Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1941)

2 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, November 13, 1941 Coast Flashes Hollywood, Nov. 12 REPUBLIC expects "Down Mexico Way," Gene Autry special, to exceed the Autry accounts record of 11,143 set by "South of the Border." The studio announced today that the new picture, in its first five weeks of release, played 1,000 houses and thus far has been set for 5,000 additional bookings in the next four months. • Federal Judge Leon Yankwich today took under advisement the plea of Leo Morrison, agent, that the Screen Actors Guild be restrained from subjecting him to discipline under the Guild's agency franchise agreement. The court indicated that it would consult authorities on such matters. The application is an upshot of Morrison's suit against Charles K. Feldman, another agent, and Marlene Dietrich for allegedly influencing John Wayne to leave his client list for Feldman. • Charles Starrett, Columbia cowboy star, suffered severe facial injuries today when thrown from a horse when making scenes for "Lawless Plainsmen" on location. Bergman Agent for Pierre van Paassen Maurice Bergman has been named sole representative on films for Pierre van Paassen, journalist, author and lecturer, who is now engaged in preparing a screen story on the life of Clemenceau, World War premier of France, with whom he was well acquainted. There is also under consideration a series of shorts based on chapters of "That Day Alone," his latest book. He is the author of "Days of Our Years" among other books. Bergman is a former advertising and publicity director of Columbia Pictures, and more recently was advertising and publicity manager of 20th Century-Fox Film Corp. Promotion Heads of UA Flying to Coast Monroe W. Greenthal, United Artists advertising and publicity director ; David E. Weshner, exploitation director ; Albert Margolies, publicity director, and Morris Helprin, head of advertising and publicity for Alexander Korda, plan to leave for the Coast by plane on Sunday to see new product and confer with producers on campaigns. BROADWAY PLAYS "GRAND-SCALE SMASH HIT!" — Life Magazine GERTRUDE LAWRENCE in the Musical Play "LADY IN THE DARK" ALVIN, 52 St. W. of B'way— Mats. Wed. & Sat. Mall Orders Promptly Filled "A GREAT SHOW" — Herald Tribune 50c, $1 & $1-50 -Wtax 2ND YEAR— 2ND EDITION of the _ Sensational Musical Icetravaganza It happens on ice at America's Only Ice Theatre Center Theatre, Rockefeller Center. CO. 5-5474 Eves, except Monday. Mats. Sat.. Sun. & Nov. 20 501 Seats for Every Perf. 50c. EVG8. AT B:40 Personal HERMAN WOBBER has returned from a tour of 20th Century-Fox exchanges in the Middle West. • Leonard Goldenson left for Atlanta yesterday. John D. Hertz, Jr., has left for California. • Ben Kalmenson is on a trip through the South, from which he is expected to return late next week. • Jesse L. Lasky is en route to the Coast from New York. William S. Hart arrives here today from the Coast. • Jack Goldsmith, Warners Southern field publicitv representative, has returned to Atlanta after a New York visit. • Irving Salzburg will be inducted into the Army today. Eastman Votes Stock And Wage Dividends Rochester, Nov. 12. — An extra stock dividend of $1 a share and a record-breaking wage dividend for 1942 of $4,200,000 based upon common stock dividends, was announced today by Eastman Kodak Co. The extra stock dividend is in addition to a quarter dividend of $1.50. The wage dividend is $645,000 higher than the previous largest amount distributed to emploves, $3,555,000 in 1937, and is $1,575,000 more than last year's wage dividend of $2,625,000. It will be distributed in March. The $1 extra dividend on the common stock brought declarations for the year to $7, an increase of $1 over last year. The wage dividend voted today is the 30th since the plan was inaugurated in 1912 and will bring the total Kodak wage dividend payments since that time to a sum in excess of $51,000,000. 'Appointment' Gave Music Hall $93,000 "Appointment for Love," Universal^ Boyer-Sullavan picture, moves from Radio City Music Hall today, owing to that theatre's booking schedule. Warner Bros.' "One Foot in Heaven," starring Fredric March and Martha Scott, opens today, to be followed next Thursday by RKO's "Suspicion," starring Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine. "Appointment for Love" grossed an estimated $93,000 on the week ending last night. Canadian Veteran Dies Toronto, Nov. 12. — -Isidore Axler, pioneer owner of the Victory Theatre here, and former president of McCaul Street Synagogue, died suddenly in his office at the theatre from heart failure. The theatre, formerly known as the Strand, had only recently been reopened after being remodelled. The Victory was closed one day for the funeral. Myer Axler, maintenance manager of 20th Century Theatres, is a son. Mention