Variety (Feb 1942)

Wednesdayv Febniwy 4, 1942 PICTURES PAR, SKOURAS SALES BREAK M-Gs Rodgers and Indie Op Lebedoff In %ss and Make Up |loutine Minneapolis, Feb. 3. • If the Sol Lebedofl case here is anv criterion, quarrels and enmities ' in the mm industry are quicltly made up, soon forgotten and don t go deeply under the surface. . Several months ago Lebedoff, who iuerates two local nabe houses and Northwest Allied Minneapolis governor and treasurer, denounced W F Rodgers, M-G sales manager, for an alleged insult. He claimed Rodgers- jefu.sed to Krgnt^hjm, an Interview' in Chicago to discuss trade problems and was abusive when the request was made. Lebe- doff charged Bodgers 'took it out on him' because he previously had scpred the Metro sales head for de- claring more percentage and higher film renUls were essential. Rodgers came back after the Lebe- doff blow-off with a blast against the local exhibitor, charging, among other things, that he, Lebedofl, had •strayed from the truth. Northwest Allied gave Lebedofl a vote of con- fidence, but didn't reelect him to office. The pay-ofl to the Incident came several weeks ago, when Metro sUrled its 1941-42 selling here. One of the first deals it made was with Lebedoff. .What's more, Lebedoff ' now says Rodgers is 'a swell fellow,' with the M-G executive having made known, too, his high regard for the local exhibitor. U WILL RELEASE 53 FEATURES IN 1942-'43 Schnoz In Caricature Los Angeles, Feb. 3. Technically, Lou Clayton's nose was a bulbous type, and anything that happened after that was an improvement, ac- cording to Dr. Josif Ginsburg, plastic surgeon, testifying-in his own behalf in Clayton's suit against him for $79,500. Clayton, one-time partner of •JlnfttryDurante;- declared" the- contour of his Bcnozr was ruined by Ginsburg's operation, but the surgeon testified that the nose was classed in plastic circles as a 'caricature,' and not a thing of beauty. Besides, he asserted, Clayton did not follow instruc- tions about the care of the beak after the operation. ALSO INCLUDES Film Company Now Selling to Opposition of Both Indie Chains in Greater N.Y. Area—Circuits Balk- ed at Percentage Terms NO BLUFF • Universal will make and release 60 features in the 1942-43 season and, in addition, will distribute three'pictures to be made by out- side producers. This was the report ' made by William A. Scully, general tales manager of the company, on his return from confat>s at the Coast and^ a four-week swing over the country. 'Unlversal's Victory Pro- gram for 1942-43' will keynote next season's selling campaign, he pointed out. Major portion of the Coast ses- sions was devoted to promotional plans for U's remaining releases the last half of the current season, Scully said. Among these will be 'Ride 'Em Cowboy,' Abbott-Costello comedy, let for Feb. 13 rerease; "What's Cookin'?,' with Gloria Jean and the . Andrews Sisters, set for Feb. 20 re- lease; 'Ghost of Frankensitein,' witK Lon Chaney, March 6, and The Saboteur,' new Fi'ank Lloyd produc- tion, scheduled for March 20 release. Company also has an Irene Dunne starrer and 'The Spoilers,' with Mar- lehe Dietrich, Randolph Scott and John Wayne, set for April release, Other features in production but not set on release dates are 'Broad- way,' with George Raft and Brod Crawford; 'Pardon My Sarong,' an Abbott-Costello starrer; Damon Run- yon's 'Butch ^inds the Baby,' and The Invisible. Spy,' a Frank Lloyd production. Memphis Exhibs Say Rep's W Not Fit For Showing There Memphis, Feb. 3. Republic's 'Lady for a Night,' which has Memphis locale, will* not be shown on Main street here at alL Instead,"the film will have its first- run exhibition in the Memphis ter- ritory across the Mississippi River at the Crittenden theatre in West Memphis, Ark. Not a single local operator was willing to show the film, all explain- ing that its political and social im- plications reflect unfavorably on the town and its inhabitants. Jack Rhodes finally booked the opus, Re- public's most- expensive production for the season, into his West Mem- phis house for Feb. 15-17. He plans an advertising campaign in the Memphis press on the theme. The picture Memphis dared not show.' 'Lady for a Night' stars John Wayne and Joan BlondeU in a story about a Memphis political boss of the 1880's and a gal operator of a gambling boat who tries to crash the high society of Dixie. Wayne's the politico, Blondell the ambitious floozie. Estimate Dimes' Gross WeU Over $750,000 Gross from March of Dimes cam Paign in theatres throughout the country is exceeding all expecta- tions. Total take of over $750,000 is considered likely, with possibility of $1,000,000 or morejment^oned by some showmen as " accruing to Paralysis Fund Drive. Collections In Loew's circuit houses alone, from accounts, run close to $200,000. In most situations 'Dimes' collec- tions totaled :rom.20% to 30% of house admission receipts, while in 'he 10c and 15c houses collections ran to 50% and morp of the theatre eross. Nicholas M. Schenck, na- tional chairman 'Dimes' campaign, thanked