Variety (May 1941)

PICTURES Wedaesdaj, May 14, 1941 More Than 1^ Reswvatioiis f«r 7th Annual Variety Gubs Conv.-A Record Atlantic City, May 13. Reservations at boardwalk hotels Indicate an attendance of delegates and friends at the seventh annual convention of the Variety Clubs of America of more than 1,500, a r^cor^ turnout Officials from the Phila- delphia tent, sponsors of the con- vention, already have taken over headquarters at the Hotel Tray- more. The shindig will open Thurs- day (IS) and the first chance given to delegates to get some sleep wlU bie following the banquet on Satur- day night (17). Notable for the wide variety of entertainment which always is of- fered delegates from the 20-odd Variety Club tents, the convention this -week is geareil also to a more sober note when local reports are ' Issued.of the widespread charitable work of the different chapters. Al- though membership In Variety Clubs embraces showmen from all fields, each tent performs active and out- standing civic service. Aid to un- derprivileged children has been the principal purpose of the organiza-. tions. It has been the custom annually for the clubs to make an Individual award to the person selected from bU .fields of humanitarian endeavor. At the convention in Dallas a year ego the award was given to Mrs. Martha Beny,' founder and admin- istrator of Mount Berry, Ga., schooL In 1939 the designation was handed to Father Flanagan of Boys' Town, Omaha. ' Announcement of this year's selection will be made by Bob O'Donnell, of Dallas, at the closing banquet. Name of the person se- lected has been carefully guarded. F«8tivlties incidental to the meet- ing will commence over a wide rail- road area outside of Atlantic City. The reception committee has ar- ranged to stop all special trains long enough fpr a group of bathing beau- ties to board each train and act ais guides, ushers and pied-pipers. On arrival, delegates are Instructed to report at the registration rooms 6ii the 11th' fioor of the Traymore. Each will be handed an envelope containing' the three days' program. He also will be given a' sUlc hat,' false . nose ind mustache, a box of salt water'-taffy (to be carried home to the kids), a convention badge and a barker's c^e. Thereafter he's on his own, with nothing more pressing on his mind than the time-of train de- parture the end of. the week. •. 'John H. Harris, :of Pittsburgh, foundn of the Variety C!lub, w^ be •peclal guest at the business meet- ings. Fetei Group entertainment that has been arranged includes a Pan-American I^ight of Nights blowout on Friday evening at the Hotel Chelsea,' a whirl at deep-sea fishing for* mid ' westerners who have never been on the ocean, for Thursday afternoon,' end a two-hour boardwalk parade tA Friday afternoon. Ted l^chlanger is chairman of the- parade committee and has enlisted 20 brass'bands, a regiment' from Camp Dix, .battle planes from Lakehurst for aerial display, Tony Sarg balloons, and floats from commercial organizations, laurel and Hardy win be featured In line for the benefit of the large number of children who are coming here from Philadelphia. Free, ,open •ir circus also will be given for the youngsters. ^ Largest delegation of Variety Club members Is expected from Atlanta. They already have put in their bid to bold the convention next year. END B^YN TRUST SUIT BY CONSENT Formal order dlsmUslng the triple damage, antl--trust suit of the Folley. Amusement Holding (jorp., operators of the Brooklyn Folly theatre,- against Randforce Amus. Corp., Samuel Rinzler, Louis Frisch, the major film companies. Monogram and Republic, was signed Monday (12), by Judge Samuel MandelbaUm in the N. Y. federal court Suit was dismissed by consent Action sought $750,000, claiming the Folly was put out of business by monopolistic acta on the part of the defendants. 