Canadian Film Weekly (Mar 16, 1955)

EE ————— eee ———— ——— — a March 16, 1955 CANADIAN FILM WEEKLY Page 3 WELTNER UPPED (Continued from Page 1) Service, a division of the domestic market, is headed by Gordon Lightstone, who met with Weltner in New York immediately after the latter’s appointment by Barney Balaban, president of Paramount Pictures Corporation. The naming of Weltner, said Balaban, was in line with Paramount’s conviction. that the entire world must now be considered and treated as a single entity from a motion picture distribution standpoint. Like Balaban and Austin C. Keough, vice-president of Paramount Pictures, Weltner is a member of the board of directors of Famous Players, which is the company’s only remaining theatre interest. Schwalberg’s decision to enter production will bring him many good wishes from Canada, where he was popular and enjoyed many friendships. In the industry for over 25 years, he joined Paramount in 1948, became general sales manager in 1949 and president of its distributing company in 1950. Born in Chicago in 1901, Weltner joined the company in 1922 in New York after graduating from Columbia University and his first assignment was in the laboratory, then next he was placed in the traffic department, where he learned about the transportation of film at home and abroad. In 1924 he was sent to Latin America and in 19384 became assistant to John W. Hicks, Jr. In June, 1945 he was made president of Paramount International. Weltner is married to the former Bertha Weiner and they have two children. Of the move Balaban asserted: “In this era of speed-up of communications and the world-wide similarity of motion picture appeal, our industry has truly become a ‘one-world’ organization. Mr. Weltner’s outstanding record in the organization and administration of the foreign operations of our company has put Paramount Pictures in a most enviable position. As a member of the Board of Directors of Paramount Pictures Corporation, he has maintained a sound working knowledge of the company’s over-all program, and has been for many years a valued member of Paramount’s policymaking and executive cabinet. “It is a particular source of gratification,” continued Balaban, “that we have found in our own Paramount organization as wellqualified an executive as Mr. Weltner to head our world-wide sales and distribution organizations.” To Direct MGM's 'Trial' Mark Robson will MGM’s forthcoming Trial. direct Canadians at the MGM Detroit Workshop Some of the severai dozen Canadians who attended the recent MGM Ticket Selling Workshop in Detroit are shown above. From the left, they are Raoul Auerbach, vice-president of Twentieth Century Theatres, Toronto; Jack Wellard, city manager of Premier Operating in Stratford, Ontario; J. Musclow, manager of the Capitol in Kitchener, Ontario; Howard Shedewitz, manager of the Lyric, also in Kitchener; Archie Axler, manager of the Vogue in Leamington, Ontario; and Dave Axler, circuit supervisor for Premier Operating, Toronto. Short Throws ALTHOUGH tenders have been called for the demolition of buildings on the site of Toronto’s new civic square, Shea’s Theatre will not be torn down as yet. The 2,386-seat Famous Players house and several adjoining structures will probably be the last to come down. EXHIBITORS arewatching with keen interest the experiment by All Nations Book and Film Service, which has leased the 486seat Park Theatre in Sudbury, Ontario from Twinex Theatres and will show. only foreign-language films, with films in German predominating. All Nations operates the Melody in Toronto on the same basis and will shortly open the Melody in Montreal, where a similar policy will be attempted. THREE Ontario radio stations —CHUM, Toronto; CFOR, Orillia; and CFJB, Brampton—have been awarded the Colonel Keith Rogers Memorial Award “In recognition of their outstanding service during Hurricane Hazel in devoting the entire resources of their stations to community assistance.” HISTORY of railroading in Canada has been put on film by Canadian National Railways. Shot by Ken Hand of the CNR and edited, recorded and animated by Crawley Films, the 16 mm, color short runs 15 minutes and is based on the CNR’s museum train. This train consists of three ancient locomotives and several antique cars. PRESENTATION of a sixpound, 15-inch key to the city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan was made to Bob Hope by Mayor John McAskill recently on the occasion of the comedian’s onenight stand in that city. THREE J. Arthur Rank players were honored recently by the Variety Club of Great Britain, which voted Jack Hawkins as “Star of 1954,” Diane Cilento as the most promising actress of the year and Donald Sinden as the actor making the most progress in 1954. MISREPRESENTATION was charged by Stephen Kovacs, owner of the Roxy in Kingsville, Ontario, about an advertising scheme in which promoters sold books of coupons entitling the holder to services or merchandise free. As a result Kovacs refused to honor the passes in the book but the 60 other businessmen were forced to carry out the bargain, even though the area was flooded with the books and no restriction had been put on their sale as had been promised. MANAGERS of theatres in the Rothstein circuit recently donated the $31 in their fund to the Canadian Picture Pioneers, sending it to J. Biggerstaff, president of the Winnipeg district. EARLIEST opening of a drivein for the season took place in Chilliwack, BC, where Ralph Clark’s 481-car Chilliwack started operations the last week in February. NEW PROD'N HEAD (Continued from Page 1) TV Division, for which offices have been set up in Toronto. A veteran of 25 years in the film industry, Carter started in 1928 as assistant director of feature films with British Instructional, becoming editor and a director of educational shorts later. In 1933 he joined Gaumont British Instructional as writer-director of educational films and sponsored shorts. While with Gaumont British he directed over 100 reels of military and naval training films during the war, eventually being promoted to general manager and then director in charge of production. Since 1948 he has represented the UK J. Arthur Rank interests in the Producers Association. He has been a director of the British Film Producers’ Fund, the Cinema Advisory Committee to the Home Office, the Film Trade Benevolent Fund and the Children’s Film Foundation. Before leaving for Canada and his new position Carter was tendered a farewell luncheon by the Association of Specialized Film Producers, of which he was vicepresident. Miller To Direct ‘Dianne’ David Miller will direct MGM’s Dianne, starring Lana Turner. "Bar Sinister’ Shooting Shooting has started in CinemaScope and color on MGM’s The Bar’ Sinister, starring Jeff Richards, Jarma Lewis, Edmund Gwenn, Dean Jagger and Roger Moore. DSR TREN AR MRC TE OUR BUSINESS (Continued from Page 2) tation, a groan or the back of the hand. If you can think of the life of the party also being its conscience, that’s Bossin. “The Year Book shows its editor in another role, as historian. Not many people realize that he is one of Canada’s outstanding Lincoln scholars. Bossin is also historian of the Toronto theatre and the Canadian motion picture industry. It is this latter aspect of his work that makes his Year Book stimulating reading, and will eventually make the series a collector’s item, Starting with the account of how the Holland Brothers of Ottawa were responsible for the very first showing of motion pictures back in 1894, each Year Book has presented further chapters in this absorbing story of the beginnings and growth of an industry that touches millions of Canadians each week. “Reports are given on the work of the National Film Board, the Canadian Film Institute, the Canadian Film Awards and there is a: section on 16 mm. distribution.”