Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1943)

4 Motion Picture Daily Monday, May 10, IS, Schenck Gets 7 -Year Pact From20th-Fox {Continued from page 1) schedule, he said. The company will continue to sell in blocks of five, Skouras asserted, except for occasional "specials" which will be sold singly. The 20th-Fox sales force, headed by Tom J. Connors, vice-president, will hold a number of regional sales meetings during June and July, in place of a national convention, Skouras said. Under his new contract, Schenck retains the same title he has had in the past at 20th-Fox. Formerly, however, he worked without a contract. Skouras indicated that the new Schenck arrangement does not imply the appointment of a successor to William Goetz, who resigned recently as vice-president in charge of studio operations. The 20th-Fox head described Schenck's position as a rank ahead of that held by Goetz. Skouras said that discussion of a successor to Goetz is premature inasmuch as the latter will remain at the studio for perhaps another six months to complete his current commitments. Meanwhile, Skouras said, Goetz has not resigned from the 20thFox board of directors. Asked whether Colonel Darryl F. Zanuck would return to the studio in the near future, Skouras said: "I cannot answer that. Zanuck is in the Army." Schenck left for the Coast on Friday to resume his studio duties after two weeks here. His new contract is effective June 1. Skouras said that 20th-Fox will produce no low budget pictures during the new season. Among the company's outstanding new product on the 1943-'44 schedule he named "Claudia," "The Song of Bernadette," "Berlin Diary," "Guadalcanal," "One Destiny," "Happy Land," "The Eve of St. Mark" and an elaborate production of labor's contribution to the nation's war effort. The Winfield Sheehan production, "Life of Eddie Rickenbacker," may not be completed for a year or more, Skouras said. Report Al Jolson Off Colgate Air Program It is reported that Al Jolson will not return to the air for Colgate on CBS this Fall and that the Monty Woolley program which will replace Jolson for the summer, will stay on permanently if it does a satisfactory job. As yet a story plot for Woolley has not been evolved. Sherman & Marquette is the agency for the program. Canada Air Talent Ordered to 'Work' Toronto, May 9. — The new Canadian Government manpower draft code which requires employees in non-essential occupations to report for transfer to war industries before May 19, will apply to radio artists and entertainers but not to the management or technical staff of broadcasting stations. 'For This We Fighf New NBC Series A new 26-week series of programs titled, "For This We Fight," will make its debut on NBC beginning June 5, and will feature Secretary of State Cordell Hull, and other distinguished government speakers. Theme of the program will be a discussion of the coming peace. Allied War Effort; Is Aided By UJA ^(Continued from page 1) supply and repair for Allied armies in that theatre of war. Agriculture has been expanded there to provide food for the armed forces, 560 war plants have been built and 1,000 or more old plants have been converted for war use since the outbreak of hostilities, with the help of the United Palestine Appeal, one of three UJA agencies. In addition, it was estimated that more than 50,000 Jewish refugees in Palestine are now serving with the British armed and auxiliary services in the Near East. Many of them were rescued from the Continent by UJA agencies. A drama will be presented as a feature of the amusement division's annual luncheon. Joseph Schildkraut, Sam Jaffee, Alexander Kirkland, Arleen Whelan, and Doris Nolan are among those who will appear in the dramatization. Col. to Start Sales Sessions Tomorrow {Continued from page 1) Seth Raisler, William Brennan, Joseph Freiberg, Al Seligman and Leo Jaffee. Fifteen branches will be represented at the convention by district managers, branch managers and the entire sales force in the respective territories. The exchanges are Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Memphis, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Detroit, Indianapolis, Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Des Moines and Omaha. The Chicago sales meeting will be followed by a gathering in New York, May 26, 27, 28 and one in San Francisco, June 5 and 6. Theatre Wins First Cleanliness Award Minneapolis, May 9. — The Nokomis Theater has been awarded the first certificate of cleanliness to be received by a theatre from the Minneapolis department of health. The award is for consistent high level above the minimum standard of cleanliness in public places. The theatre has been participating in Minneapolis Amusement Co.'s "clean as a battleship" campaign. Conrad Carciofini is theatre manager. Wade Boteler Dies; Noted Coast Actor Hollywood, May 9. — Wade Boteler, 55, noted character actor, who played with every company, died here Friday. A