Variety (Apr 1944)

10 PICTURES Wednesday, April 5, 19 Resist Studio Staff Band Demands; Grant Concessions to lA. Other Unions ; FrpBsmg his demand for slaff or4 ni-(alled standby oichftUias on a ftrlitini* basijj'Jn 'sjl .majbr'Jlni ■sUi-, the Ameilcan B'edeiaHon o£ Musi- eians, m»t on Monday (3) with the pvodueer labor negotiating commit- Ise, wbiqh is reportedly very cool lowaid such demands, and will le- «!Ume the tussle tomorrow fThurs- 1«;»y). Tiie AFM tiead wants staff or- chestras ■Wtoberihg:'35ypieceS-iii Hh^^^^ ::J»aramount,''Mt;trb/',W Fox ituchos, 30 pieces at RKO. an.i «vit:fit^' pf ,25 at:trrii:VerseI, Columbia fnd Republic :'!';;/^afeahfi'rte;: yesterday Lttuesdi^^^ pioducer committee met wUh locaU of the lATSE, all ol whose demands ha^e so far been leceived individu- I'llj o\er a period of three weeks Of : ihe U lA locals/ last to come in with ■-(femartcte. ::were ^; theV^grilis,. .^iropetty-' mi-r\ and Jab Qrgr s, "withr W hbm ;the i-tucho group met Friday (31). These unions, same a?:others:in the IA>fold,i . W'B'iJt re!claiss;fl(!atialis/':■^^'h"ich :, will b/ing t:;om up to or over the 15' l ■jjiaximuni of the so-called "Little ; Sfecl'' formula. The lamp operators , »]<t. want i-eclas.sification.s, as well as ■Vibe soundmen who were vepoVtedly told thev can ha\e a i'l mciease, same'a&gi-a'nted %e^^ the studios So far as the'makeups ■ and iiair stylists are concerned, they • Ayiil . get ,:5%"i'', bringing tliem up to •'Little Steel,'' except that through creation of a new classification known as gang bosses the boost will Studio Contingent I).*eiiupting sessions with the lA 3ocal>., the studio contingent met Saturday (1) and Monday' CD with the group repiesented in the nego- . ■.f iatiprts. toy ' Herb.ert; Sprrfeli, inplvidw. ing painter.", machinists, janitors and police officers and .guards, in addi- tion to the Office Workers repie- f,ented by Glenn Pratt from Los Angeles Understood that it was egiced the Sorrell group would be ^iven 5''^o increase.s and vacation al- lowances such as granteji otiier in- ' ternationals * of the studio basic agreement, while the office workers will receive 7%. In both oases, as in ottiers, deals are subject to the approval of the War Labor Board ' Wiiii the que.^tion of any redas- silieations as we'.l as iii'inor'- working tondilions to be ciiscu.sscii later ou the Coast, Sorrell returned to Hol- lywood yesterday tT.ues.) and Pratt will leave either today (Wed ) or tomoirow. It is probable that re-. ;■ classifications arid other matters with A'arious lA locals .will , al.so . be left lor future di.scussion on. tiic Coast. •■ , Offer to the .soundmen for a 5";. jncrea.ce was on the condition that there would be np. new. c!a.';.«iMca- tions, it is understood. , 'While tlie electricians have, sought to cinch -iurisdiction over tdevision. the producer negotiating committee hfis .steadfastly refused' to dii-euss this matter-on the ground-it- isf some- ' thing .for the American Federation cf Labor to "decide. U GOES HYPHEN-HAPPY ABOUT 21 PRODUCERS : Hollywood, April 4. ■'■ ■■■ To ■ the ■ ■ sihgl'e-tva.ck' mind, a film, profluctr is a fellow who produces fll'm.f;' and nothing niqre, but, in - the tangled ma/e of prodtidion on the Unnersal lot a producer is some- 'fhi'i'ig;'li')<e''--a'~^ ■'elii&i.;':ttttnciiohtag'..''as^ ... ....... . ■....