all participants by wire yesterday (3). RKO BUYS mLZ' FOR FULL-WEEK BOOKINGS Deal on 'Hellzapoppin,* not going with the Universal product which is split between Loew's and RKO un- der tKe 1941-42 contracts, has gone to the latter, which agrees to give the picture a full rather than a split- week wherever played. It Is being sold under separate contract every- where. First RKO date in the Greater New York area is Albee, Brooklyn, week of Feb. 11, with others follow- ing toward the end of the month. Picture also goes into the Hawaii, Los Angeles, Wednesday (11) under a special deal calling for an indefl nite run. Jules Levey production has already played between 50 and 60 dates, ma jority of which have resulted In hold overs or moveovers. Blank In and Out of N. Y. Par Huddles A. H. Blank, Paramount partner over a large circuit of theatres in Iowa, Nebraska and Illinois, left yesterday (Tues.) for'Miami follow- ing several days of huddles at the Par home office with Leonard H. Goldenson and other theatre execs. Mrs. Blank accompanied him to Florida. Also in for theatre and sales con ferences during the past w^ek were R. J. O'Donnell, of the Interstate circuit, who returned to Dallas Fri- day (30), and George Zeppos. West Virginia partner, who is still here Par Richards Refusal to Cut-Rate Soldiers Draws Mobile Council s Ire Film Supplement . Barnwell, S. C, Feb. 3. Patrons who went to Barn- well theatre the other night in search of screen drama got it—in real life. Mid-way of the film, 'You Be- long to Me,' Earl Moore, 24, stood up. Silhoutted against the screen, he spoke a few words and fired a. pistol bullet into his brain. Breaking completely with the eastern Skouras and Century circuits following weeks of negotiation, dur- ing which the company's product has been benched in the Greater New York area, Paramount has started selling away from these two major Independent chains. From all indications the cessation of negotiations with the Skouras and Century circuits is no bluff on Par's part, since it is wasting no time in letting opposition exhibitors sign up for its pictures, While in some cases in the past selling away has not gone beyond-the-Hhreaf-stage, and was used to bring recalcitrant buyers around, in this instance Par refuses to permit Skouras-Century to dictate their own terms and isn't wailing for the two indie circuits to loosen up Involved in the break are 36 Century houses, located in Brooklyn and on Long Island, and 49 Skouras operations in N. Y., Brooklyn, and Queens which have received the Par product regularly for several years. Ptx to Oppoalsh Operators In consequence of the rift. Par has within the past few days closed with the Brandt circuit, which is in op- position to Skouras or Century, as well as independents in scattered Long Island towns, Brooklyn and N. Y. Additionally, Par has sold the 41-theatre Randforce circuit Brooklyn, except for a half dozen houses that are in conflict with RKO; the Julius Joelson Consoli' dated chain of around 20 houses in N. Y. and the Bronx; Leo Brecher and the Harris circuit. With the order from headquarters being to immediately close all houses that are in competition with Skouras or Century, Par pictures on subse- quent run that have long been held up will start rolling at once. Within the space of less than a week inde- pendents playing behind Loew's have quickly grabbed the Par pic- tures as soon as they were made available to them and have already given dates. Deals being made by Par cover its first two blocks of 10 pictures, but instead of selling them in two differ- ent groups of five, Par is merchan- dising them in units of two and ob- t?:ning percentage for the top films. It was the demand for certain films on percentage over which both Skouras and Century balked. Delayed Loew's Deal An-instance of Par's determination to get what it feels its 1041-42 prod- uct deserves was the long delay In closing deal covering all of Loew's houses in the Greater N. Y. area. Loew's gets Par following first-run downtown engagements, with the re- sult that stalling on the part of Skouras, Century and some other independents has left Par pictures high-and-dry on conclusion of their Loew's dates. Of course, some scattered subsequent runs behind Skouras and Century have auto- matically been held up through no fault of their own or Par's. George P. Skouras is the operator of the Skouras chain, made up mostly of the old Fox Metropolitan circuit. He is a brother of Spyros Skouras, president of National Thea- tres, who earlief in the season resisted the demands Par made upon Fox-West Coast, Fox-Midwest and other groups making up the National chain. When Par called things off and was preparing to sell away from the 500 theatres of the National or- ganization, Skouras relented and an agreement was finally reached. In that case as well as with Loew's, Par is said to have finally closed at its own terms. * Abbott-^stelio Row With Morris Agcy. To Be Arbitrated Feb. 17 Arbitration of the contract dispute between Abbott and Costello and the William