Variety (August 1950)

24 PICTURES Wednesday, August 9, 1950 Clips from Film Row +♦ + + ♦ ♦ +-♦ + r+ ♦ » + > ♦ ♦♦+♦+♦♦ ♦ 4*4 4 44 4 4 ♦ 4 4 4 4'44 . 44444444 4-4 NEW YORK RKO showmanship awards for Juno were Copped by Harry Dear-, min, RKO Orpheum, Marshalltown, f la., and Louis Grossman, RKO Al- den, Jamaica, L.I. Aside from a certificate, each manager was -hand- ed the customary $25 check. Dear- min won his laurels for staging an Anniversary Week While Grossman, a thtee-time award winner, drew his -prize for his promotion of “Rosie O’Grady ” Films International of America, headed by Irvin Shapiro* granted franchise to Federal Film of Bos- ton for New England distribution of all FI A product. PITTSBURGH With transfer of Jerry Wechsler back to Cleveland to head WB branch there again, Paul Krum- enacker has been upped to man- ager of company’s exchange here. Jack Kalmenson, West Virginia salesman, steps into Krumenackr er’s old berth as sales chief. When William Skirbali reopens the Barry next month after sum- mer shut-down, Mannie Greenwald, who piloted house since Skirbali took it over several years ago, will not be back as manager, He re- signed to run the gift shop. Leo Wayne resigned as booking manager at Paramount and A. Har- ry Passarell, office manager, re- sumed that post. Wayne has been on Film Row for more than 25 years. Lou Averbach, formerly with Par here and later in Cleveland, as the late Harry Goldstein’s assistant, in- to N. Y. television agency field. Stewart Jacobson, salesman, in this territory for Eagle Lion trans- ferred to the company’s Cincinnati branch. Roseanne Feinberg left Par to become secretary for Associated Drive-In Theatres. Paul Krumonacker, Warner sales- man, upped to post of branch man- ager. MINNEAPOLIS War scare buying of food and other consumer goods believed by Ev. Seibel, Minnesota Amus. Co. official, reason for further slump in theatre grosses. ^ Ralph Cramblett, recently re- signed as United Artists district manager out of Chicago, back as branch manager here, a post he occupied for many years. Eddie Stoller, who was branch manager* returns to sales staff; Northwest Variety club held annual golf tournament at Oak Ridge club. President J. L. Morrill of Min- nesota U in letter to Art Ander- son, Northwest Variety club chief barker, expresses regents’ appre- ciation to club for its latest $80,- 000 gift to heart hospital project. Ralph Greene, circuit owner, a reserve Marine commissioned of- ficer, awaiting call to duty. Because the boxoffice results were so gratifying when 'an “A 1 picture like “The Asphalt Jungle” was hooked up with the Danny Kaye stageshow, even though the comedian’s first local personal ap- pearance in itself undoubtedly would have been sufficient to get boff boxoffice results, Harry B French, Paramount circuit presi- dent, will utilize the same idea 4 ENGINE DOUGLAS DC-4S Direct from La Guard la and Nawark Round Trip Special 1 STOP CALIFORNIA $80 Z? Ply Now—Pay Latar 1 WAY $88 Miami $35 hbri»*top Chicago $24 Plus Tax St 6 U/ NORTH AMERICAN fW' airlines Make your advance reservations now I BRyant 9-6492 503 5th Ave. (at 42 St.). Suite 100 with his next Radio City stage presentation, Aug. 25. Although Frankie Laine, heading the next stageshow, also is a topnotch draw, French has set in “Duchess of Idaho,” another ace picture, with him. Because of rising costs all along line, independent exhibitors in the territory outside of the Twin Cities feel an admission boost is justified, according to S. D, Kane, North Central Allied executive director. Paramount circuit sold two of its St. Paul downtown theatres, first-run 800-seat Strand and 1,1)50- seat second-run Tower, one more than required to do so under con- sent decree, to Twin City Theatre Corp. independent circuit owner, for ah undisclosed sum. This leaves Par with only two downtown the- atres in St. Paul. In Minneapolis, two downtown houses, Gopher and Aster, have been sold and a third, the Palace, relinquished, but cir- cuit retains four loop theatres; In a message to producers in cur- rent ballet, Bennie Berger, North Central Allied president, warns and threatens distributors to mend their ways on penalty of independ- ent, exhibitor retaliation. His mes- sage advised major company top- pers that so-called confiscatory and Short-sighted sales policies will bring about retaliatory action by independent theatre owners. ST. LOUIS The Empress, a unit of Ansell Bros, circuit, joined Fanclion & Marco houses in refunding street