- .j b'dif.e'.cier. or catcher, or winding i;p; however, will !-;iakc permanent head DANZIGER, LOU SMITH REJOIN METRO PUB-AD Bill Danzlger, fonncrly. with Metro's advertising-publicity depart- ment, lejomed the company Monday (3) on <.pecial promotion, \\ith his first assigiimient the celebration of Me!ro'.s 20th snr.iversKYy l::is com- ing Ju^y. Meantime. Lou Smith, who until a •qotlplii nionths; ago was publicity manasei at N. Y„ has also leliooked with Metro to also work on special prppotion. He Will concenliate on the laiger pic'tuics of Metro, start- ing with White Cliffs of Dover" and will- be -in n; y.; for two or three weeks layiag pUni.s' on it. Smith, .as relief :pjiCher' iiV the Al'/'lj'nivtr.sal.: there are .seven dis- Unci 'classiflcaiiptis [-ot- producer, not cb'itnting-.'■■tjie ■.;'execijtij;?e.. .,pi:pductr who tunctions in an upper stratum. Among the 25 on the roster aie foul unhyphenated producers, Paul Mal\ein, Walter Wanger, Felix .,Ta(:ks'ofV';an'df^J,oh(i,.''Grah,t producers a'.e IsHn .\uster, Bernard :.B. - B.ii-fdti,- ,;.Wii;l:;. Cowan, Oliver .Drake. \V:.iror: Wilson. Henry Mc- Rac. frank Gross and Frank Shaw. Wnter-pioducers are Bruce Man-i nmg, Edmund Hartmann, Michael | Fe^slel and Emest Pagano Duec- ■ lcr-p:-od',;cers are George Waggher. Jciui Yarborough. Roy William Xeill and ,Ei'l^ . Kenton. Associate pro- d'.K-er-ciirectors■ are Edward Li.lley, Rav Tavlor,: Ford Beebe and Felix Fei.st Moigan C. Cox is the sole associate ptoduqer - writer, and Chailes Bojcr, IS the lone producer; s'ctor. ;■■ V.I'' ■;■ :i'',')'!; '^■v--::-!'"';.' quarters on .the Coast. Par's T«le Setup Filial sfep in Paramount's swinging out of the commeieial film pi educ- tion Held has been consummated with the tiansfer of Goeige Shu- pert, long head of this dcpaitment in N. Y„ to the compgny'a television department. Shupevt now is acting as assistant to Paul Raiboittrn on tel- evision development. Reported that Par shortly will abandon all commercial picture proj- ects, :utider.standing being that cor- poration otficials leel that television is much more important. RKO'S Press Pitch For 'Snow White'in N.E. In a .s« itch from the radio station soon=oiship lined up in various tei- 1 ltd 16": m the U. S. for "Snow White" Tciry Turner, RKO exploi- tation-chief i has turned to the news- paper field in. the New England ter- ritory, lining up 30 publi.shex\s ■;irt; cit.Gs and towns outside of Boston. Editors and publishers of leading periodicals aie spon.soring the! origi-: nal "Snow White'' voice tor appear-; anceis, in town halls and schools. In Boston the Hearst newspapers are. spon.soring the "Snow White" proem. Tuir.ei', who last week /.addressed » group of .\ew En.gland publisher.s, pointed out that newspapers . could compete foiVfilm advertis ing.'business with national m,ags and*afl'io it the.v undeitook to back the picture biisi- ness- instead of ignoring films. •"- ■. ' Par's Radio City, Mpls., Cuts Rental Terms 67% ... Minneapolis; April 4. The $2,000,000 4,000-seat de luxe Tilinncsota theatre, now called the Radio City, was acquired by its pres- »-nt owner, the Andrus estate foi a moie $90 000, the equity of the $1— 500,000 bonds, mostly held here, and the stock being wiped out comelete- ly The Andrus estate owned a con- siderable portion