Motion Picture Herald (May-Jun 1946)

Caesar Again JAMES C. PETRILLO, czar of the American Federation of Musicians, whose periodic notes of discord usually disrupt the harmony of the broadcasting industry, let go another blast Tuesday, this time warning the United States Supreme Court that if that tribunal upheld the Lea Act he would withdraw the music for network broadcasts from New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, thus practically eliminating the major nationwide programs originating in these key broadcasting cities. Last week Petrillo defied the Lea Act, which forbids threats or force to compel a radio station to employ more workers than it wants, by calling a strike against WAAF in Chicago, charging the studio had failed to follow up the demands of the AFM and double the number of musicians it employs. Chicago Tower GLANCING over its blueprints for the shape of theatres to come, Balaban and Katz has announced it will spend approximately $1,000,000 for the construction of a new 2,600-seat Loop house with a 685-foot tower for its television station, W9XBK, a proposed FM station, and for microwave relays. The project, on North State Street near the circuit's Chicago theatre, will be constructed so that it can be utilized at any time as a television theatre. The tower will be the tallest structure in Chicago. Milton S. Carstens of Chicago is the architect and Frank Randall, also of Chicago, the structural engineer. Research on the project is expected to be completed in from 60 to 90 days. Construction should start in about six months with completion scheduled for eight to 10 months thereafter. Freddi Released Kome Bureau LUIGI FREDDI, a top motion picture executive for the Fascist Government, has been released from prison. At various times reported missing or in hiding, it is now known he had been imprisoned on the charge of following the Fascist Government from Rome to North Italy. He will be tried for having contributed to the march on Rome in October, 1922, but, it is felt here, he will almost certainly be absolved. However, if he is not convicted on that charge, he probably will be affected by the recently enacted law calling for the return to the Government of all profits made under the Fascists. Freddi, long active in politics and newspaper work, was, during the Fascist regime, vice-president of the official studios for the Italian Government and general director for cinematography at the office of the Undersecretary of State for Press and Propaganda. He also was head of the Historical Office of Exhibition of Revolution. Purchases HOLLYWOOD spent more than $2,026,000 this past season for the purchase of Broadway plays, according to a recent tabulation made by the New York Times. Some of the purchases : "State of the Union," at $300,000, plus 50 per cent of the picture's gross after cost of production has been recouped; "Dream Girl," at $300,000, and "Oh, Brother," at $76,000, to Paramount. "The Day Before Spring," $275,000; "The Rich, Full Life," $75,000 (deposit toward a ceiling of $225,000) ; "The Birds and the Bees," an unproduced play, $50,000, for MGM. Twentieth Century-Fox purchased "The Late George Apley" for $275,000. Sam Bischoff bought "Are You With It?" for $200,000. Universal paid $100,000 for "Up in Central Park" and $50,000 for "Mexican Hayride." "Beggars Are Coming to Town" went to Hal Wallis for $100,000. There were other purchases for which no price was specified, according to the Times. Vote for Disney WHEN the Czechoslovakian Socialists and Communists wished to attract attention to their candidates in the recent election campaign, they called upon Disney for aid — in an indirect way. It seems the political candidates found that the surest way of attracting a crowd was to screen 8mm black-andwhite prewar Disney cartoons. That did it. It was the first time in six years that the Czechs had had an opportunity to see any Disney cartoons. Just how many votes Mickey Mouse drew was not reported. Celebration PRACTICALLY everybody who is anybody on Broadway was on hand at the old Silver Slipper Wednesday night in New York to help Jimmy Durante celebrate his 30th anniversary on Broadway and to welcome back the famous team of Clayton, Jackson