Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1945)

6 Motion Picture daily Monday, March 5, 1945 Gov't Chances for Early Decree Trial Seen Here as Slim Red Cross Press Book Is Mine of Campaign Ideas {Continued from page 1) setting a trial date which would carry proceedings through the Summer months. Should the Department again ask for a June trial date, the court, it is believed, would make the same response it did last December. Federal court attaches predict that the earliest trial date would be sometime during October. In addition to pressing its motion for the setting of the earliest possible trial date on the decree action the Department, at today's hearing before Judge Goddard, is scheduled to argue its petition for a temporary injunction restraining defendant companies from granting clearance to theatres charging substantially the same admission prices. In order to win its injunction, the Department will have to show that the companies have violated the law. Failure to do, will mean that the petition will be summarily disposed of. Violation Hearing However, should the Department succeed in showing violations of the law, the court will have to set a hearing date for submission of evidence and testimony by both sides on specific instances of violations. The Government has indicated that, in such a case, it will rely upon 54 Arbitration Appeal Board decisions in clearance cases during the past several years. Company counsel will reply in general terms at today's hearing to the Departments' arguments on violations of law under clearance procedures. Specific evidence or testimony will not be undertaken on the subject except in the event the court holds that violations of law may have been shown or indicated by the Government's arguments and thereafter sets a date for hearings on specific cases. Pennsylvania Bill Hits Ticket Brokers Philadelphia, March 4. — A bill introduced in the State House by Representatives Joseph A. Scanlon, Philadelphia, and Harry P. O'Neill, Lackawanna, would permit State Police to license persons and concerns reselling theatre and amusement tickets. Referred to the committee on state government, the bill would regulate the resale by brokers, and would prohibit the 'scalping' of tickets by certain dealers. Tillie Jasie Dies Mrs. Tillie Leblang Jasie, 63, manager for 13 years of the theatre ticket agencies here, founded by her first husband, the late Joe Leblang, died at her home here. Besides her managerial business, Mrs. Jasie backed several productions, and was known for her philanthropic activities. Funeral services were held yesterday at Temple Israel. Schaefer to Coast George Schaefer will leave here for the Coast Wednesday to close his deal with Lester Cowan. Schaefer will be gone about 10 days. Correlated into a manual of ideas, information and promotions, the press book now in the hands of exhibitors participating in the industry's Red Cross War Fund Week, March 15-21, covers many angles of showmanship designed to put this campaign ahead of any previous drive. Wrapped around the folded book is a die-cut cardboard jacket which folds up into a Red Cross collection container when the book is withdrawn. A three-color cover leads into a page of messages by industry leaders of the drive, and Basil O'Connor, chairman of the American National Red Cross, and Colby M. Chester, national chairman of the 1945 Red Cross War Fund. A page of praise for the Red Cross by the military and naval leaders, with portraits and quotes, and a second page of pictures illustrating the work of the organization may be taken directly out of the book and utilized as part of the theatre's lobby display. Activities Suggested Continuing its coverage of selling angles, the book details ways to get the money rolling in with suggestions for activities before collections and during collections. The book then highlights two pages of advertising material and theatre decorations, including the free National Screen mat of Red Cross advertising slugs, four display posters contained in the special Red Cross kit, and the burgee streamers, valances and ushers' badges which may be ordered from National Screen. For newspapers and radio, publicity stories, spot announcements and editorials are provided, and before the last page is turned theatre men will find a complete list of national committee members, exchange area exhibitor and publicity chairmen, and district members of the distributors' division. The book was prepared under the supervision of Arthur M. Brilant, national publicity coordinator, with the assistance of the art and publicity departments of RKO Radio and RKO Theatres. Red Cross Times Sq. Show Delayed a Day For the Times Square, New York, demonstration to be staged at the Statue of Liberty replica, in behalf of the Red Cross War Fund, on Thursday, March 15, efforts are being made to have the United Nations represented by children in native costumes. This is being arranged by Pearce Takes Over Austlet Franchises New Orleans, March 4. — Jack Austlet, recently owner of the Astor Pictures, as well as Film Classics franchises, has disposed of his office and these will be handled in the future by Everett Pearce, it is understood here. Austlet, it is said, will open a 16mm distribution business. 