Variety (May 1946)

20 PICTURES Wednesday, May 1, 1946 Medico Urges Feature-Length Pix On Cancer as Means to Fight Disease Albany, April 30. "A first class, feature-length mo- rnin ilii-mrc on cancer, produced for Ci'ix'i'.il i cleasc in theatres, would i" ;he most effective educational medium for saving lives that lias ever been devised." So' Dr. Morton M. Levin head of the cancer con- trol division in the N: Y. Stale Health Dept., declared. He was com- menting, on a statement made by Tex McCrary, on the "Hi, Jinx" pro- grain over. WEAF, that "if David O. Selznick were to devote the same time as he did for 'Duel In the Siin' to making a motion picture teaching people how to fight.cancer, he prob- ably could save 100,000 lives." Dr. Levin said that he did not know whether 100,000 lives could thus be saved. He was. however, sure that, a topflight picture, with star .value, good .story, careful- pro-' duclion and other essentials, would be a boon to' the campaign against cancer. Most of the available films on the disease, are shorts, of the educational-propaganda type, with non-professional actors.. One of the best. "For Your Health," was made six or seven years ago with a pro- fessional though not a "name" cast. The Health Department's cancer authority believes that an expert film on cancer coiild be so written, produced and acted as to teach the public early symptoms of the disease and thus have potential sufferers go to physicians or clinics for checkup, diagnosis and treatment. Possibly, the story could dramatize the un- folding, through a doctor and a doc- tor's education, of cancer diagnosis. "It would not be easy to produce such a picture, but it could be done, and the beneficial results flowing therefrom would be tremendous," he said. Naturally, consultation, with and advice from cancer experts on the technical side would bo nec- essary, but this could' be arranged, he pointed out. Tho»e H'wood Clowns Couple of writers and a di- rector, in New York from the Coast, were sitting in "21" last week figuring how to rib their, studio. Louis Sobbl 'happened along and one of the trio hud an idea. They were forming an indie production company, they explained to the Journal colum- nist. Who printed the item. ' Rib had every effect the trio expected—but in spades. Phone calls and wires poured in on Ihein from the studio, which eveu now isn't sure whether to believe the truth, that it was all just a gag. Flack Gets Prod. Post Hollywood, April 30. Tngrid Bergman's press agent. Jo- seph H. Steele, got himself an as- sociate producer chore with Enter- ! prise'. I Steele will work with David Lewis |-on production of "Arch of Triumph" I in which Miss Bergman stars. I Sky's the Limit for Metro Promotion; New Dirigible Stunt for East Coast Theatres' $3,500,000 In Cancer Campaign Film industry's cancer drive, uhich wound- up in most houses Sunday (28), is considered one of the most successful ^drives yet under- taken by the trade, despite the fact that it had probably more, pre-eam- pai^n opposition from exhibs than any similar venture. Drive will probably net the Amer- ic: n Cancer Society between $3,000,- 000 and $3,500,000, according to Allied Midwest Exhibs Rebuff ATA Overtures; Await C1EA Chi Huddles Minneapolis, April 30. . North Central Allied has refused to put the stamp of approval on the American Theatres Ass'n at this time. The local independent exhibi- tors' organization directors, after hearing John J. Friedl and others urge cooperation in lining up the territory's- independent exhibitors behind ATA, decided to wait until the Conference of Independent Ex- hibitors Associations passes on the body at the Chicago meeting May 23 and to be governed in its attitude toward ATA by the CIEA decision. Others in addition to Friedl who "pleaded for North Central Allied co- operation were Gilbert Nalhanson, ATA regional chairman, Harold Field and Harold- Kaplan. Nathanson. Field and. Kaplan are independent exhibi- tors and, with Friedl, represented this territory at the St. Louis meet- ing. Claiming that ATA would be a producer-distributor controlled or- ganisation, North Central Allied re- fused to send any representative to St. Louis. . NLRB Rules Par Must Reinstate Engineers Trying to Unionize Washington, April 30. An fffc$tB examiner has found Paramount Pictures guilty of. dis- charging George A. Heap and George A. Gary for union activities and has recommended to the Board that: 1. The two men be. rehired by Paramount '■,"without prejudice to their seniority, and other rights and 'privileges"; and 2. The men be reimbursed for any losses of income suffered during the period of their discharge. ." The findings, released . Friday (26) by NLRB, involves organizing, activities on behalf of the Technical Engineers, Architects' & Draftsmen's Union, AFL. Both men were employed in the Par engineering department. Heap was hired as a structural engineer on Dec. 27. .1944, and discharged April 20, 1945. Gary was hired Jan. 20, 1945, and discharged on March 31. 