of ..the., land on whicn the itiucture stands and when the cnteiprise was in bankuiptcy ■\\itn Lirge amounts of taxes in de- fault aiiang'ed with the fedcial couit to take over the building on pay- ment of the $90,000 back taxes. Paramount, which operated the house once before and then felin- ijuished it, has leased it fiom the Andius estate. In consequence of fi 1i£up with ladio station KSTP, which occupies part of the build- ing. . and lentals received fiom sfoies. Its own rental is,believed to ha've been reduced to a' flguie le'^s than one-sixth the former co.st for ■this''iterri,'-'tKiis. \S.ubstahti,ally.'ala.shi!jg" the "nut," the formei puntipal ob- stacle to succesiful opeiation Deal . is: considered all the more rhiewd for Pai because of the ter- rific advertising campaign,being cars r:ed on by KSTP for itself and the llieatre, too, at its own entiie cost, over th^ air with stieetcai caids, 2^-sheets, etc. Since its reopening three W^eks ago, thcahe has been tloin^ boff business. Carole Landis' 'Crime' Loan Hollywood, April 4 RKO borrowed Caiole Landis from 20th-Fox for the femme lead in "Having Wonderful Crime,": oppo- site Pat O Bnen. Picture goes to bat April 17. .with A. Edward, Sutherland directing .and, Robeit Fellows pioducitig. 'Tomorrow* on B'way : "It Happened Tomorrow," Arnold Pitssbuiger pioduotion being re- leased by United Artists, is scheduled to go into the Gotham theatre on B!oad\\ay Tentative plans are to start "Tomorrow" on a .rtill in about four or li\'e weeks. Gotham, formerly the Central, was lecently turned into a flrst-run on Broadway by the Brandt circuit. What's Tougher -Continued from page 2 Mort Singer, Vet Showman, Passes ZMoil HrSingel, 67."veteran Iheatie operator, vaudevilie. showman and ■pi'diclucer of many r.n-.sical shows,'. died .Marci: 29 in Chica.!40 of a heart ■■^ilmeht following a week's illness. ■Sihgei'; widely known and respected in the .show busiiiess, formerly was \ ice-piesident of the Oipheum cii- cuit. ciU'i-ing the'heydiiy of two-a-day' vaudeville, and lesponsible lor fos- teiing the theatrical careers of many .manaKei's and sta.se celebrities. Nate Blumocig Clifl Woik. Chailes Koerner. Jack Gross and others from, ti-.e theatre end. now in picture pro- o..;ciior. or .di.stri.butioh. Svere' staj'tte 0(1 by S.inr' in■.his theatres. ;';,'.'■''.■.',;',>';.■. .„Staiting hit Iheatucal caieer some': 50 yeais ago as an usher at the BiiQU,.; Milwaukee, he later moved up to be-: come a>?ibtant treasuier fer Jacob Litt; • After' a year as, I'oad manager, .aijd, treasir.er for ■ the Murray &'. Mack show, iie associated with Her- man. FcOir. in operating., burleiique houses in St. Paul and Minneapolis. .Iia;tep,','i:h{S.. jaiiintf^^ ■■tb ' increase its builesque holdings, and leased the La Salle in Chicagoj However, it e.<tabiis::ed a policy of musical eohied.y stock .»hows which proved successful. He . was one. of first meii '.t.o. produce iegitiraale shows ihi^htjVcity:./''■■: '''■-, ■;,''',i' |. ■■' .'Later ''l'ie',b'uiit. the; State-Lake and Palace theatres. Whe:; Fehr became interested in . several . .vaudeville '.houses.. Singer v.-as brought ihito.op- orate. Ti'^is led to his executive post with' Martin Beck and the original br'pheum ,circuit, ,lVis''.supet;visiori iof, ppht,ihuOus-i",uh. .:vat!de ho'.ises in. the n-.idaie-west and Coast cities, and direction ■ .oii ;:, .