Variety (Jul 1944)

Wednesday, July 26, 1944 P&RIETY PICTURES Besides Specially Upped Roxy Scale 'Wilson'Will Day-and-Date at Victoria Opening "Wilson" at .the Roxy,4 N. Y... under a wide range of vari- able prices, higher than at present in effect, with a special children's scale also, thrown in, 20th-Fox has concluded a deal taking over the Victoria on Broadway for either day-and-dating with the Roxy, or as a inoveover following the Roxy run- Leasing the Victoria from Maurice Maurer, its owner, provisions of the deal are that "Wilson" can come in there no sooner than Aug. 15 and no later than Sept. 13. It was ne- gotiated in that manner so that 20th, if desiring, could throw "Wilson" into the Victoria while;- picture is still running at the Roxy—this de- pending, of course, on whether there is overflow—or at the tailend or conclusion of the Roxy engagement. Maurer, whose Victoria seats .720 and carries a scale of 60c to $1.10, will operate the house under 20th's leasing deal. It is currently playing "Minstrel Man." Fred Wiring's band will play with "Wilson" at the Roxy. .....The same scale that has been set up for the Roxy will prevail at the Victoria, it's a complex scale and Includes earlier price changes than now prevailing. Where the Roxy now gets 60c to 1 p.m. weekdays, with "Wilson" it will charge 76c to 12 noon and from there, on to 5:30 it will get $1.10 instead of present 80c to 6 o'clock. Pr ice to closing will be $1.50 instead of $1.10. • On Saturdays the 70c scale now applying to 1 p.m. will be increased to 78c but only up to 12 noon, with the price thereafter to closing to be $1.50 instead of $1.10 to 5 p.m. and $1:25, to closing, as now. The Sun- day and Labor Day prices will be $1.20 from opening until 1 o'clock instead of 95c, while from then until shutdown the scale will be $1.50 in- stead of $1.25. At present haying no children's price, one will be set up for "Wilson" for matinees only on weekdays of 60c and for Saturday afternoons as well as Sundays to 5 p.m. of 76c. This same price will apply for servicemen, except that they will get an evening weekday price of 60c and 76c Saturdays-Sundays, "whereas there's to be no children's scale after 5 pirru This represents a slight increase for those in the armed forces since the prices now are 35 and 50c weekdays and 50c Saturdays and Sundays." . .' While expected that "Wilson" will be marketed at advanced admission prices nationally and sold singly, the selling foices have not been advised what the terms will be nor when the "go signal" may be given. This probably will not occur until after the film has opened at the Roxy, Being given a special premiere the night of Aug. 1, prices for that per- formance will be $1.50 and $2.40. A large invitation list, however, will figure. Garnett Makes 'Decision- Hollywood, July 28, Tay Garnett draws director chores on '.'Valley of Decision," the Marcia Davenport story starring Greer Gar- son at Metro, Garnett recently completed "Mr«. Partington;" another Garson star- rer.'"- '' y.' : . •. ■' •'■: • v"'.- •' :'. BRONSTONS 'DECISION' OVER ALPERSON AND WB With E: L- Alperson, and previous- ly Warners, . both stepping out of I negotiations for the screen rights to "Decision," Ed Chodorov's play* | Samuel Bronston has set a deal. . j Alpersoh's negotiations, from ac-.j counts, snagged When it was pro- posed as a condition of the pact that Chodorov was to write the scteenr play and have final say on editing of the script and the film. Alperson asked for two separate pacts, one whereby he would pur- chase the screen rights and simulta- neously another pact with Chodorov to write the screen treatment. Under the terms of this deal, however, Al- person reserved the right of approval on the screenplay and final editing, so that if the Chodorov script was unacceptable, Alperson would have the option of- arranging, for another script. "\. >.-'■>•'.'•'• •' ';•'.•.