Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1944)

December 23, 1944 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW 5 Sees Television Factor In Exploiting Hollywood See^St. Louis Projectionists Rejecting Offer of Exhibitors Predictions of television as motion pictures' most powerful medium for exploiting the glamor of Hollywood and its stars, were made before a special events meeting of the American Television Society at the Museum of Modem Art by Klaus Landsberg, director of television station W6XYZ, Hollywood. The station, a subsidiary of Paramount, is located at that company's studios. Hollywood will share the national spotlight with New York and Washington as a source of interesting special events, he said, but the Hollywood stories will go beyond factual reporting, and the camera will take in the whole glamor of the place. The cinema capital, he added, is rich in human interest stories of those in the public eye, as constantly proved by the published product of the 200 Hollywood correspondents and the programs of the radio commentators. Ted Genock, assignment editor of Paramount News, also addressed the meeting. He explained the problems of newsreel coverage, with special reference to present limitations, and related them to television coverage, concluding with suggestions for a television news organization and special events production as a newsreel man would see it. North Star' Rights Sold By Goldwyn to Film Classics All rights and title to "The North Star" have been sold to Film Classics by Samuel Goldwyn. The deal includes all current and future residual and reissue revenues, as well as complete rights to the story, an original by Lillian Hellman. James Mulvey, general manager for Goldwyn Productions, will continue to supervise current distribution through RKO as representative of the new owners. 'Victory' Pre-1945 Key Bookings Pre-1945 key city bookings for "Winged Victory," as announced this week by Tom Connors, 20th-Fox vice-president in charge of sales, will include Los Angeles, San Francisco, Cincinnati, Denver, Baltimore, Seattle, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Atlantic City, Rochester, Syracuse and Uayton. Four Los Angeles theatres — Loew's State, Chinese, Carthay Circle and Uptown — will play , the picture simultaneously. A record number of bookings for January have been recorded, Connors said. Ross Searching for 'Salome' After considering all available New York and Hollywood talent, Frank Ross, who will produce Lloyd C. Douglas' "The Robe" for RKO Radio release, has instituted a nationwide search for an unknown to play the role of Salome. The part will be offered to anyone who can qualify, Ross said, and gave his personal assurance that the assignment would not be given later to an established star. Alperson Starts 'Black Beauty' Concluding releasing negotiations with 20thFox for four pictures to be made under his production aegis, Edward L. Alperson left for the coast this week to begin work on "Black Beauty." His contemplated second production is Somerset Maugham's "Sheppy," with Barry Fitzgerald in the starring role. Cagney Ad Counselor Named With the appointment of Ruthrauff & Ryan, Inc., as advertising counselor for Cagney productions, plans are underway for an extensive national advertising promotional campaign on "Blood on the Sun," starring James Cagney and Sylvia Sidney, to include magazines, newspapers, radio and outdoor posters. Loan to War Work Plan Seen as Placing Operators In Embarassing War Position Officers and members of St. Louis Local 143, motion picture operators union, were expected to ignore the offer of the St. Louis Motion Picture Exhibitors Committee, made in a public statement issued last Friday (Dec. 15) by its chairman, Louis K. Ansell, head of Ansell Bros, circuit, to loan one man from the projection booth of every theatre in tne city and county now employing union projectionists to a war plant and to reimburse the man for any deficit in salary he might be forced to accept in giving his skill to his country. An aftermath of the recent strike of employes in nine exchanges and the refusal of projectionists in some 90 local and county union theatres to run pictures from exchanges that provided hlms to the Ozage, Ozark and Kirkwood theatres, which each employ only one non-union projectionist, Ansell's statement was considered to have placed the operators in a difficult position. If they accept the Committee's proposal and man the city houses with only one operator per shift, releasing the other man for essential war work, such action would eliminate the union's contention that a two-man booth is necessary for puDlic safety. On tne oiher hand, those outside the ranks of organized labor, and especially those with relatives in fighting