-mall-time Western ■Vaudeville Managers A.^sn. circuit. Functioning as V p of Keith-Albee- Oipheum for the western division ufe uitt ii the ■ depfessioii. Sihget: rte^ to -go on' his'.'ow^n and made a -part ner.ship arrangen~,ent to acquire a niiP.ibe:- ot RKO !-:ey theatres in the so.:th and r.iiddie weist.:' ',';■: ■■'-, Singer also was operatir.g partner on several Para:npunl the.atres,: addition tb having.hiV own circuit,of ,:fll'fh hdu.ses in Iowa. He had a chain of 36 theatres at the time of his 'death!' In. recent year.«. he had lived in. Beverly Hills, making pisrio.dic inspection tours of Iris theatre hol.d- : ings from there.. As vaudeville exec- 'iitiy.e,,.':Singer, nurtured the careers of' numerous- .performers; He . enioyed the reputation ot being one of the 'mb-st-. asiu'le ■;tal'e'!^t•..'a^^sesso^$.■v|n-^th^^^ ;,show„buSiness^ .i.';.',i. ';: ''V-';;'.., V: He IS survived by his widow, a siSn..:' Moi'i. Jr.: ' a stepson! Jerome ■ Natlian,; ' a '' idaiighietv : a;;d : '■ ■ two .bwjthers;'-' '.,•■■;,'■,:.:■''■:'• Talent, Writer Guilds And Union Face Squahble On. Television Jurisdiction As television piogics^es to its reali/.ation. depending ot couise on the war, the cialts and union.s are starting to tliir.k ahead on jurisdic tion. It may Wei! be tiiat a tentative three-year p-.'ogram may be''■s.et:up,. until the courts decide whether Screen Actots Guild oi American Fedeiation of Radio Actois, has .'jurisdiction,' over 'the v.iieo piayers; whether Screen Directors Guiid.. or Radio Directors Guild, or maybe the- l^l'git'•'■: pi^o'dtiiitioiX . li'i^^ have jurisdiction in that field. And .so oh down the. line \vith musicians, makeup men, tensers, electricians, etc. '' , ,':.' Meantime ti-.c Hoi'.yv.-ood .studios are .extending 'th.elr contracts more and more to embrace video rights. 'and-.'^.wKile ..'iomev-wu'itW'i,' b;k^^^ usage of ll-.e tilir. materia! for teler casting,, they are restricting the jive- player television lights mito them- selves. There aic sundry vauations of this. .. Unlfliis Signing Vider Tcclis i :'::'■■'■..!■ Hollywood. April 4. '■, Labor unions aie taking a long distance view and liopping on the Television wagon, siow waiting In: the .stable for the opening: of future traffic. ' i'.;-'',::'',-,':, '?■;".! : Local B-11. Ir.ternational Brother- hood of Electrical ■\Vorkers. has signed' up. iiiiinje-rbus ^'W.est Coast te^^^^ vision engineers who iiold Goyi^rn- ment licenses Undei stood the new members will not be charged aeti\e dues until tolcvi-sion cmeiges fiom the experimental' stage and . actual broadca.sts are stai'ted after the war. Now group 'is'! being , orga-.rized , by George (Curly) ,:Davis, - business manager of Local B-11, and Gene GaiUac, international rep lor, IBEW. Cartoonists A$k . 20% Cut on Film Reissues, Video Hollywood, Apnl 4 Screen Cartoonists Guild is d«> mandmg a 20% split of the boxoff'n grosses from, all second-run pictui es or- reissues,, and the same amount from television releases, in its new eontiact proposals to be laid befoie tlie producers. Idea is to diMiibits tire extra coin to membeis of tne Guild in the Army and Navy Bi \. oft ice proposal states: "Whenever & picture heietofoie c«- hereafter released made by the pio- ducer IS re-released m any foim (other than television) aft^i it is first r&leas'ed, then 20'^;, ot the tot.il gioss proceeds received fiom <-uch : le-ielease shall be paid o\ei bj , producer to- the union; the nr.ion ■ agrees to distubute all of such fund : to those of its members w ho w er« ,': or are then in the armed foiee'*^ of ' the United States, and .in: such \pri)-^-. porlionate amounts "'a's may be.: i\U.