Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1945)

2 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, December 20, 1945 Free Films, Candy For Kiddies Abroad Theatres in France and Belgium now being operated by the Army Special Service Division headquarters will give special children's matinees on Christmas. American films will be contributed by United States producers, operating through the Paris office of the War Activities Committee, with candy and food supplied by the Army. Such an operation, almost routine in the United States, becomes an innovation in areas where children's Christmas candy is now practically unknown. Personal Mention Oscar Cooper, 57, Dies at Mt. Sinai Oscar H. Cooper, 57, editorial assistant in the Sunday department of the Philadelphia Inquirer, and onetime film trade press editor and Universal publicity director, died at Mt. Sinai Hospital, here, "on Tuesday afternoon, following a two-weeks' illness. Born in Austin, Tex., a son of the late Oscar H. Cooper, Texas educator, he taught at the Hargrove School, Fairfield, Conn., and later became city editor of the New Haven Palladium], before returning to Texas to spend four years, 1911-1915, on The Dallas News as assistant to the president. After seven years, 1916-23, with the old Exhibitors' Trade Review, as news and managing editor, Cooper spent a like period with the old Motion Picture News as managing editor. From 1929 to 1931 he was publicity director in New York for Universal. Cooper is survived by his widow, Florence; two daughters, Mrs. Harry W. Johnson, and June S. Cooper of this city ; and his mother, two brothers, and a sister, all of whom live in Texas. L.A. Tax Vote Today; Warn of Precedent Los Angeles, Dec. 19. — Exhibitors' hopes for defeat of the proposed five per cent tax on theatre grosses, which comes up for a City Council vote here tomorrow, rose today when Chamber of Commerce president Leroy M. Edwards revealed the text of a letter written to the councilmen, declaring the levy an "unfair and discriminatory" measure which would "constitute an open invitation to other major cities to tax heavily the revenues of motion picture theatres, placing a substantial burden upon an industry which is extremely important to this community." 'Abie' Series Planned Hollywood, Dec. 19. — Following Bing Crosby Productions "Abie's Irish Rose," now in preparation, playwright. Anne Nicholas will supply a new script annually for pictures to carry the same characters forward indefinitely. SPYROS SKOURAS, president of 20th Century-Fox, was a visitor at the White House yesterday, spending a half-hour with President Truman. • Capt. Harry Jordan, former manager of Trans-Lux Theatres, Philadelphia, expects his Army discharge shortly and will join the circuit's Washington office. • Ted Schlanger, Warner Theatres zone manager in Philadelphia, and Mrs. Schlanger will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary on Christmas Day. I. J. Schmertz, manager of the Cleveland 20th Century-Fox exchange, will spend the holidays in New York with Mrs. Schmertz. • Andre De Toth, director and writer, who came here from Hungary five years ago, has become a United States citizen. • James Washer has returned to Donahue & Coe, New York advertising agency, as an assistant account executive, after service in the army. • William B. Brenner, vice-president in charge of operations for National Screen Service, is back in New York from England. John W. Hubbell, chief of the Army's oversea's motion picture service, has been promoted to lieutenant colonel. • John Kirby, Paramount district manager in Atlanta, has gone to Miami on business. • Martin H. Newman has returned to Century Circuit here as comptroller after two and a half years in service. • Edward L. Hyman of the Paramount Theatre here will leave for Boston tomorrow. • Paul Terry will celebrate his 30th anniversary as a cartoon producer tomorrow. • Charles Lester, Southern division manager of National Screen, has left New York for Memphis on business. • Stanley Kositsky, Columbia salesman in Philadelphia, is in a local hospital following an appendectomy. • Sam Wheeler, Film Classics franchise holder in Washington, has returned to his post after a visit here. • Herman Ripps, M-G-M district manager in Albany, is on the sick list. '• Al Sunshine has resigned as Republic salesman in Cleveland. Academy Awards on Air Hollywood, Dec. 19. — The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' board of governors last night approved a nationwide broadcast of its complete annual award ceremonies, over the ABC network. HERBERT J. YATES, president of Republic, and James R. Grainger, head of distribution, will