Canadian Film Weekly (Apr 17, 1946)

— Page 8 USA Exhibs Form New Association American exhibitors convened in St. Louis, Missouri, recently and organized the American Theatres Association, incorporating in it the Theatres Activities Committee, which had been functioning temporarily since last December following the lapse into inactivity of the War Activities Committee. President Truman wired his blessings. Specific objects of the ATA are (a) public relations and (b) industry welfare. From 4,000 to 6,000 of the USA’s 16,000 exhibitors were represented, although such organizations as the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America and the Allied States Association of Motion Picture Exhibitors are among the trade bodies not yet hooked up. Si Fabian, active in industry activities during the war, was elected president and Charles P. Skouras and William Skirball first and second vice-presidents respectively. Ted Gamble is chairman of the board and Arthur Mayer will head public relations. Although the delegates expressed opposition to the showing of fact films of a controversial nature and favored regulating their exhibition, a resolution stated in part that the exhibitors recognize “an obligation and privilege to use this medium (the screen) of expression for the purpose of disseminating informaition of public interest and value, where such interest is of sufficient importance to warrant such exhibition and is presented in such a manner as to fit into such a program designed primarily for entertainment.” Organization of the TAC is regarded as an unprecedented step in bringing circuits and small exhibitors together to increase the industry’s prestige in the public mind, to settle internal differences aS a means of resisting pressure groups and further industry welfare. With harmony in mind, the new constitution provides that a majority of the ATA’s directors be Independents, with one director representing every million in each state. Headquarters will be in New York City. WANTED TO LEASE OR BUY Theater not less than 300 seats, Good locality. 25 years experience in business. BOX No. 15 CANADIAN FILM WEEKLY Canadian FILM WEEKLY April 17, 1946 Lady Takes A Holiday One of the outstanding space-winning stunts in a long time was that in connection with MGM's “Vacation From Marriage.” A New York trip was the prize to housewife who wrote the best Iectter on the subject, “Why I Want a Vacation from Marriage.” All travelling, hotel, entertainment and incidental expenses were paid by MGM and the Uptown Theatre, Toronto, where “VYaczxtion from Marriage’ was playing. Judges of the hundreds of letters were chosen from officials of women’s organizations and editors of Canadian publications. Stories and photos in the press and a radio appearance of the winner grew out of the idea. Winner was Mrs. E. J. Fulton, Toronto, who is shown about to fly to New York. In addition to the crew and hostess of the plane, Manager Stan Gosnell of the Uptown, Mrs. Fulton, her daughter Gwen and MGM's promotion representative, Dewey Bloom are shown in the photograph. Warners Purchase Stage Successes With the objective of encouraging new playwrights and acting talent that will later be brought to the screen, Warner Brothers have allocated $250,000 for the financing of Broadway productions in the coming year. Negotiations are under way for several properties which are being considered for late spring production. The company is understood to be looking for a second Broadway legitimate house to add to the Biltmore, which they now operate in association with George Abbott. Present Warner stage holdings include “Life With Father,” ‘‘The Voice of the Turtle,” “The Two Mrs. Carrolls’”’ and ‘‘Wallflower.” Repeat Regal Award In Appeal Court The appeal from the judgment of the Chief Justice of the High Court, who awarded Regal Films $27,787.19 from the Glen Fails Insurance Company Limited, was lost by the latter concern before the Court of Appeal, Osgoode Hall, Toronto. Regal Films had sued the insurance company to recover dainages caused by fire in the Film exchange Building in November, This Team Will Earn Big Money In Canada James Mason, whose work in “The Seventh Veil’ and other films made him one of Canada’s newest top money stars, has been teamed with Joan Crawford, Academy Award winner, for the Skirball-Manning unit’s production, ‘Portrait in Black.” Carol Reed will come over with Mason to direct the film, which will be distributed by Universal. Jackson Park Aims Distrib Jackpot The Jackson Park Theatre, Chicago, which was awarded $360,000 from distributors for losses arising from their practices, now seeks an additonal $200,000 for decline of revenue during the long litigation. Special Award For Jack L. Warner The Hollywood Foreign Correspondents Association, whose members syndicate film news throughout the world, will create a special award for Jeck L. Warner, vice-president of Warner Brothers, for his production of “Hitler Lives?” It will presented along with the regular annual awards made by the association annually. Claxton Answers Duplessis Charge Attack of Premier Duplessis of Quebec, supported by other house party leaders, on National Film Board subjects for allegedly presenting communistic ideas, had an echo in the House of Commons. Frederic Dorion, Independent member from Quebec, asked: 1. From November 1, 1929 to August 1, 1944, were any films produced by the National Film Board banned in the Province of Quebec for the reason they constituted communist propaganda? 2. If so, how many? The Hon. Brooke Claxton, KC, minister of national health and welfare and chairman of the NFB, replied: 1 and 2. No, but, out of the five or six hundred films in the French and English languages issued by the national film board in Quebec since the board was established in 1939, one film was withheld from distribution in Quebec at the request of Quebec authorities. Neither this nor any film hed any communistic propaganda but objection was taken to this film because of the picture presented of the Russian revolution. The film showed the fighting achievements of Russia at a time when Canadians were glad Russia was fighting on the same side we were on, and it was a definite function of the national film board to show what all our allies were doing. As the first function of the board under its act is to produce films “designed to help Canadians in all parts of Canada to understand the ways of living and the problems of Canadians in other parts,’’ a very large number of films has been made about Quebec and its people and these have been distributed throughout Canada and in many parts of the world. Among many of the finest films produced are ‘Alexis Tremblay, Habitant,” ‘“‘Pays de Quebec,” “Pays de mon Cocur,” ‘‘Chercheurs de la Mer,” “Vallee des Dynamos,” and ‘‘Sept Peintres de Quekec.” Even now films are being prepared to show the beauties and resources of the castern townships and the Saguenay. Horne Group To Sell Via United World? United World Pictures may distribute films to be produced by Story Productions, which is headed by Hal Horne, Armand Deutsch and Nathan Levin. The group’s first feature will be “This Side of Innocence,” which may go to UW, a RankUniversal firm, as part of a packuge deal. Howard Batten Dead A member of the board of directors of Shelly Films, Dr. W. Howard Batten, 52, president of Rapid Grip & Batten, passed away in Toronto last week. Manitoba Shows Get Candy And Popcorn Mickey Tozman of Canadian Automatic Confection has returned from a trip through Manitoba, where he installed Viking popcorn machines and candy vendors in quite a few theatres. He installed 12 in Winnipeg, several in Saskatoon and other places,