Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1945)

Plan 10 Regional Sales Parleys on Paramount Shorts The 1945-46 season on Paramount shorts will be launched by Oscar Morgan, sales manager of Paramount shorts and news reel, in a series of 10 regional conferences with district and branch managers. Because of war restrictions, the conferences will be limited to district and branch managers only. The first meeting is scheduled for New York, April 30, followed by Boston, May 2-3 ; Philadelphia, May 4-5; Atlanta, May 7-8; Dallas, May 10-11; Los Angeles, May 13-19; Denver, May 21-22; Kansas City, May 23-24; Chicago, May 25-26, and Cleveland, May 27-28. While on the coast, Mr. Morgan will confer with Henry Ginsberg, Frank Freeman and George Templeton, new producer for the Musical Parade Featurettes. He also will confer with Jerry Fairbanks and George Pal on their respective product as well as Ralph Ravenscroft, shorts west coast publicity representative. Several departures in distribution policy will be discussed at the sales meetings. Mr. Morgan also will announce an augmented advertising schedule which calls for regular monthly trade ads in addition to the customary announcement of product at the beginning of the season. "Sales figures," Mr. Morgan said, "indicate a definite trend to play more shorts than ever before. Besides a general over-all increase in shorts sales over the previous year, it is noted that some large circuits in strong double feature territories have materially increased their use of shorts by replacing their second feature with shorts in many points." This starts the fifth year of Paramount shorts as a separate department. All matters pertaining to distribution of shorts clear through Mr. Morgan under the direct supervision of Charles M. Reagan, vice-president and general sales manager. The product lineup for 1945-46 is essentially the same as last year, with a few minor changes, Mr. Morgan said. "Instead of six George Pal Puppetoons in Technicolor there will be eight. There will be six Musical Parade Featurettes in Technicolor, 20 cartoons in Technicolor including eight Popeyes, six Little Lulus, and six Noveltoons. Jerry Fairbanks will contribute six Speaking of Animals, six Popular Science and six Unusual Occupations. Jack Eaton will produce 10 Grantland Rice Spotlights. This makes a total of 62 subjects and embodies nine different shorts series." Confederation Amusements Nets $106,5 10 for Year Net profit of Confederation Amusements, Ltd., Montreal, for the 12 months ended December 31, 1944, amounted to $106,510 after payment of all operating expenses, including amusement and general taxes and licenses of $213,002, bond interest and discount and depreciation. Provision for income and excess profits taxes reduced the net profit for the year to $59,736. Theatre revenue, including receipts, rentals and privileges amounted to $693,969. Two dividends of $3 per share each, and amounting to $32,184, were paid on the company's preferred shares during the year. Legion of Decency Rates Five New Pictures This week the National Legion of Decency reviewed five new films, approving all. In Class A-l unobjectionable for general patronage, are: "Rough Ridin' Justice," "Scared Stiff," "Son of Lassie." In Class A-2, unobjectionable for adults, are: "Counter-Attack," "Valley of Decision." Yorke Completes Film Emerson Yorke Studio has completed dialogue production on the short subject, "Lease on Life" for the National Tuberculosis Association. The film was directed by Mr. Yorke recently in the Filmcraft Studios, Bronx, New York. WMC Rules Home Office Production Help Essential The War Manpower Commission has ruled that in the New York area only film company office employees performing functions relating to film production are to be considered essential. There has been no blanket interpretation placing film company home offices on the essential list. The WMC in New York said that the home office of Universal was put on the essential list when it was shown that 75 per cent or more of the activities in that establishment were essential in that the employees were performing functions related to the production of pictures. Men between 18 and 45 must have United States Employment Service referral certificates before they can be employed by the film companies. Other employees do not require such referrals, according to the WMC. CardinalCompany To Change Name Reconvening of 20 states-right distributors, engaged in organizing a new distributing company, previously reported as Cardinal Pictures, has been set in Dallas by John W. Mangham, chairman of the executive committee, for April 28-29 at Chicago. The purpose of this meeting, according to John Franconi, secretary, is to accept a charter, to be submitted by Arthur Lockwood, embodying a different name for the company, since Cardinal already is in use by others ; to confirm contracts for franchises taken for Kansas