Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1944)

McKenzie^ Once MPPDA Aide, Dies in Hollywood Maurice McKenzie, 62, former executive assistant to Will Hays, president of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, died in Hollywood October 24 after a long illness. For the last three years he had been associated with Twentieth CenturyFox as assistant to Col. Jason Joy at the Hollywood studio. Mr. McKenzie was born in Zionsville, Ind. He was a court reporter in Crown Point, Ind., until 1918, when he was employed by Mr. Hays, who had been elected chairman of the National Republican Committee. When the MPPDA was formed in 1922, with Mr. Hays at the head, Mr. McKenzie joined the organization. He began as secretary to Mr. Hays and moved eventually into the post of executive assistant, where he was concerned intensively, but not conspicuously, with such diverse matters as the maneuvers concerned with the Blue Eagle Code in the days of the National Recovery Administration, and divers attentions to the evolving application of the Production Code. In prolonged ill-health he left the Hays organization in 1940 and established a home near Crown Point, Ind., where he engaged in adventures and experiments in horticulture. Later he abandoned that pursuit and went to Hollywood to the Twentieth Century-Fox post in which he functioned until the end. Funeral service were held October 26. He is survived by his wife, Nelly Stone McKenzie, once secretary to the editor of the New York Times and subsequently concerned in literary pursuits in New York. Maurice McKenzie Sergeant Sorenson Solemn Requiem Mass for Technical Sergeant Arthur A. Sorenson, Jr., was to be said Saturday morning at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Brooklyn, N. Y. Word of his death in action near Aachen, Germany, October 12 was received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur A. Sorenson, early this week. Mr. Sorenson, Sr., is an editor of the Twentieth Century-Fox Movietone News. Besides his parents, two brothers and a sister survive. Installed in Legion Post Arthur Lacks, in charge of sales and distribution of News of the Day for MGM, was installed as commander of the American Legion Post 305th Field Artillery at ceremonies held November 2 at the 77th Division Clubhouse, New York. Ellis Buys Philadelphia House A. M. Ellis Theatre Company has purchased the 600-seat Southern theatre, Philadelphia, from Mrs. Frances Felt, for $70,000. The Ellis interests now include 16 houses and a bowling alley enterprise. Miller Named by Artkino Myra Miller has been appointed publicity direc-tor at Artkino Pictures, New York. -She formerly was a radio publicist at Twentieth Century-Fox. Purchases Site for Theatre H. B. Aleiselman recently purchased the Roosevelt Hotel property, Charlotte, N. C. He plans to build a $250,000 1,600-seat theatre. Shields Sells Theatre Ernest Shields, operator, has sold his theatre in Kent, Wash., to Howard Edline. i50 SOPEG Breaks Negotiations With Major Companies Last weekend the Screen Office and Professional Employees Guild, Local 109, following a meeting of members in New York Thursday night, broke off contract negotiations with Paramount, RKO, Loew's, Twentieth Century-Fox and Columbia. The negotiating committee of the SOPEG met Friday and informed the companies of their decision. The Guild will take the dispute either to the New York State Board of Mediation or the War Labor Board. Some 2,000 office workers in the home offices are involved. Harold Rohb; Was Circuit Head Harold B. Robb, president of Robb and Rowley Theatres, important circuit in the south and southwest, died October 30 in Dallas after an illness of several weeks. He was 55. Mr. Robb entered the amusement field in 1905, in Geary, Okla. In 1916 he formed a partnership with E. H. Rowley, vice-president of the company. Together they built up the circuit which now owns and operates 110 theatres in Texas, Oklahoma, California, Kansas and Arkansas. Surviving are his wife; a daughter, Mrs. Hubert Cook of Riverside, Cal., and a son, H. B. Robb, Jr., who is stationed at the Naval Air Station at Corpus Christi, Tex. Funeral services and burial were held Wednesday in Big Spring, Tex. Bert Fazzio Bert Fazzio, 50, head of B. F. Enterprises, New York, and producer of short subjects, died October 26 of a brain tumor at Metropolitan Hospital, New York. Mr. Fazzio recently completed arrangements for the production of a feature film titled "Hitler at the End of a Rope." William Lewis William J. Lewis, 71, drama critic of the Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph since 1927, died in Pittsburgh October 25. His widow, a son, a brother and sister Doob Lauds Exchange Area