapsed when that situation shifted — because Sears was to stay. On Friday, even before the home offices opened, the trade was aware that Sears would leave, this time definitely, and that Leserman was leaving with him. Sears Has No Plans Sears in his statement said he had no immediate plans except for a twomonths' vacation. In announcing Sears' resignation, Harry M. Warner, president of Warners, stated: "I sincerely regret Mr. Sears' decision to leave Warner Bros. In his association with the company during the past 21 years, Mr. Sears has been a vital force in the growth of this company to its present position of prominence in the entertainment field. He at all times has commanded the utmost respect and admiration of his associates in Warner Bros, and in the industry as a whole." "I know," Warner continued, "that Mr. Sears will bring credit to any company with which he is associated, and will continue to further the growth and prestige of one of the world's ranking industries." Kalmenson, the International Motion Picture Almanac records, was with the Crucible Steel Co. of America for 10 years prior to joining First National in Pittsburgh in 1927. He was promoted to manager of the company's branch in Albany, transferred to Omaha and Kansas City as manager and returned to Pittsburgh in January, 1932. Two years later he resigned as Warner-First National manager in Pittsburgh to become chief booker for Warner Theatres in that city. Later he left the theatre department to become Central District manager for Warners with headquarters in Pittsburgh and in December, 1937, was promoted to Southern and Western sales manager. Started Under Schaefer According to the International Motion Picture Almanac, Sears, who worked as a projectionist while attending school, started with the World Film Co. in New York as a salesman under George J. Schaefer. This was after his discharge from war service with the A. E. F., from which he retired as a first lieutenant. Later he was transferred to the St. Louis office, and subsequently worked for Republic Sears Praises Warner Bros. On Leaving After 21 Years The following is the statement issued by Gradwell L. Sears, upon resigning from Warner Bros. : "I have resigned today my position as general sales manager of Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc., and as president of Vitagraph, Inc., the resignations to be effective immediately. After 21 years with the Warner organization, it is a step that I naturally have taken with a great deal of feeling. I leave with the greatest friendship and the greatest respect for the gentlemen with whom I have worked so long. Proud of Warner Bros. "I take considerable pride in the standing of Warner Bros, today in the motion picture industry. I am very proud that I have had a part in building the Warner organization into a leader in the entertainment industry in those same years that the entertainment industry was becoming one of the great industries of the world. The path that the Warner company chose was not always the easiest way, but courageous leadership brought it to the top of its field. I am proud of what part I may have played in that. "My plans for the immediate future are quite indefinite. What I want most right now is to go hunting for two months at least. The details of what will come after will have to wait. "Now that I am no longer responsible to them, I should like to say frankly what I think of the three brothers for whom I have worked so long, Harry, Jack and Albert Warner. I believe that they have earned a family respect the equal of that of any family in the world. "Harry Warner is one of the outstanding citizens of our country today, a great patriot in a time when the country needs great patriots, a sincere and intelligent liberal, a generous giver of his time and money in civic and charitable causes, and a business man of unquestioned ability and integrity. Lauds Production Head "Jack Warner is one of the production geniuses of the film business. The high level that motion pictures have attained in recent years is due in no small part to the art and effort that Jack Warner has applied to the productions he has made in the studio in Burbank, Calif. "Major Albert Warner has contributed more than his good share to the successful direction and operation of an enterprise that is as large and as necessarily complex as a modern motion picture company like Warner Bros, must be. "The affection, devotion and loyalty of these three brothers to one another and to their company has been an inspiring example." 