20TH HITS PEAK WITH 13 PIX IN WORK HoIIywoo\l, May 13. Thirteen pictures wUlS* hi work at 20th-Fox this month, making It one of the busiest periods In the hUtory of the Westwood lot Eight filips are facing the lenses now and five more are ready to start before June. Eight In production are 'A Yank in the RJ^ J.,' 'Sun 'Valley Serenade,' 'Belle Starr,' "Man Hunt,' 'Dance Hall,' 'Private Nurse,' "Last of the Duanes' and 'Dressed to KilL' Com- ing up are 'Charley's Aunt' 'WUd Geese Calling,' 'Remember the Day,' C:harlie Chan in Rio' end '21 Men and a GlrL' Stewart Edward White's novel, Wild Geese Calling,' went Into pro- duction yesterday (Mon.), with Henry Fonda and Joan Bennett heading the cast John Brahm di- rects. Randolph Scott and -Dean Jagger will be teamed In 'Sioux City,' an early western feature to''be produced by Harry Joe Brown at 20th-Fox. Picture- 1b based on • novel by J. Hiatt Downing. While Getting's Good Studio Contracts Bardie Meakln'a Tobgh Break Washington, May 13. .Hardie Meakln, manager of RKO Keith's and former Varibtt mugg here, is town's most disconsolate citizen. . Also chief barker of local Tent No. U of Variety Club, he's had bis. eye for weelcs on'escaping to Variety's cpnvention in Atlantic City this Thtirsday, through Saturday, with expenses paid by the club. So 'Citizen Kane' opens Friday (16) at Keith's, -with Orson Welles here for personal appearance, and Meakln will stay, home while Variety ca- Torts. Dallas Variety's 9th Tr. Dallas, May 13. Celebrating Founder'^ Day, the 'Dallas Variety Club, May 9| gave a luncheon honoring Claude Ezell, who seven years ago organized the club. HoUywood, May II. War hi Europe li causing a rush of requests for early vaca- tions in the Hollywood studios and headaches for department heads. In the past years employes pre- ferred late summer or early au- tumn holidays,, but now they want to enjoy their two-weeks- off before they are drafted, or before international complice- tlons become more acute. TomGwmanWest AsKoemer(RKO) Shifts hto N. Y. Hollywood, May 13. . (DIharles W. Koemer moved from California to New York to succeed John J. O'Connor as general man- ager of RKO theatre operations. 'Appointment was made by Georg^ J. Schaefer, president of the cor- poration. Tom Gorman, currently in charge of thieatre operations In Chicago, is slated to take over Koerner's post as manager of the western division. Koerner broke Into the film busi- ness in 1914 as an exhibitor in the northwest and joined Jensen & Von Herberg in SeatUe in 1919. For six years he handled First fTatlonal dis- tribution In the Oregon and Mon- tana districts and in 1025 became general manager of the George Mann circuit in northern California imtll the Hughes-Franklin'chain ab- sorbed the houses in 1931. In the shift Koerner became personal rep- resentative of Harold fi. Franklin and went over with his boss as di- vision manager for RKO in south- em territory, later takhig over the handling of theatres In New Eng- land. Koerner was given a' farewell dinner at the RKO studk) by Schaefef Monday (12) night with 80 exhibitors and studio executives at- tending. Schaefer praised the choice of Koerner to head the RKO circuit, saying "he Js the best man for the job.' To succeed Fred W. Meyers, who resigned along with. O'Coimbr, Max Fellerman will head the film-buylng- booklng. Tampa. Tla., May 13. Warner Bros., making progress in fight against Sparks Theatres chain boycott of Its product In Florida, will get a new outlet for Its plx with the opening of the Daytona theatre in Daytona Beach May 22. It's being built by Drew Eberson, New York architect, and seats 1,000. Sparka chain operates about 60 hpuses in Florida.and has not shown any Warner pix for two. years, breaking with company over . con^ tract squabble. Producers did hot have any Florida outlet for some time, but -Indies recently have .opened'places in. Tampa, °St Peters- burg, Miami and Orlando and others are building. WB'SBANDYARN AMONG STORY DICKERS Hollywood. May 13. Wayne Morris drew option lift at Warners. . . . Aneas McKenzle Inked, one-year writing ticket at Warners. Betty Grable renewed for year by 20th-Fox. (jeorgia Carroll's player option picked up by Warners. William Conselman, Jr., handed writing contract by 20th-Fox. Larry Parks inked actor pact .at Columbia. Faith Dom, John Winfield and Lorraine Gettman drew court- ap- proval of their minor contracts with Warners. ' Spanky IiIacFarland was handed new minor's contract by Metro. Michael Maltese signed five-year deal as story and gag man for Leon Schlesinger cartoons. Stuart Heisler renewed as director at Paramotint William Thomas drew new pact as a member of Metro's 'Our Gang' group. Harry K. Morltz given an option lift by Columbia