Showmen's Trade Review (Jan-Mar 1945)

THE PilTRIOTK FROKT {Continued from Page 10) superiority will have been due primarily to the fact that the success of this drive (the last of 1944) had reached its climax earlier than anticipated. In the 5th drive 8061 theatres participated in Free Movie Days, but in the 6th drive over 10,000 theatres answered the call. In many instances, exhibitors made no distinction whether Free Movie Day fell on the ofl&cial day of Dec. 7 (Pearl Harbor Day), but opened their doors to admit anyone free who had purchased a bond up to Dec. 16. This gesture was entirely voluntary on the part of many exhibitors and without any suggestion from any official source. No record would be complete despite the exigencies of paper supplies of publications these days without specific recollection of the leadership of the 4th and 5 th drives. The stinging regret is that the limitations preclude publication of the names of so many deserving in the industry — and that takes in everybody from the top executive to the humblest office boy — who gave so unstintingly of time and energy to make the drives so successful. Invaluable, indeed, was the foundation and experience established under the leadership of Charles P. Skouras, chairman of the 4th War Loan drive, and Robert J. O'Donnell, chairman of the 5th (and the chairmen of the first three drives) that the record of the 6th, under the Chairmanship of Harry Brandt, proved the smashing success of its titular imprimatur. The exhibitor's example in giving his all in aid of the bond selling campaigns was matched by the energetic efforts of the producers in quite another direction and yet within the over-all picture of the war effort. Exemplary of the benefit motif is the $7 million gross receipts which went to the Army Emergency Relief donated by Warner Bros, making of the picture based on Irving Berlin's "This Is the Army." Twentieth CenturyFox's picturization of Moss Hart's "Winged Victory," which was released the latter part of last month is another feature which will contribute to charities of the Armed Forces. Only Best Screen Sftotes for G.I.'s The year's end computation of the producers' efforts reveal that 24,356 prints of new features and newsreels, and 25,667 prints of short subjects (according to latest figures) have been delivered, without cost, to the Army by the film industry for shipment overseas. The films, on l6mm, were shown free to members of all the armed services overseas in combat areas, isolated outposts and Red Cross hospitals. During the year, several important motion pictures received their world premieres overseas, among them, "Stage Door Canteen," "Going My Way," "The Adventures of Mark Twain," "Casanova Brown" and "Marriage Is a Private Affair." The record of the passing year also reveals that the War Activities Committee had in distribution in theatres throughout the country, 26 "film bulletins" averaging 250 feet in length, the same number of short subjects varying in length up to two reels and four special films, "Memphis Belle," "With the Marines at Tarawa," "Attack!," "The Battle for New Britain," "The Negro Soldier," and "Battle for the Marianas." All of these films, prepared in cooperation with the Office of War Information, contained information which the Government wanted to reach the public. Some were made by various gov ernment agencies, but 39 were produced on a non-profit basis by the industry. This record would be incomplete, too, without tribute to the men and women of the acting profession who braved hardships so that they could contribute their special gifts in the welcome interludes to men with whom a "rendezvous with death" is routine. The stimulus in the bond selling campaigns received from the profession forms a unique chapter in itself. The industry's answer to the call of the Red Cross in 1944 (Continued on Page 5 IB) STUNTS SPUR WAR BOND PURCHASES PITTSBURGH. Motion picture men of Pittsburgh set up "Independence Bond Square" in that c'ty's downtown section to promote the sale of War Bonds during the Sixth War Loan. Night club talent furnished entertainment, drew crowds to the Bond booth at which buyers received free tickets to picture shows. BOSTON. "Buy a bond and ring the Liberty Bell" was a stunt used by theatremen In Boston to sell bonds In the Fifth War Loan. Mayor Tobin makes a purchase and receives his reward — permission to ring the bell. ST. LOUIS. Film men refuse even to estimate the amount of money represented in free admissions to war bond buyers. Above, a typical bond-and-freetlcket service, at the 5000-seat Fox Theatre. ARKANSAS. Picture theatremen think up Ingenious stunts to give "oomph" to bond selling. Above, the War Bond Court in front of the RIalto Theatre, North Little Rock, at which various leaders of the town were "tried" and given sentences to buy bonds in certain amounts. The "court" was in session daily during the Fifth War Loan. » A Section of SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW 17