Variety (Feb 1946)

4 priTiiiii:^ Films Rated in Top 10 Raibad ImprovemeRts in N. Y. Central Poll Wt'tlneeJay, Fcln'uary 6, 1916 Effects Oscar Entries Hollywood. B'eb. .5. Jon IToi'-liolt At.iflemy piow giiiTOUiWed five onl.icS;fo>'"^ pft'ecls, .division of (he .Q,seiir D^vby.;' Nomiiiatious are: C.tptain Eddie ' 20tn-Fo\ "Spt-U- b:oUiUi,'' . Sel 7. iVi i;ic ■.lutcniHtioiuU; Thiy Wcic EsuoiH.iblt ' M«tio, •-A Thousand and One NinlKs', Co- hmihi 1 .md Wondtji Rtiiii,' S.nmicl G'lifdwyiiv jimofts!; I He ttvjj' ](): ., inijjj'rtvcxvit'nts. favaix-d/Cdi'/jiw, trains itj it^ con- , diidcd by the New Yoilc CeiiU.il | Rai 1 road among . 10.000 coach and | Ptilbiinn .i)ii.sRfcns'Gi;s. Addition . of j, p'H'Vure.'' oh :t!fi)in,s. to ,iTlit:yc. 'the i' todi.uni. o.t long■ I'idcs wa.s prccodod;! in. pi'cfei'encc ,a.iily^ by sneh , .«oiid . ■comfoi'l.s lii*. aii'.-copditioning ;ii|i.d bcl-:' 111 hcatinK Gciuipmcnl I Inipit-.-cd by the Mn\ov le-u'K toftfli'-ht N.Y. Crnti'pl (-'xecs ,a.re now, ' ct)ii,stdoi;in.i£ the t'otolbilily .(it install- ing projectivr eciiiipbient' in . (utCti'c . volliiv^ .slo.ck.;. :ii I'aHi'.Oiid olVic'ial |^ stated. , hecision on tiln^.s and otiici' Iravcfiin'; frills is now in the hi-nds ' ef: thtr Piii.i«Cj|i!cr Ti:ansp()rtiitioii Uc- j ;sp:u-cli ConVmittee .sci up - bv the |' railroad :10 . map the ncsV ti.-ain. iay-* [ •■puts.' ^ . : ' "■. ■' i Committee is \veishing tlie relative . advantay:es ;of ■ H.^ nim. and Iti ..nDn. j projectors, as \veU -.ii,<, sore«>ns ithi-i minafc.d £r.oni .the.' rejir. .. Pro,iectors i would be li^ Jhe. club 1ounj;cs with . the. chitir.s rcai'ransctl'. iii ..theatre j fashion Cais mav be built vpceuUy vith a p^imincnt pioiCLtoi bo\ as p<=il ol the li\tui£s, A Ccntial of)i- cial vnd. Chief amonl the 'tii.rficullie.''..that: the rEili-bati fiete is the; hiring of pvo- .ieclionisis under union rules. : Un- i . .. '., .,: ,, ■ ; -v i i dc.MOod inu p,e-wai ne.,ol,..t>ons ' .f""* '"f \" alon. s nilu hnes Ull thiou-h when ' "'f ' ''"^"^'^ ^oal ot 10 000 bookm^. the uni6n:3ns;sted upon a mimnH.m f^^*;''°:<^^^ ot two Uulluiie p.ojecl.oniMs at '•^VL''^ i , theat.. waae seaUs Question „f ri>^l"bl.ted t.et to the exhibs loi the i.\ail bility of piodtiet has also l ^l^'^'^- Y'^'T'V"' '"Poi'-oied b> ihe . . National Conference . Of Christian.s Bccau.'se of the steel strike, rolling j .stock W'iil not be turned o,.«t ,in .tjuan- [ ' S'^onras also announced the list tili' until the fall; ,I>ctor then to be^I who will serve on. the m-: considered will be the trafUc sit- I du.Mi-y s advLsory eonimiltee tor the uatioti, v,uh the ehancc! ot initiation I "o«-k List imludes ofTiciaN ot nil Nearly 5,000 Exhibs, 800 Radio Stations, In Brotherhood Pitch Spyros. p.: Skoui'as., national chiiir- Mvan ^ot. tli<jmoiion pi<'turc iirdiistry convniitted for Aijieriiian: Brotlier- hood w'cek . ;iFeb. lt>-24V, .has an- liounecd' that nearly ii.OOO . exhibs ha\',e signed to scro.cn "The Amer- ican :Creed,' three-minute trailer pioduccd sidti.s bv D..')vtd O. Sel/nick and featiirm!