Showmen's Trade Review (Jul-Sep 1942)

July 11, 1942 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW 9 Report June Bond Sales 3,457 theatres have so far reported their June sales of War Bonds and Stamps to the WAC headquarters. The totals reached by this small percentage of houses engaged in the effort reach the gratifying figure of $2,064,823. Willkie and Rubin Issue Joint Appeal For Support of Fund Wendell L. Willkie and J. Robert Rubin this week sent an urgent appeal to corporations and firms in the amusement and sports fields to support the 1942 campaign of the Greater New York Fund, of which Mr. Willkie is the campaign's honorary chairman, and Mr. Rubin is vicechairman and heads the drive in the amusements division. The industry has adopted a quota for the current campaign of $150,000. In an appeal directed to motion picture, radio, theatres and sports enterprises, the statement emphasized that the "Fund is a union of 400 of the most important philanthropic enterprises in the city," and is the "embodiment of the American spirit applied to charity." Following is the te.xt of the Willkie-Rubin appeal : "Perhaps no group in the City of New York is called upon more often by and responds more often to charity appeals than our own amusements industry. Certainly no group gives so liberally in both money and services. "Because of this enviable record, we do not hesitate lo appeal to the motion picture, radio, sports, legitimate theatre and all other component parts of the entertainment world to join in the support of the Greater New York Fund. "The Fund is a union of four hundred of the most important philanthropic enterprises in this city. It includes among its member agencies the great Catholic, Jewish and Protestant federations, the Salvation Army, Boy Scouts, etc., etc. It distributes its monies only after careful consideration by a board of experts representative of all these charitable and community organizations. "But over and beyond all this, the Greater New York Fund is the embodiment of the American spirit applied lo charity. It asks only 'What i> your need?" and never 'What is your creed?' "B\ its fine record, it has eaincd \niu' sui^porl. W'e in-ye you to give and give generously In llu Greater New Vnrk Fund." Copra Supervising New Films for Army Troining Colonel Darryl F. Zanuck, chairman of the Kesearcli Council of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, this week announced the immediate start of production of a number of documentary and orientation films to be made for the education and training of the Army under the supervision of Major Frank Canra, who will be stationed in Hollywood representing the Special Services Branch of the United States Army. Colonel Zanuck also announced that the Research Council will lease a portion of the Fox Western Avenue Studio, consisting of offices, projection rooms, film vaults, and cutting rooms. Under arrangements now being negotiated, 20th Century-Fox will lease this studio space to the Research Council for the duration of the war for $1.00 per year. THEATRES, SCREEN STARS BOOST U. S. BOND SALES Warner's Hollywood Theatre, New York, sold $5,750,000 in war bonds for the premiere of "Yankee Doodle Dandy," but keeps right on selling more of them. The booth in front of the Hollywood, above, is being presided over when this snap was taken by the Misses Emily YANKE, Regina DUDEL and Ethelyn DANDIE— a name combination to make any press agent for "Yankee Doodle Dandy" proud — and clever, too. Screen stars are helping towns and cities all over the country go over the top on bond drives. Here's Buck Jones, star of Monogram's "Rough Riders" western series, selling bonds in Reno, Nevada. Buck played a big part in helping the city to beat its quota and by a big margin. Buck's popularity is attested most convincingly by the expressions on the faces of his bond "customers" here. Northwest Territory Cited for Successful War Bond and Stamp Drive; Friedl Praised With special commendation for theatremen of the territory and recommendation that other districts can profit from emulation of the high efficiency of the group's war effort, George J. Schaefer, Chairman of the War Activities Committee, has singled out as especially notable the successful war bond and stamp sales campaign which has been executed under the direction of John J. Friedl, general chairman of the Northwest territory. Schaefer indicated that while the U. S. Treasury Departinent was extremely gratified by the results achieved in movie theatres over the country. Committee workers everywhere will find it profitable to use the Friedl campaign as a general guide. Although the details of the drive are too numerous to list here, a complete account of tlie campaign is available through the WAC's New York office. Some of the salient factors follow : The Northwest territory, comprising Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and part of Wisconsin, was broken up into three general groupings : State, Zone and County, with responsible theatre executives in each group serving as chairmen. A plan was then devised for handling Victory Film prints which proved so efficient that all theatres, from first runs to last, played the films closer to the national release date than was thought possible. This rapid-fire system was achieved principally through having each exchange designate one person to liandle bookings. The system was supplemented by a daily, over-all checkup, starting at Friedl's desk and extending throughout every phase of the setup. An interesting sidelight of the campaign was the Victory Caravan tour, which when it arrived in Minneapolis and St. Paul, where it jilayed single matinee and evening performances, grossed $60,000 — a remarkable figure in relation to the size of these two cities. But the most gratifying result, as pointed out by Schaefer, are the pledges received from exhibitors in the Friedl territory. With no exception, each one of the 851 theatres under his supervision have signed pledges and are playing every \^ictory Film. WAC Commends Murphy for War Bond Campaign The War Activities Committee this week commended the war bond and stamp sales drive administered by Frank Murphy through Loew's Theatre, Syracuse, N. Y. Murphy's campaign centered around the "Syracuse Retailers for Victory" month-long drive, his theatre being lieadquarters for virtually all official activities. Of special note were the weekly "songfests" staged every Tuesday night, with some commercial or civic organization sponsoring a half-hour program. Five persons each week are appointed "Singing Minute Men" and a guest speaker of local proniience promotes the sale of bonds and stamps from the stage. Local Groups Stage Shows With Cut in Receipts to Charities Several theatres are finding an excellent business stimulant in the appearance of Glee Clubs, Little Theatre Groups with one act playlets, Choral Clubs, and dancing and music school classes. Reports Relief Collections A total of $360,385.61 has been collected for the Army and Navy Relief fund drive through the theatres affiliated with Paramount Pictures, Inc., Leonard Goldenson, vice-president of Paramount Pictures in charge of the theatre department, announced.