Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1944)

Wednesday, February 23, 1944 Motion Picture Daily 13 Hollywood By JACK CARTWRIGHT Holly-wood, Feb. 22 SCRIPT difficulties have delayed the starting dates on two of RKORadio's top budget features on David Hempstead's slate. "The Gibson Girl," ^starring Ginger Rogers, which had a ~March camera date, will not go on ""the stages until June, and "Elizabeth Kenny," starring Rosalind Russell, will not roll until late in the Fall, Hempstead said. • Warners, who took over Cheryl Walker's contract from Sol Lesser when the studio bought the rights to "Hollywood Canteen," has assigned her to play opposite Robert Shane in Gordon Hollingshead's Western short, "Trial by Trigger," now in production. • Jack L. Warner handed Joan Leslie, who is presently in "Cinderella Jones," a new contract . • . George Seaton has turned in the first draft of "Diamond Horseshoe" and is headed East to confer with Richard Whorf on the play, "Out of This World . . . M-G-M has changed the title of "America" to "The American Miracle." • Chet Bell, Los Angeles Paramount exchange manager, sold $378,000 in 4th War Loan bonds through two special showings of "Lady in the Dark" in the 52-seat exchange projection room with bond purchases providing admission . . . Howard Estabrook debuts as a director on "Heavenly Days," Fibber McGee and Molly starrer, at RKO. e George Sherman is considering Carol Parker, former songbird with such bands as Rudy Vallee's and others, for a top role in his "Candlelight in Lisbon" (formerly "Lady From Lisbon"), a spy story laid in Portugal. . . . Jeffery Sayre. who recently finished in 20th's "The Purple Heart," now goes into "I Married a Soldier." . . . Leon Fromkcss has signed Gladys George, Roscoe Karns and Alan Dinehart for featured roles in PRC's "Minstrel Man." • RKO-Radio is really going to give the swooners something to swoon about in the next Frank Sinatra picture. They've put a couple of flatsand-sharps blacksmiths to work on a song titled "Kiss Mel" . . . Frank Morgan has a featured role in "Dear Barbara," starring Susan Peters, at M-G-M. . . . Jane Farrar, red-head who played the feminine heavy in "Phantom of the Opera," has a similar role in producer-director George Waggner's Technicolor film, "The Climax," at Universal. 'Purple Heart' Opens In Florida March 1 Twentieth-Fox's "The Purple Heart," produced by Darryl F. Zanuck, will have its world premiere at three theatres in Florida on March 1, it was announced here by Tom Connors, vicepresident in charge of distribution. Lou Goldberg, 20th-Fox exploiteer who received the Purple Heart last year, is in charge of the campaign. The film will open at the Lincoln, Miami Beach; the Capitol and Miami Theatres, Miami. 4 Ali Baba' Is Strong For $11,300 Gross Toronto, Feb. 22. — "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves'' was holding a $11,300 pace for its second week at the Uptown. Among new pictures, "What a Woman" was pointing to a top gross of $12,800 at the Imperial, with "Destination Tokvo" promising $12,300 at Shea's. Third week of "Thousands Cheer" at Loew's looked like $8,700 with several days of the week cold and blustery. Estimated receipts for the week ending Feb. 24 : "Went the Day Well" (British) EGLINTON— (1,086) (18c-30c-48c-60c) 6 days. Gross: $4,000 (Average: $4,000). "What a Woman" (Col.) IMPERIAL— (3,373) (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c) 6 days. Gross: $12,800. (Average: $12,800). "Thousands Cheer" (M-G-M) LOEW'S — (2,074) (18c-30c-42c-60c-78e) 6 days, 3rd week. Gross: $8,700. (Average: $11,200). "Destination Tokyo" (WB) SHEA'S— (2,480) (18c-3Oc-42c-60c-90c) 6 days. Gross: $12,300. (Average: $12,800). "No Time for Love" (Para.) (Moveover) "Minesweeper" (Para.) TIVOLI— (1,434) (18c-30c-48c) 6 days. Gross: $3,900. (Average: $4,400). "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" (Univ.) UPTOWN— (2,761) (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c) 6 days, 2nd week. Gross: $11,300. (Average $9,800). Texas, Oklahoma Need New Theatres (.Continued from page 1) Neches ; several neighborhood houses may be required in San Antonio, including one for Mexicans, a Spanishlanguage theatre may be needed in Houston, and facilities for Negroes are needed in Commerce and Corsicana. In other sections of the Southwest, Lake Charles, Maplewood and Leesville might use new theatres, the last with provision for Negroes, while in Doyline a small house of 200-300 capacity was suggested. In Oklahoma, it was reported, Tulsa and Oklahoma City both could use new downdown theatres, and the former needs neighborhood houses in its North and East Suburbs. A new theatre may be needed at Pryor and a house for Negroes at McAlester. Reports also were received suggesting the need of additional facilities at Albany, Ore. ; Bremerton, Wash., and the New London-Groton, Conn., area. Theatres' Priority Sound Rating Given Washington, Feb. 22. — The War Production Board has announced extension to exhibitors of the right to use the AA-2 preference rating and maintenance repair and operating supply symbol for the "minimum necessary" maintenance and repairing of sound equipment. It was emphasized that the ratingmay not be used for the repair of projection equipment except sound heads or other theatre equipment nor may it be used to obtain minor capital additions. 