'Truth* in Baltimore Tallies Neat $15,000 Baltimore, Oct. 26. — "Nothing But the Truth" measured up with $15,000 at Keith's, while "Honky Tonk" scored $16,200. Estimated receipts for the week ending Oct. 16 : "Hanky Tonk" (M-G-M) CENTURY — (3,000) (28c-44c) 7 days. 2nd week. Gross: $16,200. (Average, $10,000) "Nothing But the Truth" (Para.) KEITH'S— (2,406) (15c-28c-33c-44c) 7 days. Gross: $15,000. (Average, $9,000) "A Yank in the R.A.F." (20th-Fox) NEW— (1,581) (15c-28c-35c-55c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $9,500. (Average, $7,000) New York Town" (Para.) STANLEY — (3,280) (15c-28c-39c-44c-55c) 7 days. Gross: $10,000. (Average, $12,000) "Ladies in Retirement" (Col.) HIPPODROME— (2,205) (15c-28c-44c-55c66c) 7 days. Stage show with Yvette; Four Samuels; Don Cummings, Equillo Bros, and Sibyl Bowan. Gross: $17,000. (Average, $14,000) Distributing Corp., Selznick and Vitagraph. He joined First National Pictures as salesman in December, 1920, in Chicago, and was named Cleveland branch manager in 1925. He was transferred back to Chicago as branch manager in 1928 and the following year was appointed Southern and Western division sales manager. He was named general sales manager for the South and West for Warner Bros. Pictures in March, 1931, and in 1935 became vice-president of Vitagraph, Inc. In August, 1937, he was advanced to general sales manager, and in February, 1938, was elected president of Vitagraph, Inc., the Warner distributing subsidiary. Theatre Television Attempt Brings Suit (Continued from page 1) which Arthur Mayer is managing director, filed proceedings in the N. Y. Supreme Court to confirm an arbitration award of $1,891 against Scophony, Ltd. Paul Raibourn, in charge of television for Paramount, was arbitrator. He ruled that Scophony had breached a contract made on May 16 to lease large screen television equipment to the Rialto. The award provided that if Scophony provides a television receiver to the theatre within the year, payments of damages should cease. A large screen receiver had been installed in the Rialto and several tests were made but the FCC ordered several changes in television standards, including an increase in lines from 441 per frame to 525, and the set was not adapted to those standards, Mayer said. Mayer's announcement that he would have large screen television in his house followed by one week a demonstration by RCA of a major prize fight shown on large screen television over leased telephone wires. Although RCA planned to have the special telecasts made available to theatres only over telephone lines, Mayer said he planned to pick the regular telecasts of NBC and CBS off the air. A considerable flurry among radio lawyers was caused by this announcement as there is some question as to the right to use broadcasts or telecasts for commercial purposes. English Fund { $37,500,OOOi At Maximur (Continued from page 1) new year's earnings on and after Is] 1, and a like amount during each s., ceeding quarter. Withdrawals fr< the blocked funds will be permittiX two equal amounts on Nov. 1' April 1. It was stated that there is no ac rate estimate of the frozen money e! plicable to the release agreement, d the fact that the language of t agreement itself is subject to differi interpretations which would affect t withdrawal amount and, also, that is not known precisely the amoui which individual companies may ha "frozen." It was pointed out that one or tvj of the companies have employed th< blocked British revenue to liquids i their indebtedness in Great Britaj and, therefore, these have little or j| blocked currency to their credj Others have depleted their block sterling through production in En | land and the acquisition of Americ; j distribution rights to British films. The MPPDA directors on Frid; discussed methods of apportioning tlj sums authorized for withdraw among the eight companies. Indie, : tions are that the $20,000,000 out • earnings for the ensuing year will 9 divided as they were under this year agreement on a percentage based o each company's British billings frt last year. A division of opinion exists ove the apportionment of the withdrawa from blocked funds. It has been a< vocated that this allotment, too, fj divided on the same basis as the ean ings withdrawals. However, oth< companies, pointing to the discrepanc in the status of some companies th; have been in a position to make use ( eir blocked funds in England, an therefore have small balances frozen are advocating what they conten would be a more equitable division. 'Yank' at $10,700 Indianapolis Hig) Indianapolis, Oct. 26. — "A Yanl; in the RAF'' turned in a strong $10,700 at the Indiana. "Honk Tonk'" did $9,500 at Loew's. Th weather was warm. Estimated receipts for the week end ing Oct. 17: "It Started With Eve" (Univ.) "Sing' Another Chorus" (Univ.) CIRCLE — (2,800) (28c-33c-44c) 7 dav» Gross: $6,800. (Average, $6,500) "A Yank in the R. A. F." (20th-Fox) "Charlie Chan in Rio" (20th-Fox) INDIANA — (3,200) (28c-33c-44c) 7 davs': Gross: $10,700. (Average, $7,000) "Honky Tonk" (M-G-M) "Tanks a Million" (U. A.) LOEW'S— (2,800) (28c-33c-44c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $9,500. (Average, $8,000) "Hold Back the Dawn" (Para.) "Flying Blind" (Para.) LYRIC— (2,000) (28c-33c-44c) 7 days, 2nd1' week. Gross: $3,800. (Average, $4,500) Union Head Found Dead Detroit, Oct. 26. — Edward L. King, business agent of stage employes' Local 38, IATSE, is believed to have committed suicide. Officials previously had decided to drop charges of padding the State Fair payroll which were pending against him.