1945. William E. Spencer, the NLRB ex- aminer, claimed in his report that there was no merit in Paramount's. contention that Gary was discharged for incompetence and that Heap quit by mutual agreement. Kinda Forgetful William Morris agency execs are still. trying to- complete a deal for Martha Rnye for. the. forthcoming Charlie Chaplin pic. Morris men say the deal isn't concluded yet and illustrate why. . LaA week they called Nick Condos, Miss Raye's husband and business manager, at noon to talk the matter over. Condos, seem-. ingly just out of bed, promised to write a letter of acceptance.. Later he was called again and reference, was made to the pre- vious call. "I never got the message " Condos swore. UA MAKING PIC ABOUT ST. L NEWSBOYS HOME w. St. Lou is^ April 30. William M. Rankin, former native and now a .screen script writer, is back in his old surroundings gather- ing material of Father Dunne's Newsboys' Home which will be made into a UA screen opus start- . _. .. . . , . ; ing next September. Rankin who A, Steffes, former independent tripled "Boys' Town," said that UA has budgeted $1,500,000 for the pic and will put Pat O'Brien and Philip P. Ryan , in the lead roles. - World precm of the new picture will be in St. Louis "with all the trimmings." John S. Leahy, local attorney and director of the News- boys' Home board, is lending a help- ing hand. exhibitor, leader here and a North Central Allied director and "ad- viser," counseled against having any- thing to do with ATA which, he said, was "a good thing," but only •for distributor owned and controlled theaters. He called ATA a distribu- tors' theatre circuit organization. Tn trade circles this Week there were reports that ATA will disregard North Central Allied and go ahead initial reports, received. Sum is Immediately and attempt to organize nearly 30% of total $12,000,000 goal I lhe 'territory's : independent exhibi- sct by the Society. Since the in- ; l0IS - -Fried!, told North Central A] dustry's share in-all previous drives was set al about'5%, the campaign collections were considered outstand- ingly successful. Individual collections in each the- atre were running from 37-40% ahead o'C those in the most recent Red Cross and March of Dimes cam- paigns. Reason for this, according to-'.with him. industry execs, is the fact that there's probably not a family in the country that's be.cn untouched by cancer and the audiences reportedly welcomed the chance to contribute Bomcthing to combat the disease. lied directors there would be no con- flict between ATA and North Cen- tral' Allied, that ATA would benefit the industry in the territory and that it would be advantageous for independents to affiliate with it. The North Central Allied directors, however, refused to see eyc-to-eyc FILM CHECKING HEAD ALSO WITH UN BODY Isador Lubin, recently named head of Confidential Reports Inc.. has been lapped for a post with the United Nations Economic & Employ- ment Commission. Lubin, who ac- cepted the non-paying part-time job st the behest of the Stale Dcp't. will continue directing CRI's activities. Laitcr company handles checking of the: trc grosses for most of the ma- jors. UN commission's huddles started Monday .(29) with Lubin sifting in as' an expert in the field. He formerly was Commissioner of Labor Statis- tics for the Dcp't of Labor. Bateman Going Inlie Hollywood, April 30. Francis A. Batemnn,. Republic's Pacific Coast district sales-manager for the past five years, cut loose SIDNEY ALEXANDER SET FOR N.Y. SELZNICK SPOT Sidney Alexander, advertising manager for Columbia Pictures, is understood set for the eastern pub- ad spot with David O. Selznick. Announcement is slated to be made next Monday (6) after he huddles Columbia vecpec Nate Spingold. due back from Hollywood on Friday. Alexander will succeed to the job! made vacant by the recent resigna- tion.of Bob Levitt. There will be another addition to the Selznick eastern promotion de- partment at the same time. New appointee, Jim Eastman, is from outside the film industry. With com- pletion of the task of lining up the two execs, Paul MacNamara. Selz- nick's top. flack,..