Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1944)

8 Motion Picture Daily Monday, February 28, 194| Biddle Would Halt Film and Other Cartels (.Continued from page 1) industry, both domestic and foreign, relating to foreign trade or commerce, plus release to the industry of the world the fruits of the research conducted by Germany during the past 10 years, including motion picture and motion picture equipment research. Publication of agreements would affect any deals which might be consummated between J. Arthur Rank. British film magnate, and American companies", and a further possible threat to any arrangements which Rank might make for European film distribution is seen in the attorney general's suggestion that the United States Government adopt a policy of assisting all American producers to gain access to foreign markets on the theory that such markets should be opened to all American companies and not to just a few. Would Release Axis Findings Biddle urged world release of Axis research results on the ground that while the work was financed by the German government and is being used against us, the people of the world actually are paying for the research by the war contributions they must make to produce weapons and materiel to meet it. Publication of all cartel agreements, he said, would disclose to the public any arrangements that might be entered into which would artificially limit supplies or raise prices ,to the public or divide world markets. New lc-on~5c Tax Effective April (Continued from page 1) Senate rejected the veto emphasized the determination of Congress to increase taxes no further at this time displayed by the House Thursday by a three-to-one vote. In either chamber a two-to-one vote would have been sufficient to override the veto. In addition to the higher admission tax, for which exhibitors will be the Treasury's collection agents, the indus try will be affected by increased rates on electric light bulbs and tubes, telephone bills and long-distance telephone calls, passenger transportation and postal service. Honor Max A. Cohen Max A. Cohen, president of Cinema Circuit here, will be made an honorary member of the Motion Picture Bookers Club of New York at an open meeting at the Astor Hotel tonight. Both distribution and theatre executives will attend. Michael Husson Dies Bostox, Feb. 27. — Michael Husson with the Film Delivery Service in Lynn, Lowell and Haverhill for several years, died here recently. WAC Names Chairmen of New Exchange Field Force (Continued from page 1) forces in 11 WAC districts. The distributor chairmen in each district will be the branch manager of the same company in charge locally and the district manager of that company will be asked to support and coordinate all activities relating to his district. The new set-up, it was felt, will enable the WAC to avail itself of the services of district managers who, up to this time, have not been used to the maximum possible advantage. Owing to the overlapping of various companies' sales districts it was not possible in every case to have WAC districts conform. Following is the list of appointees — some of whom are contributing "repeat performances" for the WAC — and their company affiliations : Metropolitan District (M-G-M) District manager. Jack Bowen, New York; Ralph Pielow, New York; B. Abner, New Jersey. Northeast (Paramount) — District manager, Wm. Erbb, Boston; A. M. Kane, Boston; Ed W. Ruff, New Haven; C. G. Eastman, Albany; M. A. Brown, Buffalo. East (RKO) — District manager, R. J. Folliard, Philadelphia; Charles Zagrans, Philadelphia; H. H. Greenblatt, Pittsburgh; J. B. Brecheen, Washington. East Central (United Art ists)— District manager, Jack Goldhar, Detroit; Harris Dudelson, Cincinnati; Maury Orr, Cleveland; M. Dudelson, Detroit. Also, Southeast (20th-Fox)— District manager, Paul Wilson, Atlanta; Fred R. Dodson, Atlanta; John E. Holston, Charlotte; E. V. Landaiche, New Orleans. Southwest (Columbia) — District manager, Sam Moscow, Atlanta; J. B. Underwood, Dallas; J. J. Rogers, Memphis; C. A. Gibbs, Oklahoma City. Midwest (M-G-M)— District manager, Sam Shirley, Chicago; W. E. Banford, Chicago; W. H. Workman, Minneapolis; H. J. Shumow, Milwaukee. Indiana Kentucky (Republic) — Wm. Marriot, Indianapolis. Also, Prairie (Universal) — District manager, J. E. Garrison, Kansas City; Harry Hynes, St. Louis; Jack Langan, Kansas City; Lou Levy, Des Moines; H. B. Johnson, Omaha. Rocky Mountain (RKO) — District manager, Len Gruenberg, Denver; Tom Bailey, Denver; G. Davison, Salt Lake City. West Coast (Warners) — District manager, Henry Herbel, Los Angeles; Vete Stewart, Seattle; Al Oxtoby, Portland; Al Shmitken, San Francisco; Fred Greenberg, Los Angeles. Red Cross Leaders To Tour Key Cities (Continued from page 1) row as follows : Boston, to be addressed by Kalmenson, Kalmine and Harmon ; Charlotte : Bernhard, Dembow and Smith ; Salt Lake City : Depinet and Brandt. Wednesday's meetings in Atlanta and Portland, Ore., will be addressed by Dembow and Smith taking the former and Depinet and Brandt the latter. On