Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Feb 1944)

32 MOTION Pl.CTURE HERALD February 5, 1944 Paramount Has Sales Meeting On "Lady In Dark'' Paramount home office executives and sales officials met in New York Friday at the Hotel Pierre for the first session of a three-day sales meeting to discuss plans for "Lady in the Dark" and "Story of Dr. Wassell," two of the company's important pictures on the 1943-44 schedule. Neil Agncw, general sales manager, presided. Barney Balaban, president, and Y. Frank Freeman, vice-president and head of the studio, were the principal speakers. On Thursday evening, district managers and district advertising representatives of the company, attended a screening of "Lady in the Dark" at the home office. The selling approach to the public of the Ginger Rogers-Ray Milland starring vehicle was discussed by Robert M. Gillham, advertising and publicity director ; Alec Moss, exploitation manager ; Al Wilkie, publicity manager, and Stanley Shuford, advertising manager. Mr. Agnew outlined the company's sales policy on the film. Charles M. Reagan, assistant general sales manager, reported on further sales plans on "For Whom the Bell Tolls" during the Friday afternoon session. A special panel on labor relations for district managers was held by C. J. Scollard. Other sessions included one on trade practices by Louis Phillips of the legal staff : Henry Anderson on insurance; Joseph A. Walsh on exchange operations, and Mr. Reagan on personnel problems. At the same time, a separate meeting for exploitation men got under way with Mr. Gillliam presiding. Outline Selling Plans for "Story of Dr. Wassell" First print of the Cecil B. DeMille Technicolor production, "Story of Dr. Wassell," was rushed from the studio to New York in time for a screening Friday night for the delegates. Mr. Agnew and Mr. Gillham outlined sales plans for this picture at Saturday morning's meeting. Mr. Freeman and Oscar A. Morgan, general sales manager of short subjects, respectively, discussed the company's future production plans on features and shorts. Individual meetings between division and district managers were to be held on Sunday. .\ trade showing of "Lady in the Dark" was held Thursday in New York at the Normandie theatre and at the Ambassador in Los Angeles. Trade screenings in all other exchange areas are to be held February 28. the company announced thi« wek. Plans are under way for a coast-to-coast radio salute to "Lady in the Dark" on the eve of the film's premiere February 9 at the Paramount theatre, Hollywood. Ginger Rogers, star of the picture, will appear on the Bob Hooe radio show over NBC Tuesday. February 8. The entire broadcast will be built around the Paramount production. _ Those who were to attend the three-day sessions included : District managers: William Erbb, Boston; M. S Kusell, New York; E. W. Sweig-ert, Philadelphia; M. R. Dark, Oeveland; Allen Usher, Chicago; R. C. LiBeau, Kansas City; H. W. Bralv, Denver; J. F. Kirby. Atlanta: J. J. Donohue, Dallas; Del Goodman, Los Angeles, and Gordon Lightstone, Canada. District advertising representatives: Arnold Van Leer, Boston: William Brooker, Philadelphia: Vernon Gray, Atlanta; M. D. Cohn, Kansas Citv; T. M. Joice. Cleveland; Ed Wall, Albany; E. G. Fitzgibbon," Chi cage; Lames Levine, Pittsburgh: Win Barron, Canada: Allan Glenn, Dallas; Charles C. Perry, Cincinnati, and Sid M'esibov. New York. Home office executives in attendance were Neil .\gnew. Charles M. Reagan, George A. Smith, Hugh Owen, C. J. Scollard, G. B. J. Frawley, Oscar A. Morgan, R. M. Gillham. Alec Moss, Al Wilkie, Stanley Shuford, T. A. Walsh, F. A. LeRoy, H. J. Lorber. A. J. Dunne, Jack Roper and Sam Palmer. WPB Charges Violation In Theatre Construction In one of the few instances in which it has taken formal action to halt the construction of a theatre, the War Production Board reported last week that it had issued a suspension order against Harry Papadopoulos of Carabelle, Fla. The order halted construction on a theatre and bar for which no authority had been granted by WPB although the project, estimated to cost about |12,000, was initiated last March when the maximum amount which could be spent on building without specific approval was $200. The board held Mr. Papadopoulos had deliberately violated the provisions of the construction conservation order L-41, and directed that neither he, his successors or assigns, nor any other person may purchase, accept or use any material to complete the project without written permission. Needed Houses To Be Permitted The recent announcement by War Production Board Director Donald M. Nelson that the restrictions on construction would be continued has led to considerable uncertainty among exhibitors as to the fate of applications for new theatres in war centers, it was disclosed this week. That announcement, however, according to George McMurphey, chief of the amusement and recreation section of the Office of Civilian Requirements, has no bearing on the program to provide adequate