The Exhibitor (Jun-Nov 1944)

24 THE EXHIBITOR TELEVISION The board of directors of the Television Broadcasters Association, Inc., at a Sche¬ nectady, N. Y., meeting last fortnight, unanimously adopted a resolution setting forth three principles which it considers “the major premises involved in the mat¬ ter of allocations.” The resolution fol¬ lows: “Resolved: That as a principle en¬ dorsed by the board of directors of the Television Broadcasters Association, Inc., to guide its representatives on the Radio Technical Planning Board, the following points are considered the major premises involved in the matter of allocations: (1) The board of directors of the Television Broadcasters Association, Inc., is convinced that tire public interest requires that tele¬ vision be allocated 30 six-megacycle chan¬ nels as nearly contiguous as possible start¬ ing at approximately 40 megacycles, and extending the frequencies not in excess of 250 megacycles, (2) it further is convinced that the public interest requires that tele¬ vision be allocated 30 16 to 20 megacycle channels as nearly contiguous as possible starting at approximately 400 megacycles, and extending the frequencies not in ex¬ cess of 2,000 megacycles, (3) it further is convinced that adequate relay channels such as suggested in the Radio Technical Planning Board’s report of Panel 6, page 17 of P6-399-A, dated April 14, 1944, should be allocated to television service.” First' annual conference of Television Broadcasters Association will be held in New York on December 11-12 at the Hotel Commodore. The annual meeting of the Television Broadcasters Association, Inc., will take place on the second day of the conference. William S. Hedges, NBC vice-president in charge of stations, stated last week that “NBC is prepared to establish a television service as soon as men and materials are available.” “We believe,” he said, “that experimentation should continue with the end in view of supplying the public with constantly improved television service. Television is not just an improvement over something else. It is a new and unique and original medium of communication, and will be a tremendous addition to the social and economic life of the nation.” Hedges envisioned video as a means of opening a new avenue to education and recreation, supplying new employment for millions, and as a vital new arm of dis¬ tribution. He predicted a speedy growth for frequency modulation broadcasting after the war, and declared that the great technological advances in all branches of broadcasting would be accompanied by new and finer programs. Walter Heininger, a native of Brazil; Lucas Mujica, Peru; and Jose Valladares, Cuba, youthful Latin-American engineers, who are in this country on scholarships, who recently toured the General Electric plant at Schenectady, N. Y., stated last week that South America eagerly awaits television. They said that two experi¬ mental stations were in operation there before the war, and more are planned when hostilities cease. They added that the average man on the street is anxious to know more about the subject, and ad¬ vanced courses in television and electronics are taught in the universities. CBS last week filed applications with the FCC for licenses to operate television stations in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and St. Louis, asking in each case for allocation of a 16-megacycle band com¬ prising the frequencies between 460 and 476 megacycles. A similar application for 16 mm. Films Keep Pace NEW YORK — The distribution of the industry’s 16 nun. gift prints is keeping pace with the rapidly advanc¬ ing American Army in France, Lieu¬ tenant Colonel Sidney Lund reported to Colonel E. L. Munson, chief. Army Pictorial Service, on his return last fortnight from a tour of the invasion coast. Colonel Lund revealed an average of 530 film shows are presented every night on the northern French coast. Approximately 700 projectors are in use to show more than 150 features. A film exchange in a tent has been erected south of Cherbourg to receive shipments from England. The “the¬ atres” are tents, old buildings, or stables. NSS READYING TWO REGIONAL MEETS Chicago — Second of National Screen Service’s regional meetings opens here on Sept. 16 for a three-day session attended by 75 members of the sale' staff from the central, midwest, and southwest NSS ex¬ changes. The highlight of the George Dembow Tribute, this sparks the opening of the new film season. Dembow will lead the execs at the meet¬ ing, outlining