car and bus tokens, to customers who present a transfer when they purchase a theatre ducat. D. J. “Bud” Edele, St. Louis salesman for Eagle Lion, is first man from Film Row to be called into service; he is reservist in Na- val Air Force. In consolidation of duties at Paramount exchange here, Jerry Bahner, booking manager, takes on added duties of office manager, succeeding John B. Koenig, who retired after 35 years. circuit hei’e «recently, as head of theatre department. Directors of the Kansas-Missouri Theatre Assn, will meet Aug. 16 at j Phillips hotel to maktf plans for annual convention Sept. 26-27. Closing of the Roxy, second-rtm of the Durwood circuit, forecasts a battle for major product in the downtown sector. House recently has been operating on dual policy and first Subsequent-run. After several months, policy has proven a losing proposition. House shut down July 29, and will not reopen until suitable first-run product is obtained. CALGARY Officers of Alhorta Theatres Assn, re-elected. aye| president, K. M. Leach, Calgary; vice-presidents, W. P. Wilson, Edmonton, and Doug Miller, Taber; Secretary-treasurer, Roy Chowii, Calgary. Continued irom page 4 BOSTON E. M. Loew back at desk follow- ing twQ-week sojourn at Pratt Diagnostic Hospital for observation of minor ailment. George Kraska, manager of Beacon Hill theatre, on mend at Beth Israel hospital. v Embassy Pictures Corp. signed with Pentagon pictures of N Y. for New England distribution of all Pentagon English pix under the J. Arthur Rank banner. George Cosman, new owner of the Charkorohen theatre in Lin- coln, N.H., remodeled house and changed the name to the Profile. CHICAGO Chi Film Censor Board eyed 67 pics this month, rejected none, but tagged three French efforts as for adults only. Dick Satchel reopened the Rivoli after recent shuttering for renova- tion. Balaban and Katz refused to renew lease held on Manor theatre. | Expiration turns house over to owners, who will probably assume operations. Valos circuit is shuttering the Batavia, Batavia* 111., for summer. PHILADELPHIA Eddie Waitkus, ballplayer who made national headlines as the victim of a gun-toting gal in Chi- cago, approached by Universal about a film biog. Korean war situation and con- ditions generally prompted Sidney Samuelson, general manager of Allied, to sound a warning to mem- bers. Exhibs were told to check every item in equipment and supplies, and make replacements at once. They were urged not to overbuy and create a shortage. UI 5-3888 Free Ticket Delivery Hotel St. George B’KIyn Irrcnular Flight* TRAVEL AGENTS RECOGNIZED DALLAS Edward Preston Carleton named new manager of Phil Isley Thea- tres here, replacing Charlie Wise, who resigned to operate his own house at Smithville, Tex. Donald Ray Crow is new owner of the Haskell here, purchasing the house from Don A. Dixon. Roy Devinney recently bought the Palace at Plain Oak from Dr. A W. Odell. pus designations, CPI shareholders named Sam Pinanski, Boston cir- cuit operator, as board chairman; Lightman, prexy; Cowan, v.p ; Ben: Trustman, Boston film attorney, secretary, and Fred Schwartz, New York chain op, treasurer. Session was held in Schwartz’s office, which will serve as headquarters for the group. Added to the board were George Skouras and Sam Rinzler, both New York theatremen. Also on the directorate are all Ihe-pfficers plus Si Fabian, Robert Dowling, Frank Walker and Harold Stoneman. They were all. at the session and confirmed their prior agreement to contribute equally to the produc- tion of pix with a novelty angle. Need Strong Distrib It was agreed that there’d be no effort to set up their own distribut- ing agency for the films, but that they should be handled via a strong, established company. Num- ber of distribs have already put out feelers, since the theatres repped by CPI shareholders alone virtual- ly assures success for a medium- budgeted film. Distrib may be named in a week or so. , It was also decided to still fur- ther strengthen the CPI setup by inviting five more circuit ops in various parts of the country to give the films national coverage. Invites are going out this week and jiames will be announced as acceptances are received. While the group is committed only for one pic, Cowan’s “The Customer Is Always Right,” which may go into production within a couple months, it is hoped that others will evolve out of this. CPI will go •ahead, it was stated, “just as fast as unique ideas worthy of its financing are presented.” Lightman