Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1945)

8 Motion Picture daily Friday, March 9, 1945 Ten Films Score Above Average in 17 Cities Stone \\ ill Shoot With Video Camera (Continued from page 1) Sensations of 1946" will be budgeted at $1,500,000, and will get underway in the Fall. The producer said that he is dickering for screen rights to a top stage play now playing on Broadway, but would not disclose its title. This will not be filmed, if acquired, until 1946, at which time he hopes to do "International Sensations of 1947." By shooting his next film with a television camera, Stone said, he will have one of the first available television features. He is now working in conjunction with a television studio on the Coast on the method of approach. The question of union jurisdiction has entered the situation, he said, pointing out that the scales for a standard cameraman and a television cameraman are different. Stone is also planning an all-colored revue on Broadway in the Fall, starring Cab Calloway, with Lena Home and Bill Robinson as possibilities He has no plans to film the production. Ted Kohler. lyricist of "Stormy Weather," will do the iyrics. Film Critic Crowther Addresses the SPG "The Film Critic, the Public and the Publisher," was the subject of an address last night at the Hotel Piccadilly here by Bosley Crowther, motion picture critic of the New York Times, before a meeting of the Screen Publicists Guild. Crowther discussed the necessity of the critic using his own judgment in reviewing films, but tempering that judgment with regard to the policy of the paper he is writing for, as well as the type of reader he had. "Critics cannot, and should not concern themselves with whether a film will be a hit at the box office, but must render an opinion using their own discretion, based on their public and the type of newspaper they write for," Crowther said. 'Wilson' in Spring at Advanced Admission Chicago, March 8. — Jack Lorentz, Midwest manager for 20th-Fox, discloses that "Wilson" will be released in neighborhood houses this Spring at advanced amissions, to be sold on similar percentage terms as "The Song of Bernadette." The distributor will pay for the extra projectionist required by the local union of all theatre; playing advanced admission films. Most neighborhood exhibitors here had their first experience with an increased scale during the "Bernadette" run and in the majority of situations reported good business. It is indicated that the "Wilson" dates will be tied in with the company's 30th anniversary celebration. WABC Promotes Doyle J. E. (Dinty) Doyle, manager of press information for radio station WABC. New York outlet of CBS, for the past two-and-one-half years, has been promoted to head a new department as director of special events. Arthur Hull Hayes, WABC general manager, announces. Doyle will devote all of his time to the station's war efforts. (Continued from page 1) member" and "Here Come the Waves" are continuing to standout business in holdover engagements and five other films : "Music for Millions," "The Three Caballeros," "Destiny," "The Keys of the Kingdom" and "Ministry of Fear" are also above house averages in the cities reporting. The 17 cities are Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Toronto, Buffalo, Baltimore, Chicago, Philadelphia, Denver, St. Louis, Los Angeles, Omaha, Boston, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Kansas City, Cleveland and San Francisco. Cities in which post-midnight performances were given formerly and now have been eliminated because of the curfew include Milwaukee, Denver, Los Angeles, Buffalo, Kansas City, Chicago, Cleveland and San Francisco. "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" was a heavy 818,300 above house averages in three Los Angeles theatres despite the curfew and unfavorable weather conditions. It led by a wide margin with a big $10,500 above in Cincinnati which was almost double average for the theatre and it was a leader in Pittsburgh with $9,000 above. "To Have and Have Not" soared to $26,500 above in reports from six theatres in Boston. Pitttsburgh, Philadelphia and St. Louis on holdover and moveover runs and in big initial weeks in Chicago and Toronto. It was a leader in Chicago with $10,000 above and an outstanding leader in Boston on a second week. It was big in an initial week in Toronto and in a third week in St Louis. St, Louis Outstanding "Meet Me in St. Louis" in holdover weeks in 10 theatres in Omaha, Boston, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Toronto. Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Chicago and San Francisco was still an outstanding grosser throughout the country with the indications being that neither curfew, unpleasant weather nor length of run are having any marked effect on the film's box office performance. It was as big in a second week in Chicago as it was in a first week. It was a heavy $15,00 above house averages in two Boston theatres in a second week. It continued big in a fifth week in Milwaukee ; in a fourth week in Cincinnati, and in third weeks in Toronto, Buffalo and San Francisco. "A Song to Remember," drawing twice as much as average in two theatres in Denver and staying up among the leaders in second weeks in two Los Angeles theatres despite the curtailment of performances due to the curfew, and bringing standout business in a seventh week in San Francisco, is proving to be another box office leader. It scored $26,200 above in the five theatres, bringing $39,000 in the two Denver theatres despite the effects of the curfew. "Here Come the Waves," in big initial weeks in San Francisco, Cleveland and Indianapolis ; in strong fourth weeks in two Los Angeles theatres : in