Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Feb 1942)

January 10, I 942 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 21 EXHIBITORS DOING FULL TIME JOB ON PART IN NATIONAL EMERGENCY Industry Cooperating Fully with Military and Civil Plans; Production of Training Films Set; Stamp Sales Boosted As box-offices revive, after the first alarms of a country at war, the country's theatre owners, like the organized production and distribution industry, and theatrical labor continue to form plans to combat panic among patrons, and provide cooperation with army and civil defense organizations. Too, they are devising myriad ways of boosting the country's defense efforts. They sell bonds and stamps; they give stamps; they collect paper and rubber, as they collected aluminum; they assume posts of public importance; they join the army; they run trailers ; they give special shows. Even as theatre owners once again prove themselves important cooperating citizens, the industry at large continues its job, now more vital: the job of entertainment — the job of keeping morale. The U. S. O.-Camp Shows, Inc., second circuit, of 13 shows, gets under way next week in 141 army and navy posts; and it is a project possible only by the cooperation of the film industry's talent. And the organized industry continues another job: the production of war and civilian defense training films. Several more were viewed last week by the War Department in Washington, graced by the attendance of one responsible to a great extent for them: Lieutenant Colonel Darryl F. Zanuck, vicepresident in charge of production at Fox. Air Raid Plans Rushed Theatre men in various localities continue to plan for possible air raids. Cooperation was achieved among Philadelphia's houses last week, after a meeting called by Ted Schlanger, Warner circuit zone chief. Present were John Nolan, Comerford circuit; Joe Egan, Wilmer and Vincent circuit; Sam Schwartz and Abe Einstein, Warner theatres ; William G. Mansell, Warner branch manager ; Lewen Pizor, president of the United MPTO ; Sidney E. Samuelson, business manager of Eastern Pennsylvania Allied, and Jay Emanuel and Frank McNamee. John Pavone, Universal manager, is chairman of air raid defense organization for the New Haven film district. Mr. Pavone has appointed Rose Romanoff of his staff, in charge of fire drills ; and Richard Lee, chairman of the Committee on Civilian Defense, is scheduled to speak to representatives of the exchanges and appoint air raid wardens for each. Connecticut managers will be air raid wardens of their own theatres, the Office of Civilian Defense has decided. They and their assistants will take a 20-hour course under OCD supervision. In Milwaukee, independent theatre operators and representatives of the circuits have discussed wartime operations. The Washington blackout rehearsal last week did not harm theatres overmuch. Theatre personnel was well prepared; so were customers. Theatres darkened fronts, stopped ticket sales, kept performances moving, prevented people from leaving. Managers of theatres in all parts of Rhode Island met in Providence Monday night, in the BOOING BRINGS THEATRE BAN Booing President Roosevelt, when his image appeared in a newsreel at the Empress Theatre, Chicago, last week, will keep Rose Hoffman, a domestic, out of movie theatres for six months, it was ruled by Judge Jacob M. Braude in the Women's Court of Chicago. He also fined her $100 but suspended the fine when she said she did not have the money. office of Edward L. Reid, at the Strand theatre, for initial discussions of air raid precautions. Chiefs of the Providence police and fire departments^ and the city's chief air raid warden, Captain Leo E. Gorman, addressed the meeting and plans were made for future gatherings at which managers will be instructed by fire and police officials in the safe handling of audiences during raids and precautions against sabotage. William E. Spragg, district manager of M & P theatres, said that the experience of houses in England has shown the wisdom of audiences remaining in theatres during alerts, so the meeting agreed to continue shows and keep audiences iu theatres when air raids occur. The meeting was arranged by Edward M. Fay, chairman, and Mr. Reed, Mr. Spragg and Martin R. Toohey. Collect Rubber, Sell Stamps More than ten tons of wastepaper carried to eight regional theatres by an estimated 4,000 youngsters has been converted into $128.50 for civilian defense use in the Scranton area. The theatres, all operated by Comerford Theatres circuit, staged special film presentations for the youngsters, who gained admittance by giving wastepaper or other salvage materials collected from their