Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1944)

2 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, October 31, 1944 Report Griffis Sale Of Para. Common Philadelphia, Oct. 31. — Only light trading by officers and directors of motion picture corporations in the stocks of their own companies in September was reported today by the Securities and Exchange Commission in its monthly summary. The largest change in the holdings of any individual came as the result of sales aggregating 2,000 shares of Paramount Pictures common stock held by Stanton Griffis, director, through a trust which at the close of the month still held 4,000 shares. A report on Monogram Pictures showed sales by W. Ray Johnston, president, of 966 shares of common held direct, leaving him with 17,724 shares, and 900 shares held through Monogram Pictures, Inc., its entire holding. In the same company, Norton V. Richey director, bought 200 shares of common, giving him a total of 4,467 shares. The only other film report showed the acquisition of 11 shares of Loew's Boston Theatres common by Loew's, Inc., giving it a total of 121,232 shares. A report on Columbia Broadcasting Co. showed that in May, Joseph A W. Iglehart, director, purchased 2,000 shares of class A common through E. W. Hutton & Co., and sold 900 shares, selling the remaining 1,100 in June. Iglehart personally hold? 2,600 shares of the stock, the SEC summary showed. Munson, Service Film Chief, Hails Stamp Issuance of the new postage stamp commemorating the 50th anniversary of motion pictures has been hailed by Col. E. L. Munson, who as chief of the Army Pictorial Service, is in charge of distributing Hollywood's films to the fighting men overseas. "This anniversary finds the industry more vigorous than ever, entertaining troops and, through front line photography, helping shape the tactical decisions which will bring full victory," the Colonel commented in a letter to George J. Schaefer, War Activities Committee chairman, who will buy the first sheet of stamps in New York today from Postmaster General Frank Walker and New York Postmaster Albert Goldman. Pickford to Get Stamps Los Angeles, Oct. 30. — Mary Pickford, representing the industry, will be presented by Postmistress Mary Briggs with a special issue of the new three-cent stamp commemorating the 50th anniversary of motion pictures in a ceremony at the post office here Tuesday. Cecil B. DeMille will preside over the program, which the Blue Network will broadcast. Margaret Welsh Resigns Philadelphia, Oct. 30. — Margaret Welsh, manager of the state board of motion picture censorship office here for 22 years, has resigned to join the Richard A. Foley advertising agency. Personal Mention NEIL AGNEW, vice president of Vanguard Films, arrived in Hollywood from New York yesterday for conferences with David O. Selznick and Daniel O'Shea. Jack Goldstein, Eastern director of publicity and exploitation, arrived Sunday night for talks with the studio publicity staff. William J. Heineman, general sales manager for Samuel Goldwyn, returned to New York at the weekend from the Coast. • Lou Pollock, United Artists advertising and publicity director, was confined to his home yesterday with an injury. • Cedric Gibbons, M-G-M art director, will arrive in New York from the Coast on Friday accompanied by Mrs. Gibbons. Joe Pasternack will arrive in New York from the Coast on Nov. 25 for a two-week stay, accompanied by his wife. • John Nesbitt, M-G-M commentator, will arrive from the Coast on Friday. Jules Lapiduis, Warner Eastern division sales manager, left yesterday for Philadelphia. • W. Stewart McDonald, Warner Theatres executive, has returned from a Midwest trip. PANDRO BERMAN, producer, arrived in New York from the Coast over the weekend. • Pvt. Marcus Loew, grandson of the late Marcus Loew, and Ethel Snyder have obtained a marriage license at Denver and plan to be married next week. Mr. and Mrs. David Loew, parents of the prospective bridegroom, will arrive in Denver today. • Robert R. Deitch, manager of the Dewitt Theatre, Bayonne, New Jersey, is the father of a son, Joel Bennett, born Oct. 19, in Jersey City. • Alec Moss, Paramount exploitation manager, left New York yesterday for Boston, and then the Midwest. • Arthur C. Bromberg, president of Monogram Southern Exchanges, Atlanta, is in New Orleans attending sales meetings. • Irving Yergin, manager of Warner's field exploitation staff, left over the weekend for Chicago. • Meritt Davis, Republic Southern district manager at Atlanta, is on the sick list. • Perry Spencer has been appointed Southern publicity director for