Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1948)

2 Motion Picture daily Friday, October 29, 1948 Mexico's Depression Hits Its Producers Mexico City, Oct. 28. — Mexican producers are feeling the pinch of this country's severe depression as evidenced by the fact that out of 35 pictures produced in the first six months of this year only six have been shown on Mexican screens. For the most part exhibitors, claiming that business is off to almost half of what it was at this time last year, have been booking U. S. product, a policy dictated by the box-office, they say. While there is some ray of hope for exhibitors in the prospect that vaudeville houses may close in view of the economic lull, it appears that domestic producers can find solace nowhere. Producers and other interests are no longer pressing the campaign started some time ago for legislation requiring 50 per cent of Mexican theatres' playing time for domestic product, but they are beginning to ask why the law of Oct. 16, 1939, which was supposed to compel Mexican theatres to show a Mexican film for at least a week every two months, is not being enforced. Group to File' Amicus9 Brief on 'Cited Ten' In an amicus curiae to be submitted to the Supreme Court on behalf of the 10 screen writers and directors, the National Council of Arts, Sciences and Professions will ask the court to reverse the lower court's conviction of John Howard Lawson and Dalton Trumbo, it is announced by Dr. Harlow Shapley, chairman of the Council. Lawson and Trumbo were found guilty of contempt in refusing to answer questions put to them by the House Un-American Activities Committee. The brief will challenge the constitutionality of the House group. Eight More Stars for 'Night of Stars' John Garfield, Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Peter Lorre, Pat O'Brien, John Payne, Jane Powell and Mickey Rooney have consented to appear in the 15th annual "Night of Stars" benefit to be held at Madison Square Garden on Monday evening, Nov. 15. Robert M. Weitman is chairman. Proceeds will go to the United Jewish Appeal of Greater New York. Weitman has called another meeting of his producing committee for today in the law library of the Paramount Building, where plans will be made to render a salute to Israel. Services for Wolfe, Sr. Jersey City, Oct. 28. — High mass was offered this morning at St. John's Roman Catholic Church here for Dominick Wolfe, Sr., father of Joseph A. Wolfe, National Screen Service treasurer. Wolfe died Monday at the age of 65 after a long illness. Surviving besides Joseph is another son, Dominick, Jr., and two daughters, Airs. Mary A. Tilsen and Mrs. Catherine R. O'Toole. Personal Mention ERIC A. JOHNSTON, Motion Picture Association of America president, was in New York yesterday from Washington. • Howard G. Minsky, assistant Eastern division sales manager for 20th Century-Fox, returned here from Scranton yesterday. • Jack Morgan, M-G-M sales manager in Detroit, is in the Highland Park General Hospital there, following a heart attack. • Rouben Mamoulian, director, will be guest of honor and speaker at the luncheon here next Wednesday of the Art Director's Club of New York. • Howard Dietz, M-G-M publicityadvertising vice-president, is due here from the Coast on Monday. • Sam Marx, M-G-M production executive, will leave Washington today for Chicago and the Coast. • H. M. Richey, M-G-M exhibitor relations head, returned here from Memphis yesterday. • Sid Blum en stock, assistant exploitation manager for 20th CenturyFox, left here last night for Chicago. Isador M. Rappaport, owner of the Hippodrome Theatre, Baltimore, is visiting here. LEON BAMBERGER, RKO Radio sales promotion manager, will return to New York today from Memphis. • Fred Fejfar, M-G-M office manager and head booker at Omaha, has been promoted to salesman. Mrs. Evelyn Cannon has succeeded him in the combination post. • Leon Jakubson has succeeded Philip Gravitz as M-G-M office manager and head booker in New Haven. Gravitz was promoted recently to salesman. • Frank Wolf, formerly associated with National Screen Service and RKO Radio in Boston, has been appointed executive assistant to E. M. Loew. • W. F. Roth, owner of the Palace Theatre in Gallatin, Term., is observing his 35th anniversary in the business. • William Pine, Paramount producer, will leave Hollywood for New York tomorrow. • B. G. Kranze, Film Classics vicepresident and general sales manager, is in Detroit from New York. • Walt Woodward has been appointed Florida representative for the WilKin Theatre Supply Co., Atlanta. Equity Raises 1948 E-L Total to Nine Hollywood, Oct. 28. — Equity Pictures and associated production unit will produce three more films by the end of the year for Eagle-Lion release, making Equity's E-L total nine for 1948. Three are in current release, two are in cutting rooms and one was just turned over to E-L. First of the new three, in Cinecolor, will be "Counsellor at Gun Law," second in the Red Ryder series, and is to start soon; the second, "Enchanted Dream," a Vinson production, starts late in November ; the third, "Alimony," will be an Orbit production. Harry Thomas is president and Jack Schwartz is vice-president of Equity. Luncheon for Kurtz Maurice Kurtz, former head of the theatre section of UNESCO, who was appointed secretary general of the International Theatre Institute at its congress in Prague last summer, will be honor guest today at a luncheon sponsored by the American National Theatre and Academy at the Algonquin Hotel. Kurtz will visit Canada and Mexico as well as several points in the U. S. Mrs. Elma Albrecht, 48 Cleveland, Oct. 28. — Mrs. Elma H. Albrecht, 48, who has been operating a film trucking service serving Ashtabula since the death of her husband last spring, died suddenly early this week. Two sons and two daughters survive. Baltimore Variety Set For Banquet Nov. 6 Baltimore, Oct. 28. — Baltimore's Variety Tent, No. 19, will hold its 10th annual banquet and dance on Nov. 19 at the Sheraton Belvedere Hotel. Gov. Lane of Maryland and Mayor D'Alasandro of this city are among the various city officials and civic leaders who have accepted invitations to attend. Proceeds will go to the Boys' Club, sponsored by the Baltimore police department. Rodney Collier is chairman of the arrangements committee. Half of Population Soon in Video Area Detroit, Oct. 28. — Half the population of the U. S. will be living in areas served by television by the end of 1948, according to Joseph B. Elliott, RCA Victor vice-president, who spoke here at a meeting of the Engineering Society of Detroit, at Rockham Auditorium. He also predicted that the heavy public demand will cause the present television receiver shortage to increase before it can be relieved. Roach President of New Video Film Unit Hollywood, Oct. 28. — The newly formed Television Film Producers Association, in an organizational meeting here today, elected nine members of the board which then elected Hal Roach, Jr., president; Carl Dudley, vice-president; Rudy Vallee, secretary, and Roland Reed, treasurer. Tedford Is Promoted Portland, Ore., Oct. 28. — William Tedford of Evergreen Theatres in Oregon has been promoted to assistant to Frank Newman, Jr., Evergreen general manager. 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RKO PRESENTS "MOURNING BECOMES ELECTRA" Brandt's MAY FAIR thAve& 47th St. JEANNE CRAIN WILLIAM HOLDEN Edmund Gwenn 'APARTMENT FOR PEGGY' Twentieth Century-Fox Picture Color by Technicolor ON VARIETY STAGE — KAY THOMPSON AND WILLIAMS BROS. — ROLLY ROLLS ON ICE STAGE — RHYTHM IN PLAID = ROXY7thAve & 50th St. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays 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, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. 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