Variety (May 1942)

16 nfTERMATIONAI. TAmsm* tunam omoa ■ St. tfartVa timtm, TntiXta* Rivalry hcreasingly Apparent Between Hex, Argentine Fihns Buenos Aires, Uay 19. Increasing rivalry between Argen- tine and Mexican fltan producers has become apparent within the last few months. Sniping so far has been all In the form of vezbal interchanee tn trade and. fan press in Mexico City and Buenos Aitta. But behind It there is known to be a strong feeling, partially official in tone. Both Argenthui and Mexico h^ave been seeking to dominate the Span- ish-speaking market, and reps of both countries have'established of- fices in the capital of the other in order to solve the biggest headache, distribution. Argentina, with approximately 75 feature plx • year, claims to top Mexico by at least 40%. As to ar- tistic valuation. It is somethingwhich has so many conflicting daims that It would take a claims commish to sift. them out Latest declaration from the Mexican front, which has received wide publicity here, is a statement ^y Carlos Carrledo Gal- Von, representing the Banco ' Cine- matograflco de Mexico (Cinema Bank of Mexico), which daiihs that the Mexican industry is technically second only to Hollywood and beats B.A. in stoiy ideas, production and technicians. Mexican complaint Is also against fact that Argentine films get much better play in Mexico than Mexican plots' here, receiving top billing in the Rio Grande territory, while the Mexican product pbys only second- run houses here and even then is rated only as filler. Also claimed that the artistic value of the Mexi- can product is particularly worthy of note and that the Argentine films are more commercial. Charges are naturally duiled here. UUDY LAWRENCE GETS HUTCHINSON'S FOX SPOT United Artists will name no suc- cessor to Laudy Lawrence, who leaves his post 'as v.p. and executive coordinator at the eoA. of "this week to become director of foreign distri'- bution for 20th-Fox, Walter Gdiild -will be in complete charge of the UA- foreign department, prez Ed Battery declared Monday (25). Gould' headed the UA foreign die- partment prior to Lawrence's joining the company in November of - last year. Lawrence, because of his ex- perience from 1928 untH the blitz of Paris as continental manager for Metro, acted as general head of the department, with Gould doing the actual administrative work. There ■will now be a reversion to the former status. I<awrence succeeds to the spot re- cently left vacant by the-death of Walter J. Hutchinson. His appoint* ment Monday (25) came somewhat as a surprise, as the principal con- tenders for the post were generally supposed to be Francis L. Harley, 20th's BrltlA manager, and Ben Miggins, company's former European chief. Irving Maas, who was Hutchinsons assistant, was appointed assistant di- rector of foreign distribution. Lawrence, on his return from Eu- rope, became assistant to-David O. Selznick, joining UA when its exec staff was realigned last falL Par's Hmter Plrqis For Aissie Return Harry Hunter, Faxamount's man- ager for Australia and New Zealand, Is making preparations to start back to Sydney in July or August. Journey back will require about twice as long as usual because all boats from U. S. are convoyed. cir- cuitously presently. Hunter has gone to his former home in Washington state to visit relatives and friends. He had con- ferred with John W. Hicks, Jr., Par's foreign sbIej manager, for about three .weeks fpUowing his ar- rival from Australia last month. Hunter came in ..to establish his family in the U. & while the Jap Invasion threat, is on.', . . African Hieatres Ncta U7G Johannesburg, May 26. African n^itatres, ^Ltd, net profit for the year ending - Last Dec. 31 totaUed 154,208 pounds ($617,192) as compared with 138,149 pounds ($552,596) in 1040. There's the Door, Fritz Mexico Ci^, May 26. Failing to take hints that their presence is not desirable, many local niteries are running courte- ous, but pointed, newspaper ads Informing Germans, Italians and Japanese that they do not want them as customers, and that it they insist upon Imposing them- selves, It will be, 'Sorry, but we cannot serve you.' These Axis nationals, particu- larly the Germans, have made themselves conspiclous of late, particularly since the U.S. went to war, in leading public clubs and restaurants. Yanks Hopefnl On Unfreezing Down Under With both Australia and New Zea- land agreeing to