Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1948)

No, No, No ROBERT O'DONNELL sent the following telegram to Motion Picture Herald Wednesday: ''Have been deluged with long distance telephone calls for confirmation of recent rumor that I'm about to head an organization backed by Texas money including Jesse Jones for the purchase of RKO Theatres and would appreciate your publishing that under no circumstances would I be interested in this arrangement, nor have I been approached by RKO, nor have I any connection with Jesse Jones, nor have I any Texas millionaire backers. I am very happy with my connection with Hoblitzelle and Interstate Theatres and would not leave Texas for all the tea in China." It Worked KEARNEY, Neb., had few Hallowe'en problems this year. This is why. George Monroe of the Fort theatre ran a Fort Theatre-Hub-Police Department theatre party. All small-fry who signed special pledges could exchange them with their teachers for theatre tickets. Few failed to sign. The pledge read, "I hereby pledge that I will keep the true spirit of Hallowe'en, that I will not be a party to defacing, destroying or damaging in any way anyone's property, and I will not cause the sidewalks or streets to be blocked in any way." Oops! MGM EXECUTIVES were sent screaming in anguish up into the wild blue yonder the other day in Washington. The company had called together 15 assorted generals of the Air Force in Washington for a preview screening of "Command Decision." After the generals viewed the picture they reported that several times actors used the obsolete term "Air Corps." The correct term is "Army Air Force." As a result, Sam Wood, the director, has called Clark Gable, Walter Pidgeon, Van Johnson and John Hodiak back to the studios for some retakes. Documentary "THE HOLLYWOOD STORY," a production of the CBS documentary unit, was the subject of an hour-long broadcast Wednesday night. The documentary explained Hollywood, it did not attack Hollywood. It did its explaining by telling in detail of the production of Samuel Goldwyn's "The Best Years of Our Lives" — from the time Goldwyn got the idea for the feature until it was released, previewed and re viewed. Written by Peter Lyon, "The Hollywood Story" was replete with historical matter : "It was born in a penny arcade and its early names are all but forgotten. . . ." The script considered the mechanics of production, the talents of production, the Production Code Authority, the role of the syndicated reviewer, and it ended with this statement : "The making of any motion picture is an accomplishment; the making of a good motion picture is an achievement. The more constructive critics you are, the better will be the pictures that you get. That's why we have told, tonight, 'The Hollywood Story'." All the News IF YOU'VE a mind to rind out how the New York Times goes about printing "all the news that's fit to print," take a look at "Democracy's Diary," a one-reel subject produced by RKO Pathe and just released by the Times. Contrary to what you might expect, there isn't a single cry of "stop the press" in the entire reel. Instead, the film shows you that the modern big city newspaper, although still based on leg work, is pretty much of a mechanized operation. Salesmen IF YOU WANT to sell watches, breakfast foods, pajamas and what not, the easiest thing to do is work a Mickey Mouse, a Donald Duck, or a Pluto character into the merchandise somewhere. These Walt Disney people are going to continue their off-screen activities as salesmen for another seven years under terms of a renewed contract signed last week by Mr. Disney. This agreement gives Kay Kamen direction over 2,000 articles bearing the imprint of the Disney characters currently being manufactured and distributed by 150 firms in the U. S. and by another 500 in the rest of the world. Modest Guy Hollywood Bureau JAMES MASON is the modest type fellow who takes a role because he likes it, not because it's the fattest part in the show. MGM learned that recently when it submitted the script of "Madame Bovary" to him and asked him to play the role of Charles Bovary. Mr. Mason liked the script, but, evidently, not the role. Instead he asked MGM for permission to play the smaller role of Gustave Flaubert, the author of "Madame Bovary." MGM accepted. Mr. Mason will appear in the prologue and epilogue to the picture and will narrate. PEOPLE Judge Lester William Roth, vice-president of Columbia Pictures, has been named California state chairman of the Joint Defense Appeal, it was announced at the weekend in New York by JDA headquarters. Harold F. Sherwood of the Kodak Research Laboratories at Rochester, N. Y., was chosen to receive the Rodman Medal at the 93rd Annual International Exhibition of the Royal Photographic Society held recently in London. The medal is awarded at the exhibition for outstanding work in photomicrography, radiography and other scientific fields. Alvin P. Meyers, former screen writer, has resigned as chief of the southeast division of the Internal Revenue Service to enter private business as tax consultant and accountant in association with H. Loren Baker, Los Angeles. Arthur DeBra, director of community relations for the Motion Picture Association, and Roger Albright, director of the MPAA education services, represented their organization Friday in Washington at the meeting of the General Federation of Women's Clubs on amusement programs for children. Ed Fay will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Fay theatre, Providence, R. L, by going to a combination vaudeville and motion picture policy beginning November 19. Reeve O. Strock, Westrex recording' manager, has returned to the New York office from a five-month business trip through Europe. Barney Simmons, formerly of the Marx theatre in Oshawa, Canada, has been appointed manager of the Rideau in Ottawa, succeeding Don Watts, transferred to the Nelson theatre in Ottawa. R. Dickson Harkness has been elected president of Northern Electric Company in Montreal, a theatre equipment affiliate of Western Electric. He succeeds Paul F. Sise, resigned. Dr. George Gallup, director of the Audience Research Institute, will speak at the ninth annual dinner of the. Motion Picture Pioneers at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York, November 17. Al Sherman, consultant to the Norwegian Embassy's information division and president of Sherman Plan, Inc., motion picture consultants, last Friday in Washington was one of the 15 American correspondents to be awarded the Norwegian Medal of St. Olav for aiding Norway during the occupation of that country by the Germans during the war. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, published every Saturday by Quigley Publishing Company, Rockefeller Center, New York City 20. Telephone Circle 7-3100; Cable address "Quigpubco. New York", Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Ouigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo. J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; Terry Ramsaye, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor; James D. Ivers, News Editor; Charles S. Aaronson, Production Editor; Ray Gallagher, Advertising Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager. Bureaus: Hollywood, William R. Weaver, editor, Yucca-Vine Building; Chicago, 120 South LaSalle Street, Telephone Andover M49, James Ascher, editorial representative, Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club; London, Hope Williams Burnup, manager, Peter Burnup, editor, 4 Golden Square. Correspondents in the principal capitals of the world. Member Audit Bureau of Circulations. Other Quigley Publications: Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Motion Picture Daily, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame and Theatre Sales. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, NOVEMBER 6, 1948 9