Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1945)

8 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, March 2, 1945 WMC Surveys Industry, May Requisition {Continued from page 1) WMC is awaiting action on the war-work or fight legislation now pending before the Senate before moving in generally on the industry to take some of its help. No industry-wide action is contemplated either by the theatre division of the War Activities Committee or exchange operational heads of the film companies to contest the WMC at present, it is learned. The feeling is that the demand by the WMC that film workers' quotas be reduced by 10 per cent in some areas is not unreasonable, if it is necessary, and the situation can be coped with provided key personnel is not demanded. Action will probably be taken where the demand for 10 per cent of personnel would really seriously interfere with normal operations. Elsewhere it is felt that the demand for a certain percentage of theatre personnel can be met if the WMC will step in and adjust contracts _ affecting union help, such as projectionists and stagehands, where several are employed. Companies Using Up Funds in Spain (Continued from page 1) mulated in Spain in the past two years, with upwards of 350 films having been imported into that country in that period. RKO is understood to have sold some 60 films in two years, with most other companies selling at least 40 each. Recently, percentage selling of U. S. exports was eliminated and a flat rental basis substituted, by Government ruling, because Spanish authorities felt that percentage deals cost too much Total yearly Spanish grosses for all U. S. companies is estimated at about $3,000,000. Promote Four on Air Four new Paramount pictures will receive publicity on a single Lux Radio Theatre program Monday, over CBS. Alan Ladd, Ann Richards and Akim Tamiroff will appear in an adaptation of "Disputed Passage," and credit will be given "Salty O'Rourke" as Ladd's forthcoming picture; "Love Letters," as Miss Richards' next; "For Whom the Bell Tolls," as TamirofFs current picture, and "Bring On the Girls," as an early release. E. M. Martin a V-P The appointment of Edwin M. Martin as vice-president and secretary of Farnsworth Television and Radio Corp. is announced here by E. A. Nicholas, president. Martin has been with the company as secretary and counsel since 1939, when the present organization was formed. In addition to his new duties, he will continue in charge of the company's legal department. Brien, King, Matlack Win Top QP Showmen Awards James King (Continued from page 1) day, following balloting, at a special luncheon at the Hotel Astor, here, last Monday, on campaigns submitted by scores of showmen all over the country. The annual winners for the past year were cited as follows : Lige Brien, the Silver Grand Award, for his exploitation accomplishments as manager of Warners' Enright Theatre in Pittsburgh. Brien also won the Silver Grand Award in 1941 for his efforts in behalf of the same circuit; James King, the Bronze Grand Award, for showmanship in Boston. "Red" King is publicity director of RKO Theatres in Boston; Jack Matlack, the War Showmanship Award for the third year. Matlack, advertising publicity director of J. J. Parker Theatres in Portland, Ore., now has four top Quigley honors, having won the Silver Grand Award last year in addition to the War Showmanship Award. G. S. Eyssell, managing director of Radio City Music Hall, here, speaking at the luncheon, praised the Round Table department of Motion Picture Herald as a forum for ideas and as an institution which "gives a pat on the back" to exhibitors for their showmanship efforts. "The Managers Round Table is not only a clearing house for ideas on exploitation, publicity and promotion and a meeting place for personnel concerned with these things," said Martin Quigley in introducing Eyssell, "but it also, in these upset times, provides an invaluable point of contact for men on the battle fronts of the world." Emphasizing the importance of keeping faith with the public, Eyssell praised the Round Table as a forum of discussion and suggestion providing a valuable interchange of ideas. He urged exhibitors to make full use of the department's facilities, and declared that the industry was indebted to Quigley Publications for the incentive to good showmanship inherent in Jack Matlack the annual Quigley Showmanship Awards. "The basic principles of showmanship are the same," Eyssell said, "whether you are an exhibitor in Vermont, in California. The results should be the same if the job is done well." Leading contenders for the Awards honors in the consideration of the judges were: Gertrude Bunchez, Loew's Century, Baltimore ; Arnold J. Coffey, Carolina Theatre, Hickory, N. C. ; Sid Dickler, Warners' Belmar, Pittsburgh ; Jack Foxe, Loew's Columbia, Washington ; Edgar