Boxoffice-April.17.1948

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high-budget '. STUDIO PERSONNELITIES Barnstormers Monogram JIMMY WAKELY, singing cowboy star, opened a personal appearance tour in San Francisco with an itinerary calling for stopovers throughout northern California, New Mexico and Texas, returning here May 3. Blurbers Enterprise IRVING RUBINE has joined the publicity department as a special assistant to Bill Blowitz. He and Blowitz left immediately for Samta Fe to set details for the May 16 world premiere there of "Wanted," the Harry Sherman production starring Joel McCrea. Film Classics Don Hix, publicity chief for Philip N, Krasne's Falcon Productions, planed for New York for huddles with Al Zimbalist, FC publicity director, on the exploitation campaign for Krasne's "Devil's Cargo," starring John Calvert. Briefies Paramount Ken Carpenter is doing the narrolion for "Feather Finery," latest in the Unusual Occupations shorts being produced by Jerry Fairbanks. Cleffers Columbia ALLAN ROBERTA and LESTER LEE completed an original score and title song for the Harry Romm production, "Ladies of the Chorus." Metro HARRY WARREN will team with Ralph Blane on writing new tunes for the Michael Curtiz production, "My Dream Is Yours." Paramount __ HARRY LUBIN will compose and conduct the "Disaster" score for Pine-Thomas Productions. HARRY LUBIN is conducting his own original score for the Pine-Thomas production, "Waterfront at Midnight." Loanouts RKO Borrowed from Metro, SPRING BYINGTON draws one of the character toplines in the forthcoming Joseph Cotten-Valli starrer, "Weep No More." Robert Stevenson will direct for Producer Robert Sparks. Warners Borrowed from 20th-Fox, BETTY ANN LYNN draws the second femme lead in the new Bette Davis comedy, "June Bride." Meggers Metro PANDRO S. BERMAN draws production 'reins on ^_ "The Bride," story of graft in war surplus dealings, to star Robert Taylor and Ava Gardner. It is based on cj maga2ine story by Marguerite Roberts. "Introduction to Sally," romantic comedy by the English playwright, Geoffrey Kerr, goes on LEON GORDON'S production slate as a Vehicle lor Peter Lawford and Elizabeth Taylor. Monogram KPRT NEUMANN vrill direct the next King Bros, production for Allied Artists, "Last of the Badmen," which will star Barry Sullivan. "The Mystery of the Golden Eye," new Charlie Chan adventure, will be piloted by WILLIAM BEAU- DINE. "Trigger Man," new Johnny Mack Brown sagebrusher, is being piloted for Producer Barney Sarecky by HOWARD BRETHERTON. RKO SID ROGELL has been handed the production reins on "Sam Wynne" and Lillie Hayward will script the forthcoming Pat O'Brien starrer. Republic "Marshals of the Old West," serial on the 1948-49 program, will be produced by FRANKL' ADREON. Universal-International FREDERICK DE CORDOVA, currenty piloting ^^ "Washington Girl," has been signed to a new term contract. Producer and director, respectively, of "It Gives Me Great Pleasure" will be ROBERT ARTHUR and CLAUDE BINYON, with Binyon also drawing the screenplay assignment. The yatn is an original by Emily Kimbrough. NUNNALLY JOHNSON is readying "The Purple Mask," period comedy-drama dated prior to the Napoleonic era in Paris, as his next production. The story was authored by Paul Armont and Jean Manoussi. Options Columbia WILLIAM HOLDEN will head the cctet of "The Walking Hills," adventure melodrama with a Mexican locale, to be produced by Harry Joe megged by John Sturges. Brown and NANA BRYANT goes into the cast of "Ladies of the Chorus." Phil Karlson is directing the Harry Romm production, Male lecfd goes to RAND BROOKS. Character role in "The Wrangler," Harry Joe Brown western starring Sonny Tufts, was handed RUSSELL SIMPSON. Role of a comic bartender was handed SID SAYLOR. Sonny Tufts and Barbartf Britton are co-starred. Film Classics Featured spot in the Sig Neufeld production, "Miraculous Journey," went to CAROLE DONNE. Monogram JOHN SULLIVAN, 7-year-old son on Barry Sullivan, was set by the King Bros, for a role in his father's next starring film, "La's! of the Badmen." AGAPITO MARTINEZ, ARTHUR SMITH and DO) WESTON, singing trio, joined the "Arizona Sunset" cast. Paramount MARY JAYNE SAUNDERS, 5-year-old screen newcomer, has been cast as "Little Miss Marker" posite Bob Hope in "Sorrowiul Jones." op- Added to the cast of the Hal Walhs Accused," was SARA ALLGOOD. opus, "The LAURA ELLIOTT, former model and