homes and homes of their neighbors. The Refowich and Legion theatres in White Haven, Pensylvania, have cooperated with a nearby garage, so that free tickets to Saturday matinees are given to children bringing old tires to the garage. The latter pays for the tickets. In Rochester, the Schine theatres have a variation. On certain days, they have been offering free admissions to children bringing old tires. The Churchill Tire Company, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, is doing the same with the O'Klare Theatre. The Lake Region Oil Company, Antigo, same state, is giving admissions to the Palace to children bringing tires. Some theatres in St. Louis, led by the Majestic, are paying winners of Bank Nite in defense bonds and stamps. Fred Wehrenberg, president of the local MPTO A, said he would recommend the association's surplus be converted to bonds. He added theatres of his chain would sell stamps over candy counters, and that other theatres might. The Astor Theatre, Reading, Pennsylvania, reports success of its drive to have patrons take stamps in lieu of change. Loew's State, New York, among other theatres, this week is running a trailer, worded : "I resolve to remember Pearl Harbor, to buy defense bonds and stamps, to serve my country in whatever capacity I can, never to repeat a rumor. "I resolve to keep my courage hieft, to co-operate with the city, State and Government in observing all wartime regulations, to obey blackout and air raid rules, to save all materials vital to defense, to consider sacrifice a privilege of free men, women and children. "I resolve to be free." In New Haven, the Fishman theatres have inaugurated a giveaway of defense stamps. On Thursday, Friday, Saturday evenings, they give a 25 cent stamp to every tenth adult. The Comerford circuit announced from Scranton, that each of the six managers and four district managers winning top prizes in the annual managers' drive, will receive three $100 defense bonds, in lieu of the planned trip to Hollywood. The Indiana-Illinois circuit, Chicago, reports great demand for stamps in lieu of change, at its box-offices, adding that, last week, over $500 in stamps had been given. The houses are running an admonitory trailer as part of the drive. The Casino theatre, New York's Yorkville (German) district, is distributing stamp books containing ten cent stamps, without charge, to patrons. It formerly played German pictures. The Crescent circuit, Tennessee, is holding weekly defense rallies. They feature patriotic programs, and a feature ; and admission is gained by presentation of a 25 cent stamp. The Washington Theatre circuit, Cleveland, has cooperated with other local theatres in pushing defense stamp matinees, in which youngsters buy 10 cent stamps, are admitted thus. Lamour Selling Bonds Paramount picture star Dorothy Lamour left Hollywood last week to importune Midwesterners and Easterners to buy defense bonds. Thus, she devotes her vacation, Paramount stated. "Fun to be Free," the propagandists extravanganza presented at the Madison Square Garden, New York, in October, by the Fight For Freedom Committee's theatrical division, will be put into a Broadway theatre for two weeks beginning January 27th. Receipts will go to varied war work organizations. Beginning New Year's Day, all Warner theatre circuit advertisements boosted purchase of defense stamps and bonds, and will continue. The American Federation of Musicians and affiliates have bought $700,000 of bonds in the past two months. Detroit exhibitors are generally bringing admissions down for men in uniform. First runs are lowering the 65 admission to 30 cents. Second runs charge 25 cents ; subsequents, 15. The Strand, Cincinnati, operated by a subsidiary of Associated Theatres, Detroit, is admitting soldiers and sailors without charge. Omaha theatres are enforcing a 25 cent "top" for service men. Some theatres charge as little as 11 cents. They advertised the cuts, and the maximum, ?nd have been rewarded by a flood of good-will. The Tri-States circuit, Des Moines, began cut prices for armed services Christmas Day, for theatres in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska. The RKO Orpheum followed suit. In Des Moines, Tri-States first runs are charging the men 25 cents ; second runs, 20 cents. Many Wisconsin exhibitors admitted service men without charge during the holidays. Vaudeville Units Opened Thirteen vaudeville reviews open next week in military posts from coast to coast. They are sponsored by U.S.O.-Camp Shows, Inc., and feature 156 acts. Head of the organization is Eddie Dowling. The shows supplement 11 others, featuring musical comedy and legitimate plays, now play(Continued on pane 24)