Variety (Dec 1942)

Wednesday* December 2, 1942 EXPLOITATION IS ReelfeDows Gub of Ciu Electing; Other Theatre and Exchange News Chicago, Dec. 1. The ReeUellows Club of Chicago, at monthly meeting at the Blaclcstone hotel Sunday (20), selected nominees for the annual election to be held Dec. 13 and elected six new mem- bers. The club is composed of film salesmen working out of Chicago ex- changes New members given the oltay are Jim Devlin (Par), Richard Schein- baum (Par), Maurice Kinder (Mono\ Stanley Johnson (WB), Joe Fieldman (M-G-M) and Ed Safler (20th). Franlc Flaherty (Col) is un- opposed for president. Other nomi- nees are 1st vice-president, Harold Wirthwein (Par) and John Kempt- 5en (M-G): 2d vice-president. Irwin oseph (WB) and Jack Schwartz (Rent: secretary. Harry Mandell (WB): Tom Gilliam (20th) and Clarence Phillips (Col); assistant secretary. Stanley Johnson (WB); treasurer. Bob Funk (U); assistant treasurer. Ted Meyers (U). WB Bond Pritcs Sales meeting of the Warner Canadian distributing organization will be held in Toronto Friday and Saturday (11-12), with Wolfe Cohen, Canadian division manager, presid- ing. Ben Kalmenson. WB's general sales manager, and other distribu- tion execs from the homeofflce will attend. , Warners sells Its entire season's lineup above the border as against blocks-of-flvc in the domestic mar- ket. Prizes in war bonds of $33,350, to be paid by Warners to those show- ing best results on the sales drive beginning Dec. 20, have been broken down by Ben Kalmenson, general sales manager, as follows: The WB exchange winning first position will receive |3,S00, while second prize will be $3,000; third, $2,500; fourth, $2,000; fifth, $1,730; sixth. $1,500; seventh, $1,250; eighth, $1,000 and dowi} to $500 for the branch placing 15th. Division managers' prizes will be $1,500 for first place and $1,000, $750, $500 and $350 for others. Exchange bookers, in addition to sharing in branch awards, will In- dividually receive $500 for first place, $500 second, $400 third and down to $100 for 10th. Salesmen will get $350 first. $325 second, $300 third and down to $100 tor 10th place. For the ad sales managers prizes will run from $200 down to $50. The Canadian sales force under Wolfe Cohen will be covered by separate contest, with $1,000 as first prize, $600 second and $400 third. Can't Take It, Ehl Hollywood, Dec. 1. Chelle Janls, first femma theatre manager for Loew's In the east and first for Fox-West Coast on the Pa- cific seaboard, has resigned her the- atrical chores for the duration to Join the Special Service Branch of the War Dieparbnent City Takes Over Fllmlnr Northampton, Mass., Dec. 1. BeuhrlK, Jr., Dayton, goes to StlU- man, Cleveland, succeeded by Wm. Reisinger, who moves from Victory, Evansville. Jack Mercer, manager of Majestic, Evansville, wiU fill Relsinger's post at Victory. Asst. James Carey, Victory. Evansville, now manager of the Majestic. Harry Greenman appointed manager of State, Boston, succeeding Edward McBride, resigned. PIU's AcUvtUes Pittsburgh, Dec. 1. ■Leo Gottlieb, formerly with U in Cleveland, transferred to local ex- change and added to Pete Dana's sales force. He replaces Otto Seigel, who came here several months ago, and will cover the Main Line terri- tory. Warner Bros, promoted Kalmen Erdeky from the Oakland to man&ge the larger Centre. He succeeds Al Katz. army. Jack Withers, veteran film man, named PRC sales representative for West Virginia, with headquarters in Charleston. He managed Associated Exhibitors Exchange here from 1920 to 1927, then joined the Vitagraph office in Cleveland with advent of sound. Jane Maloney resigned as private secretary to Ben Steerman, chief auditor for Warners here, to join her husband, Lieut. Bill Maloney, in Florida. He was recently commis- sioned at the Signal Corps officers' training school at Fort Monmouth N. J. Harry Rooney, former booker at Col. who went to California for his health several years ago. Is now working at the Lockheed plane plant on the Coast. Ed Stuve, veteran Par salesman, has been granted an indefinite leave of absence on account of his health, and left last week for Florida to spend the winter. He had planned to undergo an operation here, but was advised by his physician to wait for a while. Sam Marinaro succeeds David Ep- stein In publicity office at Warners, latter having gone into the army. Briefles: Bud Gray, RKO exploit- eer, up and around again after a (Continued on page S3) WARNER EXECS EAST WITH m FORCE' PIC