Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Feb 1945)

BYRNES CURFEW HITS 200 KEY THEATRES Order '^Requests'' Midnight Closing of All Theatres, Night Clubs and Arenas More than 200 theatres throughout the country, including about 100 in the New York area, will forego their regularly scheduled midnight shows Monday, February 26, in compliance with the midnight curfew request of James F. Byrnes, director of War Mobilization and Reconversion. Mr. Brynes issued the request Monday in Washington, asking that theatres, night clubs and all other places of amusement stop operation after midnight as a fuel conservation measure. To Make No Exceptions Only a year ago the Office of Civilian Requirements called on exhibitors in war production centers to run late shows for the benefit of night workers. War Mobilization officials pointed out, however, that "conditions have changed" and it would not be possible to make any exceptions. They explained that Mr. Byrnes' directive was aimed at conservation not only of coal but of transportation, manpower and other facilities. Midnight closing, according to Mr. Byrnes, means lights out and doors locked by that time and not merely the end of the show. Circuit executives in New York were not too pessimistic over the theatre curfew, pointing out that the public would cooperate by coming to theatres within the allotted hours of operation. They did not anticipate any widespread drop in national box office receipts when new schedules go into effect. To conform to the new operating hours. New York first run theatres will have to drop portions of their programs on some days or a full show on other days, and it might be necessary to eliminate double bills or short subjects, circuit spokesmen believed. Weekly receipts will be adversely affected in all theatres which have been operating after midnight, including Broadway first runs. On Tuesday in Washington, National Allied States Association announced it would conduct a survey to ascertain how many of its members, if any, would be affected by the Byrnes edict. At the same time the War Production Board clamped down on the use of any and all expedients to by-pass the prohibitions of the dimout order, effective since February 1, upon the lighting of theatres and other advertising signs. The order restricts marquee lighting to 60 watts per marquee. Ban More Interior Lighting Board officials Monday in Washington said an increase of interior lighting to throw more illumination into show windows and under marquees is not permissible under the order. Spotlights and other devices to light signs from the interior were also ruled out. The "request" by Mr. Byrnes is aimed at further conservation of fuel consumed for lighting and heating, and has the additional objectives of easing the manpower and transportation situations. Mr. Byrnes pointed out that violators of the "request" would be subject to denial by the War Manpower Commission of manpower ceilings. Also, the War Production Board, the Office of Defense Transportation and the Office of Price Administration were told to "use their powers to the full extent consistent with the law in assisting the War Manpower Commission." Places of entertainment subject to the curfew include all theatres, night clubs, dance halls, road houses, saloons, bars, sport arenas and other similar enterprises, whether public or private, except restaurants engaged exclusively in serving food. In Washington, officials of the Office of War Mobilization Tuesday pointed to the record of the industry in participating wholeheartedly in all Government war programs, and said they had no concern over possible defiance of the request by any theatres. Exhibitors, questioned regarding their sentiments, said they were immediately rearranging schedules where necessary, and some expressed the opinion that the order might have been drastic by decreeing the closing of all places of amusement one day a week. Must Be Closed by Midnight "Closing at 12 o'clock midnight" has been officially interpreted to mean that patrons shall leave in time to permit the full closing of the establishment by that time. The curfew is expected to effect an appreciable change in the amusement habits of a sizeable portion of the people. Dinner hours are expected to be shortened, or to begin earlier, to permit an earlier start of the evening's entertainment. Mr. Byrnes, in justifying his action, said: "Conservation measures previously taken by the Office of War Mobilization and Reconversion, including reduction of travel, the elimination of the use of electricity and outdoor advertising, the lowering of temperatures in Government buildings, and an appeal to the public to lower temperatures in homes, do not appear to suffice in view of the coal shortage." While th'e measure was expected to have no effect