Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1944)

MGM to Outline Tenth Block at \Cincinnati Meet MGM was expected to announce its next block #f pictures at the company's mid-season four-day tales meeting in Cincinnati, beginning Thursday |nd ending Simday, November 19. William F. ^feodgers, vice-president in charge of distribution, Vas to conduct the sessions, at which policies and -filans for future releases were to be discussed. " Home office executives planning to attend, in -iddition to Mr. Rodgers included : John E. Fl\-nn ind E. K. O'Shea, division managers ; Howard Dietz, vice-president in charge of advertising and -publicity ; Edward Aaron, head of circuit sales ; Alan F. Cummings, in charge of exchange opera-lions, and Harold Postman, his assistant; H. AI. ^Richey, director of exhibitor relations, and his rjssistant, Walter Brooks, and Ben Mclntiker, ; lome office legal counsel. It was indicated that five pictures scheduled for rade showings this month would be included in the lext group, MGM's 10th block. "Thirtj Seconds Over Tokj-o" was screened in all exchanges on ■^Vednesday, with the exception of Philadelphia, -vhich was scheduled to show it Thursday, and 5t. Louis, set for Saturday, November 18. "The Thin Man" will be trade shown November .;!1 in all exchanges. "Blonde Fever" is set for "icreening in all branches November 21, with the :xception of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Boston, r vhere the date is November 22. "Alain Street ^.fter Dark" will be seen November 27 at all ■"fclGM offices, and "Nothing But Trouble" also in November 27, excepting Philadelphia, Pittslurgh and Boston, where it is scheduled for screen "mgs the following day. The company announced Tuesday that "Meet ;»Ie in St. Louis," the Technicolor musical staring Judy Garland and Margaret O'Brien, would .•pen November 22 at Loew's State in St Louis. The New York premiere at the Aster will take •lace shortly thereafter. \o Study Managers Union At AFL Convention Eugene Atkinson, business manager of Chicago Drojectionists' Local 110, will leave for New Drleans next week to discuss a charter for a theiire managers union at the American Federation if Labor Convention there, beginning November to. On two previous occasions, James Gorman, pres-cient of the local, has said that the charter already ■ jas been obtained by the union. Mr. Atkinson, lowever, has been silent on the matter. Unoffi ially, it has been reported that the union got the ^iharter at the lATSE convention in St. Louis, last iummer, but that the action will not become offi' ial until the coming AFL meeting. • A number of circuit theatre managers has been fi a huddle on the union matter, but has awaited urther action from Mr. Atkinson. A I'Jackson Named Paramount Eastern Story Editor The appointment of Alan Jackson as Paranount's eastern story editor was announced last .veek by Russell Holman, eastern production de•artment head. Mr. Jackson's appointment follows the promotion if Richard Alealand from eastern story editor to lead of the story and writing departments at the cmpany's Hollywood studios. I Mr. Jackson was formerly a lieutenant in the Navy attached to public relations. Previously he was a member of the editorial staffs of the Saturday Evening Post and of Time and Fortune. Shea To Go Overseas Joseph C. Shea, formerly New York publicitj' -'airector for William Cagney productions, will go ibroad on a research mission following completion of current foreign service training. Mr. Shea had -oeen working on a documentary film for the War 'Pepartment. Herald Flies with Films To War Front in Asia THE U. S. ARMY is operating the biggest film distribution service in the Eastern world. It is the great central India Film Exchange which serves the armed forces in India, Burma and China. The manager is Captain Thomas G. Bostic, U. S. Signal Corps, officer in charge. Motion Picture Herald with its living catalogue of production, the Product Digest section, has been founH so essential an instrument of service, that arrangements have been made to have it flown half around the world along with the films. The bearer, in shirt-tail, receiving a shipment of film and Herald, is an assistant in the film library of the India Film Exchange. Set Screening Dates for Third Paramount Block Trade screenings for Paramount's third block of the 1944-45 season have been set for December 14 and 15, Charles M. Reagan, vice-president in charge of sales, announced last week. The detailed schedule of the screenings will be announced later. The five pictures of the third block are : "Here Come the Waves," a Mark Sandrich production ; the Pine Thomas production, "Dangerous Passage," "For Whom the Bell Tolls," (to be released for the first time at popular prices ; "Practically Yours," a Mitchell Leisen production, and "Double Exposure," a Pine Thomas production. •MOTION PICTURE HERALD, NOVEMBER 18, 1944 35