Variety (Jun 1941)

PICTURES Wednesday, June 4, 1941 O'Connor Named a Universal V. Fred Meyers New Eastern Sales Both John J. O'Connor, who re- •igned as general manager of RKO Theatres, and Fred Meyers, who re- aigned as manager of RKO Film Booking Corp., at the same time about a month ago, joined Universal In executive capacities yesterday (Tuesday), action on their long- term pacts being taken at the di- rectors' meeting. O'Connor becomes vice-president and executive assist- ant to Nate Blumberg, president of U, while Meyers becomes eastern sales manager of the company. An- nouncement of appointments was made after the directorate session. Blumberg pointed out that the new officers were named in line with Universal's policy of maintain- ing closer exhibitor relations. Both he and O'Connor long were identi- fied with the operation of RKO, the latter moving up to become general manager when Blumberg resigned In 1938 to become president of Uni- versal. Matty Fox, already an ex- ecutive assistant to Blumberg. is ex- pected to be calleii to the colors in a couple of months. William A, Scully, general sales manager, announced a sweeping re alignment of the company's execu tive sali^ setup in connection with the .selection of Meyers as eastern sales' manager. Meyers wiU be in cliarge of the territory covering Boston, New Haven, Buffalo, New York, Philadelphia, Washington; Al- bany, Cleveland and Pittsburgh. McCarthy's Post F. J.. H. McCarthy, former eastern •ales chief, moves over to the newly created position of southern and Canadian sales manager. He will have .charge of . the following branches: Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Mem- phis, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and St. Louis besides the Canadian offices, which include Calgary, Montreal, St. John, Toronto, Van- couver and Winnipeg. William J. Heineman, until now western sales manager, is made as- sistant general sales manager and aide to Scully, A new man will be named to fill the spot vacated by Heineman, covering the territory that includes Chicago, Detroit, Mil- waukee, Minneapolis, Kanr City, Omaha, Des Moines, Denver, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle and San Francisco branches. Also statbd that there would be other appointments ^nd advance necessitated by the new sales re- alignment. Selwyn Harries to Get lEight Girls' Into Work Hollywood, June 3. •Eight Girls and a Horse' hops into the saddle at Metro before Edgar Selwyn moves eastward to put on his legit show, 'We Fought at Arques,' destined for an opening in Boston before it shifts to New York. Selwyn took Albert Mannheimer off the script of 'Du Barry Was a Lady' and assigned him to 'Eight Girls' to get It ready for early pro- duction. Producer aims to spend two weeks in the east launching his legit play,' alter which he returns to screen one of his own stage plays, "The Adventures of Pierre' on the Culver City lot * DRAFT CALLS RAISING AN1XF0RT0PLENSERS Hollywood, June 3. Heavy production, caused by the cgnsent decrfee, and a shortage of young lensers as result of the na- tional defense draft, have boosted the pot for top cameramen in the film studios. Employment In that department is at an all-time high, with wages rising accordingly. Warners has 71 men, a record number In' its camera department, eight being under term contract. Metro has 12 contracted lensers. Paramount, six contractees and others on one or two picture deals, and the increase is general in other studios. Fihns' Ooser Ties With UJS. Defense Under the National Emergency Pascal Forsakes Shaw For His Next Pic Which Will Be Made in Canada ZOTHCALI^UP 8 PIX IN JUNE Hollywood, June 3. . June production schedule at 20th- Fox calls for the start of eight new pictures, beginning yesterday (Mon.) with 'Marry the Boss' Daughter.' .'How Green Was My 'Valley,' •Riders of the Purple Sage,' 'Man At Large'-and 'We Go Fast' roll simultaneously June 9; 'Week End needs in key spots. Simplification of the whole na- tional defense set-up for the film business, establishment of a per- manent liaison officer representing the industry and a voluntary method of censoring pictures at the source, are anticipated by the trade with the declaration of the national emer- gency. Because of his marked efficiency already as coordinator on all U.S. defense Npictures, Francis L. Har- mon,- executive assistant to Will Hays, is expected to become the permanent national defense liaison executive on a full-time basis. This would be possible through granting him a leave of absence from his Mo- tion Picture Producers & Distribu- tors Assn. duties. With the national emergencr status declared, the film business ex- pects to outline a setup which will avoid the mistakes made by other vantages in photographing a film, and make a more thorough censor- ship without the present divided authority. ' Strict stipulation that cameramen must be U.S. citizens and that censorship of material will be made even before it goes to any commercial lab is regarded as mak- ing the new arrangement airtight against possible leakage of military information. 4 PRODUCERS PLEDGE ROOSEVttT SUPPORT Hollywood, June 3. The motion picture industry has pledged its full support and coopera- tion to President Roosevelt during the national emergency. A few min- utes after ihe President had de- clared a state of national emergency nations originally on declaration of ^-^'^.f'f^i^ ^^'J^L^^.