release a total of about $1,694,000 of frozen U. S. dis- tributor coin, major 'company - forf- eign chiefs are hopeful of more en- couraging news when they huddle tomorrow (Thursday) at the Hays- office in New York. Amount re- leased for shipment to U. S. is a small percentage of total funds im- pounded there, niough the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors Assn. continues strictly hush-hush on the unfreezing, major companies have tentatively agreed to accept this additional money with the un- derstanding that it will not hiiider their efforts to receive fun 100% re- lease of coin frozen Down Under and obtain free flow of coin In fu- tture. The Australian unfreezing repre- sents less than a sixth of some $0,- 200,000 owed to the eight U. S. ma- jors and presently frozen in that nation, or approximately $900,Q00. It represents 75% of the U. S. distrib coin collected in Australia from Feb. 28 to May 13 of this year. U. S. dis- tributor . revenue haa been running at a $6,200,000 annual rate there. New Zealand offer, accepted on the same basis more than, two weeks ago, called for tha unfreezing of around $794,000 in American cur- rency, with an additional |38,000 in pound sterling allowed in unfireez- Ing. TUs hardly covers a year's business. New Zealand has about three yean of Tank distributor coin frozen, or about 78% of money col- lected. JULIAN BERMAN, WIFE REPORTED OK IN MANILA . Julian Berman, Metro's Far East manager, and his wife are safe in Manila, according to word received by the homeofllce this week. Ber- man formerly was stationed in Shanghai but moved' to the Philip- pines capital shortly before the Japanese invasion. This is the first word about them since Manila fell to the Japs. Metro stiU has had no Information on I. Cohen, manager for the Philip- pines. He was last heard from in Manila. London Jam Session Pratchett in N. Y. A. L. Pratchett, Paramount's man- aging director in the I:atin-Americas (outside of Brazil and Argentina), arrived in New York for komeofiice huddles with John W. Hicks, Jr., foreign sales chief, this week. Pratchett, who headquarter^ most of the time in Mexico City, recently completed a Six-week swing throuA the South American portion 'of his territory. Another So. African Cinema Cape Town, April 20. African Consolidated Theatres has added another house to its chaid the Bijou at Salt River (Cape Town suburb). London, April 20. Geraldo's Swing concert at Stoll theatre, April- 10. was first swing feast since the war. and drew prac- tically capacity house of swing satel- lites. Show was arranged by Geral- do's men on a cooperative basis.. There may be a series of repeats. Program comprised .various dishes, consisting mainly of 'Soft and Loud Jam," with outstanders being Carl Barriteau and the West Indian Dance Orchestra. Bbys are survivors of the 'snakehips* Johnson band, leader being killed during one of Lon- don's blitzes, when the'Cafe de Paris, where band was appearing, was hit Band received an ovation. Surprise was Inclusion of Overseas broadcast by Geraldo and band, giv- ing swing followers idea what goes on behind scenes during broadcasting session. Geraldo also unleashed special arrangement by George Evans, his sax player and arranger, of 'Whistler's Mother-ln-Law,' which was gesture to David Toff, who has just taken charge of Southern Music Co., after being the English maestro's general manager for some seasons.' Show was well compered by David Miller, British Broadcasting Corp.'s own suave personality, with aggres- sive, yet ingratiating style, and Spike Hughes, who was a definite misfit and only clidm to inclusion is tiiat he was one of the pioneers of Swing li England. Incldently, Jack Collier, string bass in Creraldo aggregation, is well worth watching, as picture or. revue come- dian prospect. Boy has uncdnsicous style of humor which could be de- veloped to great advantage; Jolo. Britain s Pix Get Through London, May 0. Great Britain has developer] a highly effective secret film servic- ing setup tliat has seen pictures reaching foreign non-totalitarian coun- tries de^ite the war. British government sends out a' steady flow of - tnotlra pictures at the rate of about 300 weekly, using bomber planes, air mail and boats. Check reveals that about 310 reels went off to SB territories in a single week, going to areas extending from Arabia and Australia to Russia and the Netherlands East Indies. Some are American features. 