Business screen magazine (1946)

JAMIESON continued It is not a seaport or on any navigable waterway. It had no special natural resources to attract industry and investment. It was not the seat of government or a historical center in the early settlement of the state. Dallas grew only because the people of the city were determined that it should. "Around the turn of the century, by hook and crook and pure salesmanship, the city fathers required that a southern route of the transcontinental railroad pass through Dallas, establishing a necessary lifeline to commerce. Thus Dallas began to grow, based on a semi-rural economy of cattle ranching, cotton farming, light industry, and marketing distribution of goods manufactured elsewhere." With the establishment of the East Texas oil fields, Dallas then became the financial center for this gigantic industry. Gradually, the city became a center for airline operations, and continuing development assured the position. The same forward vision and action appUed as the city continued to grow through solid economic expansion. "A key leader in the growth of Dallas," relates Jamieson, "R. L. Thornton, had two favorite sayings: in Dallas, nobody builds things big enough the first time.' (This was true of even his own bank.) And, he concluded meetings with . . . 'and let's keep the dust flying.' The dust has certainly flown. Dallas now has a metropolitan area of 1 Vi million and is still growing. "Years ago, film production activities, outside of Hollywood and New York, existed in small pockets around the country each serving its own area in business and nontheatrical film requirements. Occasionally films were produced outside the local area, but by and large it was a regional business. As transportation modes improved, however, film companies extended their area of service to where now in the age of jet airplanes, no spot in the country is over a few hours away. Thus, today we in Dallas serve film users throughout the nation. Among our own customers are business, industry, government, and advertising agencies located from coast to coast. "Let's keep the dust flying." Keitz & Herndon ... It Began with Animation Keitz & Herndon, Inc. is unique in the production of advertising films for theatres, having been classified as the industry's largest producer of "snack bar" promotional films. Sponsors of these films include all of the major soft drink companies. For K&H, it began with animation. Larry Herndon and Roddy Keitz began the company in 1950 with a home-made animation stand and a second-hand Mitchell camera, with which they produced a number of animated TV commercials for local and regional advertisers. Their expertise and reputation for animation has continued to this day. In 1969, the company produced some 250 commercials, 50 filmstrips, and 15 films (including 3 theatre trailers), in addition to 200 graphic illustration and 75 still photo assignments. A talented crew consisting of Tom Young, Tom Doades, John Bronaugh and Ben January rounds out the K&H management staff. And even though the company pro\ides all production facilities and services, its animation identity con tmues. When the company moved to its new offices and studio in 1960, an optical printing facility was added making them the first in the Southwest with the capability. In 1969, the company became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Chilton Corporation, a Dallas based organization which foresees a dramatic future for the communications industry in Dallas. In its 20 years of growth, the company has developed the full range of motion picture services and has most recently added videotape production facilities. The company currently provides educational and promotion films, filmstrips, slides and films for advertising and television. An asset has been the versatility of its animation staff . . . moving with equal skill from a children's cartoon series to complex presentations for the Apollo Space Program. Computer animation and fully automated animation photography are the company's most recent new tools. WFAA Offers Full Range: Specializes in Videotape The largest videotape production center in the Southwest is found at Dallas" WFAA Productions, a subsidiary of the A. H. Belo Corporation, whose holdings include WFAA-AM-FM and TV stations in Dallas; the Dallas Morning News; and Beaumont Television Corporation. WFAA Productions' expanding commercial-program activity includes productions for major New York, Chicago, Dallas, St. Louis, Atlanta and Houston agencies. Clients include Delta Airlines, Blue Cross/Blue Shield,' Humble Oil. Falstaff Beer and many others. The company also serves as an agency for clients needing a complete commercial production package. Nearly all of the company's di rector/producers are multi-talented young men with experience in all phases of TV production. Much of the firm's TV production equipment was specially designed. For example. General Electric and Still from "Make Me Smile'' by WFAA which made use of solarization device on camera and won several awards for the company. PART 2