Variety (Jul 1943)

Wednesday, July 7, 1943 PICTURES Warners' $230,000,000 Loan Will Help Retire All % Debentures, PfA, Etc. Warner Bros., announced last Sat-* urdav (3J that it had arranged $23.- OOOOOO in. new. financing, proceeds to b* .Used in retiring \ all 6% .deben- tures, all outstanding, preferred and to pay the'-$5,500,000 domestic bank loans. Company obtained $15,000.- OtfO on July 2 from group, of banks headed by . First National of Boston, and including N. V. ; Trust Co. Guaranty Trust Co. of . N; Y.. Con- tinental Illinois National of Chicago, Pennsylvania Company for Insurance of Philadelphia,- and Union Trust Co of Pittsburgh.' This loan ..matures- ..through June 1, 1949, with 2Yi°'o •terest per year. Besides this amount, cpmmil- nicnls have been entered into for the private" sale on or before ;Scpt.' 15 this year, "of: $8,000,000' principal amount of 4%.serial debentures ma- tilling semi-annually, from- Dec. l: 1949. through June 1, 1953. Proceeds ' of this iiancmg together with other funds of company will be used to pay the domestic bank loans as well s "retire; the 6% debentures and alt referred. After. Sept. 1. this year, , outstanding capital stock of. the com-. ■ pany will consist of 3,701,090 shares of common.' ' '. The old 6% debentures have been called for payment on Aug. 2 next; with payment at $100:50 plus ac- crued interest from March 1 to Aug. 2 this year, but holders may obtain payment in full at any time. Pre- ferred shares..will Joe redeemed on SepJ. I next at the redemption price of S89.65 per share. ': Paying of both the'bond- issue and preferred, plus " the $5,500,000; in domestic-bank loans, represents an outlay of approxi- mately $24,600,000, meaning that Warner Bros, is using less than $2.- 000.000 (probably about $1,800,000) of company funds for the entire re- furidihg operation. In addition, the refunding: and corporate simplifica- will mean considerable saving' in annual interest rate because of the low-interest bank loatis obtained and the sale privately : of the 4% serial debentures. Company pointed out that at one time it had $42,900,500 in 6% deben- tures and 785.604. preferred shares outstanding. Besides bringing con- siderable saving to the corporation each year under the . refunding, the simplification means, that ^common stockholders .will be more directly hi line to share, tn company earnings. CYCLE OF SEXERS BACK, ESPECIALLY BIG IN NW Minneapolis. July 6. ' Judging by boxoffice results here and around this territory, the cycle has swung back to so-called sex pic- tures .— the allegedly educational type showing various: sorts of child- birth : and: containing ' warn'ings against promiscuity. These sex offerings, with ;lheir ■lectures' as prelude to sale of $1 sex books to patrons, had been as dead . s a dodq prior to Ihepresenljyai'. Now. they're cleaning up in the large .'. cities as well as the small 'lowiv; One of them is in its third week to tremendous business at the Lyceum, local legitimate . house. "There' are separate showings for men and. women at 55c admissibh— two for. the women, at .3 and 7 p.m., and one for the men at' 9. p.m. The theatre, scaled at 55c. has _ been packed to the rafters, and the sale ot books is netting the promoters a fortune. v ■ .'■ This 'partjciila'j- attraction had a icull time . getting anybody interested. 'After . much : per- sion. Bennie Berger. circuit own- er., nalty. "-.persuaded: to take it- 011 and sponsor an engagement, hdre P,n„ a 60-40 spijt.. He 'endeavored- to obtain the Lyceum on'a percentage ■arrangement, but the management wasn't .interested and insisted on a fla 't rental. It's - estimated that Bei:ger will clean up around $1-5,000 for the:local engagement alone. 