screen newcomer, goes into "Special Agent," upcoming Pine- Thomas vehicle, as her first assignment under a new long-term contract. CAROLE MATHEWS handed a role. Cast as the head of a crooked gambling ring in the Bob Hope comedy, "Sorrowful Jones," was BRUCE CABOT. Sidney Lanfield megs the Robert Welch production. Lined up for roles were Wl- LIAM DEMAREST, CHARLEY COOLEY and TOM PEDI. WILLIAM HOLDEN, MACDONALD CAREY. WIL- LIAM BENDIX and MONA FREEMAN will topline m "Streets of Laredo," Technicolor sagebrusher being scripted by Charles Matquis Warren. Robert Fellows will produce, with under way in May. camera work to get LISA GOLM was ticketed for a supporting spot in "The Great Gatsby," Richard Maibaum production starring Alan Ladd, Betty Field and Ruth Hussey. RKO JACK PAAR, radio comic, will make his camera debut in "Weep No More," the Joseph Cotten- Valli starrer. Republic Femme lead in the 12-chapter serial, "Adventures Scripters of Frank and Jesse James," will be NOEL NEILL T U ' 11 ALLAN "ROCKY" LANE, cowboy hero, was op- 1 GCJUllCQlly tioned for another year. His next chore is "Marshal of Amarillo." One of the toplines in "The Far Outpost," to be produced and directed by Joe Kane, was handed ADELE MARA. Previousy set were Hod Cameron. Ilona Massey and Forrest Tucker. 20th-Fox Producer Sol M. 'Wurtzel booked CHARLES RUS- SELL and VIRGINIA CHRISTINE lor the romantic leads in "Big Dan," story of a detrained parotroop dog. JOHN RIDGELY, KONSTANTIN SHAYNE, JAML: BURKE, WILLIAM BAKE'WELL and WILLIAM BENE- DICT were signed for parts. United Artists A comedy topline in the James Nasser production. "An Innocent Affair," was handed ALAN MO> BRAY. Lloyd Bacon directs ttie Fred MacMurray- Madeleine Carroll vehicle. Universal-International DEANNA DURBIN and CHARLES COBURN will be " starred in "The Western Story, sagebrusher. William Bowers, who wrote the original screenplay, will also co-produce with Robert Arthur, and Frederick de Cordova was handed the directorial reins. The film is slated for a midsummer start. Here on vacation, GRI2ELDA HERVEY, British Broadcasting Co. star, was set lor a featured role in "Kiss the Blood Off My Hands." Cast additions include HAROLD GOODWIN, REGINALD SHEFFIELD and TOM DILLON. EDDIE ALBERT goes into "You Gotta Stay Happy," upcoming Rampart production to star Joan Fontaine and James Stewart. H. C. Potter will direct. STEPHEN McNALLY and MARTIN GARRALAGA were set for "Rogues' Regiment," the Robert Buckner production. Skating star MICHAEL KIRBY will have the male lead in the new Sonja: Henie film, "The Countess of Monte Cristo." Added to the "Larceny" company was DAN O'HERLIHY, British film player. DOROTHY HART joined the cast. The Leonard Goldstein production features John Payne, Joan Caulfield and Dan Duryea. Warners Supporting roles in "Smart Money" were hcOided DOROTHY MALONE and HELEN WESTCOTT. Set for the toplines, with Richard Bare megging, are Zachary Scott and Virginia Mayo, Stage actor RAYMOND GREENLEAF is booked for "A Kiss in the Dark," starring Jane Wyman and David Niven, which Delmer Daves is directing. SELENA ROYLE has been cast in Michael Curtiz Productions' "My Dream Is Yours." JAMES HOLDEN, Broadway actor, has been signed to a one-picture commitment. He was a member of the "Command Decision" cast in New York. Metro "Day Before production, Spring," is being upcoming Arthur written by GEORGE Hornblow OPPEN- jr. HEIMER. ANDREW SOLT is River" for production adapting "House by Sam Zimbalist. Above the RKO A musical version of Booth Tarkington's "Alice Adorns" is being written by MYLES CONNOLLY for Producer Bert Gronet. United Artists Producer James Nasser signed LOU BRESLOW and JOSEPH HOFFMAN to develop a* comedy-drama, as yet untitled, as a Fred MacMurray-Madeleine Carroll vehicle. Breslow and Hoffman authored the current Nasser opus, "An Innocent Affair," in which MacMurraY and Miss Carroll have the toplines. Story Buys Monogram "The Tipster," by Houston Branch, acquired for Jeffrey Bernerd's production slate. It is tentatively set to go before the cameras in May. RKO Pot O'Brien will have the title role in the newly purchased "Sam Wynne," a novel by J. H. Wallis. The modern melodrama has a New York background. Republic James Edward Grant sold an original, "Bayou," a romantic adventure yarn about the Mississippi river country in the 1800s. "The Betrayal," a western adventure by Winston Miller, purchased for production