third weeks in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh and a second week in Buffalo brought a sturdy $17,100 above in the eight theatres. "Music For Millions" was a leader in Kansas City in a first week and continued to draw heavy business in second weeks in Baltimore, Cleve land and St. Louis. It was $9,000 above in Kansas City despite the dropping of a Saturday midnight performance and collected $2,000 above both in Baltimore and Cleveland. "The Three Caballeros" scored outstanding business in a second week in Boston and was also big in second weeks in Cincinnati and Buffalo. It brought moderate business in a second week with a stage show in Baltimore and in an initial week as a dual in Milwaukee. "Destiny" was a satisfactory $5,400 above in reports from four theatres in Baltimore, Boston, Cincinnati and Chicago. "The Keys of the Kingdom" was a leader in Milwaukee on an initial week and continued profitably in a third week in Toronto and a second week in Cleveland. "Ministry of Fear" drew good business in initial weeks in Baltimore and in Buffalo as a dual and continued profitably in an extended run in Philadelphia. Others Profitable "I'll Be Seeing You," "Objective Burma" and "Tonight and Every Night" are continuing to profitable business in extended holdover engagements. "I'll Be Seeing You" continued to draw heavy business in a third week in San Francisco. It was still drawing well in a fourth week in Cleveland, with moderate business being recorded in third weeks in Cincinnati and Philadelphia. "Objective Burma" drew $103,085 in eight theatres in Los Angeles, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Denver and Chicago, all on holdover runs. "Tonight and Every Night" drew big business as a dual in an initial week in Buffalo and continued to draw well in third weeks in four Los Angeles theatres as a dual. "For Whom the Bell Tolls" on a return engagement at popular prices in Omaha, Denver and St. Louis drew its best business in the last mentioned city. "Practically Yours" brought good business on an initial week as a dual in St. Louis and moderate business in an initial week in Pittsburgh. "Belle of the Yukon" was profitable in a second week in Chicago. "Murder, My Sweet" was profitable in an initial week in Cincinnati and drew moderate business in Indianapolis and St. Louis and in second weeks in Chicago and San Francisco. "Hangover Square" drew average business in an initial week in Milwaukee as a dual and in a second week in Baltimore. "Dark Waters" scored handsomely in an initial week in Philadelphia and was profitable on a moveover as a dual in Denver. "Here Come the Co-Eds" was satisfactory in an initial week in St. Louis as a dual and in a second week in Cincinnati. 'Gray' Grosses S85.000, New MGM Capitol Record "The Picture of Dorian Gray" has set a new receipt record for M-G-M pictures playing the Capitol, New York, the company claimed here vesterdav. The gross for the first week was said to be $85,000. M-G-M also claims a similar record for any of its films playing at the State, with "Meet Me in St. Louis" claimed to have grossed $45,000. Suggest Dropping Theatre Stagehands (Continued from page 1) neighborhood theatres be retained. The unions involved are the St. Louis Theatrical Brotherhood Local No. 6, and the Motion Picture Machine Operators. The arbitrator's report makes the significant statement that, "The title stagehand, in the light of present duties is a misnomer because of changed conditions. These men have assumed and performed through the years new and additional duties. The job might be classified as theatre stagehand, carpenter, electrician, maintenance property man." The theatres had contended the stagehands were unnecessary, and had sought to reduce the number to he employed. The ruling favors theatres in recommending that two shifts of stagehands be employed, one from eight A.M. to four P.M., the other from four P.M. to closing. This ruling was thought to enable employees to do maintenance work while the theatres were closed. About 41 neighborhood houses are affected by this report. Kohn was named arbitrator last August, at which time the Labor Board retained jurisdiction of wage demands. The unions seek a 15 per cent raise which the theatres agreed to, if the number of stage hands is reduced. Four Given New CBS Posts in Switches New appointments by Columbia Broadcasting, here, include Paul Wittlig as studio supervisor of technical operations department ; Albert R. Moore as assistant studio supervisor ; Davidson Vorhes, assitant manager, and LaVerne Owens assistant to the manager of the sound effects division. Wittlig replaces Vorhes in the department headed by Henry Grossman, director of technical operations for the network and Moore takes over the post previously held by Wittlig. Vorhes replaces Max Uhlig in the division headed by Walter R. Pier son with Uhlig becoming supervisor of sound effects and production of the transcription division at Columbia Recording Corp. 28,571 Shares of 20th Common Sold On the New York Stock Exchange yesterday, E. F. Hutton and Co. and Shields and Co. offered a block of 28,571 shares of common stock of 20th Century-Fox at 28J4 less a commis-sion to dealers of 50 cents a share. The offering was quickly oversubscribed. Bids were received for 34,870 shares and allotments were made on a basis of 94 per cent. The largest allotment was 8,810 shares and the smallest 30 shares. There were 251 purchases by 35 firms. Huber in New Blue Post E. J. 'Mike' Huber, formerly promotion manager of the Blue Network's Central division, has been named co-ordinator of advertising and sales promotion, Fred Smith, vicepresident in charge of advertising, publicity and sales promotion, announces.