entertainment facilities for war centers. Mr. McMurphey explained the Nelson order was designed as a warning that there would be no general resumption of construction activity permitted, but was not intended to curtail existing programs for either recreation^ housing or other facilities in war-swollen communities where there is a definite need for such building. All applications for theatres in such areas would continue to be handled as in the past, he said, and an agreement has been reached with the facilities division of WPB to authorize the construction of houses shown to be necessary. Los Angeles Theatre Sues In Musician Strike Legal action seeking declaratory relief as the result of a strike of pit musicians at the Orpheum theatre, Los Angeles, last week, caused manager Sherill Corwin to convert the house into an all-film moveover. Mr. Corwin intends to "take every legal step necessary to protect our rights and obligations, not only with regard to various agreements for future service of persons previously engaged, but those persons with whom we hold contracts covering their present services." The musician's local. No. 47 said that the strike was authorized but they could not be forced _ to work. The strike was a result of wage increase demands. Lt. Devaney Marries Lieutenant Murray L. Devaney of the Royal Canadian Navy was married in Halifax last week to Sub-Lieutenant Irma Maude Malcolm. I^ieutenant Devaney, son of Leo M. Devaney. Canadian division sales manager for RKO Radio, was formerly salesman for RKO in the St. John, Montreal and Toronto territories. Hold Party in Omaha Exchange MGM's 26 employees in Omaha attended a dinner party at the Fontenelle Hotel last week with branch manager John G. Kemptgen presiding. A gift from the exchange was given Monte Matthews, who has been transferred to Kansas City. OWI Will Settle 16mm. Dispute On Army Films Confidence in the Office of War Information's motion picture bureau to settle differences between commercial and educational 16mm distributors and Army and Navy officials charged with distributing war incentive films was expressed last Friday by C. R. Reagan, head of the division. Mr. Reagan was in New York last week for conferences with Stanton Griffis, head of the motion picture bureau of the OWI, and Army and Navy officers. The group also met with Arthur Mayer, recently appointed by the War Department to work with Army officers in connection with the distribution of Army incentive films. Mr. Reagan said he hoped Mr. Mayer's knowledge of distribution would aid materially in giving the widest possible circulation to the Army's pictures in the 16mm field. The films are now being distributed by three 16mm commercial agencies, Walter Gutlohn, Inc., Castle Films, Inc., and Modern Talking Pictures, Inc. A number of subjects which the OWI nontheatrical division had been distributing, through the 241 film depositories set up in the country by the 16mm National Advisory and Policy Committee, have been withdrawn because of their controversial subject matter, Mr. Reagan said. In commenting on the four-point program which the committee recommended recently, the OWI official said he hoped that Government agencies would give serious consideration to the proposals. Details of the recommendations were reporteti in Motion Picture Herald last week. In Washington Tuesday, the non-theatrical division held a luncheon at the Roger Smith Hotel, at which Morton F. Leopold, supervising engineer, motion picture production section of the Bureau of Mines, was the guest speaker. Last week, Paul R. Wendt, director of visual education for the University of Minnesota, and Lester Anderson, professor of education for the university, were guests of the division. Both educators came to Washington to make a study for their institution on the wartime use of visual aids, especially in the Army and Navy, for guidance in mapping out a 16mm program in Minnesota. War plant officials, war workers, educators and 16mm distributors are invited to attend the OWI luncheons. Curfew Ordinances Are Offered in Two Cities The City Council of Red Oak^ la., has altered precedent to await reaction to a proposed 11 P.M. curfew ordinance that would regulate the night hours of all persons under 18. Ordinarily the Council passes an ordinance immediately it is read, but this time the public may express its views. Mayor Guy Drake of Carthage, Tenn., has placed before the City Council a proposed curfew ordinance making it unlawful for any child under 16 to be on the streets after 9 P. M. unless accompanied by an adult. The action is proposed in an effort to stop a wave of minor incidents in the business district. Lt. Joseph Meyers Missing First Lieutenant Joseph F. Meyers, 21, is missing in action over New Guinea, his father, Fred, eastern sales manager for Universal, was informed this week by the War Department. Lieutenant Meyers enlisted in the Air Force the day after Pearl Harbor. He was educated at Valley F©rge Military Academy, and New York and Syracuse Universities.