MELVIN EVIDON, Columbia manager in Des Moines, and Mrs. Evidon are the parents of a girl born last Monday. • Haskell Masters, United Artists Western sales manager, is in St. Louis. • F. J. A. McCarthy, Universal Southern and Canadian sales manager, is expected to arrive from Toronto today or tomorrow accompanied by Clair Hague, head of EmpireUniversal Films. • Walter Wanger is scheduled to leave for the Coast by plane tomorrow. • William A. Scully is due from the Midwest today or tomorrow. He was in Des Moines early this week. • Evan Jacobs, 20th Century-Fox head bookkeeper in Des Moines, and Mrs. Jacobs are the parents of a girl. Edmund Grainger to Leave W.B., Report Edmund Grainger will end his association with Warner Bros, on Saturday, according to reports. The producer, who is the son of James R. Grainger, president of Republic, and nephew of E. C. Grainger, president of the Feiber & Shea Theatres, has been with Warner Bros, for two years. In that time he made 12 pictures for W.B. release. He has just completed "Wild Bill Hickok," and another of his films, "International Squadron," will open today at the Strand on Broadway. Following his departure from W.B., the producer plans a vacation in New York before engaging in new work. Senators Postpone Film Probe Meeting Washington, Nov. 12. — Members of the Senate propaganda probe subcommittee today did not expect to be able to get together until next week to map the future of their investigation of motion pictures. Senator D. Worth Clark of Idaho, chairman of the sub-committee, said he was "snowed under" by correspondence on the intervention issue and would have to work his way out before taking any steps to further the probe. Other isolationist members of the group also are understood to be engaged in replying to the letters which their fight against revision of the Neutrality Act brought in. Mrs. J. J. Murray Rites Scranton, Pa., Nov. 12. — The funeral of Mrs. John J. Murray was held here with burial in the Cathedral Cemetery here. The deceased, wife of the veteran Comerford manager of the Manhattan Theatre here, died in Scranton State Hospital after a week's illness. Music Hall Reception A reception in honor of Dr. Daniel A. Poling and Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, who advised on Warners' "One Foot in Heaven," and Casey Robinson, who prepared the screenplay, will be held at the Music Hall today. Well known sons of ministers will attend. French Comedy to Open Here Tonight "Little Dark Horse," Theresa Helburn's adaptation of a French comedy by Andre Birabeau, will be presented tonight at the Golden with Cecilia Loftus, Walter Slezak and Lily Cahill in featured roles. Donald Blackwell and Raymond Curtis are the producers. SPG Vote Rejects Affiliation With CIO A referendum vote in the Screen Publicists Guild has rejected affiliation with the CIO, it was announced yesterday. The affiliation, which was backed by many SPG officials, was disapproved because "many members believed such a move not necessary to the securing of a speedy and acceptable contract," an executive board statement said. The board refused to disclose the tabulation of the ballots. A large number of votes were challenged but they cannot affect anything except the closeness of the result, it was said. The statement also said that cooperation with the Screen Office & Professional Employes Guild, Local 109, CIO, would continue and that the "membership is prepared to take whatever steps are necessary to secure its contract." John J. Stanley, secretary-treasurer of the United Office & Professional Workers of America, parent union of Local 109, said the refusal to affiliate was "deeply regretted." "The results of their referendum will delay but not prevent the establishment of maximum unity among all white collar workers in the motion picture industry," he said. P. R. C. Conducting Regional Sessions Arthur Greenblatt, general sales manager of Producers Releasing Corp., will conduct a regional sales meeting in Dallas this week, followed by another at Oklahoma City next Monday. From there he will visit Kansas City, Omaha, Denver and Hollywood, before returning to the home office. Sales conferences will be held in all of the cities. MOTION PICTURE DAI LY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Published daily except Saturday, Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York City. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco. New York." Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Colvin Brown, Vice-President and General Manager; Watterson R. Rothacker, VicePresident; Sam Shain, Editor; Alfred L. Finestone, Managing Editor; James A. Cron, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau. 624 South Michigan Avenue, C. B. O'Neill, Manager; Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union 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.