'Gray' Record Claimed "The Picture of Dorian Gray", broke all previous M-G-M records for openings at the New York Capitol, with a gross of $15,000 last Thursday, the company claims. Janice Rentchler of the WAC publicity committee, with the cooperation of editors of foreign language newspapers here. Although the Times Square observance was originally slated for Wednesday, the 14th, Harry Mandel, national drive co-chairman of publicity, and Edward C. Dowden, New York City public relations chairman, changed the date so as not to detract from a parade of the Brooklyn Chapter of the Red Cross, scheduled for Wednesday. A rallying song has been composed for the industry's Red Cross War Fund Week. Collaborators on the as yet untitled number are PFC Frank Loesser, who wrote "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition," and Hal Block, radio comedy writer, now writing for Milton Berle and Phil Baker. Red Cross Tribute Is On Paramount Screen A "Salute to the American Red Cross," is currently being shown on the screen of the New York Paramount Theatre, as a prelude to the industry's Red Cross War Fund Drive starting March 15. The presentation was conceived by R. M. Weitman, manager of the theatre, and arranged by Harry Rubin, projection supervisor. _ It opens with "God Bless America", which is followed by Army, Navy, Marine and Air Corps songs, and concludes with the Red Cross song, "Angels of Mercy," sung from the stage against a background of the rescue work of the Red Cross. Showings will continue through the drive, at which time the regular Red Cross trailer will follow, while audience collections are being made. Intermountain Theatres Back Red Cross Drive Salt Lake City, March A — Theatres throughout the Intermountain territory will cooperate 100 per cent in the American Red Cross campaign, according to Herman Wobber, Western manager for 20th Century-Fox, who is representing the National Film War Activities Committee. At a meeting held at the Hotel Utah, Lt. Ralph T. Ballard was the principal speaker, and he has been assigned to speak nationally at theatre Red Cross meetings to aid the drive. Jacob A. Kahn and Verne B. Thorpe, field representatives of Utah, also represented the local Red Cross at the meeting. First Commercial Video "Talk Fast, Mister," 10 minute-film produced by RKO Television Corp. for Liberty Mutual Insurance, Boston, will be televised tonight over NBC, New York station WNBT and will be beamed to WRGB, Schenectady, and WPTZ, Philadelphia, marking what it is claimed to be the first time that a film made and sponsored for television is to receive such a network telecasting. 'Outlaw' for Labor Day "The Outlaw" will not be nationally released until Labor Day, by United Artists. Name Dr. Jolliffe RCA 'Lab' Head Dr. C. B. Jolliffe, chief engineer of RCA Victor, has been elected vicepresident of RCA in charge of RCA Laboratories, Brigadier General David Sarnoff, RCA president, announced last Friday following a meeting of the board of directors. Dr. Jolliffe will succeed Otto S. Schairer who was elected staff vic&_ president and consultant and advisiij on matters pertaining to research, de' velopment,* patents, trademarks and' licenses. Before joining RCA, Dr. Jolliffe was chief engineer of the Federal Radio Commission and its successor, the Federal Communications Commission. Schairer joined RCA in 1929 as director of patent development, following 27 years with Westinghouse. W. B. Quarter Net Up to $2,368,565 (Continued from page 1) year was $33,093,321, compared with $34,413,961 the preceding year. Consolidated balance sheet, as of Nov. 25, 1944, showed current assets of $59,683,296 and current liabilities amounting to $29,325, 631, leaving working capital of $30,357,665. Current liabilities of subsidiaries operating in foreign territories amounted to $6,409,509, including bank loans of $2,125,804 guaranteed by the parent company. Rieger Closes for 3 Brown Reissues Jack Rieger of Trinity Pictures has closed a deal with David L. Loew, for the reissue rights to three Joe E. Brown pictures, originally distributed by RKO, and which reverted back to Loew. The pictures are "When's Your Birthday?" "Riding on Air" and "Fit for a King." Domestic rights are for five-and-a-half years and foreign for six-and-a-half. (Dillingerf Rejected By Chicago Censors Chicago, March 4. — The Chicago Censor Board has rejected Monogram's "Dillinger," and classified Columbia's "I Love a Mystery" for adults only. 20th Century Fox's "Hangover Square", originally given an adult rating, has had that raised by Police Commissioner James Allman. Laemmle Buys Script Hollywood, March 4. — Return of Carl Laemmle, Jr., to the ranks of the producers was indicated here at the weekend by his purchase of "The Life Story of Julian Eltinge," which deals with a famous female impersonator. Loew Engages Fizdale David L. Loew, independent producer distributing through United Artists, has engaged the Tom Fizdale office here to handle public relations? Goldfarb Rejoins UA Bob Goldfarb, who received his medical discharge from the Army recently, has returned to his former post at United Artists as accessory sales manager. Goldfarb had been in that post for five years.