Boxoffice-May.03.1952

t Hollywood
NEWS AND VIEWS THE PRODUCTION CENTER
Office— Suite 219 at 6404 Hollywood Blvd.: Ivan Spear, Wci:tcrii Manaycr)
Unveiling of 'Groom' W. R. Frank Series fo Be Released
In Milwaukee Soon Simultaneously to Theatres, TV
HOT.T.Vwnnr)— with Tnnv niirtis Pinpr ' '
HOLLYWOOD—With Tony Curtis, Piper
Laurie and Chill Wills on hand for personal
appearances, U-I's "No Room for the Groom"
will have its world premiere Tuesday (6) at
the Warner Theatre in Milwaukee, with proceeds
from the opening earmarked for the
American Cancer society. Following the premiere
the players will trek to St. Louis for
similar participation in connection with the
picture's debut there.
* *
Republic is completing plans for a double
world premiere of "Minnesota," starring Rod
Cameron and Ruth Hussey, with the historical
action opus to bow July 16 at the North Shore
Theatre in Duluth, Minn., and at the State
in Minneapolis on the following day.
Film Labor Front Fights
Anti-Hollywood Politics
HOLLYWOOD — Representative
segments
of filmdom's labor front plunged allout into
the political arena when, at an organizational
meeting, nearly 100 industryites formed a
coalition group to campaign for the defeat
of candidates for public office who have
records of anti-Hollywood sentiments.
Keynote speakers at the session were Roy
M. Brewer, chairman of the Hollywood AFL
Film Council and lATSE studio representative,
and Allen Rivkin of the Screen Writers
Guild. The group will support Rep. Clyde
Doyle for re-election to Congress but opposes
Rep. Donald Jackson, who recently charged
the film unions with failing to weed out Communists,
and Jack Tenny, California state
senator, both of whom seek to be re-elected.
Reps. Doyle and Jackson are both members
of the House Un-American Activities Committee.
The latter was recently sent a strong
letter of protest by the AFL film council,
charging that the congressman is "not helping
our natien when you falsely accuse the
very organizations which have been the speai'-
head of the battle against Communist conspirators
in Hollywood."
Lester W. Roth Resigns
From Columbia Pictures
HOLLYWOOD—Effective Thursday (li,
Lester W. Roth resigned as a vice-president
of Columbia Pictures, a post he had held since
1947, in order to re-enter the private practice
of law. He will continue to function on a
pai't-time basis until July 1.
Roth served as a legal advisor on contract
commitments and other matters. He was at
one time a superior court judge here.
HOLLYWOOD— Another manifestation of
a production trend which undertakes to turn
out celluloid for simulta:ieous theatrical and
TV release is demonstrated in the expanded
plans being blueprinted by exhibitor-producer
W. R. Frank.
Returning to active filmmaking after a
hiatus of three years, the Minnesota showman
will launch his new schedule within 30 days
with the production of 13 half-hour subjects
titled "Congressional Medal of Honor," which
will be made available for theatrical and
video distribution at the same time.
While the shorts are in work, Frank also
will gun his next full-length theatrical feature,
"Sitting Bull," within the next 60 days.
The historical western, to be photographed in
color, will be directed by Sidney Salkow from
a script by William Bowers, who also is penning
the "Medal of Honor" series. Distribution
arrangements for the feature will be announced
shortly.
Scripts for six of the "Medal of Honor"
subjects have been completed. The initial
three to be lensed, in chronological order, are
the stories of Julius Langbein, a Civil war
drummer boy; Mary E. Walker, woman doctor
who also was active in that conflict, and
Richard Pierson Hobson, Spanish-American
war hero. Theatrical distribution is planned
Warners Ask Transfer
Of Suit by Donaldsons
SALT LAKE CITY—A petition
was introduced
this week asking that a suit in connection
with "I'll See You in My Dreams" be
transfei-red from the Utah third district
court to federal district court. Warner Pictures
and Intermountain Theatres, defendants
in the $450,000 suit brought by heirs of
the late composer, Walter Donaldson, filed
the petition.
In asking for the transfer, they noted that
the amount in controversy is in excess of
$3,000, that the plaintiffs are Californians,
and that there is a wide diversity of citizenship
among the defendants and other parties
named in the suit.
The heirs of Donaldson claimed that the
picture, "I'll See You in My Dreams," portrayed
the composer in "an unfavorable light."
Point Theatre Reopened
WOLF POINT, MONT.—The Point Theatre
had its spring reopening last Friday.
W. R. Frank, center, vtlL-riii .Minnesota
showman and film producer, huddles
with his two associates, William
Dean, left, and scenarist William Bowers,
on Frank's return to filmmaking activity.
In addition to "Sitting Bull," a
historical western for major release, he
has 13 half-hour subjects, titled "Congressional
Medal of Honor," on the docket
for simultaneous video and theatrical
distribution.
on a state-right basis, in addition to TV
bookings and 16mm prints for schools,
churches, etc. Frank has the allout cooperation
of the Defense department in the venture.
'Clash by Night' Troupe
To Make Ten-City Tour
HOLLYWOOD—Contending that in today's
market each picture must be sold individually.
Producer Jerry Wald of Wald-Krasna
Productions at RKO has formulated plans for
a ten-city personal appearance tour by the
principals involved in the making of "Clash
by Night," which is soon to go into national
release.
Members of the barnstorming troupe will
include Barbara Stanwyck, Paul Douglas.
Marilyn Monroe and J. Carrol Naish of the
picture's cast, as well as Producer Harriet
Parsons and Director Fritz Lang. Their first
date will be Wednesday i28> in New York,
followed by appearances in other eastern and
midwestern cities. They will be on the road
approximately three weeks.
Thespian members of the group will make
theatre, radio and TV appearances; Lang
will address student groups and cultural organizations;
and Mi.ss Par.sons will appear before
women's groups, women's page editors
and on radio and video shows aimed principally
toward femme audiences.
BOXOFnCE :: May 3, 1952 49