'Tins thing just seems to run itv cycles." opinr.sJBerger. .'There's', no- explanation for it. Whatever the, reason' the public is stampeding'.to see the'.piclure and. 1 find, oilier.-?; or. .the .same - type. Maybe there's ■increased interest' in -sex:' In the case of the! current Lyceum Picture, whie.li grossed Vapproxi- nia 1 ely $13.000 ;Us first' week, they Jook the .old stale-right picture, Wish School Girls.' to build around. ' A'nns with if is medical reels ob- tained, from the ' federal govern- ment. They call it 'Dusflo Dust' »nd. of course, ■ advertise" it seiisa- linnally. O'Shea Gets Jack London Role in Bronston film .Hollywood, July 6. . Top role in 'The Life of Jack Lon- don' .goes ' to Michael O'Shea, im ported' from the Broadway stage, be- cause he bears a certain physical re semblance to the novelist: ' -his youth. Picture goes into wdrk'lrjis week 'after ■ months of , scripting, with Alfred San lei I directing and Samuel Bronston producing/-, for United Artists release! O'Shea goes on loan- oul.fi'om Hunt- Stromberg, who holds his contract.' Metro's Cincy Powwow To Continue Its Plan Of Zone Sales Analysis .In order to analyze conditions, in each branch zone preparatory to laying plans for sole of Metro's.next block of pictures, with 12 and pos- sibly 14. teeing off the: new 1943-44 season, a group .of this company's .distribution executives 'Wilt meet in. Cincinnati Friday (9). to study the situation •• there. .Subsequently, a similar check will be conducted in e very-.' other exchange! of the com- pany.'- '-''". /' _ 'There : is nothing - hew in . this year's procedure,' according to ■ Wil- liam F. Rodgers, v.p. over sales for Metro: .'Our last meeting of this type was held in Buffalo, and we try, to vary the meeting 1 place for .our first gathering to different parts of. the country. After the first meet- ing, this time-in Cincinnati, the sales executives' will 'fan put over the country and each and every account will be'giyen a careful and sympa- thetic analysis preparatory to: the sale of our next group of pictures. . 'While, of course, attention will be given, to . accounts . requiring con- sideration- because of changing con- ditions, the purpose of these , sales analyses .is to properly appraise each: individual situation so that when a sales approach is made it Is based on accurate information: ■ 'We are. convinced that only' by individual analysis of every one of. qjir .accounts can an intelligent sales approach lje made: and our experience, of having done this for several years has proved . that point. W.ilh 'our policy of placing the responsibility of sales decision with our branch and district man- agers, they have found such a scientific, study of each individual situation advantageous to both our- selves and our customers.' ■ The session in Cincinnati will be attended, by Metro's three division managers: E. K. O'Shea. j.-.E. Flynn and J. J; Maloney. together with Edwin W. Aaron, circuit sales man* 'Let Me Out* Hollywood: July 8; . Revolt against type casting grows stronger in Hollywood, where ' actors are protesting against the increasing: repetition ; of Nazi. Jap-and other heelish roles. With the talent, supply at its lowest ebb. in years, the play- ers are in: a better'position to pick- their spots: and are taking advantage ot it. . Meanwhile the femmes are kicking, about repeated roles in service'uniforms arid overalls. Fox Would Film Saga of Negro Insurance Co. Charlotte. N. C . July. 6. Dr. Archibald Rutiedge'S Saturday Evening. .'Post. story, . 'The . .Worlds Largest" Negro Business.' 'will be made into a picture at an early date by 20th-Fox. the author said at his home near nere. Dr. Rutledge received a telephone call from Darryl Zanuck offering to buy the "film rights' to the story. Zanuck told: the author that he thought film distribution of the story would do . much to promote -better racial relation's in the country. 