Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1940)

October 19, 1940 SHOWMEN'S T RADE REVIEW Page 5 Important Dates Oct. 20: Annual Variety Club banquet, William Penn Hotel, Pittsburgh. Oct. 21-22: AMPTO of Western Pennsylvania convention, Hotel Roosevelt, Pittsburgh. Oct. 21-25: SMPE Fall convention, Roosevelt Hotel, Hollywood. Oct. 24: Picture Pioneers Fall Conference Dinner. Oct. 26: Cinema Lodge, B'nai B'rith, banquet, Hotel Pennsylvania. Oct. 30-31: ITO of Ohio convention, Desher-Wallick Hotel, Columbus. Nov. 11: Canadian Picture Pioneers convention, Toronto. Nov. 16 : Washington Variety Club dinner, Willard Hotel. Nov. 16: Boston Motion Picture Salesmen's Club dinner dance. Southland. Nov. 21: Motion Picture Associates Ball, Hotel Astor. Nov. 25-26: ATO of Indiana annual convention and trade show, Hotel Antlers, Indianapolis. Dec. 12: Philadelphia Variety Club dinner, Bellevue Stratford. Exhibitors to Get Clearance on Army No Pictures at Posts Until After Local Theatre Runs The problem of clearance for army theatres, which has disturbed many exhibitors owing to the announcement that army theatres will be established in all the cantonments to be used to house the augmented Army, has been settled to the satisfaction of all, it was announced this week. A spokesman for the Morale Division of the Army, which will handle the showing of pictures at all Army posts, said that the Army theatres will be operated under agreement with local exhibitors in each community and that no films will be shown until they have been cleared by the local houses. "We don't deprive the exhibitor of any money," it was announced, "We avoid competition with the exhibitor as it is not fair for us to cater to business that he might get otherwise." Astor Grants Franchise; Conclude Other Deals 1ETY DINNER SUNDAY cipal interest of Variety Clubs •veelc is the annual dinner which will be held in Pittsburgh on Sunday night. Barkers from every tent will attend. For further details and for other Variety Club news see pages 22 and 23 of this issue. SMPE Convenes In Hollywood Technical Experts Hold Fall Meeting There Next Week Motion picture technical experts from all sections of the country are converging on Hollywood for the 1940 Fall Convention of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers, October 21 to 25, inclusive, in the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Technical discussions on a wide variety of motion picture filming, recording and reproducing problems and related subjects, such as television, will feature the five-day convention. A high point of the convention will be the presentation of the 1940 SMPE Progress Medal and the Journal Award at the 47th SemiAnnual Banquet on Wednesday evening, October 23. The Progress medal, awarded last year to Dr. Loyd A. Jones, of the Eastman Kodak Laboratories, is given in recognition of the year's outstanding contribution to motion picture technology. The Journal Award, won last year by Dr. Herbert T. Kalmus, President of the Technicolor Motion Picture Corporation, is made for the best paper published in the SMPE Journal during the year. The first order of business will be election of officers. The terms of E. A. Williford, President; N. Levinson, Executive Vice-President; J. I. Crabtree, Editorial Vice-President ; W. C. Kunzman, Convention Vice-President ; J. Frank, Secretary, and R. O. Strock, Treasurer, expire on December 31. With the exception of the Secretary and Treasurer, who serve one year, all the officers have served two-year terms. The convention program is one of the most complete in the Society's history. Nine convention committees have completed arrangements under the direction of President Williford and Mr. Kunzman. Darryl F. Zanuck, 20th Century-Fox producer and Chairman of the Research Council of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, will address the get-together luncheon on the opening day. The eleven technical sessions will include the discussion of nearly 50 papers by leading technical experts of the industry's laboratories, studios and equipment manufacturing organizations. Two sessions will be given over to sound, one to television, and four to general subjects. Other activities include a visit to the studios of 20th Century-Fox on Tuesday afternoon. Wednesday afternoon is being held open for sight-seeing or other activities. The convention will conclude Friday evening with the television session. Chairman of committees other than those already mentioned include: C. R. Sawyer, Pacific Coast Papers Committee; H. G. Tasker, reception and local arrangements; W. C. Kunzman, registration and information; N. Levinson, banquet and dance; G. A. Chambers, hotel and transportation; H. Griffin, convention projection, and Julius Haber, publicity. S-W Completes Deal For Paramount Product Philadelphia — A deal for Paramount's 1940-41 program was completed here this week by the Stanley-Warner circuit after negotiations threatened to break down because of an alleged controversy over terms. Nat Wolfe of the Commercial Film Co., Denver, was this week granted the franchise to distribute Astor pictures in that territory, according to R. M. Savini, Astor Pictures president. It was also announced that a booking deal has been concluded with F. & M. St Louis Theatres, operating houses in Missouri and Illinois, covering the exhibition of "Sky Devils" and "Scarface" for its entire circuit. A deal has also been concluded with Mike Naify of the T. and D. Jr. Enterprises, whereby "Hell's Angels" will play the entire circuit in Cali.d Nevada. The same picll_ play the Golden State circuit. Arthur Kelly Named Chief Of UA's Domestic Sales Gold and Schlaifer Continue in Charge of East and West Respectively; New Foreign Head To Be Chosen Arthur W. Kelly has been appointed vice-president of United Artists in charge of domestic distribution by Murray Silverstone, chief of world wide operations of United Artists, it was Reeve Resigns Post as 20th-Fox Ad Manager Resignation of Arch Reeve, advertising manager for 20th CenturyFox in New York City, was announced this week by the company. Reeve, who had been connected with 20th-Fox in California before coming to New York six years ago and who before that had been affiliated with Paramount, will remain at his post until Charles E. McCarthy, director of advertising and publicity, makes a new appointment. Before making any new affiliation, Reeve will return to his home in California for a vacation. ^^^^ , , ,| 1 Atijy week. Kelly has been for many years vice president in charge of the foreign department. Vice presidents Harry L. Gold and L. Jack Schlaifer continue as heretofore, in charge of the East and West respectively, but Arthur W. Kelly will now work under Mr. Kelly's direction. There is no change in the status of Harry D. Bucklev, also a vice-president.