forces, might be inclined to suspect that the projectionists are "unpatriotic" tor not accepting war worK when guaranteed against personal loss. i he Exhioitors Committee asked the St. Louis Board of Alaermen to consider repeal of an ordinance requiring two operators in nlm theatres, but Ansell s statement made it plain that tnere is no effort to "eitect tne removal of this ordinance from the books." The ordinance in question, enacted during the administration of Mayor Bernard F. Dickmann (Uj, iiow St. Louis postmaster, and at a time when John P. Nick, lATSE first international vice-president, and Clyde A. Weston controlled Local 143 aft'airs, was enacted following Mayor Dickmann's election, to wnose campaign the lATSE membership had contributed liuerally. At about the same time the ordinance was presented to the aldermanic body as a safety measure, the city also passed rules requiring certain types of projection booths, two exits, running water and other facilities. The statement issued by Ansell read : "VVe are willing to loan one man in each projection booth of every theatre to a plant engaged in tne production of vital war material and to reimburse tnat man ourselves for any deficit in salary which he mignt be forced to Chapeau Controversy Complaints of outraged customers are driving B.ston theatre managers to distraction as the problem of getting women to remove their hats during performances is becoming increasingly difficult and of major concern. A large number of women are refusing outright to dotf their chapeaux, whether so requested by a staff member cr patrons behind them. In many instances, demands from assistant managers or managers themselves have been blithely ignored. Under consideration now is a proposed ordinance requiring women to remove their hats in all public places where vision is obstructed by their headgear. accept in giving his skill to his country at a time when it is so vitally needed in carrying the war to a successful and speedy conclusion. _ "It is not the intention of the St. Louis Motion Picture Exhibitors to effect the removal of this ordinance (requiring two operators in every projection booth). However, we do feel that in the spirit of justice and true patriotism, the St. Louis Board of Aldermen, in order that rnen of the skill and experience of these motion picture operators might be free to contribute to the war effort, should strike from the books of the city any ordinance which so confines two skilled men to a position in which only one man is necessary." The exhibitors also offered to take back into their present jobs after the war "if necessary" any projectionist who accepts other jobs for the duration of the war. Bowser, Krappman, Bertero Named to New FWC Posts Three new Fox West Coast executive appointments were announced by Charles P. Skouras, president of National and FWC Theatres, at the annual FWC business meeting held recently in Los Angeles. George Bowser, Southern California division rnanager, has been made general manager of the circuit, with supervision of both the northern and southern t^ritories. Andrew J. Krappman, functioning as executive assistant to Bowser in the operation of the company's houses in the Southern California area, succeeds Bowser as division manager of that area. John Bertero, member of the company's legal department, was named FWC vice-president and chief counsel, succeeding the late Charles Buckley. Resolution Extends Sympathy to H. J. Fitzgerald on Loss of Son A resolution passed last week by the Superior Theatrical Protective Union, Local 457, lATSE, Superior, Wise, extended sympathy to Harold J. Fitzgerald, head of Fox Wisconsin Amusement Corp. and Wisconsin WAC state chairman, on the loss of his son, Lt. Richard H. Fitzgerald who was killed in action at Leyte on Oct. 26, according to a communication received by his family from the War Department. Radio Plug for Gift Films Radio credit for the motion picture industry's gift films to servicemen will be incorporated in 44 different programs of the Keystone Broadcasting System, serving a nation-wide chain of radio stations beyond metropolitan areas. Dur'mg the past three months, 176 of these boosts for the industry have been broadcast. Silverstone to UA Foreign Dept. Emanuel Silverstone will join United Artists' foreign department in an executive capacity on Jan. 1, according to Walter Gould, foreign manager. Shortly after the new year, Silverstone will accompany Gould on a trip abroad to survey the European market and aid in mapping plans for the company's postwar expansion. Friendly Joins RKO Theatres Sol Schwartz, general manager of RKO outof-town theatres, has announced the appointment of Danny Friendly to his home office staff. Friendly was honorably discharged recently from the Army.