Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1944)

December 16, 1944 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW 11 Settled St. Louis Strike Cost Theatres, Exchanges $250,000 Zanuck Would Banish Nazi Film Industry Abolition of the German film industry as a menace to world peace was advocated by Darryl F. Zanuck in an address at the American Nobel anniversary dinner last Sunday night at the Hotel Astor in which he outlined a broad program for using motion pictures to foster and maintain permanent peace. Unless the United Nations dealt realistically with the Nazi film industry, he warned, all suggestions for world peace would have no value. Pointing out that "we can no more trust Nazi film makers to stick to entertainment than you can trust Nazi munitions makers to stick to plowshares," Zanuck continued : "It is my sincere belief that no dyed-in-thewool Nazi can continue to look at Americanmade motion pictures without naturally absorbing something of their philosophy. For it is a significant fact that only after Mussolini and Hitler had barred our films from their screens, and only then, were they able to completely distort truth and control public opinion." The 20th Century-Fox production executive asked for a free, competitive screen throughout the world, protected by the State Department and guided by the Government so as not to offend nationals anywhere. "But censorship in any form, or Government interference, will cripple our efforts to aid in this great task." Marking the first time that a motion picture producer had been invited as a Nobel dinner guest of honor, Zanuck's appearance followed an invitation extended in recognition of his production of "Wilson." Oklahoma Tent to Complete Building of Health Center Ralph Talbot will begin his second tenure of office as Chief Barker of the Variety Club of Oklahoma on January 1, when the new "crev\'" will be inducted. Talbot was reelected to head the club with the following officers named to serve with him during 1945 : H. R. Falls, first assistant ; C. H. Weaver, second assistant ; C. R. Guthrie, treasurer, Sol Davis, secretary, and C. B. Akers, Ed Kidwell, W. W. Osborne, Dan James, Henry Griffing, B. J. McKenna as Canvassmen. The financial report read by B. J. McKenna at the meeting which elected the new officers, showed that the Tent has financed all operations for 1944 and has on hand sufficient funds to complete the erection of the Health Center in Tulsa at a cost of $45,000. Frank Durkee New Chief Barker Of Baltimore Variety Club Frank H. Durkee, owner of the Durkee Enterprises, Baltimore theatre circuit, has been elected Chief Barker of the Variety Club Baltimore Tent No. 19. He succeeds Rodney Collier and with other newly elected officers will be inducted into office early in January. Other officers elected with Durkee are : Benny Goldman, first assistant Chief Barker ; C. Elmer Nolte, second assistant Chief Barker ; Nick Weems, treasurer ; Samuel Diamond, secretary. The new board of governors is made up of Harry Kahn, Arthur Price, Chauncey Wolfe, Louis Becker, Isadore M. Rappaport and Morris Oletsky. 'Canteen' in 3-Theatre Premiere A simultaneous three-theatre opening has been set for the West Coast premiere of Warner Bros'. "Hollywood Canteen," it was announced in Hollywood this week. The picture will be presented «n December 20 at the Hollywood, Downtown and Wiltern theatres. Exhibitor Defense Committee To Gather Data on Losses For Possible Legal Action The strike of St. Louis exchange workers and theatre projectionists in protest over the employment of non-union projectionists by three St. Louis County houses — the Osage, Ozark and Kirkwood theatres — was called off Monday night when Felix D. Snow, sixth vice-president of the lATSE, received word from Richard F. Walsh, lATSE president, to order the workers to return to their jobs. Walsh had acted on bnow s study and report of the situation. The strike, which cost theatres, exchange and theatre workers about $250,000 and deprived most St. Louis County theatres of film product, thus forcing them to close, was regarded by Snow as the wrong way to attain unionization of the three theatres, fie expressed the belief that "no doubt some time in the future we will have an agreement with the film exchanges to deny service to unfair theatres." "We still believe we have a just fight with three theatres of the county," Snow declared, "and we will do everything within our power to organize them. However, this is the wrong way to accomplish it, because we have agreements with all the major producers under which our people work, and they cannot go out without just cause." Stating that the projectionists will run all films, Harvard O'Laughlin, Local 143 president, made it clear that "we were not on a strike, we were just refusing to run unfair films." The return-to-work order apparently ended any need for Federal Court action against the union for interfering with