Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1948)

2 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, July 22, 1948 US Product Regains Position in Ecuador Washington, July 21.— With 1948 business already matching the entire 1947 take, U. S. pictures have regained their pre-war dominance in Ecuador, Department of Commerce film chief Nathan D. Golden will reveal here tomorrow. "Most important factor in this trend," said Golden, "was the unceasing efforts of the local agents of United States film distributors." Golden reported that 390 (74 per cent) of the 524 features released in Ecuador last year were of U. S. origin, with 93 Mexican, 22 Argentine, 7 British, 7 French and 5 Russian films. U. S. product accounted for 75 per cent of the playing time and 62 per cent of the gross. The year before Mexican product had accounted for 50 per cent of the playing time and 60 per cent of the take. Last year those figures were only 20 and 25 per cent. NSS Office in NY To Service Albany Albany, N. Y., July 21.— National Screen Service has transferred its servicing of lobby material to exhibitors in the Albany area from its Albany branch to its New York office. Herman Robbins, president of NSS, told theatremen here that the company has been sending trailers from New York successfully for a number of years, and that accessories can be handled from New York with equal efficiency. Some mats, stills and press books will be kept here to accommodate exhibitors with close bookings. Hersholt Names Schary Hollywood, July 21. — Motion. Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences president Jean Hersholt announced today the appointment of Dore Schary to the board of governors as representative of the executives branch, filling the vacancy left by Donald Nelson's withdrawal from the industry. N. Peter Rathvon is the other executive representative on the board. Switches Film to UA Hollywood, July 21. — Independent producer Jerrold Brandt reports he has obtained a release from his commitment to distribute "Command Performance" through Columbia and announces United Artists as the distributor. Brandt has the film in preparation with a $1,500,000 budget, it is said. Personal Mention UA Film at Capitol The first United Artists release to play the Capitol here in several years, "Pitfall"" has been booked for the house, usually a "showcase" for M-G-M product, to open following "On an Island with You." Samuel Bischoff produced "Pitfall." MAURICE BERGMAN, Universal-International Eastern advertising-publicity director, and Mrs. Bergman, returned to New York yesterday by plane from London. • Harry M. Kalmine, president of Warner Theatres ; Harry Goldberg, director of advertising-publicity, and Harry Rosenquest, executive, will return to New York tomorrow from Albany. • Al Horwits, Eastern publicity manager for Universal-International, and Charles Simonelli, Eastern exploitation manager, are in Atlantic City from New York. • W. C. Gehring, 20th Century-Fox assistant general sales manager, is in Chicago where he will be a pallbearer today at the funeral of the late Harry Katz. • Paul Richrath, home office assistant to John P. Byrne, Eastern sales manager, will leave here today for an up-state vacation. • Edward M. Schnitzer, United Artists' Eastern and Canadian sales manager, is in Cleveland from New York. Herman Ripps, field assistant to John P. Byrne, M-G-M Eastern manager, is here from Albany. Mark Silver, United Artists' Pennsylvania-Washington district manager, is a visitor here. CHARLES M. REAGAN, Paramount distribution vice-president, is in Chicago where he will attend the Will Rogers Memorial Fund luncheon today. • Hal Hode, executive assistant to Jack Cohn, Columbia executive vicepresident, was married yesterday to Mrs. Dorothy Plehn of Chicago at Forest Hills, L. I. • William A. Scully, UniversalInternational distribution vice-president, will sail from France today for New York aboard the S.S. America. • Hugh Owen, Eastern and Southern divisional sales manager for Paramount, will return to New York at the weekend from Charlotte, N. C. • Lawrence A. Audrain, Prestige Pictures' publicity director, is visiting England from New York. • Alexander Markey, producer-director, will leave New York Saturday for Hollywood. • William Selwyn, talent director for Samuel Goldwyn, is here from the Coast. • J. P. Broderick has purchased the Royal Theatre, Dunlap, la., from Carl Worl. • John Edding has sold his Galva Theatre, Galva, la., to Bradley Grimes. Sues 20th on Contract Mildred (Babe) Didrickson Zaharias filed a $100,000 suit against 20th-Fox in U. S. District Court here yesterday. The woman athlete charged the company broke a contract calling for her services in six shorts for a consideration of $60,000. Alexander Rites Today Chicago, July 21. — Services for Le Roy Alexander, 58, National Screen Service salesman, who died here yesterday, are to be held here tomorrow. O'Donnell Released Hollywood, July 21. — Samuel Goldwyn has released Cathy O'Donnell from her contract and will replace her in "Roseanne McCoy," which she was scheduled to start with Farley Granger next month. Miss O'Donnell has been under contract for four years. Strike May Shut Off