^a4J-awav of name- stars. Skouras said that btanch maivai'-. CIS \n e.%ehanKCS thioin{hoiit the Picture Industry in Koerner Tribute; RKO Veepee Dies in Hofly wood At 49 MOLLY PICOW 0|"'i!i;"K."ntv;T,'(!>>\v'K'. Sti^^ . . w <>«>li I'l-riruiity li li Direction: Wm. Morns Agency Mllil^Vail.flg't^ilif'ilt .I.VI'OK KAI.K'II .1 1 ni;vwrsJty, l*lai'i»: .N«w\orlc ■ Depmet Vice Koerner Hollywood. Feb :^ Xcd Depmet, RKO Had o Pic- tuie.s prexy. is understood to be a po.ssible successor to Charles W, Koeinei as company s pio- duLtion chief. Depinet is known to hcive a yen fol the spot, lleAutune, WjUiant Do/,iei, who was e\ec aide to Koeinei, is takinii thaige pio tem Depmet was slated to leave Hollywood lor New, York over the w eekend but is stay iiik on at the: sti'idib, . .Nv Petet ftathvon, R1\0 toppei", is also remaining. of films much sicalei if the com- pany IS loicod to go aftei business by gad^etins truins. Move would be ■ part ot rill campaijin to ward oft inroads.-of motor cir and plane travcllms* which hit the iron liorsc hard in pre-war day.s. Tunes Reach Peak Long Before Pic's Release, Nip B.O.; Metro Balks Repeat Opinion among Mefo production Und di.<tiibulioii toppei'.« that ' Har'- vey Gi.rls' would ; be hittina oven better grosses than it's .now yetting if the ''.Atchisoii, Topoka and Santa Fe" limo hadn't pa.ssed its puptilavity j peak .-'11 Ions; before, rele>).se of tV)c filni, has them, determined' it won't happen avin Cuiienl -ituatioji is' an exact duohcatc ot what oceni icd \ on "Meet Me in .Sti XjouW' w'ith j "Trolley .Sona" a year ajio., Afler. the "Troriey Sons" incident. ' Metro .•'Cut a rcpiof ii-; mu. ic pub- • lishin.^ intorcsi^ to the .(J.oa.-t to act as a permanent Uaison and prevent, repet ition. By the fi.mc: luV .arrived.: i howe\c*" S .nta Fc \ s lowoall-i inn to 1 Jio and d sk popiil.iiitv and ' .it wa.i too .Uite to stojj. 11's. order's i are c'.ci.r kn- the t'titi-n'p, ht)w't*\'(r. I "Harvty QirLs'' is only now' .-lart- ' , ing info W'i('e%cij1(; retra.-c. Fi.ist ' . Miisic; th" publii^hcv, Is pliiy.L'in.!! !. • '. ''Santa Fc'' hijr ;it is be-; . j^inning tiv'rivfiyei/zbut: wptieai'i'd in ■ none uf the poptilaritv lists m I ,'^AiilHTY Ip.-'t .w'oetiV.'the i50,l^i:^l;l\« .mo.st ^ . played tin th^- air. 1(1 bc.st -iiV'ct mii.'^ic i : sellGr.fi and the 1,0. be.''f-.<"llcrs on I ■ coin machires. ', ■" ■ ■ -v; | Balaban Huddlinj> With 'Ike' On Pix lor Germany Barney Balaban ]j t buk iion a vacation m Floritla. \\'S\s .schetiuled to go to WHs.misiton M;sterf>ay fT.ifs 1 111 time loi a coiil«o with Ge etal Etsenbow (i to(»\ iWeo ) regJKlaig films (n be oi^tnoiittd in Occupied F.uiope Ealaoaii hi ad' the innustiy tommiltce hantilih'^ 'this situation,': ■■„" , ■'■ ' CommilteE is- iindei'slood (o be especially inltu-tcd m olji. in