Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1941)

*lert, nteWiger r)l r^fispensa to the^rotion Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY First in 50. NO. 102 NEW YORK, U.S.A., MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1941 TEN CENTS rull Authority To Schaef er in RKO, Report I'olicy and Setup Changes By Board Due Today By ALFRED FINESTONE RKO's board of directors is heduled to meet today for purposes t reorganizing the company's policies and setup under the full authority of George J. Schaefer, it is reported. The latter, as president, is to be offered a new contract. T h e board may be reduced in membership to make it a more workable body. Also, the board will have the opportunity to decide whether to continue the xecutive committee. Some kind of realignment of the •oard's functions and the services of •oard members is expected to result, ince at today's meeting the directors kill be called upon to consider recomnendations along such lines by a pecially designed committee of diectors. May Share Functions The various functions of the board nay be distributed among committees if directors which are to be set up, 't is said. Schaefer is expected to eave for Hollywood following the i neeting. Joseph I. Breen will continue in full "harge of production although some :hanges are expected as a consequence if the director's recommendations which will be made today. Richard C. Patterson, chairman of the board, is expected to figure more prominently in the reorganized setup. X. Peter Rathvon, chairman of the executive committee, may be given a new post. Also, the board may set up its own I policy, operating and finance committees. George J. Schaefer Report McDonough Leaving Hollywood, Nov. 23. — It is reported here that James R. McDon( ugh, RKO studio executive, is leaving the company. $50,000 Check Is Film Contribution to Red Cross Roll Call Washington, Nov. 23.— Will H. Hays, president of the MP PDA, has sent a $50,000 check to the American Red Cross for "war emergency welfare work," Norman H. Davis, Red Cross chairman, announced here today. The check represents part of the proceeds from the distribution of the film, "Land of Liberty," produced originally as a joint industry venture for the New York and San Francisco world's fairs. It subsequently was generally released with the net proceeds to go to war emergency work. In his letter, Hays asked that the $50,000 be added to the current Red Cross roll call. "Our organization," Hays wrote, "wants to show its appreciation of the splendid work which /our organization is doing and therefore makes this voluntary contribution, hoping it will be of help in connection with your current Roll Call." Davis, in accepting, asked Hays to thank the industry for the contribution, and expressed appreciation for the cooperation which the film industry always has given the American Red Cross. Bernhard Leaves On Exchange Tour Joseph Bernhard, vice-president and general manager of Warners, left last night on a tour of company exchanges, his first since assuming his new post with the film company. He will be accompanied by Mort Blumenstock, recently named national manager of advertising. 'Unity' Invitations Go Out This Week Chicago, Nov. 23. — Invitations to the all-industry conference under Allied States' unity plan are scheduled to be sent out this week by the Allied committee, it is learned. The invitations will be sent to industry leaders and representative members of industry organizations. The meeting will be held here in December. A definite date is expected to be announced early this week. Larger Scope Set for USO Camp Shows By EDWARD GREIF With a considerably enlarged board of directors, the USO-Camp Shows, Inc., on Friday announced the opening of Hollywood offices under the direction of Edward Arnold, Screen Actors Guild president and vice-president of Camp Shows, in addition to the New York headquarters headed by Eddie Dowling, president. Besides touring shows for the Army and Navy camps, a talent pool has been formed in Hollywood and another will shortly be organized here to provide additional, entertainment for the men in service. Eight musical shows and stage comedies are ready for presentation, it was said, four of (Continued on page 6) I A Locals to Get Report on Finances and 2% Assessment 'Night of Stars' to Be Held on Wednesday Scores of screen, radio and stage personalities will assemble at Madison Square Garden Wednesday night to take part in the eighth annual "Night of Stars" show for refugee relief and Palestine resettlement. Marvin Schenck is chairman of the producing committee. Included in the roster of entertain(Continued on page 6) A financial report showing the status of the IATSE treasury as well as the special fund raised by a two per cent assessment, which previously was under the exclusive control of George E. Browne, former president, will be forwarded to all locals of the union, Richard F. Walsh, president, declared over the weekend. Walsh added that the question of making the report public in advance of the convention scheduled for next Summer was being studied. All defense fees for Browne and (Continued on page 6) Connors Will Be Assistant to Sidney R. Kent Nicholas Schenck Grants Executive's Release By SAM SHAIN Sidney R. Kent, president of 20th Century-Fox, is bringing in Tom Connors as his assistant, under a proposed long-term deal. This deal, informed sources aver, will not change the operating setup of the company's domestic, foreign or theatre departments. Announcement of the appointment by Kent awaits formal closing of terms, which is expected Tom Connors sometime this week. Connors will be responsible to Kent in his new post, and, it is said, will act for Kent in the latter's absence. Connors is one of the best known executives of the industry. He is presently Eastern, Southern and Canadian sales manager of M-G-M. His services are known to have been sought by nearly every other major company, in recent months. His joining Kent is looked upon as a tribute to Kent's leadership in the industry. That Kent is bringing Connors in with the prior consent of Nicholas M. Schenck for the release of Connors from M-G-M, is taken for granted by the trade, familiar with Kent's methods of operations. Kent would not have it otherwise. Connors is expected to join Kent after details of his deal are worked out and following the M-G-M sales meeting over the weekend in Chicago, which he will attend. A native of New York City, Connors, after attending Commerce High School and Manhattan College, became a salesman of cotton goods and steel products. He entered the industry as a salesman for Pathe in New York, later joining Metro. He became assistant branch manager and branch manager for Metro. In 1924 he was appointed assistant general sales manager, in 1925 Southern sales manager, and in 1933 Canadian sales manager. Later he was appointed Southern and Canadian sales chief and in 1935 became Eastern, Southern and Canadian sales manager.