-: Julien Duvivier is slated to direct "Decision" for Bronston, who has a United 1 Artists releasing deal. Un- derstood that Bronston acquired the property on a profit-participation basis, • . V. . But Few Chosen* Chicago, July 25: . "Many are called but few are chosen," is an old saying that definitely fits.the business of tal- ent-scouting, according to Maur- ice Golden, Metro scout here, and Clarence M. Shapiro, his. predecessor. Golden, in his 18 months here, has interviewed approximately 3,000 aspirants of which seven have had screen tests. He combs the cafes, parochial dramatic ; groups, high school and little theatre groups and Negro aggre- gations, but does not think radio a particularly good field for tal- ent, since a highly paid radio ac- tor or actress shys at taking a cut in salary to break into films. Shapiro, who was talent scout for. Me tro loca lly fro m 1936 un- til 1943, said that he interviewed 50,000 in the seven years, "that 8-12 a year were given tests, and only two of that number got con- tracts,: ; - ' "■ :-".'. ';. :•:•'"'■' "*.'.<' • See $8, Film Classics Rental From Goldwyn, Selznick, Other Oldies Enright Pilots 'China Sky' ^} -. Hollywood, July 25. RKO appointed Ray Enright to di- rect the film version of Pearl Buck's hovel, "China Sky," to be produced by Maurice Geraghty. * •'" Cast for important roles thus far are Carol Thurston, J. Carol Naish and Anthony Quinn. : Bronston Signs Clair .y:-:- Hollywood, July 25. Rene Clair was signed to an exclu- sive producer-director contract by Samuel Bronston as the first move in setting up a new production com- pany, with half a dozen producer- directors making pictures under, the. Bronston banner for release through established distributing outlets:. Clair's first production will be "10 Little Indians," for which Bronston recently acquired screen rights. WB Up Blasky and Damis With Jacocks Out in N.J. Sam Blasky, former head booker for the Warner circuit in the New Jersey terrritory, moves up to be- ( come assistant zone manager in j charge of buying, post formerly held by Frank Damis who last week suc- ceeded Don Jacocks as. zone chief with headquarters at Newark. Ja- cocks takes over a circuit of five houses of his own in Massachusetts Aug. 1. _-,'"- With Blasky advanced, his former job as chief booker goes to Arnold Jordan, a member oft the booking department. Leto Hill, district man- ager for Warners in the Jersey area, has been appointed assistant to Damis over theatre, operations, while Robert Paskow, head of advertising for the zone, succeeds Hill. George Kelly, adveriisihg-publicity repre- sentative for the Stanley, Newark, takes over Paskow's erstwhile duties. SID KULICK MOVES UP IN PRC SALES SETUP Leo j. McCarthy, general sales manager for PRC Pictures, reorgan- izing his. distribution department, ha^ appointed Sidney Kulick to su- pervision of the eastern division. Kulick was formerly in the PRC N. Y. exchange. Fred Rohrs is to supervise the southern division while a western division manager is to be appointed. George Fl'eitman has been ap- pointed McCarthy's assistant'.: in charge of home office operations; John Consentino as manager of the contract department, with William. Kline as assistant; Harry : N. Blair, eastern advertising-publicity direc- tor."^' , ' ■■ ■ Indie's Overdating M-G And U Pix Basis of Suit JK, Yi Federal Judge Francis G. Caffey iast week reserved .decision' on the motion by attorneys for Loew's and Universal Pictures ' to strike out answers, enter judgment by default and refer damages to a Special master in the companies' suit against Sanfrebob Theatres Corp. and Nathan Steinberg, owner and manager of the Grande theatre on East 86th street, N. Y. Suit charged the defendants with playing "Tortilla Flats" and 'Sap Francisco." produced by Loew's and "You're a Sweetheart" (U)' product, more times than license called for. M-G Slates Expose Shorts Ed Norris Back in Pix After 3 Years in Army Hollywood, July 25. \ \ Fake psychics who victimize par- I ents of Gls overseas will form the j basis of first of a series of expose i shorts, to be filmed at Metro, begin-' hnig with "Phantoms, Inc." , ( Harold Young returns to the lot; to direct the series, With Chester! Iranklin producing. j • .. Hollywood. July'25. Edward Norris. after three years in the Army, resumes his film ca- reer with a top Vole in "Night Life'' at Universal. ... Actor_recently received a medical discharge-from the Army air. force. Skouras Circuit Would Stand Off Mgrs.' Union Idea Faced with the prospect of early demands for unionization and a con- tract among its managers, the Skou- ras circuit of 73 theatres in NeV York and New Jersey is reported trying to marshall its forces against such a movement. To this end it has called in managers who are suppos- edly loyal to the chain in the direc- tion Of opposing organization'to see what can be done. .