'Raid* at Stanley The first American showing of the British-made "Before the Raid," being distributed here by Budd Rogers, will accompany the world premiere of "Norway Replies!" starting Friday at the Stanley Theatre here. Army Withholding More Than Half of Newsreel Pictures (Continued from page 1) released film was charged against the allotment of raw stock to the newsreels even though some of the "stories" were requested by Army officials. "All newsreel shots made by American newsreel cameramen in England must also be submitted to British authorities, and if they raise any objections the clips are deleted in Washington by the Army," Oliver stated. "The Army authorities are using American newsreel cameramen to build up an extensive library of 'realistic' shots which are being used for Arm}' schooling," he added. Mobile Theatre in Italy Oliver revealed that the Army Pictorial Service has constructed a mobile theatre to show films to soldiers near the front lines in Italy. The mobile unit uses 16mm Hollywood films and can be used for as many as 5,000 soldiers at one time. "Film houses were opened in Naples as soon as the Americans moved in," Oliver said. They are being used to show American films to the Italians with Army exchanges handling the film and the American Red Cross arranging showings. "There are no theatres in the small towns," he added. "American soldiers in Italy are satisfied with anything as long as it is something to look at," Oliver stated in talking about preferences in motion pictures. They even like to see war films," he added, contrary to opposite impressions given here by persons returning from war theatres. Filmed Running Battles Oliver spent the first six months of his overseas assignment in England with the U. S. 8th Air Force. He went on three bombing missions over Germany, two on Hamburg. He also spent three weeks aboard Royal Air Force torpedo boats in the English Channel taking shots during running battles with German P-T boats. He replaced Neil Sullivan, wounded Pathe newsreel cameraman in Naples last November and was there until his return, having participated in the taking of three Italian towns from the Germans. While in Italy he had several narrow escapes while under German shelling, and another at an airfield in Scotland, when some bombs being loaded into an American bomber exploded. Oliver has been a newsreel cameraman for 23 years working variously for all five American newsreel companies. He also spent four years in Hollywood acting in 73 pictures between 1936 and 1940. He is scheduled to return to England in about three weeks presumably to work with the invasion forces. National Screen Meet Chicago, Feb. 22. — Managers from 19 Southern, Midwest and Western cities today completed a two-day general business conference of National Screen Service at the Blackstone Hotel here. Herman Robbins, George Dembow and William Brenner were in charge. 'Fantasy' Grosses $17,500, Against A Par of $12,700 San Francisco, Feb. 22. — Universale "Flesh and Fantasy," grossing $17,500 at the State, against a $12,700 par, and 20th-Fox's "Lifeboat," at the State, taking $15,500 over a $11,000 par, were on top here this week in a generally good seven-day period at downtown first runs. Estimated receipts for the week ending Feb. 21-24: "Bridge of San Luis Rey" (NA) "Moonlight in Vermont" (Univ.) UNITED ARTISTS — (1,200) (20c-35c-60c75c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $13,000. (Average: $10,000). "Frisco Kid" (WB) WARFIELD— (2,680) (20c-35c-55c-75c) 7 days. Stage: vaudeville. Gross: $21,900. (Average: $20,300). "Tender Comrade" (RKO1) GOLDEN GATE— (2,850) (35c-55c-75c) 7 days, 3rd week. Stage: vaudeville. Gross: $22,500. (Average: $26,000). "Song of Russia" (M-G-M) "So This Is Washington?" (RKO) FOX— (5,000) (20c-35c-55c-75c) 7 days. Gross: $22,300. (Average: $23,500). "Flesh and Fantasy" (Univ.) ORPHEUM— (2,440) (20c-35c-60c-75c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $17,500. (Average: $12,700). "Desert Song" (WB) "Henry Aldrich, Boy Scout" (Para.) ST. FRANCIS— (1,400) (20c-35c-55c-75c) 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $12,500. (Average: $10,300). "Lifeboat" (2ttth-Fox) "Charlie Chan in the Secret Service" (Mono.) STATE— (2,306) (20c-35c-55c-75c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $15,500. (Average: $11,DOO). "Madame Curie" (M-G-M) PARAMOUNT— (2,740) (20c-35c-55c-75c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $20,700. (Average: $18,700). $28,000 Gross for 'Russia' in Capital Washington, Feb. 22. — Chalk up "Song of Russia" as the top grosser of the week with Loew's Capitol headed for a splendid $25,000. Kathryn Grayson helped the total as the stage attraction. Another money-maker is "Tender Comrade," which should do a neat $8,000 in its first week at RKO-Keith's. Estimated reecipts for the week ended Feb. 24 : "Song of Russia" (M-G-M) LOEW'S CAPITOL— (3,434) (28c-39e-44c66c) 7 days. One stage: Kathryn Grayson. Gross: $28,000. (Average: $22,000). "Riding High" (Para.) LOEW'S COLUMBIA— (1,234) (30c-50c) 7 days, 2nd downtown week. Gross: $6,500. (Average: $7,000). "Desert Song" (WB) WARNER'S EARLE— (2,210) (30c-40c50c-75c-90c) 7 days. On stage: Eddie White. Gross: $24,000. (Average: $19,700). "Tender Comrade" (RKO') RKO-KEITH'S— (1,800) (40c-50c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $18,000. (Average: $13,600). "Jane Evre" (20th-Fox) LOEW'S PALACE— (2,242) (28c-55c) 7 days. Goss: $20,000. (Average: $19,000). Theatre Management Record and Annual Tax Register I Easy accounting system that enables you to keep an accurate, complete and up-to-the-minute record of the business of your $ " M »00 theatre. Postpaid QUIGLEY BOOKSHOP Rockefeller Center. New York (20)