n ■ Biii>.nho\vci's MOW point u .iidin the type of sj'oen pioriiat to bi shown m occupied Ccimany in tlu future. . ■ phases of the him- indii.stry , A -seriC-S 'of .oncrtiliniite : .spot an- nouncements recruiting tne top names in show business, both in the casi , nd on the Coa-t aie sthedulcd to be cut tomorrow i7 v in New York and Hollywood, with the recordings to be shipped to 800.stations throuah- out the countiy The vpofs are be* nig pluttei-ed in connection with Brotherhood Week.. - . Knlistment of the film, radio, legit stars was done under .superx'i.sion of Williiim S Palcy, CBS boaid chair-: man. who us national radio chairman ! lor Brotherhood Week. I In addition; to the spot,';, some 15- I minute recorded shows are at.so be-. I ing mulled for cullo distribution I among the statioii.s. L. A. to N. Y. Milton Biow Saniniy C'aiin ■Ilernian Cition K.ic'hKrd CoiUe Percy eornwell Russel Cronse ; . Gloi a D( Haven Betiv Garrett. Leonard H. Goldcnson .!.' n'cs ,R. G,rain:;er ' Mani'oo Greenllial ■ Walter Cross : Mo.Jeph Ilazen , Bt'ii llechi ■ ■ Ben Mii;,gins Kclward U Hynian. ClKU'les Levy Albci't Lcwin D'avo L<'Wis .: Howai'fl Lmd.s-jiv Gci-akiine Mavcr Richard Mealand ...)ijG Pasternak ■ .lohii Payne' Iciwaid J Pe^kay Ronjid Reawni Ac 1 lan S;imis>h Kobeit 5>tc\ons How aid Stiibbins Leonard Vaimers >n J.nie WjmajT M-G*s New Moppethrush Hollywo F< b ') Metro is lintiiji up ii name cast and l.uiiLhing ,i l^uildup fm iM.>i\ Jane Smith, lS-^cal-oUI sin<'ei. in her (U'st starring venture, "Lovo Match.'' P cliiic w ill be piodi cod b\ Liom 1 Ilouscr,. who ■ wrote the original N. Y. to L. A. .Steve Brotdy GUS 'Ey.s.s'(Vll: : Norman ' Freeman Biii-bnra Gray Ji.lni E,' Gibbs; rd\.aid E\eK!t Hnito i :dmr.le!5, ilrw'tii; . ■ ; .. Lou f.,t!\ v K;.bf .'t I'aii.e ■, , .■N'larvin Jicheiick Charles K, Stern Rank Combine In Bell-Howell Equipment Deal Chicago, Feb." 5. CdivtracLs between the. 3. Arthur R Ilk toinbmc and the Bejl & Howell Co weic signed last week in the ill St of what will probably develop into a series of long-iange mo*e!> ainicd toward building vip Rank pic- turc-niukmg equipment. Lnder terms of the deal, complete facilities for tne manutacture of all EWi product.s will be s^t up in Lnghuid bv British Acoustics, in- clutring exchange of research be- twreii tire two companies. Engineers ol tlie Cbi firm will spend several ini-iiihs in the British Isles helping t'l. Bi itons set up equipment M«>aii- wnik". Kimm. distribution rights for K'lIlk products have gone to B&H III relorn for Rank rights to Eiig- lisn distribution; of pix in the B&H Kimm, libraries All right.