Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Feb 1945)

3^000 Theatres Pledged to Join March of Dimes More than 5,000 theatres, representing nearly 5,000,000 seats, have been pledged to the national March of Dimes drive, which this year will be held January 25 through 31, Nicholas M. Schenck, national chairman, announced this week. The pledges indicate greater support this year than last; possibly enrollment of all theatres. Last year, it was noted, pledges weren't received until after January 1. Additionally, some states are reporting 100 per cent enrollment. Delaware is the first this year. The state has 22,632 seats. Alabama and Rhode Island are reported near the 100 per cent mark. The District of Columbia last week was within two theatres of last year's total of 54,089 seats of a possible 55,889. "We haven't received a single negative reply from a circuit," Joseph R. Vogel, chairman of the drive for theatre circuit enrollments, said last week. Replies received through last week covered theatres with more than 4,000,000 seats, he said. The 2,500 Loew circuit ushers have pledged they will attempt to have friends and relatives outside the theatres in which they work contribute enough dimes to fill two President's Birthday coin cards, each of which holds two dollars in dimes. Legitimate theatres will be in the drive under Lee Shubert, it was announced in New York this week. Mr. Shubert was appointed by Mr. Schenck, chairman of the legitimate theatre committee, which will supervise collections not only in New York but in all cities in which there are road shows. The goal is $100,000. Exhibitors are being furnished by the national committee with a "thank you" one-sheet mailed with each campaign book and in the blank spaces of which the exhibitor is to insert the amount of his collection ; and with a full colour lithographed one-sheet citation poster, signed by Basil O'Connor, president of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, and by Mr. Schenck, and reproducing in four colors the Heart of Humanity medal, signifying participation. Leon Siritsky Returning to Operate French Circuit Leon Siritsky, French circuit owner who in 1941 was forced by the Germans to sell his 75 theatres for 20,000,000 francs and leave the country, will return to France soon to negotiate for the return of his theatres. Mr. Siritsky and his wife this week were issued visas by the French Government. Mr. Siritsky's theatres were administered during the German occupation by a companv called Continental, the stock of which was owned by the German film company, UFA. They are all in good condition, he said Tuesday, adding: "They were kept that way by the Germans who didn't expect they'd be thrown out of France." The theatres, in Mr. Siritsky's estimation, were worth 100,000,000 francs, but the forced sale was better than loss of life, he indicated when he came to this country. Here, he and his two sons, Sam and Jo, bought the Majestic theatre, Brooklyn, and the Squire, Manhattan, both in New York. The sons will remain with their families for the while, and continue operating the two houses. Kodak Wins Fourth Star For Production Record The fourth white star was added to Eastman Kodak Company's Army-Navy "E" flag recently for "outstanding service in the production of war equipment." Robert P. Patterson, Under Secretary of War announced the award in a letter to the men and women of the company, lauding them for having "maintained the fine record." Theatre Authority Collects $525,577 in 10 Years Collections of $525,577 from charity benefits were made by the Theatre Authority in 10 years, Alan Corelli, executive secretary of the organization, announced in New York last week on the occasion of the Authority's 10th anniversary. The Screen Actors Guild, Motion Picture Relief Fund, the ITOA of New York and individuals from the industry are participants in the Theatre Authority, which controls the appearances of stars and personalities at benefit performances. Of the total collections, Mr. Corelli said $329,902 had been allocated to various charity groups and $24,409 has been held in trust on the west coast for indigent actors. Whenever admissions are charged at benefits and members of any of the participating actor groups perform, IS per cent of the ticket sales are paid to Theatre Authority for reallocation to theatrical relief agencies. Clearance and Run Cases Filed The Kedzie Amusement Company, operating the Kedzie Annex theatre, Chicago, has filed a clearance complaint against all five consenting companies, asking that the arbitrator fix a reasonable maximum clearance for the Senate theatre over the Kedzie Annex, the American Arbitration Association reported this week in New York. The complainant charged that the clearance currently held by the Senate was "arbitrary, excessive and unreasonable." In the New York tribunal, the Calderone-Mineola Theatre Corporation, operating the Mineola theatre, Mineola, L. I., has filed a clearance complaint against all five, charging that the clearance between Mineola and Floral Park was unreasonable and asking that it be eliminated. Frank