Theatre Air -Cooling A threatened walkout of air-conditioning engineers, which would shut down the cooling systems in most of the large Broadway theatres and RKO and Loew's neighborhoods here, came yesterday as members of Local No. 30 of the International Union of Operating Engineers (AFL) voted yesterday to reject an exhibitors' offer of 10 per cent wage increase. The union refuses to reduce its demands beyond 15 per cent, contending that its members have had no increase in two years and need the higher wage to offset the rise in living costs. Strike is scheduled for tomorrow, and the temperature has been pressing 90 lately. If the strike occurs the exhibitors may keep the theatres open. Donation To Aid Actors Another allocation of $25,000 has been made by the Theatre Authority, Inc., here, to the following theatrical charities for the relief of the indigent of the acting profession : Actors' Fund of America, Stage Relief Fund, American Guild of Variety Artists, Screen Actors' Guild, Episcopal Actors' Guild, Jewish Theatrical Guild, Actors' Equity Association. Chorus Equity Association, Negro Actors' Guild, American Guild of Musical Artists, American Federation of Radio Artists, Authors League Fund and League of New York Theatres. Announcement of the allocation was made by Alan Corelli, TA's national executive secretary. $31,000 for Film Charity Toronto, July 21. — Assistant chief barker Morris Stein of the Toronto Variety Tent has reported net proceeds of $31,000 from the club's second annual baseball benefit in aid of the fund for Variety Village, a training school for Ontario handicapped children. The fund now stands at approximately $120,000, all raised by the local tent. $3,306,000 to Mexicans Mexico City, July 21.— -The Mexican film industry continues to get considerable cash from its own bank, the Banco Nacional Cinematografica here. During the first six months of this year it granted loans, credits and discounts totaling $3,306,578. Drive-in Building Beyond Expectation The construction of drive-in theatres in virtually every exchange territory in the country is far surpassing the most optimistic expectations of the blue-printing days of last winter and fall. Realty markets in favored locations are booming. Most favored areas are, naturally, those where r-'M weather predominates most of^£ * year. Equipment manufacturers^of the essentials for drive-in operations and their theatre supply dealer agencies are enjoying the splurge of the sponsors of outdoor auto-movie entertainment. So are the vendors of popcorn and refreshments as existing drive-in operators extend their commercial operations to circulate "carhops" among their car customers, and new drive-in exhibitors build candy stands at the outset. Few Rejections In only a comparative few instances have local authorities rejected applications of wouldbe drive-in operators, and in most of these cases rejection was because of local residential zoning restrictions enforced in suburban areas. A few were rejected because of anticipated traffic hazards. Among the newest drive-in projects reported in the field, to be added to the scores launched in recent months, are the following: Louisville reports drive-ins contemplated by W. H. Hahn and J. F. Burnette of Bardstown, and by unnamed operators at Glasgow, Ky., and in Southwest Louisville. Clem Jaunich will spend $100,000 on a 500-car drive-in at Austin, Minn. Three are contemplated by Ralph Green, one each at Racine and Madison, Wis., and at Rochester, Minn. Alva and Edward Taylor and Charles Steinborn have opened at Huron, S. D. Drive-in equipment has been shipped to spots at Clovis, N. Mex., Anderson, S. C, and Laurinburg, N. C. Other Projects H. J. Shelby has plans for Kevil, Ky., while J. W. Lyles of Benton and L. J. Gill of Paducah, both also in Kentucky, are considering construction. Weymouth Drive-in Corp. of Boston is building at West Springfield, Mass., while E. M. Loew Theatres has plans for Montville, Conn. Already operating three in Up-state New York, Fabian-Hellman Drivein Theatres plan another on the TroyAlbany road. The drive-in list has been further expanded by S. A. F. Co., Charlotte, and Turnpike Theatre Co., Newington, Conn., headed by Robert Gloth and Joseph Dolgin. In Canada, Ontario's largest auto theatre is the Starlite, at Chippewa, managed by Dewey McCourt, who also has the Brock at Niagara-on-theLake. W. C. Macon spent $40,000 on a project between Old Fort and Marion, N. C. W. W. Williams' drivein on the Charlotte-York road cost the same. Burlington, Vt., has a newdrive-in, backed by John Gardner, Improvements have been made by C. O. Kirby at Kansas City, Mo., while the Bristol Livestock Co., headed by Albert Bernstein, has expanded into drive-in field at Bristol, Conn. Vine Building, Willi am R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farlev, Advertising Representative* Jimmy *Ascher Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. 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, published every fourth week as a section of 'Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; 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. 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