Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1943)

6 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, August 24, 194 Exhibitors in FieldRushWar Bond Setups (Continued from page 1) Wilson, George W. Parr, Roy Rowe, C. R. Bamford, H. H. Everett and Warren Irvin. Theatre operators are being requested to buy bonds for themselves and each member of their families before asking patrons to buy, the same is being urged of all members of theatre personnel, the use of premieres in promoting bond sales is being stressed, and owners are being advised to enlist the support of local heroes on furlough as a promotion angle. Stars to Appear In Cleveland, Frank Selzer, advance man for the bond "Caravan of Stars," spent the weekend arranging with local Caravan chairman Nat Wolf, Warner zone manager, for the appearance of the stars in Cleveland on Sept. 14th. Tentative list of stars scheduled to work in Cleveland on that date to boost the bond sale includes Dorothy Lamour, Hedy Lamarr, Greer Garson, Judy Garland, Joan Crawford, Lucille Ball, Cary Grant, Mickey Rooney, Dick Powell, Fred Astaire, Edward Arnold, Walter Pidgeon, Red Skelton and Kay Kyser and his band. Cleveland exchange men met yesterday to outline plans to promote the September bond sale. I. J. Schmertz, 20th-Fox branch manager, and cochairman with W. N. Skirball of the local division of the WAC, will preside. Chairmen Named In New Haven, following a meeting at the Hotel Taft for the September War Bond campaign, at which I. J. Hoffman and Harry Shaw, Warner and Loew-Poli division managers respectively, presided, the following exhibitor chairmen have been appointed for the state: H. Shaw, Matt Saunders, J. J. Scanlon, Fred Greenway, Ernest Dorau, Joseph Miklos, and R. B. Hamilton. Assisting are Alexander Hamilton, Sam Weiss, Robert E. Russell, John Hesse, Jim Darbv, D. Rich, J. Borenstein, J. Sanson, Henry Needles, Morris Harris, T. Grace, J. Murphy, J. Boyle, J. W. Smith, Edward Fitzpatrick, H. J. Harvey, J. Samartano, Leo Ricci. U. S. Decree Probe Is Moving Ahead (Continued from page 1 ; Chicago, Clark said no conferences have been formally scheduled. However, as in the case of his visits to other cities, it is expected exhibitors will be present for impromptu sessions. There has been no change in the decree situation itself, he said, and no proposals for revision of the decree have yet been advanced by either the Government or the participating parties. 'Lassie' for Music Hall M-G-M's "Lassie Come Home Again" will follow the engagement of "So Proudly We Hail," the Music Hall's next attraction, G. S. Eyssell, managing director, announced yesterday. Alan Ladd Stars In 3rd Loan Trailer Cpl. Alan Ladd stars in a trailer, titled "Letter from a Friend," to be shown in thousands of theatres during the Third War Loan drive, Sept. 9 through 30, the War Activities Committee announced yesterday. This will be the only free trailer available to exhibitors at National Screen Service exchanges, since another trailer being readied, featuring Rosalind Russell, will be tacked on to the five newsreels. Ladd's trailer was made in Walla, Walla, Wash., where he is stationed, and was directed by Capt. Sherry Shrouds, with Capt. Ted McCord as cameraman. 70-30 Terms for 'Bell' Ruled Out (.Continued from page 1) maintained at all theatres, it was pointed out by McMullen, who added that the stabilizing of rental terms had been effected to protect exhibitors. In the case of Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto, where "Fantasia" was playing at the time of the basic period covering the four weeks Sept. 18 to Oct. 11, 1941, McMullen declared the top price fixed there for film roadshows is 75 cents, and could not be exceeded in roadshowing of "Bell," while the rental figure even there could not be higher than SO per cent. This was the only theatre having a roadshow during the basic period and thus all others cannot go beyond the regular admission scale. With reference to the new season's product, McMullen declared he had passed upon the proposed booking contracts for pictures in special and other classes with the exception of one film exchange where executive personnel had recently been changed, but the new season's list was expected from this company in the next few days. Some Loew Theatres To Play 'Bell Tolls' Loew circuit theatres out of town which play Paramount product will show "For Whom the Bell Tolls," Charles M. Reagan, Paramount assistant general sales manager, announced yesterday, following consummation of a deal with Joseph R. Vogel, Loew executive in charge of outof-town theatres. The picture will open extended engagements on a continuous run advanced-price basis Sept. 30 at the Stillman Theatre, Cleveland ; the Broad Theatre, Columbus, and the Great Lakes Theatre, Buffalo. $963,605 KAO Net, $456,034 Increase (Continued from page 1) 1943 was $1,953,629, compared with $1,300,100 last year. Charged against the operating net this year was $317,773 for depreciation and provision of $672,251 for income taxes. Fabian, Griffith Talk On Third War Loan Chicago, Aug. 23.