Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1944)

Griffis Stock Sale Reported by SEC Market acti\4ties of officers and directors of motion picture companies in the stocks of their own corporations were at low ebb in September, it was disclosed Tuesday by the monthly summary of such transactions issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington. The largest operations reported were in Paramount Pictures common stock, where Stanton Griffis, chairman of the executive committee, sold 2,000 shares held through a trust which at the close of September still held 4,000 shares. Slightly more than that amount of Monogram Pictures common stock was involved in sales by W. Ray Johnston, president, of 966 shares held direct and 900 shares held through Monogram Pictures, Inc., leaving him at the end of the month with 17,724 shares held direct and none through the subsidiary, and the purchase of 200 shares by Norton V. Ritchey, vice-president, which increased his holdings to 4,467 shares. Continuing its gradual purchase of outstanding Loew's Boston Theatres common stock, Loew's, Inc., was shown to have acquired 11 shares during September, increasing its holdings to 121,232 shares. A report on Columbia Broadcasting Company disclosed that in May, Joseph A. W. Iglehart, director, purchased 2,000 shares of Qass A common stock through W. E. Hutton and Company, selling 900 shares in the same month and the remaining 1,100 shares in June. Warner Shorts Releases I Set Through February j| Warners' short subject release schedule for the jj next four months, November through February, r has been announced by Norman H. Moray, short II subject sales manager. I In addition to the regular program of Warner B cartoons, including "Merrie Melodies" and 'Looney Tunes," November releases will be "Harj ry Owens and His Royal Hawaiians," "Champions il;of the Future," "I Won't Play," "Outdoor Living" and "Sonny Dunham and His Orchestra." In the December group are "Nautical But Nice," "I Am an American" and "Jammin' the Blues." ;| "Bikes and Skiis," "Pledge to Bataan" and "Cuba Calling" are scheduled for January, followed by Are Animals Actors," "Musical Mexico" and Water Babies" in February. ensor Upheld in Film Ban By State Regents Board The New York State Board of Regents October upheld the action of Irwin Esmond, director of the Education Department's Division of Motion ll Pictures in refusing to license the film "Going My Way, Mister?" in the state. Mr. Esmond said the film originally was submitted to him in 1941 by the Equitv Film Exchange under the title "Highway Hell," and in March. 1944, the film was submitted under the new title by Ira H. Simmons of New York City. Mr. Esmond said it was rejected on the ground that it was "indecent, immoral and would tend to corrupt morals." 'Busy Theatrical Season jSeen in Cincinnati The legitimate theatrical season in Cincinnati 'promises to be the biggest in many years from jthe standpoint of bookings so far arranged. Opening with Zasu Pitts in "Ramshackle Inn" at the Cox October 15, the list of future bookings J to date include Katherine Dunham and her "Tropical Revue," "Ten Little Indians," "Cherry Orchiard" as the first in a series of Theatre Guild subscription plays; "Life With Father," "Wallflower," "Othello," with Paul Robeson; "Over 21," "Harriet," "The Barretts of Wimpole Street," "Winged Victory," revivals of "The Student Prince," "Blossom Time," "The Merry Widow," ' Robin Hood" and "Kiss and Tell." The Chicago 'ompany of "Oklahoma" is booked at the Taft heatre for March, with "Jacobowsky and the By Staff riiotocrapner AT THE ROOSEVELT RALLY, in New York. Monday at the Hotel Astor. Frank Sinatra, whose rendition of the National Anthem was a featured billing, converses on the dais with Jack Co/in, left, executive vice-president of Columbia Pictures; Nicholas Schenck, president of Loew's, and Barney Balaban, president of Paramount Pictures. It was a gathering of 800 from New York's film and theatrical industries. The luncheon rally was sponsored by the Theatrical and Motion Picture Committee for Roosevelt-Truman-Wagner ; and the speakers were Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, Senator