Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1943)

8 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, June 30, 194; Phila. Decline CausedbyHeat; Off the Antenna ADHERING to the advice of the National Association of Broadcasters and men prominent in the industry, broadcasters are rapidly filing manning tables with the Selective Service System showing the length of time required for the training of replacements for men in essential positions who are eligible for military service. Employers whose workers in such jobs are granted deferment on the basis of the manning tables are required to have replacements trained within the"p«ribd stipulated and Selective Service officials have indicated that no extensions will be given in other than very exceptional cases. ■ I • • • Purely Personal:' Radio is definitely making plans for the post-war era. Latest to take a step in this direction is NBC, which appointed James G. McDonald,-diplomat, journalist and radio news analyst, to the post of advisor to the Blue web on post-war relations. . . . The Association of Radio News Analysts has, taken issue zuith Paul White, director of public affairs and news broadcasts fop CBS, over what constitutes editorial and censorship reznsion. ARN A., through Jts head,)H. V. Kaltenborn, says that the copy desk is not competent to censor experienced news analysts. . . . Jack Benny has attempted to strike a bargair^with Fred 'Allen whereby the former would help the latter write his show in September. . ". . Program Notes: RCA has decided upon a new hour variety show, details of which are as yet unavailable. . . . Ruthrauff & Ryan is said to be the successful agency which has snared the company's radio account. . . . To prove how hard theatres have been hit for "live" vaudeville talent there is the example of the Loew's State theatre which will for the first time in its history headline a radio show August 12. . . . Program is "Keep Ahead'' sponsored by Edelbrau beer and features Ray Bloch's orchestra, Jerry Cooper and Lynn Gardner; . . j The "Phillip Morris Playhouse" wanted to do a radio version of "Stage Door Canteen," but Sol Lesser, the picture producer, will allow program "to use the title but neither the plot nor the dialogue. ... j • • • ••.;» A group of the Democratic party headed' by Bernard Baruch is reportedly interested in acquiring the Bluet network. Also safd^'bo be interested is James Farley who is said to be negotiating in behalf of CoCa^Cola. . . . Mexican Record to New 'Moon' Version j Mexico City, June 29. — New house records are being set at the Palacio Cino here by the new foreign language narration version of "The Moon and Sixpence," which opened last Friday and grossed 37,000 pesos (about $7,500) in its first three days. The print is the first invoIv-v-^T ing the new narration tech™,.' nique developed by Walter Gould, United Artists foreign manager, to be played outside the United States. Gould has been here for several weeks aiding with plans for the premiere. 'Coney' Leader Philadelphia, June 29. — TtoWheat wave sent thousands scurrying, to the seashore and parks over the weekend and kept business at the downtown houses to low levels. Most impressive business is being done by "Coney Island," figured at bringing the Fox §24,000. Bonita Granville and Abe Lyman's band on the stage is helping "Follow the Band" considerably at the Earle with $27,500 expected for the week. Estimated takings for the week ending June 30-July 2: "The Next of Kin" (Univ.) ALDINE — (900) (35c-41c-46c-57c-68c-7:>c) 7 days. Gross: $7,500. (Average, $9,000) "The' Ox-Bow Incident" (20th-Fox) ARCADIA— (600) (35c-46c-57c-68c) 7 days. 2nd run. Gross: $3,000. (Average, $2,800) "Presenting Lily Mars" (M-G-M) BOYD — (3,000) (35c-41c-46c-57c-68c-75c) 7 days, 3rd wek. Gross: $14,500. (Average, $14,000) , , . "Follow the Band" (Univ.) (6 days) "Coney Island" (20th-Fox) (1 day) EARLE— (3,000) (46c-57c-75c) 6 days of vaudeville including Bonita Granville, Abe Lyman's orchestra, Rose Blane, Frankie Connors, Jack Harlow, Bob Evans and Lane & Ward. Gross: $27,500. (Average. $18,000) "Coney Island" (20th-Fox) FOX — (3,000) (35c-41c-46c-57c-68c-75c) 7 days. Gross: $24,200. (Average, $14,000) "This Lane Is Mine" (RKO) KEITH'S — (2,200) (35c-41c-46c-57c-68c75c) 7 days, 2nd run, 2nd week. Gross: $3,500. (Average, $4,500) "Lady of Burlesque" (U.A. MASTBAUM— (4,700) (35c-41c-46c-57c-68c75c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $18,500. (Average, $20,000) "White Savage" (Univ.) STANLEY— (3,000) (35c-41c-46c-57c-68c75c) 7 days. Gross: $15,900. (Average, $14,000) "Pilot No. 5" (M-G-M) STANTON — (1,700) (35c-41c-46c-57c-68c75c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $6,500) Five in New York Are Incorporated Albany, N. Y., June 29. — Five theatre concerns have filed incorporation papers with Thomas J. Curran, Secretary of State, including : Harrison Theatre Corp., Manhattan, 5,000 shares, by Daniel A. Reed, Rene M. Hay and Anne Mercer, with S. Ulman, New York, filing. Scherel Corporation, Manhattan, $20,000 authorized capital stock in $100 par value shares, by Edwin A. Relkin, William M. Newman and Lillian E. Kuster ; filing attorney, was David Neuwirth, New York. Syracuse Civic Theatre Corp., Syracuse, 200 shares, no stated par value, by George E. Smith, Solomon Spector and John A. Macdonald. Angels, Inc., 200 shares, no stated par value, by Elliott Klein, Jean Shapiro and Jean Feffer, with Rosen and Goldman, New York, filing the papers. Try and Get It, Inc., Manhattan, 100 shares, no stated par value, by Joel Wiener, Bertha Laiken, Walter J. Moore ; filing attorneys, House, Grossman, Vorhaus and Hemley, New York. RKO Preferred Dividend The $2.00 RKO dividend mentioned yesterday was declared on the six per cent preferred stock, and not on the common, payable August 2 to stockholders of record on July 20. 