Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1946)

K [\jOT REMOVE 59. NO. 41 MOTION ICTURE DAILY NEW YORK, U.S.A., FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 1946 TEN CENTS Elect Schenck And Other Loew Officers Extend Mayer Contract To 1949; Katz, 1954 "The board of directors of Loew's, Inc., following the company's annual stockholders' meeting at the home office yesterday, reelected Nicholas M. Schenck, president, and a 1 1 other officers, including : J. Robert Rubin, vice president and counsel; Charles C M o s k o w ■ itz, vice president and treasurer ; Leopold Friedman, vice president, sec r e t a r y and counsel ; Wil Ham F. Rodgers, vice-president and (Continued on page 6) Warner Bros, to Mark Vitaphone's 20th Birthday Starting August 6 Warner Brothers will mark the 20th anniversary of its first public introduction of sound and talking motion pictures in the U. S. with a special nationwide celebration. The event which will be marked is the first public showing at the Warner Theatre, in New York of Vitaphone which was embodied in the picture "Don Juan" and a series of short subjects featuring an address by Will Hays and the presentation of operatic stars. Several special invitation showings preceded the first public showing, early in August, 1926, and it is understood that the date of August 6 has been set as the anniversary observance date. Details of the celebration are understood to be in the process of being set both here and on the Coast. It is expected that a pretentious nationwide radio broadcast, featuring Warner stars, will emanate from the company's studios in Burbank, and a special Warner sound anniversary short subject might be made, possibly highlighting flashes from some of the early Warner sound films. Nicholas M. Schencli See U. S. Films in Holland Next Month London, Feb. 28. — The Dutch government's decree enforcing exclusive foreign motion picture trading through the Bioscoop Bond will be abrogated by the end of April, thus freeing that market for Hollywood films, in the Dpinion of Henry Kahn, representative pf the Motion Picture Export Asso (Continued on page 6) 'Run and Clearance' Sought for Video Advertisers sponsoring television shows, whether they be "live" shows or on film, should be permitted to make arrangements to present them on any number of television stations in order to reach all potential television set owners, Ralph B. Austrian, president of RKO Television (Continued on page 6) In This Issue "Smooth as Silk" is reviewed on page 7. Name 42 Red Five Warner Cross Aides William J. Kupper, national distribution chairman for the industry's Red Cross drive, March 20-26, has appointed 32 regional exchange area distribution chairmen for the campaign Additionally, 10 regional district chairmen have been named, including : Norman Ayres, Warners, Northeastern ; Salem Applegate and Dave Miller, Universal, Eastern ; Carl Shalit, Columbia, East Central ; Charles Kessnick, Loew's, Southeastern ; Phil Longdon, -20th Century-Fox; Southwestern; Allen Usher, Paramount, Midwestern ; C. W. Allen, United Artists, Prairie district; C. L. Walker, 20th-Fpx, Rocky Mountain district ; Herbert McIntyre, RKO Radio, West Coast. Exchange distribution chairmen follow : New York : Henry Randel and (.Continued on page 6) Sales Meets Skouras Sets Deal With Paramount Paramount and Skouras Amusement Corp., operating in Greater New York, have finally come to terms on product after the circuit had held out for over a year, during which time its 50 theatres had not played a Paramount film, it is learned here. With the difficulties now eliminated, Paramount can now smooth out its relations with various other circuits with which it encountered difficulties on terms. Loew's, Century and the Brandt circuits previously refused to play Paramount product, but have since signed deals. Skouras will now get "Duffy's Tav (Continued on page 6) Chicago, Feb. 28. — Five regional sales meetings, attended by branch managers, field men and district managers, will be conducted by Warner division sales managers following the three-day conference of district managers and home office executives now in progress at the Hotel Blackstone here. Ben Kalmenson, vice-president in charge of sales, is presiding over the current session. Main purpose of the country-wide meetings is to launch the annual Warner sales drive, which has been set for March 31-July 27. Kalmenson outlined the drive to district managers at the opening session here today, pointing out that the company is prepared to release ,as many pictures as the market can absorb. Mort Blumenstock, vice-president in charge .of advertising-publicity, discussed the merchandising aspects of forthcoming product, citing not only (Continued on page 6) Studio Retroactive Request by Mar. 6 Hollywood, Feb. 28.— Representatives of Screen Set Designers Local 1421 met with the producers today to discuss working conditions covered in a proposed retroactive contract extending from April 4, 1944, the date of expiration of the last contract, until the date of signing of a new contract yet to be negotiated. The union representatives agreed to present, prior to March 6, proposals for wage scales (Continued on page 6) Kirsch Asks Grouping Of All Drives Illinois Allied Claims Patrons Hit Collections Chicago, Feb. 28. — While he did not minimize the importance of educating the publ ic on the ravages of cancer. Jack Kirsch, Allied States president and head of Allied of Illinois, told his annual state meeting at the Congress Hotel here today that he_ is against any form of collections in theatres during "Cancer Week," April 21-28. He has written industry cancer campaign chairman Charles Skouras to that effect. Kirsch proposes that this drive, as well as any others in the future soliciting the aid of exhibitors, should be consolidated into one campaign and efforts be made to raise enough for all at one annual time. Collections for (Continued on page 6) Invitations Soon To License Talks Various circuits operating in New York City will shortly receive invitations from License Commissioner Benjamin Fielding to have representatives join him in his office here some time next week, for discussions pertaining to the formation of a new city amusement license code, Fielding discloses. Similar invitations, Fielding said, (Continued on page 6) Doob to Address Quigley Luncheon Oscar Doob, Loew's general theatre executive, will address the Quigley Showmanship Awards luncheon at the Hotel Astor here Monday which is to follow the judging of showmanship campaigns in the 12th annual competition sponsored by the Managers' Round Table of Motion Picture Herald. Exhibition and distribution executives will select the winners. The special citation for War Showmanship will be awarded for the fourth time. Martin Quigley will be host at the luncheon.