Thursday, Pittsburgh will hear Bernhard and Kalmenson ; Milwaukee : Alperson and Shlyen ; New Orleans : Dembow and Smith. Friday's schedule is as follows : Minneapolis : Alperson, Shlyen ; San Francisco : Depinet and Brandt. Next Monday, Cincinnati : Kalmenson, Kalmine and Martin G. Smith ; Des Moines : Alperson and Shlyen ; Los Angeles : Depinet and Brandt. Tuesday, March 7, Cleveland : Kalmenson, Kalmine, Martin Smith ; Omaha : Alperson and Shylen. March 8, Buffalo : Kalmenson, Kalmine and Martin Smith ; Kansas City : Alperson, Shlyen. March 9, St. Louis : Alperson and Shlyen. Meetings will be held in Philadelphia on March 13 and in Albany on March IS with speakers to be announced. Several additional cities are being lined up by Bernhard. Film Shows 'SRO' on War Front, Says Raft "Film theatres in London and those near the front and behind the lines in Italy and Africa always play to capacity," said George Raft at the weekend. He recently returned from a USO Camp Show tour overseas He reported that service men and women on the fighting fronts are now seeing both old and new releases. Among players in uniform whom Raft met abroad were Lt. Col. Ben Lyon and 1st Lt. Douglas Montgomery. Raft returned with Mont gomery's air medal which the actor requested be given to his mother in California. Raft plans to return to the Coast and films after March 12, following air appearances here. Educational Films'^ Project Is Aided!) By Major Companies! (Continued from page 1) through the Motion Picture Produ-i cers and Distributors of America. Thei members of the commission are: Mark] A. May, director of the Institute Human Relations, Yale Universit chairman: George S. Counts, directo* of the division of foundations of education, Teachers College, Columbia University ; Edmund E. Day, presi-. ( dent of Cornell University ; Willard ] E. Givens, executive secretary of the ] National Education Association ; Monsignor George Johnson, general secretary of the National Catholic Educational Association; and, ex officio, George F. Zook, president of the American Council on Education. At a meeting in New York the commission made plans to establish an office and staff for carrying forward its studies. A widely representative National Board of Consultants is being organized to work with the commission. Armed Forces Offer Proof Dr. May said "The experience of the Armed Forces in the use of motion pictures in their various training programs has demonstrated conclusively the great contribution to education of this medium of instruction. Schools and colleges in the postwar world must be ready to take advantage of the new opportunities which the motion picture medium presents. "For several years the major motion picture production companies have made available to schools through Teaching Film Custodians, Incorporated, certain non-current short subjects and excerpts from feature pictures selected by educators as having potential educational value. The support of the work of this commission by the industry is in line with its general policy of cooperating with educational organizations and in aiding them to secure better films for classroom use." Renegotiation Funds Held Not Binding Washingtox, Feb. 27. — Reserves for renegotiation refunds to the Government which motion picture or film equipment or any other war contractors may set up and show in financial statements or reports are not to be regarded by Government renegotiation officials as binding on contractors, according to a ruling by the Joint Price Adjustment Board here. Ames to Columbia Dallas, Feb. 27. — Ronald R. Ames, former publicist and exploitation man for RKO-Radio in Texas and Oklahoma, will arrive here this week to begin work in Columbia's exploitation department under Jack Underwood, local branch manager. NSS Shifts DuRyk Walthall and Allen George Dembow, vice-president of National Screen, reports that Wallace Walthall, manager at Dallas, has been promoted to special representative out of the home office. Walthall will be succeeded in Dallas by F. W. Allen, who formerly handled East Texas. Charles DuRyk, sales representative in Salt Lake City, has been named manager at Denver. Kelly to Coast to Line Up Producers (Continued from page 1) tion will begin within six months after consummation of deals with producers, he expects. Further distribution plans will wait upon deals with producers. More than 50 sales executives and salesmen have already communicated with Kelly to discuss their joining the new company. But no decisions will be made until he returns from the Coast. He stressed that Eagle would go to a major company to handle physical distribution only in such key cities where, due to wartime conditions, the company is unable to establish its own exchanges. To Examine Schenck In Grafton Film Suit Examination before trial of Nicholas M. Schenck, president of Loew's, will begin on March 6, in the $1,000,000 damage suit pending in Federal Court here against Loew's as filed by Grafton Films. The suit alleges improper distribution of Grafton's "The Stars Look Down."