'AWAKE' NOT APROPOS FOR LONDON AUDIENCES London, May 26. A "private' performance of Clifford Odc^' 'Awake ianU Sing,' which had a run on Broadway several seasons ago, was not well reived at the Arts Theatre cnub last week (20). Play is scheduled for thlree weeks. Main difficulty, wherein the play- goers are concerned, is their un- familiarily with the New York types depicted In this proletarian drama. It has no commercial appeal for this side. Anti-Axis Pic sCoBtlaued from page 1: at the hedging nations with a power- ful motion picture campaign. Ma- terial is to be tailored precisely to offset, political, military and economic Nazi-Fascist propaganda in non-United Nations countries out- side the Western Hemisphere. Though Hollywood has begun to do a job, the effect of morale-build- ing and strongly pro-Allied senti- ment in U. S. films, has so far been considered effective mainly for home consumption. Plan now is to bring home more graphically the power and sure-to-wln psychology of the United Nations to those countries still in the neutral comer. In addition to the batUe of supply the battle of shipment will also have to be won. 'Various methoids are now under consideration for bringing the celluloid offensive quickly Into play, since the time element on some of the films will figure strongly. Axis powers have so' far admit- tedly gotten away to a strong head start in using the screen for creat- ing an illusion of their overwhelming power and arms superiority.. United Nations information bureau heads are reportedly convinced of the need for offsetting Nazi-Fascist screen propaganda and, from accounts, be- lieve they can dd the job quickly and effectively. | An advantage which has so far been with the Axis propagandists is their favorable geographical posi- tion which. made it easy for them to ship screen fodder mosUy over land or nearby sea routes. It is understood that U.S. govern- ment agencies, possibly in collab- oration \yith British information bu- reau specialists, are mapping plans ft>r a comprehensive film production schedule. - Part of this program may consist of current or forthcoming U. S. government victory shorts and clips culled from newsreels. But the broader objective Is to buUd special screen subjects designed specifically to combat the virus of Nazi-Fascist propaganda poison in those Infected areas not yet beyond redemption. Hollywond Sun. Night Blackout sContiaaed from page I5 within military regulations when and if a crackdown comes. Dimouts Cnrb Nite FUmlnc Dimout resUlctlons in the Pacific Coast zone mean a curtailment of night shooting on Hollywood's back lots and on locations anywhere near the ocean. Kleig lights, used for outdoor shooting at night, cast a glow that mounts high into the sky and can be spotted by planes far at sea, even when care is taken to keep the arcs from fiashing upward. Studios are - working out an idea with the Fourth' Interceptor Com- mand by which vight shooting may continue through the use of subdued lights on location ^ts, surrounded by hiUs or mountains, where there Is no danger of silhouettes to aid oiemies lurking off-shore. Friaeo Viiaae«ted, . San Francisco, May 26. Dimout restrictions on .San Fran- cisco 'theatres are now virtually set, with the b.o. suffering not at'all as the result BadI* City Statos <)«e Although Radio City Music Hall. N. Y., has always drawn a substan- tial suburban trade, so far the dim- out, auto conservation and gas ra- tioning has not seemingly had any effect on buslnesa but understood that the Radio City garage is off close to 90%. Presumption la that suburbanites are coming In by train, saving their cars for local jaunts. However, as pointed out in down- town N. Y. exhibition circles, the amount of car trade drawn ,even In normal times is very small, due largely to parking problems. Comipauters from Westchester, Jersey and Long Island points report that as result of the rationing, trains are overcrowded since the restric- tions on gasoline went into effect Many persons with offices in N. Y. proper were formerly driv^ in by chauffeurs, while others would motor in to the outskirts or other points and take subways the rest of the distance. Theatre managers are reluctant to offer any estimate of what it any, damage has been caused so far as suburban or outskirts trade is con- cerned until there! has been more ex- perience with the