< in tli(< triniract include British Empire and cciiaui countries in iiurope. and Africa. Arrangemsnl should correct, .shorl- a',0, of eciuipinent currently being sullored by English pic pi;odtieei's. One British exec, visiting this coun- try I'fcently," said'that of tlie fi-ve worn-out , cameras in his production mats, three were under coii.stant re- pairs. Because of equipnient lack, mm' resultant long time in produc- t on. Briii.ih pix cost more to make thi.H a sm*tlar film wouldm the United States. I'l contnveiiting on his '■Honry 'V," Fnippo Del Giudice said during a ('ecfciit visit here that the etjst of prot uciion . was m the vicnutv of .V2,0()0.(M)0. almost twice the output iiecc.a.'^i.ry lor a similar Hollw/ood I 'c, inid that the rca.son was his lack ot cinicia and sound equip- ment. , Screentest Device Used By RKO Scout to Pep Wounded Servicemen Original screentest.S' made by Metro of unkuown.s wlu) later bo-, came stars is bijsis 01! a tiifn being: done by Al Altman. one ot ihe com- pany s vet New York latent scouts; m Arin.y and Navy hospitals around. New 'Voik undei American Theatie Wing au.spices Altman has taken a bunch of the old test leels and spliced better part.s ot each into a 22-niinute film, which he tag.s ''Be- hind the Screen m Hollywood.' , He adds an aiidience-participation gimmick b> taking si\ fcramcs witlT hiPT erfch time he shows the pio and follows the screeiung by bringing a halt-do/.eii of the hospitali/ed \tts to the plaifonn. tor simulated -screen tests He provider each with a one and one-half minute comedy script in .which they \vork.W'tt.ii one' jf the girls as they might if actually being ^neentestcd Each icript cnd^ with a clinch scene. ' . Among names whom .'Vltman fir.st tested are Bob Hope. .limmV Stewart. Frank Morgan. Aim Sotlvern. .loan Crawford. ,Iohn Hodiak. Hobert ■Walker. Charles Coburn. Margaret SuUavan: Henry Fonda. Luia Romay. Rav McDoivald; Franchot Tone and .^va Gardner. FILM CHARITY DRIVE TAKES $1,500,000 Hollvwood. Fel}. ,'). Final report on the t'llm industry's (ii',sl Annual Uniteo Appeal showed total 9ontributions amountuig to $1.-- .117.275.82. iMward Arnold, execu- |ti\e \eepee of the canipaiun <le- cUiicd the loMilt was highly satis- factory in view ol the postwar Icl- I down in charitable giving, and the I recent unsettled labor coiulition.s. ' I Paramount led the studios with j .42ff!'.t21,ti3. Metro was second with i .$22().48fi.:i,*) and 20th-Fox thud with ! $187,146. SPYROS SKOURAS HEADS PIX RED CROSS DRIVE Sipyios Skouras has been named .chiiiVman of the film iniiUstry'.s- piir- liii\.l;(n in t'le sp«<ttal Reu Cioss di..\c Alaich 14-.ai. He v ilfoe aided by Ritk Ricket.son as txeciitue s.s- sistant.' ■ Bill KuppBr; 20thi-Fflx sale.? cliier will, be 'chaii'irian ot the distribiitor, <ii\.sion lit the campaitn Neil ^^,nc\^ Stl/nck \ p aid .sale-man- ager, w:ill be chuirrrian of' corpora^ tioi-'.ilts riivsoii, and Cnailcs Stil. lei 2(/'h-Fo\ pub-ad cnitf, \ II be publicity ht.d foi the pix irtivif'iiohv' ;;■'•"'■,'.