■ rected by the meir.bers'r.ip o! -ttii'? union." Television clause in the piopcsed! contract reads:' ■'■■•^^'If. ;!:.?';.':!"■: "Wlienever a motion .piclitriB car- ■ toon heretofore oi' ■■■hereafter," mad* by the producer is released Jii'.icle- vision form, tiien 20'.;. of the total, gloss pioceeds received by the pio-- ducer from such release in televi-ion . form shall be paid over by the pio- < ducer to the union; the union agiees" to distribute oi allocate such fund in: such manner as may be duectcd by ! the membership of the union ' A. J. Balaban Coiitmued from 1 Studio Contracts oi one. three and .(iye-reel .films :i«i- , telev:sion projection. He ijeiit-ve* that i .thereii will'' bO; 'iteieVi>!ioi>'.jn iv.acie for ti'.e .homo. tir.i>d(>, :a,'.,d.ifl^^^^^^^^ type of film for thealies, and a thud type of production suitable foi both home and theatie u^io Showman n»« evoi.ved a nevv type of scitir..!'.s and lighting! . ';''.',.:':,'■: ',' ■!''■!,','!■:■:' ''•' :^ /'' • Balaban estimates cost of t.vpe tele rive-reeicrs. coniparing fiivora'oiy with aveiage regular "A" ftlm.s, at aiound $200,000. Balaban - is convinced that tcle- \ision presentation v\ill become a iii'iitji^:fot''■■''Mt^tfef^^ soon as cessation- of hostilities ...in,.-: Europe permit.s. ' ■■ ■ . ,■ ■ '" The.sta,ge ot the Roxy lias aiffrdy been revamped to pcimit u^e for televisioni Aside fiom it.s influence on fheaire piesentation policies, Balaban bo- lieves that the new modiuih will <ie.' velop a wide: variety of ne-vv :i.i(. t.: ': Ma.ior -and independent li'im rre- ducers are reported interested in. the pioduction unit Iseihg ..orgfihized b'if^ Balaljan. . '•'; : i.; ■■; '...''''"■^'["'■y the stiains of "Thf Blue Danube" as "Pistol VACkin' aiani^.'' L«st .sefLsoii^ there weie 684 Vhoiify press identiftcahon canh presented lor. .ndmis.stoii. but m 1942 [lie tmiiiber was 1.471. Cnrds lire... closely ■■ .seajiiied at. the en-. UiiiHes They are not yood for "ecw- niid are desif/ned for the ' u\orkhyg' press. :!;■•:,' ■' Robert Rih:gling is agaaii',,pres.ide'ht of " t.iie,:' corporation. and is "in charge Screens Blacked Out Omaha Apiil 4. . , All dow'ntown theatres blacked out their .screens, fibr ,rive..'niiftul.eB':at four o'clock Friday (31) afternoon in honor of Mort H. Singer : ,whose funeral was being held in Chicago at* that tin-ie Singer operated the Brandeis theatre iiei'e. ','';■■.''. ,■■:.■ ■.' ''•:,.■'.' ■All' nitto III INIpls. ■■., j'jinnea'iiblib. Painmount circuit April 4. '. theatres of 'the.;st'ag:iiig..':'- ..'He ■ait'ijj.pte'd./fe^^^^ two' leheaisals with the aid of a micro- minute; and his own Orpheum five phone Vice-presidents are Mrs I minute.', in lespcct to Mort-H. Singer Charles RingUng and Alidiey (Ring- dming his funeral last Friday. The liiig); Haley;^ whosi(i.;'hWajndi : Jain(»s.,f 0rph6l(ra.is:i« :a, p6& ■witti 4he. dOiiVn- A,;,, J.V first viceipr.e2v:ana',8sSls.ta,nt'.■to-' tovwr Pa'r,;hou.'