Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Feb 1945)

Sees China as Favorable rost-War Market for U. S. I A favorable post-war market for Hollywood Inis in China was forecast last week by the For\ign Commerce Weekly, official publication of the |8ureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce in Washington. I U. S. product long has been popular in coastal ities, the publication points out, adding that the liar shift of population to Free China has been reponsible for the introduction of the motion picture Ih many new areas. Manchuria, Formosa and jCorea also were cited as new and profitable fields if distribution for Hollywood films. I Field production under Japanese supervision in shanghai, according to reports from Jap-occupied Ireas, has decreased to about four pictures a ^onth. Theatres in Shanghai and other coastal titles continue to operate, however, with poor acilities. China's local industry, operating in free areas, )ecause of wartime isolation, has been reduced to wo small Government-controlled studios which lave had limited output during the past five years. Projection equipment was in need of repair, it was aid. rhree Shorts for January Kve Scheduled by WAC The War Activities Committee last week anlounced three new short subjects for January listribution. The first, a two-reel Navy film. Brought to Action," is scheduled for national elease January 11 through United Artists, with ^IGM handling the film in Albany, Des Moines, klemphis, Oklahoma City and Portland. A War Department film produced by Army Picorial Service, called "What's Your Name?" is set or January 18 with distribution by Twentieth 'entury-Fox. The film is a message to war iforkers to stay on the job. The third is a Red Cross film, title to be anlounced later, produced by the March of Time, which dramatizes the American Red Cross services to the armed forces around the world. Release date is January 25. RKO will distribute. Because of the limited number of prints available of the Army Pictorial Service cartoon film, "Weapon of War," regional distribution is necessary. The short is now being released in the New York and Los Angeles territory. Territories will be added as prints become available. Club Named Directors The Cleveland Variety Club has elected the following board members : Jack Sogg, MGM ; Bernard Kranze, Al Kolitz, RKO ; Lester Zucker, Oscar Bloom, Columbia ; Charles Rich, Warners ; Max Lefkowich, circuit owner ; Jerome Friedlander, attorney, and Nat L. Lefton, former PRC franchise holder. NTS Appoints Keilhack Francis Keilhack has been appointed manager of National Theatre Supply's Kansas City branch. Arthur de Stephano, formerly manager of the Kansas City office, has been named supervisor of both the Kansas City and St. Louis branches, according to an announcement by W. E. Green, president. Harris to Philadelphia Maurice Harris succeeds Robert Pryor as RKO exploitation representative in Philadephia. A veteran with the company, he shifts to that city from Buffalo, N. Y. Mr. Pryor left the industry for radio, becoming station promotion manager of WCAU, Philadelphia. Temple in Monogram Post William Temple, formerly with Fox-West Coast, has joined the Monogram studio publicity staff under Lou Lifton, succeeding James Hawthorne, who resigned to enter distribution with Ideal Pictures, 16mm company. "Canteen" Campaign to Start Hospital Library The new Army Air Force Hospital at Fort Thomas, near Cincinnati, will have its initial recreational facilities provided as a result of the campagn launched by Joseph Alexander, manager of the RKO Albee theatre, Cincinnati, in connection with Warners' "Hollywood Canteen," which was to open there Thursday. A large library is expected to be obtained by the drive to have the patrons bring books to the theatre during the showing of the picture. The city manager, authorities at the hospital and Station WCPO have cooperated in the plan. Plan Illinois Theatre The Anderson Theatre Circuit, Morris, 111., has completed plans for the erection of the Moderae theatre, 1,200 seat house in DeKalb, 111. Construction will start as soon as the plans are approved by the War Production Board. The house will be equipped with a stage and orchestra pit for the presentation of stage shows. The circuit operates 11 theatres in northern Illinois. Balaban & Katz Sells House Balaban & Katz has sold its Roosevelt theatre in Chicago to the Camwill Realty Corporation, New York, for $500,000, and at the same time, has leased the 1,500-seat house from the new owners for 25 years, at $33,000 annual rental. The new owner has negotiated a 20-year loan for $333,000, at four per cent interest, through the Equitable Life Assurance Society. Meiselman to Build House H. B. Meiselman, owner of a circuit in the Charlotte, N. C, territory, has purchased tjie Roosevelt Hotel property in Charlotte, with a view to erecting a theatre when materials are available. Cost of the property and the new house will be approximately $250,000. RETURNS FROM RADIO STARDOM for a GREAT ROLE! CONRAD NAGEL and Johnny "^^^^^^^^^^^^^^B ^^^^^^^^ \ one i ing 1 Aul W on n^ony Mack Con"" MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JANUARY 6, 1945 59