post-war plans, streamlining the sales policy, etc. Third of the regionals will be held in Los Angeles on Sept. 22. MGM Stunt Clicks San Francisco — Leo Bernstein, a defense worker, was $500 richer last week, be¬ ing the first person to “capture” the man known as George Heisler, cooperating with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in a unique test of the vigilance of Americans at war. This “fugitive” in real life is the standin for Spencer Tracy, who portrays a fugitive from a German prison camp in “The Seventh Cross.” George Heisler is the name of the character in the film, and this name is being used by the man who was to visit six more cities with a reward of $500 in war bonds being offered to the first citizen to successfully identify him in each place within a specified time limit. RKO Declares Preferred New York — The board of directors of Radio-Keith Orpheum Corporation last week declared a dividend of $1.50 per share on its six per cent preferred stock, payable on Nov. 1, 1944, to holders of record at the close of business on Oct. 2J, 1944, such dividend constituting the regu¬ lar dividend for the current quarter which will end on Oct. 31, 1944. a television station to be operated in New York on the same channel was previously filed, and these five CBS applications re¬ quest licenses for the maximum number of television stations presently allowable to any single broadcaster under the current FCC rules. PRODUCTION Hollywood — Marcy McGuire, RKO singer, has been assigned the top acting spot in the company’s “Riverboat Rhythm.” Glenn Vernon has the male lead. . . . Ann Sheridan has been set for the lead in Warners’ “When Old New York Was Young.” . . . Monogram has signed Acquenatta to star in two features, the first, “Jungle Fear.” . . . MGM is preparing pro¬ duction on “Hold High the Torch,” to feature Elizabeth Taylor, Lassie, and Ed¬ mund Gwenn. . . . Heading an all-star cast for MGM’s “Week-End At the Wal¬ dorf” will be Ginger Rogers, Lana Turner, Walter Pidgeon, and Van Johnson. . . . MGM has completed arrangements to sponsor the stage play “Violet.” Betty Hutton will star in a musical, “loo Good To Be True,” for Paramount. ... Joe Besser has arrived here for a ‘tarring role in Columbia’s “Eadie Was a Lady,” Ann Miller starrer. . . . Zachary Scott has been borrowed from Warners for the starring role in Jean Renoir’s UA production, “Tuckers Of Texas,” from the prize-winning novel, “Hold Autumn In Your Hands.” Warners announced that Scott will have the lead in “Dangerous Marriage,” a romantic mystery, to be pro¬ duced by Alex Gottlieb. . . . Lew Landers has been assigned to direct “The Black Arrow." the serial produced by Rudy Flothow for Columbia, with Adele Jergens and Robert Scott. . . . Shirley Hunter, 19, ha been signed for a role in UA’s “High Among the Stars.” Barry Fitzgerald will be starred in RKO’s “The Flying Yorkshireman.” . . . Pat O’Brien has signed a long-term con¬ tract with RKO. First is titled “Man Alive.” . . . Harry Carey has been signed for the second male lead in Warners’ “San Antonio Kid.” . . . Joan Fontaine will star in “The Affairs Of Susan,” scheduled to be filmed this fall as the first Hal B. Wallis production for Para¬ mount. . . . MGM has completed arrange¬ ments with David O. Selznick to borrow Joan Fontaine for the leading role in “Forever.” . . . William Pereira has been assigned by RKO to supervise the produc¬ tion of three future films. “Adventures Of Sinbad,” “All Brides Are Beautiful,” and “Johnny Angel.” . . . “Together Again” is the final title chosen by Columbia for the romantic comedy 'tarring Irene Dunne, Charles Boyer, and Charles Cobum. “Saddle Smoke” will star Johnny Mack Brown, which Howard Bretherton directs for Monogram. . . . Jack Lamont, Mono¬ gram foreign representative in Mexico, Central America, and Panama, left New York to launch release of the company’s program of Spanish-dubbed films, which calls for a total of 25 pictures. Arbitration Activities Are Covered Regularly In This Publication. Columbia Founds Academy Hollywood — Columbia has founded a school of dramatic art on the lot, the com¬ pany announced last week. In the new school, fresh talent will be trained for stardom. Every phase of the drama will be taught to the young player'. Jack Cole has been named as dance director of the project, Saul Chaplin will handle the singing ses¬ sions, and Frank S. Ferguson, recently signed by the company as dramatic coach, will function in that capacity in the new academy. September 13, 1944