Jack Warner and Charlie Einfeld are due in New York today (Wednes- day) from Washington, where they took a print of 'Air Force' from the Coast to be shown to Government and War department officials at a special screening. While at the h. o. they will discuss the simultaneous world preem of the picture in Wash- ington, N. Y., Wichita, Seattle and Honolulu. Harry M. Warner and Hal Wallis, producer of 'Air Force,' may come in from the Coast by the end of this week or early next. STUDIOS WILL TABU SEX MAGS Hollywood, Dep. 1. Magazines specializing in salacious and suggestive material will get the boot from picture studios. The industry's Public Relations Committee, at a meeting Monday (30), voted to withhold cooperation with such mags, on the ground that much harm Is being accomplished. It also took cognizance of the increas- ing number of such periodicals. Representatives of such mags, it was reported, will be denied studio visas, and their requests for yams or art nixed. Hearing Slated Today on Par ' Bonus Dispute RKO DROPPING POSTER ADS FOR MORE DAILIES Piling Up of Releases Forces Distribs to Curtail National Fan Mag Ads Because of Timeliness Harrisburg Theatre Praying Harrisburg, Pa., Dec. 1. Wilmer & Vincent's three down- town picture houses inaugurated something new in Thanksgiving day programs when they requested city ministers to appear twice through- out the day and offer prayer. C. Floyd Hopkins, head of Wilmer & Vincent Interests, and the Rev. Harry Zechman, president of the Minis- terial Association, cooperated in the plan. A similar plan is being mapped for New Year's Day. FILMS' P. A. ORG. TOBALLYHOO INDUSTRY Arbitration bearing, on demand of the Screen Publicists Guild for in- creased-cost-of-living bonuses paid by Par to homeofflce employees oth^r than those belonging to this union, is scheduled to be held to- day (Wednesday) In New York. Into the exhibition business: plan- ggpted by both Paramountandthe^™^^^^^^^'*^'**' ning to operate the house after the gPG as arbitrator, but date for hear first of the year. Mayor Walter W O'Donnell announced that the city would take over Jan. 5, when the present lease of Martin Shaughnessy, Albert Desautels and Stephen Broldy expires. Ed Greenberg. of the Warner ex- change,, won first prize of a $25 bond at tlie Warner Club's Thanksgiving party. Neil F. Agnew, who made a tour of southern Paramount exchanges .on the way back from the Coast returned to his desk Monday (30). Gross Heads Fhllly Variety Philadelphia, Dec. 1. Sam Gross. Philly branch manager of 20th-Fox, was chosen Chief Barker of Tent 13, Variety Club, at elections held at the Bellevue-Strat- ford hotel recently. Other officers chosen were Al Bold, 1st, Charles Zagrans, 2d assistant chief barkers; William McAvoy, doughguy, and Erwin Charlap, secretary. Members of the board: Ben Amster- dam. Al fiovd. Erwin Charlap. James P. Clark, Al Davis, Henry Friedman. Sam Gross. William MacAvoy, Ted Schlanger, Clint Weyer and Earle W. Sweigert. Ex-officio members by virtue of being ex-Chief Barkers: Edgar Moss, Jack Beresin. W. J Clark. Jay Emanuel, Leon Levy. The new officers will be installed at a testimonial dinner to retiring Chief Barker Edgar Moss on Dec. 14 at the Variety Club. The dinner will be held instead of the gala annual Variety banquet which has been cancelled for the duration. ing has been held up because Hyman Glickman, counsel for the union, has been tied up with other matters. The Pax company will be repre- sented at the hearing by Arthur Is- rael, Jr.. execu'.ive assistant to Bar- ney Balaban; C. J. Scollard. in charge of Par labor matters; George Barry, labor attorney for the com- pany, and Paul Railbourn, head of the statistical department. In addition to GUckstein, SPG's v.p.. Lawrence Lipskin of Columbia, and members of the Par SPG chap- ter will appear on the union side. SPG seeks to collect the bonuses paid by Par since Jiine to all em- ployees other than publicity-adver- tising department members of the company and higher execs who are on the pension list. Steele Flacks Selznick Hollywood, Dec. 1. Joe Steele, veteran picture press agent, became director of publicity and advertising for David O. Selz- nick. He succeeded Whitney Bolton, who moved over to Warneis. E. L. Alperson, general manager of RKO Theatres, is eliminating out- door poster and window-card ex- ploitation, currently reported costing from $150,000 to $200,000 annually. Money thus saved will be thrown into regular newspaper advertising