Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1943)

April 10, 1943 William E. Smith Dies at 70 William E. Smith, 70, connected with the industry for more than 37 years, died on April 3rd in Newark, N. J. Burial services were held at the Fairmount Cemetery in that city on Tuesday. Mr. Smith entered the exhibition field in 1906 when he started operation of the Chelsea theatre in Brooklyn. He expanded his activities during the following nine years, acquiring theatres in Manhattan, Asbury Park and Newark. In 1912, he obtained the Famous Players franchise covering several eastern states, and devoted his time to distribution. He subsequently became franchise holder for MGM, and later Paramount in the same territory, retiring in 1931. A number of Paramount executives started their careers under Mr. Smith, who was an associate of such industry figures as George J. Schaefer, Adolph Zukor, Frank C. Walker and the late Sidney R. Kent. Mr. Smith leaves a widow, Mrs. Clara Smith, and a sister, Mrs. Robert B. Mapletoft. Samuel Shurman, MGM Branch Manager Samuel Shurman, S3, MGM branch manager in Milwaukee, died on March 29th in that city. Funeral services were held two days later, after which the body was shipped to St. Louis for burial. Before joining MGM in 1924, Mr. Shurman held positions with the General Film Company, Unicorn and 20th Century-Fox. He later became a salesman for Warners in the St. Louis area. He is survived by his wife, Mary Stockman Shurman; a son, Jack, and a daughter, Mrs. Lenore Woolf. Conrad Veidt, Prominent Actor for 30 Years Conrad Veidt, 50, prominent actor for the past 30 years, died in Hollywood on April 4th following a heart attack suffered while playing golf with Arthur Field, MGM producer. He was attended by his physician, Dr. Joseph Bergman, but efforts to revive him were not successful. Mr. Veidt made his first film appearance for MGM in 1916, after having acted on the stage and in films in England and Germany, the country of his birth. His most recent film was for Warners, where he portrayed a Nazi official in the company's current "Casablanca." Rev. John F. White The Rev. John F. White, 55, chaplain-treasurer of the Catholic Actors Guild of America for the past eight years, died on April 4th at the St. Francis Hospital in New York. He was a confidant of many in the acting profession, George M. Cohan once describing him as "perhaps the best friend the Catholic Actors I Guild ever had." George E. Battersby George E. Battersby, 82, paymaster for the Warner theatre circuit in Philadelphia, died in that city on March 28th. He was the oldest employee in point of service, having been with the company for 35 years. He is survived by his wife, Violet, and two sons. Louis Hellborn Louis Hellborn, 47, MGM exploitation manager in the Iowa and Nebraska territory, died on April 1st in Des Moines. For 18 years he managed the Orpheum theatre in Denver. He is survived by a sister, Marguerite, and three brothers, William, George and Gustave. MOTION PICTURE HERALD IN NEWSREELS MOVIETONE NEWS — Vol. 25, No. 61— French prisoners freed. . . . U. S. wants farmers. . . . Navy Sea Bees in action. . . . Film fans aid war fund. . . . Anti-aircraft guns boom. . . . Catholic Charities drive. . . . Flying nurses. . . . Marines get haircuts. . . . Atlantic Ferry Command. . . . Wyoming wins cage crown. . . . "40 and 8" in Tunisia. MOVIETONE NEWS— Vol. 25, No. 62— RAF bombs Essen. . . . British invasion rehearsal. . . . Guns for the Navy. . . . Eagle eyes of the air. . . . Mine. Chiang at Hollywood Bowl. . . . April Bond drive launched. . . . Mrs. Sullivan christens ship. . . . Marine devil dogs. NEWS OF THE DAY— Vol. 14, No. 259 — RAF bombs Germany. . . . Russians take Velikie Lukie. . . . German films captured. . . . "40 and 8" rolls again. . . . U. S. transplants farmers. . . . Film patrons swell war fund. . . . Army nurses in air. . . . Homing pigeons on patrol. . . . Navy Sea Bees build bases NEWS OF THE DAY— Vol. 14, No. 26ft— British invasion rehearsal. . . . Supreme Court Justices pose for films. . . . Big naval guns pack wallop. . . . Bombardiers graduated. . . . Jap sub helps U. S. . . . Mme. Chiang in Hollywood. . . . Dogs join Marines. First aid on crackups. . . . Victory garden in bloom. PARAMOUNT NEWS— No. 64— Sea Bees build bases. . . . Negro soldiers in tank rehearsal. . . . Coast artillery booms. . . . U. S. transplants farmers. . . . Film patrons swell war fund. . . . Lancaster bomber stands in shadow of Nelson's monument. . . . Round the clock bombings of Germany. PARAMOUNT NEWS— No. 65— Wyoming wins cage title. . . . Maple sugar crop arrives. . . . Jefferson memorial shown in plaster model. . . . Factories for food. . . . U. S. battleship comes back. . . . Sea-going soldiers. . . . Army experiments with world's worst road in Aberdeen, Md. RKO PATHE NEWS— VoL 14, No. 64— Reds recapture Velikie Lukie. . . . "40 and 2" box cars back in war. . . . Captured German films. . . . Film fans swell war fund. . . . U. S. transplants farmers. . . . Big airfield in south Atlantic. . . . Girl barbers cut Marines' hair. RKO PATHE NEWS — VoL 14, No. 65— Bombing of Essen. . . . Eighth Army wounded return. . . . Chicago subway. . . . Airmen rescued by crash crews. . . . Supreme Court Justices pose for