Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1942)

Alert. tion Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY or remove: First in 51. NO. 38 NEW YORK. U.S.A.. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1942 TEN CENTS W. F. Rodgers Seen Joining Whitney Unit Will Be Consultant on Film Distribution Washington-, Feb. 24.— Strengthning of the South America film diviBon of the Office of Co-ordinator of Commercial and Cultural Relations between the American Republics b y Nelson Rockerr^m feller is seen in C» ' the contem plated appointment of an in^ dustry leader, ■ N^^flKPPI such as William | .^rH^BBH Rodgers, vice president in charge of distribution o f Loew's, as special consultant in the Governitnt unit of which John Hay Whitey is chairman. Rodgers also is chairman of the Jnited Motion Picture Industry oranization (Umpi). It is understood that Rodgers has (Continued on page 6) 'ara. Theatre Total n 'Dimes' $200,000 The March of Dimes collection in le country's theatres is about to pass le $1,250,000 mark, as returns from tie Paramount Theatres partners nd associates, it is reported, indicate nat upwards of $200,000 will be jrthcoming from these sources alone. So far, among the larger amounts eceived, are Loew's, $193,000 ; RKO. ,■98,250; Connecticut theatres, $42.P0{ film studio employes, $17,700; (Continued on page 6) DeMille Week9 on Coast March 15-21 Drop Admissions to USO Service Shows Washington, Feb. 24. — Admission fees for soldiers, sailors and Marines attending performances of USO Camp Shows, Inc., will be abolished after March 8, the War and Navy Departments announced today. The charges are being dropped at the request of the entertainment organization, it was said. Starting with four units last November, Camp Shows now has 26 groups touring military posts and naval stations, offering shows for service men. Fox Is Named Aide To Nathan, Head of WPB Planning Unit Matthew Fox, vice-president and assistant to Nate Blumberg, president of Universal Pictures, Inc., has been named an assistant to Robert Nathan, chairman of the Planning Committee of the W .i 1'mcliK'"* ' tion Board in W a s h i n gton. This committee, it is said, is charged with the all-important task of removing bottlenecks in the Matthew Fox arms production task which confronts the country. Selection of Fox for such a job is (Continued on page 6) Aliens Permitted to Retain Stage Names Washington, Feb. 24.— Persons of alien enemy nationality engaged in professional or other work under "stage'' names will be permitted to retain their assumed names under regulations issued by Attorney General Francis Biddle. Justice Department officials would not indicate how many persons affected by the ruling are in the film business, but explained that the purpose of the order is to permit concert and other artists to continue under the names with which they have come to be identified in the public mind, where such permission is not detrimental to the national security. U.S. WEIGHS RENTAL TAX; RAW FILM CUT WPB Will Allot Stock on Basis of Produced Footage in 1940 Washington, Feb. 24. — The amount of raw stock to be allowed the film industry is expected to be based on a percentage of the footage produced in 1940 or 1941, War Production Board officials indicated today. The result would be a curtailment of production as compared with the total number of films produced in any of several recent years, a certain reduction and a probable elimination of double features for the duration and a possible reduction in the number of prints made of any production, it was indicated. However, WPB officials revealed that it may be weeks before formal orders are issued defining the curtail (Continued on page 6) B' way Tax Receipts Show Big Increase Washington, Feb. 24. — The first three months of the new Federal admission tax, without exemptions, which added $13,000,000 to the national total, showed an increase of approximately 50 per cent for the Third New York (Broadway) District, the Internal Revenue Bureau has reported. The New York increase was from $1,196,659 to $1,774,444. The impact of the increase was felt in box-office collections, which jumped from $1,068,787 to $1,648,360, but collections on tickets sold by brokers also increased, from $14,556 to $20,076, and $30 was collected on tickets sold by proprietors in excess of the established price. NY Building Dep't Calls Circuit Meet Arthur J. Benline, Acting Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Housing and Buildings in New York City, has called a meeting of circuit representatives for tomorrow afternoon in the office of Commissioner William Wilson. The meeting will discuss conditions existing in theatres and lobbies in relation to defense preparations and protection. The session is supplementary to a meeting on the same subject held several weeks ago. Morgenthau to Announce Position on Tax at Hearing March 3 Washington, Feb. 24. — Whether or not a tax on film rentals will be included in the new Federal revenue bill is expected to become known March 3, it was learned here today. At that time Secretary Morgenthau will appear before the House Ways and Means Committee at the opening of hearings on the 1942 revenue bill. He is expected to make known then the Treasury's position with respect to the general sales tax and the possible inclusion therein of a levy on film rentals. Secretary Morgenthau will lay before the committee the Treasury's recommendations for the raising of seven billion dollars in new taxes, asked by President Roosevelt in January. Details of the Treasury's proposals are being kept secret so that no mass opposition may be developed to any phase of the program before it is fully explained to the committee. Estimate 61,365,000 Heard FDR Speech Washington, Feb. 24. — An estimated 61,365,000 adults heard the President's speech Monday night, it was stated at the White House today. This represented 78.1 per cent of the total possible adult audience, it was said, as compared with the all-time record of 79 per cent set Dec. 9. After the Dec. 9 speech, C. E. Hooper estimated the total U. S. audience at 90,000,000, but the difference is probably accounted for in part by the fact that the White House estimate yesterday was limited to adults. CBS television on Monday preceded (Continued on page 10) Connors Returns From Studio Visit Tom J. Connors, personal assistant to Sidney R. Kent, president of 20th Century-Fox, returned to the home office yesterday from the Coast. While in Hollywood, Connors was engaged in a series of studio conferences relative to production plans for next season.