by William Jacobs, with Raoul Walsh set to direct. It has an Arizona locale. "The Candy Kid," story of a gambler in the era of "Diamond Jim" Brady, was acquired from Michael MacDougall and placed on Anthony Veiller's production slate. David Goodis is doing the screenplay. Columbia " "The Wrangler will be edited by JERRY THOMS. Eagle Lion EDWARD ILOU is set as the art director on "29 Clues." Enterprise SOL POLITO will lens "Tucker's People," upcoming John Garfield starrer. Metro PRESTON AMES is set as art director on "Neptune's Daughter." Paramount Assistant to Producer-Director Cecil B. DeMille on "Samson and Delilah" is EDDIE SALVEN. Dialog director on the Hal Wallis production, "The Accused," will be RUTH ROBERTS. LEN HENDRY is the dialog director on "Sorrowful Jones." RKO Lensing assignment HARRY WILD. on "Weep No More" goes to Universal-International The new Sonja Heme starrer, "The Countess of Monte Cristo," will be photographed by TONY GAUDIO. Skating sequences will be staged by I 52 BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948
I L. , network ' j I I HOLLYWOOD—Dedication I to ' choreographer KATHERINE LITTLEFIELD. Art director on "Criss Cross" will be BORIS LEVEN. Warners Crew assignments on "Silver Lining" include PHIL QUINN, assistant director; LOU BAUM. unit manager; JOHN HUGHES, art director, and IRENt MORRA, lilm editor. LOU BAUM vfas set as unit manager on "June Bride." ROBERT HAAS is designing the sets lor "Happy Times," comedy to star Danny Kaye. Title Changes Monogram "Bury Me Not," upcoming Charlie Chan mystery, was refilled THE MYSTERY OF THE GOLDl., EYE. Screen Guild POLICE REPORTER is the new handle for "Shoot to Kill." It is currently m release. 20th-Fox "The Law and Martin Rome" has been shortened MARTIN ROME. THE SHAMROCK TOUCH is the new handle for "Leave It to the Irish." United Artists ON OUR MERRY WAY is the new handle for "A Miracle Can Happen," also knowrr previously as "Along Came Baby." The Benedict Bogeous production is currently in release. Universal-International "The Saxon Charm" switches to THE CHARMING MATT SAXON. Country Hospital Opening Marks MPRF's 25th Year Starts 'Variety Time' HOLLYWOOD—Using footage from its April 18 of the new Motion Picture Country hospital, an adjunct to the Motion Picture Country House in Calabasas, will mark the silver anniversary of the organization of the Motion Picture Relief fund, under whose sponsorship the hospital was erected. Ceremonies attending the formal opening will find more than 1,000 guests on hand, among them Jean Hersholt, MPRF president, who will appear on a 15-minute CBS salute. With Hersholt on the broadcast will be Dinah Shore, Robert Montgomery, Ronald Reagan. Shirley Temple and the King's Men. The new hospital was designed by William Pereira. Dr. Francis E. Brown is head of the medical unit and Dr. Balfour D. Straith is chief of the dental unit. The building cost $1,350,000, the funds being raised via the Screen Guild Players air show and voluntary pay roll deductions. recent musical subjects, both of the featurelength and short variety, as the nucleus, RKO has begun camera work on "Variety Time," a seven-reeler combining specialty acts and comedy playlets. Jack Parr, screen and radio comic, serves as star and master of ceremonies tying the acts together. The subject is being produced by George Bilson and piloted by Richard Fleischer from continuity supplied by Paar, Leo Solomon and Joe Quillan. 'Burning Cross' Retitled HOLLYWOOD— Since exhibitors in some territories have registered objections to "The Burning Cross" as the title of the Screen Guild expose of Ku KIux Klan operations, on the theory that it implies a religious theme, SG is making the picture available in those areas under a new handle, "They Ride by Night." New advertising accessories, trailers and ads are being prepared. ONTRACUAL effects on screen credits have long been the cause of bewilderment of hinterland movie fans and the butt of many a jibe concocted by those who delight in turning a disparaging line at the expense of Cinemania. Such influences manifest themselves not only in overlong main titles, but in virtually every form of advertising devoted to feature pictures. In Hollywood and its immediate environs, the prominent and repetitious heralding of who produced, directed, designed, photographed, wrote, adapted, dialogued, etc., a given film undoubtedly is of considerable importance