leave Hollywood for New York over the weekend to spend the holidays here. • Mat. Mike Cullen, former manager of Loew's Penn Theatre, Pittsburgh, and Fay Steinbach, secretary to M. A. Silver, in Albany, are newlyweds. • Clarence Turley, secretary of St. Louis Amusement Co., has been elected a governing counsellor of the Institute of Real Estate Appraisers there. • David Cohen will rejoin Penn Theatre Equipment Co., Philadelphia, this week, following his discharge from the army. • Harvey L. Seltzer, operator of the Palmyra (Penn.) Theatre, has presented his collection of coins to the Lebanon County Historical Society. • Leonard Satz is back at Century Circuit, here, as head of purchasing and maintenance, after two years in the army. • Gilbert Seldes has left the Paramount studio for New York to spend the holidays with his family, returning to Hollywood on Jan. 2. • R. D. Fischer, discharged from the Air Corps, has purchased the 700-seat Star Theatre at Willow Springs, Mo. • Edward Emanuel, booking manager for the Jay Emanuel Theatres, Philadelphia, is ill. • Leonard Allen, Paramount advertising manager in Atlanta, has gone to New Orleans. • Joan Caulfield, Paramount star, is in New York from Hollywood for the holidays. • Lewis S. Black, manager of the Warner Theatre, Wilmington, is under a doctor's care for sciatica. • Bernard McCarthy, St. Louis manager for United Artists, is at home with the flu. Randall Bryan, National Screen Service branch manager, will spend the holidays in Miami with his mother. • Graham Sussman, Monogram representative in Idaho, is visiting in Salt Lake City. • Frank Rogers of Florida States Theatres has entered an Atlanta hospital for a rest. • Robert Strickland is in New York from Atlanta. 20th Will Fete Terry Paul Terry, head of Terrytoons, will be honored at a reception to be given by 20th Century-Fox at the St. Moritz Hotel here on Dec. 28, in celebration of his 30th anniversary in the industry as an animated cartoon producer. O'Brien on 'Dimes'; Many Circuits Sign Margaret O'Brien, eight-year-old M-G-M star, has " been appointed chairman of the 1946 March of Dimes children's division, it was announced here yesterday, by Basil O'Connor, president of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. Gratification over the number of blanket pledges from circuits being re ceived by national March of Dimes headquarters, here, has been expressed by Joseph R. Vogel, circuit chairman. "The number of pledges received is running far ahead of last year," said Vogel. The Circuits Among circuits which have responded are: M. Garfinkle, Pennsylvania (10 theatres) ; Century Circuit, New York (37) ; Hugh G. Martin, Georgia (68) ; M. and P. Circuit, New England (94) ; Loew's, (139) ; Kerasotes Theatres, Illinois (9) ; Lam Amusement Co., Georgia (12) ; Skouras Theatres, New York, (65) ; RKO, (100) ; Dominion Theatres, Virginia (15) ; Thalheimer Neighborhood Theatres, Virginia (27) ; Berger Amusement Co., Minnesota (9). Also : Jenkins Theatres, Georgia (16) ; Interstate, Griffith, and Jefferson Amusement Co. theatres in the Southwest (298) ; Minnesota Amusement Co., Minnesota (78) ; H. and E. Balaban Corp., Illinois (11) ; Wisper and Welsman, Michigan (11). Czechoslovakia Eyed By Export Company Company presidents and foreign managers attended a meeting of the Motion Picture Export Corp. on Tuesday at which there was a general review of its application with special emphasis on Czechoslovakia. No decision was taken, however, with respect to that territory, where a government film monopoly is operating. The British, French and the Russians have already signified their intention of dealing with the Czech agency. Francis Harmon, Motion Picture Association of America vice-president, and Export Corp. president, presided. W AC's Walter Brown Will Join Fabian Walter Brown, in charge of publicity for the War Activities Committee, here, is understood to be slated for an executive post with the new theatre organization proposed by Si Fabian to follow the WAC theatres division. Fabian is expected to identify an organizing committee shortly. Preview Soviet Film The artists and writers committee to aid Jewish War Orphans in the USSR is sponsoring a preview of "Once There Was a Girl," latest Soviet importation, at the Stanley Theatre, here, tomorrow. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily except Saturday, Sunday and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo. J. Sullivan, Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Avenue, Sam Honigberg, Representative; Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor: cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; Single copies, 10c,