'The World's Largest Negro Busi- ness' is the story of the achievement of Charles C. Spa Hiding, Durham, N. C., negro who helped; to organ- ize and. is today , president of the largest Negro insurance' company in the world.-. "•. 'Coast Story Buys Hollywood. July 6. Metro purchased 'Jenny Makes Her Mind Up.'' by Mary Virginia, Loo's. ' . Monogram bought 'Death Knows iNo Time,' niystery. yarn-by George Seymour Cappy. .'.'* 20th-Fpx has bought the screen rights to 'A Tree Grows" in 'Brook- lyn.' first novel, by Betty Smith; for $50,000. Harper's is publishing. From New Brunswick to Co^ Vandalism Continues to Flourish Parade of Miss Americas In Rep's/Atlantic City' ■ Hollywood; July 6. Albert J: Cohen picked/tip the pro- ducer reins oh 'Atlantic- City'at .Re- public, a musical saga, of the New, jersey, summer resort. ' its'; more glamorous, days . before the Army took over most of the hotels. Atlantic City is where -Miss Amer- ica' was bom once a year in a '.battl- ing;'suit. Studio researchers are dig- ging up the 'Miss Americas' of yes- teryears. ..< with "a climax .oil Labor Day, 1943,; meaning the election of the latest-'modei: in streamlined muscle. SYMPOSIUM ON WAR FILMS'EFFECT ON KIDS Whether children should be pro- tected from world realities projected in pictures dealing with the war, or prepared for adult acceptance of the result's of warfare, forms the basis for a--symposium of opinions from authors and educationalists compiled by the National Board of Review. Cross-section is. designed to . gauge the probable effects/of war films on children with the aim of establishing proper policy for exhibition of war pictures to juveniles. Dorothy Thompson, responded to j the N.B.O.R.query with the reflec- tion:.'! do not think children should b"e protected from the knowledge of evil. Splendid films explaining and illuminating the war'haye been made by John. Griersbn's Canadian Film Board; our iown army has made films Detroit Usher Shoots And Kills 15-Year-Old; Feared Zoot-Suiters Detroit,: July 6. : Death of a 154'eax-61d boy here, accused of waylaying■'-. a -theatre usher who had evicted him from the house, probably will result in-no se rious charge against 17-year-old Wil iiam Seibert, Jr., employed at the Northwest: theatre. The youth; Wil liam Klinger, was shot by Seibert just prior to the outbreak of the riot ing here which ' took 34" lives'; The mass violence factor is in favor..of the usher's account that he was to be the victim of a juvenile;'mob.. Seibert is the' son of a police lieu- tenant and he told authorities that he was tipped Off that a mob of zoot-suiters were laying for him .for putting them out of the theatre. He carried his father's revolver for pro- tection on the way. home and .when the mob grabbed him on the'.street, Klinger was'shot during the.strug- gle. Shooting came in advance of the race' riots and the death is not included in- the toll of. the second worst race riot In the nation's his- tory, but the ensuing outbreaks served to give considerable credence to. the usher's account of hoodlum - ism in the theatres. It. was. indi- cated that no. serious charge will be brought since he acted in self- defense and' theatres here had long suffered from the tough kid element in the front, of the riots that, broke out a. few days after Klinger was shot. .ager: Harold . Po.<tman. executive | about to be released to the public;. :Desert Victory,' made by the Brit- ish, has a clean, somber glory about it. But in the nclioiialized antiV Nazi ; films shrewd and hackVieyecl old thriller . techniques are lirercly applied to the war. Also, there are too. many of them Art sublimates. evil and 'good into distinguished in- tellectual and spiritual experience.' . r.. Frederic M. Thrasher. New 1 York University,-.'