and Durante, which triumphed at the Silver Slipper in the turbulent days of the 20's before it became a dance hall. For the one-night celebration the triumvirate performed their old favorites, PEOPLE L. J. McGiNLEY, Indianapolis branch manager of Universal, has been assigned to the company's home office to handle special duties, W. A. Scully, vice-president and general sales manager, announced last week. Walter Pidgeon, screen star, has accepted the chairmanship of the industry's committee for the Emergency Food Collections to relieve starvation overseas, Henry A. Wallace, national chairman of the drive, announced over the weekend in Washington. Fred Sandy, formerly with PRC in Washington, D. C, Monday was named manager of the Philadelphia office of the company succeeding Joseph Gans who has been transferred to Charlotte, N. C. T. H. Westermann, since 1935 a partner in charge of sales for Willard Pictures, has resigned to become sales manager for Morey and Sutherland Productions, Hollywood producers of entertainment and business films, it was announced Monday. Mr. Westermann will make his headquarters in New York. Mickey Komar, Warner salesman in the Winnipeg exchange, Tuesday was promoted to branch manager in St. John, succeeding L. McKenzie, resigned. Samuel Goldwyn has concluded a lease with Lady Sylvia Stanley, the former Mrs. Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., giving him control of 50 per cent of the property occupied by the Goldwyn Studio. Mary PiCKFORD retains her interest of 50 per cent in the studio site. Veronica Lake, Paramount star, has been given an award for best performance by an actress in 1945 by Joseph Van CotTOM, editor of Cine Revue, Belgian fan and trade publication. Charles Chaplin received an award expressing Belgium's appreciation for his film, "The Great Dictator." Kaskell Heppner of Metropolitan Photo Service and Henry Lapisarda of ComoSileo have been elected secretary and assistant secretary, respectively, of the Press Photographers Association of New York. George Skouras, national vice-president of the Greek War Relief Association, ending a tour of 39 key American cities in behalf of Greece's need for livestock, reported in New York's Hotel Astor Wednesday that more than 3,500 horses, cows and mules valued at $448,672 had been sold for shipment to Greece. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, published every Saturday by Quigley Publishing Company, Rockefeller Center, New York City 20. Telephone Circle 7-3100; Cable address "Quigpubco. New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo. J. .Sullivan, Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; Terry Rannsaye, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor; James D. Ivers, News Editor; Charles S. Aaronson, Production Editor; William G. Formby, Field Editor; Ray Gallogher, Advertising Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Bureaus: Hollywood, William R. Weaver, editor. Postal Union Life Building; Chicago, 624 South Michigan Avenue; Washington, Jfm H. Brady, 215 Atlantic BIdg., 930 F Street, N.W.; London, Hope Williams Burnup, manager, Peter Burnup, editor, 4 Golden Square, W. I; Montreal, Stan Cornthwaite, 265 Vitre St.. West; Toronto, W. M. Glodish, 242 Millwood Road; Paris, Maurice Bessy and Robert Regamey, 2 Avenue Matignon; Dublin, T.J. M. Sheehy, 36 Upper Ormond Quay; Rome, Argeo Santucci, 10 Via Versilio; Lisbon, Jooo De Moraes Palmeiro, Avenida Cande Volbom 1 16; Brussels, Louis Quievreux, 121 Rue Beeckman; Amsterdam, P'hilip de Schoap, 82 Jekerstraat; Copenhagen, Kris Winther, Bogehoi 25; Stockholm, Gosta Erkell, 15 Brantingsgaten; Basel, Carlo Fedier, Brunnmattstr. 21; Prague, Joseph B. Kanturek, U. Grebovsky No. I; Sydney, Cliff Holt, Box 2608 — G.P.O., Derwent House; Johonnesburg, R. N. Barrett, 56 Northwold Drive, Saxonwold; Mexico City, Luis Becerra Cells, Dr. Carmona y Valle 6; Havana, Charles B. Garrett, Refugio 168; Buenos Aires, Notalio Bruski, J. E. Uriburi 126; Montevideo, Paul Bodo, P.O. Box 664. Member Audit Bureau of Circulations. Other Quigley Publications: Better Theatres, Motion Picture Doily, International Motion Picture Almanac and Fame. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JUNE 8, 1946 9