widow, daughter and three sons survive him. All Blue Network Officers Reelected The president and other officers of the Blue Network Company, Inc., were reelected Friday at a meeting of the board of directors. Blue officers are : Niles Trammell, chairman, executive committee ; Mark Woods, president ; Edgar Kobak, executive vice-president ; Phillips Carlin, vice-president in charge of programs ; Keith Higgins, vice-president in charge of stations ; Fred M. Thrower, Jr., vice-president in charge of sales ; E. R. Boroff , vice-president in charge of the central division ; Don E. Gilman, vice-president in charge of the western division ; Lunsford P. Yandell, vice-president; Charles E. Rynd, treasurer ; Lewis MacConnach, secretary ; Alexander D. Nicol, controller ; Anthony M. Henig, assistant treasurer; Robert D. Swezy, assistant secretary ; and Christian Pfautz, assistant secretary. VicKnight New VP at Foote,Cone & Belding Vic Knight, who recently resigned as executive producer for the Milton Biow Agency, attributing the reason to ill health, has been signed as the radio chief of Foote, Cone and Belding and will hold a vice-president's status. Knight will continue to remain on the Coast, however, from which point he will supervise the new Jack Carson show starting June 2. In the meantime Bernard Proctor, who heads the radio department at Biow, is still looking for a replacement for Knight out in Hollywood and expects to name a successor when he returns to New York sometime this week. The new choice will also operate from the Coast and supervise the Ginny Simms Phillip Morris show which emanates from there. W.B., Rank Reported After ABP Control (Continued from page 1) its approval to such a transfer of control at this time. It is reported that Rank later this month will set up a parent organization to exercise control of public relations over all of his interests within the industry. J. Plaistow, formerly engaged in commercial publicity, is being mentioned as a possibility to head such an organization. The new unit would direct publicity and advertising for Gaumont-British, Odeon Theatres and others of Rank's production and technical companies. Kate Smith Heads Canteen Ball Here Kate Smith is executive chairman of the Canteen Ball, to be held at the Hotel Astor, May 29, Alan Corelli, founder and president of the Father Duffy Canteen, Inc., announced. Proceeds from the affair will be used to carry on the work of the Canteen. Kirby Now a Colonel Washington, May 9.— Edward M. Kirby, commissioned a year ago as a lieutenant-colonel in the army, has been promoted to colonel. He was formerly public relations director of the NAB. Warners Wil Distribute 1( In New Seasoi (Continued from page 1) more intensively to obtain lorij runs. That policy placed the co pany on a basis, several mom ago, on which it was able to relel only one picture a month. In the new season, company offici indicated, the policy will be contint with the expectation that top budf releases will not average more tl one monthly, a new seasonal minimi for a major distributor. Several ; ditional releases will be included the schedule, made up of low-budj pictures which were completed and hand when the studio abandoned p: duction of that type of film some ti ago. Such additional releases v bring the total to a maximum of the company believes. Completed productions for new s son release include : "Arsenic i Old Lace," "The Constant Nymp "The Desert Song," "Thank Y( Lucky Stars," "Adventures of M; Twain," "Princess O'Rourke," "Ba' ground to Danger," "Old Acquai ance" and "Devotion." Pictures n in production are : "The Anir Kingdom," "Saratoga Trunk" i "To the Last Man." Starting t week are : "In Our Time" and "G flict." "This Is the Army" is ne ing completion and may be a m Summer release. Unreleased low-budget films s remaining in the company's vaults a "Last Ride," "Crime By Night," ?i venture in Iraq" and "Murder on Waterfront." Martin Block Plans Live 'Ballroom' Sho Martin Block has developed a fj "Make Believe Ballroom" show :l has submitted it to various adver ing agencies for potential netW' sponsorship. Block, whose recop version of the program has beer WNEW feature for years, plans air the show on a one time a w half hour basis. The new edition of the "Ballroc would employ an 18-man orche.1 which aided by arrangements s plied by various top leaders, wc simulate the styles of the differ name bands. Near Riot at Hub Hon Boston, May 9. — Three Bosj youths were held on disorderly c duct charges as a result of a n«,j riot at the Uptown Theatre hr' They engaged in an altercation v police sent to the theatre to pre\ 1 boys from entering the place by \ of fire exits. A crowd joined in ' melee that followed. Pallos London Office Steven Palles, formerly general rr ager for Sir Alexander Korda h has opened his own offices in Lond< film row, it was announced here 3 terday. Under the trade name Omnia Films, Ltd., Pallos will c duct a general film distribution bi ness.