The Film Daily (1948)

U. I* Prcxtuction flist. 38 %. 44tb at. Zl$t floor 8*w York H. Iffil ( Para. Inaugurates ififu DAILY Thursday, April 15, 19' 1 (Continued from Page 1) events from the Navy Y.M.C.A., in Brooklyn onto its 18 x 24 ft. theater screen within 66 seconds after the appearance of the image on the face of the cathode ray tube in the, projection booth. Paul S. Raibourn, vice-president in charge of television operations, announced that Paramount held the first and only exclusive license for television relays. Suitable spot news and special events would be made available to the theater audience several times per week, effective immediately if theater patrons evince interest. No extra admission will be charged except for "unusual cases." Raibourn declared that the system circumvents the refusal of existing video stations to co-operate with theater tele. The Navy fights were relayed from Brooklyn by microwave relay to the roof of the New York Daily News Building, thence by a second relay to the theater. Paramount used its own equipment for the event and a 7000 megacycle FCC assigned frequency that made reception impossible for any television receiver other than the one in the theater's projection booth. Last night's program was presented immediately following the stage show at 9:45. Tagged as a "Paramount News Exclusive," a special caption advised the surprised and somewhat incredulous audience that they were about to witness "motion picture-television history." Following the presentation, ushers polled the audience via cards. Reactions are still in the process of tabulation and analysis. Most observers agreed that the quality of the image equalled that of regular newsreel presentations. Raibourn said that although at the present time Paramount would be kept busy handling its own requirements, he saw no reason why the system would not be made available to other theaters in the future. Pointing out that NBC does not have the theater rights to the events it televises. Raibourn hinted at the possibility that Paramount may present the coming Louis-Walcott fight via its own facilities. He admitted that some talks with Madison Square Garden officials had taken place but said that no agreement had been reached. Opportunity, Unlimited . . . Metro's exec, training plun 'Continued from Page 1) pictures, is determined to give the industry itself "the shot-in-the-arm it needs." The Lcew vice-president and distribution chief made it crystal clear that the company was out to assert unmistakably its old-time leadership, and there was more than just a hint that Metro trade advertising, returning to normal volume, would back up Leo's confidence in product and industry. o T"HERE was much more, of course: Criticism — and sound, too — of poor exhibitor attend' ance at tradeshows, comment that Metro is continuing to meet requests for competitive bidding in situations across the land, and that "those in it are coming to realize that it is not as bad as they thought it was"; confirmation that Metro has been exploring 16 mm. possibilities in Canada but with no decision as yet reached; denial of a published report that Metro planned to enter 16 mm. distribution here; statement that Metro does not have any plans to service video with old features, and, of course, the details of the Hal Roach distribution contract just finalized. All of prime news interest to the industry, naturally. Of the subjects cited, the first three exercise primary claims on your attention, but let's consider them in the order set down. Manpower being as important in the industry scheme o' things as product, the executive training plan, as outlined by Rodgers, can leave a lasting impression, not only upon Metro, its proponent, but upon the trade generally. The explanation is to be found in several of the plan's essentials. o "TRAINING programs, of course, are not exactly new in film business. As a matter of " fact, virtually every distributor follows an "up from the ranks" policy. But the Metro idea goes well beyond that. The men picked for the plan are to be brought into close training contact with not only Metro's distribution toppers but with Nicholas M. Schenck, J. Robert Rubin, Howard Dietz, Joseph Vogel and others. On that basis alone Loew's well might call the plan Opportunity, Unlimited. That, however, is not all. The men selected will take a course in public speaking, not with the object of making them accomplished orators but that they may speak, when occasion arises, intelligently, easily and with conviction. If you sense an impact upon future industry public relations in that, Rodgers certainly will not enter a denial. o O ODGERS' decision to go after "sliding scale" deals wherever possible is predicated "^ upon his desire to make "our earnings proportionate only to what our pictures can do at the box office." That, incidentally, bespeaks Rodgers' confidence in what he piesently is selling . . . and what he will be selling in the months ahead. And it ties in logically with Metro's determination to assert its old-time leadership in production, in distribution and in advertising. Yes, there inevitably will be keen