^^.f-^i^^"" war, and one that will maintain a steady flow of defense films designed to -attract attention rather than drive people out of theatres. Suggestions from the industry will be to leave the defense motion picture effort largely in film business hands and with people aware of entertainment Gabriel Pascal's next film will not be a George Bernard Shaw story, but a yarn by a popular American short-story writer, the producer re- vealed in New York on Monday (2). Tale has a Canadian background and will be filmed in Canada, production to start in about eight weeks, Pas- cal said. In the meantime, the producer, who has exclusive rights on the filming of Shaw's plays, will fly to England at the end of. June for a short huddle with the octogenarian j In Havana' starts June 19, and 'Con- firm Or Deny' and 'Remember the Day,' June 30. ANOTHER 20c DIWY ON PARAMOUNT COMMON Peclaration of another 20c divi- dend on the common by Parmount directors last week makes a total of 40c declared on these shares this year. If present diwy pace is main writer whose'Pygmalion'and'Major ^i„g^ common stockholders would Barbara he has already lensed, Coart Orders RKO ^ Kevels' Suit to Tnal Jesse Solomon's suit against RKO Radio Pictures, Inc., must go to trial. Judge Samuel Manaelbaum in N. Y. federal court ruled Thursday (29), holding that 'sufficient similarity ex Isted between the disputed scripts' to warrant ^ trial of the issues, Plaintiff seeks an injunction, ac- counting of profits and damages against 'Radio'City Revels.' Solomon claims the RKO picture was based on his play, 'It -Goes Through Here,' submitted to and re- lated by the film company. Metro's Abbott-Costello Dicker for /Rio' Remake Hollywood, June 3. Metro has negotiated a deal to borrow Bud Abbott and Lou Cos- tello from Universal on a pact which may callior one picture annually.for thre^ years. Comics swing crosstown after completing 'Ride 'Em Cowboy.' Metro ha? a remake of 'Rio Rita' in itaind for the pair. Plenty of Shigs WiD Fly Hollywood, June 3. Eight stories by Johnston Mc- Cully, author of 'The Mark of Zorro," were bought rby Sigmiind Neufeld for use in his forthcoming western series, 'Frontier Marshal,' to be made for Producers Releasing Corp. Top spots In the serial have been assigned to Tom Tvler and Lee PoweU. Pi'scal will use the National Screen Association Studios in, Mon- .treiil. "These are backed by the Canadian Pacific Railroad, but Pas- cal emphasized that that company will take no part in financing his production. He said that the Ra- vena Studio in Toronto, which he originally thought of using when he visited Canada with United Artists v.p. Harry Buckley: last week, was now an ice .hockey rink and not serviceable.. Pascal said the Canadian produc- tion arrangement was a permanent be in line to receive as high as 80c per share during 1941. Par. directorate also declared the regular quarterly dividends of 15c on the' second preferred and $1.50 on the first preferred. All distribu- tions will'be made July 1 to common shareholders of record June 11 and preferred stockholders of record. mon are making these shares more attractive from a dividiend stand- point than the second preferred, in- dicating that the company is seeking to obtain additional' conversions of one. He intends to make two pix I stock into common shares. Latest June 13. Increased payments on the com- interesting for the average theatre It is likely that the industry will seek a realignment for all produc- ers turning out shorts, newsreels and features, fpllov^ng the general pattern employed during World War I. Chief difference will be thaV any bottleneck on film releases and wasted effort on dull subjects will be avoided via • the industry's own defense representalive. Cx-ofllolo Army Men - Simplification process will call for an arrangement whereby camera- men and producers would become ex-officio members of the U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Signal Corps. Such men would wear an in- signia, would be able to go Into camps and look over . military ac- complishments but, at the same time, be as responsible for their work as any other Signal Corps man. By giving the producer-cam- eraman this official status, accred- ited industry producers would be able^o photograph material deemed there for 1941-42 release by UA and three a year after that, of which he will personally produce and direct two. His second picture, he.declaried, -will be a Shaw story, in all prob- ability The Millionairess.' 'He in- tends alternating one Shaw and one other yarn in future production. First Canadian story was chosen in cooperation with the Dominion gov- ernment, Pascal disclosed, and will be- filmed about 50% on location, most of it in the Hudson's Bay- coun- try. Producer will take special port' declaration shows 40c paid on ,the common and 60c on the second pre-' ferred thus far this year. Because the company claimed about a week ago that there were no new developments on the contem- plated plan for calling in the first preferred, increased payments on the common indicate a move to -make these shares so attractive that share- holders will switch .from the pre- ferred issues. While income from the theatre division is lagging as in film houses able sound equipment to Canada for iover the U. S., Paramount's cur that purpose. Otherwise the studio | '"nt earnings are reported holding Is equipped to handle the production.: "P JJ*" ^ compared with the first Robert Newton, who plays In 'Major i quarter. Barbara,' will be brought over from | England for the initial film, which a* « . ■ n will be completed around October,. nOfiaO aWlttCS lO UannOUr Pascal said. " ^ audience without divulging any se- crets of the U.S. military estab- lishment. Such a setup would enable news- reel and shorts photographers