.opines: 'Normal children will: .stiller no harm- from seeing realistic war lilms. 'In fact there- is a certain .advantage in ''per.; mining them to learn 'something of- ; assistant to Rodgers. and E.. M. Booth, local Cincinnati branch man- ager. The group will set up the schedule for the rest of the coun- try- so 1 that each branch will be given the sanie careful analysis as Cincinnati. Il is likely that the meetings will last three days in each exchange territory, with each divi- sion chief 'supervising: the analysis by local, branch and district man- agers. , < TREASURY CITES PAR FOR WAR LOAN AID ' Paramount has received/citation from the U. S. Treasury War Savings Stan*, in behalf of hoineoffice em- ployees, in recognition of the pur- chase of extra war bonds to an amount sufficient to provide for two heavy bombers, a balloon and. a gilder. .. Bond buys were subscribed by Par and its employees during a three- week Second War Loan drive spon- sored by the Par Pep Club in April, over >and above the current payroll deductions. . The extra bond purchases were ex- clusive of amounts ^obtained :il the Par 'studio and. .among Par theatre affiliates. . St. john. N. B.. July 6. : Cash rewards are being offered at some theatres in the eastern prov- inces, for information leading to t'hik conviction of. persons damagin' room equipment aiid furnishings, . Exhibitors believe they will forced to shut-off the rest rooms for both sexes;' least the bowls, until there is an improvement. The bowls are being., deliberately.:, de- sti oyed; and. in ;some instances torn loose from their moorings and valu- able piping, twisted and broken, and valves ruined. Ditto tor flush boxes:. Both new and used bowls and pipe are very scarce, '.weir as. hi price. • The women are almost as vandalistic as males in their powdci: rooiris. An amusing kickback from a $10. ■offer.-for information -oil conviction of anybody "damaging.' rest- room equipment pr furhisliings at the Re- gent. "St. : John, is reported. A boy- disclosed that three sailors wer fearing the bowls and pipe apart in the men's xoom. The naval ratings- were located in an: adjacent lunch- room, where they, were creating a disturbance and damaging property. Before they were arrested, the in- formant demanded the $10 pronto, although a ■ printed card bore the clear stipulation there had to be a conviction in' the court; However, this right was waived and the kid was given the-10 seeds. Next day, the sailors' were found guilty, and ordered to pay the damage, amount- ■ ing lb about $50, this to be deducted from their pay. Mulling More Curfews Columbus. July 6. City Council is mulling legislation to: curb juvenile delinquency; ban- ning kids under 15 from street and public places after 10:30 p.m. Also another ordinance prohibiting those under 21. frohi beei- gardens Unless accompanied by eiders. Penalties , would hit both parents arid children via fine of $25. and 10-day jail sen- tence. ' Akron and St; Paris Village, have invoked 11 p.m. curfews 011 juves .under 18. Harrlsburg's Woes Harrisburg, Pa., July 6. Theatre managers are. haying their troubles with vandal's. Destruction of theatre property here has in- creased by leaps and bounds in re- cent, months, with- managers placing much of the blame on adults'rather than children.. 'So Proudly' Bally Meet Plan: Proudly , . ,, , ... .. . , ._. i the meaning of .. ."I'-hei 0 may tW . "L'^r. f, '^ 9 -J*- some:da;,«e,: from too much: re*!- | 1 ism iu war fllnis f«ii but Iproblcin. the neurotic 61' | 'Skeffie' Next for Bette itoliywbod. July .6. N'e.xt. stai rci' for: Bette Davis at- ■Wa'r.ner.s : is' f.Mr. Skeffingl-'oiT.' slated 16 start July '20. with; Will llehreid as her vis^ii-vis.' ■ ■ Pioduclion chores re shared."by lie , a special ! Pljilip and Juf|us Epstein:. We Hail.' . which Piira- hioiint sold to the .'