=es in Min'iieapoli's. ,■, • ■' Bob Rii:g!:nfi. ■.:;:■;, i|;,?,Jbhn:::J'^IViedhiand Charies Per- line, inesiacnl and comptroller, re- Pat Vulrto i« general diicctoi. ,petti\elv, ot the local Paramount yOifn bi :'joi;n4d:'ib>,. circus,: ye.As-:^ j.clia:hi,. aii-d,,,3in; .Bl>!'qn,,, local .indejieh-, jugjilcr, his correct name being Pat-{dent ti'icuit t^wnci, attended the fu- rifk FitcgciaM. Inel'al in Chicago. L Video continued Irom pnne i '.•'.,■ '■,'; Hollywood, April 4. ;■ Gloria Sataiciers inked player^ pact at Par;iniou;ic. "'."■■:■'' ' .'■ !'■."' Marc Piatt, (Jancer, signed by Co- lumbia. ; Jim Jordan. Juracr, drew actor ticlcet at BKO Walter DcLecn, writer,, renewed by Paramount. : .' : .' "'■'■ ' ■ ' ■ ", Karl Tunberg and Darrcil Ware, vvriling tea::-., icnewed ' by Para- mount. '■ ^-^y^y. ■',-'' ',".'^. ■'■",■, ' ,■■. :,, "■:•/.' Dorothy O'Ha.a. - fashion designer, optioned by Paramount.',, ,'' ,? '.,,'■,'. Caimen Moreno j.^ player option picked up by Piu-ambunt. , Moe Howard. Larry Fine ' r.i-d.i these youngsters to Cuily How.ird.'The Toiee Stooges,' or screen actor inked, , three-year pact, with Go- lumbia. ,-. :'.^,'■- ' i':- '/ June H.Mris 'drew: playfer.Jiicketv at. Paramount. * , Robert ,:Lowery's ■ player ,vOption hlted by Moiiogiam . Dorothy Morris renewed-as' player by Metio. .• -Em.ory Parr.eil's actor " option picked: up :by.RKO.- Ray Spencer draws writer ticket atvParamount. ';; ' ■ ' Ross Hunter handed player con'' tract by Columbia. •: Sonny Tufts drew '.an- option - lift at Paramount. Darryl Hickman, moppet; signed by Paramount a veteran .--fags, than a dnccto*.' Their yeais ol tiouping i.s qualifica- Uon enough to justify then loles of Tiistructors and they know best how to inculcate their charges with th« nuances and shading ,so necessaiy to the polished, performance. .for; the camera pickups." Royal just now is bus.ving h.ii-'-eU with the organi7Jtion of stock com- panies to be trained lor the day When the coaxial cables and booster relays are regionally set up That these NBC-developed playeis may be used for pictures wiis sloughed over by Royal but that possibility exists since the statement by pieJty Niles Tiammcll that "if Hollywood won't make til:ns' e.\c!u.sivcly'!. fc*. Billy Daniels' plavci pact lenewed j ^BC, we'll make our own by Paramount'; ■ ' ■ ': i Royal and the m.issiis. Jane Starr's player option hoi.^ted by P.iramount. ' RKO Sets 8 For April Hollywood, Apnl 4 Total of 11 teatuies will be in work at RJCO dltring Apiil, with eight newies added to the thiee now bcfoie the cameia«:. Added starters ..'.'will .. be.- "Having Wonderful Time.'' ' "Tail'.: in the ■Saddle." ■ "Farewell My Lovely." •■Girl Ru.*." "PunipHin:.She)l.''"L^dy of the Lampi>:.in Lenora Coibett, the oiiginal ghost m "Blithe Spirit," rested for a few daj s at Pebble Beach in the north be- fore letui'ning east. She vpu'npd .-everal film offers, p'lefeii'ng to le- turn east for a new .<;tage jplay. Half-'Naked Genius'? HolljpWood, April. , N«JW' assignment fdiv:Gk(ii.'ge: Vessel fit: 20th»FoX ,is ' the,' .pVO'du0iO,W '-*'': "The ,Naked Geaiusi',*, m'ttj^iciil, thored by Gvpsy Rose Lrc »-nd P.ctwnal Fiom 'staged by George S Kaufnian. the East' and a Lum & Abner film, [ Picture will be icleased under • still untitled. tnot-so-nude titJie, "Here's a Ki'-s"