Variety (Sep 1941)

Wednesday, September S, 1941 UA Shifts in Several Key Odes: NW Par PromotHMis; Other Hieatre Items Number ol changes in the United Artists sales district taking in Pitts- burgh, Indianapolis, Cleveland and Cincinnati were made by district manager Bert M. Steam last week. In the Indianapolis exchange, Guy Hancock, formerly of RKO, was named to the sales staff in place of Edward Golden. In Cincy, Jack Finberg was pro- moted to city salesman, replacing ^ving Sochin, resigned. Mitchell Blachschleger, office manager, was advanced to the post vacated by Finberg—salesman for the West Vir- ginia-Kentucky territory. Art Young, for many years with Universal, was named Cincy office manager. Par'! NW Promotions Minneapolis, Sept. 2. - Promotions at Paramoimt exchange here finds A. Selby Carr, office man- ager, boosted to northwestern Min- nesota salesman and Duane Becker, assistant booker, upped to the sales staff also. Gilbert Sessler, Par salesman out of Sioux FaUs, S. D., moves to Min- neapolis as branch sales' manager, a new post Becker will cover Sessler's territory in S. D. and part of N. D. Forrest Meyers, booker here, moves to Sioux Falls and Joe Rosen, utility clerk, advances to booker. More Field P.A.s Memphis, Sept. 2. Consent decree has upped by at least a deuce the number of field press agents operating for film com- panies in the Memphis exchange ter- ritory. RKO has added Fred Ford In recent months. Territory was formerly handled out of Atlanta by Don Prince. 20th-Fox notched Spence Pierce onto flacking task, though technically attached to At- lanta office. Warner also has Informed local staflf a publicist will soon be added to its force here. Metro has had Todd Ferguson based in Memphis for some time. Perry Spencer remotes from Atlanta for Republic. Ditto Jack Dailey out of Dallas for Paramount L. A. Variety Tent's Fete Newly organized Variety Club of Southern California's induction ban- quet and charter presentation has been changed from Sept 16 to Sept 29, at the Los Angeles Ambassador hotel. Club headquarter permanent- ly established at the hotel. Date was moved back because so many indus- try leaders wanted to attend the event including John H. Harris and Bob'O'Donnell. Southern California tent of Variety Clubs officers are Charles P. Skouras, chief barker; Duke Clark and Bob Poole, assistant chief barkers; Harry Htmiber, dough guy; Guy Wayne Ball, proper- ty master, and Dr. A. H. Giannini, Walter Wanger, Al Hanson, Charles Buckley and Jack Berman, canvass- men. Harry Lamont's Addition Fort Edward, N. Y,. Sept. 2. The Bradley leased by Mr. and Mrs. Lew Fischer to Harry Lamont of Albany, who took possession Sept. 1. Lamont conducts a small chain in the Hudson Valley. Balph Stnt Bcslens Detroit Sept 2. Ralph S. Stitt, advertising director of United Detroit Theatres, resigned effective Monday (1); resignation is for personal reasons. Stitt had been with Paramount since 1927 with the excepUon of the year and a half when Publix folded. Ed Fisher Back In Cleve. Cleveland, Sept 2. Ed Fisher has returned to local UA exchange to become publicity rep again, covering Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. During the last three months he managed the Imperial, nabe. Uncle Sam Gets Ken Fay Hartford, Sept. 2. Saturday night (30) Kenneth Fay, manager of the Rialto. WB nabe, checked out prior to his induction m the Army Thursday (4). New manager is Frank Ramsey, formerly assistant manager of the downtown Strand. Expect theatre to reopen Sept. 12. Maurice H. Bailey, who runs a num- ber of theatres in the New Haven area, is associated with Morris A. Nunes, head of York-Haven in the new corporation. Shubert was built 26 years ago as a memorial for Sam S. Shubert. Berk & Krumgold handled the deal from their N. Y. office. McCntcheon'a New One St. Louis, Sept 2. O. W. McCutcheon erecting new house in Sikeston, Mo. Rodgers Cir- cuit, Cairo, 111., already operating the Malone, 400-seater and the Rex, a 300-seater in the same town. Leon Jarodsky dismantling the Pans, 400-seater in Paris, HI. He still operates the Lincoln and Roxy in Paris. Mrs. Mildred Karsch reports her new flicker house in Rolla, Mo., near the Ft Leonard Wood army training camp, doing sock biz. B. Tim' Temborius recently re- modeled the Grand in Breese, 111., and reopened under a new tag, the Avon; 400-seater. V. L. Davis and A. Curley, co- owners of the Ohio, Golconda, 111., will give house complete facelifting. Garfleld's Bandolph Bonse Buffalo, Sept 2. B. M. Garfield, of Randolph, now operating the Randolph, having dis- posed of his