Universal, with headquarters in Atlanta. • Ralph H. Clark, Canadian division manager for Warners, is in New York for home office conferences. RKO and Managers Resume Pact Talks RKO officials and representatives of the Motion Picture Theatre Operating Managers and Assistant Managerr Guild representing managers and a= sistant managers in the 40 RKO Theatres in the Metropolitan area, wil' resume negotiations today after a twoweek delay. RKO has indicated that it will make counter proposals to the Guild's wage demands at today's meeting. The Guild had indicated that it would consider negotiations broken off and would take the case to the New York State Board of Mediation if RKO did not set a retroactive date for wage increases, but has agreed to continue negotiations without such a date having been set yet. Wright of Para, Is Named by Tax Group Harry Wright of Paramount has been elected chairman of the board of directors of the Tax Executives Institute, recently incorporated in New York state for the purpose of bringing together executives concerned with taxation problems. 'Alaska' Premiere Set Omaha, Oct. 30. — The world premiere of Monogram's 'Alaska" has been set for the State Theatre here Saturday. Democratic Showmen Turn Out for Rally The Theatrical and Motion Picture Committee for Roosevelt-TrumanWagner, with John Golden and Louis Nizer as co-chairman, gave a luncheon at $5 a plate in the Grand Ballroom of the Hotel Astor yesterday, with the packed room holding many well known executives and actors. Speeches were delivered by the chairmen, by Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, Senator Robert F. Wagner and Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia. Frank Sinatra sang the national anthem. A few of those in the capacity turnout included Barney Balaban, David Bernstein, Harry Brandt, William Brandt, George Cukor, Howard Dietz. Jesse L. Lasky, Lewis Milestone, Albert and Harry Warner, Jack Cohn, Nicholas Schenck, Nate J. Blumberg, Charles Moskowitz, Sam Rinzler, Jules Brulatour, George Dembow, Leon Fromkess, Carl Leserman, Irving Lesser, Walter Reade, Emanuel and Murray Silverstone, Leon Netter, Irving Wormser, Maurice Bergman, William Erbb and Nat Cohn. 400 See 'Race' An invitation audience of about 400, including RKO executives and representatives of the daily, radio and trade press saw a special preview of Edward A. Golden's "The Master Race" at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel here last night. Constance Bennett Closes U. A. Deal Constance Bennett and United Artists yesterday signed a one picture deal whereby Miss Bennett will produce "Paris Underground" for U. A. release. Production will get under way before the end of the year, it isi planned. Miss Bennett is currently negotiating with a British musical actress for the lead. Austrian to Speak Ralph B. Austrian, executive vif^ president of RKO Television Corp will address the Publicity Club of New York, Thursday, at the Belmont Plaza Hotel on "Television as an Aid to Public Relations." NEW YORK THEATRES RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL Showplace of the Nation — Rockefeller Center GREER GARSON — WALTER P1DGE0N in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's "MRS. PARKINGT0N" Edward Arnold Agnes Moorehead Cecil Kellaway SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION First Mezzanine Seats Reserved Circle 6-4609 ^ PARAMOUNT presents ^ Joan Fontaine Arturo de Cordova 'Frenchman's Creek' ^ RIVOLI.BVay & 49th St ^ PALACE B WAY & 47th St. starts tomorrow super-shock sensation! "THE MASTER RACE" George COULOURIS Osa MASSEN Stanley RIDGES Carl ESMOND PARAMOUNT'S "Our Hearts Were Young andGay" starrinE Gail RUSSELL Diana LYNN with Charlie Ruggles Dorothy Gish IN PERSON— FRANK SINATRA plus Eileen Barton RAYMOND PAIGE and his orchestra ON SCREEN 'S 'SINCE YOU sgaJENT AWAY' IN PERSON WILL OSBORNE and Orchestra Vivien LEIGH Robert TAYLOR In M-G-M's WATERLOO BRIDGE REPUBLIC B'way Bet. 51st and 52nd Sts. Phone CO 5-9647 Midnite Shows MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor. Published daily except Saturday, Sunda: and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York. Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; T. J. Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham, New Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave.; Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; Londo Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1944 by Quigley Publishin Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at th ppst office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c.