competition. But is that bad? Not if you know your industry's history, for its greatest achievements have been sired by competition. dew POSH ALBERT SCHUG, student assistant, Loew's State, Syracuse. BIRGER RONNING, Film Classics sales force, Minneapolis, from E-L sales staff. JOHN MATIS, general manager, Ralph Goldstein circuit, Omaha, replacing Edward Shafton, resigned. F. J. BICKLER manager, Odean, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, succeeding Joseph Gould. DON SCOTT, manaaer, Ren, Renwick, la. GEORGE D. HA^T, manager, Grand and Marion, Knoxville, la. CBS Adding Nine Stations To Make Largest Tele Net CBS has completed arrangements to add nine additional tele stations to its network, Herbert V. Akerberg, vice-president in charge of station relations has revealed. With three already on the air, Columbia's station count, when the nine affiliates are in operation, will number 12, nation's largest. The nine outlets, all of which have been granted FCC construction permits and are now pushing building at top speed, are located in Dayton, Cincinnati and Columbus, O.; Charlotte, N. C; Louisville, Ky.; Binghamton, N. Y.; Stockton, Cal.; Indianapolis and Dallas. "Our arrangements give actual coast-to-coast dimensions for the first time," Ackerberg declared. Wayne Coy Predicts 400 Tele Licenses in 1948 Washington — Predicting that licenses for over 400 tele stations will have been granted by the end of this year, FCC chairman Wayne Coy declared that the "booming" industry would turn out more than 600,000 receivers during 1948 in a special video section of the Washington Post issued yesterday. Section included articles by Ed Kobak, Bond Geddes, Worthington Miner, Ray Manson and other industry executives. FWC Building in Fresno Stirring Indie Protests San Francisco — Claiming the Department of Justice erred in opining that the 1,340-seat theater Fox West Coast will build in Fresno is a replacement, rather than an expansion of the circuit, independent theater operators are preparing protest moves. Group will attempt to bring the Small Business Men's Committee from Washington to California to investigate the project and, at the same time, steps will be taken to br'ng about a Drobe by the D of J. Owner of the State in Fresno claims FWC threatened to build a new theater in the neighborhood unless the FWC lease, which expired early this year, was renewed on a lower scale. Owners leased the State to Robert Lippert; FWC purchased a site and plans to break ground for a new house next week. WcxchncrosY Joins All-States Detroit — Ben Wachnansy. former manager of the Parkside Theater, has been named general manager of AllStates Drive-In Theaters, with headquarters in Cleveland and Dayton. Circuit also operates in Toledo and Pittsburgh and plans a 1,200-car Drive-In here, according to Wachnansy. Thomas Testifies at La wson Contempt Tria (Continued from Page 1) Howard Lawson for contempt Congress. His decision came afte he had excused the jury while attor,, neys examined Rep. J. ParneJ^ Thomas, chairman of the Hous group concerning testimony taken b his committee last year. At the sa time Cm-ran said he will permit th defense to introduce witnesses to r< fute the testimony offered by th Government. Earlier Government attorney Wi liam Hitz told the jury, which i eludes six negroes, that its only r sponsibility will be to decide if Lav son was before the Committee, if h was asked whether he is or has evei been a Communist, and whether h, answered. On behalf of the defense, attoil ney Robert Kenny told the jury moi basic factors are involved. He sai Lawson had been denied the right t read a prepared statement — grante previous witnesses, to cross-examin witnesses whom he (Lawson) mair. tained had committed perjury. Lav son was denied "equal treatment ur, der the law," Kenny said, adding ths he did not refuse to answer th questions put to him, was makin every effort to answer but was n moved from the stand while doin so. He was interrupted 14 times i one and one half minutes, Kenn said. .Recommend Communist Part Register with D of J Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — The House Utj American Activities Committee ye terday agreed to legislation requii ing the Communist Party to registt with the Department of Justice, lisi. ing the names and last known ac dresses of all its members. In ac dition, the Committee approved , measure which would deny passport to Communists and ban them froi holding Government jobs except fc elective posts. As for the latter, ; would be illegal to run for offic without identifying themselves a Communists. THEATERS 0PEIIED 1 Esquire, 1,350 seats, Fresno, Calif by Robert L. Lippert Theaters. Circle, drive-in, Beaumont, Tex1 by Underwood & Ezell-Jefferso' Amusement Co. Odeon-Champlain, 1,500 seat, Montreal, by Odeon Theaters. Mission, drive-in, San Antonio, b: Arthur Landsman-C. A. Richter. Wolcott, 440 seats, Wolcott, Ind by Arthur Herzog. Park, 432 seats, Montague, Mich by William Theiman. Gratiot, 500 seats, Breckenridg< Mich., by J. F. McClusky. Smyrna, Smyrna, Del., by Mr; George Schwartz-Muriel Schwartz. New Freeburg, 400 seats, Free burg, 111., by Basil Clark.