Wagner, New York's Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, and John Golden and Louis Nizer, committee co-chairmen. Other honored guests were William Brandt, Julius Joelson, Samuel Rinzler, Dean Alfange, Malcolm Kingsberg, William Morris, Jr., Irving Caesar, Oscar Homolka, Oscar Serlin, Luise Rainer, Jack Cohn, Nicholas Schenck, Barney Balaban, Charles Boyer, Vera Zorina, Fannie Hurst, Nate Blumberg, Carol Bruce, Moss Hart, Molly Picon, Herman Shumlin, Louis Calhern, Wendy Barrie, David Bernstein, Charles Moscowitz, Robert Weitman, James Sauter. Among others from the industry in attendance: Henderson Richey, Walter Brooks, Nicholas Schenck, A. J. Balaban, Rube Jackter, Morris Kurtz, Carl Leserman, Jack Levin, Samuel Machnovitch, Harold Mirisch, Charles Moss, Nicola Napoli, Louis Phillips, Colvin Brown, Edward Fay, William F. Rodgers, Michael Ruden, Murray "Silverstone, David Snaper, Max Weisfeldt, Saul Trauner, Irving Wormser. Colonel" and "American Dances" to follow at that house. Additionally, the Artists Series to be presented at the Music Hall will offer vocal and instrumental stars in as many productions, while the Cincinnati Symphony orchestra, celebrating its golden anniversary, has arranged an imposing list of concerts for presentation throughout the season. University Gives Course in Picture Story Technique The Washington Square Writing Center of New York University, New York, announces for the Autumn term a course in technique of the picture story. The course was offered during the spring term of 1944 and stirred so much interest that it is being repeated. It deals with the pictorial needs of magazines, picture values, and writing the accompanying text and captions. Daniel D. Mich, executive editor of Look, is course coordinator. Schreiber Joins Condon, Resigns WAC Position Edward Schreiber, for the past two years national director of publicity for the War Activities Committee, has resigned to join Richard Condon, Inc., public relations agency, as vice-president in charge of motion pictures. The resignation takes effect December 1. Prior to his position with the WAC, Mr. Schreiber was with Warners home office publicity department for seven years, at one time heading the publicity department of the company's Vitaphone Studios in the east. During the present year the Condon offices have been engaged by Columbia, Paramount, United Artists, the 50th Anniversary of the Motion Picture Industry, RKO Pathe, the War Activities Committee and others. Legi jion Unit Elects Officers The Theatrical Post No. 270 of the American Legion, Boston, has elected its new officers and the installation will take place November 13 at the Copley Plaza Hotel. Officers elected are : Edward Dobkin, commander ; Harry Spingler, senior vice-commander; John F. Foley, junior vice-commander; Richard C. Sullivan, adjutant; Joseph Kantor, finance officer ; Dr. A. Edward Melincoff, chaplain. On the executive committee are : Harry Browning, Harry P. Smith, Kenneth Forkey, Patrick F. Healey and Alvin G. Kenney. Ramagosa To Build Theatre On Wildwood Boardwalk S. B. Ramagosa, amusement operator in Wildwood, N. J., will start construction there of a new 1,500-seat, $250,000 boardwalk theatre as soon as ma*-erials are available. It will be the only theatre in that section of Wildwood. At present, all of the resort's five houses are owned and operated by William C. Hunt. New Ohio Theatres Planned New theatres planned in Ohio include one at Osborn by Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Robinson, who operate the Midway theatre there and drive-in theatres at Columbus, Cleveland and Toledo by Herbert Ochs and other interested parties who now operate a drive-in at Dayton, Ohio. Factory Preview for Warner Film The west coast premiere of Warners' "The Very Thought of You" will be held some time this month in the Inglewood factory of Cole in California, parachute manufacturers whose plant was used for scenes in the film. Resigns Censor Board Post Margaret Welsh, office manager of the Pennsylvania State Board of Motion Picture Censors for 22 years, resigned recently. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, NOVEMBER 4. 1944 41