Publicity Aides "Motion picture publicity people have brought their profession to a new peak of usefulness and respect by becoming 'war workers,' using their tools of showmanship to help win the war," said Oscar A. Doob Monday in a letter to the 31 exchange area chairmen and some 800 city chairmen of the public relations division of War Activities Committee. Mr. Doob, who resigned October 1 as national chairman of the public relations division, having completed two terms, thanked the coast-to-coast group of publicity men and women for their constant cooperation. This network of showmen was organized by Mr. Doob two years ago and is credited with being a vital factor in all of the War Activities Committee's campaigns. A new national public relations chairman will be announced shortly. Managers Back at Warner Houses In Philadelphia, Irving Coopersmith returned to the Felton theatre and Morris Schwartz returned to the Lindley theatre. Harvey Detweiler became day manager of the Center theatre. All are Warner houses. Theatre Half-Interest Sold Charles H. Goodwin announced last week that he had retained his half-interest in the Mayfair theatre, Philadelphia. The half interest of David Barrist was sold to Lewen Pizor, who takes over active management, buying and booking. Gets Construction Permit A building permit has been issued Mid-State Amusement Company for a theatre in Kennewick. Wash. It is planned to show first run pictures at the new house. Office, Exchange Workers Get WLi Raise Approval The Regional War Labor Board in New "V| last week approved contracts made by lAT Local F-51, representing the office workers, J Warners, Paramount, Universal and RKO. j| contract provides for job classifications with ni mum and maximum wage scales and a minim 10 per cent wage increase retroactive to Decemj 1943. At the same time home offices started to pay; 61 weeks of retroactive pay to publicists. A WI approved wage increase went into effect Thursj of last week. Warner Brothers the first to accounts, paid 60 publicists totals as high as S before deductions. Deductions included a 25 | cent levy by SPG on the first 52 weeks of rel active pay but not to exceed $130 from any member, to meet expenses incurred during negotiations. Hyman Glickstein, SPG attori will receive about 12 per cent of this levy. The over-all amount of payments by film c( panies for 78 weeks of retroactive wage increa has been estimated at $130,000 to 280 publici some publicists receiving as much as $780 bei deductions. lATSE representatives met with film c( pany exchange heads in New York last week signed applications for submission to Regional \ Labor Boards having jurisdiction over Detroit Denver film exchanges. The labor-managen: agreement calls for a 10 per cent wage incre for service employees in those exchanges. Thi day another meeting between the two groups i held to consider additional applications for change service locals in all of the 31 excha centers. The 10 per cent increase in wages ready has been approved for the workers in Seattle exchanges. St. Louis Arbitrator Studying Dispute Over Stagehands Jules E. Kohn, St. Louis Regional Labor Bo Arbitrator, last week concluded hearings on dispute of the International Theatrical Brotl hood, Local No. 6, and St. Louis motion pict theatres over the number of stagehands to be ployed. The arbitrator announced he would v a number of the theatres involved in the disp before returning to Kansas City to study the te mony. His decision is not expected for sevf weeks. The theatres are seeking to have redu the number of stagehands required to be emplo; by the union, and to permit their employment stage maintenance work during non-show hour: SPG Appoints Group to Help Select Examples of Pictures A special committee of eastern publicists been appointed by the Screen Publicists Guild cooperate with the Hollywood Writers Mobiti tion in the selection of films which they regard the "blending of the best entertainment eleme with an important idea." Hollywood writers, r resenting seven writing guilds, recently named first selection, Lester Cowan's "Tomorrow, World!" Bridgeport Ad Space Cut Advertising space cuts in Bridgeport, Co newspapers permit theatres only 10 per cent December, 1943, space on local ads. The limitat of national ads to 1,000 lines on any film has b lifted. In September, 1944, the ration was 15 cent of last year for the same month. Plan Two Negro Houses The Bijou Amusement Company, Chattanoo Tenn., plans the construction of two new theat for Negroes as soon as building restrictions i lifted, it was reported by Alfred Starr, gene manager. They are the 1,000-seat Ross thea and the 800-seat Ace theatre. MOTION PICTURE HERMD, NOVEMBER 4, I' I