situation. Baadhonsea Hit Philadelphia, May 26. Philly's entertainment industry which had originally been - scared stiff over the prospect of gasoline Industry, is now looking at the fu- ture with calm equanimity. Instead of the bugabo the doling out of gas was expected to be, busi- ness, in most cases, has been only slightly affected. In some cases, es- pecially In the nabe film houses and small sectional blsteos, there's been an Increase. Only ones to suffer were the road- houses in the suburban section and South Jersey, accessible mainly only to automobile traffic. A survey over the past weekend showed: 1. Filmers suffered very little—if at all. 2. Niteries In central city reported a light drop in business over the first weekend of the rationing, -but patronage seems to have picked up since. 3. The South Jersey roadhouses reported a slight uplift over the'^ast Saturday and Sunday after suffering an almost total eclipse last week when OPA investigators stopped auto traffic on the Delaware River Bridge, checking gasoline cards. This action put a blitz oh Jersey- bound traffic bitting the seashore spots a body blow. The past week- end, however, there was an hicrease in traffic—^mainly because the OPA Inspectors ceased the checkup of ration cards on highways and bridges. (Reported that th^ initial gandering of cards was to scare holders of 'business only' tickets— B-2, B-3 and X—from using gas for pleasure). New trend In cafe advertising Is the stressing of the transportation angle. Nitery ad», tell customers how to airrive sans auto. ' SpUt tb» Cak Fare Tt-t River Drive Terrace, in Fair- mount. Park, announces'It will go SO-50 ^th the ciistomers on cab fare from anywhere within an eight-mile radius provided, there are four or more customertf in the cab. Worst hit are the dance ballrooms in the, country. The Brookline Country' (3iib reported a drop In business, but Is not being hurt as badly as some of the others, mainly because -the ^t Is fairly well serv- iced by bus, train an4 trolley; Hie kids, -who' are arriving by car, are pooling their gas^ wittt as many as eijftht coming in a' four-passenger car. In-town qiota expect a heavy weekend summer business as less persons are apt to go to the seashore on that long, iitretch from Friday night to Monday morning as In'pre- vious years. > iessel CoBttaae^ llrom page 3; tiieh: baby. Jessel. again denies re- peated columnar reports of their marital splltup. * Because of the Coast vaudery—a $2,500 weekly commitment for two weeks, against 10% of the gross—he set back a joint booking for Loew'a State, N. Y, June 18. He has other weeks to follow. He will not con- dense 'High Kickers' as a vaude tab, but may later revive The Jazz Singer' at $1.6S for the pop-priced legiters, HVoad'a S-a-Day I^oUyVrood, May 26. Policy for the new El Capitan the- atre, formerly the Hollywood Play- house, now being remodeled by Sid GraUman and hli associates, will be two-a-day vaudeville for eight or 10 weeks, starting in July. Shows will be headlined by name acts brought on from New York. Understood extra shows will be tossed in Saturday nights to catch the swing shift Joe Weber sCoBttaned from page Fields BIuslc Hall was located. As show business moved uptown such sites dropped In value and became tenantless. Comedian also bought the West End theatre on 125th street which he figured to be an ace in the hole for>.llfe. When that neighborhood was absorbed by col- ored residents, that property also be- came . a loser. Weber and Fields jointly lost plenty when they tried to operate the 44th Street as their uptown Music Hall. Story of Weber's. final years is shnllar to that of many other per- sons who grow old, lose their friends and ability to keep up with the parade. It is the tragedy of age as show business knows it The profits from "The Climax' and 'Alma Where Do You Live* coul4 not sup- port Weber Indefinite^, and he lost on other productions which the present generation has forgotten about Understood that a relief fund, handled through the Screen Actors Guild, on the Coast took care 9t Weber's ' hospitalization and that doles helped support him before his death. 'SUIIBO' WBi IH AUSSIE Brisbane, Australia, May 26. Walt Disney's Dumbo* has already equalled the run of 'Snow White' at the Regent cheatre here, having completed three big weeks. New Disney comedy feature also is .going over strongly in Sydney, Newcastle and Adelaide.