Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1945)

10 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW May 12, 1945 READY FOR CAMPAIGN. New York's motion picture men got together for a 7th War Loan pre-drive rally at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Tuesday. Highlights of the event were an inspiring tableaux, speeches by leaders in the drive and' a tribute to the theatremen workers led by Sam Rinzler, WAC co-chairman for the New York area, at mike above. Rinzler asked men on the dais to arise and applaud the theatremen "who do the work." Seen in photo, left to right are: Sam Pinanski, national chairman; Irving Lesser, general chairman. New York Area; Rinzler; Morris Kinzler, campaign director. New York Area; Theodore Gamble, National Director, War Finance Division, Treasury Department. Showmen Step Up to Seventh Starting Tape Fit and Determined To Set New Bond Record End of war in Europe appeared to bring a reaction more serious than jubilant in the film industry as all branches of the business settled down to final "on your mark" position for the opening of the Seventh War Loan campaign. As set up by the industry's national chairman, Samuel Pinanski, this drive will be a "workers" job in which the entire handling rests with the individual theatremen and their chairmen in their own areas. It became evident to trade press editors some time ago that there was even more intense work going on in the field in this than any previous War Loan campaign, as reports from the field became more voluminous as well as more visibly tinged with enthusiasm. From one end of the country to another, there has been feverish activity but most efficient organization evident in reports from the field. This past week has witnessed gatherings in cities and towns all over the country as theatremen perfected, in close cooperation with the distributor chairmen and representatives, the final organization of activities directed toward the sale of the largest number of bonds ever turned over in a War Loan campaign. No one section of the country appeared to have any edge, insofar as hard work and thorough planning is concerned. In every section the work went forward on a basis of businesslike organization. This preliminary work was brought up to a crescendo of enthusiasm at rallies held in all areas. Typical of the kind of worker response and organizational efficiency was the final rally held in New York Tuesday morning as film men of the New York area gathered for breakfast and a "pre-game" pep meeting at which final strategy was outlined. There were 700 theatremen and distributor repiresentatives at this meeting presided over by General Chairman for the area, Irving Lesser, who introduced prominent industry figures present and highly complimented his colleagues for the job done in organizing the campaign. Lesser paid special tribute to Morris Kinzler, campaign director for the area. Sam Rinzler, co-chairman with C. C. Moskowitz for the New York area, crystallized the whole theme of the campaign in an address that blended comedy which brought roaring laughter from his audience with a vigorous call to action for greater efforts than ever before in support of the Seventh War Loan. Rinzler, turning to prominent men seated on the dais, told them that in the past the men "out front" had applauded them, now he a.sked that the chairmen and heads of various organizations present arise and applaud the men who did the work. The meeting opened with the entire assemblage listening attentively to the broadcast proclamation by President Truman that Germany had surrendered. In a statement issued Tuesday to the Seventh War Loan Committee of the film industry, Ted R. Gamble, National Director of the War Finance Division, Treasury Department, called on theatremen to "finish the light." Hailing the defeat of Germany, Gamble said that even this great event did not ofifer a time for "us to suffer home front fatigue." "We of the Treasury," Gamble continued, "have no doubt that the showmen of America will fight by our side in this Mighty Seventh War Loan and in succeeding loans until the last Jap is dead." National Theatres Amusement Co., Inc., will purchase Bonds totaling $7 million in the Seventh War Loan Drive, it was revealed in Los Angeles Wednesday by Charles P. Skouras, president of the company and Honorary National Chairman and Western Regional Director for the industry's campaign. Roma Wine Co. is first on the list of national network show sponsors who will adopt the film industry's War Loan drive slogan — "Buy Bonds At Your Favorite Motion Picture Theatre" — it was annoimced Tuesday by John Hertz, Jr., publicity director for the Showmen's Seventh drive. The slogan will be used in each of the weekly national broadcasts by Roma during the campaign. New Window-Type Marquee Frame Is Announced by Wagner Sign A new marquee display allowing for openings of IS feet and even higher and of any desired length, was announced last week by Wagner Sign Service, manufacturer of Wagner marquee letters and other display devices. The new display is called the Window-Type Marquee Frame. It will permit the use of larger letters than ever before and is available in multiples to fit the largest areas. The new WindowType Frames are installed separately before the diffusing glass. Lamps or neon can be cleaned without removal of the frames. It was also announced that a new font (17 inches high) has been added to the line of Wagner Translucent Colored Plastic Changeable Letters. 'Counter-Attack' Premiere May 16 Columbia's "Counter-Attack," starring Paul Muni, will have its New York premiere on May 16 at the Criterion Theatre. Wolcott Asks Postwar Planning Committee Pointing out that the motion picture industry is the only big American industry that has not provided an all-industry postwar planning committee and a tax committee as safeguards against the future, Leo Wolcott, president of the AlliedIndependent Theatre Owners of Iowa and Nebraska, in a bulletin issued to members, stresses the need for the two committees and adds that "very few in the industry, aside from those whose present soft jobs might be affected, will disagree with their necessity." "We set up a War Activities Committee and do a series of simple terrific jobs in the name of our industry for the war effort," Wolcott continues, "and then a couple of bureaucrats slap us back into our old place, and quick. We're classed with saloons, beer joints and gambling dens. Taxes, brownouts, curfew, threats of price ceilings, and film cut while increasing allotments to other countries. And what do we do about it? We take it lying down, as usual. Why? Because we are so weak and disorganized, so shot with greed, selfishness, grasping license, monopoly, bitter internal strife and law suits we would rather join those who seek to tear us down than stand shoulder to shoulder against them." Stating that theatre business has been "off" since last Thanksgiving in both the rural areas and large industrial centers, Wolcott attributes "a big share of the box-office shrinkage to the definitely higher cost of living, taxes, lousy pictures, as well as to the constant drain by the services on the young movie patrons." Further drops, he claims, are certain as the war boom collapses and other entertainments come back into the field, and warns that film rentals must be kept in step. The Iowa-Nebraska Allied head concludes that the exhibitor who cannot reduce his film rentals in proportion to his box-office drop, "who cannot resist the terrific percentage deals demanded by many distributors today, is a dead duck." Bill With Amendment Sponsored By Ohio ITO Passed by House Senate bill 155 with an amendment sponsored by the Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio which clarifies the Ohio sales tax with respect to film rentals was passed 114-4 Tuesday by the Ohio House of Representatives. With other amendments, the bill now goes back to the Senate for concurrence, where it is expected to be passed and signed by Gov. Lausche. P. J. Wood, ITO of Ohio, secretary, said that the bill, if enacted into law, would save the industry $3 million. DeVry Gets Fifth E' Award DeVry Corporation, Chicago, recently awarded its fifth consecutive Army-Navy "E" for continued excellence in the production of motion picture equipment and secret electronic training devices for the armed forces, joins the select few among the nation's producers of vital war goods privileged to fly the coveted 5-star banner. Two More in MGM 11th Block Two productions, "The Picture of Dorian Gray" and "Son of Lassie," the latter in Technicolor, have been added to MGM's eleventh block, making a total of five for the block. Previously announced were "Without Love," "Gentle Annie" and "The Clock," releases for May. "Dorian Gray" and "Lassie" will be June re 'Twice Blessed' Tradeshow Set MGM's "Twice Blessed" is scheduled to be tradeshown in all exchanges May 29.