to pick up timely items without tip ping off any secrets. Where certain topics, culled from intensified cam era tours, were deemed unsuited for general theatre audiences, the clips could be incorporated Into subjects for showing to different branches of 2 Femme Leads in 'Fast' Hollywood, June 3. Alan Curtis has two romantic femmes to juggle in his top male role at 20th-Fox In *We Go Fast.' Gals signed for the competing parts are Cobina Wright, Jr., and Sheila Ryan. Director Is William McGann, starting June 9. Hollywood, June 3. Larry Darmour signed James Hogan to direct four pictures a year, starting in September,..when his con- tract with Paramount runs out after a six-year stay, , Recently Hogan has been on loan- out from Par to direct the 'EUery Queen' features for Dannour's Co- lumbia release, and will make an- other of that series before he starts his new contract. Other News Pertaining to Pictures Columbia's '4901 Parallel' ..Page 13 Kastner on U S pix in Nazi countries Page 13 ASCAP ; Page 37 AGVA ; ...Page 41 Theatres' agreement with Teamsters Page 41 Managers-actors accord ..fagC/^' Season's film buys of Broadway plays Page 48 Equity , Page 47 would loosen up the present clamp- down which currently is reported thwarting newsreelS' and shorts pro- ducers from obtaining audience material. Dnck Bed Tape In making industry Camera ex- perts part of. the Signal Corps di- vision, the picture business would be able to obtain rtfecessary defense items vital in bolstering national unity with the minimum of delay or brasshat censorship. But, - .at the same time, the new alignment would make the camera-producers, entirely responsible for any. Army, Navy or Marine stuff photographed. Further safeguard would be provided by having a central military censorship board to look at original 'blue' nega- tive before it is sent to any labora- tory for development or making du- plicate print. By establishing this lineup of Sig- nal Corps cameramen within ^the In- dustry, the present complaints about vague rules of censorship would be eliminated. At present the com- plaint of newsreel men is that the military assumes what they can or can't make in the way of defense subjects. Under the new setup, it would be possible to photograph ob- jects deerned highly confidential be- cause of the double checkup,, first because of the cameraman's knowl- edge that no secrets can be revealed, and secondly through the final cen- soring at the source. Film business is understood back of this arrangement because it w,ould centralize and simplify the necessary censorship while resulting in more Intelligent army and navy pictures, - Also ' It would duck all charges <A favoritism In getting quick coverage on certain subjects, supply all companies with equal ad- man, president of the Producers' As- sociation, Issued the following state- ment: 'The motion picture defense pro- duction committee, composed of rep- resentatives of the three great crea- tive guilds, thfe Screen Actors Guild, the Screen Writers Guild and the Screen Directors Guild, as well as the Artists Managers Guild, the As- sociation- of Motion Picture Produc- ers, labor crafts, and other fields of film endeavor, reiterates its united determination to do everything with- in its power, and within the abilities of those who work In motion pic- tures in Hollywood, to do its part in the present national emergency, pro- claimed by the President of the United States.' Fox Personnel Endorses President Roosevelt's national emergency speech met a hearty re- sponse from 2,000 employes on the 20th-Fox lot, who signed the follow- ing statement, sent to the White House: 'We believe that great leadership has once more come to America in an hour of crisis. We believe that the course you have charted is the only course consistent with national dignity and honor. We believe it is the only course which can lead to a continuance of freedom. We be- lieve in you, Mr. President, and to you we herewith give our pledge of loyalty and service, unconditionally and without reserve.' InteraU^e'a Ditto Galveston, June 3. Holding their biennial convention here, more than 200 managers of the Interstate Circuit pledged 'full co- operation, their lives, fortunes* and sacred honor' to carry out the de- fense program of President Roose- the service. Also this arrangement velt. A highlight of the opening _ . . * .1 • _ _ I* . I ' • rl^v'o mAAf m rt itroa t mace of ^AnH. day's meeting was the mass attend- ance in a hall where all the show- men listened to the President's speech. In a telegram sent to the Presi- dent, after the broadcast, signed by Karl Hoblitzelle, president of the circuit, the conclave stated that 'America will not fail you. We com- mend you for your inspiring lead- ership.' Loew-Lewin Initialing land Fair for UA Hollywood, June 3. 'Land Fall' is slated as the first of two pictures to be delivered by the David Loew-Albert Lewin produc- tion outfit for United Artists release this season. Picture deals with the Royal Air Force and is designed to go into work in July. It is based on a book by Nevil Shute. Bliunenthal Has Until June 10 in Subpoena Plea . A. C. Blumenthal has been granted until June 10 to file a memorandum with Judge Grover Moscowitz in N. 'Y. federal court, to support his claim of illness which, he asserts/ was the reason he failed to appear as a witness in the. Joe Schenck-Joe Moskowitz trial. Blumenthal had allegedly been served with a subpoena calling for his appearance, but was in Mexico, and hc^s sent affidavits of six physi- cians supporting his claim that it would have endangered his life to come to N. Y.