Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1947)

Monday, February 3, 1947 Motion Picture Daily 3 Parents Hail MPA 'Library9 As Educational Factor Johnston's Motivation Is Supported by Analysis By CHARLES L. FRANKE Two new developments have evolved to lend added impetus to, and insure the continued success of the t/oZW Picture Association's "ChilQTwfs Film Library," according to an analysis of public reaction established by the MPA. Today's children, it is said, are bypassing the "sainted" literary classics in their reading, and today's parents, appalled over this fact, are lookingto the "Children's Film Library" as a compensatory agent and, additionally, are welcoming the opportunity for their children to share with them past "film experiences" that would not otherwise be available. In other words, according to reactions, the public is looking to the MPA program to help guarantee a "well-read" younger generation. This was the underlying consideration which prompted MPA president Eric Johnston to launch the program. Factors Are New It was the non-existence of both of these factors, according to MPA opinion, that doomed to failure a similar children's program developed by the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America in 1924-25. In those days children were more inclined to read such books as "David Copperfield," "Little Men," "Little Women," "Alice in Wonderland," "Young Tom Edison," and the others, it is pointed out, and likewise in those days when the industry was in its infancy parents had had no past "film experiences" to share under such a program. Today MPA files are crowded with records of press, radio and civic support of, and enthusiasm for the "Children's Library." This has impelled the MPA to make plans for extending the library beyond the 27 features originally slated. Additional pictures, like some of those alreadv included in the program, will be previewed by groups of school children to determine their fitness. Currently the Association is collating a wealth of data on the program, and this together with a summation of accomplishments will be made available to exhibitors shortly. Loew's Ad Talks to Open Here Thursday Loew's out-of-town division managers and divisional publicists are coming here for advertising conferences on Thursday with M-G-M's Howard Dietz and Loew's Ernest Emerling. Divisional publicists include Joe Di Pesa, Boston; Ed Fisher, Cleveland : Ted Barker, St. Louis: Brock Whitlock, Washington; Lou Brown of the Poli Circuit and Gertrude Bunchez of Baltimore. Sorrell Hearing Delayed Hollywood, Feb. 2. — Hearing on defense counsel's motion to dismiss indictments against Herbert Sorrell, president of the Conference of Studio Unions, and 13 other strike leaders charged with conspiracy to violate court orders, has been postponed by Superior Court Judge Thomas Ambrose to Feb. 24, Six Top Stars for 'Brotherhood' Film June Allyson, Lionel Barrymore, Joan Bennett, Gene Kelly, Gregory Peck and Dick Powell comprise the cast of the special David O. Selznick news featurette which will announce American Brotherhood Week to theatre-goers during the week of Feb. 1623. Produced by Selznick, and directed by William Dieteiie, the subject will become a part of every newsreel starting with the opening of the drive. Skouras Is Chairman The motion picture industry Drive is under the chairmanship of Spyros P. Skouras, president of 20th Century-Fox, with Fred Wehrenberg, president of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America; Jack Kirsch, national president of Allied States Association, and Ted Gamble of the American Theatres Association, as co-chairmen. Exhibitors are being asked to obtain a minimum quota of 10 pledges per theatre, with this number expected to be exceeded when the campaign gets under way. The overall objective is a total of 250,000 memberships. No audience collections will be made. Reciprocity Group To Hear Johnston Washington, Feb. 2. — Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association, held a conference Friday with his local aides on the statement he plans to make before the InterDepartmental Committee on reciprocity on Feb. 6. Johnston will urge the continuation of the State Department's reciprocal trade program and will list industry trade barriers being imposed abroad. Allied and Monogram Have 11 in Backlog Hollywood, Feb. 2. — Allied Artists and Monogram now have the most costly backlog of completed pictures in their history, it is announced by Steve Broidy, president. Headed bv the Allied Artists release, Roy Del Ruth's "It Happened on 5th Avenue," filmed at a cost of $1,300,000, the list of 11 Monogram pictures includes several of the company's most important films of the vear, the latter group leading off with "Black Gold," Cinecolor production, and including "The Guiltv." "High Conquest," "Fall Guy," "Violence," "Panic," "Rainbow over the Rockies," "Vallev of Fear," "Six Gun Serenade," "Trailing Danger" and "Land of the Lawless." Thorner to Liberty Everett Thorner will join Liberty Films today as exploitation field man, working out of Mort Nathanson's New York publicity office. Thorner previously held a similar post for Warner Brothers in Denver and Salt Lake and prior to that was associated with advertising and radio agencies. His first assignment will be on Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life," released by RKO Radio, Bader Now Business Head of Film Bulletin Philadelphia, Feb. 2. — David A. Bader, veteran industry publicist, has been named business manager of Film Bulletin, Moe Wax, publisher, announced here at the weekend. Assuming his new duties tomorrow with the Philadelphia regional trade paper, Bader will make his headquarters in New York. Bader, who entered the industry with Universal in 1920 and was later personal representative of Carl Laemmle, its president, was head of the Literary Corp. of America in 1938 and served as trade press representative for 20th Century-Fox during the past few years. In 1942, he was executive editor of The Independent. New York. He has been associated with the current March of Dimes drive as a publicist. In going with the Bulletin; Bader is disassociating himself from the \6mm. Reporter, which he acquired some time ago, Wax said. St. Louis Will Vote On Daylight Saving St. Louis, Feb. 2. — Exhibitors here have finally triumphed in efforts to get the issue of davlight saving time before St. Louis voters. It has become apparent that the issue will be included on a ballot in the April municipal election. Exhibitors had circulated petitions seeking repeal of daylight saving time and when petitions first submitted were found to have 7,000 allegedly invalid signatures, leaving a shortage of more than 2.000, the exhibitors took back the petitions and grot more signatures and now have 400 more names than are needed. Meanwhile, too, the city counselors' office has ruled that the issue could not be certified in time to place it on the ballot, but exhibitors found loopholes in citv ordinance^ and now it seems h'kelv the board of aldermen will certify the issue. First Enterprise -UA Release Opens Feb. 22 Enterprise's first release through United Artists, Harry Sherman's "Ramrod," will have its premiere in 25 Utah theatres on Feb. 22, in connection with the state's centennial Robert Taplinger, advertising-publicity director for Enterprise, made the announcement at a UA press 'uncheon here on Friday. Taplinger is returning to the Coast next Friday. Also present at the luncheon were : Paul N. Lazarus, Jr., Howard Le ^ieur, Francis Winikus, Lew Barasch ^nd Mori Krushem, all of United Artists, and Red Kann. James Cunningham. Tames Ivers, Tack Harrison Herb Golden, Paul Perez. Frank Lvndeckrr, Flovd Stone, Mel Kone'-nff, Mort Sunshine. A1 Picault. Chester Balm, Walter Blake, Lew Melamed. 'Bedelia' Here Feb. 7 "Bedelia," first Eagle-Lion film to have a New York City opening, will have its local premiere at the Victoria Theatre on Broadway on Friday, Feb. 7, A. W. Schwalberg, E-L vicepresident and general sales manager, announces. Paramount Chiefs Honored on Coast Hollywood, Feb. 2. — The Paramount home office and British executives who conferred here during the week on the company's domestic and foreign production plans were honored at a reception at the weekend at which they were greeted by 200 persons among whom were studio officials, stars, department heads, producers, directors and writers. Henry Ginsberg, vice-president in charge of production and studio operations was host. Guests of Honor Guests of honor were : Barney Balaban, Paramount president; Adolph Zukor, chairman of the board ; Charles M. Reagan, vice-president in charge of distribution; George Weltner, president of Paramount International ; Russell Holman, Eastern production head ; Alan Jackson, Eastern story editor ; Curtis Mitchell, director of publicity-advertising, and the following from overseas: James E. Perkins, chairman and managing director for Great Britain, and Frank Farley, European production representative for the company. Among players at the reception were: Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Ray Milland, Dorothy Lamour, Betty Hutton, Alan Ladd, Joan Caulfield, Veronica Lake, Phyllis Calvert, Ann Todd, Howard da Silva, Macdonald Carey, Billy De Wolfe, William Bendix, William Demarest, Cecil Kellaway, Patric Knowles, Virginia Field, John Lund, Robert Preston and Catherine Craig. Paramount Executives Are Honored by Studio Heads Barney Balaban, Paramount president, and Charles M. Reagan, distribution vice-president, are due in New York from Hollywood today. George Weltner, president of Paramount International, will return today or tomorrow. Alan Jackson, Eastern story editor, is expected next Monday. Russell Holman, Eastern production head, is due sometime next week. Adolph Zukor, chairman of the board, will remain on the Coast for several months. Griffith Suit Taken To High Court Washington, Feb. 2. — H. L. Griffith of the Griffith Circuit said here at the weekend that his organization has already been served with an official Justice Department notice that the Oklahoma anti-trust suit will be appealed to the Supreme Court by the Government. Griffith expressed the belief that the lower court decision would be upheld in the Supreme Court. The Western exhibitor was in Washington to attend the annual Texas Society dinner. Other Texas exhibitors present were: E. H. Rowley, president of the Rowley Circuit; L. M. Rice, attorney for Rowley ; and Jim Clements of Dallas. Inter-City Dissolves Albany, N. Y., Feb. 2. — Inter-City Circuit, Inc., New York, has been dissolved. Moe Morris, Radio City, was recording attorney.