1943 Warners Meet on 36 'Army9 Openings Warner Circuit zone advertising men will meet today in the home office, with Harry Goldberg, director of theatre advertising and publicity, to plan promotions and discuss the 36 premieres of "This Is the Army" scheduled for Warner houses immediately following the Broadway premiere at the Hollywood Theatre on July 28. Participating in the discussions will be Ben Kalmenson, general sales manager ; Joseph Bernhard, general manager of theatres ; Harry M. Kalmine, assistant general manager ; Mort Blumenstock, in charge of Warner advertising and publicity in the East, and Colonel Charles Johnson, U. S. Army. Zone advertising men will include J. Knox Strachen, Cleveland ; Dan Finn, New Haven ; Robert Paskow, Newark ; Charles Smakwitz, Albany ; Irving Blumber, Philadelphia ; Jimmy Totman, Pittsburgh ; Frank LaFalce, Washington, and Marcel Brazee, Milwaukee. Prizes in Copper Drive Philadelphia, June 29. — Robert Lynch, of M-G-M, and Philadelphia distribution chairman for the War Activities Committee, will personally award cash prizes to exhibitors in his area who collect the largest amount of essential materials in the theatres' renewed copper, brass and bronze program. Set 'Bomber's' Screening Trade showings of "Bomber's Moon" will be held at all 20th Century-Fox branch offices, except St. Louis and Portland, Ore., on July 7, at 10:30 A.M., according to Tom J. Connors, vice-president in charge of sales. Nominate Officers Of Macaulay Post Boston, ^une 29. — At a meeting of the Lt. A. Vernon Macaulay Theatrical (and film) Post, the* American Legion, the fol-lojving were* nominated for the coming ■ year : Commander, Harry Browning, publicity and advertising director of M & P Theatres ; senor vice-commander, Edward Dobkin, sound technician of Loew's, Inc. ; junior vice-commander, Charles Kurtsman, division manager of Loew's, Inc., and Cyril F. McGerigle, office manager of RKO Radio Pictures, Inc. Also finance officer, Harry Spingler, of Warners Brothers exchange, Boston; adjutant, Maxwell Melincoff, New England manager of Warner Theatres, and Chaplain, Dr. A. Edward Melincoff. Steel Has War Film Chicago, June 29— United States Steel will be host to 1,000 civic and business leaders at a luncheon and preview of "To Each Other" at the Palmer House here tomorrow. The picture is the story of U. S. Steel's war expansion program. A tenminute version will be distributed for theatres by Monogram exchanges and a 35-minute version is available for other non-theatrical exhibitions. Posts Cash in Suit In compliance with an order by Federal Judge Simon H. Rifkind, Universal Art, Inc., has posted a cash deposit as security for costs in its suit for damages of $120,725 against Solomon Hurok and Hurok Attractions, Inc., for alleged breach of a booking and management contract for the ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, owned by Universal. Arnold, Walker, Lee, Moore on USO Tours Edward Arnold will make a volunteer tour of California army camps and naval stations with USO-Camp Shows' unit No. 146, "Hokey Pokey," beginning July 7 at Camp Gillespie. Edward Buchanan and Helen Walker are making a second personal appearance with USO's "The Crazy Show," beginning this week at the Presidio of Monterey, and continuing until July 10. Grace Moore will give two concerts for servicemen at Camp Carson, Colo., on July 5, and at Fitzimmons General Hospital, Colo., on July 6. Mary Lee will join USO-Camp Shows unit No. 82, "Hullabaloo," on July 5, for a tour of army camps and naval stations. Warner Salesmen Split Territory Philadelphia, June 29. — Ben Bache, who formerly covered Scranton territory for Warners, has taken over the Philadelphia territory with resulting changes of local Warner salesmen. Scranton has been split between Russell Eichengreen and Oliver B. Guilfoil. In addition to Philadelphia, Bache will also handle suburban territories, and Guilfoil has also added New Jersey and Delaware. In addition to Harrisburg, T. N. Noble has taken over accounts formerly serviced bv Eichengreen. Burns to War Work Chicago, June 29. — Bobby Burns, formerly chief operator at the Chicago Theatre, has resigned from the executive board of the Chicago Operator's Union, to do war work with Westinghouse Electric. A successor will be elected at the meeting tomorrow. Although 15 Chicago houses have either closed entirely for the summer or cancelled their matinees, all operators are now working. Relief work during vacation periods has taken up the slack. Skouras Pushing Bonds Skouras Theatres, in conjunction with the U. S. Treasury Department's July drive for $130,000,000 in extra war stamp sales to build the aircraft carrier Shangri-La, are offering war bond prizes to boys and girls selling the most stamps in July through Shangri-La war stamp clubs in Skouras' 65 New York territory theatres.