Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1944)

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VOL. 56. NO. 110 MOTION PICTURE DAILY NEW YORK, U.S.A., FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1944 TEN CENTS Bob Hope Wins Radio Poll for 4thYear in Row Again Chosen by Editors In Ninth Annual Vote Bob Hope By MILTON LIVINGSTON "Again and again and again !" Bob Hope, "The Boy with the Pepsodent Smile" has been reelected radio's "Champion of Champions" for a fourth term by newspaper radio editors and critics of the United States and Canada, voting in Motion Picture Daily's ninth annual radio poll, conducted on behalf of Fame. Hope and comedy are synonymous, is the verdict of the editors. They reelected him "Best Comedian on the Air" and voted his NBC Pepsodent show "The Best Comedy Show on the Air," in addition to giving him the top designation, Champion of Champions. Members of the Armed Forces have repeatedly voiced the same opinion ; also, Hope ranks high among the top money-making stars at the nation's motion picture theatre box offices. Comedian Alan Young, the Bristol-Myers 'salesman' on the Blue Network, was voted radio's "Most Promising Star of Tomorrow" by the radio scribes. Several film companies are understood to have made him offers and the coming year might find him working in films as well as for radio. Jack Carson, who has already carved a niche for himself in films, was sec (Continued on Page 7) 79 Poll Winners Complete tabular results of Motion Picture Daily's ninth annual poll of Radio Champions appears on Page 8, this issue. There are 79 names of persons and programs in the winning positions of 25 personnel and program classifications. Burrows Slated to Set New Raw Stock Quotas Next Week Washington, Dec. 7. — Final meetings with Army and Navy representatives on raw stock allocations for the first quarter of 1945, will be held ov<er the weekend by Lincoln V. Burrows, chief of the War Production Board Photographic Section, and definite figures on the availability of film for the motion picture industry during the coming three months may be forthcoming within a week. At the moment, Burrows said today, it was impossible to forecast just what the allocations would be, but while there is not the faintest possibility of an increase, every effort will be made to avoid a cut from present levels. In other quarters, however, it was believed that allocations for the coming quarter will provide only the minimum necessary amounts for the various claimants, although it was said this would not necessarily entail a cut for the industry. Claimants other than the industry, which must plan ahead, and the military services, (.Continued on page 3) PRC Product Set by Feb. PRC will complete its* entire 194445 program by the end of February, according to an announcement yesterday by Leon Fromkess, president, in Hollywood, and issued from the company's home office here. To accomplish this, the company will launch the heaviest production schedule in its history, starting Jan. 1st, it was said. Six pictures are scheduled to start during January and four will go into production in February, plus two others listed for 1945-46. In addition. PRC will produce during January and (.Continued on page 4) Sam Pinanski Seen Heading 7th Drive Boston, Dec. 7. — Sam Pinanski, Paramount circuit partner, with M. J. Mullin, in M. and P. Theatres, operating in five New England states, will head the industry's Seventh War Loan drive, it was learned here today. Harry Browning, M. and P. director of promotional activities, will, it appears likely, handle* promotion and public relations for the drive, tentatively set for next February or March. War Activities Committee officials were not available for comment on the foregoing report when it reached here late last night. Rank Control Is Formalized By PETER BURNUP London, Dec. 7. — J. Arthur Rank gave a dinner here last night for all of his many production and distribution executives, at which he formally announced full details of his plan to center control of production of all of his various companies' production, at the same time announcing the establishment of Production Ad (Continued on page 4) Rubin Names 30 for Willkie Memorial J. Robert Rubin, chairman of the amusement division of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, has named Spyros Skouras chairman of the committee for the memorial luncheon for the late Wendell L. (Continued on page 3) Companies Continue AAA Support, $25,000 Monthly Distributors who are party to the decree have continued to send in funds monthly to the American Arbitration Association to cover tribunal operating costs which are estimated to be some 8300,000 yearly, running about 825,000 a month. Although Dec. 1 saw the beginning of the AAA's new fiscal year, distributors sent in their money as usual without a new appropriation having been voted by the budget committee. This committee, wmich consists of three members, one representative each from the appeal board, the AAA and the distributors, now has only two members. George Alger represents the appeal board. Wesley Sturges, the AAA. Joseph Hazen formerly was (Continued on page 4) St. Louis Film Strike Hits More Theatres Only 2 Exchanges Open As 40 Houses Close St. Louis, Dec. 7. — Film exchange employes at the M-G-M exchange here went out on strike today as the local walkout spread and closed approximately 40 theatres in St. Louis and St. Louis County. Loew's State and Orpheum opened with new and moveover bills but the unions explained that the pictures were delivered before the M-G-M strike was called. The Shubert also opened with a moveover Paramount film from the Ambassador under the same ruling. The 4,000-seat St. Louis Theatre closed Wednesday night, leaving the Fox and the Shubert as the (Continued on page 4) Justice Dept. Probes Equipment Charges Washington, Dec. 7. — The Department of Justice is investigating complaints of anti-trust violation filed against companies producing motion picture equipment, but officials of the Department today declined to name the companies and said the matter is as yet nothing more than the routine investigation which is made whenever a complaint is filed. A spokesman for the Department (Continued on page 3) Academy to Screen Films for Voters Hollywood, Dec. 7. — All films nominated for Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards, whether for the best picture or because they represent writing, directing or acting jobs nominated for awards, will be screened for the votters at the Marquis Theatre during the two weeks prior to the balloting. (Continued on page 8) Reviewed Today Review of "Night Club Girl" appears on page 3; ''The Adventures of Kitty O'Day," page 9.