-will return to the Coast from New York this Week. Selznick, who has been vacationing in Miami Beach, will also return to the Coast this week; with flying schedules determining whether he will go directly from Florida or via New York. National Screen's 1st Int'l Sales Convention National Screen Service, Herman Robbins president.vwill hold an in- ternational convention, first of its kind, in New York at the Waldorf Astoria May 2-3-4. Delegates will include member's of National Screen Service, Ltd.. of London. Conclave will also be the first since lhe war at which all domestic branches of NSS will be represented. Trailer company is . bringing in branch managers, salesmen and key- personnel from all of its 31 ex- changes in this country. Joint man- aging directors from London- who will attend are John R. McPherson and Arnold Williams. ATA's Philly Chances Seen Cued to Allied Chi Convention Stand Philadelphia, April 30. How far the American Theatres Association will get in the Philly territory will depend to a great degree on what stand Allied will take at its national convention in Chicago on May 23rd. That's the consensus of opinion among exhibs following- a meeting Thursday (25) at the Ritz Carlton Hotel called by the ATA for this area—first regional meeting held, Approximately 75 exhibs, representing 300 theatres at- tended the session. Reaction was about evenly divided. There was no open opposition oh the floor of the meeting, but mem- bers of Allied ..of Eastern Pennsyl- vania, comprising the biggest or- ganized group of indies, said they could not commit themselves on ATA until their organization formu- lates a policy. A meeting of the board of direc-. tors of Allied is expected to meet next week upon the return from Florida' of Sidney E. Samuelson, business manager of the local or- ganization. He had gone South on doctor's orders. A resolution, was offered by former Postmaster General 'Frank C. Walker and passed by the meet- ing that a committee be appointed by Jay Emanuel representing all groups of exhibitors to "look further into the ATA question," Emanuel said he would postpone appointment of this committee until after the Al- lied convention. The picture here is expected to be clearer at that time, Emanuel said. Lcwcn Pizor, president of the United Motion Picture Owners (UMPTO) said that he favored ATA but stressed that he was speaking as an "individual" only and not in his official position. Representatives of i the Warner Bros, circuit attended but made no commitments. Variety Clubs' Top Honor To Gen. Evangeline Booth Gen. Evangeline Corry Booth, former international leader, of the Salvation Army, has been selected as the 1946 .recipient of the Variety Clubs' Humanitarian award, in .rec- ognition of her "unusual service rendered to and in behalf of world- wide humanity." Gen. Booth will be presented with a silver plaque and a check for $1,000 at the Hu- manitarian Award banquet in the Hotel Astor, N. Y.. on May 18, which will climax the Variety Clubs' four- day national convention. Gen. Booth was selected by a com- mittee composed of 70 . newspaper and magazine editors and publishers, radio commentators and others, none of whom is a Variety Club member. She reportedly won hands from the company on June 1 to tic since 1942. Prior to-fhrU he was an ®" un< M scl ° se «' indie pro- account exec on the N. Y. Journal, "" x j advertising media and radio director down in (he final balloting. Former Alexanclcrhns boon with Columbia recipients of the award were Father Edward J. Flanagan. Martha Berry, Dr. George Washington Carver, Sis- i let- Elizabeth M. Kenny. Cordell dilution unit He formerly was! .connected with | of the! Buchanan ad r.gency, v.p. of Hull and Dr. Alexander Fleming/ Metros L. A. office and then; H. M. Kicsewetter ad agency and - - h switched to Rep in 1935 as branch v.p. of the Weiss & Gellcr agency manager there. I handling the Col account. Gen; Booth, now 80, is the daugh- ter-of the late Gen. William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army. m AND CHI PIX CRIX MAKE PREVIEW PEACE Chicago. April 30. Everything is sweetness and light , here this week as far as Chicago's I him reviewers and Balaban & Kalz I are .concerned.. "The - circuit had banned the crix from previews a few weeks ago with the oft-reprised plaint that reviews are often unfa-, vorable because Jhe scribes don't got audience reaction when they catch