theatre interests in Quebec. Paramount office picnic held at Wilson followed by dinner dance at Park Hotel, Lockport, now operated by Burt Bartley, former member of Buff Par office staff. George W. Erdman, secretary Cleveland Exhibitors Association, with his wife spent part of their va- cation in Buffalo. Erdman former- ly connected with Elmwood theatre here. George Maurer, former manager Shea's Bellvue, Niagara Fall.';, now with Metro sales development de- partment in N. Y. Mllberr Back With Mills Albany, Sept 2. Sam Milberg, a Republic salesman here in the days Bernie Mills held the Albany franchise, has gone back to work for Mills as salesman in the territory of Producers Releasing Corp. films. Lee Goldsmith now assistant book- er for Universal in Albany. He is newcomer. Alfred Marchetti is head booker. New Tramaiisbnre, N. T., Cinema Rochester. N. Y., Sept 2. New 400-seat theatre will be erect- ed in Trumansburg, N. Y., by Cor- nell Theatres, Inc., of Elmira. Pres- ent house in this village is the Burg, owned by James and John Ryan.. C. C. Young of Geneva, district manager for Schines, has leased the Clifton Springs theatre and re- opened it with Robert Emory, for- mer manager of the Riverside, Buf- falo, in charge. Crlckmore Heads Seattle Censors Seattle, Sept. 2. Seattle's new theatre censor board, named by Mayor MiUikin, had its organization meeting this week, electing E. J. Crickmore chairman. He's business agent of the stage- hands union. CHAS. SCHLAIFER DUE TO JOIN SJ. AD AGCY. Newark Shakeup Newark, Sept. 2. Shakeup In theatre personnel here has shifted Clark Forrest Loew's ^.s^^tant manager, to a similar post wuh the Paramount-Newark. Albert a. Lippe will take over Forrest's old job at Loew's and will also handle publicity. House will be represented in New York by Pete Argyris filling in for Abe Simon, now in Saratoga. Shubert, New Haven, Sold York-Haven Enterprises, Inc., have taken over the Sam S. Shubert thea- tre, near the Hotel Taft, New Haven, and will renovate so that the house may reopen shorOy on a spUt-week basis. Plan using name bands plus aims haM oX week, the remainder oemg used for legit stage shows. San Francisco, Sept. 2. Charles Schlaifer, for many years right-hand man to Herman Cohen at the United theatre here, probably will join an advertising agency hefe with sale of the theatre. Schlaifer was in the hospital for an operation at the time the house was sold to Blumenfeld interests and is still re- covering at his home. Has had sev- eral offers as a result of the national attention attracted to his exploiia- tlon work here but so far has not made a final decision as to which he'll accept. Schlaifer has brousht more atten- tion to Frisco as a result of his the- atre ads than any other exploitcer in recent years, campaigns he worked out for the UA here being picked up by as many as 400 other theatres throughout the U. S. He was also called to Hollywood at various limes by James Roo.scvolt. Jr., Walter Wanger and Sam Goldwyn to work on national campaigns. Adman also achieved considerable rep for such creations as his "UA Charley' char- acter, which is copyrighted, and his 'Additorial' non-theatre page ads di- rected at the Gallup-polled 32,000,- 000 who don't go to films. Schlaifer also copyrighted his slogan, 'Only the big pictures play single bill,' and was the first man to stop apologizing for singles and make them a selling point. SJ. Daily Plngs^ Fix San Francisco, Sept 2. The "Movie Vacation' idea is be- ing heavily plugged here by the Chronicle. Sheet is not only backing .idea with display ads and daily theatre- page reminders, but is devoting its current co-op screen tailers to the Idea, urging fans to pick their film vacation from the attractions listed in the daily theatre guide. EXPLOITATION IS Par Buildiiig Up Its'BeD W ' Campap Along Lines of 'Gone Filnuide Wei(kt HOT'ALOMA'ADS OKAY IN MPLS. Minneapolis, Sept. 2. Minnesota Amus. Co. (Par) went red hot in newspaper ads for 'Aloma of South Seas' at its ace house, the State, currently. Fact that sheets ac- cepted the copy may indicate a va- riation from their previous policy to consume and tone down strong sex stuff. Ads told public to 'thrill to Aloma, the love prize of the islands.' They asked public to see, among other things, 'a hundred smiling- eyed maidens dancing to sensuous strains of a South Sea Love Song; the glint of bronzed bodies in the sun...the whispering palms blend- ing'with a lover's kiss...in glowing Technicolor.. .The carefree South Sea Lovers consorting at the sacred pool." Hollywood,, Sept 2. Icebox prowling Is