Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1944)

\ 1 Bolstad Warns Theatre Boom May Be Ending Highlighted by a warning that an end of the current business boom is near, and that increased exploitation attention is necessary, business problems occupied the attention of western Canada managers of the Famous Players Canadian circuit, who convened last week at Banff Springs, Alberta. The warning was delivered by R. W. Bolstad, vice-president, who also cautioned that men returning from service might not be satisfied with junior positions. Other speakers were J. J. Fitzgibbons, president, who at a ceremony was made a chief of the Sacree Indians ; L. I. Bearg, who was appointed general western Canadian division manager ; E. A. Zorn, who becomes general supervisor for Winnipeg and Calgary districts ; Frank Kershaw, named general supervisor for downtown Vancouver ; James R. Nairn, public relations director ; Vic Armand and George Cuthbert, of the sound and projection department; Ben Geldsaler, C. S. Neville, Syd Gunn. Among the guests were Senator J. W. de B. Farris, Vancouver, a circuit director ; Wendell Farris, chief justice of British Columbia, and Bob Scott, Vancouver. Associate partners present were Morris and Ted Beatty, Red Deer, Alta. ; James Butler and N. C. Byers, Saskatoon; W. P. Dewees, British Columbia ; H. Durham, Shaunavon ; Alex, Arnold and Clarence Entwisle, Edmonton ; Mary and Christine Graham, Regina ; K. M. Leach, Calgary ; Clarence Marshall, North Battleford ; Jack and Nathan Miles, Winnipeg; E. W. Shackleford, Lethbridge; R. C. Sutherland, Weyburn; J. D. Watson, Regina; Sam Weiner, Winnipeg. Managers attending the conference were: Ivan Ackery, Orpheum, Vancouver; C. Bahrynowski, Metropolitan, Regina; H. A. Bishop, Capitol, Winnipeg; H. Black, Capitol, Penticton; D. Borland, Capitol, Prince Rupert: O'tus Bowes, Orpheum, Moose Jaw; L. V. Campbell, Strand, Trail; Paul Cardell, Calgary; G. Carson, Royal, Fort William; Martin Cave, Kerrisdale, Vancouver; Roy Chown, Strand, Calgary; C. Denham, Dominion, Victoria: C. D'illey, Colonial, F'ort Arthur; C. Doctor, Dominion, Vancouver; P. D. Egan, Palace, Calgary; D. Fairleigh, Hollywood, Vancouver; E. P. Fields, Capitol, Moose Jaw; Frank Gow, Jr., Broadway, Vancouver. J. M. Gow, Capitol, Nanaimo; Harold Gray, Orpheum, Fort William; Harry Gray, Lyceum, Winnipeg; H. Gunn Osborne, Winnipeg; W. Harper, Empress, Kelowna; C. J Hughes, Capitol, Nelson; Miss M. Hughes, Tivoli, Winni peg; Bob Hurwitz, Starland, Winnipeg; M. Joiner, Capi tol, Vancouver; Roy Keil, Strand, Edmonton; Bill Lacey Variety. Calgary; Joe Millman, Kitsilano, Vancouver; C S. Neville, Vancouver; W. V. Novak, Metropolitan, Winnipeg; R. Plumb, Daylight, Saskatoon; S. Pooley, Strand Vancouver; Miss S. Precious, Winnipeg; M. Preiswerck, Atlas, Victoria; J. Proudlove, Gaiety, Winnipeg; Les Pugsley, Empress, Edmonton; J. Pungente, Capitol, Brandon; Jack Randall, Capitol, Calgary; Morris Rice, Princess, Edmonton; Dave Robertson, Uptown, Winnipeg. J. Robertson, Capitol, Victoria; Sam Rosenblat, Western theatres, Winnipeg; Miss A. Scriven, Stanley, Vancouver; G. Shafer, Lyceum, Port Arthur; Miss D. Sinclaire, Alma, Vancouver; Claude Smith, Chill, Chilliwack; M. Stackhouse, Windsor, Vancouver; J. Stevenson, Western theatres, Winnipeg; H. Summers, Strand. Brandon; Charles Taylor, Flay house, Portage, La Prairie; T. Thompson, Grandview, Vancouver; F. Tickell, Capitol, Fort William; P. Tucker, Capitol, Kamloops; Lance Webber, Regent, Vancouver; G. West, Crescent, Winnipeg; Miss E. Wikien, Lake. Fort William; F. L. Willis, Capiton, Regina; W. P. Wilson, Capitol, Edmonton; Bill Wilson, Garneau. Edmonton; W. E. Winterton, Capitol, Saskatoon, and E. Zetterman, Columbia, New Westminst<" Legion Changes Rating on "Passage to Marseille" Warners' "Passage to Marseille" has been changed by the Legion of Decency from a Class B, objectionable in part, rating to Class A-2, unobjectionable for adults, because "from the negative and all existing positive prints has been removed the sequence upon which the Legion's objection, 'the unethical killing of helpless enemies is sympathetically presented,' had been based." Six other films were held to be acceptable by the Legion this week. They were: "The Great Moment," "Marine Raiders," "She's a Soldier, Too," and "Twilight on the Prairie," all Class A-l, for general patronage. In Class A-2 were "The Girl Who Dared" and "Take It Big." 32 Sears Plans London Trip To Study UA Operation Confirming reports of several weeks ago, Gradwell L. Sears, vice-president in charge of distribution for United Artists, said last weekend in New York that he planned to leave for London as soon as transportation could be arranged. It was indicated that Mr. Sears would survey UA's British operations while in England and that he would discuss with J. Arthur Rank arrangements for UA quota production. A study of the company's Odeon Circuit interests also is on his London agenda. David H. Coplan, former UA Canadian distribution head, has been acting managing director for United Artists in England since E. T. Carr resigned to join Eagle-Lions Films Ltd., the new Rank distribution company organized earlier this year. DeSylva in Deal With Paramount Paramount this week announced the completion of a deal by which B. G. "Buddy" DeSylva, executive producer of the studio, would be given his own production unit on a basis similar to that of Hal B. Wallis, who became affiliated with the organization a month ago. Mr. DeSylva's deal is for not less than three years, and may be continued for a longer period. He will produce not more than three important pictures, and not less than