Canadian Film Weekly (Oct 3, 1945)

Page 10 Canadian FILM WEEKLY October 3, 1945 Johnston Succeeds Wili Hays WILL HAYS IA in Saskatoon Absorbs Rival (Continued from Page 1) Labor is associated with the Congress of Industrial Organizations, while the IATSE holds membership in the opposition group, the American Federation of Labor. The move, one of a number in the past year, ends dual unionism in every province but Quebec. Operating under a government charter, non-IATSE projectionists outnumber those of that union in Quebec. The IATSE charges that its rival is a company union and, with the end of dual unionism elsewhere in the Dominion, Covert announces that his organization will now concentrate on Quebec. The Saskatoon agreement affected seven members who worked in two theatres, the Daylight and Capitol, both out of the IA for 13 years. The signing of both these Famous Players houses will bring the membership of the Saskatoon Local to 25. The IATSE has withdrawn its road call from the theatres. Under it stagehands travelling with road shows were forbidden to work in the theatres, making it difficult to play in them. The Capitol has an excellent stage. Stars of ‘Tangier’ Maria Montez, Sabu, Louise Allbriton and Preston Foster will play the leading roles in Universal's ‘‘Tangier,” with Reginald Denny in a top supporting part. Canada Also Owes Will Hays a Debt of Gratitude for What He Has Done to Elevate the Motion Picture the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America brings to an end an historic era in the motion picture industry and marks the beginning of a journey on a greater and broader road leading to greatness yet unknown. Hays resigned as postmaster-general of the United States to lead the motion picture industry through comparitively severe self-regulation in order to make movies acceptable to many and worthy of the support of the clergy and church-goers as entertainment. He was eminently suited to his task, being prominent in such organizations as the National Council of Boy Scouts, of which he was a vice-president, and the Citizens’ Committee of the Salvation Army. He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church. A member of the Indiana bar, he became chairman of the Republican National Committee in 1921 and holds membership in many public service and business organizations. His rule over the industry was not always smooth and at present two companies, United Artists and Warner Brothers, have withdrawn from membership in the MPPDA because of conflict arising out of his policies, He will remain in an advisory capacity to Johnston at a salary of $100,000 per year—$50,000 cut annually. Eric Johnson, successor to Hays, will get, it is reported, $150,000 per year and an annual expense allowance of $50,000. He will remain president of two large American electrical contracting firms. The handsome 49-year-old president of the American Chamber of Commerce has been, during his career, a newsboy, reporter, longshoreman and vacuum-cleaner salesman. He holds a law degree, lives in Spokane, Washington, and was a Marine captain during the last war. He will drop the Chamber of Commerce job, which he held since 1942, at the end of his present term. He believes in co-operation with the government, labor and other countries. He is, in fact, considered somewhat “radical” in his point of view by old-guard business men. His personality and attitude are in keeping with Hollywood’s new task, that of spreading the motion picture to millions of new patrons throughout the world, such films to offend neither domestic or foreign racial, religious and political groups, and at the same time preach democracy. Francis S. Harmon, coordinator of the USA War Activities Committee since its inception, was named a vice-president of the MPPDA and has resigned from his WAC post to take charge of the New York offices of the association. Joseph I. Breen, who continues in charge of the production code administration was also formally named a vice-president. Rte eon of Will H. Hays, after 23 years as president of REVIEWING, his own relationship to the industry since he came +” into it, the retiring president stated: ; “Be sure that my intense interest in the motion picture industry will continually increase. I know its capabilities; and furthermore no man can give almost a quarter of a century to a cause without its becoming an integral part of him. “It has been a privilege to have been intimately associated with the destinies of a form of communication that I truly believe to be of immeasurable usefulness in universal entertainment, information and education. To all those who have so greatly aided us along an ever upward, but sometimes not too easy road, I can predict that both quality of pictures and of audience appreciation will continue steadily to climb, and I can assure them of the certain progress of every ar(istic, cultural and social gain that time has brought. . “Through the years there has been continuity of support from those within the industry for all that was importantly constructive, as there has been from public leaders— interested in the public good. That it is of universal concern to the people of the land which gave it birth is one of the greatest assets of the American motion picture, “Whatever degree of success has accompanied my own endeavor has been largely due to the united teamwork of the members of the board of the association, its officers and staff, and devoted industry feaders and trade press, all of whom have labored unselfishly in behalf of the progress of the screen. The industry's unique achievement in self-regulation; the amazing technological progress which has given (Continued on Page 15) ERIC JOHNSTON Hanifen, NS Vet, Retires at 80 (Continued from Page 1) business obligations he was manager of the Garrick. Hanifen—or “P.J.”, as he is known—came to the Garrick 11 years ago for Famous Players, which operated the theatre then. Prior to his accepting the Management of the Garrick Hanifen was chairman of the Nova Scotia Board of Censors for a number of years. It was during his tenure that sound came in and his was the first censorship office to buy a movieola, a machine that can censor words from the film. The methods and regulations of censorship, as drawn up by Hanifen, attracted international interest and enquiries came in through the Canadian High Commissioner in London for Spain, Portugal, France and other countries. The popular: veteran discovered his talent for acting in Halifax in the 1880s and during his years on the legitimate stage appeared all through eastern United States, sharing the boards with some of the greatest. Erect, keen-eyed and shar'pwitted, Pat Hanifen is still an interesting person to know and learn from. RKO Psycho-Mystery Lawrence Tierney, star of “Dillinger,” will play the starring male role in RKO’s psychological] mystery, “Deadlier than the Male,’