disclosed as the real reason for the hos- pitalization of a femme film star whose beauty was threatened by excess avoirdupois. Studio doc had confined the gal to her home, with a nurse in attendance and a strict diet, but she con- tinued to take on weight where it showed to the least advantage. Checkup disclosed that the pa- tient was making nocturnal raids on the refrigerator while the nurse slept. Now she is in the hospital, where she can't prowl extra ra- tions. PREEM TRIMMINGS FOR PAR'S'QUIZ KIDS'SHORT Chicago, Sept. 2. First world preem of a short with all the hullabaloo attendant to the opening of an important feature is being staged by Paramount for 'Quiz Kids'unveiling at the Chicago'theatre here tonight (Wednesday). It Is in line with the Increased emphasis being placed on shorts under consent decree selling, with Paramount lead- ing all other companies on promo- tional work being put behind the briefies. Tonight's opening will include a 4S-minute broadcast, a haU-hour of it on 48 NBC Blue stations and 15 minutes local (WLS) in Chicago. NBC portion will include the regu- lar Wednesday airing by the mop- pets, which will take place from the stage of the theatre. It's the first time they ever worked outside a studio. Solon's Radio Stint I^^^Conttimed from page 1=^= ular solon from the Cotton State has resorted to what one local paper calls a 'more or less effective imi- tation of Will Rogers' to lure listen- ers. For Instance—according to the same rag—'the other day he turned a 'jeep car' Arkansas feature into a battle between the Army and a phalanx of chiggers.' While the above description may not seem exactly clear to readers, it fits in with the puckish caperings in which Rep. Patrick indulges from time to lime. The youthful-looking Alabama member of the House of Representatives has enlivened the staid Congressional Record on sev- eral occasions with original poems and parodies. He also has saved the day for several Congressional hear- ings by injecting a bit of fun into such dull proceedings. Rep. Patrick is no newcomer to radio. His Tirst assignment was a broadcast for the Maryland-Virginia Milk Producers' Assn. over WJSV here—although he appeared anony- mously on that occasion. He also was heard in Birmingham, Ala., and has decribcd himself in his Con- gressional Directory biography as 'World War Veteran, teacher, writer, lawyer, radio commentator'—not to mention Mason, Knight of Pythias and Lion and Eagle. Number of Rep. Patrick's distin- guished colleagues who know about his radio talents has not been es- tablished. He has been known, however, to comment on his fellow House members in a way which might be interesting to them it they cared to tune in on the cleaning establishment program. TELENEWS' OWN FOOTBALL REELS San Francisco, Sept. 2. Telenews, which already has three houses in California and has another building In Dallas, is now setting up its own newsreel producing system. First project will be a 13-week series entitled Tootball Forecast,* which has already been sold to 50 theatres outside the Telenews houses, although first 400-foot subject has not yet been shot. Ellis Levey, C^ast head for Telenews, has made deals with the sports editors of the Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle and Oakland Tribune, and is in negotiation with the Seattle Times and Portland Oregonian, for last-minute pre-game forecasts which wiU hit screens just ahead of Pacific Coast Conference games. Levey has long employed a news- reel man for spot coverage and has made several subjects, but this is the first time a deflnite producing setup has been worked out. F&N PIPES RADIO NEWS INTO 4 ST. L FUMERS St. Louis, Sept 2. Harry C. Arthur, Jr., guiding head of Fanchon Sc Marco's interests here, made a deal with radio station KXOK, owned and ope^ted by the Star-Times, whereby radio news pro- grams will be piped Into four large film houses during the flve-mlnute 'breathers' that occur between the feature pictures. F.&M. paid ap- proximately $3,500 for apparatus to carry the station's wires to the sound screen and arrangements have been made whereby any exceptional news bulletin that may be worthy of bsoadcast to the theatre audience may be released directly by an ap- paratus that will disconnect the pic- ture sound track during the time the broadcast Is made. This is believed to be the first city in the U. S. to carry radio news programs to audiences via the screen sound system. The innovation, ef- fective Friday (5), will be used in the Ambassador, downtown deluxer; 5,000-seater Fox, the Missouri and the St Louis, all in midtown. In re- turn for the service, the radio sta- tion gels a trailer on the screen. 