as writer. Irving Cummings, Jr., renewed as soripter by 20th-Fox. William Clemens optioned for an' other term as director at Paramount. Gloria Warren, moppet singer, con- tracted at Warners. Catherine Craig handed renewal of player deal with Paramount Jack Andrews signed to scripting deal by 20th-Fox. Robert Paige Inked acting ticket at Universal. Ronald Reagan's option picked up by Warners. Richard Davis drew Universal player contract Sophie Rosensteln's option as dra- matic coach renewed by Warners. Max Stelner closed four-year deal as musical director and comp./ser at Warners. - -Both to UnlversalT Meantime^ l>oth O'Connor and Meyers are reported to be virtually set for important home office' i>osts at Universal, the former as assistant to the president (Nate Blumberg) and Meyers as. executive aide to William A. Scully, v.p. in charge of distribution. They plan vacations before taking up any new duties. O'Connor said he hoped to get away for a rest this Saturday (li). O'Connor would succeed Matty Fox who is being called In .the draft, it Is said. Blumberg, U's head and an old friend as well as former RKO as- sociate with O'Connor and Meyers, reached New York Friday (9) in time for the board meeting held then but was laid up at his N.Y. home with grippe over the weekend and on Monday (12), thus delaying more concrete action on the two ap- pointments reported .to be in work. Matter of taking on O'Connor and Meyers was'~ not discussed at the board session Friday (9) but if they are given 'contracts the agreements will have to be presented, to the di- rectors of the company for approval. Blumberg yesceraay (Tues.) in re- fusing to confirm reports, said he hadn't seen O'Connor nor Meyers and had no present appointments with either. O'Connor was in charge of film buying before succeeding Blumberg in RKO on letter's shift to'U, Meyers at that time moving up in the book- ing department to become 4ts head. Fellerman, assistant to Meyers, was placed in charge of buying-booklng temporarily when Meyers walked. Significance is being' attached to the fact that it was Schaefer who announced the appointment of Koer- ner rather than Malcolm Klngsberg, the Mike Meehan man who holds the 'title of vice-president of KAO, the theatre subsidiary of RKO. Klngs- berg and Leon Goldberg, latter treasurer of the circuit, were large- ly responsible for the friction which resulted In the resignations of O'Connor and Meyers. Fdm Biz May Do^e Fibn Rental Tap by broadening B. 0. Tax Base WB ADDS ANOTHER IN FLA. TVF WITH SPARKS Story of a band v.-orklng In a Jer- sey nitery outside of New York will be filmed by Warner Bros. .It has purchased a play with that' back- ground by Edwin C^Ubert and EUa Kazan, Comedy has been variously titled by 'WB 'Opus 802' (New York Musicians Union is Local 802), 'Big Boy Blue' end 'Sooth the Savage ' Beast.' Play was partially set for produc- tion on Broadway last fall with Gil- bert given sole author's credit. Ka- zan, who's Ijetter known as Ah actor than writer, collaborated on revising It end WB bought it to filn) without benefit of a legit presentation.. WB. last week also purchased an original, 'Jook Girl,' which,. despite the name, has nothing to do with mu- sic boxes. It's localed, however, in Florida, whence derived the 'Juke box' teg for the cOin-in-the-slotters, since they were used in swampland Qlteries down there known as 'Jook joints.' Yarn was scripted by Theo- dore- Pratt, who did 'Mercy Island,' sold to Republic last year. < Homblow's Option Par producer Arthur Hornblow, Jr., visiting In New York last -week, took a lOrday option on 'Hula Honeymoon,' unproduced musical lK)ok by Martin Gosch and Howard Harris. Par will pay $15,000 for the property if it lifts the option. Hornblow also inked Gosch and Harris to 14 .weeks' work on the Par lot U 'Hula' Is bought, authors will probably work on that to develop It into a vehicle for Bob Hope. If not they'll probably be-assigned to script another story for Hope. Gosch- Harrls air serial for'Keglined, 'Amaz- ing Mr. Smith,' .goes off Mutual hi July, but another sponsor has made offer for falL Richard Rodgers had an option on 'Honeymoon' and Intended to do it on Broadway in September, but deal has been made by which Gosch and Harris retrieved their rights. Scheohter's^OS 