Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1944)

Publicity by WAC Stresses Free Films for Troops In order to acquaint the general public with its activities, the War Activities Committee is now engaged in a varied and far-reaching publicity campaign. Special attention is being directed toward publicizing the industry's gifts to the Army Overseas Motion Picture Service. The campaign is under the general supervision of Francis Harmon, executive vice-chajrman of the WAC. An emblem has been devised, to appear on early autumn releases, which will call attention to the fact that the picture is also being shown to servicemen stationed in combat areas overseas. A lobby poster has been designed to inform the friends and relatives of soldiers that pictures featured in American theatres are being exhibited on the battlefronts in all theatres of war where Americans are stationed. This poster will be sent to the 16,000 cooperating theatres. Window displays, saluting the industry's gift shows to GI's abroad, shortly will be seen in large department stores throughout the nation. Associated Merchandising Corporation is furnishing the displays. In an early August issue the Saturday Evening Post will carry an article by Pete Martin telling the entire story of the 16mm gift films. Following this, a two-color poster, designed by Curtis Publishing Company, depicting the story of the gift films, also will be released to the 16,000 theatres. Western Newspaper Unit has issued a story about the project which has gone out to 2,500 newspapers. Several other stories have been sent to newspapers in key cities for use in special Sunday sections. Magazines and picture syndicates are being covered with photographs showing front line exhibitions of the 16mm films. Publicity also has gone out to radio stations. A picture, "Movies at War," made by the Signal Corps of the U. S. Army and released through the War Activities Committee, has started its first runs in U. S. Theatres. The film tells the story of the project. Cites Rise in Overseas Showings for Troops Overseas film performances rose to over 93,000 shows and were attended by 32,706,193 persons inclusive of last April, Maj. John W. Hubbell, chief of the Army overseas motion picture service, told j representatives of the industry at a luncheon yes 1 terdav at the Beverly-Wilshire Hotel, Hollywood. He also declared that attendance had doubled since the monthly average had fallen off in January, and discussed in detail the method of operating the overseas branch of the film service. Lt.-Col. Joseph McMicking, aide of Gen. MacArthur in charge of entertainment in the South Pacific, eulogized the industry for free 16mm. prints, and said, "If men took a popular vote, I do not doubt but they would vote an 'E' pennant tor the industry's contribution." Other speakers were Mary C. McCall, junior ; chairman, executive committee of the WAC, Hollywood division, Joseph H. Seidelman, civilian consultant to the War Department on the gift films, Land John C. Flinn. Mar+el Honored at Luncheon Thomas H. Martel, New York representative of the U. S. Army Motion Picture Service, which buys films for 1,174 Army theatres throughout the country, was guest of honor last week at a luncheon at the Hotel Adolphus, Dallas, given by J. B. Underwood, southwestern division manager of Columbia in Dallas. The luncheon was preceded by a cocktail party at the Variety Club. Skouras' Daughter Wed I Diana Athanasia Skouras, daughter of. Spyros ■ Skouras, president of Twentieth Century-Fox, ] and Mrs. Skouras, was married Tuesday to Dr. ■ George Anderson Fowler, at the Holy Trinity Church, Mamaroneck, N. Y. IN NEWS REELS MOVIETONE NEWS— Vol. 28, Nol 85— Allied air forces aid land attack in drive on Cherbourg. . . . Chinese construct huge airfield for B-29's by hand labor. . . . Tito of Yugoslavia filmed in hideout with partisans. . . . Italian political leaders form new government. . . . In memoriam. . . . Angels of mercy. . . . Air cadets swim. . . . Royal horse show. MOVIETONE NEWS— Vol. 26, No. 86— GOP convention meets in Chicago. . . .• President signs GI Bill of Rights for service men. . . . Girls in war industry. . . . Major Wasmer candidate for governor. . . . Rome welcomes Highlanders, kilts ad all. . . . Latest pictures from France as Cherbourg falls. NEWS OF THE DAY— Vol. IS, No. 28J-Battle for Cherbourg. . . . First films of Marshal Tito. . . . Chinese manpower miracle creates U. S. bombing base. . . . Avenue of the Allies. . . . Princess Elizabeth heads a hospital. NEWS OF THE DAY — Vol. 15, No. 284— GOP convention highlights : Warren is keynoter ; spotlight on Dewey . . . Liberated French cheer De Gaulle. . . . American reserves pour in. . . . King George visits front. . . . Bill of Rights for GI Joe. . . . Army host to Rosie the Riveter. PARAMOUNT NEWS— No. 86— Report from Free Rome. . . . Time out from war, Royal horse show. . . . First pictures of Tito's Yugoslav Partisans. . . . Paramount News presents B-29 drama. PARAMOUNT NEWS— No. 87— Cherbourg payoff. . . . Front line leaders. King George and General Eisenhower. . . . Return to France — people of Bayeaux greet General De Gaulle. . . . Tornado disaster. . . . Nylons, 5,000 pair. . . . 1944 Republican convention. RKO PATHE NEWS— Vol. 15, No. 88— Yanks, British win Carentan, Bayeux. . . . First films — inside Yugoslavia with Tito. . . . 70,000 coolies build B-29 Superfort base. RKO PATHE NEWS — Vol. 15, No. 89— Republicans open Chicago convention. . . . FDR signs GI Bill of Rights. . . . General De Gaulle returns to France. . . . Reinforcements pour into French beachheads. UNIVERSAL NEWSREEL— Vol. 17, No. 305— New regime in Italy. . . . Marshall Tito harries Nazis. . . . 