Higgins, operator of the Lake City theatre. Lake City, Wash., has filed a some run complaint in the Seattle tribunal against Twentieth Century-Fox, Warner Bros, and Loew's. Refusal by those companies to license product to the Lake City is alleged, and it is requested that they be directed to ofifer pictures to the house. Interested parties are the National Theatre Corporation, Hamrich-Evergreen and Evergreen Theatre Corp. MGM Holds Field Force Meetings William F. Rodgers, vice-president and general sales manager of MGM, headed the home office executives who addressed the field auditors meeting at the Astor Hotel in New York Wednesday. The series of conferences began Tuesday and concluded Thursday, followed by home office talks among field personnel and distribution heads Friday and Saturday. Charles K. Stern, assistant treasurer, and Alan F. Cummings, in charge of exchange operations, conducted the sessions jpintly. All five "Commando Girls," home office personnel especially trained in all phases of exchange operation, were present. At the opening session, auditors and women were asked to make suggestions to the home office for streamlining exchange activities. In addition to Mr. Rodgers, other speakers at the meetings included William G. Brenner, in charge of exchange maintenance ; Max Wolfif, purchasing head ; Harold J. Cleary, who talked on the company's retirement plan ; Pincus Sober, who discussed salary and employment laws ; William Gleicher, sales department, S. S. Braumberg of the legal department ; Harold Postman, Jay Grove and Mike Simons. Drumbar Plans Theatre William Drumbar, Knotxville, Tenn., theatre owner, will build another on Chapman Highway, nearby, when priorities are obtained. Music Hall Staff Get Bonus Employees of. Radio City Music Hall and the Center theatre. New York, received a holiday bonus, given for the first time in the history of either theatre, G. S. Eyssell, managing director, has announced. The bonus was a week's salary up to a maximum of $100 for employees of a year or more, and graduated amounts for others. O'Brien of SEC Joins Paramount As Balahan Aide Robert H. O'Brien, lawyer and financial aide, has joined Paramount, as assistant to Barney Balaban, president. He began his duties Tuesday, as liaison between Mr. Balaban and other executives, such as, the company announced, the cor' poration secretary and general counsel, and vicepresident in charge of production. He will attend meetings of organizations of which Paramount may be a member, and report on their activities to Mr. Balaban. Mr. O'Brien's resignation as a member of the Securities and Exchange Commission was accepted this week by President Roosevelt, with regret. He had been with the SEC since 1942. Born in Helena, Montana, Mr. O'Brien received his education at Beloit College, Wisconsin, and the University of Chicago. He received his law degree from the latter. Mr. O'Brien practiced in Chicago. He then joined the Public Works Commission Legal Department. In 1934, he joined the SEC. as attorney ; later, he was assistant director of the Commission's registration section ; still later, he was named director of the public utilities section ; and, in 1942, appointed a Commissioner. Mr. Balaban said of Mr. O'Brien Tuesday that he would be "not only a valuable acquisition to Paramount, but to the entire motion picture industry." Robert H. O'Brien William Healy Manned Aide To Keough at Paramount William Healy on Tuesday was named administrative assistant to Austin Keough, Paramount vice-president and general counsel. He is an attorney, a graduate of Fordham University and law school, and recently was discharged from the Army. Before induction, he served on the New York State Defense Commission, at Albany. He was also associated with the promotion department the Packard Motor Car Company. B'nai B'rith Lodge Forms Women's Auxiliary Women in the film and allied industries in New York, and the wives and other women members of the families of current Cinema Lodge members, are eligible to join the newly formed Cinema Auxiliary of B'nai B'rith, it was announced this week. Recently elected officers of the Auxiliary who will be installed at a meeting at the Hotel Piccadilly, New York, Monday evening, January 22, are Ann G. Blackman, president, wife of Max B. Blackman of Warner Bros. ; ]3essie Lefkowitz, vice-president, wife of Sam Lefkowitz of United Artists ; Ethel R. Greenfield, corresponding secretary, wife of Irving Greenfield of Loew's, and Mrs. Marian Israel, treasurer. Mrs. Dorothy Block, field secretary of B'nai B'rith's Women's Grand Lodge, is heading the membership drive of the Cinema Ladies' Auxiliary. Kiely Named Manager for Warners in Montreal Grattan Kiely has been promoted from the sales staff to branch manager for Warner Bros, in Montreal, effective January 8, it was announced by Ralph H. Clark, Canadian manager for Warners. Mr. Kiely, who has been with Warners since 1937, succeeds I. Coval, who is to be assigned to a new post in the Latin-American territory under Wolfe Cohen. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JANUARY 6. 1945 29