Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Feb 1945)

MonogramForeign Sales Rise 60% Monogram's foreign sales have increased 60 per cent in the last year, Norton V. Ritchey, vicepresident in charge of foreign distribution, said last week in New York. Returns from England, where Pathe Pictures, Ltd., handles the company's distribution, have risen 40 per cent, Mr. Ritchey added. Monogram will revive European franchises in some instances and establish its own offices in others, he said. Ernest Wettstein, former representative in Paris for Continental Europe, is representing the company's financial interests until further clarification of the situation there. "Lady, Let's Dance" has been dubbed in French, but further dubbing in that language has been stopped pending the French Government's decision on the degree of rigidity with which it will enforce its old dubbing laws. More of its own branches will be added to the office recently opened in Mexico, but "we are not changing our policy of doing business with other people," Mr. Richey said. The foreign department headquarters will be moved from the RKO building to larger quarters in the Bond Building before March 1, he said, where it will have its own projection room, and also space for expansion. Mr. Richey plans to go to England and the Continent when travel conditions permit. Offer 100,000 Monogram Shares of Preferred An offering of 100,000 shares oi 5l4 per cent cumulative convertible preferred stock, par value $10, of Monogram Pictures Corporation is being made currently by a banking group headed by Emanuel and Company. The stock is priced at $10 per share plus accrued dividends. Net proceeds of approximately $851,340 to be received by the company through the sale of these shares will be used for additional working capital. Of these net proceeds, approximately $300,000 will be applied to the reduction of current liabilities and the remainder to the production of motion pictures. In addition to this issue, the outstanding capitalization of the company consists of 493,439 shares of common stock, par value $1 per share. Monogram Pictures Corporation was organized in November, 1936, under the name of Sterling Pictures Corporation. Net profit of the company, after all charges and taxes for the S3 weeks ended July 1, 1944, amounted to $177,823 compared to $99,144 for a corresponding period in 1943. For the nine weeks ended September 2, 1944, net profit was $20,643. Washington Club Honors Meakin at Testimonial Hardie Meakin, newly appointed RKO Theatres assistant division manager in Washington, was honored at a testimonial dinner January 15 at the Willard Hotel under the sponsorship of the Washington Variety Club. Among the executives that were scheduled to attend were: Ned Depinet, S. A. Schwartz, Robert Mochrie, Arthur Frudenfeld, Terry Turner, O. R. McMahon, J. M. Brennan and Malcolm Kingsberg, all of RKO, and Maurice White, Variety Club of Cincinnati chief barker. Speakers were to be Mr. Depinet, John S. Allen, for the exchanges; Carter T. Barron, for circuit and independent exhibitors ; Ted Gamble, for the Government, and Commissioner John Russell Young for the District of Columbia. Mr. Meakin had been manager of RKO's Keith theatre in Washington for 15 years. RKO Paid Blue Network $546,136 for Time RKO Radio Pictures paid the Blue Network $546,136 for air time for its "Hollywood Star Time" radio program which ran for 40 weeks during 1944 on a five-day-a-week, 15 minute basis, the Blue Network disclosed last week. Total gross network time sales for the Blue Network for 1944 was $41,356,129. Governor Names "Co-Pilot'' Day Governor Ellis Arnall of Georgia has issue] statewide proclamation naming February 21 1 "Robert Lee Scott-'God is My Co-Pilot' Day*] honor of the world premiere of Warner Bros, f ture based on the exploits of Colonel Scott. '/ proclamation was addressed to Mayor Chaf Bowden of Macon where the opening will y place that evening at the Grand theatre. Coli Scott is a native of the city. The admission i will be $10, with the proceeds going to chari' Because of the international interest in the Lights Go on Again," more than 30 coi were expected to attend Tuesday night's wi preview of the picture at Hollywood, especjl arranged for the representatives of the \Jn nations. It is a Leon Fromkess-PRC product In honor of the world premiere of Univera "Suspect," the Mutual Broadcasting System's I show, "Double or Nothing," was to journey' Cleveland Friday, 9 :30 to 10 P.M., EWT. Sp^ guests of the quiz-master, John Reed King, and crew, will be a group of Cleveland blood don as well as members of the armed forces. "The Woman m the Window," second of In national Pictures' four films for RKO Radio 5 lease, will open at the RKO Palace, New Y^ji January 25. "The Fighting Lady," full-lei;3 Technicolor story of an aircraft carrier, wl':l Twentieth Century-Fox is releasing in coop i tion with the U. S. Navy, opened at the Vict i; theatre. New York, Wednesday. Signal flags f ' a Navy destroyer heralding the premiere ofj| film were hoisted during the week by a Navy nalman and a Wave in front of the theatre, i I Frawley Leaves NYAC Post ^ G. B. J. Frawley, Paramount executive, ^ retired as president of the New York Ath| Club after two terms. He refused a third term; cause the Club had been restored to a strong firb cial position, thereby fulfilling his aims, he saiij START YOUR YSAR WITH LAUGHS! THE BEST SHORTS OF ALL COME FROM COLUMBIA! MOTION PICTURE HERALD. JANUARY 20. ^