Canadian Film Weekly (Feb 20, 1946)

Vol. 11, No. 8 RKO Pension Plan In Effect | Industry Mourns Chas. Koerner The motion picture industry and allied professions mourned ‘the death of Charles W. Koerner, executive vice-president in charge of production for RKO Radio Pictures, one of the foremost figures in the business, who died in Hollywood last week. Koerner (Continued on Page 14) MPTAO Checks on 16 Mm. Showings Spread of private 16 mm. exhibition to institutions located within ten miles of commercial situations has led to “understandings’ between officials and managers unsanctioned by the distributors’ and exhibitors’ associations. (Continued on Page 2) VOICE of the CANADIAN MOTION PICTURE TORONTO, FEBRUARY 20, 1946 Is First Canadian Exchange With Retirement Scheme First pension plan among the distributing companies to win the approval of Ottawa is that of RKO Distributing Corporation of Canada Limited. Ottawa’s okay applies to all above the rank of foreman and, because all below that Bandits Steal $7,000 From Mont'l House Bandits who made their way into the Theatre Francais on St. Catherine Street East near St. Lawrence Boulevard, Montreal, at 6 o’clock in the morning recently, escaped with $7,000 from the office safe. Two cleaners were forced to the floor at revolver point and lay there for over an hour under guard while the bandits broke open the safe. A sum of several thousands of dollars was missed by the bandits, the manager reported. The 1,961-seat house is one ef the United Amusement Corporation group. No Exec Changes in Odeon, Says Davis There will be no executive changes in Odeon Theatres of Canada in the near future, according to John W. Davis, senior operating executive of British and international Rank organizations, presently in Toronto to study Odeon’s pro gress. He is accompanied by John Woolf, managing director of General Film Distributors of Great Britain. There had been some conjecture in the film business circles in Canada that a new general manager might be named, Paul Nathanson having held this position in addition to the presidency of the company since the resignation of Haskell] Masters a year ago. Leading Odeon field executive in the east is Clare Appel, eastern division manager, whose jurisdiction is in Ontario and (Continued on Page 13) Sing and Be Happi Columbia To Enter 16 Mm. Field Columbia Pictures are rumored to be the next large studio to enter the 16 mm. field, with a figure of $750,000 reportedly set aside for the operations. The studio has been studying 16 mm. distribution carefully for some time, and with Loew's and RKO already in the field and 20th-Fox and Warners known to be giving the subject close study, it is expected that Harry Cohn will rush plans to completion. rank require the approval of the Regional War Labor Board in each province, favorable replies are being awaited from all but Ontario and Quebec, which have already deemed the plan acceptable. The plan, retroactive to October, 1945, is based on incomes up to $6,000 annually. Those who earn above that amount can only receive benefits on that portion of their yearly earnings. (Continued on Page 2) "Burma Victory’ “Burma Victory,” produced by the British army film unit, is to be distributed in Canada and USA, INDUSTRY $2.00 Per Annum Larry Paulson Is Para India Chief Major Lawrence C. Paulson, who started his film career in Toronto, has been named Paramount’s India by George Weltner, president of Paramount International Films, Incorporated. Paulson's long experience in the (Continued on Page 4) Empire-Universal's "Marie-Louise’ The first Swiss film aimed at the USA and Canadian market is “Marie-Louise,” which has won fine reviews on the other side of the border as a heart-warming photoplay of great distinction. Empire-Universal, A. W. Perry announces, has acquired distribution rights for this unusual film in Canada. ‘Nagging’ The Peterborough Examiner, a prominent eastern Ontario newspaper, has published an impartial and lucid editorial on the current controversy which ceriain elements have started by claiming that motion pictures are a major contributing force to juvenile delinquency. Under the heading “Nagging at the Movies” the editorial says: The trade paper of the Canadiah movie exhibitors, “Film Weekly,” takes vigorous exception to two recent recommendations regarding film censorship in an editorail called “Unadulterated Nerve” which appeared in a December Issue. The first was the request of a Toronto school trustee that the censorship of moving pictures be transferred from the Provincial Treasurer's department to the Department of Education, and that an “expert on education” be put on the censorship board; the second was a resolution passed by the Ottawa City Council, calling for grading of pictures, and greater censorship of advertising, and asking all Ontario municipalities to pass a similar measure. “Film Weekly” is greatly exercised about these matters because they constitute an unwarranted interference in the business of exhibiting films; we are opposed to the resolutions because we believe that in a free country censorship must be kept at the minimum if it exists at all, and because we think that the framers of such resolutions are either doing too much or too little in their avowed purpose of curbing juvenile delinquency. (Continued on Page 19) starring JANE PICKENS, series of single reel musicals, each with story introduces a new : ' eidhed ; Sak : 2 structure and an “AUDIENCE SING” innovation. BOOK these SPLENDID SHORT SUBJECTS NOW from EMPIRE UNIVERSAL FILMS LIMITED, They're BOXOFFICE HITS! general manager for ~~