5,000th Liberator. . . . Flying fish galore. . . . GOP in convention. . . . Proud mother of 23. . . . Royalty at horse show. . . . Aussie heroes home. . . . Avenue of Allies. UNIVERSAL NEWSREEL— Vol. 17, No. 306— GOP meets to name candidate. . . . Allies advance in France. . . . FDR signs GI Joe bill. . . . Tornado sweeps two states. . . . WAAFS don WAC uniform. ALL AMERICAN NEWS— Vol. 2, No. 88— Africans train for British Navy. . . . Negro publishers convene in New York. . . . Major Roberts of the 99th at Seder Center. . . . Chicago shows captured equipment and ■ sells Bonds. . . . Select "Miss Harlem" in beauty contest. . . . First pictures: Famous 93rd Division fights wilderness of Bougainville. PCCITO Trustees Hear Reports on Meetings Reports from their representatives on recent meetings with Attorney General Tom C. Clark, and with George McMurphey, chief of the theatre section of the Office of Civilian Requirements of the War -Production Board, and a report on the recent national Allied States Association board meeting in Philadelphia were heard in Portland, Ore., last week by trustees of the Pacific Coast Conference of Independent Theatre Owners. Attending were Hugh Bruen, George Diamos, Rotus Harvey, L. O. Lukan, Leroy Johnson, J. M. Hbne, O. J. Miller, M. Mallecheck, William Graeper, Jr., Bob White. Mr. Graeper was elected trustee. Republic to Open Mexican Branch Morris Goodman, Republic's vice-president in charge of foreign sales, has left for Mexico City, where he will complete arrangements for the opening of a Republic branch office to handle sales and distribution in Mexico. The company recently set up its own distribution offices in Argentina, Brazill, Chile and Panama. Three in Technicolor for Republic Herbert J. Yates, chairman of the board, and James R. Grainger, president and general sales manager of Republic Pictures, announce that a contract has been signed with Technicolor Motion Picture Corporation, and that three top-budget productions will be filmed in Technicolor during the next 12 months. Fitzgibbon Sees New Producing in Eastern Studios Resurging feature production in New York is anticipated by the Fox Movietone Studio, which has a new stage, is adding the latest and best in sound equipment, and plans a post-war stage nearby. 'We've already outgrown what we have, even with two stages — we're going about 90 per cent of the time and we need another stage," Steve E. Fitzgibbon, manager of the studio, said in his office Monday. Mr. Fitzgibbon said the studio always bid for Eastern production, and with the production there of Sol Lesser's "Stage Door Canteen" the tendency to regard Eastern production as feasible has grown so that now, "there's not a week but what one or more producers or people who would like to produce come in here seeking to promote an Eastern production." The studio is now the only large one, and the only one with completely modern facilities, available for Eastern production, he noted. The former Eastern .Service Studio, Astoria, is operated by the Army Signal Corps ; the Warner Vitaphone studio in Brooklyn is closed. War Interrupted Attempt "I was in touch with the Mayor here several years ago when he wanted production to move from Hollywood to the East," Mr. Fitzgibbon said; "and the war interrupted the efforts of Clendenning Ryan, who he had appointed to promote such production. However, Mr. Ryan, before leaving for service, said he would resume his efforts because it was an important effort for New York City. And, lately, I have been in touch with Mayor LaGuardia, who has asked me to keep him informed." Mr. Fitzgibbon's talks with producers could not be detailed, he said, but he disclosed that Edward Alperson, former RKO circuit general manager, who resigned several weeks ago to enter production, probably for United Artists release, and who purchased the stage play, "Decision," had been interested in producing at the studio. Mr. Fitzgibbon said that financial negotiations had been on for three weeks. He added that the Sol Lesser production stirred the interest of OWI figures such as Garson Kanin, Burgess Meredith and Jean Renoir, so that several propaganda pictures for overseas have been filmed. The success of these has in turn stirred the interest of regular producers who also, he noted, had seen the success of other Eastern government production such as the pictures done at Astoria by the Signal Corps. All of which had proved to them, he said, the practicability of Eastern production. Studio Has Two Stages The Fox Movietone Studio, at 360 West 54th Street, New York, comprises two stages. One, built in 1928, is 106 by 75 feet, and 35 feet high. The other, built two years ago, is 125 by 105 feet, and 85 feet high. A third, which will be built after the war, will be on a lot 125 by 100 feet, at 10th Avenue and 53rd Street. Available for the present two stages are three recording channels, RCA and Westinghouse ; two mixing rooms, which will shortly be supplemented by another ; a complete and very large Carrier air-conditioning system ; a large prop department ; recording studios; three projection rooms; the latest equipment. The latter is installed, and being installed, on high priority, a factor possible because OWI shorts have been filmed at the studios and because the Movietone newsreel, ruled essential, is produced twice weeekly there. The studio handles, in addition to the film categories mentioned, the mixing for the Terrytoon studios, certain recording and other work for the parent company, Twentieth Century-Fox, testing and short subjects for all the other major producers, and commercial pictures for concerns such as Jam Handy. The commercial work comprises about 40 per cent of the total. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JULY I, 1944 33