Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1944)

Tuesday, October 31, 1944 Motion Picture Daily 7 Gradual Lift Of Wartime Restrictions (Continued from page 1) controls over materials and production, which would lead to a reconversion race on the part of all industry. Instead, the regulations will be eased off as termination of war production releases factories, manpower and materials for civilian operations. With the eventual tapering-off of military needs, motors, ball bearings and electronic and other parts will become available to projector and sound equipment manufacturers, permitting them quickly to produce equipment which exhibitors have long awaited. Theatre furnishings also will come on to the market quickly, and it is expected no time will be lost in raising the barriers which have prevented construction of new theatres for the past two years or more. Rationing and price controls will be continued until the need for them disappears. Rationing will be eliminated, product by product, as supplies of controlled commodities become adequate ; price controls will be continued until the danger of run-away markets and inflation has ended. Quick Action In other branches of the Government, quick action is expected to tear down the war machinery. The Office of War Information will curtail its activities all along the line, but may find an important new field in conditioning the world for peace. War-censorship regulations, never unduly oneros, will be relaxed to the extent compatible with the fact that we are still at war with Japan. The State Department is expected to reassert itself as the liaison between Washington and other governments and take over such activities of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs as will be carried over to peacetime. The war agencies, however, will not be abolished overnight. All of them will have to take stock and dismantle gradually, and in a manner conforming to the over-all plan for transition from a war to a peace economy by which it is hoped to avert a major disorganization of industry, heavy unemployment and inflation. Depinet Sees WAC Aiding Tax Fight (Continued from page 1 ) and statewide tax legislation in the future, and that the WAC is in a favorable position to represent the entire industry effectively, he said. Depinet stated that the men in service who will govern our country in the postwar years will come back with a more favorable viewpoint of the industry as a result of WAC's current efforts in servicing them with hundreds of prints of the latest and best releases. He revealed the WAC stands ready to undertake more bond drives and help in numerous other war time campaigns to come before the last shot is fired. U.S. to Check On Liberated (Continued from page 1 ) some areas an immediate and full return to private trade will not be possible because of disrupted economic conditions. "The economic and trade reporting from these territories will, therefore, be parUiularly helptul during this interim period," according to the Department of Commerce. Officers of the Foreign Service are being reminded that American trade interests desire information regarding the condition of their business contacts and interests in liberated areas. In the case of branches or affiliated companies, American businessmen wish to know the condition of these properties, how they were employed during the war, the state of inventories and organization, and the factors involved in resuming business. Market Status "Where American businessmen before the war operated through agency or distributor arrangements, they wish to know the status of former marketing or purchasing connections, their financial condition and the possibilities of making a new start," said the Department. Foreign Service officers are also being advised by the Government that particular attention should be given to the acquisition by the Axis of former American interests in liberated areas, as well as any transfer of ownership or control within liberated areas of trading companies, distributor or agency concerns, and similar commercial organizations. They are likewise being advised that it is anticipated that various legal questions [will arise] regarding the ossibility of recovering damages, realizing upon old debts, the validity of contracts, patent rights, and the like, and that information generally applicable to such problems in liberated areas should be reported. Set '44 Federation Drive Plans Today (Continued from page 1 ) industry to the Federation appeal benefiting 116 charitable institutions, Bernstein declared : "The amusement division has long and faithfully served the cause of Federation. This. year, perhaps more than ever before, it is important that we enlist our wholehearted aid behind the campaign as Federation continues the regular support of its medical and social welfare member agencies while preparing these institutions to serve the community in the rapidly approaching post-war period." More than SO leaders of the industry are expected to attend the meeting at which the division's campaign officers will be named. George Z. Medalie, president of Federation, is to be the guest speaker. P. L. Smith Joins Y. & R. P. L. Smith, formerly with Paramount's home office short subjects department, yesterday joined the motion picture division of the Young & Rubicam agency as assistant to John Barry, division