'Ground Pilots' Glorified Hollywood, Sept. 2. Soldiers without wings get a break in 'Ground Pilots,' a tale of the non- flying crews in the U. S. Air Corps, to be produced by Ralph Dietrich at 20th-Fox, based on Dietrich's orig- inal story. Outdoor shooting will be done at Chanute Field, 111., with cooperation of the army. WnXA UABTm WITH BEO Willa Martin has been added to the publicity sUff at the RKO h.o. Sliell handle fashions and the women's angle. Femme also runs a syndicate sup- plying film news to a string of 17 papers, but may curtail that in light of the RKO tieup. SHie has also worked for numbier of other film companies at'various times. Hollywood, Sept. 2. Paramount Is gearing itself for t publicity campaign on Ernest Hem ingway's 'For Whom the Bell Tolls that the studio hopes will top th« terrific impact of the campaign foi 'Gone With the Wind.' As in the case of GWTW, a lot of voluntary assistance is being given by fans with casting Ideas. Up to this week Paramount has received 28,000 letters from U.S. and Canadian fans and 9,000 from Latin Americans. About 65% of the mail concerns players fans wish to see in the picture. Nearly 15% have urged the studio to follow Heming- way's story and cut Maria's hair within a half-inch of her scalp. The concensus of another sizeable group of correspondents Is that snipping a woman's hair makes her ugly. While David O. Selznick's flacks had three years in which to put over their campaign for the Civil War story. Paramount has but eight months in which to generate the same kind of excitement In less time than that, however, Orson Welles managed to achieve the .greatest publici ty pen etration of any picture save GWTW with his con- troversial 'Citizen Kane.' Elements in the bally to be un- folded include the purchase price of the book ($150,000); the color of Hemingway's personality; the racy character of the love story; the drama in the Spanish civil war scene and as much controversy as can possibly be aroused over the selection of ac- tors for various roles. Floek of Tests Tests for the roles were begun Aug. 18 and will continue for six weeks. Those going before the cam- era—for Maria—Include Ingrid Berg- man, Esther Fernandez, Betty Field, Vivien Leigh, Luisc Halner, Bar- bara Stanwyck, Frances Farmer, Patricia Morlson, Annabella, Hedy Lamarr, Katharine Hepburn, Mar- garet SuUavan and Ida Lupino. For Pilar: " Ethel Barrymore, Blanche Yurka, Gale Sondergaard, Marjorie Rambeau, Pola Negri, Norma Tal- madge, Nita Naldi, Katherlne Cor- nell, Janet Beecher, Fay Balnter, Nazimova. For Pablo: Thomas Mitchell, Akim Tamiroff, Wally Beery, Edward Ar- nold,' Oscar Homolka, Fortunio Bon- anova, Fritz Kortner, Brian Donlevy, J. Carrol Naish, Edward G. Robin- son, Charles Laughton and Ernest Hemingway, bimsell For El Sordo: Victor McLaglen, Victor Jory, George Bancroft Irving Picbel, Lionel Bar- rymore, Sig Rumann. For the Gypsy: Cesar Romero, Joseph Calleia, Joseph Schildkraut, Leo Carrillo, Alan Hale, Humphrey Bogart For Anselmo: Harry Carey, Walter Brennan, Sam- uel H. Hinds, Lynne Overman. For General Golz: Conrad Veidt, Erich Von Strohelm, DesI Amaz. For the prize male role in the pic- ture, that of young Robert Jor^ian: Stirling Hayden, Tyrone Power, Kac- donald Carey, Gary Cooper and Robert Taylor. These, of course, are the names that will be bandied about in the press until the great day of the final selection comes. Then, more than likely, the cast will include a lot of Paramount contract nlayers and one or two big names from other lots. But it is certain that a whale of a. lot of white soace In newspapers and magazines will be filled wi'h stories about 'For Whom the.Bell Tolls' be- tween now and the time the picture is released. HoMover Clh»s Into Another (Non-Hays) Pic Armand Denis, explorer and mo- tion picture producer, is assembling a new picture of five reels which will include cuts from 'Dark Rapture' and other unused sequences from previous pictures which had been banned by the Motion Picture Pro- ducers Si Distributors of America, Inc. The film will be specially re- leased about the- first of November in theatres which do not require a Hays office seal, and no attempt will be made to secure such a seal. Banned material Include exotic dances, dance contests between na- tives of Africa, and certain rituals which heretofore have not been shown on U. S. screens. Assembling is being done in N. Y. and on the Coast 'Dark Rapture' was with- drawn from distribution Iqr Univer- sal Aug. 23,