to the individuals who made such respective contributions to the offering's worth—or unworthlness. Their vanity—and often their bodies—literally live on screen credits. That's why they or their agents concentrate as much on what they consider deserved billing as on the financial phases of a contract or assignment. Outside of Hollywood's glamorous immediate orbit, the performance tallies in most instances mean nothing to ticket buyers, among whom rare indeed is the individual who can name more than a half-dozen producers, directors and /or writers. The necessary listing of the creative credits, as per provisions of various contracts, in newspaper, magazine and billboard advertising does comparatively little harm. They usually are tucked away in relatively small type in an obscure corner of the advertisement, where the worst that can be said about them is that they clutter the copy and waste printers' ink. Nevertheless, those who read as they run can still receive the advertisement's only effectual and interesting message, to wit, the feature's name, its stars and a line anent its character. The prospective customers can take or leave alone the extraneous material—and in a preponderant number of instances he leaves it alone. Unfortunately, the same does not obtain as concerns radio spot announcements, a comparatively new form of point-of-sale advertising being employed in ever-increasing volume by film exploiteers. There the alloted space—in the form of air time—is definitely limited, usually to 15, 30 or 60 seconds. There it is impossible to relegate uninteresting credits to obscurity. There the prospect must attend the entire message or none of it. Consequently the penetration of the message is considerably lessened through the inclusion of anything other than extolment of the picture, its stars, its Thespian and dramatic excellence. A current case in kind—and it is not exceptional—are the radio spot announcements being widely employed on behalf of RKO Radio's thoroughly-excellent, record-challenging "I Remember Mama." Copy therefor informs one and sundry that "Dore Schary presents the George Stevens production," which intelligence is broadcast to the listening public in equal prominence and with equal enthusiasm as is the necessarily limited information anent the picture, its literary source and its topliners. Now, everyone in HoUyw'ood is well aware that Messrs. Schary and Stevens occupy enviable and well-deserved niches in the uppermost production brackets. It is doubted, however, that broadcasting—most especially farther away than the Hollywood hills—the fact that "Mama" is a Schary presentation and a Stevens production will sell a single additional ticket to the picture. As a part of their hysterical-in-somephases economy programs, producers and distributors have materially pared their advertising appropriations. Which makes it doubly important that every ounce of manpower, every inch of advertising space and every second of air time be used as effectively as possible to sell pictures. Intelligent executive, production and creative personnel will readily realize that the most flattering sop to their vanity and the strongest insurance for their continued success lies in highly-profitable grosses for their efforts. Resultantly they should be eager to forego advertising credits, and regardless of contract terms, where the time or space can be more advantageously used to sell tickets. Columbia's Chief Campanologist Lou Smith keeps alive his department's long-standing propensity toward matters zoological with a yarn to the effect that Producer Harry Joe Brown is scouring the countryside for a special breed of bull, one of the Brahma variety with a hump, and with a ferocious nature, to be used as the animal star in "The Wrangler." One such animal, declares Blurber Smith, was offered Brown by Claude Binyon, who wants in return the loan of a Columbia star sometime next year at regular loanout rates "minus Sl.OOO - per - week handling charges for the bull." The $l,000-per-week handling charge can be considered something of a victory for the Screen Publicist Guild. Other current zoological notes—and they follow a well-prescribed pattern by increasing in reverse proportion to the availability of newsworthy items anent picture-making: Pi-oducer Sol Lesser, who recently purchased the Selig zoo. reportedly plans to restock the venture and is hunting for virtually every kind of animal—except seals. Enterprise's energetic entrepreneurs put their neck out with a tidbit anent an alleged talent search in the waters off the rocky coast of Maine for a "photogenic" lobster which will have a role in "No Minor 'Vices." Looks like an unemployed actor should answer "Yes" to Der Bingle's popular tuneful inquiry, "Or would you rather be a mule?" World premiere of "Oklahoma Blues," Monogram oater starring Jimmy Wakely. was scheduled to be held late in April at Clovis, N. Mex. Which makes Oklahoma City a natural for the next picture localed in New Mexico. BOXOFFICE : : April 17, 1948 53
