Showmen's Trade Review (1945)

November 24, 1945 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW 9 Closeups of Names in the Industry News Spotlight This Week Charles C. Moskowitz Steve Broidy Rudolph Weiss Robert Schofield Leopold Friedman Promotions of industry figures were prominent in the news this week. Following the announcement late last week of the election of Steve Broidy to the presidency of Monogram Pictures Corporation at a board of directors meeting in Hollywood, MGM announced Monday that Charles C. Moskowitz, vice-president of Loew's, Inc., was elected treasurer of the corporation, succeeding the late David Bernstein. Moskowitz was also named director and treasurer of more than 65 other corporations operating the MGM studio, theatres throughout the United States and Canada, and radio station WHN. He will also represent Loew's in the operation of the Robbins Music Corp., Leo Feist, Inc., and the Miller Music Corp.; also Loew's recently organized phonograph record division, all of which are Loew affiliates. At the same time, the board also elected Leopold Friedman, secretary, to a vicepresidency. Moskowitz joined the Loew organization in 1913 as a bookkeeper, while Friedman began his career with the same company in 1911 as a junior member of the legal department. At Warners, Rudolph Weiss, who before joining that organization 15 years ago had his own real estate business and is regarded as an authority on real estate values and problems, was named by President Harry M. Warner to head the real estate department of Warner Theatres. Appointment of Robert W. Schofield to succeed James Wolcott as production manager of The March of Time was announced by Producer Richard de Rochemont. Wolcott resigned to become general manager of Audience Research Institute. Schofield, who left the industry after pioneering with D. W. Griffith, returned two years ago to become a March of Time director. NCA Seeks Independent Exhibitors Conference Six Film Theatres Supplied Shows for Atomic Bomb Workers at Oak Ridge, Tenn. A proposal for the formation of a conference of exhibitors similar to the Pacific Coast Conference of Independent Theatre Owners, has been approved by the board of directors of North Central Allied. The proposal was made by Ben Berger, president, and would take into its fold exhibitors from Minnesota, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Iowa, Nebraska and the Dakotas. Berger and Irving Green, general counsel and secretary, have been named by the board as delegates to a committee to further study the plan and explore its possibilities and to bring the Iowa-Nebraska Allied unit into the movement. The Montana unit has already named two delegates to serve on the committee and they will carry on the negotiations with the Idaho and Utah units. Berger stated that the main purpose behind the move is to strengthen the position of the independent exhibitor, particularly in regard to trade problems. A meeting of the appointed delegates will be held in the next 30 days to crystallize plans for the conference setup. Inability of Eric Johnston, MP PDA president, to attend, recently caused the NCA to cancel plans for an open meeting of exhibitors, it was disclosed by Berger. Added to Pioneers Dinner Committee The committee in charge of arrangements for the Picture Pioneers Annual Harvest Dinner, set this year for Wednesday evening, November 28 at the Waldorf-Astoria, gained two new members this week in Gilbert Josephson, who will supervise decorations, and Jack Levin, who has been entrusted with a secret assignment to prepare a surprise to be sprung at the dinner. Seven motion picture theatres provided the focal point for the amusement and relaxation of the thousands of workers at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, during the past 28 months while employes were engaged in the manufacture of the two-'billion-dollar atomic bombs, according to a report of the Oak Ridge Recreation and Welfare Association. The first of the theatres, the Center, was opened August 1, 1943. This was followed by the Ridge, which was opened in April, 1944 with the two houses having a seating capacity of 600. The Grove, the largest seating 1000, was opened in September, 1944 and the Jefferson, of comparable size to the Ridge and Center, opened a month later. These four theatres under the Recreation and Welfare Association's jurisdiction, are managed by Walter L. Morris. The Middletown and the Playhouse are two temporary structures designed to accommodate sections of the community located in their vicinity. In May, 1945, the Drive-In Theatre was opened. This was the only house operated by a private enterprise Heads Loew s Theatres Nicholas M. Schenck, president of Loew's, Inc., this week announced the appointment of Joseph R. Vogel, a vice-president and director, to have charge of all Loew's Theatres. Vogel was formerly in charge of out-of-town theatres while Charles C. Moskowitz, now treasurer, had charge of theatres in the New York area. under a concession agreement with the Recreation and Welfare Association. The theatres are used for Church and Sunday school on Sunday mornings and for other various special community events of public interest. Each has its own operating policy and admission prices are consistent with those of other comparable communities in the general sections of the country. The product of all companies is used to assure patrons of the finest in film entertainment. Substantially all War Activity films have been presented in all theatres in the area. The theatres participated in all bond drives, during three of which it was necessary to use two houses for bond premieres. Admissions of better than $500,000 in bond sales were obtained. Equipment is the latest procurable within priority regulations. In general, these facilities were equipped with those items necessary to provide the residents with entertainment of the type to which they were accustomed in their former residence. In addition to its film policy, the Grove is used during the fall and winter for the presentation of a series of concerts featuring some of the best concert artists of the nation. During 1944-45 seven concerts were given and six have been scheduled for this season. Minsky Back in Harness Joseph Minsky, back from 4y2 years of service in the U. S. Army, including two years in the European theatre, has been appointed special sales representative for International Pictures to handle "Tomorrow Is Forever," General Sales Manager A. W. Schwalberg announced this week.