Showmen's Trade Review (Jul-Sep 1947)

6 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, August 2, 1947 Warners List 9 Features, 96 Shorts, 104 News for 1947-48 Will Sell 'Life With Father' Ms Special Before Putting It Into Regular Release (See Cover) A release schedule for 1947-48 which includes nine features, 96 shorts, 104 issues of the Warner Pathe News and the announcement that the forthcoming Technicolor "Life With Father" will be sold for special engagements only before it goes into its general run, were the highlights of Warner Bros, first sales convention in five years which opened in New York Thursday at the Waldorf-Astoria. Both announcements were made by Vice-President and General Sales Manager Ben Kalmenson, who presided over the meeting and who told the delegates that Warners would maintain a flexible release schedule which could conform to changing conditions. Kalmenson's statement regarding "Life With Father" was taken to mean that the picture would go into special runs only at advanced admissions. The Warner sales executive also revealed a list of such engagements which would follow the world premiere at Skowhegan, Me., Aug. 14. The features to be released during 1947-48 Kalmenson listed as "Deep Valley" with Ida Lupino and Dane Clark, set for Sept. 1, to be followed at the end of the month by "Night Unto Night," with Ronald Reagan and Viveca Lindfors. Other releases are "Dark Passage," with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall ; "The Unsuspected" ; "Escape Me Never" ; "My Wild Irish Rose" ; "Wallflower" ; United States Pictures' "Ever the Beginning" with Lilli Palmer and Sam Wanamaker, and the Broadway stage hit, "Voice of the Turtle," with Ronald Reagan, Eleanor Parker, Eve Arden, Wayne Morris and Kent Smith. The short subject schedule, according to Short Subject Sales Manager Norman H. Moray, would consist of the following program : Eight Technicolor specials — "Sunset in the Pacific," "Celebration Days," "Teddy the Rough Rider," "Sunday Round Up," "King of the Carnival," "A Day at the Fair," "My Own United States," "Soap Box Derby." Six Technicolor Adventure specials — "Land of Romance," "Beautiful Bali," "Dad Minds the Baby," "Rhythms of the Big City," "What's Hatchin'," "Living With Lions." Six "Memories of Melody Lane"; six "Melody Masters Bands," including such orchestras as Freddy Martin, Artie Shaw, Henry Busse, Warners Buy RKO Pathe Newsreel; Present It as Warner Pathe News $ In a move apparently designed to expedite production of its own announced newsreel, Warner Bros, this week concluded a deal to buy RKO Pathe news and announced plans to bring out the new reel Aug. 17 under the title of Warner Pathe News. Purchase price was $4,000,000. The sale, announced jointly by Warner Bros. President Harry M. Warner and RKO Executive Vice-President Ned Depinet, gives Warners the following essential items : Complete newsreel developing and printing equipment which otherwise would have to be made to order; a complete film library; a trained newsreel staff. The sale does not include the Pathe short subjects, commercial films, the New York Pathe Norman H. Moray studios and other activities which remain under the RKO banner. Warner Bros. Short Subject Sales Manager Norman H. Moray is president of the Warne' newsreel, with James Allen as vice-president and general manager and Ned Buddy as Allen's assistant. Walton Ament, RKO newsreel vice-president, will join the Warner organization as newsreel production vice-president and it is expected that other Pathe News executives such as Alfred Butterfield, Harold Bonafield and John LeVien will join the Warner reel. Actual physical transfer of the property will take place August 11, with the Warner Pathe Newsreel to remain in the present RKO Pathe News headquarters on Madison Avenue, New York. Warner Bros, had planned a reel for several years but were held up because of war shortages. James Allen Warners' 9-month Net Reaches $19,134,000 Warner Bros, and subsidiaries showed a net profit of $19,134,000 for the nine months ending May 31, 1947, after deducting $11,900,000 for federal income taxes. The net, which includes a $418,000 refund on foreign excess taxes applicable to previous years, is equivalent to $2.60 a share of common. The net for the same period in 1946 was $14,749,000 after providing $14,000,000 for federal income taxes and providing $1,100,000 for contingencies. Hayden New Trust Buster J. Francis Hayden, 40, of New York has been appointed head of the Department of Justice's New York Anti-Trust Division. Tom Connors Dickering Tom Connors, former head of sales for 20th Century-Fox, flew to the coast this week for huddles on several production and distribution propositions in which he may become active. It is also rumored that he has been approached by a large independent theatre circuit to take over as head man. Connors, when contacted before leaving New York, would not make any statement but said he might have an announcement to make when he returns in about a week or ten days. Joe Reichman; six "Joe McDoakes" comedies and 13 Sports Parades in Technicolor. President Harry M. Warner was one of the principal speakers and discussed the economic aspects of the industry as well as describing the part the sales force could play in broadening the services of films to the public through the screen's educational facilities. Major Albert Warner spoke on distribution. Vice-President and Executive Producer Jack Warner, originally scheduled to speak, canceled and was to speak instead at another Warner sales convention—the second of the year— to be held in Chicago Aug. 4-6. Capital Eases Tough Building Restrictions Following many recommendations of a special committee headed by A. Julian Brylawski, President of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Washington, the District Commissioners have tentatively agreed to a modification of a drastic building and fire code. The proposed code, if put into effect, would have forced the closing of 20 of Washington's 66 theatres. Compliance would have meant expenditures of more than $3,500,000 by District Theatre Owners, it was estimated. The Commissioners have agreed that in general new rules will not apply to existing situations. Among the toughest new rules proposed by the Commissioners were: 1) elimination of outside fire escapes and the addition of inside, enclosed exits; 2) removal of heating plants from under places of assembly, such as stages, foyers, etc.; 3) changes in the specifications of exits ; 4) drastic changes in the seating plans of theatres. All these have either been eliminated or modified. Astor Acquires Six Harry Carey Westerns Astor Pictures President Robert M. Savini this week announced that his company had acquired the world distribution rights to sixHarry Carey westerns which have been put into immediate release. The titles of the six are: "Wild Mustang," "Wagon Trails," "The Last of the Clintons," "Aces Wild," "Rustler's Paradise," "Ghost Town." Jules Levey Sails Producer Jules Levey sailed for England Friday to study the possibility of a production abroad, after declaring that under present world conditions the "independent producer making A pictures is out of business right now but doesn't know it." He blamed production costs, coupled with curtailed European markets, but would not discuss what plans he had for possible European production.