Page 1: PARAMOUNT INTRODUCES FIRST LARGE-SC
Page 4 and 5: i WTTff TO THE TO THE TO THE TO THE
Page 6 and 7: — THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY PUBLIS
Page 8 and 9: — Paramount Gets It First: THEATR
Page 10 and 11: — Tvifo More Antitrust Suits ?°"
Page 12 and 13: "THERE I S.NOTHING WRONG WITH tfHSI
Page 14 and 15: •^'ir YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF TO S
Page 16 and 17: v Field Men Now to Serve in Area of
Page 18 and 19: i; Legal, Economic Factors Reducing
Page 20 and 21: ' WORipj^REMlERE NV uA MAYFAIR THEA
Page 22 and 23: — fH^tt €Utd Sf^'^^tt^ More Fil
Page 24 and 25: . ' ' Goldwyn's 'The Bishop's Wife^
Page 26 and 27: ' *W€tÂi«t^to«t THE CONGRESSIO
Page 28 and 29: . . Jeffrey . . . John 'f^Û^tw^ ê
Page 30 and 31: ,d6Hdo*t ^cfront THE LABOR UNIONS l
Page 32 and 33: — A THOUGHT OR TWO FROM H YGIENIC
Page 34 and 35: Tom Sawyer Contest Wins Merchant-Pr
Page 36 and 37: and Hay-Burner Versus Tractor Issue
Page 38 and 39: Keys to Entertainment Also Unlock T
Page 40 and 41: " A "NATURAL" FOR THIS MODERN AGE S
Page 42 and 43: Community Entertains Crippled Kiddi
Page 44 and 45: . . Maurice . . Clayton Carol Sachs
Page 46 and 47: — — — — Several Days of Rai
Page 48 and 49: . . Josephine . . John WASHINGTON T
Page 50 and 51: 1 ' No Pay for Filming Of Olympic G
Page 54 and 55: Johnston Insists He Cannot Make 'Wa
Page 56 and 57: U. S. Picture Imports to Australia
Page 58 and 59: . . Rod . . The . . The . . SAN FRA
Page 60 and 61: ' ' PHOENIX Dodeo week provided ple
Page 62 and 63: . . Lon ' ' ' ' TEI Circuit to Buil
Page 64 and 65: . . Beatrice . . . Rudy . . . . Gil
Page 66 and 67: . . . Al . . Leon CHICAGO ^rs. Jose
Page 68 and 69: . . Juanita . . Gus KANSAS CITY Cup
Page 70 and 71: i LEAK . . Don . . Sam of . . Seen
Page 72 and 73: ' Leatha . . Milt D E S MOINES . .
Page 74 and 75: ~: Pretty Dolls Passe as Film Recru
Page 76 and 77: — . . . Albert . . Doris . . Bob
Page 78 and 79: . . Bert . . Paul . . Roger 1 CLEVE
Page 80 and 81: . . Applications . . Jake . Grafton
Page 82 and 83: Gene Autry Entertains Dayton Vetera
Page 84 and 85: . . Ray . . . Ken . . BOSTON f^harl
Page 86 and 87: . . New . . . . . Joe HARTFORD "Car
Page 88 and 89: — — —— — — . . . The .
Page 90 and 91: ill Just a simple idea hut see what
Page 92 and 93: . . . . Three . . New . . "Somethin
Page 94 and 95: ] DALLAS HI Mertz, manager of the A
Page 96 and 97: OKLAHOMA CITY pjenry Busse and his
Page 98 and 99: 1 1 . . Harrison . . John . . Jack
Page 100 and 101: . . Bud . . . . The . . Frank . . T
Page 102 and 103:
Charlotte Center Ahead; Other Theat
Page 104 and 105:
1 Talking Man' Stunt Adapted to The
Page 106 and 107:
MIAMI gill Robinson, the famous Neg
Page 108 and 109:
. . During " ST. JOHN ^^hen the new
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. . Shots . . James — — — rei
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EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY ABOUT PICTURE
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FEATURE CHART Feature productions,
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| FEATURE CHART J OCTOBER 11 OCTOBE
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I FEATURE CHART CHECK RUNNING TIME
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REVIEW DIGEST and Alphabetical Pict
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9-12 SHORTS CHART Short subjects, l
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SHORTS REVIEWS Opinions on the Curr
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. . . Who . . And . . the . . With
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I TO I . . file ifexf Important Eve
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Boxoffice-April.17.1948

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