col- umns for larger space. In addition to money outlay, RKO Issues around 30,000 passes annually for window and poster displays. This large free list was an Influencing factor in this move. Both RKO, with around 40 houses in the New York metropolitan area, and Loew's with around 75 theatres in the same sector, have gone in heavily for outdoor exploitation, the former perhaps spending more on bill posting covering Jersey City. Westchester, Brooklyn, etp. Both Iioew's and RKO circuits have been backing up their nabes with posters to what is considered an tmusual extent. Loew's reportedly cut its pass list of 9,000 to 10,000- but is still understood spending $20,000 annually In outdoor advertis- ing. Comparatively lower cost for Loew's is due to the fact that the chain buys most of the boards it Loew's Shifts Joe Vogel of Loew's announced UA's 10th Foreign Anni Samuel Colioil. forcicn publicity director for United Artists has i.>- Overseas Press Club's TieupWithUA'sW Lowell Thomas, president of the Overseas Press Club of America, Monday (30) announced the e^ab- lishment of a 'Correspondents' Fund' which starts off with the preem of 'In Which We Serve' (UA) at the Capitol theatre, New York, Dec. 23, when proceeds will \>e turned over to the Club. Fund will be used to cover cor- respondents and commentators on the war fronts, nine of whom have to date been killed in addition to many others wounded or imprisoned. It was pointed out that while metropolitan newspapers provide in- surance for staff employees, free- lancers or those on special missions are not covered. The ' fund will .serve as protection over .ind above that normally provided by regular employers. Administrators of the Fund will be Thomas. H. V. Kaltenborn. George Fielding Elliot. Johannes Steel. Wythe William.s and other members of the board of governors of the Club. FulX appreciation of the Industry's failure to data to keep the general public acquainted with th« tremen- dous program of the film business to help the nation's war effort Is back of present plans of the Industry's Service Bureau (formerly the Pub- lic Relations Committee). Initial step In these plans Is to establish outstanding spokesmen for the in- dustry In key cities whose duty will be to handle Institutional publicity on the picture business, including the spreading of facts about the War Activities Committee's work in war- time tasks. Not decided how many would rep- resent the ISR and WAC but likely that six to 10 would be spotted in various keys. Their duty would be to appear before various civic, fra- ternal and religious groups, clubs, etc., and present factual data on the industry's war work. Such material would not only cover Its efforts on bond campaigns, salvage drives, etc., but would show the voluntary contribution of the film business in providing entertain ment for troops overseas. How the picture industry has provided a steady fiow of motion picture film to various overseas units, which other wise are unable to get to regulai-ly established theatres, also would be related. Another phase of the work Because of the fact that rclca.s« dates on pictures now vary widely in the various territories, and many new films are badly blocked in cer- tain situations as result of extended engagements, dis.tributors are re- ported giving consideration to re- duction in national advertising since it has lost much of its value. Of recent years the film compa* nies have dumped hundreds of thou- sands Into national fan and other magazines but since the war, as well as the consent decree which jazzeH up release dates, it has been diffi- cult to obtain full value from such advertising. Situation has reached the point where a film may play one branch territory when available but due to a sales condition or other factors may not get to accounts in another ex- change zone until months later. Aside from Inability to negotiate a quicit contract where that holds up prod- uct, in many cities benefiting from defense work or soldier trade, pic- tures are held over so many weeks that others behind them are forced to wait for a date. An unusual situation, typical of what happened to a lesser or greater extent in other territories, developed in New York last season when Par was long delayed In closing deals. To begin with, the company could not negotiate contracts with other circuits until after Loew's had been set for its 80-odd Greater New York houses. As result, product that was avail- able toward the end of August, did not reach Loew screens until IJo- cember and subsequent runs later than that. Meantime, also Par had trouble with two large ^ub-run chains, Skouras and Century, with result around 85 Skouras-Century houses didn't start picking up Par pictures until last June, more than six months after availability. Decrte selling, late contracts in many territories and much lengthier runs has so changed the picture with respect to availability and bookings that two companies, Metro and Par, do not even set release date.