Boxoffice-11.04.1950

'
England;
i Empire
1
and
I
'
formance,
'
guests
I
I
I
. CRITICS
, Dilys
I
. . Al
. . Frank
Command Show Proves At the TOA Convention in Houston
Big Hit in London
LONDON—Britons forgot the recent controversy
over whether or not "The Mudlark"
(20th-Fox) was a British film and turned
out en masse for the command performance
held Monday ( 30 ) at the Empire Theatre with
the king and queen and princesses Elizabeth
and Margaret present. More than $150,000
was netted for charity.
PRESENTED TO ROYALTY
Notables of the social, business and film
worlds were present, including Irene Dunne,
who impersonates Queen Victoria in the film;
TjTone Power, Jimmy Stewart, Marlene
Dietrich, Claudette Colbert, Montgomery
Clift, Ray Milland, Gloria Swanson and June
Haver.
Murray Silverstone, vice-president of 20th
Century-Fox: W. J. Kupper, managing director
of 20th Century-Fox, Ltd., in England;
Fred Fox, head of 20th-Fox production in
Reginald C. Bromhead, president
of the Cinematograph Trade Benevolent
Fund, and Nat Karson, director of the
stage show, also attended.
Barney Balaban, George Weltner, Lew
Schreiber and Russell Holman of Paramount
i
Phil Reisman of RKO also attended.
All were presented to the king and queen
after the show. Following the command perthe
Hollywood guests and others,
including the New York film critics, were
at a party given by the Motion Picture
Ass'n of America at the Hotel Savoy.
For a short time before the show there was
some doubt as to whether it would be held
because the royal family went into mourning
following the death of the king of Sweden.
It was ruled that because the receipts were
for charitable purposes the occasion was state,
rather than social.
Some of the London critics were cool as a
result of the controversy which preceded the
showing. Some Britishers contended that bei
cause the producer, Nunnally Johnson; the
I director, Jean Negulesco, and the star, Irene
Dunne, were American the picture should not
be classified as a British picture, even though
it had been made in England. The general
'
reception was cordial, however.
GUESTS OF FOX
New York critics, who were the guests of
20th-Fox, were taken on a social and sight-
'
seeing whirl before the showing and after-
(
wards. Rose Pelswick, Archer Winsten and
Alton Cook took part in a panel discussion
over the British Broadcasting Co. network,
with Leonard Mosely of the London Express,
Powell of the London Sunday Times
i and Pat Holt of the London Herald repre-
. senting the British. This took place Tuesday
(31).
On Saturday the New Yorkers were guests
of Sir Alexander Korda at a luncheon, and
that night they were entertained at a dinner
given by the London tradepress.
Howard Hughes Sues UA
NEW YORK—Howard Hughes has filed
suit in New York supreme court against
United Artists seeking an accounting since
January 1, 1949, of funds allegedly received
and held from distribution of "The Outlaw."
Jesse Lasky (second from right), veteran producer, learned at a luruludii meeting
at which he spoke that the industry will honor him at a testimonial dinner
January 15 in Hollywood, As he completed his speech, a telegram from the Screen
Producers Guild arrived informing TOA members and Lasky as well of the testimonial
to honor "the man who first brought quality to the screen." In the photo with him,
left to right, are K. J. O'Donnell, convention chairman; S. H. Fabian, member of the
board, and A. Julian Brylawski, Washington, D. C, chairman of TOA's national
legislative committee.
A little play at the registration desk, where Houston had some of its prettiest
girlr on hand to welcome the delegates. Getting into the spirit of the gag shot are
(L to R) Morton Thalhimer, head of Neighborhood Theatres, Richmond; A. H. Blank
of Tri- States Theatres, and Hunter Perry, Charlotteville, Va.
VIRGINIA
BRISTOL—Frank A. Bowling, city manager.
Neighborhood's Cameo and Lee, has moved
his family here from Hopewell. Bowling formerly
was manager of the Beacon in Hopewell
. . . Dave Kamsky, Neighborhood home
office official, was in conferring with Frank
HOPEWELL—Ralph Davis, Beacon head
to civic organizations plugging one film . . .
Frank Bowling, city manager, Bristol, was
here to see employes of both Hopewell houses
... A new light fixture was installed in the
Beacon lobby . A. Wolf jr., Alexander
Film Co. representative, visited Dave
McCoy and Al Chrismer.
PETERSBURG—James Bailey, former
manager of the Palace, has been discharged
from the navy at Great Lakes, 111., and will
return to position with Neighborhood Theatres
. Jesse Watson was in Hopewell
. .
visiting Dave McCoy, manager, Beacon.
Bowling . . . Tlie Lee is running a midnight
show each Saturday . . . Tex Ritter made
radio talks on both local stations when he
was here for a personal appsaiance at the
Cameo .
"Fuzzy" St. John, is booked
into the Cameo for a one-day stand.
Mrs. Rachel Gohz, 76, Dies
NEW YORK—Mrs. Rachel Goltz, 76,
mother of Joseph C. Goltz, foreign sales
manager of Eagle Lion Classics, died Wednesday
(1) at Dallas, where she had lived for
45 years. She left three other sons and two
daughters. Goltz flew to Dallas for the funeral,
held Friday.
. . . Earl Arthur,
usher, has received his notice to report
former
for
a draft physical
usher, now in the navy, is reported to be in
Korea on a destroyer escort . . . Dave McCoy,
manager. Beacon, sent out 50 peisonal letters
Improvise in Pictures
It is said that Abbott and Costello improvise
much of the dialog when working in
pictures.
BOXOFFICE November 4, 1950 N 46-A