two, annually. Mr. DeSylva will continue to carry on his present duties as executive producer until September 15, after which he will devote his entire time to his own production unit. Mr. DeSylva attended the University of Southern California, and won fame as a song writer while in his early twenties. He formed the music publishing firm of DeSylva, Brown and Henderson in the late twenties, and began to produce musical shows. Later he became a film producer, making many of the most successful Shirley Temple pictures for Fox Film Corporation. Returning to Broadway in 1939, he had three hit shows on Broadway simultaneously, "Louisiana Purchase," "DuBarry Was a Lady" and "Panama Hattie." He took the post of executive producer of Paramount three and a half years ago, and has made such films as "For Whom the Bell Tolls," "Lady in the Dark," "Star Spangled Rhythm," "Going My Way," "Wake Island," "So Proudly We Hail" and "The Road to Morocco." Sound Men's Contract Approved by WLB The first of the new contracts recently negotiated between the IATSE and Altec, RCA and the sound maintenance departments of the large circuits covering 560 sound maintenance men, has been approved by the War Labor Board. The contract covers some 33 sound maintenance men throughout the country employed by the Warner theatre circuit. Boucher Joins Meiselman Frank Boucher, for the past two and a half years general manager of the Washington K-B Theatres, leaves that post July 15 to become general manager of the Meiselman Theatres in the Carolinas. Prior to joining K-B, Mr. Boucher was New York zone manager for the Schine Circuit. To Get Back Wages Welgot Trailer Service, New York City, and Consolidated Film Industries, Inc., Fort Lee, N. J., have voluntarily agreed to reimburse their employees for back wages and overtime due them under the Fair Labor Standards Act. As a result, 32 employees will receive a total of $3,712.61. Sergeant Arneel Wounded Sergeant Gene T. Arneel, formerly of the editorial staff of Motion Picture Daily, has been wounded in action in Italy, according to word received in New York. Sgt. Arneel has served on the Italian front for more than six months. McNutt Suggests National Tribute To Film Industry The United States should pay tribute to the film industry's aid in mobilizing the country's manpower for war. The suggestion came this week from Paul V. McNutt, chairman of the War Manpower Commission. Mr. McNutt conferred Tuesday in Washington with a War Activities Committee subcommittee on the form of such a tribute. The subcommittee comprised Ned E. Depinet, RKO Radio Pictures president; Leon Bamberger and A. A. Schubart, RKO ; Tom Connors, Twentieth Century Fox, and Henderson M. Richey, MGM. They also are members of the WAC distributors' division, and discussed with Mr. McNutt the industry's own manpower problems, inasmuch as distribution has been ruled not "locally needed" and local exchanges must appeal individually to regional war labor boards for solution of problems. The conferees late Tuesday afternoon termed their talk with Mr. McNutt "pleasing" but added "the matter is at present in abeyance." Mr. McNutt's suggestion that the country signalize the film industry's aid in recruiting also was outlined in a letter to the WAC early in June. He wrote : "We have in mind the development of a series of recognition programs which are to be known as national salutes to manpower. . . . We should like to give credit nationally to the motion picture industry for its achievement. . . . This includes not only the producers, stars and exhibitors, but the rank and file of the industry." f iCt % io I to t I .In ill ci; I inei we Id Union Financial Ruling Stands The Internal Revenue Bureau has announced that no changes will be made in the former regu1 lations for the filing of financial statements by unions and other tax-exempt organizations, due August 15. It was disclosed, however, that where a parent organization files group returns for its local organizations, the parent must file a separate return covering its own income and expenditures. Any subordinate organization included in a group return which has income from rents or business activities must file a separate balance sheet as part of the group report. The form for the filing of these returns was made available last week. Hochstein's Trial Is Delayed to September 5 The trial of Harry Hochstein, former Chicago official, scheduled for Monday, was postponed in Federal Court, New York, until September 5, Boris Kostelanetz, special assistant U. S. Attorney General, announced. . Hochstein is charged with perjury before a special Federal grand jury probing racketeering in the industry. According to Mr. Kostelanetz, Hochstein lied when he testified that George E. Browne, convicted head of the IATSE, and William Bioff, convicted labor racketeer, were not present with certain members of the Capone mob in Hochstein's Riverside, 111., home in 1934. During the recent trial, which resulted in the conviction of six Capone ring gangsters, and a Newark, N. J., IATSE leader, it was brought out that the Capone mob planned the 1934 election of Browne to the IATSE presidency in Hochstein's home. ijtres. \\ mi :*?;; to 01 ] day : Sir I if Ik i ISj A i nalC if Hi Jo Ovi m Mil of the Ttpres Sffrday ge.al: the mi 8 'feu; fierse 'kArfhu prints Honor Levine in New Haven A large group of film and other friends attended a farewell luncheon party for Hyman Levine, new salesman at Boston for Warners, at the Hotel Taft, June 26. Mr. Levine has been in the New Haven film territory for 25 years, starting as Selznick exchange manager in 1919. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JULY I, 1944