■■'■■■.:"■,:,'■■ ";■ ':■■ l<>t rcmtne in Vrt<s Outfit Cinema Chaptei of American 'Vct- (i.ns Committee inducted its flisl woman number. M<>joi C.iiolinc Es- -■t\ shoilly to be icle.ised from the WAC, at a meeting .it the Hotel As- for, Jf. y., U-st week. CONTE'S EASmN SHOTS Biil-iaid Contc, w lio has lust tin- , ishcd uoik in 20th-Fo\ Somewheie in tl-e J^'i.ght," is .s'kcdded to arri\'e in I New York no.-ct Monday 111 > for | apportrance in the company s /ilm,-I Rue M.uleleiiie." A factual Indie Political Group Nixes Nazi Pix Release Sliong objection to release In this country of Nazi-maile Itlnvs .sei'/ted during the war was made last week bv the Film Division ol the Iiulc- pendepl Citizens Committee of the Ans. Sciences and f-'roiessuin.s'. Re.so- lution by the group, in New York, eiipresscd support of Hep. Lmaniiel Ccller.s bill iH R 'iOilD piohibil- mg the Alien Property Custodian from relca.suig the pix. Fi\e commiltees woie set up at the meetinss Documentai v and Edu- cationalMax Youngstein. Irving Loin<i LcoIIulvMt/ William Well' Will, id 'Van D\ke Cciisoiship - ,Jack Harrison. .John Lenauer. .fonas Rosenfcld. Publu it v~ Gc oi ge Gomp- cit.s, Jcit Living-ton, M.uie Slate Jeiry Evaius, Birty Ftiedbeig. Mtm- beishlp — Hank LinH, Gtoigt Fia/Ki, ton Ha\s Ltiiauei, Fi- ll, nee— Geoige Compel ts, J.ick Btrk. Charles Ryweck- BoMey Ciowther, N "V Timfs critic and acting division chairman. pte.--i(lf;d at the meeting.which, also paised a lesolution and namtd a committee to suppoit sinking labor 4- Hollywood, Tel) 5 Fimeuil seivices for Oiailts \v' Koemei, 49, RKO exec veepee ov.i- pioduttion,. who died her* Sunriair moiniiig (2), weie h*W totta^- tlucsday) ui the Ctunch of the Re' ' cetsionai at Foiest Lawn Rev j Hcibeit Smith, of the Br\eily jj,]]':! Episcopal Chuich, officiated Cie, nirtlion followed the sellKes r)< .ith ot Koemei, who had bdn im f„f .scveial weeks, was atlnuu td to leukemia. , ■ Leading offlciaLs fiom all oiant' cs of the industiy attended the sei\ii,,g to pay final respects to the rko ihiif The RKO .studios and lie. New Yoik hofne otOce wtie ilo id 'lutsday in tubute to him \ meet- ing of the boaid ot ihe Assn o[ Motion Tittuie Piodiiccis LhednlK.f toi Monday (4), Was postpontri a wo(k because of Koeinei s dtaih.: Membcis gathcied tor a shoit mod.-' ing and passed a resolution of s\ mJ pithv for the Koeiricr lamiiy B\m)!i' Pi lc Mr.\A vecp<;o, also cancelled a -(heiliiled pres.s copfoi'pnic F!o\d B Odlurn, chniiman of the I boaid; N Petei Batluon.RKO pu v\, I and Kcd E. Depifict, pit/ ot KKO I Radio Issued a lo'int staiemmt [Monday i4i on Kotiieis di .I'h ( BKO execs lauded Koerner a.s ■•iine j of the be.st liked and , i-e.^iiected |e\ecuti\ts III Hollywood,' adding I that 'his faMuC'S, kindness and will- I ingnos.s to share with olheis the I lienor of achievement enabled hnn I to build', a capable and loyal organi- :,?;atio)i—to all of whom his deaih j means not only the loss of an iihlc I leader, but , tile ,pa.s.sing of a true ; friend.'' , '. - " . I Kiicrner Hiad been in charge of : I prbitiiction activities at RKO fnr.the I ;u.sl four year.s-.. Born i,u New Ol'leaas I St pi 10, 1896, ho spent most ol Ins j lite 111 sh&w -biisiness,', .staTtmg to work in theatres as a bov after school. aiKl during vacatiiiii.s. At'lci: attending' Sliattuck Mililary Acad.ciiiy I ill Minnesota,, he began l,iis career, I bv operaiiiig a small motion picture, hou.