head. Holdovers Dominate N. Y. First-Runs; 'Marriage' is Big (Continued from page 1 ) scoring impressively with holdover films. The Music Hall expects an outstanding third week of $124,000 with "Mrs. Parkington" and its "American Rhapsody" stage presentation on the basis of $75,000 recorded on the first four days ending Sunday night. This will be about the same as the second week and the combination will continue. The Roxy expects a big $86,000 on the third week of "Laura" and its stage bill featuring Hazel Scott and Jackie Miles and it will hold the combination for a final six days of a fourth week, bringing in "Irish Eyes Are Smiling" on Election Day. The Paramount's third and final week's receipts with "Our Hearts Were Young and Gay" and a Frank Sinatra personal appearance will be a lusty $89,000. the same as the second week. "I love a Soldier" and a stage show featuring Tony Pastor and band, Bert Wheeler and Hal LeRoy will open at the Paramount tomorrow. The Strand expects a second week of $50,000 with "The Conspirators" and a Les Brown and band stage presentation on the basis of a Friday to Sunday take of $25,225. An excellent third week of $37, 000 is expected by the Hollywood with "To Have and Have Not" and the films at both the Strand and Hollywood will continue. Newcomers Score The new arrivals "Abroad With Two Yanks" at the Globe and "Rainbow Island" at the Criterion are bringing good business. The Globe expects a profitable $21,000 on the first week and $26,000 is expected on the first week of "Rainbow Island" at the Criterion. "Lost in a Harem" will be the next film at the Criterion. The long run films "Kismet" at the Astor and "Frenchman's Creek" at the Rivoli are continuing profitably. A sixth week of $41,000 is expected for "Creek" and a 10th week of $18,000 was recorded for "Kismet." 'Storm' Holds Up "Summer Storm" is holding up excellently at the Gotham and a strong $17,000 is expected on the second week and the film will continue. The return engagement of "Waterloo Bridge" at the Republic is expected to bring about $12,000 on a first week which is excellent and the film will continue. The Palace expects a good $11,500 on the final five days of a second week of "Heavenly Days" and "The Master Race" will open tomorrow. The Rialto expects a good $10,000 on its first week with "Murder in the Blue Room" and it will hold the film for a second week. The Victoria is also expected to gross $10,000 on its fifth week with "Wilson," this in the face of competition from the RKO houses in the Metropolitan area which played the film for three days last Monday through Wednesday. Spiegel Will Filed Chicago, Oct. 30. — Sidney M. Spiegel, Jr., vice-president and treasurer of the Essaness Theatre Circuit here, who died Oct. 19, left an estate estimated at $500,000. The will, filed in probate court, left the entire estate to his widow. Hollywood By THALIA BELL Hollywood, Oct. 30 I AY GORNEY'S first producer *J assignment for Columbia will be the LatinAmerican musical, "Fiesta Town." . . . Robert Florey will direct "Don Juan," Errol Flynns next starring vehicle, which Jerry Wald will produce for Warners. . . . RKO has exercised its option on the contracts of Russ Hopton and Sharyn Moffett. . . . Peggy Ann Garner and Monty Woolley will have the leads in "The Enchanted Voyage." It is based on the Robert Natnan book, and Walter Morosco will produce it for 20th Century-Fox. • W. R. Frank has closed with Herbert Kline to direct another picture for him. Harry Davenport and Jerry Hunter zvill be included in the cast. . . . Alan Mowbray will portray a liquor-loving grand duke in Republic's "Earl Carroll's Vanities." . . . Connie Gilchrist has been added to the cast of M-G-M's "Weekend at the Waldorf." . . . Sidney Sutherland is working on the screenplay of "Divorce," first of Kay Francis' features for Monogram. . PRC has purchased "Detour," a novel by Martin Goldsmith, and plans production early next year. . . . Agnes Christine Johnston has been assigned to do the screenplay on "Janie Gets Married." This is a Warner production, formerly titled "Janie Meets the Marines" . . . Tito Guizar, Mexican singing star, has signed a new contract with Republic, under the terms of which he will make one and possibly two pictures for that studio within the next year. Kalmenson to Hold W.B. District Meet ( Continued from page 1 ) Prairie; R. L. McCoy, Southern; Henry Herbel, West Coast, and Ralph H. Clark, Canadian. Charles Einfeld, director of advertising and publicity, who is at present in New York, will address one of the sessions. Home office executives who will participate include Mort Blumenstock, in charge of advertising and publicity in the East ; Arthur Sachson, assistant general sales manager ; Roy Haines, Eastern and Southern division sales manager; Jules Lapidus, Eastern division sales manager ; Norman H. Moray, short subject sales manager ; I. F. Dolid, supervisor of exchanges ; Ed Hinchy, playdate department head ; Stanley Hatch, contract sales manager, and others. Variety to Elect Nov. 6 Washington, Oct. 30. — Variety Club here will hold elections on Nov. 6. Recent inductees include: Anthony Fursee, M-G-M salesman ; Jack Edmond, station WMAL; Bill Herson and Earl Godwin, radio commentators, and CPO Bill Jones, U. S. Navy film distribution department. Stephen Early, executive assistant to President Roosevelt, was named an honorary member.