Goth, Fabian, Stapleton, S. I. ; Margaret Goyette, Denham Theatre, Denver; Phil Katz, Centre, Pittsburgh ; Frank LaBar, Imperial, Asheville, N. C; Lou Mayer, RKO Palace, Chicago ; Rita Morton, RKO Albee, Providence; Jack Matlack, Broadw ay Theatre, Portland, Ore. ; George Peters, Loew's, Richmond, Va. ; Joseph Samartano, Loew's State, Providence; Chuck Shannon, Columbia Theatre, Sharon, Pa. ; Michael Stranger, College Theatre, New Haven ; Charles B. Taylor, Shea's, Buffalo. The judges at the annual luncheon were : Leon Bamberger, James Brennan, Barry Buchanan, Rodney Bush, Wing Commander J. W. Davies, Albert Deane, George Dembow, Oscar A. Doob, Steve Edwards, H. R. Emde, G. S. Eyssell, Edward M. Fay, William R. Ferguson, Erwin Gold, Harry Goldberg, Jack Goldstein, William J. Heineman, Hal Home, Charles Reed Jones, Malcolm Kingsberg, Howard Le Sieur, Irving Lesser, Fred Lynch, George Lynch, Henry Linet, Lawrence H. Lipskin. Also : F. J. A. McCarthy, S. Barret McCormick, Charles B. McDonald, Harry McWilliams, Harry Mandel, Seymour Morris, Alec Moss, John J. O'Connor, Lew Preston, Herman Robbiris, Sam Rosen, Frank P. Rosenberg, Louis W. Schine, Charles Schlaifer, S. A. Schwartz, S. F. Seadler, Arnold Stoltz, Sam Shain, Stanley Shuford, Spyros Skouras, William White. Lunch for Exploiteers William R. Ferguson, M-G-M . director of exploitation, was host yesterday to four field exploiteers and members of the trade press at a luncheon at the Astor Hotel, here. The exploiteers were William Prass, Denver ; Austin McGough, Des Moines ; Ernest Van Pelt, Salt Lake City; Price A. Shoemaker, Chicago. 'Tree' Heads for $15,000 Twentieth Century-Fox's "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" at the Roxy had an opening day take of around $15,000, the theatre reported yesterday. Record house figure of $14,900 was established by "Heaven Can Wait." Markham, TEA Director Emerson Markham, associated with General Electric for the past 20 years, has been named a director of Television Broadcasters Association, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Robert L. Gibson, also of GE. 'Pilot Showing Mar. 19 "God is My Co-Pilot," Warner Bros., has been set for national tradeshowing Monday, March 19. 'Pilot* Release April 7 National release of "God Is My CoPilot" has been set for April 7. Picture goes into the New York Strand following "Hotel Berlin." Philco Approves FCC Video Plans (Continued from page 1) which may later be added, will enable several hundred stations to go on the air after the war, and give a large part of the public a regular television program service on at least one channel," Smith said. "Many sections of the country will have the benefit of programs from several stations." 4 By taking such action, the Com-^ mission would be laying the groundwork for a larger postwar industry and provide employment and job opportunities for a great many people. He agreed with the Commission that years will be required to develop television in the experimental band from 480 to 920 megacycles to a point of commercial usefulness. He added, however, that in Philco's opinion, television in these experimental frequencies, if and when developed, will supplement the television service which is now being established by the FCC, in that part of the spectrum where most of the presently available engineering and operating experience lies. "Undoubtedly receivers will be developed which will receive both services just as joint AM and FM receivers are now available," he said. "The Federal Communications Commission's decisions regarding television point the way to the fullest development of the medium, both for the years ahead and the longer future." Loew's Seeks Sites In South America (Continued from page 1) home office representative. In Buenos Aires, they will direct the opening in one week of three M-G-M pictures dubbed in Spanish: "The White Cliffs of Dover," at the Ideal Theatre, March 20; "Gaslight," at the Opera, March 22, and "The Canterville Ghost," at the Normandie, March 28. Both are expected to return about April 15. Hearing Wednesday In Studio Dispute (Continued from page 1) man said the probability is that 1421 will wait through Friday for a favorable WLB action but may order a "walkout on an hour's notice" at any time if convinced enforcement is not forthcoming. Walter T. Melvin Dies Walter T. Melvin, 49, manager of the Riviera Theatre, here, died suddenly yesterday of a stroke. Melvin had been associated with Skouras Theatres for 10 years, and previously was with Fox Metropolitan and, for a short while, with the Music Hall. Services will be held Monday at the Church of the Good Shepard, 207tb St. and Broadway. Paul Gibbons Killed Scranton, Pa., March 1. — Staff Sgt. Paul Gibbons, formerly of Comerford Theatres, was killed in action over Germany while serving as an aerial gunner with the Eighth Air Force.