interstate commerce, accordmg to Wayne Ely, attorney for the Osage and Ozark theatres, who worked with Attorney Ben L. Liberman on plans for such court action. Details of any settlement reached between the projectionists' union and the Osage, Ozark and ivirkwood theatres were not revealed by Harry Barco, Local 143 business agent, in his official announcement to owners of union theatres that the strike had been called off. First inkling of its termination came Monday night at 8:30 when the program at Fanchon & Marco's 5000seat Fox Theatre reached the point for a preview showing of a Universal short subject to be included in next week's bill. The operators Seats Gone, Fight*s On That there's a shortage of theatre space in Montreal is borne out by the donnybrook which developed in a local cinema over what were apparently the last two seats in the house. Evidence given in crurt was that Mr. and Mrs. X placed their coats over their seats while they stepped out for a moment. Enter Mr. and Mrs. Y who took the seats. The Xs returned and wanted their seats, a desire quickly vetoed by Mrs. Y. The Xs sat on a nearby railing, effectively obstructing the audience's view. The flashlight brigade requested the Ys to give up their seats to the Xs, but the Ys refused. Fireworks. According to testimony, Mrs. Y tripped Mrs. X, who retaliated with a sock on Mrs. Y's kisser. Entered the law, which moved the entourage to the lobby where charges, counter-charges and depth charges rent the night air. Decision in •■he case was to be rendered by His Lordship, Judge Omer LeGrand, late this week. started the picture without stopping the show. Harry C. Arthur, Jr., head of the Fanchon & Marco-St. Louis Amusement Co. circuit, was advised by Barco that the exchange workers would return to their jobs Tuesday morning (Dec. 12) and that all union operators would again show the product of Paramount, RKO Radio, Republic, Warner Bros., 20th CenturyFox, MGM, Universal, Capitol and PRC pictures, and that the National Screen Service crew would also report for work. At no time did the owners and the houses employing union operators enter into peace negotiations with the union official. Any settlement reached involved only the three houses that had used non-union projectionists. As an aftermath of the strike, St. Louis motion picture theatre owners voted this week to make permanent the St. Louis Motion Picture Exhibitors Committee for Defense in any future labor controversy that may affect their mutual interests. Ben L. Liberman was retained as counsel, and members of the executive committee, with Louis K. Ansell as chairman, include Clarence Kaimann, Harry C. Arthur, Lester Kropp, representing the Fred Wehrenberg circuit, Sam Komm and Tommy James. It was also decided to impress upon the War Manpower Commission the waste of vital manpower involved in two-man operation when experienced electricians are so badly needed by war industries. From data assembled by independent theatre owners concerning their losses sustained in the labor troubles since Dec. 1, Ansell's committee will determine at another exhibitors' meeting whether legal action should be taken to recover such losses from, those responsible in the union labor ranks. First-run houses were re-opening on various days this week, and upwards of 30 neighborhood houses were operating Tuesday night, with the remaining theatres planning to reopen a few days later. Bond premieres were held Tuesday night at Wehrenberg's Melba, Savoy and Studio theatres. WB Zone Managers, Executives, Film Buyers in Special Session Warner Theatres zone managers, film buyers and home office executives, convened J^t the home office Thursday (14) in special session. In addition to Joseph Bernhard, general manager, and Harry M. Kalmine, assistant general manager, home office executives in attendance included: Clayton Bond, Harry Goldberg, Abel Vigard, W. Stewart McDonald, Harry Rosenquest, Frank N. Phelps, Sam E. Morris, Louis Kaufman, Frank Marshall, Nat Fellman, Herman Maier, Jules Levey, Rudolph Weiss, Frank E. Cahill, Martin F. Bennett and Dan Xriester. Zone managers at the meeting included : James E. Coston, Chicago ; Nat Wolf, Cleveland ; I. J. Hoffman, New Haven; Frank Damis, Newark; C. J. Latta, Albany; Ted Schlanger, Philadelphia; M. A. Silver, Pittsburgh ; John J. Payette, Washington, and Howard Waugh. Memphis. Film buyers were represented by : Burt Jacocks and Max Hoffman, New Haven ; Sam Blaskey, Newark ; Max . Friedman, Albany; John Turner, Philadelphia; George Crouch, Washington ; Harry Feinstein, Pittsburgh ; Alex Halperin, Chicago, and Tony Stern, Cleveland. Premiere Set for 3 LA. Houses World premiere of "I'll Be Seeing You," starring Joseph Gotten, Ginger Rogers and Shirley Temple, will take place in Los Angeles, Dec. 21, opening simultaneously in three theatres, the Wilshire, United Artists and Carthay CircleThe film is Dore Schary's first production for Selznick-InternationaL