* •-. It's understood that about 75% of the Skouras managers are pledged or stand ready to support plans looking to the formation of a union and application, as a result, for the right to hold an election. Next step following that would be certification to bargain collectively for the Skou- ras managers. Before going further with plans for an election reported the leaders, of the unionization movement are wait- ing to see what will develop in con- nection With the Motion Picture Operating Managers. Assistants and Treasurers, un}on within RKO com T prising these employees. Understood leaders on both sides are keeping in touch with each other and coop- erating. , The Skouras circuit, operating in N. Y. City, Long Island, upstate N.Y. and in northern New Jersey, is head- ed by George Skouras and known as Skouras Amus. Corp. It is involved in several pools. 'FRENCHMAN'S CREEK' SET BACK FOR B'WAY Originally slated to go into the Rivoli, N .Y.. on a world pre-release premiere early in August, "French- man's. Creek" has been set back to Sept. 19 by Paramount; Print of picture, costing over $4,000,000, ar- rived in N. Y. Monday (24) and will probably be tradeshown at an early date/ ' '' } : ': Though "Dr. Wassell" had been scheduled to go out of the Rivoli Aug. 7, as result of a spurt in busi- ness its run has now been extended to Aug. 29 and instead of bringing in "Creek" then. Par has decided to spot •"Till We Meet Again" into the house for a limited three-week en- gagement.: - "Wassell," which started its eighth week at the N. Y. Riv today (Wednesday), finished the seventh at $32,000, a jump of $5,000 over the prior week's $27,000. Benefit of some overflow between the nearby Capital with "Since You Went Away"' and Music Hall with "Dragon SeecT is believed to have figured to some ex tent, though "Wassell" has been very steady right along. •, SCHAEFER'S 20TH PIC INTO N Y. GLOBE AUG. 5 "Dangerous Journey," taken for national release by 20th-F6x follow- ing a deal with George J. Schaefer, who' sometime ago acquired rights to the picture, has been sold to the Globe, N, Y., for first-showing any- where and is tentatively slated to ope/i there Aug. 5. •. Schaefer's deal with 20th, instead of embracing an outright buy, calls for' a percentage of the gross rental. Originally known as "Outposts Un- known," picture was shot in India and other out-of-the-way points by Armand Denis, adventurer-producer, who turned out "Goona Goona" and "Dark Rapture." It was cameraed on a trip taken by Denis between four and five years ago. Film runs 70 minutes arid will probably be included in 20th's second block on the. new (1944-45) season. .. : . U.S. Gets OK to Intervene In Goldman Vs. Warners Philadelphia, July 25. The U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals last week granted the Government the right to act as intervenor in the suit filed by William Goldman, Philly indie, against the Warner interests and the major distributors. The court ordered all parties to file briefs in Goldman's appeal against a Federal Court ruling which dismiss- ed his action for $1,350,000 triple damages. The Appellate Court will then set a date for argument. In asking leave to intervene,'Wen dell Burge. assistant to the U. S. attorney-general, said the outcome of the case will have an important effect on the enforcement of the j Sherman anti-trust act, under which the suit was brought by Goldman, j Goldman claimed that the defend- | ants had conspired to deprive him of first-run product for the Erlanger, midtown house he has under lease. Judge W» lliam H - Kirkpatrick, in dismissing the case last April 8, said that any monopoly—if it existed- was intra-state and did not come un'der the province of the Federal anti-trust legislation. With franchise-holders in Filnv Classics likely to gross an estimated $8,000,000 or more in rentals on Samuel Goldwyn, David O. Selznick, Hal Roach and British-Gaumont re- issues, the George Hirliman parlay of a $100,000 investment into a na- tionwide organization assumed added significance last week. More ex- hibitor groups in various parts of the country have started to make fran- chise commitments. . Bert Steam, representing a groupi. of around 115 theatres in Western Pennsylvania, paid! approximately $75,000 for the Film Classics fran- chise, rights to 25 Goldwyn reissues in that area, with similar deals either already set Or about to be completed in" Ohio and Indiana. Hirliman, Film Classics prexy, with deals closed in 21 exchange areas for exclusive FC franchises, expects to have a total of 28 within the next six weeks.. In all, FC franchise hold- ers reportedly control in the neigh- borhood of 1,540 theatres, either through ownership, or booking- buying combinations, with indica- tions that some 2;000 theatres will be affiliated before the end of the year, ;.':■'. :'•:'•;■;' Reissues, including those from the major companies, are likely to gross an estimated $12,000,000 to $14,000.