Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1942)

2 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, April 29, 1942 Coast Flashes Personal Mention Hollywood, April 28 THE cooperation independent producers may expect from the Navy will be discussed Thursday night by Lieut. Cmdr. A. J. Bolton at a meeting of the Independent M. P. Producers Association. At the same time, according to I. E. Chadwick, president, the producers will tell what cooperation they expect to give the Navy. • Rodney Pantages, a member of Los Angeles Theatre Defense Bureau, working with engineers of the Eastman Kodak Co., has devised a theatre lobby blackout lamp which has been approved by local defense authorities. Sketches showing its construction and methods are being issued this week to bureau members. • M-G-M announced today that Mickey Rooney's next picture will be Rudyard Kipling's "Kim," and that Hedy Lamarr will have the role of "Tondeleyo" in "White Cargo." Victor Saville will produce both films. • Columbia is changing its setup of western picture programs with Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys to be featured in a series of eight films with Russell Hayden. Walter "Dub" Taylor will have the featured comedy spot. Hayden's former co-star, Charles Starrett, will be featured in a new series of westerns. The program for Bill Elliott, another Columbia western player, who was co-starred with Tex Ritter, is not yet set, Ritter having gone to Universal. Army-Navy Relief Drive Meet Today Max A. Cohen, New York State chairman for the Army and Navy Emergency Relief drive, scheduled for May 14-20, has called a meeting of all industry branches for 11 A. M. today at the Hotel Astor to discuss plans for the campaign in the Metropolitan area. C. C. Moskowitz is co-chairman. Details of the military parade on Broadway on May 14, the opening day of the drive, will be discussed, as well as the organization of the theatres in the area for auditorium collections during the week of the campaign. More than 6,700 pledges have been received from theatres thus far, it was reported yesterday. The campaign press sheet will go out this week to all theatres signing pledges. Proceeds of Col. Shorts Go to USO Kate Smith will make a series of one-reel community sing subjects, to be distributed by Columbia, the proceeds to be donated to the United Service Organizations, Columbia announced yesterday. The series, known as "America Sings With Kate Smith," will be produced here by Columbia, under Ted Collins' supervision, at the rate of one a month. The subjects will be reduced to 16mm. for the Army and Navy entertainment centers. Miss Smith received SI as consideration for the contract. Jack Cohn, Columbia vice-president, is coordinator of the entertainment and sports division of the New York USO campaign. FRANK KENNEBEC, Paramount managing director for India, is scheduled to leave for New York soon. • Alfred Hitchcock and Jack H. Skirball have returned to the Coast. • Hugh Maguire, office manager at the RKO New Haven exchange, has entered the Air Corps as a lieutenant. • Colin W. Flannigan, manager of Schine's Regent Theatre, Geneva. N. Y., has joined the Army. • Robert Fulton, manager of the Tri-States Paramount Theatre, Des Moines, has returned to work following an operation. • James Grainger of the Stadium Theatre, Woonsocket, R. I., has been inducted into the Army. Umpi Plan Approved By Kansas -Missouri Kansas City, April 28. — Approval of the Umpi sales plan was voted here today by the Kansas-Missouri Theatre Association at its 24th annual convention. The plan was presented and recommended by Ed Kuykendall, president of the MPT OA. Ku3*kendall said that further adjustments in the industry unity program might be expected as steps were tried out. The meeting, held at the Phillips Hotel, will continue tomorrow. R. R. Biechele, president, is presiding. E. C. Rhoden, War Activities Committee regional chairman, urged complete cooperation in the war effort and suggested that methods be adopted to improve the coordination of exchanges and exhibitors in war work. H. J. Griffith, chief barker of the local Variety Club, discussed the club's promotion of war bonds and stamps. Byron Spencer, attorney, discussing Kansas legislation regarding music copyrights, reported that Ascap and BMI had registered compliance with the state laws. David Palfreyman of the MPPDA addressed the meeting. 