'n' On Possibility of filming Abe Schech- ter's 'I Live On Air,' which ap- peared good for awhile, seems to have faded somewhat. Negotiations by Robert Sherwood, indie producer releasing through Columbia, are un- derstood to have cooled. Jack Kirk- land was supposed to work with Sherwood on the production and to do the script from the book, jvhlch is a series of events in the work of the NBC' special events chief. Story editors are awaiting proofs of the new A. J. Cronin volume, 'Keep to the Kingdom,' which will be published by Little, Brown in July. Story \vlth a religious theme, of a Scottish priest in China, has been allotted a treipendous $20,000 ad appropriation by the publishers. In that case, virtually any story Is considered 'good film material.' Dpstate N. T. Drive-In Albany, May 13. New Drive-In theatre opened by Hellman circuit at Lathams Comers. Accommodations for 465 cars. Because Industry spokesmen from,.... New York and other key cities were . able to show the House Ways aiid Means committee how $12,000,0(io could be raised by broadening the amuBemoit admission tex base, the picture business may not have any taxation of film rentals, as proposed in this committee. Understood that .the Treasury Dept does not want this tax, and^spokesmen for the film, industry pointed ^ out that an ad- mittance tax on such places as bowling alleys, poolrooms, skating - rlnkfl and tome dancehalls, which ordinarily . charge no admission, would supply the coin which would be raised .via a film rental tax. ' Originally It was believed that the distributor would have to foot the bill on this film rental tax. Few in the trade believe this and feel that once It Is made clear that the burden will have to be carried by exhibitors, the film rental taxation may be side- tracked. ' Exhibs now oppose this tax. In presenting Its case last week, the fllin Industry, along with several other Industries, naturally tried to point up the added burden. Dif- ference with the' picture business spokesmen is that they admitted willingness to- pay additional taxes but cited that the lowering of. the admission tax level to 9c. would represent heavy enough additional burden. Summary of the tax picture found film reps showing that the present drive is to raise 40% additional rev- enue throughout the nation, but that the film business already, is receiv- ing a 60% tilt via the new admis- sion tax setup. JOE HAZEN PICKED UP 1,700 SHARES OF WB Washington, May 13. Purchase of 1,700 shares of $5 par common stock In Warner Bros. Pic- tures was. recorded by ithe Securities & Exchange Commission In Its mOntl^y summary released Friday (9). Purchaser, was Joseph H. Ha- zen. New York officer and director of the company,. who bought 300 shares on March 15, another 300 on Mar^ IB, 1,000' shares oh' March 20, and 100 shares on the last day of the month, according to S.E.C. This represented Hazen's entire holdings in the stock at the month's end. Other film stock dealings Involved purchase of 500 shares of 6% con- vertible preferred RKO $1 par com- mon by Atlas Corp.-, holding com- pany of the firm. Brought the total Atlas nest-egg to 30,481 shares of 6% convertible, plus 327,812 warrants for common, and 762,127 shares of $1 par common at the end of March. American Co. was credited with 268,- 230 shares of the latter stock on the same date. Modest purchase of 38 shares of %2S par common of Loew's Boston Theatres was recorded during the same month for Loew's, Inc., of New York, the parent company. Brought the total holdings In the same type papers to 117,958 shares by March 31, however. B'kfyn Sbrand Wk-to-Wk. With likelihood the Strand, Brook- lyn, will be closed down for the summer, the house goes on a week- to-week basis today (Wed.). Owned by Warners, it Is in the WB-Para- mount-Fabian pool, with the Fabian circuit on the operation. 'Crazy With the Heat,' tab version of recent legit which played two weeks a^ the State, N.Y., goes into the Fox, Brooklyn, another Fabian house, next week. Castle Switches to U Hollywood, May 13. Nick Castle was signed to a dance director contract at Universal after five years in the seme capacity at 20th-Fox. First job is a series of dance rou- tines in 'Oh, Charlie,' to be followed by another Abbott and Costello fea- ture, 'Ride 'Em, Cowboy.'