- 000 this year. Warners, with 10 fea- tures and six westerns reissued dur- ing the past,year, has grossed from $400,000 to over $500,000 with such pictures as "Oklahoma Kid" and "Frisco Kid," while. "Brother Rat" and others also look like, big gross- ers. Outstanding reissue this season has been "Snow White," which is rolling up an estimated gross of $1,- 500,000. • United Artists, Columbia, 20th-Fox and currently Metro are also putting; out re-issues. "Dead End," being re-issued by Film Classics, is heading for a $500,000 gross. '.'■ ■'.•;.'■'-...'-'"' .';'■'' ■...."' ':>-.> ■: Under the arrangement with franchise-holders, when the latter sell pictures on percentage they pay FC on the same basis. In addition to the 31 Goldwyn reissues, seven Selz- nick and 34 Gaumont, Hirliman bought 12 Roach features and ap- proximately 400 Roach shorts, for a total of some $2,000,000. Following up on his releasing or- ganization, Hirliman now plans to start film production in October. Tentative schedule calls for 12 to 14 lower budget productions and four*' "A" productions. N.Y. to LA. Jamos R. Grainger. Felix Jager, Dick Mack. Charlie Miller. ... Bill Ray. Nicholas- M. Schenck. ■ Dr. M.-'M. Tetelman.. ' WB Keeps 27 Stars Busy Hollywood; July 25. Heaviest summer production in five years is registered at Warners, where 27 stars are busy in six features. Barbara Stanwyck, Denni*.Morgan and Sidney Greenstrect are toppers in' "Christmas'in. Connecticut";. Rosa- lind Russell and Jack . Carson in "Roughly Speaking"; Bette Davis in "The Corn Is Green"; Paul Hcnrcid in' -'. "Of Human Bondage"; Errol Flynn in "Objective, Burma." and 17 stars appear'in "Hollywood Catitcen." L A. to N.Y. Schwartz's RKO O.O. Sol Schwartz, g.m. of RKO out- of-town theafres,.»leaves N. Y- for. a Coast hop. within the next 10 days. Plans to. o.b. RKO houses which are scheduled to be renovated, stop- ping-over in San Francisco before returning east. -.•'■:."- : ' Ann Blyth ', " Harry (' Cohen. Anita Colby. . Artu ro de f'ordoVa. . ; Galen Drake..' Geraldine Fitzgerald. Frank Gabrielsott.'-, Sir Cedric Hardwicke Margaret Irving. . :.''"■'.". Jenui-feii Jones. ■ • -,Henry- .King.,' ■ Joan McCracken. .Carmen Miranda. .'--.' . James K. Mul vey.; ' Mni-t Na than son.' Michael O'Shca. N. Peter Rath von. William Schneider. Spyio-, Skouras Jack •-Stewart, Fnihchot Tor:c. Njjte TufV. NaiK'v Walker. 'in rvl. F.. Zar":~'' ; MAJORS ADJUSTING RAW FILM SCHEDULES Raw stock shortage, which became acute during the third quarter ow- ing to labor problems and virtual exhaustion of employees at film manufacturing plants, is likely to be adjusted during the next quar- ter under a schedule being adopted by all major companies. Producer-distributors have under- taken to reduce raw film usage dur- ing this quarter by approximately 52,000,000 feet. Understood that dur- ing each of the preceding quarters the industry has overdrawn its al- lotment by some 40,000,000 feet. Extra footage thus consumed com- bined with need for giving em- ployees in film manufacturing plants (working 72 to 84 hours weekly in some cases) a vacation breather, re- sulted in decision to shut.down some raw film j^.a»MS;3^'t\^*<WWete"T.??'v RKO Studio Commissary Walkout When Gal's Fired : '■' Hollywood, July 25. RKO's actors, execs and techni-, cians had to rustle lunch off the lot yesterday (24) because of a waitress strike at the commissary over the firing of one hasher. Hurried union huddles prevailed upon tray-bearers to return to work today with differ- ences due to be ironed but next week. . V/". 1 ■ Strike, coming just before -noon, caused many top players to go next door to Paramount, while others chased around Hollywood for fodder. Reunion in 'Pastor's' Hollywood, July 25. Irene Manning draws top billing with Ann Sheridan and Dennis Mor- gan in '"A Night at Tony Pastor's," to be produced by Jerry Wald at Warners. .'• Picture is the first for Miss MaRn- ing since her return from her honeymoon.