Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1947)

Thursday, February 27, 1947 Motion Picture Daily NCCJLaudsIndustry ( Continued from page 1 ) Week" ended last Sunday. Clinchy singled out the industry's trade papers for "special thanks" for their aid and cooperation in bringing the purpose of the drive to all parts of the industry. While the special observance of "Brotherhood Week" has terminated, all fjssakers emphasized that their effortenroll 250,000 new members wouSu'' continue throughout the year, with Spyros P. Skouras, chairman of the film division, announcing that he has already consented to remain as head of next year's campaign. Reports indicating last year's results were exceeded by 50 and 100 per cent in enrollment increases and donations, respectively, were given by David Weinstock, Robert W. Coyne, Tom Connors, Rodney H. Smith, Roger Ferri, Eddie Solomon, Emil Friedlander, Arthur Israel, Malcolm Kingsberg, Leon Bamberger, William White, Harry Greenman and Sam Shain. Chairman of the luncheon was J. Robert Rubin. Also among those present were : Charles Alicoate, George Feinberg, Henry Ferber, William German, Joseph Stahl, Harry Goldberg, James Jerauld, Samuel Mathnovitch, Gilbert Miller, Louis Novins, Irving Kaplan, Brock Pemberton, Herman Schleier, Max Seligman, Ned Shugrue, and M. H. Shapiro. Crasto to Hong Kong As RKO Manager J. Remi Crasto has been appointed RKO Radio manager in Hong Kong by Phil Reisman, vice-president in charge of foreign distribution, the home office here announces. Crasto had been assistant manager in India. Wolfe, Duff Leave RKO Hollywood, Feb. 26. — Manny Wolfe has resigned as head of the RKO Radio story and writing departments. A similar amicable agreement was reached between the studio and producer Warren Duff, who will leave upon completion of "Out of the Past." Neither has announced new affiliations. Goldstone Joins RKO Hollywood, Feb. 26. — Richard Goldstone, formerly with M-G-M and Columbia, has joined RKO-Radio as a producer under the supervision of Dore Schary to make "specialized type" product, the nature of which is not revealed. ATA on Bidding (Continued from page 1) petition to intervene in the case and from that part of the decision relating to bidding. The appeal documents, prepared by Thurman Arnold for the ATA, and Paul Williams for the SCTOA, assert that if the distributors had entered into an agreement to conduct their sales on a competitive bidding basis they would have been in violation of the anti-trust law. Interference with the property rights of the exhibitor is the basis of the objections raised. George B. Brooks, counsel for the Confederacy of Southern Associations, said here last night that his organization's appeal papers are now being prepared and will be submitted to the court tomorrow. Paramount and Press Toast French Star Maud Lamy, Parisian actress, was given a luncheon by Paramount at the Hotel Astor, here, yesterday. Present from the company were : Russell Holman, Curtis Mitchell, Clement Crystal, C. N. Odell, Sid Mesibov. Paul Ackerman, Gordon Swarthout, Hal Pereira, Harry Bruckman, Mary Butler, Armand Cardea, Floyd C. Henry, Marian Jordan, Milton Kirshenberg, Abe Piatt, Linda Salzberger, Edith Talcott and Ed Sullivan. Several new Paramount features, as yet unselected, will be dubbed with foreign-language sound tracks according to a new, long-range contract signed with Edward J. and Harry Lee Danziger, owners of Eastern Sound studios. Eastern has already dubbed 21 Paramount pictures. Hitchcock, Hamilton To Do Film Together Patrick Hamilton, English playwright, will go to Hollywood in April to write the screenplay of his play, "Rope," which will be produced by Transatlantic Pictures and directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Hamilton also wrote "Gaslight," produced by M-G-M, and "Hangover Square," produced by 20th Century-Fox. Hamilton has signed a deal with Sidney L. Bernstein, who is associated with Hitchcock in the new independent company. William Truog Honored Kansas City, Feb. 26. — Reproduction of scenes in the life of William E. Truog, United Artists branch manager, were enacted by members of the industry at a party in his honor at the Muehlebach Hotel here. Elmer C. Rhoden of Fox' Midwest territory, presented Truog with a radio on behalf of friends. Arthur Cole was toastmaster. Russell To Be Cited Harold Russell, star of Samuel Goldwyn's "Best Years of Our Lives," will be presented with the first anniversary award plaque of Salute Magazine _ by Jeremiah Ingersoll, editorpublisher of the magazine, at a luncheon at the Hotel Astor on Monday. Fredric March is scheduled to be one of the speakers, and Gen. Omar Bradley is expected to be present. Nutt Named RKO Editor Hollywood, Feb. 26. — William Nutt has been appointed RKO Radio story editor under William J. Fadiman, executive assistant to Dore Schary. Para.PriceDropScores (Continued from page 1) from opening to one o'clock. Previously it had been scaled from 70 to 95 cents for that time period. The new attraction is "Suddenly It's Spring," with Johnny Long's orchestra on the stage. The theatre management said 