Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1943)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY " First in and Impartial 53. NO. 6 NEW YORK, U.S.A., MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 1943 TEN CENTS INLY. Theatres Unaffected by Ban on Driving Business Reported Good Over Weekend Greater New York Theatres and, most noticeably, the Broadway houses, have been unaffected to date by the ban on pleasure driving, a weekend survey revealed. Accessibility to good pubic transportation stood all theatres in good stead when non-essential motoring was stopped. Even the Broadway theatres which normally attract the "carriage trade" experienced no ill effects. The lines of taxis discharging patrons at such theatres was noticeably larger than before private cars were ruled off the streets. Many managers, even in neighborhoods, reported weekend business ahead of expectations. They attribut Closing of New York City public schools for the week of Feb. 1 was ordered Friday because of the low fuel oil supply. This will bring an unexpected vacation to about 1,000,000 children and 40,000 teachers, who will make up the lost time during the week of April 26, the regular Easter vacation. ed the large attendance to the unfilled leisure time on the hands of many who abandoned other diversions because of their inability to use automobiles and substituted motion pictures for them. Those interviewed pointed out that many roadhouses, (.Continued on page 4) Fascists Cancel Film On Pope as 'Pacifist' A Rome dispatch, according to Berne newspaper reports, said last Friday that Fascist authorities had withdrawn the film, "Pastor Angelicus," showing the life of Pope Pius XII before his coronation as well as lis average working day during the war. The dispatch quoted Fascist circles is declaring it had a tendency to be >acifistic and therefore was regarded is "not timely/' It was _ reported that plans called or exhibition for several months in heatres throughout Italy and later n Catholic countries throughout the vorld. 5 Rallies to Launch United NationsWeek In 1,200 N.Y. Houses United Nations Week in all five boroughs of New York City will be ushered in Thursday at noon with public demonstrations led by civic leaders and entertainers, the New York division of the War Activities Committee announced. Events for each day in the week of the fund drive, which will continue to Jan. 20, have been arranged by the 1,200 motion picture theatres in Greater New York, Long Island and New Jersey, the committee stated. In times Square, entertainers from Radio City Music Hall, the Roxy, Paramount, Strand and Loew's State theatres, as well as service men and girls dressed in the native costumes of Russia, Greece. Holland, Poland, China and Yugoslavia are scheduled to stage a colorful demonstration. Borough presidents are expected to (Continued on page 4) Shuford Joins Para. As Advertising Mg'r Stanley Shuford, film advertising executive, has been placed in charge of Paramount's national and trade advertising, Robert M. Gillham, advertising and publicity director for Paramount, announced on Friday. Shuford formerly was with the Warner advertising department for seven years, and with RKO recently. In 1939 he was vice-president of Biow Advertising Agency and subsequently was with Lord & Thomas. His appointment will permit Gillham to devote more time to special campaigns on "For Whom the Bell Tolls" and other top Paramount product. Roosevelt Endorses Pay-as-You-Go Tax Washington, Jan. 10. — President Roosevelt endorsed putting the country on a pay-asyou-go tax basis at a press conference Friday, but qualified his endorsement of the plan by saying that the Treasury Department would be out of pocket if the government forgives a part or all current taxes due. He told reporters that he thought everyone was in favor of putting taxes on a pay-asyou-go basis instead of saving in 1942 for taxes that have to be paid in 1943, but he pointed out that this is a difficult thing to do. N. W. Allied Won't Appeal Anti-5 Law Minneapolis Jan. 10. — The six months period in which the state and Northwest Allied exhibitors were en titled to appeal from the county court decision invalidating the Minnesota anti-block-of-five law will expire tomorrow without action being taken. Exhibitors in this area are increasingly satisfied with the larger picture blocks being offered by all distributors, even the consenting companies in many instances, and are represented as feeling that the cost and effort of pressing an appeal on the law, with doubtful results, no longer is worthwhile. Moreover, they are now entitled only to question facts of law in the court's decision upon taking an appeal. No new evidence or testimony could be introduced. Contributing to the exhibitors' satis(Contimted on page 4) Postmaster General Walker Expected To Be Elected Chairman of Democrats Postmaster General Frank C. Walker is expected to be elected chairman of the Democratic National Committee, according to informed circles in Washington and New York. He would succeed Edward J. Flynn, who announced late last week that he had been appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to Australia by President Roosevelt and that he would resign as chairman of the Democratic National Committee next Monday. Walker's name has been mentioned in connection with the National Chairmanship for some months, and while he has been reluctant to take the post he is also believed ready to assume it on the insistence of the President. He has been a personal friend of President Roosevelt for many years. Before appointment as Postmaster General, Walker was president of Comerford Theatres, Inc., operating theatres in Pennsylvania and New York. He is an attorney and was treasurer of the Democratic National Committee in 1932. He held several administration posts before his appointment as Postmaster General. Envoy Seeks Soviet-U. S. Film Trade Reopening of Market Aim Of Consultations Washington, Jan. 10. — A representative of the Soviet Government, whose name is said to be Antonov, has arrived here to promote "cultural relations between the American motion picture industry and Moscow." His efforts, if successful, are calculated to reopen the Russion marker to American product, and vice versa. Antonov is reported to be here for purposes of consultation with Soviet Embassy officials and the OWI before going to New York, where he will make his headquarters, later going to Hollywood for an indefinite stay. Artkino Pictures, Inc., official Soviet film agency in this country, is expected soon to make an announcement on Antonov and the purposes of his mission. One of Russia's important battle (Continued on page 4) N.J. Governor Lifts Sunday Shows Ban Princeton, N. J., Jan. 10. — Gov. Charles Edison of New Jersey has removed the ban on Sunday films here to provide recreation for more than 1,000 youths in Navy and Army training camps on the Princeton Universitv campus, it was announced. The Governor acted under his war emergency powers. This could not (Continued on page 2) Goodkind in Army; Martin in 'U' Post Larney Goodkind, for the past five years Eastern story editor of Universal pictures, has been inducted into the Army and has reported to Fort Dix. He will be succeeded by Peter Martin, who has been assistant story editor. In Today's Issue Critics' Quotes on new pictures, Page 7. Short subject reviews, Page 6. Key city boxoffice reports, Pages 5, 6, 8.