Morris Agency is scheduled for Feb. 17 on the Coast. Comedy team some months ago noti- fied the Morris office that they were dismissing it as their agent; both sides asked Screen Actors Guild for an arbitration. I. Robert Broder, eastern attorney for A. & C, trains for the Coast to- morrow (Thursday) to participate in the presentation of the comedy team's side. TO BE' GETS TRIPLE PREEM IN LA., FEB. 19 To Be or Not to Be,* Carole Lom- bard's final picture, will be world- preemed in three theatres simultane- ously in Los Angeles Feb. 19.' It will be released nationally by United Artists on March 6. fembard-Jack Benny starrer will open in L.A. at Loew's State, Grau- man's Chinese and the Carthay Circle. Two or more theatres are also expected to be used in a num- ber of other cities, with UA swamped by demands from theatre operators for the film. UA is using full-page ads In Life. Look and other large circulation mags just preceding national release. All advertising is in black and white and in dignified style. Mobile, Ala., Feb. 3. A request by the Mobile County Defense Council that servicemen In uniform be admitted to film theatres at half-price was refused yesterday (Monday) by Paramount Richards Theatres, Inc., operators of the Saenger, Crown, IjOop and Empire here. The council's request was made at the Instigation of Captain Oscar Parmer, of Brobkley Field, and went-to-'the-companyVofliceAin— New Orleans after council's repre- sentatives said they had been in- formed by a member of the thea- tres' local management that it was believed such courtesies were being extended by the chain to servicemen in other cities. Operators of all Mobile-owned picture houses had agreed either, to inaugurate a half-price rate, or Institute a pass system for service- men. When the letter from Para- mount Richards in answer to the council's request was read at the council meeting, a resolution was ado'pted asking the press give the letter 'full publicity.' The letter was also posted on the Brookley Field bulletin board. The Paramount Richards letter to the council was signed by N, L. Carter, assistant general manager of the chain, and in it Carter declared the council was misinformed when it understood reductions were being given servicemen by the Paramount Richards theatres in other cities. The letter stated in pait: 'We are amazed that any organ- ization should take upon itseU to predetermine the operating policy of a business. May we ask you to fur- nish us with the names of business houses or Individuals who have re- duced the price of eggs, butter.' bread, milk, drugs, etc., to any indi- vidual, soldier or civilian alike. Please, furnish us with the names of shipbuilding companies which have agreed to reduce the cost of building ships or reduce the wages of those building ships because in doing so they would aid defense.' It Never Came for Capra, Bat May for Pressbarger Hollywood, Feb. 3. Wal^ caused Frank Capra to sell his contemplated picture. Tomorrow Never Comes,' to Arnold Pressbur- ger. Inducted into active service In the U. S, Signal Corps, Capra foun l it impossible to'go on with produc- tion of the yarn, planned originally for shooting and release by Warners. Written by Hugh Wedlock and Howard Snyder, the tale will be made by Pressburger for United Artists release it and when he can sign Cary Grant for the star role Grant is now working at Columbia in 'The Gentlemen Misbehave.' Hempstead's 'Challenge' Hollywood, Feb. 3. David Hempstead started prepara- tory work on 'Challenge to tht Night,' second of his productions for RKO with Michele Morgan in the starring role. After the Morgan film, Hempstead will produce 'I'll Never Tell,' with Ginger Rogers a; the star. Mean- while the producer is reading 'Lady of the Alley,' authored by Frank Mc- Donald, who will direct the film if Hempstead okays its purchase. M-G, CAL CHAIN GET TOGETHER San Francisco, Feb. 3. . Golden State chain (United Cali- fornia Theatres) and Metro finally got together on a product bliy for 79 theatres in San Francisco and the Northern California area. Metro has been selling away from the McNelll- Naify circuit since the beginning of the season. The deal includes 24 pictures In the first six groups. CHICAGO APPLIES FOR VARIEH TENT Chicago, Feb. 3. Application for establishment of a Variety tent in Chicago has been made by a group of showmen headed by John Balaban and Jules Reuben. Matter is in hands of John H. Har- ris and the national organization, following a visit here last week of Robert J. O'Donnell, assistant chief barker, who met informally with lo- cal film men. Purpose of local Variety clubs Is to further charitable work among children in their respective cities. Some of the tents had full charge of the recent President's Birthday collection for the infantile paralysis fund. Harris, who was one of the found- ers of the clubs, is making a coast to coast tour to stimulate member- ship in existing tents and to encour- age new units. Headquarters of the new Los Angeles tent will be opened at the Ambassador hotel Feb. 12,