Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1946)

Mexican Union Sues to Work on Feature Films (Continued from page 43) Gus Mohme and his son, John, who flew in for a one day conference with local ClasaMohme exchange officials ; Father Arthur Vallve, Catholic Parish, Martindale ; Ernest Mollison, ex-Raymondville exhibitor, who is in the market for a Mexican house; Jose Garcia, Jr., National, Asherton; Mrs. F. R. Canas, Azteca, Harlingen; Mrs. E. R. Ruenes, San Benito; Gus Lavenant, Hay dee, Dilley; Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Ebeier, Runge, and Mrs. W. W. Rucker, Rock theatre, Round Rock, Texas. Adkins Lenoir Post No. 565, American Legion, made plans for securing a club for members, according to Commander Lynn Krueger, managing director of the Majestic theatre. Lee Roy Handley was made chairman of the committee to secure a place for a club. Motion Picture Theatre Operator Local No. 407 gave the post a $150 check to buy colors ; the presentation was made by Charles Bruening, president of the union, and Eugene Mueller, treasurer. ST. LOUIS Coal strike dampened box office business. Only one first run managed to approach an average week's business. The only consolation was the way local papers played dimout effect on theatre row in midtown. . . . Harry C. Arthur, general manager of Fanchon & Marco, elected national canvasman from St. Louis tent of Variety Club. Brother Edward Arthur, assistant general manager, named chief barker ; Sam Levin, first assistant; Tommy James, second assistant; Michael J. Riordan, property master, and Joe Ansell, dough guy. New officers to be installed December 13. Towne, Inc., has been incorporated to carry on general real estate business. Officers include Jim Arthur, M. J. Riordan and Fred Joseph of the Fanchon & Marco organization, and company will headquarter at F&M's offices. . . . J. B. Presley's remodeled Globe theatre at Savannah, Mo., is about to reopen. TORONTO Toronto film fans had the choice of British features at four theatres with the Royal Alexandra, legitimate house, breaking into the film field for the presentation of "Theirs Is the Glory," at a 60-cent top. . . . After an extensive teaser campaign, "Caravan" played to good business at the Uptown, while the latest James Mason opus, "They Were Sisters," attracted his many followers to the Eglinton and Victoria. . . . Shea's theatre had the only holdover with "Centennial Summer," and the Imperial theatre came out with "Heartbeat," all doing average to good business in view of snow and Christmas shopping, the Ice-Capades at the big arena, and the Canadian championship football finale. Everybody is still talking about the grand Canadian Picture Pioneers' ball at the Royal York Hotel which attracted 1,200 and was attended by many film stars. Proceeds helped to swell the Pioneers Benevolent Fund. . . . Marcus Loew's Theatres, Ltd., .Toronto, financial statement for the year ending last August showed $92,093 net profit, compared with $67,216 for the preceding fiscal year, with working capital listed at $808,249. . . . The Kino theatre, Toronto, devoted to foreign films, has started a film festival, run ning into January, with a week each devoted to French, Jewish, Russian, Polish and Ukrainian product, interspersed with one week of Hollywood productions, and Christmas week to be devoted to children's programs. . . . The Federal Wartime Prices and Trade Board approved rental conditions for new product of Eagle-Lion Films of Canada and PRC to complete the list of booking groups. President Paul L'Anglais of Quebec Productions Corporation announced that Walter Huston has been signed to appear in two Canadian pictures following completion of "The Fortress." . . . Paul Lukas has returned to Hollywood after completing his work in that first feature for L'Anglais. . . . Famous Players Canadian Corp. has announced from Toronto headoffice that plans have been prepared for a 2,000-seat theatre in Edmondton, Alta., with construction scheduled as soon as materials are available. WASHINGTON The only Washington holdovers in the downtown houses were "Notorious" at RKO Keith's, which is doing capacity business, and "Dead of Night," at the Hippodrome. New pictures opening for Thanksgiving were "Undercurrent" at Loew's Palace ; "Never Say Goodbye" at Warners' Earle; "No Leave, No Love," at Loew's Capitol, and a reissue of "The Plainsman" at Warners' Metropolitan. Theatres are beginning to feel the effects of the brownout and the early Christmas shopping, although business is still good. A special all-comedy film benefit was held November 29 at 10:30 A.M. at the Kaywood theatre under the sponsorship of the Washington Chapter of Hadassah. Proceeds went to establish pre-natal clinics and provide for child care in Palestine. Guests at the showing were youngsters from local orphanages and foster homes, whose tickets were paid for by Hadassah members. . . . Bill Fischer, booker at Columbia, assisted Gene Ford, Loew's Capitol, with the entertainment arrangements for the Variety Club annual dinner dance at the Mayflower Hotel November 23. Now Screen Theatre Redecorated and refurnished throughout, the former Academy of Music in Fall River, Mass., now is operating as a motion picture theatre. The academy is incorporated as Zeitz Theatres of Fall River, Inc. by LUIS BECERRA CELIS | in Mexico City The National Cinematographic Industry j Workers Union, Mexico's original film labor I organization, is seeking court action, in the form of an injunction filed with the First District Court here, to obtain rights to work i on features. President Manuel Avila Ca ! macho ruled last year in the dispute over i production jurisdiction between STIC and its rival, the Picture Production Workers ! Union, that STIC be allowed to work on shorts, newsreels and documentaries only, while the Production union could devote ' itself to features. The Production union is j largely composed of players and is headed by i Cantinflas, Mexico's leading comedian, and Jorge Negrete, Mexico's highest paid roman | tic actor. V Closer relations between exhibitors in I Mexico was announced as assured as a result, of the fifth annual convention here, November 15-16, of the exhibitors' association. The following officers were elected: Antonio de G. Osio, president; Gabriel Alarcon, vice-president; Manuel Angel Fernandez, treasurer; Francisco Sumohano, secretary, and the following directors : Eduardo Garcia, Luis R. Montes, Luis Alfonso Calderon, Adolfo Lagos, Guillermo Santibanez, | Manuel Quiroga and Arcady Boytler. v | Twentieth Century-Fox's "Leave Her to j Heaven" established a new opening-day rec i ord November 9 at the Cine Alameda with a ' gross of $7,250. The picture then broke that record the next day, a Sunday, with a gross J of $9,763. Chicago Janitors Win $171,500 Back Pay Approximately 800 janitors employed in metropolitan Chicago theatres received ] $171,500 in back pay under terms of the J agreement signed November 21 by the building employees' union and theatre representatives. The new contract is retroactive to May 1, 1946, and runs to July 1, 1947. New minimum wages, based on a f guarantee of a 44-hour week are $1.051^ an hour for female employees and $1.07^2 j for male workers. This is an increase of 18 cents an hour for men and 16 cents an hour for women. Waters to Pittsburgh Welden Waters, branch manager for Twentieth Century-Fox in Albany since January, has been transferred to a similar position at Pittsburgh, effective December 2. He is succeeded by Joseph Rosen, former metropolitan salesman for the company. 46 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 7, 1946