films. . . . Navy tests anti-aircraft units. . . . Wyoming wins basketball title. UNIVERSAL NEWSREEL— Vol. 16, No. 178— RAF celebrates 25th Anniversary. . . . Films swell war fund. . . . Middies graduated. . . . Sub-killers launched. . . . Farmers transplanted. . . . Ferrying bombers. . . . Mme. Chiang in Hollywood. . . . Tank -killing. . . . Nurse gets air medal. . . . Anti-aircraft guns boom. . . . Talent scouts miss big bet. UNIVERSAL NEWSREEI Vol. 16, No. 179— RAF blasts Essen. . . . Navy guns pass test. . . . Supreme Court Justices pose. . . . Press Photographers' convention. . . . Chicago subway. . . . Soldiers pick daffodils. . . . Mrs. Sullivan christens destroyer. . . . Danburv families raise own vegetables. . . . Bombardiers practice aim. ALL AMERICAN NEWS— Vol. 2, No. 24— Mrs. Roosevelt visits NYA. ... J. Finley Wilson urges national unity. . . . Negro hero honored. . . . New methods in medical science. .... No rationing in the Navy. . . . The new feminine touch. Charles Packeritz Charles Packeritz, 71, retired theater owner, died at his home in Spokane on March 27th. He had been a resident of the city for 50 years. He was once owner-operator of the old Empress theatre in Spokane. Mrs. Franka Abramovich Mrs. Franka Abramovich, mother of Tony Abramovich, formerly manager of Tri-States' Garden theatre in Des Moines, died at her home in that city on March 29th. Julius Wasniewski Julius Wasniewski, 77, organizer of the Monarch Talking Picture Company, died on March 29th at his home in Milwaukee. He operated the Midget theatre in that city for many years. Charles Mackin Charles Mackin, 54, property man at Warners' Frankford theatre in Philadelphia, died in that city on April 1st when he was overcome by escaping gas fumes. Beck Joins Law Firm Walter S. Beck has joined the law firm of Phillips, Nizer, Benjamin and Krim in New York. 53 Blank to Finance Child Hospital Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Blank will finance a children's hospital to be constructed in Des Moines and to be known as the Raymond Blank Memorial Hospital, in memory of their son, who died recently. The Des Moines Register paid editorial tribute to the president of the Tri-States and Central States Theatres and his family. "Those who have known the Blank family intimately," the editorial said, "and those who have frequently been charged with conducting our drives of the welfare and relief type, will not be surprised by this generous act at all." The editorial went on to explain the humanitarian work undertaken by the Blanks over a long period of years, and the fact that the people of Iowa had long been cognizant of their efforts in helping the less fortunate. The cost of the hospital project has been estimated at $125,000, and plans call for its erection on a site adjacent to the Iowa Methodist Hospital. The board of trustees of the hospital have signified their intentions of appointing a committee to supervise the construction, to be headed by Myron Blank, brother of Raymond. Mr. Blank explained that he and his wife desired that the hospital should be "more than just an institution," and visualized an auditorium where films could be shown, playrooms, gardens which convalescent children might cultivate and isolation wards for contagious diseases. "The hospital was essentially Raymond's idea," Mr. Blank said, "and although we talked about it frequently and at length, we thought we had plenty of time. Unfortunately, we did not realize that Raymond's time was so short. Now his mother and I want this hospital to be a living memorial to his deep sympathy for children in their illnesses and disappointments." The theatre executive revealed that for five years prior to his son's death, they had often planned to install a Sister Kenny ward on the seventh floor of the Iowa Methodist Hospital. Gehring Heads 20th-Fox New Family Club W. C. Gehring, western sales manager for Twentieth Century-Fox, was unanimously elected president of the company's home office Family Club at the first annual meeting of the group at the company's offices recently. Other officers elected were : Lew Lehr, first vice-president; William J. Clark, second vicepresident; Frank X. Carroll, third vice-president ; Read B. Simonson, treasurer ; Mrs. Elsie Boland Collins, secretary. Elected to the board of governors in addition to the club's officers were Nat Brower, Fred Bullock, Morris CapIan, Tom J. Connors, Deon DeTitta, Abe Goodman, Molly Grill, Irving Maas, Jonas Rosenfield, Ray Schreiber, Ted Shaw, Joe Shea, Andrew Smith, Jr., Les Whelan and Christy Wilbert. B'nai B'rith's Cinema Lodge Elects Officers Election of officers of the Cinema Lodge of B'nai B'rith took place recently, and Adolph Schimel, Universal, has succeeded Irving Greenfield_ as president of the organization. Vice-presidents elected were : Leon Goldberg, RKO; Leo Jaffee, Columbia; Col. A. Ralph Steinberg ; Robert M. Weitman, Paramount ; Norman _ Steinberg, 20th-Fox ; Samuel Lefkowitz, United Artists ; William Melnicker, Alvin T. Sapinsley and S. Arthur Glixon. Reelected as treasurer, recording and corresponding secretaries, respectively, were Max Blackman, Julius M. Collins and Jerome I. Hyman. The lodge recently sponsored a recreation center for soldiers stationed at Barnum Wood near Mitchel Field.