20th-Fox Purchases 'The Moon Is Down9 Film rights to "The Moon Is Down," play by John Steinbeck, were acquired yesterday by 20th CenturyFox in what the company described as a "transaction involving the highest amount of money ever paid for a Broadway stage success." Oscar Serlin. producer of the Steinbeck play, said the price was S300.000. The play is now current on Broadway. Plan Streimer Tribute A bronze tablet to the memory of Moe Streimer will be unveiled on Sunday, May 10, at 11 :4S A. M. at the Congregation Ezrath Israel, at 339 West 47th Street, by a group of industry friends. Jack Ellis and Michael Ruden are in charge of arrangements. Greenthal, Too Monroe Greenthal will join A. M. Botsford and Glendon Allvine on the Martin Weldon program over WINS today. They will be interviewed on industry public relations. MICHAEL O'DONOGHUE, manager of the Capitol Theatre, Mauch Chunk, Pa., is the father of a son, born last week. • Robert H. Monks of Warners' Fox Theatre, Philadelphia, will be inducted into the Army next week. • Max Miller, director of publicity for the William Goldman circuit, Philadelphia, leaves for military duty next month. • Morris Wolf has been reelected to the executive committee of the United Charities Campaign in Philadelphia. • Ben Haber of the 20th CenturyFox advertising department is the father of a son, born Monday at the Jewish Hospital in Brooklyn. Griffis, Weitman to Capital on Caravan Washington, April 28. — Stanton Griffis, chairman of the special events committee of the Navy Relief Society, is due here tomorrow afternoon from New York with Robert Weitman, who is acting as Griffis' aide, for final meetings on die scheduled appearances of the Hollywood Victory Caravan. Griffis will return to New York, but Weitman will accompany the caravan on part of its tour. The Caravan of Hollywood stars will arrive here tomorrow morning from the Coast to prepare for the opening performance here of the 13 scheduled one-night stand benefits on behalf of Army and Navy Emergency Relief. The first show will be held at Loew's Capitol on Thursday evening. Two rehearsals of the troupe are scheduled for tomorrow and another on Thursday. The theatre will close at 5 P.M. Thursday for a dress rehearsal. Barrett Kiesling has arrived here to assist on arrangements. The visiting stars will have breakfast tomorrow morning at the Army and Navy Club, and a tea in their honor has been arranged at the White House for Thursday afternoon. Flinn to Start With SIMPP on May 1 John C. Flinn will establish headquarters for the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers in Hollywood upon taking over his new post of executive secretary of the organization on May 1, Loyd Wright, president of the society, announced yesterday. Wright also announced that Hunt Stromberg, who has organized his own producing company to release through United Artists, has joined the Society. Wright plans to leave for Hollywood tomorrow. Operates Buxbaum House Joseph M. Seider, president of Prudential Playhouses, will operate the Casino Theatre on Shelter Island, L. I., a Summer house, for Harry S. Buxbaum, while the latter is serving with the Naval Air Service. Buxbaum is the son of Harry Buxbaum, 20th Century-Fox New York branch manager. Newsreel Parade THE new issues have a variety of subjects including the draft registration for men 45 to 65, the Hollywood Victory Caravan beginning its tour, Marines in landing maneuvers, construction of upside-down sub-chasers in Michigan and the annual Pena. Relays meeting in Philadelphia. T# reels and their contents: -» MOVIETONE NEWS, No. 67— New draft registration. Troopship loaded for voyage. Marines in maneuvers. Panama tests defenses. Annapolis dress parade. Hollywood Victory show begins tour. Production of sub-chasers. R.A.F. uses camera gun. Quintuplet goats. Jamaica racing. Penn Relays. NEWS OF THE DAY, No. 265— Grandfathers register. Marines in maneuvers. Sub-chasers built in Michigan. War training in Panama. Victory caravan in Hollywood. Millionth ticket to service man in New York. Racing in Maryland. Penn Relays. PARAMOUNT NEWS, No. 70— Hunt race in Maryland. Penn Relays in Philadelphia. Torpedoed Argentine tanker reaches port. Senator Connolly married in New Orleans. New York models in war posters. Springtime notes. Marines test new equipment. New York committee distributes millionth free ticket to service man. Stars on Hollywood Caravan. Draft registration. RJCO PATHE NEWS, No. 70— Draft registration. Troops set for overseas duty. Marines in maneuvers. R.A.F. air show in England. Washington co-eds learn about tractors. Hollywood star caravan begins tour. Production of sub-chasers in Michigan. Troops in Canal Zone maneuvers. Penn Relays. UNIVERSAL NEWSREEL, No. 79 R.A. F. maneuvers. Roosevelt registers for draft. New type sub-chasers in Michigan. Marines in landing maneuvers. Panama defenses tested. Dress review at Annapolis. Hollywood Victor}' show begins tour. Penn Relays. Racing at Jamaica. Plans Annual Film Award in England London, April 28. — Lady Yule, associated with British National Films, plans to establish each year in England, a series of awards to British film personalities and companies. Discussions are currently in progress with the British Film Institute which, it has been suggested, should be the judge in such a plan. W.B. Plans Musical Hollywood, April 28. — Warners plan a musical based on the life of Marilyn Miller, Ziegfeld star. MOTION PICTURE DAILY (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; London Bureau; 4 Golden Square, London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager, cable address "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1942 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. V under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign. Single copies 10c.