— Si Fabian, chairman of the War Activities Committee, theatre division, and L. C. Griffith, chairman of the Third War Loan campaign, addressed about 125 industry representatives at the Blackstone Hotel here today in preparation for the biggest bond selling job ever attempted. Ten state chairmen, some of them traveling 1,000 miles for the meeting, were among those present. Plans were made for the greatest effort that the industry has ever put forth in order to achieve the goal of selling $15,000,000,000 worth of bonds to 50,000,000 different people in the campaign which starts Sept. 9. Whipple Speaks Jay N. Whipple, vice chairman of the War Finance Committee, expressed the hope that 1,000 or 1,500 new theatres would be added to the total of 4,500 who are now issuing agents. Fabian praised the industry's record to date, but said that we are now on a team with radio, newspapers, retailers^ and outdoor advertisers and must unite for the prosecution of the war until victory. Francis Harmon, WAC coordinator, predicted that as a result of the war loan effort, the industry would be united as never before and that even more important was the national unity which is being achieved. Exhibitors are urged to sign a pledge of cooperation in triplicate. One copy goes to New York headquarters, one to the state chairman and one to National Screen Service. The one to NSS is used as an order for the gratis campaign trailer. Use of an additional war loan accessory kit which its being made available through NSS at a below cost price of 75 cents, was urged. Seeks Good Ideas Ray Beal, Interstate Circuit, gave details of the national campaign and requested exhibitors to report any good ideas to the committee for use nationally. Jack Kirsch presided in the absence of Jules Rubens, Illinois state chairman, who is ill. Among those present were Ralph Branton, Des Moines, Marc Wolf and Don Rossiter, Indianapolis ; David Arthur, Les Kaufman and Fred Wehrenberg, St. Louis ; H. E. Jameyson and E. C. Rhoden, Kansas; Maurice Barr, New Orleans ; Arthur Lehman, Jackson, Miss.; Frank Selzer, Hollywood ; John Friedl, Minneapolis ; B. J. McKenna, Oklahoma City and Harold Fitzgerald, Milwaukee. Dedicate Victory Square on Sept. 3 Official dedication of the VictorySquare-War Center will take place on the night of Sept. 3, preceded by a parade of Armed Forces, it was announced yesterday by Major L. E. Thompson, of RKO, in charge of the project for the Treasury Department. Mayor LaGuardia and military chiefs will officiate at the opening, and 2,000 guests will witness a military exhibit and talent show, the latter sponsored by the United Theatrical War Activities Committeee. Opening for the public will be on Sept. 9. 'Heaven' Is the Big Talk of Broadway, Grossing $105,000 (Continued from page 1) headed for a neat $105,000 for its fifth week, ending tomorrow night and holds for a sixth. If business holds the bill will continue for a seventh, otherwise "So proudly^"Hail" and a stage show move V . the Hall at the conclusion of the sixth week of the current film. The Paramount is enjoying good business with "Let's Face It" and Benny Goodman and his band on the stage. The show holds for a fourth, after doing about $80,000 for its third week. "For Whom the Bell Tolls" is finding smooth going at the Rialtc, where a $33,500 gross appears likely for the sixth week of its road-show run. 'Rhine' Opens at Strand The Strand will open with "Watch on the Rhine" and Abe Lyman and his band on the stage Friday, following the fifth and concluding week of "The Constant Nymph" and Carmen Cavallaro and his orchestra, which is expected to garner about $36,000 for the final seven days. "We've Never Been Licked" will gross about $24,000 in its first week at the Criterion, and continues. The Globe will bring in "Salute to the Marines," Saturday, following conclusion of the sixth and final stanza of "Victory Through Air Power," which is headed for an estimated $6,500 gross this week. "Frontier Badmen" is expected to wind up its twoweek stay at the Rialto with about $5,000 for its second seven-day perriod, with "Hitler's Madmen" opening Friday. "Best Foot Forward" rolls along at the Astor, where it grossed about $17,000 in its eighth week, and continues. Nine Radio Heads To Advise OW1 (Continued from page 1) of the Blue Network; Niles Trammell, president of NBC ; Lewis Allen Weiss, vice president and general manager of Don Lee ; Neville Miller, NAB president; Leo Fitzpatrick, vice-president and general manager of the Good-Will Station, Detroit; Herbert L. Pettey, director of WHN ; and Martin Campbell, managing director of WFA, Dallas, and WBAP, Fort Worth. Flexible Policy in Canada for Warners (Continued from page 1) this country, but extra effort is enabling exchanges to maintain efficiency. Arthur Sachson, assistant general sales manager, and Norman H. Moray, short subject sales manager, returned to New York, with Kalmenson from Canada. State Marks 22nd Year Loew's State will mark its 22nd year Monday, Aug. 30 with a party for 22 servicemen and women whc are celebrating their 22nd birthday; on that date.