DECEMBER

j
THcH' Oftd SvCHt^
Compo Train Tour
THE Texas COMPO proposal for a national
tour of an industry exhibit in a
special train sounds like the smartest
industry public relations and promotion
idea that has been presented in a long time.
Screen personalities could be added to it
for glamor purposes—especially for interviewing
and broadcasting. These could be
changed every week while the tour lasts.
It had been suggested previously that
the state fair exhibits tried successfully last
fall in Ohio and Indiana could go on tour.
The train idea is an improvement on that
suggestion. Many state fairs have railroad
tracks running into the grounds and the
special train could be used.
There are plenty of precedents for railroad
train exhibits, not the least of which
was Charles Einfeld's classic "42nd Street"
special during the depth of the depression.
General Motors has used them: the Fi'eedom
Train, which went around the country
with the Liberty Bell and precious historical
documents: the Flying Scotsman,
British train sent over here in advance
of the World's Pair—these and others have
unvaryingly been attractions for huge
crowds in small towns and large.
The American Ass'n of Railroads can set
up a schedule and change it on short order,
as was demonstrated in the recent Presidential
campaign. It can also furnish cost
estimates.
What these would reach and how they
would be shared is something for COMPO
to decide. Here's hoping the plan can be put
over. It's good, no matter what angle is
used for viewing it.
WMGM Gets Around
CAILORS on the naval ship Duxbury Bay
recently got quite a kick when they
tuned in WMGM and heard the Radio
News Theatre and other programs while
their ship was 100 miles east-northeast of
Port Said, Egypt. One of the boys was
Harold J. Bittner from Westchester county.
Officials of Loew's, Inc., also were
thrilled when they were told about it in a
letter.
WMGM is a 50,000-watt station, but its
coverage is usually limited to six eastern
states. Fi-om time to time the signals
bounce down onto England and Iceland, but
the eastern Mediterranean report was something
entirely new. Port Said is 5,743 flight
miles from New York.
U-I Has Another
JT would be unfair to Universal-International
to call its production theory a formula,
because the word gives the impression
everything is done on a cut-and-dried basis.
So we refer to it as a theory—or idea.
The company executives contend that
entertainment ingredients can be mixed in
a way to appeal to a mass audience without
spending a million or a couple of million
dollars. They often prove it.
Now they have another. It could be
called musical, because it has four songs
By JAMES M. JERAULD
and some incidental music. And it's in
Technicolor. It is called "Meet Me at the
Fair." Sophisticates might say it is loaded
with hokum. The central figure, Dan
Dailey, is an oldtime seller of "tonic" on
a carnival wagon.
What the sophisticates say will make no
difference. One look at the young people
filling in the comment cards at a preview
is all anyone needs in order to be convinced
the picture has what it needs to enliven the
boxoffices of medium-sized cities and small
towns, and quite probably in the neighborhoods
of large cities.
Oklahoma Approves
THE Theatre Owners of Oklahoma, TOA
unit headed by Morris Loewenstein, became
the eighth regional of that organization
to approve arbitration last week. This
is advance approval of any draft that might
be agreed upon after further negotiations
with the distributors.
At about the same time the Independent
Theatre Owners of Ohio, Allied unit, approved
the rejection by the board of directors
at the national convention in Chicago,
so the box score for the week was tied 1-1.
Abram P. Myers, Allied general counsel,
speaking before Allied Theatre Owners of
Indiana, opened the door to further negotiations
a slight crack by saying something
might be accomplished if distributor executives
would ask their sales representatives
to step aside while further negotiations are
carried on.
This was public expression of a proposal
that has been discussed behind the scenes
for several days.
Eric Johnston, MPAA president, is understood
to be ready to submit this proposal to
company heads. He came back from South
America at the weekend and found a digest
of press clippings and comments awaiting
his study.
Can It Be Done?
MOT being a lawyer, we can't figure out
what will be accomplished by Bennie
Berger's proposed Minnesota law declaring
the film business a public utility and putting
it under state regulation.
Can a state regulate interstate commerce
and is there any doubt that distribution of
films is interstate commerce?
Ed Sullivan to Telecast
From Redecorated Roxy
NEW YORK—The Ed Sullivan television
show Sunday (21) over the Columbia Broadcasting
System will originate at the Roxy
Theatre, which will open the next day with
increa.sed stage and orche.stra facilities. Guest
stars will include Sonja Henie. Lilli Palmer,
Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy and 'Victoria
De Los Angelos, singer.
The new ice pageant will be presented for
the first time, and the 88-piece U.S. Marine
Band, which will play at the official theatre
opening, will appear on the telecast. The
opening film will be "Stare and Stripes Forever,"
20th Century-Fox film.
MGM Appoints Terrel;
Eastern Publicity Mgrj
NEW YORK—Dan S. Terrell, for threj
years MGM exploitation director, has bee'
named eastern publi- ,
city manager by
Howard Dietz, vicepresident
in charge of
advertising, publicity
and exploitation. He
succeeds John Joseph, f
resigned, who has re- A. -^
turned to his home on
the coast. Terrell's exploitation
duties will
be absorbed by the ^^H ^L ft: v. '^
publicity staff and
conducted under his Dan S. Terrell
supervision.
Terrell is a former Washington newspaper
man who became head of advertising an<
publicity there for Warner Bros. He hel<
several State Department and military post
in Europe dm'ing and after World War n
He became assistant to Ernest Emerling, heat
of publicity for Loew's, in 1945 and late:
headed exploitation for MGM.
Ned Clarke Joins Disney
In Foreign Sales Post
NEW YORK—Ned Clarke, a veteran in thil
industry, has resigned as Latin-Americai
and far eastern sale:]
supervisor of RKO Pic]
Ned Clarke
tures to become foreigi]
sales supervisor a|
Walt Disney Pi-oduc-i
tions, effective Men-!
day i8). He will b(;
briefed in his new posi.j
tion by Roy O. Disney
president, and Leel
Samuels, Disney w'orldwide
sales supervisor.
Clarke entered tht
industry as a Pathi'
salesman in Boston i;
1929. When Pathe merged with RKO. he entered
the foreign field as representative foi
Europe, Latin America and Argentina. Sinc«
1944, he has been associated with the hom