-Music Hall. N. Y„ with c/etails of an exhausiive cahi-1 .. . ■ . , ,. ... ,, paigii 'OUllined.: were/discussed at a ?! :obl,i ' n ' :f" d .J' 0 , ,hal ; c . v , .j. , * , . special meeting in N. Y. a I tended by L!!' 1 !^ j°"i c .. J ^ l, ? a wr ^''J.s lype :. Geo., Sidney Makes Good . in addition ta district., Hulh Andnis; cluer. Burejiii or ,' cu-orze 'idney. who starlefl--al and theatre admen ;Child Dcvclopmcm. and Parent-Kd'i- l;M WI 0 ill year.-- ,-) B 6 as an olTice. boy. n.ts iti the eastern half cation. Ui'iiversity of the ,::St,a(e" of I liaji lic'ci'r "na 1 a new director con- h.d: sales-.' 'Ihealve'.and publicity-ad verlisin . in addition ta <listrict cxploitoeis from all poi of the cminti'y. Alec Moss-. ' . of- the exploitatibn depai tnieiit. sided. ' He .also held a"Wwing in Lo' gelcs, previously, allendr.d by ploitatiiiu represema-:ves and' tre ineii west' of. KanSas' City. On ^.Friday-Saturday; ' • Par held a Canadian sales meeting at Toronto presided over by Gordon Lighsloiie. Par's general manager of distribution above the border. Neil F. Agnew.-Oscar .'Morgan, and Robci't GHIhani went up !: om JN'. Y; ■/ Jof child in niin' . ■ t ■ 1 Dr..Ruth Andi'iis: chief. Bin'CMii of . Hollywood. July 6. ■ An- cx- IhJia'- N'ow Y'ork. slates, in part; 'In s ite of. his'stage of (ieve'lopnient and pre- yioii.t expcl'icnco. his present condiv I ion might lie such that >ea(isi ic pre-; .-(■iliation of ijic results- of. the. war %v. the /children.' of Europe/would; si*ock him and cause regressive be- haviotir witlj resulting inability to particip.ale. effectively in the. life about him.' { ' ' Dr. Frederick Bair. superintendent of Bronxvi'lle. N. .V:. ScIumMs. says liiai lie 'wo^ild; protect all children from pictures ot brutalities and the I lias, been 'iv 1 a .nq\ •tract. . ■" '■''. 1 Ic draws the Red Skelton. Oicojor biggie 'Mr. Co-ed.' tech- -tike'-until they are 10 or 12 years old.' Others di.stussing the problem in^ elude Dr. A. A. Brill, Dr. H. Claude .1 lardy, v .Justice. Stcphep. S: Jackson. Dr, Harold E. Jones, Dr. F. Dean Mc- Cliisky, Mclcii Rand Miller. ;Dr. Kath- arine F. Lcnroqt. Dudley '.''Nichols, Dr.,J; W. Sltiflebaket.a'i.id'Dr. 'illiam H. Kilpali ick. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS FILING CERTAIN FILMS The U. S. Library of-Congress has requested- American, film''producers to deposit 104 fllms and parts of films released from May 1, 1942, lo April 30. 1943. The Library will select pictures having documentary significance or as records'of the limes., Selection will be restricted because the Li-, brary lacks adequate facilities for screening, cataloging and .shelving, great quantities of film. Ah attempt will. be made, to- se- cure ia 1 all newsrecls or parts-of lllnis which/.recoi'd ■ o.vents. oecur- j'encos or people of. probable interest to students »f the Ijmcs. (bi all doc- umentary films/of probable interest to' sttidents. social arid political/hisrV toiians,' ici any films produced in . the course of the year which 'mark imppilani artistic or technological adva-iiccs in the art of the'motion picture, regardless' of ■ popularity <at the;t,ime.'. (d) certain animated car- loons., fc-J .outslaiidiiig films of scicii- 7 t'i ' geographic interest. m'ong films selected for the Li- bi;ary .: are 'Mrs. . Mihivci ,'. 'Pied . Piper.' '.'Midway,- 1 '.Wake Island." 'In Which; We Serve.' 'Prelude to Vic- tory'.' 'Shado^- of a Doubt:' 'Casa-. blaiica.' 'Saludos Amigos." "Yankee Doodle Dandy.' 'Pride of. the Yan- kees' and 'The Moon Is NEW FILM OUTFIT. 'acramenio. July 6. New film company, Colmcs Pro- ductions. ■., .(lied incorporation papers here with Walter Colmes, • Bc'iny Byrens and rtalph Spence listed as directors. Ai:licles call ' for . 500' shares of slock without par value.