private showings.: Coincidcntally a number of distributors made an agreement with B & K not to screen anything for the press either Shortly thereafter it became nn. tlceable that the dailies were suf- fering from "crowded conditions" where reviews of pix opening in a 8c K houses were concerned—not to mention downright antipathy to a number of. the post-Easter offer- ings—with the crix privately open- ing the early mornings in Loop first- runs were much more painful than private ones because of the peculiar kind of audiences that turn out that early. Circuit's first peace feeler was an invite to attend a parly for some of Chi's "original Ziegfold girls" and the subsequent screening of "Ziegfeld Follies." So ends another vendetta—till the next time. Most spectacular advertising stunt' yet employed by a film concern will be inaugurated around July 4, when Metro sends a giant ex-Navy dirj. giblc into the air-with advertising copy on its sides visible for more- than five miles along the. Atlantic seaboard. New ad venture was un- veiled last week by Howard Diet*, Metro yeepee, who worked out the deal with Douglas Leigh, prexy of ' the Leigh Sky Advertising Corp., which has developed mast of the so-called "spectacular" Broadway signs. Dirigible, four times the size of any ever used before in sky ndyer- ' lising, will carry a huge electrical running; sign, 200x25 feet, similar to that on the Times Bldg, N. Y., which will plug Metro pictures! Minimum of 5,000 lamps per side will make tlic sign visible for five miles in all directions. Blimp will ply the skies from 4 p.m. to'midnight daily, with permanent Metro copy, for the daylight hours. Dirigible will cover a territory of 40,000 square miles. Area, which in- cludes, everything between Wash* ington, Scrantbri arid : Hartford, in- cluding lhe metropolitan centers of N. - Y., Philadelphia and Baltimore, has a total population of 22,000,000. Ship, with a top speed of 75 mph., is able to stand still in the-air. Tak- ing advantage of this fact, Metro ad - pub execs plan to install 800,000,000 caudicpowcr . searchlights on the roofs of the Capitol and Loew's State, N. Y., and catch the ship in its powerful crossbeams. "It may cause a few stiff necks," Dietz said, "but it will make a might pretty picture." Metro'i Entire Tab Metro is paying the eiltirc. tariff on the stunt, but Dietz refused to dis- close the cost. Present deal '.with Leigh has been set for three years, with periodic options. Dietz said that he hoped eventually to be able to put three such dirigibles in the . air at the same time to assure maxi- mum coverage. Ships will be able to fly at heights established by the Civil Aeronautics Authority, which calls for a mini- mum 2,500-foot height over midlown Manhattan, but only 1,000 feet else- where. Dirigibles will be handled entirely by ex-Navy personnel, un- . der the direction of Karl L. Lcnge. former Navy captain, who was chief of staff-to Admiral Charles Roscn- dahl. First Metro picture to be adver- tised in the skies will be "The Creen Years." Ad copy will be changed about oiic'e weekly, Dietz said, and the electric sign at night will also carry the names of the stars. Ships will also be equipped to carry spc- . cial messages, such as one plugging a Red Cross campaign, and will be used to flash outstanding news events to the public, if the occasion ever warrants it. Special ship-to-ground phonos will allow the crew to main- tain constant contact with its .station. Dietz is already lining up other uses for the huge blimp, as further advertising stunts. One such stunt he invisages is the holding of special invitational screening aboard ship for new Metro pictures,Which will be done through the use of 10m pro- jectors. Leigh has- bought three such dirig- ibles from the Navy, but the other two will be reserved for advertisers outside the film industry. Meredith Stays for 'Doll' Hollywood, April 30i ".- Burgess Meredith has called off his trip to England to become a presi- dent of the U. S. A„ in proxy, as James Madison . in "The Magnificent Doll," a talc of early days in the White House. Pictures goes into production May 15, with Skirball-Manning produc- ing for Universal release. Hacketts' Legit Musical I Hollywood, April 30. Albert Hackelt and his wife, Fran- ces Goodrich, Paramount scriplcrs, will write.an original stage musical,' i as yet untitled, to be scored by Kurt Weill. . | Weill will start work on the music i after first completing the musical version of Elmer Rice's "Street I Scene" for Dwighl Wiman.