Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1944)

4 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW Af^ril S. 1944 Reagan Succeeds as Agnew Joins Selznick Appointment of Charles M. Reagan to succeed Neil Agnew as Paramount general manager of distribution for the U. S. and Canada was announced Thursday following a Board of Directors meeting. Reagan was also elected a vice-president. The resignation of Neil Agnew as vice-president in charge of distribution of Paramount to assume charge of distribution of Vanguard Films, the David O. Selznick enterprise, was announced simultaneously in New York and Hollywood last Sunday. Agnew, who has been associated with Paramount since 1920, will supervise distribution of "Since You Went Away," on which Selznick recently completed camera work and now has in the final phase of editing, as his first undertaking for Vanguard. Announcement of Agnew's resignation stated that the exact date on which he would make the transfer from Paramount to Vanguard would be decided at a conference on Monday between Agnew and Barney Balaban, president of Paramount. Agnew has been with Paramount during his entire career in the film business and with that company rose to outstanding prominence in the distribution field. He joined the company as a booker in 1920 and became successively a salesman, branch sales manager, branch and district manager, and finally reached the post as vicepresident and head of sales in 1935 after serving as a division manager and assistant general sales manager. Announcement of his appointment to the sales direction for Vanguard stated that the move in no way aff^ects the releasing agreement between Vanguard and United Artists. Agnew will work in close cooperation with Gradwell L. Sears, vice-president in charge of distribution of U.A., the announcement stated. Neil Agnew Paramount Execs Swarm East Several Paramount home ofiice executives have returned to New York during the week from business trips. Barney Balaban, president, was in Arrowhead Springs to attend a meeting of Paramount theatre partners. Leonard Goldenson also attended the meeting. Leon D. Netter and Sam Dembow, Jr. arrived Friday. George A. Smith, western division manager, returned from a two-week trip through his territory. Canadian Loan Film Delivered J. J. Fitzgibbons, chairman of the Canadian Motion Picture War Services Committee, accepted delivery in Toronto on Tuesday of "The Shining Future," two-reeler made in Hollywood as a contribution of the committee to the Canadian Sixth Victory Loan. INDEX TO DEPARTMENTS Advance Dope 32 Box-Off ice Slants 8 Current Product Summary 39 Feature Booking Guide 33 Hollywood 30 Newsreel Synopses 29 Program Exchange 12 Regional Newsreel 20 Selling the Picture 13 Shorts Booking Guide 36 Short Subject Reviews 29 Showmanalysis 18 Kiddies Take Over Small fry are coming into their own in San Francisco since the Fox Theatre, a Fox-West Coast first-run, started a series of Kiddie Matinees before the regular afternoon performances. The idea has now been taken up generally in other houses. Latest kiddie show was held at the Coliseum, a neighborhood house, while El Capitan, another neighborho:d situation, opened the doors at ten o'clock and the children crowded in to see "Lassie Come Home." Warner-Wallis Feud Grows From 'Firing' The termination by Warner Bros, this week of its contract with Hal Wallis, for 21 years identified with the company as an executive head, brought statements from both parties that indicated an ap_parently insoluble disagreement had been building for some time. Officially Warners abrogated the contract because of "his (Wallis') failure to comply with the terms of the contract which has been in force for three years." This contract was that made when Wallis stepped out of his long-held post as executive producer to head a major unit of the company to make not less than four Hal B. Wallis productions a year. It had two more years to run. Recent rumors that Wallis might go with MGM or even some other company was hinted as the spark that brought the Warner action. In explaining its move the formal statement by the company said: '"The fact that Hal B. Wallis has been in negotiations with other studios indicated a discontent with his association as a producer with Warner Bros, and hastened the move on the part of the studio since mutual understanding was no longer possible." Hardly had the WB announcement been made when a statement was issued by Lloyd Wright, attorney for Wallis. In it the attorney said the Warner action came "as a distinct surprise" since the parties had been negotiating for a mutual termination of the contract. He said that Wallis had at all times sought fulfillment of the terms and conditions of the contract, that the producer had not in any way breached the contract, and that Wallis "will, of course, insist its terms