heard a number of suggestions during his trip and invited ideas from a flock of pro- ducers. He attempted in his talks to wipe away«the popular Holly- wood idea that exhibs are not in- terested in new ideas, but prefer the old tried-and type of pro- duction. In his report on his talks, he told the CPI members that he had attempted to impress on Holly- wood’s creative people that thea- tremen are wide open for some- thing different. They can count on exhib support, he said, in trying radical ideas. Production centre for the new enterprise will be Hollywood, rather than New York as originally planned. Change results from agreement between CPI and the Motion Picture Research Council, industry-supported technical re- search agency, to work together. MPRC engineers have agreed to work with CPI on novel pix it is planning, particularly the three- dimensional. OUTDOOR REFRESHMENT, SERVICE fronCMi* taCaoet [•voir % Cantor? Refreshment Service for DRIVE - IN THEATRES KANSAS CITY Dickinson circuit last week re- opened its Dickinson in Mission, Kans., following settlement of the long-standing suit which it bad filed against the majors. Clare Woods, vet executive of Paramount circuit, joined Durwood ] this year. Bart Sues on Pic Coin Seeking $25,000 for services ren- dered, tenor Jan Bart has filed suit in N. Y, supreme court against Pictorial Ventures and Martin Cohen. He claims that although he attended rehearsals and made recordings in 1949 for the defend- ants’ indie film, “Catskill Honey- moon,” no payment was received. Both Pictorial and Cohen made a general denial of Bart’s charges. Cohen contends that the singer agreed to accept 2% of the pic- ture’s net profits as remuneration, A Yiddish-American musical, the film was released in the U. S. early Hollywood, Aug. 8. Edmond O’Brien rides thataway in Nat Holt’s western, “Warpath,” for Paramount release . . , Pine- Thomas’ “Passage West” will turn three stand-ins into vocal thesps: Jerry Pyne, Marvin Jones and Jean Olsen . .' Stephen McNally will co-star with Coleen Gray in “War Dance” at UI, with Hugo Fregonese directing . . Y. Nestor Paiva drew a comic role in “The Great Caruso” at Metro . ; . Vivien Leigh and Elia Kazan checked in at Warners for their respective chores as star and director of “A Streetcar. Named Desire.” Ludwig Donath, screen father of A1 Jolson in two pictures, is de- veloping a musical father com- plex; he’s now Enrico's old man in Metro’s Caruso story . . . Mau- rice Schwartz planed to Honolulu for a key role in the 20th-Fox pic- ture, “Bird of Paradise.” . ...'Matty- King will double as dance direc- tor and actor in “The Bowery Thrush” at Monogram ,. . . Ralph Cedar’s 40th anniversary in the film industry celebrated by direct- ing the second unit of the “Illegal Bride” troupe, Alan Young signed a multiple- picture deal with Paramount, meanwhile continuing his TV pro- gram . . , Metro assigned Vera- Ellen tb play the femme lead op- posite Red Skelton in “Excuse My Dust” . Lou Nova plays himself as a heavyweight title Contender in “Half Angel” at 20th-Fqx , . . Hugo Haas closed a deal for release of his indie picture, “Pick Up,” through 20th-Fox . . Irving Al- len’s “Return of Gilbert and Sul- livan” runs about 35 minutes and may be increased to 55 if preview reaction is favorable ... Lalo Rios drew a featured role in Pine- Thomas’ “Passage West” . . . Nine girls picked to play airline stew- ardesses in “Three Guys Named Mike” at Metro are Sally Bremer, Jean Charney, Claire de Latorre, Kathleen Dennis, Marie Farnum, Marilyn Gustafson, Marilyn Kings- ley, Marilyn MOchenson and Denise Lemley. Lewis Eachmil assigned to pro- duce “Roadblock” at RKO Paul Landres will direct “Rhyhtm Inn,” musical to be produced by Lindsley Parsons at Monogram . . Paul Stevens Productions bought Martin Mooney’s radio play, "The Combination,” for filming at Eagle Lion, with Mooney as producer . . . RusselTrost signed as casting di- rector for Robert Stillman Produc- tions . . . King Brothers bought “The Confederate Story” and changed its name to “Drums of the Deep South.” Warners filed two titles with the registry, bureau, “Amarillo” and “Across the Panhandle,” indicating an invasion of Texas . . . Stanley Kramer is talking a deal with Marlon Bi'ando to star in either “The Children” or “High Noon,” both of which are ready for filming ... . . Ray Milland narrated six sub- jects in the World Artists series of shorts, produced by Rudolph Polk and Bernard Luber for 20th-Fox release ... Frank Tuttle signed to direct “The Magic Face,” which Mort Briskin is producing for Harry Popkin in Vienna . . . El- liott Nugent will direct “The Kid from Mexico,” Mickey Rooney starrer, to be produced independ- ently by Benedict Bogeaus, Walt Disney’s next subject in liis “True Life, Adventure” series will be “Nature’s Half Acre,” dealing with the daily lives of birds and insects . . . Ronald Reagan plays a cavalry officer in Paramount’s “The Last Outpost” . . Albert Sharpe joined the “Royal Wed- ding” troupe at Metro to play Sarah Churchill’s father . . . Metro signed Margaret Leighton to play opposite Walter Pidgeon in “Call- ing Bulldog Drummond,” currently filming in London . . ; Henry Hath- away completed “Fourteen Hours” at. 20th-Fox . . . Metro handed Eileen Cristy a term pact and as- signed her to a role in “Three Guys Nafned Mike’.’ . . . Teddy Hart bi- cycling between “The Fat Man” and “Ma and Pa Kettle Back on the Farm” at UI. A1 Horwits Heads Studio Flack Group Hollywood,; Aug. 8. A l Horwits, studio publicity head at Universal-International, will chairman the Studio Publicity Directors Committee of the Assn, of Motion Picture Producers for the next six months. He will be succeeded by Lou Smith of Co- lumbia. Arch Reeve, retiring secretary, was given a vote of thanks for his nine years of efficient service. T0A-C0MP0 Continued from page 3 modify the present resolution will the TOAers take a walk. In . calling the meet, Depinet in- dicated that other matters would also be talked; Among these, lie said, would be selection of an exec yeepee for COMPO and ways and means of carrying out the plan for financing the all-industry group. This plan would provide for pay- ment of 1/1.0. of 1% by distribs on grosses and a same percentage by exhibs on their rentals to bankroll activities. By reviving the WAC format, TOA could 'make certain that its chief objection to the resolution would be cured. In the WAC, the- atres preserved their autonomy of action. WAC had five different branches, one of which was exhibi- tion; another, distribution, and a third, production. Fabian headed the theatre wing. TOA now insists that it must have a genuine the- atre man supervising the exhib wing. Outfit is ready to accept anyone who would meet the def- inition and, on that score, it is said, a member of National Allied would fit. • Overall Coordinator As in the WAC, the theatre group would accept an overall coordina- tor for the various branches. At the same time, it wants the Gov- ernment to name its coordinator to deal with the industry. As matters now stand, TOA would be willing that COMPO organize the new liaison group. It could then Step out and permit the outfit to work on its own. This stand may be revised in the give-and-take of dis- cussion today. Deadlock has already unloosed a pre-opening blast by Trueman Rembusch, Allied prez. In his statement, Rembusch declared: “We are amazed and disappointed that in the emergency growing out of the Korean situation any fac- tion in the motion picture indus- try should withhold complete co- operation.” “If the tremendous opportunity for united industry action through COMPO is destroyed by any fac- tion for selfish reasons the mem- bers of that faction must suffer the condemnation of all loyal Ameri- cans,” Trembusch added. He wound up rhetorically: “Who dares ob- struct the channel of cooperation between the industry through COMPO and the Government of , the United States? Whoever does this must be prepared to suffer the obloquy of aroused public opinion.” “Panic in the Streets” RICHARD WIDMARK k PAUL DOUGLAS ONSTAGE! FRANCES LANGFORD On Ice Stifle I 'On th« Boardwalk* starring Care) Lynne I MOVIU JUtt KnfjDWW Mi Nr*, a 94th It Gloria Swanson lias just wrapped up a three-month trek through U.S. and Canada during which the film actress appeared in 31 key cities. Miss Swanson returned to Hollywood to host a preview screening of Paramoupt’s “Sunset Boulevard” after a prolonged stint of ballying the film before civic groups, clubs, welfare orgs and exhibitor meets. “Sunset” kicks off in 15 cities following its world preeni this month at Radio City Music Hall, J, RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL . Rockefeller Center t “SUNSET BOULEVARD” William HOLDEN • Gloria SWANSON Erich VON STROHEIM A Paramount Picture Spettacular Stag# Prasenfation firjsfwt frnnii "MY FRIEND IRMA i HAL WALLIS NeweriM mhn cohmmi uaha LUND - CALVET- LYNN SIAk IMRf MARTIN-LEWIS. WILSON i w. I m Milniohi (Jifhllr