<: any more. The three other decree com- panies, RKO, 20th and Warners, con- tinue to do so, however, as do nr.n- decree distributors. Under any general swing iway from national mag advertising, dis- tributors would no doubt bu(!';ct higher amounts for local newso.-ipers so that ads could be timed propcrry for the benefit of the exhibitor. Metro's deal to go on the BIl's network of over 100 <itations with spot announcements on its pictures, first time done by anv^fli)r> comri.ivt?" by these representatives would be tact so tnat tne mauslry-s seiup m prompted by a desire to time ad- war work may be unfolded Intention Is- to employ such ISB representatives on straight salary basis. Men would be picked, not only for their ability as publicity-exploi- tation experience, but their knowl- edge of certain territories and ability to appear before civic organizations with the industry's story. There is to be no attempt to pet i^uperfluous plugs for the film busi- ness. Rather, the effort will be to lay the facts before different groups and to prevent haphazard criticism and eliminate glaring lack of knowl- edge as to what the industry is doing. vertlsing of films for maxiniuri value to exhibitor accounts. It is not unlikely that other comp-.nies may follow Metro's lead. METRO'S SALES PLANS SET AT CHI CONFAB SL Louis' Own 'Judy' Chicago. Dec. 1. Sales policy from here on and pictures to go Into Metro's second block, with 12 films already in the can that may be sold when the com- pany is ready, were discussed at a two-day midseason's distribution meeting here on Monday (30) and lod.iy (Tuesday). Metro is selling a block of 12 films at present. Reports are that the second package may number 10 lULES SEEKOWICH WITH COL Chicago. Dec. 1. Jules B. Serkowich has taken over following managerial .shifts: Boyd ! (he activities of U.A."s'forciKn leginn sued the 10th anniversary number ;'s district exploitiition director for World.' dedicated to Columbia Pictures here. Change was necessitated by the nf 'Around the Fry, Loew's Palace. Memphis, to Loew's Grand. Atlanta, succeeding Eddie Pentecost, resigned. Cecil Vogel, Stillman, Cleveland, will ' .u» j; i..;k,.i;„„ move into Memphis vacancy. Al' organ m the di>lnbuti<>.i •World' hn been pub':i>hed con- ' of Jack Thoma. who has been rest. linuouMy for the past 10 years. Cohen i forced to retire for a long claiming this, as a record tor a hou.«c.Thon-.a has been here for several « ji./irLi»iiil(iii neUI. I years. St. Louis. Dec. 1. To bally 'For Me and My Gal. Rex Williams, manager of Loew's downtown deluxer, established a ! precedent when he persuaded the i City to block off one of the down- | instcnd of 12, though the compnny town streets, rerouting trolley cars ,,;„ an even dozen ready which could buses and service cars for 40 mm- | i,c immediately offered for sale, u'ss. j Homeofflce Metro group attend- Then he held a mass singing bee ; jni{ ihe Chicago sessions, headed by in front of the theatre in which ; Bill Hogers, who presided, also in- songs of the World War I and those ; eluded E. M. Saunders, westera that have become popular since j division manager; E. K. O'Shea, Pearl Harbor were sung with a local i eastern-.southern divisional chief; gal. chosen as the 'Judy Garland of | .Jack Flynn, central division head; St. Loul.s' in contest spon.sored by the Y.M.C.A. holding the spotlight. The community songfest began 11:40 p.m. and the crowd In the theatre was Informed of the shindig by an announcement from the sl.i^e before the pie was shown. Word of the singing was flashed throughout downtown nlterles. etc.. and the one- block area was thronged. Eddie Aaron, assistant to Rudders; A. F. Cummings, in charge of cx- rhange operations; H. M. Richey, lioad of exhibition relations; J. A. Gold, sales development manager; Lou Smith, publicity manager and several lessers, Joe Bezahler, Charles Decsen, Harold Postman, Paul Rich- riff. J. L. Hirsch, William Brenner, Arthur Lacks and Irving Helfont