and conditions be fully complied with." Technicolor 1943 Net Profit Triples Figure of 1942 A financial statement issued this week by Technicolor, Inc. and its subsidiary, Technicolor Motion Picture Corp., revealed that the company had tripled its 1942 net profit. For the year of 1943 Technicolor showed a net profit of $1,103,704 after provision for depreciation and amortization, Federal taxes, and other deductions, compared with $370,355 for 1942. During 1943 Technicolor shipped 125,773,775 feet of positive prints — a record for the company —which compared with 82,367,181 feet in 1942. Net sales figures for 1943 amounted to $9,292,927.20, as against $5,797,281 the preceding year. This does not include royalties from patent licensing or income from the English subsidiary, Technicolor, Ltd. 20th Century-Fox Reports $6.50 Per Share Net Profit A net profit of $6.50 per share on the common stock for the year of 1943 was reported this week by 20th Century-Fox Film Corporation, with the net profit itself estimated at $12,900,000. This figure represented net profit after all charges, including Federal taxes, for 20th Century-Fox and its subsidiary companies. National Theatres Corporation, Roxy Theatre, Inc., and others. The $6.50 per share common stock profit figure was arrived at after deducting dividends on Prior Preferred and Preferred stock. There are 1,742,000 shares of common outstanding. Eaton '30 Days' Verdict May Bring New Trial .A.ttention of the film industry in Memphis and the South centered this week on the trial of John W. Eaton, owner of the Peabody Theatre, Memphis, convicted of involuntary manslaughter, and sentenced to not more than 30 days in the workhouse. His attorneys immediately moved for a new trial. Hearing of the motion was set for April 20. The trial grew out of the death of Elroy Curry, maintenance man, last August 17, when Mr. Curry was burned in what firemen termed an explosion at the theatre alleged to have been the results of substitution of methyl-chloride for Freon in the air cooling system. Witnesses and experts were brought to Memphis by the state to testify on the use of the two refrigerants. The defense made a point in establishing the fact that Mr. Curry had been warned not to enter the basement if anything happened, but to turn off the switch near the upstairs entrance. But he went into the basement when some boys reported escaping vapor at the exhaust fan window and pulled a switch which it was alleged, caused a spark to ignite the escaping gas. The jury deliberated 17 hours and first reported seven against five for acquittal, then later reversed the number to "not less than 30 days in the workhouse." ? Warner District Managers Gather in N. Y. April 20-21 Warner district managers have been called to a two-day meeting April 20-21 by General Sales Manager Ben Kalmenson, it was announced this week. Field executives coming in for the sessions include Norman Ayers, eastern district ; Robert Smeltzer, mid-Atlantic ; Charles Rich, central ; Harry A. Seed, midwest ; Hall Walsh, prairie; Ralph L. McCoy, southern; Henry Herbel, west coast ; Wolfe Cohen, Canada. Home office executives present will be Arthur Sachson, Roy Haines, Jules Lapidus, Mort Blumenstock, A. W. Schwalberg, Norman H. Moray, Ed Hinchy, I. F. (Mike) Dolid, and others. Frank Ross (The Man on the Cover) Producer who is now engaged on his most Important production endeavor, a screen version in Technicolor of "The Robe," Lloyd C Douglas best-seller novel, for release by RKO Radio. He expects to complete the picture, on which he has set a minimum budget of $3,000,000, for release early in 1945. Ross was a real estate developer and builder before entering pictures with Hal Roach. He produced "Of Mice and Men," "The Devil and' Miss Jones" and "A Lady Takes a Chance,"' and wrote the original story and collaborated , on the screenplay for "The More the Merrier." SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW Title and Trade Mark Registered U. S. Patent Offict Published every Friday by Showmen's Trade Review Inc., 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. Y. Telephone BRyant 9-5606. Charles E. "Chick" Lewis, Editor and Publisher; Tom Kennedy, Associate Editor; Jamet A. Cron, General Manager; David Harris, Business and Circulation Manager ; Harold Rendall, Equipment Advertising Manager; West Coast Office, 6777 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood 28, California ; Telephone Hollywood 2055. Ann Lewis, manager. Ed Raiden, West Coast Editor. London Representative, Milton Deane, 185 Fleet St., London E.C. 4; Au»tralian Representative, Gordon V. Curie, 1 Elliott St., Homebush, Sydney, Australia. Subscription rates per year $2.00 in the United States and Canada: Foreim. $5.00. Single copies, ten cents. Address all Communications to: SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. V