-c. which he 'libld, to rcnli.st .in . ■ World- War I.:; ' ' I Follow ing tne war. Koerner .served ' a.s branch manager fotf the .l,en.«eii:, i and von Ilerberg circuit m the- I Piicific Northwest and in 1!I25 be-,, caiii.p part .own.ei" and genera 1 '-maiit-'' agri ol the Geoige Mann ch.ini in j CalironUa.'; When tli<! latttr; was'/ i si)ld to Itiighes-FranKlin in liKli. He I becanie personal rep for llanilii B. Franklin. ; WhtMi Franklin took Over as, RK'O . I prp.vy, Koerner went with Jiiin aiid j was, placed; in charge of tlica-l.re' tip- I erations It), tJiOi .soothw,<'st. In 1939 |ie w.s transfcried to Califonm I after heading operations in .New : , England and New York, and ,m 1)141. , I u as. named general manager of the } RKO circuit. FolloW'ing year he was appointed exec vecpce ox er ■ pro- duction. . 1 Surviving are his. W'idow. Vi\'imr,, ! Koerner: his father, and itepmoilvf'", : Mr and Mis John Koeinei H.nu, i Mo.nt. . ■„ curnia based upon tecord^ in the Of- fice ot Stiategic Services, the tilm \ ill h.ue many scenes shot in the e. t Louis de Rochemont is piodiKing anU Hfiiiy Hathaway ducctinjj. CBOSBY'S ROACH DEAL Hollywood, Vvb 5, - Bing Ciosby Pi odiict ions is 11 ,idy to close a deal foi spa<e tin the Hal Roach lot foi the lilnung of Abies Iiish Ro.se," sUlecl to slait in Maith Fririi> Sutheiland is mie in tioin New York this week to assume dnu- ble choies as directoi diid to-pro- ciucei:. Posthumous Hero's j Award to Schaefer Son I Thc ' Bronie Star . medal f»"' hc™i'^ 1 conduct lias been HWiij-dc'd, pestj jhumously to Lt. James :;Geriir(i/ .Schrtdti <:on of Gtoige J Sch.tln, I foimei piesiddut of RKO and ih. n- man of the Wat Aetnities Comiiiit- Itee. now engaged; In financin*? ftii"? 111 New" York. , , ,; tt. Schaefer'iBlMil^ery■ o^l■t^;er ,^vltl^ ■ the 82ii(i Airborne divLsion, was. \ killed; in ■•action :lri,,,Noritviintly , m, Atlanta Bans 'Scarlet' Atlanta Fib ■! : 'Tinivcrsal's; "Scarlet'; .Strett" .l;f' been banned by 'Christine SiJiitl,i,:tiiy ceiisor here, basing hci,' a'ctitiin ,<ii,i m,-; icgcd A'iolations of ".several pha^p bt the.code 61 decency and prn:!)!',!.''!^ on which motion pictuus .ITnt" here are: luoged. " ,. ■, SHe;i<aid tliit ;tlie:nini Mci'ls. ^v'ltri an immoral woman and i' m' -shows the enacjtnient of a. iTiiirdcn and pcriiuls the .inan who (•n.niti.nt.*, She murder to;go uiipuni-slicij e,i|cf'P by hi.s own conscience. U;''; ' tiolis, protahe. ob.socne, and. cii,ni.i»i'..y to the good oioei of the nimniuinlv llmiy G Giaham. soutli<a-l'i" distiicl manager foi Unno'^al s.ii< he was certain tl would lo '•^ the litm passed!,