Canadian Film Weekly (Jan 7, 1948)

Page 8 Canadian FILM WEEKLY Still Negotiating Hon. G. Drew, Smythe Give Kids Big Boost (Continued from Page 1) UK Rental Tax (Continued from Page 1) United States market.” Treasury officials and a representative of the American Motion Picture Association had met, Wilson said, but a solution of the problem “is not yet in sight.” He told a press conference that Britain would stand by the import duty because “if we were to release to America anything like the full amount which American pictures are able to earn here it would mean a heavy drain on our dollar resources. “We are prepared to discuss, however, a scheme under which it would be possible for the American companies to take out more money than the one-fourth of their net British revenues remaining untouched by the duty but only in return for a real effort not only to accept but also to show British films in the United States market,’’ he added. Taxes have increased in other countries. Australia, which at first agreed to 70 per cent of earnings to be remitted to the USA, has lowered that figure to 50. Sweden sliced remittances from 50 per cent to one-third. A five per cent tax was imposed in Brazil and Mexico threatens to double the tax on imports. Odeon Day-And-Date Odeon Theatres of Canada has inaugurated a day-and-date policy of first runs in two of its houses in Vancouver, the 924seat Plaza and the 725-seat Park. Farrow To Direct John Farrow has been assigned by Paramount to direct ‘The Great Gatsby,” scheduled for production early in 1948 with Alan Ladd in the starring role. This filmization of the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel will be one of Paramount’s most important productions, Diana Lynn Signs Seven-Year Pact Diana Lynn, starred in ‘“Prelude to Night” with Zachary Scott, Sidney Greenstreet, Louis Hayward and Martha Vickers, has signed a new contract with Producing Artists, producers of the film, calling for one picture a year for the next seven years. As Miss Lynn’s first vehicle under the new contract, to be filmed early next year, the company is now negotiating for purchase of “Julie,” Ruth Babcock’s forthcoming novel about a New York “white collar worker,” which Coward McCann will publish soon. iety International, the Canadian unit of the amusement world’s Service organization. The presentation of the land, generally a surprise, was made over the radio by Mr. Drew at the Maple Leaf Gardens, where 10,000 hockey fans added $17,600 to the Variety tent’s Heart Fund for the privilege of watching the Pittsburgh Hornets, USA champions, beat the Toronto Marlboro’s by a score of seven to three. This money brought Variety to within a few thousand dollars of its quota of $100,000, the amount needed for the building, and work will begin on it in the near future. Actually the gift of land was made to R. W. Hopper, executive director of the Society for Crippled Children, by the citi-for. zens of Ontario. Hopper, the Society, will turn it over to Variety at a nominal sum. Speaking in terms of individuals, however, it was Barker Conny Smythe, president of Maple Leaf Gardens, to whom the Prime Minister gave the first official information, for they were being interviewed on the radio at the time by Barker Lorne Green while thousands listened in over a coast-to-coast hookup. It was fitting that Smythe should share that all-important event, for he and his associates had arranged the hockey game in which the players and sponsors had contributed their efforts. The Smythe men footed the bills for everything from music to advertising, making the returns for ticket sales the actual net for the night. Twenty business firms donated prizes for lucky draws. Barker Henry Bolton of the Gardens headed the Variety ticket committee. “Anything. as important as a site for this School for Crippled Children is something that I think any one of us would give a great deal of thought and consideration. And I believe that we have finally found a spot that will answer all the many probems that have to be met,” Mr. Drew said. After describing the location, which is wooded and overlooks Lake Ontario, he said, “T think you will agree that it’s the ideal site where the kids will have the benefit of plenty of fresh air and sunshine.” “T understand that work on the school will get underway early in 1948,” Mr. Drew said further, “and I feel sure that in the near future all of the citizens of Ontario, who have so generously supported the Variety: Club and all the members of the Variety Club will be able to point with pride to Variety Village as the outstanding vocational school on this continent.” At the conclusion of his remarks the Premier congratulated Smythe “and all those with whom you are associated in promoting this very worthy cause.” Earlier Conny Smythe reveal ed that his special interest in the need of a vocational guidance school for crippled children had come through his having been invited last spring by Mr. Drew to the official opening of “Wood Eden,” a.summer camp operated for crippled children by a group of London, Ontario business’ men. It was Smythe who brought Variety its special purpose by suggesting that a school which would give crippled children the kind of training needed for self-reliance through selfsupport was needed. During the first intermission R. W. Hopper of the Ontario Society for Crippled Children and Morris Stein, chairman of Variety’s Heart Committee, were interviewed on the air. Hopper described the work of the Society and its requirements, while Stein told of the Variety Club and its aims. “I think it is ‘fitting at this time that I should express for Variety our grateful appreciation to Conn Smythe, Henry Bolton. Harold Ballard, Ed Fitkin and all the Maple Leaf Gardens’ officials and staff, and our special thanks to John Harris, Bob Davidson and all the Pittsburgh players, as well as Harold Ballard, Joe Primeau and the Marlboro boys,” said Stein. “Our thanks also to the press, the radio and the motion picture industry, who have supported us so generously and have helped us to make such an outstanding showing. We wish also to thank those who so generously contributed the fine prizes and, most of all, we thank the public for its generous support.” Also appearing on the first broadcast were Ed Fitkin of the Gardens staff, Bunny Morganson of the Toronto Evening Telegram, Hal Walker of the Toronto Globe and Mail and Gord Walker of the Toronto Daily Star, Cromwell To Direct John Cromwell will meg RKO’s “The Baltimore Escapade.” January 7, 1948 london 1A Local Marks 44th Anni (Continued from Page 1) theatre managers, projectionists and stagehands gathered together to dine and dance and install the newly-elected officers. Founded in London in 1903, Local: 105 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Moving Picture Machine Operators of the United States and Canada, today has jurisdiction over London and the surrounding district for a radius of 80 miles. During the banquet the incom ‘ing slate of officers was intro duced and J. HE. C. Saunders, newly-elected president took over from Newt Wallis, past president and chairman for the evening. Complete slate for 1948 includes J. E. C. Saunders, presi dent; vice-president, Alex McLeish; secretary-treasurer, Cliff Mills, St. Thomas; recording secretary, William Hewitt; Trustees are R. Courtney, Harold Allaster and William Hewitt; sgt.-at-arms, William O’Rourke; stage business agent, Fred Hewitt; projectionist business agent, Sid Bradford; auditors, Fred Cripps and J. McCully; examining board, Saunders, Sid Bradford and Mills; and convention delegate, Fred Hewitt. Wallis, chairman and _ toastmaster, proposed a.toast to the King, and the toast to the president of the United States was given by McLeish. Toasts were offered during the dinner to the City of London by Harold L. McLean; the IATSE, by Fred Hewitt; Local 105 by Bradford; the ladies by Saunders; and the theatre managers by Mills. Mark Hellinger, 44, Dies In Hollywood Mark Hellinger, producer, writer and newspaperman, passed away recently in Hollywood of a heart condition at the age of 44, Lately. associated with Universal, for whom he produced such notable successes as “The Killers” and “Brute Force,” Hellinger began his career as a columnist on the New York Daily News and the Chicago Tribune Syndicate. He then filled the Same capacity with the New York Daily Mirror and the King Features Syndicate, writing several books during that time. He collaborated on scripts for several Ziegfeld shows later joining Warner Brothers as a producer. He switched to 20th CenturyFox and back to Warners and in 1944 he became war correspondent for Hearst Newspapers.