on legitimate theatres, and only slight effect on first runs having weekend or holiday midnight shows, dance halls, night clubs and bars will be hit hardest. In Hollywood, night club owners fumed over the curfew. Dimout Strictly Enforced Meanwhile, strict enforcement of the dimout order was promised by authorities in New York and Philadelphia. The New York Police Commissioner's office this week said that, despite exhibitor complaints about the dimout there, the Department would not recommend any additional lighting. It said investigations of all complaints have been made, but that not one instance had been found creating undue hardship or endangering public safety. The Independent Theatre Owners Association there had protested publicly. Theatre men in Philadelphia were warned this week that strict adherence to the lighting restrictions should be maintained. Another ■ gas shortage in the Appalachian area Monday resulted in a new 48-hour restriction on the use of natural or mixed gases in theatres and other amusement places. The WPB's ban .on the uses of such gases extended from 6 P.M. Central War Time to the same hour Wednesday. It applied to Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Kentucky and the District of Columbia. FROM REAPERS PRAISES ACCURACY OF HERALD INFORMATION To THE Editor of the Herald: Just a few lines of praise in connection with the Motion Picture Herald, issue of December 2. I have been receiving the HEauvLD for a year or more, now, and I sometimes wonder whether the exhibitors, producers and distributors really appreciate and realize the world of information, accurate information, they are able to digest by reading each issue of the Herald. My father was formerly a newsreel cameraman in St. Louis for the old Kinograms company, and later Pathe. He also did some advertising for Spyros Skouras, and brother Charles. So along with my regular GI duties, I have been an observer of the motion picture here, in England, France, Holland, Luxemburg, and to a certain extent in Germany. The influence of the Hollywood film on the different peoples is amazing. That, I believe, is the thing that is so important about your articles on the opening of the i European market, especially the French, the "dub j bing" of pictures for foreign consumption, pro ; motion of J. A. Rank pictures in America, and , articles of similar nature. Being here is almost i ringside, and it is a great pleasure to read these so I correctly interpreted in the Herald. I I am so proud to be an American, and I am ! proud too of the American Motion Picture. It's really tops in anybody's country. I am proud too of men like Spyros Skouras, who do so much in ' connection with the various drives. Though one l realizes what a great place America is, it is brought home much more vividly when one visits these other countries. — SGT. G. M. EARNHAKT, "in Belgium." Forms Latin American Film Press Service ' Milton W. Smith, formerly with the studio pub i licity department of Twentieth Century-Fox, re I cently organized Latin American Public Relations, Ltd., with offices in New York and Mexico. The company will provide Hollywood news and gossip | in Spanish and Portuguese for Latin American newspapers and periodicals. It also will supply a ; clipping service for Hollywood stars and studios ' of 500 Latin American papers. The clippings will [ be translated into Spanish and Portuguese as , part of the service. Father Flanagan of Boys' Town j Will Speak at Omaha Dinner Father Edward M. Flanagan, of Boys' Town,' will be a speaker at a testimonial dinner in honor of Henry Monsky, of Omaha, president of the, B'nai B'rith. The dinner will be attended by 2,000 Catholic, Protestant and Jewish leaders, and' will be held at the Hotel Commodore, New York,; as the climax of National Brotherhood Week. Mr. Monsky, an Omaha lawyer, is a trustee of Boys' Town and was the model for the jeweler | character in the picture, "Boys' Town," in which Spencer Tracy portrayed Father Flanagan. Fox West Coast Buys Two Fox West Coast Theatres has purchased the,, Mission theatre in San Jose, Cal., and the Cali-i fornia theatre in Bakersfield, for a price reported, to be about $300,000. Both theatres have been; operated for some years under lease by Fox West! Coast. I Barker Gets St. Louis Post | Ted Barker has been named publicist for Loew's State and Orpheum) theatres, St. Louis. He served as relief manager for Loew's Theatres for, several months, and has been connected with the Paramount-Publix, Schine and the Century circuits. Swirsky Shifted to Buffalo Sidney Swirsky, United Artists salesman in the! New Haven territory, has been transferred to the!' Buffalo exchange, while Sherman Germaine, booker in New Haven, has been named salesman. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, FEBRUARY 24, 1945