City, Denver, Salt Lake City, Seattle and Portland. These territories have been taken by Harry C. Arthur and Robert L. Lippert, and their respective associates. Jack Kirsch, Chicago, is associated in the franchise there, with John J. Jones. Other franchise deals pending are expected to be confirmed at the meeting. Also on the agenda is signing of a deal with Action Pictures Corporation for four all-color outdoor subjects, and canvass of some proposals submitted by other producers. WPB allocation of raw film stock to Action for prints for domestic distribution of "Wildfire," Action's first subject, has been reported by Mr. Franconi to the franchise holders. PRC Buys Exchange in Philadelphia from Given Leon Fromkess, president of PRC Pictures, has announced the purchase of the Philadelphia exchange from Herbert W. Given. Mr. Fromkess will return to New York in a month to conclude other exchange deals. Lloyd Lind has been appointed assistant general sales manager for PRC Pictures, Harry H. Thomas, vice-president and general sales manager, has announced. Mr. Lind, who will assume his new duties with PRC shortly, is at present assistant to the general sales manager of Monogram Pictures and was previously connected with Republic Pictures. Dimout is Lifted in 3 Southwestern States The dimout order for Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico was lifted last weekend when it was revealed that the saving in fuel for one utility had been only 1,500 tons instead of the estimated 7,000. It was further shown that the utility used a type of slack that is a bituminous coal by-product and that reduced consumption of the slack would adversely affect production of commercial types of coal. 20th-Fox Promotes Hunt Frank Hunt, head booker and office manager for Twentieth Century-Fox in Cleveland, has been promoted to the dual post of office manager and assistant to I. J. Schmertz, branch manager. Mr. Hunt, who joined the Fox Film Corporation in 1921, has been succeeded by Edward Graves, former cashier. Berger Is Named Southern Sales Head for MGM MGM has appointed Rudolph Berger, Charlott Washington, district manager, as southern sal manager, and has increased the number of its di trict managers. The a nouncement was ma last Thursday by Willia F. Rodgers, vice-ore: dent in charge of distrib tion. Mr. Berger, with hea quarters in New Orleai will supervise the e changes of Charlotte, A lanta, New Orleans, D; las, Memphis, Oklahor and Kansas City. T Charlotte, Memphis, A lanta and New Orlea offices had been under K. "Ted" O'Shea, ea: ern sales manager; t remainder had been und the supervision of Jo Flynn, Western sales manager. Promoted from branch manager to district ma ager were Henry A. Friedel, Denver, who tak that city, Salt Lake City and Omaha ; Ralph Ma Buffalo, who will have Minneapolis, Des Moin and Milwaukee, with headquarters in Minneapol and Herman Ripps, Albany, who from that c also will supervise Buffalo and New Haven. Mr. Berger entered the film business in 19 joining MGM in 1924 in Washington. Mr. Friec joined MGM as a booker in 1916, rose to becor Denver manager in 1941. Mr. Maw joined MG in 1926, in Buffalo, and in 1937 became bran manager. Mr. Ripps joined MGM in 1929, Detroit, and in 1940, he was named Albany ma ager. Rudolph Berger Will Explain N. Y Child Labor Lawi How the new New York State child labor la' affect the hiring of theatre personnel will be el plained at a meeting of the theatre owners at t Riverside theatre; New York City, the morning May 1. The explanation will come from Edwa Corsi, New York State Industrial Commission who in meeting with the city's theatre owners 1; week, assured them he would attempt to este lish with the state's Department of Education easier way for the children to obtain worki papers, when they seek theatre employment. Six thousand children under 18 years are woi ing in the state's theatres, Mr. Corsi has estimafr At the same time, he pointed out that two of eve three 16 and 17 years old, and four of eve five 14 and 15 years old, were working illegal The estimates are the results of a six month si vey, 311 inspections. Of the 311, he said, 165 w< violating the law. The new child law is the Brooks-Coudert La effective January 1, 1946. It restricts worki hours for children according to age categories, a establishes conditions of employment. Puerto Rico Legislature Passes Rental Ceiling A compromise agreement on legislation est? lishing a 40 per cent ceiling on percentage rent and outlawing blind-selling and block booking v reached by the Senate and House of Puerto R: last week, with the measure going to Goverr Rexford Tugwell for his approval. Also enaci by the legislature and sent to the Governor was compromise version of a bill passed earlier the House providing for a Board of Regulatic for the Puerto Rican industry and a classificati of the U. S. dependency's theatres into four grou 4$ MOTION PICTURE HERALD, APRIL 28, IS