1,500 customers were on line when the house opened and the one o'clock check showed attendance of 8,400. While the results of the admission cut at the Paramount were the focal point of attention of other Broadway theatremen, they reported business in the area was not affected to any apparent extent. All maintain that they are not considering reductions. M. P. Forum (Continued from page 1) be a year or more away. Wehrenberg declined to elaborate on the reasons for cancellation of the New York meeting and the abandonment of the plans for the forum for the time being. However, it is known that Allied States has not accepted the invitation to attend the March 1011 meeting and that the Pacific Coast Conference of Independent Theatre Owners had declined an invitation. The Conference of Independent Exhibitor Associations, which was awaiting its cue from Allied, also has not responded. Exhibitors observers here believe that these defections eliminated the possibility of any solid front of national exhibitor representation for the New York meeting and consequently for the forum itself. The Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America, of which Wehrenberg is president ; the American Theatres Association, the Independent Theatre Owners Association of New York and the Southern California Theatre Owners Association had announced their intention of attending the meeting. Minnesota Sales Levy Faces Defeat Minneapolis, Feb. 26. — With Sen. Neumeier of Stillwater, leading the fight for a general two per cent sales tax, efforts to have the current session of the state legislature adopt the levy appeared to have collapsed when the speaker and majority leader in a joint statement declared that the measure is unnecessary, because "we have just passed through an era of great prosperity as far as government receipts in this state are concerned." Wyoming Legislature By-Passes Industry Washington, Feb. 26. — At least one state legislature will not have before it a proposal to raise admission taxes or impose new ones. The Wyoming legislature has closed its 1947 session without passing any measure of harm to the industry, The Motion Picture Association reports here. Wyoming was the first of 44 state legislatures to adjourn. Eastern Seating Expands Transfer of Eastern Seating Co. to larger quarters in Springfield Gardens, L. I., from its present site in Brooklyn is expected to be completed by Saturday. Hoskwitz to Warners Arnold Hoskwitz, formerly with Samuel Goldwyn and Myron Selznick, has joined Warners as assistant to Harry Mayer, new head of the talent department in New York. Willingham, Ex-MGM Manager, Dies at 51 Dallas, Feb. 26.— Jay Frank Willingham, 51, recently retired as M-G-M branch manager in St. Louis, died at his home here yesterday. He was stricken early last year. He is survived by his widow and a four-year old son. A member of the Masonic Blud Lodge, Scottish Rite Masonic Cathedral, a Shriner, the American Legion and Variety Club, Willingham joined M-G-M in 1923 as booker and office manager, after having been with World Film, Select Pictures, American Releasing and Selznick Pictures. M. Gerson's Family Gets Most of Estate Philadelphia, Feb. 26. — Morris Gerson, theatre owner who died on Jan. 29, left most_ of his $25,000 estate to members of his family. One share of stock each in the Colonial Amusement Co. and Borger Realty Co. went to his son, Philip, and his daughter, Mrs. Sadie Fertel. The rest of his estate Gerson left to his wife, Sadie. Mrs. E. R. J. Hope, 90 London, Feb. 26. — Mrs. Elizabeth Raines Jefferson Hope, 90, mother of Mrs. Hope Burnup, manager of Quigley Publications' London Bureau, died today at her home in Sheffield. Peter Burnup, Mrs. Hope's son-in-law, is editor of the bureau. NY Ad Bill (Continued from page 1) pending legislation. State Chancellor William J. Wallin, one-time Yonkers mayor, said today that the bill was necessary "if we are to do a complete and effective job of censoring motion pictures, as a large body of people think we should do." "If that is not our assignment," he continued, "some State agency should say so. Wallin added that the authority vested by the bill would be used with discretion. Declaring that there was no intention of reviewing every piece of copy, he said that "all decisions would be reviewable by the courts." "Assuming responsibility as spokesmen for the advertising and publicity personnel of the industry," the Associated Motion Picture Advertisers has gone on record as being opposed to the pending Wilson-Condon bill. Rutgers Neilson, AMP president, by authority of the board of directors, in a telegram to Governor Dewey said, in part : "The Associated Motion Picture Advertisers strongly urges you to veto the Wilson-Condon motion picture censorship bill." The industry's supplementary brief attacking the Wilson-Condon bill was sent to Governor Dewey last night. DON T WAIT! Filmack's NEW Prevue Trailer Service is READY NOW! Don't sign for any other trailer service until you learn about ours! Write, wire or phone Filmack, 1321 S. Wabash Avenue, Chicago 5, Illinois. FILMACK given QUICKEST SERVICE on SPECIAL TRAILERS